SOTU 2012

Tuesday night's SOTU speech showed an evolving Barack Obama. Gone was the inspirational rhetoric of the past--wonderful to listen to but rarely effective. That he sounded more like Bill Clinton, practical and partisan, is a sign of political maturity. Ditto his tone: no meanness towards his opponents, but no deference either.

Let the campaign begin. The president is ready, and the differences couldn't be clearer.