Berkeley council tells Marines to leave

[silentbob1272]

What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Berkeley council tells Marines to leave

By Doug Oakley

STAFF WRITER

Article Launched: 01/30/2008 01:48:16 PM PST

Hey-hey, ho-ho, the Marines in Berkeley have got to go.

That's the message from the Berkeley City Council, which voted 6-3 Tuesday night to tell the U.S. Marines that its Shattuck Avenue recruiting station "is not welcome in the city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders."

In addition, the council voted to explore enforcing its law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation against the Marines because of the military's don't ask, don't tell policy. And it officially encouraged the women's peace group Code Pink to impede the work of the Marines in the city by protesting in front of the station.

In a separate item, the council voted 8-1 to give Code Pink a designated parking space in front of the recruiting station once a week for six months and a free sound permit for protesting once a week from noon to 4 p.m.

Councilman Gordon Wozniak opposed both items.

The Marines have been in Berkeley for a little more than a year, having moved from Alameda in December of 2006. For about the past four months, Code Pink has been protesting in front of the station.

"I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave," said Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates after votes were cast.

A Marines representative did not respond to requests for comment.

The resolution telling the Marines they are unwelcome and directing the city attorney to explore issues of sexual orientation discrimination was brought to the council by the city's Peace and Justice commission.

The recommendation to give Code Pink a parking space for protesting and a free sound permit was brought by council members Linda Maio and Max Anderson.

Code Pink on Wednesday started circulating petitions to put a measure on the November ballot in Berkeley that would make it more difficult to open military recruiting offices near homes, parks, schools, churches libraries or health clinics. The group needs 5,000 signatures to make the ballot.

Even though the council items passed, not everyone is happy with the work of Code Pink. Some employees and owners of businesses near the Marines office have had enough of the group and its protests.

"My husband's business is right upstairs, and this (protesting) is bordering on harassment," Dori Schmidt told the council. "I hope this stops."

An employee of a nearby business who asked not to be identified said Wednesday the elderly Code Pink protesters are aggressive, take up parking spaces, block the sidewalk with their yoga moves, smoke in the doorways, and are noisy.

"Most of the people around here think they're a joke," the woman said.

Wozniak said he was opposed to giving Code Pink a parking space because it favors free speech rights of one group over another.

"There's a line between protesting and harassing, and that concerns me," Wozniak said. "It looks like we are showing favoritism. We have to respect the other side, and not abuse their rights. This is not good policy."

Ninety-year-old Fran Rachel, a Code Pink protester who spoke at the council meeting, said the group's request for a parking space and noise permit was especially important because the Marines are recruiting soldiers who may die in an unjust war.

"This is very serious," Rachel said. "This isn't a game; it's mass murder. There's a sickness of silence of people not speaking out against the war. We have to do this."

Anderson, a former Marine who said he was "drummed out" of the corps when he took a stand against the Vietnam War, said he'd love to see the Marines high tale it out of town.

"We are confronted with an organization that can spend billions of dollars on propaganda," Anderson said. "This is not Okinawa here; we're involved in a naked act of aggression. If we can provide a space for ordinary people to express themselves against this kind of barbarity, then we should be doing it."

E-mail Doug Oakley at doakley@bayareanewsgroup.com

[Ramen]

Wouldn't giving Code Pink free parking and permits be a content-based discrimination for other groups denied those same permits?

[silentbob1272]

Ramen (2/1/2008)

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Wouldn't giving Code Pink free parking and permits be a content-based discrimination for other groups denied those same permits?

There are so many things wrong with this decision it would take twenty pages to list them all, but I agree this is among them.

[octoslash]

I'd like to tell those lousy hippies about my grandfather, the Marine (and later Army Sergeant who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross) who fought heroically, so that hippies like them would be free to spit right in his face.

[VincentVanBro]

I hope the government cuts off any funding they are giving them then.

If we didn't have recruiters we would have to reinstate the draft. Sometimes they cross the line and try to trick people into service, but they are necessary.

[silentbob1272]

lax32 (2/1/2008)

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I hope the government cuts off any funding they are giving them then.

If we didn't have recruiters we would have to reinstate the draft. Sometimes they cross the line and try to trick people into service, but they are necessary.

The draft is a good point and how would you like to be the poor officer leading these type panty wastes into battle.

'I'd rather have a German division in front of me than have a French brigade behind me' General George Patten

Add Berkley liberals to that list

[silentbob1272]

snake (2/1/2008)

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Sorry Bob, didn't see your post.

It was worth posting twice

[Statick]

octoslash (2/1/2008)

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I'd like to tell those lousy hippies about my grandfather, the Marine (and later Army Sergeant who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross) who fought heroically, so that hippies like them would be free to spit right in his face.

Was he in WWII? Korea? Nam?

I would shake every war veterans' hand if I could. I make it an issue to do so when I meet them here on Ft. Bragg and whereever I happen to meet one.

[Hammafan58]

This really stinks. I have family that made great sacrifices so that these people can have their freedoms. This really dishonors their service.

My grandfather served in the Phillipines during WWII.

My father served in Viet Nam and The first Gulf war.

My brother just returned from his second tour in Iraq and is pretty sure he's going back.

All in the Army.

[july425]

"Code Pink on Wednesday started circulating petitions to put a measure on the November ballot in Berkeley that would make it more difficult to open military recruiting offices near homes, parks, schools, churches libraries or health clinics. The group needs 5,000 signatures to make the ballot."

Sooooo....basically they're saying military recruiting offices are as dangerous as convicted child molesters?? smh........just smh......

[ki45toryu]

As opposed to these viewpoints as the majority of us...we cannot take a colonialistic attitude towards freedom of speech.

These people absolutely deserve to hold these viewpoints, even if it is against the organization that basically enables it to be in existence anyways.

[Mathis81WR]

I wouldn't want them in my town either! The Marines are a bunch of wussies, the local neighborhood crime watch group is tougher than them!

[goldfly]

octoslash (2/1/2008)

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I'd like to tell those lousy hippies about my grandfather, the Marine (and later Army Sergeant who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross) who fought heroically, so that hippies like them would be free to spit right in his face.

i love people who try to act more patriotic than other americans by saying what someone else has done

you are such a better american cause of what your granddad did obviously

[goldfly]

silentbob1272 (2/1/2008)

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What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Cali and that town would do fine without the federal gov't all together

[silentbob1272]

goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/1/2008)

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What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Cali and that town would do fine without the federal gov't all together

The ignorance of your statements is only outweighed by their arrogance. "Cali" has been on the brink of bankruptcy for years, every time they come close to recovering their idiot liberal lawmakers put them right back in the red with their social programs, Schwarzenegger's (and he most certainly is one of the Liberals there) program to expand healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured residents, economists say the state may not have the funds to pay for it. The Feds have bailed California out time and time again. Of all the states in the Union, California is the one who can least afford to lose Federal funding, and they are the state who deserves it less than any other. Make these dipsh*ts at Berkley accountable for their actions, remember this was the city council, not just the typical Code Pink Lunatics.

[silentbob1272]

ki45toryu (2/2/2008)

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As opposed to these viewpoints as the majority of us...we cannot take a colonialistic attitude towards freedom of speech.

These people absolutely deserve to hold these viewpoints, even if it is against the organization that basically enables it to be in existence anyways.

Normally I would be forced to agree with you, but this was not just run of the mill idiotic Libs protesting, this was the actual City Council, elected officials, that makes it a different case altogether.

[goldfly]

silentbob1272 (2/3/2008)

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goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/1/2008)

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What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Cali and that town would do fine without the federal gov't all together

The ignorance of your statements is only outweighed by their arrogance. "Cali" has been on the brink of bankruptcy for years, every time they come close to recovering their idiot liberal lawmakers put them right back in the red with their social programs, Schwarzenegger's (and he most certainly is one of the Liberals there) program to expand healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured residents, economists say the state may not have the funds to pay for it. The Feds have bailed California out time and time again. Of all the states in the Union, California is the one who can least afford to lose Federal funding, and they are the state who deserves it less than any other. Make these dipsh*ts at Berkley accountable for their actions, remember this was the city council, not just the typical Code Pink Lunatics.

i wonder what your thoughts on what W and Raygun have done to bankrupt this country then

and Cali would be fine, no matter what warped reality you believe obviously

[silentbob1272]

goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/3/2008)

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goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/1/2008)

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What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Cali and that town would do fine without the federal gov't all together

The ignorance of your statements is only outweighed by their arrogance. "Cali" has been on the brink of bankruptcy for years, every time they come close to recovering their idiot liberal lawmakers put them right back in the red with their social programs, Schwarzenegger's (and he most certainly is one of the Liberals there) program to expand healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured residents, economists say the state may not have the funds to pay for it. The Feds have bailed California out time and time again. Of all the states in the Union, California is the one who can least afford to lose Federal funding, and they are the state who deserves it less than any other. Make these dipsh*ts at Berkley accountable for their actions, remember this was the city council, not just the typical Code Pink Lunatics.

i wonder what your thoughts on what W and Raygun have done to bankrupt this country then

and Cali would be fine, no matter what warped reality you believe obviously

Fantastic counter to my argument, really. When the lack of any substance in your arguments is exposed, take a shot at W. ........Brilliant, you've proven yourself to be just as bright as I thought you were.....wow!

[ki45toryu]

silentbob1272 (2/3/2008)

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ki45toryu (2/2/2008)

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As opposed to these viewpoints as the majority of us...we cannot take a colonialistic attitude towards freedom of speech.

These people absolutely deserve to hold these viewpoints, even if it is against the organization that basically enables it to be in existence anyways.

Normally I would be forced to agree with you, but this was not just run of the mill idiotic Libs protesting, this was the actual City Council, elected officials, that makes it a different case altogether.

If they are elected local officials, then there is an at least decent possibility they represent some of the communities' viewpoints.

Whos to establish what a right or wrong opinion is?

If they dont want a military recruiter there, no matter how misguided their views may seem to the rest of America, it is their right. If the community ultimately disagrees, the officials should be relieved of their duties.

[Ramen]

ki45toryu (2/3/2008)

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If they are elected local officials, then there is an at least decent possibility they represent some of the communities' viewpoints.

Whos to establish what a right or wrong opinion is?

If they dont want a military recruiter there, no matter how misguided their views may seem to the rest of America, it is their right. If the community ultimately disagrees, the officials should be relieved of their duties.

Government cannot prohibit free association or free speech just because it doesn't like the content of that speech. A lot of communities don't like the idea of the KKK or a gay rights group holding rallies on the public square. That doesn't mean they can just up and prohibit them from meeting, especially if that same community provides permits to other groups to express their views or recruit for their causes.

FREE association and FREE speech means that anyone gets to do it, and to **** what the majority of the public dislikes.

[goldfly]

silentbob1272 (2/3/2008)

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goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/3/2008)

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goldfly (2/3/2008)

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silentbob1272 (2/1/2008)

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What would these pillow biting maniacs ever do without the government to protect them? I say, lets find out, immediately suspend all Federal money going into the pos town and let the idiot bed wetting Council watch the place descend into chaos.

Cali and that town would do fine without the federal gov't all together

The ignorance of your statements is only outweighed by their arrogance. "Cali" has been on the brink of bankruptcy for years, every time they come close to recovering their idiot liberal lawmakers put them right back in the red with their social programs, Schwarzenegger's (and he most certainly is one of the Liberals there) program to expand healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured residents, economists say the state may not have the funds to pay for it. The Feds have bailed California out time and time again. Of all the states in the Union, California is the one who can least afford to lose Federal funding, and they are the state who deserves it less than any other. Make these dipsh*ts at Berkley accountable for their actions, remember this was the city council, not just the typical Code Pink Lunatics.

i wonder what your thoughts on what W and Raygun have done to bankrupt this country then

and Cali would be fine, no matter what warped reality you believe obviously

Fantastic counter to my argument, really. When the lack of any substance in your arguments is exposed, take a shot at W. ........Brilliant, you've proven yourself to be just as bright as I thought you were.....wow!

where did i take a shot at W?

you were talking about bankrupting a gov't and was curious what your thoughts on 2 people who did bankrupt our federal gov't to levels unseen before (w and raygun)

sensitive to talk about for ya?