The U.S. Open golf championship wasn't the only major golf event in the Washington, D.C. area over the weekend, as President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner and Ohio Gov. Kasich joined in a foursome at Andrews Air Force Base. Did it produce any political goodwill?
While the press was told on background that Obama and Boehner teamed up to win $2 each off of Biden and Kasich, there was no word on whether the outing also tackled any of a number of major issues before the Congress.
For example, the clock keeps ticking on a budget deal, as well on a plan to deal with an increase in the nation's debt limit.
Those aren't the only ways the Legislative and Executive Branches might cross swords in coming days, as there could be votes later this week in the House to cut off any U.S. military support for NATO attacks on Libya.
"The White House says there are no hostilities taking place, yet we have got drone attacks under way, we're spending $10 million a day," said Speaker Boehner last week.
"It doesn't pass the straight face test, in my view, that we're not in the midst of hostilities," Boehner added.
Often though, there is a difference between political complaints about the Executive exercising too much unilateral power when it comes to the military, and a Congress actually voting to cut off money for certain operations.
Back in 1999, the Republican Congress made a lot of noise about opposition to U.S.-led NATO air strikes on Yugoslavia.
But when the roll was called, lawmakers didn't turn that anger into support of any measure to cut off money for the operation.
And even if the House does vote to do that, the Senate may not follow suit.
This week, the opportunity for such a vote will present itself as the House works on the regular budget bill for the military.
The best I can remember, the last time the Congress specifically moved to block money from being spent on any military operation was when lawmakers cut off money for the Contras in the Reagan Administration.
Maybe that will change this week.
