Please, pick one: President's problem is simple -- he can't seem to focus

When you try to juggle too many balls, it is inevitable, you are going to drop one.

And that, more than anything else, seems to be what is scaring those who are watching the whirling dervish that has become the Obama White House.

Nuclear arms here, jobs there, not to mention an Olympics and health care reform -- it is really no wonder that no one seems to know where to look next.

And in the midst of all this, the president is now starting to deal with what his top general in Afghanistan is saying is a "do or die" decision about the future of that effort there.

And just in case you haven't noticed, President Barack Obama's staff seems to be pretty concerned about setting the proper stage for the next set of gubernatorial and congressional elections as well.

So, those factors noted, what is it that President Obama needs to do now to get the country to a place where something is getting done rather than a whole lot of people talking about getting it done?

The answer is the same one given to many people across America each day. Focus.

The truth is there are major issues that need to be addressed, but they cannot all be addressed this second -- even if to solve even one of them would be a nice ratings boost.

Right now, we need to decide what to do to keep our troops in Afghanistan safe -- and we need jobs for the millions of Americans who are unemployed.

Those are the priorities that need attention now.

Afterward, the president and his staff can think about what to concentrate on next.

Otherwise, all this country is doing is spinning its wheels. And that is not good for anyone.

Published in Editorials on October 6, 2009 10:33 AM