Obama says progress with economy, ACA among highlights of ’15; Pledges to

President Obama granted pardons to two people and commuted the sentences of 95 others on Friday, marking his most expansive use of the clemency power yet as his presidency enters its final year. “All of us can do our part by staying vigilant, by saying something if we see something that is suspicious, by refusing to be terrorized and by staying united as one American family”.

“We’ve gotten much better at preventing large complex attacks like 9-11”, Obama said.

Wary of allowing the weeks-long span while he’s on vacation to be filled with criticism from Republicans, Obama on Friday is likely to reinforce the message that his administration is on top of the terror problem while encouraging Americans to go about their lives.

President Barack Obama said on Thursday U.S. intelligence professionals did not have any specific or credible information about a pending attack on the United States and Americans would prevail over the threat of terrorism.

Obama took questions as he closed out a turbulent year marked by successes on restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba, clinching a nuclear deal with Iran and finalizing an unprecedented global climate treaty.

“My presidency is entering the fourth quarter; interesting stuff happens in the fourth quarter”, he said then.

“Obviously, those families are going through a hard time, not just because they’ve lost loved ones, but obviously at the holiday season I think that loss is even more acute”, said White House press secretary Josh Earnest. Unlike the other visits, Obama will land in San Bernardino as local and federal authorities are still investigating the shooters, later killed in a gun battle with police, and whether they were inspired by foreign militant extremists.

Still, Obama contended about Syria, “Five years later, I was right”.

The White House said it’s still possible the president could endorse in the Democratic primary, which is a two-way contest between front-runner Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen.

Among the unfinished business that Obama hopes to tackle next year: Closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center, reforming criminal justice laws and boosting job growth further. The president has used the attack to renew his call to tighter gun control, drawing criticism from some Republicans who say the administration should do more to fight terrorism than restrict guns.