March 2: In-Town Pool #2

Sent: Tue Mar 02 17:08:18 2010
Subject: Final in-town pool
Submitted by: McClatchy

Marine One lands WH 4:48 pm open press landing. POTUS descends 4:51 with a small wave, and walks away with nary a word on health care, alas. A travel lid called 4:56

March 2: Pool Report #8

Sent: Tue Mar 02 16:40:54 2010
Subject: Pool report #8 - Final

Submitted by: Agence France-Presse

After a nearly bump-free flight northbound, AF1 was wheels down at Andrews AFB at 4:25. Marine 1 took off at 4:38 on its way to the White House, ending your pooler's assignment. Transcript of POTUS' statement to the press at Meddin Studios in Savannah was sent separately.

March 2: Pool Report #7

Sent: Tue Mar 02 15:20:53 2010
Subject: Pool report #7
Submitted by: Agence France-Presse

At 2:27 after another short and rainy drive through an industrial area, POTUS and his suite stopped at Meddin Studios, a post-production facility specialized in digital production. POTUS visited the business, set in a former 1917 built slaughterhouse turned artist art space and then business specialized in digital production.
There are 6 full time and 3 part time employees there, according to Production director Andrew Riggs.
POTUS chatted a few minutes with him and two heads of the company before addressing the press, saying that he was doing a "customer satisfaction survey" for SBA loans thanks to which Meddin Studios could thrive. More quotes and details coming in a next report. Motorcade rolling again at 2:46 to Hunter Army Airfield's tarmac, reached at 3:08. POTUS was back on AF1 one minute later.
Wheels up at 320.

March 2: Pool Report #6

Sent: Tue Mar 02 14:24:49 2010
Subject: Pool report #6

Submitted by: Agence France-Presse

At 1:56 PM, POTUS arrived after yet another short motorcade under a stubborn rain, at a local custom steel manufacturing company, called "Chatham Steel Corporation".
The president took a tour of the facility, met with workers on site who demonstrated how the machinery works. Precision cutting we understand. Hard to hear POTUS' casual talk as machines were buzzing. "Keep up the good work" said POTUS, shaking hands with employees in hard hats under a huge hangar. POTUS didn't wear any protection gear. Pool held again in vans outside and motorcade rolling at 2:22.

March 2: Pool Report #5

Compiled by: Agence France-Presse

Sent: Tue Mar 02 13:54:35 2010
Subject: Pool report #5

After another motorcade on two cleared highways and a few surface streets dotted with awestruck onlookers, POTUS made an unscheduled stop at 1:15 PM in lovely downtown colonial Savannah: brick townhouses, cobbled streets and iron balconies. Head of motorcade parked in a back alley as POTUS enjoyed the Southern cuisine of "Mrs Wilkes' Dining Room". Press packed the house as the president mingled with locals and shook hands.
He then sat at a table with 8 patrons and Savannah mayor Otis Johnson, and asked for a "sweet tea".
Holding a plate of Southern food, POTUS joked to the press: "I don't want any lectures about my cholesterol. Don't tell Michelle". That of course stems from the results of his physical last Sunday.
The set menu here includes (brace): fried chicken, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, cream corn, biscuits, corn bread, macaroni salad, turnips, green beans, BBQ pulled pork, blueberry pudding and banana pudding. Press shown the way out and holding in vans in the meantime. It's raining again. Motorcade rolling at 1:52.

March 2: Pool Report #4

Compiled by: Agence France-Presse

Sent: Tue Mar 02 13:04:19 2010
Subject: Pool report #4

POTUS spoke for 15 mins at Savannah Technical College's Eckburg auditorium, in front of a friendy crowd which applauded and laughed at the speech's highlights, notably "working stuff through Congress is more than a notion". Please se transcript for a full account as well as for the officials he acknowledged (your pooler is far from fluent in GA politics).
Audience was seating in a broad half circle. A huge stars and stripes hung on the wall left of the President, who spoke in front of a blue velvet curtain and four US flags. Motorcade rolling again at 01:02 PM to next event, a small factory we understand.

March 2: Pool Report #3

Sent: Tue Mar 02 12:34:36 2010
Subject: Pool report #3

Compiled by: Agence France-Presse

Uneventful and short motorcade (a few onlookers, some protesters waving signs as well) to Savannah Technical College, where POTUS arrived at 12:07 and was to meet local business leaders and tour the facility with Dr Kathy Love, the school president. This is a jobs training program in which workers are trained to perform the retrofit tasks that the President is going to talk about today.
The business leaders, we understand, run businesses which should benefit from the retrofit energy efficiency programs at stake today.
POTUS briefly met with 10 students laying bricks, sporting "youthbuild Savannah" and matching T shirts. POTUS asked them: "who considers himslef the best brick layer?"
He also said "we're proud of you guys... Pay attention, don't goof it off... Work hard".
POTUS began speaking in front of a friendly crowd of a few hundreds at 12:30.
"Where is the sun guys?" he quipped for starters.