06/25/23 Fool If You Think It’s Over… – Radically Rational

06/25/23 Fool If You Think It’s Over…

Did you feel like you were binge-watching episodes of “24” stuck in fast-forward?

And instead of Kiefer Sutherland, the series was narrated by Gilda Radner as Roseanne Roseannadanna? “Never mind.”

“Yevgeny went to Belarus and everyone lived happily ever after.”

No harm, no foul.

Huh?

Yes, that was an “armed insurrection,” and at least for a few hours, an attempted coup. (Where have you heard that before?) But “at the end of the day,” Putin is for the moment untoppled and Prigozhin can go back to making pastries.

TBC. As Chris Rea once crooned, “Fool If You Think It’s Over.” It’s just begun…

Who’s the winner? Ukraine, at least for the moment.

Here’s what is clear. Putin The Strongman has been exposed and weakened. Russian oligarchs and the Russian people now smell that weakness. Historically, that has been the smell of death for Russian and Soviet regimes.

Prigozhin got his lick in. He exposed Putin’s invasion of Ukraine for what it is—an unprovoked land/power grab. The Russian people were already losing their stomach for this war. This will kill any remaining appetite.

The Russian military is in shambles. And what now becomes of The Mercenaries Formerly Known as Wagner? Is Wagner still an “is” or is it now a “was”? Who is on what side?

Pooty is on the clock.

The proper role for the United States? Stay steadfast in support of Ukraine.

Otherwise, STFU. Don’t give Putin any chance to spin this as American chicanery.

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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.