02/15/23 Two “tours of duty” – Radically Rational

02/15/23 Two “tours of duty”

Here’s where we are.

We now have students who have done TWO “Tours of Duty” in American school mass shootings.

And we have an evil clown politician who thinks it’s clever and patriotic to strut around wearing an AR-15 lapel pin. Yeah, I’d probably have to punch him in the mouth. You’d forgive me, wouldn’t you?

We have lost our way. And there’s no trail of bread crumbs to help us find our way back home.

You have to admire Nikki Haley’s convictions. Regardless of the issue or subject, she always feels very strongly both ways.

And then there’s Pence. First, he refuses to testify before the Jan. 6 Committee by claiming that, as a former Vice President, he has executive privilege immunity. Now he is refusing to respond to Special Counsel Jack Smith’s subpoena on the grounds that in his VP roll as president of the Senate, he is protected by the Speech or Debate clause that sometimes immunizes members of Congress.

Ridiculous. Dishonest. Dishonorable. You can’t have it both ways, Johnny Quest. We have three separate branches of government. You can’t simultaneously be a part of two of them. What’s he afraid of? I mean, other than Trump and Trumpsters.

One more thing. I’m waiting for the inevitable on-camera throwdown between CNN morning anchors Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins. This one will not be hard to handicap. Kaitlan will kick his ass unmercifully. There will be blood. Roll Tide.

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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.