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The Bush visit blog
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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8:33 p.m.8:33 p.m.

Air Force One has taken off from Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.
8:02 p.m.

The presidential motorcade arrives back at Sutter Home Winery. The president leaves Napa Valley by helicopter.
7:23 p.m.

The presidential motorcade is gearing up to leave, after an issue with the Wine Train is resolved.
6:44 p.m.

The event is catered by Meadowood Resort. Workers say that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Robert Duvall are upstairs, as well as Angie Harmon of the television show "Law and Order" and her husband Jason Sehorn, a former NFL player.

5:56 p.m.

The president arrives at the Harlan Estate.

5:51 p.m.

The motorcade rushes up Oakville Grade headed west.

5:39 p.m.

President arrives, motorcade heads southbound on Highway 29, passing crowds of well wishers with American flags. Then the motorcade turns left onto Zinfandel Lane, which has driveways blocked by CHP cars. Then the motorcade travels south on Silverado Trail past Quintessa Winery.

5:34 p.m.

Marine One spotted over Oakville Grade.

5:31 p.m.

Video in from the AP on Bush's visit to Redding. Our crew is armed with video cameras as well, and we hope to have enough good content for the web later tonight.



5:23 p.m.

Helicopters overhead on Oakville Grade.

5:22 p.m.

Southbound traffic on Silverado Trail is being stopped at Zinfandel Lane near St. Helena. Highway 29 is shut down in both directions near Oakville Grade for approximately 30 minutes according to authorities.

5:15 p.m.

"Most of us are Democrats, but that tells you how slow it is. We come out to see the president." -- Linda Short, Oakville Grade resident.

Meanwhile, at Sutter Home Winery, Jillian reports everyone is getting into position for the landing of Marine One.

5:08 p.m.

Upvalley sources report the Flyers gas station on Highway 29 and Inglewood Avenue, south of St. Helena, is cordoned off for security purposes. Upvalley residents who need to fill 'er up may want to wait until tomorrow.

5:00 p.m.

CHP officers at Sutter Home Winery are saying this security detail is "bigger" than last time in terms of the logistics involved.

4:45 p.m.

The CHP is moving people off the private portion of Oakville Grade near Harlan Wine Estates.

Our reporters are told sheriff's deputies have permission from the landowners to arrest any trespassers.

4:25 p.m.

President boarded Air Force One in Redding a few minutes ago.

Meanwhile, back in Napa County, Several California Wine Tours buses are delivering people to Harlan Wine Estates and leaving empty. A bunch of CHP vehicles at Silverado Trail near Conn Creek and Highway 128, traffic is moving at a standstill.

At the reported protest site near the grape crusher statue, no protesters have arrived.

4:20 p.m.

Television trucks -- KGO -TV and another Channel 7 truck -- are setting up near Meadowood Resort accompanied by a Sheriff's car. Meadowood employees say the resort is still open to members.

The resort closed when the president came in 2006.

4:10 p.m.

Jillian Jones of the Register reports there will be four helicopters coming from Travis to St. Helena, three carrying press and staff, Marine One with the president in it.

4 p.m.

President's helicopter landed back in Redding a few minutes ago, according to the Redding reporter's blog, with a press briefing to follow before Bush heads to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, then up to Napa.

If you haven't done so, check out the Redding reporter's blog (link is below in the 2:15 p.m. update) where he even tosses in a note about a reporter getting sick on the flight over the wildfires.

3:50 p.m.

President Bush is scheduled to arrive at the Napa Valley Republican National Committee event at 6:20 p.m., according to the White House Press Office. Still no confirmation on location.

Meanwhile, Frank Family Vineyards officials say there was an event for the Republican Party last night, but there is no event going on today.

All the way up Oakville Grade there are Napa County Sheriff's cars and CHP parked.

3:40 p.m.

Major traffic at intersection of Pope Street and Main Street in St. Helena.

White House officials are still silent on where event will take place, only saying the house is amazing. Press, including Jillian and Jorgen from the Register, will be cordoned off downstairs at the residence.

When Jillian and Jorgen probably won't know the location of the fundraiser until they are transported there, but they'll let you know where the fundraiser is once they arrive.

There are military patrols checking engines and under cars at Sutter Home Winery.

3:35 p.m.

Air Force One touched down in Redding just before 2:15 p.m., meeting with local and state officials, plus Gov. Schwarzenegger and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, according to the Redding Record Searchlight blog. Bush was scheduled to fly over a few wildfire sites before leaving Redding to head this way.

What might seem like motorcades with SWAT vehicles heading along Highway 29 in Napa right now don't include the president, as he's still in Redding as of 3:20 p.m.

3:25 p.m.

Sutter Home Winery's Distribution Center is swarming with secret service -- including an SUV with a sign warning of a military dog. There are many white vans.

3:15 p.m.

At Frank Family Vineyards near Calistoga, there is landscaping work that continued from yesterday. The winery is not closed for a private event.

There are no catering trucks, or any other indication that something big is happening. Near St. Helena, there are red, white and blue balloons at the winery. There are St. Helena police cars blocking the way to the Sutter Home Winery distribution center, along with Secret Service and CHP.

3 p.m.

Along Silverado Trail near Meadowood Resort, sawhorses with no parking signs are on the shoulder of the road. On Highway 29, more CHP cars than usual, especially near Sutter Home Winery.

2:50 p.m.

In the 7800 block of Silverado Trail, near ZD Winery and Mumm Napa Valley, there's about eight CHP cars parked on either side of the Trail or in private driveways within about a mile or so stretch.

2:45 p.m.

Time for me to step aside. Reporter Jillian Jones and photographer Jorgen Gulliksen have headed off to the Sutter Home site to set up for Bush's arrival. They have to be there long before the president arrives. You'll hear from them in this blog throughout the afternoon.

You'll also be reading blogs from reporters Kerana Todorov, Natalie Hoffman and Marsha Dorgan, and city editor David Ryan.

2:30 p.m.

Nothing like kicking off a blog 9 hours before anything happens ... so much to say, so much to say, so much to say, so much to say.

2:15 p.m.

Want to know what's taking place with the Redding trip, the press briefing there and Bush's view of the wildfires? Check the Redding Record Searchlight reporter blog by clicking here.

1:45 p.m.

The protest group gathering at 5 p.m. at the intersection of highways 29 and121/221 say they are going to hang out there for a while, then head to set up near Frank Family Vineyards on Larkmead Lane in Calistoga because that's where they think Bush is going for dinner.

1:30 p.m.

If you come up with photos of Bush here, or the motorcade, the helicopters flying around, anything you think is cool, go ahead and e-mail them to us and we'll try to get some of them posted.

Click here to send the photos or if your computer won't work that way, just send the e-mail to bkennedy@napanews.com.

1 p.m.

For those of you trying to figure out the time Bush will arrive, remember he's not only in Redding for that press briefing, but flying from there to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, THEN it is helicopter to St. Helena time.

We have a reporter and photographer who are part of the press pool of reporters covering his time in Napa County. Our staff will give updates here online once Bush arrives.

I'm in downtown Napa. If you are up in the St. Helena area, what are you seeing there? Like most everyone else around the county, we're seeing our share of Secret Service-like types around the area.

Noon

Since he's not due here for hours, there's not much to blog about. He is coming in via air to/near Sutter Home Winery property in St. Helena, and the motorcade goes from there to the fundraiser. Still nothing from the White House about the location of the event.

Time is sketchy as well, for Bush and Schwarzenegger have a press conference scheduled in Redding just before 4 p.m. to talk about California's wildfires.

9 a.m.

Not much to see, but Yountville-to-St. Helena residents and businesses had something to hear yesterday. A call went warning of traffic delays from 4-8 p.m. on Silverado Trail and all roads crossing the Trial in that area. Capt. John Robertson of the Napa County Sheriff’s Department said the congestion will affect Highway 29 and Silverado Trail from Yountville to St. Helena, and every crossroad in between.

8:30 a.m.

Sutter Home Winery’s Vera Trinchero Torres said several large helicopters landed Wednesday at the Sutter Home facility on Main Street in St. Helena. But she said she doesn’t know if they plan to land there again during the president’s visit.
43 comment(s)

wined0wnnapa wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:05 AM:

" OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG "

mytoosense wrote on Jul 17, 2008 10:49 AM:

" dan - what is going on. it's been almost 2 hours and no updates. you are supposed to be on the front lines, the people demand to know where the helicopters are striking next. also, can we get some updates on the hippie protestors? "

matt@newspeak wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:18 AM:

" 11:17 AM, I sensed a great disturbance in The Force- then saw a squadron of TIE Fighters fly overhead. Somewhere I though I heard John Williams "Imperial March" playing in the background. "

mytoosense wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:57 AM:

" worst blog ever - we need updates "

SouthNapa wrote on Jul 17, 2008 12:57 PM:

" Who cares? Going to a private dinner is not a big deal, it's not like he's going to come in contact with anybody other than the filthy rich. Big whoopty do! "

abouttime wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:01 PM:

" Much ado about nothing. Who cares. An unpopular lame duck President show up to take money from fat cats and the local paper is agog. Get a life. "

WhineSpectator wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:06 PM:

" Dan, the people demand an update so let me help you out on this one. President Bush arrived in Redding at 11:30 am and is now off to survey the fire damage in the Shasta Trinity forest. He'll head over here after that. The hippe protestors will be meeting at 5:00 pm near the grassy knoll... no, not THAT grassy knoll, the one near the "Grape Crusher". And yes kids, they'll be armed with their "live highway blog" which I'm told is a giant text message. Uh, okay... "

marine1/1 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:17 PM:

" I cant' beleive how slow the NVR is with these blogs. I guess someone took the day off. "

Rob C wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:18 PM:

" matt@newspeak wrote on Jul 17, 2008 11:18 AM:
" ...Somewhere I though I heard John Williams "Imperial March" playing in the background. "

Try taking off the tinfoil hat, Matt. It'll really improve reception... "

JimClark wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:32 PM:

" When Clinton came to town, it was like Elivis reincarnate. There is something seriously wrong the the new age American. Negligence created death and destruction in our homeland. Protecting our homeland seems pathetically unacceptable to those who are political as opposed to being concerned about another assaut upon our American history. "

mytoosense wrote on Jul 17, 2008 1:54 PM:

" i am up in st. helena today, wine train spotted - just thought you guys should know.

i sent in a picture, surprisingly the conductor is very photogenic

no sign of bush though "

marine1/1 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:55 PM:

" Four CHP cars and two Sheriff cars at silverado trail amd Monticello road.Looks like they are being staged ther. "

wined0wnnapa wrote on Jul 17, 2008 2:56 PM:

" No sign of bush at the salon upvalley either "

Lee wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:08 PM:

" I know that some people here welcome President Bush. Some people here really don't want him here. He should maybe go to Brattleboro, Vt. They anxiously await your visit. "

metoo wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:32 PM:

" I don't care about Bush. I just want to know what happened to the Most Wanted page. I loved looking at all the idiots. Bring it back! "

Paddy wrote on Jul 17, 2008 3:49 PM:

" Lee - we had to stomach Bill when he finally visited Napa. You'll have to put up with the President visiting Napa, again.

Welcome Mr. President!

Some of these comments are a hoot! "

russ wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:08 PM:

" Welcome Mr. President, happy to have you in Napa. All of us in the wine country are not suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome, just most of us. "

my name here wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:13 PM:

" The Bush daughters have been spotted at Anna's Cantina, chugging margaritas and dancing on the bar. VP Cheney has been at A&W munching on greasy artery killers all afternoon, the hospital's mobile cardiac unit is in the parking lot on standby. Most of the secret service guys have been kicked off the grounds at Christian Bros for yelling insults and epithets at the Cullinary Institute of America, confusing it with the OTHER C.I.A...

No sign of Geo or Laura yet.... "

mytoosense wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:16 PM:

" this is unbelievable - i just walked downtown st. helena, and there are secret service swarming the area. they are even putting in a metal dectector in the entrance to anna's cantina. is bush going to rock the cantina tonight? it always goes off on karaoke thursdays, how did this secret get out? "

Native74 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:24 PM:

" Very cool! "

comment wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:38 PM:

" You know the President is coming when wine tour buses are dropping people off. "

mytoosense wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:40 PM:

" i just heard they are going to stop all southbound (both the trail and 29) traffic for 1 hour so no one knows where the w is going. "

vocal-de-local wrote on Jul 17, 2008 4:46 PM:

" I was hoping he'd fly into Angwin again. Ok I'm not crazy about the guy but it's quite an experience having all that energy around.

Earlier in the day I heard some increased flight activity in Angwin, probably because the flight school had to take care of their business early in the day but it's unusually quiet up here now. The skies are empty. I like it!

Anyway, I'll let you all know if there's any increased activity heading toward the Angwin airport. So far, nothing! "

wined0wnnapa wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:03 PM:

" is it ok to fly my AirHog around without it being confused with a SAM "

napamama wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:16 PM:

" 5:13 pm My husband is on the phone calling from Silverado Trail right in front of Mumm going south. Traffic is at a crawl. Every single driveway and every single side street has a police car blocking it. No traffic going north. "

Rob C wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:22 PM:

" 5:21 Three choppers - two small, one larger entering valley from eastern ridge. Hard to see from Napa - entering upvalley. Might be for an eventual dust-off. "

noblindershere wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:23 PM:

" helicopters headed north over 29 at Oak KNoll "

rhone wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:23 PM:

" any sign of a motorcade?? helicop. just flew over. "

realist2 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:27 PM:

" My bet is that he is in the chopper as I don't think the chopper could have come from Redding, stopped at Travis and be here already. "

laloquera wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:34 PM:

" Presidential choppers just flew over my house.... landed across the street at Sutter Home. "

wined0wnnapa wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:48 PM:

" YOU DO REALIZE WERE HELPING AL-QUEDA BY PROVIDING THIS MINUTE BY MINUTE INTEL!!!!!!!!!!!!! "

matta wrote on Jul 17, 2008 5:57 PM:

" Harlan estate, I would assume "

Rob C wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:01 PM:

" Meanwhile back at the Grape Crusher howz it working out for Recoil or Uncoil or whatever they are?

Think they've figured it out yet? Better run, mommy, run - POTUS will be gone before you can spell Huffington... "

Rob C wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:12 PM:

" 6:10 Twin engine plane approaching Napa Airport - I thought there was a no-fly in effect? "

realist2 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 6:13 PM:

" OK...So he is here. What is the exit plan? "

Napan since 1965 wrote on Jul 17, 2008 8:01 PM:

" First of all, many thanks to Dan Ross and the crew for this great blog on the progress of the Presidential visit! It made it very interesting without ever leaving home!

Now--about the wine train--wouldn't they stop for the motorcade?? "

comment wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:34 PM:

" I saw two helicopters flying over the city of Napa just after 8:00pm. Don't know what happened to the third one. They were flying very high. "

XMAN wrote on Jul 18, 2008 6:59 AM:

" The only presidential visit I ever actually saw was was when FDR rode in an open 4 door convertible down Tennesse Street in Vallejo during WWII.
Secret Service walked alongside the convertible as an escort. Last year, while in D.C., we saw GWB and Laura drove by us at Pennsylvania Avenue on a Sunday morning at about 45 MPH with a full entourage of Armored SUV vehs. including two with 50 cal. machine gun mounts followed by an ambulance. There were probably a dozen cars and we assume they were on their way to attend church services. "

GoMommyGo wrote on Jul 18, 2008 11:53 AM:

" Don't you think it's sad that he's afraid to show his face to the people he's supposed to lead?

I hope those guests at Harlan got a good meal for $7,500. And they'd better be really hungry, too, 'cause it's going to take a heckuva lot more than $850,000 to rehabilitate the Grand Old Party that Bush, Cheney and Karl Rove will leave in critical condition, maybe even on life support. "

GoMommyGo wrote on Jul 18, 2008 12:10 PM:

" Kudos to the clever comments, especially MyNameHere and Rob C.

BTW, the Live Highway Blog went just fine, thanks for asking. I was able to talk to KGO Radio about it and CBS interviewed a few of us outside the Oakville Grocery just before W left. I was pleased they played our statements about Bush's crimes and his complete failure in Iraq. Of course, you can also read-all-about it in today's Register, "Small Band of Protestors Take the Stand". I thought Natalie Hoffman and Lianne Milton both did an excellent job. They went over hill and dale to get to us, then managed to get the key pieces of information into one place and eliminate the clutter. I want to be like them when I grow up. "

14obama wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:00 PM:

" And Bush rides off in the sunset. Will that be the way it goes ? I believe we're asleep at the wheel. Even Congress is doing nothing. C'mon people ! Make our voices heard ! We're at the 'Brink' ! "

newmom wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:28 PM:

" We should be honored that our president would choose our valley to visit. It puts us in the press and creates more tourism. "

14obama wrote on Jul 28, 2008 7:45 PM:

" Watch em run,with there tail between their legs, when they're out of office. Somethings,really,wrong when we allow these jerks to run the show to the end of their terms. Somethings,Really, wrong folks ! Should've nipped it the bud,early on ! Does this,now,set a presidence for future corruption ? C'mon Barack ! We need you,bad ! "

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