Als president Barack Obama, vice-president Joe Biden, of andere leden van de regering Obama moeite hebben om goede voornemens te verzinnen voor 2010, dan hoeven zich niet druk te maken. Voormalig strateeg en adviseur van president George W. Bush, Karl Rove, wil graag helpen.

In zijn wekelijkse column in de Wall Street Journal, geeft Rove een aantal voornemens waar Obama, Biden en zijn medewerkers aan zouden kunnen denken. Voor Obama geeft Rove aan dat de president “needs to be more clear in what he is thinking – ensuring he doesn’t leave a diverse group of people with the impression the president agrees with all of them – and must make sure to mean what he says. Mr. Obama should work on his habit of leaving a room of people with deeply divided opinions thinking he agrees with all of them. That leads to disagreements over essential issues, like the meaning of his pledge to begin withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2011 and the nature of the new military mission there”, zo schrijft Rove.

Rove vindt dat vice-president Biden minder publiekelijk zou moet spreken. “Every time he opens his mouth, the West Wing staff uses him to make the president look good by comparison”, aldus Rove in zijn column. Voor de medewerkers van Obama vindt Rove dat er minder ‘historic moments’ moeten zijn en dat Obama minder televisie moet kijken. “Why not resolve to have a few less “historic” moments? How many can one president really have, anyway? A little more grace toward his predecessor would help him, as would less TV time. He is wearing out his welcome and his speechwriters—judging by the quality of their work lately”, aldus de voormalige adviseur van president Bush.

Rove heeft ook nog een voornemen voor Social Secretary van het Witte Huis, Desiree Rogers. “She needs to keep an eye on those guest lists. She should take a lead from Santa Clause and make her list and check it twice . . . at the White House gates.”