Bumper Stickers

Radar • Apr 10, 2006 12:10 am
I've been working on a design for bumper stickers that will also go on yard signs, highway signs, business cards, stationary, car magnets, etc.

I decided to use one that reminds me of the John Kerry campaign because he won my district by 88% and people might accidentally vote for me because it reminds them of him. I first designed one without the word "Libertarian" on it, because they'll see that on the ballot. Then I got a bunch of heat from those in the LP saying I should put it on there.

I'd like your opinion....and any donations you can send to help me actually buy campaign supplies.

Thanks for either your input, or your donation, or both.
Radar • Apr 10, 2006 12:11 am
Here's the 2nd one...
marichiko • Apr 10, 2006 1:30 am
Eh, go with the first one. The voters should be informed enough to know that you are the Libertarian candidate. I don't recall that the Kerry stickers said "Democrate for President." You should be out there generating enough publicity for yourself that the "libertarian" part would be redundent. IMHO.
lumberjim • Apr 10, 2006 2:15 am
you'll get the irish vote, no doubt.
xoxoxoBruce • Apr 10, 2006 5:06 am
First one, essential information only when you're trying to get their attention.
The red, white & blue must be good....everyone uses it. Matter of fact, election stickers become a blur, in election years, because they all look alike.

When I run for King, I'm gonna use pink or bright green, you know, something unique. That way if my sticker catches their eye, they won't have to be able to read it....they'll know what it is. :D
Beestie • Apr 10, 2006 9:09 am
The first one is very good.

The second one has some design problems that we needn't dwell on.

And I highly recommend that you remove the URL. From a design point of view only - not because of the website itself. The bumper sticker should convey an elegance of simplicity and a presumption of victory and its very close to doing that.
Undertoad • Apr 10, 2006 9:26 am
Traditional electoneering wisdom is that you identify your party during the primaries, since that's when your own voters will vote for you; and do not identify during the general election, since that's when you are trying to appeal to all voters. Only in districts that are already extremely partisan will you find general election signs indicating party affiliation.

Since you have no chance of winning, your role is to "get the word out" and bumper stickers will not achieve this goal whatsoever so they are a waste of time. It would be a more effective use of money to produce issue-based stickers which would still be useful after November.
Trilby • Apr 10, 2006 10:11 am
xoxoxoBruce wrote:
When I run for King, I'm gonna use pink or bright green,


Well, you'll certainly get the preppy vote! ;)
Radar • Apr 10, 2006 11:05 am
Beestie wrote:
The first one is very good.

The second one has some design problems that we needn't dwell on.

And I highly recommend that you remove the URL. From a design point of view only - not because of the website itself. The bumper sticker should convey an elegance of simplicity and a presumption of victory and its very close to doing that.


My original one looked like this attachment, but I got a bunch of email from people saying I should include my URL on everything to raise donations, and that I should include the Libertarian party so I redesigned them this weekend.
plthijinx • Apr 10, 2006 11:44 am
yeah, go with the first one......
Elspode • Apr 10, 2006 2:12 pm
I agree that the first one is superior. However, should you decide to introduce a bit of truth through levity into the campaign, may I respectfully submit:
wolf • Apr 10, 2006 2:21 pm
Go with the first one.

Sounds like your local libertarians have a penis envy issue ...

I can't remember the last time that I saw any campaign literature with the party clearly identified ... and it usually takes a good 15 minutes of searching around a campaign website to find it in the small print.

The goal these days is to appeal to everybody, not just your own party. For libertarians, this is critical.
barefoot serpent • Apr 10, 2006 4:10 pm
I think the Clinton Campaign folks coined the motto: KISS

Keep It Simple Stupid
Trilby • Apr 10, 2006 4:36 pm
I feel like I've just been fucked by a BIGFAT DICK. Via bumper sticker.
Radar • Apr 10, 2006 5:57 pm
I think it would be funny to have a bumper sticker with a picture of Dick Cheney that says, "YOU SUCK, DICK."
Clodfobble • Apr 10, 2006 8:09 pm
How about a Jesus loves Dick [Cheney] shirt instead? :)
xoxoxoBruce • Apr 10, 2006 9:50 pm
I vote for Elspode's submission. :thumb:
OnyxCougar • Apr 19, 2006 11:36 am
xoxoxoBruce wrote:
I vote for Elspode's submission. :thumb:


I agree.

I like without "libertarian" and with the web url.

You have a chance to win some over at your website, but not if you scare em off with "libertarian" before they even get there.
OnyxCougar • Apr 19, 2006 12:11 pm
Website critique:

Put up a picture other than of you in a tshirt. Libertarian != unprofessional.

Let the flash intro stay up longer. I didn't get a chance to read it before it was gone.

Have some events to put on the calendar. Fund raisers, book signings, celebrity dinners. There have to be some Lib celebs willing to back you up.

If you're running for the 35th district, put up a map showing exactly where that district is, and where the polling places are for your district.

Get more posts on that blog.

Get more endorsements. One supporter does not a candidate make.

I think this has alot of potential.
Radar • Apr 19, 2006 9:07 pm
I'm working on the photo thing, I can't extend the time on the flash intro because it's a template used by many people. All I can do is reduce the number of words on it. Good idea on the 35th district map. I need to put info on the BIO page, and also good suggestions on the calendar and endorsements.
rkzenrage • Apr 28, 2006 12:00 pm
I like the designs very much.
You should make some hip ones for a younger crowd as well and work on some discussion points that targets issues toward a younger/more in-tuned constituency.
Though I am 38, I am often put-off by the pretentious nature of political campaigns. They make me feel like I cannot relate to the candidate and they are hiding something.
Ironically, I thought Al Gore did very well with the MTV discussions, very at ease and bantered well with the crowds.
Just something to think about.
I think that Esplode's is not too far off of the mark for my above suggestion... and I am not kidding.
Radar • Apr 29, 2006 5:45 pm
Woo Hoo!!! One of my supporters printed a bunch of my bumper stickers and sent them to me. They look great! I think they will help me to raise more money to buy more.
xoxoxoBruce • Apr 29, 2006 5:54 pm
Raise money to fund the campaign to raise money. See, you've become a campaign funding whore already. You're a natural born politician. :lol:
richlevy • Apr 29, 2006 11:00 pm
How's this for a bumper sticker?

"Honk if you think we are all well and truly f***ed."
Urbane Guerrilla • May 3, 2006 7:59 pm
That ain't bumper-sticker, Rich, that's cocktail-party.