Hot off the heels and into a week of higher favorability ratings, the successful operational rescue of two Somali aid workers, and a day before taking his agenda on the road (including Arizona), as well as on television, President Obama, accomodated by House Speaker John Boehner, (yes THAT guy), his cabinet and members of Congress, including Gabrielle Giffords in her last week on the job, addressed the nation in his latest State Of The Union speech, in which among other things, he laid out his successes in foreign policy and job creation thusfar, called for national unity, and set forth an agenda to do more build an economy to last, with programs and initiatives to further tackle much needed educational opportunities for children, energy independence and comprehensive immigration reform, housing policies to help homeowners as much as possible, insider trading among members of Congress, fairness in tax system and the need for infrastructure, and outlined benefits for business that keep jobs in America,with or without help from the Republican majority in Congress.

(Click HERE for the Youtube version of the State Of The Union address.

THE DAILY TAKE host Thom Hartmann demonstrates how Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (yeah, THAT guy) is threatening to further diminish the middle class with new "Right To Work (for less)" laws, that would implement lesser wages and less safer working conditions, among other things.

In other news, the Obama administration may play a small role in the coming months in matters pertaining to the fate of Europe's economy as the World Bank steps in to contribute up to $27 billion to help keep European banks stable as recession nears for places like Britain.

POLITICUS USA senior editor Sarah Jones assails the latest edition of a Republican spam email with a line-by-line analysis and debunk of false Republican talking points prevalent in this year's Republican presidential election, including major jabs at points in the email regarding ethics and taxes to make substantive and relevant examples of Republican presidential power-hungry candidate Newt "Crybaby" Gingrich, and Willard M. Romney, INC., who reportedly substantially profitted from up to thousands of housing foreclosures in 2010.

TIME has an interesting article discussing a new study that proves abortion is safer than childbirth; In other (related) news, THIS exists.

Seriously.

THE GUARDIAN contributor Kate Harding gives her opinion on Republican Presidential hopeful, Rick (that gosh darn government gaying up everything so whatever please just Google) Santorum, and what he deems as a "gift"; Of course, leave it to the boy scouts to set the example for tolerance.

Liberal activist, author and political satirist Erin Nanasi has the latest entry of THE BACHMANN DIARIES in which Michele Bachmann, the gay-baiting, biblehawking "Queen of Godlandia", now former Tea Party Presidential candidate shares her resolve with regard to another run for relection as Congresswoman of Minnesota.

In the wake of new attacks on Nigerian police, raw video was released this week showing a number of unexploded bombs, similar to those used in an attack in Kano last week by the al-qaida linked extremist group, Boko Haram.

A plea deal with prosecutors has granted U.S. Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich life outside of jail, with a demotion and paycut to compensate, leaving an Iraqi community devastated with tragic memories of bloodshed met with seemingly unheard cries for justice.

And finally, a little something to end on a high note with. ;-)