October 16, 2016

The absence of Hillary yard signs.

Photographed today, a few blocks from where I live in Madison, Wisconsin:

DSC04491

Most houses have no yard signs, but where I did see signs — on what was a 4-mile walk through various neighborhoods — they were signs for Russ Feingold (the Democratic Party candidate for the U.S. Senate) or for Marc Pocan (the Democrat running for reelection in our congressional district). There were almost no Hillary signs.

Were there any Trump signs? Of course not. But I did see a Trump sign in Madison yesterday. Somewhere on the East Side — which is the more left-wing side of town, so the sign must infuriate some people. We took an hour-long drive the other day — up around Devils Lake — and we did see Trump signs there, including one sign that said "Trump the Bitch." Imagine putting that in your yard!

72 comments:

Sal said...

I usually see one or two Hillary bumper stickers every week in Madison.

Hunter McDaniel said...

I've been noticing the same thing in my neighborhood (Bouder, CO).

The Democratic households have signs up for the House and Senate race, but nothing for HRC. The Republican households have gone stealth this year.

Fabi said...

How does that compare with Obama yard signs four years ago, Ann -- a lot less than the last presidential election?

Sydney said...

Around here- Northeast Ohio - quite a few Hillary signs, not so many Trump. I find the Hillary signs helpful. I can now identify who in the local races are Democrats if their signs are in the same yard. (Our local politics are supposed to be non-partisan. No party affiliation identified on the ballot.)

JackWayne said...

One man with courage makes a majority.

Mr Wibble said...

Apparently there have been plenty of "I'm With Her!" Molotov Cocktails, however.

tim in vermont said...

There's a Trump the Bitch sign not too far from me. But the local Republican headquarters has signs for every Republican but Trump.

Bernie signs common, I see more Stein signs that Hillary. The Trump signs are usually in deplorable type habitations, mobile homes on lots, double wides. Places you would expect to be Democratic.

khesanh0802 said...

As I wrote earlier my very informal sign count on my trip bird hunting in central Mn was 12 to 3 Trump. We have three Trump banners and a sign in our downtown (tiny). Doesn't mean a thing, but it's interesting. Most of the guys I shoot skeet with are Trump supporters. They certainly feel embarrassed by some of his antics, but, beyond that,they believe he can accomplish things that will benefit them or their kids. Again, it doesn't mean a thing, but is interesting.

Ken B said...

Just because you vote for her doesn't mean you have to admit to it.

tim in vermont said...

BTW, what was with those Packers uniforms? Did they lose a bet? It looked like the whole team had been pantsed.

Sprezzatura said...

"Apparently there have been plenty of "I'm With Her!" Molotov Cocktails, however."

Do folks know where Ashley Todd was?

Sprezzatura said...

It was the blacks that tried to get Ashley Todd.

This time the signs were left to point toward Jewish folks and/or folks concerned w/ Jewish people.

buwaya said...

In SF they put signs in their townhouse front windows - front lawns being rare here.
There are no Hilary signs.

Paul Ciotti said...

I don't understand why anyone living on the left side of town would be "infuriated" at seeing a Trump sign. What? They don't think other points of view have any right to exist? That people holding those views have any right to live?

YoungHegelian said...

In the deep blue MD suburbs of DC where I live, there are now more & more Hillary signs out than before. More common, however, is the same scenario mentioned by others here: yards where there are signs for the Democratic candidates for other offices, but no Hillary signs. Trump signs are rare (have I seen even two?), but in the more conservative northern part of the county one sees signs for the Republican candidates for Senate, House, etc.

buwaya said...

I would not advise putting up a Trump sign anywhere in San Francisco.
There are any number of disturbed people here (and many of these are quite wealthy) who would assume social license to express their issues.
There is a sociology and culture of insanity.

HT said...

Paul Ciotti said...

I don't understand why anyone living on the left side of town would be "infuriated" at seeing a Trump sign. What? They don't think other points of view have any right to exist? That people holding those views have any right to live?
10/16/16, 7:22 PM

________

I thought "infuriated" was a bit much, too.

Gusty Winds said...

What a horrible, weed infested front lawn. Lazy Bernie/Russ supporter of course.

Madison doesn't have ordinances about shit looking that bad?

Otto said...

Good point. I live BLUE CT and have noticed a paucity of signs for Hillary especially in Wesport. Highly unusual, but i think it shows that the libs know they have a flawed candidate. But not the press.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

That's the phenomenon I see all over. No big outward display of support for HER.

She's corrupt. Many on the left will still vote for her, but they don't want to admit it.

Biff said...

I live in the kind of neighborhood where putting GOP signs on your lawn has resulted in vandalism to cars and homes. I'm seeing the usual plethora of signs for state and local Democrat politicians, but I've only seen a couple of Hilary signs. The neighborhood was a sea of Obama signs in 2008 and 2012.

In the past there were one or two Romney or McCain signs in the neighborhood, but there have been a significant number of Trump signs, perhaps as many as a dozen within a few of blocks of me.

Until last night, that is, when someone went around and stole all of them. Frankly, I was surprised the Trump signs had lasted more than a day.

HT said...

The "libs" just want this to be over with as soon as possible. While a varied lot, overall, anyone with the most basic understanding of American politics knows that among the libs as compared with the "Republicans," there is an enthusiasm gap. No mystery there.

That lawn needs a gardener. Get off the computer and get outside!

Known Unknown said...

Yard sign/Bumper Sticker update on my travels:

Trump: 103
Hillary: 45
Johson: 10

Shocked there's at least 10 Johnson signs out there. One in my neighborhood.

Glenn Howes said...

Until a couple weeks ago, the only Hillary sign in my neighborhood was a Hillary for Prison sign. This week there's a Hillary signed paired with one for our Republican Senator.

Fritz said...


Blogger YoungHegelian said...
In the deep blue MD suburbs of DC where I live, there are now more & more Hillary signs out than before. More common, however, is the same scenario mentioned by others here: yards where there are signs for the Democratic candidates for other offices, but no Hillary signs. Trump signs are rare (have I seen even two?), but in the more conservative northern part of the county one sees signs for the Republican candidates for Senate, House, etc.


Down here to the south, in the pinkish wasteland around the nuclear power plant and Pax River Air Station, Trump signs are pretty common, and I have yet to see a Hillary sign. There are still plenty of Obama stickers on cars, so it's not lack of democrats. I think it's just that she's not that popular.

Thuglawlibrarian said...

I was commenting to a coworker that I have seen very few presidential yard signs this year and overall fewer local and state race yard signs.

Char Char Binks, Esq. said...

HT said...

"I thought "infuriated" was a bit much, too."

It is a bit much, but it's also the case. Check out Trump supporters being violently assaulted by Progressive fascists on YouTube (all blamed on Trump's "hateful rhetoric", of course), and the bombing of the Republican headquarters in NC, which online was immediately called a Reichstag false flag operation, because progs have Google and Trump = Hitler, doncha know.

Original Mike said...

"Somewhere on the East Side — which is the more left-wing side of town, ..."

I don't think that's right. I grew up on the east side for my first 30 years and my family still lives there. I've lived on the near west side for the last 30 yearrs. The west side is more leftist.. The east side is just pissed (and they should be).

walter said...

Feingold sign has outline of Wisconsin just in case his time in Cali has folks concerned.

walter said...

Ann is probably thinking near East side. Further East I can imagine it more moderate.

walter said...

I think it's more about drawing a circle around the Uni and Capitol bldg.

J. D. said...

In the Raleigh, NC area, I've just started seeing a lot of Trump yard signs. I've seen a lot of Hillary (I'm with stupid arrow) bumper stickers. A few months ago, I moved from a more liberal area, which had predominantly Bernie bumper stickers, and even a "Hillary 2016, Michele 2024, Chelsea 2032, Sasha 2040, Malia 2048" sticker, that I think is just about the dumbest bumper sticker I've ever seen.

Kathryn51 said...

Professor Ann - do you ever drive 30 miles away from Madison?

On a recent drive thru a rural part of my state, there were at least 20 Trump signs, many "home made" contraptions hanging from trucks or log splitters. Saw one Hillary sign - in the middle of the largest "town" - probably the home of the local Dem. city council person. And this is DEMOCRAT country (logging/fishing/union). DEM country.

mockturtle said...

We took an hour-long drive the other day — up around Devils Lake — and we did see Trump signs there

[emphasis mine].

Is that an innuendo, Ann?

chickelit said...

What an unkempt lawn! And what's that green bin doing there? It's a bit like posing a garbage can in a yard full of trash.

Big Mike said...

Imagine putting that in your yard!

If only the HOA would let me! Only signs allowed are "For Sale" signs -- nothing else.

Clyde said...

Paul Ciotti said...
I don't understand why anyone living on the left side of town would be "infuriated" at seeing a Trump sign. What? They don't think other points of view have any right to exist? That people holding those views have any right to live?


There are some forms of diversity that are beyond the pale even for the most liberal Democrat. I believe it's best summed up as "tolerance for me, but not for thee."

mockturtle said...

No one is more intolerant than a liberal. My leftist brother isn't speaking to me because I am voting for Trump. Or, more specifically, because I am a 'nationalist' instead of a 'globalist'.

rhhardin said...

There's about Trump to Hillary signs in rural Ohio, all coexisting peacefully. It's midwestern niceness.

You'll find a YES sign posted right next to somebody else's NO sign, the late arrival respecting the earlier arrival.

rhhardin said...

5 to 1 Trump to Hillary, somebow omitted.

Big Mike said...

@HT, yesterday a bunch of cars at a Trump rally were spray painted. Today a Trump-Pence HQ was fire-bombed. Hillary supporters are scum. Infuriated scum, but scum nonetheless.

Original Mike said...

"What an unkempt lawn! And what's that green bin doing there?"

It's the recycling bin, of course. The left has us segregating our refuse into two bins. Fine. But we are not to keep our bins out in sight (even though many have but a one car garage). Fine again, I guess. Deal with it.

But now the left wants us to divide our refuse into three bins, even though we don't have room for two. The only thing holding this in abeyance is the city ran out of budget to collect them.

It is but a temporary reprieve.

Big Mike said...

Regarding the lawn itself, wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Ordinances regarding lawn care and putting away trash cans are for the little people.

mockturtle said...

Original Mike reports: But now the left wants us to divide our refuse into three bins, even though we don't have room for two. The only thing holding this in abeyance is the city ran out of budget to collect them.

Rumor has it that it all goes into the same landfill in many areas.

Ann Althouse said...

Infuriated" is just my guess. I don't know. Maybe everyone's cool with it.

Original Mike said...

"Rumor has it that it all goes into the same landfill in many areas."

That's OK. It's the intentions that matter.

Meade said...

I have to guess the owner of that house isn't running for Weed Commissioner — the only public political office I've ever really been interested in attaining myself.

Meade said...

"Meade the Weed" my yard signs will say. Or maybe "Feel the Weed". "Weedier Together" might be misunderstood and Make Madison Weed-free Again" might not go over too well.

Original Mike said...

Meade Will Pull Your Weed.

Meade said...

I could repurpose Eisenhower's "I like Ike" into "I like Weed" but that would be wrong. As Nixon recorded himself saying.

Meade said...

Careful there, OM. Once I gain the power of the office, I could easily find out exactly where you live and officiously intermeddle my way into your back yard. Of course, seeing my yard sign in your front yard would almost surely go a long way toward mitigating your potential problems with the law. If you catch my drift.

Original Mike said...

Couple of beers in my back yard take care of things? Maybe a case in your trunk? (damn. I did it again.)

Meade said...

Miller Genuine Draft will be just fine. Glad to see you've already taken care of that invasive Garlic Mustard I saw along your back fence line when I happened by here last week.

Original Mike said...

Did you pull it? If you want my vote you have to pull it.

Meade said...

Me pull weeds? Only the little people pull weeds.

Original Mike said...

Who you callin' little?

Meade said...

Wait. Did I say that? I don't remember saying that. Damn Russians must've hacked my gmail again.

chickelit said...

It's the recycling bin, of course.

Oh, I assumed it was for yard waste because it was green. We have three bins in Oceanside: green for yard waste; blue for recycling; and gray for trash and garbage. Up in L.A. the trash bins are black instead of gray (racist?). No one has thought of brown bins yet.

chickelit said...

The Madison "Weed Commissioner" should oversee the harvesting and burning of lake weeds for power. Waste heat can be used to dry the lake weed. The phosphate-rich ash can be sold as fertilizer. Win-win all around.

exiledonmainstreet, green-eyed devil said...

I've spotted quite a few Hillary signs in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee and only 1 Trump sign. The Trump signs I have seen are in the blue collar 'burbs to the south. One thing I've seen an increase in around here are signs saying "We back the badge." Might that be a sign the owner is voting for Trump? Who knows?

There are more Feingold signs and a couple of Johnson signs.

You'd have to be insane to put a Trump sign on your house around here. I put a Walker sign up in my front window during the recall election and someone threw a rock at it one night. A neighbor stopped talking to me.

Bruce Hayden said...

Much less stressful for me here in NW MT, where no one would put up a Crooked Hillary sign, but no one would vandalize it either. Just no one would talk to them either. Some weird looking young guy came in a couple days before, and was talking about his crazy ex girlfriend. Punch line was that she was a Clinton supporter. We knew he was a decent guy then. Some Trump signs, and some for the Rep candidates for Congress and Governor,and one for the Dem. Mostly local signs though, with the Rep signs having elephants, and the Dem signs not having donkeys, but inevitably being red, white, and blue. Indeed, most common color is blue, by far.

Curious George said...

"The absence of Hillary yard signs."

And lawn mower. Mow your grass hippie!

Curious George said...

"walter said...
Ann is probably thinking near East side. Further East I can imagine it more moderate."

The further east side doesn't exist in her world.

Rusty said...

mockturtle said...
"Original Mike reports: But now the left wants us to divide our refuse into three bins, even though we don't have room for two. The only thing holding this in abeyance is the city ran out of budget to collect them.

Rumor has it that it all goes into the same landfill in many areas."

Drive through any industrial park and take a look in their dumpsters. Why, indeed.

Jersey Fled said...

Here in deep blue NJ I've seen dozens of Trump signs but but only three Hillary signs.

This is very unusual as the lefties are usually right in your face around here.

It's making me wonder if something is up.

Big Mike said...

@Jersey Fled, don't get your hopes up.

JHP2 said...

In my part of the RDU area that HRC needs to win big, I have seen exactly one Clinton-Kaine sign and one bumper sticker. I find that pretty telling that even though she may win NC. this Blue-Purplish area is not excited about their choice.

A few more Trump-Pence stickers/signs, but not many.

JCC said...

Bet the neighbors love this guy, letting his front yard resemble a poster for Round-Up and leaving his garbage right next to the front door, handy for getting the trash out I suppose. .

There's one in every neighborhood.

mockturtle said...

I'm surprised he gets away with obstructing the sidewalk like that.

Unknown said...

Plenty of signs - Trump, Hillary, even a few Gary Johnson signs in metro Detroit.

There's even one guy who's put up a "REAGAN / BUSH '16" sign in Grosse Pointe Park.

J. D. said...

Saw a sign yesterday on the way to the pumpkin patch "Everybody Sucks/ We're Screwed 2016"

Unknown said...

Same in Colorado. Hardly any presidential signs, either way.