Daily Political Wire 8-19-2010

George Wenschhof

Today, President Obama and family head north for vacation - they will spend the next ten days at Martha's Vineyard, Mass., the same place they vacationed last year. AP has more here. What a difference a year makes - last year, Senator Ted Kennedy died while the president was on vacation and since then Health care and financial reforms have been passed by Congress.

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Unemployment Claims highest level since November - at a time when unemployment claims should be reducing due to seasonal summer employment, claims have increased 4 of the last 5 weeks. The Labor department just reduced the figures for the week ending August 14. Bloomberg.com has more here.

More bad news for the Obama administration, his 787 billion Stimulus bill, and Democrats facing election in November.

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Will Mosque Debate hurt Democrats? - the latest statement by President Obama on supporting religious freedom in regard to the building of a Mosque near ground zero in New York city is the latest issue to capture the attention of voters. The NY Times has more here.

Democratic Leaders have been quick to state opposing views to the President or in the case of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.), punt on the issue. She said it was a local zoning issue.

Others, like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and former DNC chair Howard Dean have said the idea to build it there was insensitive and opposed the building of a Mosque near ground zero in New York City.

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Last Combat brigade leaves Iraq - yesterday, meeting the deadline of the agreed upon withdrawal schedule.

However, 56,000 troops remain in Iraq to assist in training and support missions. CNN.com has more here.

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