Regarding Kimberley Strassel's "Obama's Great Leap Rightward" (Potomac Watch, Jan. 21): A cynic might note that the president continues to benefit from left-wing venom directed toward conservatives; The [sic] more they howl, the more reasonable and centrist the president appears.
Most presidential historians, and Mr. Obama himself, consider his two years of progressive legislative accomplishments to be historic in nature. His leftist agenda speaks for itself and, absent new political realities, would be touted with pride. It is necessary now for President Obama to tack a little to the right, using words that reinvigorate his admirers in the media and garner just enough support from independents to win re-election. With taxes kept low (thanks to the GOP), the economy showing signs of life and a with [sic] decent chance of unemployment dropping to 8% or so by the middle of 2012, Americans will be less inclined to rock the boat. A little to the right, then smooth sailing back to the left after the election.
Tom Walters
Fairfax, Va.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 