Good Luck President Elect Obama

We did it. We elected an African-American president. Wow. Our country still has a ways to go, but this is showing we're at least partway there. Now the hard work begins.

Mr. Obama, you have a nasty, hard job ahead of you. You're inheriting a country that is in many many messes. We're in two wars. Our economy is in the tank. Health care is messed up. Companies are bleeding red. The housing sector is a disaster. Oh, and don't even get started about our foreign policy messes.

Now, do I expect you to fix all this in a year? No. Here is what I do expect:

1). I expect you to work with Congress. Not to be a rubber-stamp like Bush was for much of his Presidency, but to work with them. Force them to make difficult choices, to write pointed legislation, to reign in earmarks. Help the Democrats to learn how to lead, not just try and force through their agenda.

2). Listen to opposing points of view. REALLY listen. Be open to the fact that the way you view something may not be correct. Our current President did not do this. It has harmed this country greatly.

3). Remember we are part of a global economy and a global community. Just because we're rich and powerful does not make us right. It doesn't make us wrong either. But throwing our weight around and ignoring the opinions of other sovereign countries has done us no favors.

4). Make the tough call. Whether this is in foreign policy, domestic choices, whereever. You will be asked to make hard decisions that may be unpopular. Make them. And answer for them. Our country needs a man who can make the difficult calls.

5). Don't stonewall the media. I know there will be spin. There always is. But please, don't lie to us. We've had enough of that. Transparency, as much as possible, is a good thing.

6). Go against your party. They aren't always right. Don't merely become a party hack. I don't think you will, but if you do, I will be sorely disappointed.

I helped to elect you and I will give you plenty of leeway. We have a long ways to go as a nation. But I will be sorely disappointed if things get bogged down halfway through your term because of lack of leadership.

We've had too many years of weak leaders. Both Bush and Clinton were not strong leaders. We need someone to LEAD this nation back to preeminence in the world, both economically and morally.