Berkeley vs The USMC: The City Council, live on video and on the record
I know that having heard about this fiasco, I wish I could have been there.
Well, Berkeley was nice enough to videotape their session, and I managed to upload to YouTube some interesting clips:
Because of the procedures they use, the main resolution asking the Marines to leave (Item 12) was not called to the floor for discussion, it was instead accepted as part of the Constant Calendar. The real debate was about the parking permit and fee waivers for Code Pink (Item 15).
But before that got started, I did find this interesting clip of Council member Olds, who spoke against Item 12 and recorded her no vote, but still managed to totally trash the Marine Corp in the process.
Yes there it is again. They can't get real jobs or go to college so they join the Marines. Of course, since the office they are protesting is an Officers Recruiting Center, that is pure nonsense, as they are specifically looking for college graduates.
The second clip is a very strong and rational rebuttal to Item 15, the parking resolution, made by the only member to vote against it, Council Member Wozniak. As it was rational, it was mostly ignored.
Third up is the Code Pink people and their supporters speaking in favor of the measure.
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Fourth is a ironic collage about the noise issue, and the impact to the surrounding area.
Finally the other Council members speak, including one whose wife is a member of Code Pink. No conflict of interest there….
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Sad enough to hear a former Marine turn so far left. Honestly I could spend a day on how messed up the one sided bias here is. There are so much stupidity.
Oh, and lest I forget, Hot Air notes that:
Senator John Cornyn joins SC Senator Jim DeMint in proposing a cut off of all federal funds to Berkeley.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced his support for the Semper Fi Act, legislation introduced by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., that would send a strong message of disapproval to the City of Berkeley, Calif., for its recent decision to bar the U.S. Marine Corps from recruiting within city limits. The Semper Fi Act would rescind any earmark funding in they fiscal year 2008 spending package that would have gone to Berkeley or any entity in the city—a total of more than $2 million—and transfer those funds to the Marine Corps to be used to recruit new Marines.
“The Berkeley City Council insulted our troops and offended people across the country. If the U.S. Marines are not good enough for Berkeley, neither are taxpayer dollars Congress would have sent there this year. That city closed its doors on the same individuals taking bullets on the front lines while fighting for the safety and freedom of families in Berkeley and throughout America,” Sen. Cornyn said.
That makes two. Where are the rest of ‘em?
No where close to caring, for the most part. But that is just my opinion.
And here is the latest from Michelle Malkin:
My syndicated column this week brings newspaper readers up to speed on the anti-military siege in Berkeley.
Move America Forward is moving forward with plans for a protest at the Berkeley City Council meeting on Feb. 12.
Even the San Francisco Chronicle editorial board is castigating the fools in Berkeley:
Berkeley’s leaders have taken the worthy notion of political protest and shoved it over the cliff. While playing up arguments of free speech and organized protest, the council has loaded the deck with insulting language that denigrates the military and embarrasses the anti-war cause.
No offense, but as nutty as The City is, when they think you jumped the shark by being too nutty, that's all kinds of bad.
Final note: The members of the Council clearly realize tthe precedent they have created by showing this favoritism. I suggest we exploit it, and demand a counter protest park spot next to theirs. And since they hate Hummers so bad, let's make a Hum Vee Parade.
Previously:
Berkeley vs the USMC: Berkeley Blinks
Berkely vs The USMC: A blogging mom’s experience, A Gold Star Mom Speaks Out, MAF rally’s behind the USMC and a strange connection is made
The Marines vs Berkeley: The Peace and Justice Commission behind the actions - How bad is it? Read it here
Berkeley: The backlash against City and Code Pink begins, and local reaction is split
Here we go again: Berkeley California against the Military: Marines are “uninvited and unwelcome intruders” : Updated


On February 8, 2008 at 4:23 pm, Red Marilyn wrote:
The Move America Forward group is opposed to the Berkeley resolution and is staging a protest against it and the city of Berkeley. They have an online petition against the resolution. Also, Republican Senator Jim DeMint is making this a major plank in his re-election campaign. He uses the council video in one of his campaign ads with rebuttals from vets from his district. (He’s one of the sponsors of legislation to pull all federal monies that have been earmarked for Berkeley and not yet paid out that you mention). Several local groups and institutions would really suffer. Local opinion is said to be turning as a result as your links above indicate.