The siege in Berkeley: City councilmembers raise a white flag
Your letters, e-mails, phone calls, and petitions are working. Some members of the Berkeley City Council are signaling a partial retreat:
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 on Monday proposed 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 meeting next Tuesday.
“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.”
Turns out there are folks in Berkeley who were just as upset as the rest of the nation:
Olds said she heard from hundreds of people angered by the city’s action, including many in her Berkeley hills district.
“People are so mad about this. They have relatives in the service, and now they think they’re not welcome in Berkeley,” she said. “My twin brother was a Marine in World War II. He’d be turning in his grave if he saw this.”
Some of these lunatics still defend their actions:
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.”
Riiight. When the mayor and the council are railing that the “Marines are the President’s own gangsters… they are trained killers” and that the Marines are known for “death and destruction…and maiming” and give America “horrible karma,” it’s the “policy” they oppose, you see.
That’s how they support the troops!
Note that the vote on the retreat measures takes place next week. Still plenty of time for Code Pink to pressure the weak-kneed councilmembers to change their minds again.
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Write you your legislators to demand the end of federal funding to California!
I wrote to DeMint and both my Senators and Congressman to demand they not only eliminate earmarks for Berkeley but to also begin a process to deny Berkeley, San Francisco and all California any and all Federal funding for their anti military and anti aAmerican actions.
These people are clearly NOT worth any of my tax dollars. SF eliminates JROTC, refuses to allow the Marines to film an ad in SF, pushs for elimination of military in all schools but also demands their (military) help when floods and fires occur. Give me a break!!
If there is a retreat, it still doesn’t mean they have changed their minds. They will still be the same military hating people they have always been. Just not as open as they want.
Too late.
Too little, too late.
A commenter on a related article at SFGate claims that some of the Berserkley city council applauded the attackers on 9/11. Doeas anyone remember what happened in DC to some Red Chinese at a local bar when they stood up and cheered the planes crashing into the WTC? They were rounded up and sent back to PRC, persona non grata.
Can the same be done for the Berkeley traitors?
“Ignited the wrath of the nation’s right wing”? No, you morons; you ignited the wrath of a lot of people on both sides. But please don’t let inconvenient facts get in your way.
Nice to know that a few people on that city council understand cause and effect.
Cut the funding,anyway.I get so tired of the old liberal saw-if you made a mistake,admit it and say “I’m sorry”,then everything is O.K.These jerks did not “make a mistake”,they made a concious decision to commit an act of sedition.
I publicly declare that I am against Code Pink Policies but support the members.
Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?
You cannot have it both ways. Where in the letter did they say, we appreciate the protection you provide. However, we cannot support this war but we wholeheartedly support you? Instead, when giving the opportunity to voice their opinion about the Marines it came in the form of hate:
So, please spare us the liberal doublespeak of supporting the troops and not the war.
Yeah, backpedaling after they saw what fools they’ve made of themselves. These folks are just as bad as the ones in Vermont pushing for impeachment, etc.
The laughing stock of CA. Good thing I don’t live anywhere near these kinds of people.
She says our military policy is in shambles, but then she says we’re not in opposition to the Marines. Hey Councilwomen, if your opposed to the policy, why not protest Washington? Instead, you take your anger out on the military, which you are not “supposedly” in opposition to? Gimmie a break!!!!!!
I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating. Contact your senators; ask them to support Senator DeMint in severing Federal funding for the City of Berkeley. This is a simple, elegant and proper use of your constituency. If you live in California, you have more options.
The City of Berkeley and its Council have rights, but all rights have limits. Those limits are fairly well established, and it appears some local communities are exceeding the past practice limits of those rights. All we have to do is work together to call them on it.
It will be a cold day in Berkeley before I let some local wag knock the past and present servants of our society, and our freedom. As we used to say: “Not on my watch”.
Closet liberals? In the neck of the woods? Nah. I think they will still be pretty open about it in Berkely.
Rescind the letter to the Marines? … that’s a start …
But … I didn’t see anything about also rescinding the preferential bestowing of city permits and a reserved parking spot to Code Pink moonbats … that needs to be rescinded as well …
I am every bit as offended by that preferential treatment as by the insult to the Marines and the military in general …
As for their “karma” … The Marines have got their karma … it’s called protecting your sorry butts …
STOP the money anyway. Period!
Another opportunity for these people to show themselves for the fools they are. They do not support the troops or support the war. At least they were being honest to begin with. Now some of them try to say they actually support the troops and not the war because we all speak out against them. I think they should have the guts to stand with their first statement. I’m personally sick of people like this and the more they show themselves for the America-hating jerks they are, the easier it will be to take them on.
#1 On February 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am, Jimbob said:
“If there is a retreat, it still doesn’t mean they have changed their minds. They will still be the same military hating people they have always been. Just not as open as they want.”
Of course, you’re correct.
These people are simply cowards.
They’re just crawling back into the cracks in the woodwork.
From the same article:
Intimidation is all code-pink knows….it’s their main tactic in attempting anything.
And they’re upset when the opposition uses it? Typical left-wing garbage…
It’s ok for them to have a parking spot right outside the recruiting office with a bullhorn – and to chain themselves to the doorway of the office – and physically and verbally intimidate potential recruits…
But let the pro-military forces bombard the city council with emails, phone calls and letters – and we’re using intimidation…..
Riiiiiiiiiiggghhhhhtt
Pablum-sucking namby-pambies… How about they try 6 weeks of boot camp and see if they begin to grow a spine.
jrlingreenbay
last I checked Jellyfish didn’t have spines …
About as much spine as a jellyfish
DL – notice how great minds think alike???
cpodug
sure do …
If you rob a bank then give the money back you still robbed the bank. The City of Berkeley, individual City Officials, and Code Pink activists are all guilty of Sedition in time of war. Arrest them.
It is really good to know there are some sane people still in the Bay Area that have also added their voices to ours. We have won this skirmish, but there will many more along with a few major battles to go until these awkwardly aging hippies take the “sundown trail” leaving the world a better place without them on it. Thanks for the update Michelle to allow us to remain ever vigilant to the delusional traitors among us.
In other words…we will present ourselves dishonestly to avoid disagreement with our position (and the risk of de-funding). A majority of those troglodytes on that voting entity do, indeed, hate the Marines. Come on weeners…stand up and spout your ideology and reap the “rewards.” Ideology doesn’t come in different hat sizes. Be yourselves!!!!
The job won’t be done until these whackjobs are out of office.
Unfortunately, that won’t be for a very, very long time.
You cannot support the troops if you do not support that which they are doing. It is a ludicrous as being a fan and not rooting for your team to win.
If these fools do not know what support means, our Marines are more than bright enough to figure it out.
It’s ironic that we can win in Iraq, and win in Afghanistan, yet lose in Moronistan without firing a shot…
Cowardice is confusion. They thought nobody would speak up or act. Now that their earmarks are being threatened and they are being called out for ignorant comments they made it’s time to run and hide. Berkley is the land of cowards and has been for a long time. They breed cowards. Thank God the majority of our country has more backbone and patriotism than Berkley and places like them. God bless the marines who fight for our freedom in spite of the socialist cowards in this country.
Bravo Zulu to the citizens of Berkeley who spoke out against this and also to the council members who have realized their error and have reversed course.
Give credit where credit is due.
Emphasis mine.
blues, you got it wrong. Liberals never say, “I’m sorry.” They cannot ever apologize the way real intelligent people apologize, by saying, “I’m sorry” or “I apologize.” They say things like they were misquoted, misunderstood, it’s Bush’s fault, etc. Remember Durbin’s “apology” to the troops about Gitmo? That’s what this is.
What has happened is that the Supreme Soviet of Berzerkely crunched some numbers and didn’t like the idea of losing millions of federal tax dollars. This has nothing to do with an apology. It has to do with stealing taxes under false pretenses and wasting them on useless socialist policies.
How about this: I support the Berkeley City Council but I don’t support their policies. When you actually hear it you realize just how stupid liberals are.
They are what they are…military haters, and it’s documented in black and white. Wiggle all they want, we all know. Shame on them all.
I still think they should lose their federal money. IMO, that’s why some are backtracking anyway. They knew what they were doing when this all started.
Just a quick question:
Why are we only trying to remove the ear-marks for Berkeley? It seems pretty clear to me that there has been no vote of censure for this council’s actions from any State of California body. Silence is acceptance.
We should consider cutting all Federal funding for Califonia off entirely. Start with Defense contracts for Califoria based companies, then hit contracts for companies with work centers in that state.
“Loving the troops but hating the war” is a marketing campaign, not a heartfelt expression. The Left has learned from the Vietnam protests that insulting the military cost them public support so they have rebranded themselves from troop haters to troop lovers while maintaining the same opposition to whatever war America fights.
Unfortunately for them, feral lefties have a visceral contempt for the US military and all it stands for and they can not help but express it. That’s why they continue to pitch an anti-war protest at the gates of Walter Reed Army Medical Center every Friday night. You could watch protestors on one side of the gate blather about hating the troops but hating the war while on the other side of the gate lefties were singing songs condemning the troops for murdering babies.
No matter how hard they try, the Left can not disguise its hatred for the military. In the case of the Berkeley City Council, they wear that hatred on their sleeve. We should make examples of them by publicizing their hate and rebutting it in a sane, rational fashion.
Wow, a lefist idea that proves impractical and unpopular when subjected to the light of day? Unthinkable.
Berkeley has been a city in its own little bubble of non-reality for decades now. It’s not going to change.
Arrest and deportation is sane. Doesn’t the law stipulate hanging for convicted traitors?
Question
I am really wondering if the City Council can ever interfere legally with a federal office in their city. These officials are responsible for issues as the local level. Making reference to their dislike of the war and etc. is completely out of their jurisdiction, isn’t it? They are responsible for the laws within the City and do not have the power to supercede any State or Federal laws or agencies – Am I correct?
Miltary personnel and the rent paid for that recruting station’s office space is paid for with federal funds from the DoD – a federal agency.
Do they have any right to even put out a statement like the one they have?
Michelle, I serious think this is a situation where they simply have to SUCK. IT. UP!
So somebody’s managed to pop the little liberal bubble that is Bezerkley, they were forced to confront the reality that they are not the voice of a nation, just the voice of a bunch of aging hippys, that many didn’t agree with back in the 60s and I still don’t agree with 5 Feb 2008. Someone send Berkeley some calenders, lets try and get them up to speed.
Laree
I prefer my alternative spelling …
“Burqah-ley”
Keep the pressure on, people. This is democracy in action. Write the council again, every day if you have to.
I’d like to rise in unanimus support and consent for the motion to Stop Their Funding Anyway.
The chickens have come home to roost,support the troops my a$$.Im going to wait to see what the Midol Mollies of CodePink have to say about this now.
As a resident of one of the three towns that surround Travis AFB and a former resident of San Diego, tell me exactly why these two locations (for example) should be denied federal funding? It is the gobsmakingly stupid jerkwad maggots of san franscisco and berkeley that have repeatedly proven their absolute hatred of the military. NOT all of California.
We of the northbay area OTOH have squeaky voiced sheehan as our constant embarrassment.
ttevolla
Agree with you … only those openly antagonistic and anti-military cities like Burqah-ley or all the sanctuary cities like SF should lose federal funding because they are defying federal law …
I have many friends in CA and they do not deserve to be lumped into a common basket with the loons like this city council …
And still, no comments from Arnold or Nancy. The silence is still deafening.
katieanne, that’s the sound of one hand clapping, right?
Our our senators Boxer and Feinstein.
Nice.
WARNING!!:
We conservatives tend to see capitulation and believe the left has given up.
NOT: the left goes underground and re-takes the battle ground a little at a time while
We MUST BE EVER WATCHFUL and we must continue to take ACTION!
NOT: the left goes undeground and re-takes the battle ground a little at a time while we are concentrating on the NEXT issue.
I am very happy that citizens of Berkeley spoke out against this. It probably made more of a difference to those weasels in the city council than all the emails from people outside their constituency.
However, to those that want to cut all federal funds from the entire state. I am a tax payer in California. If you want to cut my state’s federal funding, fine. Just give me back my taxes, and tell the IRS I don’t need to file for this year, and we are square.
Try to remember that you are talking about punishing a lot of conservatives that are trapped in this state. Including members of the military, as my husband is, for example.
Stuff to keep in mind.
DragonHawk
agree … see #41 and my #42
Berkeley is a write-off. Let the miserable hippies fend for themselves. Cut off federal money now.
Sign Melanie Morgans/Move America Forward – Petition Here.
Pledge not to conduct any business within the Berkeley city limits or patronize any company which has its headquarters within Berkeley. – Petition Here.
Then contact Congress to stop all Earmarks for Berkeley and San Francisco.
Then, do what et said:
Why should TREASON be rewarded?
Wait a second. Wasn’t that Medea person the one who said that if it weren’t for people standing up for their beliefs, we’d be ruled by Hitler?? And all it took for them to fold like a cheap suit was a bunch of outrage from regular normal people.
Wow, way to stand up for themselves against the Hitler regime. Good thing to see that they aren’t up against the Einstazgruppen or the Gestapo.
This thing should not be over until the USMC recruiter gets the Code Pink reserved parking spot….
Regardless of their public statements I will never forget. I have spent alot of money staying there in the past but will never spend a penny in that town again.
rw
well said … Code Pinkos still have their parking spot, their “FREE” demonstration and sound permits for every Wednesday for eternity … there was no expiration dates put on those permits …
The pigs are out of the sty[berkeley's hate speech]. You ain’t getting them back in without some hard word and begging.
Cut the funding and put a ‘secret’ deadline on it.
Stop the money. These nutz need to learn an important lesson about free speech. The ones supplying the free speech paid a price for that free speech and the ones using the free speech pay the price for using it. In this case the price should be cut federal funding.
30, 30, 30. You just do not understand the liberal mindset. Just another reason to luv ya!
Oh good gosh! More Orwellian doublespeak from the lunatic fringe. I feel sorry for the normal people in Berkeley, but for the lunatic left, no. They do NOT support the Marines. They do NOT support our military in any way shape or form outside of what their forced taxes. They do NOT give a flip about any service member.
I really wish that people would stop handing off this whole “We don’t support the war, the mission, the goals, the service, or the policies that govern the military, but we support the troops.”
Bull crap. What exactly do you support about them then? Oh, I get it they support the troops when they get flack and hell from others for being anti-military. Really their slogan should be “We support the troops when we have to — in word only of course. Not in deed.”
Bah. I think it’s all a sham on behalf of the City Council members — including the ones who are now saying maybe they shouldn’t have said it. Too bad they didn’t stand up for the Marines when it would have really counted. It’s a good thing our military members stand up for us on the battlefield without hesitation.
I hope the citizens of Berkeley who are unhappy with this get their own day of justice when their City Council members come up for re-election. Kick ‘em to the curb!
Now that they have started to backpedal, do what the USMC always does to an enemy…keep the pressure on and increasing until the backpedalling becomes a full blown retreat. Semper Fi.
This is what liberals consider hate mail: Dear Council Member, I think your recent vote, vilifying the Marine Corps. was childish, and un-American. Please won’ you reconsider your emotion-based decision? Very truly yours.
As contrasted with the type of e-mail the liberals send: Die pig! I hope you die…your children should be ashamed of you…you support our military killing innocent civilians…I hope you get AIDS and die…or better yet, maybe a “real” American will take you and you family out, pig!!! Go burn in Hell!!
Of course, if you call them on it, it becomes more of an issue of “free speech.” With this kind of thought processes, is it any wonder they support the liberal socialist candidates, and their “the end justifies the means” mentality?
“When the mayor and the council are railing that the “Marines are the President’s own gangsters… they are trained killers” and that the Marines are known for “death and destruction…and maiming” and give America “horrible karma,” it’s the “policy” they oppose, you see”
Right, these old flower children out there in the granola state filled with nuts and flakes are full of it. I want our military and marines to do what the military is paid to do “Break things and kill people” not serve tea and cookies. I want out military to have the most lethal, nastiest hardware and technology to use on the enemy that we can produce. This is the only thing the enemy understands.
Dona Spring was involved in protests and rallies as a student at UC Berkely in the 1970s.
Got her degree in civil disobedience, with a minor in sedition.
#63, Thank you for the link and additional information, however, I had to forcefully drop 25 IQ points to comprehend the mindless drivel that I read — that and now I feel the urge to diet on fruit flies and grass.
You may need to put a disclaimer with it.
All joking aside, it does not surprise me in the least.
Here’s a thought, sent by email to me courtesy of one of my Bros in the Navy:
OK, you want Gitmo closed??? fine. starting tomorrow, Gitmo is closed.
All the jihadi perps will be released on the streets of Berkeley and given internships at Code Pink, Top Dog and Annapurna.
Man I can’t wait until the last of the flower children have exited this mortal coil.
I think it’s too late!! We see already see them for who they are.
Can you be against abortion but support the abortion docs? I don’t think so, and I don’t see how anyone can think you can support the warrior if you’re against the war.
How do they get away with this nonsensical comment???
The mission of a military recruiter is a matter of national security, not a political statement. Actively preventing it is not a form of protest it is a form of treason. Further, if the esteemed council wants to affirm their support for the troops, I challenge them to provide a concrete example of how they support the troops.
Berkeley Vs. America, Again
Michelle, your words bring a smile to my face….