GRIDLOCK!
Posted by Tim Bryce on November 7, 2012
BRYCE ON POLITICS
– The country votes for two more years of government stagnation, maybe longer.
(Click for AUDIO VERSION)
To use this segment in a Radio broadcast or Podcast, send TIM a request.
Not knowing how the presidential election was going to turn out, I wrote two separate articles depending on the outcome, one if President Obama won the election, and one if Governor Romney had won. Now that we know the outcome, we can proceed.
By a narrow margin, Barack Obama retained his job as president of the United States. It was certainly NOT a mandate, but rather a simple plurality. Nonetheless, it is still his job to perform and we can only hope he can somehow reduce the unemployment rate, balance the budget, and cut the federal debt. Regardless of what you thought of Mr. Obama before the election, it is up to him to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Whether he is able to do so is questionable as the country will continue to spiral downward thanks to the gridlock between the Congress and the Oval Office.
Unlike President Clinton, who was able to work with a Republican Congress, it is more likely the president and the GOP will remain at loggerheads, at least until the next Congressional election in two years. If the last two years are any measure, the country will increase the federal debt, unemployment will remain high, and the direction of the country will continue to spiral out of control.
The Republicans will have to go back to the drawing board in order to retake the White House. No matter how they spun it, Mitt Romney was more of a moderate than a conservative. John McCain was essentially no different in 2008. Now, with Mr. Obama firmly in charge of the White House, I believe the next GOP contender to emerge will be a true conservative. If the government stagnates, as I suspect it will, the Tea Party will likely grow and flourish over the next two years and will no longer back down from senior Republicans who are moderate in nature. The conservative movement will become more robust and take control of both houses of Congress in 2014. After that, the White House in 2016.
Four years ago, I wrote a column on “Presidential Legacies.” In it, I publicly thanked President Bush for his service to the country. I was ridiculed for doing so, but I was unapologetic and remain so to this day. Interestingly, Mr. Obama’s legacy will not be his policies or actions (some would say “inactions”), but for re-awakening the conservative movement in this country. It’s an interesting dichotomy whereby the more President Obama wins, the greater his opposition grows. Conversely, if he loses, the conservatives weaken. Consider this, had Barack Obama lost in 2008 it is highly unlikely the Tea Party would have ever surfaced, and the Democrats wouldn’t have lost the House of Representatives in 2010.
Let’s just hope I’m wrong and that the country will work out its differences. You’ll excuse me if I do not hold my breath.
Keep the Faith!
Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.
Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com
For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com
Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.
Copyright © 2012 by Tim Bryce. All rights reserved.
NEXT UP: FINDING A MATE – Dating and matchmaking as another casualty of technology.
Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, (12:30-3:00pm).
Also look for Tim’s postings in the Palm Harbor Patch, The Gentlemen’s Association, and throughout the Internet.
THE BRYCE IS RIGHT! 
Tim Bryce said
A W.A. of the Dominican Republic wrote…
“Tim, I believe it is a SAD, SAD day for the nation and possibly it will never recover after 4 more years of Obama. I am so thankful that we moved to a country that has no black and white race and doesn’t understand the term “African American”. They are Dominicans and proud of it. Sometimes we are with a group of Dominicans and the respect they have for us is always amazing to me. Not because we are white, but because we are in our early 70s and they still have a tremendous respect for older people. Family (a man and a woman, not man and man or woman and woman) is still unbelievably important in the DR. It’s wonderful to be among people who still have moral values like our country had 50-60 years ago. We will pray for the USA, and hopefully God gives America one more chance.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An O.B. of Macon, Georgia wrote…
“A sad day indeed. But if it was the majority of voters that put in in office again, they will get their just rewards. Australia is looking better every day.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A J.U. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“Tim you put this way to nice. The liberal idiots just screwed this country to the wall and there is no way out in our lifetime. It is time for a War on the Liberals.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An S.F. of West Chester, Ohio wrote…
“Great job as always. Keep the faith.” 🙂
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An F.M. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote…
“Well said Tim……”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A D.T. of North Carolina wrote…
“It is a sad day for the future of our country… but I suppose the majority has spoken:
They prefer that we pay for their birth control and abortion procedures, whether it is against our moral convictions or not.
They prefer we offer those who enter our country illegally better treatment than our own citizens.
They prefer we expand the role of government in our personal lives.
They prefer that we encourage people to live on the dole of the government rather than get our financial affairs in order.
I expect:
We will see an unprecedented amount of executive order to align the country with the personal agenda of the president and those who kept him in power (at any cost)
Major Hassan will walk a free man some day
Fast and Furious will go away
Benghazi will go away
The president will have the opportunity to appoint 2 Supreme Court Justices
Politics has forever been changed in America, though – what used to be liberal is now moderate.
When 60(+)% thinks the country is on the wrong track we re-elected the same jokers that got us here
Congress has had single-digit approval ratings and we opted for status quo
We stand, toes over the edge, at the precipice of financial disaster and we decided that it’s not that far down
Reckoning will come soon… China is running out of money and suffering their own unrest; fundamentalist terrorists still hate us and want us gone; our allies are now impartial at best, unable to help at worst; sequestration looms and is simply cutting a relief hole in the skull so that the cerebral swelling does not kill the patient. It fixes nothing.
Last night, as I watched the election unfold, I was quite distraught – not for me, but to see the future wrested from the hands of my children.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A P.B. of Bristol, Connecticut wrote…
“Thank you for the article, it brightened my day and helps to restore my confidence in the system giving me hope that the conservative movement will continue to grow stronger. I still am having a very difficult time accepting the fact that Obama just got re-elected to this job for 4 more years?? I know if I had a résumé and track record like his, a promotion would be out of the question, and that is assuming I would even be employed! I live in CT. and still can’t believe how blue this state is? I have been talking with people for 6 years now about how bad the Democrats are for our lifestyle that we enjoy. I never really run into people that disagree with me, that is why I am confused when I see the state so blue.
Trying hard to keep the faith…”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A B.B. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“Great article Tim. Well said and to the point.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A G.L. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“Frustrated at how the election was going I took 2 aspirins and went to bed. I am still confused as to how and why an individual can win the popular vote and majority of states and still lose the election. No one has ever been able to explain to me why voters in certain states votes count for more than voters in other states. The so called swing states have the weight. It was pretty obvious by the map what states elected the President.
Why should New York, Ohio, Florida, California just to list a few awarded such high numbers of electrical votes. Maybe you can do it. How about an article on how the votes in each state were assigned and why certain states get more electoral votes.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An R.S. of Manatee, Florida wrote…
In 1887 Alexander Tyler, a Scottish history professor at the University of Edinburgh ,
had this to say about the fall of the Athenian Republic some 2,000 years prior:
“A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent
form of government.
A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can
vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury.
From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the
most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally
collapse over loose fiscal policy, (which is) always followed by a dictatorship.”
“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has
been about 200 years.
During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
>From bondage to spiritual faith;
>From spiritual faith to great courage;
>From courage to liberty;
>From liberty to abundance;
>From abundance to complacency;
>From complacency to apathy;
>From apathy to dependence;
>From dependence back into bondage.”
The Obituary follows:
The United States of America
Born 1776, Died 2012
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A C.V.D. of Lansing, Michigan wrote…
“I admit – there’s a part of me that would like to crawl back to my original predictions and say Romney could never win against Obama – but frankly – he won me over. The healthcare thing did not get in his way, the likability thing I think began to turn to likability for him, people came around. He was almost flawless in the debates. It appeared that the Evangelical vote was coming out in droves (although we’ll see some hard numbers in a few days. If they didn’t that would be a huge tell) – Jews and Catholics seemed to have left Obama. The DNC was in DEBT and borrowing money – they couldn’t pay people to go to O rallies while 20,000 to 30,000 people showed, same state – for Romney/Ryan. Last big concert only filled half the stadium with Jay-Z and Bruce Springstein – #Blacks4Romney was blowing up Twitter — newspapers formally for Obama left him like flies so many more things that made it a slam dunk for Romney – or so it seemed. He’s a national JOKE.
EVERYTHING looked like a Romney win! I DO. NOT. GET. IT.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An L.M. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wrote…
“Forgive them Father for they know not what they do!”
CRUSHED: The American people just signed America’s “death warrant” authorizing the execution of our sovereignty, Constitution, Congress, freedom of religion, and freedom of self determination. You can now consider yourselves Serfs, “Subjects,” in control of the will of your “Lord and Ruler” who will not serve but “Rule” with nothing to stand in his way, in “Transforming” our nation into a European style socialist nation with centralization planning for bigger government,Unions, and big Business, and America has done it to its self! The people get the elected officials they deserve!'”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An L.C. of New Port Richey wrote…
“Gridlock may be the only saving grace……Better hunt for jobs from home-gas will go up,butter plant your garden-food is going up,better make your funeral plans,healthcare will be more rationed than it is,buy stock in guns and ammo,they will be taxed to the hilt…….SIGH”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A J.H. of Blue Ridge, Georgia wrote…
“A friend of mine from Dunedin and also the Naval Academy wrote this….. For the first time in my adult life I just lowered the American Flag in front of my house and will NOT raise it again until that despicable America hater president that was just re-elected is out of office! I may not even be necessary to raise it again because by 2016, America as we know it will be lost forever! The Dollar will collapse under $22 Trillion in debt… our military will be decimated… and all of those people who voted for BHO because all he promised was FREE stuff, will have NO stuff because we will see a depression the likes of which will make 1939 look like a party. In my 60 years I have never been more dismayed by an election as this one. I voted for President Carter in his first term… a terrible president for sure, but an honorable man… I didn’t vote for President Clinton, but even so, he loved America and tried to do what he thought was right. This president wants to “fundamentally change America” (his words exactly) and no one in the press ever challenged him on that statement. The fundamentals of the USA are written in the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution… the greatest two documents since the Magna Carta! But a community organizer from South Chicago wants to change it all because he knows more than our Founding Fathers. This isn’t disappointment… this is sheer disgust!”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A C.W. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“I take a moment to congratulate Mr. Obama on his successful bid for re-election to the position of POTUS. Albeit a narrow majority of victory, it is nonetheless, a victory; congratulations are in order.
The American people have chosen freedom in lieu of Liberty, the chains of governance in lieu self responsibility, indoctrination in lieu of education, entitlement in lieu of achievement, mediocrity in lieu of excellence. They voted with emotion, casting reason to the wind. So be it.
It is my sincere hope and desire that the POTUS will be as successful at re-uniting the American people as he was at dividing them; that he be as successful at reducing the deficit and debt as he was at increasing them; that he be as successful at improving the National economy as he was at dismantling it. I sincerely hope that the insanity of the last four years is replaced by sanity and responsibility in the upcoming four years. For the sake of the Nation, I desire that he work on behalf of the entire Nation.
The great experiment is at an end. The United States of Socialist America has joined the ranks of a so called ‘equal’ world order. This is the reality we now must realize. Corporatism has successfully bastardized Capitalism and joined the ranks of corruption and tyranny. They will still send he jobs overseas and blame everything but their own actions as the cause.
America has made a choice. I am reminded of a great man that once said; “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” We are faced with a harsh reality, nonetheless, it is reality. I encourage all American citizens to put aside resentment and division in favor of strengthening America. We are in difficult times and cannot afford to continually squander away opportunity.
Again, I congratulate Mr. Obama in his successful bid for POTUS. May fate smile favorably upon the United States of Socialist America.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A U.V. of Largo, Florida wrote…
“Right on the mark as usual. Am “tres” disappointed this morning and worried about the future of this country. Perhaps now they’ll impeach him for not being born in this country. Until that happens, I will, as you say “Keep the faith”.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A J.S. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“I woke up today feeling as if I were living in a third world country / reflecting on how the majority of voters (in my view) have blindly supported the stagnating policies of this president. However, appreciate your ability analyze this whole thing, and will try to keep the faith that the Tea Party will continue flourish / strengthen/ and will “no longer back down from the senior (moderate) republicans.” Without true conservatives running for office we have no hope of taking back both houses of congress nor the presidency. Thanks for your insights.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An R.L. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“Another nice piece. Good work!
The folks who want the free stuff carried the day, including constitutional amendments in our beloved state.
With demographic shift trends and the media’s thumb on the scale, both in favor of our friends on the Left, I’m not sure it is wise to keep the faith at this juncture. It, at minimum, will be difficult.
I fear the nation may have passed the Rubicon. I’m not a conspiracy nut by any stretch, but one has to at least wonder if there is any merit to the concerns of some folks about the Cloward-Piven strategy.
I fear the cumulative impact of ignoring the 10th Amendment and passing the 16th Amendment has eroded the Republic our Founders gifted us. We now have the concentration of power they so fervently warned against in the Federalist Papers.
Attempting to keep the faith, “
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A C.R. of San Francisco, California wrote…
“Many businesses are packing right now, to cross the border, away from USA.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A P.M. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote…
“Once again, Tim, conservatism was not on the ballot. There is no need for us to apologize or hide our conservatism.. It wins when it IS on the ballot..”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An A.B. of New York wrote…
“We can only hope that Obama gets in another lawsuit which is heard by some Judge that does not care that he will be assassinated after declaring that Obama is in the wrong. Otherwise our country is doomed and Obama will change our nation’s name to “THE UNITED SOCIALIST STATES OF AMERICA”.
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An A.E. of Clearwater, Floridsa wrote…
“Good stuff Tim-as usual!”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A J.S. of Skidway Lake, Michigan wrote…
“Our country will make progress in solving problems and making responsible laws when our representatives realize and accept that they do not work for their party. They work for the American people. We cannot afford petty party bickering, back room deals and revenge. The American people deserve so much better and it is up to us to do whatever we can to achieve it.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
A B.B. of Tampa, Florida wrote…
“It’s obvious that the Republicans must reinvent their image to appeal to America’s new demographics. They need to make some serious decisions and changes, yet I doubt that the establishment leadership at the top would ever agree to that. I would personally like to see Ryan become Speaker and Rubio become the Senate’s Minority Leader. It would represent a shift to youth. Boehner and McConnell are simply old hat.”
LikeLike
Tim Bryce said
An M.S. of Palm Harbor, Florida wrote…
“There are lessons to be learned from this election. In order for a GOP candidate to even be considered for nomination, they must display extreme conservative values. Romney’s push to appear conservative in order to secure the nomination may have ultimately caused him to lose this race. . Those late in the game negative campaign ads played against him such as “Yes I will repeal Roe versus Wade”… “Planned Parenthood…we need to get rid of that”. The 47% comment, etc.. In this election, Obama may not have won based on the positive message of Hope and Change but rather because enough people showed up to vote against Romney to preserve their individual rights. Many people in this country identify themselves as moderates. If Romney could have avoided making those conservative comments early on to win the GOP nomination, I firmly believe that he could have been elected as the next president of our country.. I never seen such an energized conservative movement but there is not enough votes available for a candidate to win without also appealing to moderates. Plus, Romney’s dad was born in Mexico and people that I have talked to were not aware of that fact if they missed the second debate. His statement regarding immigration was powerful and it could have been used to create a positive campaign advertisement. Now that this election is over, we need to reach out and work together to resolve the numerous issues that we face as a nation.”
LikeLike