Sign, sign, everywhere a sign

[Bryan]

Things I've noticed in Winnipeg:

1) A candidate recycling old signs.

I honestly didn't know what to make of this. Is the message that candidate is environmentally friendly, or that their campaign doesn't have as much support as they used to have to afford new signs?

The thing that makes them stand out is that these signs are not even federal election signs. They are from when this candidate uses to run in the provincial elections. So the colours and the party logo are different, and they even have the name of the provincial riding on them (which is different from the federal one.

2) A stretch where every single house on a busy multi-lane street has signs for a particular candidate

That in itself would not be that strange. You just think that candidate must have very strong support. ...Until you notice the hand-made signs taped over a lot of these signs saying; "this sign placed without permission". Again, what to make of that? Why would a candidate place signs without asking first, and even more curious, why wouldn't the home owner who didn't want the sign just take it down?

3) Destroyed signs

I've seen a lot of this, against all parties. I wonder if this is not a partisan sabotage thing at all, but rather a bunch of bored kids being presented with easy vandalism targets?

4) Homes with huge signs for more than one party

A lot of these too. Again, what does this mean? Are these just nice people who say yes to anyone who asks? Or are they having some really spirited dinner conversation in that household?

[Bonam]

I don't really see the value of these election signs at all. They don't make a point or an argument or anything, they just state the candidate's name and party affiliation. But, that's indicated on the ballot anyway, so anyone who votes will see all the same information at the time they vote as they see on these signs. Nothing new gets added. I just don't see the point.

[scouterjim]

I don't really see the value of these election signs at all. They don't make a point or an argument or anything, they just state the candidate's name and party affiliation. But, that's indicated on the ballot anyway, so anyone who votes will see all the same information at the time they vote as they see on these signs. Nothing new gets added. I just don't see the point.

I'm with you. Then the signs are around for weeks after the election.

[Bryan]

I do have a guess WRT the signs' effectiveness.

I think they are specifically for people who don't follow politics at all, but do understand the basic concept that they should "exercise their right". Not knowing who to vote for though, they vote how they think most of their neighbors are voting.

Just a theory.

[RNG]

For many elections, my wife and I disagreed mightely on the right political choice, so we had competing signs on our lawn. Recently she has changed and is espousing my political bent. But we are now in a condo apartment so can't have a sign. Bummer.

[WIP]

I don't think there are near as many lawn signs as there used to be 30 or 40 years ago. When I was young, it seemed like every other house had a campaign sign out front at election time.

[Molly]

I don't really see the value of these election signs at all.

They're the very best bang for the buck... (sad to report).

[scribblet]

Things I've noticed in Winnipeg:

1) A candidate recycling old signs.

A lot of these too. Again, what does this mean? Are these just nice people who say yes to anyone who asks? Or are they having some really spirited dinner conversation in that household?

Homes with more than one sign have either people who support different parties, or - they just want tomato stakes LOL

During the previous election, the incumbent was a conservative so his sign rightly said re-elect, but the Liberal candidate's also said re-elect, because he had been the MP before the conservative beat him. They called E.C. but nothing was done.

[CANADIEN]

During the previous election, the incumbent was a conservative so his sign rightly said re-elect, but the Liberal candidate's also said re-elect, because he had been the MP before the conservative beat him. They called E.C. but nothing was done.

And why should have E.C. done anything? While technically innaccurate, there was nothing there was breaking any rule.

[WWWTT]

I don't really see the value of these election signs at all. They don't make a point or an argument or anything, they just state the candidate's name and party affiliation. But, that's indicated on the ballot anyway, so anyone who votes will see all the same information at the time they vote as they see on these signs. Nothing new gets added. I just don't see the point.

Ya theres a word for that.

You might have heard of it.

Its called "advertising"

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

For many elections, my wife and I disagreed mightely on the right political choice, so we had competing signs on our lawn. Recently she has changed and is espousing my political bent. But we are now in a condo apartment so can't have a sign. Bummer.

Paint a sign on your face then and don't wash it off until May 3rd.

Or better don`t wash it off until a couple of weeks after the election!

Probably be an improvement too.

WWWTT

Edited April 18, 2011 by WWWTT

[Evening Star]

But commercial advertising usually tells you something about the product or at least tries to do something distinctive to make the product seem appealing. These lawn signs really tell you nothing but the candidate's name and party affiliation, perhaps with a photo. So I also sometimes wonder what their purpose is. As far as I can tell, it's just a way for people to gauge how popular each candidate is, going by the number of signs per candidate.

Ya theres a word for that.

You might have heard of it.

Its called "advertising"

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

But commercial advertising usually tells you something about the product or at least tries to do something distinctive to make the product seem appealing. These lawn signs really tell you nothing but the candidate's name and party affiliation, perhaps with a photo. So I also sometimes wonder what their purpose is. As far as I can tell, it's just a way for people to gauge how popular each candidate is, going by the number of signs per candidate.

What about bill boards and signs in window stores displaying products.

There's only so much a sign can tell you when you read it as you quickly drive by.

Nobody is going to stop using them because the first person that does will be giving their opponent a clear advantage.

Signs have become a long running staple synomonous with elections.

I doubt it they will go away.

WWWTT

[Molly]

20 years ago or more some of the politicos in our area were floating the idea of posting no signs, but spending most of the saved money advertising that in lieu of posting signs, a donation would be made to (whatever charity).

No one actually did it, but it was weighed quite seriously. Problem is, the signs reach more people for less cost than any of the alternatives. No signs? You disappear from conciousness.

[eyeball]

3) Destroyed signs

I've seen a lot of this, against all parties. I wonder if this is not a partisan sabotage thing at all, but rather a bunch of bored kids being presented with easy vandalism targets?

I think I was about 14 when a bunch of us helped a buddy who's Dad who was running for the Tories in Toronto decades ago. We'd stuff campaign flyers into mailboxes and front doors and gopher this or that when needed and occasionally they'd let us have a few beers at the end of the day back at the HQ. I actually thought Conservatives were a pretty hip bunch.

I also recall a bunch of us driving around the riding with our buddy looking for opposition signage to destroy. We weren't bored, we were on a mission. No doubt there were other like-minded gophers doing the same for other parties.

Edited April 18, 2011 by eyeball

[kimmy]

The Liberal and Conservative signs here are awfully similar, aside from the color.

"Elect" (or "Re-Elect") "Candidate's name here" "Riding name".

The NDP signs say "Candidate's Name", "Jack Layton", and "NDP". "Jack Layton" is about 3 times the size of "NDP" on the sign, which seems odd to me.

When the signs started appearing, I was really excited to find that my local candidates included...

Kris Stewart!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soC9OojDDio

...and Alice Hooper!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hVIGjvuVY

Man, was I disappointed later.

-k

[capricorn]

A Liberal worker accused of ripping off a Tory opponent's signs will face a court nine days after the federal election, police said.

The arrest of incumbent Brampton-West MP Andrew Kania's worker was revealed Monday by Mitch Wexler, Conservative opponent Kyle Seebeck's campaign manager.

"It's disappointing," Seebeck said in a statement. "We want a fair election where everyone follows the rules."

Kania said his volunteer claims he was framed.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2011/04/18/18037701.html

Innocent until proven guilty.

[WWWTT]

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/CanadaVotes/News/2011/04/18/18037701.html

Innocent until proven guilty.

Hey thats my riding.

Andrew has a law firm so at least his staff member will get all the legal advise for free and free court representation.

WWWTT

[WWWTT]

Ya from what I have read it actually sounds like he was framed and the charges will be dropped.

The only evidence is possesion of tory signs in his open truck.It sounds like that there wasn't even enough evidence to really charge the guy.

And the media was allerted by Seebacks campaign which says something too!

WWWTT

[Scotty]

Ya from what I have read it actually sounds like he was framed and the charges will be dropped.

The only evidence is possesion of tory signs in his open truck.It sounds like that there wasn't even enough evidence to really charge the guy.

And the media was allerted by Seebacks campaign which says something too!

So let me see if I've got your thinking right here. You're suggesting someone pulled up a bunch of Tory signs, located the pickup of a guy who they knew (somehow) was a liberal campaign worker, and dumped the signs in his pickup, then called the police? You don't think that might be just a little far fetched.... buddy?

[RNG]

The Liberal and Conservative signs here are awfully similar, aside from the color.

"Elect" (or "Re-Elect") "Candidate's name here" "Riding name".

The NDP signs say "Candidate's Name", "Jack Layton", and "NDP". "Jack Layton" is about 3 times the size of "NDP" on the sign, which seems odd to me.

Man, was I disappointed later.

-k

I think their stratagists figure that "NDP" has a bit of negative attached to it in the view of the soft Liberals they are trying to convert, but Layton has been presenting himself very well, so emphasize your positives.

[capricorn]

Another sign event.

Elections official fired for removing Tory signs

Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe returning officer Ghislaine Ringuette Crawford confirmed Monday the head official at one of the riding's federal election advance polls has been removed from his position for breaking federal election laws.

---

Conservative campaign members say they witnessed the man drive off from a polling station on Dominion Street in Moncton with the signs in the trunk of his car.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/news/article/1400921

[Mr.Canada]

Another sign event.

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/news/article/1400921

I'm fairly certain that this kind of shenanigans isn't limited to one party. However I will say that I don't believe any leader would condone this behavior. I find it hard to believe they don't like it if it favors their parties signs.