President Seeks Path Forward Beyond Troubles

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/18/us/politics/obama-vows-to-focus-on-governing.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine 
Date: Sat, May 18, 2013 at 3:15 PM
Subject: re: President Seeks Path Forward Beyond Troubles
To: "letters@nytimes.com"

To the Editor:

   In this season of scandal--real or imaginary--president Obama needs to focus on what he can do and not on what he cannot. The power to tax and the power to spend and the power to stimulate are explicitly given to Congress.  For better or for worse, obstructionists there hold our economy in their fist.  But there remain the powers of the Executive, particularly the department of Justice. President Obama can go a long way towards reestablishing the credibility of our government by prosecuting torturers and wiretappers and war profiteers.  The crimes are manifest and America is diminished by them. It remains only to "take care that these Laws be faithfully executed" as his job description requires. Or to concede failure.

Barry Haskell Levine