Dear President Obama,
I understand your passion for campaigning, public speaking and fundraising. Clearly you are one of the best and your audiences always enjoy your presence. Me too!
However, with all due respect, you were not hired by the American people to be a perpetual campaigner or fundraiser. You were hired to be President of the United States, it’s Chief Executive and Commander-In-Chief . . . for ALL the people, Democrats and Republicans alike.
Campaigning and fundraising should be put behind you. You should focus 100% of your time, attention and psychic energy on the challenge of being our nation’s Chief Executive and Commander-In-Chief.
As a business and investment professional with over 40 years of senior executive experience, I urge you to devote 100% of your remaining working hours to governance from the White House. Work the phones, the Internet, video conferencing, office meetings, staff conferences, etc.
Most importantly, get others to come to you and to your staff for face-to-face meetings, discussions, interviews, awards, etc. in the White House. When a public speech is required, use video links from the White House to address the audience. Stop flying around the country in Air Force One. Let other people do the traveling – to meet with you – the President of the United States.
In a nutshell, conserve your remaining professional time, attention and psychic energy by focusing on your responsibilities as President and Commander-In-Chief – and do it from your office and other White House facilities. This may not be as personally exciting or rewarding or to-your-liking, but it will be considerably more professional, productive and cost-effective.
As you know, you will have plenty of time for public speaking, fundraising, travel, golf, vacationing and fun as a relatively young former President after you leave office. In the meantime, make the most of the next 3-1/2 months by leading, engaging, managing and motivating from your office and the White House. Follow the example of a paralyzed and immobile FDR, or a seven-day-a-week Abraham Lincoln, or successful executives in other fields of endeavor. Salvage your time, effort and energy to protect and enhance the American-Way*.
*The American-Way ― *The American Prosperity Machine: Traditional Judeo/Christian principles and values . . . the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . . freedom of speech, action, religion and family governance . . . an educated and informed society . . . freedom from gender and racial discrimination . . . affordable healthcare . . . the rule of Constitutional Law . . . the peaceful settlement of disputes . . . honest elections and presidential leadership . . . patriotic, truthful, checks-&-balanced, limited government . . . a strong military . . . cost-effective national defense . . . secure borders . . . the right of citizens to own and bear arms . . . free, competitive markets and institutions . . . properly-regulated, free-enterprise . . . balanced trade . . . private property rights . . . low cost, domestically supplied energy and natural resources . . . controlled immigration . . . individual responsibility and ingenuity . . . entrepreneurialism . . . a strong work ethic . . . full employment . . . fair pay . . . appropriate safety nets . . . low taxes . . . a strong, reliable currency . . . financial availability, mobility, and responsibility (balanced budget, minimal debt) . . . Competitive, Free-Market, Free-Enterprise, Constitutionally Limited Government . . . and American Exceptionalism.
God bless you Mr. President. May your final months be a total success!
photo credit:by Gage Skidmore; Barack Obama via photopin (license)
