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| Berkeley to Rethink its Declaration Against the Marines |
| 2008-02-05 |
| (02-04) 18:52 PST Berkeley — A week after blasting the Marines as "unwelcome intruders" in Berkeley, two city council members want the city to back off the declaration that ignited the wrath of the nation's right wing and inspired a Republican senator to try to sever Berkeley's federal funding. Council members Betty Olds and Laurie Capitelli proposed today that Berkeley rescind its letter to the U.S. Marine Corps that stated that the downtown Berkeley recruiting center "is not welcome in our city," and publicly declare that Berkeley is against the war but supports the troops. The city council will vote on Olds' and Capitelli's two proposals at its Feb. 12 meeting. "I think we shouldn't be seen across the country as hating the Marines," said Olds, who voted against last week's proposals. "If you make a mistake, like we did, you should admit it and correct it and move on." I got this email today from a third council member who wants to show support for the Marines who is not listed in the above story. I apologize for not responding earlier. My office has been swamped with many phone calls and over 1500 emails. I would note that I was the sole Councilmember who opposed both anti-marine resolutions. I apologize for the action of the remainder of the Council. As Christ said "Forgive them for they know not what they do." I am trying to get the Council to rescind the two anti-Marine resolutions and issue an apology to the Marines. I would suggest that you and your friends email the Council and ask that they correct this injustice. Sincerely, Gordon Wozniak And that I will do Gordon. Semper Fidelis! |
| Posted by:www |
| #24 I went through college in Berkeley for 4 years 1966-1970. Tried to get to class through tear gas, riots, National Guard, rock throwing, and hippies sending tear gas canisters back with two-person slingshots made from surgical tubing. I agree with the federal funds cutoff. If the Sh*tty Council thinks that they stand on principle, then put their money where their mouths are and take the consequences. If the voting citizens of Berkeley like what their representatives do, then they can stand arm-in-arm with their leaders and forgo the Federal Handout. If they are outraged by this action by their representatives, then they can boot the Sh*tty Council out. If this kind of behavior stands, then Federal Funding becomes just like unconditional handouts to the Paleos, and we know how THAT ONE turned out. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-02-05 22:28 |
| #23 #18 xbalanke - I want one! :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-02-05 20:03 |
| #22 RD LOL |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-02-05 14:45 |
| #21 DarthVader : Still cut off all federal funding for a year. After the City is bankrupt, then re-open terms for negotiations for their surrender. Still cut off all federal funding for a year. After the City is bankrupt, then |
| Posted by: RD 2008-02-05 14:15 |
| #20 It's money, not intelligence that changed their minds. (The wallet end, not the brain end) NOTE, in future dealings with Bezerkley, wave cash at them. Then put it back in your wallet pointedly, be sure they notice. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-02-05 13:45 |
| #19 Bobby....you disagreed with them. That, by their definition, is hate and worthy of your incarceration. That is today's Left. |
| Posted by: Rex Mundi 2008-02-05 12:41 |
| #18 Reminds me of a banner I saw in the back window of a car today: "If you won't stand behind our troops, feel free to go stand in front of them." |
| Posted by: xbalanke 2008-02-05 12:32 |
| #17 [online poker has been pooplisted.] |
| Posted by: online poker 2008-02-05 12:26 |
| #16 This is the district that overwhelmingly re-elected the logically impaired mental midget – Senator Boxer. Nope. DiFi. As in Feinstein. I may have the spelling wrong, but no matter. |
| Posted by: Angemble Grundy7604 2008-02-05 12:17 |
| #15 "It's a symbol, but there are consequences to symbols," he said. "A lot of people think we're anti-Marine, but there's a difference between the warriors and the war. This is an attempt to clarify that." Seeing we got called on it. And it might cost us lots of federal money. And is Medea Benjamin like the Forest Gump of the Loony Left. Commie bitch is everywhere... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-02-05 12:13 |
| #14 From the tail-end of the article - Councilwoman Dona Spring said the council should not be cowed by the volume of hate mail and threats. "I still oppose the Marines recruiting in Berkeley because it's one way of protesting this wasteful war," she said. "Our military policy is a shambles. But we're not in opposition to the Marines; we oppose the policy that directs the Marines." Meanwhile, the Code Pink protesters said they were disappointed that Berkeley might rescind its letter to the Marines. "I hope they're not acting out of intimidation," said Code Pink spokeswoman Medea Benjamin. "Berkeley is a city of peace, and a recruiting station does not fit Berkeley's values." Mayor Tom Bates, a former Army captain, said it probably wouldn't hurt if the council clarified its position. "It's a symbol, but there are consequences to symbols," he said. "A lot of people think we're anti-Marine, but there's a difference between the warriors and the war. This is an attempt to clarify that." There's no way my e-mail was hateful or threatening. Ijust told them I resented their slap at folks "sacrificing their todays for your tomorrows," including my son. I don't think anyone responded; I'm from the east left-coast. |
| Posted by: Bobby 2008-02-05 11:59 |
| #13 My recommendation is that they rename the recruiting center the Sean A. Stokes Memorial Recruiting Center. Corporal Stokes was a hero - and he's a California native. |
| Posted by: Rambler 2008-02-05 11:21 |
| #12 Mail Call: What we got here is Raytheons' new Active Deniel System. Since watermelons can't talk or feel, we're gonna take a little trip to broccolli to try it on some real melon heads! Hoo rah! Between code pink, phelps, and the writer guild the protesters this week hit the hat-trick of total assholes. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-02-05 10:48 |
| #11 Council members Betty Olds and Laurie Capitelli proposed today that Berkeley rescind its letter to the U.S. Marine Corps that stated that the downtown Berkeley recruiting center "is not welcome in our city I wouldn't think that Berkeley would be a very good recruiting ground for Marines unless the enlistees just can't stand Berkeley anymore. Berkeley is a disgraceful. Bunch of elitist ignoramuses. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2008-02-05 10:19 |
| #10 Still cut off all federal funding for a year. After the City is bankrupt, then re-open terms for negotiations for their surrender. They have declared war on the US and its armed forces long enough. Turn off the money and they will fold quickly. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-02-05 09:54 |
| #9 “…ignited the wrath of the nation's right wing…” They just don’t get it, do they? They simply can’t grasp the notion that nearly every veteran or active service member, regardless of political persuasion, views this stunt as a slap in the face. Their bong-resin soaked brains are incapable of understanding how that little old widow of a veteran (who btw, hates Bush) could possibly be so appalled by this shit. It is impossible for these kooks to comprehend the effect of their insulting actions and how it cross’s political parities and, indeed, the entire ideological spectrum. Really, no one should be surprised though. This is the district that overwhelmingly re-elected the logically impaired mental midget – Senator Boxer. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2008-02-05 09:40 |
| #8 Fixed it for you. Parasite |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-02-05 08:32 |
| #7 Somebody send R. Lee Ermey to Berkley to do a little lobbying. |
| Posted by: Mike 2008-02-05 08:04 |
| #6 In his 1945 "Notes on Nationalism", George Orwell stated that, for the pacifist type of a nationalist, the notion that "those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf", is impossible to accept. The rest of us know better. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2008-02-05 07:55 |
| #5 I truly think that the DPR Berkley really thought they would make a splash with the measure. After passing it and looking outside their bubble they found the Code Pinkos are NOT very popular east of Highwat 880. I still think the feds should cut off funding for every day this declaration stands. Just to make sure other municipalities don't forget who butters the bread. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2008-02-05 07:24 |
| #4 I got the same email from Wozniak |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-05 06:37 |
| #3 Ah. That explains it! :-) |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-02-05 06:11 |
| #2 Gorb, the word rethink is seen nowhere but the headline. |
| Posted by: Spike Uniter 2008-02-05 02:05 |
| #1 Doesn't the word rethink imply that something was already thought about at least once before? "I think we shouldn't be seen across the country as hating the Marines," said Olds, who voted against last week's proposals. "If you make a mistake, like we did, you should admit it and correct it and move on." Yeah, it was a mistake not to keep your true feelings to yourself. But hey, maybe some good will become of this in the form of an awareness that Berkeley is not the only place on the planet, and that much of the rest of the country you live in calls it Berserkeley for a reason. And hopefully the corrective action of your mistake doesn't involve burying your true feelings even deeper. If you disagree, go put on a burqha and try living in Iran for a week. And for extra credit, try getting away with an extramarital affair. Or even an affair for that matter. Or smoking a bit of weed in front of the religious police there. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-02-05 01:35 |