Officials: Hundreds Of John Kerry Yard Signs Stolen In Fla.

local6 ^

[esryle]

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Hundreds of yard signs supporting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry have been stolen and vandalized in this heavily Republican region known as "Bush Country," officials said, prompting some Kerry supporters to hang signs from trees to deter burglars.

About 350 signs have been stolen, according to Panhandle for Kerry organizers, which met with Pensacola police Monday. The group has distributed nearly 3,400 signs.

Police said they would increase patrols and Panhandle for Kerry members planned to conduct neighborhood watches, said the group's chairman, Jerry Holt.

"We have the availability, the funds and the will to replace every sign when we find out it's missing," he said.

Pensacola resident Anne Bennett lost four Kerry signs from her front yard before putting out a homemade sign that read "Nice people don't steal or vandalize." She hung her latest sign from a pine tree limb 15 feet in the air.

"It's like you don't have a right to participate in the public debate unless you are in the majority, and that is not one of the principles on which our country was founded," she said.

Northwest Florida is a Bible Belt region filled with military bases, veterans and Republican voters. In 2000, President George W. Bush beat Democrat Al Gore by better than a 2-1 margin.

Those caught stealing signs could be charged with petty theft or criminal mischief, said Bonnie Jones, Escambia County supervisor of elections.

Holt said he doesn't believe the thieves were affiliated with the local Republican Party

[rod1]

Hurrican Charlie.

[SunnySide]

Pensacola resident Anne Bennett lost four Kerry signs from her front yard before putting out a homemade sign that read "Nice people don't steal or vandalize."

She should have said that to the Florida people who stole Bush signs during the last election.

I don't condone anyone stealing anything off of peoples property.

[abner]

This article prompted me to put up my Bush/Cheney sign.
Chester Countyites- I have a stack if you need one.

[cajun-jack]

check on e-bay in the bargain bin.

[Joe Brower]

"Mebbe Bonnie swept that garbage away."

Wellll, maybe. While the lefties are experts at this sort of thing, I can't endorse it, although turnabout is fair play.

I am one of two guys who do a lot of election year yard-sign distribution here in Sarasota county, Florida. We also handle putting these near polling places on election day, as well as getting these signs put at every viable street corner and throughway that we can.

I can personally attest that, in these parts, ripping up GOP-candidate's yard signs by the score at 2 AM and leaving them in the dumpster is a democRAT specialty. In the last thirty days prior to the election, there's very few signs that stay in place more than a few days before they disappear. Sure keeps us busy.

There are countermeasures that can be taken to, er, "inconveinence" an such thievery, but I will not go into details here.

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

The heavily Republican region known as "Bush Country":

[ken5050]

"Panhandle for Kerry"....geez..ya think?

[Aliska]

I know one thing, it wasn't me....

Of course not. Bush did it.

[End Times Sentinel]

I wonder if they'd be interested in how the Bush Cheney '04 and W '04 bumperstickers on my car have been ripped off, the car spat on, keyed and now a tire slashed.  Nah, that's a non story.

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[mnehring]

I have decided, the first time someone pulls one of my bumper stickers off I am going down to the local sign shop and have huge vinyl W04 graphics plastered down the side of my SUV. The more the neo-hippies pull their dirty tricks, the bigger my statements become.

[Riley]

You could always affix the signs to tilt-rods, heh heh heh...

[BeerSwillr]

Panhandle for Kerry

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

[darkwing104]

Maybe the homeless are patching up their abodes after Charley came roaring through.......

It wasn't Charley that hit the Panhandle, it was Bonnie. Come to think of it there were some major improvement to the local trailer parks....:-)

[End Times Sentinel]

Last weekend, my daughter and I colored "Ashcroft Rumsfeld 2008" in our front window.  I'm sure my almost 100% D neighbors enjoyed that.

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

[No_Outcome_But_Victory]

yeah, just like the ONE story they were able to find here in the People's Democratic Republic of Washington about one Kerry sticker being defaced. This was in Fremont, which is sort of like San Francisco. Think a Republican did that? Thousands of cars are keyed, signs defaced and bumperstickers removed of Bush supporters and it's a non-story.

IOW, I find this quite hard to believe. Bush supporters don't do this.

[Riley]

There used to be a deal where you could get your entire car covered in a nicely-done promotional car wrap. Something like this:

http://www.adsonwheels.com/CAR_Gallery.asp

[atomicpossum]

So the story originates from Democrats that paint Democrats as being victimized-- is there any independent verification, say by the UN or Jimmy Carter?

Frankly, we try to steal their yard signs, they try to steal the election. Which is worse?

[CzarNicky]

More likely it is the democrats stealing their own signs to make a story.

[MplsSteve]

Yes, it does happen all the time.

Whenever lawn signs for a state-wide GOP candidate go up in Minneapolis, they are frequently vandalized or ripped off.

I know this. I've replaced more than a few of 'em over the years.

It is aggravatting (sp?) and un-necessary and I wish it wouldn't happen...but the Democrats definitely don't have any business whining about this sort of stuff.

[Question_Assumptions]

The Democrats do this sort of thing around me. I think it's wrong no matter who is doing it.