A Sign of the Times?

By Timothy R Butler | Posted at 1:02 AM

Last night, I finally put out my Bush-Cheney yard sign, and this morning, it was gone. Considering that the area has lots of Bush signs it was rather disheartening to see that mine had been stolen and a nearby Kerry-Edwards sign had been left untouched.

Undeterred, I went back to the Bush-Cheney HQ and got a replacement. Oddly enough, shortly after putting up the new sign, I went to answer the door and my neighbor was there asking why I had a Bush-Cheney sign laying in front of the door. When it was returned is beyond me — I had not been out that door today, but apparently the sign thief brought back the sign. I'm curious if it was a guilty conscience or a desire to avoid getting caught and charged with theft and trespassing, but at least the sign is back in my care.

The new sign's frame remains up tonight, but the actual sign is in the great indoors until tomorrow morning when I will put it back up again. The local campaign volunteer suggested this measure as a good way to avoid having it damaged or stolen. Apparently a lot of Bush signs have been slashed and otherwise vandalized in the last few days (including one owned by a gentleman who was ahead of me in the line to pickup a sign). It seems to be another case of the vitriolic Bush haters that have been raiding Bush-Cheney offices and stealing signs across the country.

Tags: Politics

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6 comments posted so far.

RE: A Sign of the Times?

Out here, if you live in the city, that little strip of grass between the sidewalk and the curb (or, if no sidewalk or sidewalk along the street, the first 3 feet or so of your property) is actually city land. As such, it is perfectly legal to remove any item placed in that area.

Posted by kevin - Oct 24, 2004 | 5:33 AM- Location:

RE: A Sign of the Times?

Wow. But then I wondered about the effectiveness of those signs anyway.

I feared that the magnetic bumper sticker that Pressed let me have was going to be lifted as well. So far so good.

Posted by Christopher - Oct 24, 2004 | 9:32 AM- Location: MO

RE: A Sign of the Times?

I’ve read some interesting ruminations on whether campaign signs do any good at all. For the most part, they serve only to make the owner feel good, rather like gangs flashing their hand symbols. Very few of the undecided are moved by such things, but it gives your fellow partisans a warm feeling. The ugliness is very much a sign of the times, and equates also to gangs — turf wars. Tensions are very high, and I expect it to get worse.

Posted by Ed Hurst - Oct 24, 2004 | 3:36 PM- Location: Rural SE Texas

RE: A Sign of the Times?

its always funny that the truth makes ppl uncomfortable and the false things in life are left alone and allowed to wither and die.(john Kerry) so if we have to keep getting signs stolen from our yards to support truth then so be it at least we won’t wither and die.

thunder

Posted by Thunder - Oct 24, 2004 | 4:29 PM- Location:

RE: A Sign of the Times?

Kevin: it was actually beyond the 3 foot mark, we have the same system out here.

Christopher: A Bush magnetic bumper sticker? I didn’t know they had those… nice!

Ed: I think you are right about it just being a partisan warm feeling. But, I’m not sure if that means it is ineffective. If you see your fellow partisans supporting your chosen candidate, you might be more likely to vote since you feel that you aren’t the only one. :-) I suspect actual impact is probably greater on local elections though — it serves to get the candidate’s name out and so on. For instance, our election for Secretary of State is taking part between the daughter of a very well known Democrat and the far lesser known speaker of the Missouri house. By putting signs up, it serves to get people use to the Republican’s name despite not being nearly as familiar to the average voter (I suspect).

Thunder: Well, I think taking it down at night should be a good system. While the Bush HQ doesn’t charge for signs like the Kerry people do, I’m going to have to start paying them if I keep going back for more. :-)

Posted by Timothy R. Butler - Oct 24, 2004 | 6:30 PM- Location: MO

RE: A Sign of the Times?

I’m not sure the signs change the numbers much in the federal elections, but they do make a difference in the local elections. If there is one name that’s out there a lot and another that isn’t, the name that’s seen is the one that will be voted for. If I see the sign all around my neighborhood (especially if I don’t actually know anything about the candidates - it’s scary how many people don’t) I now have a reason to pick one name out of the list.

I saw some really creative signage this weekend. Someone made their own signs on sheets they attached to their house. In 3 foot tall letters it read: “Lick Bush! Stick Dick!” They certainly aren’t shy about their opinions!

Posted by kevin - Oct 25, 2004 | 2:51 AM- Location:

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