While I'm on the topic of idiotic mayors...this time, in of all places, Berkeley, CA...

the original story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327347,00.html

the apology: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,329866,00.html

oh, lets not forget the reason for the apology: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327466,00.html

The original story: The mayor's quote sums it up pretty good:

"I believe in the Code Pink cause. The Marines don't belong here, they shouldn't have come here, and they should leave"

The city council voted 8-1 that the Marine recruiting station should leave Berkeley, or they would be "uninvited and unwelcome". They also voted to allow the the Code Pink access to a parking spot in front of the station in order to protest.

The apology: The mayor apologizes if he insulted any service members. He was frustrated that he wasn't getting any money for his ferries.

A reason for the apology?: 45 Republican Senators have put forth a bill that would make Berkeley responsible for its actions by rescinding $2 million in Federal grant money.

"U.S. Senator Jim DeMint, R-S.C., says the City of Berkeley, Calif., no longer deserves federal money"

Lets look at those dates...The original story came out on January 31. By February 2 U.S. Senators had already draw up legislation to punish Berkeley's obscene actions. February 8; the mayor apologizes.

Interesting...only when the federal government threatens to take money away from mayor Bates' ferries does he apologize.

(To be fair Bates was concerned about money for schools and a police communication system too...)

The severity of the mayor's words upsets me. To say that U.S. servicemen are "uninvited and unwelcome" and that they "shouldn't have come here and they should leave" is very disturbing. It makes me sick to my stomach. It doesn't matter one bit whether or not you are for the war, these Marines are our brother and sisters and they are to be accepted anywhere with open arms and given all the admiration and respect we can give. What the mayor and his councilmen did was the lowest form of disrespect.

Mayor Bates and councilmen you have made yourselves and the city of Berkeley look like fools, you should be ashamed.