Paul’s Daily Ration: 08/18/21 – Radically Rational

Paul’s Daily Ration: 08/18/21

Of course. I wish Governor Abbott a complete and speedy recovery. And as he is restored to full health, I hope he is restored to sanity, reason, compassion, perspective and true leadership.

Texas is in a shameful position of leadership in one sad category. The Lone Star State is Number One in the nation in pediatric COVID hospitalizations, with 239. Overall, almost 12,000 Texans are hospitalized COVID patients. Yes, these unacceptable numbers are a direct result of leadership failures. Yes. A direct result.

First, beaten by The Taliban. Now, dependent on The Taliban. At the mercy of The Taliban. Reliant on “the honor” of The Taliban. That’s probably not a desirable strategic position. This could get worse. Way worse. Thousands of American lives, and many more of our Afghan friends and allies, remain in grave peril.

I’m almost starting to think more planning should have gone into this “exit” thing. You?

And The T. is getting the band back together. Exiled Talban co-founder and deputy leader Mullah Baradar has returned to Afghanistan after 20 years. “New” and enlightened Taliban? Let’s just say this guy is pretty Old School Taliban. Hold on to your head.

The immediate concern is humanitarian. But this will have more fallout than a primitive A-Bomb, politically. Biden may not recover from this. He just gave the GOP a gift that will keep on giving. The first thing he might want to do is stop making it worse every time he opens his mouth.

I invite you to flip over to my sports blog, “The Games People Play,” on this website.

I also invite you to join me in wishing Radically Rational president and resident babe, Jo Lockard Alexander (BB), a very happy birthday!

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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.