THE POLITICAL MISCALCULATIONS OF THE DEMOCRATS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- How their tactics backfired.

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As expected, this has been an extraordinary midterm election thus far. The Democrats are desperate for a win in order to survive. To do so, they have raised considerable money for Congressional and State races, and tried to create controversy in the court of public opinion. Democrat Congressional candidates alone raised more than one billion dollars for their campaigns, a new record. According to the Campaign Finance Institute, sixty-two House races exceeded $1 million in expenditures (compared to 20 in 2016).

Such expenditures were to be expected, as the Democrats want to retake one or both chambers of Congress, but what about their message?

The Democrats tried to raise the ire of the people on more than one occasion during this political season. Unfortunately, it backfired on them time and again; to illustrate:

* During the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Democrats characterized him as a deceitful sex offender and expressed their indignation as to his nomination. This may have fired up their base, but it also inflamed their Republican opponents who took this as a call to action and energized their voting. This alone may have cost the Democrats the election.

* Immigration was used twice during this campaign by the Democrats; first, their indignation over separating children from their parents who entered the country illegally. The second was "The Caravan" of Central Americans marching towards the United States bent on entering any way possible. How this group was organized and funded is suspicious, but unlike the Democrats prepared to welcome them with open arms, the country is now acutely aware of the problems with illegal immigration. This has caused them to adamantly support President Trump's southern wall, and call for revised immigration laws. The people realize neither will happen with a Congress controlled by the Democrats. Hence, a push back by the country.

* Health Care continues to be their main message going into this election. The fact remains that Obamacare was a disaster and left a bad taste in the mouths of people. The Democrats may think it is important, but they cannot convince the public their party has the answer for it, other than an unworkable $32.5 trillion boondoggle. In other words, their credibility is shot and the public is willing to wait for a new Congressional term to address the problem.

* The Democrats' attacks on President Trump have continued unabated since he first took office. Despite all of their complaints and accusations, his popularity continues to grow. The reason is simple, he understands the wants and needs of the people, which is why he focused on re-igniting the economy and putting the country back to work. By doing so, he has won over the support of steel workers, coal miners, auto workers, farmers, African-Americans, Latinos, and women, people who had traditionally voted for Democrats.

The re-charged economy is the Achilles' Heel for the Democrats, which explains why they try to sidetrack the American people with Justice Kavanaugh, immigration, and health care, all aimed at distracting people from the real issue of this election: peace and prosperity.

By taking the tactic of creating turmoil, the Democrats have actually done the Republicans a great service by causing high anxiety among the voters, fearing the gravy train may be coming to an abrupt end, thereby stimulating people to vote. Add on to this the surly temperament and mob action of the Democrats, and people will naturally gravitate away from such shenanigans.

The point is, instead of proposing legislation, the Democrats have done nothing more than create high anxiety among the populace who will naturally vote for stability as opposed to helter-skelter. In this way, the Democrats face another loss in 2018, and once again they will wonder why.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

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GOODBYE SEARS, FAREWELL OLD FRIEND

BRYCE ON LIFE

- We're going to miss you.

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No doubt you have heard about Sears recently filing for bankruptcy. The one-time retail giant has been facing crippling losses over the last few years which caused vendors to stop shipping supplies to their stores. It now owes billions of dollars which will likely not be paid back.

At one time there were over 4,000 Sears stores throughout North America. That number has dwindled to less than 700 with liquidation sales to begin shortly.

Sears originally started out as a mail order house, then expanded to stores both in urban and suburban areas, but they eventually felt the competition of discount retailers and specialty stores, such as Walmart and Home Depot, and their market share fell. The knockout punch was the Internet, an area they entered too late allowing others to dominate the market.

To me, it seemed like Sears was with us forever. No matter where I lived, there was always a Sears store nearby. It was dependable, consistent, and good value. It was also clean and meticulously organized, making it easy to find whatever you were looking for. If you couldn't find it, the clerks would be glad to direct you to it and answer any question you might have. As such, the store was like an old, reliable uncle or friend in the neighborhood. You were comfortable in it and, unlike other stores with unthinking clerks, you liked to visit if, for no other reason, than to browse the aisles. This is why I consider this news about the company closing as a sad sign of our changing culture.

As a kid, my brother and I would love to page through the Sears catalog as we approached Christmas time, oohing and ah-hing at the latest toys, and dogear the pages we wanted our parents to see.

Sears was the home of Kenmore appliances, Craftsman tools, and DieHard batteries, products you always had confidence in. A Craftsman tool case was perhaps the most coveted prize to have in your garage. My family bought many a lawn mower at Sears over the years, and had them serviced there as well. Their hallmark was fast, reliable, and dependable service.

The Sears auto repair centers also had a good reputation for reliable work at reasonable prices. If the service man said you needed a new belt on your engine, you knew it wasn't a con job. Nearby was their key center where you could have a duplicate key made quickly. As a lad, I loved watching the people make keys.

Having lived in Chicago, we were all familiar with the Sears Tower which, at the time was the tallest building in the world. It was a dramatic symbol of stability and strength for the company. Chicagoans would later be shocked when it was sold and renamed the Willis Tower, but even today, natives still refer to it by its original name.

This is why the passing of Sears is so troubling and unimaginable to a lot of us. It was a beloved institution which was trusted, possessed a great reputation and was a pleasure to frequent. We were so confident in its durability that it causes us to reflect on our own frailties. Maybe the problem was they simply overextended themselves and no longer could compete with the discount houses anymore. I find it rather ironic that Sears, which was originally devised as a mail order house, fell prey to the 21st century version of the same; you know, the Internet.

And so we turn another page in our culture.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

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MORE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS RUN AMOK

BRYCE ON POLITICAL CORRECTNESS

- We need to study all of our history, not just selected chapters.

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At a recent rally in Lebanon, Ohio (10/12/2018), President Trump happened to bring up the names of the two most famous generals of the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, describing them both as "great." Liberals accepted Grant's name as he was the Union general, but were outraged for recognizing Lee as the commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Here we have another example of political correctness running amok in this country. Even NBC misquoted the President and was forced to apologize later, but the damage had been done. Liberals were incensed the President would recognize Lee at all, someone they bitterly viewed as a racist.

As I grew up in the north, I was taught the North had their generals, and the South had theirs. The emphasis was on their military tactics and strategies, not their politics. The Union won, the Confederacy lost, and a lot of people died in the process. We recognized the North had generals they were proud of, as did the South, and it basically ended there.

Now, in the 21st century, we are being taught by the Left to never discuss anyone in the Confederate States of America (CSA), as they were all allegedly racist. This is simply foolish as the War between the States, is an epochal event in the development of our country and there are many lessons to be learned. However, liberals would rather have us ignore it as the old racist attitudes of the South are too offensive by today's standards. I'm sorry, but burying your head in the sand is just plain foolish.

I would remind my liberal friends of a few simple facts about General Lee.

* When war broke out, President Lincoln offered Lee the command of northern forces. However, he turned it down as he couldn't go against his beloved Virginia.

* Lee had served as Superintendent of the Military Academy at West Point, where many of the cadets were trained and would later serve both the North and the South.

* Lee knew Grant through the Mexican-American War, when Lee was Major and Grant a Lieutenant. At the Appomattox surrender, the two chatted briefly of their days in that war.

* Arlington National Cemetery was Lee's home prior to the war. Following heavy losses after the Battle of the Wilderness, the U.S. Army Quartermaster commandeered Lee's home and buried the Union dead there.

* After the Civil War, Lee became the president of Washington College in Lexington, Virginia where he ably served for five years before passing away. To honor him, the college was renamed "Washington and Lee University" and this name carries forward to today.

Regardless of his position on slavery, militarily, historians agree he was a great general, having defeated Union forces many times, particularly in the early part of the war. He surrendered after his losses in the North, Union victories in the South, and the depletion of supplies, making victory untenable.

One little bit of trivia most liberals are unaware of is their beloved U.S. Grant, who went on to switch parties and become a Republican and 18th President of the United States, was a slave owner prior to the start of the war (while he was still a Democrat).

History isn't always pretty. In fact, it can be quite ugly, but we should study it nonetheless to learn its lessons and avoid making the same mistakes a second time. Instead, Liberals believe this ugly chapter of our history should be removed from the history books completely. This is censorship at its worse.

The Civil War was what it was. We cannot change it by political correctness or deleting chapters. We must look at it in its entirety, warts and all.

I'm just disappointed we have to keep fighting the Civil War over and over again.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

DON'T YOU FEEL BETTER?

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Stop asking. It's annoying.

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Some of you will remember a few years ago, I started to clean up my act. This usually happens in your sixties as you start to notice your friends beginning to pass away. I've been on this trip for at least three years now. Inevitably, people ask me how I feel. Well, I'll tell you...

CIGARS

I stopped smoking cigars three years ago as I found I wasn't really enjoying them anymore. It was an expensive habit which caused me to think about my health. People gave me a lot of "atta boy" compliments at the time as they admired my fortitude to quit. Recently though, somebody asked me if I felt better for staying off cigars for so long. Frankly, No, I didn't feel any better or worse for it. Shortly thereafter I quietly had a smoke with a friend and felt no different afterwards. I do not smoke as regularly as before, but I will sneak one now and then.

EXERCISE

I've been going to the gym regularly now for two years as part of my effort to reduce weight and improve myself physically. I'm still fairly strong but when I'm asked afterwards if I feel better for exercising, I most emphatically answer, "No." True, my muscle tone is better but I still feel the wear and tear of osteoarthritis, so I certainly do not come out of the gym dancing.

ALCOHOL

I knocked my sugar levels down by cutting fruit juices and soft drinks out of my diet, but I also gave up alcohol in the process. This is perhaps the biggest reason for my loss of weight. I imbibed in a glass of Scotch whiskey now and then as there is no sugar in it, but I certainly missed a quiet beer at the end of the day. Again, I've been asked, "Don't you feel better?" No, not really. My sugar numbers are excellent now, so once in awhile I'll treat myself to an ice cold Lite beer. I had forgotten how good it tasted.

FOOD

Based on my doctor's advice, I learned to avoid bread, pasta and sweets. It didn't bother me to drop the pasta and sweets, but I missed the bread. I haven't had a Publix sub in probably two years, and I eat mostly protein. I still stick to this regimen, but do I feel any better? Of course not.

WEIGHT

Between the exercise, change in diet and less alcohol, I dropped a significant amount of weight. Do I feel any better from losing the weight? Yes, but I sure do miss the Publix subs. The only problem I encountered along the way was my relatives who started to say I looked too skinny and sickly. You have to remember, these are the same people who encouraged me to lose the weight in the beginning. The lesson here is simple, you cannot win, no matter what you do.
 

Net, net, net, do I really feel better? Not really. I could keep on knocking myself out concentrating on my health, but I would probably miss the little things in life that make it enjoyable, such as an occasional cigar, a cold libation, and something decent to eat. I guess it is all a matter of moderation.

Now stop asking.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE DEMOCRATS GO DOWN KICKING AND SCREAMING

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- "...if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and or the Senate, that's when civility can start again." - Hillary Clinton

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Over the last few years, the Democrats have tried to characterize their GOP opponents as racists, Fascists, xenophobes, homophobes, and yaddy yadda. These were all carried forward by the grassroots of their party to the point they chant it upon request. Hillary Clinton coined the word "deplorables" which was intended to take a swipe at the intelligence level of Republicans. It backfired though and became a Badge of Honor to some who proudly declared themselves as "deplorable Republicans."

Recently, I heard one talking head for the Democrats refer to Justice Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court as the start of the "1000 year Reich" (referring to Nazi Germany's Third Reich). Such an insult indicates the strain the Democrats are under to win in the midterm elections.

The intolerance of the left is also seen in the suppression of freedom of speech, particularly on college campuses who do not allow conflicting opinions other than the dogma of the Democrats. This has turned into some particularly ugly confrontations where Republican voices have been thwarted. This unidirectional approach to free speech helped trigger the #walkaway movement where Democrats who do not like what they see are divorcing themselves from their party.

Despite the outcome in the Justice Kavanaugh hearing, the Democrats persist in calling for his ouster. Senate Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi wants to release the FBI investigation to the public, and Congressional Democrats are threatening impeachment proceedings, assuming they take control of the Congress in November. In other words, they have no intention of giving up on Mr. Kavanuagh until he is removed from the Supreme Court. This is easier said than done. The last time a Justice was impeached by the House was Samuel Chase in 1805. Interestingly, the Senate acquitted him and Chase remained in office. As an aside, Justice Chase was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a representative of Maryland.

My concern though is the rising discord and belligerent behavior as seen at the Justice Kavanaugh confirmation in the U.S. Senate and on the Supreme Court steps. This could all easily escalate to violence as exemplified at a recent Antifa demonstration in Portland, Oregon, where police appeared reluctant to challenge the group. It appears this is becoming a regular happening within the city.

As we approach the midterm elections, I'm becoming concerned we will see intimidation at the voting precincts as we did in Philadelphia during the 2008 election. It is not difficult to believe young members of the far left may be organized and ready to stop Republicans from voting. I certainly hope this won't happen, but the Democrats are growing more desperate each day as their polling numbers plummet following the Kavanaugh controversy.

Their anger has been piqued by a president who is finally not afraid to stand up to the Democrats and related news media. The fact President Trump has been able to accomplish so much in his first two years of office, and undo a lot of the work of his predecessor, has enraged his opponents. The difference between this president and others is that he is a no-nonsense businessman who demands results, not a politician who is content to play political games.

As President Trump recently said at a rally in Topeka, Kansas (10/6/2018), "The Democrats have become too extreme and too dangerous to govern. Republicans believe in the rule of law, not the rule of the mob... You don't hand matches to an arsonist, and you don't give power to an angry left wing mob - and that's what they've become."

The President's message resonates with voters who prefer peace and prosperity over turmoil. By cultivating a culture of upheaval, the Democrats have ignored the economy. They also do not comprehend why most Americans want secured borders and immigration reform. Instead, they persist in the elimination of borders and promote Sanctuary Cities. This is simply a refutation of law and order, which may sit well with illegal immigrants (and potential future voters), but not with responsible American citizens.

Yes, it appears the tables have turned and the Democrats have been revealed to be the true party of hate. It is obvious they won't give up, not unless they are voted out of office.

One last note, to those of you faced with angry Democrats who confront you and call you names, do not stoop to their level. Just back away from them. If you're on social media, just delete their hate and your relationship with them. When all they can do is talk to themselves, you've won.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

WHY DON'T ALL WOMEN VOTE DEMOCRAT?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Because they all have brains.

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The Democrats desperately want the world to believe they have a monopoly on the female vote; that a vote for a Democrat candidate is the only logical choice. They further contend any woman voting for a Republican is either a fool or being controlled by their spouse. It is simply beyond their comprehension that women would support President Trump, a Republican running for election, or Brett Kavanaugh. They just don't get it.

The reality is this is their way of manipulating women through intimidation. They are hoping women will vote in accordance with their gender. I guess this means men should only vote for male candidates, right?

They are also hoping women will say something like, "I better vote for the Democrats so I don't appear stupid. What would my friends say if I voted Republican?" Even worse, Democrats assume Republican women are not smart enough to make their own decisions and if they vote for a GOP candidate, they are being unpatriotic.

This is political brainwashing at its best. The Democrats honestly believe such intimidation works, and maybe it does for the unsophisticated, but I believe women are smarter than this, at least the ones I've met in my journey through life. I have found most women do not like to discuss politics among themselves in social settings as they do not want to alienate anyone, but they do indeed possess opinions and vote accordingly.

In the 2016 election, the Democrats believed women would overwhelmingly support Mrs. Clinton. They were aghast that President Trump won white women votes by 52% to 43%. Mrs. Clinton won the minority female vote but this may very well change in the upcoming midterm elections as the economy has improved dramatically for African-Americans, Asians, and women (the unemployment rate for Women fell to its lowest level in 65 years). Instead of working to change the economy for the better for women, Democrats do nothing more than perpetuate the myth that women are non-thinking robots who must vote for liberal causes. I'm sorry, but that ship sailed a long time ago.

If the Democrats honestly believe this, they are making a "huge" mistake with women voters. This suggestion women should only vote for "the party of feminism" is insulting to many, causing women to push back and vote Republican.

The Democrats' attacks on Justice Kavanaugh during his recent hearings did not go unnoticed. Young liberal women might have been offended, but older women, more in tune with what is happening economically and politically in this country, did not buy it. In fact, they were more offended by the female protesters demonstrating on the Supreme Court steps, and in the gallery of the U.S. Senate. Their obnoxious behavior was more of a turnoff to women as opposed to causing them to embrace the demonstrators' position. As one female friend told me, “Democrat Women are shrill, toxic and no lipstick!” What the Democrats do not seem to realize is civility is still preferred over boisterous and repugnant protests.

This presumption that women should only vote for Democrats has been going on for quite some time, and frankly, it is not taken seriously anymore. By trying to brow-beat women into voting for their candidates, as opposed to developing legislation to help women, the Democrats have put themselves on a path of self-destruction.

It will be interesting to see the voter demographics when this midterm election is concluded. If more women vote for Republicans than Democrats in the midterms, then we'll know the tactics of the Democrats no longer work.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL!

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- At least not in restaurants.

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It used to be, when you visited a restaurant or tavern, you could ask the proprietor to change the television channel to whatever you wanted to watch, assuming you were the first one there. First come, first served. It's not like that anymore, if you go to a restaurant or tavern today, you will likely not see any news channels, just sports or perhaps something mundane such as cooking, game shows, or home improvement. The one exception might be a local channel featuring weather and traffic reports, but nothing of national significance.

Television news may support political dogma, but like so many other things in our lives, it too has become politicized. Patrons today are quick to ask the manager to change the channel if the news doesn't fit their political ideology. Because of this, proprietors typically have standing orders for their employees to play nothing more than sports on television as they want to avoid arguments and fights. The one exception is a proprietor who fervently believes in a certain political persuasion and will run the news regardless of what the patrons think. Inevitably, only certain types of political patrons will gravitate to the establishment. More on this later.

Republicans prefer Fox News, while Democrats will watch just about anything else. Their preference though is for CNN and MSNBC. Interestingly, Fox News dominates cable news and even challenges the major networks. Either way, when it comes to patrons in restaurants or taverns, they are insulted by the selected news channel and make their displeasure known to the manager. This presents a "no-win" situation for the proprietor which explains why he/she avoids showing news on any TV set; period.

This phenomenon has been expanding to other establishments over the years, such as gyms. You might be able to watch news on a private screen attached to your exercise machine, but displaying news on a big screen is typically a no-no.

I've also seen this in cigar shops where smokers relax with a good smoke and talk. However, the only genre on the televisions, if they have one, is sports.

The waiting rooms in doctors' offices and hospitals also assume a no-news policy as they do not want to upset any of their patients. Instead of sports though, they will play Soap Operas and talk shows, but even this might also be politically touchy. There seems to be a movement in such environments to eliminate televisions altogether from waiting rooms, thereby leaving patients with cheap magazines to read. Even news magazines are avoided as they have also been politicized, such as "Time." Instead, these facilities typically feature publications such as "People," "Better Homes and Garden," "Southern Living," "Ladies Home Journal," "Reader's Digest" and "Sports Illustrated." I believe it's highly unlikely you'll find a a copy of "Hustler" in any of these waiting rooms.

This all hints at the political polarity of the country and why people tend to avoid discussing politics. The days of calm and civil discourse are, unfortunately, long gone. People simply do not know how to argue politely anymore. Instead, everything turns into a shouting match with profanity and name calling. It's rather sad.

If you visit a public establishment, do not expect anything other than bland television. Proprietors want to simply keep the peace. You can try to ask the manager to change the channel, but don't be offended if you receive a firm "NO!" instead. However, if you are allowed to change the channel, make sure you have the approval of everyone else in the facility.

One last note: Some restaurants and taverns today are bucking conventional wisdom by designing their establishments around political agendas in the hopes of establishing a local support group (and increase sales in the process). Some are designed specifically to attract Republicans, others for Democrats. I haven't seen anything yet for Libertarians, Communists or the Green Party, then again, maybe they don't imbibe.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

ARE DEMOCRATS EVIL?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- As we approach election time, people are beginning to ask.

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Democrats are becoming concerned over a growing characterization depicting them as "evil." They genuinely do not understand how they earned this moniker and feel it is an unfair accusation. Let's see if we can sort this out.

For something or someone to be evil, it has to be "profoundly immoral and malevolent." This means their perspective of the world and its governing precepts are at odds with the status quo, e.g., the acceptable form of behavior. This means an evil person is willing to wrong, cheat, defraud, bear false witness, plot foul play, threaten, or render harm onto others. Ridicule is one thing, defamation of character is another, there's a big difference. Such an interpretation of evil is universally applicable and transcends political parties.

In very broad strokes, Democrats prefer Socialism as opposed to Capitalism, which the country is based. It also means they believe in a redistribution of the wealth so everyone is tended to financially, regardless if they earned it or not. This means they believe in the control of society, including business. They are not very interested in the rights of the individual as prescribed by the U.S. Constitution, believing the average human being is not smart enough to manage their own affairs, hence the need for expanded government control which becomes invasive in all facets of our lives.

Such a philosophy is in sharp contrast to the Constitution which is aimed at defending the inalienable rights of the individual. Not surprising, Democrats would like to see the Constitution superseded by a substantially revised document affecting such things as the elimination of the Electoral College, realignment of the Congress and Supreme Court, modifying the rights in the Bill of Rights to usurp the individual's rights, most notably the right to bear arms. In a nutshell, their ultimately aim is total control of the country.

Believing in such concepts is not necessarily evil, except for the fact they are in sharp contrast to the status quo. More importantly, it is the tactics they use in attaining their goals that must be scrutinized.

If they are prepared to lie, cheat, defraud, bear false witness, assassinate character, and more, to achieve their ends, then "Yes" they are most definitely evil. Now we are learning about "doxing," a new expression describing the malicious publishing of private information about someone over the Internet. This is closely related to "leaking" information to the press or a foreign power, all of which is illegal, of course. Heckling politicians or banning people from restaurants because of their political persuasion is not just obnoxious behavior without any sensitivity to common courtesy, it is also threatening the safety of the person being targeted; this is also known as "bullying."

This all comes down to the Democrats' perspective on the rule of law. During the recent hearings on Judge Kavanaugh, a double-standard emerged in terms of how Democrats and Republicans should be treated. Whereby they were obsessed with the alleged indiscretions of Kavanuagh, they were indifferent about Keith Ellison's abuse accusations (the Deputy Chair of the Democratic National Committee). Further, during the Kavanaugh hearing, the Democrats portrayed the Judge as "guilty until proven innocent," using the media to spin their perspective. As we all know, in our legal system a person is "innocent until proven guilty." Even after the FBI investigation cleared the Judge, the Democrats refused to acknowledge so.

It appears the resistance movement, featuring heckling and demonstrations, is funded by Billionaire George Soros. If this is so, Soros is truly evil as he hires people to do his bidding for him. As to the Democrats who specialize in harassment tactics and intimidation, they are either willing pawns of their Party or complicit in organizing and executing such events. Whereas there is no excuse for the former, the latter group is genuinely evil.

Then there are the Congressional obstructionists. The strategy itself is perfectly acceptable as it follows the rules, but when it crosses over the line of fairness and decency through lies and slander, then it is evil. For example, in the Kavanaugh hearing, the Democrats' delay tactics were actually some pretty clever political maneuvering, but the "search and destroy" smear campaign they created against the Judge was simply diabolical. Then, by feigning innocence, they add insult to injury. Interestingly, their tactics galvanized Republicans going into the midterm elections, a byproduct the Democrats had not anticipated.

For those Democrat moderates, which seem to be growing fewer and fewer each day, who voice their concerns and displeasure, No, they are not evil, assuming they are not calling for harm to others or the overthrow of the government through unlawful means. They are just speaking their minds, but are willing to observe the rule of law.

Many Democrats follow the mantra of "the end justifies the means," a tactic encouraged by Saul Alinsky, meaning anything is fair in order to win in politics, regardless if it is legal or not. More than anything, it is this supposition which is leading Democrats to practice immoral behavior. This is their green light to become belligerent.

All of this has led to extreme tension in the nation's capitol, taking it to a heightened level, well beyond simple gridlock, to fear and anger. I do not recall such tension back in the 1960's which is considered a flashpoint in American history. It's more akin to the discourse leading up to the Civil War. This would be unfortunate if it leads to violence, but judging by the polarity of the country, it might be inevitable.

One last note; as to the news media who spreads "fake news" or discriminates in story coverage in the hopes of altering people's perspectives of facts and events, including deception and fraud, Yes, they are just plain wicked.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE PROBLEM WITH POLLS

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Only 51% of us agree...

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As this is an election year we are again being bombarded by polls from the media telling us how everyone thinks about meaningless issues and who has already won the election. 63% of my readership agrees that the media has gone overboard in conducting polls; and 20% believe they should be horsewhipped for trying to influence the election. Interestingly, 5.6% of Lithuanian readers in the Southwest believe I am just being an alarmist.

People who own Shar-Pei puppies in eastern Wisconsin generally like the media's news coverage, but Pit Bull owners in Teaneck, New Jersey have stopped watching television altogether. I also found 78% of Catholics in Western New York mourned the passing of Burt Reynolds, while 20% of those surveyed preferred green chilies with their eggs in the morning.

34% of the people polled thought President Trump's hair looked odd, while another 36% objected to Hillary Clinton's Chinese jumpsuits. Remarkably, a whopping 60% didn't know who Trump and Clinton were and thought Ronald Reagan should whip incumbent Jimmy Carter in the Fall.

There has been an 8% rise in young voter registration for the election this year, 12% of which speak Ebonics, 23% speak Spanish, and 65% were incapable of comprehending the English language. There has also been a 15% rise in voter registration around Chicago cemeteries.

36% of the readership thought the Washington Post was excellent for wrapping fish, but 25% preferred the New York Times for lining bird cages.

Perhaps the most interesting fact is that only 6% trust the media, including the polls. A whopping 27% think the publications and polls are run by uninformed nincompoops, and 58% believe they are run by Socialists with a political agenda.

The rest are undecided.

First published: July 21, 2008 (revisions included)

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN NOVEMBER?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- A lot depends on how we vote.

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Absentee ballots will be out soon and, in many states, early voting is in the offing (Florida begins October 22nd). In other words, it's show time for the midterm elections. As usual, I will be studying the early voting numbers coming from the Board of Elections. This is the most reliable way of projecting the outcome, certainly not the polls. Traditionally, Democrats do not like to vote in midterms as they believe it to be frivolous, but I think we are about to witness a record breaking race in terms of votes cast.

The Democrats are desperate for a win and, as such, have pulled out all the stops to regain both chambers of Congress, as well as state and local governments. However, their obstruction/resistance tactics have not gone unnoticed by the public as typified by Judge Kavanaugh's hearing, a well orchestrated attempt to besmirch the character of President Trump's nominee and delay the proceedings until after the election. The Democrats never had any intention to vote for Judge Kavanaugh under any circumstance and said so before his name was even put forward by the President. Their attack on the Judge will likely backfire as it will cause Independents and energized Republicans to push back by turning out in record numbers to vote for Republican candidates in the election.

Evidence the push back has already begun was produced in the form of a recent Gallup report, "Republican Party Favorability Highest in Seven Years," whereby the favorability rating towards the GOP among Republicans and Independents grew from 67% last September to 85% now.

Their constituents might find their antics amusing, but the Democrats' shady tactics is costing them the confidence of Independents. They have simply tweaked the public's nose one too many times. Democrats feign innocence when their tactics are discussed. This means they are either naive or complicit.

Despite the obstruction/resistance tactics of the Democrats, President Trump and the Republicans have already been able to:

– Raise the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 4.2%
– Create 3.7 million new jobs since he took office.
– Lower unemployment to 3.9%.
– Lower African-American and Hispanic unemployment to the lowest levels in history.
– Lower the unemployment rate for Women to its lowest level in 65 years.
– Reduce the number of people on food stamps (a reduction of 3.5 million Americans).
– The tax cuts have put more money in people’s pockets and caused businesses to reinvest in the United States.
– Raise oil production to new highs.
– For the first time ever, America has become an exporter of Natural Gas.
– The country will soon be the largest energy producer.
- Replaced NAFTA with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
- Negotiating fair trade deals with other countries, including the EU, India, Japan, South Korea, China, and others.
– This is all causing the Trade Deficit to fall.
- Tighten security for illegal immigration.
- Upgrade the military and tended to the well-being of veterans.

This is not speculation, this is fact.

These accomplishments have put people back to work, put more money in their pockets, created jobs, brought companies back to our shores, and given workers a renewed sense of pride. This was certainly not due to any policies of the Obama administration which ended with a paltry 1.8% GDP and 4.7% unemployment rate. And let us not forget Congressional Democrats fought these economic changes every step of the way.

Our economic prosperity is causing people to abandon the Democrats, including steel workers, coal miners, union workers, auto workers, and many others; people who traditionally gravitated toward the Democrats but now feel abandoned by them. In their place, the Democrats have embraced an influx of Socialists who believe in redistributing the wealth.

The Independents have taken notice and do not want to return to the old days of a stagnant economy. They want to move forward instead.

So what does it mean to vote for the Democrats this Fall?

* There would be a a rise in taxes and influx of new regulations, causing the economy to falter and stimulate unemployment. In other words, it would take us back to the dark days of President Obama.

* The rise of taxes and regulations would inevitably cause companies to once again flee the country, taking their precious jobs with them. This time, they might not come back.

* The country would move towards a Socialist agenda, including "Medicare for all," an expensive proposition that would further hurt the economy.

* The Democrats would likely eliminate ICE, restrain law enforcement, stop construction of the southern wall, expand Sanctuary Cities, and give illegal aliens the right to vote. Crime would inevitably flourish under this scenario.

* The Democrats would likely curb military spending, and redirect funds for entitlement programs.

* The House of Representatives would begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump, but this would likely not pass the Senate.

* We would also witness further decay of our moral values. The Democrats' tactic of winning at all costs, regardless of legality, presents a problem. Heckling, profanity, ridicule, deceit and destruction have replaced civility, common courtesy, and respect for the human spirit. In other words, they have sacrificed dignity and social grace to loudly demand what they want. Voting for the Democrats means this is an acceptable form of behavior. Such conduct is being emulated in general society and having an adverse affect on our morality, as pointed out by Gallup in their report, "Americans Hold Record Liberal Views on Most Moral Issues." It is no small wonder the country no longer has respect for the rule of law, be it in schools, offices, or in the streets.

So, understanding what the Republicans have accomplished, and the consequences of the Democrats' agenda, the question becomes, "Why would anyone vote for the Democrats?" Only a handful of responses come to mind, such as party loyalty, naiveté, the desire to promote a Socialist agenda, extreme hatred for the President and Republicans, deception by the party, ignorance, or just plain stupidity. There is no other logical explanation.

As one friend recently said to me, "Name ONE THING Democrats have done to make your life better in the last two years." I can't answer that one, can you?

The Democrats are desperate. In the waning days of the election, the rhetoric emanating from Congressional Democrats will be particularly loud and visceral. They're pseudo-indignation masks what they fear most, losing in November. They have hit rock-bottom and want to take the rest of the country down with them. I have never seen a midterm election so glaringly black-and-white as this one. We will be voting either for turmoil or peace & prosperity.

I am once again hearing rumblings of revolution should the Democrats lose. To those who want revolution; bring it on! There are plenty of people still willing to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.

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 40 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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

THE PROBLEM WITH TALKING HEADS

BRYCE ON THE NEWS MEDIA

- "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena..."

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I was at a local watering hole recently with a friend where there were multiple television screens on the wall showing various sports. We were primarily interested in a particular baseball game which we watched for about an hour. Next to the game was another screen featuring five talking heads analyzing sports. Both sets were muted as there was already too much noise in the establishment. We had no problem watching the game, which was actually pleasurable without the constant chatter of a pompous announcer, but the talking heads were rather amusing as they chatted and argued in a very animated manner. I didn't know what they were saying, but the histrionics was rather obvious.

While I was sitting there, with the televisions side-by-side, it occurred to me that whatever the talking heads were saying was inconsequential as what really mattered were the players and coaches having to actually play the game. I suspect the talking heads were intelligent, and good speakers, but I wouldn't be surprised if none of them had actually played the sport.

I'm not sure why we watch such people (I chose to watch the game instead), but I suspect people tune into such shows to learn some inside tips, to find out what people are saying about their favorite teams, and to form opinions. It's certainly not for entertainment.

Years ago, sporting events were televised with limited opinions from sportscasters, just play-by-play normally. This all changed with Howard Cosell on ABC's Monday Night Football who would chatter incessantly throughout the game. It was also at this time when saloons started to hold raffles with the winner being allowed to throw a brick through the TV screen the moment Cosell's image appeared.

We also see this same phenomenon in the area of politics, where the various networks analyze the news of the day and give their spin on what it all means. Frankly, I find most of these talking heads are as accurate as the sports analysts, which is not particularly good. Again, most have not played the game, including yours truly. I may have been active in political groups and campaigns, but I have never served as a politician, at least not yet.

It bothers me the news media tries to tell the public what to think, and how to think. In other words, how to form opinions aligned with theirs. We have always been a nation who enjoys debate and studying issues, but I object to the news media trying to impose their sense of morality on me in terms of what is right and wrong.

Thanks to the Internet and social media, we now have the means to express our political opinions at a mind-boggling rate, both in volume and frequency. This means anyone with a social media account or access to a content management system (a blog), can now voice their opinion, some more eloquently than others. This means we are now being bombarded with more opinion than ever before. The reason for it is simple, the people are not happy with the rhetoric coming from the news media, and are trying to forge their own alliances. For example, in my case I have a lot of people following my columns from around the world. I have also grown from just blogging to having my articles published in other publications and my audio segments used in a variety of places.

Again, if people subscribe to the point-of-view of the talking heads, they are likely to parrot their comments through social media. Repeating the same talking point over and over again, doesn't make it right. Yes, I want people to consider my opinion, but I certainly do not have all the answers and, as such, want them to think and discuss the topics I bring before them. Maybe asking people to think for themselves is asking too much. Some people prefer to have others do the thinking for them so they can blame the person later should something go awry. Instead, I encourage people to think for themselves.

I have always tried to be fair and honest in my writings, but I am still attacked for my positions, be it in politics or business. Receiving nasty hate mail from disgruntled readers is one thing, getting banned from publications and social media groups is another. I've had to deal with both. I have also felt that if I'm not pissing someone off, I'm not doing my job.

Here is one last note for you to consider; if there were no fans, there would obviously not be any talking heads in sports. Likewise, if there were no voters, there would be no Rachel Maddow, Brian Williams, Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Chuck Todd, Lawrence O’Donnell, Anderson Cooper, Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo, et al. Frankly, I think we need to go back to throwing bricks through television screens.

We must ever be cognizant that regardless of the vitriol of the news media, what is most important is the person who is actually in the arena, striving valiantly towards a noble cause, who dares greatly by sweating and taking punishment in performing their labor, who again and again feverishly works despite suffering setbacks. Believe me, that person's perspective is much different and nobler than those timid souls who jeer from the sidelines.

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 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim's columns, see:   timbryce.com

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Copyright © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.

FINDING JESUS

BRYCE ON LIFE

- He'll be back after these words...

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I recently had a friend confide in me that he had found Jesus. Frankly, I didn't know he was missing. Religion is always a touchy subject, but in the Christian world we still find people who have sudden epiphanies about their faith. I think these are the same people who slept through Sunday School years ago and are just now catching up.

Not long ago, I went back for a high school class' reunion. I hadn't seen most of the people in quite some time. Those that were jerks in high school were still jerks as grownups. The people who were "wallflowers" in high school actually turned out quite well. However, what I found particularly interesting were the people who were heavy into alcohol and drugs or had promiscuous reputations in high school had all found Jesus. Some wore prominent crosses around their neck and it was kind of awkward trying to talk to them. When you asked them about what they were doing with their lives, they would inevitably tell you how Jesus had saved them. I never did find out anything else about them. I even had one guy quote me chapter and verse on the evils in the world today. I thanked him for his words but said I needed some more ice for my drink.

I guess the secret to finding Jesus is that you must have screwed up pretty bad somewhere along the line and, in desperation, you turn to the Bible where you have your revelation. What I find disconcerting though is that these people now feel they are authorities of the faith and unless you share their zealousness you are perceived as a heretic. I fail to see how those of us that didn't screw-up, attended church, and practiced our faith accordingly were somehow not on a par with those who just caught on.

I don't want to be too harsh on my friends who find Jesus though. After all, I would rather have them study the Bible than continue down a road of self-destruction. But guys please remember this, just because you've found the faith, doesn't mean the rest of us have been napping.

First published: May 26, 2008

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 40 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 © 2018 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.

Listen to Tim on WZIG-FM (104.1) in Palm Harbor,FL; Or tune-in to Tim's channel on YouTube. Click for TIM'S LIBRARY OF AUDIO CLIPS.