First Person: Wash your bumper off

[RT_Fanatic]

Here's another Repuglican ninny trying to tell people how to live their lives, and insulting them while he's at it.

Still have a 'Kerry/Edwards' sticker on your car? Get over it!

Saturday, March 12, 2005
By Christopher Flickinger
For the love of God, please remove those "Kerry/Edwards" bumper stickers from your cars and trucks!

In case you didn't get the memo, your side lost. It's like you're walking around with a big "L" on your forehead -- Loser!

I'm not sure why you still have that sticker on your bumper. Maybe it's been too cold outside for you to remove it. Maybe your post-election depression is so deep you can't bring yourself to take it off. Maybe you're living in denial. Maybe you've been too busy spreading lies and rumors about the future of Social Security and judicial nominations that you haven't had enough time to get it off your vehicle.

Or maybe it's even worse than I thought. Maybe you've tried, you've scrubbed, you've scratched, you've pulled and it just won't come off. It's stuck to the back of your Volvo or Volkswagen like a bloodthirsty parasite.

<snip>

more,,,

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05071/470137.stm

:puke:

[uppityperson]

1. Maybe I leave it there to annoy you into a heart attack.

[Jokinomx]

29. LOL

I think you could be right..... I have two on my car and they will stay on until chimp is gone.

:toast:

[Dr Ron]

2. We lost the election, but we still care about our principles

My sticker stays on--along with my No-W sticker

[whometense]

7. Mine isn't coming off until

it falls off in tatters. It's a John Kerry for President sticker, has no year on it, and it's still relevant, damn it!!

[GainesT1958]

3. Well, nobody who supported the biggest "loser" of a pResident...

In U.S. history has ANY right to tell ANY of us to take off the sticker of the only major-party candidates who actually care about this country!:mad:

Maybe Ms. "Flickabooger" should concentrate on washing off her "W04" sticker...lest a senior citizen on Social Security do it for her!:grr:

B-)

[RT_Fanatic]

6. I fired off this letter to the editor:

I cannot believe that the Post-Gazette, “one of America’s great newspapers,” which would seemingly have its choice of intelligently written editorial content, would choose to print Christopher Flickinger’s sophomoric, hateful screed belittling people who supported John Kerry in the 2004 election (“Wash your bumper off,” 12 March).
So I’m an idiot if I didn’t vote for your hero George W. Bush? All of the vehicles with those “W04” stickers get to keep them there, for gloating purposes, I suspect?
It is no surprise that Mr. Flickinger believes, as most Republicans do, that the speech of anyone who disagrees with the Bush regime (and its myriad failed policies) should be silenced. With “free speech zones,” required loyalty oaths for Bush public appearances, Republican male prostitutes lobbing softball questions from the White House press corps, and a compliant corporate media, there are few outlets remaining for anyone’s dissenting views to actually be heard.
But seriously, is this what political discourse has come to? We have to give up even our bumper stickers? Wouldn’t it be easier, Herr Flickinger, just to let us keep them to save you the trouble of making us sew stars onto our clothing?
Actually, I’m surprised that Mr. Flickinger could even drive a car or write an essay with his head stuck so far up his… Oops! Sorry about that, but since he started it by calling me an idiot, I figured insults were allowed.
Honestly, I had to check to see if the Tribune-Review had been mistakenly delivered to my door this morning, because this is the kind of moronic scribbling in which that publication specializes.
But please listen, Mr. Flickinger, I have an idea that will guarantee your not having to burden yourself with observing stickers on the bumpers of people’s vehicles: get down to your nearest military recruiting office and volunteer. Tell them you believe so strongly in the Iraq war and the ideals it represents that you want to be trained right away and sent directly to Fallujah or Baghdad or Mosul. I’m sure there will be many left behind to carry on your courageous bumper sticker crusade.

:evilgrin:

[njdemocrat106]

13. I hope to God that gets published.

Up yours Flickinger, you piece of shit

[bear425]

36. Excellent letter, thanks for sharing! n/t

[MADem]

49. Now THAT's a letter worth reading!!!! n/t

[raccoon]

59. Way to go, Rt_Fanatic

Give em hell! Especially liked your comments about
"All of the vehicles with those “W04” stickers get to keep them there, for gloating purposes, I suspect?"

and about how the Bush regime & supporters want all dissent silenced.

Your suggestion that he enlist was great!

[Career Prole]

65. Oh yes!

That's a good'un! I hope it gets printed. :applause:

[postulater]

4. Not a Volvo

but my Saab has 222,000 miles on it AND my Kerry-Edwards sticker.

[Enquiringkitty]

5. I leave mine on to remind the people who voted for Bush that...

when he drops the ax and your head rolls, don't come crying to me about it because I knew he was bad for the country. I may be facing the same government abuses as everyone else but at least I know I didn't promote the little dictator.

Someone who is more computer savvy than myself should get a copy of Charley Chaplin's "The little Dictator" and add Bush's name to it and use it as an ad campaign.

[On Par]

8. I Immediately Sent A Reply To The Post Gazette...

I saw that article in Saturday's PG. Knowing Canonsburg where this sniveling coward said he was from, went huge for Kerry/Edwards.

I immediately sat down, and fired off this email to the PG.
______________

I always look forward to reading your “Weekend Perspectives” and especially the brilliance of Paul Krugman. His writing is clear, precise, and explains the massive faults of this administration. Unfortunately, adjacent to Professor Krugman and his substantial credentials, you chose to publish a piece by some unknown individual you identified as a “writer from Canonsburg” in your “First Person” section (March 12th, 2005.)

One would think a real writer wouldn’t be calling democrats, who still have bumper stickers on their cars, stupid and idiots. If that were true, shouldn’t this individual, who surely must still have his Bush/Cheney bumper sticker on his vehicle, be called the same, if not worse?

The best this “writer” can state is the weak rhetoric of “you lost, get over it.” It’s the republican mantra that for months has been seen on most any Internet political web site. His copycat mentality in using a phrase that lacks originality or purpose, only proves this “writer” has a firm grasp on someone else’s slogan. He also prattles on about being cut-off at a drive-thru pharmacy window, but calms down when he sees a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker rationalizing “they” feel entitled to health care. But he fails to explain why he’s in the pharmacy line and what privilege entitles “him” to health care? I’m sure it’s the same rationale that Senator Santorum used in Penn Hills causing that school district to pay for the tuition of his 5 children to be cyber-schooled from Virginia, while Santorum failed to meet the residential requirements, or for that matter, other than technically, even living in our state!

Flickinger, the person you identified as a "writer" from Canonsburg, was correct about one thing. Kerry/Edwards were wrong about the state of our economy. It’s worse, much worse. The largest fastest growing debt in our history coupled with the largest trade deficit ever. All, while the dollar continues to weaken. This so-called writer also said Kerry/Edwards stated the Iraq elections would fail. No, they never said that, but this writer, who obviously needs to be on his pharmacy medication, perceived they did. But in retrospect, did the Iraq elections succeed? The United States puppet candidate failed miserably in the polls, while the winners are more closely aligned with Iran, than the U.S. The killing continues and we have over 1,500 dead and 13,000 wounded Americans. And this doesn’t include an estimated 100,000 innocent Iraqi’s that have been killed.

Flickinger also continues to erroneously contend that Iraq had something to do with 9/11 and terrorism while Saddam, as we found, couldn’t bake bread let alone attack the United States. Flickinger must also still believe the proven falsehoods about WMD’s, imminent threat to the U.S., yellow cake uranium, and aluminum tubes for nuclear capability that Bush perpetrated on Americans. To those misgivings, I can only say to this misinformed individual, be like a democrat, “Don’t get over it, Bush lied.”

Speaking of lack of candor, does this poor excuse for a writer also applaud Bush for not opening his carefully orchestrated and rehearsed Town Hall meetings to everyone and tell American’s the massive downsides of his Social Security privatization scheme? If so, he only needs to read Krugman’s article to note the similarity between the fraudulence and exaggerations about Iraq and the inaccurate information currently being spewed about Social Security privatization.

I continue to wonder why this “First Person” account was placed in the Weekend Perspectives, when normally, this helter-skelter rant would have difficultly making it to the reader’s responses in the editorial section of the paper. Maybe Flickinger, while living in a democratic stronghold, feels threatened to the point he needs to lash out with his compassionate conservatism lexicon by using “stupid and idiots” to convey his writer’s command of the English language? He fails to realize that Kerry/Edwards won Pennsylvania, despite the nearly 50 trips to our state by the President, VP, and cabinet members. It’s great solace to know the people of Pennsylvania are smarter than Karl Rove. Those with Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers enjoy reaffirming that point.

No one is trying to abridge Flickinger’s republican right to free speech, so why is he admonishing the rights of a democrat? Maybe he’s been at too many Town Hall meetings of closed ranks and closed minds? If writing is Flickinger’s true profession, he should be thrilled the democrats created unemployment insurance. The Ann Coulter answer to Canonsburg, Flickinger isn’t.

[Hans Delbrook]

10. Clap, clap, clap

Stunning. I pray to God they print it. Please let us know if they do.

[On Par]

12. Yes, I'll Keep You Posted.

[njdemocrat106]

14. Great job

Hopefully one of the letters here will get published. Thank you! :thumbsup:

[On Par]

16. Everyone Should Email The Post-Gazette. Info Within.

Here's the department.
www.post-gazette.com/localnews

Editors for this section are: Tom Birdsong and Susan Mannella

I have a feeling this was an inside job. Without a doubt, adolesent drivel, such as Flickinger wrote, would not make the printed page of the Post-Gazette in any form without "HELP!"

My suggestion would be either to:

1. Bombard the piece with solid replies/rebuttals.
2. Ask for an investigation as to why such sophomoric prose made such a great newspaper.

OP

[Catfight]

52. Superb writing Par. The Flickinger light of the dimwitted has just

been blown out by this letter.

[raccoon]

60. Great post

Great letter! Especially liked

"but calms down when he sees a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker rationalizing “they” feel entitled to health care. But he fails to explain why he’s in the pharmacy line and what privilege entitles “him” to health care?"

People like this fvckhead always think they themselves are entitled to health care, but people of other classes/races, etc, or people whom he thinks are not as worthy as he is, aren't entitled to it.
They make me sick!

And cow pies to that newspaper for printing his stupid rantings!

[rooboy]

9. More insightful republican political analysis. Sharp guy. n/t

[Bush_Blows]

11. Can I please start keying cars with W04 stickers?

Pretty please?

[Nordmadr]

31. doing my Monty Python impersonation

No it's TOO perilous!

Olaf

:)

[thethinker]

15. Really stupid, stupid writer

I sent the editor a letter to ask him if this article was written by a 15 year old.

[RamboLiberal]

17. Here's my letter to the PG

What purpose was served by publishing the Ann Coulter wannabe column by Christopher Flickinger? I seriously thought for a moment I had been delivered the wrong Pittsburgh newspaper.

Mr. Flickinger offered nothing useful. He just continued the hateful diatribe against Democratic voters that is spewed by Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter and their ilk.

As I sit in a pharmacy line behind a vehicle with a W'04 sticker I marvel that they can ignore that the U.S. is the only industrial country remaining where so many citizens lack health care and are forced to pay ridiculous drug prices because the White House and much of the congress are owned by the Pharmaceutical Industry.

As I pass a W04 sticker on the parkway I marvel that these people in their gas-guzzlers want to take more than their share of finite resources from this planet, and seemingly don't care that this country with the greatest minds on the planet cannot come up with a more efficient engine that help conserve these resources.

I also marvel that they seemingly don't care that the dollar is daily shrinking and most of our debt is owned by foreign nations, including those who's citizens flew those planes into the WTC, Pentagon and Shanksville earth on 9-11.

I also marvel that I have seen only one vehicle with a W'04 Bush/Cheney sticker also have a "Support Our Troops" ribbon. Don't Bush voters support the troops? Gee why aren't the Young Republicans I saw on campuses mocking Kerry voters flocking to the recruiting stations?

And Mr. Flickenger, don't assume all of us Kerry voters are unarmed targets for thugs. You may be surprised!

Keep those W'04 stickers on so the rest of us know who to blame as the United States descends in to a most-hated nation and in to second-class status in the world. And so future generations of U.S. citizens know who to blame when they are stuck with the bill for your years of drinking the right-wing koolaid.

[On Par]

19. As with the other letters, Excellent Read Rambo.

Two thumbs up to everyone.

Continue sending emails to the Post-Gazette. How such weak writing made the "First Person" remains a mystery. There's an odor here, and it's beginning to wreak.

OP

[distantearlywarning]

18. My letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I suspect that the insecurity associated with being a red voter in a very blue city in a blue state must be catching up with Christopher Flickinger (March 12, "Wash Your Bumper Off") It's the only explanation for his apparent inability to accept his party's "win" gracefully. People who know that their victory truly was a mandate don't need to demand conformity from their opponents, because they would have it already, and they don't need to rub their opponents' noses in the loss. Shame on you, Christopher, for being such a poor winner. Perhaps if you spent less time wondering why your neighbors haven't "moved on", you might have more time for wondering why you haven't moved on either. Self-reflection can be very useful, Mr. Flickinger. You might want to try it sometime.

P.S. You also might find that Tribune readers are more receptive to your viewpoints.

[qanda]

30. Or more time to consider what his future will be like

When Bush finishes turning our country into a Banana Republic.

[peacebird]

37. Beautiful letter - succinct and polite yet pointed.

Bravo!

:toast:

[southpaw]

56. I see you have a Geddy Lee avatar!

Sporting the red Wal, no less. Looks to be circa Roll the Bones.

My favorite Rush lyric... from Territories (Power Windows)

They shoot without shame
In the name of a piece of dirt
For a change of accent
Or the colour of your shirt
Better the pride that resides
In a citizen of the world
Than the pride that divides
When a colourful rag is unfurled


Rock on, Rush bro!

[distantearlywarning]

62. Hi, Southpaw!

I love that song (and album) too. In fact, I was probably listening to Power Windows when I wrote that letter.

They called me and said they were going to print my letter.

[On Par]

20. We Need One More Vote to Move This To the Greatest Page.

It's worthwhile that we expose this narrow minded view that made the light of day.

OP

[Hand]

21. Flickinger and Bob Boudelang: Separated at birth? nt

[leftofcool]

22. Go screw yerself, idiot..............

He can have my Kerry/Edwards sticker when he comes over here and scrapes it off with his teeth........after my 6'5" 300 pound hubby kicks his ass first.

Left of Cool

[KarenS]

23. It's MY car, My sticker and I'll take it off when,,,,,

it no longer irritates folks like this guy :)

[Laurab]

24. I'm not the bumper sticker kind

so I never had one on my car. Reading that article really, really makes me want to get one, though. What a bunch of drivel.

It would be SO true if the sticker he wrote about was a Bush/Cheney one. I see one of them, and I immediately make those assumptions, or worse, about whoever is driving the car.

"I think, therefore I'm a democrat."

[GetTheRightVote]

25. thank you for demostrating why my sticker stays on, hurray !!!!

Because you know we will not stop fighting you and you just hate it, we are still standing after all you have done to us, we will never give up so you can never defeat us so you are upset, oh well to bad for you.

:kick:

[On Par]

27. This Response From the Post-Gazette On My Reply.

"...thanks for writing. We have received many responses to that piece and we will be running a bunch of letters, but not an op-ed

if you'd like to trim this to 200 words and resubmit, we can consider it along with the dozens of others

thanks and all best,"


In other words, I can bitch-slap the guy, but the bitch part needs to be taken out, so only the slap remains.

OP

[peacebird]

38. Please post a link when the PG publishes the responses!

Can't wait to read them!

Bravo to all who posted their letters here - fantastic!

[On Par]

39. You Know Newspapers....

I wouldn't be surprised if 1/2 of the responses were supportive of that weak rhetoric!

As I've already said, something wreaks beside that article.

OP

[burythehatchet]

26. dear mr. fuckinger

after reading you article today, I've ordered 5 more Kerry/Edwards bumper stickers.

That you for so clearly reminding me what it is I'm fighting for, and against. See you at armageddon.

[grace0418]

28. "In case you didn't get the memo, your side lost"

First of all, our "side" didn't "lose." Our "side" just doesn't own the voting machines.

Second of all, this isn't a fucking sporting event Chris. This is about our country, our freedom and our lives, even our planet. If you want to drink the Kool-Aid and go down with the ship, go for it. But I'm not going down without a fight.

It would be nice if these idiots worried about what was really going on in the country even half as much as they worry about us "losers." They might actually see the truth if they did.

[Berserker]

41. grace0418

Great Post!

[grace0418]

48. Thanks!

Those idiots get me really riled up.

[raccoon]

61. I second that emotion nt

[DorianGreene]

32. Eww, I need to wash my eyes after reading that.

Wheres an opthalmic rinse when you need one?

[CottonBear]

33. He thinks you can tell who's got a gun by their bumper stickers.

"Thugs can immediately identify which citizens don't own a gun and won't hold them responsible for their actions."

I imagine that the "thugs" are a lot smarter than this guy.

I have a lot of Democratic and Progressive friends who have guns.

[CoffeeCat]

34. I still have my K/E bumper sticker on...

...and I also have my "Mainstreet Moms Oppose Bush" sticker right next to it.

I want it to be perfectly clear that I was smart enough to vote for Kerry--and against that nimrod.

As Bush: Spirals Iraq into disaster, bankrupts this nation, screws over the middle class, makes an ass of himself on the world's stage, erodes the dollar, fails to create jobs and dismantles social security--I want to make damn sure that everyone knows that I did not sign up for any of this!

A Kerry sticker is an outward display of intelligence, integrity and incredible foresight!

A Kerry sticker says, "We tried to tell you..."

[Spiffarino]

35. Maybe Christopher Flickinger will like the one on my car

Up yours, Chrissie-poo. The more my stickers piss you off, the happier it makes me.

[RT_Fanatic]

46. Hey, Spiff

Where can I get a sticker like that? Whee!

}(

[Spiffarino]

58. Go to CafePress.com

I got mine from a DUer who sells them there. Sorry I can't remember the specific URL...

:D:thumbsup:

[usregimechange]

40. Stil have mine along with this one:

[On Par]

43. My Final Word To The PG Editor....

I sent in a shorter version, with this note included...

If you recall, he asked for 200 words. I emailed back asking for wiggle room of about 350. He didn't think that would make it in full without being cut. This was my final reply.

"How's a 286 word count sound? It's the best I can do without sounding like the hack from Canonsburg who wrote the original article.

If the original article wasn't so poorly thought out and weakly written, maybe it wouldn't have drawn so much ire? And, if this has struck such a chord, maybe an argument could and should be made for longer rebuttals as well as single point replies? Regardless, I'm still at a loss to understand how a piece so poorly conceived made the pages of the PG. Thanks again for your attention."

OP

[Mr_Spock]

42. Me and friends are ADDING stickers daily - it's only right

Gotta make it clear who's a good person and who's not.

[AmBlue]

44. And the #1 reason for not taking my K/E bumper sticker off my car....

"When the rapture comes, I want Jesus to know I didn't vote for the AntiChrist."

....as posted on DU about a week ago.... sorry can't remember their name, but great, great response!!

[donco6]

45. Mine may READ "John Kerry"

But what it really says is, "I didn't vote for that idiot Bush - and boy are you all gonna be sorry!"

[jojo54]

47. Same to THEM!

Hubby and I frequently go back to the town we used to live in 'cause his mom's still there (it's only 12 miles away). The road into town has this house that has been in the process of new siding for about mmmmm, 5 years now (geez). Anyway, before the last election, he taped a big "W" onto the tar paper right next to an oblong window (to indicate the zero) then the 4, for "W 04". It STILL reads "W 04" today! I'm wondering if he's intentionally waiting until 2008 to put up the siding! Friggin' freeper.

[GalleryGod]

50. This Asswipe lives in Canonsburg, Pa ! 'Nuff Said!

Notice:scared: there is of course no email link to Mr. Wonderful to jam his mailbox.

Yet another-throw a brick and "Run! Run! Run!":nuke:

[On Par]

51. Canonsburg is Actually A Huge Democratic Stronghold.

If you check the 6 precincts voting results, you'll see they went for Kerry/Edwards 60-70-80%. http://www.co.washington.pa.us/custompages/results/General2004/index.htm?menuDept=23

OP

[On Par]

53. Calling Him A Jerk ......

I have a great deal of info on this 24 Year Old screw-shit, and calling him a "Jerk" only scratches the surface.

A self-absorbed, self-centered, self-aggrandizing egotistical Pr!ck, comes much closer to the mark.

[RamboLiberal]

57. Well come on - what can you share with us at DU?

eom

[saracat]

54. I had to take my stickers off temporarily to get my car fixed

and this has given me the number one reason to put them back on! Thank you!

[AllegroRondo]

55. Mine stays on - so when the Rapture comes

I want Jesus to know I didnt vote for the anti-christ

[Coastie for Truth]

63. Young Flickinger

I didn't wash my K/E stickers off -- (I waxed it over at the detailers to make it last longer)--

And I added:

1. A yellow ribbon - "Support Our Troops - BRING THEM HOME"

2. A "Darwin" fish - with the little reptilian legs.

My car is a fuel efficient Prius.

[RamboLiberal]

64. PG had to print a rebuttal page - and extra letters on the web

DU discussion: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x113917

[Digit]

66. Great job!

Lately, I have been noticing less and less W decals.
Oh, I still see the flags, but no W's.

I see a Kerry/Edwards bumper sticker as someone who was more informed than the rest of the sheeples.