Fiscal fitness, Mr. President

President Obama's second inaugural address was a ringing affirmation of Democratic priorities and a resolute defense of federal safety-net programs. But there's little chance that the president will be able to move his second-term agenda through Congress unless and until Washington stops its relentless, all-consuming bickering over the federal budget. For the sake of his own aspirations, Obama should focus on something he paid scant attention to in Monday's speech: persuading Democrats and Republicans to agree on a plan to pare the deficit and bring the national debt under control.

January 23, 2013