Feinstein keeps busy with the important stuff: defending Fresno

[Newsjock]

Glad to see the senator has enough free time, since she's not busy with impeachment or anything.

http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/188063.html

Toyota isn't getting a lot of mileage out of a new ad campaign for its fuel-efficient Prius -- at least not in Fresno.

The commercial, which implies that you would only stop here if you were low on gas, is sparking rebukes from Central Valley residents, city officials and even U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

And now Toyota is issuing a recall for the TV spot, which the company admits was ill conceived.

"I did not like it one bit," said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry, who complained to Feinstein's office, prompting a "scathing" missive from the senator to Toyota officials.

... Feinstein's letter to Shige Hayakawa, president of Toyota North America, expresses "profound disappointment with the current Toyota Prius advertising campaign which gratuitously insults the city of Fresno."

That prompted Irving A. Miller, group vice president for Toyota corporate communications, to issue an apology Friday "to the great city of Fresno for this commercial."

[Journeyman]

1. The unofficial slogan for Fresno tourism: "We're close to places" . . .

and that I found a year or so ago on the city's own visitors' bureau site.

Of course, they then went on to explain how much fun you can have in and around the city, but the implication was oh too evident: it's a good place to get gas on your way elsewhere.

And as a disclaimer, I have numerous friends in and around Fresno, and spend at least a weekend or more there nearly every summer, but other than visiting friends and floating on the local rivers, there's not much there. Like Oakland, in Gertrude Stein's memorable phrase, "There is no there there."

[John Q. Citizen]

2. Thank god Feinstein won't let Toyota torture Fresno. Freedom on the march!

[KharmaTrain]

3. There's Always Plenty Of Gas In Fresno

Isn't that ground zero for Freeperland? :rofl:

It's ok...DiFi will back down...the lady's backbone is made of a special polymer...designed to bend and roll over easily.

[LeftCoast]

4. Nothing like keeping your priorities straight, Dianne

Hope she retires. Soon.

[Greyhound]

5. Everybody outside of Fresno knows that that is true.

Those of us that have been forced to spend more than a few hours there would, given a choice, avoid repeating the experience.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. I know, huh.

All those poor people. And those pesky little brown people? PALEEEZE!!!!

LTH,
Fresno, CA

[Greyhound]

9. Oh, so it's the brown people that make it a cesspool, huh? Nice.

And I though it was the ugly, chemical ridden, nothing to do except drive an hour or more to get somewhere, that made it a hole.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. I wouldn't be bitchin' too loud

with your mouth full of fruits and vegetables, hon.

[Greyhound]

11. You're the only one bitching around here.

I wouldn't live in Iowa or Nebraska either, but it is necessary for someone to do so.

The only debate was about whether Fresno is a nice place to live. You're the one that chooses to take it personally.

[deacon]

6. She's for immunity for telecoms too now...she's the pits. n/t

[Le Taz Hot]

8. More geographical

elitism. That's what I like to see on a liberal board -- open-minded thinking. Fresno -- where 350,000 of us can all be lumped together as (Bay Areans, you'll have to help me keep the order straight here):

Hicks
Freepers
Uneducated
Farmers (apparently this is a bad thing)
Poor
Too many illegals
Too many Mexicans

'Course keep in mind that the above 4 categories may be applied to anyone living in a rural community and is AUTOMATIC if you're from the South.

Everyone know their place now?
Good

LTH,
Fresno, CA

P.S. I do have one question. If Fresno is such a shithole, why are all you guys moving here?

Thanks in advnace.

[John Q. Citizen]

12. It's the same all over, Taz. However, I think the interest in the story (on DU) was more

DiFi driven than a spontanious attempt to bash Fresno.

[vanlassie]

13. Toyota is Stupid

Or maybe they don't give a fuck about selling cars to A HALF A MILLION PEOPLE??


I EXPECT my elected officials to defend my turf against such insulting bullshit.

But I also think Difi is a piss-poor Senator.

vanlassie