Just a quick short question:

[Madam Mossfern]

Do you think that stealing political signs from someone's property is merely vandalism, or something deeper?

It's my contention that it's different because those who would not normally trespass or steal seem to think it's ok because it's political. Is it a 1st amendment issue?

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

1. I think it's creepy and sick. It is definitely a 1st Amendment issue.

What sort of person is so bothered by a yard sign, and so immature, that they cannot simply respect your right to display it? I have a bumper filled with my own bumper stickers which say things like: "Helmet Upgrade Kit $100, Body Armor $800, A president who cares about the troops PRICELESS"

Well, some cowardly neighbor, I assume it was a neighbor, (hope this loser wasn't stalking me from afar) would leave hand-written paper notes on the windshield of my car. It only happened a few times, but it was almost always on mornings when it would rain (rendering the notes nearly illegible). The notes would say things like "Kerry Lost, Get Over It" or "George Bush is your president too, Deal with it".

Really sick people out there.

[saltpoint]

2. It flies in the face of what should be anyone's right to post yard signs.

Agree. First Amendment issue.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Yes it is

There was only one time that I felt a yard sign display was in poor taste and went beyond the protection of the First Amendment. It was when a fellow surnamed Winchester was running for a state office. Naturally, his signs had a picture of a Winchester rifle on it (he was GOP). Some idiot rigged up a bunch of Winchester signs so they "aimed" at a sign of his rival--and that sign was pocked with mock bullet holes and blood. I felt this was going over the line and informed my local Democratic committee, which informed the local Republican committee, who persuaded the person who had put up the tableau to take it down. But this was in 1980 or so, when people still listened to reason.

[SheilaT]

4. It's so common as to almost

be beneath notice.

I ran for office for years ago. I got a call in the middle of the fall from an angry supporter who needed a replacement sign because mine had been torn up and the pieces left scattered on her lawn.

Oh, and the Kerry sign was untouched.

Never could figure out who in that neighborhood disliked me enough to do that.

[dysfunctional press]

5. back when i was in high school, the mayor's daughter's car was pulled over...

she and her brother had dozens of their father's opponent's campaign signs in the car that they had taken down/stolen.
the asshole still won, and his kids were sent to parochial school. (the one i was at)