I ran a similar post back in 2005.
Then, as now, I would posit:
You are now President of the United States, George W. Bush. It is Monday, 9-17-2007. Current events are precisely as they appear today.
The Challenge:
List the top five line items that you would address, by priority, to repair whatever damage you may perceive has been inflicted to the Bush Presidency.
If you believe the President is on track, list five other issues or areas that you think should be addressed during the remainder of the Bush term.
Be professional, be positive. This is not an exercise in complaints but an exercise in solutions. It is easy to complain; it is much more difficult to provide viable and innovative answers to global and national issues.
The ball is now in your court, and the White House is now in your hands.
Go.
BZ
Hmmmm.
Have to think about that one.
I’ll definitely get back on this one!
No! I don’t want to be president, BZ, not even for a day! That’s one job I wouldn’t take if it was miraculously handed to me on a silver platter with a paycheck of millions a year. That’s got to be the most ungratifying job on the planet. I don’t understand why anyone would want it.
1.I would give the order for our Military to test one or two Nuclear Weapons and I would make sure the World watched.
2.I would tell the World that we will not tolerate anymore terrorist attacks, none, either here or abroad.
3.I would call the Saudi Royal Family and explain that they have been warned. One more attack and their gone.
4.I would issue an order to close our borders until we can successfully weed out our enemies here at home.
5.I would issue an order to the top Military Commanders in Iraq that it’s time to take the gloves off. I would give those 6 months to use overwhelming force and to bring a USA victory in Iraq. If the Iraqi people aren’t willing to fight for their country then they need to get out of the way or die.
I would treat Islam as a Cancer and iradicate it. Either you wash a pigs asshole and drink the water or you die, ya, that’s the ticket.
I would remind the World that we are the most powerfull and that we are more them willing to start showing it.
Let’s get the party started.
1) I would declare all terrorist organizations to be outside of the law of nations, and that any currently on the State Dept. list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations were now targeted for full destruction by any means necessary. The technical term for the US Code is Piracy, and all FTOs are to have the Piracy laws applied against them as well as all supporters of them. No longer will the US put up with any warlike attacks by such organizations. That is across-the-board for all US Armed Forces and law enforcement. This includes a full re-institution of Article 82 of the FM-100 put in by a previous President, so the Armed Forces may summarily lock up any terrorist who surrenders for life. Of course it is only an Executive Order, but I expect that by following proper precedent set by the 16th President, that this will hold.
2) I would end the treaty agreements the US has signed on to for creation of the UN. It would be dead as a treaty and need to go through re-authorization. Good luck to my successor if you want that back!
3) I would end NAFTA. Mexico refuses to hold to its obligations, so it is time to end that treaty. Good luck in getting *that* back!
4) I would declare our military presence in Germany at an end, and revoke all treaty language enabling that. That might be quickly reversed if Germany actually turns around and acts in a way that would show they are serious about their own security. The moment the whining begins, expect the US public to take a different view of Germany.
5) All federal funds are cut to any sanctuary city, municipality or any other government that refuses to uphold the law of the land. That includes all: water subsidies, farm subsidies, and cutting off the electrical power to them so they are no longer a part of the ‘grid’. Ditto telecom. Presidents get to decide foreign policy, Congress gets to set immigration policy and as President I get to enforce same. Even a 24 hour shut-off gets the point across.
The treaty revocation is *not* symbolic. Getting those re-instated requires Senate authorization and Presidential approval. And you can *bet* Americans will want a hearing on them.
For the Piracy: that is my job as President. To define the enemies of the Nation and call them as they are. If they are Nations, then foreign policy and diplomacy are the prime mover. If they are not nations, they are predators on all nations and deserve to be ended. The Lincoln citation should give deep pause to *anyone* who would gainsay the wisdom of the Great Emancipator.
And even a lovely hiccup to the ‘sanctuary cities’ would gain great hue and cry. It is a signal to get serious on this… and would be a joy to listen to those reviling me for doing that. Because the Nation would also hear that, and I bet that trying to say why we need no law in that would shock some few.
An abrupt change of course, not easily rectified.
An exercise in futility… You could accomplish exactly nothing in 1 day…
Ranando & AJ: wow, excellent! AJ, I still think you should run in politics or start another party.
Fred: sure, we know that, but theoretically, what immediate things would you change and/or implement?
BZ