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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI Put a "Veterans for Biden" Bumper Sticker on My 1996 Ford Ranger - Results
The bumper sticker is on the tailgate of my old pickup. I thought I'd start parking it on the street, instead of in my driveway, you know, just to show off the bumper sticker. Here's what happened: The day after I moved the truck to the street, I went out to drive it to the supermarket. The rear quarter window for the extended cab on the driver's side had been shot with a BB or pellet gun, shattering the tempered glass into the irregular chunks that tempered glass creates.
Replacing the window would have cost about $200, or $100, if I replaced it myself. But, all of the fragments were still in place, and I never actually look out that window anyhow. So, I got my roll of Heavy-Duty 3M packaging tape and covered the entire window with it to hold the fragments in place and stabilize the window. As you can see, I did my usual sloppy job of taping, but the window will remain in its place.
Now, this could be a coincidence and some kid with a BB gun might have done the deed, but I sort of doubt it.
Thanks, Trumpster! You didn't win, though. The "Veterans for Biden" bumper sticker stays. However, I do have a new HD security camera on the front of my house. Please go ahead and vandalize something again.
c-rational
(2,581 posts)that I would like to see. Keep up the spirit MM.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)COVID-19 has pretty much cancelled all of the events an art car can participate in.
ChazInAz
(2,535 posts)TheBlackAdder
(28,071 posts)Rorey
(8,445 posts)Repukes can generally feel confident that there won't be any vandalism on their vehicles because of their bumper stickers because Democrats aren't as prone to vandalism. Unfortunately, we can't count on that same respect from repukes.
japple
(9,773 posts)Stacey Abrams signs which we placed around the county, in addition to all of the yard signs. 2 of the large signs were torn down even though they were attached to 6 ft. steel fence posts. Many of the yard signs were stolen. One yard sign was shot full of holes and replaced upside down. Last year, the City beautification committee sponsored a golf tournament to raise funds for a greenway project. Local businesses & organizations sponsored holes with the name of the org. posted at each hole. Our party sponsored a hole. Of course, some GOP asshole had to take a sharpie and deface it. When the organizers saw what had been done, they halted the tournament and later refunded the money we had spent to sponsor the event. Of course no one can touch a tRUMP (and now, Marjorie Green) sign or the whole sheriff's department would be on high alert. Such is the life in a small redneck hick town.
AZ8theist
(5,338 posts)The Arizona Democratic Headquarters was just destroyed by arson. Not exactly some " random" act....
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I wish those numbskulls would get it through their heads that destruction of property because of differing views is NOT democracy.
Sure, I joke that I'm going to key a vehicle when it's plastered with repuke bumper stickers, but I'm just joking.
Sure, I joked that I was going to throw my (now ex) husband's ballot in the trash so he couldn't vote for OrangeAss, but I never would have really done it. I'd never try to take away someone's right to vote, even if they're going to vote for someone I loathe. At the same time, I didn't offer to drop it at the drop-off box when I took my own ballot in.
LisaM
(27,758 posts)That's why I never put a Hillary sticker on my car. I was afraid to.
Years ago I was screamed at in a Taco Bell drive through line for having a Democratic bumper sticker. The guy behind me stuck his head and half his body out the window and kept screaming "get out your wallet, you liberal!" at me. It was upsetting.
beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)catch someone in the act of more vandalism. Then, I can decide how to handle it.
FM123
(10,050 posts)So sorry that happened to your car, glad you were not in it at the time.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)with my truck. It's just an old beater truck that I have to haul trash and other things. I'm perfectly fine with having a taped up, BB-shot window on it. I don't care. I'd have been more upset if all the glass had fallen out, like it usually does. A little tape, though, and I'm back on the road again.
Whoever shot at the window can check out my repair as he drives by and be reminded that his vandalism doesn't really affect me much at all. The bumper sticker is still back there.
Delarage
(2,182 posts)I've been in fender-benders with other beater-drivers and we've both gotten out, looked, shrugged, and moved on
I would hate to have a truck that I had to worry about dinging or scratching every time I loaded something in it. Plus, I get my truck dirty at the yard waste place and picking up loads of mulch, which is dropped into it by a front-loader at the mulch place. I see people with spotless, shiny, mega-trucks and I wonder "How? Why?".
But back to the point: you could put a big Biden sign over the damaged window as a final F-U to the perp.
Given 45's record on things, maybe they hate veterans.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I missed owning a beater truck for several years. Then, last year, my wife and I started cleaning things up. We rented a big roll-off dumpster, and I bought my Ranger to haul away stuff they don't allow in those dumpsters. I looked at several rangers, all priced under $1500. Most needed expensive repairs just to be usable. Then, I found one being sold by the son of a man who had died a few months before. It was sitting unused in his late father's driveway. It was hard to start, idled terribly, and had a clutch that was a bit grabby. Still, I took it for a test drive and as I drove, it started running better, and the clutch began to behave better.
The son told me that his father had replaced the battery, brakes and exhaust system before he became ill. Because it ran poorly and had a grabby clutch, he sold it to me for just $1100. I handed over the cash, went with him to transfer the title, and then had my wife drive me back over there to pick it up. It had less than 1/4 tank of gas, which was at least six months old, and probably considerably older than that. So, I stopped at a gas station, bought a can of STP Gas Treatment, and filled the truck's tank with Premium gas. By the time I got home, about 30 miles later, the engine was running smoothly, but was still idling poorly. The clutch as working fine again, once the rust on the pressure plate had been scrubbed off by the clutch plate. The tires were unmatched and pretty worn out, so I took it the next day to a tire shop and had them install four new tires for $300. I ordered a new Idle Air Control valve for the truck, and the idling problem was fixed, once that was installed.
So, for $1450, I got a good-running Ranger. It's odometer says 277,000 miles, but it's obvious that someone had replaced the entire instrument cluster from a different year of Ranger, so that's not it's actual mileage. Based on other wear, I estimate that it has about 125,000 actual miles. It uses no oil, and has no serious rustouts on the body or frame. Since I won't drive it more than 1000 miles per year, I figure it should be good for another 10 years or so with no serious work needed. Heck, the AC even still blows cold air.
For a beater, it's a decent little truck. I'll probably find a replacement side window for it on eBay and do the work to replace it at some point, but it doesn't really matter.
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)It ran well but within a couple months the head gasket burned through between 2 of the cylinders. I pulled the head myself, took it to a local machine shop to make sure valves/guides/seats were good ($125) & put it back together myself. It ran great after that. With other basic new stuff (tires, hoses, distributor cap, plugs & wires, etc) I put about $800 into it.
So, I spent a total of about $1600 on it & drove it for 8 years, so that's $200 per year, which is cheap in my book. When I got rid of it I sold it to one of those organizations that pays "$500 for any car," so my actual cost was less than that.
I remember the joys of driving a beater, like when you're looking for a parking space at the grocery store & there's that one space that doesn't have a car in it because some idiot left a cart in the space. When you're driving a beater you can just hit the cart & push it out of the way (gently of course, you don't want to damage the cart). Then you take the cart into the store because you're a considerate person.
At the time I was working in San Francisco & I liked to go into the city to see bands at various clubs, which meant leaving your vehicle parked in some alley or side street late into the night. I always drove the beater Courier because I figured no one would want to steal THAT ugly thing LOL.
The best thing about it was the stereo I put in it. I built a center under-dash console with a cover that completely hid the stereo, covered the upper portion of the door panels with black grille cloth to hide the 6x9 3-way speakers in the doors, & put 12" subwoofers behind each seat. I remember driving home one day when "Smells Like Teen Spirit" came on & I thought I might blow out the windows LOL!
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)I have a friend that is wanting to acquire a beater pick-up truck. What surprises me from your account is how very much it costs to actually get one in good working order.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)but that's a more expensive proposition. I have worked as an auto mechanic, so I could often identify a car that had problems that were easy to fix. I spent $1400 on my beater Ranger. i could have bought one that didn't need any work for $2000. If your friend isn't handy at fixing up cars, he or she should buy one that is already in good condition. Truly.
There's always some reason a person is selling an old pickup. All too often, it's because it's about to need some expensive repair. Figuring out why a beater vehicle is up for sale is a crucial part of driving beaters. Unless you have some auto repair experience, buying a beater can be an expensive and frustrating experience.
A bereaved person often sells a car owned by someone who has died. Often, you'll get the story of what had been done to the car, which probably has sat idle for a while. My 1996 Ranger was in OK shape, and had already had some of the expensive repairs done. It's current running issues were due to it sitting for several months. I knew that, from experience, and got a decent truck at a bargain price. I don't mind putting tires on a beater, but most people would walk away from a rough-running engine and a grabby clutch. That made the asking price lower, since several people had probably passed on it previously.
Patience is a very good thing when you're looking for a beater. If you wait, something will come up that is almost ready for service, with very little or no work. But, you have to be able to identify the right candidate.
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,746 posts)I suspect he does not really understand how much it will cost to get even a beater. Luckily, he is being patient. He doesn't really need a truck. It's just that he had one for a very long time when he lived out in the country and actually needed one.
He did almost fall to a sale on ebay that after a bit he realized was a scam. Luckily, after a bit of back and forth he realized he was being offered a deal that was too good to be true and simply cut of contact.
I really appreciate your giving details of repairs needed and costs.
ChazInAz
(2,535 posts)Red 96 job, paint faded to pink from the Arizona sun. Bought it from a Tohono O'odham friend, so I called it my "Indian Truck". Drove it to Burning Man and regional burns ' til it finally have up the ghost in 2013, on the way to Black Rock City.
A real trouper to the end!
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)if it breaks down on a road trip. I have done that half a dozen times in the days when none of my cars cost me more than about $100. That was in the 60s. A $1000 car is equivalent now. The pink slip is in the glove compartment. If I have to walk away from it, I sign the pink slip before walking away so someone else can have the car.
Owning a beater car, or truck especially, is a good idea.
dalton99a
(81,065 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)All the more reason to work hard to elect Biden in November, along with enough Senators to regain control of Congress.
Miigwech
(3,741 posts)You are a brave one.
Archae
(46,260 posts)Two days ago, I saw a bumper sticker, "Don't re-elect Hillary in 2020."
I said to the driver, "Hillary isn't president, and isn't running."
He said, "Satan wants you to believe that."
I rode off on my bicycle on a different street.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,375 posts)something to make him think his sticker was telling the truth that Hillary Clinton in fact won the 2016 election, but had it stolen.
FoxNewsSucks
(10,375 posts)tRumphumpers can't be trusted. I put "Bush is a Lying Sack of Shit" and "Jail Bush - Treason Fraud Corruption Murder" stickers on my car when it neared 200k miles, and I'm sure someone deliberately hit the back bumper in a Wichita motel parking lot because of them.
I don't put that kind of sticker on my cars until they're high enough mileage that they'll soon not be worth fixing anyway. I had a "Trump/Putin Make Tyranny Great Again" sticker on my last car. Nothing happened to it. I replaced it in December and just put a magnet on the new car, one of those paw magnets that says "my dog is smarter than the president".
I've noticed that the MAGAt types don't read and don't get sarcasm. They likely think my current magnet is just another pet magnet. I've also had "Facts Have a Liberal Bias" sticker on cars, liberals get the joke and MAGAts actually think it is the literal truth. I had a couple anti-Bush stickers that were the same color and font as the ubiquitous Bush/Cheney, and never had problems. But did get a lot of good comments from people who agreed. So I guess it's kind of a stealth or camouflage way of using stickers on newer cars.
Delarage
(2,182 posts)"RESIST" and an old "JOE" round sticker from a Biden Senate campaign back in the day. I knew it would come in handy again someday! My car is approaching 400,000 miles and is worth approximately $500. But I love it and it still gets 35 mpg, at least, and it's easy to work on when need be.
I had a "Stop the War/Stop the Lies" sticker on my previous car. Someone gave me a finger about that one. I think a deplorable in a big pickup said something about my RESIST sticker in a State Park, but I didn't catch it and just looked at them and got in my car (I was on my way back from a walk).
bedazzled
(1,727 posts)Confuses the hell out of them
Polybius
(15,238 posts)I've also been given the finger while driving. Strangely enough, I once got a compliment in a shopping center parking lot from a guy parked next to me. He was saying how Bush was awful, and the war was based on lies. I agreed, then looked at the back of his car: Ron Paul 2008. I thought to myself "Ok, I guess I'll focus on the areas of agreement rather than argue."
malaise
(267,800 posts)want to deny you the freedom to select your own bumper sticker.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)There are a couple of likely candidates nearby as the vandal. It's a quiet neighborhood, without much traffic, so it's probably one of my neighbors. The camera will catch the culprit if it happens again. It's one of those cameras that only records when there's motion outside, like a car driving by. It stores the video on a memory card, and overwrites memory when it's full. I put a high-capacity memory card in there. So if something happens, I'll review the video to see if I can spot the culprit.
What to do if I figure out who the vandal is? I don't know. Call the police? Post the video on the neighborhood board? Email it to whoever the vandal is and let him sweat? I guess I'll decide later, if it happens again.
malaise
(267,800 posts)BarbaRosa
(2,684 posts)of my '96 Ranger.
?v=1554749617
same as this Tee. After some thought I removed the J and E, leaving just the image. Hoping the trumpers will mistake as a cupcake and not a Biden sticker.
Fla Dem
(23,347 posts)In Florida that's an invitation for vandalism. I think you should put a Biden sticker on the bottom of that window. That'll show 'em.
Brainstormy
(2,380 posts)got my car keyed in a shopping center parking lot from bumper to bumper
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)FailureToCommunicate
(13,989 posts)the guy do it (at a soccer game parking lot).
He sheepishly apologized and explained that he had really wanted one, enough to overcome his knowledge that it was wrong to snitch mine.
I could have just given it to him, but it was the third one that had disappeared. So I said donate to his campaign, and you could get your own.
Everybody loved Obama.
Merlot
(9,696 posts)as reported by our small town local newspaper.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Fortunately, they aren't really that expensive these days.
panader0
(25,816 posts)you have your abstract art. Sorry about your window.
Assholes do this kind of stuff.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to frustrate them further and see if I can catch whoever did it.
csziggy
(34,120 posts)And add some of these to the sides of your truck:
If they think your truck has already been shot up, maybe they won't do any more "damage."
If you do replace the window, these could add to the effect:
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)and more would be expected, and promptly, if we displayed Biden or Dump Trump signs. And it would distress people who are good enough to be friends with us in spite of deep disagreements. So we don't. But I appreciate hearing when others do.
There are signs for the incumbents all around us. it's sickening. I mentioned to the spousal unit that I felt like putting a Biden sign up and he was horrified. He said "What? And get your car trashed?""
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)encouraged by everyone from Trump to Putin, so it'd almost be begging for reaction. But I certainly understand wanting to.
Heard of someone who bought several signs, car presumably out of reach, so they could be promptly replaced. Bet the very bad losers went through them fast.
IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)so I would hope more would turn against him and consider ridin with Biden this year.
KS Toronado
(16,901 posts)They want their freeDUMBs to not wear a mask but wouldn't allow others the freedom of opinion.
And this shit is going to multiply the closer we get to Nov 3rd, especially in red states. Believe
trumpig's rhetoric is promoting this kind of vandalism and has his seal of approval.
yaesu
(8,020 posts)safeinOhio
(32,527 posts)mean, bad traps to set for them. I trying to not act on my dark side ideas. So Ill just let go of them.
C Moon
(12,188 posts)rickford66
(5,498 posts)There was a plywood board nailed to it where people put up political and garage sale signs etc. I didn't care. Twice I put up campaign signs and they were torn down. So, since the pole is on my property I took down the board. I have no political decals on my vehicles. I can imagine what would happen if I did. Sorry about your beater truck. If a truck runs, it has value.
azureblue
(2,131 posts)Back in the day of Gore, I Had a lot of trouble with yard sign stealers. So I got some more signs both wire frame and wood, and coated the edges of the sign and any black areas, and the wire frame of the other signs, with roofing tar, nice and thick. Since the signs were being stolen at night, the tar is not visible - it just looks like black paint. But it is all but permanent - once you get it one you nothing short of kerosene or gasoline will get it off. And it spreads. I suspected a guy a few houses down from me was doing it, and I happened to see his truck one day and it had tar on the door handle..
Response to MineralMan (Original post)
Illumination This message was self-deleted by its author.
George II
(67,782 posts)And generally there's no deductible. You can even get it done by a mobile repair van right in your driveway.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Why would you have that kind of coverage on a beater vehicle? So, no, I can't get a free replacement window for my Ranger. But, see, it doesn't matter. It's a beater. As long as the tape holds and it doesn't leak, I'm good, and the truck is still just as useful as it was before.
George II
(67,782 posts)....that's beat to crap (physically) but when everyone else is out of service in the winter he's plowing his butt off all over town.
iscooterliberally
(2,849 posts)not_the_one
(2,227 posts)As you obviously noticed,
I'm a VETERAN,
Are YOU?
Three, small bumper sticker size, with enough room to still view the damage done by the "patriot".
I'd be willing to bet that they aren't.
Illumination
(2,458 posts)iluvtennis
(19,756 posts)azureblue
(2,131 posts)Violence, hate, and intimidation. So what can we do in response? It appears law enforcement does not take RW attacks seriously, certainly not as seriously as they take peaceful BLM marches. Do we respond in kind? Do we ignore it and hope it will go away (Ha!) Do we doxx them?
We have to face fact that they will act out when Trump loses or they will attempt to block voters through intimidation and violence. This is but one example of crap they pull every day. How to we make it clear to them that there will be harsh consequences for their actions?
Sogo
(4,960 posts)that you were getting honks and waves and high fives....
KPN
(15,585 posts)small side windows are expensive. I'm quite sure you're intuition regarding kits intentionality is accurate. Good for you for leaving it parked along the street and best wishes re: the security camera.
Texin
(2,585 posts)MineralMan
(146,192 posts)ffr
(22,644 posts)You picture is a visual to their cowardice. Hope your insurance comes through.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)I could replace the window. It's reasonably easy. A used one would cost me about $75, or maybe even less, and it's just a matter of removing some inside panels to get access to the window assembly. But, see, it's a beater pickup. As long as that 3M tape holds the glass in place, I don't care. It's not a window anyone looks out of, anyhow, especially me. It's right behind the driver's seat, so you can't see through it if you're sitting in that seat.
The whole idea of beater vehicles is that you don't spend money on unnecessary repairs. There's some red duct tape on my truck, too, to cover up a rusted out area. The body work would cost more than the car is worth, really. So, that work will never be done.
It's a beater. Driving beater vehicles has its own philosophy. Now, my 2020 KIA Soul is something else. It's fully insured, and has a 5-year, 60,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. The '96 Ranger runs on luck.
TlalocW
(15,358 posts)Have them cut up a blank piece of material the size of your bumper sticker. Put the sticker on the material, and the material on the bumper. Take it off when you park so your vehicle isn't a sitting duck for these assholes.
TlalocW
demigoddess
(6,640 posts)those were handy.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)Polybius
(15,238 posts)It is compromised and unstable, and can be very dangerous to you or anyone else in the car. It's also a ticket waiting to happen.
mzmolly
(50,957 posts)offer specific glass coverage as well?
Raine
(30,540 posts)that glass will eventually come flying out and can injure someone badly.
mzmolly
(50,957 posts)They're such nice folks, huh?
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)TomSlick
(11,032 posts)Niagara
(7,403 posts)That is why I don't place political signs in my yard or on my vehicle. It seems that people can't be decent and let others have nice things when their opinion is different.
You could let several junk yards know that you're on the lookout for a rear quarter window and that it's not time sensitive. Depending on the junk yard it would probably cost about $25 or so for the window. I think that you could do the labor yourself.
Out of curiosity, have you ever considered having vehicle wraps done instead of a paint job? These vehicle wrap companies can do all sorts of interesting auto graphics and the wraps can be removed later without damaging the vehicle. Just a thought.
KentuckyWoman
(6,666 posts)They don't seem to make smaller trucks like that anymore.
I'm sorry someone wounded yours. It's a sorry time we live in that people think it proper to shoot something up like this. I guess my idea of America where we all do our own thing without hurting someone else is yesterday's lunch....
Layzeebeaver
(1,574 posts)Are we saying thats a bunch of 2nd amendment trump humpers can only take out their rage with a little baby BB gun?
Where was the AK or the AR or the Glock?
Oh wait, I guess they were over exaggerating their weaponhood all these years. That fits.
Keep up the good fight Mineralman! Who needs windows anyway - they just restrict airflow in the cabin...
progree
(10,864 posts)I have no idea who to contact except the "Contact" link at the bottom of the page
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=contact
progree
(10,864 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 5, 2020, 10:19 PM - Edit history (1)
I sent this to 'mail@democraticunderground.com' just now.
Subject: Please fix this Left Column post by MineralMan
It begins with
Put a "Veterans for Biden" Bumper Sticker on My 1996 Ford Ranger - Results
The bumper sticker is on the tailgate of my old pickup. I th
Whereas the way it is now is:
I Put a
The bumper sticker is on the tailgate of my old pickup.
Thank you. Defintely desesrves extra time in the Left Column for the fixed version.
Edited to add (1018pm ET 8/5):
The "I tried and tried again" refers to for some reason my email program kept showing it as not sent. Tried about 3 times until it showed it as sent. I don't know what it is that I was doing wrong -- I've been using Outlook for decades as my main email and never have had anything like this occur.
But anyway, I only contacted them once about this, I didn't keep nagging them or anything like that. I would never do that.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)Doesn't bother me at all.
progree
(10,864 posts)Apparently it was a high enough priority to fix it once they were informed. But then I don't pretend to know what's high priority and what's not. I just do what I think is right. But that's just me.
EarlG sent a nice note of appreciation.
By the way, for clarity, the "I tried and tried again" refers to for some reason my email program kept showing it as not sent. Tried about 3 times until it showed it as sent. I don't know what it is that I was doing wrong -- I've been using Outlook for decades as my main email and never have had anything like this occur.
But anyway, I only contacted them once about this, I didn't keep nagging them or anything like that. I would never do that.
eggplant
(3,891 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Are the cops, sheriffs or state police in your area likely to issue a citation for broken or improper equipment?
(Sorry this happened to you. Good luck. I hope nothing more happens.)
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)That window can't be looked through by the driver, so there's no obstruction of vision.