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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Expect a lot discussion on the upcoming mid term elections this Sunday morning. Republican and Democratic chairs of committees to elect their Representatives and Senators will be guests on NBC "Meet the Press". Also Fox News Sunday has Representatives Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and James Clyburn (D-S.C.).
The Immigration debate will heat up with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and Republican Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth appearing on CBS "Face The Nation".
Vice President Joe Biden, who always seems to provide a good sound bite for the main stream media, has the spotlight on him as he is the only guest on ABC "This Week"
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gets to explain what he meant by his recent statement that Congress should place a moratorium on passing legislation on CNN "State of The Union". There is already a lot of voters who have not seen anything positive being offered from their Republican Representatives in Congress. Instead, the Republican strategy in Congress has simply been to say "No".
New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D) gets to add his two cents on the BP oil spill in the Gulf and how it affecting his city which is still rebounding from the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. He will also be appearing on CNN "State of The Union".
NBC "Meet the Press" - NRSC chair John Cornyn (R-Tex.), DSCC chair Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), NRCC chair Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) and DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.)
ABC "This Week" - Vice President Joe Biden
CBS "Face The Nation" - Governor Bill Richardson (D-N.M.), Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth (R-Ariz.)
CNN "State of The Union" - Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu (D)
Fox News Sunday - Representatives James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
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Today, President Obama talks about how Republicans continue to be the "Party of No" by blocking efforts to extend unemployment benefits and tax credits for small businesses.
At the same time, Republicans are pushing for an extension of the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans which were instituted under the George W. Bush administration.
Even former Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan recently called for letting the tax cuts for the wealthy expire, especially in light of the massive deficit facing the country.
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