No Dick it's the unprecedented use of the filibuster by Republicans and the refusal to even hold the 200 year old tradition of granting hearings to the POTUS pick for SCOTUS that symbolize "gridlock". On the eve of President Obama taking the oath of office nearly eight years ago the leaders of the GOP swore an oath to do whatever they could to make the duly elected President a one termer by obstructing any efforts he would make to get the country out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. They failed even as they used the filibuster tactic more than in the sum total of all previous congresses. The behavior by the GOP caucus verged on treason as they put party first and country somewhere down the list after campaign contributions etc.. In spite of the best efforts of the GOP the country came back from the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs each and every month to an economy that is stronger and getting better thanks to the policies implemented by President Obama.