Recapping Obama's brief stop in Edison

Here is the video of Obama's brief remarks in Edison, NJ today where he stopped at a "Tastee Subs" to promote his small business plan.

If you can't open that video, here is the official transcript of his remarks. The President did mention Thomas Edison in his speech,

“This town, Edison, was named after somebody who was not only one of history’s greatest inventors but also a pretty savvy small business owner,” said Obama after meeting with the businessmen and women at the tiny but renowned Tastee Sub Shop on Plainfield Avenue for about 25 minutes. “The small business people who are with me here today exemplify that same entrepreneurial spirit.”

Earlier in the day he was greeted at Newark Airport by Governor Chris Christie and Newark Mayor Cory Booker. They were not invited to the Edison event. Mike Memoli of Tribune has a piece up on the Obama/Christie exchange.

The White House did release this "Fact Sheet" about the individuals who were invited to meet President in Edison today.

As I posted earlier, I did not make an effort to get to the venue despite it being just a mile from where I live. I probably would have if I hadn't been front row at an Obama event last year. I was able to take some good pictures of Marine One as it flew right outside my balcony on the way to its landing spot just outside my apartment complex.

By the way, in case you were wondering, the President ordered a half size "Super Sub with everything". According to the menu it'll cost him $4.41. He did use his age as an excuse though for only ordering half a sandwich,

“I want everybody to know when I was 20 I could order a 12-inch. I’m turning 49 next week, which means I need just the half,”

The White House did release one photo of President Obama collecting his sub.
Save to foursquare

There was one man arrested at the site for crossing a police/Secret Service barrier. Did this man seriously come all the way from Princeton just to pull a stunt like this?

I've been blogging about Obama's trip to Edison here. 

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

  Seed on Newsvine

Obama has arrived (Marine One pictures)

Barack Obama has arrived in Edison. Just a little while ago Marine One flew literally outside my balcony.

I've been blogging about Obama's trip to Edison here. You can also tune in for the live stream of Obama's remarks from Edison here.

By the way, in case you were wondering, the President ordered a half size "Super Sub with everything". According to the menu it'll cost him $4.41
As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or . Seed on Newsvine

Obama's speech from Edison will be streamed live

The audio of Barack Obama's remarks from Edison, NJ will be streamed live by the White House. It will probably be closer to 3 by the time he actually speaks. You can listen to it here.

By the way you can check out my blog posts on Obama's Edison trip here.

EDIT: Here is his speech.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

  Seed on Newsvine

Barack Obama is in Edison today

For the last couple of days I have been blogging about Obama's trip to Edison.

According to local newspapers there are people holding signs welcoming President Obama to Edison and also ones wishing him a Happy Birthday. His Birthday is next week.

I've heard from a couple of people that Marine One will be landing at a High School literally right behind my apartment complex. By the way, the White House released the schedule of his trip yesterday.

It looks like Governor Christie will greet Obama at the airport after all.

Turns out that everyone (including the owner of Tastee Subs) has advice for Barack Obama on what to order for lunch.  Make sure you watch the video, it'll give you an idea of exactly how small the venue is.

President Obama to meet with business owners at Tastee Sub Shop in Edison on Wednesday

A couple of pictures from "Home News Tribune":

There are a few protesters present as well.

Remember that Newark Airport security guard who was charged with making threats towards Barack Obama last year? Well, he'll be nowhere near the President today.

As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

  Seed on Newsvine

Obama's Edison Trip Schedule

The White House has released its schedule for tomorrow's trip to Edison. If you missed it yesterday, the White House now lets you subscribe to Obama and Biden's schedule. Some of my questions were answered here. Looks like at least part of it will be streamed on the White House website.

11:45 AM	The President departs the White House en route Andrews Air Force Base South Lawn Open Press
12:00 PM	The President departs Andrews Air Force Base en route Newark, New Jersey Andrews Air Force Base Travel Pool Coverage (Call Time 10:45AM – Virginia Gate, Andrews Air Force Base)
12:50 PM	The President arrives in Newark, New Jersey Newark Liberty International Airport Open Press
1:30 PM	The President meets with a group of small business owners to discuss the economy and urge Congress to pass support for small businesses Edison, New Jersey, Tastee Sub Shop Travel Pool Coverage
2:20 PM	The President delivers a statement to the press Edison, New Jersey, Tastee Sub Shop Travel Pool Coverage
5:40 PM	The President attends a DNC finance event Four Seasons Hotel, New York City Closed Press
7:20 PM	The President attends a DNC finance event New York City, Private Residence Closed Press
8:50 PM	The President departs Newark, New Jersey en route Andrews Air Force Base Newark Liberty International Airport Open Press
9:40 PM	The President arrives at Andrews Air Force Base Andrews Air Force Base Travel Pool Coverage
9:55 PM	The President arrives at the White House South Lawn Open Press

I've been blogging about this trip the last two days. You can find those posts here.

By the way, you can follow tweets related to Obama's trip to Edison below.




As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

  Seed on Newsvine

Some thoughts on Obama's trip to Edison, NJ (and pretty much anywhere else)

If you have been following my twitter feed since yesterday you've seen me talk about Barack Obama's trip to Edison, NJ that is scheduled for tomorrow. As I mentioned right here on the blog yesterday, the venue he's visiting is just 1.3 miles from where I live.

Here is the place on Google Street View. The building is the first one on the right.

View Larger Map

What it led me to wonder is, how much does a trip like this cost the tax payers? Now, anyone who knows me, reads this blog regularly or follows me on twitter knows that I am far from one of those ridiculous right wing fanatic who claims that Obama should never leave Washington for anything. But how much does a trip like this cost the tax payers?

According to 2002 article for the Washington Post by Mike Allen "taxpayers pay the full $57,000-an-hour cost of flying Air Force One regardless of the trip's purpose." According to NBC4 in Columbus, Ohio that number has jumped to $69,000 per hour in 2010. That same article mentions that the costs of the Secret Service amount to $45,000 per day. Earlier today I drove by the venue that President Obama is going to be at tomorrow and saw new security cameras set up everywhere. The Burger King across the street saw part of its parking lot covered by a tent (for the press pool?).  Verizon trucks were doing work around the building and across the street. The intersection I mentioned yesterday has new "traffic cams".

Friends of mine in Edison received automated phone calls warning of road closures in and around the area tomorrow.

The store he will be speaking from will be closed to the public until 3 PM. Obviously they don't need to be compensated because the boost they will get from the "Obama effect". I'm sure a lot of people will make their way there over the next few weeks and months just because Obama has been there. But what about the pizzeria across the street that will lose business because of the street being closed all day? Do they get reimbursed in some fashion? I doubt it, but can't seem to find anything on it online. What about the Burger King across the street? Is taxpayer money going to a company that big? If you find articles, videos or anything else on it please send them my way. I'd be interested to know.

Is this event meeting going to be aired on the White House website? For a couple of thousand Dollars shouldn't he at least be doing a larger public event giving more people the opportunity to see the President in person?

Edit: Just found this article addressing concerns of nearby businesses.

By the way, you can follow tweets related to Obama's trip to Edison below.



As always you can leave a comment here, reach me by e-mail or .

  Seed on Newsvine