Three Agenda Items for Mr. Obama

Dear President Obama, on Tuesday, I suggested that your concern for civil rights and equality issues as a major agenda item of your second term is outmoded. But, this isn't too serious a setback because you have a lot of choices remaining for areas in which you could devote your time during the next four years. Republican strategist Karl Rove says you have "abandoned any thought of 'substantive achievements'" in your second term. Rove believes your real agenda is to make Republicans "look extreme" in order to help Democrats in the 2014 mid-term elections. "It's about positioning, about making the Democratic Party be more popular with his coalition, and try and win the 2014 elections by making the Republicans look extreme." Rove, who was a top political adviser to former President George W. Bush, called on Republicans to respond aggressively, "not simply by blocking the bad stuff, but by taking their strength in the House to pass positive items that pile up over in the Senate," he said, adding that it's likely none of the bills passed will ever be really considered by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. But Rove thinks such bills would provide "the outline of a GOP agenda that says to the American people that the president is more worried about gun control, gay marriage and other issues than tending to the nation's economic and debt problems....I think [the president's Inauguration Day speech] was completely political and not focused on the big challenge the country faces, which is getting our economy going," Rove said. ~~~~~ Mr. President, I really hope Karl Rove is wrong...but he is usually right. Nevertheless, just in case you have time for a few agenda items, I would like to direct your attention to the following areas that are crying out for you to take charge and push them forward for the benefit of America and the world. (1). The US unemloyment rate is 7.7%, down to be sure, but based in a 63% participation rate, one of the lowest in recent history. You never did much about jobs, even in your first term, but if your inaugural address is any indication, you seem to have completely forgotten that you ought to be working day and night to get Americans back to work. This is an 'imperative' and if you are looking for something to fill your days, since civil rights won't require much of your time, jobs should be your first priority. (2). There is a growing bi-partisan concensus that immigration reform is now possible because both Democrats and Republicans want to be seen as helping the Hispanic community end its residency limbo. Not only this, but solving the illegal immigrant problem is the right thing to do, as Bill Clinton would probably put it. And, this should not take much negotiation savvy or work on your part - just a few photo ops with GOP Senator Marco Rubio and the Hispanic leaders who are working with him should do a lot toward helping you begin creating your "legacy." (3). The Israel - Palestine peace negotiations have not even gotten around to talking about the venue or the shape of the table since you were elected in 2008. You need to devote yourself to this crisis while there is still time to put a deal together before Iran settles the question with a nuclear bomb. Here, you will actually have to do some work - mend the fences with Israeli prime minister Netanyahu as the first step before anything else can happen; then use your office to force both sides to stop posturing and bring their serious wish lists to a negotiation that must result in an accord. The recent Israeli elections that moved the Knesset slightly to the center, as well as the Abbas desire to re-establish his West Bank Palestinian Authority as the legitimate government, and not Hamas in Gaza, should make the negotiations at least somewhat easier. There you have it, Mr. President, three agenda items desperately needing to be accomplished. Give it a try...you just might actually accomplish something...finally.