Anti-Bush Billboard goes up! (How do we get more of these?)

[Liberty Belle]

Politics, passion & property
Anti-Bush billboard causing turmoil
Paul F. P. Pogue
What started as a series of political statements by local billboard artists has expanded into a controversy involving the Federal Election Commission and sparked a debate on the nature of politics, art and the use of property.

The current incarnation of the politically charged billboard series visible from the freewayA lightning rod of the controversy is a sign featuring a grinning image of George W. Bush offering the thumbs-up with the words “Dang, it feels good to be a gangsterer!” printed above. The current billboard on the side of a large brick building at 922 Massachusetts Ave. is clearly visible from the I-65/I-70 freeway interchange.

http://www.nuvo.net/archive/2004/12/15/politics_passion_property.html

[Poiuyt]

1. Wow, that's in Indiana?

[UTDemocrat8204]

2. I'm surprised

to see that! I remember seeing those billboards by ClearChannel that was supporting Bush. I remember one that had a picture of Bush and it said "Our Leader." :eyes: How long do you think that will stay up?

[zann725]

5. The fact that they had the courage to put it up, and defend its presence..

is amazing. It IS just a piece of art, and just an opinion...like the guy said.

I think the ACLU would defend it. After all if Clear Channel was allowed to keep their "opinion" up nationwide, why should this be any different according to 'equal protection' under the law.

[Maat]

3. Thanks for the link.

Hey, what is good for the goose, as they say...
Those poor people in Florida have to be subjected to the 'our leader' billboards put up by Clear Channel. But apparently that's O.K....

[JohnnyRingo]

4. That's quite a story that accompanies the pic

I've never seen such intolerance to dissent.

[neverforget]

8. Welcome to the Confederate States of America where dissent is met

with intolerance and violence.

[No Mandate Here.]

16. I'm surprised that the photo hasn't yet been posted...

<>

[NYC]

6. It feels good to be what?

I can't make it out. Someone please tell me what it says. Thanks.

The article says "gangsterer"? The picture looks more like "gangslover" to me.

Follow up request: Please tell me what a "gangsterer" is.

[unblock]

10. i think that billboard is great strategery

[NYC]

11. That explains it.

I'm always saying, "What?" when Bush speaks. Thanks. :hi:

[Griffy]

7. Pretty Amazing... the line about nazi germany... we get closer everyday...

we will be seeing more of these.. getting truth out will be our 1st priority, by any means!

[Ivan Sputnik]

9. Great idea

but not the greatest execution. It's too hard to read! Gothic script typeface? "Gangsterer"? People driving by at freeway speed will not get it.

[GetTheRightVote]

12. I love it, I made the suggestion after the Bush Leader Billboard

that we should put them up all over the country, I just love it and in Indiana, this is just great to see, like the man states, this is a free country yet, isn't it..... got to just love him.

[NJCher]

13. I think the woman boutique owner is grossly exaggerating

Look at this:

Mundy said that Your Art Here, which is organized as a non-profit organization in the state of Indiana in order to protect themselves on a legal level, has received a largely positive set of responses. He said that they are aware of only a single complaint to the FEC.

Oh please--this woman expects me to believe your average traveler is going to take time of the day to come in and complain about some outdoor board they probably don't even understand? Yeah, right.

If you just read her account, you can see the hyperbole. Ridiculous. I don't believe it for a second.


Cher

[proudbluestater]

14. From the article...

"Owen Mundy, co-founder of Your Art Here, said that they were contacted by the Federal Election Commission on Nov. 1 and informed that the FEC had received a complaint that they might have engaged in illegal electioneering. The group sent a response Nov. 14, and has heard nothing back yet."

Odd that we hear nothing from the FEC on fradulent elections that disenfranchise thousands. Just what IS their purpose? Worrying about billboards?

[Supersedeas]

27. FEC priorities...restricting political speech tops disenchanchisement

everytime.

[imsocoolerthanyou]

15. waste

what a total waste of money.

talk about classic right-wing tactics..reminds me of those anti-abortion ads.

this will convince no one, trivialize our argument, and waste money that could be better spent on changing people's minds.

wake up.

[da_chimperor]

18. So you have no appreciation of the comedy value of the billboard? n/t

[Mist]

19. Actually, billboards are a very cost effective way

of reaching hundreds of people a day. It'll get some of them thinking.

[TankLV]

23. "Our" argument? I seriously doubt that you are part of "our" side.

That sign is GREAT. Even if it was "electioneering" - so what - only approved praise of this criminal is allowed? What about shutting down Sinclair?

I wish we had more of these.

You can now crawl back under the rock you came from.

[RandomKoolzip]

25. It will?

Man, you MUST be "cooler than me!" You got all the answers.

Why do Sundays bring the freepers out in droves? Is it that feeling of post-church service righteous indignation?

Anyhow, this post actually serves as a great reminder to all us Dems of how effectively the right frames their arguments. I say we start taking notes here and now.....

[da_chimperor]

17. OG GWB? Ha!

That's fucking hilarious!

[OnlyInAmerica]

20. That's hilarious!

"It feels good to be a gangsterer" reminds me of "Dumb and dumberer". When Bush hears about this i bet he goes "nucular"!

[truth2power]

21. Bravo to Mr. Battista, who owns the building.

That people are threating to slug Ms. Yarema, whose business resides in that building, doesnot surprise me. This is the way the "brownshirts" respond when they don't get their way.

I find that billboard calling Bush "our great leader" or something like that, to be odious. But I'm not threatening to assault the people responsible.

[JohnnyRingo]

22. Your last sentence makes a very good point

The intolerance of the Buxh loyalists will someday be noted in history.
Imagine if eight years ago Clinton criticism had been met with threats of violence.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

26. But I believe people are being threatened...

from the article...

"Battista said he was mystified by Yarema’s assertion that the signs were hurting her business and leading to threats."

“That’s what she says, but that’s insane, that someone will or will not shop at her building because of the sign there. How do they know it’s even hers? I just find that totally ludicrous that she’d think it was ruining her business,” Battista said. “I don’t understand that, and if those people want to leave, I can’t understand it, is all I can tell you. I told her, ‘Call the police. This is not 1930s Germany where the brownshirts are going to come around and threaten people. They can’t do that. This is America. This is a free country.”

First - BRAVO to Battista - This is America - no F*CKING NAZIS allowed!!! :nuke:

That said; I completely believe that the shrub worshipers would take outrageous offense and take the time to go threaten someone for their opinions. Happens everyday, all over the country unfortunately. These people, who find opposing views threatening to their narrow little lives, do not take a few seconds, and ask 'Who put it up?' They are too blinded by hate to think. Battista also needs to see that this could be putting his tenants and their customers in danger. Damn straight tho, call the cops, haul their hate-spewing-asses to JAIL!

[infusionman]

24. Kick