Progressive At Cal
Saturday, June 29, 2002
Right Wing Political Correctness
In a stunning example of conservative PC policing (despite Godless' denial of the meaning of this phrase), Politically Incorrect with Bill Mayer has been forced off the air. More to come...
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Friday, June 28, 2002
Salar: Go Home
Salar as usual proves to be moron. I sometimes why I hate him so much when it's obvious he's lowering the curve in all economics classes (as a public service, most likely!). And no, Salar, GPA is a very good way to predict performance in high school. In fact, it's the best. And no Salar, I'm going to keep voting (good thing you don't!). And no Salar, I'm not going to waste water and paper because I can pay for it. Now, go talk about your genitals again...
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Wednesday, June 26, 2002
PragLib's Post
"mr youse neednt be so spry
concernin questions arty
each has his likes but as for i
i likes a certain party
give me a he-mans subtle bliss
for youse ideas ill match youse
a pretty girl you naked is
is worth a million statues"
-e.e.cummings
Note: David won quiz 3 and a post on this site...Congrats, Dave
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Quiz Three Answers
PragLib has won Quiz 3.
1) Which building on campus is named after a Mussolini campaign supporter?
Gianini Hall
2) Which two buildings on campus are named after Confederate veterans?
LeConte Hall, Hilgard Hall
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Great News!
Here's an amazing headline: U.S. Court Says Pledge of Allegiance Unconstitutional. Of course, let's see how the Supreme Court rules on this (I assume an appeal will be in order.)
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Sunday, June 23, 2002
Attention Republican Donors
If you happen to be a Republican giving money to the poor defenseless conservatives at UC Berkeley, you should know who you're giving money to. If you don't know, Bret Manley will be president of the Berkeley College Republicans next week. Let's explore his blog.
(----
Note: Since I posted this (actually, within 13 hours, Brett Manley has edited his blog. He hadn't touched it the previous 6 weeks...He changed "Juan" to "Fidel" and took out several of the worst passages. The quotes I posted below can be backed up by asking other bloggers. Or, if you want, I can email you the actual file (I saved the .html).
And, best of all, YOUR BLOG IS STILL CACHED IN GOOGLE.
Sorry Bret, but your attempts to hide the evidence won't work...
----)
Next time you donate to the BCR or the Cal Patriot, consider these quotes.
-Dude, fucking IFC and their fucking bullshit about cracking down on fraternities. They say no more parties with alcohol. I don't understand, don't they know why people go to fraternities, hmmmm to drink maybe?? This is gonna kill social life at Berkeley. Fucking bastards.
Hmm...nice responsible student...
-Juan Castro, Cuban Dictator extraordinare has just banned all sales or computers, computer components, or computer materials due largely in part to many a brave Cuban for posting pro-democracy/anti-Castro stuff on the internet.
Apparently Brett doesn't realize that Castro's first name is Fidel...
-If anybody cares I went to church for like 3 hours on a Friday night, yeah me Bret, church, Friday, they don't go together but my fraternity brother asked me to come along so I went with him. It was an all young people thing and they were really nice. The only thing was that when they were singing and stuff it seemed a little bit like a a cult and shit. I guess that is my only problem with religion or whatever. I'm not down wit h the whole "worship" concept. The only thing is worship is Susan Ward - she is so hot!!
Dear religious conservative donors: The president of the Berkeley College Republicans thinks church is a "cult and shit" and is "not down with the whole "worship" concept."
-This paragraph is dedicated to *******. You are a stupid, fucking, immature, self-centered, incensitive, vain, mean, wretched bitch of an ex-girlfriend. And if you are reading this good, don't even for a second think that I said that because "[I] can't have you back" 'cause believe me honey that isn't it. You just think too highly of yourself to believe that you can be a fucking asshole. It doesn't matter how nice you are to other people, if you aren't nice to me you aren't nice. If someone kills somebody, it doesn't matter how many people think he/she is the nicest person in the world he/she still killed somebody. Do you not understand that? Is it going over your head? So you can take you and your new "cool" friends (by the way you're 20 years old and you're still trying to be cool = pathetically immature) and go fuck yourself. And you moved out of your dorm, why because it's not cool to live there? I think it's 'cause you flunked out and you don't want to tell me. I mean you never seem to be in class, they always seem to be convieniently "cancelled." Classes don't just get cancelled, what do you think I am an idiot? Either you ain't going or something happened. And look, this whole thing about how I didn't want you to call me, It's 'cause I am trying to get over you, if I see you in public I am going to say hi because I am not an asshole. Apparently you are because "you are going to give me a taste of my own medicine." You tell me you don't care but then you get upset? What the fuck is going on with you?? I don't know what you're doing and I don't think you know what you are doing. All I know is everytime I get on the phone and say something sweet to you you're like "Bret don't say that I don't want to hear it." Fuck you then I won't say anything nice, do you see anything nice in this paragraph! I'm going to be really cocky here, I'm going places, and no I don't mean to the store. I mean big places, making the big bucks, being the big important person, and you would rather "date" Citris College baseball players. Wow, you're really moving up in the world. And damnit don't ever tell me that Cal Poly Pomona is as good as school as Berkeley beacause it's not even close. That's an insult to me, my friends, and everyone else who busts their ass to get here and to stay here. We work harder for one class than you do for 4. It's not just a name damnit! Now all this is stuff that I have thought while I was on the phone with you but would never say. Yeah that's right wouldn't say so I guess that I'll be "chicken shit" and say it here, nobody reads it anyways.
Um...that's scary
-etc, etc
--- Bret Manley Berkeley President Berkeley College Republicans Bret Manley BCR President
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Blog War
Tonight, I declare a blog war on the conservatives at Berkeley. If you are online or have posted anything online, you are fair game...
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Saturday, June 22, 2002
"Death" Tax
Though I may be accused of hyperbole, I dare say that the Republicans' drive to eliminate the inheritance tax is the greatest threat to true American values (from an internal source) since WWII. More to come...
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Friday, June 21, 2002
ProgCal Quiz 3
Hopefully this quiz will be easier than the last one. (No random BAMN questions...) The first non-anonymous winner will get one post on ProgCal of their choice. If no one gets it all, I'll award the person who is closest.
1) Which building on campus is named after a major Mussolini campaign supporter?
2) Which two buildings on campus are named after Confederate veterans?
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Thursday, June 20, 2002
A New Correspondent
ProgCal is pleased announce a new correspondent. He'll probably start posting soon. Anyone else interested? Email me...
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Leadership Institute Responds
Mike Krempasky from the Leadership Institute has responded to my quiz-answers post.
Thanks for correcting me (or rather Jeff) about the legal status of LI and for adopting a friendly tone. Some could learn...
I mentioned that both BAMN and the Patriot get out-of-state in order to show that neither spoke for students. Sorry Kelso Jeffrey...
And as far as being extremist, I doubt that few will argue with me that the Cal Patriot is much farther to the right than the Republican Party. In fact, few would argue it's an extremist paper.
Also, Kelso, how can you possibly deny that the Patriot is funded by private donors? Jeff simply mentioned the "main funders." The Patriot has a circle of other donors who pay approximately $1000 each, but they are more minor.
The Letter
From: "Krempasky, Mike" <********@LeadershipInstitute.org>
To: hgrotius@yahoo.com
Subject: From an out of state extremist group
Date: Thu, 20 Jun 2002 13:05:16 -0400
Friend,
Read with great interest your comments about the Leadership Institute. A few thoughts.
1) there is no such thing as a 401(c)3 anything. While it might sound like nit-picking, our status as a 501(c)3 is germane as it identifies us as a non-profit, non-partisan, educational foundation. We don’t endorse candidates, we don’t support or oppose legislation. Actually, the Leadership Institute doesn’t even really take specific positions on specific issues. We serve as a service organization to the conservative movement as a whole.
2) I’m not sure why “out-of-state” is such a pejorative term. Regardless, the Leadership Institute actually has staff in California, if that mollifies you a bit.
3) Funding college groups? It isn’t LI’s policy to directly fund student groups. We train students how to be effective activists. In the CalPatriot’s case, we were happy to step in and help to replace the print run that was stolen by extremists.
4) And speaking of extremist – you know not of what you speak.
Regardless, keep up the blog. It’s better for everyone when more voices get heard – especially at a college campus.
Best,
Mike Krempasky
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Anti-Death Penalty Victory!
From AP: A divided Supreme Court reversed course Thursday and ruled that executing mentally retarded people is unconstitutionally cruel, giving scores of inmates on death row the possibility of a reprieve.
Shame on Rehnquist, Scalia and Thomas for dissenting.
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Wednesday, June 19, 2002
Quiz #2 Winner
Jeff over at Northwestern Law School has won the quiz. Here are his answers:
1. The main funders of the Cal Patriot are:
* The Leadership Institute, a conservative 401c3 non-profit that funds conservative college student groups
* Professor James E. Moore, a civil engineering prof at USC
* The Collegiate Network (CN), a program administered by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, to help right-wing college papers get started.
2. BAMN is a front for the Revolutionary Workers League, which is based out of Detriot, Michigan. RWL most probably gets funding from Leninist-Trostkyist types based out of London.
3. Three to four. Ed Vasquez, Hoku Jeffrey, Ron Cruz, and that guy that just got elected to the the ASUC Senate.
Well, number #3 is incorrect, but overall Jeff was closest.
Correct Answer and Purpose of Quiz
The correct answer to number 3 is two. Of all those who table for BAMN weekly, only Hoku and Ronald. Others (such as Yvette, Chris, and Vincent) are not UC students. BAMN normally imports others to help them build the "New Civil Rights Movement" at Berkeley. For instance, during the election, many BAMNers from Michigan came over to help. This included Michigan students and some who were quite a bit older.
Both BAMN and the California Patriot are funded from out of state extremist groups.
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Saturday, June 15, 2002
Sorry
Due to some circumstances...I've been unable to post recently. I will resume posting on Tuesday. Here's a preview:
-Salar is back and as bad as ever
-Homeland Defense Dept.
-Estate Tax
-Quiz Winner Revealed (Plus, other interesting/funny responses)
-A warning to another blogger
-and MORE!
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Monday, June 10, 2002
Two Reposts
Prog Cal Quiz 2
Because everyone loves extra quizzes during finals' week, here's another. It has three parts. The person that correctly answers the question will get a favor from me: I will post whatever they want on this blog (within reason and only from non-anonymous people).
1) Where does the Cal Patriot's funding come from?
2) Where is BAMN headquarted?
3) (HARD) How many active members does BAMN have that are students at UC Berkeley? What are their names? (By active member, I mean one who tables weekly). What's up with everyone else?
Add-on: Okay, I realize this quiz is really hard (as some have pointed out). So, I'm going to award the prize to who ever answers the most parts. No one has answered the quiz correctly so far.
Prog Cal Correspondents Wanted
Seeing as progressives are extremely underrepresented in blogger land, I encourage all progressives and liberals who wish to post something on progcal to contact me. If you are interested, we might also be able to work something out where you post as a correspondent (and, if you want, you can remain anonymous). Email me.
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Sunday, June 09, 2002
Homeland Security
Kudos to Kevin for reporting on the Chronicle piece.
I have reservations about the new combined department over stepping its power it similar ways. More to come...
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Saturday, June 08, 2002
Thursday, June 06, 2002
Any Excuse
In the aftermath of September 11th, law enforcement agencies used fear to ram through the USA Patriot Act. This act fleeced Americans out numerous liberties.
Of course, the truth of the matter is that the Patriot Act was not necessary to stop terrorism. If the intelligence agencies had simply coordinated their efforts and caught all the clues (using the extensive powers they already had), then the disaster of September 11th could have been prevented.
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Dershowitz on Horowitz
I was just sent this excellent article on David Horowitz. Written by civil libertarian Alan M. Dershowitz, it appeared in the LA Times Book Review.
The article speaks for itself, and I don't have much commentary, other than to say I agree fully. Here are some highlights:
"Horowitz plays a clever game. He played it with several of our peer college papers in the past few weeks. And he won. When Horowitz submits an ad to a college paper, he hopes that one of two things will happen: Either the paper refused to print the ad, so he can tell the world that conservative ideas are being censored by the liberal college press, or the paper prints the ad and campus activists protest. Both ways, Horowitz gets what he wants.... "
[Horowitz] "is a race-issue-baiter."
"that his tactic was not original. Several years ago a man named Bradley Smith used the same tactic when he submitted a Holocaust denial ad to college newspapers around the country."
"Horowitz is a master in the art of overstatement. He describes professor Charles Ogletree as exhibiting "hostility to America generally and to white Americans in particular." Now I may lack some objectivity with regard to this accusation because Ogletree is my colleague at Harvard Law School, but in all the years I have known him, both as a student and as colleague, I have never heard him express anti-American or anti-white sentiments. Nor does Horowitz quote or cite a single word uttered by Ogletree, beyond his support for reparations, that would justify such a defamatory characterization."
"But conservative clubs are alive and well on numerous college campuses."
"Moreover, the conservative viewpoint is welcomed, indeed sought, by the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, National Review, the Weekly Standard, Fox Television and dozens of other media outlets. These media sources are available on college campuses. The conservative voice has a megaphone in Washington and is championed by many of the most powerful forces in America."
"This is not to deny that some divisive ideas--particularly about race and gender--are unwelcome by administrators, faculty members and students in many colleges and universities. But Horowitz fails to understand--or more likely understands but fails to acknowledge--that his deliberately provocative ad was not well designed to test whether certain ideas are acceptable on college campuses but rather to test whether certain incendiary attacks on important racial symbols will provoke an emotional response."
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Wednesday, June 05, 2002
Blog Watch
I agree with Jim. As I've said numerous times before, I believe Roberto is innocent.
Andrew has three great posts on the new tobacco legislation, the National Day of Direct Action, and John Ashcroft. Have to love the quote: "John Ashcroft is an evil, evil man." I disagree slightly with Andrew's commentary on Germany. I do not agree that Germany has fewer alcohol problems due to stricter laws. Rather, alcohol is not abused as much because the drinking age is lower and smaller levels of consumption by minors are accepted. Hence, young Germans learn to be responsible.
Mike also has three great posts (Update regarding the Wheeler 79, END THE SANCTIONS, CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT, GET COURTMARSHALLED). I agree with these as well.
Res Ipsa Loquitur: I stand with Marco Firebaugh, Cruz Bustamante, and LULAC.
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Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Good News?
Good news, perhaps: RPI has failed to qualify for the November 2002 ballot.
Rumor has it Ward Connerly is planning to move the Racial Privacy Initiative to March 2004. So, this is good news in that liberals have another year and a half to prepare the campaign against the RPI. However, Ward also has this time to raise more money, etc. Hence, the question mark in the title. But, in general, I'm excited because this thing keeps getting postponed and losing momentum.
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Monday, June 03, 2002
Godless is Moving Up
GC has a new site that promises five times as much racism as before. I look forward to numerous (and long) posts based on biased statistics, racial stereotypes, and eugenics. Should be a good read.
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The Daily Cal
The Daily Cal is really floundering these days. As Kevin already pointed out, the Tuesday columnist is quite bad. Well, the new Friday columnist is so much worse. In addition to making references to the size of his genitals and being quite boring, Salar Jahadi proves to be an enemy of the environment. Calling himself an economist (and stating he knows more than his GSI), Salar declares that it’s fine to do whatever one desires, as long as it’s paid for. This is pathetic writing from a boy with a pathetic grasp of economics. So, you must be the one lowering the mean in my economics classes? Thanks…
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