| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:03 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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BERKELEY, Calif. -- As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding for Berkeley programs, the mayor of the famously liberal city apologized Wednesday for his hard stance against a Marine recruiting center.
Two City Council members vowed to soften their stance as well.
At their Tuesday council meeting, leaders will discuss scrapping a letter that might be perceived as targeting the center or the Marines.
The letter said that the recruiting center was not welcome on Shattuck Avenue and that the Marines were uninvited and unwelcome intruders.
"That letter will probably be pulled back and maybe more moderate language will be put in place which is appropriate I think," said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates.
"Subtly stated in the resolution is perhaps an impugning of the soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and other places," Berkeley City Councilman Laurie Capitelli. "And that was never the intention but that really needs to be cleared up. As I walked to my car that night I realized I regretted it and I had made a mistake."
Bates said the city didn't mean to offend anyone in the armed forces and the focus should have been on the war not the troops.
"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," said Bates, a retired U.S. Army captain. "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."
The letter was originally approved in January and has not been sent.
City officials said they got a flood of e-mails, many asking them to reconsider their position.
Councilmembers have said they would replace the "intruder item" with words expressing their support for the troops but not the war in Iraq.
The Republican plan would give the funds, intended for a school lunch program, UC Berkeley and ferry service, to the Marines instead.
"Patriotic American taxpayers won't sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave Marines," said one of the senators.
The recruiting center opened about a year ago and quickly became a target of anti-war protesters including the group Code Pink.
Last week the council passed resolutions giving Code Pink a place to park out front. Some have said that meant the city giving was giving the group a place to continuously protest the Marines.
"What we're doing is we're announcing a bill that we intend to get on the floor to strip transportation from the city of Berkeley," said East Bay Republican Assemblyman Guy Houston. "What they have done in Berkeley is they have set aside a parking spot and in my opinion a public right of way, a public transportation corridor, specifically for a private organization -- in this case Code Pink -- to harass and annoy the United States Marine Corps and their recruiting efforts. We think that playing around and having an agenda with the public right of way is subject to ramifications. There is $2.3 million in proposition 1B transportation dollars. We think that should be in jeopardy."
Others on the Berkeley City Council seemed quite firm on their stance, NBC11's Christie Smith reported.
Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Barbara Lee said they plan to fight the Republican bill.
Code Pink announced they would have what they called a "24-hour peace-in" leading up to Tuesday's city council meeting. They will be camping out but will have a lot of company. A group of pro-troop protesters will also be there.
"I was under the impression that we have the right of free speech," said Xanne Joi of Code Pink. "To me, I thought free speech meant you get to say what you want without recrimination."
Group members have made their organization infamous by intentionally getting arrested at protests and congressional hearings.
An Olive Branch
Berkeley City Councilman Gordon Wozniak extended an olive branch to the Marines. He went to breakfast with a recruiter Thursday morning.
"Berkeley is supposed to celebrate diversity and free speech and we welcome homeless people here. We welcome illegal immigrants. We give them sanctuary. We should welcome the Marines. I mean they're basically dedicating their lives to protect their country."
Wozniak said he does not support the harsh language of the letter to the Marines originally authorized by the city.
Ann Cooper with the Berkeley Unified School District wants both sides to play nice.
"Senators sitting 3,000 miles away are trying to take food away from the children of Berkeley," said Cooper. "Why? Because the Marines and the city aren't playing nice -- and that's just not OK."
I have to say, I am surprised the town is backing down. I do believe in free speech as long as other people from the other side have it too.
http://www.nbc11.com/news/15245031/detail.html?dl=headlineclick
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:17 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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I guess the Marine Corps League should schedule a Berkeley Convention with a giant military parade just to rub the noses of those leftist wanks in it good and hard.
I just want to be there to quietly lock the door to prevent the resident loud-mouth liberal wank from prematurely leaving the room while his pro-military companions mentor him in the basics of why real men don't eat quiche by introducing his face to his plate and grinding the palms of their hands down on the back of his head while briskly moving his face, to and fro, from one side of his plate to the other, while providing various and sundry "from the heart" admonitions regarding having an improved outlook on life, while the special forces guys, navy seals, army airborne, National Guard Abu Ghreb prison guards, Marine Guantanemo Bay Brig Security, ex-cops, and covert intelligence operative types debate the next best method to raise his expectations for how to work and play well with others in the community, by learning how to better glean the patriotic morsels from the anti-American pro-leftist ideology soundbytes, while a remote drone pilot with a dozen stinger missile Al Qaeda kills to his credit, advises the waitress that "no, the gentleman is NOT in distress" and since there are several tables full of military veterans and active duty armed forces gentlemen in the establishment, that obviously the Guest of Honor will be requiring another few servings of quiche, and to make haste to so advise the Chef in the kitchen, to expect several more dishes of his best quiche to be delivered to our new good friend, as the line forms to take their turns helping to adjust the attitude of our loudmouth Anti-American fellow compatriot.
Next!
Now thats what I call a "Memorial View."
By the way, you do carry your military challenge coin with you, don't you?
[Edited on 2/8/2008 1:30 AM]
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:47 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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Angel54214
Posts: 18,201
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Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...
http://www.zombietime.com/berkeley_marine_corps_2-1-2008/
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 2:03 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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The quiche are coming the quiche are coming!
Special delivery to a wank near you.
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 2:27 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,923
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Kat wrote:I have to say, I am surprised the town is backing down. I do believe in free speech as long as other people from the other side have it too.
..Oh, they can talk Kat and they can even attempt to remove the recruiting station as they were trying. They can even attempt to block the recruiter's on campus and high schools.
...But at the same time, all Federal funding will cease for the city and the university. If that is not enough, the Federal government can go wherever they want to go on public property, leased property or under the Act of War, your and my house.
...And they can certainly remove those that block the entranceway of a building they lease, rent or own. If no rental is available, there is always the Federal courthouse or other Federal property.
...Even military members pay Federal taxes that support their city, schools and campus; about a half a million or so that are or were from California itself.
...Typical nonsense from the political pawns that just thought they had some power.
...Maybe they would prefer a draft, rather than a voluntary force. 
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:16 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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Angel, thank you for the url! I have walked down the streets of Berkley many times. Some times, it can be a bit scarey.
Gemini, that is so true. I think the city council went too far this time. We wait and see huh?
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:23 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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These code pink whack jobs are leftovers from the 60's! Too much LSD back in the day eliminated all sense of reality. The nuts have nothing else to do with their time so they bring their guitars, dust off their signs from the 60's and have a freakin festival. It is like a Chevy Chase comedy film watching these space cadets in action!
F'em! Who cares what these idjits think?
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:35 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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Um, I have walked the streets there. Some of the people STILL think it is still the 60's,,, 
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:38 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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These code pink whack jobs are leftovers from the 60's! Too much LSD back in the day eliminated all sense of reality. The nuts have nothing else to do with their time so they bring their guitars, dust off their signs from the 60's and have a freakin festival. It is like a Chevy Chase comedy film watching these space cadets in action!
Actually its worse than that. These people are anarchistic procommunists who have taken their disloyal mindset past protest and are actively taking steps to interfere with the lawful governmental actions of federal public servants. Clearly an effort should be made to assemble a federal task force of FBI, IRS, and US Marshals to investigate which federal crimes are being violated. If they are accessing foreign web sites or engaged in international phone conversations that traffic should be monitored by NSA through the FISA Court subpoena system as I would think that the Communist International is being consulted for ongoing action orders.
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:42 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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This is Berkley though. or maybe I should say, Berzerkley..
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 11:57 AM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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here is a link to the "creative" protests of these WHACKJOBS -
Caution - these pics will make you SICK!
Now - tell me that these people are sane! 
>>>>>> Lost Generation of Whack Jobs! <<<<<<<<
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 12:09 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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MusicMonster
Posts: 2,954
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Well actually, the vast majority of America is anti-war, rightfully so, and for a lot of very good reasons.. Anti-Iraq-war is the intelligent and rational way to be!
This war was two men's creation for their own twisted purposes, at the cost of everything else, and completely bogus from the outset.. And it was all about fabricating evidence and lying to the country, and the world.
Let us not forget the fundamantals. True Patriotism does NOT support this war!
So even a lot more of America should rightfully oppose it..
-MM 
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 12:10 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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Maybe Berkeley should be redeveloped as a federal wildlife sanctuary with federal condemnation proceedings to obtain title to the real estate and then bull dozers razing the town so that it can revert to the wild.
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 12:14 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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Well actually, the vast majority of America is anti-war, rightfully so, and for a lot of very good reasons.. Anti-Iraq-war is the intelligent and rational way to be!
MM - lies !
Most Americans want us to WIN the War - And we are!
Only liberal whack jobs like these bare breasted women and others want us to lose!
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 12:31 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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MusicMonster
Posts: 2,954
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Bush and McCain have you brainwashed!! But that's a pretty easy task.
What was it? '47' you ranked on IQ a ways back there? You see, that's way way below average. Even below retarded. A pity indeed.. But unfortunately for you, you can't change it, not even if you were to finish up your elementary school diploma. It's just a genetic reality.
There IS no winning or losing this ugly thing in Iraq.. There IS however intelligent strategy to getting out, which is what America wants to do. And that isn't currently being used.
-MM
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 12:38 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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As an example of how the extremists on the political left are cozy with the commies, here is how it really is:
For today's protest, Code Pink's rather paltry battalions were beefed up by the even-more confrontational group World Can't Wait, a spinoff of the Revolutionary Communist Party. They set up an elaborate display of photos from the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.
The two groups, in theory, shouldn't necessarily get along -- one is a feminist anti-war club, the other a revolutionary Maoist cult -- but their mutual loathing for George W. Bush has repeatedly brought them together, and they generally work in tandem (or at least side-by-side) at most Bay Area political protests.
Link establishing working copartnership between extreme leftists and communist revolutionaries
Like I said:
These people are anarchistic procommunists who have taken their disloyal mindset past protest and are actively taking steps to interfere with the lawful governmental actions of federal public servants. Clearly an effort should be made to assemble a federal task force of FBI, IRS, and US Marshals to investigate which federal crimes are being violated. If they are accessing foreign web sites or engaged in international phone conversations that traffic should be monitored by NSA through the FISA Court subpoena system as I would think that the Communist International is being consulted for ongoing action orders.
Again, and as usual, notice how the hardline communists utilze the "useful idiots" like the antiwar copperhead democrats in the "Code Pink" organizations among the leftist populations of Western democracies as "fellow traveler" foot soldiers and in Hollywood terms, propaganda activity "extras" to achieve their goals.
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:00 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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There IS no winning or losing this ugly thing in Iraq.. There IS however intelligent strategy to getting out, which is what America wants to do. And that isn't currently being used
MORE LIES -
Did you watch the SOTUS?
Had you been paying attention you would have heard that 20,000 troops will be returning this spring.
By the November election the Iraq War will be a distant memory. You need to get that paper boy of yours to stop throwing your commie rag - the NYT in the bushes!
READ MM -
Stay current!
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:03 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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Paralegal_at_Law
Posts: 5,872
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By the November election the Iraq War will be a distant memory. You need to get that paper boy of yours to stop throwing your commie rag - the NYT in the bushes!
One of the desperate ploys utilzed by the Democrats is to run AGAINST George W. Bush and get the public to accept defeat in the War in Iraq. But GWB is a lame duck and is not up for reelection and the hoped for loss in Iraq never happened.
But their fervor for a battlefield withdrawal by an undefeated US military and thus a loss to the enemy is still at white hot pitch, which makes them a danger to the Republic. Thats why they are manufacturing antiwar news, like the Wankfest in Berkely, etc.
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 1:43 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines
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SensualGemini
Posts: 6,923
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MM wrote:So even a lot more of America should rightfully oppose it..
...For whatever reason, we are there and losing is not an option.
...That is, until the change of guard takes place and then we will run, leaving another Khmer Rouge to take place... and it will.
...Or here is a thought; disarm the damn country as they should have done, close their borders and give them a chance.
MM wrote:Bush and McCain have you brainwashed!! But that's a pretty easy task.
...Personally, I was against the invasion of Iraq.
...Yet, every presdiential candidate in the running voted yes for this war.
...If they voted from ignorance, this only says that much more about them and their abilities to lead this country. 
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| Feb 8, 2008 @ 2:09 PM |
Berkeley Backs Off On Banning Marines |
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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Or here is a thought; disarm the damn country as they should have done, close their borders and give them a chance.
SG - that is what we should do here!
Murders in the USA are out of control. There were 20 shootings in NOLA during carnival season already. Just yesterday 3 police officers were killed by gunmen and 2 others wounded.
We SHOULD bring Gen Patreus stateside, fire all of the wimp ass mayors of these violent cities - and restore order here are he has done in Iraq!
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