Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 08:44 AM
Original message |
When you're holding worthless cards, put up illegal campaign signs? |
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Here in New Hampshire, for the longest time, there were essentially NO campaign signs ("lawn signs") from the Lieberman, Gephardt, Kucinich, Edwards, or Clark teams. By comparison, Kerry has a fair number and Dean has quite a few.
This weekend, though, in the Nashua area, a veritable blizzard of Lieberman signs went up. One problem: With the exception of one group of signs, every one of them was placed illegally (on public property along highways and major roads). And the one group that might have been placed legally was placed in front of a pair of buildings that have traditionally provided a home for Republican campaign signs.
We also saw quite a few Clark signs (in Merrimack, a fairly Republican/Libertarian town). All of those signs were also placed illegally.
Thankfully, January 27th and the NH Primary will be here soon.
Atlant
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JNelson6563
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Mon Jan-05-04 08:46 AM
Response to Original message |
1. Are there legal consequences for this? |
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Certainly doesn't seem like anything worth incurring legal troubles over.
Julie
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helleborient
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Mon Jan-05-04 08:48 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
2. No, but illegal campaigning does reflect on Clark and Lieberman (n/t) |
LiberalBushFan
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Mon Jan-05-04 08:58 AM
Response to Reply #2 |
4. your concern seems so heartfelt |
Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 08:56 AM
Response to Reply #1 |
3. Not that I've ever been able to determine. |
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Edited on Mon Jan-05-04 08:56 AM by Atlant
In theory, there are consequences, but in practice, there's nobody who'll do anything about this.
The City/Town clerks deny responsibility because this is an election run by/for the State rather than a local election.
The Secretary of State doesn't really care much about illegal signs, especially if they're Republican or a reasonable facsimile.
And most people (who haven't themselves struggled to find legal sign locations) don't know these signs are illegal and won't put any negative "spin" on them.
Atlant
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beyurslf
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Mon Jan-05-04 09:55 AM
Response to Original message |
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but in KS if you place an illegal sign in my city, a city worker will take it to city hall. The campiagn just has to pay to get it back. I think they charge 5 bucks. If you don't pay to get it back, they destroy it. No real consequence.
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:29 AM
Response to Reply #5 |
9. That's true here too during municipal elections... |
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That's true here too during municipal elections (when the Town/City Clerk is fully in charge of the election) but during State (~Federal) elections, responsibility lies with the State and they're not likely to do anything about it.
Atlant
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liberalhistorian
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:06 AM
Response to Original message |
6. Liberman signs being placed in front |
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of a Republican headquarters building? The ironic appropriateness of that is just too funny!
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:28 AM
Response to Reply #6 |
7. No, not a headquarters building. |
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But the buildings are owned by folks who've shown obvious Republican sympathies in all the past elections.
Atlant
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bicentennial_baby
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:29 AM
Response to Original message |
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I notice you don't mention any illegally placed Dean signs in NH, of which I have seen quite a few...interesting.
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:30 AM
Response to Reply #8 |
10. I haven't seen any. If you have, feel free to post details. |
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Edited on Mon Jan-05-04 10:33 AM by Atlant
By the way, if I saw an illegally-posted Dean sign, I'd take it upon myself to take it down, take it back to the campaign office, and educate them.
I don't feel that I have the right to do that with another campaign's sign, though.
Atlant
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MaineDem
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:33 AM
Response to Original message |
11. No signs on public property? |
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Heck, that's where we get to put ours. I think it's 60 days before an election we are allowed to put signs on public property.
Where do they go? All on private property? I'm just curious.
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:37 AM
Response to Reply #11 |
12. Yes, in NH, only on private property and only w/ permission. |
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I've put up a LOT of signs during my runs for School Board so I'm pretty familiar with the rules.
Weird story:
During one of my runs for office, I put up a sign (in a great location) at an old fellow's house. Later that night, he was murdered! The next day, I got to explain to the police why my Board-of-Ed business card was in the old guy's pocket! Good thing my sign was still standing in front of his house! It later turned out that his son murdered him so he could get the old guy's car! What a world!
Atlant
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MaineDem
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:49 AM
Response to Reply #12 |
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So you don't have tons of campaign signs at intersections?
Some traffic islands and intersections look like campaign sign gardens here during election time. :)
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:57 AM
Response to Reply #13 |
15. Not unless the corner is privately owned. |
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Edited on Mon Jan-05-04 10:58 AM by Atlant
Wow -- So you don't have tons of campaign signs at intersections?
Not unless the corner is privately owned (although there are plenty of those). And even then, the local constabulary has been known to take a dim view of signs that block the view of the intersection.
Atlant
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Padraig18
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Mon Jan-05-04 10:55 AM
Response to Original message |
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You cannot put signs on the public right-of-way or (in most communities) telephone poles; in my community, any campaign sign placed in either location is a petty (fine-only) offense, and the Village Attorney does prosecute violations.
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Atlant
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Mon Jan-05-04 03:57 PM
Response to Reply #14 |
16. I sure wish they did that here! |
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> and the Village Attorney does prosecute violations.
I sure wish they did that here! Near election day, the Repubs ROUTINELY say "The hell with campaign laws!". And they get away with it every time!
Atlant
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Fri May 03rd 2024, 05:57 PM
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