Progressive Bumper Sticker Rotating Header Image

As Governor, Paul LePage Would Bring Offshore Oil Drilling to Maine

Have you heard that Paul LePage wants to bring offshore oil drilling to the waters of Maine?

It’s true, and the Republican candidate for Governor made it unavoidably plain. When he was asked “Would you support offshore drilling in the waters off the Maine Coast?” in a televised gubernatorial debate in May of this year, Paul LePage gave an unequivocal one-word answer: “Yes.”

We’ve seen what happened to the fishing and tourism industries of the Gulf Coast after BP’s recent oil disaster. Is this what you want to see happening in Maine’s future?

Say No to Maine Coast Offshore Oil Drilling.  Say No to Paul LePage for Governor.

Liberal Bumper Sticker Sale: Up to 1/8 Off Through July 24

If you were thinking of snagging a few of our progressive bumper stickers, now’s the time. Head to our general progressive sticker shop or our state-by-state Election 2010 bumper sticker store and fill up on bumper stickers (or buttons or shirts, if you’d like them too). Then at checkout enter the Coupon Code HEATSNIP — and if you’ve ordered $40 or more, you’ll nab $5 in savings. Take that $5 you’ve saved and donate it to your favorite political candidate.

Fact Check: Paul LePage, Creationism and Public Schools

In the state of Maine, there’s been a bit of a kerfuffle recently over the controversial views of Paul LePage, the Republican nominee for Governor. John Frary, the Republican Party’s recent candidate for Congress in Maine’s 2nd District, sought to allay concerns about Paul LePage’s creationist views by writing an op-ed piece in the Portland Press Herald earlier this month. Frary had this to say about LePage:

His opponents will get some mileage from the Republican’s answer to question about “creationism” in a debate.

He did not propose this as a vital educational reform. He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum. He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.

It’s never safe to trust the truth value of a politician’s defense of someone else in his own party. Let’s fact-check John Frary’s claim about Paul LePage. What did Paul LePage actually say?

Debate transcript, May 27, 2010:

Full text of question posed by Maine Public Radio’s Jennifer Rooks: “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”

Full text of answer by Paul LePage: “I would say intelligence, uh, the more education you have the more knowledge you have the better person you are and I believe yes and yes.”

John Frary Claim #1: “He did not propose this as a vital educational reform.”
Verdict: FALSE. In a gubernatorial debate, candidates speak about what they would do as governor. When asked “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”, Paul LePage unequivocally declared “I believe yes and yes.” Yes, Paul LePage thinks creationism should be taught in Maine public schools. It was a reform proposal made specifically and voluntarily by Paul LePage.

John Frary Claim #2: “He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum.”
Verdict: TRUE. But nobody claims that Paul LePage is advocating this. Run a google search for “Paul LePage” and “remove evolution” and you’ll get… nothing at all. Tomorrow, you’ll get nothing. John Frary is engaged in an attempt to change the subject from creationism, a subject Paul LePage declares he thinks should be taught in Maine public schools.

John Frary Claim #3: “He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.”
Verdict: FALSE. Paul LePage did not equivocate. He did not couch his support for creationism in public schools in terms of “local school boards” or “components.” Paul LePage made the broad declaration, “Yes,” he thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

If you live in Maine and you think creationism is for Sunday School and science is for public school, now is the time to come out and say so. After Paul LePage is elected governor, it will be too late.

Creationism is for Sunday School, Science is for Public School, Paul LePage is Wrong for Maine bumper sticker

Beware the Pug of Doom

This bumper sticker isn’t strictly progressive, but I can’t help but include it anyway, because it’s just so extremely, inaccurately, tickling.

It’s the Pug of Doom bumper sticker.

Anyone who’s ever known a pug understands the delicious absurdity of this sticker. Pugs are weird, affectionate, snorting, cute, completely harmless, silly, disturbingly snotty, dogs. There isn’t a whiff of doom about them.

In my mind, this Pug of Doom idea takes the idea of the pug personality and turns it on its head, almost as if the pug could be posing as a dangerous dog, when in reality, it’s just a friendly little odd animal that needs special care and attention.

Hm… Wait a minute. Is this bumper sticker perhaps a commentary on teenagers from supportive, comfortable families who pose as if they’ve got edge? Could it be a statement about affluent, safe Americans who like to pretend that they’re under constant danger from terrorists?

Well, maybe it is a progressive bumper sticker, then, in a way, with this message: Let’s all stop taking on this pose that we’re on some kind of dark and dangerous path. Let’s drop the security obsession. Let’s recognize people who are truly in need, and help them, instead of wallowing in an entertainment world of pretend problems.

Let’s not be pugs of doom.

(Also available as a t-shirt)

Don’t Like Socialism? Get Off the Highway!

Don't like Socialism? Get off the Highway! Bumper Sticker of economic realismEvery time I read someone on the internet proclaiming about the evils of socialism, how government never gets anything right, I find myself wondering if they are aware of the origins of the internet itself. And every time I come across a bumper sticker condemning socialism on I10 or I40 or I90, I wonder why the people whose cars sport such bumper stickers would choose to travel on the interstate highways. The interstate highway system, you know, is a socialist big government program.

Come on, people, be consistent. You don’t like socialism? Then get off the highway!

Furloughs, Ferries and Fascism: Linda Lingle is Wrong for Hawaii

Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle doesn’t care about the environment: she scuttled legal, responsible environmental review for the environmentally disastrous Superferry. Linda Lingle doesn’t care about kids: she sent them home on Fridays for the school year without an education. Linda Lingle doesn’t care about equality: she just vetoed a bill giving gay and lesbian Hawaiians equal rights in the state.

So much for the rainbow state. So much for people who care for one another in Hawaii. So much for protection of these beautiful islands. Are you angry? Have you had enough of Linda Lingle’s vision for Hawaii? Then say so.

Most Popular Bumper Stickers of June 2010

The following are the most popular bumper sticker designs sold by Irregular Times during the month of June 2010:

1. Save Our Oceans, Stop Overfishing bumper sticker
2. No More Oil Spills, No More Excuses: Red Slash through BP oval sticker
3. Had Enough? sticker
4. Red Slash Through GOP bumper sticker
5. Re-Elect Harry Reid campaign sticker
6. O: Barack Obama oval presidential sticker
7. Veterans for Obama sticker
8. Red Slash through sb 1070 oval sticker
9. How’s Drill, Baby, Drill working out for you? bumper sticker
10. Texas Democrat bumper sticker

The dominance of environmentalist themes of frustration in this list is unmistakable.

New Liberal Bumper Stickers for the Week of June 20, 2010

As of the week of June 20, the following are the newest bumper stickers we’ve added to our constantly growing left-leaning catalog.

BB: Barbara Boxer Oval Bumper Sticker
Demonstrate your support for Barbara Boxer as she runs for re-election to the Senate for California with this black and white… [more]

I'd Rather be Reading Jane Austen Car Sticker
This bibliophile bumper sticker reads "I’d rather be reading Jane Austen." (Jane Austen bumpersticker) [more]

War is Making Us Poor Bumper Sticker
Put aside the moral questions of years and years of bombing another country. These long and costly wars are making us poor!… [more]

3P: Third Party Oval Bumper Sticker
A European style oval sticker design is used here to symbolize your desire for an American third party in politics. (Third… [more]

GP: Green Party oval bumper sticker
The design of a European style oval car sticker is used here to symbolize your allegiance to the progressive principles of… [more]

Re-Elect Chellie Pingree Bumper Sticker
Rep. Chellie Pingree has been an outspoken voice for the people of Maine during her time in Congress. Let’s send her back… [more]

Libby Mitchell for Governor Bumper Sticker
Elizabeth Mitchell has a stellar record as a solid leader of the Maine State Senate. These qualities will make Libby Mitchell… [more]

JA: Jane Austen Oval Bumper Sticker
This classic and austere JA bumper sticker in the European black and white tradition shows your affection for the novels… [more]

Creationism and Paul LePage bumper sticker
Paul LePage says he’s a creationist and that he’d put creationism in public schools. Say no to the pushy creationist agenda…. [more]

Offshore Oil Paul LePage Bumper Sticker
Is Paul LePage insane? Hasn’t he seen the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill that’s cost the Gulf tens of billions of dollars?… [more]

What’s the Tragedy in Congress? Joe Barton Bumper Sticker

Joe Barton is a Tragedy of the First Proportion Bumper StickerWhen Republican congressman Joe Barton used his position as Ranking Minority member on the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee to make a statement before the nation, he identified what he considered to be the “tragedy of the first proportion” in the historic BP Gulf Oil Spill. According to Barton, the tragedy of the first proportion in all this mess is that oil giant corporation BP will be required to pay for the cleanup of its own mess.

If you feel that this kind of statement makes Joe Barton a tragedy of the first proportion in Congress, you’re not alone. But wait: it could get worse. Did you know that if the Republicans regain a majority in the House in November, Joe Barton will be made Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee?

Don’t let it happen. Make your public stand against the likes of Joe Barton with this anti-Barton bumper sticker (or, if you prefer, with this made-in-the-USA anti-Barton t-shirt).