US President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union speech offered little in the way of new policy initiatives, but plenty of upbeat talk about prospects for a strong future. His hour-long address predicated future gains on bridging the partisan divides so evident between the White House and Republican-controlled Congress, and in the sharp rhetoric flowing from the 2016 presidential campaign. Some highlights of his address:
“Political hot air”
Obama pushed back against Republican critics who sketch a gloomy picture of an America in economic decline and weakened on the world stage.
“All the talk of America's economic decline is political hot air. Well, so is all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger and America getting weaker. The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It's not even close.”
“Fix our politics”
He said a future of peace, prosperity and opportunity is only attainable “if we fix our politics.”
Specific problem areas identified by Obama: reducing barriers to voting, limiting the influence of money in politics, ending the drawing of congressional districts to benefit politicians’ interests.
2016 campaign
Obama Took indirect swipes at Republican presidential candidates for their bluster on fighting terrorism.