AOL top man Steve Case has said that his $110 billion purchase of Time Warner is in the "home stretch" with the announcement it will make some more concessions to the FTC.

The FTC is expected to submit its latest report next week and Case's comments are clearly an attempt to pressure the FTC to bring the situation to a close at long last. Arrogant to the end.

Whether the FTC will pay any attention is another matter. Case's previous attempts at hard bargaining have been largely dismissed (thank God) by the commission whose only interest is to make sure the merger won't damage the market and give it an unhealthy amount of control.

Unlike that other unending American dispute - you know, deciding who should be president - the FTC is in no particular rush and those involved aren't tired of it. However, Steve said at a press conference: "I guarantee you we'll have this company before the new president is inaugurated" - that will be on 20 January (or so they say).

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