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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWell, it finally cost me to be outspoken.
I was approached in the local grocery store parking lot by a panhandler. Said he didn't have any gas money for his car, only a $10 Canadian bill and did I have any spare change. I said no but there is a bank right across the parking lot that will exchange the Canadian money. Then he saw my truck tailgate:
and launched into an anti Obama tirade and how I was a socialist who hated America etc. so I said whatever and took my two year old grand daughter into the store for a few items as he drove away in a late model Honda Accord.
When I came out there was a note on the windshield, "Your left front tire is flat. Hope the rest of your day goes better." The tire had a one inch slash in it, 'bout the size of an average pocket knife.
Seems the irony of begging for money while being for smaller government was lost on him. I will use my smart phone to take pictures of anyone who panhandles me in the future.
$270 bucks for a new tire.
knitter4democracy
(14,350 posts)I'm sorry about the tire. That sucks.
x2 vancouverite
(89 posts)I mean, he wouldn't want to be a taker, right?
Fucking hypocrite!
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,296 posts)He is worthless scum.
I am sorry about the tire, and the time you had to spend to get it fixed.
Lex
(34,108 posts)The Republicans are crazy violent mofos.
coalition_unwilling
(14,180 posts)Coast Highway in Malibu of all places, probably b/c of my anti-Bush and anti-war bumper stickers. I came out one morning to find my car, parked on Venice Blvd., had its radio antenna bent over at a 90-degree angle to the car. (Don't remember when the radio antenna incident occurred.)
I look at it as the price I paid for exercising my right to free speech and it seemed to me that it was more important to make my statements at the time I made them than to be a stealth subversive and protect my car.
Don't mean to come across as self righteous. I do feel very badly for the OP and, if he or she is in Texas, as the avatar suggests, he or she may want to follow your advice.
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)these folks are nuts. Many are unhinged and need medication.
I am very careful to be as neutral as I can.
It shouldn't be that way, but it is.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)In the future tell panhandlers you don't carry cash. That usually gets rid of them. I feel bad for those who are in genuine need but there are also those who make a business of it and can be nasty if you refuse them.
gollygee
(22,336 posts)Because that's against the law and in a smaller town the police will know who the panhandlers are by description.
I'm usually on the side of people who need to ask strangers for money, but not people who start slashing tires.
noamnety
(20,234 posts)If they can get a good image of him, they might be able to have employees call the cops if he reappears.
Care Acutely
(1,370 posts)first thing I thought of as well
Michigan Alum
(335 posts)Have security if they have panhandling vandals on their premises. Normally, I don't "rat out" panhandlers but in this case, I would make a definite exception.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)The guy drove away in a late model Accord, they don't give those away in Cracker Jack boxes any more.
tblue
(16,350 posts)Maybe they can identify the vehicle. That was a crime that creep committed.
I think it's always a risk to get into it with a stranger in public. (I should know. I have a BIG, BIG MOUTH!) If you walk away leaving your property out of your sight, anything can happen. I'm very sorry. Just be careful. It will probably never happen again, but just be careful.
MagickMuffin
(15,886 posts)You could also besides taking a picture, is psyche them out by only getting to the door and then going back to your truck. It might cause them to drive away without further attention to their desires of retribution for your politics.
There is a Vet who hangs out in front of a dollar store near us. He watches our bikes even though we usually lock them. He always seemed really nice. Just him and his dog sit there for who knows how many hours a day.
He says he is homeless. My hubby talked to him one day and it appears he is also uninformed but knows everything. He is antiObama, and ever so clueless.
jody
(26,624 posts)Quantess
(27,630 posts)after personally being a victim of vandalism. You really know how to empathize with people, don't you?
Tactless comment.
Trajan
(19,089 posts)You provide the 'Fair and Balanced' DU that we all truly want !
Response to jody (Reply #11)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
jody
(26,624 posts)nation.
Response to jody (Reply #46)
devilgrrl This message was self-deleted by its author.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)denverbill
(11,489 posts)article for some other reason?
Quantess
(27,630 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)the fact that you had your grandchild with you. People don't get into arguments with a little one, and he knew that. As a grandparent, you were maybe older than him, and he took advantage of that to bully you. This guy had a sense of entitlement and was not without means, but thought you were a soft touch should give him money since he was too important to go into the bank and take care of his own business.
I hope you saved the note, the cost of the replacement of the tire, anything you remember about his appearance, vehicle and report to the police that he left both you and your grandchild stranded and you had to pay for the damages to leave the store and get home. I hope the store or someone recorded or noted this.
He'll do it again, most likely, if he gets away with this. He needs to be called to account. Consider if it had been late at night or an emergency. The amount of hatred libertarians have for Democrats was fully detailed in this article. It's a really ugly piece, and I suspect your attacker believes all of this and is probably bragging online right now about what he did to you and your grandchild:
The end of liberty in America: Only course of action now is to fight back, electoral politics not working
Time to tell any Democrats you know to fuck off and die
by Eric Dondero
http://www.libertarianrepublican.net/2012/11/the-end-of-liberty-in-america-only.html
NV Whino
(20,886 posts)Because one of the residents took offense to my anti Bush bumper sticker. He finally gave up and let me pass. A previous car got keyed presumably because of a bumper sticker.
Te world has become a crazy place.
renate
(13,776 posts)What a purely nasty thing to do. I'm really sorry, for the expense and for the way you must be feeling.
I do love the picture on the right.
GeorgeGist
(25,294 posts)To puncture a truck tire with a pocket knife.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)could have been made with a ginsu or similar knife
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)That seems like too much for a light truck tire. Shop around.
ProdigalJunkMail
(12,017 posts)Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)Berserker
(3,419 posts)but wow did you get bent over for a tire $270.00 OUCH
dflprincess
(28,057 posts)you can wind up having to replace two even if only one is damaged just to keep them even (for lack of a better term).
ret5hd
(20,433 posts)dflprincess
(28,057 posts)that destroyed one of them. I referred to it as $200/ for a tire even though I got two out of the deal. (Though it happened quite a while ago & that price did include labor).
Not that that is what the OP meant, it's what I was thinking about when I saw the price mentioned and just decided to "blurt" (as much as one can blurt when typing) it out.
Odin2005
(53,521 posts)Michigan Alum
(335 posts)I thought I was screwed but not only did he let me off, he was very pleasant and only kept me for several minutes. I was totally shocked. So sometimes these bumper stickers work out....
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Whenever I get pulled over, my gray hair and obvious age work in my favor. I know that I'm the age of the cop's mother, or maybe even grandmother, and I'm always very nice and apologetic and I never get a ticket. I was once doing about 90 in rural northeastern New Mexico. I think the speed limit was 70. Cop passed me, turned around and pulled me over, but only gave me a nice talking to.
My young sons (25 and 29) get tickets. And they are, I'm quite sure, always nice and polite also.
whistler162
(11,155 posts)SheilaT
(23,156 posts)I am definitely NOT the Little Old Lady From Pasadena.
I often drive above the speed limit. But I do it judiciously, paying attention to where I am. In a 25 or 30 mph zone I keep to the speed limit. In a 35 mph zone I'll do just under 40. And so on. Even though they really can bust you for doing 1 mile above the speed limit, most cops really don't care until you're doing more than that. Unless they need to fill some kind of silly quota.
But I really do not look like anybody's idea of a Little Old Lady, even with the gray hair.
Chorophyll
(5,179 posts)I'm sorry you didn't get his license plate. Jeezus.
sadbear
(4,340 posts)And I'm going to need 4 new tires within the next twelve months. Is it going to cost me more than a thousand bucks?!?
bluedigger
(17,077 posts)I think the OP replaced a factory stock tire with an identical one - those typically cost more because they are special runs for the vehicle manufacturer. They aren't any better, but they "match". If you really want to save $, consider a set of retreads. I have heard good things about Treadwright in the Jeep community; depending on what you want you could probably get 4 for under $400, plus shipping. They have been around for years and sound reputable. You do have to plan ahead, however, as their stock varies, and you may get put on a waiting list. https://www.treadwright.com/default.aspx
sadbear
(4,340 posts)$600 sounds reasonable. (I actually went on Discount Tire and Sam's Club to price me some new tires after I saw the $270 price tag.)
Baitball Blogger
(46,570 posts)LaydeeBug
(10,291 posts)a partial license plate or something?
I am so sorry this happened to you.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)This dumb ass will return to the same grocery store. Count on it.
1gobluedem
(6,664 posts)Check out other similar parking lots too. I've been approached by the same guy with the same story in three different parking lots.
Sorry that happened to you.
tavernier
(12,322 posts)It's a different world. I truly blame fox news. They incite the right wing loonies to vandalism, and at the same time insinuate that it is the wild eyed liberals who are prone to violence. Everyone is afraid of everyone else.
cecilfirefox
(784 posts)rDigital
(2,239 posts)that people are so hateful. Now I keep my cars sterile of any bumper stickers or what not.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)Maybe I skimmed a detail, but what is the basis for your conclusion that the panhandler and the tire slasher were the same person?
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)rl6214
(8,142 posts)I don't put political signs, stickers on my vehicles for that very reason.
mstinamotorcity2
(1,451 posts)He will be at another place of business panhandling. Too stupid to do anything else. It didn't cost you the truth. It didn't cost you fear. It didn't cost you your integrity. It didn't cost you your dignity by succumbing to hysterical LIES. Yes it cost you $270 for a new tire. But sending a republican away Mad as Hell....PRICELESS!!!! While you are riding in your beautiful truck that silly bastard will be out panhandling instead of writing his congressperson to vote for JOBS Bill.
SaveAmerica
(5,342 posts)another day. It seems that there is some sort of parking lot 'ask for gas money' thing going on. I've been approached twice in the past month and a friend was approached the day before the first time I was and the story was similar.
Sorry you were attacked like that, I sure hope you don't stop being outspoken.
warrior1
(12,325 posts)may be you can see who did it
sounds like a typical, uninformed voter. Sorry about your tire. That sucks. And, so don't those people.
i am thee modren man
(10 posts)What an immature, in-your-face, bad winner type of thing to put on your car! Do you really view this as a nyah nyah situation? Do you think Obama is perfect and is doing everything right?
If I were you, I would take that down immediately. There are many people on the Right who are freaked out by the win and feel threatened.
Flying Squirrel
(3,041 posts)librechik
(30,663 posts)But I will listen to the echoes of their unreasonable fear and their hatred of a man who is only trying to help them, no matter what party they belong to. And feel sorry for their poor brains, built to fear rather than to love and accept others--I'm lookin at you "Thee"
reflection
(6,286 posts)Feel enlightened.
JI7
(89,172 posts)quinnox
(20,600 posts)and goodbye as well!
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)If the right feels threatened, they'll have to just deal with it. Should they try to take out their frustrations with extrajudicial actions, they'll be dealt with, and I promise, they'll no longer feel threatened.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)then getting banned.
then coming back.
then getting banned.
then coming back.
Rinse. Repeat.
How many years, is it now?
"immature"?
Cha
(295,899 posts)panhandler.. The burning stupid is Everywhere!
Sneaky asshole.. who knew you couldn't leave your truck alone with him because he was psycho?
LeftyMom
(49,212 posts)I was just curious because $270 a pop is more than I'm looking at for performance tires for my pride and joy, and the size couldn't be too far off. So I looked it up and you're totally getting ripped off.
You should seriously consider switching tire shops.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)Fucking asshole!
former-republican
(2,163 posts)are you?
deaniac21
(6,747 posts)He must have plenty of cash to own such a thing.
Raine
(30,540 posts)Michigan Alum
(335 posts)It is such a perfect example of cognitive dissonance, stupidity and assholery.