Geraldine Ferraro Dies

I saw in the news today that Geraldine Ferraro died.

She's one of the few politicians I have seen in person. She came to a rally at Michigan State University, where she was campaigning for Mondale-Ferraro.

She was recently part of the Hilary campaign, and got in trouble (rightly so I think) for making racial statements about candidate Barack Obama.

The differences political views aside, she did pave the way for Sarah Palin.

Other politicians I've seen include Gerald Ford (I shook his hand), independent candidate John Anderson, and Dan Quayle.

I might have seen George W. Bush as a dot in the distance at a rally. If that counts, then I've seen the Pope too.

Somewhere I have a photo I took of her at the campaign rally. But I can't find it. Instead, here is a 1934 picture of MSU, showing Beaumont Tower. Beaumont Tower is in a parklike area at the center of the campus. Geraldine Ferraro had her rally close to it.

Pure Michigan

Has anyone outside of Michigan seen the Pure Michigan ad campaign? Anyone in Texas, California, Iowa, or any other state? The taxpayers are spending another $25 million on it. With the state budget the way it is, I wonder why the Chambers of Commerce or other voluntary-membership business and tourist-promotion organizations can't just get the money together and fund it themselves. There's better things to do with $25 million. Such money could be used to send more than 3,000 Detroit schoolchildren to a good private school. Or serve twelve MILLION meals at a soup kitchen. Or more than 160,000 dental checkups and cleanings for kids in impoverished families.

Well, at least the government isn't spending tens of millions to build new private sports stadiums.

Anyway, are you seeing these ads anywhere? How do they look to you? What impression do they give you of the state?




Addendum: What about other ad campaigns that make it into Michigan? I've seen many. But the first ones that come to mind are the ones for San Antonio, Texas. They sort of did make me want to go there. And it's a city I never hear of otherwise. The others are the ads for the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Alabama. A sort of high-faluting thing that even for someone who does not golf, does dispel Alabama's backward image ("Banjos playing through the broken glass") somewhat.

Also, here is the top link for Atwood the Adorable. Way to go Torch Lake Views!

Politics

I decided to take a poll on the political views of my readers. You will see it on the right. Sorry for that placement decision, all you leftists. It's how the blog layout is.

I think I have pretty much covered it for everyone. I hope so, anyway. Go ahead and vote!

I'm back.

I had a little blog "hiatus". But it's back, and all there! I hope someone is still around to read it!