Mr. President – Let’s Get it Done!

Well the year is almost over and on Christmas Eve I’m thinking about my family, my friends and our troops in the Middle East.

I lived in the Middle East for a year as a young Air Force enlisted man and know what it’s like to be away at Christmas in a very strange place… but I’ve never known war. I cannot imagine the reality of what is happening in the battle zones.

I support the war on terror and I support containing or eliminating any one – or any group – that is part of terrorism.

However, we need to get it done. Enough time has passed that we should have taken care of business in Afghanistan and Iraq. You can debate troop levels, pre-war planning, post-war planning blah blah blah. If we were serious, the job would be done.

So we need to get serious and bring our men and women home. That means all out war and not precision war. I’d like to see January 1st bring terror to the terrorist’s door, and until this happens I want President Bush to do the following:

1. Stop Smiling – Until we get these folks home stop smiling, stop looking happy, and let’s see this war president GET IT DONE!
2. Admit his errors in judgment and make changes being suggested by people smarter than I am. No plan is perfect so let’s start making corrections.
3. Stop trying to please countries, politicians, media groups or any other entity that doesn’t agree with your policies or decisions. They hate you – they take your overtures of peace and middle ground and spin them against you. Tell more of them to get stuffed!
4. Stop smiling – oh – I said that.
5. Be laser focused on this direction and leave any other business to someone else!

Mr. President – Let’s Get it Done!

Merry Christmas

TK

Ex-Notre Dame Coach Nails Personal Accountability

This fall I accomplished a goal I’ve had for a couple of years… to see a Notre Dame game in South Bend. I put the whole thing together on a trip to Chicago and saw the Irish lose on the last play of the game to Boston College.

Truly and incredible college football game and experience – the pep rally the night before, the morning rain and constant storm clouds made for a lifetime of memories. The loss – it hurt.

I’m sure it hurt Coach Tyrone Willingham the most… as I was driving the wet Interstate back to Chicago I imagine the powers that be in Irish Football were making the only decision they could - Willingham was out and only a couple of wins including victory over SC could change that direction.

Harsh? Maybe, but winning at Notre Dame is not something that just happens – it’s a constant pursuit. If things are not progressing in that one direction then they are regressing, and that is where things stood the rainy afternoon of October 23rd in South Bend. After mass, the football gods got together and made the call - miracles or else.

Willingham is a class act. The other day in USA Today I read this quote and smiled. Tyrone Willingham had nailed the answer for why he was let go, and let go before his contract was over at Notre Dame.

Here it is:

“I understand that I did not meet the expectations or standards that I set for myself… and when you don't meet your own expectations, you make yourself vulnerable to the will of others."

That is accountability. No need to make excuses and I doubt he will do so in the future.

You know what’s great about taking 100% responsibility for your failure? This is it – you get to take 100% responsibility for your success. That is something we should all embrace.

Good luck Coach.

TK