To: President Obama--You Won. Stop Campaigning and Start Governing

In the old days, when I was a kid, we used to put on our patent leather shoes, chiffon and tulle dresses and walk to the neighbor kid's birthday party carrying a wrapped Mr. Potato Head, or Barbie Doll. We were willing to suffer the indignation of dressing up on a Saturday for a slice of thick, homemade cake and a collection of prizes like a Pez dispenser or a ring-whistle or a wooden paddle ball awarded to the winner of each game. Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs and, my favorite, the treasure hunt. Our hostess would give us a list of items to collect from unwitting neighbors working in their yards or relaxing in front of the TV.

The items were obscure and the game was timed. We scrambled without a plan from door to door, wildly crisscrossing the street, helter-skelter. Completely out of control looking for old buttons or a threaded needle, a kazoo, a burnt out TV tube.

I thought of that game this morning as I read about the President's latest plan for Afghanistan: Retreat.

In a matter of months President Obama has jumped from one strategy to another, without a plan, helter-skelter. First, he extolled the conflict in Afghanistan as the "good war." In May after a serious and comprehensive strategy review, he installed his hand-picked commander, General McChrystal. He asked the General for a recommendation, received said recommendation on August 30th--a request for 40,000 more troops--then ignored the request until the report was leaked to the press. Defended his decision to do nothing with the proposal by arguing the decision was complex and required further study. Dispatched John Kerry to Afghanistan. Took counsel from the local Ambassador while the general on the ground cooled his heels. Meanwhile October was the bloodiest month for our troops on record in the theatre and troop morale is at an all time low. The proposal is still just that. No troops have been sent. And now an exit plan.

Back and forth and back and forth. Except the stakes are not Pez dispensers and wooden paddle ball games. These are lives we are talking about. The lives of our bravest and finest.

Back and forth, back and forth. "I will," "I promise," "I guarantee." Campaign promises. Empty promises.

Dangerous and reckless behavior characterizes just about every aspect of this Administration. Advice is sought and not heeded. Public opinion is ignored. The Hasan/Fort Hood probe is halted. But self-confessed terrorists are being granted Constitutional rights and offered a very public trial where our intelligence and military secrets will be paraded before a Kangaroo court and the world. Our president assures us the terrorists will be found guilty...can he do that? Of course not. It's a smoke screen, another promise he can't keep.

Back and forth, back and forth. Perhaps, he hopes we will get tired or confused, that we will give up. Not me, I am holding on for dear life. And this time it's not for an elusive prize or a piece of cake. It's for my liberty and the liberty of my children and grandchildren. And yours, too.