POTUS' PRESSER

++President Obama held a press conference that lasted over an hour. Instead of doing the shellacking bit from 2010, he actually looked good and was peppy. He did his usual rich out to Republican schtick, who infuriates the true believers who remember every time he has been screwed. But he twisted this about hearing their ideas and stressed the elections were about getting things done.

++Questioned about the rejection of his agenda, he pointed out when they were separate ballot items they passed. He also defended his absence on the campaign trail saying that he was respectful about their region or district and did what they wanted whether it was behind the scenes are not.

++This was not a press conference of a defeated man. He emphasized that as President he still had a lot of mojo left and he hoped to play the fourth quarter as well as others. He stressed that while he is called a lame duck President, lots of things will happen in the next two years.

++He passed the buck on the Keystone Pipeline saying that a court has to make decisions and he had a press in place which he will let pan out. He also said Keystone was a very small piece of the overall energy puzzle. He went on to say we have a 100-year supply of natural gas and that energy independence is just around the corner.

++He was presented by Mitch McConnell's statement that an immigration executive order would be like waving a red flag at a bull. He didn't back down. He said he had waited two years for the House to act and if Congress acted, it would make his executive order moot. Several journalists tried to get him to back away on this issue but he said he would before the next Congress.

++On Obamacare, he ran off all the positives. Said the usual thing about willing to make it better. Resisted calls for ending the individual mandate. Pointed out that was from Romney's plan. Said no to any repeal. Said no to other ideas. The Medical device tax popped up and he dodged.

++Emphasized another Authorization to use Force law was approaching and that meetings will be held this week.

++He also was positive about the Iran nuclear talks but said that Iran had politics also. He dodged the question whether he would unilaterally enforce a deal and suspend sanctions. 

++He was repeatedly asked about his "Red lines" in talking with Republicans. He knew better than to tell them any if he had any.

++He asked the issue of why Americans think they live in bummer times. He was Reaganesque in his optimism, which is partly why he won twice.

++He left with a hymn of praise for America and optimism of the last two years.

++Graceful,eloquent as always, and even-tempered.
This was several times better than after the 2010 debacle. He also said that 2/3rds of the country didn't vote.