A-

Question: From a leadership perspective--moving the country and the political process away from division and gridlock and toward consensus, confidence and action--how would you grade President Obama's State of the Union speech?

My grade for the president's speech is a solid A-.

From the point of view of leadership, not politics, the president's speech did several things right. He acknowledged our nation's current problems, but he kept his eye on the big picture. He made clear that his vision was inclusive of all Americans, regardless of political party, religion, ethnicity and sexual orientation. And he reminded us of the realistic possibility of a brighter future, based on the powerful legacy of the American dream. On this last point, he even got Senator Boehner a little misty-eyed.

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