Cornyn to Berkeley: I’m cutting you off!
posted at 3:30 pm on February 6, 2008 by Bryan
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Michelle has the update on the latest goings on regarding Berkeley’s insurgency against the Marines.
Texas 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?
It’s a good start, but as I’ve said before it doesn’t go far enough. There’s a big university there that gets a load of federal funding. Cut it off. All of it. Whether it comes from Dept of Education or the Dept of Energy or NASA or wherever, nip it. The city and the university get loads of state funding. Start twisting the governator’s arm to cut that funding off too. Scorched federal and state funding earth should be the policy. If those hippies don’t want the USMC, then they shouldn’t get their precious federal dollars from any other stream either. There ought to be a price paid for rejecting and impeding the US military when it’s trying to recruit and we’re in the middle of a war.
If nothing else, by going for the most you give yourself a fallback position at which you can still achieve something worthwhile.
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Where’s Feinstein and Boxer? Hell where are the other conservatives/Republicans?
Defector01 on February 6, 2008 at 3:35 PM
YES!!!
Ex-tex on February 6, 2008 at 3:35 PM
Univ of Cal at Berkeley has nothing to do with the city of Berkeley. They have separate rules concerning military recruiting.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:35 PM
I’m proud to have voted for Sen. Cornyn. He’s done Texas proud many times.
aero on February 6, 2008 at 3:36 PM
No better friend, no worse enemy. Suck it, hippies.
MarkoMancuso on February 6, 2008 at 3:36 PM
My Senator makes me proud, again.
RushBaby on February 6, 2008 at 3:37 PM
Now who’s being naive, Kay?
see-dubya on February 6, 2008 at 3:37 PM
That doesn’t matter. The majority of Berkeleyites support this nonsense and many of them work at the university. It’s the ideological heart of the city and a major conduit for federal funds into the city.
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
More Bay area liberals. Didn’t Lex Luthor have a plan for letting California drop off into the Pacific? (Superman Movie) Cut them off guys!!!
cattekc on February 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Semper Fi, indeed!
kcd on February 6, 2008 at 3:38 PM
Ditto on my Senator. He and Senator DeMint continue to step forward and do the right thing.
8straight on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
At least one of our Texas senators stands up for what is right.
The only way I am voting for McCain is if he picks Cornyn for his running mate. HA!
ChartreuseDragon on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Hooray for Cornyn! Last I remember he was pushing for amnesty, wasn’t he? Maybe he has a good side after all. If enough Senators & Congressmen push maybe we can cut them off.
countywolf on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
I think Bryan’s point is that the city exists b/c of the University, so to hit the Univ is to hit the city. They are intertwined.
RW Wacko on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Better question: Has Sen. McCain signed on?
amerpundit on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
Tell that to the Berkeley city council when they have to rearrange their budget due to unexpected layoffs at the city’s largest employer. Plays havoc with tax collections, ya know?
HerrMorgenholz on February 6, 2008 at 3:40 PM
EVERY American at age 18 needs to go thru 2 months of bootcamp as part of a national service requirement……..
No Ifs….Ands….or Buts……..
Worthless ant-everything Hippies first in line at the reception station………
awesum on February 6, 2008 at 3:40 PM
Cornyn for VP!
txsurveyor on February 6, 2008 at 3:40 PM
And another cool Texas thread!
txsurveyor on February 6, 2008 at 3:41 PM
How is the ROTC at Berkeley?
right2bright on February 6, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Yeah! That’s my senator!
Sue on February 6, 2008 at 3:41 PM
That may or may not be true, but you can’t penalize UCB for something they cannot control. UCB is a state controlled entity. There are other areas where Berkeley is getting federal funding that can be hit…. and while your at it, take it to SF as well.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Berkeley, including the University, reminds me of the Lord of the Thighs of devolution. The whole place should just be walled in, and left to fend on its own.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 6, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Alive and well:
http://armyrotc.com/edu/univcaberkeley/index.htm
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Well, what city limits encompass the University campus?
James on February 6, 2008 at 3:42 PM
Have two family members at Bezerkly. Both crazy as loons. Lock ‘em in if you ask me.
JiangxiDad on February 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Bryan, lets’ start a boycott of Berkley until they knock this crap off.
I for one, am not going to be visiting before that.
Mcguyver on February 6, 2008 at 3:43 PM
Why can’t I penalize them? Maybe it’ll wake them up if they realize that there are costs associated with their moonbattery.
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
YES!!!
At least there is one guy for whom I will vote enthusiastically this fall.
Thank you Sen. Cornyn.
thirteen28 on February 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
True. But UCal Berkeley isn’t exactly a friendly place for recruiters.
Slublog on February 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Cornyn in 2012!!!
TX Mom on February 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
Why don’t you call the GOP’s new standard bearer’s press people and see what he says?
Will McCain be pro-military or pro-MSM/Moderate?
Drew on February 6, 2008 at 3:44 PM
That should be “Flies.” Sigh, Lord of the Thighs is an Aerosmith song.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM
If they feel the U.S. Armed Forces are unwelcome invaders, then they should be completely cut-off. No funds from the government of the invaders, no protection from the invaders, and no assistance from the invaders during or after disasters. None. At. All.
amerpundit on February 6, 2008 at 3:45 PM
That’s rather weak reasoning. If you’re to use guilt by association, then you’re guilty, too, since your website uses technology developed at Cal. But that’s silly; there is a distinction here. Even though there is little distinction between the two entities in your mind, there is one in reality and, more importantly, in federal law.
calbear on February 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM
Better question: Has Sen. McCain signed on?
amerpundit on February 6, 2008 at 3:39 PM
NellE on February 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM
“HA!” is right. Cornyn would be among McCain’s least likely choices since he famously cursed out Cornyn over amnesty last year.
aero on February 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM
When the Big One hits, and it will, I wonder if the unwashed of Berkeley and San Francisco will want any military assistance?
I love rhetorical questions.
OhEssYouCowboys on February 6, 2008 at 3:47 PM
A lot of college campus’ aren’t. But we are getting use to protests on college campuses. If you are after changing that, then you need to target more than just UCB, and you need to start a reeducation campaign.
Of course, we have been busy lately providing copy for Democrats to use against us this Fall, haven’t we?
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:48 PM
Students protesting recruiters? Heavens! Who could expect that in a county with freedom of speech and assembly?
calbear on February 6, 2008 at 3:49 PM
Off topic here but pertinent to rampant doom-and-gloom-end-of-GOP comments today: See that handsome young Senator behind Cornyn? That’s John Thune, an excellent future GOP POTUS candidate. Optimism, people, optimism. And remember who he defeated in 2004?
Brat on February 6, 2008 at 3:50 PM
Yes, it’s entitled, “John McCain’s Record: 1936 To Today”.
amerpundit on February 6, 2008 at 3:50 PM
True, but why should the U.S. military feel unwelcome on a place where free speech and ‘diversity’ are celebrated?
Slublog on February 6, 2008 at 3:51 PM
Where’s ole’ save the GOP McVain? He’s so pro_military. He might get somewhere if we see him lead the charge on this and not give up until it’s decided …He is still being paid to be a Senator so he has a job to do.
TOPV on February 6, 2008 at 3:52 PM
wow…I wouldn’t think ya’ll would be in favor of the gov’t bringing it’s crushing power down on people who disagree with it.
And isn’t it collective punishment? Not everyone in that town feels this way towards the marines. Another Geneva convention violation by President Bush.
tlynch001 on February 6, 2008 at 3:52 PM
They’re largely the same people, are they not? It obviously would hurt the city less to lose just the earmark funding than it would to lose massive federal funding that feeds the university. It’s a juicier target, hitting mostly the same people, in a higher profile way. I realize that as a calbear, this threatens you. Sorry. Your city is out of control and no one there seems to be able to do anything about it. Cutting off university funds at least has the advantage of hitting mostly rich professors and researchers rather than poor urbanites.
Anyway, I’m done arguing about this. You disagree, fine, you’re free to do that. I’ve made my case, you’ve made yours. Moving on.
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 3:52 PM
it’s = its…I’m so ashamed…
tlynch001 on February 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
We understand its permitted and protected speech. But why would they want to? What happens in Berkeley and UC Berkeley to those who exercise their free speech in opposition to the leftists?
A son of a friend who now attends Brandeis told me that he is in the midst of a controversy there now whereby American flags are banned from being hung in dorm windows (ostensibly for fire-safety reasons), but Gay Pride and Che banners are hung, visible, and apparently permitted.
That’s the kind of free speech typical at universities these days. Berkeley be damned.
JiangxiDad on February 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
John McCain…take note.
THIS is how a Conservative conducts policy.
PappaMac on February 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Berkeley is also a subburb of Oakland. If you take UCB away, Berkeley would still be there. The hippies, though, would probably follow the weed.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
What DeMint and Coryn are proposing is brilliant, but there must be something in the air post-Super duper Tuesday because I agree with bnelson44 on this one.
Why penalize the University for an action they had nothing to do with, or more to the point, why penalize the students who go there?
Not everyone at Berkeley sucks.
Buy Danish on February 6, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Or better yet, look at what Austria does. You serve 2 yrs in the service, then your free to go your own way. Sounds like a plan.
kcd on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
I just can’t vote for that amnesty pusher, period.
saiga on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
As the Marines would say: GET SOME!
Or, in this case of federal money: DON’T GET ANY!
Now, how about the other Branches? We don’t hear about them having the same problems. Do they have offices open there too? Anybody know?
Tony737 on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
And you know that this is about more than just protesting, right? The people’s actions there amount to collective sedition, in attempting to stop military recruiting in a time of war.
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
This is a start Sen. Cornyn but ALL money going there should be cut off not just the 2 million
thmcbb on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
No, a lot of students at UCB live on campus. A lot of student at UCB live in other towns. A lot of faculty at UCB live in other towns.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:54 PM
How is this punishing the university, or the city?
Federal appropriations are not a right.
Slublog on February 6, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I am all in favor of disenfranchising Berkeley. Just make sure you have the right target and limit the collateral damage is all I am saying.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 3:55 PM
Of course you can. You squeeze UCB, and they squeeze the City. Whether it’s Cal Berkeley’s “fault” or not doesn’t matter to me a whole lot.
see-dubya on February 6, 2008 at 3:55 PM
I got a canned e-mail response from the mayor of Bezerkeley stating that ‘we support our troops, we just don’t want them in our city’, blah-blah-blah. I e-mailed back stating that his fair city should secede from the United States and get the members of Code Pink to defend them.
TeeDee on February 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
Makes me proud to live close to Texas.
Bladerunner1701 on February 6, 2008 at 3:56 PM
That’s my point and that is why I like Cornyn.
ChartreuseDragon on February 6, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Or better yet, look at what Austria does. You serve 2 yrs in the service, then your free to go your own way. Sounds like a plan
——————————-
A FORM of Draft would not fly…..
However, 2 months of not being a puswah might have a positive effect on those teenage dirtbag wanna-bes………
awesum on February 6, 2008 at 3:57 PM
I love Cornyn.
D2Boston on February 6, 2008 at 3:57 PM
Awesome news. The first
goodgreat thing I’ve heard all day.Geronimo on February 6, 2008 at 3:59 PM
Exactly. And it’s not like we’re talking about street protests exclusively here. The city council itself has weighed in against the USMC to pass a law zoning the recruitment center so that it would be regulated like adult businesses. The city’s majority backs that move and if the stories I’ve read are right, want to go farther with it. The city is out of control.
And now I’m actually, really moving on.
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
OK you guys, before you cut off federal funds for UCB in a time of war, you better find out where that money is going.
bnelson44 on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Why not? The city is interfering with military recruiting efforts during a time of war. If people there start going, “Wait a minute. This hurts us.”, maybe they’ll push the council they elected to not be traitor douches.
amerpundit on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Sweeet! Love your response!
ihasurnominashun on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Yea, this would be a good time for McCain to show some conservatism.
kongzilla on February 6, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Also, the actions of the students at UC Berkeley went far beyond mere ‘protest.’ Their aim was to disrupt the job fair and “escort” the military recruiters out and prevent them from doing their jobs. This goes beyond speech.
And what about Resolution SB 107, passed by the Berkeley student government, which forbids recruiters from using the student union? How is that not a violation in spirit of the Solomon amendment?
Slublog on February 6, 2008 at 4:01 PM
Where is Arnold and Pelosi?
katieanne on February 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
The people of Berkeley are also heavily intertwined with the state politicos in Sacramento. When I lived in Berkeley, I would see people board two large chartered buses for Sacramento every morning M-F. They were state gov. employees that lived in Berkeley and chose to commute the 2-3 hours to Sacramento instead of relocating.
I say one little Daisy Cutter would solve the problem. :)
Blake on February 6, 2008 at 4:02 PM
How ’bout a complete blockade? Kind of a financial MOAB…
Frozen Tex on February 6, 2008 at 4:05 PM
Ok, I’ll move on after saying this:
LOL!!!!
We should be all less worried about cutting off Berkeley’s gravy train in a time of war than about a city’s collective and ongoing effort to cut off military recruiting in a time of war?
What if other moonbat havens see that Berekely isn’t financially hit because of this, and decide to follow suit?
Bryan on February 6, 2008 at 4:06 PM
Pretending not to notice what’s going on.
Geronimo on February 6, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Cornyn’s one of “the few, the proud” among the US Senate.
I’m proud he’s my Senator.
edgehead on February 6, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Based on what I am seeing, the whole country is turning into this Berkeley kind of moron mentality. The presidential race says it all. Fools eager to Pi$$ it all away.
saiga on February 6, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Berkeley kiddies, actions do have consequences.
Entelechy on February 6, 2008 at 4:09 PM
Fixed.
James on February 6, 2008 at 4:09 PM
My senator always makes me proud . . . give them hell senator Cornyn.
rplat on February 6, 2008 at 4:09 PM
I bet Hillary and Obama will vote “Nay”.
SoulGlo on February 6, 2008 at 4:10 PM
Cornyn/DeMint!
Now that is a ticket I could vote for.
SimplyKimberly on February 6, 2008 at 4:11 PM
Fair point.
But the city will be being financially hit, so why would other moonbat havens follow suit knowing they could expect the same? Not only that, it must kill them to know that the money that they lose goes directly to baby killers.
Yep, except we need them in the Senate.
Buy Danish on February 6, 2008 at 4:13 PM
:sigh:
Agreed. We do need them in Senate.
But Cornyn (he’s my Senator too) has always been on my short list of who I wanted to run for POTUS.
SimplyKimberly on February 6, 2008 at 4:15 PM
Umm…maybe to recruiting efforts? Or to buy JDAMs?
Hmm–that or the Berkeley Undergraduate Life COmmittee’s Eco-Feminist Veggieburger Chant-In. Tough choice there.
see-dubya on February 6, 2008 at 4:18 PM
I’m glad my Senator, Cornyn, is doing this. He occasionally falls on the right side of things, but I’m still keeping a close eye on him. He’s a Bush man, and he hasn’t been strong on many key conservative pushes lately. Definitely not gonna sing his praises, but proud of him on this one.
pecan pie on February 6, 2008 at 4:18 PM
Hopefully, the divine words of Algoreacle will come true, and the polar ice caps will melt, and California (and Berkely) will be submerged.
I never understood why people feared Gorebal Warming in the first place. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Leave your SUVs running after you park them; do your part for the good of mankind.
Montana on February 6, 2008 at 4:21 PM
Where was Berkley when the military practiced segregation of the races (something finally ended by President Harry Truman)? Did they attempt to ban military recruiters as a matter of principle when the military was segregated? Did they attempt to ban recruiters when women could only be nurses or serve in separate outfits rather than competing with men? No, they didn’t. It seems Berkley is willing to pick and choose when to defend an “oppressed” group, waiting for a situation that will guarantee them the most positive publicity.
Troika37 on February 6, 2008 at 4:22 PM
I’m from San Diego, so UC Berkeley can go to he**
Strip them of money and watch the entire city dry up like a raisin in the sun…
Theworldisnotenough on February 6, 2008 at 4:24 PM
I say take it a step further and make it retroactive.
- The Cat
MirCat on February 6, 2008 at 4:25 PM
If they cut off all federal funds, would thatg mean that berklyites would no longer have to pay federal taxes?
Wyrd on February 6, 2008 at 4:28 PM
Having said all of that upthread, I admit to sharing some discomfort with this level of federal intervention into the affairs of a municipality or a university. I work in higher education, and one of the troubling trends I’ve seen is that universities are increasingly becoming entities that believe they are a law unto themselves.
Repressive speech codes which amount to censorship, discriminatory hiring practices, harassment of views that do not fit the campus status quo – all of these do happen at institutions of higher education.
Now, at private universities there’s little to be done. It’s troublesome that these practices go on, but they’re private. What really bothers me is that state and federally funded public universities act in un-democratic ways without impunity. Increasingly, staff and students at those universities believe they are accountable to no one.
I don’t like the idea of threatening to pull federal funds from a town or a university, but if they taking action against the will of the Congress as expressed in the Solomon Amendment, then their claim to federal funds is put into question. As I said before, no one has a right to federal appropriations.
Personally, unless the UC Berkeley administration does something especially egregious, I think Cornyn’s actions should be limited to the city proper. That would be enough, I believe, for those who forbid military recruiters from doing their job to take a second look at their actions.
Slublog on February 6, 2008 at 4:29 PM
Gee wouldn’t it be nice to control Congress? You might even be able to do this…
tommylotto on February 6, 2008 at 4:29 PM
I actually haven’t lived near or gone to Cal in over a decade, so it doesn’t threaten me, it only saddens me.
calbear on February 6, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Oh, no, they’ll pay… Unless they’d prefer to go it completely alone…
Frozen Tex on February 6, 2008 at 4:31 PM
It may not be politically expedient for him right now. He’s good friends with Hillary, Fat Ted, and Kerry. Senate buddies take precedent. We call it bipartisanship. Good friendships are for life.
a capella on February 6, 2008 at 4:33 PM
What about product? I don’t have much use for love beads and hemp clothing anyway.
chewydog on February 6, 2008 at 4:34 PM
In that case, I support Berkeley, I just don’t want them in my country.
Rip Ford on February 6, 2008 at 4:44 PM
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