Perhaps it's partisanship that makes me say this, but that was one of the best State of the Union Addresses I've ever heard. Yes, it had the character of a laundry list at first, but that part of it somehow moved quickly. And reforming Social Security is no boring item on a list. Ending with foreign policy was the right move. Don't look now, but as things improve in Iraq and the debate continues on Social Security, Bush stands a chance to wind up in that second tier of presidents, which is currently lead by Reagan. Smart people have criticized him for not vetoing anything, but in his own way he represents significant energy in the executive. He doesn't need to use the veto to show his strength. He's serious; he's focused; and he's a man in a hurry. He looks like a man who has things to do and knows that he has hardly enough time in which to do them. If Democrats think they're going to block SS reform, they better think again. Bush already has command of the topic both intellectually and poltically, and Democrats are on the defensive.

A lot can happen in the next few years, and certainly some things are out of Bush's control. But don't be surprised to see him gain victory after victory and wind up with an impressive legacy.