Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

The GOP is a fucking disgrace.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Sign Help

Sign Help

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I have a friend heading to the march in Washington, and we are looking for some ideas for a sign for her to carry. Personally, I would just carry a sign that says “FUCK THIS BULLSHIT” but I am a crude vulgarian. She would prefer something punny and clever.

Have at it.

Reader Interactions

203Comments

  5. 5.

    khead

    I’m guessing “Go f$^& yourself” would go over pretty well here at Balloon Juice. In the real world? Not so much.

    I’m not really all that clever though.

  8. 8.

    Aleta

    Remember to write on both sides.
    (That’s not the slogan, just a reminder.)

    For a slogan, how about
    TREASON

  16. 16.

    Another Scott

    As I mentioned downstairs, I’m seriously considering:

    Trump? Никогда!

    (Trump? Never!)

    Maybe stuck to my forehead.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  17. 17.

    Aleta

    Oh, you wanted punny. Then:

    I can’t see the forest for the TREASON.

    or
    HANG the TRAITOR IN CHIEF
    (sorry slipped into punless again)

  21. 21.

    Bobby D

    I’m a fan of the ‘ol classic:
    “Shit is fucked up and bullshit”

    Die Fascist Scum
    We are Bigly Fucked

  26. 26.

    ruemara

    Nothing punny, I’m afraid. My bedroom is now off limits to me. Water damage (which I have said they must have going on 3 years now) has rotted some of the joists. So I’m sleeping in my living room. Until who knows when. My landlord wants to know why I haven’t signed a new lease for 9/17 yet. I’d rage, but I’m wondering if 2016 is properly dead yet.

  37. 37.

    Yarrow

    I like the “Impeach” signs with a drawing of a peach with Trump hair.

    Could also be modified to “Impeech” and some other image.

  38. 38.

    tobie

    No Mandate–We Are the Majority!

    Republicans Are the Swamp–Repeal and Replace the GOP

    Obama Inspires, Trump Disgraces

  41. 41.

    Chariklo

    I’m going to the one in Denver. I’ve never been to a protest in my life and I’ve got to come up with a sign. Help!

    (Was considering something rather sedate like ‘support small business: Medicare for all’ as I’m an owner of same.)

  45. 45.

    Mnemosyne

    Slightly over 36 hours until I’m on my way to Disneyland, where I can thoroughly ignore all mention of Der Trumpenfuehrer. There are some advantages to entering a family entertainment bubble.

  47. 47.

    burnspbesq

    @ruemara:

    Figure out where your local legal aid society is located. Landlord-tenant law is probably right in their sweet spot. Tell them the facts, and then ask them if they think you’ve been constructively evicted.

  56. 56.

    PhoenixRising

    Also I’ve had great comments from my Occupy Wall Street sign:
    10 yrs of premiums: $36,000
    6 weeks of cancer care: $12,600
    Lawyer to make BigHealthCo pay doctors: $600 so far
    Finding out the system is broken: Priceless

  67. 67.

    mai naem mobile

    If the person has some artistic ability I would do one of the parody pics of Lumpy with the hammer and sickle all in a traffic sign circle with a big X across like those “No xyz” traffic signs.

  68. 68.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mike J:

    Pissing off knitters is a really, really bad idea. Organized knitters managed to get the IOC to back off when the IOC tried to say that there couldn’t be a Knitting Olympics.

    We’re mad as well, we’re not going to take it anymore, and we carry sharp pointy sticks everywhere we go. ?

    @PhoenixRising:

    I think I’m going to make the woman in the American flag burkha my Facebook profile picture for the whole weekend.

  79. 79.

    PhoenixRising

    @Mnemosyne: I just checked and 20×30 prints from your local Costco are $7, you can pick up tomorrow.

    I’m getting 2 to mount back to back, and sending an order to my teenager’s sleep away camp/apprenticeship location for her to pick up for her room there.

  95. 95.

    MomSense

    @ruemara:

    I am finally back in my bedroom after water damage. Half my house is still stacked in the living room and kitchen but at lest I’m in my own bed.

    Ugh hope you sort it out soon.

  102. 102.

    Hellbastard

    Not sure if this was posted earlier:

    FBI director James Comey was criticized last week for refusing to comment publicly, or even in a classified setting, on whether the FBI is investigating Donald Trump’s possible connections to Russia. While we understand that emotions are running high, it is time to reaffirm longstanding bureau policy. The FBI will not comment on ongoing investigations of anyone not named Hillary Clinton.
    Perhaps the FBI’s critics fail to understand the rationale for this policy. An investigation is just that—an investigation, not a conclusion, or even an accusation of guilt. Were the FBI to comment publicly on investigations of people not named Hillary Clinton, the public might infer, improperly and without evidence, that the person is guilty.
    As any high school civics student knows, our government sets a high bar for tarnishing someone not named Hillary Clinton’s reputation with allegations of criminal conduct. Before the government can even publicly accuse someone not named Hillary Clinton of a crime, a prosecutor first submits the allegations in secret to a grand jury, which must vote to indict him or her.

    https://qz.com/886652/the-fbis-rigorous-ethics-bar-it-from-commenting-on-investigations-into-anyone-not-named-hillary-clinton/

  116. 116.

    Mnemosyne

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You probably need to have been raised Catholic, or at least Christian. That’s the only way that a line like, “That would be an ecumenical matter!” gets funnier every time it’s repeated.

  125. 125.

    shortribs

    Boring but maybe something proactive: “Exchange email addresses with the person on your left and right.”

  135. 135.

    Jilli Brown

    @Yarrow:

    Just a giant “I” – for illegitimate. That’s stealing someone else’s idea, saw it somewhere, but I thought it was excellent idea if the “I” meme caught on.

  137. 137.

    Sarah, Proud and Tall

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Dicky as ever. I’ve been running around like an idiot for weeks trying to get someone more famous than Scott Baio to appear at the inauguration and I’m worn out.

  139. 139.

    joel hanes

    NO FOR-PROFIT
    WHITE HOUSE

    TRUMP VOTERS
    GOT CONNED

    THE DONALD
    LIES ABOUT
    EVERYTHING
    EVERY DAY

    RELEASE YOUR
    TAX FILINGS
    YOU CROOK

    OH HOW WE WISH
    WE COULD SAY
    “YOU”RE FIRED”

  146. 146.

    JGabriel

    @Major Major Major Major:

    Is the Putin’s Poodle nickname widely known?

    It’s my understanding that Putin’s Russian oligarchical cronies and minions are calling Trump: Putin’s C*nt.

    I doubt that would play well on a sign at a Women’s March, though.

  147. 147.

    Mnemosyne

    Since I’m already committed to going to Disneyland on Saturday, I think I’ve figured out my Disney Bounding protest outfit: long-sleeved pink thermal top under a white “Star Wars” t-shirt featuring Rey in shades of pink and, of course, topped by a pussyhat.

  148. 148.

    Yarrow

    @Omnes Omnibus: From the article:

    President-elect Donald Trump and his three adult children own the project after winning a 2012 bid to redevelop D.C.’s Old Post Office. They have a 60-year lease with the federal General Services Administration, which owns the property.

    From Wikipedia about the GSA:

    The General Services Administration (GSA) is an independent agency of the United States government,

    I think that means it’s owned by the federal government. That’s why there’s an ethics issue surrounding it as Trump takes office.

  149. 149.

    JGabriel

    @Tom Hamill:

    Just AGENT ORANGE (with an unflattering pic of Trump)

    Better yet: AGENT ORANGE with a drawing of Trump’s head in quarter profile, facing up, in Soviet Realism propagancda style, with the Russian flag waving behind him.

  153. 153.

    hovercraft

    @Yarrow:
    According to the lease and I believe Federal Law, Federal office holders are precluded from leasing from the government to avoid conflicts of interests. Which is why he was notified last year of the problem.

  154. 154.

    amk

    dems contested dumbya’s ‘election’ in supreme court. why didn’t they do so this time? given the evidences of poll tampering.

  155. 155.

    fuckwit

    OK here’s my take on signs.

    Protests by the left aren’t taken seriously because we do stupid “self expression” crap and we make it look like an art project. Paper maiche puppets. “Clever” and “witty” signs. Messages all over the fucking map. Profanity.

    It’s not dignified, but more importantly IT DOES NOT INSPIRE FEAR.

    The only thing that power understands is power.

    To have an effective protest, you have to be unified in message. Identical signs. Identical shirts. A uniform. Look like an army on the march!

    You want to scare the shit out of the powers that be. A bunch of artists making self expression is not scary.

    The Latino Day of Immigrants protests in the early 2000’s scared the shit out of the Rethugs. The Latinos showed up all wearing identical shirts, with identical signs. They looked like an army. They were scary as fuck. But also polite, dignified, disciplined. It worked.

    The Civil Rights protests of the 60s, everyone holding the same signs, wearing their Sunday best suits, looking sharp as a motherfucker, they scared white people. They made their point: they were disciplined and they were not fucking around.

    People of the left, take note: look like and army and you win battles. Look like a bunch of artists and writers out to celebrate self-expression and you just jerk yourselves off.

  156. 156.

    gene108

    After Obama was elected there were a bunch of memes of “Remeber when we had a real President” with a picture of Reagan.

    Do the same thing, but with a picture of Obama.

    Get it printed onto a sign and take it to the March

  158. 158.

    fuckwit

    @Major Major Major Major: I’m advocating for the Civil Rights marchers of the 60s. If the Mattachines had organized hundreds of thousands to march instead of a handful, they’d have gotten the results they sought.

    But at root I’m advocating for inspiring fear. There are other ways to do it, more angry and violent ways, as the Stonewallers, the Vietnam protesters of the late 60s, the anti-WTO protesters of the 90s, and the ACT-UP organizers of the 80s and 90s have demonstrated too. But I happen to think non-violence works better.

  159. 159.

    Mnemosyne

    @fuckwit:

    I partly disagree with you, because I don’t think the problem is that the left lacks matching signs. I think what we lack is a unified message, which is not the same thing.

    A sea of homemade anti-Trump signs will be very effective, even (or perhaps especially) if they don’t match. A sea of conflicting anti-Trump, anti-corporate, pro-animal rights, Free Mumia signs would not be effective, and that’s usually what happens when the left protests.

  160. 160.

    Mnemosyne

    @fuckwit:

    My other semi-anti argument to you is that the late 1950s and early 1960s were a very different time, sartorially. Civil Rights and Mattachine protesters dressed in the most conservative styles of their time to a specific purpose, namely to show that they “fit in” to that more rigid fashion code and should be allowed full civil rights.

    In the intervening 50+ years, that fashion code has broken down. It’s not nearly as easy to identify someone as “middle class” or “working class” based on what hat they wear or what department store they bought their dress from.

  161. 161.

    gene108

    @fuckwit:

    The protests are step one. This is to get people engaged. And to draw attention to the fact Trump is hugely unpopular. The second step is to get them to vote for Democrats. The third step is to get them to call their Congress people. The fourth step is to get them more engaged in the political process.

    Look at the Tea Party protests from April 15, 2009. They were ostensibly about Taxed Enough Already. They were lightly attended, but got 24/7 coverage by Fox News initially and then the rest of the media joined in.

    And all of a sudden all the angry, racist, stupid fucks had a way to organize – courtesy of the Koch brothers – and they became a very vocal, loud and obnoxious group that dominated news cycles and took some of the shine off of Obama’s impressive 2008 win, by being a vocal opposition.

    Let it be kmown what Republicans and Trump are doing is not popular. He did not get a mandate. People will not put up with their crap.

  162. 162.

    Mike J

    @Mnemosyne: He is right though that signs that are too over the top, or profane, probably don’t work as well as their carriers think. While “Fuck Trump” will please the person with the sign, it will never be shown on TV, and there are people who will ignore your message solely because of its form.

  163. 163.

    fuckwit

    @Mnemosyne: You forgot Free Palestine!

    I was very annoyed when the Palestinian protesters took over the anti-Iraq war protests in 2002 and 2003.

    But optics matter. Look like an army, not a rabble.

    I also forgot to mention one of the most effective things that the Occupy protesters did: the People’s Mic. It scared the piss out of the cops and the powers. Viscerally and visibly rattled them. Because here is thousands of people all reciting the same thing at the same time, literally speaking with one very loud and very powerful voice. Frighteningly good work.

    The point of organizing is to make lots of small fish look and sound bigger than the big fish by acting in lockstep and in concert.

    http://image.shutterstock.com/z/stock-vector-little-fish-eat-big-fish-unity-teamwork-organize-concept-fishes-unite-fight-with-big-fish-295443137.jpg

    Remember the powers that be are just monkeys with very dextrous thumbs. You have to terrify them.

  164. 164.

    Major Major Major Major

    @fuckwit: Unfortunately the Occupy people failed at basically everything else you need to do to have a successful protest, from leadership to hygiene.

    I was just pointing out an example of a time that a ragtag bunch of artists and wacked-out losers drove the point home more effectively than a hundred dudes in suits, earlier.

  165. 165.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mike J:

    Yes, that’s why I’m only semi-arguing against him, because I think he does have a point about making signs that are too over-the-top for what the MSM still refers to as “family” newspapers or TV shows.

    But I’m also tired of people I’ve seen elsewhere saying women (and men) shouldn’t wear pink cat hats on Saturday because it’s not “serious.” So the fuck what? If women want to unite using a silly hat, why is that “unserious” but dressing up in a stupid Revolutionary War costume was supposed to be taken seriously?

  166. 166.

    JordanRules

    @fuckwit: Interesting take. The respectability politics aspect of it makes me uneasy.

    What do you think the Day of Immigrants accomplished?
    I’ve been really interested in the MLK-Malcom axis lately and tend to see the fear inspired by the alternative to Martin and their Sunday best as a big fear factor that moved the needle. And of course I think the physical attacks being broadcast were a big part of what got folks attention.

    These protests mirror our diversity and maybe we need to figure out better ways to harness that.

  168. 168.

    Mnemosyne

    @fuckwit:

    I think we’re only disagreeing on specifics here. I think a sea of women all across the country all wearing pink kitty hats on Saturday is going to scare the fuck out of a whole lot of conservatives. Three hats made by my own hands will be at two different protests here in CA (Oakland and the OC).

    We’ve got goddamned nationwide reach with our hats, motherfuckers. We. Are. Everywhere. We surround you.

  169. 169.

    JordanRules

    Most people aren’t making signs that they feel just have to be on the media. There will be plenty of those I assure you.

  171. 171.

    Mnemosyne

    @JordanRules:

    It’s a weird tightrope, and it can cut either way. The Civil Rights Movement is remembered in the public memory as Black people in their Sunday best standing up for their rights. The Women’s Rights movement is remembered as a bunch of crazy lesbians burning their bras in public. Selective memory is selective.

  173. 173.

    Suzan

    We are watching.
    You Lost
    Don’t bankrupt America you loser.
    Remember more of us liked Hillary.
    You are not good looking. Lose some weight and that hair for God’s sake.
    Your cabinet is a bunch of losers like you.
    Melanie won’t even live with you because you’re a loser.
    Don’t grab my pussy.
    Don’t pee on America.
    Don’t degrade our country like you have the Trump name.

  174. 174.

    Beautifulplummage

    The “uniform” will be hats in a variety of pinks, but, most importantly, ALL handmade.

    My sign uses the new Liberty coin as the word in my slogan: indivisible, with Liberty and justice for All

  175. 175.

    Beautifulplummage

    Also, Seattle organizers are using the gathering point to help 150 organizations connect with the marchers and, hopefull, continue this first step into activism.

  177. 177.

    opiejeanne

    @Beautifulplummage: I’m debating going to the one in Seattle, but the weather and the fact that I wouldn’t be with anyone I know are making me question whether I should go at all. I had major surgery less than two months ago (emergency appendectomy. yay!) and the weather is supposed to be cold and rainy. I’m fine, I’m pretty much recovered, I’m probably not going to have a problem but I’m a little nervous. We have a local group of anarchists who have invaded other protests and caused a lot of trouble and damage, and I halfway expect them to try something on Saturday. I’m at the whining, bargaining, excuse-making stage.

    And now I see there are people making giant puppets for the march. They’ve changed the word “women” to “womxn” to show something or other. I thought it was to support transgendered people but it’s not that, something about the interlocking/crossing of ways women are discriminated against. Or something. I’ve read the explanation several times and it isn’t sticking with me.
    50,000 expected marchers and those puppets will get all the attention.

  180. 180.

    J R in WV

    Front side

    Stop
    Trump’s
    Treason

    Flip Side:

    NYET
    Trump
    Putin’s
    Puppet

    That’s my best shot.
    But there historic gold:

    TRUMP LIES
    PEOPLE WILL DIE

  182. 182.

    AMinNC

    I’m going with:

    Resistance Is Fertile!

    on one side, and maybe:

    Suburban Moms For:
    -Civil Rights
    -Public Education
    -Reproductive Choice
    -The ACA
    -Climate Action

    on the other.

  184. 184.

    bjacques

    Upside down US flag; signal of distress. I’m putting it on my FB noon tomorrow since I live in a foreign-speaking land.

    Alternatively, “Nov Schmozz Ka-Pop” in fake Cyrillic.

  185. 185.

    Ryan

    I dunno about a sign, but I see Emperor Donald, with his red MAGA hat as a crown and a bucket of KFC as his septre. Don’t know about a throne, something tacky from Wal Mart or a RV community I guess.

  186. 186.

    Michael Bersin

    I kept all my protest signs from fifteen years ago. I’ve brought them out for tomorrow and Saturday (and did so in Jefferson City on December 19th). A personal favorite: Faux News Channel: fascist groupies

  187. 187.

    Nancy

    @randy khan: I like “John Lewis is right.” It’s true, simple to read and understand, and carries with those few words the intensity of Rep. Lewis’s statement. Yeah, you are illegitmate.
    And I like the We the People posters.
    Really glad that my Representative is standing with John Lewis and boycotting.

  188. 188.

    John Carter

    Дональд Трамп
    делает России великое

    “Donald Trump
    Making Russia Great”

  191. 191.

    oldster

    Who chose HER? The Majority!
    Who chose HIM? The KGB!
    Who chose HER? The USA!
    Who chose HIM? The KKK!

    We’re the Majority of the USA, not the KGB and the KKK!

  193. 193.

    dexwood

    John, the sign is in your brief post – Crude Vulgarian.
    Many great suggestions in the comments. I’m leaning towards TRUMP? NYET!
    We Shall Overcomb made me laugh as did a few others.

  194. 194.

    maurinsky

    My sign has all the things I’m marching FOR (Mom, Sisters, Daughters, Granddaughters, Immigrants, Refugees, LGBTQ and Pro-Choice, etc. etc. There are a bunch in large print and then I’ve been adding smaller print FOR: in between, and then at the bottom it says “and AGAINST TRUMP!”

    My sister and I are working* on a project called President Comic Book Villain, so the other side of my sign (I’m doing a sandwich board because I hate carrying shit, I’ll just wear it) will be The Twitterer: Ignorance, Idiocy and Evil in 140 Characters” with a drawing of the Illlegitimate one.

    *I had the idea and my sister is encouraging me, so I’ve drawn out a couple of panels, but I also just became an activist and have two jobs and I’m writing a novel plus doing a lot of open mics with a guitarist I know, so….don’t hold your breath for this.

  196. 196.

    hilzoy

    @Mike J: I’ve heard this for Boston as well. However, a friend there says that if you go to very nearby low-income suburbs (for Bostonians: Revere, Saugus), there’s all the pink yarn you could want, and no one has heard of pussyhats.

  198. 198.

    Stan

    Trump is Putin’s best Russian prostitute

    Although I admit I feel like I am slagging sex workers with this one.

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