OH, A LOVELY LITTLE FIGHT – AT 6:57 P.M. ET:  How's this for small timing it?  The White House requested permission for the president to address a joint session of Congress on the subject of jobs on the evening of September 7th.  Piece of cake, right?

Wrong.

The time coincides exactly with a major Republican presidential candidates' debate in California.  This is really tacky stuff.  The White House can't claim it didn't know about the debate.  It's on everyone's political calendar.  Clearly, this was an attempt to knock the Republicans off the air. 

Normally when the president makes such a request, Congress rolls over and plays dead, and the president gets what he wants.  But hero-of-the-hour John Boehner, speaker of the House, simply refuses to go along.  He has sent a very courteous letter back to the president suggesting that the chief executive delay his speech until the next night.  The House returns from vacation on the 7th, after all, said the speaker, and there's just so much to do.  And, you know, all those security checks when the president comes.  Much to much Housework for one day.  Very courteous, but you could feel the blade.

And that's where it stands.  Who will give in?  The president should.  Let's see if that crowd can rise above tackiness.

Stand by.

August 31, 2011