STUCK BETWEEN TWO IDEOLOGIES

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Why we argue about politics.

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I recently engaged in a discussion with two Democrat friends about the deep political divide separating America. It began when I chided them they didn't believe President Trump didn't act "presidential" enough for their tastes. It was my argument the country had suffered from people acting too "presidential," as opposed to moving the country forward, thereby leaving us with a political "swamp" in Washington, DC that stagnated the economy, trade, infrastructure and just about everything else. It was time to bring in a maverick who understood more about business and getting things done as opposed to being politically correct and bowing to the whims of the main stream media. This proposition obviously didn't change their perspective of the president.

I then contended the Democrats have turned too far to the left, and abandoned moderate Democrats in the process. I quoted the January 2019 Gallup poll which, for the first time,showed there were more liberals in the party. They reluctantly acknowledged this, but countered by saying the Republicans had turned too far to the right and, as such, we need more "compromise." The Gallup poll disputes this claim, but let's assume this is so.

The one thing we agreed on was that the country suffers from a divide among political ideologies, our system of beliefs and values, which are considered diametrically opposite. In a nutshell, I contend the "far right" believes in the 4-Cs, to wit:

CHRISTIANITY - a belief in Jesus and acceptance of all religious denominations. Such people are proud and unapologetic of their spiritual beliefs which they find comforting.

CAPITALISM - a belief that a person should be encouraged to excel; to assume risk and responsibility and, if successful, be compensated accordingly and, if a failure, learns and adapts (an evolutionary approach to business).

CONSTITUTION - a belief this is an important document guaranteeing freedoms, and an imaginative form of government featuring three separate but equal branches, and packaged as a republic, not a democracy.

CONSERVATIVE VALUES - consisting of such things as honoring our fore bearers and history, citizenship, love of country (patriotism), reverence for family, respect for life, equality, being a good neighbor, lending a helping hand, etc. And contrary to how Republicans are painted, it most certainly does not include racism.

This is what the "far right" adamantly believes and is willing to defend. My argument thereby becomes, "How do you compromise this?"

The antithesis of this ideology would be the 4-As:

ANTI-CHRISTIAN - In an April 2019 report, Gallop points out Democrats' membership in churches, synagogues, and mosques has reached a new low. From 1938 to 1999, membership averaged 70%, but since then it has steadily declined to its current level, dropping from 71% to 48%, a 23 point drop.

ANTI-CAPITALISM - the Democrats now openly embrace Socialism which requires expanded government control, the creation of government dependencies (aka, “Master/Slave” relationships), and a re-distribution of the wealth, whereby the wealthy are required to pay others who have not earned their way. By creating "entitlements," the Democrats are creating an environment whereby people are discouraged from trying harder, working harder, assuming risk, and assuming responsibility for their actions. To me, the spending spree suggested by the Democrats is nothing more than an attempt to buy votes.

ANTI-CONSTITUTION - The Democrats have made numerous attempts to undermine our governing document, as it is perceived as an antiquated encumbrance against the Democrat agenda. This is why they wish to eliminate the Electoral College, change the makeup and stature of the Supreme Court (making it subservient to the executive branch), implement gun control, and other changes to our Bill of Rights. It's all about control, not freedom. From this, one could realistically conclude the Democrats would prefer an autocratic form of government. Their insistence America is a democracy is an attempt to influence those without an education of our form of government.

ANTI-CONSERVATIVE VALUES - according to Gallop polls in 2017 and 2018, liberal positions have led to a sharp decline in morality in the country as we know it today. This is greatly assisted by the entertainment and news media who no longer feel restrained from promoting liberal values and demeaning those of conservatives. Instead, the Democrats have developed a set of moral values diametrically opposed to conservatives in an attempt to redefine history, government, freedoms and rights. Concepts such as love of country, citizenship, cherishing life, etc. are frowned upon as Democrats prefer dedication to the party instead.

My moderate Democrat friends simply refuse to accept this caricature of their party. Again, I contend the party has changed radically and this indeed represents the values and beliefs of the new extremist Democrats.

I do not believe older moderate Democrats see it this way. Some have expressed to me in no way do they support Socialism. They may not like President Trump, but they hate Socialism more, and here is where we see their party begin to fracture. I am betting the moderate Democrats will simply stay away from their voting precincts next year.

So, is there a deep divide among ideological lines in the United States? Definitely. The point is, which ideology do you defend?

As to my Democrat friends, they are still my friends, and I consider such discussions incredibly important, something we should do more of, not less.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES

BRYCE ON LIFE

- How it affects us.

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Whenever I lecture on "Tim's SENIOR MOMENTS," I remind the audience how lucky we have been to live in the times we did. Speaking as a Baby Boomer, I particularly rejoice in the music we experienced, not just the Beatles and the British Invasion, but entertainers like Jimi Hendrix who I had the pleasure of seeing in concert in 1968 (and changed my perspective of Rock and Roll). I saw many concerts along the way, including Sinatra in 1984. There was just something extraordinary in our music, but I also appreciated much of the music from earlier in the 20th century, particularly Jazz and Big Band. It was all so imaginative and amazing.

We were also lucky to witness Apollo 11, where we put the first man on the moon, as well as many others thereafter. I saw a wonder horse in 1973 win the Kentucky Derby on his way to winning the Triple Crown of horse racing for the first time in 25 years, Secretariat. In baseball, I had the privilege of watching the emergence of the Big Red Machine, an unbelievably talented team, rock solid in every position, and the likes of which we'll never see again. There were other sports greats, such as Mickey Mantel, Willie Mays, Joe Namath, and Dick Butkus who exhibited their greatness on and off the field.

We also bore witness to the go-go years of the 1960's and 1970's, led by the Greatest Generation. This was when it seemed only the sky was the limit, and computers began to transform offices. We didn't go out at lunchtime just to eat; such meals were used to plot strategy, forge relationships, and make deals. And, No, we were most definitely not politically correct by today's standards. It was fun, it was exhilarating, and I'm glad I didn't miss it.

Such events shaped our character in they represent the joys of life.

Unfortunately, good times are accompanied by bad-

As much as we like to remember the "good old days," we also faced considerable tragedy which shaped our perspective of life. In the lifetime of the Boomers, we watched havoc strike us time and again, both man-made and natural disasters.

Man-made Disasters-

1963 - The assassination of John F. Kennedy - this shocked the country considerably, both Democrats AND Republicans. To this day, those that lived during this period remember where they were when they heard the news. Some say America was never the same after this. We also saw assassination attempts on President Gerald Ford (1975), and President Ronald Reagan (1981).

1967 - The Apollo 1 fire, claimed the lives of Astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. Despite testing and precautions, we were to lose more people along the way, such as the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, killing seven, and the 2003 Columbia Space Shuttle burning up on re-entry, also killing seven.

1979 - "The Who" concert disaster in Cincinnati - where eleven people were trampled to death due to "festival seating."

1983 - Beirut barracks bombings - resulting in the loss of 307 U.S. and French military personnel.

1986 - The Chernobyl disaster in Russia was a painful reminder of the dangers of nuclear energy. Others followed, such as the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan.

1995 - Oklahoma City bombing - resulting in the loss of at least 168 lives.

1999 - Columbine High School mass shooting in Littleton, Colorado, where twelve students and one teacher were killed. This was followed by over 30 copycat shootings plaguing the country to this day.

2001 - The 9-11 Attacks represented the Pearl Harbor event of our generation and forced military action in the Middle East where thousands of U.S. soldiers died or were maimed.

Then there were the serial killers who terrorized whole cities, much like Jack the Ripper did in London during the late 1880's; Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, Charles Manson, and David Berkowitz (Son of Sam). There were also wackos like Mark David Chapman who gunned down legendary musician John Lennon in 1980.

Natural Disasters-

We have always had disasters caused by Mother Earth. During our time, we've witnessed:

1964 - Alaska earthquake - registering at 9.2, it remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history. Anchorage was particularly ravaged and 131 people perished.

1974 - Super Tornado Outbreak - the most violent tornado outbreak ever recorded with 30 F4/F5 tornadoes confirmed. Over two days, there were 148 tornadoes confirmed in 13 U.S. states and one Canadian province (Ontario). In particular, the city of Xenia, Ohio was wiped out by the dedliest individual tornado on record.

1980 - Mount St. Helens volcano eruption - which blew its stack in Washington state and covered the world with ash.

1992 - Hurricane Andrew - a Category 5 storm which decimated southern Florida.

2005 - Hurricane Katrina - another Cat 5 which crippled Louisiana.

2017 - Hurricane Irma - yet another Cat 5 which pummeled Puerto Rico.

We have also had our share of tornadoes:

1999 - Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak

2011 - Super Tornado Outbreak

There were also numerous wild fires, earthquakes, tsunamis, and blizzards. As to the latter, I survived the great 1967 Chicago blizzard.

People will talk about these natural phenomena for many years to come, and, NO, I do not blame it on climate change. We have been plagued by such natural disasters for as long as we have been a nation. For example, the bitter winter of 1777-78 was so harsh at Valley Forge that more than 1,000 soldiers perished.

What have we learned?

These tragedies killed and injured thousands of people, left many homeless, took a toll on our mental well-being, cost billions, and was an insurance nightmare. In many cases, it took mere moments to wreak havoc and considerable time to repair.

Whether it was a man-made or natural disaster, a lot of this could have been avoided, had we performed better planning. For example, civil engineers long knew the weaknesses of the dikes and levees protecting New Orleans prior to Hurricane Katrina, yet politicians diverted money to other projects. Had the Secret Service insisted on affixing the roof of President Kennedy's limousine, we wouldn't have suffered such a traumatic event.

Instead of planning and being pro-active, Americans prefer to be reactive and allow havoc to strike as opposed to preventing it. There are many examples of this throughout our history, including Pearl Harbor, 9-11, and the Challenger disaster.

We do not like to remember such tragedies, but such events also shape our character, just as much as the joys of life, as it affects our senses of empathy, charity, our will to survive and overcome, and learn from our mistakes. To illustrate, it is impressive to see how Americans lend a generous hand to those maimed by disaster. As soon as a disaster hits, such as a major hurricane, we see Americans mobilize and come to their neighbor's aid in boats, bringing supplies, clearing debris, repairing homes, and much more.

The only good thing you can say about how Americans react to tragedy is that it brings out the best in us.

It is when we forget about these disasters that we court their repetition.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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 POLITICAL MONEY GAME

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Donations suggest popularity.

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The donations received by political candidates is a strong indicator of their popularity. The more the candidate receives, the stronger their position becomes as it will be used for promotional purposes. The numbers for the last reporting quarter (3rd) to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) was recently concluded with some interesting results.

In the case of the Democrat Presidential Candidates, let's look at the Top 10 candidates as reported by the FEC:

CANDIDATE-	TOTAL $ RECEIVED-	THIRD QUARTER-
SANDERS, BERNARD	$74,516,657.41	$25,300,000
WARREN, ELIZABETH	$60,339,946.81	$24,600,000 (1)
BUTTIGIEG, PETE	$51,549,046.28	$19,100,000
STEYER, TOM	$49,645,131.61	$49,645,131 (2)
BIDEN, JOSEPH R JR	$37,785,260.96	$15,700,000 (3)
HARRIS, KAMALA D.	$36,940,238.03	$11,700,000
DELANEY, JOHN K.	$27,198,228.24	$ 500,000
BOOKER, CORY A.	$18,494,484.80	$ 6,000,000
O'ROURKE, ROBERT BETO	$18,184,974.91	$ 4,500,000
KLOBUCHAR, AMY J.	$17,516,387.53	$ 4,800,000

1. Significant upswing in donations, offsetting former VP Biden, and approaching Sen. Sanders' numbers.
2. 95.9% was donated by the candidate personally.
3. Down $7M from last quarter.

Perhaps the most illuminating number, in terms of donations, is that of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's, which picked up considerable steam in the third quarter. While her donations grew rapidly, former VP Joe Biden's numbers have been plummeting, perhaps due to the controversy surrounding his participation in his son's business dealings in the Ukraine and China. Whatever the reason, Sen. Warren has replaced the former VP as the front runner.

Many of the candidates are spending more cash than they receive in donations, particularly Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Kamala Harris, and Sen. Cory Booker. Unless they can get a sudden uptick in popularity and substantial cash infusion, it is just a matter of time before they are forced out of the race.

The donations received by the Democrats pale in comparison to the $165M received thus far by President Trump. This does not include the millions also received by the Republican Party. In fact, the Trump campaign has cash reserves of $83.2M, which is more than the top three Democrat candidates combined. Not only is President Trump getting more donations than the Democrats, it appears his campaign knows how to manage their financial resources better.

More than anything, House Speaker Pelosi's call for an impeachment inquiry triggered a huge response from the president's supporters who donated generously to his re-election campaign. Such a response was anticipated as this accusation galvanized the Republicans to come to the aid of their president. In other words, it could be construed, the call for impeachment is the best thing that could happen to President Trump's re-election.

Interestingly, none of the candidates thus far have asked for money from the Presidential Election Fund as found on our IRS 1040 forms. Maybe they are waiting until the final nominees are announced. If they do not use it though, why are we bothering with it?

No matter how you slice it, all of these donations, be it related to the Democrats or Republicans, is an obnoxious amount of money which we should be using for better things, such as repairing our infrastructure, the war on drugs, paying off the national debt, etc. Instead, it will inevitably go to the news media, thereby compounding our problem with fake news, which I personally regard as ridiculous.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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 POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OF JOKES

BRYCE ON HUMOR

- It's okay to laugh.

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I was recently delivering a talk at The Villages in Florida regarding my new book, "Tim's SENIOR MOMENTS." I was talking about how life has changed over the last fifty years, such as technology, social customs, our music, even our humor. As to the latter, I reflected on how we do not tell jokes anymore. Interestingly, a hush fell over the audience as I had hit a politically incorrect topic and they seemed apprehensive as to what I would say, which I'll explain momentarily. As for me, I was startled by the silence but persevered and told the joke which was well received.

The American sense of humor has changed radically over the years. We don't tell many jokes anymore in social or business settings. Instead, jokes have been replaced by Internet videos and cartoons, and somehow I miss the art of storytelling. Years ago, while waiting to change planes at Chicago's O'Hare Airport, I happened to stop for a drink at a small bar near my gate. Standing at the bar was comedian Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester from the old Addams Family TV show) who was also in transit and stopped for a drink. He started telling jokes and in no time at all had everyone in gales of laughter as he told one risque joke after another.

Over the years, I think I've heard just about everything. So much so, when a person tries to tell a joke, I can often guess the punch line. I have heard jokes about sex, politicians, the military, traveling salesmen, prisons, hair lips, animals, blondes, midgets, gays, religion, but the most prevalent jokes have been ethnic in nature.

As I traveled around the world, I noticed everyone has an ethnic group they like to pick on, for example: the Brazilians tell Portuguese jokes (as do the Spanish), the Japanese tell Korean jokes, the Greeks tell Albanian jokes, Canadians tell "Newfie" jokes (people from Newfoundland), South Africans tell "Von der Merven" jokes (Dutch related), Texans tell "Aggie" jokes (Texas A&M University), and it seems Irish and French jokes are universal. When I lived in Chicago, I heard the best "Pollock" jokes, mostly from the Polish themselves. Come to think of it, most of the ethnic groups I've met love to tell jokes about their own kind which seems a bit odd. Now that I think about it, I cannot remember hearing of a Swiss joke. Maybe it's because the country is neutral, or maybe they are just not funny.

You don't hear too many ethnic jokes anymore, probably because it is not considered politically correct, and you will inevitably be labeled a "racist."

Regardless of the type of joke, they are rarely told anymore in social settings, which I consider rather sad as we have forgotten how to laugh at ourselves, such as human perspectives, priorities, and sense of right and wrong.

When I attend meetings with young people half my age, I am often asked to tell a joke from my ancient repertoire. The jokes may be 40 to 50 years old, but the young people haven't heard them, thereby providing me with a new audience. Frankly, I am surprised how many I can remember.

Here is the joke I used. I originally heard it from my next door neighbor years ago (I have to clean it up a little):

One day, an elementary school teacher was trying to teach some lessons of morality. She asked the class, "Can anyone tell me a story which leads to a moral lesson?"

Little Betsy raised her hand and said, "I can teacher. Not long ago I was visiting my grandparents' farm in the country. They asked me to collect the eggs in the hen house and bring them inside. I collected all of them and put them in a basket. However, I accidentally tripped and dropped the basket, breaking all of the eggs in the process."

"And what was the lesson learned there?" the teacher asked.

"Don't put all your eggs in one basket," Betsy replied.

"That's very good Betsy, that is the type of story I'm looking for. Is there anyone else?"

Little Sally raised her hand and said, "I have somewhat of a similar story. I was visiting a friend recently who had an incubator with twelve chicken eggs in it. We watched in amazement as they all began to hatch. Unfortunately, my friend tripped over the power cord causing the incubator to turn over, break the eggs, and kill all of the chickens."

"And what was the lesson learned there?" the teacher asked.

"Don't count your chickens before they hatch," Sally said.

"Very good. Has anyone else got a story with a moral they would like to share?"

"I do teacher," little Eddie said as he waved his hand. "My Uncle John was a pilot in Viet Nam during the war. One day he was flying a cargo mission and was shot down by the North Vietnamese. He crash landed in the jungle, and was only able to save his M60 machine gun, a machete, and a case of beer stored on the aircraft. He hid out in the jungle hoping a chopper would pick him up. After he had finished drinking all of the beer, he was discovered by the Viet Cong who attacked him. In defense, he took out his M60 and killed fifty of them. When he ran out of bullets, he used his machete to kill fifteen more, and when his blade broke, he killed five more with his bare hands."

The teacher looked ashen at little Eddie reeling from his tale. She stammered, "And what...what...what is the moral of that story?" she asked.

"You don't mess with my Uncle John when he's drunk."

Yea, I know, the joke is not politically correct and appears to be insensitive to life, but it has also resulted in gales of laughter both yesterday and today, particularly from vets. It also illustrates how our sense of humor has changed.

Frankly, we need to loosen up a bit and quit taking ourselves too seriously.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

REPUBLICAN WOMEN GET ACTIVE

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- They are passionate about politics.

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For a long time, the Democrats have been trying to intimidate women voters, just as they have done with minority groups. Their message is clear, "Only a fool would vote Republican; any woman with half a brain should vote Democrat." They simply cannot imagine anyone, particularly women, supporting President Trump or Republican candidates. This has been going on for a long time and is indicative of their demeaning perspective of women. There is one problem, a lot of women are not buying it.

Republican women are tired of being pushed around and are fighting back, much to the consternation of the Democrats. Republican women are becoming active in various GOP clubs, including Trump "squads" designed to wave signs in support of the President and protest Democrats.

The passions of Republican women are high, the likes of which I haven't seen before. To illustrate, I recently attended a formation meeting of the Pinellas Federation of Republican Women. Pinellas is the most densely populated county in Florida and part of the Tampa Bay area. In 2018, Pinellas fell to the Democrats by an incredibly slim margin. The women do not want to see this happen again and, as such, are getting organized and mobilized, to wit, they are joining new Republican groups, such as...

The National Federation of Republican Women was founded in 1938 and operates autonomously from state and county Republican operations. It is one of the largest grassroots political organizations in the country with thousands of active members. Several prominent Republican women have come up through the ranks of the Federation clubs, including U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and numerous U.S. Senators and members of the House.

According to the Federation's web site, their mission is...
"We empower women from all backgrounds in the political process and provide a forum for women to serve as leaders in the political, government, and civic arenas.

Our objectives are to:

* Inform the public through political and legislative education, training and activity;
* recruit, train and elect Republican candidates;
* protect the integrity of our electoral process;
* promote the principles, objectives and policies of the Republican Party;
* unite and facilitate cooperation among the state and club organizations; and,
* increase the effectiveness of women in the cause of good government."

They also perform philanthropic work to help others in their community.

In Florida, the Florida Federation of Republican Women was founded in 1950 and now has over 50 clubs in the state, including the new one here in Pinellas County.

I have met many women Republicans over the years. There is also a women's club in Clearwater, Florida operating under the Pinellas County Republican banner, but this new Federated group in Pinellas appears to be more proactive. As mentioned, this group is passionate in their beliefs, particularly Religion, Capitalism, Family, Public Education, and defenders of the Constitution. They also resent the browbeating by the Democrats and want to actively push back.

Some of these women are active in Trump clubs and other local GOP clubs, but they hope to do more through the new Federated group.

As an observer, I found the energy of the Pinellas Republican women rather inspiring. This was not a group who wanted to do nothing more than bitch; instead, they are forming a game plan aimed at moving Pinellas County back into the red column. To me, this group is "Women Power" in action. As I said, their passions were expressed and much louder than the average men's political group. I wish them much success.

BTW, men can join the Federation, but make no mistake, this is a show run by the women.

As an aside, the new Pinellas Federated group will be meeting on the second Thursday of the month. For more information or to join, contact the Chapter President, Julie Vayne at jrvayne@gmail.com .

See what happens when you rile the ladies. As one Republican woman explained to me, "I see what the Democrats are wanting to do to my country and they can all go to hell.”

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

SHOPPING AT MEN'S STORES

BRYCE ON MEN'S FASHIONS

- Women are very important in what you select.

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I have been shopping for men's clothes for many years. Although I have my own tastes, I have always counted on the opinion of the women in my life, be it my mother years ago or my wife since I've been married. Both have good taste and I rely on their opinion. I even enjoy their company when I'm shopping for men's clothes.

Early in life, my mom worked at a men's shop in Buffalo (Riverside Men's Shop). This is where she learned the merchandise and how to judge quality. As to my wife, she always had a good sense in style. Both have picky tastes, thank God.

I find, with few exceptions, guys lack the fashion sense that women possess. I know I do not. A lot of guys want to go in like it is an Entebbe raid, get the merchandise, and retreat. They want to look good, but do not want to go through the hassle of trying on different coats and pants.

If you go with women, they are likely to put the brakes on some of your decisions. One of my favorite lines is, "You're not going to pay good money for that, are you?" Even though I may be halfway out the door, such a comment makes me stop dead in my tracks and think about what I was about to purchase.

I listen to the female opinion carefully as I know if I cannot pass their test, I won't be presentable to other people, particularly women. Since they know my conservative tastes, they know I will resist anything flamboyant and help me select something to cultivate a professional image. Frankly, I'm surprised men's stores do not cater to the woman as opposed to the man. Without the female's approval, nothing will be purchased.

I have always enjoyed visiting such stores, it is kind of like going to a good cigar shop or golf club for me, thereby making it an enjoyable experience. Sometimes, the salesmen can be rather pushy, which is a real turnoff, regardless of the price. Actually, I prefer female salesmen as they have a better sense of working with men and I value their opinion. Maybe men should work in the dress department as it would have a similar effect.

The most interesting suit I ever purchased was in Hong Kong years ago. I was connected with a tailor who made a suit for me in 24 hours. The trick was to come back for three fittings, which was awkward for me to make. However, I have to admit I enjoyed the final product which was made at a reasonable price. I wore that suit for years.

This brings up an important point, you know you have been successful at a men's store when the following three things happen:

1. You are proud of the suit you purchased and cannot wait to wear it to your next business or social function.

2. You do not feel cheated by the price, that you got your money's worth.

3. The women in your life are happy with your selection.

Just remember, clothes may make the man, but women "make" the clothes.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

WIN OR LOSE, WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER THE ELECTION?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Either way, it will not work.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Something concerns me as we approach the 2020 election; specifically, the ramifications of the outcome. I do not believe President Trump will lose, but what if he did? And what would happen if the Democrats lose?

Assuming the Republicans lose and the Democrats take control of the White House and Congress, there is little doubt they would push their Socialist agenda, something abhorrent to every red-blooded Republican, as well as a lot of independents and moderate Democrats.

Over the last three years, we have watched the Democrats resist the President. We have seen numerous attempts of obstruction, delays in appointments, false accusations and charges, and tying up executive action in the courts. We all know where the president had hoped to be by this time, and he has accomplished many things, but the fact remains the Democrats have successfully slowed his agenda. In so doing, they have provided the Republicans with a blueprint on how to push back against the Democrats' agenda. Should the Democrats win, the Republicans will likely push back by giving the Democrats a taste of their own medicine. This, of course, will cause the Democrats to cry "foul."

Nevertheless, the country will have to experience four more years where nothing will be accomplished, just as it has under the current 116th Congress. This should disturb everyone as there is still an enormous amount of things to be addressed, such as infrastructure, immigration, health care, the federal debt, and much more. None of which is being addressed by the 116th Congress (or the 115th for that matter).

The biggest difference between the Democrats and the GOP is the news media, which has formed an unholy alliance with the Democrats and will do their bidding for them. If the Republicans win, the media will continue their attacks on them; should the Democrats win, they will still attack the GOP and hold the Democrats blameless for everything.

A Republican win means the Democrats will continue their policy of harassment, but their spirit will be somewhat broken as the party will certainly not be unified, and fractured between the far-left and moderates. I am also concerned we might see more violence from such groups as Antifa and others. Should the Republicans lose, I cannot imagine anyone from the party allowing the 2nd Amendment to be subjugated, and will resist giving up their weapons. All of this could turn rather ugly.

I guess what I am driving at, regardless of who wins next year, the policy of harassment will continue unabated. Obviously, this is not what we sent politicians to Washington, DC to do.

What concerns me is that we have been conditioned to believe this is an acceptable form of operating a government. As an old systems man, I can tell you authoritatively, it is not. This is "The Swamp" the president has been talking about for quite some time, and it needs to be drained.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

GOD HAS A SENSE OF HUMOR

BRYCE ON LIFE

- Now there is proof of it.

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I am now convinced God possesses a sense of humor. Proof can be described in one word: toenails.

When you are young and very limber, cutting your toenails is not a big deal. Snip, snip, snip... and it is all over in a scant few seconds. However, as we get older and our joints stiffen, it becomes an arduous task to clip them. In fact, it is downright comical how we try to get down to our toes to perform the task. I cannot help but believe God laughs his ass off watching the contortions we put ourselves through to clip something as simple as toenails. It's a riot. This explains why nail salons make a ton of money on pedicures as nobody wants to do it anymore.

Toenails also evolve over time into something that can look rather gnarly. We thereby become embarrassed to show our feet to others, including pedicurists who gasp at the sight of some of them. It can be rather nasty. Some require a few coats of Sherwin-Williams to make them look half palatable for human sight. Again, I can hear God chuckling over all this.

There are other things which must amuse Him as well, such as ear and nose hairs. I think He invented a mechanism whereby the more hair we lose from our head goes directly to our ears and nose. Then there is the problem of women who grow mustaches which embarrasses them to no end. Actually, I think this one is rather mean spirited.

The one that amazes me though is how the Lord consolidated our reproductive organs with our plumbing system. I think God was having a bad day when he came up with this one. No engineer in his right mind would combine the pleasure center with the sewer system. I think this one had Him in convulsions.

Then He made it so we either can or cannot urinate on a regular basis. It seems men cannot turn it on and women cannot turn it off, or vice versa, with neither being in sync. Feet then become swollen and other problems ensue.

There are many other little nuances in life He has created which seems rather ridiculous, such as nervous perspiration, sunburns, mucous, ear wax, an irritable itch here and there, pains and sprains, gas, and of course hemorrhoids.

Yes, God indeed has a sense of humor.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

RULES FOR DEPLORABLES - NEW BOOK

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- An intriguing new book for combating Saul Alinsky's tactics.

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I recently attended a political meeting where I met the speaker for the evening, Cathi Chamberlain, who authored an interesting new book titled, "Rules for Deplorables: A Primer for Fighting Radical Socialism." This is essentially a refutation of Saul Alinsky's book, "Rules for Radicals: A Practical Primer for Realistic Radicals Paperback." Alinsky, of course, is the well known Socialist community organizer who greatly affected the political schemes of President Obama, and Secretary Hillary Clinton.

Alinsky's "13 Tried-and-True rules for Creating Meaningful Social Change" are well known among liberals and have long been an inherent part of the Democrats' playbook. Remarkably, most Republicans are only vaguely familiar with Alinsky's name, and most haven't a clue about his political tactics. Enter Ms. Chamberlain who has examined these tactics and produced a handy guide to walk Republicans through them, and contest them. As such, this is intended to be an educational read; not only do you learn Alinsky's tactics, but also how to resist them.

Interestingly, Cathi decided to copy the format and layout of Alinsky's book, even the title and cover graphic, which is done to indicate this is a refutation of Alinsky. Frankly, I got a chuckle out of it as she used red MAGA hats on the cover.

Her TABLE OF CONTENTS are ultimately based on Alinsky's 13 tactics, to wit:

Chapters

1. Illusion of Power - Alinsky Tactic #1: "Power is not only what you have but what the enemy thinks you have." Cloward-Piven Strategy in 1966 creates blueprint to transform U.S. into a socialist country. Dems join their cause.

2. Viva La Revolución - Tactic #2: "Never go outside the experience of your people." Millennials' definition of socialism is flawed. Policies will turn America into the next Venezuela. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) explodes in numbers.

3. Collusion Delusion - Tactic #3: "Whenever possible, go outside the experience of the enemy." "Steele” dossier is fake. Rogue FBI and DOJ Leaders. Abuse of FISA courts. Phony "Witch Hunt." "Equal justice" dead in America?

4. White Men Can't Judge - Tactic #4: "Make the enemy live up to their own book of rules." - Sham Supreme Court Justice confirmation Hearings. The left mocks due process laws and Constitution. Protests erupt nationwide.

5. Sticks and Stones - Tactic #5: "Ridicule is man's most potent weapon." Name-calling by the left is purposeful. Republicans' moral high ground is damaging the GOP. Trump masters nicknames too.

6. Stupid Is As Stupid Does - Tactic #6: "A good tactic is one your people enjoy." Dems keep constituents "dumbed down" for self-preservation. Rewriting history. Indoctrinated Millennials are destroying their own destinies.

7. Impeach 45 - Tactic #7: "A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag." No evidence for impeachment. Radicals pressure Dems to proceed. Dems' overreach good for Republicans in 2020 elections.

8. Trick or Tweet - Tactic #8: "Keep the pressure on." Trump is first tweeting president. Bypasses "fake news" media. Keeps Americans updated on accomplishments and truth.

9. Unmask the Boogeymen - Tactic #9: "The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself." Obama's final act unmasks Americans. Intel agencies use info to spy on Trump aides. Bad intel spurs special counsel to investigate Trump.

10. Resistance - Tactic #10: "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure on the opposition." Trump drains the "swamp." Murkier than most thought. Academia, "fake news" media, Hollywood, never-Trumpers unite.

11. Mobs vs. Jobs - Tactic #11: "If you push a negative hard and deep enough, it will break through into its counterside." Well-organized mobs in America. Evidence points to funding by leftist billionaires. Goal is global socialism, ruled by wealthy few.

12. Build That Wall - Tactic #12: "The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative." The left demands open borders and ICE abolished. Caravans from Central America rush border. Dems want illegals to vote.

13. Divided, They Fall - Tactic #13: "Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it." Radicals win House seats, force rational Dems further left. Moderate Dem voters uneasy. Trump works to split Democratic Party in two.

14. United, We Stand - Never-Trumpers split Republicans. Trump succeeds despite naysayers. Republicans learn street fighting wins with only two years left.

Chamberlain's dissertation is incredibly important as we enter the 2020 elections. Most Republicans take a John Wayne approach to politics, meaning they believe in hard work and fair play. Just remember, the Duke never shot anyone in the back. Unfortunately, the far-left does not think this way, and would stab their opponents in the back under the rationale, "All is fair in love and war." Alinsky's 13 tactics show them how to do it, which is why Republicans have to be forewarned.

This is an important read for Republicans, particularly as we approach the election and possible impeachment. If you are not familiar with Alinsky or his 13 tactics, BUY THIS BOOK!

Here are the details on the book:

"Rules for Deplorables: A Primer for Fighting Radical Socialism."
Cathi Chamberlain
Click for AMAZON.
Available from Amazon in paperback ($14.95) and Kindle eBook ($5.49).
308 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0692170984
ISBN-10: 0692170987

Cathi is also available to speak on the 13 tactics, which is how I met her. Contact her through her WEB SITE.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.

IMPEACHMENT? WHO ARE THEY TRYING TO KID?

BRYCE ON POLITICS

- Themselves.

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To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.

Back in June, I wrote a column titled, "Is Impeachment Truly Necessary?" In it, I pointed out in our nearly 250 years of existence as a Republic, no sitting US president has ever been removed from office through impeachment; this includes Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, the only two presidents ever impeached. Both went right back to work after the Senate voted them not guilty of charges, and both completed their term of office.

Impeachment has changed from a legitimate tool to remove someone from office, to a political tool to besmirch the character of someone, thereby hampering their chances for getting re-elected. Such is what the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives hope to do with Republican President Donald Trump.

There is virtually no way Mr. Trump will be removed from office based on what the Democrats have at this time. The Republican-led Senate will quickly dismiss the charges when they are presented to them. The Democrats already know this, but want to embarrass the president and hopefully create some form of national angst over his impeachment. Normally I would say this is a brilliant tactic, but people already understand this is being done for political purposes only, not because the president has done anything shamelessly wrong. The people pressing this are those who simply detest the president and are still angry he was elected over the candidate of the Democrats in 2016.

Timing will be critical, and the Democrats will want to drag this out as long as possible, so the actual charges will likely not surface until the new year, just as the primaries are beginning. Again, the Democrats hope to ride the national discontent to victory in November.

There is just one problem. It will not work.

Those that are angry at the President will stay that way, and those who are not, will certainly not change their minds. Those remaining have already had enough of the Mueller investigation and Fake News, and will take little interest in impeachment hearings. They simply want to see the Congress tend to the nation's business, which is what they sent them there for, not to play political games. In all likelihood, the 116th Congress will go down in history as one of the most ineffectual sessions, doing nothing for the American people they are supposed to serve. It is for this reason alone, the Democrats will lose the 2020 election, both the White House and the Congress.

So, instead of harming the political chances of the president, Mr. Trump knows this will only hurt his opposition. Instead of being embarrassed, his swagger to "drain the swamp" will increase. In other words, an impeachment of the president will be the best thing that could happen as the American populace will see it as the charade it is and drive the Democrats out of the House. This will damage the Democrats for years to come.

In the end, will the Democrats impeach the president? As I said at the start of the 116th Congress, of course they will as they cannot resist temptation, and besides, they have nothing else to do.

Keep the Faith!

P.S. - Also do not forget my new books, "How to Run a Nonprofit" and "Tim's Senior Moments", both available in Printed and eBook form.

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 © 2019 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.