Given the lugubriously anemic economy, Dr. J. is appreciative that such an important speech that must be given before a joint session can be announced (the speech, not the date or location) before a 10 day vacation on The Vineyard, and can occur over two weeks after the announcement of said speech. It really lends to the gravity of the issues at hand.

Dr. J. feels that speeches before a joint session of conference should be reserved for, as Vice President Biden puts it, Big F-ing deals, such as being attacked, going to war, or other various and sundry emergencies for which national unanimity is warranted, and not for the President to prop up flagging approval ratings with the trappings of his office. These kind of maneuvers make the President look petulant, weak and partisan.

Make no mistake, the fact that it was bumped a day is a testament to the trivial nature of the address and not due to the so-called partisan hostility of the Republicans. If we were going to war, or it were a national emergency, no such delay would have been made, and indeed everyone would have flown in for the speech two weeks ago.