Barack Obama gave a dazzling State of the Union address last night, showing flashes of the original Barack Obama at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, when he first came to public notice.
The President used this last major speech of his administration to set the record straight on what had been accomplished, and what he saw as his goals for the long term future of the nation.
Obama made clear that he will dedicate his post Presidency to a war on cancer; a seeking of criminal justice reforms; a promotion of the climate change agenda; and continuing to promote the struggle against international terrorism.
As we look back seven years, despite all of the bitter recriminations visited against the 44th President, we have to marvel at what he has accomplished:
A massive revival of the American economy, including halving the unemployment rate, more than doubling the stock market, and rescue of the auto industry. after the tragedy of the Great Recession.
A major social change on the issue of gay rights and gay marriage, the new human rights initiative of the 21st century.
A path breaking law, ObamaCare, which will have a long range effect, after fine tuning, as Social Security and Medicare in earlier generations, so Obama is carrying on and adding to the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson.
The pursuit of diplomacy over engaging in more warfare, although using modern methods including drones, to pursue terrorism, and having major, unsung success, without committing our young men and women to the battlefield as cannon fodder!
The promotion of civil rights and equality on a level long overdue, to continue the legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson.
Barack Obama proved once again how compassionate and sincere a human being that he really is, a trait which will play well in history, and the odds of his Presidency being ranked as one of the more significant and transformative in our history have greatly increased, as he nears the end of his time in the Oval Office!