Blue Crab Boulevard

Berkeley Sounds The Retreat

The Berkeley city council has done an about face and will not send a letter to the Marines calling them unwelcome. They are not, however, apologizing for their previous actions and are indulging in left wing pretzel logic to describe their feelings on the whole incident. You see, they're in favor of Marines, just not the recruitment of them.

BERKELEY, Calif. - City council members who were criticized for telling Marine recruiters they don't belong here have moderated their position, saying they oppose the Iraq war but support the troops.

The Berkeley City Council voted two weeks ago to send a letter to a downtown recruitment station advising the Marines they were not welcome.

After a marathon session that stretched into early Wednesday, the council decided against sending the letter, saying it recognizes recruiters' right to be in Berkeley. The council members say they still strongly oppose the war and the recruitment of young people, but "deeply respect and support" the men and women of the armed forces.

Some on the council had pushed for issuing an apology. Others rejected that, saying they just wanted to clarify their position.

Councilwoman Linda Maio said the council opposes recruitment, not the military. "It's behavior that we oppose, not the people," she said.

This would be like telling someone they are entitled to eat all the ice cream they can buy but forbidding them to buy ice cream. Ah well, at least they've backed off a bit from their ridiculous position. But there are still a lot of hard feelings from Berkeley residents who really support the troops.

UPDATE: The SF Chronicle reports that Code Pinko is now going to try to get a ballot initiative to oust the recruiters.

Code Pink activists said that even with the council backing off, they intend to place a resolution on the local ballot to oust the recruiters.

"We want voters to be able to decide … just like they have a say whether a liquor store or porn shop opens near a school," said Jodie Evans, a Berkeley yoga studio owner who co-founded Code Pink.

Evans, wearing a pink crown that said "I Miss America," sat on a lawn chair outside of City Hall in the chilly night air listening to testimony from the meeting inside, which was being broadcast to the hundreds who couldn't fit inside the building.

Iraq war veteran Javier Tenorio of Berkeley was also listening outside of City Hall. The former Army infantryman who served two tours of duty called the ballot proposal "ridiculous."

"Even if they achieve it, it's going to be voted down," Tenorio said. "There are enough people in Berkeley who support the military, including university Republicans. We're going to beat this."

Should such a thing pass, it would be perfectly logical to deny Berkeley Federal funds - just as colleges who refuse to allow recruiters can be penalized.

Left Wing, Politics | Gaius Wednesday, 13 February , 2008

By FedUp, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 10:29 am

I think the Marines should leave - take all their business, their families, their property taxes and go where proud Americans welcome them with open arms. Then, the US government should withdraw ALL funding, earmarks, good wishes, whatever and tell them that they are on their own - none of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard would be on the list of people to call in an emergency. That, of course, is harmful to those ‘innocents’ who do appreciate our servicemen and women. If that be the case, they should stand up to the bullies in pink and all the other faschists at Berkely and tell them that THEY are not welcome.
What is wrong with CA - something in the water??? Air??? Inbreeding???
By syn, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 10:41 am

What’s wrong in Berkeley?

Way too many people divining themselves on Yoga; back in the day when I was way too stupid to know anything I did the yoga, sitting for hours meditating upon ones own perfection tends to warp ones outlook on the real world.
When I left the Yoga after 9/11/2001 I mentioned I’d be back only if the Yois were willting to do a retreat in Darfur to prove to me that mediating divine peace stops evil people from hacking off heads.
Thus far the head hackers have the power over diine Yogis.
By syn, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 10:42 am

Obviously, after those years of divine mediatation I’m still learning how to spell.
By Maggie, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 11:45 am

FedUp -
EVERYTHING you stated/listed I am all for … with one addition: After carrying it all out I would hope an at least 7.0 would hit Berkely … Call me cruel and hateful … PLEASE!?!
syn -
Ain’t ya seein’ the new Spell Check in the menu? Take away my credit cards … but don’t ever touch my Spell Check!
By Maggie, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 11:47 am

And after all that I still didn’t spell Berkeley correctly … HEH! Oh well, they don’t deserve the extra "E" …
By terrence, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 12:08 pm

Apparently, the Berkeley council gave the first and only reserved parking spot to Code Sicko-Pinko right in front of the marine office (back when they started this ugly nonsense).
Does anyone know if Code Sicko-Pinko still has a reserved parking spot in front of the Berkeley marine office? The articles don’t mention it.
By terrence, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 12:32 pm

I found the answer to may question on gateway pundit – not only is it reserved, and it is free, as is the permit for a weekly “sound” protest.
By John Ryan, Wednesday, 13 February , 2008 @ 12:52 pm

Code Pink thanks ALL for helping with their publicity !!
By kidrob, Thursday, 14 February , 2008 @ 7:05 am

how would code pink feel about people voting to decide if abortions were legal? oh thats different! thats our rights!