Search This Blog

Friday, July 29, 2016

A TALE OF TWO BENGHAZI REPORTS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- The Democratic version versus the Republican.

The official report on the Benghazi attack on September 11, 2012 was released by the House Select Committee on Benghazi on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. As the GOP controls the House, this lengthy report was predominantly written by House Republicans. To counter it, the Democratic minority issued their interpretation of the investigation on Monday, June 27th, as a preemptive strike. The two are substantially different. The Democratic version is 344 pages in length, while the official report is much more extensive as it also contains data and testimonies from the hearings.

According to the Democratic version, the key observations made include:

* The Defense Department could not have done anything differently on the night of the attacks that would have saved the lives of the four brave Americans killed in Benghazi, and although the military’s global posture prevented it from responding more quickly that night, improvements were made years ago.

* The State Department’s security measures in Benghazi were woefully inadequate as a result of decisions made by officials in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, but Secretary Clinton never personally denied any requests for additional security in Benghazi.

* The Intelligence Community’s assessments evolved after the attacks as more information became available, but they were not influenced by political considerations.

* Administration officials did not make intentionally misleading statements about the attacks, but instead relied on information they were provided at the time under fast moving circumstances.

Interestingly, Donald Trump's name appears 23 times in the Democratic report, someone who had literally nothing to do with the incident. More than anything, the Democratic version condemns how the investigation was handled under Chairman Trey Gowdy.

The official version, as written by the Republican majority is substantially different. Some of the key observations made include:

* Despite President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s clear orders to deploy military assets, nothing was sent to Benghazi, and nothing was en route to Libya at the time the last two Americans were killed almost 8 hours after the attacks began.

* With Ambassador Stevens missing, the White House convened a roughly two-hour meeting at 7:30 PM, which resulted in action items focused on a YouTube video, and others containing the phrases "[i]f any deployment is made," and "Libya must agree to any deployment," and "[w]ill not deploy until order comes to go to either Tripoli or Benghazi."

* A Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) sat on a plane in Rota, Spain, for three hours, and changed in and out of their uniforms four times.

* None of the relevant military forces met their required deployment timelines.

* The Libyan forces that evacuated Americans from the CIA Annex to the Benghazi airport was not affiliated with any of the militias the CIA or State Department had developed a relationship with during the prior 18 months. Instead, it was comprised of former Qadhafi loyalists who the U.S. had helped remove from power during the Libyan revolution.

* The morning after the attacks, the National Security Council’s Deputy Spokesperson sent an email to nearly two dozen people from the White House, Defense Department, State Department, and intelligence community, stating: "Both the President and Secretary Clinton released statements this morning. ...Please refer to those for any comments for the time being. To ensure we are all in sync on messaging for the rest of the day, Ben Rhodes will host a conference call for USG communicators on this chain at 9:15 ET today."

* Five of the 10 action items from the 7:30 PM White House meeting referenced the video, but no direct link or solid evidence existed connecting the attacks in Benghazi and the video at the time the meeting took place.

* Susan Rice’s comments on the Sunday talk shows were met with shock and disbelief by State Department employees in Washington. The Senior Libya Desk Officer, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, State Department, wrote: "I think Rice was off the reservation on this one." The Deputy Director, Office of Press and Public Diplomacy, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, State Department, responded: "Off the reservation on five networks!" The Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications, Bureau of Near East Affairs, State Department, wrote: "WH [White House] very worried about the politics. This was all their doing."

The last section of the report includes concluding comments from the principal writers of the report, Republicans Jim Jordan and Mike Pompeo.

* Officials at the State Department, including Secretary Clinton, learned almost in real time that the attack in Benghazi was a terrorist attack.

* The American people expect their government to make every effort to help those we put in harm’s way when they find themselves in trouble. The U.S. military never sent assets to help rescue those fighting in Benghazi and never made it into Libya with personnel during the attack. And, contrary to the administration’s claim that it could not have landed in Benghazi in time to help, the administration never directed men or machines into Benghazi.

* Despite its claims, we saw no evidence that the administration held a sincere interest in helping the Committee find the truth about Benghazi. There is a time for politics and a time to set politics aside. A national tragedy is one of those times when as a nation we should join together to find the truth. That did not happen here. So while the investigation uncovered new information, we nonetheless end the Committee’s investigation without many of the facts, especially those involving the President and the White House, we were chartered to obtain.

It is this last comment which hints at the political divisiveness of the committee. Whereas Democrats openly condemned their Republican counterparts for how the investigation was performed, the Republicans were stonewalled by the Obama administration in terms of releasing information.

Bottom-line, the administration's reaction to Benghazi was politicized as it occurred just two months before the presidential election. If the truth was known back then, the president would have likely not been re-elected. Hillary Clinton did, in fact, have a role to play in all of this, if nothing more than knowing the risks involved. It is unclear whether she deliberately issued a "stand down" order. In fact, this is an issue that doesn't seem to have been resolved and if it is true, that no such order was issued by a ranking officer, than the military and administration are both guilty of gross incompetence.

Despite the political jockeying since the Benghazi incident, the reader needs to be reminded of what one of the diplomatic security agents in Benghazi said during the attacks:

"If you guys don’t get here, we’re all going to f----ing die."

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  IS THE NEWS CAUSING DEPRESSION? - Does it act like a drug?

LAST TIME:  THE INFORMATION CURTAIN - What can be done about the media's distortion of the news?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

THE INFORMATION CURTAIN

BRYCE ON THE MEDIA

- What can be done about the media's distortion of the news?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Winston Churchill is credited for coining the expression "The Iron Curtain" to describe the separation of communist countries in Europe following World War II. In essence, the former Soviet Union built a wall around eastern Europe and kept its citizens in the dark. For many years, eastern Europeans secretly tuned into the Voice of America to find out what was really going on in the world which was in stark contrast to the Soviet propaganda machine. The Iron Curtain wasn't razed until 1991 when the Cold War finally came to an end. Similarly, there was a "Bamboo Curtain" surrounding Communist China to keep the Western World out. Both curtains represent an approach to keep the citizenship in line, and propaganda was an inherent part of manipulating the masses.

Today we have an "Information Curtain" that is essentially no different than the Soviet system, yet much more sophisticated in terms of controlling the people through the dissemination of truthful facts. So much so, an incestuous relationship now exists between government and the press, which, in theory, is supposed to be independent but is now nothing more than an arm of the government with considerable swagger to dictate legislation and elect officials at all levels of government.

The Information Curtain dictates what news and information is to be released to the public, and how it is to be presented ("spin"). The media's stranglehold of news is such that trust in the media continues to decline with the result being a public totally ignorant of the facts despite the availability of easy to use technology to access information. Frankly, more and more people have stopped reading newspapers, and watching the news on television simply because they no longer trust the media.

As evidence, consider a June 13, 2016 poll by Gallup, titled "Americans' Confidence in Newspapers at New Low." In it, Gallup contends only 20% of Americans have confidence in our newspapers, an all-time low, and marking the 10th consecutive year of dropping confidence. Republicans have long been skeptical of the main-stream media, but the survey also points out Democrats and young adults also have lost confidence in the news.

Should the media be interested in restoring its credibility, a major cleanup is in order. First, consider the "Journalist's Creed," a code of ethics written around 1906 by Walter Williams shortly after founding the Missouri School of Journalism. His intent was to devise something similar to the Hippocratic Oath as taken by physicians swearing to practice medicine ethically and honestly. The Creed reads:

"I believe in the profession of Journalism.

I believe that the public journal is a public trust; that all connected with it are, to the full measure of responsibility, trustees for the public; that all acceptance of lesser service than the public service is a betrayal of this trust.

I believe that clear thinking, clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism.

I believe that a journalist should write only what he holds in his heart to be true.

I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.

I believe that no one should write as a journalist what he would not say as a gentleman; that bribery by one's own pocket book is as much to be avoided as bribery by the pocketbook of another; that individual responsibility may not be escaped by pleading another's instructions or another's dividends.

I believe that advertising, news and editorial columns should alike serve the best interests of readers; that a single standard of helpful truth and cleanness should prevail for all; that supreme test of good journalism is the measure of its public service.

I believe that the journalism which succeeds the best-and best deserves success-fears God and honors man; is stoutly independent; unmoved by pride of opinion or greed of power; constructive, tolerant but never careless, self-controlled, patient, always respectful of its readers but always unafraid, is quickly indignant at injustice; is unswayed by the appeal of the privilege or the clamor of the mob; seeks to give every man a chance, and as far as law, an honest wage and recognition of human brotherhood can make it so, an equal chance; is profoundly patriotic while sincerely promoting international good will and cementing world-comradeship, is a journalism of humanity, of and for today's world."

In theory, all journalists are to adhere to this code, yet I personally do not believe there is anyone following this pledge anymore, and as evidenced by Gallup's poll, a lot of Americans agree with me. So what can be done to restore the integrity of the media, or to lift "The Information Curtain"? First, like any profession, how about revoking a license to practice news? Since other craftsmen and professionals must periodically update their certification to practice their craft, why not the media? And, No, they should not police themselves. An independent body should handle such certifications, and certainly not the government.

Consumers could also boycott the media, but that has never proven effective in modern times. Instead, it would seem to make more sense to institute a certification system with a board to review reported violations of the code of ethics and sanction penalties for violations. Just about every other profession has such a system, why not the media? Maybe then we could learn to trust the media again and finally lift "The Information Curtain."

Then again, maybe they are not interested in restoring their integrity. After all, money and control can be irresistible.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  A TALE OF TWO BENGHAZI REPORTS - The Democratic version versus the Republican.

LAST TIME:  A CASE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION? - How do you interpret this?

\Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, July 22, 2016

LOSING A PASSION

BRYCE ON LIFE

- What happens when you are forced to quit something you are fond of?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

As many of you know, I quit smoking cigars last year, a passion I enjoyed for 45 years, but understand this, it was a voluntary decision on my part to do so. More recently, I decided to hang up my fly-rod and reel, a passion I enjoyed for 25 years, but this was not a voluntary decision on my part.

Fly fishing requires a person to get into the water and walk the stream in constant search of your adversary, the trout. Your eyes are trained to look for pools and shady areas along the side of a stream, but you keep moving, regardless of how slippery the rocks are or the depth of the waters. This is all part of the game and for many years I waded through the waters unabated. Unfortunately, I'm getting to the age where my legs no longer allow me to move comfortably in the stream. Between old injuries, arthritis, and Father Time, lumbering through the water becomes more difficult with the passing of each year. In addition, my hands are no longer steady, thereby making it difficult to change a tiny fly in the middle of a stream.

I recently returned from a fly-fishing trip in Western North Carolina where I found it difficult to traverse the streams. Regardless of the comfortable water shoes and knee braces I wore, I found even the smaller streams posed a threat to me, and I feared falling and breaking something in the process. To make matters worse, I witnessed a fly-fishing contest in the area and watched two fishermen, who I judged to be in their mid-30s, boldly tramp through the waters unrestrained, as I had been able to do years ago. It was then that I realized my fly-fishing days were over and time to find another hobby.

I am going to miss fly-fishing as I loved the peace and quiet of the stream, the hunt for my aquatic adversaries, and the beauty of the surrounding woods. I refer to fly-fishing as "St. Timothy's" as I enjoy the commune with nature and God. Some suggest I should turn to a spinning rod and live bait, and maybe I will, but to fly-fishing purists, this is considered a regression.

I guess my point here is that you should enjoy your passion while you still can, and never take it for granted. If you do, one day you will wake up and suddenly find yourself on the outside looking in. I should know, it happened to me. Life is just too short.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  A CASE OF AGE DISCRIMINATION? - How do you interpret this?

LAST TIME:  HOW CAN ALLEGIANT AIRLINES SURVIVE? - It gives the appearance of spinning out of control.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

HOW CAN ALLEGIANT AIRLINES SURVIVE?

BRYCE ON BUSINESS

- It gives the appearance of spinning out of control.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Allegiant Airlines has become the running joke of the airline industry. I heard rumors of their incompetence for a long time, but it wasn't until I finally rode with them from St. Petersburg to Asheville did I realize how bad it is. In my case, the returning flight was inexplicably cancelled, leaving over a hundred would-be passengers stranded in Asheville. This forced a friend and I to rent a car and spend the next twelve hours driving home, which was not a relaxing way to spend Father's Day.

Since then I have heard a multitude of complaints about the airline:

* Recently, a flight from Jacksonville to Pittsburgh was delayed more than 18 hours.

* Another flight, from Sanford, Florida to North Carolina was delayed three times, causing the passengers to arrive ten hours late.

* A good friend of mine claims his wife was on a flight to North Carolina last year, but was detoured to another airport for fuel. The scuttlebutt was their credit wasn't good at the Asheville Airport.

* Another friend told me a story of how he was removed from an Allegiant flight because he was carrying his daughter's cute five pound tranquilized dog in a proper carrier, all because the lead flight attendant threw a fit over the sleeping dog. Although he objected to the false accusations of the attendant, that he wasn't obeying her commands, he didn't resist and was turned over to two armed police officers who laughed at the absurdity of the incident. My friend and the dog were allowed to leave on another flight the next day, but not to his planned destination, causing him to rent a car to travel home. This embarrassing story caused him to seek legal counsel.

In April, Allegiant performed an "Air Pilots Satisfaction Survey" of their pilots and first officers. Of the 507 responses to the survey, they found:

46% of the pilots and first officers said they are not satisfied working at Allegiant.
83% say morale is low.
89% are not satisfied with their pay.

A report produced in May claims the pilots feel there is a lack of a safety culture with the airline. According to Teamsters Local 1224 President Daniel Wells, "Almost half of the pilots said they will not allow their own families to fly on the aircraft."

This has caused the Allegiant pilot resignation rate to increase 600 percent between 2011 and 2014 according to the union.

All of this has caused the FAA to audit the airline ahead of schedule with a report due out soon.

As far as I could tell, my flight cancellation was a public relations nightmare creating many unhappy customers. Initially, there was only one agent to try and cope with over 100 disgruntled passengers. Extra agents were eventually summoned, but the damage had been done. As far as I was concerned, Allegiant handled the flight cancellation badly, but even worse, they didn't seem to care about their paid customers.

The next day I called Allegiant's Customer Relations department and, to their credit, they refunded my money.

Allegiant tries to do as much business as possible through their web site. Contacting a human being by telephone is difficult. For those interested, here are the official numbers for their Customer Relations department: 702/505-8888 and 702/430-3250.

All of these Allegiant stories would be funny if air transportation wasn't so serious. As for me, this was my first and last experience with Allegiant. At the rate they are going, I cannot imagine how they will survive.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  LOSING A PASSION - What happens when you are forced to quit something you are fond of?

LAST TIME:  THE CLINTON DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT  - What shenanigans will they pull before November?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, July 18, 2016

THE CLINTON DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- What shenanigans will they pull before November?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

I do not believe Donald Trump realizes who he is competing against in this presidential election. When it comes to politics, the Clintons have shown they will say or do anything to get elected. To illustrate, Mark Leibovich's 2013 book, "This Town," provided an excellent assessment of the political culture in the nation's capitol, including how the press fawns over the Clintons and treats them like royalty. In the book, the author mentions a remark Bill Clinton made to Hillary whereby should his health continue to deteriorate and he dies on the 2016 campaign trail, she should use it to create a lavish funeral which would generate millions of sympathy votes for her. Personally, I found this train of thought somewhat morbid, but is indicative of how the Clintons think, namely "win at all costs," regardless if it is moral or not.

As Trump's stature grows and passes Hillary in the polls, the Clintons will inevitably need a knockout punch. They will need an act of desperation, something to rally their troops and call upon the emotions of the public. There are several scenarios, but the most bizarre would be:

* Have Bill feign a life threatening medical condition, and depict Hillary as his loyal wife tending to him at his bedside.

* Have Chelsea fake a kidnapping. The criminals, of course, would never be caught as there aren't any.

* The most twisted would be to feign an assassination attempt, and make it look like the right was behind it.

Such an event would be designed to cause outrage with Republicans and pull on the heartstrings of Hillary's supporters. Of course, there will be no evidence or proof of any wrongdoing, and Trump will look heartless if he questions the authenticity of the event.

Keep in mind, the Clintons already have the press digging up as much dirt as possible on Mr. Trump, creating a smoke screen over his policies, and attack him on every syllable he speaks. So, the full court press is already on and the Clintons will be unmerciful.

As the Clintons know, truth and honesty are the first casualties in American politics.

The Donald simply will not know what hit him.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  HOW CAN ALLEGIANT AIRLINES SURVIVE? - It gives the appearance of spinning out of control.

LAST TIME:  A NEW TWIST ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD - A popular physicist poses an interesting theory to an old argument.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, July 15, 2016

A NEW TWIST ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

BRYCE ON RELIGION

- A popular physicist poses an interesting theory to an old argument.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Want to start an argument? Simply bring up the subject of either politics or religion. People tend to avoid both subjects as they do not want confrontation. Frankly, I do not believe we talk enough about either topic, particularly religion which explains why it is in decline, as well as our moral values.

While conservatives tend to embrace the concept of a Supreme Deity, Liberals tend to dismiss it out of hand as they claim there is no proof God exists. Interestingly, Michio Kaku, a popular theoretical physicist recently presented a new theory suggesting God indeed exists. Kaku is a respected scientist who is able to simplify complex arguments and present them in terms the public can understand. Not surprising, he is frequently interviewed on television to explain scientific phenomena. Interestingly, most people will remember him for his recent appearance in a TV commercial for TurboTax.

Kaku recently explained his theory in a report produced by the Geophilosophical Association of Anthropological and Cultural Studies. Setting aside the scientific jargon, Kaku summarized his position by saying, "I have concluded that we are in a world made by rules created by an intelligence. Believe me, everything that we call chance today won’t make sense anymore."
"To me it is clear that we exist in a plan which is governed by rules that were created, shaped by a universal intelligence and not by chance."

Bottom-line, Kaku is saying there are too many elements in the universe that can be logically explained. So much so, it is unlikely it could have been created by accident, but by some form of intelligence instead.

Those who believe in God always suspected as much, but to have an acclaimed physicist openly discuss this adds legitimacy to the argument of the existence of Deity. However, Kaku's controversial comments are not without critics who argue his logic. Nonetheless, Kaku has managed to stir the pot in the scientific community and cause them to think.

As for me, I was recently in Western North Carolina spending time fishing with some friends. As we sat on the porch of our cabin watching the sun set, we marveled at the beauty of the mountains, the smell of the air, the animals in the area, and the picturesque canopy of stars overhead. It was simply perfect, or as Kaku would explain, too perfect to be an accident.

For a video of Kaku explaining his ideas, click HERE.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  THE CLINTON DIRTY TRICKS DEPARTMENT - What shenanigans will they pull before November?

LAST TIME:  THE 2016 PARTY CONVENTIONS - A windfall for the press.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

THE 2016 PARTY CONVENTIONS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- A windfall for the press.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

The party conventions are just around the corner. The Republicans will meet July 18-21 in Cleveland, followed by the Democrats in Philadelphia on July 25-28, and they both will be "huuuge!"

Many years ago, a political convention was a big event covered by all the television networks, radio, and printed press. Speeches were given, platforms adopted, and a candidate selected as the party nominee. In 1968, the Democratic convention in Chicago was perhaps the most controversial of all time when the Yippies rioted. Since then, the American public has become bored with the conventions and viewership declined rapidly. They were all but forgotten until this year when Republican Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders, running as a Democrat, caused heightened interest in party politics by creating controversy.

Interest in both conventions will reach new heights this year, likely going well beyond 1968, representing an advertising bonanza for the media. In a way, it will be reminiscent of the 1975 World Series between the Reds and the Red Sox, often touted as "the series that saved baseball." Likewise, Cleveland and Philadelphia will likely save the concept of the political convention.

According to Nielson, 30.3 million people watched the final night of the 2012 GOP convention in Tampa. This was down from 39.9 million people in 2008. As for the Democrats, 35.7 million viewers watched the 2012 convention, down 2.7 million viewers from 2008. In all likelihood, the 2016 conventions will far surpass the 2012 editions and set new records, maybe as high as 50 million people each.

Higher convention viewership will also mean higher voter turnout in November. Traditionally, Republicans have lower viewership than the Democrats. However, if the 2016 GOP convention garners more viewers than the Democrats, look for a major Republican turnout and victory in the Fall.

All of this has the television networks salivating as they know this will generate millions of dollars for their coffers. Such a cash infusion will make them stronger and more obnoxious than ever.

Perhaps the biggest difference between the two conventions is simply: there will be more police OUTSIDE of the Cleveland convention, and more police INSIDE the Philadelphia convention. Whereas there will likely be anti-Trump protesters in Cleveland to disrupt the convention, the Democrats will be fighting among themselves over the platforms of Hillary Clinton versus Bernie Sanders.

Stay tuned, it will be great political theater.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  A NEW TWIST ON THE EXISTENCE OF GOD - A popular physicist poses an interesting theory to an old argument.

LAST TIME:  WILL TRUMP SUPPORTERS DEFEND THEMSELVES? - Who will pull the trigger?

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Monday, July 11, 2016

WILL TRUMP SUPPORTERS DEFEND THEMSELVES?

BRYCE ON DEFENSE

- Who will pull the trigger?

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

We're all familiar with the anti-Trump forces protesting at Donald Trump's events. Actually, it's not so much about protesting, as much as it is about inciting a riot. Such events have been well covered by the press which have shown scenes of demonstrators in California waving Mexican flags and burning American flags. Recently, a young woman, who was a Trump supporter, tried to talk to the demonstrators and was attacked for wearing a Trump shirt.

Some of the demonstrators are from liberal organizations bent on defeating Donald Trump in the November election. Not surprising, their tactics are well choreographed. The protesters do not like Trump and do not believe he is entitled to 1st Amendment rights of free speech. In fact, they blame him, not them, for causing the disruptions as a provocateur. Make no mistake, this is anarchy in action. Emmett Rensin, an editor at Vox, a liberal on-line publication, tweeted the following on Friday, June 3rd: "Advice: If Trump comes to your town, start a riot."

Whereas the left wants to incite a disruptive incident, the Trump supporters are restraining themselves, for now. Such hatred only hurts the left in the eyes of Independent voters.

Now let's imagine a scenario where a Trump supporter is cornered by angry demonstrators threatening physical harm, and let's suppose said person is lawfully carrying a concealed weapon. Should the victim feel severely threatened, it would not be surprising for the person to draw their weapon on the anarchists. However, if the person pulls the trigger and discharges the gun, a titanic media storm will ensue much like what we saw in Ferguson and Baltimore. Even if the person was correct in using the gun to protect him/herself, it will be immaterial in the eyes of the media. The press will use this incident to slam Trump, claiming he and his supporters are out of control, and the effect could be catastrophic for the Trump campaign. This is precisely the type of incident the left is hoping for, and why they will keep encouraging it.

Should gun fire erupt on one side, it is also likely the other would return fire thereby causing a battleground even the police wouldn't be able to stop.

This is why it is important for Trump supporters to maintain their composure and do not do anything drastic. Again, Independent voters will see the rioters for what they are: anti-American thugs and criminals. By realizing this, they will likely vote for the Republican candidate.

Let's hope nobody pulls the trigger during this presidential campaign, particularly at the party conventions.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  THE 2016 PARTY CONVENTIONS - A windfall for the press.

LAST TIME:  WHO ADMINISTERS STATE GOVERNMENTS BETTER, DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS? - A new report from George Mason University says a lot.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, July 8, 2016

WHO ADMINISTERS STATE GOVERNMENTS BETTER, DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS?

BRYCE ON GOVERNMENT

- A new report from George Mason University says a lot.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Today we hear stories about the economic instability of state governments, rising taxes, potential bankruptcies, etc. Are these flukes of just bad policies and administration? According to a recent report from the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, it appears success is not by accident, and Republicans appear to do a better job than their Democratic counterparts.

The Mercatus report, titled "Ranking the States by Fiscal Condition" (June 1, 2016), examined the financial stability of the fifty states, plus Puerto Rico. The report considered debt and financial obligations, as well as state pension programs and health care benefits. Not surprising, Puerto Rico, with its pending bankruptcy, was rated dead last (#51).

The TOP 10 states demonstrating financial solvency include:

#1 Alaska
#2 Nebraska
#3 Wyoming
#4 North Dakota
#5 South Dakota
#6 Florida
#7 Utah
#8 Oklahoma
#9 Tennessee
#10 Montana

The BOTTOM 10 states not demonstrating financial stability include:

#41 Maryland
#42 New York
#43 Maine
#44 California
#45 Hawaii
#46 Kentucky
#47 Illinois
#48 New Jersey
#49 Massachusetts
#50 Connecticut
#51 Puerto Rico

Perhaps the most noteworthy observation made was that all of the Top 10 states are Republican controlled, meaning both the Governor and the legislatures are in GOP hands. Further, with the exception of Kentucky, all of the bottom 10 states, plus Puerto Rico, are controlled by the Democrats. In New Jersey, the Governor is Republican, but both houses of the legislature are controlled by the Democrats.

Let's examine the differences between #1 Alaska and #50 Connecticut. According to the Mercatus report:

Alaska: "Given Alaska's reliance on oil revenues, the state has between 22.46 and 23.44 times the cash needed to cover short-term liabilities. Revenues exceed expenses by 55 percent, producing a surplus of $8,296 per capita. On a long-run basis, net assets represent 85 percent of total assets, and liabilities are 3 percent of total assets."

Connecticut: "Connecticut's fiscal position is poor across all categories. With between only 0.46 and 1.19 times the cash needed to cover short-term liabilities, Connecticut's revenues matched only 94 percent of expenses, producing a deficit of $505 per capita. The state is heavily reliant on debt to finance its spending. With a negative net asset ratio of -0.88 and liabilities exceeding assets by 34 percent, per capita debt is $9,077. Total debt is $20.88 billion. Unfunded pensions are $83.31 billion on a guaranteed-to-be-paid basis, and other postemployment benefits (OPEB) are $19.53 billion. Total liabilities are equal to 53 percent of total state personal income."

The difference between the two states is rather obvious, one has developed assets and works to live within its means; the other relies on deficit spending thereby adding to the state's debt.
Beyond assets and liabilities, the programs established for social services and employment varies. For example, with the exception of Alaska, all of the Top 10 are "Right to Work" states, and none of the Bottom 10 have a "Right to Work" program.

From the Mercatus report, you can conclude Republican states take their fiduciary responsibility more seriously. The Democratic states seem to possess a credit card mentality where they spend and spend on social programs and civic projects without considering how to pay for them, causing the states to lean towards a Puerto Rican bankruptcy scenario.

I invite you to examine the report and consider how well your state is managing its financial resources. Click HERE.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WILL TRUMP SUPPORTERS DEFEND THEMSELVES? - Who will pull the trigger?

LAST TIME:  TRUMP'S GOAL: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - The benefits from becoming the world's energy merchants.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

TRUMP'S GOAL: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

BRYCE ON ENERGY

- The benefits from becoming the world's energy merchants.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

On May 26th, 2016, Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump issued "AN AMERICA FIRST ENERGY PLAN" whereby he claims, "Under my presidency, we will accomplish complete American energy independence."
He goes on to say, "American energy dominance will be declared a strategic economic and foreign policy goal of the United States." When I read this, it was music to my ears as someone from the United States finally figured out the importance of energy independence and wants to go beyond mere words to physical implementation.

Unfortunately, Mr. Trump's plan didn't receive much attention from the press, in fact it was buried and dismissed as insignificant. However, his point is incredibly important to our country.

Trump's declaration is reminiscent of 1962, when President Kennedy challenged the country to put a man on the moon by the end of the decade, and by doing so established a national objective for us to aspire to. We met that goal and won the space race. In the process, we created new technologies, industries, jobs, and promoted education in the process. Basically, it reinvigorated the country, bringing us out of the doldrums, and created a boom-time in business. It was a win-win scenario all around, but that was then, this is now. Today, the space program is considered passé and the country is experiencing economic stagnation. Frankly, we don’t know where we are going anymore, except possibly in circles.

We should learn a thing or two from Kennedy’s challenge and establish a new goal. Perhaps it should be underwater research, fix the national infrastructure, or devise a new rapid transit system. To Trump, the logical choice should be to establish energy independence as our national priority, thereby freeing us from Middle Eastern entanglements and economic extortion.

Such a national goal would invigorate education, particularly in the areas of geology, engineering, and mathematics. New technologies would inevitably be devised to access and cultivate energy resources. We already know there are huge reserves of untapped oil, gas, and coal in this country which we should capitalize on. Beyond this, there is the prospect of nuclear, wind, solar, and oceanic energies which we should continue to pursue. Whoever masters the energy resources of the world commands their own destiny. Currently though, we are forced to dance to somebody else’s fiddle which does not bode well for our economic well-being.

4.3 billion barrels of oil have been discovered in Montana and North Dakota, easily dwarfing oil production in the Middle East. We are also sitting on a huge gas field in Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio, and Western New York. And let us not forget the other billions of barrels of oil in Alaska and off our shores. Such resources offer a golden opportunity to relieve our economic plight as exemplified by the current oil rush in North Dakota and Montana where jobs are aplenty.

The challenge, of course, is extracting the energy without harming our environment, which is why we need a national challenge to meet our demand without hurting ourselves. Like Kennedy, this requires presidential leadership which, unfortunately, is lacking at this time. The benefits are simply too numerous to overlook. A national energy objective would put the country back to work, promote education, research and development of technology, and free us from foreign entanglements which have plagued us for years.

Trump's statement of our national resolve could work wonders for us right now. It would give us a sense of direction and hope. There are countries who command gold reserves, diamonds and minerals, etc. Frankly, I’ll settle for being the energy merchant of the world. Everybody else will be forced to fall in line behind us.

Tree huggers, climate control people, and Democrats in general are wary of such a national goal, claiming it will hurt the environment. However, if we applied a little commonsense and a lot of research into it, I'm confident we can overcome their objections. The benefits of energy independence are simply too numerous to overlook any longer. If we had energy independence, we could then easily pay for such things as underwater research, fix the national infrastructure, or devise a new rapid transit system. It would be chicken feed.

Trump is right on this one, and we should openly commend and support such a program.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  WHO ADMINISTERS STATE GOVERNMENTS BETTER, DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS? - A new report from George Mason University says a lot.

LAST TIME:  THE DARK SIDE OF THE PRESS - How the carpet bombing of news can produce unsavory results.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.

Friday, July 1, 2016

THE DARK SIDE OF THE PRESS

BRYCE ON THE MEDIA

- How the carpet bombing of news can produce unsavory results.

(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

We recently witnessed an incident at the Cincinnati Zoo whereby a four year old boy fell into a gorilla habitat and was discovered by a rather large lowland silver-back gorilla named "Harambe." I think just about everyone has now seen the footage.

Fearing for the child's safety, zookeepers had to act fast. A tranquilizer shot may have produced unpredictable and disastrous results. Therefore, a life or death decision had to be made to shoot the gorilla and save the child. What ensued was an inordinate amount of press coverage resulting in a flurry of condemnation from people around the world complaining the zoo had mishandled the affair.

Could the mother have taken better precaution to watch her child? Undoubtedly. Nevertheless, the boy fell into the moat with Harambe and a quick decision had to be made. Frankly, I think zoo officials made the right decision. Although it was unfortunate to destroy the gorilla, human life should take precedence. Would the zookeepers have acted differently if it was the lion or tiger habitat? Unlikely.

What is perhaps more frightening is how the press was able to stir up outrage over the incident. All of the news networks showed the video of the gorilla and child, and interviewed people, both professional and John Q. Public, about their opinion. In the end, it was the zoo's responsibility and they handled it professionally. If anything, I am sure they will be reviewing safety precautions around the exhibits.

The press simply beat this story to death, resulting in negative publicity for both the zoo and the child's family. On-line petitions have also been introduced with thousands of signatures and comments, many of which sounded like a lynch mob. Frankly, the people should stand down and let public officials perform their investigations. Regardless of the outcome, the people will not be satisfied.

The public outrage generated by the press was essentially no different than what followed the deaths of Trayvon Martin in Florida, Michael Brown in Missouri, and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, and we are all familiar with the repercussions from these stories. In all three instances, the public cried out for retribution before authorities finished their investigation.

A lot of this can be attributed to what I call the "carpet bombing" of news by the media. Instead of allowing officials to do their job, the press beats a story to death and whips the public into a frenzy. Whether it is Florida, Ferguson, Baltimore, and now Cincinnati, the press should bear a share of the responsibility for provoking public uproar. For example, the family of the four year old boy went into seclusion in fear of being attacked by the public.

Regrettably, the press has the uncanny ability to jump to conclusions and judge people in the court of public opinion. Instead of being considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, it is now just the opposite. Frankly, the actions of the press are reprehensible.

Having spent many years in Cincinnati, I have known the zoo to be a world class facility and took my children there many times when they were young. I hope the citizens of Cincinnati will rally to support it. As for the press, until such time as the investigation is completed, the press should cover another story. Please don't tell me there's nothing going on in the Middle East, or with Russia's Putin, the economy, or the presidential campaign trail; just move along.

Also published with News Talk Florida.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP:  TRUMP'S GOAL: ENERGY INDEPENDENCE - The benefits from becoming the world's energy merchants.

LAST TIME:  HILLARY CLINTON IN DENIAL - The report from the Inspector General may hurt her irreparably.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; KIT-AM (1280) in Yakima, Washington "The Morning News" with hosts Dave Ettl & Lance Tormey (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific); and WWBA-AM (News Talk Florida 820). Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube.