3/19/09: Dear President Obama,

On the eve of the anniversary of your second month in office, I’m thinking it’s a good time to take a little inventory of your performance thus far.  The expressed opinions, of course, are only mine.  ‘Nuff said on that front.

So here we go.  

1.  Salaries frozen for executives of companies receiving bailout money.  That’s a winner in anyone’s book, with the possible exception of executives of companies receiving bailout money.  I don’t begrudge anyone receiving compensation they’re entitled to, mind you: the key phrase there was “receiving bailout money”.  But if any of those folks decide they can’t live on the imposed $500K annual salary and choose to seek sweeter clover in the pasture across the fence, please take note of my hand waving vigorously from the applicant pool.  I’ll wear a geranium on my thumb so you’ll know it’s me.  Put in a good word for me with the shareholders, okay?  I know from productivity, labor management, and percent effective.  I work for Ralphs a profitability-driven company that shall remain anonymous.  And that’s about all the resumé I need, I’m thinking.

2.  Salaries frozen for top White House staff.  Hmm.  I like it.  See #1.

3.  Lilly Ledbetter act signed.  I already addressed this one back on 1/31/09, so I won’t beat a dead horse.  Suffice it to say YAY.  I’ll buy you a beer and cheer for the Bulls (oops.  Did I barf out loud?  Sorry!) if it ever benefits me. 

4.  Ended restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.  The implications of this are huge, and all of them positive.  Do I think life begins at conception?  You bet I do.  Let me say that again: YOU BET I DO.  But I don’t believe for one millisecond that God would prefer to see an unneeded or unwanted IVF embryo tossed in the trash rather than see it used to produce cures for heretofore incurable diseases and afflictions.  IVF happens.  Maybe sometimes it shouldn’t, but it does.  The zealots screaming “baby killer!” can’t possibly think burying an embryo in the sewer by way of the toilet is preferable to saving lives.  Can they?

5.  The Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  I’m still on the fence here, bud.  If I see one more dollar go to AIG I do believe I’ll scream or move to Spain.  They’re done.  They’re losers.  How many hundreds of billions of dollars do we throw their way before we figure out IT AIN’T HAPPENING?!!  The world as we know it will continue to revolve if they fail.  Heck, it’ll be a lesson in narcissism if nothing else.  This has to stop.   It’s this kind of stuff that’s making me nervous about the whole package.

6.  Making Home Affordable.gov.  This is a great example of your commitment to Main Street, and I’m liking it. 

7.  Whitehouse.gov.  Another great example of putting the “us” back in U.S.

Bottom line:  you’ve still got my vote.  And Michelle is a doll: that interview in the April edition of Oprah is terrific.  Always kiss her goodnight.  The girls?  On the right track, and with parents who still hold dear the concept of their own family while holding the future of millions of others in their hands.

My two cents.  Keep the faith.