You can almost see voters nodding their heads at home: The public's faith in politicians and political institutions has been on a steep and dangerous decline for decades, because elected leaders fail to deliver.

At his best, Obama promised to work with Republicans to reduce the deficit in a way that honors both individualism and community.

With gridlock the norm, Congress's approval rating is below 10 percent and the public has lost faith in its national leadership.

If you like your health insurance plan, you can keep your health insurance plan

Like a cowboy saddling a bucking stallion, Republican leaders tried to tame the Tea Party while riding it to victories.

Blending hard-bitten realism with long-view optimism, Obama said that every 20 or 30 years brings a new cycle of pessimism in America.

Obama considers himself above deal-making and back-slapping, political necessities he often delegates to Vice President Joe Biden and other lesser sorts.