H.W. Fowler, author of The King's English and the magnificent Dictionary of Modern English Usage, will from the grave be sorting out this sentence from WH Press Secretary Jay Carney for all eternity. For the rest of us, though, it's pure, memorable gold of "Up yours" American politics. Here's Carney, on the timing of President Obama's speech, before Congress, next Wednesday, which just happens to land on the GOP debate:
Once you want to do a speech to Congress and you have to deal with congressional schedules and there are many other factors here ... one debate of many that is on one channel of many was not enough reason not to have this speech at the time that we decided to have it.
Are we clear?
Even better, though, will be the howls of unpresidential protest from the little people -- the GOP's candidates. From all of them, that is, except Rick Perry, who is, as I write, most assuredly thanking Providence for Obama's timing. Perry is now safe from national exposure for at least another week.