President Obama greets people in Decorah and Guttenberg, Iowa, Aug. 16, during his three-day economic bus tour
From yesterday:
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Globe Gazette: Cheers erupted on the downtown street as President Barack Obama emerged from the Hotel Winneshiek this morning.
About 100 people lined the streets around 8:30 a.m. to greet the president, who wore brown pants and a blue and white-checked shirt.
Obama worked his way through the group; shaking hands and giving some high fives to children perched on their parents’ shoulders.
“Welcome to the ‘50s,” said one crowd member, drawing laughter from other bystanders in his reference to the picturesque small downtown.
“We love you, we’re behind you,” a woman called out.
Obama joked about his graying hair with some crowd members, telling them about an old campaign flyer someone had showed him on this tour of the Midwest.
“I looked so young,” he said.
After a few minutes of greeting residents, Obama boarded a large black bus and the motorcade left to continue Tuesday’s tour.
People lined the streets to watch the presidential motorcade leave town. Some people waved, some cheered, and one man gave a thumb’s up. Just outside town, workers at a diner held up letters from the marquee spelling out, “Obama.”
The president is headed to Peosta for a summit on rural economies and job creation, scheduled for later today.
Thanks Dotser 😉
President Barack Obama waves to people along the road in Decorah, Iowa, Aug. 15, 2011, during a three-day bus tour in the Midwest focusing on ways to grow the economy. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
The Obama Diary 
Anyone know if the upcoming Town Hall will be on C-SPAN? (12:50pm EDT)
I got dragged into The Red Tent this morning, so I’m home on drugs – it would be nice to watch on TV instead of online…. 🙂
I just checked & it doesn’t look like it:(
Yeah – ok – will turn on the iMac and get off my MacBook.
Tally, are you okay? I have not found it either. But I just wanted to make sure that you are okay. Love you back HZ
I know it is on whitehouse.gov. That’s where I am. I’ll check cspan.
They did say it would be on cspan.org but not on TV. Covering the President isn’t what they are about I guess.
Tally, and family, I was just reading PM Carpenter’s blog. He has been a favorite for many of us, but since the debt ceiling issue, he has been belittling Obama. Very snarky comments and quotes ej Dionne as back up man. Dionee is now saying that anyone who does not constantly critisize the president is hurting him.
Finally the “group” has had it with his snark. I just joined the parade of those who are tired of him crap. This would be a great time to flood his site with comments as to how we feel about being considered Obots. Let him have it my friends. Mr. know it all has crossed his bridge too far. Help me.
Last picture = precious! And first one too! Very impressive convoy. That is one Bad Boy Bus!
P.S. Is the second bus where they dumped Chuck Todd, et. al? 🙂
Oh, that little boy in the last picture made my heart sing. I always get teary when I see the interaction between our President and young children. Good tears. If I had to put it in a nutshell, the future and the lives of these children is what it is all about for me.
America, God HAS shed his grace on thee……President Barack Hussein Obama may God be your strength and your shield, and may Americans support and join you in all your efforts. Yes.We.Can.
Amen, Sue! BTW, that picture of Our President on the bus waving thru the front windscreen is just so him, as are the folks by the side of the road waving. I understand that the side windows are deeply tinted, but not the front windscreen. So the only the way those folks could see him wave back is if he was up front. The folks by the side of the road don’t look like younger people, and that makes it even lovelier! From the little hug-able boy to the old lady in the restaurant, to those at the side of the road. Awesome!
This is why we are going to do all the goodness in our hearts to get out there and reelect this President. We need him, and these precious young kids need him to set the stage for their futures and our ollder ones need him to stay to keep them living a decent retirement and a decent life in their golden years. He is the man for all of us. We Will Make It Happen. HZ
Isn’t that just to precious the way the little guy is holding on to the President? Kids know.
I really did cry, Sue. That little precious one holding on to the President’s hand is too precious. Love our President.
Bless this man, Lord, for the peace and hope he brings with him wherever he goes. The youngest among us recognize the goodness in him, let us follow the little children. Hs name, after all, means Blessed. (well, and his middle name means Handsome)!
It does? I didn’t know…. Well picked, then!
For anyone who needs a little eye candy before the event begins (via marabout40 on twitter: TY!!):
Merci
He is a hottie. Love him.
Oh, Meta, you are going to make my heart go on attack, and I do not need that, remember. Oh Lord, have mercy on us. But thank you Lord for this smart, and fine President. What a combination. That is why these foolish people are mad as heck. Yes. You are looking fine, Mr. President. HZ
Yum.
The last picture – seeing those chubby little fingers wrapped gently around President Obama’s hand just makes me want to weep – it is so sweet. And the way the little boy is looking up at President Obama is heartwarming. And look at the little guy in the turquoise shirt, the outreached hands. Mr. President, you are loved.
That was my favorite photo. It made me rather sad. Little kids are so innocent and trusting, but as they get older so many parents make them into racists and haters.
Not to appear naive (again), but I hadn’t thought of it in that light before. Many/most of the “little children,” who respond to President Obama so beautifully that it breaks your heart with joy, are white children across America. They have no time for, or thoughts of, hatred or bigotry. It could be such a “wonderful world” if parents didn’t screw up the natural emotions of kids – to love and see the obvious goodness in other people like our Prez.
Hey guys CSPAN has live video of the event right now. http://www.cspan.org/Events/President-Obamas-Midwest-Bus-Tour-Continues/10737423519-1/
Love how sweet the people in Iowa are to him.
Here’s a sweet photo of a little girl holding her homemade sign awaiting Obama in Peosta. But reporter from Des Moines register, not linking, said there is a tea party activist group awaiting him there with such brilliant signs such as “I’m one of Joe Biden’s terrorists” and “Go back to your Muslim country”. Those tea party creeps—–just adorable, aren’t they? Do ya think all their hate is helping or hurting our country? Answer: not helping
A rather blunt contradiction to Tea Bagger Rhodes pleas for more civil rhetoric. Discourse with tea baggers is a one way road to nowhere.
Hey guys, good news: I have an interview on Monday with OFA for the fall organizers internship. I’m so nervous. 🙂
Good luck! It would be SO FUN and such an important cause.
You will ace the whole thing! It’s yours! You’re the kind of person they need.
BREAK A LEG!!!!!!
❤ ❤ ❤
Oh I am so excited for you!!!! I hope you get it so we can all live vicariously through you!!!
Don’t be nervous…you are just what they need. Good Luck, I know they will be impressed.
Hope you get it! Then we’ll all have the inside scoop!
You’ll do great collegekay, we had a summer organizer here, what a godsend.
You’re going to do great, collegekay. Wishing you the best.
Praying for you! Good luck!!!
Good luck collegekay! You’ll fit right in 😀
Name it and Claim it, collegekay! It’s yours if you ask for it! Best Wishes!
Good Luck! I know you will get it!
When these photos are in book form, they will win a Pulitzer.
@collegekay – All of us here would recommend you. SUERTE!!
Love the pictures. Looks so much like central Indiana, the buildings look a lot like my town and the folks here the same pudgy, corn-fed beef farmer looking types. I’m so glad the love is going back and forth directly between the President and the people there. That’s what I would be doing if I could speak to him, tell him how much I appreciate him and that I love him. I think this tour is a wonderful idea.
Lovely pics. Mr. President, you are much loved by the majority of well meaning Americans. Let it be rural or urban areas, its just because the haters are loud mouthed and the crap of #mediafail, keep giving them the platform to spew their bile. Thank you Iowa, for loving our Potus.
thanks for your kind words. I’m naturally a shy person so being an organizer is a leap for me, but I’ll do my absolute best. there is nothing more important than getting Barack Obama re-elected.
Collegekay, I am so excited for you. You will be fine. Yes, speak it out and claim it for the great things that are awaiting for you through this experience. Just think of the many lives that you will touch through this opportunity. I will be saying wonderful and positive energy thoughts filled with goodness in them for you. Please let us know the results of your meeting. Sending hugs and great thoughts for you. HZ
Shy is fine, what’s most important is that you are genuine. Believe in yourself and know that your voice is valuable and needed.
I got teary eyed watching these pic too. The genuine affection and respect for the Prez is touching, not the manufactured hate from the Kochsuckers et al that the media would like people to believe.
Good luck collegekay, when you are surrounded by people who are passionate about their goal of re-electing the Prez you’ll be swept right along with this passion and forget about you being shy.
That little boy in the last photo is my son…..and I SO LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!