REPLIES TO THE CURRENT QUESTION

Our question last week was:

If you could give one paragraph of realistic advice to President Obama, what would it be?

Here are your answers.  The name of a writer is included only if he or she actually placed a name at the end of the message.  Otherwise, we assume the writer wished anonymity and "name withheld" is inserted.

Quitting is out of the question.  Even I don't want that.  Just think "President Biden" and it makes President Obama look awfully attractive.  So, advice follows:

President Obama, Please stop running for reelection.  Get rid of every single one of your straw men; we didn't vote for or against any of them.  It is time for you to take a deep breath and realize that you are in charge.  Start acting like it.  

Being chief executive means two things:

First, you are the decision maker. The buck really does stop at your desk.  

Second, you are responsible for your decisions, and it is time to put the prior administration out to pasture.  They are gone, and the more you talk about them, the more we realize that they weren't nearly as bad as what we have now.  That is the law of unintended consequences at work.  Finally, fire  your press secretary.  He is doing way more harm than good.

Sincerely,

Don Newell
Vancouver, WA

Q: If you could give one paragraph of /realistic/ advice to President
Obama, what would it be?

A: It takes two wings to fly a straight course. Rely too much on one
side and you fly in circles.

Francis Drouillard
Novato, CA

You asked for realistic advice but I'm not sure Jimmah Obama is ready for it.  

Stop treating enemies as friends and friends as enemies.  And stop apologizing for the policies of your predecessor, as you are adopting them wholesale.  It doesn't fool anyone, even if it makes you feel better.

Alan Weick