Barack Obama continues to enjoy the support of most Americans, and his speech on Tuesday evening to both houses of Congress – a State of the Union address in all but name – did nothing to erode it. The president spoke to the country, not even pretending to address the audience before him. In a relaxed performance, Mr Obama sounded winning themes familiar from his election campaign and by popular demand mixed a bit more optimism and a bit less gloom than of late into the blend. This is the United States, he said: we are not quitters. No indeed.

Fine, although one wonders how much longer Mr Obama will be able to give this speech. He said nothing new. He offered no real information to explain what will become of the banks, or how the budget deficit will eventually be brought back under control, or how his expensive and increasingly confident promises to reform education and healthcare will be paid for. In every case, it was “details to follow”.