Awesometown Jumps the Shark and still wins

The people at Newhall Land behind the Awesometown campaign struck paydirt with their widely publicized (and mocked) campaign in the last year and a half. Indeed, “Awesometown” has become part of the vernacular SCV language, part of our culture.

But Newhall Land clearly couldn’t leave well enough alone. Now they’ve got a new stunt. They’re doing a mock presidential campaign titled “Joe for President of Awesometown.” And people are actually campaigning for Joe. Like, out in the public with signs and chants and stuff:

Far be it from me to be the Scrooge and Debbie Downer in this fun and silly stunt, but seriously? People are actually taking time out of their day to shill for Newhall Land (probably for free) in the same town where we struggle to get more than 17% of registered voters to, you know, go to their polling place and vote in real municipal elections?

I’ve lived here for nearly 20 years and no group of City Council partisans has ever marched through Central Park waving a “Frank Ferry for City Council” sign. At best the local partisans hang signs, then leave them for weeks until they are blown away into gutters. Yet throw a fictional adver-election and you can get people to stand on street corners for you.

If ever there was a time for the Lt. Commander Worf Facepalm gif, now is it:

But seriously I hope “Joe” doesn’t try to campaign in Newhall. We might have to find someone to run for President of our part of our town if he does. That means I better not see him or his supporters south of Lyons.