It is fucking July. Take the goddam campaign stickers off your fucking car.

[Ashes, Ashes]

Originally Posted by Ravenman

That being said, a friend of mine still has a Nixon/Agnew sticker on his car. But it takes at least 20 years for political bumper stickers to move from "tasteless" to "funny."

Oh, I dunno, I think the sticker I've saved from a local election will always be tasteless. "VOTE YES FOR (Isiah) BEAVER!" The lecherous-looking winking beaver is my favorite part.

[elucidator]

Originally Posted by GargoyleWB

...Besides, the bumper on a VW bus isn't engineered to take such abuse.

[sentimental aside] Ah, the veedub bus! Was ever a more perfect machine? Engineered to be generous and understanding, to accept as repair what any other vehicle would scorn as undignified jerry-rigging! To carry six hippies, three children, two dogs and a short ton of good karma anywhere, anytime, for any reason, without complaint, without a breakdown that couldn't be fixed with a pair of pliers and a coathanger.

Mine own might yet be with us, were it not for the Duct Tape Famine of '83. Pursuant to her wishes, she went to her retirement as a combination ground-level treehouse, starship, and ad hoc chicken coop.

Rust in peace, good and faithful servant!

[Mr. Moto]

Originally Posted by elucidator

[sentimental aside] Ah, the veedub bus! Was ever a more perfect machine? Engineered to be generous and understanding, to accept as repair what any other vehicle would scorn as undignified jerry-rigging! To carry six hippies, three children, two dogs and a short ton of good karma anywhere, anytime, for any reason, without complaint, without a breakdown that couldn't be fixed with a pair of pliers and a coathanger.

Sentiment can be helped along a bit by those chemicals you were consuming at the time.

Clearheaded folks realized that those repairs may have been cheap, but they were far too frequent. And the vehicle was engineered to be generous, understanding, and also to use the driver's legs as a crumple zone in a head on crash.

[Shirley Ujest]

Makes me want a voters button of long ago during one of FDR runs by one of his opponents turned into a bumper sticker:

No man is good three times!

Now that is a bumper sticker!

[elucidator]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Sentiment can be helped along a bit by those chemicals you were consuming at the time.

Clearheaded folks realized that those repairs may have been cheap, but they were far too frequent. And the vehicle was engineered to be generous, understanding, and also to use the driver's legs as a crumple zone in a head on crash.

Well, you may be right. But just so we can get some focus on your expertise....

How old were you in 1971?

[Mr. Moto]

Well, expertise can take several forms. I have driven several VW vans of early-'70's, mid-'80's, and late-'90's vintage, though I have never personally owned one. And I considered buying a camper model once, and in researching the model became acquainted with it's comsiderable virtues and numerous flaws.

Knowlege isn't restricted to people of a certain age, especially direct expertise of tangible items because they do not go away.

Now, if I were to wonder what it was like to actually burn a draft card or put Brylcreme in my hair, I might look you up, old man. For the record, I was a toddler in 1971, and my parents had traded in their Volkswagen for a nice sensible Chevrolet. And I seem to recall, the first election I can remember, a Ford sticker showing up on its bumper.

[elucidator]

I had no idea someone could be born Republican! I'll make an effort to be more sympathetic in the future.

[Mr. Moto]

BTW, elucidator, if you liked the old 'bus so mich, just bide your time.

VW intends to have it out again for the 2007 model year.

[Mr. Moto]

Originally Posted by elucidator

I had no idea someone could be born Republican! I'll make an effort to be more sympathetic in the future.

Actually my folks were Democrats then, and they're Democrats today. Reliable Democratic voters in local and state elections. My dad and grandfather were steelworkers and union men.

At the time, though, the Democratic Party was having a bit of a fit at the national level, and my folks were among those many thousands of Democrats who chose to vote for Republican presidential candidates. They did so from 1968 to 1992, when a moderate candidate finally convinced them to come back to a party they'd always supported in most elections anyway.

There's a lesson here, one I picked up and have brought to many, many threads. Precious few of you seem to have been listening.

Now, me, I'm a conservative Republican. Have been since I could donate money and time to candidates, even before I could vote. But I certainly wasn't born that way, and I came from a part of the country and a family where such a leaning would have been a quite conscious choice.

[elucidator]

See, Moto, all you have to do is kill the joke. It isn't really necessary to pound a stake through its heart.

[Ashes, Ashes]

Originally Posted by elucidator

See, Moto, all you have to do is kill the joke. It isn't really necessary to pound a stake through its heart.

So lemme see if I've got this straight elucidator, you're saying Republicans are the undead?
^{it explains soooo much}

I wonder how the democrats and independants fit into this scenario, and whether it would make a good movie or sumpin'

[Hilarity N. Suze]

Aside from the Kerry sticker, I have only ever put one bumper sticker on a car, because I don't approve of them. It was from Mad magazine and it said, "Bumper sticker." It was so dumb I had to put it on a car, and also the car I was driving at the time needed something to help it stay together. The Mad bumper sticker probably outlasted the car by years.

But my current car came with a bunch of bumper stickers, and the Kerry one matched the other sentiments pretty well, so on it went. It's hardly noticeable.

Someone did pull off one that said "Wild Utah." I have no idea what that bumper sticker meant. Apparently some kind of hot button. They didn't get it all the way off, so that's where I put the Kerry sticker. (My husband threatened to put a Bush sticker on, for balance, but he never got around to it.)

[elucidator]

Dunno about the undead. Its a documented fact that people rose from their grave to give Lyndon Johnson his Senatorial win in '48, by about 120 votes, leading to his nickname "Landslide Lyndon"

[UrbanChic]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Now, me, I'm a conservative Republican. Have been since I could donate money and time to candidates, even before I could vote. But I certainly wasn't born that way, and I came from a part of the country and a family where such a leaning would have been a quite conscious choice.

My mom says I've been a Republican since I was five. OK, that's a wee bit of an exageration, but not by much.

[RTA]

What a sad world we live in, where children become Republicans - Republicans! - merely to rebel against their parents.

This one goes out to tdn: (tuning guitar

Save the whales!
Hey, funky momma, save those whales.
Yeah, save the whales.
Save those big fat funky whales.
Save all the whales ....
Shoot the seals!
Yeah, shoot them seals.
'Cause the seals eat all the fish.
Whoa, shoot the seals.
Let 'em know just how it feels.
And if you think I'm funky for wanting to shoot all the seals...
Save your breath!

-Cheech Marin, Nice Dreams

[tnetennba]

Should I remove my "Minnesota Twins" bumper sticker (a) after the baseball season, or (b) when they are eliminated from playoff contention? Or should I just wait until they're contracted?

[elucidator]

Issue's a bit moot for me, since I'm about 90% bicycle, bus, or shank's mare. But if I did:

Go Twins! And Take the Vikings with You!

[UrbanChic]

Originally Posted by RTA

What a sad world we live in, where children become Republicans - Republicans! - merely to rebel against their parents.

Not quite. I didn't know it at the time, but my mom's a Republican, too. She did a excellent job of remaining unbiased, yet keeping us informed us of poltics. (Christ that sentence sucked ass.)

[TwistofFate]

Hey, Jesus has been dead close on 1970 years and those damn fishes aren't gone yet.

[tdn]

Originally Posted by RTA

-Cheech Marin, Nice Dreams

Wow. You get 12 points for that. 2 for getting the reference, and 10 for getting it right.

[Liberal]

Originally Posted by TwistofFate

Hey, Jesus has been dead close on 1970 years and those damn fishes aren't gone yet.

Good thing this isn't GQ. You couldn't post factually incorrect statements there and get away with it.

[Revtim]

Do you mean Jesus is still alive (as per the Christian belief) or do you think the number is simply wrong?

[TwistofFate]

Yes, good thing it isn't GD either or we'd be treated to another one of your libertarian wankfest parables. Or maybe another of your freakouts and threats to leave the board.


Anyway, I feel like virtually banging my head off a wall for a good few posts. What exactly wasn't factual in my amittedly shabby attempt at humour? Did Jesus not die roughly 1,970 years ago?

[Wile E]

Mmm ... frothy.

[beergeek279]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Actually my folks were Democrats then, and they're Democrats today. Reliable Democratic voters in local and state elections. My dad and grandfather were steelworkers and union men.

snip.....

Now, me, I'm a conservative Republican. Have been since I could donate money and time to candidates, even before I could vote. But I certainly wasn't born that way, and I came from a part of the country and a family where such a leaning would have been a quite conscious choice.

Ahh, the just-outside-of-Pittsburgh Democrat is such an odd duck, isn't it?? Pro-union to the dying end, but fairly conservative leaning on most other issues, especially on hunting and gun rights.

[PunditLisa]

Can we just have a rule to take ALL stickers off our cars? Frankly, I don't really give a rat's ass what your political affiliation is. I don't give a whit whether you want to save the whales or unborn babies. Your son is #22 on the local pee wee team? Here's a stat for you: NO ONE CARES.

I hate bumper stickers. (Hey! Now there's one I could put on my car!)

[John Mace]

Originally Posted by nameless

I think you're underestimating the sheer power of human laziness. The slobs (and there are many of them) who leave their Christmas lights up until to July are not... um... gloating about Christmas, are they?

'Round here, the trend is to never take the Christmas lights down.

I have to say that I chuckle everytime I see an old bumper sticker. It reminds us how some isues that seemed so immediate and so critical are now moot. Time to move on... Hey, that might be a good name for a PAC!!

[tnetennba]

I don't think any law requires you to adorn your rear bumper with personal statements, but please explain why anyone would give a shit if other people do? Perhaps nobody cares if YOU specifically care. The necessity of self-expression for the world around you does not begin and end with you as audience.

[Baldwin]

I never had a bumper sticker before; it seemed presumptuous to impose my political beliefs on whomever happened to be driving behind me. But the past few years, I've just gotten so pissed off with the lying sack of shit untreated drug addict currently occupying the Oval Office that I felt the need to make an exception. (I think it might have been after I read yet another letter to the editor espousing the principle that any President who attacks another country immediately earns unquestioned dictator status.)

[rjung]

Originally Posted by Ashes, Ashes

So lemme see if I've got this straight elucidator, you're saying Republicans are the undead?

It'd certainly make it easier to deal with them, as we could all just play Ash in our own version of Army of Darkness...

[small]I kid, I kid![/small]

[The Highwayman]

I leave my Kerry sticker on in defiance and to be able to say "I told you so." Beside I like seeing the Chickenhawk '04 sticker because I can pull up to the side of those with it on their vehicle and give them a big "thanks a million" salute. No, I don't flip them off which is what I should do.

So let them gloat over winning the election. That's fine, we Democrats can gloat in the fact that we were right.

[GLWasteful]

Well, the OP would certainly hate the sticker that is on our car. Retro styling from all the way back when Bush fils was only desiring to fuck up a single state.

"George W. Bush is a Punk Ass Chump"

I only wish like hell that a friend hadn't wrecked the car it was affixed to. O'course, being the cautious sort that I am, I still have one that's never been attached to anything.

Because one can never be too thin, rich or right.

[Foaming Cleanser]

But . . . but . . . Jeb and Hillary said they're not interested in running for the presidency!

(Ten years ago, I drove a friend's '80s-something barn-door VW bus for about 800 miles on a highway trip. Discovered it has twenty-four (count 'em, 24) heater controls! None of which helped it get more than 16 mpg* against 450 miles of headwind.)

*All figures translated into U.S. measures.

[Mr. Moto]

Originally Posted by The Highwayman

So let them gloat over winning the election. That's fine, we Democrats can gloat in the fact that we were right.

Gloating this long after an election isn't terribly nice, no matter who is doing it.

[Duckster]

I have enough Kerry stickers to keep them on my car in fresh condition until the next presidential election.

Then again, I'm considering removing the single sticker and replacing it with this one.

[The Highwayman]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moto

Gloating this long after an election isn't terribly nice, no matter who is doing it.

Nice childish response. That really got me back. I suppose that I shouldn't gloat in the fact that Bush's popularity is taking a nosedive.

[nameless]

Originally Posted by The Highwayman

Nice childish response. That really got me back. I suppose that I shouldn't gloat in the fact that Bush's popularity is taking a nosedive.

Actually, his response seemed to be the mature one to me.

[duffer]

Originally Posted by The Highwayman

Nice childish response. That really got me back. I suppose that I shouldn't gloat in the fact that Bush's popularity is taking a nosedive.

Wow, you win! Ah, I see, it's The Highwayman riding in on his righteous steed to save us all with his wit and wisdom!

Jesus Christ. Even 'luci made a post referencing a SlamVan I was going to quote before this gem of yours to give him kudos. If that doesn't strike a chord with you let me explain.

This here is duffer. I was going to quote and respond to elucidator in a manner of fellowship, agreement, and jocularity.

In a Pit thread.

A pit thread that involves politics.

In a, wrap your heads around this, thread that specifically mentions candidates in the '04 presidential election.

And it was going to be a post of fun and frivolity. Of times passed by. Of times that, though we are separated by an age, we can enjoy together in comeraderie. I can only speak for myself, but I have to think elucidator has at one time traveled in a VW bus to a Grateful Dead show. Much as I did during the In the Dark tour at Alpine Valley Ampitheater in East Troy, WI. My first tate of acid. A great weekend.

Much in the same spirit others are in, by now. But no. You can't give us that simple pleasure. You have to wade your ass in and tell us how you are right and everyone else is wrong if we don't think like you. Got it. I understand now.

Haven't you learned to spew your neverending anger in your own threads?



And getting back to the OP, I almost started one a few months ago. My neighbor, I swear on my eyes (worthless as they are without contacs) has a Clinton/Obama sticker on his car. I almost had to drive into the thing out of principle.

[HPL]

Originally Posted by Foaming Cleanser

But . . . but . . . Jeb and Hillary said they're not interested in running for the presidency!

(Ten years ago, I drove a friend's '80s-something barn-door VW bus for about 800 miles on a highway trip. Discovered it has twenty-four (count 'em, 24) heater controls! None of which helped it get more than 16 mpg* against 450 miles of headwind.)

*All figures translated into U.S. measures.

Did you have a switch that allowed you to travel back and forth through time?