THEN: Secretary of State (KY), 1996-2004; Candidate for Lieutenant Governor, 2007
NOW: JYB3 Group (Owner) -public affairs consulting firm; Miller Wells law firm (Of counsel)
Full Biography:link
By John Y. Brown III, on Mon Sep 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
I recently read this book. It’s titled The Maie Brain. And is a science-based based, well researched book on the inner workings of the male brain.
I’m a guy so, you know, I was hoping to find out some pretty encouraging stuff about the we guys think.
But it was more like a personality test you take in the back of a magazine that tells you, after spending 45 minutes finishing it, that you really aren’t very interesting after all.
Except with this book, you can’t go back and change your answers to make yourself more interesting.
Actually, the image that kept coming to me as I approached the last few chapters will date me.
It was Geraldo Rivera’s infamous opening on live TV of Al Capone’s secret vault. The event was hyped for weeks. And all Geraldo found when opened was a stop sign and two lunch pales.
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Sep 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM ET
More secretly taped video from the controversial Mitt Romney fundraiser.
These surreptitiously obtained videos are really dirty pool late in the campaign season. They aren’t fair and can easily get misinterpreted or taken out of context.
But I’m afraid this latest clip will only do more damage to Mr Romney as he is caught again in a candid moment talking tough (singing, in this instance) to his supporters earlier that same day. A prelude to the milder 47 percent reference.
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Mitt’s Father Jeremiah moment?
Yes.
That’s what I think the secretly taped “47%” comment amounts to for candidate Mitt Romney. Which is to say, it’s a political and electoral non-event event.
What do I mean by that?
Remember the public outcry last election cycle when Barack Obama’s pastor, Father Jeremiah Wright, had videotapes of him released online saying absurd things about America?
It was supposed to be the political scandal that would sink candidate Barack Obama’s campaign. But didn’t.
Was it a politically significant event for Barack Obama? Yes, in my view. But not because it caused his supporters to bolt. It didn’t.
What it did do is give a concrete event on which those who already had a vague unease about voting for Barack Obama —and weren’t going to vote for him anyway —something to point to and hang their hat on as the reason for not voting for him.
Yes, they were uncertain about Barack Obama—his politics, his origins, his qualifications for president and even his name. But those things weren’t as tangible or easy to talk about as the Father Jeremiah video which was disturbing and could explain why someone would not want to vote for Barack Obama.
Read the rest of… John Y. Brown, III: Mitt’s “Father Jeremiah” Moment
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Sep 21, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
We do a good job of honoring the winners in life. A less good job of honoring those who “might have been” but who due to bad timing, poor circumstances or an odd twist of fate didn’t get to ascend as high as they could have. It’s often little more than a trivial and unexpected incident that enables some to “break through” and others to “stay back.”
John J. Hooker of Tennessee was one who had many things go right for him in life– except in political races. He is probably the Volunteer state’s most gifted politician never to have won a race. And maybe for a few surrounding states too.
Ironically, John J. and his then wife, Tish, served as the serendipitous force in another person’s life.
During John J’s campaign for governor the charismatic couple visited a Nashville church where Tish met a little girl and her family and took the time to talk to her and tell her she was “cute as a speckled pup.” Trivial words occurring in an unexpected incident that changed that little girl’s life. Years later Oprah Winfrey had Tish on her show to thank her and tell her how important that moment was.
I saw John J Hooker speak at an event in Louisville when I was a teenager. I left thinking that he was the most riveting and entertaining speaker I’d ever heard.
He is now in his early 80s and recently was honored by the Tennessee legislature for his life work in public service.
I commend the TN Senate for taking the time to honor a man who was once a great lion in the political world—a great dreamer and crusader, who was more idealistic than practical and more passionate than calculating. But who mattered in TN politics–and still has something to say worthy of younger citizens and public office holders not only to listen to– but to honor.
He came withing a whisker of becoming governor–and if he had won–almost certainly would have turned up as a colorful but unsuccessful Southern state candidate for president. Over time he became marginalized but never ignored.
This impromptu speech to the state senate at age 80 gives a glimpse of both this man’s once great promise–and the now battle scarred but undaunted persona that hasn’t forgotten what might have been:
By John Y. Brown III, on Thu Sep 20, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Facebook and “People you might know”
Today I received a notice from Facebook that this young lady is a person I may know and want to friend.
First off, I can’t say that I have ever had in the past, have now, nor will ever have in the future any friends who look like this attractive young lady.
Why Facebook believes we are long lost friends from an earlier time in my life is confusing to me. For one thing, at an earlier time in my life, it is unlikely I was friends with this young gal when I was, oh…say, 35 and she was 9.
I don’t have anything against her and am sure she would make a good friend and have lots of interesting things she posts on her wall. Who knows, maybe we are “two peas in a pod” and have are like-minded on all the issues of the day. But I’m going to need more information before I am convinced.
This is probably the 3rd young, busty woman I’ve never met but Facebook has suggested as a friend over the last 9 months. I also notice that all the friends of these young ladies are, oddly, guys about my age. Which makes me wonder if it isn’t some sort of gag account used to see who is willing to try to friend them.
I’m flattered Mark Zuckerberg and his team take me for such a young and hip guy. But just because many of my posts are rambling, random and ridiculous doesn’t mean I am still in my late teens. Only that I sometimes sound like it.
On the other hand, I am most grateful that Facebook doesn’t send me pictures of people like this with the tag, “People you probably don’t know.” If they ever decide to start doing that, it’s find with me if I’m not notified about such things.
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Sep 19, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Report back from the dieting field.
Day 4 since adding generous helpings of Nutella Spread to the Boot Camp diet. I have so far gained 2 pounds—but my mood has been elevated allowing me to not care as much about the weight gain and friends have noticed I am more pleasant to be around and easy going (and they also noticed several small instances of a chocolate-like substance smeared around the corners of my mouth)
So far, so good.
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I hate that awful scary feeling…
I’m sure we all do.
When we are frantically looking and can’t find it.
And then we worry –for a brief moment—that it is gone.
All of it.
That someone else may have gotten to it already.
And that it is too late.
And they have finished off the last finger full…
… of Nutella.
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I have heard about edamame three times in five days– but had never heard of it before.
I told my daughter that it was time I learnws what it is—but that I wasn’t ready yet to say the word out loud.
But it is a cool sounding name for a trendy vegatable.
Which made me wonder: Is edamame popular all of a sudden mostly because it tastes good or because it’s fun to say?
By John Y. Brown III, on Tue Sep 18, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Why I write on Facebook.
Several years ago I was watching one of those news magazine shows and the story was about the the explosive popularity of eBay. A very busy business man was interviewed who used eBay almost daily for routine purchase.
They asked him why he liked eBay so much. He paused for a moment and answered, “I work constantly on multiple business deals during the day and when I take a few minutes break I want a diversion that truly takes me away somehow. So I go the eBay on my laptop and check things I’m bidding on. It is a sort of release. Even if it’s only 5 minutes at a time 8-10 times a day. It helps center and refresh me.” Those aren’t the exact words, but they convey the idea of what he said.
I think I use Facebook the same way. It’s a sort of release several times a day that helps refresh and center me. And, yes, connect me –to people in the rest of my world (virtual world, anyway).
And at some point in my mid 40’s something happened to me. I was in a restaurant in Frankfort with several friends and someone at the table pointed out another table with a group of energetic young people. Normally when I’d see a table like that, I’d avoid them but I turned slowly to my (younger) friend and smiled broadly and said, “I can’t explain it, but I don’t really want to meet those young people—but I do have this overwhelming desire to mentor them. It’s bizarre. I just want to put my hand on their shoulder and offer advice. What the heck? Am I going through male menopause? Am I molting or something? What is happening to me? Oh, and by the way, I want to talk to you about your relationship with your father and how that is hindering you in your personal and professional life.”
OK, That’s not verbatim….but it’s in the ball park.
My friend didn’t want my advice. And the young people at the table didn’t either.
So I opened a Facebook account where I can write these random, disjointed, goofy but sometimes marginally (or accidentally) insightful thoughts that pop into my head. For fun and for free. Besides, I don’t have any other hobbies to take up my time.
And it is cathartic.
Oh, and the other thing that happened at about this same time, I decided it was better to be real and connect with people as you are than to be admired and never really connect with people as yourself. Which means, well, you just don’t care as much anymore what others think. What you think becomes more important to you. At least it did for me. Appropriate but real. Respectful but open.
And that is cathartic too. And surprising. I never know what is going to come out of me. So….I guess I’ll keep doing it until this molting phase is complete.
By John Y. Brown III, on Mon Sep 17, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
If you are middle-aged and want to get your “Cool on,” here’s an idea.
The other night while hanging out in the Electronics section of Wal-Mart—just minding the business of my own bad self— I was bombarded by a Wal-Mart promotional adloop featuring “Mr Worldwide.”
I felt foolish not knowing who Mr Worldwide is and could tell by his demeanor and confident speech that I should have heard of him.
I tried Googling him on my iPhone but can’t read the small text–but could tell from the search returns Mr Worldwide was important, cool and goes by the more traditional name “Pitbull.”
He grows on you.
After about the 20th loop you start thinking to yourself, “He’s not as irritating as I thought during the first 10 loops and I don’t think he’d hurt me–so maybe he’s a gansta-type I can pretend knowing about and it would up my cool status and not be too outrageous.
So I want to get the word out to other midsters who– may be like me and not have heard of Mr Worldwide (aka Pitbull)– that he exists and we need to know about him if we hope to stay relevant to the younger generation.
If you want to know more about him and his bad self (his bad self, unlike mine, apparently really is bad) and don’t follow modern rap music, then get down to your loca Wal-Mart and stand in the Electronics section—near the flat screen TVs and you can learn all about him.
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Sep 14, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
About a decade ago, a friend of mine called in a local radio station to report a tree had just fallen during a rain storm and was blocking a major traffic artery.
The call was appreciated, reported amd my friend even got to give a live update and describe the situation as it was developing. He was thanked for doing a good civic deed.
That impressed me, and I hoped to someday be able to volunteer my own civic good deed –by reporting back from about some important fact that those at home would appreciate knowing about.
Today, I feel, is my moment.
So here goes:
“Hey Louisville, I have been out driving all over our city for nearly 4 hours now and, I swear, almost every store is closed. Don’t go out unless you have to or just want to go to Thorton’s or Bed, Bath and Beyond. They are both open. And so is Panera Bread. But there isn’t a single place in our city open for a hair cut, if you are a guy. If you are a guy and want a haircut today, forget it! Ain’t happening! Wait until tomorrow. Or call a friend who cuts hair in her apartment —but even she is probably not working today because she is at some barbecue or cookout. And if Walmart is open today –and you absolutely have to get your haircut–don’t buy a Flowbee. I bought one once and it doesn’t work like on TV.”
OK, Louisville, over and out. Or whatever it is I am supposed to say.
Hey, next time I am going to do this with a cute weather girl so we can do some happy chatting about now–but since I am alone, I can’t do any vacuous chatting so I am just going to stop.
By John Y. Brown III, on Thu Sep 13, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
Powerless power pack.
I was so excited about my new iPhone power pack which your iphone fits jnto on those days you need it for longer than an hour and 45 min.
And today was one of those days I walked, confidently tonight, strutted really, as because I knew my power pack was with me and ready for action at the critical moment my battery drained out.
Well, it happened. Out it came, and I cockily inserted my dying iphone and then punched the power packs nifty power button. But nothing. Again, I pushed and poked and pressed every button I could find. But the power pack wasn’t up for it tonight.
Maybe it was a charging issue.
Maybe it just didn’t feel like saving the day.
Because even power packs need days off.
I couldn’t get mad.
I sympathetically and discreetly slipped the pack back into my pocket.
Didn’t want to embarrass it.
And just before I tucked it away, I held it up and said, “Don’t feel bad. I have had the same thing happen to me on multiple occassions. Let’s go home, get in bds and just watch cable and get recharged. Maybe tomorrow night…”
By John Y. Brown III, on Wed Sep 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM ET
I love Asian restaurants, and I really like the taste of Fortune Cookies.
And, yes, I always read my fortune.
You never know. But lately my vision has declined and I am no longer able to make our my fortune on Fortune Cookies. I can make out a few key words and the beginning or ending clause —but no specifics. Just enough to get a general idea that it is basically good news for me (or something upbeat).
That can be reassuring –but only if you can be certain. My idea is that an especially big Fortune Cookie be created for people over 45. It’s more about the cookie for us. And instead of large print with a long quote, just have a large thumbs up or thumbs down.
That’s all we want at this age. Details aggravate and confuse us.
I don’t care If my fortune is about travel, finances, business, health, whatever. The only news I want from my Fortune Cookie is whether things are looking good for me or not.
I recently read this book. It’s titled The Maie Brain. And is a science-based based, well researched book on the inner workings of the male brain.
Actually, the image that kept coming to me as I approached the last few chapters will date me.
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