In 1970, the “Five Man Electrical Band” released the hit “Signs,” chorus easy to remember: “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind, do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” Recall it or not, it just came to mind with political signs everywhere.
As we near the end of this political cycle, the content of signs is what caught my eye. Names abound, red, white, and blue, some green, some offbeat, and some very creative this season.
From Maine to Florida, people are writing their own signs, sticking them up, daring to say what they think, even as opponents get light-fingered. Democrats in Maine are ripping signs from yards, actions louder than words: No respect for free speech, no accountability expected.
The funny part, at least to this observer, is the creative nature of the signage. In some places, names are followed by policies, “Trump – Safe Borders, Harris – Open Borders,” full sentences.
One sign had five vertical words, “Truth Really Upsets Most People,” first letters highlighted. Another with Trump’s name and a moose had words from former Republican President Theodore Roosevelt after being shot, and nearly assassinated: “It takes more than that to kill a Bill Moose.”
Elsewhere, you see “I’m Voting for the Felon” (mocking Biden-Haris lawfare), “I hope the Russians Trick Me Into Voting for Trump Again” (mocking Democrats’ Russia collusion gambit), “Make America Safe Again (reference crime), and “Dogs for Trump-Vance” (which my dog may actually contest, since he is running).
Signs are everywhere, in many places sardonic, ironic, and downright funny. “Trump is Guilty – Of Fixing America,” “Got Trump?” (ala “Got Milk?”), “Trump – was right about everything,” and “I’d love a mean tweet and $1.79 gas right now.”
Two phenomena are emerging in the final days.
First, Democrats see the writing on the wall and are beginning to concede – from Congressman Jared Golden in Maine to candidates nationwide, while others, including Tim Walz, preemptively blame the electoral college or political action committees, or refuse to certify Trump’s possible win.
Second, many crossover groups – traditional Democrat voting blocks – are now leaning toward Trump and growing, labor unions to black males, signs up that say “Arab Americans for Trump,” “Hispanics for Trump,” “Women for Trump,” and “Democrats for Trump.”
So, this is about when crazy signs start appearing, signs mocking the sinking candidate, as Harris seems to be, or pretending to advocate for imaginary or increasingly unpredictable groups.
Not yet seen, but perhaps on their way are signs like “Illegals for Trump,” “Walz Relatives for Trump,” “Just Say No to Walls,” “Venezuelan Gangs for Harris-Walz,” maybe the edgy “Misgendered Felons for Harris,” “Make Sun Not Gas,” or “Wharris Harris?”
Somehow, you can see how this campaign season began with distaste or disgust, migrated to determined efforts at persuading the middle, is ended with the loss of faith in the process, polls, and persuasion, rather than take-it-or-leave-it signage.
Bottom line: Signs are merely a reflection of sentiment, greater and lesser intensity. more vocal or less. To be honest, as long as free speech is allowed, signs are good, not bad. Bad would be the suppression of signs and views. Optimally this averts political violence, wholly un-American.
So, yes, “sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind, do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?” Signs block scenery, tell us what to do, the cost of a Republic, so bring it. Then – when the election is over – pull them all, and give me back trees and greenery.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC. Robert Charles has also just released an uplifting new book, “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024).
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