This is a load of cr@p!

frogger · 02-07-2008, 05:41 AM

I'm completely disgusted. Berkeley is an embarrassment to our nation.

From KTVU.com:

Berkeley Could Lose Funding Over Anti-Marine Stance

POSTED: 9:31 pm PST February 6, 2008
UPDATED: 10:55 pm PST February 6, 2008

BERKELEY, Calif. -- Republicans in Congress are playing hardball with Berkeley after the liberal city council issued a declaration urging the U.S. Marines to move its recruitment office out of the East Bay college town last week. Now conservative lawmakers are fighting back with legislation that could eliminate millions of dollars in funding for UC Berkeley and a variety of city programs.

The controversy erupted last week after the City Council passed an item condemning the Marines' downtown recruiting center on Shattuck Avenue. The item told the U.S. Marines that if its recruiters choose to stay in their rented downtown space "they do so as uninvited and unwelcome guests."

A small band of GOP lawmakers is fighting back with legislation that could eliminate millions of dollars for UC Berkeley, public safety programs, a new ferry service, and the Alice Waters foundation, an organization that provides lunches to public schools.

It was quiet Wednesday evening in front of the Marine Corps recruiting station on Shattuck in Berkeley, but the battle between city officials and the federal government is escalating.

An anti-war protest vehicle remains parked in front of the recruiting station, and now some republicans are retaliating by trying to slash $2.3 million in federal funds from several Berkeley programs after the city council voted last week to ask the Marines to leave.

Wednesday night, Berkeley's Mayor Tom Bates backed down from those earlier calls for the Marines to hit the road.

"We went too far when we passed [the resolution]. We said things we probably shouldn't have said," explains the mayor.

Pictures of the vocal protests that took place in front of the Marine Corps recruiting office from last week's demonstration infuriated some members of Congress.

Republican South Carolina Senator Jim Demint was among those angered. "Patriotic American taxpayers won't sit quietly while Berkeley insults our brave marines and tries to run them out of town, and the city doesn't deserve a single dime of special pet project handouts," said Senator Demint in a statement.

Senator Demint has joined forces with five other Republican senators and an Orange County representative to introduce companion bills called the Semper Fi Act of 2008.

One cut amounting to almost a quarter million dollars would impact the Chez Paniesse Foundation, which helps provide school meals to thousands of Berkeley public school students. Not surprisingly, Berkeley residents are shocked that the proposed legislation would go to such lengths.

"If you want to give a slap on the hand of a community because of their opinion and viewpoint, that in itself is questionable. But to attack our children to do that is absolutely unconscionable," said Berkeley School District spokesman Mark Coplan.

On the streets of Berkeley Wednesday night, many people said Berkeley city leaders went too far in their anti-war efforts.

"I'm against war, but I think if we didn't have the Marines we'd probably be all be speaking German," said Ralph Kratz of Richmond.

"I think Berkeley has a right to their opinion and I think the Marine Corps does too. I don't think federal funding has anything to do with whether there's recruitment or not," said San Leandro resident Ed Shapiro.

Mayor Tom Bates says he hopes the city can clarify it's position: "I'm not saying we're anti-Marines or anti armed forces. We're just trying to set the record straight that we're against this war. We think it's illegal. We think it's immoral. We think it's wrong and we think we've been lied to. We want this war to be over."

The showdown between Berkeley's city council and its critics comes to a head on Tuesday when the city council will vote again whether or not to urge the Marines to leave. Some council members appear to be softening their positions.

A pro-military group called Move America Forward says it will hold an all-day protest in front of City Hall the try to get Berkeley to back down.

Mo_Gearhead · 02-07-2008, 05:47 AM

God I hope the terrorist understand 'prevailing winds theory' and aren't stupid enough to set off their nuke on the EAST COAST!!

May I suggest....

NICKG · 02-07-2008, 06:18 AM

they should drop the funding....

Mule · 02-07-2008, 06:19 AM

Like a say, If you want to play hard ball, make sure you brought your glove.

Proof yet again that college administrations are awash with educated fools!

sammyg2 · 02-07-2008, 06:21 AM

Buck Ferkeley. Cut em off, let em fend for themsleves. Maybe we can give Berkeley to France, they'd fit right in.

berettafan · 02-07-2008, 06:22 AM

A case of allowing your past reputation to define your future. Sad.

Mule · 02-07-2008, 06:22 AM

"Escape from Berkley" I can see the ghost of Jerry Garcia dodging bullets & jumping fences.

Rearden · 02-07-2008, 06:31 AM

Pictures from the scene

Mule · 02-07-2008, 06:40 AM

The B HO poster was fitting.

Steve Carlton · 02-07-2008, 06:41 AM

Seems like the wrong people are being punished for the misguided actions of their City Council. I think the GOP lawmakers are making bigger fools out of themselves.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-07-2008, 06:46 AM

The American People are being punished by the actions of Bush.

The Berkeley citizens are being punished by the actions of the City Council.

The Marines are being punished by the actions of Bush.

The Marines are being punished by the actions of the Berkeley City Council.

Plenty of punishment to go around.

frogger · 02-07-2008, 06:49 AM

Can we get the Berkeley City Council and Bush to punish each other and leave everyone else alone?

Joeaksa · 02-07-2008, 06:51 AM

The list of companies, people and so on who are now halting any business or vacations to the area has gotten longer by the day after this happened.

Hope that Bezerkley dies on the vine and Code Pink members and the city council who voted this in end up being crack loving hookers on the street.

Biased? Nah, not much but you do not mess with the Marines and get away with it for long.

Shaun @ Tru6 · 02-07-2008, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frogger

Can we get the Berkeley City Council and Bush to punish each other and leave everyone else alone?

I prefer a public hanging of both parties.

sammyg2 · 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Seems like the wrong people are being punished for the misguided actions of their City Council. I think the GOP lawmakers are making bigger fools out of themselves.

The city council did not chain themsleves to the doors of the recruitment office, the students who go to school at bezerkeley did.

If the people who live in bezerkeley or the students who go there do not agree with the city council, why don't they protest them? Why don't they stand up and show their outrage? Who voted for the city council and put them in office?
Answer: the citizens and students support the city council. The city and the university has been known as the hotbed of fanatical liberalism since the 60's. IMO the blame is right where it belongs.

frogger · 02-07-2008, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

The list of companies, people and so on who are now halting any business or vacations to the area has gotten longer by the day after this happened.

Hope that Bezerkley dies on the vine and Code Pink members and the city council who voted this in end up being crack loving hookers on the street.

Biased? Nah, not much but you do not mess with the Marines and get away with it for long.

Yep. No matter how one feels about war(s), our troops are serving our country and providing for the nation's defense. Anyone that doesn't feel a need to respect them for that should seriously consider why they remain citizens of this country.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I will be sure to never ever spend a dime in Beserkely.

Joeaksa · 02-07-2008, 07:05 AM

jyl · jyl's Garage

Berkeley city council and quite a number of groups in the city like to do things for symbolic value. Pandering to their choir.

Apparently, these Republican congressmen like symbolism and pandering just as much. I see some of their choir, lapping it enthusiastically up, right in this thread.

It is a dumb thing all around.

Steve Carlton · 02-07-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyg2

The city council did not chain themsleves to the doors of the recruitment office, the students who go to school at bezerkeley did.

If the people who live in bezerkeley or the students who go there do not agree with the city council, why don't they protest them? Why don't they stand up and show their outrage? Who voted for the city council and put them in office?
Answer: the citizens and students support the city council. The city and the university has been known as the hotbed of fanatical liberalism since the 60's. IMO the blame is right where it belongs.

Disagreeing with the City Council doesn't require protests, and lack of protests doesn't mean many don't disagree with them. I'd be surprised if there isn't plenty of opposition. Berkeley's a very liberal town. That doesn't mean the Council members always are acting in a way that those who elected them wish. Yes, Berkeley has been in the forefront of protest. Do you think they were wrong about Vietnam? Do you think they helped raised the consciousness about the wrong situation there?

I'm simply saying that those that benefit from programs for public safety, a new ferry service, and the Alice Waters foundation are the wrong people to punish.