Posted on 05/14/2008 4:12:12 PM PDT by SmithL
BERKELEY — Playing to the UC Berkeley's liberal reputation, Craigslist founder Craig Newmark told graduating seniors Tuesday that they will be responsible for "rebuilding" the country after President Bush's term ends.
In a rambling and mostly off-the-cuff speech under a hot afternoon sun, Newmark said he no longer has the energy to save the world but has been encouraged by the drive of the younger generation.
"The bad news is I'm going to ask you to do it," he said. "The good news is you're already doing it."
Newmark founded the eponymous Web site in 1995 as an e-mail list for friends and family members in the Bay Area. It has since become one of the country's most popular Web sites.
Predictably, other speakers at Tuesday's event joked about Craigslist's reputation as a site for arranging sexual liaisons. Darek DeFreece, president of the California Alumni Association, noted the variety of services the site has provided.
"Thanks to you, I've bought something, I've sold something, I've had a missed connection and I've had a casual encounter," he said, referring to categories on the site. "And a couple of other things I can't mention."
About 6,800 seniors were expected to graduate this month, along with about 3,000 graduate students. Chancellor Robert Birgeneau told graduates not to worry too much about getting jobs, and some in the crowd seemed to be taking his advice.
"They say when you graduate from a top school, it makes it easier to get a job," said Kelly Gilliam, a 27-year-old senior from Newport Beach. "We'll see. We feel like we're prepared for the real world."
Like Newmark, Birgeneau also had a political message for the graduates. Undocumented immigrants should be allowed to receive state and federal financial aid to attend college, he said.
"I urge you to urge politicians, both in Sacramento and in Washington, to remove this disgrace from the American landscape," Birgeneau said, attracting scattered applause.
Newmark, meanwhile, urged graduates to use the Internet to become more politically active. Social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace can help people connect for good causes, he said.
The November presidential election could be a showcase for the class of 2008, he said.
"I do want you to get out and vote," Newmark said. "I hear that only half of you are doing that, and I really need the other half of you to do that."
The ceremony began with a moment of silence for nuclear-engineering senior Christopher Wootton, who was fatally stabbed May 3. He had been scheduled to graduate this month.
at a State-run, taxpayer-funded school.
Uh huh. So, after somehow managing to dredge up a billion dollars from the internet in the depths of the Bushitler fascist regime, Craigee doesn’t have enough energy left to rebuild Amerikkka on the glowing radioactive rubble left by George W. Hoover. I guess I get it now.
These people are like parasites and they don’t even know from which they feed.
Why are Conservatives giving this Utter Idiot money by selling and buying on Craig’s list?
If you happen to be Elliott Spitzer, it’s awhole nother tune!
How does he make money? There is no advertising on Craigslist.
Which basically means us young FReepers will have to rebuild it after the B. Hussein Obama reign is over with.
A 27 year-old senior? Was she on the 9 year plan?
I hope he succeeds. I hope he gets his liberal wish. Then liberal ‘price gouging’ and ‘windfall profits’ policies can be applied to his business. My guess is that the profit margin for his business is something north of 25%. I say we urge liberals to attack his business for gouging and ‘excessive profits’. Not only that, attack him for ‘excessive CEO compensation’. That should straighten him out.
Hardly an arbiter of moral standards if you catch my drift.
One does suppose he despises George Bush.
Assuming Kelly was not previously in the military (fair assumption considering this is Beserkley) or taking care of a disabled relative, etc. the reason for graduating at the ripe old age of 27 may have to do with the “Van Wilder” plan of parties, orgies, and related bacchanalia. Perhaps Kelly has been so traumatized since the 2000 election that he/she/it plunged into a drug-addled haze and has yet to emerge.....
Probably drinking from the financial aid trough while biting the hand that feeds them. Won’t they be surprised that in order to make the big bucks they think they deserve, they may have to get a job at an evil, moneymaking, capitalist corporation. BWAAHAAHAAHAA!!!!!
"Even though nearly all listings on Craigslist remain free, it has added modest fees for job listings and real estate brokers in some big cities, and it generates an estimated $80 million to $100 million in annual revenue from those fees, with a staff, based in San Francisco, of 25, including Newmark."
As Clinton was leaving the White House at the end of his term, did conservative speakers at commencement ceremonies mention how relieved they were that he would soon be an ex-president?
Didn’t think so.
Then he or she can get serious about paying off the student loan.
Moonbats can only “do” if the government is doing it for them.
The California tax PAYERS (you know, the people that work and pay those high left coast taxes) have taken good care of these little brain washed lefties quite well.
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