The conservative FOX news cable network has been getting as much mileage as possible from its never-on, always-off relationship with President Barack Obama.

The White House doesn’t feel FOX is “fair and balanced.” They won’t talk to FOX; in fact, the Treasury Department held a news conference recently without including FOX.

FOX reminds viewers hourly about the soured relationship, while also reminding watchers that they had the courage to break the video showing Acorn workers giving advice to a “pimp and prostitute.”

This Thursday, however, Obama campaign strategist David Plouffe is to appear on FOX to plug sales for his book, “The Audacity to Win,” during “On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.”

Back and forth. It’s too bad, for both sides. But mostly it’s bad for the American public.

The public grows tired of such non-issue, self-serving bickering. We’d rather listen to a subcommittee health care debate than hear FOX report on its latest wounds from the Obama administration. And Americans should expect more substance from the Oval Office.

Instead of hearing one more blurb, gripe or “breaking news” item concerning the Obama-FOX dispute, here’s a facetious list of what we’d rather hear or see:

* Madison County judges asking for a pay raise

* A 30-minute audiotape of Osama bin Laden in his native tongue

* The news that Miley Cyrus is twittering once more

* Hourly texts from Kate or Jon Gosselin

* That Jay Leno has been holding back and plans to be funny again

* Sarah Palin hedging on a bid for the next presidential election

* Al Gore defending the environment

* Rush Limbaugh defending the term “magic negro”