STATE OF THE OFFICE – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:  Charles Krauthammer, perhaps the leading political commentator working today, gives a brilliant summation of the Obama presidency, now entering its last year.  From NRO:

President Obama’s Tuesday-night address to Congress was less about the state of the union than about the state of the presidency. And the state of this presidency is spent.

The signs of intellectual exhaustion were everywhere. Consider just three. After taking credit for success in Syria, raising American stature abroad, and prevailing against the Islamic State — one claim more surreal than the next — Obama was forced to repair to his most well-worn talking point: “If you doubt America’s commitment — or mine — to see that justice is done, just ask Osama bin Laden.”

Really? Five years later, that’s all you’ve got?

Indeed, it is. What else can Obama say? Talk about Crimea? Cite Yemen, Libya, Iraq, the South China Sea, the return of the Taliban?

“Surveys show our standing around the world is higher than when I was elected to this office,” Obama boasted.  Surveys, mind you. As if superpower influence is a Miss Universe contest. As if the world doesn’t see our allies adrift, our enemies on the march. and our sailors kneeling, hands behind their heads, in front of armed Iranians, then forced to apologize on camera. (And our secretary of state expressing appreciation to Iran after their subsequent release.)

COMMENT:  So well said, from Dr. Krauthammer.  If Obama were a successful president, we'd know it by the spirit of the American people.  That spirit is all but gone.  Our confidence is shot through.  There is rising anger.

Obama and his crowd came to office shouting "Smart power!"  Yeah, really smart.  Historians will no doubt report their College Board scores.  And little else.

January 15,  2016