If I Were Obama, I'd . . . .
 

1. Take on the R's by eveloping them in the plan. I'd appoint two or three moderate, high profile R's in my cabinet. I'd also put high level R's on major committees and get them on board with the tax cuts and economic plans. I'd do this by noting that the two parties are not that far apart on the vast majority of the issues. I'd also put the capital gains tax raise on the way back burner, which would appease the vast majority of the hard core right.

2. I'd find a way to maginalize Fox News, Rush L., etc. I'd likely achieve this goal by killing them, with kindness. I'd tear down the wall Fox News and the like rely on - that wall of us v. them. Without that, they have no audience. Note - many in the R base voted for Obama or almost did. Obama can keep them on board.

3. I'd avoid all social issues like abortion, etc. until I'd shored up the economy and executed W's quasi plan (which he stole from the D's) to get the vast majority of the combat troops out of Iraq in a year or so. Iraq is pretty much for it , so it should be pretty easy to do. If the R's called me on it, I'd deflect them to the economy. By doing this, the far right's smear machine will be, again, maginalized to a large degree.

4. If a Supreme Court nominee comes up, I'd appoint a moderate who still believed in the right to privacy. He should not polarize on this issue.

5. Obama has the clout to get a middle class tax cut through as well as a huge energy program (which must include drilling for oil as a concesssion) concentrating mostly on T Boone Pickens' plan. The former will provide a spark for the economy. The latter will create thousands of jobs without appearing like some govt. handou, which it actually is.

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I think if Obama does this, he will be beloved and have huge clout and likely a second term.

If Obama goes in and pushes a very far left social agenda, he is going to lose in a big way.

What do you think?

I agree with you for the most part, though I'm not sure what a "far-left social agenda" is. He probably will appoint some Republicans (Chuck Hagel's name has been coming up again). I think repealing DOMA and DADT should take a back seat to passage of federal GLBT anti-discrimination legislation, which I hope you don't consider part of said "far-left social agenda." Fixing the economy and our global reputation (both of which would be greatly helped by an orderly exit from Iraq) should be the top priorities.

The far left social agenda is the anti discrimmination and the partial birth abortion stuff. Neither of those is really pressing right now. What is pressing is the war in Iraq, the economy, and the energy policy. He can win over many a R by building alliances on those issues. I think that the more Obama shows he is willing to work with people and build alliances, the more he will be able to acclimate the middle of the road Americans to the far left stuff later on. Obama largest strength IMO is his ability to win over people. He needs to capitalize on that.

On edit - I know it seems strange, but Obama's legacy must, and I mean MUST, be packing not only the Supreme Court, but all the Federal Circuit and District Courts as well. All the other social issues pale in comparison. The only way to achieve this goal is to put the R's and the moderate D's in a position not to threaten a filibuster on the nominees.

If I Were Obama, I'd . . . .rent the pope's bullet proof vehicle.

If I were Obama, I'd ...

... cut taxes in all income brackets;
... cut spending at all gov't levels;
... transform the War on Drugs into a War on Violent Crime by increasing by a factor of 3 all prison sentences for violent crimes;
... mandate that all county traffic authorities replace outdated timer-driven traffic lights with "smart" lights using wireless tracking devices;
... outlaw the stuffing of private mailboxes with mass mailers & unsolicited detritus.
... repeal all mandatory public schooling requirements, & encourage all rotten children & their rotten parents to find their own ways to learn things;
... create a national health insurance system using an opt-in feature & taxing only those who opt in;
... transform Social Security into an opt-in system;
... delete at least 75 percent of the Federal Tax Code, & outlaw both corporate & individual loopholes & subsidies.

As for the second four years, I'll have to think about it.

^^^ Ya left off making sure the Fleetwood Mac's upcoming 2009 tour contains 95% material NEVER PLAYED in concert...

Yeah, like that would ever happen...

If I were Obama I'd,


... get advisors with every viewpoint (Far left, left, middle-left, dead center, middle-right, right, far right).

.... do nothing too controversial in the first year (not just the hyper-polerizing things, but anything that doesn't need to be done that would divide).

... show from the start that I listen to Republicans and am willing to work together, but am tough on some things.

.... take on all of the issues that exist and matter to Americans without creating new issues/interest in things that don't matter.

... come out swinging.

.... make sure that the best person ALWAYS gets the job, what ever their beliefs.

.... (if it came to it) let an issue go/change on the issue if a crushing majority of Americans are against it (they, after all, gave me my job).

.... not change something just because it was Bush-ified, but if if was broken.

... listen long and hard to the experts.

... talk openly and often with America (and the world) to defend/explain my positions and decisions.

... keep in mind that all of my actions will be examined to a far greater degree than normal.

... unite America with me, rather than against me.

... never do anything for politics, do it for America as a whole (as opposed to just certain groups.

... watch who I associate myself with.

... fix our relations with other countries/leaders.

.... make the world a better place.