A true president

 I had a little fun recently wondering what it would be like if a former president took charge of the country today. I pretended Franklin D. Roosevelt, one of my personal favorite presidents, occupied the Oval Office once again. Here is what I thought he might say if he resurrected his infamous fireside chats:

"Americans, I am grateful to be back in your presence. It’s been more than 60 years since I held this office, and I hope I can give our country back to you, the American people, who have worked so hard and have been given so little.

"When I departed my office during World War II, the United States faced many hardships. We faced a war that, at times, looked unwinnable. But we never faltered.

"We knew that Adolf Hitler was the enemy to end all enemies, and that he had to be stopped. And we stopped him. We stopped the march of fascism across Europe, and we stopped the Japanese after their imperialist empire did its best to destroy our Naval fleet in Pearl Harbor.

"I was very pleased with the job that Mr. Truman did after my departure. He handled the situation quite well, I must say, but it is regrettable to think of what happened at Hiroshima and Nagasaki.Never-the-less, it had to be done.

"Today, however, we are facing just as many challenges, although different in nature. I understand that we have a war going on in the Middle East — a war that many Americans are tired of and cannot bare to think of any longer.

"Your former president, Mr. Bush, made many wrong decisions leading up to this war, but I must commend him for never straying from his plan. Although, as well all know now, it was a plan that was gravely wrong.

"Americans, I am speaking to you from the most powerful seat in the world. I am in the Oval Office, and I am once again making decisions I believe are in your best interest. I plan, starting today, a slow pullout of U.S. troops from Iraq. I also plan to organize several special units to hunt down Osama bin Laden, who, from what I understand, is this country’s real enemy, not the Iraqi insurgents.

"While I understand that many terrorists are using Iraq as a killing ground, and you can rest assured they too will be captured, I believe our nation has more pressing matters than fighting in this Iraqi quagmire.

"I firmly believe that it is of utmost importance to address key issues back in our homeland, rather than fighting a dusty, dirty war that seems to have no end.

"Americans, I plan to give you the health care that you so desperately need. Just as I did with my New Deal during the Great Depression, I plan to change the way our nation’s government works. We will no longer stand by and watch while you struggle.

"It is our job to take care of you, and it is our job to make sure your health, retirement and children are taken care of, too. I am appalled at the state of our nation. I am appalled at the poverty that seems to be rising at alarming rates. And I am appalled at the unending profits that oil companies, pharmaceutical firms and others are making at the expense of good, hardworking Americans.

"In the coming months I will introduce several plans to bring government help to everyone, especially the hurricane battered Gulf Coast. Our duties, it is now clear, are to the American people, not to foreign lands.

"To the American people I have to say that we will stand strong for you. I am your president, and I am here for you. Thank you and good night."