Nine years ago, the era of Hope ‘n’ Change™ began in Springfield, Illinois, where the junior senator from the state launched his messianic presidential bid. Barack Obama returned to his adopted home turf on Wednesday, lamenting to the Illinois General Assembly about … well, his failure to ease partisan discontent. As Obama put it, “[I]t’s been noted often by pundits that the tone of our politics hasn’t gotten better since I was inaugurated, in fact it’s gotten worse; that there’s still this yawning gap between the magnitude of our challenges and the smallness of our politics. Which is why, in my final State of the Union address, and in the one before that, I had to acknowledge that one of my few regrets is my inability to reduce the polarization and meanness in our politics.”

To refresh your memory, Obama in his last State of the Union admitted, “It’s one of the few regrets of my presidency — that the rancor and suspicion between the parties has gotten worse instead of better.” But who exactly is to blame for that? Who said “I cannot think of a more potent recruitment tool for ISIL than some of the rhetoric coming” from Republicans? Who accused “hardliners chanting ‘Death to America’” of “making common cause with the Republican caucus”? Who contemplated “figuring out how we’re going to deal with the crazies” who oppose him? It was Barack Obama. In closing, Obama yesterday said, “Nine years to the day that I first announced for this office, I still believe in that politics of hope.” But that’s the funny thing about hope — it’s only imaginary until words are put into action. And that’s something the ever-so-charismatic leader failed to do because it was never about reaching across the isle. Why else would he compare Republicans to jihadis instead of listening to their concerns? If he’s looking for someone to blame, it’s himself.