Did the
famously thin-skinned President think he could squelch news coverage of the Reagan Library Republican debate -- the first including Rick Perry -- by scheduling an address to Congress for the same date, September 7? Probably.
The whole idea of trying to counter-program the Republican debate was like some high school locker room stab at machismo. And now, the President has succeeded only in (1) looking weak(er); (2) coming across as petty; (3) highlighting his complicity in degrading the tone of American politics; and (4) elevating the stature of a debate of which many otherwise might have remained unaware.
Good going, White House. And these are supposed to be the "smart people"?!