I just got this:

Folks,

Move America Forward, the largest pro-troop grassroots organization in the country, is going on ‘offense’ in the situation involving our Military Recruiters in Berkeley, Ca. and across the United States.

It is long past time for the US government to involve itself in finding, arresting, and prosecuting those people responsible for attacking our service men and women involved in recruiting efforts to protect our country.

This Monday, we are going to the office of US Attorney Joseph Russoniello (First District of Northern California) to demand immediate action.

It is our fervent hope that other government entities will do take action in jurisdictions where assaults, battering, slapping, and other civil rights infringements have taken place.

Here’s our press release. Links at shortly at www.moveamericaforward.com

Regards,

Melanie Morgan
Move America Forward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Ryan Gill (650) 678-7732 or ryan@moveamericaforward.org

Pro-Troop Group Demands of US Attorney:

“Investigate Anti-American Activities in Berkeley”

City Accused of Encouraging Interference with Federal Officers

SAN FRANCISCO---A law firm representing a pro-troop organization has sent a letter to the U.S. Attorney in San Francisco asking the federal government to investigate whether the Berkeley City Council’s official anti-Marine position and encouragement of anti-war groups to “impede” the work of Marine recruiters constitutes a breach of law.  If the City Council violated the law, the letter asks the U.S. Attorney to prosecute the perpetrators.

The letter was drafted by the attorney for pro-troop organization Move America Forward (website: www.MoveAmericaForward.org), which is the nation’s largest pro-troop grassroots nonprofit.  The correspondence also voices concerns that the Berkeley Police were unresponsive and negligent to public safety during a protest the group organized in Berkeley on Feb. 12, 2007. The original copy has already been mailed and an additional copy will be hand-delivered Monday morning with a press conference immediately following.

Photos: The counterinsurgency in Berkeley

Catherine Moy and Melanie Morgan continue to keep vigil at the Berkeley Marine recruitment center. They sent me these pictures taken earlier today of the pro-troops counterprotesters who showed up in force to fight the city’s anti-military bigotry. Members of Eagles Up, Patriot Guard riders, and Move America Forward attended.

Drop by Michelle Malkin's site above for more encouraging pictures, and go to Move America Forward for even more ongoing information.

It is encouraging to see that the liberal siege of the Berkeley Marine Recruiting Station is not going unanswered.

 Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, A Blog For All, The Beauty Stop, 123beta, Right Truth, Stuck On Stupid, Big Dog's Weblog, Phastidio.net, The Amboy Times, InvestorBlogger, Cao's Blog, Conservative Cat, ARISTO_GATTA, Nuke Gingrich, third world county, Faultline USA, McCain Blogs, Woman Honor Thyself, The World According to Carl, Miss Beth's Victory Dance, Pirate's Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, , The Pink Flamingo, Gulf Coast Hurricane Tracker, Wolf Pangloss, , Stageleft, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Hi Readers.  I write to you from my death bed (cough cough)...(sniff hack)...(snort)

OK, not so bad as all that.  A pesky cold and some back problems has really kept me low, but I am back to work tomorrow and back to writing tonight.

So while I was resting this weekend, the world, despite my polite request, kept turning, the news kept churning and the fires kept burning.

The big local story was Boeing losing another airplane bid to main rival Airbus.  The shock however was that the customer is The US Air Force for its next generation tanker fleet.  Now Boeing got severely slapped previously in a bod on the tanker, so this is insult to injury.

The thing is, if Boeing cannot make a competitive product, guess what?  They lose sales, and Airbus has proven itself a serious rival for years.

Now, Ken Schram blames Boeing for all its outsourcing.  I disagree with him because I think the problem is not in that small facet, but in the larger way that Boeing does business.  I worked there for three years and I say, in my opinion, the problems at Boeing are deeply rooted in its arrogance, its top heavy management, its catering to unions and its wasteful business practices.

For instance, requiring new applicants to pass an completely ridiculous diversity screening test is absurd.  The test is geared to make you answer that you love working with people of other cultures, and that you wouldn't dream of not working without them.  If however, you answer that you really don't care, that you work well with anyone, well, you are unsuitable.

While some areas are sleek and modern, others are antiquated, sluggish and inefficient. 

I will hold most of my commentary till another day, and let these people's words speak for themselves.

While Wozniak and several other try for some measure of reconciliation, Miao, Anderson and Spring want none of it.

Meanwhile, a letter from the Chamber of Commerce was emailed to me by the recipient, Brian Dennard.  I will post it, along with his response, at the bottom.

The clips are not necessarily in chronological order.

Mayor Bates
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wws1Bx8brcQ

CM Woniak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDEfhLFu_E4  (well spoken voice of
reason...and ignored)

CM Worthington (twice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGVsLe5yod8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKmFMegiwrQ

Capitelli
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aQfRxwX140

Spring
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZq9ia8D33s

Anderson (a real pisser)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yTqOIi_CqM

Olds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9GDhm8Rk1U

Moore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0bOB-uRIzE

Maio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqJTKovNc9g

This weak-kneed response was sent to me by the CEO of the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce:

 

"The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce has heard from individuals far and wide regarding recent Berkeley City Council actions and we appreciate that the American spirit is alive and robust.The business community was not notified of pending city council action, nor asked for input.We ask everyone to try to separate the actions of the City Council and not harm the good, hard-working small business owners - most of whom do not live in Berkeley and therefore cannot vote in Berkeley.Additionally, we believe that the Berkeley City Council owes an apology to the community and others, whether they be a Marine or a hard-working business owner, folks that are just trying to do their job in this terrible economy, and which is now more difficult because their actions. We feel that granting a parking space in front of the Marine's office is harassment for them and their neighbors, and should be rescinded."

 

"We're the only group that is opposing council actions"

Berkeley Chamber of Commerce

Here is my response:

Brian Dennard

I have spent the last three hours processing and scanning about 6 hours of video form the 2-12 Berkeley City Council Meeting.

I'm exhausted.  Mentally, ideologically and physically.

Tomorrow morning I will post the videos of the Council speaking as to the resolution and whether an apology is owed or not.

But tonight, I have a couple observations to make.  I noticed two themes on the liberal side of this issue as I was listening.

The first was the concept that the war is Immoral and Illegal.  Speaking to its legality, the obvious answer is that since Congress voted to authorize the war, it is legal.

The less obvious answer seems to be aligned with the concept of immoral.  You see the liberals do not see it illegal under our laws, but under the laws of the world and the laws of humanity.  They see war as immoral in all circumstances, so saying this war is immoral is an obvious no brainer.  Going further, they invoke the laws of peace and humanity, and they cannot concede that any war, any act of national hostility is justified.  They see the laws of humanity as overriding all aspects of justification, necessity or imminent threat.

The second observation I made was listening to Council Member Anderson invoke Nuremberg.  In his mind the troops are breaking the laws of humanity and therefore they are not justified in obeying orders, and are committing war crimes.  They are criminals unless they stop.

So in summary, while he did not say so directly, Council Member Anderson seems to consider our troops to be akin to Nazis who committed atrocities in World War 2. 

I don't know what to say.  No wonder he sees no reason to apologize.

This is the world Liberals live in.

The only clip I am posting tonight in this blog is that of Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee.

More tomorrow.

Note:  I found this video right as I was finishing this, but it is revealing, so I am bumping it to the top.  The video features a few Council Members, including Wozniak opting for more common sense, and Anderson who claims this was "not a diatribe against the Marines", despite his earlier diatribe against the Marines in Clip 5 of this post.  And yes...I saved it.

Today, the city council in Berkeley was meeting to discuss, among other items, a new resolution concerning the Anti Marine Corps resolution passed last week.  Via Michelle Malkin:

Here’s the council agenda item:

From: Councilmembers Olds and Capitelli

Recommendation:

1) That the City Council, through adoption of this item, publicly differentiate between the City’s documented opposition to the unjust and illegal war in Iraq and our respect and support for those serving in the armed forces.

2) Rescind point 2 of Item 12, of the January 29, 2008 Berkeley City Council Agenda, “Marine Recruiting Office in Berkeley,” regarding communications with the Marine Recruiting Station in Berkeley.

Financial Implications: None

Contact: Betty Olds, Councilmember, District 6, 981-7160

The item they refer to is the original resolution from last month, Item 12 which stated:

Recommendation:

1. Direct the City Attorney to investigate and report back to Council within 60 days on City options for enforcing Chapter 13.28 of the Berkeley Municipal Code, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, with respect to military recruiting offices in Berkeley;
2. Direct the City Manager to send letters to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station at 64 Shattuck Avenue and to General James T. Conway, Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, advising them that the Marine recruiting office is not welcome in our city, and if recruiters choose to stay, they do so as uninvited and unwelcome intruders;  Abstain – Worthington.
3. Encourage all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station, and applaud residents and organizations such as Code Pink, that may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the City of Berkeley.

First of all, I read this at Rosemary's Thoughts:

Code Pinko vs. Move America Forward

Now is the time to fight back. If you have to wear pink just to get in under cover, do so. They are on to our plan to show up on the 12th. They are planning to stack the deck by having all code pinkos sitting in those chairs. DO NOT ALLOW THIS. Here is the e-mail I received from Move America Forward:

The radical anti-military group, Code Pink, has been paying attention to our plans to organize a pro-troop demonstration in front of the Berkeley City Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 12th. (Located at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Berkeley, CA - CLICK HERE FOR A MAP).

We learned of this posting from Code Pink and their allies today: www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/02/07/18477667.php.

EXCERPT: "Our efforts to close the Berkeley Marine Recruiting Station have galvanized national attention. The pro-war forces, represented by the group Move America Forward, are mobilizing to descend on Berkeley on Tuesday, February 12, starting at 5am! They plan to spend the day attempting to intimidate our peace-loving City and City Council."

As if this were not enough, a member of the city council, Linda Maio, had this to say in an e-mail:

"…we have received info that the marines and their supporters are gearing up to come to the Feb 12th council meeting to shame us and attack us, in large numbers. Now that Laurie and Betty have put on a recommendation to rescind what we did (on the agenda of Feb 12th) we expect they will jam the microphone with their diatribes. Press will be there in full force. The regular meeting starts at 7 p.m. People need to get there early enough to get in and grab a seat. Pls help pass on the word. The fire dept will not allow more people in than room can hold. Therefore, I am urging people to come early and occupy a seat, and be prepared to speak too and represent our city's values next Tuesday."

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.

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....

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.

First it was the Mayor, now a movement in the council has begun to soften the resolution, or at least soften its impact:

In Berkeley, push to rescind letter to Marines

A  week after blasting the Marines as "unwelcome intruders" in Berkeley, two City Council members want the city to back off the declaration that ignited the wrath of the nation's right wing and inspired a Republican senator to try to sever Berkeley's federal funding.

Council members Betty Olds and Laurie Capitelli on Monday proposed that Berkeley rescind its letter to the U.S. Marine Corps that stated that the downtown Berkeley recruiting center "is not welcome in our city," and publicly declare that Berkeley is against the war but supports the troops.

The City Council will vote on Olds' and Capitelli's two proposals at its meeting next Tuesday.

"I think we shouldn't be seen across the country as hating the Marines," said Olds, who voted against last week's proposals. "If you make a mistake, like we did, you should admit it and correct it and move on."

...

Olds said she heard from hundreds of people angered by the city's action, including many in her Berkeley hills district.

"People are so mad about this. They have relatives in the service, and now they think they're not welcome in Berkeley," she said. "My twin brother was a Marine in World War II. He'd be turning in his grave if he saw this."

But the diehards are stubborn:

The council appears split on the idea of backing down. Some council members said the original proposals inadvertently insulted veterans and those currently serving in the military. Others said Berkeley should stand by its convictions.

"People are used to Berkeley taking a stand for peace, but you have to do it intelligently," said Councilman Kriss Worthington, who voted against sending the letter calling the Marine Corps unwelcome. "You don't want to slap one group in the face and then, the next minute, slap the other group. I think we have an obligation to be thoughtful and sensitive and not be counterproductive to the cause of peace."

Props to Caosblog for her blogs on this story.  Her coverage has been great.

Like me, she has been surrounded by Military people her whole life, and this a personal issue to her.

So it isn't just me.  And more and more comments are coming to me from people who feel the same way, both military people and civilians.

We start with her story:

My son and the recruiter, Debbie Lee, Gold Star Mom & Berkeley

My son is in the Army, not the Marines. But my dad is a former marine, my Uncle is a former marine, and my younger son went to the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas, slept in a barracks, trained and had PT with former marines and was an officer in the Marine Corps Junior ROTC there.

I love my men in uniform, and I have to say - with all my friendships with current and former military personnel, I love the culture, the people, the sense of family, the sense of duty, honor, country. I love the pomp and circumstance, the ceremonies, the recognition. And they know how to turn a kid around. They should; they’ve been doing it for over 100 years.

There is a good point there that is oft overlooked, that being that while it is obvious that the Military needs people, we tend to forget that some people really need the Military.

I can say from experience that I am not the same person I would have been had I not served as I did.  For one thing, I appreciated my freedoms...like the freedom to quit my job.  When I worked at a retail store, I heard the younger people complaining about the job and the bosses...and suddenly I laughed, because I realized that they had the choice to quit and go somewhere else at any time.