Help DU: I Am Interested in getting a Tattoo of Political Nature.....

[Corey_Baker08]

It will be my first tattoo and I am excited about it and I want to get something I am passionate about such as the Democratic Party, or I was thinking the Presidential Seal. Any Ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated also if you know any links to any websites that may have political tattoos please let me know! Thanks in Advance

:hi:

[safeinOhio]

1. The mule kick

:dem: :kick:

Getting loaded also helps.

[ezgoingrl]

2. I don't have any political tattoos, but I have a couple of others.

I'm not sure I'd go with the Presidential Seal for a couple of reasons. One, you might not be proud of every President in office and two, that's an awful lot of detail to get into a tat and you may have to go much bigger than you (might) want to show the detail.

[Oregone]

3. Get a Mary Jane leaf

And have it flanked by a spolid bar on each side.


Not super political, but fuck it. Don't let any lying rich assholes brand you.

[Journeyman]

4. A Presidential Seal tattoo might send the wrong idea, especially if . . .

the executive falls into Republican hands any time during your life. Imagine if you'd had such a seal prominently displayed throughout BushCo's reign of error.

Good luck with your search.

[Corey_Baker08]

28. I Thought About That Yet My Passion For Politics Runs Deep & It Would Be More for Out of Respect....

....I believe that the presidential seal would be a cool tattoo and even if I didnt support the president whomever gets elected in the future it would still be out of respect for the office not the office holder. Also my dream is to one day be president

Check this presidential seal out and give me feedback...



Also

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=&imgrefurl=http://womenshistory.about.com/library/pic/1913/bl_p_191312.htm&usg=__trFMo1lhcjElVrN8NTpeSVV_SlU=&h=361&w=375&sz=40&hl=en&start=8&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=q4x3OhKGpgVpNM:&tbnh=117&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpresidential%2Bseal%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26rlz%3D1R2TSNA_enUS365%26tbs%3Disch:1

[Truth2Tell]

5. Here's a good one...

[AlienGirl]

9. OT: Who is that guy and where can I find more pictures of him?

[Truth2Tell]

16. The protester

is Jeff Monson, a star in the sport of ultimate fighting. He was in St. Paul to protest the RNC.

He posts here on DU as cliffordu.

[pnorman]

19. "He posts here on DU as cliffordu."

I never knew that! Thanks for the info!

[pnorman]

22. Interesting interview with Jeff here:

http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=20060307113654831

[cliffordu]

23. Ain't me. I have tattoos 8 years older than that kid.

really.

Thanks for the compliment, though.

[tandot]

34. Boy...I was just thinking...Cliffordu...what a cool guy...

not to say that you aren't cool :hi:

[cliffordu]

35. Aw, shucks, thanks.

I used to think I WAS that guy when I was drunk.

Paid some major freight for that delusion.....heh.

[readmoreoften]

50. Yeah, the "wildcat anarchist" tattoos didn't seem to be you. Plus you told me you're an older fella

and that you bike a lot in the country. Not what comes to mind in that image. It's funny that someone thinks its you, though.

[cliffordu]

70. Well, you know, all tattoos look alike in the dark....

:rofl:

[cliffordu]

21. Actually, that's grantcart...

Who is actually my mom....

[NYC_SKP]

39. grantcart CAN'T be your mom.

Because he is actually my older sister, and a virgin.

[cliffordu]

40. WELL....

:rofl:

[rug]

55. No it's not. That's a rare photo of Rabrrrrr.

[SidDithers]

96. self delete

not cliffordu after all :)

Sid

[pnorman]

17. His name is Jeff Monson

Check him out at Wiki, and Google him for other such photos. He's an avowed Anarchist, and also a member of the IWW! Strictly speaking, an Anarchist would be the direct opposite of what you may be looking for, but he's on the same side as you!

[cliffordu]

11. Where did you get that picture of grantcart??

[AlienGirl]

20. Uh, I had to ask.

[flvegan]

6. A tat of a backbone/spine with the text "Hey Dems...get one."

[eShirl]

7. try to get something that won't seem dated in 10, 20 years

something timeless

[XemaSab]

8. Get a picture of FDR

:D

[Canuckistanian]

10. "America - Improve it or leave it"

That would be my vote.

[cascadiance]

12. Perhaps a white rose would be a good symbol for these times...

[Electric Monk]

13. Here are a couple hundred examples of what not to get

http://ugliesttattoos.com/

Lots of nsfw there



Zombie Mount Rushmore?

[alex456]

24. That is boss as hell.

Maybe have Bruce Campbell in there somewhere fighting their minions off.

[XemaSab]

25. God, I saw a chick the other day

that had "Lil' D's Bitch" RIGHT ON HER STERNUM.

Like, way to get a tattoo that you'll regret when you're 20 and have some self-respect. :o

[XemaSab]

46. This is redefining my concept of offensive

?w=317&h=491

Thanks for the link!

[Romulox]

67. Umm, that website is HIGH larious! I'm gonna HAVE to suggest this one:

[Blue_Tires]

111. she must have lost a bet or something...

what guy wants to see THAT when he's in the saddle?

[w8liftinglady]

69. I saw a guy with "motherfucker" tattooed across his throat.Not smart.

[Electric Monk]

99. I wouldn't argue with this guy

I'd have to agree

[progressoid]

79. Oh, god, I just spent too much time at that site.

eek.

[myrna minx]

88. Confound you! I've just wasted way too much time over there.

*shakes fist* :D

[inna]

14. Dem for life!

[w8liftinglady]

15. suggestion-go with something a little more generic..you have to live with it

ps-I have 5 tattoos..










?w=450&h=598

[tuvor]

18. Another from ugliesttattoos.com

[Quantess]

42. NO!!!!

BAD!!!!

[jonnyblitz]

26. as a heavily tattooed individual my first bit of advice to you would

be *NEVER* seek tattoo advise from DU. :scared: visit your local tattooist or google "tattoo" and see what comes up.

[readmoreoften]

51. I agree. And think before you get the symbol for something that can change at a whim.

Like, for instance, the Democratic Party. I have a red star for socialism, but socialism is what it is even if a party is corrupt or authoritarian. (Much like a capitalist will still like a dollar sign tattoo even if he dislikes George Bush.)

I'd suggest a donkey in red and blue, no shading, no outline, so after you realize the Democratic Party is an empty shell, it'll be easy to cover up.

[a la izquierda]

92. Seriously. I almost peed my pants when I saw this thread.

Don't ask ANYONE for advice on what to get...you'll just end up covering it eventually. I speak from personal experience. The only person who I seek advice from is my artist. Find a good one.

Don't want to burst your bubble, but if you're asking for advice on what to get, you're not ready to get a tattoo that you can live with forever. You *must* know where you want it and what you want to get. And I say this as a heavily tattooed woman.

[Mind_your_head]

27. My (humble) advice....don't be like "everyone else"....don't tattoo

(don't mean to offend anyone that already has 'tats')

[jonnyblitz]

30. responses like yours is why i recommended to him never ask for

tattoo advice at DU. he should go where it's already established that people don't have a negative attitude about tattoos, like a tattoo related site.

and i DON'T get offended if people hate tats. i just get offended if people make assumptions about me because i have them :hi:

[Mind_your_head]

31. "people like me" have very good REASON to not like tattoos,

but no one ever asks why "people like me" don't care for them (on ourselves or others).

[Maine-ah]

37. meh, I'll ask...

why don't you care for tattoos?

I recently got my first one :)

[superduperfarleft]

58. So maybe you should've offered the reason

as opposed to just looking for attention, hmmm?

[w8liftinglady]

60. I love my tattoos...we have a very good artist here....

http://www.randyadams.com/index2.html

I want to get my sons portraits as babies on my left shoulder as my next one.

[Silent3]

64. I looked for artistry...

...but found a web site with spinning skulls and machine gun sound effects and a robotic voice saying "TATTOO!" every few seconds, something that looks like its main appeal would be to twelve year old boys. A few more clicked showed me some technically well done renderings of typical tattoo kitsch.

[w8liftinglady]

66. yeah-that's what happens when you let your friends design your web site

..they have 2 artists who are very skilled in portraits-people come from all over to be inked by them.

[tammywammy]

81. That's where I've gotten my tattoo and piercings done

Chubby did my tattoo 11 years ago, Jennifer's done my piercings.

[surrealAmerican]

68. ... but wouldn't that just give him a biased opinion from the ...

... opposite viewpoint? At least here he'll be hearing from people who don't like tattoos AND people who do.

[cliffordu]

41. I got my first one when I was 15.

In 1966.

The only people that had them then were hookers, sailors and bikers. And the Marines.

I was leaning more towards the biker aspect, m'self.

[gateley]

82. Got mine at that tattoo parlor on 1st by the Market -- I was 20 (1972). It

was the only place in town that I knew of, and absolutely no woman I knew had one (and I have no idea why I decided I had to). It was the guy -- Danny, I think, who'd had a tracheotomy and had to speak through one of those mechanical box things. There was a big sign across the counter which read "Artwork On The Most Beautiful Canvas In the World - Your Body". :)

At the time, I don't think people came in with their own designs very much, just selected, from what was displayed on the wall. He'd been in the biz since WWII, apparently, as there were lots of Betty Grable-type illustrations and Bulldogs with USMC on their studded collars.

It was like waiting in a dentist's office, the buzzzzzzzzz. Everyone else was a -- literally -- drunken sailor. I'd grab each one's hand on the way out and ask "did it hurt??". And they'd say "naw, it tickled". I was really scared, but for whatever inexplicable reason, was compelled to GET ONE.

His assistant was Viv (later to become Madame Lazonga) and she and I scoured the walls for a suitable design. Got a butterfly with vines weaving through it. Viv let me squeeze her hand and I was squeezing my eyes shut, and it seemed to last an eternity. Danny explained that the outline hurt the most since it was solid and uninterrupted (and compared to today's tats, THICK), and the color could be dabbed in with much less discomfort.

I didn't tell a soul - it was my secret for years. I still wonder what it was that made me so determined to tromp down to "that area" after work and plow on into such a foreign environment.

Hadn't thought of that in years but your reference to the Marines brought on my stroll down memory lane. :7

[Corey_Baker08]

29. *UPDATE --I Would Greatly Appreciate Feedback On This Possible Tattoo Choice...

I believe its unique in the sense that its a cool design also showing my passion for politics and my respect for the office of President of the United States!

[BoWanZi]

33. The only problem is...

...what about if a repub gets elected into office? Your tat will show that you still respect whomever is in office even if its someone you despise. Yes, its a really cool idea for a tat but it will mean different things and probably not your intended meaning depending on whom is in office.

I like the idea of the mule kick.

One other suggestion (i didn't read the whole thread if its been suggested already), if its going to be politically charged, you might want to put it someplace where its easily concealed due to possible job interviews or whatever.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

36. Would you be proud to sport that if W were still in office?

Or would you be hitting the nearest clinic for laser tattoo removal?

[Corey_Baker08]

38. That Was Also My Concern About Who's in Office But I Think Its More out of Respect for the Office...

not the person in the office. I thought about maybe getting a JFK quote below it or something. Politics is something I am really passionate about and I believe this tattoo is for me, regardless of who the President maybe in the future I think that the tattoo itself is symbolic for the respect and admiration I have for all those who have served in the office I idolize in the past and also it would show my respect for the Office of the President of the United States, not who currently holds that office!!!!

Thanks For All Your Input this is DU at its finest, to be able to come on here with an idea for something as simple as a tattoo and recieve all of this wonderful advice from perfect strangers because I know this is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life and its nice to have a variety of input.

Also I do like the Democratic Donkey idea also, and yes I plan to put the tattoo on the top of my right arm close to the shoulder because I am in school for Criminal Justice and absolutely want to conceal it with a short sleeved shirt.

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

[Quantess]

43. If you get anything political, you will most likely regret it.

If you're smart, which you seem to be, you will be subtle about your tattoo image choices.

A kicking donkey is way too obvious. Don't do it. If you go ahead anyway, against my sage advise, you'll just have to make the whole tattoo larger to cover up the kicking donkey.

[Quantess]

44. I do love Howard Dean, but, can you do the Dean Scream on command?

That's what complete strangers will ask of you, if you go around with that tattoo with any shirt sleeve rolled up, or not.

"Also I do like the Democratic Donkey idea also, and yes I plan to put the tattoo on the top of my right arm close to the shoulder because I am in school for Criminal Justice and absolutely want to conceal it with a short sleeved shirt."

Ultimately, not a great idea. You can do better.

[Corey_Baker08]

52. I Understand Your Absolutely Correct Ive Decided Against The Donkey Check Out This Pic of a Possible

I mean its not too political its more patriotic symbolyzing to me my deep passion for politics.

I'd Appreciate Your Opinion

Thanks :hi:

[XemaSab]

101. Howard is the father of all my unconcieved children

n/t

[superduperfarleft]

57. Terrible idea.

Nevermind what I've already said about the subject matter, the design is complex enough for a tattoo that you're probably going to get a horribly shitty job done and eventually end up on the ugliesttattoos.com site. (I assume this because anyone asking DU for tattoo advice probably isn't familiar enough with body mods to have researched a competent artist)

I'm not trying to be a dick, and I'll shut up after this because it's your body, but I'd really recommend you NOT do this.

[Renew Deal]

74. I like it.

;)

[tammywammy]

80. I have a feeling that would turn out not so good

How about just having the words E Plurius Unum tattooed on? It's political in nature, not tied to a specific party and not too complex. I worry about that design you've picked due to the intricate lines involved.

[gateley]

84. That's a good suggestion. nt

[XemaSab]

102. FOR GOD'S SAKE

check the spelling before you do it. :o

[tammywammy]

106. LOL!

:dunce:

[JVS]

32. I never regretted my bicep tattoo of Walter Mondale

[SteppingRazor]

90. That statement is useless without pics.

:popcorn:

[JVS]

100. Why you gotta call my bluff like that?

[nyc 4 Biden]

91. a$$hole! you just made me scream at my desk!

:spray:

[greyl]

45. If you have to ask, don't get one yet. nt

[Corey_Baker08]

47. Thanks For The Hospitality- I Was Simply Seeking Opinions & Advice Thats What DU is For Right?

We are a family, we are a community, we help each other out, we share our views and opinions that is what this site is for and that is what we as a family do here on DU.

Seems to me like Someone Rode in On Their High Horse Today!

[greyl]

59. You're welcome. nt

edit: I wouldn't have offered you my advice if I didn't think it was good.
You might also want to make sure your skin is thick enough to accept tattoos. ;)

[JCMach1]

48. Dude, politics can be fleeting- Tattoos are forever

I couldn't imagine getting a political one and I have quite a few.

[elocs]

53. I have a large "V for Vendetta" tattoo and that's as political as I would ever get.

Even a year ago when I was light years more passionate about the Democratic Party than the few hot coals I have for it now I never would have gotten a tattoo that specifically related to the Democratic Party.

[JCMach1]

72. I agree 100%... What if you slip on a shampoo bottle when you are 80 and become a freep

Or what if the Democratic party becomes the conservative party... Stranger things have happened.

[anonymous171]

49. Get a gigantic potrait of FDR on your back. nt

[XemaSab]

103. Word

n/t

[era veteran]

54. All my body modifications came by accident

[superduperfarleft]

56. My advice: don't. 1000 times don't.

For starters, if you're asking for advice on a huge messageboard as opposed to qualified people you know personally, you're not ready for something as permanent as a tattoo.

Secondly, getting a tattoo of the nature that you're suggesting strikes me as just as bad an idea as getting a Twilight tattoo. You're permanently altering your body with something of a temporary nature and you're going to regret it. Especially since you say you've never been tattooed before.

[GoCubsGo]

61. But since he did ask....

The only tattoo I would ever consider is "Kiss Me" on my left butt cheek--as in kiss my fat, leftist ass. That first donkey in post #1 would make a nice addition to that.

I honestly never understood the attraction to tattoos. I think most of them are rather ugly.

[w8liftinglady]

62. also,make sure your artist is reputable...this looks like a good shop in Ohio...

they have examples of each artist's work on the website....nice stuff!

http://blackmetaltattoo.com/home.html

[Soylent Brice]

63. you're not too far from my neck of the woods.

i could recommend some great places down here in cincinnati to get some work done.

[TransitJohn]

65. Just get one with script that says

'I for one welcome our new reptilian alien overlords.'

[AngryAmish]

71. One word: "BLAGOFAN"

[Renew Deal]

73. Dixie Flag?

OK, maybe not. How about a US flag, or a US map in blue. :shrug:

[Kali]

75. your presidential seal tells me you honor the king, one guy

is there some way to do a symbolic copy of the constitution? that seems more like and "honoring" of the ideals than the office of one branch of government, even though the example you posted is a pretty "cool" looking example of a possible tattoo.

Probably just me, but the office of one branch doesn't quite capture what you seem to be saying.

[XemaSab]

104. I think a big, scripty "We the People..." would be dank

[Kali]

107. I'm so old an not cool anymore

I had to check with urban dictionary to make sure that was positive.:cry:

[Echo In Light]

76. I have scores of tatts - none 'political' per se, other than the act itself can carry shades of it

Here's an interesting one:

[Dappleganger]

77. Love it!

My daughter is working on a design for me for the left wrist in memory of my mother and our shared battles with breast cancer.

[tammywammy]

78. I would go classic

or

[deaniac21]

83. Tastes and thoughts change over time. My brother is a

dermatologist and he has told me that the one thing most people that get tattooed have in common is that, at some point, they wish they hadn't done it. He has seen many people strart crying when they see the reality of tattoo removal....it's a mess.

[Echo In Light]

86. It's odd...I've known countless inked people & never hear those type of lamentations

... it's always from those who haven't any, or have a tiny, obscured one they received while "in college" that the cries of DON'T DO IT! stem from. Translation = they've entered the "professional" world and regret blowing their chances of "advancement."

Call me old school, but the tattoo crowd I grew up with - and I speak from experience - were people who gave less than shit about those type of things. Sometimes, as is my case, for very ideological reasons.

[NM_hemilover]

95. I too am speaking from experience,

The people in life that want tatoo's, have them. The people who don't want tatoo's, don't have em.

However both groups find equal humor in the number of regretted tramp stamps, tribal tattoo's, and other "give me an idea for a tattoo cuz thery're cool" mistakes, that are going to be realized in 10 years. People who regret having a tattoo got it for the wrong reason in the first place. If each tattoo doesn't mean something personally, it will be regretted later.

[deaniac21]

97. Especially as they age and the things just turn into ink blots.

[NM_hemilover]

98. That's why I say make sure it's something you truly want for

yourself, and something you will be proud of your whole life.

I have two, modest size, no color, not visible with a t-shirt, my drawings inked by someone as close as a brother. But when I'm an old wrinkled fart, even if they turn to greenish black blobs, they will still choke me up, and make me smile at the same time.

[deaniac21]

110. I'm guessing you might not think that when you get there.

[Echo In Light]

85. The Hunter Thompson fist

[DefenseLawyer]

87. IMPEACH NIXON

Timeless.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

89. Yes! You could get an unusually large , fuzzy, and dull "Impeach Nixon".

When people ask about it just say your nutjob parents had you tatooed as an infant. The key is to make the tatto look like something that's streched and faded. You can say that you have had to live with this mark your entire life. Over the years it's grown, faded, and lightened up but you've never been able to escape it. As a coping mechanism to make bearing the mark less awkward you've embraced a very progressive ideology which has shaped your life. Because of this tatoo you are who you are today and if you had the opportunity to do it all over again (as an infant) you'd say, "FUCK YEAH!"

It's sure to pull alot of sympathy. Progressive babe-magnet right there. :D

[XemaSab]

105. :spew:

Hi-fucking-larious! :rofl:

[nyc 4 Biden]

93. How about "RAGING LIBERAL" n/t

[Green_Lantern]

94. How about the unfinished pyramid....

[jmowreader]

108. Here's what to get

First, FORGET getting a backpiece. You can't see the fucking things unless you've got two mirrors in the bathroom, and if you're going to go to the pain of tattooing (the ribs are one of the most painful places to get tattooed, and your back is half ribs) you want to be able to see it.

Do this as a chest piece if you're a guy, or a belly piece if you're a lady: Start with the head of a grinning donkey looking toward your right side. Use a 1940s-ish font for the rest of this--find an artist who can handle Bodoni or Fenice effectively. Above his head write "Vote Democratic!" in big letters. Right above his snout put THE, and to the right of his head put the words "You Save." Below the head, put a scroll with "May Be Your Own" on it. It would be a little like this...

[The Midway Rebel]

109. Tattoo of a political nature w. Democratic theme?

How about you Social Security number in a semi-private place? It may serve as a form of ID someday as well!

[negativenihil]

112. Don't make a snap decision

It took me a good 10 years to finally decide on what to get tattoo'ed and where to get it. I don't regret that choice one bit.

Regardless of what you settle on for a design, please be sure you're sure. The last thing in the world you'll want is that sinking feeling of regret once it's done and you've come off that high from getting it done.

That said... i am dying to get my 2nd tattoo...