Reporter's Note: President Obama receives a letter from me every day, even when I'm on vacation, like this past week.
Dear Mr. President,
As your election year activities grind on, I am sure you are trying to assess and reassess just who you have in your innermost circle of advisors. And here is my advice on that: Be wary of friends.
First, because everyone wants to be friends with a president. It is prestigious, potentially lucrative, and you get great seats in restaurants. Or so I am told. So with all those benefits, even figuring out who your true friends are is tricky.
Once you've identified them, you have the second problem. Friends generally don't like to make each other angry. So they often gloss over bad news, ignore each other's weaknesses, and flat out will not mention when the friend is wrong.
You don't need that. No, what you need is brutally honest folks who will tell you all the bad news first, will challenge you at every corner to be better, and who will not sugarcoat your weaknesses.
For someone in your position, those are the true friends. Finding them is tough...but not only is it worth the effort, it is essential.
Hope all is well. Call if you can.
Regards,
Tom
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Filed under: Letters to the President • Opinion • President Barack Obama • T1 • Tom Foreman |
The lawyer for victim #5 describes Sandusky's "awkward" stare in court. He says he's not worried about the defense appealing the case.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Crime & Punishment |
Jerry Sandusky's lawyer says his client intended to take the stand, but didn't in order to avoid his adopted son, Matt Sandusky, testifying as a rebuttal witness. Amendola also told Anderson Cooper that Sandusky never considered a plea agreement.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Jerry Sandusky |
The father of a boy who harassed Karen Klein says his son is receiving death threats. He calls the incident "life-changing" for his family and doesn't believe his son will behave like that again.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Bullying |
Karen Klein talks to Anderson Cooper about the boys apologizing to her for the harassment. She expected more from the students. Klein also says she wants threats against them to stop because "two wrongs don't make a right."
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: 360° Interview • Bullying |
Jerry Sandusky's co-counsel, Karl Rominger, plans appeal based on the court not granting continuance.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Jerry Sandusky |
CNN's Jason Carroll describes Jerry Sandusky's reaction as the verdict is read, declaring him guilty on 45 of 48 counts.
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Post by: Jason Carroll Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Jerry Sandusky |
CNN's Jeffrey Toobin responds to the news that jurors in the Jerry Sandusky case found him guilty on 45 sex abuse counts.
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Post by: Anderson Cooper Filed under: Crime & Punishment • Jeffrey Toobin |
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