The Right Stuff: Is Putin a bully/thug or madman?

By Jim McCully March 14, 2022 | Posted in Local Opinion Columnists |

For the past two For the past two weeks or so we have seen the results of what pandering to a world-class bully/thug gets us. Human nature is predictable. From childhood on, we all have seen schoolyard bully’s progress in life to their logical conclusion. Regardless of who or where they are, the results are the same.

A bully/thug on the international stage is something we have all seen with many historical examples.

We know who and what they are. They readily self-identify by their actions. A bully/thug will continue to conduct themselves this way until they are stopped. We all know this and it usually takes time to let folks get fed-up enough to take whatever action is necessary. Everyone knows they must be stopped but enthusiasm for action is often low initially. We all just want to get along and live our lives unmolested by fools. However, much as we abhor dealing with them, we all know they will only respond to two things: fear itself or overwhelming force. Until and unless they are confronted with someone causing fear or someone willing to use overwhelming force, nothing will deter them from thugishness.[...read more]

The Right Stuff: Russian invasion of Ukraine a worldwide threat

By Jim McCully March 7, 2022

Adolf Hitler’s forces invaded and occupied Czechoslovakia on March 15, 1938. Britain Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and French Premier Edouard Daladier signed the Munich Pact on Sept. 30, 1938, which gave Hitler the Sudetenland. That gave the Nazis 66% of Czech coal, 70% of its iron and steel, and 70% of its electrical power.

Great Britain, the U.S. and Russia in the Budapest Memorandum in 1994 certified commitments to transfer nuclear weapons to Russia but more important were commitments to ensure the sovereignty of Ukraine. Those commitments were to: “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine, refrain from economic coercion, seek immediate United Nations Security Council (action) to provide assistance in the event of an act of aggression against Ukraine.” Vladimir Putin’s Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Ukraine is the largest country in Europe and has world-leading resources that include iron, manganese, titanium, zirconium ores, coal, neon for computer chip production, natural gas, uranium, gold reserves, the second-most mercury and graphite, hydropower resources of 44.7 billion kilowatt-hours annually, the third-most shale gas reserves in Europe, and fourth-most natural resource in value.[...read more]

The Right Stuff: Are we discouraged by our actions?

By Jim McCully Feb 28, 2022

Years ago, I saw an interview of the very successful entertainer and businesswoman Lucille Ball. She said something important: “One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged.” Over the years I have thought about her admonition. I have tried to follow her advice. However, more importantly, I thought about the great leaders we have had in America and their lives.

This past week we celebrated Presidents Day honoring Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

If there were ever two men who could have succumbed to discouragement, it was them. Each was thrust into crisis situations both personally dangerous and professionally difficult for them and world shaking for America. Both men were highly intelligent and determined in their beliefs. One arguably created America as a nation, becoming “The father of our country,” while the other held it together in time of great turmoil, becoming “The great emancipator.” Each was a man of his time and circumstance; one from a prominent colonial family, the other a humble, hardscrabble beginning.[...read more]