| Author | Message | ||
     Ferris_von_bueller |
The Washington Post Hi-Ho, the Derry-O By Dana Milbank Friday, September 18, 2009 Let's say you're preparing dinner and you realize with dismay that you don't have any certified organic Tuscan kale. What to do? Here's how Michelle Obama handled this very predicament Thursday afternoon: The Secret Service and the D.C. police brought in three dozen vehicles and shut down H Street, Vermont Avenue, two lanes of I Street and an entrance to the McPherson Square Metro station. They swept the area, in front of the Department of Veterans Affairs, with bomb-sniffing dogs and installed magnetometers in the middle of the street, put up barricades to keep pedestrians out, and took positions with binoculars atop trucks. Though the produce stand was only a block or so from the White House, the first lady hopped into her armored limousine and pulled into the market amid the wail of sirens. Then, and only then, could Obama purchase her leafy greens. "Now it's time to buy some food," she told several hundred people who came to watch. "Let's shop!" Cowbells were rung. Somebody put a lei of marigolds around Obama's neck. The first lady picked up a straw basket and headed for the "Farm at Sunnyside" tent, where she loaded up with organic Asian pears, cherry tomatoes, multicolored potatoes, free-range eggs and, yes, two bunches of Tuscan kale. She left the produce with an aide, who paid the cashier as Obama made her way back to the limousine. There's nothing like the simple pleasures of a farm stand to return us to our agrarian roots. The first lady had encouraged Freshfarm Markets, the group that runs popular farmers markets in Dupont Circle and elsewhere, to set up near the White House, and she helped get the approvals to shut down Vermont Avenue during rush hour on Thursdays. But the result was quite the opposite of a quaint farmers market. Considering all the logistics, each tomato she purchased had a carbon footprint of several tons. The promotion of organic and locally grown food, though an admirable cause, is a risky one for the Obamas, because there's a fine line between promoting healthful eating and sounding like a snob. The president, when he was a candidate in 2007, got in trouble in Iowa when he asked a crowd, "Anybody gone into Whole Foods lately and see what they charge for arugula?" Iowans didn't have a Whole Foods. For that reason, it's probably just as well that the first lady didn't stop by the Endless Summer Harvest tent yesterday. The Virginia farm had a sign offering "tender baby arugula" -- hydroponically grown, pesticide free -- and $5 for four ounces, which is $20 a pound. Obama, in her brief speech to the vendors and patrons, handled the affordability issue by pointing out that people who pay with food stamps would get double the coupon value at the market. Even then, though, it's hard to imagine somebody using food stamps to buy what the market offered: $19 bison steak from Gunpowder Bison, organic dandelion greens for $12 per pound from Blueberry Hill Vegetables, the Piedmont Reserve cheese from Everson Dairy at $29 a pound. Rounding out the potential shopping cart: $4 for a piece of "walnut dacquoise" from the Praline Bakery, $9 for a jumbo crab cake at Chris's Marketplace, $8 for a loaf of cranberry-walnut bread and $32 for a bolt of yarn. The first lady said the market would particularly appeal to federal employees in nearby buildings to "pick up some good stuff for dinner." Yet even they might think twice about spending $3 for a pint of potatoes when potatoes are on sale for 40 cents a pound at Giant. They could get nearly five dozen eggs at Giant for the $5 Obama spent for her dozen. But whatever the socioeconomics, there can be no doubt that Obama brought some serious attention to her cause. Hundreds of people crowded the market entrance on I Street as police directed pedestrians to alternative subway entrances. Hundreds braved a light rain and gave a hearty cheer when Obama and her entourage took the stage. "I can't imagine there's been a day in the history of our country when people have been more excited about farmers markets," Mayor Adrian Fenty, Obama's warm-up act, told the crowd. The first lady, in gray slacks and blue sweater, marveled that the people were "so pumped up" despite the rain. "I have never seen so many people so excited about fruits and vegetables!" she said. (Must be the tender baby arugula.) She spoke of the global reach of her cause: "The first thing world leaders, prime ministers, kings, queens ask me about is the White House garden. And then they ask about Bo." She spoke of the fuel fed to the world's most powerful man: "I've learned that when my family eats fresh food, healthy food, that it really affects how we feel, how we get through the day . . . whether there's a Cabinet meeting or whether we're just walking the dog." And she spoke of her own culinary efforts: "There are times when putting together a healthy meal is harder than you might imagine." Particularly when it involves a soundstage, an interpreter for the deaf, three TV satellite trucks and the closing of part of downtown Washington. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artic le/2009/09/17/AR2009091703679_pf.html | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
These are the kinds of stories that inspire me to live a healthier life. Like, those farmers in california that are losing everything to preserve the delta smelt minnow would find comfort in this story. It just echos the struggle and strife we all must go through before the sweet rewards are felt. Oh to be there to witness the excitement and blissfulness. I would say it was much similar to when the kennedys were in the white house. Not that we have a monarchy but its kind of kewl to think of the obamas as our king and queen watching over their people and helping make the world a better and safer place. | ||
| Buellgrrrl |
You good ol' boys may not have noticed from your foxholes, but farmer's markets everywhere are booming. We've got a nice one in Minneapolis with quite affordable prices, and I'd much rather buy direct from the farmer and cut out the middleman. | ||
| Moxnix |
What do they sell in your farmer's Mpls market in winter, snow cones, Chilean grapes, Mexican tomatoes and handmade Guatemalan wool earflap hats for the neo-trendy? | ||
| Crusty |
Jesus H. Christ; Who gives a rats ass? | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Considering most of you dont live in D.C., the part about the Queen shutting down rush hour traffic so she could purchase some overpriced produce completely missed the mark. I wish I could share the joy of D.C. with all of you. | ||
| Moxnix |
Cheezes K. Reist said he does. | ||
| Etennuly |
I wish I could share the joy of D.C. with all of you. I'm glad you can't. Could you imagine what would happen if Obama wanted to ride a Buell in the mountains of tennessee. It would cost US $40,000,000 to shut down and search the woods then post guards a half mile in all around. | ||
| Oddball |
Always a spectacle and a cluster**** when the 'elite' try to show their connection to the working people. She needs to stay in the house so everyone else can live their lives without extra annoyance. | ||
| Loki |
Talk about a complete utter waste of our (the taxpayers) money. Nothing more than a preplanned feel good photo op. What a waste! So if she is doing the cooking.....can we get the staff chef reallocated to somewhere else more important. | ||
| Just_ziptab |
Bunch of fricken sheep.........the disciples of obama. | ||
| Reindog |
Why couldn't Michelle have just given a grocery list to the Secret Service and have them pick up the goodies without any fanfare or disruption? | ||
| Oddball |
Because that would have made sense, caused no disruption to the citizenry and denied her the photo-op. Likely she could have just asked the kitchen staff. They should already have everything she wanted and if not would have been fully qualified to select the proper stuff from a market. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
The Obamas are under the delusion that they are Jack and Jackie. Camelot this ain't. Anyone else get the feeling this is a really bad version of West Wing with actors standing in for actual leaders. Martin Sheen is an idiot, but I'd almost rather have HIM as President.  | ||
| Crusty |
Far be it from any other politicians to look for Photo ops. I mean, like Bush secretly flying to Iraq to stan in front of the troops for five minutes. Or Clinton getting a haircut on board Air Force One while sitting at LAX and screwing up air traffic. If everyone ignored such stupid foolishness, then the politicians would stop doing it. As long as people feed into it, it'll keep happening. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
If everyone ignored such stupid foolishness, then the politicians would stop doing it. As long as people feed into it, it'll keep happening. Huh ??? Politicians will be politicians even in an empty room. It's called narcissism. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Let me tell ya something... today I got up at 0500 to go teach a MSF BRC at a range that is about 75 miles from my house... It was cool this morning and I had a couple of layers on. I was headed to the "Top of Ohio" a town called Bellefontaine.. the first city in the U.S. to have a concrete road... My co-instructor was GREAT! It sure makes teaching a LOT nicer when you do it with someone that knows what they are doing and they get it done... My students.... I wonder why some of them are in the class. They are all good riders and they are a ton of fun.... big smiles.. eager to learn... it was a good day to be a instructor. The ride home... all slab... full sun... nice cool temperature.. all in all I put on about 150 miles... Why do I bring this up.... it just put a smile on my face.... riding... teaching people to ride... doing stuff with motorcycle all day... it doesn't get much better..... GO RIDE! | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Bush secretly flying to Iraq to stan in front of the troops for five minutes. Ask the troops who were there if they felt it was just a photo OP. He is their Commander-in-Chief. They were happy to have him there. 'It felt good,' GI says of Bush's visit | ||
| Blake |
I don't begrudge the lady an outing every now and then and I like true farmer's markets. But Buellgrrrl, you might want to check for sure where your farmer's market produce is really grown. The Delta Smelt ordeal is an outrage worthy of armed rebellion. Let's see, how can we destroy America as fast as possible? What policies would we adopt to bring America to her knees as quickly as possible>... Cut military budgets and new weapons programs during a time of war. (Message edited by blake on September 19, 2009) | ||
| Crusty |
GO RIDE! Good idea! Thanks! I think I'll go to Helmut's Strudel in Rockport, MA. Sit out on the back porch with a cup of good coffee, a piece of cheese strudel (the best I've ever tasted) and watch the gulls and cormorants flying around the moored boats. Then, I'll follow the coast down through Gloucester, Salem, Lynn and Revere. It's a great way to spend a Sunday morning. | ||
| Blake |
I hope President Obama makes a trip to Afghanistan to visit our brave troops there. There more than anywhere, we need his inspirational leadership. | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Maybe he can help them practice reading the terrorist their "rights". | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
It's a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Wish I could join ya.... but I have a repeat of today on the schedule for Sunday. I LOVE riding my Uly... its like a Calgon bath... "Take me away!!" | ||
| Phillyblast |
Blake, You're a fuching tool. Love Philly | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
You're a fuching tool. This won't end well.  | ||
| Blake |
I hope the First Lady takes note of the 40,000+ Americans in California who are in jeopardy along with 12% of our food supply. •••• the ••••••• smelt, turn the water back on now! Video provided by www.FoxNews.com Video provided by www.FoxNews.com (Message edited by blake on September 19, 2009) | ||
| Sifo |
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| Phillyblast |
Blake, You're a fuching tool. Love Philly | ||
| Toona |
Obama, in her brief speech to the vendors and patrons, handled the affordability issue by pointing out that people who pay with food stamps would get double the coupon value at the market. If I'm understanding this correctly, our tax dollars that fund food stamps, can be used as a double "value" on already overpriced food. Great.... My question is this, just how many people who live close to the capital building in DC get food stamps? I'm thinking that would be a pretty affluent area...  | ||
| Johnnymceldoo |
Great post Blake. Its hard to stomach when you lay it all out and look at it as whole. I suppose thats why philly called you a tool. He was trying to forget about it but you just reminded him.  |
