For Immediate Release: Chapter One, Part 3

Essays and Lessons From 30 Years in Politics and Government

Hi, and welcome to the Sun Shine Republic. I’m really glad you’re here.

This is “For Immediate Release,” my essays and stories of politics, government, and a little bit of life in between. They span 30 years, from Little Rock, Arkansas to Washington, D.C. to St. Petersburg, Florida. I’ll be sending it out chapter by chapter here on Substack over the coming days and weeks. I hope you’ll consider a paid subscription and check it out. If you are a paid subscriber, thank you very much. I couldn’t do this without you.

As always, thanks for reading.

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1989 - 1992
Boston, Massachusetts & Jonesboro, Arkansas

Through the flowing courses of our own personal histories, the tides can and often do change without warning. Things don’t always seem to work according to our delicately crafted plans. I suspect this happens because we forget to factor in the unforgiving reality of everyday circumstances.

I had planned on going to college to become a radio disc jockey, and follow my dream of being the next Outlaw Tommy Smith. Like many things in my life, I got lucky with respect to college. I was a less-than-average student throughout my scholastic career. Report cards reveal an incurious academic mind, and a laissez-faire attitude with respect to extracurricular activities. I muddled along, perfectly content to daydream my way through the academic experiences of youth.