A Perspective from Maine: Obama, Good 4 Us
Avoiding the spewing bile of McCain's dying campaign, I took a few days off to drive the backroads of New England looking for antiques. Yesterday, in the early morning light, I drove from Bethel, Maine down to Cornish on Route 5, reveling in one of the most beautiful Columbus Day weekends in many years. With lakes and the White Mountains of New Hampshire in the far vista, brilliant sunlight dappled through the fire red, orange, and yellow trees set off against the blue sky and omnipresent evergreens. Dappled light hit the white houses and churches and occasional small graveyards omnipresently nestled along Maine backroads, where life and death easily coexist.
One cannot escape politics altogether, of course, because roads in Maine and New Hampshire are peppered with political signs touting the presidential contenders along with many local candidates. Interestingly, in Maine, the Republicans proclaim support for "McCain-Palin" together, while in New Hampshire McCain's name usually appears alone.
Then there was the most touching tribute I saw: a series of lovingly handpainted signs, set about 100 yards apart along Route 5 and gleaming in the morning light. "OBAMA" said the first. Then "OBAMA. A GOOD MAN" (with "GOOD" underlined). Then, finally, the last in the series: "OBAMA, GOOD 4 US."
That about sums it up, doesn't it? Take that, smarmy McCain and fear-monger Palin!
Come on New Hampshire! We want to run the table here in New England for Obama... Don't be Vermont's Evil Twin by voting for PALIN/mccain.
October 12, 2008 11:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for this lovely post. I find that this year there are more creative ways to advertise one's presidential preference. I myself have done two of them. OBAMA in 3 ft high letters on a tarp on my chimney (the tarp only there till the contractors can come and do some repairs). And I have 1 ft square plastic signs of the Obama logo with OMAMA beneath it on either side of the back wheel of my bike (hanging from the luggage rack).
I'm 63. And I'm doing my creative part to get the word out. And the word is OBAMA!
October 12, 2008 1:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
That should have read OBAMA on the bike. But I bet you knew that!
October 12, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
The economy's in nose-dive mode, and left-wing intellectuals are going antique shopping?
Say it ain't so, Theda.
October 12, 2008 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
What would you have me do to save the economy? I write, do politics, contribute -- and spend in places people need the income.
October 12, 2008 6:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
My apologies for the delay in replying.
The GOP is trying to portray Obama as an elitist.
It doesn't help the Democratic cause for upper-middle class intellectuals to say that they were antique shopping while the working class (forget middle class) is struggling to make ends meet.
RedState.com loyalists -- and they do read TPM -- will see you as an elitist... further proof that the "liberal elite" can't be trusted.
October 13, 2008 8:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interestingly, in Maine, the Republicans proclaim support for "McCain-Palin" together, while in New Hampshire McCain's name usually appears alone.
The explanation is fairly mundane. In Maine, ballots list the entire ticket, whereas in New Hampshire, the ballots only list the Presidential candidate.
October 13, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink