Flash: Iron Range Stalin voters breaking for Clinton

I just love the crime section of the Grand Rapids (Minn.) Herald-Review. Most of the dailies up here on the Iron Range gloss over the small town crime, trimming out the details that make weekly and twice-weekly crime blotters more interesting.

This is from Wednesday's Herald-Review:

The words, "Hillary for President," were spray-painted in green paint on a vehicle parked on 21st Street Southwest in Grand Rapids. Three days earlier, the owner of the vehicle reported "Stalin for President," was painted on the same car. No damage estimate was given.

I don't know if this is a sophisticated joke, random vandalism or the reflection of a genuine Stalin-to-Clinton political trend. Stay tuned.

Ron Paul vandalism just catching on up north

I know the stereotype is that the Iron Range is behind the times when it comes to trends. These punks aren't helping.

Vandals deface Iron Range welcome signs
By Janna Goerdt
Duluth News Tribune

Four highly visible signs on the outskirts of Eveleth, Virginia, Gilbert and Mountain Iron were spray-painted with obscene political messages earlier this month.

The “Quad Cities” signs were built outside each city in 1999, at a total cost of about $72,400. Iron Range Resources contributed $25,000 to the project, information officer Lee Bloomquist said, while the four cities directly contributed $8,650 each and raised an additional $12,800 to pay for the welcoming signs.

A St. Louis County Sheriff’s deputy confirmed that all four signs were vandalized in a similar manner, said investigator Richard Feiro of the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia. The signs were sprayed with messages in red and black paint denouncing President Bush. One sign also mentioned Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Ron Paul graffiti? That might have been cool (to about 8 people) before Feb. 5. But in March? This is why you still see people wearing Members Only jackets around here. Not helpful.

I bet you'll find these kids breakdancing on a flattened cardboard box outside the Pamida to an oversized boom box. Just a theory.