GayPatriot

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Of Bumper Stickers & Political Passion

by

One thing which struck me when I drove cross country was how few bumper stickers I saw for the current presidential campaign. I did see a number of cars sporting Kerry (and Kerry-Edwards) decals and even (or all delicious ironies, mostly in the Northeast) vehicles with pro-Bush bumper stickers. Indeed, I saw more cars sporting anti-Bush sticker than the combined number of vehicles promoting Democratic presidential candidates.

When I returned to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving, I made a similar observation, precious few bumper stickers for the current campaign, many more so for the previous one. And returning to LA, I see the same thing. Yesterday, when driving all over the city (well, between Culver City and Hollywood), I saw one Obama ’08 bumper sticker and several supporting Kerry. But, there were more anti-Bush bumper stickers than pro-Democratic presidential candidates. Today was more of the same, one “Jail Bush” sticker and an pro-Obama one.

While I have seen a handful of Hillary ’08 bumper stickers, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one in LA.

Now, while we can’t measure the level of a candidate’s support by the number of bumper stickers we see, nor does the relative amount of the various candidates’ bumper stickers accurately reflect their support in the general populace, but the number of bumper stickers does measure the degree of a candidates’ support. That is, they show where the energy, the political passion, is.

For the Democrats, given the number of anti-Bush stickers and those supporting the ticket the president defeated in the previous election, it seems that their energy is still directed against him. Not a good sign for their party’s (eventual) nominee less a year out from the next election. They really hate a guy who can’t run for reelection, whose term expires is just over a year.

The number of Obama stickers seems to reflect the intensity of his support among those backing the Illinois Senator. When I talk to his supporters, their faces light up as they outline their man’s qualities, his charisma and eloquence. They believe he has the potential to unite the country.

The relative paucity of Hillary stickers suggests that while she is her party’s frontrunner, there’s not much enthusiasm for her candidacy. As Toby Harnden, the Washington Bureau Chief for London’s Sunday Telegraph wrote after a cross country trip surveying the American political landscape:

While we found many people who hated Mrs Clinton, those who loved her were few and far between. Certainly, many said they would vote for her, but the reasons cited tended to be her status as the top Democrat, the fact that she was battle-tested against Republicans and – for some women – the fact that she would be the first female president.

In this regard, it seems that Mrs. Clinton is not much different from her husband’s successor in the White House, at least in the latter half of his second term. There are many, many people who hate them, but very few who love them.

Whether or not we’ll see more bumper stickers for the current crop of candidates as we get closer to the actual date of the primaries has yet to be seen. But, from my survey of bumper stickers in recent months, it seems those on the left hate the incumbent president to a greater degree than they love any of the Democrats bidding to succeed him.

Comments

  1. I’ve noticed that the number of political bumper stickers has declined quite a bit over the last twenty years or so.

    The first political campaign I volunteered time for (age 12) was Nixon/Agnew in ’68. We gave out truckloads of yard signs and stickers.

    I remember seeing Reagan/Bush stickers everywhere in ’80 and ’84 (and a few Dukakis stickers; hardly any Carter stickers). And I saw quite a few Dole/Kemp and Clinton/Gore stickers in ’96.

    But by 2000, I began to notice far fewer stickers. In 2004, almost no stickers (I didn’t affix a Bush/Cheney sticker until a few days before the election – my other half didn’t want to ride in the car with that thing on the back). And the only yard signs I can remember were for local races. I can’t think of a single Bush or Kerry yard sign in my neighborhood.

    I have three theories:

    1) voters just don’t care (what’s the difference – they’re all bad news)
    2) voters can’t find anything to get excited about – all duds
    3) fear of vandalism

  2. When I was 13, the GOP in Orange County (N.C., which includes Chapel Hill) set up campaign headquarters in an abandoned gas station. The building (and some cars) were vandalized with obscene graffiti.

    Today, I still see stop signs with “Bush” spray-painted under the word “STOP”.

  6. Dan, we see lots of bumber stickers for candidates in my neck of the woods (Ann Arbor). But most of those are on Volvo cars and you can guess who those treehugging “BlameAmericaFirsters” support.

    We’ve got a new sticker on the Hummer… “Nuclear Arms Keep US Safe”. Let the eggs fly and let the Left do some keyscratching… those actions keep them in touch with their warrior inner selves.

  8. Here in Maine, I saw a car with 2 prominent stickers on it. Honest, I couldn’t make this stuff up: one was “IMPEACH BUSH” & the other was that “1.20.09 Bush’s last day in office” one. Now think, if Bush is impeached, then 1-20-09 will not be hist last day in office, eh? Someone wasn’t thinking when they affixed those 2 on their vehicle.

  9. Some of us don’t like bumper stickers on our cars. (I live in Brooklyn and rent a car when I am out of town.)

    Some of us are still uncommitted. (Like Scarlett O’Hara, I like to be courted a bit first.)

    And most Americans are just not paying attention enough. Why doesn anyone need to decide how they are going to vote months before the first primary? Usually half the candidates have dropped out before they get to 85% of the state primaries. Then you might have to make up your mind all over again. Why bother this far out unless you are a serious poltical junkie?

    BTW, none of my Republican colleagues, family members and acquantances seem to be committed to a single candidate either.

  10. Every morning, I pass some moron’s car parked on the street, with an “I Miss Bill” bumper sticker. I want to create my own, that says, “Because I’m a clueless liberal”, and stick it next to the other one.

  11. All of this illustrates Peter’s Principle of Politics #27: the more bumper stickers on a car, the shriller that person probably is.

    And that goes for both sides of the aisle as well.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  13. Here in Houston, I don’t see many bumper stickers for Obama OR Hillary. But I do see a few Ron Paul ones…even in the Montrose!

    I still see some libtards with Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers on their rear ends…as if it will change anything. These people need to moveon.org big time.

    Regards,
    Peter H.

  15. On a similar note, if I may stray, around here I see a lot of vehicles with memorial stickers on the back window. They say:

    In Loving Memory of John Doe, born xx-xx-xxxx, died xx-xx-xxxx
    etc.

    Seems like you can’t go out without seeing at least one vehicle with at least one of those on it. Is that just around here or is that everywhere else as well?

    And is that a bit…well…tacky, or is it just me? Sure folks can grieve however they see fit, but it just seems like advertising to me.

  18. Why leave a comment if you are prejudice enough to erase the ones you do not agree with! ? Kind of HYPOCRITE on your part…being a patriot and all!!
    I thought the constitution gave the freedom of speach, that you have oviously taken away from me. What’s the matter, can not handle the truth?
    The truth is that the media and our government want to keep us stupid! Look how much time americans waste in mindless entertainment, no education! Bush on 27/2007 just yesterday vitoed the children educational bill! His war has been privatized by Blackwater and Hallyburton. Did you know that the tax money we give to pay for our troops is spent in this paramilitary soldiers from blackwater and they get paid 10 times mora than the our soldiers? Did you know that the bonuses the government is giving to our soldiers are taken back if they get hurt in the war and are asked to pay it back!

  19. It hurts me personally ,that you have double standards and call yourself a patriot! I serve in the military in time of war cause I love my country and will defend it! But you are just a FOOL. Ignorant in politics and the American way!
    SHAME ON YOU!
    While all corporate america enriches themselves at the expense of the poor and powerfull politicians (republicans) do not give a damn about america you spend your time deniying the freedom we so hard fought for! BASTARD!