Great shot of John and Teresa today on ferry headed to Milwaukee!

[flpoljunkie]

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., hugs his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry as they depart on a high speed ferry from Muskegon, Mich., en route to Milwaukee on Monday, Aug. 2, 2004. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

[Beaverhausen]

1. Love it! Can't wait to have THK in the White House

a real live smart, warm, strong, intelligent woman!

[Myrina]

2. THK

'Warm' isn't one of the adjectives I'd use to describe her.

JMHO. :shrug:

[Beaverhausen]

3. compared to the stepford wife now in the White House I'd say she is

but of course your mileage may vary...

[amandabeech]

11. I think that Laura is probably a perfectly nice lady.

She reminds me a lot of my small town Midwestern grade-school teacher mom and her friends when she talks about children and reading.

Sure, she's not as outspoken, cosmopolitan or chic as Teresa, but I think that she dresses appropriately, if very conservatively, and speaks well, particularly on educational issues, although she is not outwardly forceful.

Don't get me wrong. I think Teresa's great and I'd like to me both her and Elizabeth Edwards. But they are just really different from Laura.

I don't judge her on what her husband turned out to be. Bush is way over his head, and he'd probably be worse if she wasn't around. Perhaps she even knows that the job of President really is way beyond him.

The problem is that he got involved in politics, and because of his father's name, got in so far over his head that he's taking the whole world down with him. Otherwise, he'd probably be no worse than any other Republican country-club type. Not someone I'd like to spend a lot of time around, but so what.

I just pray that the voters have the sense to send him back to Crawford where he can't harm much of anyone.

Kerry and Edwards are capable of cleaning up his mess, and they will do it.

Please, God, send this guy back to Crawford where he can do no harm!

[saracat]

5. Why is that?

I have met her and I thought she was very warm and empathetic. What don't you likeAbout her?Just curious.

[sandnsea]

7. You'll have a mom in the White House

That's what she told a group of gay activists after telling a story about one young man who wished Teresa was his mother because his mother had disowned him. What's not warm about that?

[Frances]

9. Are you implying that hot is a better word?

[desertalien]

4. That's a beautiful photo

It looks like he's wearing the yellow "Live strong" bracelet from Lance Armstrong's cancer charity.

[saracat]

6. Noone can say their affection isn't real. This belies the point!

[Malva Zebrina]

8. compare to this loving couple

cardboard boxes--and they look awful. In this photo, Laura especially looks terrible. She insists upon wearing those tight fitting short cut jackets that make her hips look huge. They both look terrible--puffy as if they had been up all night drinking.

Where are the "strapless sisters"? Don't they go to church as a family with their mum and daddy? Where were they when daddy visited Kennebunkport for this photo op?

[amandabeech]

10. Too bad that they couldn't stop in Muskegon!

I grew up 40 miles north of there. Muskegon is an old, old lumbering and industrial city. It could use some jobs, though.

Nonetheless, the Lake Michigan beach and parks here, run by the city, county and state are absolutely superb! It look a little like Cape Cod, or so I was told by a Bostonian friend, and usually not crowded at all. Many have nice nature walks, particularly P.J. Hoffmaster. It would have been a nice spot to take a break, have something to eat at the Hearthstone, and stay for a walk on the beach at sunset.

The people are Midwestern-friendly, and the airport is a little gem--easy to get in and out of with a great little restaurant owned by my favorites, the Hearthstone people. You almost don't mind being stuck there!

Towns north and south are equally lovely. My favorites are Pentwater and Ludington. Go for the fresh blueberries, cherries and peaches.

Look, I had to get a plug in for my old stomping grounds.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Lovely post. thanks!

Reading it makes me want to visit!

[amandabeech]

13. That's the point! You should!

The Michigan side of Lake Michigan has many visitors from Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis.

Right next to the lake, the air temperature is almost always just right.

Northwest Airlines and Midwest Airlines fly to Muskegon. Northwest runs a commuter jet once a day. Otherwise its 30-seater props. Midwest runs BE-1900s, but the ferry would be nicer from Milwaukee. Other airlines fly to Grand Rapids.

All the towns have visitor's bureaus and the state has a lot of information about the park system, which includes camping.