State of the Union: Obama declares ‘the shadow of crisis has passed’ in US as he demands action on Isis

Lifting the embargo on Cuba, raising taxes on America’s richest and hunting down Isis terrorists were themes of a sweeping State of the Union address by President Barack Obama on Tuesday night that opened with a wish-list of measures to boost the fortunes of the poor and middle class.

“Will we accept an economy where only a few of us do spectacularly well?” Mr Obama asked. “Or will we commit ourselves to an economy that generates rising incomes and chances for everyone who makes the effort?”

Even as he faced a Congress that for the first time since his election is under Republican control in both of its chambers, Mr Obama was spirited if not almost rambunctious as he celebrated the progress the United States has made on the economic front saying that the “shadow of crisis” had passed .... http://www.independent.co.uk