State of the Union per Obama

       President Obama spoke to the nation last night, outlining some of his plans for his second term.  Some highlights included goals of Immigration reform, an oft discussed topic that has yielded little but hot air since Reagan's IRCA of 1986.  Will 2013,'14,'15,'16 be the time for action?  Many questions remain unanswered.  He spoke at length of gun control, a topic of almost as much discussion as immigration.  The gallery was peppered with victims, victims families, and heroes, too.
     The economy, current and future, seemed to come and go, as the President offered bits and pieces of measures to improve the slow growth conditions that exist across the country that continues to experience 7.9% unemployment.
    His oratory continues to impress observers, and Mr. Obama appears to feel more comfortable in his role as chief executive of the the world's only super power.

       Highlighted pols included generals of the Joint Chiefs; the Supremes, who include Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the cancer survivor; John Kerry, the new Secretary of State; Leon Panetta, the outgoing Secretary of Defense; Veep Joe Biden and House leader, John Boehner(co-presiding); and Obama's wife Michelle.  Senators and Representatives alike seemed to be enjoying the televised event.
     It was a hot ticket and security was obviously tight.   The GOP counterpoint was given by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, the handsome young Cuban American.  His eloquent presentation was given high praise, especially when he gave another version in Spanish, a hint of GOP efforts to bridge the cultural divide that cost them the White House in the 2012 election.