5:50 P.M., Before the Speech

There are few speeches that involve more speculation than the State of the Union, which is rather ironic, considering how few Americans actually watch it.

The camera keeps panning to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. I bet John Edwards is wishing he was still a Senator, because all of the candidates are getting plently of coverage. The last 30 seconds have consisted of the back of Obama’s head.

Now the camera has skipped to Dick Cheney and Nancy Pelosi side by side. That has got to be on of the most awkward setting arrangements in Congressional history. The only worse arrangement I can think of would be putting Senator Sumner next to Representative Brooks.