03/31/22 A “VBD”– A Very Big Deal – Radically Rational

03/31/22 A “VBD”– A Very Big Deal

Our government is not an individual. Our government is not any individual. Our government is the sum of our collective institutions and principles as laid out in our Constitution.

Foremost among those institutions is the right to vote, along with peaceful respect for and acceptance of the results of free and fair elections.

January 6, 2021 was a premeditated, violent insurrection whose stated goal was to overturn the verified and legally upheld results of an American presidential election. How do we know that was the insurrectionists’ intentions? Because they said so.

Fake slates of state electors were submitted in an attempt to overturn the election. How do we know? Because the plotters have said so.

Ordering the vice president to refuse to certify the results of the election was an attempt to overturn the election. How do we know? Because the president at the time said so.

Free and fair elections, along with the peaceful transfer or power, are cornerstones of our government.

If one or many attempt to subvert our elections, they are attempting to subvert our government.

If one or many attempt to illegally overturn an election, they are attempting to overthrow our government.

If they are attempting to overthrow our government, they are guilty of treason.

According to whom?

Well, the dictionary.

Treason—“The crime of betraying one’s country, including attempting to overthrow its government.”

Also: “The crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance, including attempting to overthrow its government.”

Attempting to overturn a valid election is in fact an attempt to overthrow its government. And an attempt to overthrow the government is treason.

And perpetrators of treason are traitors. And traitors are criminals.

Okay, deniers and “No Big Deal”ers.

I just laid it out for you, and that logical chain is tighter than the Chicago horn section.

That was treason. And perpetrators of treason are by definition traitors. And traitors are criminals.

This is a VBD. A Very Big Deal.

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Paul's Bio

I clearly have the attention span of your median fruit fly.Look! Airplane!

Sorry. I’m back.

It’s both a curse and a blessing. I’ve never bought this stuff about, “He who dies with the most toys wins.” But I do think that a wide range of life experiences helps us grow as people, and helps us better relate to other people. I’ve been fortunate. And I am beyond grateful.

I show up on time. I go like hell. I’m a good listener. I hold myself accountable. I own my mistakes. And I have a natural and an insatiable curiosity. I’m never afraid to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t. But then I try to find out.

The flip side is I’m a lousy ballroom dancer and my clothes sometimes fit me funny.

Stuff matters to me. I care. But while I take that stuff seriously, I try hard to never take myself seriously. As a result, I have sometimes been told, “Paul, it’s hard to tell when you’re serious and when you’re just having some fun. Which is it? Serious or fun?”

My answer is “yes.” But I think that is a legitimate criticism. I promise I’m going to work on that.

This has been the quickest and strangest half-century I’ve ever experienced. During that period, I’ve been afforded amazing opportunities in news and sports journalism across all platforms. I have taught wonderful students at the high school and collegiate level. Always, I learned more from them than they did from me. I’ve been a high school administrator. I spent ten seasons as a high school varsity football coach. I’ve been an advertising executive. I’ve hosted nationally syndicated television entertainment shows. In maybe the biggest honor I ever received, I was selected by NASA to be “Chet The Astronaut” for the “Land The Shuttle” simulator at Space Center Houston. (All I can say there, is “Do as I say, not as I do.” I put that thing in the Everglades more often than not.) Most recently, I just wrapped up a decade as a television news director, during which time our teams distinguished themselves in holding the powerful accountable, achieving both critical and ratings success.

What does all that mean? It means I am profoundly grateful. It also means I’m ready for “next.” So here we are. Radically Rational. It’s an idea I woke up with in 2017. I scribbled “Radically Rational” on a piece of notebook paper and used a magnet to stick it on our refrigerator. I saw it every day, and it just would not leave me alone.

I am second in charge at Radically Rational, LLC. My wife, Jo (also known as BB), is the president. Clearly, I have failed in my attempt to sleep my way to the top of this organization.

I hope you will learn that I’m loyal as a Labrador. But I will admit that this doggie can bite every now and then. My promise to you? I will show up on time. I will go like hell. I will listen to you earnestly and attentively. I will hold myself accountable. I will never be the least bit hesitant to say, “I don’t know,” when I don’t.

But then I’ll try to find out. Let’s do it.