Therese Tran / Staff Photographer Doug Cogan - or "Doug from Upland," as he is known - covered his new car with anti-Kerry and pro-Bush magnetic Bumber stickers, which he can remove to avoid vandalism.
Posted on 08/28/2004 5:57:46 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma
The Upland man has 14 bumper stickers clinging to all sides of his black 2004 PT Cruiser -- many of them taking blunt jabs at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
"I admit it's a little obsessive -- but it is political season," said Cogan, 56, who is known in radio and Internet circles simply as "Doug from Upland."
The "campaign-mobile," as he calls his car, is an effort to celebrate freedom of speech and rev up support for President Bush -- all at 30 miles to the gallon.
And not to worry, Cogan said: The stickers are all magnetic, so he can take them off when he's at home or parked in more liberal parts of town, where the car might look tempting to potential vandals.
But that's about the only time they come off.
"I always drive with them -- my wife doesn't want to ride with me," said Cogan, a commercial real estate broker.
He's got the standard "Bush-Cheney '04" and "God Bless Our Troops" messages. But it's his collection of anti-Kerry stickers -- made at home with a computer -- he hopes will drive his point home.
One depicts the Massachusetts senator in his much-joked-about NASA anti-contamination suit, next to a shot of Bush hauling wood over his shoulder at his Texas ranch. "Which man do terrorists fear?" it asks.
Another proclaims: "News Bulletin - Al Qaeda supports Kerry (duh)."
Motorist response to Cogan's slogans has been mixed.
Some honk and give him a thumbs up. Others use a different finger.
"I've been flipped off many times," he said.
Cogan's rolling billboard is just one of the many ways he's found to express himself politically.
Over the last dozen years, he has made an estimated 2,000 calls to talk radio stations -- averaging one every few days. He has also written more than 1,500 parody songs -- putting political lyrics to popular hits -- for neoconservative Web site freerepublic.com.
His just-published book, "A Child's-Eye View of John Kerry" -- which pokes fun at the candidate through the mind of a school kid -- is now available on eBay.
Political statements even turn up in his choice of condiments.
"I take my own ketchup into restaurants, and I make a point to make sure everybody knows -- "take this Heinz ketchup off my table,'" he said, noting his distaste for the company affiliated with Kerry's wife.
"My wife doesn't like to go to dinner with me," he added.
Especially if he's the one driving.
Jason Newell can be reached by e-mail at jason.newell@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9338.
I really enjoyed your 'kerry and the vets'. I also really like your car signs. I showed my wife, because recently she told me I was over demonstrative. I think she now realizes that I'm very moderate in my expressions. I wish we all put as much effort as you do, into making sure skerry doesn't get in!
Wow. Now even the papers have noticed him. DFU has already made Hugh Hewitt famous..
#8-Nice looking car =o)
LOL!!! Hey, Hugh! Are you here??? You owe DFU a LOT for making you famous!! WHOO HOOOOOOOOO!!!!
BUMP!
Doug:
You are my newest hero! Keep up the great work! Love it!
Excellent!
Sensational! Liberals must nearly vaporlock when they see your Cruiser at the lights, Doug.
I'm getting that a lot. Yesterday, a local guy got a call from his mom who read the article. She told him, "I guess you're no so crazy after all."
Before proceeding to the Claim Jumper, I had to remove several of the most offensive signs or Mrs. DFU wasn't getting in the car. I made the compromise since I wanted their California Quesadilla and parmesan garlic onion rings. I even had to leave the W Ketchup home after the scene in the restaurant the last time we went out.
Good goin' Doug!
Grammie, this is a GREAT thread! And that is one FANTASTIC car, Doug!
Excellent!
This is just beautiful!!!!
Graet big ol' Pro-Bush bump!
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