Bumper-Sticker induced Freeper burn… Dr. E- 1, Freeper- 0

The Doctor.

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Sun Sep-03-06 09:15 PM
Original message

Bumper-Sticker induced Freeper burn… Dr. E- 1, Freeper- 0

Not being a programming or software wizard, I spent the better part of the last two weeks wrestling with a trial version of Adobe CS2 to put a design up on Cafepress.com. I thought of something that might be the perfect talking point, the best weakness, and the most tangible issue for EVERY American to grasp. So I created a bumper sticker with that one message on it.

And it got results.

I received my product yesterday. I put it on my car this morning. I had a Freeper encounter this afternoon as a direct result of it;

(The finished version is shorter and longer)

I was at the gas station on the corner. I had just stuck the nozzle into my car when a guy behind me filling his tan Ford Explorer said, “What’s that mean?”, indicating my new sticker.

“That?"
I looked at him. He was an average sixty-ish looking fellow in a white polo shirt with tan dockers and an open navy-blue wind-breaker on. He had kind of a white-guy pumpkin face with squinty eyes and it seemed like he was trying to look serious.

So I took him that way;
(It’s been a couple hours since the incident, so this may not be verbatim… but I guarantee it’s close.)

I said, matter-of-factly,“Well… From the time Republicans gained control of Congress in 2002, Gas prices have more than doubled. The Republicans who set energy policy are supported by the oil companies, and they’ve done nothing to hurt their contributors by trying to bring down gas prices. What do you think?”

“Look, we were attacked, we’re at war with these people, of course gas is more expensive.” he condescended.

“Then do explain how it is, if they {Muslims] are the ones raising prices, that Exxon-Mobil posted *The single greatest yearly profit of any company in the history of corporate America*?”

-This fellow had apparently developed an extension of the regular talking points these folks tend to use. He seemed to have devised the conclusion that because ‘they hate us for our freedoms’, they controlled the price of oil.
My question sank in however; he was actually quiet for a few seconds.

I pressed; “Do you want me to explain how Republican policies have driven market speculation and energy policy to create so much profit for oil companies at our expense?”

“Look, I really don’t have time for that kind of bullshit from someone who wants to blame everything on America and forgets that we’re at war. You’re obviously blinded by the Liberal Media and…”

-I stopped him. My gas nozzle popped right then and I was surprised by it… I guess I forgot that I was pumping gas. I tried not to miss a beat when I looked back up.

“I am a Republican, sir. But I think for myself.”
“Oh, are you?"
He spoke over half my statement there… that always pisses me off;

“My registration is in my wallet....”, I sure as hell would have showed him, letting a Freeper know that not all 'Republicans' agree with him is priceless.

He just shook his head at the concrete. Then his tank was full. I’ll admit that he seemed to be paying more attention to what he was doing than I was.

“Republicans don’t control the price of oil.” He said.

“No”, I said, “but they control the House, the Senate, the White House, foreign policy and energy policy… and I stopped making excuses for them a while ago.”

“But we’re at war…”

“Yeah? And how’s that going?”

For the second time in our conversation he broke eye contact with me, this time turning his back to put his gas cap on.

I waited a few seconds, then I put my receipt in my pocket and got back in my car. As I pulled out and around as one often has to at those awkward-facing stations I could not help but notice the ‘W ‘04’ sticker in his rear window.

I’ve no doubt I gave him something to think about.

I’m excited. This is the one issue that the mindless Bush-freaks and run-of-the-mill Republicans cannot defend against in any way.

Fact; Since Republicans gained control, gas prices have soared. Period. There is no defense, there is no excuse, and any well-informed person can state as much imperatively.

With all the other issues, talking points have been passed out and circulated. This issue hits home for every American and it MUST be exploited.

Every American, not just Democrats/Liberals, Progressives, Libertarians, Greens… but every American NEEDS this cabal of traitors, misanthropes, and profiteers out of power.
This is the issue that they can’t defend against… even if gas prices come down as elections get closer.

I will put a link in this post to the site that has my stickers if anyone wants one. I will not mark them up, but I will leave them at cost for at least a week. My family is getting by ok… barely; like everyone else. But I will not make one thin dime on these stickers if any DU’ers want some to spread the meme around. I’ll repost in a week with permission if anyone gets results from these. PM me if you tried it out and got a response.

Meanwhile, I’m using a trial version of Adobe CS2… there’s no way I can afford to buy the full version in order to create more stuff. But if the response is good, I’ll make it happen just to get this one message out on some T-shirts and buttons.

http://www.cafepress.com/garthism

Please go to the shop and take a look. There’s nothing else there, but I would like any feedback on the one thing that is.

Hell… it worked within a couple of hours and I opened a dialogue. Now maybe if it happened a thousand times in all the critical districts…

Please K+R this if you think anyone might be able to use this approach. I’ll be giving what few of these I have to Jack Davis’ campaign in Western NY. I think Democrats can benefit from this message popping up on bumpers and t-shirts all over the place.

I’m sick of what’s happening in this country. I’m sick of high gas prices.

We need to open up a citizen dialogue on the streets to set things right… and I’m in it now.

Please K+R