President Obama came out fighting in his first State of the Union address, defending his economic record and insisting that change will take place, he also refused to shelve the controversial plans for healthcare reform but it is clear that employment will be given a higher priority than healthcare in the coming year.

The President was given the traditional warm welcome from all sides of Congress and his measured and well delivered speech received several standing ovations. The energetic triumphalism of the President’s speeches after his inauguration however had been replaced by a more sombre and statesmanlike speech.

Opening the address the President said that we as a nation "had to answer history’s call" and he soon made it clear how he aimed to achieve this: "People are out of work, they are hurting, they need our help. Jobs must be our number one focus ion 2010."

The President made it clear that he expected a jobs bill on his desk without any delay, and urged the Senate to make it their number one priority at the start of this year. This demand for immediate results brings to mind the President’s promises for swift change when he took power, and mindful of this President Obama admitted that change had not come as quickly as had been anticipated. He did however promise that he would carry through the pledges that he has made to the electorate.

Some analysts had expected the President to announce that the healthcare reforms would be shelved altogether but President Obama insists that he "will not walk away from these Americans who are losing their insurance, and neither should the people in this chamber." Nevertheless, there was less emphasis on these reforms than there was throughout 2009 and the announcement of a budget freeze from 2011 makes it unlikely that the wholesale reforms originally planned will now be able to take place.

President Obama also defended his controversial bank bailouts, insisting that if he had not intervened then more homes and business would have been lost and unemployment could have been twice as high as it is now.

In a defiantly rousing end to his busy speech, President Obama said: "We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment - to start anew, to carry the dream forward and strengthen our union once more."

Initial reaction to President Obama’s speech has been decidedly mixed. I am pleased to see the President place a greater emphasis on returning people to work, and am happy to see less emphasis being placed upon his highly flawed healthcare plans. The President has admitted that "the devastation continues" for a large number of his countrymen and twelve months into his Presidency this is a damning indictment. What is not in doubt is that President Obama is a powerful public speaker, a charismatic and captivating man. If he does not deliver on his promises this year however, then our love affair with the President could be prematurely brought to an end.

Some exciting news before I run, I was speaking to my cousin last night and he has just got a amazing new role at an hr software company. Well done Edward

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