Pete Waters - If President Obama comes to visit me ...

If President Obama ever came to visit my house in South County, I would invite him in and offer up a little snack of my famous hoecakes and white chicken chili accompanied by a glass of sweet tea, and raspberry pie for dessert.

Sounds good, huh?      

After dining, I would invite him to my living room, and engage him in some discussion about the current state of affairs.   

I would offer him a word of encouragement, as I don't believe presidents get too much encouragement.

"I think Mr. President you did a swell job tracking down that creep Osama bin Laden. The world is a better place since bin Laden now sleeps with the fish.

"It should be noted, too, Mr. President, that you inherited a lot of problems from your Republican friends. They would like for us to forget those two dumb costly wars, and the economic collapse they helped to create, but many people will remember.

"We're not stupid.

"People can say all they want, but the facts are the facts.

"It was your decision, however, to seek this job, so you should have anticipated the many problems awaiting you. You can't continue to make excuses for failed policies.

"We can't change the circumstances of past events, but you have to 'lead' and 'right' our course.

"Someone once told me, in life, 'either you manage the problem or the problem will manage you.' The problem seems to be winning in Washington.

"Do you think there is a fix which might keep American companies from moving jobs overseas? How can you promote a jobs program to increase work in America while watching aimlessly as jobs and work leave for other countries?

"Don't you think it's time, Mr. President, for both parties to stop acting like politicians and start acting like problem solvers to the many issues facing our nation.

"I imagine even you, Mr. President, get tired of those antics of Maxine Waters and John Boehner at times. 
"I read about all the corruption in India and then I look around and see some strange stuff in our own government. How is it we lend $540 million to a solar energy company (Solyntra) under the pretense of creating jobs, and now they file for bankruptcy, lay off 1,100 people, and plead the "fifth" when asked questions by our Congress?

"Give me $540 million and I'll promise you even I will create one job.

"Whose idea was that anyway? Is it any wonder the taxpayers are ticked off at you? How in good conscience can we afford to waste tax dollars like that, Mr. President?

"Abe Lincoln surrounded himself with his rivals after the election of 1860 and won a war.

"Do you think if you win next year's election, you might find a place for Romney, Gingrich, Perry, Paul, Cain and Huntsman in your administration and solve this economic crisis?  

"Maybe you could put Michelle Bachmann in charge of the National Parks and she could practice the art of collecting and distributing facts. Learning how to deliver facts might be something new for her.

"I know, Mr. President, it must not be easy being the leader of the United States, but times are getting tough out here in the neighborhoods."

"You know something, Pete; you have given me an awful lot of issues to ponder."  

"Can I have another glass of that sweet tea, and a piece of that pie for the road?" he would ask for sure.

"Your hospitality was great, Pete, and those hoecakes and chili were over the top," the president might conclude.

Knowing the president's fondness for beer, I'll give him one final piece of advice — "Don't stop at the Mad Dog on the way home, Mr. President. "News travels fast in these parts"

People will talk. They always do.

Lloyd "Pete" Waters is a Sharpsburg resident who writes for The Herald-Mail.