The Truman touch

I think many liberals -- like me -- who voted for President Barack Obama are becoming impatient with him. We want to see him use his teeth for more than smiling.

Perhaps the trouble is that Mr. Obama has taken on a project of reforming politics. He's trying to act sensibly, on the assumption that his political opponents will someday reciprocate.

But they won't. They never agreed to reform politics. They play dirty because that is the only way they know to play.

So I'd suggest that Mr. Obama become a little more like Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Harry Truman and give his opponents -- as Truman would -- hell. Make them want to reform politics.

Then perhaps he could get somewhere on issues like health care, environmental change and even political reform.

PAUL H. COX
Richland