« Friday Freefly- The return of Kev | Main | Now was there a border infraction or not? »
Blues Out Of San Fran?
Chekov: Where are the nuclear wessels?
When Commander Pavel Chekov asked that question in Star Trek IV, San Francisco’s bay area did indeed still have a robust naval presence that wasn't limited to the aircraft carrier piers across the bay. With the closure of Naval Station Alameda in 1997, however, a big part of the Navy’s presence in the region ended.
Now, some groups are trying to pull the welcome mat out from under Navy tradition, that being the annual navy Blue Angel air show during Fleet Week. Performing their aerial magic every year since 1981, the Blues have continued a treasured (by some) military presence in the San Francisco area, honoring the city and region that was such an important gateway, both outbound to war and inbound for home, for hundreds of thousands of military personnel and naval ships dating back over a hundred years.
“Anti-War Activists Call For End To Annual Blue Angels' Air Show
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The Navy's Blue Angels may not be welcome in San Francisco. Anti-war activists are calling on San Francisco city officials to bring an end to the annual Fleet Week flyover by the team.
CodePink, Global Exchange and Veterans for Peace are working with Supervisor Chris Daly on a resolution that calls for stopping the popular air show.
Daly says he may introduce a resolution as early as next week that calls for permanently halting the flyovers because "they seem dangerous and unnecessary."
The Pensacola, Florida-based Blue Angels is a team of navy fighter pilots that perform high-speed maneuvers. Fleet Week in San Francisco is scheduled for October.”
In and of itself, this is nothing new. From being THE homecoming port for many returning veterans at the end of the second world war, San Francisco has grown into a hotbed of military revulsion. When a veteran's group tried to bring the retired battleship USS IOWA to the city waterfront as a memorial and museum a few years ago, San Francisco said "NO". If anyone has any question about how many on the city or local government payrolls feel, listen to City Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval, who led the fight against having the battleship brought to the city:
“The United States should not have a military. All in all, we would be in much, much, much better shape.”
When pressed for an answer of how would we defend ourselves, Sandoval said that was what we had cops and the Coast Guard for.
In a more recent example of the turn towards banning any and all things military from the city by the bay, the San Francisco school board last November voted 4-2 to eliminate high school ROTC programs, with proponents of this effort stating:
“We need to teach a curriculum of peace.”, a former teacher, Nancy Mancias
“We don’t want the military ruining our civilian institutions… In a healthy democracy … you contain the military. You must contain the military.” Sandra Schwartz, American Friends Service Committee
“It’s basically a branding program, or a recruiting program for the military,” San Fran Education Board Member Dan Kelly
Thus far, only about 500 signatures have been gathered for the attempt at banning these ambassadors of goodwill. Hopefully, though, this latest effort to further emasculate the military presence in the bay area won’t get any more traction than it has now and the Blues will continue to entertain the many, many thousands who understand and appreciate the sacrifices and dedication of the US military.
Crossposted at Defense Tech and Instapinch
June 09, 2007 • Permalink
• Technorati Links
Technorati Tags:
Comments
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2819/19168170
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Blues Out Of San Fran?:
» Blue Angels are weapons of mass destruction from Right Truth
The anti-war crowd are calling the Blue Angels "weapons of mass destruction" and want them banned from fleet Week. They say it's because the planes could crash into a building and kill or "wound" civilians. Wound??? But when questioned, the [Read More]
Tracked on Jun 11, 2007 10:24:29 PM
































So, can we stop defending 'Frisco now? Perhaps program the ABM system not to engage any missiles headed that way?
Posted by: Cybrludite | June 09, 2007 at 07:39 AM
Biting the hand that feeds them freedom...sigh... this is another example of a culture of parents who raise children instead of raising adults.
Posted by: kindlingman | June 09, 2007 at 07:46 AM
Lex said it well:
"We don’t HAVE to like San Francisco. We get PAID to defend them. It’s our job.
The rest of the country?
We’re doing that for free"
Posted by: FbL | June 09, 2007 at 07:47 AM
Pinch
You forgot to mention that at the start of Afghanistan San Fran' told the world they would be a sanctuary city for deserters and concientious objectors.
From a town where the majority of the citizens are living in a fantasy world. The mindset being "We mean no harm to anyone, thus nobody will harm us" okay sparky you just keep thing that. Oh well, history shows that worked really well for the peaceful tree hugging tribes when the Mongols roled across Asia and Europe. "Hi Mr Khan, want a flower? dude what are you doing to my crops? hey, don't burn that! where are you going with my wife and kids? can you send one of your medics to attach my arm and pull out this arrow?
I gave up on that city and it's people a long long time ago. It's a shame that when it get's wacked againg by mother nature or a terror group bites the hand that coddles 'em. Guess who they will call to save them? Hope the cops and the coast guard have fun.
Herkeng
Theresa's bro
Posted by: herkeng | June 09, 2007 at 07:53 AM
Yeah those pugnacious Blue Angels, all their firing missiles and shooting up everything in any show they put on; lol. Last year at Wings over Pittsburgh they flew RIGHT OVER ME MAYBE NO MORE THAN 200 FEET! OMG I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA DIE!!!!!!!!
"permanently halting the flyovers because 'they seem dangerous and unnecessary.'"
Better close SF International Airport and all the other airports in that region.
I am convinced that there is a secret test that one needs to take before becoming a politician in the Bay Area. If your IQ comes in over 50, you are banned from running for office.
Posted by: Brian | June 09, 2007 at 07:54 AM
Great. now they can get Hartford on the schedule. Who needs San Fran anyway.
Posted by: CitSAR | June 09, 2007 at 08:15 AM
To me San Francisco seems
"dangerous and unnecessary."
Posted by: priv8 | June 09, 2007 at 08:15 AM
Remember, it's only a matter of time before the 'Big One' hits San Fran again. When it happens, not only will I not give to relief charities, but I will refuse to contribute in the future to any that have a knee jerk need to assist those who think themselves outside and act outside the common compact. Let them enjoy the experience of New Orleans without water, food, power, transportation, waste removal, etc and without sympathy. They can call upon those they provide aid and comfort and sanctuary for aid.
Posted by: Don | June 09, 2007 at 08:20 AM
What's wrong with banning recruiters from high schools? It's beyond absurd that the Fed gov't blackmails public schools to allow access of the military to kids without parental consent or supervision. It definitely doesn't pass the smell test...
Maybe you guys can go the Bill O'Reilly route and only hope and encourage an Al Qaeda attack of SanFran.
Posted by: tom | June 09, 2007 at 08:29 AM
Tom without our military you and those San Fran hippie drug addicts would last about 3 seconds when the al queda and all of the other terrorists or the chinese decide to attack. When you watch your familys heads cut off you will be crying for americans troops not a sanfrancisco cop.
Posted by: Duane | June 09, 2007 at 08:41 AM
Well, anyone who is a true patriot will be sickened by the f-ing bs of the left coast. I say we just create detonation points starting at the left most border of CA/OR over to NV/CA and come down along that border to CA/AZ and load up the TNT all around. Call oout the minutemen and a few explosive experts and simply seperate the left coast from the US.
Maybe then they will have their wunderbar utopia at their own expense. I get so pissed when I hear ths crap....Tom, Go to hell.
Posted by: Defendusa | June 09, 2007 at 08:53 AM
This whole incident deeply pains me because I was born at the Naval Hospital at Mare Island. There was a time when the Bay Area hosted a grand array of Naval facilities. We once built battleships, (USS California) submarines (WAHOO, TANG, GEORGE WASHINGTON, VALLEJO, and too many others to count) at Mare Island. There was a great Naval Hospital at Oak Knoll, a major Naval Base at Treasure Island, a major shipyard at Hunters Point, the Supply Center at Oakland, the NAS Alameda, and Moffett Field. San Francisco was once a fantastic liberty port and a city that loved its association with the Navy.
But now California is the Land of Fruits, Flakes and Nuts. And they take that title very seriously.
Perhaps it is time for the Navy to realize that we haven't abandoned California, they've abandoned the Navy. I don't recall the California congressional delegation doing a damn thing to save any of those facilities during the BRAC process. In fact, I seem to recall that many of those California politicians were just salivating at the prospect of getting their hands on all that prime real estate for thier moonbat programs. Anybody recall how extatic Willie Brown was to get Admiral's House on Yerba Buena as his official residence?
Lex is right that we get paid to protect them, but they can't pay me enough to like, or respect, them. And I fail to see any good reason why we should waste one cent of scarce representational funds on a region that takes pride in despising all things military.
Marine6 Sends
Posted by: Marine6 | June 09, 2007 at 08:56 AM
Disgusting.
Posted by: TC | June 09, 2007 at 09:32 AM
Michelle Malkin points out that Fleet Week brings 1 million people and $4 million to San Fran. I say give them what they want, stay home and see if they miss all that "filthy lucre"
Posted by: Cara | June 09, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Taking ROTC,the pledge,prayer and the history of war from our schools!HHHMMMm!!How can you teach our children history without crossing one of these lines.Our kids can program a computer by the time they enter hi-school,but cannot do multiplacation without a calculator.They are extremely inteligent but not one ounce of commonsense.Hey san fran mommy and daddies the America as we enjoy it today was paid for by blood,yea anyway you look at it,lives of our brave young soldiers and yes even those fly boys.So when they do the fly over and you hear your windows raddle, do as I do,stop for a brief moment and thank god that we have such brave warriors!THANK YOU ladies and gentlemen of our armed services,for your dedication,bravery,and your sacrafices.We will excuse san frans stupidity,just chalk it up to a brain fart!! Semper Fi
Posted by: referman | June 09, 2007 at 09:58 AM
I'd say cut the losses and make it official. Sounds like there are other options out there to fill San Fran's shoes. As for deserving any future defense or military services, you wouldn't want to offend their delicate sensibilities by having a uniformed warrior with a gun rescue them or protect their homes from looters after the next earthquake.
The aging hippie chicks of Codepink can defend them against all threats, foreign and domestic, although I can't see them dangling off a rope from a helicopter to pull anyone out of a flood. Pack up, leave nothing behind, and write it off.
Oh, and no one is encouraging attacks on San Francisco, like Al Queda needs ideas for targets.
Posted by: jordan | June 09, 2007 at 10:01 AM
defendusa;
Tom is a troll and is only here for comic relief. The Federal government should stop sending these pathetic freaks any monies due to violation of the Solomon ammendment. They take the money then bite the hand that feeds them. Take come more kool-aid Tom your hypocrisy is on full display again.
You ought to see what the hippie cum pacifists are doing to the old Presidio. It is sacreligious. I mustered out of the military on Treasure Island during the 60's. As usual, the peace, love, dove crowd made it a community resource center which is hippie/yippie/dippie speak for ant-military.
Spend your money elsewhere until the demographics change.
Posted by: vet66 | June 09, 2007 at 10:27 AM
If a particular city wants to be officially anti-military, then i guess that's their right.
On the other hand, this same city should, in no way, shape or form, get the slightest economic benefits from the military. None.
That means no Fleet Week, no Blue Angels, no federal money for schools that refuse to allow recruiters, no port visits from Navy ships.
I realize that there are lots of people there who still support the military and would like to see the Blue Angels. If there are enough of them, they should vote the anti-military scumbags out of office. If not, well, that's the breaks i guess.
Posted by: mark nelson | June 09, 2007 at 11:30 AM
If I was the CNO, I'd order a complete withdrawal from Fleet Week.
You can't have a Fleet Week w/out the Navy!
San Fransicko and all its socialists can go to hell, hell, hell!
Posted by: thebronze | June 09, 2007 at 11:39 AM
Federal money should not be sent to California at this point. I would add to that all states that contain 'Sanctuary' cities. Maybe we could give California to Mexico.
Posted by: Jumbo Rider | June 09, 2007 at 11:49 AM
My first thought is expel SF from the union.
I had a fantastic visit at the WW II diesel sub museum in SF at the Fisherman's wharf last year. The docent on board was a vet from a sister boat who had enlisted @ 17 and chugged into Tokyo Harbor for the surrender in '45. It's a nice facility and would've been graced by the USS Iowa.
I enjoyed being in NYC for Navy Week a year ago right now. I say double that and screw SF.
I don't get mad at SF. I get even. I would do everything in my power, politically, to blackball these perverts.
Posted by: Casey | June 09, 2007 at 11:56 AM
"dangerous and unnecessary"
Shall we have a marijuana debate? Oh, wait, SF thinks it's necessary...
About 3 weeks ago I had the pleasure of watching an F-22 do a backwards roll...right over my head. I'm not sure about the altitude but I do know straight-above-me when I see it. Dangerous? Slightly. But courage is learned in the midst of the brave.
SF took what they learned in preschool and stopped there. They think safety comes from playing nicely with others. When the Blue Angels show up, they remind people that there's a reason we need the fighters, and it bursts their happy bubble.
Just wait till the Thunderbirds start flying F-22s. SF residents will be hiding in the closets with their hands over their ears, muttering "Happy place happy place happy place..."
Posted by: The WatchCat | June 09, 2007 at 12:43 PM
Guys,
Please don't let a few fruits and nuts ruin S.F.'s reputation.
I am a veteran and grew up near S.F. The vast majority (90%+) of the people living in the S.F. bay area have zero problems with the military.
It is a vocal and idiotic minority responsible for this nonsense.
A year ago I was 'out on the town' in S.F. with some active duty Operators. We were let in free of cover charge ($20+ in most cases) and given a free drink on the house at all 4 of the bars/clubs/etc. we went to that night. Nobody was in uniform, but the doormen and bartenders asked if we were military (it showed), and when the reply came back as 'yes' ('former' in my case) we were very well treated.
Respectfully,
Posted by: anonymous | June 09, 2007 at 01:12 PM
No problem. Relocate ALL military facilities in the San Francisco area, to cities that welcome the military. I'm sure San Diego would be happy with additional military payroll to fuel the economy.
Posted by: Deano41 | June 09, 2007 at 01:32 PM
A wise man once said that a nation that seperates higher education from the military will have it's policy created by cowards and it's fighting done by idiots. Sounds like SF is well on it's way down that track....
BTW did anyone tell those idiots that the Coast Guard IS military....maybe not DoD, but definately an armed service....
Posted by: armynurseboy | June 09, 2007 at 01:50 PM
Sad.
I was born in San Francisco, moved away when I was 11, and was stationed at Alameda from 91-93. We lived on Yerba Beuna Island, and were able to watch the Blue Angels show from our back porch - the center point was about a quarter mile from our house. Youngest daughter was born at the Naval Hospital in Oakland. There have also been several Army bases closed there: the Presidio, the Oakland Army supply Depot, a small airfield just north of Marin (I can't remember the name), and the base on the Marin side of the Golden Gate bridge. (Mostly housing, but there were SAMs stationed there during the 60s.) THe Oakland Naval Hospital, Moffett Field NAS in SAn Jose, Treasure Island, Mare Island, Alameda are also all closed.
Posted by: exhelodrvr | June 09, 2007 at 01:53 PM
I haven't been to the Bay area since the 1990s, but I liked it. In 1968 when I was in Nav school, we'd drive down for lunch on fisherman's wharf then take the boys for a ride on the cable car. If the weather cooperates, it's a beautiful city. There were smelly hippies around, but they were too stoned to worry about us.
If I were CNO, I would not, repeat not, pull anything out of the Bay area. The Blues and the Thunderbirds put on great air shows, reminding the citizens that the US is the world's only superpower. Anyone who has not seen these shows should try to do it. Showing military pride and professionalism is the message the Code Pink, Global Exchange, Veterans for Peace and ANSWER scum fear most.
Finally, think about the straight women of San Francisco. Fleet Week is the only time they can get a real date!
Posted by: arch | June 09, 2007 at 02:28 PM
I have to say South Park depicted it best, the world's largest cloud of SMUG hovers over San Francisco...
The catch 22 is it's fully rightful that the military give SF the middle finger and go somewhere it's more welcome, BUT giving that victory to the hippie Marxists would only encourage them to do even more outside the bay area, for indeed appeasing leftist hippies is oddly similar to coddling arrogant entitlement-minded children, it only makes them worse and even more demanding over time.
Perhaps the Navy/Marines should show up in even bigger measure next time as a response, totally invade the city with a vast sea of khaki and Marpat green/tan, and really irritate the hippie Marxists! hehheh The louder they get, the more Marines and sailors sent to SF, in town in uniform, with a off-the-record "suggestion" to specifically seek out and "occupy" the favorite millionaire-marxist/hippie hangout spots in town that week!
Really want tweak them with Fleet Week? Have a public demonstration of a Marine amphibious landing, LCAC's, Harriers, AH-1's, Hueys, CH-46/53's, and all swarming around say Crissy Field or even better, Ocean Beach in Golden Gate park, then have the Marines and sailors march en masse, in ranks right across town to the Embarcadero, put on a true "patriots parade". And when the leftist hippies flip their lid about that being "too disruptive" or "too costly", simply refer to the "other" parade they happily have every year that shuts down a wide swath of town, the gay freedom day parade, or the race that is disruptive and follows the route I referred to, the massive Bay to Breakers race. (not to mention the countless so-called "peace" protests they have every year)
All in all though, if I were one of the opposing-solo Blue Angel pilots, I'd have to tape a note in my cockpit to remind myself to resist the urge, "DO NOT break the sound barrier today!" it'd be tempting to tap the throttle forward a bit more than usual and send off SF with a very loud bang!
Posted by: Patrick | June 09, 2007 at 03:46 PM
tom, no doubt you'd agree that college or vocational recruiters should be banned from high schools as well.
Posted by: Synova | June 09, 2007 at 03:46 PM
I'm sure there would be another community on the West Coast that would just love to host Fleet Week. Move it far enough away from San Fran so they lose all economic benefit from it. They don't want the military around? Fine, the Navy should take the taxpayers' money elsewhere, and all the people who travel to go to Fleet Week would follow...
I've not been to an air show in years. When my dad was stationed at Fort Bliss, there was an annual air show at Biggs Army Air Field (which was where my dad worked). I got to see the Blue Angels there, and the Canadian flight team, and, of course, the Thunderbirds (which I'd seen before, probably 10 years previous, when we were in San Antonio). One year, before the actual air show, the Thunderbirds were practicing, and they flew right over our clothesline that was between our quarters and the quarters next door, very low (maybe a couple hundred feet, if that?). I was outside when they flew over (you could here them coming....). I thought it was AWESOME. It's the Sound of Freedom!
Posted by: Miss Ladybug | June 09, 2007 at 04:15 PM
I'm sure tom has not given it that depth of thought Synova.
The last time I was in SF was in '69 on a visit from N. Ca. At the time I lived in the Marysville/Yuba City area and the city along with Fisherman’s Wharf was quite a treat for a farm boy.
The farmers in N. Ca. had pretty strong feelings about everything from SF on to the south even in those days.
Shame that SF has become synonymous with fruit-loops.
Posted by: bthun | June 09, 2007 at 04:35 PM
San Francisco...it's always San Francisco......*sigh*
I can't add a thing.
Posted by: rgrmom82 | June 09, 2007 at 04:35 PM
I grew up near Moody AFB and remember seeing the Tbirds there a long time ago. I'm hear to tell you that it made quite an impression on a little guy.
We used to have the Blue Angles do air shows here at Dobbin's in Marietta, Ga., that is until some of the folks who built and purchased houses near the NAS decided that the show was too dangerous and pitched a fit to have them stopped. Sigh...
Posted by: bthun | June 09, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Uniform Juliette, my op is that all fed moneys should be halted to the area, including ssc benefits... Have not read all the comments, but when the days are long and the rain is hard, you need some one to watch your back...How many have been through MONSOONS? To Protect and Defend, to do or die, I gave an oath to protect the constitution... How can I help now?"
Posted by: Smitty-ROK | June 09, 2007 at 07:24 PM
Great comments. May I just add, that I propose we have any city or state in America who refuses to allow these events, or recruiters to appear at their schools, (that kinda thing adn all such kinda things), to sign a waiver that prohibits the US military from defending them from any enemy - foreign or domestic. ??
Sign the paper. Executive order by the Mayor/Governor.
It would be further required that they advertise to the effect of being sure that the news of such as reached in excess of 90% of their citizens... Lets make sure the religion of peace people get the news.
Anyway, I've seen the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels numerous times and the Blue Angels do have the edge. I'd swear I could jump up and touch the wing of one of the Blue Angels 5 or 6 plane (individual performer) as he flew over the crowd at 500 mph.. And yes, as Ladybug said I think - You know you are living in the land of the free and the home of the brave when you are privileged to be at such an event.
The Blue Angels website is also very cool. Always great pictures there. I like the ones of an individual plane at a 45 degree angle 3 feet off the runway headed for the wild blue yonder post haste. Similar to this one - http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/images/photos/2007-ba_02.jpg
But they often have better pics than what I see tonight.
Posted by: Cincinnati_Bob | June 09, 2007 at 10:20 PM
Please don't judge all of California by the freaks in San Fransicko. San Diego is a PROUD supporter of the military. If we could get rid of the Bay Area & L.A. county this would be a "red" state (not the current communist/socialist red). Unfortunatly these densely populated areas tend to overrule the votes of the rest of us on statewide & national votes. Many of us want this state to be split into two states. Any town, city, or state that shows such disrespect & hostility to our service men & women should never receive any federal tax $.
Posted by: dsrmom | June 09, 2007 at 10:53 PM
While SF (and Sacramento and L.A.) make most of the noise, most of California outside of those urban areas is pretty solidly conservative. Too bad we're outnumbered in the voting.
I grew up in Southern Cal, and have lived the past 30+ years about an hour south of SF. Things have changed, and not for the better, overall during that time. The state government is flat-out bughouse nuts.
Two of our three kids moved to other states after they got married, the third is seriously considering doing the same.
If I thought there was any chance of the northern part of the state seceding, I might consider staying after I retire in a couple of years, but I don't have much (any) hope of it ever happening.
Then again, if it did, we'd have to decide what to call it: Jefferson? Really Northern California? Baja Oregon? Someplace to be in peace, let the moss grow, and not have to think about Sacramento...
Posted by: steveH | June 09, 2007 at 11:39 PM
They have their right to bar the Blue Angels from SF. But they're still part of the US, and I think we still have the right to fly an F-18 200ft over Chris Daly's house at Mach 1.1 at 2AM for the interest of "National Security" :-)
Posted by: Wamphyr | June 09, 2007 at 11:49 PM
How sad the country of SF is.
Posted by: Biermann | June 10, 2007 at 12:28 AM
"They have their right to bar the Blue Angels from SF"
Actually, they don't. It's called the "National Airspace" and it belongs to the FAA and the DoD. 200 feet AGL would be a bit low.
Once on a cross country in an F4, we had a variable inlet ramp fail which meant one engine developed very little power. As a result we made a shallow (half flap) approach at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, bringing us over some nice houses much lower than normal.
When we got to Base Ops, the phones were ringing with noise complaints. The civilian on duty was soo cool. "Was it a large tan and green camoflaged fighter with a blue star on the wing?" he asked. When it complaining home owner said it was, the manager told him, "Don't worry, it's one of ours. If you see one with a red star, please call me."
San Francisco is a long way from San Antonio.
Posted by: arch | June 10, 2007 at 03:13 AM
SF sounds like the same bunch of bleeding hearts who'll come running the minute theres any sign of a real incurnsion into their "space'. "Where's the military, save me!!!" Oh well. I was stationed at whidbey Island washington state with some EA6'Bs, and the Navy boys used to come up there and practice their shows before they started making the rounds for shows. I was just awestruck. Hate to say it...but they pulled this one stunt, the pilot flares the nose of the plane pointed upward toward the sky, causing the jet to almost stall, no more than 50-100 feet off the ground. Then...Bammmm and a whooooosh and he shoootin sky high!!!! Problem is, I got so involved watching him, I locked my keys in the car with the engine running. Didn't figure it out for almost 2 more hours (still watching the flyboys). Felt like a fool on that one
Posted by: Daniel Meck | June 10, 2007 at 03:52 AM
Two hours east of San Francisco are some of the most conservative areas in the country, but our population is in rural counties with far less of a population. Two years ago SF supervisors voted to NOT bring the battleship, the USS Iowa to SF as a tourist attraction/memorial. Note what was proposed instead.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06008/633908.stm
From part of an article in US News section of the Post-Gazette on Jan. 8, 2006
By Steve Chawkins, Los Angeles Times
Turning a battleship around is never easy -- especially in the politically roiled waters of the San Francisco Bay.
Last July, San Francisco's county supervisors voted 8-3 against bringing the vintage World War II battleship Iowa to San Francisco as a permanent tourist attraction. Some opponents said they were taking a stand against both the war in Iraq and a military that boots out gays and lesbians, a powerful faction in local politics.
But now, advocates of the move are trying to woo the supervisors with a promise to create a privately funded dockside museum that will tell the story of minorities in the military, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops.
"Our feeling was that this would make it a better fit for San Francisco," said Jim Maloney, director of the Military Education Initiative, a group that supports the lifting of restrictions on gays in the military. "Adding in the component of [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] service would be obviously quite unique," he said.
Posted by: Heather | June 10, 2007 at 11:18 AM
... seem dangerous ...
Feelings ... nothing more than, feelings ...
... when in fact, far more people have been killed by crashing Boeing widebodies than by crashing F/A-18's ...
... and their gray-painted siblings are making sure that those who would intentionally crash those Boeings don't get the opportunity to do so again.
... unnecessary ...
As a taxpayer, I consider my opportunity to directly observe what my tax dollars are paying for as quite necessary ... as long as the enemy can't learn anything of tactical significance from that opportunity, as well.
This is a bunch of moonbats who simply can't comprehend just how good they have it ... and how vulnerable what they have, is.
Posted by: Rich Casebolt | June 10, 2007 at 01:17 PM
City Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval is living proof that people with only a single brain cell can be elected / appointed to public office.
And, apparently, that single brain cell is used for talking and making him look like he is completely incapable of logical thought and linear reasoning.
Posted by: Rainmaker | June 10, 2007 at 04:34 PM
Take a look....
Posted by: Cro | June 10, 2007 at 05:09 PM
And to think, our first woman speaker or self-appointed queen hails from there... I wonder what is in store for the rest of the nation?
Posted by: Smitty-ROK | June 10, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Well, not to worry. One of these days the SF SMUG
will wake up floating on debris after the city slides into the bay. A great place to warehouse the lefty/gays..right on the fault line.
I guess SF city gov has NOTHING better to do...
Posted by: rgrmom82 | June 10, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Deano - they've already removed pretty much all the military facilities from the area. As far as I know, the closest facility other than guard armories is Camp Parks RFTA in Dublin (1 hour), then Travis AFB and Ft. Hunter-Ligget (1.5-2 hours and 4 hours away, respectively). We don't have a lot.
It's been said, but it bears repeating - most San Franciscans are reasonably people, but the nuts in the town are just a lot more vocal, thanks in large part to our weird electoral system (small neighborhoods with a quite nutty population get a disproportionate influence in things). When we were fighting for JROTC, we'd have about 500 pro-JROTC supporters show at any given meeting, and about 15 anti-JROTC folks. Problem was, the School Board's constituency was the 15, not the 500.
Don't smear the whole city just because of the nutjobs in it. There are plenty of San Franciscans who preserve, protect, and defend the United States, be it military, civil service, or otherwise.
Someone once said something to the effect of "freedom is where it is safe to be unpopular."
Posted by: Starghost | June 11, 2007 at 03:43 AM
Once again tom drifts away from the subject of the post. tom, I am running out of pointy high-heel shoes kicking your ass, so you owe me quite a few.:) pay up.....
SF anti-war groups, Sandoval, and codepink morons let us just excize you from the Union because you are not worth fighting for, let alone dying for. Oh, and take a damn bath why don't you.....
Posted by: Rita | June 11, 2007 at 07:10 AM
It is truly AMAZING how far to the Lunacy camp the land of Pelosi has drifted ... Must be swimming in the Soros Polluted cesspool of ideas!
Posted by: redhawk | June 11, 2007 at 08:48 AM