(CNN) -- Just a year after President Bush won a second term in a tight election, his administration faces plummeting approval ratings and troubles such as rising energy prices, an indictment at the White House and waning support for the war in Iraq.
CNN.com asked readers to pose as advisers to the president and offer suggestions for ways the administration could get back on track. Here is a sampling of those responses, sent in by e-mail. Some of them have been edited for length and clarity.
I believe Harry Truman could provide the best advice, with the simple words "The Buck Stops Here." If this administration would take responsibility for its wrongdoings, rather than placing the blame elsewhere or, worse still, forging ahead regardless of the wisdom of the decision, it would go a long way towards restoring the integrity of our government.
Drew Hunt, Normal, Illinois
Hi. I am currently serving as a U.S. soldier in South Korea. I will not bash the army or the president. But what I will suggest is to bring some of the many soldiers home from Iraq. Everyday we spend over there, more and more soldiers are dying. This is not a popular war anymore like it was after 9/11. Bush could probably save face for his presidency by showing humility to the U.S. soldiers in both Iraq and Korea and let them come home (even if they just come home for long R&R tours instead of the measly two weeks) and be with their families.
An anonymous soldier, Pyongtek, South Korea
Bush should start listening to the American people by bringing our troops home, removing Rumsfeld, appointing moderate justices, and finding Osama. As a citizen who voted for Bush in 2004, I realize it was a huge mistake.
Brent Finnell, Greenville, North Carolina
Lose the "stay the course no matter what" philosophy, and the "either you're with us or against us" mindset. It's cost them Colin Powell, and other quality people, including 2000 plus American soldiers. The Bush gang has isolated itself from the rest of the country, and a lot of the world by being a sealed unit. No matter how good you look at the beginning, eventually you have to change that suit -- it's starting to stink!
Dennis Quinn, Wonalancet, New Hampshire
The key things that I think President Bush could do: stop trying to fight the fires of the moment (i.e. the Rove/Libby deal and so forth) and actually do something versus reacting. Unfortunately, he missed a prime time with the Supreme Court nominee. I feel it should have been a person with more technology and privacy experience.
Scott Goad, Bloomfield, Indiana
Admit that you and your senior Pentagon staff made mistakes. Replace the senior Pentagon staff and develop a realistic plan to bring some of the troops home.
Lee King, Salt Lake City, Utah
Mr. Bush's (dis)approval ratings are well deserved, but if he wants to raise them he could try to show that he really cares about the middle class, and especially the poor people of this country. So far tax cuts for the wealthy, and his clear preference for corporations over people do not leave much hope for the remainder of his term.
Richard Painter, Sun Lakes, Arizona
Do something that is genuinely beneficial to the American people. Like capture Osama bin Laden, or bring the troops home from Iraq, or protect whistle blowers who report corporate crime that is in collusion with government actions of extortion.
Joshua Shakopee, Minnesota
I do not think there is a lot he can do to regain the rating he once had. I think pulling our service people out of Iraq would help but we have gotten ourselves so deep already that pulling out now would only put our country at greater risk of terroristic attacks or worse. And pulling out of Iraq now could likely lead to Saddam regaining control in Iraq.
Martha Prater, Rusk, Texas
Push legislation to regulate oil companies as public utilities -- just like electric, natural gas, and telephone companies. This would require that companies obtain regulatory approval before raising gas prices.
Andy Park, Largo, Florida
The president could do numerous things beginning with changing policies that contribute to animosities and/or hostilities directed toward our country. Stop agitating the peoples of the world by getting in bed with and supporting corrupt so-called tyrant leaders. Alternative fuels and a call for the legalization of medical marijuana and the farming of hemp for industrial uses. Wage a war on government corruption at all levels of government and ease off on at least some of the oppression against the people. Bring the troops home immediately and stop meddling in foreign affairs while this country has so much corruption of its own that it isn't even dealing with. Clean up your own back yard firstly and lead by example. Doing the right thing when you have the power to do so isn't really that hard but one firstly has to want to do the right thing.
Richard Mark Jones, Purvis, Mississippi
The president needs to remember who elected him, we the poor and middle class people.. Not Big Oil,Haliburton or any of the other big business CEO's he has been courting or paying homage too. If he gets rid of us, who will support the country then?
Sandra Crater, Milford, Illinois
Ignore the posturing of the Democrats and the sniping of the press and get on with the job of governing and leading the country. STAY FOCUSED!
Bill Hatcher, Capron, Virginia
In light of recent news that U.S. oil companies have set record quaterly profits the President could take a very public position and invite the CEO's of U.S. oil companies to the White House. He could use this opportunity to remind them that they have had enormous success over the years because of the blessings of the remarkable nation they are a part of. Then for the good of the country he could ask them to return the favor and help the country out by reducing gasoline prices.
Chris Denney, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
If President Bush wants to take back his presidency he should pay more attention to the wants and needs of the American people, rather than to warring factions within the Republican party. He should also take responsibility for the failings of his administration, namely Scooter Libby's implicated involvement with the Plame CIA leak and the Department of Homeland Security's inability to deal with natural disasters on American soil. He needs to remember that government is "for the people, by the people" and do his best to serve all of us.
Molly Wright, Berne, New York
I think Bush can save his office by focusing on improving domestic issues, such as the poor (Katrina), and bring our armed forces back home, address global issues that face our children such as global warming, support other energy sources for transportation, stop the growing gap dividing the rich and poor.
Teresa, Burbank, California
The best thing Bush could do is revive the military draft. This war is something we should all share in and not just the bottom 25% of high school graduates.
Patrick Wright, San Gabriel, California
Mr. Bush should reach out to ALL Americans, not just his base. He displays a shocking willingness to shock the body politic by playing to the radical right. He should make good on his campaign mantra and be a uniter not a divider. If he won't give ground he will be ground into meaninglessness as we the people step over him to do what's right for the majority.
T.K. Hodgson, West Hollywood, California
Stop spending like a drunken sailor and close the borders and kick out a few million illegals. That will shake loose some jobs and raise wages because of less cheap workers Who can work for 12 to 13 bucks and have a nice car or a house.
Andrew M. Herold, Beltsville, Maryland
First, President Bush could help his approval ratings by getting off the evangelical tract! Yes, we are a Christian-founded country but all Christians are not evangelical! All others have freedom to choose their religion, or none, and he sould be inclusive of all.
Cheri Windsor, Colorado
Give full true backing (no lip service) to the people that voted twice to put a man in office to gain back our country. No euthanasia, no abortion, no persecution of Christians, no judicial tyranny, no homosexual privileges, no attacks on the institution of marriage, no attacks on the family, etc.
Pedro A. Delgado, Miami, Florida
I don't think that Bush can get back on track. He is SO FAR off the mainstream track, that I think he has fallen over! He is completely out of touch with America and has no regard for the consequences of his wasteful agenda and corrupt business dealings. I just hope America can emerge in 2008 without being totally destroyed.
Jennifer, Georgetown, Delaware
