The Berkeley city council, that is.
BERKELEY, Calif. — As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 million in federal funding for Berkeley programs, the mayor of the famously liberal city apologized Wednesday for his hard stance against a Marine recruiting center. …
“That letter will probably be pulled back and maybe more moderate language will be put in place which is appropriate I think,” said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates. …
“Subtly stated in the resolution is perhaps an impugning of the soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and other places,” Berkeley City Councilman Laurie Capitelli. “And that was never the intention but that really needs to be cleared up. As I walked to my car that night I realized I regretted it and I had made a mistake.” …
“There’s really no correlation between federal funds for schools, water ferries and police communications systems and the council’s actions, for God’s sake,” said Bates, a retired U.S. Army captain. “We apologize for any offense to any families of anyone who may serve in Iraq. We want them to come home and be safe at home.”
Come on, Berkeley. You’re where my American side of the family has been based — my mom and dad met there (and she still votes there), my aunt went there, and a number of my cousins have gone there. You’re made of sterner stuff than that, aren’t you? Stick to your guns!
No?
Anyway, I agree with Instapundit — this is tailor-made for McCain ads.
33 responses so far ↓
Fen // February 8, 2008 at 9:44 am
How ironic. Our Marines are risking their lives to bring peace, liberty and stability to a brutalized people. Meanwhile, Berkeley City abandons their “principles” for a few million.
I wonder what I would get if I dragged a $20 bill through town…
Bates, a retired U.S. Army captain: We apologize for any offense to any families of anyone who may serve in Iraq. We want them to come home and be safe at home.
Huh? How about “we hope they come home safe or stay safe in Iraq”. Be safe at home? Frickin weasel can’t even offer a decent apology without slipping his politics in.
Chris // February 8, 2008 at 10:16 am
Take their damn money away anyway. Maybe it’ll make them think twice before their next boneheaded maneuver.
If they want funds for schools, ferries, and cops, tell them to get the money from Code Pink and not the hardworking, patriotic taxpayers in the rest of the USA.
paul a'barge // February 8, 2008 at 10:34 am
No apology is adequate. Pull all federal funding for Berkeley and all federal funding and investment in any business that maintains a location in Berkeley. This includes all the research labs and technology start ups.
USA out of Berkeley NOW!
Pixelkiller // February 8, 2008 at 10:42 am
Quislings!
They cut an run for for a little money.
Principles? They don’t need no stinking principles.
Well, Berkley has always been full of Horse apples.
Just Me // February 8, 2008 at 11:58 am
So, not only are they douchebags, they’re cowardly douchebags.
Steve Skubinna // February 8, 2008 at 12:12 pm
“Subtly stated” “perhaps an impugning”
Well, he’s clearly gone off the deep end here. Only a rabid right wing hater could possibly misconstrue “unwanted and uninvited intruders” as anything other than a heartfelt pledge of support for the troops, whom of course they support.
The biggest problem for people like these is that others keep taking their words in context.
Fidel.MD // February 8, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Good. It’s time those anti-American morons learned that stupid hurts.
bandit // February 8, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Bush should up the stakes and deploy troops to Berkeley and establish martial law.
tree hugging sister // February 8, 2008 at 12:29 pm
How a ‘retired’ Army captain’ can countenance something so repulsive in a free society, I have no idea.
Peach // February 8, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Money talks doesn’t it?
saltydog // February 8, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Surely there is some subtle nuance within their words that I am missing. Surely this citadel of progressive thought isn’t simply speaking in order to continue to receive funds from the rest of America. After all, they did say “perhaps” and “maybe.” Who could ask for a more strongly stated declaration of principles?
I know five year olds who are more persuasive when trying to get out of a tight spot. Of course, a five year old is innocent, with no experience in life, so makes genuine misstatements without understanding why they haven’t said what they meant to say. Such can be one of the most charming aspects of chatting with a five year old. Damned unattractive in supposedly politically savvy adults making statements of principle behind their actions (if one can find a principle in there anywhere).
Tim // February 8, 2008 at 1:31 pm
This my favorite line:
“I was under the impression that we have the right of free speech,” said Xanne Joi of Code Pink. “To me, I thought free speech meant you get to say what you want without recrimination.”
No, that’s not what it means at all, you moron. It means we’re not going to prosecute you for being a moron and speaking your mind. It does NOT mean your idiot statements have no repurcussions.
boner9 // February 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
yea.
Occam's Beard // February 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Bates: “How much am I bid for this fine set of ‘principles,’ only slightly used?”
crushliberalism // February 8, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Tim, you are 100% correct. Leftist idiots always get that “free speech” thing wrong. The concept of “free speech” in the First Amendment is simple: you can’t go to jail for saying stupid things. Otherwise, Berkeley would be a ghost town and a nearby prison would be bursting at the seams.
Black Coffee & Bourbon // February 8, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I would still take the money away from them despite the “apology” from the mayor. Nice observation re: free speech. Moonbats should do a little research into what it actually protects and what it does not.
Jeffsters // February 8, 2008 at 2:49 pm
My question is will Code Pink still have a reserved parking spot in front of the recruiting office?
John Calomiris // February 8, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Evidently,there is a resurgence of fruit flies over berkley,you know, the ones the moombean mayer missed some time ago
John Calomiris // February 8, 2008 at 3:03 pm
no comment deserved
papertiger // February 8, 2008 at 4:36 pm
“That letter will probably be pulled back and maybe more moderate language will be put in place which is appropriate I think,” said Berkeley mayor Tom Bates.
Spineless even by my standards.
DD // February 8, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Retired? Army Captian? Why was he retired as only a captian? After 20 years, he should at least have been a major. Or was he asked to leave and considers that “Retirement”?
TomP // February 8, 2008 at 4:53 pm
“Freedom of speech means you have the right to say what you want and I have the right to point and laugh.”
Don’t know where that came from, but it seems applicable in this cae.
ZZMike // February 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm
The thing to watch for is whether or not the Senators get Berkeley’s earmarks yanked, or whether it’s just bluster. Or whether they can get it past the Democrats.
At this point I’d say, the Berkeley City Council can apologize and weep all they want, the funds should still get yanked, so they just might learn about actions and consequences.
jbird // February 8, 2008 at 6:03 pm
I would think twice before clamoring to pull Federal money from Berkeley. The threat of losing Federal dollars (some of which came from Berkeley taxpayers in the first place) is a two edged sword that can be used against any non-Federal political entity according to the prevailing political winds.
Fen // February 8, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Nah, These are 2.3 million in EARMARKS.
Frank Parkerson // February 8, 2008 at 7:21 pm
So the Berkeley crown is not only loony, but callow and cowardly as well. Exactly when was it that Berkeley left the Union?
Sarge // February 8, 2008 at 7:21 pm
An apology should only be accepted AFTER appropriate punishment has been meted out and accepted contritely. My parents were very clear in that regard; sad that these chowderheads did not benefit from the same educational stresses.
Top Posts « WordPress.com // February 8, 2008 at 7:58 pm
[...] Paper tigers The Berkeley city council, that is. BERKELEY, Calif. — As six Republican senators devised a plan to yank $2.3 […] [...]
anon // February 8, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Why won’t Hillary lend them the $2.3 million? After all, it’s less than 1/2 of what she loaned her own campaign. And Bill could make chump change like that with a single speech in Saudi Arabia.
BallPlayer10 // February 8, 2008 at 10:37 pm
I, also, vote for permanent withdrawal of any and all Federal funding of the City of Berzerkley. It’s time that wart on the rear end of OUR West Coast was scraped off. And then, maybe the spreading infection for about a 50 mile radius would get the message.
washedandforgiven // February 8, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Berkely is a poison to this country. And apparently, one uncapable of sticking to its guns when money is offered. Just goes to show that all crooks and liars are the same.
Albie // February 9, 2008 at 6:40 am
So Bates is a “retired US Army captain”? Is the Army passing out commissions for the heck of it now-a-days? A PFC would make a better mayor than this former desk commando.
Stacy Henle // February 12, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Why doesn’t Berkeley or the environmental/feminist/pacifist organization Code Pink protest Sharia Law or the fact that naming your daughter after a hair color (Xanne = “blonde”) is highly sexist? Alas, Cope Pink’s fossil-hippie founder changed her name at age 18 in the year 1970 from Susan to Medea (= an enchanting ancient Greek sorceress who helped Jason obtain the Golden Fleece, had an open-marriage with him, but killed their children as revenge for *his* infidelity, and murdered her way through life in general).
Or why doesn’t Berkeley expose Modern (urinals and scribbling) and Post-Modern Art (piles of non-art consumer goods from Home Depot) that by being placed right next to real expressive and talent-based art in museums and textbooks…as being an attempt to destroy a child’s sense of basic judgement, like when nobody (except a child) embarassingly spoke out that the Emperor Had No Clothes?
What I mean is, Berkeley is a top ten ivy league COLLEGE town, so its politics should be that of education and example for the brightest, most driven, and creative youth of each generation.
Has it not yet occurred to its students that the “Establishment” has switched from, from a CORRUPTED 1950s bastardization of classical values involving roboticized “civil” society, unquestioning patriotism, a punishment of open debate as “juvienile delinquency,” and has now become a CORRUPTED bastardization of classic Liberalism (= liberty) again, but this time around the pendulum swings towards roboticized antipatriotism insted of pro patriotism brain-washing, with no middle ground?
The excellent and falsifiable scientific hypothesis that The Sky is Falling comes to mind. Why is Code Pink and Berkeley and their local government not exposing that this hypothesis (whose logical conclusion, if turned into a validated scientific theory would command an abrupt end of progress) has indeed been…falsified?
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