"Showtime for Obama"

Political Wire:

President Obama delivers the most important speech of his presidency tonight before a joint session of Congress.

Jake Tapper reports that at Camp David over the weekend, President Obama "wrote out a draft of his health care reform speech -- 10 pages, written in longhand. He gave it to his speechwriters upon returning to the White House. Last night, at around 8:30, they gave him a typed copy of the latest draft and the president, a known night owl, worked on the speech last night."

Expect to see the speech previewed today as a "high stakes" or "make or break moment" for the Obama presidency. As Andrew Sullivan notes, "the media love drama, and the prospect of a sudden, Icarian fall to earth by the dashing new president is too good a story to miss."

But, as Howard Kurtz points out, Obama's "entire career is built upon words" and he's "reaching for the favorite arrow in his quiver."

The president will speak tonight at 8 p.m.

Howie P.S.: It's all about the theatrics, not people or policy.