posted 09-06-2005 09:23 AM               

quote:

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HE'S been up in space and now he's up on a pedestal – South Australians want astronaut Andy Thomas as our next Governor.

In the record-breaking Sunday Mail/National Nine News Your Say Counts survey, Dr Thomas was a clear choice as the next Governor, followed by Education and Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith, who finished a clear second.

Dr Thomas, a NASA employee based in Houston, Texas, said he was surprised but flattered by the nomination.

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posted 09-06-2005 04:45 PM               

I too saw that article in last Sunday's newspaper, below the often-published over-sized photo of Andy in his EVA gear. You have to understand that STS 114/Andy got saturation coverage over here, so he is very much at the forefront of the media, through no fault of his own. His father is quoted in the same article as saying that the recent media prominence is probably accountable for Andy being named as the preferred next governor of South Australia.

Mind you, if the same poll had been held in any other week of the year, the "most preferred" candidate could easily have been a coach/player of the two local AFL football teams (Adelaide "Crows" and Port Adelaide "Power").

Not to take anything away from Andy (who I think is a fantastic role model for society), but 'populist' polls, especially those run by newspapers, are not known for in-depth analysis, so it is little wonder that a person featuring prominently in the press at the time gets the gig.

The other candidate, Jane Lomax-Smith, on the other hand is a very well spoken pathologist-turned-politician who enjoys a high media profile, and is referred to by the local media by the nickname "J-Lo". (Oh, and she bears no resemblance whatsoever to Jennifer Lopez; our J-Lo is tall, slim, graceful and somewhat ethereral).

Either would make a good choice for the titular head of the State.