notes from walkabout
Wandered around the upper-middle part of the state a bit yesterday. Saw lots and lots of campaign signs for various local and localish elections. Big ones along the roads and little ones in yards.
All local races. All of ‘em.
One gal has a sign with a beautiful rendition of CA poppies and her name – and some fine print at the bottom. Dunno who she is or what she’s running for — I got enough on my plate without investigating other counties’ / districts’ personnel — but the attractiveness of the sign made me predisposed to like her. Interesting reaction.
Saw exactly Zero signs about the Propositions. Also interesting.
And saw very few bumper stickers. Amazing.
Keep in mind a coupla things. In parts of CA, any sticker that might be construed as “conservative” will get one a keying — at least. IF one leaves one’s car alone, say in a parking lot. That kind of political expression is only done in secrecy privacy. I come from one of those parts. Around here I see only the occasional O-2012 sticker. Unlike 2008 where they were everywhere. Oddly enough I see no O-08 stickers left over… Must’ve been cheap stickers and fell off. Cuz I still see the occasional Kerry sticker hanging bravely onto an old Volvo amongst the “Coexist” and “My Other Car Is A Broom” stickers.
But yesterday, I ventured out into the wide open spaces, where there are places just a coupla miles off the freeway where one can get one’s head dented for messing with a man’s pick-up… Don’t even mention a gal’s pick-up. Don’t even look at the bass boat.
The Big Valley. Yanno — that place that could grow half the world’s food IF Our Masters would release the waters they hold back in favor of a 2″, non-native trash fish whose continued existence is deemed more important than feeding humans and having a… yanno, economy. BTNIN.
Bumper stickers: I saw exactly 7 stickers. 5 R/R & 1 O-2012. I saw NO leftover O-08 stickers. And one “Obamacare must go”
What do y’all see?
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40 Comments!
This is interesting as I had this conversation with a gentleman yesterday about this very topic. Here in southern Arizona we live in a democrap stronghold, and there is a noticable lack of bumper stickers for O. Not scientific by any stretch but a interesting lack of enthusiasm for sure.
I’ve been paying attention now that someone mentioned it. Romney/Ryan signs,bumper stickers,window signs are popping up like flowers in the Spring. My FB is getting more and more interesting every day. The Voice of the People in the paper is getting more interesting. Dem’s more desperate (some die hards opening their eyes) Rebub’s more hopeful. People who would never talk about anything political in a group are voicing their opinions. 24 more days!!
I saw a “FIRE OBAMA” sign in the Olympia area yesterday.
I was shocked.
And the conservative’s sign I have put back up three times was knocked down again. That didn’t surprise me.
Democrat three doors away (a teacher, at that) has a Romney yard sign.
I meant to say where: Southern California, near Pasadena.
At the beginning of the month I drove up to the U.P. of Michigan to get the camp ready and visit two of my children. Colors were beautiful and the “O” signs were most prominent around the college towns of Marquette and Houghton. Local signs here are heavy on the propositions, all but one are union crap and one devistating energy proposal sure to ruin the economy.
Last month I had business in Illinois and had to spend a few days in Chicago. Nothing but O stickers and signs. Being as I was outnumbered and would never get a chance to express my opinion fairly I decided on another approach.
I became the “dispondent former O supporter”. When asked whom I was voting for I just shrug my shoulders and say that I had voted for obama last time but just couldn’t do it again. Oh my did that get some attention. The progressives would stare in disbelief and then start talking my ear off. It really bothered them and I enjoyed every moment of it as their frustration grew. It was fun.
Out side of chicago it looked pretty much like Romney / Ryan land to me. Rural Illinois doesn’t appear to like obama or chicago much.
I know what you say Tctsunami it’s the Universities and school systems here that are indoctrinating the young here. The U.P. has always been a big Democrat/Union area. I think because of the history of mining in the area. In the last election I worked one of the polling places in my town and was greatly surprised that there was a much larger amount of people voting Republican than Democrat. It’s obvious the Republicans are more silent but becoming the majority. Republicans for the rich Democrats for the poor. That’s the way it is and that’s how it will be no matter what.
Quick post on this, as I’m pressed for time:
My observations are possibly tilted, since I’m not spending as much time in the leftist brain-goo of central Denver as I used to, but:
A great deal *fewer* Obama signs & bumper stickers this time. (and virtually no O-08 stickers)
More Repub signs & bumper stickers this time.
*** And ***, a fascinating new development in the last couple of weeks:
Many of the Obama bumper stickers I do see appear to be over 50% smaller than usual. You have to look close to notice them and see what they are. WTF?? That’s a political statement?
It’s almost as though true believers want the virtue of sporting an Obama sticker without the embarrassment of anyone noticing….
By the way Claire, I know your Pole is unscientific, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t meaningful.*
For example….
… many Poles are great pianists, and have provided human kind achievements in many additional non-scientific areas…
… plus many Poles like Romney…
… not to mention that pole dancing is a wonderful fusion of art and exercise.
***
* The scientific poles don’t appear to mean much this year anyway.
By the way Claire, although I don’t know of the specific candidate you mention, it strikes me that if one has no qualifications, record, or platform with which to distinguish oneself and appeal to thoughtful voters, then poppy visuals make perfect sense — kind of like running on a platform of “hope and change.”
I live in a bright Red county in Kalifornicateya; Nevada County, population, about 100,000. Mostly small towns, farms and Pine forests w rivers flowing through them. I have seen ONE OBoBo 2012 sign on a lawn. Regrettably (…for them…) it is near my home. If/when the ballon goes up after 6 November, I am gonna personally set fire and melt the dozen fucking *Pink Flamingos* that are also in that lawn!
I’m a bit South of the Colonel and, I think, Claire, in a Red stronghold… Ventura County. Not a single O sign within miles.
Makes me smile.
I had two tires on my vehicle damaged beyond repair.
Never had any of that before this year.
Indeed, my friends, the left is very angry, especially here in WA.
There are a fair number of small Uhbama signs in one of the western most African provinces (City of Richmond), and generally not nearly as many ’2O12′ bumper stickers as there were in ’08, but what encourages me is the proliferation of sometimes huge R/R signs elsewhere in central Virginia. Central Va, except for the African provinces, has been conservative for a long time, but the blossoming of way more than usual signage I think, I hope, betokens a huge turnout of Republican voters.
Down here north of West Palm Beach, FL, Martin county is about 80% Republican and you see a LOT of anti-O bumper stickers. Except in the local schoolteacher parking lots. No O yard signs anywhere. And we have no vandalism problems.
Lots of signs for Allen West, tho. :-)
Igniting flamingos is contra-indicated in forest environs, Colonel. Tempting as it may be.
Yeah, the tea party and other conservative yard signs are Up the Country. Why do you think illiberals want to deep six the Electoral College? The EC was created so as not to overwhelm and disenfranchise rural interests. Even so, there’s no electoral college for state and county elections, so the likes of Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago dominate.
I couldn’t help but notice, when I went to the grocery store a couple of days ago, the lack of bumper stickers on cars. Of course, there were a few Canadians, so I wouldn’t expect them to have US political stickers. The remainder of the cars I saw walking into the store and back out were mostly devoid of decals. I counted four conservative stickers (not including ours): three Romney ones and a “The government didn’t build my business, I DID!” one.
Joe – Holy crap. What part of Washington do you live in? Olympia?
#11 Col Jerry SIR! That’s a fairly conservative area, isn’t it? 45 years ago when I worked for CDF I spent most of my Septembers in that area.
I saw a “Stop Obamacare” bumper sticker on my pickup.
Wow, Nevada County must have changed a lot. I grew up there (part of the time anyway), at the time it was about 114% hippie, split with mostly lib hippies and some libertarian hippies.
I knew a couple of open conservatives but mostly it was flower power as far as the eye could see.
I just work in Olympia. That’s all I can take.
I live in Hazard county, which borders on Thurston County.
The two counties are like different planets.
I’ve also been putting conservative campaign signs back up when the tolerant, diverse, lefties of greater ‘Lympia tear them down. Some as many as three times. One soon to be four.
shockingly enough, I am seeing more R&R signs here in the only spot of blue deep in the heart of Texas.
The O supporters are getting quite testy.
I saw one Obama sign today, it’s the 2nd one I’ve seen all year. I do see a few cars in the local grocery store lot with Obama sitckers and of course in the parking lot of the elementary school where I go to vote. I don’t think it really means a whole lot in my neck-o-the woods though. My county went for McCain last time around by something like 15 points. However it is a historically dem run county (2010 changed that for the 1st time in like 80 years or some such), so maybe it does mean something…..
I like Poles, I married one. And a Staunch Conservative Teacher! You just have to look for them.
The (black) community organizers 2 doors down from us – who had numerous house meetings for Obama last election are surprisingly quiet this year – no signs in the yard, no evening meetings as 4 years ago. All the yard signs in the neighborhood are for the Pennsylvania State representatives for our district.
Susan Lee
Claire (0), ppwckliaau, Halp! BTNIN is not in ‘Urban Dictionary’!
I tinkx the ‘BTN’ is ‘But That’s Not’ but I can’t figgur out da ‘IN’!
Sound like an innerestin’ but not enjoyable ride through the
‘Big Valley’! The speed & extent of Cali’s increasingly rapid decent
into social chaos, hopeless bankruptcy & leftist, liberal ‘utopia’
NOT, is a phenomena that I never thought would happen in
‘my’ country, & kinda gives me the heebee-jeebeez because of
the effect that Cali’s demise will have on the rest of the country.
To say nuttin’ ’bout Chicago, Detroit, New York City, etc, etc!
BTNIN: But That’s Not Important Now
[Hey, Jimmy - you ever see a gladiator movie?]
Saw a couple of Obama 2012 stickers lately but they are on the inside of the rear window probably to get ready for a quick removal. Also Seen quite a few Romney stickers, more than I ever saw for McCain.
I will be the first to admit that my observations are not in any
way scientific. Anecdotal is the best word I can use to describe the phenomenon you have observed.
Every work day, I stop off at Whole Foods for take out food
after work. In 2008, the parking lot was an ocean of Obama-
Biden bumper stickers.
The checkers at Whole foods are largely tattooed Goth chicks
with multiple piercings. The customers are a collection of organic freaks who are opposed to “Chemical” fertilizers.
These include elderly members of the Woodstock Nation,
who invariably are sporting pony tails and earrings. Some of
them are even women! Tie dyed shirts, peasant dresses and
Birkenstock sandals are their favorite attire.
Others include emaciated Vegetarians and Vegans, animal
rights activists and life members of Greenpeace and Earth
First!
Most of them are to the left of Joseph Stalin. Organic is
another word for “Grown with pig shit.” No chemical fertilizer
has ever resulted in an E-coli infestation.
In the last 6 months, I have yet to see a single Obama – Biden
2012 bumper sticker in the Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s
parking lot at the Rolling Hills Plaza in Torrance California.
I suspect the reason is that their kids and grand kids having
graduated from college, are now living at home. The “Thrill”
that ran up Chris Mathews leg is gone!
BB King The Thrill Is Gone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fk2prKnYnI
I live in western NY, and just last week – day after the VP losing it on national teevee – my purchased Romney/Ryan sign came up missing. Haven’t decided what to put on the 4×8 sheet of plywood that’s going up in it’s stead. Taking suggestions.
^ It is embarrassing to be a baby boomer, but in any case LJ nailed it.
It will be interesting to see how the Foolish Generation actually votes in the light of all this….
Jane 33: I’m not sure it’s the right choice, but that pic of the 20-something living at home without hope under the fading Obama poster comes to mind.
For the sign I can see a big check mark in the straight party –Republican box with “Just Do It” in under it—- but of course you don’t want to promote Nike. As you know we must be vigilant in all the others we’re voting for. Judges for instance — who are supposedly non partisan— I checked on those running in Michigan and it was very interesting reading. Would it be too idealistic to think in a Federal election all states have the same rules with State matters are on a seperate ballot?
Leonard Jones’ (32) comment ’bout the entire Holy Fuuds ‘circus’
is not only entertaining but soooo true! This libtard infested
Big 10 uni-burst-titty city has 2 of them only a mile & a half apart.
I also know 2 guys who work there. Going there is like going to the
circus to watch the crazy clowns. It’s also sad to see what this
country & culture is becoming.
Meant to tell you last night, on the WESTSIDE yesterday I counted three Romney stickers and no Obama stickers.
I saw a few empty chairs in yards with Romney signs.
Well, I live in Northeast Texas, there are only a few yella dawg Dems left. There are a few RR bumper stickers, we mostly don’t bother, there is no way in God’s green earth that Texas will vote Dem.
I have three stickers on my car, the Viet Nam Service ribbon and two for my Cowboy Action Shooting clubs. Haven’t had a political sticker on my car since I traveled through California in ’06 when I still had a Bush Cheney sticker. they were just about screaming Burn the witch!