In his State of the Union address Tuesday night more a lofty campaign style rallying call than a traditional plodding policy lectureObama declared he had delivered on what voters first elected him to do: conquering a “vicious” economic crisis and ending ground wars in the Middle East.
“Tonight, we turn the page,” the president said in his address to a joint session of Congress, trying to make an emphatic break with a turbulent 15-year period when twin shocks from terrorism and financial meltdowns rocked the nation.
“The shadow of crisis has passed,” he said. “The state of the union is strong.” For the first time in a State of the Union address it sounded like he meant it.
The loose and combative Obama who Americans saw on Tuesday night was not the graying, crisis-stifled president who last year seemed weary of his job and failed to mount an effective defense of Democrats as the party lost the Senate in November.
There was no sign of contrition, or even an indication he felt at all bloodied by the disastrous mid-terms, in which Democrats lost control of the Senate.
Instead, riding a tide of unexpected momentum which has even surprised White House aides, Obama shoved back in the game by wielding executive powers on issues like Cuba and immigration to prove he is still a political force in Washington.
“I have no more campaigns to run,” he said drawing Republican applause, before silencing his foes with a kicker that encapsulates his attitude to an opposition party with which he has feuded for his entire presidency.
“I know — because I won them both.”
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When Clinton announces what is seen as her almost certain presidential campaign later this year, she will likely become the go-to voice for progressives on all domestic issues.
And by the time of the State of the Union address next year, the presidential primary season will be in full swing — drawing media attention from the lame duck in the White House.
Robert Lehrman, chief speechwriter for former vice president Al Gore, said that Obama had long term political goals in mind as he knew almost nothing he proposed would get passed.
“But he is laying the groundwork for whoever it is in 2016 to run against a Republican,” said Lehrman, now a professor at American University.
Apparently sensing his time is short, Obama mounted an extraordinary defense of his own political skills, even referring to the speech in Boston he made as an unknown senatorial candidate at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
“Over the past six years, the pundits have pointed out more than once that my presidency hasn’t delivered on this vision,” Obama said arguing that many people thought he was naive.
“I know how tempting such cynicism may be. But I still think the cynics are wrong,” Obama said, in a plea for a “better politics” which will likely remain unfulfilled, in one of the biggest disappointments of his presidency.
