Skip to main content

Dear President-elect Obama

Dear President-elect Obama:

By the time this month is over, America — and, yes, that includes us Okies — will have inaugurated a new president.

It is, by all accounts, a historical moment; the country’s first black president, elected during a time of severe financial turmoil and strife in the world.

But, inversely, it’s also an opportunity.

A chance for you to make changes for the better and to improve the lives of millions of those who call this country their home.

With that in mind, I’d like to offer you a few suggestions for your administration.

•Be open. Talk to the press on a regular basis; tell them up front what you’re trying to do. Sure there are times when you need to keep things quiet but, overall, an open dialogue with members of the Fourth Estate will benefit you greatly.

•No matter what you do, you will always have critics. Accept that. There are many people on both sides of the political landscape who are sure that they are 100 times smarter than you.
They are absolutely positive they know better. Don’t worry; they don’t. Seek their input, hear what they have to say, but in the end, do what you think is right. You’ll sleep better.

•Learn quickly the difference between governing and campaigning. Your campaign is over. Now the hard work begins. As president you are the leader of more than 350 million Americans and most of ‘em can’t even agree on whether or not Elvis is dead. Now you need to govern. You’ll need to balance needs versus wants against available resources. Those steeped in Washington politics can be an asset, but most of the time they aren’t. Understand that and learn from it.

•Be yourself. You’re blessed with a speaking ability that few possess. Take your messages public, talk to those you represent and, most of all, be yourself. You have a great deal of hard work to do over the next four years, but you can make your job so much easier by simply being yourself.

•Know that many support you. Millions upon millions of Americans have placed their hope in your hands. Know that you are not alone; million want to help and are willing to do so. Sure not everyone is going to agree with everything you do, but at this point in time, the country has your back. Take advantage of that and roll up your sleeves and get to work.

Good luck and God bless,
M. Scott

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-pastor suing Moore's First Baptist Church

MOORE — A former official with Moore’s First Baptist Church is suing the church for his termination, and for “spreading false rumors about his mental health throughout the community,” court documents show. Jimmie D. Lady, the church’s associate pastor, filed the suit in Cleveland County District Court last week seeking $10,000 in actual damages and $10,000 in punitive damages for “severe emotional distress and mental anguish as a result of statements made about him when his job was terminated.” Lady’s attorney, Andrew Hicks of Houston, claimed church officials terminated Lady for being bi-polar, then spread rumors about Lady in the community. “Although a man of God, Dr. Lady cannot ignore the dramatic, adverse effects these untrue and unfair accusations have had on him and his family,” Hicks said. “First Baptist Moore’s efforts to tarnish Dr. Lady’s reputation have threatened his family’s livelihood. Through this suit, we hope to restore Dr. Lady’s good name.” Church officials denied...
5 comments
Read more

Pink Toes

Zachary has pink toes. Thursday, that horrific, difficult, awful day, is over. And here, in the stillness of my home, the quiet is my benediction. My youngest son – the smallest, most fragile of a large, blended family – has stood at the edge of oblivion and returned. The weeks building to this day brought tension, anxiety, stress and fear. Overwhelmed by nature of Zachary’s needs, we, his parents, had no real plan, no other process in place. We simply turned our faces toward the storm and prayed. For the third time in our lives, Karen and I made the long, long walk down the yellowish-tan colored hallway to the operating theater. This time, Karen went in with Zach as they put him under. She walked out the doors sobbing. We returned to the third floor of Children’s Hospital and started out long vigil. The clock seemed to move backward. Once again, we huddled inside the waiting room with friends and family and made mindless conversation. We talked about politics and God and life. ...
1 comment
Read more

The more things change, the more they stay the same

So I’m standing in a large darkened gym, watching a bunch of middle school kids fake like they are dancing — and for the record they’re not very good. I’m here, because in a moment of weakness, I told my school teacher-wife I’d help chaperone. The music is loud. Between 40 and 50 kids line the walls — boys on one side, girls on the other. The dance floor is empty. I’ve been here before. About 30 years ago. Over to the left, there’s the arrogant little twit who is sure he’s the perfect specimen of masculinity. He thinks he’s immortal and he honestly believes that every girl here is dying to hook-up with him. He struts around like a rooster, high-fives his buds, and practices that same look Rod Steward made famous in 1975. Rod’s version was way better. Thirty years ago this kid’s name was Jimmy; he started on the eighth grade football team and his Dad bought him a real motorcycle. He was just sure he had qualified as the Alpha Male of the eighth grade. Superjock is talking to the standar...
Post a Comment
Read more