Tonight, the president led.

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Barack Obama's address to Congress tonight was impressive in the confidence in which it was offered and delivered by the president, but also in the manner in which it was welcomed by legislators in Congress. There was a lingering, perhaps smoldering glow of comity over the republicans gathered as their initiatives and concerns were repeatedly acknowledged in the speech; even drawing opposition leaders John Boehner and Eric Cantor to their feet to applaud.

Like the extraordinary economic summit held on Monday, where movers and shakers from both parties and major public interests were assembled under the president's accommodating guidance and leadership, the 'non-SOTU' speech was marked by Mr. Obama's insistent coaching and challenging of the legislators to act decisively on the soaring principles he spelled out in his address.

The result was a raucous session interrupted repeatedly by cheers and applause, if just for the legislator's own impressions of the elevation and mention in the president's speech of their own ideas and proposals. It was a remarkable result, given the republican's almost unanimous opposition to the historic economic stimulus bill passed over their objections and signed into law.

Like the duplicitous, but, nonetheless shrill objections of Louisiana governor, Bobby Jindal, to less than 1% of the stimulus money tagged for his state, republicans will be content to build on whatever the funding achieves while, at the same time, amplifying opposition to whatever fraction of it they can exploit politically.

The effect of this joint session and the meeting yesterday is positively parliamentary. Somehow, without any formal mechanism or structure to accommodate his effort, Mr. Obama has managed to establish himself as the elevated arbiter that our political system intends for the Executive, but has managed to elevate the Legislative right along with his inclusive appeal for non-partisan action.

President Obama has given the republican opposition a ready platform with the attention he's given them in this joint session, and in the many other outreaches he's made since his election. It remains to be seen how the republican opposition exploits this elevation by the president, in their own obstructive political interest or in cooperation on solutions to the pressing issues the president defined in his address.

"As we stand at this crossroads of history, the eyes of all people in all nations are once again upon us – watching to see what we do with this moment; waiting for us to lead," President Obama said.

"Those of us gathered here tonight have been called to govern in extraordinary times. It is a tremendous burden, but also a great privilege – one that has been entrusted to few generations of Americans. For in our hands lies the ability to shape our world for good or for ill."

Tonight, the president led.