Comments on: Berkeley Military Bashers Meet Marine Supporters

By: Ann & Jim

Ann & Jim — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:25:02 +0000

I feel sorry for people like you. You need to go live with your friends, the Al-qaida’s. we have one grandson in the marines we are very proud of him without him and our other wonderful boys serving our great country ware would we be today? we would be going thur the same things some of these other countrys are going thur. it should tell you somthing when those people are trying to come over here. we will pray for you berkeley ca. because if they do get over here you people in berkeley may find your sleves needing the marines and if there not here for you o will you were told what could happen and i would say sink or swim BERKELEY the al-qaidas hate you just as much as they dislike the whole country here. maybe your town of berkeley should take a trip over there and visit your freinds over there and see if you would make it back in one peice. Ifor one hate having my tax money go to support ungratfull and ungodlly people like your town of berkeley ca. i feel bad for our next generations to come what a roll model you people are it will be a sad sad day in our country. GOD BLESS OUR MARINES ,ARMY,AIR FORCE AND NAVY

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:30:08 +0000

Mayor Bates and his city council should be ashamed of themselves and need a review of history. Our military has served nothing but noble causes around the world; protecting our interest and sheding more blood than all other countries combined. The Marines should have every right to recruit interested young men and women to serve their country. While the Mayor and his team’s support of Code Pink is their constitutional right, they have no right to intentionally promote this hostile environment toward these Marine recruiters. This is such a tragedy and I believe Berkely should be stripped of ALL Feferal support until they mend their ways.

By: Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 12:24:19 +0000

I agree with most Americans that Ferderal Funds should be pulled from Berckley. In addition, Berckley should be heavily fined for everyday they do not allow the US Armed Forces to recruit within their community. If these action fail to produce the desire results, the United States should treat the city coucil, mayor and code pink organization as an organization that is attempting to overthrough the US Government. The state of California should condemn the city in the best interest of the country and state, remove it’s corporation and disolve the city council. If California fails to resolve the issue the Federal Government should impose fines on the state of California.

By: Stephen Denney

Stephen Denney — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:18:53 +0000

As noted by Greg above: “Marines from Berkley and the surrounding area are currenly serving throughout the world, including the combat theater of operations.” Furthermore since the University of California has a military recruiting program and allows military recruiting that would mean students from this university have also served. The broad brushed denunciations of anyone who happens to live or work in Berkeley are out of place, and unAmerican.

By: Judy Aycock

Judy Aycock — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:38:58 +0000

I’m curious about Mayor Tom Bates military service. Was he drafted? Did he retire as a reservist? How do you spend twenty years in the service and retire as a Captain??

By: Judy Aycock

Judy Aycock — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:35:29 +0000

I’m for cutting federal funding to the City of Berkeley and will continue to weekly email congressmen.
If you want your children to eat more nutritious lunches, get off your fat butts and do something about it. I disagree with providing a private business (corporation?) with federal funding for something that is a parental responsibility. Maybe Code Pink could sponsor Berkeley’s children’s education since they know better than parents what they need. I want my tax dollars to go to the Marines.

By: Greg Bennick

Greg Bennick — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:40:49 +0000

Marines from Berkley and the surrounding area are currenly serving throughout the world, including the combat theater of operations. It is remarkable that in a time were these young people are sacrificing, the Berkley city leaders would take such a stand. I would venture to say that none of these city leaders has a family member currently serving. I would be very surprised to find out that any of them have ever served. If they had shared that experience, they would have been much more careful before making such rediculous statements, and would be much more sensitive about Marines, their families, and the veterans in their area of influence.

By: Karla McComb

Karla McComb — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:15:06 +0000

We are a military family, now retired. After 32 yrs of military service by my husband and I had the honor to be with him for 28 of those years, it make me furious to think that my children did without their father through the years to defend a community with the mentallity of Utopia… Your shores, borders and “free” speach is paid for by others. You are ungrateful for the rights that you have. Then you put your hand out to reap the benefits of the federal government to maintain your city. You have through the years made it very clear that you do not want to be part of America, well, you live on a shore, easy access to leave. GO… Like it or not you are Americans and you are on American soil. Your land was bought and paid for with previous lives and your “speech” should reflect the pride you have in their sacrafice. Freedom of speech is your right, but you are offensive… We will never “give you the land” so start respecting American soil… you do not own it, it is on loan to all of us who should cherish and respect it. I for one am for cutting or reducing your funds as a penalty for causing mayhem. I am sure your city does not wavier the cost of a ticket because your city rules are not being followed… the American people are “ticketing” you for not abiding by America’s rules.

By: Al De Lia

Al De Lia — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:09:37 +0000

Berkely, San Francisco, Boulder and all these other America hating cities should be cut off from the rest of America. Equally sickening is the way conservative leadership fails time after time to make a constant example of people and communites that despise America and have no respect, love or appreciation for America and the best of its people, the military who make it possisble for Berkely to exist in peace.
To me, Berkely, the disgraceful people who lead it and its followers are traitors. But tomorrow if there was a crisis in one of these cities, Bush would send troops there to do the dirty work for these satanic ingrates….that is just as disgusting as the city of Berkeky itself and that is why these America haters do what they do because they know the republicans are too dang wimpy to tell them to stuff it up their rear end.

By: kslafalce@verizon.net

kslafalce@verizon.net — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:51:54 +0000

I think Berkley should be ashamed of themselves. If it wasn’t for our “men and women in uniform” they would not be permitted to do such a thing and would be thrown in jail. I strongly urge the government to take away their aid and grant money for such action, that would make them think twice about such actions.

By: Dorothy Doehrer

Dorothy Doehrer — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:02:52 +0000

To the Citizens of Berkley, Wake up!! We need our military. These men and women who serve our country are to be proud of, not put down. Over the past several years my husband and I have boycotted S.F. and we are now adding Berkley to the list. We come to northern CA for 3 months every summer (Sacramento and Lake Tahoe area). The money we no longer spend in your area isn’t much, but there are plenty of people who feel the same. It adds up.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:46:44 +0000

As a retired member of the US Air Force, I have written to my state senator requesting the earmarks for Berkeley California be removed. Haveing spent 13 years overseas and during the Vietnam war in Vietnam, I find your response to the marine corps recruiting center reprehensable. If I should meet people from Berkeley in Florida, I will not hesitate to tell them they are unwanted in our state and to please go elsewhere. You are not welcome in the state of Florida. I respectfully request you move to Canada if this offends your “moral values”.

By: Stephen Denney

Stephen Denney — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 22:36:30 +0000

The largest cut off in funds under the Semper Fi act would be to the Robert Matsui center of the University of California. However, the university is a state institution, separate from the city, it has an ROTC program, allows military recruiting, and its chancellor denounced the city council action. It makes no sense to punish the university for the actions of a city council over which it has no control. Furthermore, the lunch school program has been mischaracterized by promoters of the Semper Fi act, particularly Senator DeMint. The purpose of this program is to provide healthier food to school kids, not a bad idea, especially now, when about 37 million pounds of tainted beef are being recalled from school cafeterias across the nation.

By: Charles Ross

Charles Ross — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:00:16 +0000

Gentlemen, Ladies; city council, mayor and citizens of Berserkly:

Leave the Marines alone. they are just doing their job, in a WAR YOU WANTED OR DID NOT BOTHER TO STOP.

You might need them someday. Afther Vietnam, it should not have taken this long to figure out what was going on in this B.S. war. Just another war for the military-industrial corporation profits.

Charles R Ross
USMC 1964-1968

By: Angela Oliva

Angela Oliva — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:15:00 +0000

I am disgusted by the particpation and the support the city of Berkley has displayed in this sham of a protest. It is obvious that none of these people have served their country or believe in what our country stands for but are quick to enjoy the rewards. The only reason they can even begin to exercise the opinions they have is because of the men and women who have fought, are fighting, and have died FOR MYcountry. Yeah, my country becasue these people do not deserve to be included in my country. I am a veteran as is my husband. My father was a marine and died being proud of the service he provided to his country. Berkely’s city council members actions are horrible and they should be held accountable. I would support pulling all federal funding from the city if this is the type of appreication they have for our armed services.

They don’t deserve to receive any type of aid for a service they don’t support. They should be a shamed of themselves and their lack of values for the armed services who are responsible for the priviledges they enjoy today. Let them go to Iraq or Iran and enjoy the type of “freedom” those folks have for a while. Maybe they would appreciate what they have a little bit more if they live to tell the tale.

The marines should be allowed to stay and if the citizens of Berkley do not want to join the service then stay the hell away…. but allow everyone to make their own decision.

GOD BLESS OUR MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES!

To hell with Tom Bates, Berkley’s City Council and it’s federal funding! GET RID OF IT ALL!

Sincerely,
A Proud Air Force Veteran

By: Thomas Brooks

Thomas Brooks — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:26:33 +0000

Get with me on the logic train a second.

Did the Marines set up a recruiting center in Berkeley to irritate the city council and code pink?

No.

Ok, did the Marines set up a recruiting center to get recruits?

Yes.

Ok, Are the Marines holding a gun to anyone’s head or otherwise coercing recruits?

No.

So, the recruits the Marines are getting are volunteers and actually want to join?

Yes.

So, what this comes down to is the city council of Berkeley is offended that their OWN CITIZENS want to make a choice that they, the council doesn’t approve of. There’s a name for this type of government, where the government assumes the right to tell it’s citizens how to think and what they can do. It’s called Totalitarianism. You know, like Stalin in the Soviet Union. You can have free choice, as long as it’s a choice the state approves of.

Whether you think the Marines are knuckle-dragging Neanderthals and killers, or defenders of our freedom and (along with Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen) among the best and bravest of our country, the action by Berkeley denying their own citizens the right of free choice, is something every person with two or more brain cells should think about.

By: Charles Bolt

Charles Bolt — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:47:16 +0000

Mayor Tom Bates and the City Council Members, you are a disgrace to America! You and your cronies should be deported to France! If I were a United States Marine and your city needed my help I would refuse even if they locked me up in the brige!

By: lw

lw — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:26:19 +0000

Mayor Bates

The picture of you in your “code pink” cap makes you look like the clown you really are.

Federal funding should be cut off.

By: Niceville Bill

Niceville Bill — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:10:36 +0000

I read a short article this A.M. that indicates the map makers of this country are considering removing Berkeley from all future graphic representations of California. It is yet to be decided whether the void will be filled with a big old glob of pink or will be cut out and flushed!

By: George K Lowe

George K Lowe — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 22:27:42 +0000

Shame on you, our military people are getting killed so you can continue to make stupid decisions!

By: Paula Ibscher

Paula Ibscher — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 20:25:18 +0000

Way to go Berkeley. Cave in to the anarchists and insult the Marines.

Berkeley is so courageous.(I roll my eyes.)

Until they talked about federally defunding your city.

The only reason these people backed down was in the hope that they would not lose federal funding.

You bitch about the war being a money machine for Halliburton and other entities.

But when they threatened to remove your city from the federal tit, you relented just a little bit.

Because your money machine was about to get broken.

What a bunch of America hating hypocrites you are.

You hate America but you don’t want to lose all those American dollars.

Stick to your guns. Oh, that’s right. Folks like you don’t believe in gun ownership.

When your city is on fire because you chose anarchy, I hope there is not one boot on the ground to give you people any relief. The only thing that will be able to save the decent people of Berkeley will be the “evil right wingers” trapped inside with their guns ready. Because of how you’ve betrayed them, why should they be bothered to take action for Berkeley’s defense?

They probably won’t. But they will defend their own.

The anarchists will burn in the very fires they built! What a legacy for Berkeley.

By: Tina in Texas

Tina in Texas — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 15:07:48 +0000

I fully support ALL federal funding cuts to this town for their harassment of the marine recruitment office/closure. Those pious governmental officials would not have the PRIVILEDGE to protest if it were not for our MILITARY MEMBERS OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA….If they (Code Pink) and the Berk. governmental officials do not like our military then they can LEAVE…I suggest Iraq or Syria for their new home!

God Bless America and without him we could not stand!

Tina in Texas (God’s counrty)

By: Ainsley Dunn

Ainsley Dunn — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:51:31 +0000

I oppose the war in Iraq and prior to Bush ordering the invasion of that country. I do not support George W. Bush and did not vote for him in either election. However, I have two sons who are serving in the United States Marine Corps. One has just recently returned from a tour in Iraq and the other is scheduled to deploy there.

If I had it within my power, every Marine Corps installation; base; office; camp and facility would move out of your state and relocate elsewhere. No Marine or Marine Corps supporter ought to soil the soles of their shoes by walking across one half inch of dirt in or near your city.

I do not care what decisions you reverse as to your policies regarding the Marine Corps recruiting station: no one needs to spend one more dime in Berkeley!

By: Janee

Janee — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:57:03 +0000

The actions of the City of Berkeley and their mayor are very disturbing to me. As Mayor, Bates should be representing all of Berkeley, not just a few liberal, anti-American views. YES, in my mind being anti-marine or anti-military is absolutey ANTI-AMERICAN. If you don’t agree, pick up a U.S. History book and read it!!!

By: jim@bellsouth.net

jim@bellsouth.net — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:34:44 +0000

does it get any scummier ……undermining those
gallaant men and women
fighting and dying to protect our very way of life?