The Republican leadership spurned President Obama's oddly timed self-invitation to speak in the House of Representatives next Wednesday, which may or may not prove to be a political disaster.
But the Republican governor of New Jersey surely won't spurn Obama's self-invitation to visit the Irene-ravaged city of Paterson on Sunday, given that the President just freed up federal aid by declaring parts of the Garden State a disaster area.
Flanked by Democrats during a press conference Wednesday, Chris Christie blasted (but did not name) those in Congress who have been talking up a storm about linking disaster relief to future spending cuts.
Facing similar push-back in his own, Irene-lashed and earthquake-shaken state of Virginia, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Wednesday got busy walking/tweeting back earlier comments.
Emergency alert:
Close to home, money talks the loudest.