And those people voting for Obama? Waste of time. He's already going to win.

But still… both campaigns would probably prefer to have these folks out waving signs in swing states, not Washington state.

I'm sure they would be, if not for the fact that they likely live in Washington.

What is the bottom flag of the three flags that guy is waving?

If it weren't for people standing on downtown street corners waving signs I would never have known that the Seattle Police Department are all communists.

Yeah, seen that guy out there for at least a week... I've nicknamed him "The loneliest guy in Seattle".

Oddly enough, I got an e-mail from the Obama campaign yesterday that included this surprising news:

There's a volunteer shift in Washington with your name on it.

You live in a crucial battleground state that could decide the outcome of this election. And with one week to go, there's an urgent need for supporters like you to help get out the vote.

Maybe the Obama sign waver got the same letter I did and felt this was the best way to volunteer.

Those guys are constantly squatting on 4th in front of the Seattle's Best Coffee. They actually got mad at my wife when she took a cameraphone photo of them. They asked her, "Are you going to vote McCain now?" and they gave her lots of stink eyes when she said something along the lines of "I'd rather rip out my uterus."

Gregoire needs more help than Obama.

Your vote is absolutely crucial, for Governor, Prop 1, and many others, just not for President.

So... black guy waving sign with white Republican guy on it, crazy.

White woman waving sign with black Democrat guy on it, sane.

Check.

I already voted. Good googly goo I'm tired of this already and I can't wait till it's over.

You need to get off the Hill more often. That guy's been waving those flags for about a year.

What is it like living in an echo chamber, Stranger staff?

Who are YOU to say this man is a special kind of crazy? Oh that's right...

That totally reminds me:

About three weeks ago on my way to work in the financial district here in SF, I saw a woman setting up a McCain/Palin sidewalk kiosk of some sort. But here's the kicker - and call me fucked up for even making the association - the kiosk was made entirely of ironing boards. About four of them unfolded around the volunteer like a black jack dealer, lined with literature.

If I stretch, can think of at least 3 levels that works on, non of them flattering to the candidates (or myself, for making an absurd connection).

Dan, have you already forgotten about the downticket races? Gregoire? Prop 8? Driving turnout in blue states for Obama or McCain is going to swing some other issues that you care about.

I know you guys don't vet the SLOG the same way you do The Stranger - but didn't I read a few weeks ago a posting about how unadvised it was to use people from other areas to doorbell? Wasn't there some ill-advised liberal air-drop of NE volunteers into the rural South? Wasn't it famously a boondoggle?

This has more to do with races down the ticket than it does the Presidential race. Mobilizing volunteers and rallying the Democrat voter has been cited by the Obama campaign as evidence of their support for the DNC. This came up when the DNC hit 'em up for some money a while back.

Being involved in what is going on around you is not a waste of time.

We need to create right-wing bingo and call it "Wingo"! Be on the lookout for phrases like "Echo chamber", "In the Tank" and "Redistribution of Wealth" and win!

I pass that guy periodically, and I'm always disappointed when he doesn't look at me and thus misses my middle finger. Shame!

He was at 5th and Seneca last week with another guy waving a Rossi sign. I asked them if they were having a going away party or just a 2 man rally, and the Rossi guy said "oh, it's just the two of-" and then I started laughing and he just looked at me like some destroyed puppy.

That's a big-ass set of flags... I give the guy kudos for that.

It's kinda like the display ships use to warn each other of approaching hurricanes and such. Hmmm...

Judah @10: Why so contrary about this? Surely you can see that her position makes complete sense, while his is bizarre.

Since when has a white woman been oppressed by a black democrat?

This week on NPR, they had a gay (sounding) black (confirmed) guy who was going door-to-door for McCain in Pennsylvania. His schtick was essentially, and in only a few more words: "I am a black man. I'm supporting McCain. On behalf of all black people, I am officially letting you off the white-guilt maybe-racist hook that's making you feel undecided or Bradleyish, and I'm asking you to support McCain openly too."

And it was working.

This American Life, more specifically.

When I came back from dorbelling for the Gov. in Tacoma I saw a few of these lonely McSane Sign wavers on I-5 Overpasses. I think as their campaign collapses that is a job they can send paid or volunteer help out to do. I can't imagine anyone could stomach doorbelling for McSane in West Wa north of Centrailia for very long. I really would not want to do live phone calls for them either.

Well, Dan, you're welcome to come down to Westlake Park this Saturday at noon and hand out paid round-trip plane tickets to fly us Obama sign-wavers to the battleground states of your choice where you think we'd do more good--or you can stick around and help us motivate far more than the 150-vote margin that got your girl Gregoire in office.

The choice is yours.

When I exited from Aurora to Denny Monday morning, I saw a guy holding this contraption. Didn't get a look at him, other than to give him a thumbs down.

Why do you call him crazy? Assuming he's being paid for this, he's not losing anything since WA, is surely Blue, so he's not going to have to suffer a Republican victory, while just making some money of the Republican campaign.

I'd say that's win-win!

That guy has been around for years. Not as long as Pedro with the Seattle Police are Communists sign, but still, quite a while. He rotates flags every so often; generally some combination of POW-MIA, Israel, Don't Tread on Me, and U.S.

Because wash-IN-TON will vote for the wrong guy -- again -- it will -- again -- be closed off from Federal funds and favors.

Except for that guy.

McCain will lavishly reward That Guy -- for loyalty.

But there's still time, wash-IN-TON -- make the right choice...vote your wallet...vote McCain.

what's funny is that it's socialism that allows him to spend all day waving a mccain flag instead of working at a job!

@30 - he works for the White House?

Waving signs is stupid no matter who does it. Voter contact is going to win this election. my.barackobama.com/n2n

Good for the Obama sign-waving lady! There are so many people in our city who don't bother to vote and will not vote because they think "Obama has it all locked up". That's why Pat Robertson won our primary in 1988. You can't be too careful.