I'm always leery of 11-dimensional chess arguments, but I just noticed:
* Obama risks looking hamfisted asking to speak over the debate, but ends up looking like the adult in the argument.
* He gives his speech on Thursday -- after the GOP debate, so there's no chance for the GOP's standard bearers to mock it for two hours together.
* Friday's columnists are his news cycle. And that gives him his Saturday address and the Sunday shows.
ETA: Oh yeah -- and not that I watch football (pro anyway, Hook 'Em) -- but I hear there was an NFL game right afterwards. Makes it a little difficult to broadcast a pointless "Republican response."