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A Three Day Tour. A Three Day (Economic) Tour

Is the president shadowing Baachman, other GOP presidential hopefuls?

President Obama embarks today on a three-day bus tour to connect with Americans on jobs and the economy.
President Obama begins his first leg of a three-day tour across the Midwest hoping he'll find ways from the American people to "grow the economy, strengthen the middle class and accelerate hiring in communities and towns across the nation".   The president expects to speak to small business owners, local families, private sector leaders, rural organizations, and government officials.

The first stop, on Monday (today) will be in Minnesota where the President will host a town hall event in Cannon Falls, Minnesota at Lower Hannah's Bend Park.

Coincidence?:  Minnesota is also home to GOP front runner, Michelle Baachman.

Oddly enough the president's first day will also include Iowa (he knows how important those Iowa caucuses are) where he will host a town hall event in Decorah at Seed Savers Exchange. On Tuesday, August 16th, he will travel to Peosta, IA for a Rural Economic Forum at Northeast Iowa Community College.

Coincidence?:  Iowa (Ames) is where 2012 Republican candidate Michelle Baachman won in the state's Republican Party Straw Poll.

Said Baachman on her win: "This is the first step toward taking the White House in 2012, and you have sent a message that Barack Obama will be a one-term president. This is a wonderful down payment on taking the country back, and it started in Iowa".  (Expect more candidates to use more Obama catch phrases during the 2012 campaign, like 'down payment', and 'kick the can down the road').

The economic bus tour will also feature events in Atkinson and Alpha, Illinois on Wednesday, August 17 before the President returns to Washington.

Some are wondering why the bus tour.  Why not just continue hearing from the American people via emails, Twitter, FaceBook, and regular ole snail mail?

We get an answer from White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney:

"Well, I think it creates an opportunity to be, if you will, closer to the ground, and more connected with folks in that part of the country.  There’s -- as you know, it also allows for easier travel, in some ways, because of the requirements that flying Air Force One in and out of certain airports in certain parts of the country are not always that easy.  So it creates a lot of flexibility.  But mostly I think it’s an opportunity for him to meet with folks in those communities, which I will announce later, and he very much looks forward to it".

At one DNC fundraiser event in New York last week, the president commented on what he experiences from the American people 'outside of Washington'.

“What was remarkable was to see outside of Washington, the enthusiasm, the energy, the hopefulness, the decency, of the American people".

The president can only hope the 'decency' he sees from 'the American people' will continue, as more Republican candidates announce their presidential aspirations, running on a ticket aimed at getting President Obama "out of Washington", and the White House.

--

The funny side of POP.  
We couldn't help but liken the president's 3-day bus tour to these lyrics. Sing along, if you'd like.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a fateful trip, That started from this tropic port, aboard this tiny ship. The mate was a mighty sailin' man, the Skipper brave and sure. Five passengers set sail that day for a three hour (day) tour. A three hour (day) tour.

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