Scraped Off and Burned

When the President comes from your state, you try really hard to give him the benefit of the doubt.

That's the way it's been in Texas, where many cars, pickups and SUVs have borne "Bush Cheney 2004" or just "W" stickers for years. The "2004" series didn't disappear from bumpers after the election. Far from it. Long after the vote, lots of Republicans in Texas kept those stickers right there in place. They were there even into 2007, his most loyal supporters proclaiming, "Yes, dammit, I voted for him the second time!".

But today you travel up and down Texas' spinal cord, Interstate 35, and they're just like the Texas horned toads. Out of the blue you looked up and realized you hadn't seen any for, how long?

Did they wait until after dark? Padding outside with a flashlight and razorblade to slice away the tiny banners that no longer generated any pride. It couldn't have been a happy experience.

In two days of driving in heavy IH35 traffic, I saw exactly one Bush bumper sticker, between cities. None in Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, not even Waco. His most loyal fans lasted a long time, but they faded fast and all at once.

I didn't see any Clinton or McCain stickers and only one for Obama, out of many thousands of bumpers. But they would be new expressions of hope, which seems rare.

They'll start to appear here after the conventions. Maybe the Bush stickers are coming off now to let the body of the office get cold, out of respect.