Berkeley gives Marines the boot

[evangilder]

Sounds like they need to do a port of call in Berkeley and let the boys have a little fun.

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

Code Pink, If you don't like US soldiers fighting in Iraq, don't you still want them protecting your coastlines an oceans?

If the US Navy hadn't taken the pounding at Pearl Harbor from the Japanese in WWII, California would probably have been one of the first States to be attacked. But you didn't, because the US Navy was in the Way!!!!

Too bad they were if you don't like it, but I don't think you would like invaders as welcome guests.

[ToughOmbre]

Update on the Sh*thole otherwise known as Berkeley, and the idiots who govern and live there.

Berkeley, Calif., Mayor Apologizes to Military Members Following Flap Over Council Vote

Friday, February 08, 2008

WASHINGTON — The mayor of Berkeley, Calif., has issued an apology to servicemen and women serving in Iraq following a flap over a City Council vote that told the U.S Marine recruiting station there it should leave, and if it doesn't, is staying only as "uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

The apology follows the introduction this week of the Semper Fi Act of 2008, pushed by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., that would rescind more than $2 million in federal earmarks destined for Berkeley. DeMint was joined by five other Republican lawmakers in introducing the bill Wednesday after they were angered over the Berkeley City Council's actions.

A companion bill entered in the House has the support of 45 Republicans. No Democrats are supporting either bill.

Following a public uproar, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates argued Wednesday that the council's actions last week shouldn't be linked to federal money dedicated to schools and other services, according to tan San Jose Mercury News. Bates is a retired U.S. Army captain.

"There's really no correlation between federal funds for schools, water ferries and police communications systems and the council's actions, for God's sake," Bates said.

But, he said: "We apologize for any offense to any families of anyone who may serve in Iraq. We want them to come home and be safe at home."
Related

Berkeley city officials indicated they likely would withhold now sending a letter containing the message they agreed on at last week's council meeting.

On the introduction of his bill Wednesday, DeMint released a statement saying, "Berkeley needs to learn that their actions have consequences. Patriotic American taxpayers won’t sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave Marines and tries to run them out of town. Berkeley City Council members have shown complete ingratitude to our military and their families, and the city doesn’t deserve a single dime of special pet project handouts."

The list of items that DeMint's bill target include:

DeMint's office provided a preliminary list of items that would be subject to his proposal:

— $975,000 for the University of California at Berkeley, for the Matsui Center for Politics and Public Service, which may include establishing an endowment, and for cataloguing the papers of Congressman Robert Matsui.

— $750,000 for the Berkeley/Albana ferry service.

— $243,000 for the Chez Panisse Foundation, for a school lunch initiative to integrate lessons about wellness, sustainability and nutrition into the academic curriculum.

— $94,000 for a Berkeley public safety interoperability program.

— $87,000 for the Berkeley Unified School District, nutrition education program.

TO

[magnocain]

One thing about California, there is almost no racism. The only racism I have seen comes mostly form the older generations that have come from Back East.
And we have the Governator.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by magnocain

One thing about California, there is almost no racism. The only racism I have seen comes mostly form the older generations that have come from Back East.

Bullsh!t!!!!

Go around some of the beach cities in LA or on the other side of the coin go around East LA or Bakersfield or Fresno. There is PLENTY of racism in California and its been inherent within the white, black and Hispanic communities for years, from the Black communities of Watts, to East LA, on to the rednecks of the desert communities, to the Snooty Whites of middle Santa Monica - the problem is unless you're a skin head or gang banger most people aren't as vocal about it as they are on the east coast.

[freebird]

Originally Posted by comiso90

I love san francisco for many reasons... but I hate it for refusing the USS IOWA a permanent, museum status berth...

they turned there back on a grand old lady.... among the last of the Battleships..

USS Iowa - Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square

Originally Posted by evangilder

Sounds like they need to do a port of call in Berkeley and let the boys have a little fun.

Perhaps the USS Iowa crew needs a little practice in "shore bombardment"?

Anyways since John Kerry says that the US military is poorly educated, the sailors can't really be expected to read a map....

Geez was that Berkley we flattened? OOps

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by freebird

Geez was that Berkley we flattened? OOps

No loss.....Just a bunch of old hippies.

TO

[ToughOmbre]

Berkeley City Council Sh*t Heads to Revisit Vote Against Marine Recruiting Station

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

BERKELEY, Calif. — Two weeks after the Berkeley City Council called U.S. Marine Corps recruiters "uninvited and unwelcome intruders," the council is expected to reconsider its anti-Marine stance Tuesday night.

Large crowds from the left and right are mobilizing for the meeting. The anti-war feminist group Code Pink began a 24-hour "peace-in" Monday night, and the pro-war group Move America Forward planned a day-long demonstration outside City Hall.

The Rev. Fred Phelps, the anti-gay activist and founder of the Westboro Baptist Church, will be there as well, demonstrating against both the Marines and Code Pink. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church routinely picket at the funerals of American soldiers killed in action.

Code Pink activist Zanne Joi said her group is "supporting the troops by being against war and against recruiting."

"It’s because we care about these people that we are standing up against the war machine," Joi said.

On Jan. 29, the city council approved a resolution that included letters to the Marines advising them that their recruiting station is unwelcome in Berkeley. It also called for an investigation into whether the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for homosexuals violated city anti-discrimination policy.

Other portions of the resolution applauded residents who "volunteer to impede" the work of the Marines, and gave Code Pink a parking space directly in front of the Marines' office from noon to 4 p.m. every Wednesday for six months, as well as waiving the fee for a sound permit.

That decision sparked a nationwide outrage, calls to withhold government funding for the city, and an apology and clarification from Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates.

On Tuesday, the council will hear from Laurie Capitelli and Betty Olds, two council members who are sponsoring a revised resolution that will ask the city not to send a letter to the Marine Corps saying it's unwelcome in Berkeley.

The resolution would reiterate the city's opposition to the Iraq war, while clarifying Berkeley's support of the nation's military servicemembers.

In a joint press statement, Capitelli and Olds said: “We failed to make it clear that while we continue to oppose what we consider an unethical and illegal war in Iraq, at the same time we respect and honor all the brave men and women who are serving or have served in the military … We have erred by not adequately differentiating between the war and the warriors.”

Capitelli and Olds also said in the press statement: “The recommendation to inform the Marine Corps recruiting office that they are not welcome in our city, was insulting, hurtful and wrong.”

The council's initial Marine Corps motions prompted a backlash from lawmakers in California's capital, Sacramento, and Washington. There have been calls to withhold state and federal funds — including $2 million in federal money earmarked for ferry service and school lunches, among other things — as well as an apology from Berkeley's mayor.

"Let me be absolutely clear that this is not about the men and women who are serving our country in our armed forces," Mayor Bates said on Feb. 1. "I am a retired U.S. Army Captain and I respect the choice of those who are serving our country.

"However, this community strongly opposes the war in Iraq and the foreign policy of the current administration."

He added: "I understand that there are people across the country that may not agree with this action, but it is the Berkeley City Council's responsibility to represent the will of the people of Berkeley."

That argument didn't fly with California Assemblyman Guy Houston, a Republican, who asked last week that $3.3 million in state transportation funds be suspended until the council rescinds its resolution.

"The Marines, and all of our branches of the military, deserve the honor of our elected officials, not their scorn," Houston said.

At Tuesday night's council meeting, Berkeley politicians will also consider measures that would condemn the construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border as well as a request to Canadian leaders to grant sanctuary for U.S. war resisters.

TO

[ccheese]

Somebody ought to tell these people to get their heads out of their @sses.
They're acting like it was the '60's....

Charles

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by ccheese

Somebody ought to tell these people to get their heads out of their @sses.
They're acting like it was the '60's....

Charles

Charles,

Like I inferred in a previous post, Berkeley is infested with old hippies and their mush-brained offspring. Might be the last place on earth that I would want to live.

TO

[evangilder]

The only reason that they are backpedalling now is because of all the backlash, and the threat of loss of federal funding. How ironic. Freakin hippies.

[wilbur1]

Originally Posted by evangilder

The only reason that they are backpedalling now is because of all the backlash, and the threat of loss of federal funding. How ironic. Freakin hippies.

So true. This just makes me so godda** mad that i cant even write what i want to say, but i do know that once those PUS**'S figured they couldnt get the free ride from the government i.e. medicinal crack they backpedaled real quick IF YOU WANT PEACE GOTO FRANCE THEY DONT CARE ABOUT ANYTHING!!! (sorry if anybody here is french) BY the way if somebody puts a flower in my barrel, the last thing they will see is it blossom red

[plan_D]

I have to say that I'm impressed with the U.S here. The Federal Gov. have reacted quickly and appropriately; maybe they were reading this thread !

I think that the Marine recruiting station should have that saying;

"Freedom is not free, but the U.S Marines will pay for most of your share."

as a plaque on their wall outside.

[evangilder]

Originally Posted by plan_D

I think that the Marine recruiting station should have that saying;

"Freedom is not free, but the U.S Marines will pay for most of your share."

as a plaque on their wall outside.

Amen to that.

[Matt308]

If you can read this, thank a Bezerkley teacher. If its written in English, thank a Marine.