Political signs can bring fines
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Lisa Olson of Delavan built this Romney/Ryan sign out of an old television console.
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This chalkboard sign at 23 S. Atwood Ave. in Janesville is a creative way to keep up with current issues on a political sign. It featured a message to Paul Ryan when the Republican candidate for Vice President was in Janesville speaking at Craig High School recently.
JANESVILLE — Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind
Do this, don't do that, can't you read the signs?
It's been decades since the Five Man Electrical Band sang about signs, but the theme of their 1971 chart-topper seems just as relevant in 2012.
Planted earlier this year with a movement to recall Wisconsin's governor, political signs are once again dotting the landscape ahead of November's presidential, congressional and state elections.
Most are mass-produced.
Others are clever, the result of creativity, hand tools and a little paint.
Some might be considered offensive, and others might be illegal.
"In this election, there are so many issues and so many things to talk about," said Judith Detert-Moriarty, who has a chalkboard sign outside her house on Atwood Avenue in Janesville.
Detert-Moriarty said she tries to change the sign's message daily and, so far, the weather generally has been kind to messages written in chalk.
Her base sign gives the website addresses for President Barack Obama and 1st Congressional District candidate Rob Zerban, both Democrats. As of earlier this week, she'd authored 16 messages on the chalkboard.
Photos are available on the Facebook page "The Power of Chalk."
Recent messages include "Healthcare Not Wealthcare," "Hey GOP! Labor Built It" and "Time to Clean the House and the Senate."
State statutes require that all yard signs paid for by a candidate carry an attribution statement telling people who paid for the sign, said Reid Magney, public information officer for the state's Government Accountability Board.
That's pretty clear, particularly when it comes to the smaller, mass-produced signs that typically adorn yards.
It becomes less clear, however, when it comes to handmade signs placed on behalf of a candidate.
Magney said the handmade signs generally don't require attribution—"Paid for by …"—unless the value of the donation exceeds $25.
A typical 4-foot, hand-painted sign likely doesn't cost more than $25 to produce and therefore doesn't need the attribution.
But what about that same sign when it's duplicated and placed in several yards?
If the total cost tops $25, the group making the signs needs to register with the state and attach attribution to its signs, Magney said.
Some have wondered about several signs along Center Avenue in Janesville. The hand-produced signs support Rep. Tammy Baldwin in her campaign for the U.S. Senate.
None carry attribution saying who paid for them.
The Gazette was unable to determine who made and placed the signs or if more than $25 was spent.
For state offices, anyone who sees a potential campaign finance violation can report it to the Government Accountability Board, Magney said. For local offices, it should be reported to the district attorney's office.
Jean Wulf, Janesville's city clerk, said her office also fields calls on campaign signs. Most center on placement, while some question whether signs carry proper attribution.
"When we get complaints, we will take a look at it," Wulf said. "If there's an issue, I usually call the candidate, and it's not a problem.
"You can usually tell by looking at the quality of the sign whether it's approaching that $25 threshold."
Wulf said signs cannot be placed in terraces, and when placed on private property they must not block the vision of motorists approaching intersections. Generally, she said, that means signs can't be put within 25 feet of the corner and the line that completes those two points to create a "vision triangle."
As for the sign's message, that's up to the property owner.
"We have this thing called the First Amendment," Magney said.
Feeling frustrated and stifled, Lisa Olson took action after the Republican National Convention to erect a sign in her yard on Bailey Road in Delavan.
She pulled an old armoire out of her garage, dressed it up with paint and added images of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan. She then added some light to make the booth glow at night.
Both Detert-Moriarty and Olson said they had initial fears about vandalism to their signs, but nothing has happened. No one has touched Olson's sign or changed Detert-Moriarty's daily message.
"I didn't want a brick through my window, but I decided I was not going to be intimidated," Olson said. "Everyone has the right to say what they want, and they should get involved and stand behind what they believe in."
Olson said she originally thought about a second sign, one that likely would have been critical of President Obama.
"I just decided that doing that would take away from this beautiful sign," she said. "I think we're better served by staying positive, and when you go overboard on the negativity you tend to lose your credibility."
Sep 16, 2012 at 12:11 p.m.
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To get this straight sal...are you saying all those executive orders were instituted and/or signed by our current Commander-in-Chief?
Sep 16, 2012 at 11:36 a.m.
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thank you motorman, my words DO say who I am... a patriot who checks into facts. Yours indicate exactly who you are, as do most of the liberals posting here. You needn't express your fake sympathy to me, but you should tell the freedom loving people of this country you are sorry for supporting a traitor. A traitor who says we should respect the religion of Islam while he disrespects the Catholic religion here at home. He took an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution and then calls it flawed, and now that his only 'achievement', the obamination of obamacare has been called a tax, it is clear he has completely violated the Constitution, because that document is very clear that all bills regarding taxes MUST begin in the House. I've presented tons of facts, and not 1 liberal has presented one. So, actually it is the words of liberals who tell who they are.. ignorant, name calling bullies who probably realize how stupid they look for sucking up the kool-aid passed out by their party, but are too ashamed to admit it. That's at best.. at the worst, as I stated, you are selfish traitors with blood on your hands, too stupid or stubborn to see the truth. Either way, I'd rather be a 'whacko' than what you folks are..
Sep 16, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.
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Motorman, your words also form who and what you are as well.
Sep 16, 2012 at 10:56 a.m.
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Carlitosway, I am a Woman and as a Woman it is my sole responsibility to take care of myself. If I was still at a child bearing age, it would be MY RESPONSIBILITY to go to the Doctor and get a prescription for BIRTH CONTROL and pay for it out of my own pocket. Sorry but there would be little need for abortions if WOMEN TOOK MORE RESPONSIBILITY TO PREVENT A PREGNANCY FROM HAPPENING. Apparently you want the Freedom of choice to have an abortion, but refuse to exercise your Choice and Freedom to prevent a Pregnancy. And do not give me the crap about rapes as more Women get Pregnant from unprotected sex than from getting raped. Our Rights and Freedoms are being attacked and taken away, but if the only thing you can fight for is the Right to have an abortion, then you are the one who is misguided. You are correct, we all have the right to choose and I choose to keep my Freedoms that have been guaranteed to me under the U.S Constitution and if you feel Abortions are more important than that, then there truly is no hope for you.
Sep 16, 2012 at 12:25 a.m.
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Sal- Thanks for the laughs. You are a real looney tune bud, WOW. If being God FUL leads me to the lunacy that you believe, consider me atheist. And guess what Bozo there are plenty of Patriotic athiests that fight proudly for this nation. Being a believer in God is not in any way a pre-requisute for citizenship.
IDIOTS are people that label others while they stand on soap boxes trying to frame others. You copy/paste meaningless garbage that no one (but maybe me) will read and for what? the man you call a traitor, the current president , looks like he will be around another four years for all of you brainless godFULL embiciles to continue to bash with your meaningless , endless , garbled up talking points. Maybe next election you should just run a tea party candidate, instead of jumping behind whatever butt monkey that comes out of the Republican nominating process.
Wake up and smell the TEA Sal, Ive seen you in long debates before and as usual you just dig deep holes that you cannot talk your way out of. You are a true fringe lunatic, and I for one am glad you are the minority in this country. We dont need "Patriots" like you in this country, we need free thinkers, not mindless Zombies that march in lockstep with partisan ideology. Cheers Boingo the clown!
Sep 15, 2012 at 9:52 p.m.
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no, I was referring to the socialist who is doing his best to destroy our country. Of course, the title also refers to ALL who support him, regardless of past military service.
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:34 p.m.
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Motorman-[nudge-nudge, wink-wink] yep
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:16 p.m.
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Motorman call ME Whacko, but it seems he/she supports re electing the man that brought us to this http://www.cnbc.com/id/49037337
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:14 p.m.
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Thanks so much, Motorman.. if a godless traitor thinks I am 'whacko', I must be better than I thought..
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:05 p.m.
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Finally, lest anyone make the mistake of thinking I am a slobbering fool for the Romney/Ryan ticket... hardly..I'm well aware that Ryan, like all Wisconsin congressional delegates other than Sensenbrenner voted for the NDAA. I know about bailouts and cash for clunkers... just to name a few.... I'm tired of having crappy choices and THAT is why yes, I AM PROUD TO BE PART OF THE TEAPARTY MOVEMENT.
Sep 15, 2012 at 7:58 p.m.
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here are the traitor's executive orders.. but hey, carlito's way can still get an abortion, so that's all that matters, right? EXECUTIVE ORDER 10990 allows the government to take over all modes of transportation and control of highways and seaports.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10995 allows the government to seize and control the communication media.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10997 allows the government to take over all electrical power, gas, petroleum, fuels and minerals.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 10998 allows the government to take over all food resources and farms.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11001 allows the government to take over all health, education and welfare functions.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11002 designates the of all persons. Postmaster General to operate a national registration
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11003 allows the government to take over all airports and aircraft, including commercial aircraft.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11004 allows the Housing and Finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11005 allows the government to take over railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11049 assigns emergency preparedness function to federal departments and agencies, consolidating 21 operative Executive Orders issued over a fifteen year period.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11051 specifies the responsibility of the Office of Emergency Planning and gives authorization to put
all
Executive Orders into effect in times of increased international tensions and economic or financial crisis.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11310 grants authority to the Department of Justice to enforce the plans set out in Executive Orders, to institute industrial support, to establish judicial and legislative liaison, to control all aliens, to operate penal and correctional institutions, and to advise and assist the President.
-EXECUTIVE ORDER 11921 allows the Federal Emergency Preparedness Agency to develop plans to establish control over the mechanisms of production and distribution, of energy sources, wages, salaries, credit and the flow of money in U.S. financial institution in any undefined national emergency. It also provides that when a state of emergency is declared by the President, Congress cannot review the action for six months.
Feel free to verify the "executive orders" at will... and these are just the major ones...
I'm sure you've all heard the tale of the "Frog in the Pot"... you all comfortable???
Sep 15, 2012 at 7:53 p.m.
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I would prefer NO signs.
Here is the latest tacky idea.....
Yard Sale For Obama
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8nLVNQxt...
Sep 15, 2012 at 7:45 p.m.
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oh, yeah, Carlito's way is definitely making up his/her own mind, as she/he/it spews the party line re war on women. 1st, most of the women I know ARE voting for Romney/Ryan, so there goes your first lie. This includes the 3 young college women I work with who condemned abortion as "poking sticks up your crotch so you can stick a vacuum cleaner hose up there and suck out the baby. As a nurse, I can tell you this IS AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF AN ABORTION. This discussion happened after they supported a friend thru an abortion and represents a change of heart of 2 of the 3. So much for your snide, smug remark about making up ones own mind. They made theirs up with first hand knowledge. As for any war on women, I submit that roughly 50% of all babies conceived are female, therefore at least 50%
of babies aborted are likely to be female.. sounds like an assault on women to me. How about women being forced to pay for other women's birth control and abortions, even if it is against their religion? Where's all that freedom you think we still have? Why aren't those women free to make a choice about how their money is spent? Do you realize that many Catholic facilities are run by nuns? So forcing them to do something they are against is definitely a war on them as women, as Americans and as they perceive themselves as Christian women. Freedom? Really? Do you realize the man who made the movie that your lying president blames for the violence in the middle east has been arrested? Freedom? When the traitor threatened to sue the polls for showing him running behind? When they tell tv shows to run pro obama care plots? This by you is freedom? As long as you can have an abortion or birth control paid for by someone else? That's all it takes for you to be free, huh? While your president calls the Constitution of the United States a flawed document and vows to work around the checks and balances system worked into it? While his wife tries to tell people what they can eat? You think you are free? Freedom comes from God, and God was booed 3 times at the Democratic Convention -- Freedom won't happen if koolaid sucking useful idiots like you don't wake up..Obama is a godless socialist traitor who now has the blood of the ambassador and the other 3 Americans on his hands. and so does everyone who voted for him
Sep 15, 2012 at 6:05 p.m.
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It's Hardtobelieve you haven't seen the debt clock, which is another indicator Obama hasn't scored at all.
Sep 15, 2012 at 5:47 p.m.
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oooohhhh....and now the Liberal traitors, spew their hate, soon it will be Bush's fault....yes wait for it....George Bush invented the yard sign, he is to blame....and he is the father of Scott Walker, a lustful, unrecognized love child....give me a break...did any of you ever play a sport? Exactly i doubt it you were smoking weed under the stands...some of us just like to show our support for our team...kind of like cheering them on....i really cann't believe you people, you would turn a yard sign into the slavery if you could prove you freakin liberal agenda!
Sep 15, 2012 at 2:21 p.m.
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Just like the signs, there is nothing on these blogs that could ever change my mind either. Obama 2012!!
Sep 15, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
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Go to Bond and Grant they have several not paid for by anyone, tapartysal must be a man as no woman would support the bigoted anti women people. Getalife you need to get one as yourd is not about the rights and freedom of our Country. Zoom I agree as to their wingnutted posts. So many of the less informed support the selling of this Country and it is SAD and sickening as I value The America that has allowed our rights to freedom and make our own choices with our own bodies and things that matter.The ignorance to those that accept blatant lying is at most laughable with them. OBAMA 2012
Sep 15, 2012 at 11:36 a.m.
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frogger- The answer can be found in my last post.
Sep 15, 2012 at 11:28 a.m.
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'I enjoy seeing which neighbors are free thinkers and which are government submitters'
Wow. Your non-sense laden posts are hilarious to read because you frequently reference how you voted in '08 and then talk about how you feel now. Your new found blind acceptance that your new party is the correct one and those who haven't seen the same light as you are now less intelligent than you is well, wrong and as much a part of the problem as those neighbors whom you assume are 'government submitters'. Seriously.
Sep 15, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.
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jocose- yes I get it but Telsa did it at the fair this summer. Cool song. Do they curse in the old version?
Sep 15, 2012 at 9:04 a.m.
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hey frogger- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrdH4Tm8p...
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:21 a.m.
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I enjoy seeing which neighbors are free thinkers and which are government submitters. Especially when you see them hanging their heads as they remove the Barrett signs.
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:12 a.m.
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American politics is very broken. The Gazette will write an article about a few hand made signs and imply that they may violate the law, yet a casino owner in Vegas, under investigation for money laundering, can legally send ten of millions of dollars to pro-Romney groups.
Sep 15, 2012 at 8:03 a.m.
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The Atwood sign is rather creative and unique, and something you don't often see with the conformist right.
Sep 15, 2012 at 8 a.m.
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I rather like the teaparty posts. It simply confirms their wingnuttery.
Sep 15, 2012 at 7:20 a.m.
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And speaking of liberals, I'm sure SICK of these Dane county judges sticking their nose in the business of the entire state of WI.
Sep 15, 2012 at 7:15 a.m.
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Liberals disgust me. And Whz_bng thank you. I wouldn't want to post a sign in my front yard anyway- and have some angry liberal vandalize my property because I don't want another 4 years of Obummer.
Sep 15, 2012 at 5:42 a.m.
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Regarding the political signs, city codes, & code enforcement. The majority of the people with a political sign do not have to worry about a code violation because nothing will be done. I see RUMMAGE & garage signs all over the city - large & small. Some are taped to stop sign poles, on neighbors properties, on stop lights. They are evertwhere and some do block a drivers view, but day after day are still up.
Sep 15, 2012 at 2:24 a.m.
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I don't know why anyone in their right mind would put up a political sign?? You stand to gain NOTHING in doing it.. I never have got why people put them up?? Your sign will sway absolutely NO ONE'S vote. While all you do is put a huge target for vandalization to your property.
Sep 15, 2012 at 12:18 a.m.
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given whz bng's contempt of freedom of speech, I can only assume he'll be voting for the traitor
Sep 15, 2012 at 12:16 a.m.
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did the story in the paper have pictures of Romney signs, too, or just signs supporting the traitor with blood on his hands? Just askin
Sep 14, 2012 at 5:37 p.m.
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whz- amen- well said!
Sep 14, 2012 at 5:34 p.m.
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"It's been decades since the Five Man Electrical Band sang about signs, but the theme of their 1971 chart-topper seems just as relevant in 2012."
Actually is was this summer at the fair! Tesla!
But you may not know that because you didn't even take pics of any of the entertainers.
Sep 14, 2012 at 4:56 p.m.
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What about signs saying who you aren't voting for paid for by no party? I think the sky's the limit on those.
Sep 14, 2012 at 4:45 p.m.
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I wish political ads would go the way of tobacco ads....banned from most media.
Sep 14, 2012 at 4:28 p.m.
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No sign has ever induced anyone to cahnge their vote. Clutter up the neighborhoods. I think they should all be banned.
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