Leave the Signs Alone

October 27, 2004 | Rick J. Radecki

[DesertGOP]

It seems that some people either have too much time on their hands or too much hate in their hearts these days for George W. Bush and the sight of several large "Bush/Cheney '04" signs strewn throughout the Victor Valley of Southern California, but now of which are mysteriously "disappearing" one by one—at the expense, by the way, of volunteer dollars not reimbursed by the California Republican Party, the Bush/Cheney campaign, or by anybody else for that matter. These signs are expensive, so excuse me for taking all of this a bit personally.

I was one of the grass roots volunteers working out of the Apple Valley Republican Headquarters, located at Happy Trails Highway and Apple Valley Road, who took time out of my busy weekend not too long ago to help High Desert resident and Chamber of Commerce Small Business Advocate of the Year recipient, Barry Hartz, post several pro-Bush placards from one end of the Victorville, Apple Valley, Hesperia regions to another—including one conspicuous posting along Interstate 15 facing all southbound traffic. It was hard work, and everywhere we placed a sign, we were sure that doing so would in no way obstruct traffic or cause us to violate any state laws or local ordinances.

Just a note: to our disappointment, as of the writing of this appeal, the one sign off the 15 freeway is now missing in action and makes the fourth such sign to be taken down by persons other than our crew in less than three weeks.

So, as a matter of decency and fair play, might I request that whomever is responsible for forcibly removing those "Bush/Cheney '04" signs we worked so diligently to put up—willingly abiding by statutes governing such political advertising—you either replace them to the locations you found them at or simply refrain from tampering with property you have no business dealing with. Then, we’d also appreciate you restraining yourselves from plastering with anti-Bush propaganda our volunteer-funded Apple Valley Republican Headquarters. Must I remind you that, not only is such immature intimidation on your part unethical, immoral and ineffective, but happens to be against the law, as well?

If you haven’t got the time or money to purchase your own materials—or beg, borrow, or steal something comparable—to promote your own candidate, then why do you seem to think that it’s fair game to vandalize ours? If you’re feeling a tad frustrated these days, I suggest you seek out a reputable psychologist or take a chill pill.

I won’t lament, "Can’t we all get along?" I will ask, however, that, during this bitter presidential campaign season, we on opposing sides fight hard for the man we want in the White House, but that we also fight fair and according to those written and unwritten rules mandating proper conduct in such matters. After all, common decency calls for such behavior.

[DesertGOP]

Here's a letter I just submitted this week for the editor of our local paper. I hope it gets published, since most folks in our neck of the woods have no clue what our new High Desert Democratic Headquarters is most likely up to these days (they opened up shop about three weeks ago, and our own GOP offices in the same High Desert have already been the target of vandalism).

Just a snap shot of what's going on with our High Desert efforts to re-elect the president--though none of us entertain any delusions of grandeur that California will go red (i.e., to the GOP's column) anytime soon.

But, we're fighting hard (and, I mean HARD!) especially in the Inland Empire North region of Southern Cal (does all that make sense?), and we're doing ALL we can--within ethical, moral and legal restraints, of course, unlike our opposition--to bring the popular vote to "W" and leave egg all over the collective face of the Democratic Party, Kerry, Edwards, Feinstein, Boxer, McAuliffe, Moore, and all the other hate-America crowd out there.

Lots and lots of good Republicans--conservative and otherwise--still left here in the "land of the fruitiest and nuttiest."

Keep fightin' on!

DesertGOP Victorville, CA

[Steve_Seattle]

My bus goes down old Highway 99 just north of Seattle. There's a prominent intersection there where political signs are always posted, and ALL of the Republican signs have been spray-painted with orange paint. The Dem signs are untouched.

[BFM]

May be time to load up the 'ol 9mm...

[Between the Lines]

Here in South Carolina it is against the law to post campaign signs on public property or right of way. You can only place them on private property. It is legal here to protect you property with deadly force even for something as mundane as a yard sign.

We have much fewer instances of political sign vandalism that most other places.

[DesertGOP]

Hey, let's take it one step further. With the expiration of the Assault Weapons Ban--oh, wait a minute, in reality that only applied to SEMI-automatic rifles that only LOOKED like assault weapons--but then only banned certain gadgets that attached to the rifles (that somewhat looked like assault weapons) to begin with...boy, for the time he spewed on and on about that, Kerry got his mileage out of that one, didn't he.

The president, during the final debate, should have HAMMERED Kerry on this truth. Pathetic DEM Party! They're desperate, they're crude, they're barbaric, and they're GONNA LOSE THIS TIME AROUND, TOO!!!

DesertGOP

[VastRWCon]

Here in MD someone put up a Bush sign on each of the exit ramps into/out of a pretty good size work district here in Hunt Valley (83/Shwann Rd) Well I first noticed them Monday morning... I thought that was pretty cool. They are both gone today. Dam libs.

[BooBoo1000]

I suggest you remove the pellets from your 12 gauge shot gun shells, and replace them with rock salt. Wait for the perps and then let them have it. It won't kill them but it sure will be a long time before then can sit down..

[Katya]

basically the problem in Maryland has been so bad, the republican party is not replacing the signs....instead people are being told to leave their torn signs up. Not a bad idea, since it shows how desperate the dementocrats are.

[DesertGOP]

Great idea to leave the damaged signs up, but then we have no signs left since the Dems STOLE them.

Some folks have GOT to get a life, get a job, and stop cruising--in the case of Southern Cal's High Desert--around looking for trouble they can cause.

I don't want to belabor the point (possibly too late for that now), but these Bush/Cheney signs we put up all over the area are bigger than your average campaign sign--I mean, these puppies are about the size of a mid-size car or such, so it's not like they could rip them down, throw them in the back of the little Chevy Sprint and high-tail it out of there.

Oh well, Kerry's a total wienie (did I spell that correctly? Sorry!) and he's goin' down anyway...I'm getting more and more confident of that everyday.

Thanks for the feedback!

DesertGOP

[reformedliberal]

We were told on a September conference call in WI to always notify the media after calling the LEO and the campaign. This gets us earned media. It makes the Donks look like the thugs they are. Leaving the damaged signs up does the same thing. It makes people talk about the thuggery.

Here is WI, people HATE that sort of thing. We are also getting reams of negative smear mailings (expensive, too; some are tearing them up and paying to return the pieces to the DNC and WI-DNC) and automated smear phone calls, which we are to record if we get them, then call 1-888-610-8170, which is the BC04 hotline for vicious phone calls. We will get more earned media for this.

Yesterday, the POTUS came thru our town after a rally. It was a long road trip w/several rallies. Everyone thought it was awesome. A group of leftists had threatened huge disruptive protests. I think they may have had a visit from the USSS and LEO explaining to them exactly what their Free Speech rights are.....and are not, because they turned into little lambs. There were a few holding signs at all the venues and that is all.

They may have begun to realize that this behavior is earning W votes. I wonder if they were called off by their own side?

[rocksblues]

I live in NJ and have not heard or seen anything about sign's being stolen but I can state that where I live Bush/Cheney signs out number Kerry/Edwards sign's by 3 to 1.

This is not counting the houses that proudly fly the American Flag!

[arjay]

Some DUmmy down the street from me has a bunch of Kerry signs plus a banner reading "Some village in Texas is missing an idiot." It makes my blood boil every time I drive by it.

If Bush wins, I am going to send him a gloating letter.

[DesertGOP]

Yeah,

Just you wait, that "idiot from Texas" is someone who they'll have to deal with for, yet, another FOUR MORE YEARS!
Kerry's NOT going to win, and you can bet the farm, Kerry's $10,000 bike, and all of Theresa's secret stash of cash (let her fund embryonic stem cell research in California--instead of delivering the bill to the taxpayers) on that.

Hey, my letter made it into this morning's (Thursday, Oct. 28) edition of our local Daily Press newspaper, along with a favorable "W" letter at the top of the same page. Just for easy viewing, here's the link, with just a few slight changes to my original letter (but the paper is always pretty much fair when it comes to leaving submitted letters in tact):

http://www.vvdailypress.com/2004/109897048142010.html

Hey, has anybody seen or heard of Sen. Kerry doing anything of worth in the U.S. Senate lately? Funny, but I can't recall the last time I saw his face on the senate floor for any reason.

Keep fightin' the good fight!

DesertGOP
Victorville, CA

[Bella_Bru]

It's not just Bush/Cheney signs that are disappearing. In my district, Escobar signs are disappearing and Sanchez signs are being out in their place. The volunteers/employees fro Dem candidates play dirty all the time.

[ArrogantBustard]

The 'Rats steal, deface, and replace Republican signs in Virginia and Maryland, too ...I suspect that it's a 'Rat thing, and that they do it everywhere.

"Democrat" = "Dishonest SOB"