SOTU: The Era of Wishful Thinking

President Barack Obama, struggling to remain relevant in the seventh year of his Oval Office odyssey, sounded a hopeful note in his next-to-last State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night.

With an improving economy and the combat portion of the war in Afghanistan concluded, the President sought to "turn the page" on the nation being in crisis mode.  The few proposals he made were intended to better the middle class.  Among them:  Increasing capital gains for couples making more than $500 million.  Making community college free to students who have kept their grades up.  Raising the minimum wage.  Increasing workers' paid sick leave.

The President also pledged to beef up cybersecurity, help pass new immigration reforms and take steps to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

What the President was talking about Tuesday night came across as wishful thinking to the new Republican-dominated Congress, and to the folks watching at home.  Everyone knows that years of gridlock has created a situation in which every proposal of Obama's is likely to get shot down by Congress.  And every proposal of theirs would be met by the President's veto pen.

Contrary to what the President told Congress, the world is still a dangerous place, as recent terrorist attacks have proven.  U.S. soldiers have been sent back to Iraq because the Islamic State have swallowed up nearly half the country.   Air strikes in Iraq, Syria and other places have done a good job in taking out terrorist leaders, but IS and Al Qaeda have figured out ways to get around them.  And even though combat troops have left Afghanistan, thousands of advisers remain there.

One annoying aspect of the SOTU was the constant breaks for applause by Democrats, which they kept doing even when the President was still talking.  The Republicans mostly sat on their rear ends, except for when it came time to salute the troops.

Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa delivered the GOP response that immediately followed.  It was a smiley-faced attack on Obama's policies without offering any real solutions, while bragging about her Iraq war record.  Then again, what did you expect from a woman who's only been Senator for a few weeks, and was previously known for castrating hogs?

President Obama and the new Republican Congress have both said they'll make every effort to work together for the good of the country.  Maybe that's wishful thinking too.  From this moment on, little will get done as the country prepares for the 2016 presidential election.  Then we'll see who becomes relevant in 2017.