By Tom Ryan, Kansas City Star Reader Advisory Panel

1. Go to zero
2. Jobs Jobs Jobs
3. Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks

There may be more or different big things you wish the President to do, but this is a simple list for someone who now appears to be scattered, confused, and over-advised. Obama’s opened himself for plenty of counsel, but that collection of coaching desperately needs a bit of focus as he looks forward to 2010.

Focus upon our own efforts to decrease our nuclear arsenal, lead by example, and encourage others to do so. Stay engaged with emerging nuclear weapon-hopeful nations. Increase funding for anti-proliferation efforts both overt and covert. Encourage the development of nuclear power domestically and develop technologies to catch up with the French and surpass them in 10 years. Shift present nuclear assets, over time, to the sea. Improve and focus upon improving our navy while we move toward “zero”.

Cease the top-down strategy for economic recovery and shift to the people. Nurture the “grass-roots” that helped you get elected. The banks and automakers, the insurance brokers and investors have had their sips from the Spring of National Treasure. If any top-downing happens, ensure it creates jobs. Take some of that stimulus and stimulate people instead of institutions. Jobs. Improve American education with jobs. For example, if we hear about another round of teacher layoffs anywhere, in the same day we read about a bonus payment to a retiring bank executive, from a bank we used our bilge-pump upon…you’ve failed and we’ll tell you as much.

Not all, but enough roads lead to Jerusalem (sorry Rome) to make you painfully aware that Hillary may as well sign a three year lease for an apartment in Tel Aviv. She need not travel home as this area is the keystone for your diplomacy policy.

Support your Defense Secretary and generals with strategic objectives and the requisite resources to achieve them, based upon their plans. Stop treating the Afghanistan war as a yet-to-be declared one. Keep the UN out of Afghanistan until there is a peace to either enforce or keep.

Is there still time for focus? Does this administration have the capability or wisdom to focus?