Talk to the Home Builders While You are Here, Mr. Obama

Camelback Presidential Suite

Andalusian Presidential Suite

Hello President Obama and welcome to our fine city. You are probably receiving this note as you step off the plane this evening, in Phoenix. I hope your flight was uneventful because I have to tell you, I have noticed you are looking a little weary these days. The last two Presidents started to get that worn, torn look in the last years of their terms, so I suggest you start pacing yourself a bit.

Why don't you give Steve Nash a call and stop by the stadium for a little one-on-one basketball before heading to your fancy hotel and spa? He runs circles around his opponents and it could be a fantastic workout for you. You will be wishing you weren't sneaking off stealing those cigarettes after a session with Nash, that's for sure.

Can I digress for a moment......Where does a President go off and sneak cigarettes? I am guessing the master bedroom, but then Michelle would have to be privy to this behavior. Maybe you smoke in the master bathroom sending the fumes through a slit in the window or through a vent. Sounds so junior high......Sorry, now where was I?

Oh yes, the visit and speech here tomorrow. I won't be in the audience for your speech because I do not like sleeping overnight in a line outside when it is in the 30's just to get my one ticket to attend. I imagine most of the 500 people will be young camper-types who do not have jobs or are skipping their college classes. I do however have a suggestion for your visit though:

I hear you have chosen the fine city of Mesa to discuss your plans to help with the problems of foreclosures. Mesa is just as good as any city around Phoenix, as we have one of the worst foreclosure problems in the nation. I suppose you chose a high school to seem all local and hometown boy-like. That's fine, but while you are in Mesa, why don't you stop by one of our small home building companies to talk to them and ask for their suggestions on how to correct the housing problems. There is a wonderful company called Vantage Homes that is located in Mesa not far from Dobson High School. They are struggling to make it through this foreclosure problem. I do not know them well but they seem unique and could offer you some fantastic ideas. You see, even in the crazy, good times for home builders several years ago, they were quietly building starter homes for people, mostly in the outskirts of Phoenix in cities like Buckeye and Surprise. They never created a lavish office for themselves, kept their executive salaries low and worked long hours. Many of their homes were sold to the communities' minorities, young people and folks from the military. But due to all the bad loans given out and this bad economy, their projects are really hurting with all the foreclosures. It's really just a supply and demand problem; too many houses on the market (mostly foreclosed homes, too). And, I was disappointed that somehow the $15,000 tax credit got cut out of this stimulus bill for any new home buyer who qualified. But, hey, why not add that to this next bill? Vantage Homes and many other builders could be a wealth of knowledge for you, Mr. President. Please do not just listen to your Washington think tank group on the issue of foreclosures and kick-starting the home business.

Taking care of the home builder, of course, also takes care of so many middle class businesses you seem to like so much. They support construction, interior designers, plumbing suppliers, landscapers, makers of TVs, furniture....I could go on and on, but you understand.

Enjoy your stay here. You are staying at one of the newest, swankest places in our town tonight. They have two Presidential Suites to choose from and I would imagine, you get first dibs. (Click on the links at the top of this post to see the fancy rooms). So, kick your shoes off and ask one of your staff members to add a visit to a home builder while you are here. We'll all be glad you did!