The Hollywood Liberal

BERKELEY — Under the image of a stern serviceman in uniform, the sign in the window of the U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station extols the traits of America’s armed forces: “Smart. Tough. Elite.”

This famously liberal town recently added its own descriptor: Unwanted.
In a move reminiscent of Berkeley’s 1960s antiwar protests, the City Council ignited a national firestorm last month by issuing a strongly worded declaration that blasted military recruiting techniques and labeled the Marine Corps as “uninvited and unwelcome intruders.” One council member said U.S. troops were responsible for “horrible karma,” and Mayor Tom Bates offered to help the Marines evacuate.

The return fire was swift. Several Republican senators sponsored a bill to reroute $2.3 million in federal funding from Berkeley to the Marines. In the last 10 days, city officials have received 26,000 e-mails, mostly from irate people who called the declaration irresponsible. Several council members have received death threats….

In recent days, Berkeley officials have backpedaled and Bates issued a public apology. Tonight, the council will consider a motion to remove the criticism about recruiting and express the community’s support for U.S. troops fighting abroad.

HL’s Take
Wow, what a bunch of total wusses those Berkeley city officials are. Back in the ’60’s Berkeley was the anti-war capital of the one of the 2 biggest anti-war cities in America. the University of California at Berkeley was the center of protest during that period, the city leaders who made the proclamation against the Marines probably lived in Berkley as young people, they probably went to the school. So when they said what they said agaisnt the Marines they obviously meant it. So now a few Freeper Republican yahoos who are trained to respond to anything that might go agaisnt there so called “values” (like man on man sex in airport bathrooms) respond with an all out campaign, of course it is just a few people with nothing better to do than register countless complaints each.
So what does the city leaders of Berkley do? Back down and now say they love the Marines. Where is the integrity? Those fools will get even less respect from Republicans, and military types now then they ever did. Why? because they backed down from their beliefs because they were afraid that those beliefs were not popular. No wonder the Iraq war has been going on for 5 years. What a bunch of worms. It reminds me of the scene in Full Metal Jacket. It was Christmas, and Sergeant Hartman asks Private Joker if he believes in The Virgin Mary

HARTMAN: I want that head so sanitary and squared away that the Virgin Mary herself would be proud to go in there and take a dump!

HARTMAN: Private Joker is silly and he’s ignorant, but he’s got guts, and guts is enough. Now, you ladies carry on.

So in the movie the Sergeant thought that Joker was stupid and wrong. He wasn’t of course, and neither are the city leaders of Berkley, but Joker had the balls to stick to his convictions and got promoted. The Berkley people are cowards who will now be looked upon as people who fold when the going gets tough. Perhaps the good people of Berkley should vote these city heads out and get some people in their who can sound off like they have a pair.