we're rapidly on the road to success. the president's remarks that what he really doesn't emphasize is that the united states leads. there are times when we have to act alone. there are many other times where we have the time and the luxury of assembling coalitions and acting together, and we always want to act in partnership. when president reagan attacked tripoli, he didn't ask anyone, he didn't assemble a coalition. when we went into panama to remove noriega, we didn't asell bell a coalition. there are times when the united states has to have a coalition of people who are willing to join us. but america leads and america remains the leader of the world. >> john mccain and president obama. house speaker john boehner weighing in, saying the speech did not provide americans with much clarity. joining us now, david gergen, and ann marie slaughter.