Obama stops at Mast General Store

[taterguy]

Nice place if you've never been.

At the Valle Crusis location they have pickers on the back porch playing for tips when the weather's decent.

They encourage folks to use their parking lot as a starting point for recreational bike rides in the area.

But mostly they're just nice folks who sell quality goods.

Good call, Obama. (Or his advance team)

http://www.wbtv.com/story/15713876/obama-asks-for-candy-at-mast-general-store-during-boone-stop

[ClarkUSA]

1. What are "pickers"? Photos and commentary here -->

Obama in the bus waving in Boone. (Source: ASU)


Once in Boone, the first stop was the Mast General Store, with a major selling point that appeared to be tubs of candy, according to a press report from the White House.

The sales clerk helped guide Obama through "the confectionery paradise."



President Obama in the Mast General Store on Monday (Source: Mast General Store Facebook page)


"So I just scoop it up?" Obama asked the clerk. "That's how it's done." said Obama, unsure of what to do.

As he made his way toward the press, Peter Nicholas of the LA Times said to him: "You won't find this in the White House garden, Mr. President."

"On Halloween, the First Lady doesn't mind," Obama replied, smiling, as he filled a bucket with maple nut clusters, macaroons, and York peppermint patties.

Rounding the corner, Obama saw another long candy counter and said, "It just goes on forever."



Grabbing some candy. (Source: Mast General Store Facebook page)


After putting more sweets in his bucket, he petted a little black dog that looked like a miniature version of his dog, Bo. "Bo says hi," Obama said to the dog's owner.

As cameras flashed, a group of girls posed for photos behind Obama, prompting him to ask, "are you guys making rabbit ears behind me?"

Then it was time to heft a baby -- in this case one-year-old Mason Wainwright, whom (Obama) pronounced a 'good-looking boy'," according to the press pool report.


http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/L3gL_.5RlAdUgSH3SVWHzg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNTQ7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/


http://www.wbtv.com/story/15713876/obama-asks-for-candy-at-mast-general-store-during-boone-stop

[taterguy]

3. Pickers? That's someone who picks on a guitar or banjo

World renowned picker Doc Watson used to play for tips right by the Boone location of Mast General.

[ClarkUSA]

5. Got it. Can you tell I'm a New Yorker?

:D

Thanks for the great story.

[taterguy]

18. A quick check on Youtube yielded this picking:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bK2oJJgJ38

[flpoljunkie]

4. Like the bus photo!

[shireen]

9. he's really good with kids!

There's always some interesting interactions going on. :)
That mom is going to treasure the photograph of the president holding her son.

[tblue37]

10. I am like Obama when I see a cute kid--I love to hold babies and toddlers.

You can tell by his face in pictures where he's holding a baby--he really likes them.

[CakeGrrl]

14. Hasn't he gotten the memo?

The American people hate him!

:evilgrin:

There he goes doing the end-around on the MSM and going straight to the people.

[Hutzpa]

19. Boy! look the hate on those peoples faces

that is, if you listen to the media and polls.

:hide:

[flpoljunkie]

2. PHOTOS: President Obama's stop at Mast General Store in Boone, N.C.

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/DPVY1jYlHhCMe7zT9nMpsw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zODA7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/
President Barack Obama shops for candy at Mast General Store in Boone, N.C., Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Obama is on a three-day bus tour promoting the American Jobs Act. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/L3gL_.5RlAdUgSH3SVWHzg--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNTQ7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/
President Barack Obama greets shoppers at the Mast General Store in Boone, N.C., Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. Obama is on a three-day bus tour promoting the American Jobs Act. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

http://l1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Br9OmrDPpcb1bW09y0olkQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNjY7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/
U.S. President Barack Obama hugs a young woman after picking candy for Halloween treats outside Mast General Store in Boone, North Carolina, October 17, 2011. Obama began a three day bus trip to North Carolina and Virginia on Monday to promote his American Jobs Act that faces congressional approval. REUTERS/Jason Reed

[bluestateguy]

6. Home of Appalachian State University

nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. Great pics guys!

:hi:

[slay]

8. I went to App State

and while yeah, Watauga County may be backwoods republican area, the town of Boone itself is very liberal. Mast is a great store too.

[monmouth]

12. Is Eitner's Corner still there. I think it was a general store type .. The

owner was the son of an old friend of mine. Nice area.

[slay]

15. Not that I know of - but Expressions is

they've moved from downtown and are now on hwy 421 when you come into town. sell all kinds of smoking paraphanalia, high times magazines, as well as incense and "sexy stuff". i used to mentor the niece of one of the owners - great place. it's been a couple years since i've been up to Boone - hope to get up there soon and hike the blue ridge parkway a bit. :hi:

[Jester Messiah]

26. Me too.

Took an extra year to graduate and I don't regret it a bit. I miss college sometimes, it was a wonderful time.

[slay]

27. Oh it took me a few extra years to graduate.. heh

Was Matt Robinson teaching there in the political science dept when you were there? Holy crap he was the best teacher ever. Here's a link to his site: http://www.pscj.appstate.edu/faculty/mattrobinson.html

"Courses Taught
Undergraduate:
9/11
Conspiracies, Coverups, and Crimes
Crime Prevention
Death Penalty
Injustice in America
Theories of Crime
War on Drugs

Graduate:
9/11: Failures, Responses, Lessons Learned
American Justice System and Social Justice
Crime Analysis and Criminal Justice Planning
Crime, Theory, and Policy

Publications
Dr. Robinson is the author of 10 books, including:
Crime Mapping and Spatial Aspects of Crime: Theory and Practice (with Derek Pauslen, Allyn & Bacon, 2004, 2009)
Death Nation: The Experts Explain American Capital Punishment (Prentice Hall, 2008)
Greed is Good: Maximization and Elite Deviance in America (with Dan Murphy, Rowman & Littlefield, 2009)
Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice (Prentice Hall, 2002, 2005, 2009)
Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics (with Renee Scherlen, SUNY Press, 2007)
Why Crime? An Integrated Systems Theory of Antisocial Behavior (Prentice Hall, 2004)
Why Crime? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Explaining Criminal Behavior (with Kevin Beaver, Carolina Academic Press, 2009)

He has also published about 70 other writings, including articles and chapters in journals and edited books."

from: http://www.pscj.appstate.edu/faculty/robinson.html

[Jester Messiah]

29. Not sure, I didn't spend much time in PoliSci, being a CIS major.

I was there from 94-99. Spent a good bit of time in the philosophy department, nearly had enough there for a minor. Dr. Hilliard was (and I imagine still is) an awesome professor, the discussions in his class were energetic and entertaining. Mostly though I spent my time either learning how to write code, map relational databases, or cruising through the other required "business" courses.

[slay]

30. I was there during part of that time too..

i probably passed you on campus. i took one philosophy course at app but it was so long ago i don't remember the course or the professor - except that he was an ass and i got a C. turned me off of philosophy unfortunately. i loved the sociology department though - some of the best professors around - especially the openly communist Dr. Ken Muir. i really enjoyed App a lot - a truly great college IMO.

[Jester Messiah]

32. Ever go back?

It's changed so much now that I barely recognized it. And that was five years ago!

[slay]

33. I haven't been back since 2008

i really need to though. visit some old professors - take a shit on App South's doormat (heheh), hike the parkway, etc. It has indeed changed over the years - i think the overhead walkway on river street is the most pointless watse of money and a huge eyesore. don't care for the parking garage either. the new library is very nice though - much better than the old one. the student center is pretty cool too - did you check out the waterfall room? and i like the on campus theater - not the dollar one but the one in the student center. last year i was there i saw Dr. Strangelove there and the students/faculty gave it a standing ovation. good times. :)

[southernyankeebelle]

11. I think many people will be shocked that he will be reelected. If he isn't it's because

republican governors across this country are doing their best to disenfranchise democrats. I hope they are fighting for them and getting organized.

[Hissyspit]

13. Have camped across the street from the Valle Crucis location many times

overtimes over the years. Beautiful spot on Earth at the end of the windingest mountain road in North Carolina.

[slay]

16. Ever hiked Linville Cove Viaduct on the parkway - or Hebron rock colony?

both are lots of fun - Hebron's off 105 kind of hidden away - turn at the golf course area, then make your first right and go way way way down (up) a windy mountain dirt road til you see all the cars parked along the side. hike about a mile and you'll see the incredible Hebron rock colony which is basically a huge waterfall made out of giant boulders you can climb. fun times to be had indeed. here's a pic of a section of it:

[Hissyspit]

22. Have been ON the viaduct and hiked Linville Falls.

[slay]

23. Nice

yeah i love it up there. next time you're at the viaduct area - check out Lynn Cove - they have a visitor's center, shop, restrooms, etc and an excellent hiking trail. cheers. :toast:

[slay]

21. Woops meant Lynn Cove Viaduct

got it confused with Linville falls i guess.. heh..

[CakeGrrl]

17. More pix and video of ALL his NC stops from today are here:

http://theobamadiary.com/

Lotta scrolling, but good stuff.

* Asheville (cool pix on the tarmac from AF1 to the bus)
* Marion
* Boone
* Miller's Creek


FLOTUS and Dr. Biden are also out and about for Joining Forces.

Busy week! I'll be wearing out this site as the bus tour rolls on.

[BR_Parkway]

20. This was so cool today - totally bought all traffic to a stop and one

jet flew so low it sounded like the mountain was crumbling.

And yes, it's not our fault Virginia Foxx gets re-elected, we do our best to get rid of her, it's our rabidly ignorant neighboring counties who keep her in.

[JoePhilly]

24. My first thought was about the traffic jam that had to take place ...

The one turn to get out to Mast is always jammed this time of year anyway.

If he went yesterday, he could have gone to the Woolly worm festival in Banner Elk.

[BR_Parkway]

28. WW was Saturday - and 105 was backed up all the way to 105 ext

most of the afternoon - and the other side of BE was backed up with everyone trying to get to Grandfather

[whistler162]

25. So it isn't a great place if you have been there!

[Botany]

31. I loves me some Obama