IN his first State of the Union address of his second term, President Obama delivered [a] … forceful defence of liberal values … Mr Obama argued for progress on the environment, common sense on guns, decency on immigration…. Yes, there are problems left over from his first four years ... He rightly called on Congress to close the nation’s long-term budget gap by reforming entitlements and simplifying the tax code, rather than making across-the-board reductions … But it wasn’t clear how he’d get his ideas … through a polarised Congress. Many of the proposals Mr Obama laid out … would help build a stronger foundation for economic growth….

The president also renewed his call to reduce carbon emissions ... endorsed sensible steps to deter gun violence … And he reconfirmed his commitment to ending the US war in Afghanistan next year. Leaders have to do more than set the right goals; they have to find ways to achieve them. There, Mr Obama’s course is unclear. In the first term, he courted Republican support and was rebuffed. With his inaugural address, he suggested a new approach: rallying the public in support of common values … achieving it won’t be easy.

Mr Obama did make one significant nod to the other side, announcing that he would pursue a free-trade agreement with the European Union…. The president rightly argues that Washington should re-prioritise, not just cut back. Before him and Congress stand great opportunities to do just that. Pass immigration reform. Pass sensible gun laws. Work to improve the lives of average Americans regardless of which party benefits. Those are ambitions worthy of a great nation.—(Feb 13)