Leave it to Fresno, a city in which weather, yes, weather, is the biggest story on every local newscast. Every day of the year, all 365 of them. Who cares if there’s actually no weather in Fresno? We just want to talk about it. We tune in to the local news so that in the first five minutes, we can be told how many degrees we’ve shifted since the day before.
In a city that obsesses about weather, despite the fact that there isn’t any, it isn’t difficult to believe that the Fresno Bee has now published an article intended to create sensationalism and controversy around a day of voting. It doesn’t matter if it all actually adds up to anything. These days, you just have to write words on paper to create interest. Even if there’s absolutely no substance to what you write, you’ll at least get 2 or 3 days publicity out of it. Right? Drama works, right? We love drama.
Tuesday, June 8th. Primary day. Time to vote. Time to be a responsible American.
Tuesday, according to the Fresno Bee, goes more like this…(get ready to head to the bomb shelter…because stuff is about to fly…)
First , there are accusations that someone associated with Mike Briggs offered something in exchange for votes. Then, evidently, a poll worker denied people the right to vote. And evidently, Mike Briggs intervened. Evidently, Rick Morse, recently highlighted in the local news for being arrested for operating a legal, medical marijuana clinic, is the initiating culprit.
Why? Well, because he…well, because he, uh, transported people who were without transportation, to a polling place, so that they could vote. Morse explained to the police that he was simply helping out. Yes, he bought them burgers, but not in exchange for particular votes, but because they’d be missing regular, provided meals by taking the trip to vote. The police were satisfied. Morse even apologized for the misunderstanding.
But of course, that’s not a very good ending…so,
The Bee reports that Victor Salazar told them some volunteers didn’t show up on time, so he had to fill in with reserve workers. (Insert terrified scream) In a separate incident, a Fresno precinct ran out of ballots. (Second scream) They did resolve it in less than an hour, but, hey, they ran out of ballots. AND, you won’t believe this, but a voter emerging from a church (a CHURCH, people!) told the press that "everything went smooth".
Are you serious? Everything went "smooth"? How can that be? I mean, the title of this article is "Brigg’s Campaign Faces Voter-Fraud Investigation". Isn’t the sky falling?
Fresno media has had a self respect issue for a very long time, but this is about as red flag as it gets. None of this is a story. The Bee offers no summation. They make no offering as to the cliffhanger in this Central Valley based reality show. Not only does this story not hint at anything to look forward to in terms of charges or ramifications, but it ends with a senior American. A senior American who offers a commentary about his methods of voting. Something to charm the reader which has NOTHING to do with the story, but which will provide a "non-ending" capable of satisfying the novice. This senior American says he makes his decision by who’s in office. Whoever is, he votes out.
Fresno media are willing to make something out of nothing, as is all media these days. Let’s face it, they want a reality show. Unfortunately, it won’t be about us. They’ll have to write some interesting and intriguing characters. But I guarantee you, the word "FRESNO" will be out there, and in the end, isn’t that all that matters?
Does anyone know if there’s a storm warning tomorrow? Because I have a volleyball game planned.
Read the "story" here… Fresno – The Mini-Series
