One of the easiest ways to get new visitors to your city is to come up with something really grand.
We have the world's tallest thermometer [1] in Baker, California.
There's the Muffler Man-Indian Chief [2] in Waxahatchie, Texas
Of, course, don't forget the Spam Museum [3] in Austin, Minnesota
And, after years of effort the world's largest lava lamp [4] is finally becoming a reality in Soap Lake, Washington.
So, when Sam Miller came up with his latest strategy to rebuild Cleveland -- put the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Cleveland [5] -- those of us in the economic development biz really perked up.
Of course, with all respect due to Sam Miller, he's not the only Cleveland luminary who is a Dubyah fan. Don King [6] believes that our president ranks right up there with the founding fathers [7]. “I love George Walker because I think he’s a revolutionary. He’s a president that comes in with conclusiveness.”
King persuasively argues [8] that while "The Democrats is not doing nothing wrong", George Bush doesn't confuse reflection with action. "George Bush utilizes the big stick. Whatever means necessary."
Is it any wonder that Sam Miller is a big George Bush fan?
(Loyal readers of BFD know that when it comes to getting stuff done, Sam Miller is a man of his word [9]. So we can believe him that when it comes to the Bush Library idea, "I would go out and raise money for it. May God kill me if I'm lying [10]." Sam's a man of conviction. You can download a chronicle of Sam's good deeds for Cleveland 1.0 here [11].)
Sam has his work cut out for him, though. While he believes "In 20 years, [Bush] will go down as a presidential great", George II has -- well, let's just say there's a big opportunity for improvement [12].
Of course, not surprisingly, Sam also faces some stiff competition with his idea...from Nick Pahys Jr., D.D.G., C.H., AdVS, A.G.E., LDA, FIBA in Hargrove, Ohio.
Pahys already has built a Presidential Library in Ohio. It's a library dedicated to our first president, John Hanson [13]. (The story of our first president, John Hanson, is rather long and a bit boring, so click through for an explanation.)
Sam's a man of vision, though, and we're sure he'll overcome.
Already, we can see the brochures. Visit the George W. Bush Library in Cleveland. (As Molly Ivins has pointed out, if we want real Texas on the Cuyahoga, we'll need an expressive 30 foot cow to put on the roof of the Higbee Building.)
In homage to another member of American royalty, we could call it the Dubyah-a-Rama Experience [14].
It's all part of a package bus tour of the Buckeye State. Visit the John Hanson Presidential Library in Hartsgrove [13], the Duct Tape Capital of the World [15] in Avon, and the world's largest statue of the Virgin Mary [16] in Montville.
With Sam Miller and Don King working for us, we have the vision, the money, and the muscle to build a bright future for Cleveland.
What are we waiting for? In deference to Sam's many contributions to Cleveland 1.0, the CSU Tustees should put this one on the fast track.
The Dubyah-a-Rama Experience could very well be the last big project of Cleveland 1.0. (except, of course, for a convention center).
Links:
[1] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/CABAKthermometer.html
[2] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D14382
[3] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/MNAUSspam.html
[4] http://www.giantlavalamp.com/
[5] http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/forestcity/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_forestcity/archives/2007_01.html#230660
[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_King
[7] http://hnn.us/articles/34542.html
[8] http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/people/columns/intelligencer/9583/
[9] http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/2006/04/15/forest-city-urban-whispers/
[10] http://www.cleveland.com/tipoff/index.ssf?/base/opinion/117006374571190.xml&coll=2&thispage=2
[11] http://www.brewedfreshdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/04/Article.pdf
[12] http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101509.html
[13] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/OHHARpresidential.html
[14] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D12549
[15] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/sights/sightstory.php?tip_AttrId=%3D14202
[16] http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/OHWINmary.html