February 8, 2008
Punitive Funding Cuts for Berkeley's Shocking -- Shocking! -- Leftist Tone?
Republican (it goes without saying) Assemblyman Guy Houston of San Ramon wants to slice off more than $3 million in state funding from Berkeley for their stance against Marine recruiting. He will introduce legislation to "withhold state transportation money until Berkeley rescinds its 'war on the U.S. Marine Corps.'"
Jesus.
In a move that will ideally hurt his political career -- since it's a waste of time, a symbolic prick move, and has little to zero chance of ever passing -- the flame-haired Houston's move parallels other Republican Congressmen. A few others on the right have also whined about financially destroying the city of Berkeley after the twee and annoying anti-war group Code Pink picketed downtown Marine recruitment center, prompting the city council to approve a measure that urged the Marine recruiters to leave their downtown office.
Next week, according to CBS 5, "Berkeley council members will consider rescinding the Marines' declaration to defuse the controversy." Way to stay strong.
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I live in Berkeley, and I do believe that Code Pink and the City Council have targetted the wrong people. The marines aren't the problem here; the problem is their civilian leadership.
Unless the City Council would like to pass a resolution supporting the elimination the US military, which is hard to imagine, as would be the idea of eliminating the local Berkeley police force, then they are being wholly hypocritical.
Even we Berkeley folk have to recognize that having a military is a necessity. It's how you use it that's the problem.
Berkeley does not need the US military - they are already well protected by speed bumps and bag ladies.
i love this move. i wish they'd do this to san francisco as well to show dickheads like daly that his actions have consequences.
So... Brock (you ever notice how your name sounds like "Barack?" Just an observation),
You think that Houston's decision to introduce the anti-Berkeley legislation is a bad idea, yet you seem to think that Code Pink heading the anti-Marine movement was a bad idea. I am confused.
Unless you just hate the hell out of Berkeley AND Republicans. In which case, I understand.
"...yet you seem to think that Code Pink heading the anti-Marine movement was a bad idea."
not so. i find them cutesy and annoying, but not unnecessary.
I don't see a bunch of loud, ill-attired pacifists to be all that necessary.
I see them sometimes outside my office building, with their giant paper-maché Gandhi, in the same spot (and same role -- encourage ridicule) that LaRouchites and Paultards and other annoying fringe groups sometimes occupy. I just want the bike messengers to be able to smoke their joints in peace.
i think this sign says it all:
http://sf.curbed.com/archives/2008/02/08/berkeley_spins_wheels_spends_its_15_minutes.php
heheheheheeee
I just had to click on a link that had SF and "FIST" together.......typical weenie liberal assholes just HAVE to back this POS town (oops! Did I say weenie and assholes together too?...sorry..I really am not a hater (except of Berkeley)
Berkely needs to go bankrupt over this...I hope they lose every cent of federal funding.
Living in trees and protesting against the USMC...Is it me or do these hippies need better stratergie? There are things one can do to reduce military recruitment, but they require real work, instead of sitting around and bloviating.
A few years ago, I would have cheered them on, but having worked in Berkeley from some time now, I recognize this behavior. Just as conservatism is the search for a justification for selfishness, this liberal, protest-of-the-week stuff is just laziness sprinkled with an air of moral superiority.
Not to mention, completely ineffective. If Code Pink thinks they're "making a difference" I'd like to have some of what they're smoking.
Makes sense to me, by which I mean liberal highchair pounding is responded to with conservative highchair pounding. Both equally effective, I'm certain.
oo! oo! Am I too late for the pig pile?
Living in trees is garden-variety stupid.
The idea of all these big, tough marines (halls of montazuma; shores of tripoli) getting all weepy and upset and emotionally overwrought because we don't "support" them is ridiculous.
I am not sure I want to trust the defense of the country to people who require the tying of yellow ribbons and celebrity shout-outs to function properly.
But isn't it always the case that phyisical strength comes along with emotional weakness?