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There may be some days in the recent weeks when President Barack Obama, once the darling the nation, may feel like he can do no right. Debates on healthcare reform have turned from polite town hall discussions into near pitched battles, and when record high unemployment figures were released on Friday it was seen by many as yet another blows to the President’s credibility. Now the most innocuous of things – a back to school speech to the nation’s children – has ignited yet another firestorm for the White House to diffuse.

The speech, scheduled for Tuesday was meant, says the White House, to simply encourage students across the country to work hard during the new school year and stay focused on their education. But many conservative parents are just not buying that line and are accusing Obama of trying to “indoctrinate” their children, pressing his own agenda on “impressionable young minds.”

One parent, Colorado native Shanneen Barron told a CNN reporter “Thinking about my kids in school having to listen to that just really upsets me. I’m an American. They are Americans, and I don’t feel that’s OK. I feel very scared to be in this country with our leadership right now.”

Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty did not go as far as agreeing with such a statement but he did publically express his displeasure at the planned broadcast, which would be shown during lesson time. “At a minimum it’s disruptive. Number two, it’s uninvited. And number three, if people would like to hear his message they can, on a voluntary basis, go to YouTube or some other source and get it. I don’t think he needs to force it upon the nation’s school children.” He said. Pawlenty himself is often touted as a possible 2012 GOP nominee for President.

All of this controversy leaves teachers and school administrators across the country with a decision to make, do they allow the children in their school to watch the President’s speech and face the possible ire of unhappy parents?

Some of the controversy surrounding the planned speech is related to a lesson plan that was to be distributed to teachers nationwide. In the original plan it is suggested that teachers encourage students to draft letters to themselves that address “what they can do to help the President.”

The White House has since said that the original draft was merely poorly worded and it should have inferred that children should consider how they can “achieve their short-term and long-term education goals.” White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs has dismissed the whole affair as “part of the silly season”.

Still, many remain unconvinced. “As far as I’m concerned this is not civics education — it gives the appearance of creating a cult of personality,” was the comment to the press from Oklahoma state Sen. Steve Russell, who is, of course, a Conservative Republican.

Leaving his weeklong vacation on Martha’s Vineyard President Barack Obama will be delivering a eulogy at the planed Saturday funeral services for Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy, who lst his long fight against brain cancer on Tuesday evening at the age of 77.

The scheduled time of the service is yet to be announced but it will take place at The Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Boston, more commonly known to locals as the Mission Church. It was this church that the late Senator went to upon frequent occasions in 2003, to pray for his daughter Kara who was at that time battling lung cancer.

Obama saw Kennedy as a political ally and something of a kindred spirit. The two became especially friendly after Ted Kennedy endorsed his candidacy ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries, when it had been thought he may stump for Hillary Clinton instead. At the Democratic Convention later in the year a frail and ailing Kennedy still managed to make a powerful speech that many saw as of a passing of the torch of the Kennedy power and influence to Obama. He also made good on a promise to attend Obama’s inauguration, even though he was taken ill during a luncheon that followed.

The President took time out from his vacation activities on Wednesday to speak about his relationship with the “Lion of the Senate” to reporters.

“Over the past several years, I’ve had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counselor, and a friend,” he told them “For his family, he was a guardian. For America, he was a defender of a dream.”

Formal ceremonies to honor the man who served his constituents for 47 years will begin on Thursday, when a motorcade from Kennedy’s Hyannis Port compound will transport his body to a public wake to be held at the JFK Library in Dorchester, Mass.  The public viewing will also continue on Friday, followed by an invitation only celebration service will be held.

Entrance to the church on Saturday will also be by invitation only. After the services conclude Ted Kennedy will be laid to rest next to his brothers John and Robert in the Arlington National Cemetery.

Much as he had requested in a letter sent to the Governor of Massachusetts last week politics continued on Beacon Hill even as Senator Kennedy’s body was driven to the wake site. Politicians are hard at work debating whether or not to grant his wish that the law be changed and the state allow the appointment of an interim senator to fill his seat immediately until a formal election can take place. The matter is still under consideration.

President Barack Obama and his family – including Bo the dog – have now begun what they hope will be a relaxing week of sun and fun in Tony Martha’s Vineyard.

America’s First Family arrived on the Massachusetts island on Sunday evening, where they will be staying at a privately owned 28 acre compound that they hope will afford them at least a little privacy while they enjoy the first vacation they have taken since Obama became Commander in Chief in January, a point that White House spokesperson Bill Burton tried to make as tactfully as possible on Sunday, stating that the President’s number one priority was to “get a little break” adding “He certainly appreciates the hospitality of the folks who are here. But his desire here is to relax and spend time with the family.”

In fact Burton had two sets of instructions for the army of reporters and paparazzi that have descended on island “He wants you to relax and have a good time. Take some walks on the beaches. Nobody is looking to make any news, so he’s hoping that you guys can enjoy Martha’s Vineyard while we’re there. And the second thing I’ll say is, of course, the first family would very much appreciate if you respect the privacy of the girls while they’re out here on vacation”

But of course the world is still interested in what the Obamas, who have also been joined on their trip by Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, will be up to on their week long jaunt. Monday saw the President play a quick game of tennis with his wife before heading out to the links for a game of golf. A crowd gathered to see him tee off and he did oblige them with a wave.

On Sunday Burton had dispelled a rumor that was going round that at some point Tiger Woods would be meeting up with the President for eighteen holes  “Nothing like that is on the schedule.” He told reporters in answer to their questions.

Burton did reveal that Obama intends to catch up on a little reading that is not strictly policy related. His beach summer reading list apparently includes “The Way Home” by George Pelecanos, “Hot, Flat, and Crowded” by Thomas Friedman, “Lush Life” by Richard Price, “Plainsong” by Kent Haruf and “John Adams” by David McCullough.

Although on vacation, with the firestorm over health care reform still raging around Washington and beyond the President will still be in daily contact with his administration team back at the White House and even Burton admitted that while there were no matters of business scheduled the President would make a few phone calls to members of Congress on the matter of health care if needed.

As for the rest of the week it appears that the President has no more plans than anyone else does while on vacation. The sun and the sea beckon, and it seem he will take it from there.