The Coolest Thing Obama Could Do

If he really wanted to be transformative, the President could decline to seek a second consecutive term.

I have decided to concentrate for the next 18 months on restoring growth to America's economy and leading a successful and honorable conclusion to our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  These efforts are too important to bear the distraction of another political campaign, or accusations that what we do is designed to help my re-election.


It doesn't mean I am gone from political life forever.  The Constitution gives an American two terms to be President; I do not see why they have to be consecutive.  If after another four, eight, twelve years I think I should run again, I will.


It would give his opposition fits.  It would re-convince his base that he is a post-partisan, transformative man.  It would in fact let him focus on bipartisan solutions to some big issues.  And his presidency would be able to claim pulling the county through economic ruin, ending two wars, setting the terms of a national health benefit, and killing Bin Laden.  He could rank with James Polk as a great one-termer, and keep his powder try for a second act.