Daily Political Wire 7-18-2010

George Wenschhof

President Obama and his family are enjoying their quick two day trip to Bar Harbor, Maine - visiting a Light House, fitness center, walking a scenic trail, and partaking in the great food. They return to D.C. today.

My first taste of Lobster came during a backpacking trip through the upper northeast and it was during a stay in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Back in the late 1970's, lobster pots were plentiful along the side of the road, and a sit down dinner with "Bib" and a paper place mat with instructions (very much needed!) was only five bucks!

For more details of the First Family trip, click here.

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So far, so good, as the newest cap on the Gulf BP oil well holds - continuing monitoring of the cap is needed to test build up of pressure to make sure there are no sub surface leaks from the well. With fingers crossed, this procedure could end the tremendous flow of oil into the ocean and the relief well is scheduled for completion within two weeks. The NY Times has more here.

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New Massachusetts Senator Carte Goodwin (D) to have an immediate effect when sworn in Tuesday - the interim replacement appointed by W. Virginia governor Joe Manchin (D) will make the 60th vote and enable the senate to pass a 34 billion unemployment benefits extension later in the week. TheHill.com has more here.

Republicans had been blocking the bill, saying there was no money to pay for it. Passage of the bill will provide for retroactive payments and up to 99 weeks of benefits through November.

Still absent from the Obama administration is a federally funded public service employment program which I have advocated, paid for with remaining Stimulus bill funds.

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U.S. Middle East Envoy George Mitchell still trying to set up direct talks between Israel and Palestine - a dubious task. he has been shuttling between the two countries in what has been dubbed "proximity talks" as the two leaders will not directly talk to each other. Hardly, an encouraging sign for long lasting peace between neighbors. After meeting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mitchell meet yesterday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Politico.com has more here.

Abbas wants a third part to guard the borders and Israel to agree to an equitable land swap for any West Bank settlement land it does not relinquish.

Both Netanyahu and Abbas meet with President Obama over the last two weeks as Obama continues to push for a two state solution and lasting peace.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Pakistan - meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari. Improved relations and cooperation between Pakistan and Afghanistan is needed in battling al-Qaida and the Taliban. The U.S. has pledged 1.5 billion a year for five years in non military aid to Pakistan. MSNBC.com has more here.

The economies in both Pakistan and Afghanistan are terrible and the leadership weak and corrupt and Clinton's efforts could well be a fools errand.

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