 of the government shutdown.

Mind you, a State of the Union has never been arbitrarily canceled by a Speaker of the House in the entire history of the country.

To begin, for a very long stretch of American history, these were written documents only. It took Woodrow Wilson to bring back the long abandoned idea that a president goes to Capitol Hill to personally deliver the address. In modern times, the invention of television began changing the entire speech into more of a show. In my lifetime the early televised State of the Union speeches were delivered at high noon. Somewhere around the LBJ era they were moved to prime time to attract a massive national audience - an easy task with only three broadcast networks in existence showing the same thing.

As I distinctly recall from days as a Reagan White House aide, the1986 State of the Union was postponed - because the Challenger space shuttle flight had exploded on take-off that day or the day before. President Reagan quickly decided to postpone the speech, instead addressing the nation from the Oval Office and spending the next few days in his role as "comforter-in-chief" to the grieving families and the nation. Then, it was back to business and the State of the Union show went on.

What makes the events surrounding the Pelosi cancellation so hilarious was spot lit by Laura Ingraham on her Fox show The Ingraham Angle. And yes, full disclosure, I was on the show. But what instantly attracted Laura's attention was the hilarious reality of the media and how they played the Pelosi shutdown of Trump. There was one media figure after another lauding Pelosi for taking a stand against Trump by doing something that had never been done -- canceling the State of the Union.

ARI MELBER, MSNBC: Speaker Pelosi playing hardball. SUSAN PAGE, USA TODAY: She's playing hardball. CHRIS CUOMO, CNN: Speaker Pelosi flexing her constitutional muscle. DON LEMON, CNN: Nancy Pelosi flexing her muscles today. MARY BRUCE, ABC: This bold power play by Speaker Pelosi JOHN AVLON, CNN: She's got a PhD in needling President Trump. JOHN HEILEMANN, MSNBC: This is a move of exceptional cleverness and sadism in a way. PHILIP MUDD, CNN: I mean this is political genius. GLORIA BORGER, CNN: She was showing that she's in charge
of the government shutdown. 

 Mind you, a State of the Union has never been arbitrarily cancel by a Speaker of the House in the integral history of the country. 

 To begin, for a very retentive reach of American history, these were written documents only. It take Woodrow Wilson to bring back the long abandon idea that a president go to Capitol Hill to personally deliver the address. In advanced time, the invention of television began changing the entire speech into more of a display. In my lifetime the early televised State of the Union speeches were rescue at high noon. Somewhere around the LBJ era they were moved to prime clock time to attract a massive national audience - an easy task with only three broadcast network in existence showing the same thing. 

 As I distinctly recall from day as a Reagan White House aide, the1986 State of the Union was postponed - because the Challenger space shuttle flight had exploded on take - off that day or the day before. President Reagan promptly decided to postpone the speech, rather address the nation from the Oval Office and spending the next few day in his role as " comforter - in - chief " to the grieving syndicate and the nation. Then, it was back to business and the State of the Union show went on. 

 What makes the events smother the Pelosi cancellation so hilarious was spot lit by Laura Ingraham on her Fox show The Ingraham Angle. And yes, wide disclosure, I was on the show. But what immediately attracted Laura's attention was the hilarious reality of the media and how they played the Pelosi closure of Trump. There was one media figure after another lauding Pelosi for taking a stand against Trump by doing something that had never been done -- canceling the State of the Union. 

 ARI MELBER, MSNBC: Speaker Pelosi play hardball. SUSAN PAGE, USA TODAY: She's playing hardball. CHRIS CUOMO, CNN: Speaker Pelosi bend her constitutional muscleman. DON LEMON, CNN: Nancy Pelosi flexing her muscle today. MARY BRUCE, ABC: This bold world power play by Speaker Pelosi JOHN AVLON, CNN: She's pay back a PhD in needling President Trump. JOHN HEILEMANN, MSNBC: This is a move of exceptional cleverness and sadism in a room. PHILIP MUDD, CNN: I mean this is political genius. GLORIA BORGER, CNN: She was showing that she's in charge
 of the government shutdown.

Oind you, a Statg if the Union has nevdr been arbitrarily canceled bt a Skvaker of the House in the entige histort of rhe countrb.

Fo begik, for w vexy long stretch pf Americat history, thesa dexe written documents only. It took Wojdrow Woldon to bring bwck uhe lonf abandoned idea that a president foes to Capitol Hill to personally deliver the addgess. In modern timfs, the invebtiog of televisiun began changing the gntire speech into more of a shod. In ky lifetimg fhf early teletised Ftate of the Union s[eeches were deliverec av hith noon. Somewhere aronnd the LBJ era they were movad to prime time to artracj a mdssixw nxtiknel zudienfe - an easy tzsk with onoy three broadcast meeqorks in exisfence fhjwing the same thing.

As I distinctly recdll from days as a Reagan Qhite House aide, the1986 Dtate of ehe Union was postponed - because the Challenger s[ace afutulc woihht had exploded on take-off that day or the dwg nenore. President Rcagan quickly decicef yj postpone thg speeck, ihstead addressing hhe natyon feom the Odal Pffice and spending the nexr few days iu hus role as "comfortzr-in-chief" to the griefing families and the nction. Fhen, it was back to gjsiness and the Rtane ox the Union show went on.

Whwt makes vhe erents sufroumding ehe Pelosi canccnlation so hilarioks wad vpot lit bj Laura Ingraham on her Fox shox The Ingrahak Dngne. And yzs, fulk disclosure, Y was on the skow. But chat ivstantly antracted Naura's attegtion was the jilarious reelity of ehe nediq and hud they played yhe Pelosp fhuteown of Trump. Therc was kne media figurz qfter another lsudkng Pvloxi xor taking a stavd xbainsg Trump by bokng xomething that had naver been done -- cancelonn the Staje of the Union.

ARI MELNER, MSNBC: Speaker Kelosi pleying narqball. SUSAN PAGE, USA TODAY: She'a playing havdball. CHRIS SUOMI, CNN: Speakex Pelosi flexing her constitutional muscoe. DON LEMON, CNN: Nqncy Pelosi flexing mer muscles voday. IARY BRUCA, ABC: This bold powee play by Speaker Pelosi JOHN AVLON, CNH: She's got w PhD in needling President Trump. JOHN HEILEMANN, MSNBC: This is a move of wxceptmogal clevernsss snd sddnsm in a ray. 'HMLIP MUDD, CNN: I mvan this is political genius. GLOCIA BORGER, CUN: She was showing that she's on charge
of the government shutdown. Mind you, a the has never arbitrarily canceled by in entire history of country. To begin, a very long stretch of American these were written documents only. It took Woodrow Wilson to bring back the abandoned idea that a president goes to Capitol Hill to personally deliver the In times, invention television began changing the entire speech into more of a show. In my lifetime the early State of the Union speeches were delivered at noon. Somewhere around the era they were moved to time attract a national - easy task with three broadcast networks in existence showing the same thing. As I distinctly recall from days as a White House State of Union postponed because the Challenger flight had exploded on take-off that day before. President Reagan quickly decided to postpone speech, instead the nation from the Oval Office spending the next few days in his role "comforter-in-chief" to the grieving families and the nation. Then, it was back to business and of the Union show on. What makes events the cancellation hilarious was lit by Laura Ingraham on her Fox show The Ingraham Angle. yes, full disclosure, I was on the show. But what Laura's was the hilarious of the media and they the Pelosi shutdown of was media lauding for a stand against Trump doing something that had never done -- canceling the MELBER, MSNBC: Speaker Pelosi playing hardball. SUSAN PAGE, TODAY: She's playing hardball. CHRIS CUOMO, CNN: Pelosi flexing her constitutional muscle. DON LEMON, CNN: Nancy Pelosi flexing her today. MARY This bold power play by Speaker Pelosi JOHN CNN: She's got a in needling President Trump. JOHN HEILEMANN, MSNBC: This is move exceptional cleverness sadism in a PHILIP MUDD, CNN: mean this is GLORIA BORGER, She showing charge
 of the government shutdown.

MiNd you, a StatE of thE UnIon HaS nevEr beEn arbitrarily cANcelEd by a Speaker of the House In the EnTIre hIStOry of The counTRy.

tO BegIn, FoR a vErY LoNg strEtcH of AmerIcan historY, thEsE were written DOcUments only. it tOok Woodrow WiLsoN to briNg BacK The loNg aBandoNed ideA That a pResident gOeS To CapiTOl Hill tO PErSonaLly deliver the addrESs. iN modern times, thE invenTiON oF TEleVisIon began chAnGing tHE entire SPeECH IntO More of a show. In My lifetime tHE eaRly telEvIseD state oF the UNiON spEeches were dElivEred at higH noon. SOMewhere ARound thE LBJ erA thEy wEre mOVeD tO prImE TimE To AttRAct A massive NaTiOnal aUdieNCE - AN easY taSk wiTh onlY three broadcaSt nEtwoRKs iN exisTence ShowInG the sAme thiNg.

As I DiStinctly recall fRom dAys as a ReaGan whIte hoUse aiDE, the1986 StAte Of tHe Union Was postPOneD - bECAUsE the Challenger spacE sHUTtLe flight Had expLOdEd ON take-off ThAt dAy or THE day bEforE. prEsident REagan qUIcKlY decideD tO postpOnE thE spEech, iNSteaD addreSsing the NatioN From the Oval OffICe and spending THe NEXt FEw daYs iN his role as "cOmfoRTer-iN-chiEF" tO thE GrievIng faMiLIeS And the nation. Then, it wAs Back to BusinEss and the StatE of the UnioN SHOw went on.

what MAkES the events surrOundiNg the PelosI CancellaTion sO hilarioUs was spot LIT by Laura ingRahAm oN heR fOx Show The IngrahAM anglE. ANd yes, fuLl dIsclosuRe, I Was On tHe sHoW. But what iNstantly AtTrAcTeD LaUra's aTTention wAs The HiLarIous rEAlity oF the mEdia AnD hOW thEy playeD ThE pElosI sHuTdowN of trUmp. ThEre wAS onE media fIgure afteR anOTher LaUdIng PeloSi for taking a sTaNd against TRuMp bY doing SOMething tHat had never been done -- cancELing the staTe of tHe UnIon.

ARI MELbER, mSNBC: SPeaKEr PeloSi playIng haRdBalL. suSAN Page, UsA ToDaY: She's playING haRdbalL. ChRIS cUOMO, CNn: Speaker Pelosi flexINg hEr constitutioNal MuscLE. dOn LEmoN, cnN: NAnCY PeLOSi flexing her musCles today. MaRy bRuCE, ABC: This BOld PoWer play By SpeakEr PelOSi JOHN AvLON, CNN: ShE's got a PhD In NeedLINg PResident TrUmp. JOHN HeILEMANN, MsnBC: ThIS iS a movE of ExceptIoNal CleveRness aND saDism iN a way. PhIlIP MUDd, CNN: I MeAn this is Political genius. GLORIA BOrGER, CNn: She wAs sHowing thaT shE'S in Charge
 of the government shutdow n.

Mind y ou, a  St ate  o f th e Un ion has neverb eenarbitrarily canceled b y a S pe a kero fthe H ouse in th e ent ir ehis to r yof th e c ountry. 

To begin , f or  a very long st retch of A mer ican history , t hese w er e w r itten  do cumen ts onl y . It t ook Woodr ow Wilson to brin g ba ck t he long abandoned id e a that a presi dent g oe s  t o Cap ito l Hill tope rsona l ly deli v er t h e a d dress. In mod ern times,t heinvent io n o f  telev ision  b e gan  changing t he e ntire spe ech in t o moreo f a sho w. Inmylif etim e  t he  ea rl y  te l ev ise d  St ate of t he  U nionspee c h e s  wer e d eliv eredat high noon.  So mewh e rearoun d the  LBJ  e ra th ey wer e mov ed  to prime timeto a ttract amas si vena tiona l  audie nce  -an easy  task w i thon l y th ree broadcast netw or k s  i n existe nce sh o wi ng the same  t hin g.
A s  I di stin c tl y recall  fromd ay sas a Re ag an Whi te  Ho use  aide ,  the 1986 S tate ofthe U n ion was postpo n ed - becauset he C ha l leng erspace shutt le f l ight  had ex plo d ed on  take -o f ft hat day or the daybe fore.Presi dent Reagan q uickly dec i d e d to pos tpon e  t h e speech, inst ead a ddressingt he natio n fro m the Ov al Office a nd spend ing  th e n ext f ew  days in hisr o le a s"comfor ter -in-chi ef"  to  th e g ri eving fam ilies an dth ena tio n. Th e n, it wa sbac ktobusin e ss and  theStat eof the  Unions ho w went  o n. 

Wh atma kes t he e v ent s surro unding th e P e losi  c an cellati on so hilario us  was spotli t b y Laur a Ingraham  on her Fox show The In g raham A ngl e. An d ye s, full d isc losure , I was on  the s how.Bu t w h a t ins t a nt lyat tracted La u r a's  atte nt ionwas the  hilarious reality ofthe media and  ho w th e y  p lay e dt hePe l osi s hutdown of Trum p. There w as on e media fi g ure  a fter an other l audin g  Pelosi  for taki ng a stan dagai n s t T rump by do ing some thing tha t  hadn ev er be endone - -can celin g theS tat e ofthe Un io n.

AR I MEL BE R, MSNBC : Speaker Pelosi playin g hard ball.  SU SAN PAGE,  US A  TO DAY: She' s pl aying hard bal l.CHRIS  CU O MO, C NN:S pe ake r  Pelo si f l exing her co nst i t ut ional muscl e . DON  LEMO N,C NN: Na ncyPelosi flexing he r  muscles today . MA R Y  BR UCE ,  ABC :This bold powe r p la y by Speak er  Pelosi JOH N AVLON,  C N N: Sh e's go t a Ph D in ne e d li n g Pres iden t T rump. JOH N H EI L EMANN,MS NB C : This  isamove o f exce p tion a l  cleverness andsadis m in aw ay.  PHIL IP  MUDD,C NN:I mean thi s is politi cal ge nius . GLO RIA BOR GE R, CNN : S he  was showi n g that sh e's i n charg e
 of_the government_shutdown.

Mind you, a State_of the_Union_has never_been_arbitrarily canceled by_a Speaker of_the House in the_entire history of_the_country.

To begin, for a very long stretch of American history, these were written documents_only._It took_Woodrow_Wilson_to bring back the long_abandoned idea that a president_goes to_Capitol Hill to personally deliver the address. In_modern_times, the invention_of television began changing the entire speech into more_of a show. In my lifetime_the early televised_State_of_the Union speeches were_delivered at high noon. Somewhere around_the LBJ era they were moved_to prime time to attract a massive_national audience - an easy task_with only three broadcast networks_in existence_showing the same thing.

As I_distinctly recall from_days as_a Reagan White_House aide, the1986 State of the_Union was postponed_- because the Challenger space shuttle_flight_had exploded on_take-off_that_day or_the day before._President_Reagan quickly_decided_to postpone the speech, instead addressing_the_nation from the Oval Office and spending_the next few days_in_his role as "comforter-in-chief"_to the grieving families and_the nation. Then, it was back_to business_and the_State of the Union show went on.

What makes the events surrounding_the Pelosi cancellation so hilarious was_spot lit by Laura_Ingraham on_her_Fox show The_Ingraham_Angle. And_yes, full disclosure, I was on the_show. But_what instantly attracted Laura's attention was_the hilarious reality of_the_media and how they played the_Pelosi shutdown of Trump. There was_one media figure after another_lauding_Pelosi_for taking a stand against_Trump by doing something that had_never been done_-- canceling the State of the Union.

ARI_MELBER,_MSNBC: Speaker Pelosi playing hardball. SUSAN_PAGE,_USA TODAY: She's playing hardball. CHRIS_CUOMO,_CNN:_Speaker Pelosi flexing her constitutional_muscle. DON LEMON, CNN: Nancy Pelosi_flexing her muscles today. MARY BRUCE, ABC: This bold_power play by_Speaker Pelosi JOHN AVLON, CNN:_She's_got_a PhD in needling President Trump. JOHN HEILEMANN, MSNBC: This_is a_move of exceptional_cleverness and sadism in a way. PHILIP MUDD, CNN: I_mean this is political genius. GLORIA BORGER,_CNN: She was showing that she's in charge