Watch President Obama’s full statement on Ferguson grand jury decision

I like the bit between minutes two and three.

At around the 4:00 minute mark, did he just say, “much needed criminal justice reform?” From his lips to action I hope.

At about the 4:50 mark, “there are still problems and communities of color aren’t just making these problems up.” Good on ya Barack!

At about the 5:25 mark, “what we need to do is to understand them and figure out how do we make more progress.” Again with the ‘these are all important issues and we need to discuss them more and work on them together but not really actually do anything about it’ phrasing that turned me off to BHO the first time I heard him. (This is not a cocktail party. The theory and the discussion is not the point, the result are, man! Jeesh.)

That said, I prefer the sound of making progress to the sound of completely fixing thing or -even worse- tearing everything down and starting over. (Sue me, I prefer to aim for the possible.) Are we hearing a more mature BHO here, one who is ready to publicly acknowledge that the goal is to make progress and not to hold out for total wins? Just in time for justice system reform? Be still, my pragmatic heart.

No seriously, what specifically are your plans? What exactly is being proposed and implement by the Justice Department? You’re not running anymore, now is the time. Oh, and, you mind answering the federal charges question?