I would not limit the self-serving commentary to the administration alone. I also believe politicians in general are not that smart, especially when it comes to planning ahead.

Charlie
Is that the "debt ceiling fight" which could have been avoided if it was raised last year with a Democrat Congress but was deliberately put off for a Republican Congress to deal with like this "jobs speech" was deliberately put off for months and timed for Gov. Perry's debut at the Republican debate?
Is there a politically motivated pattern here with this administration that puts self serving politics over the vital interests of the nation?

Why wouldn't Obama schedule the speech on Monday or even Tuesday on the Capitol steps with the dome in the background? What better way to express the need for Congress move on job creation and not become embroiled in a continuation of the debt ceiling fight.

What is unprecedented is the politicization of the joint session of Congress address. Like the joint session address on Obamacare, this is a pure political speech. This President put off a jobs plan for over two years, an expensive campaign bus tour, a posh vacation and chose the night of the Republican debate which is an insult to the voting public and his potential opponent. This was a cynical and petulant political tactic and predictably the media is playing along but the good news is that it didn't work. The President's political speech will now compete with the NFL and not upstage his Republican rivals which was the intent.
These kind of cute political moves by the administration are clearly done to mask the failure and incompetence of the last 30 months. It seems everything this administration does is for self serving political effect rather than the good of the nation.
It will disappoint the media but in 2012, the name Congress will not be on the ballot but the name Obama will be.