San Francisco City offered option to bid for WWII battleship Iowa

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Saturday, December 17, 2005 | Joe Garofoli, Edward Epstein

[walkerk]

Pressure increased on San Francisco officials Friday to decide whether they want the World War II battleship Iowa after two key federal lawmakers agreed to let any California community bid for the vessel.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, who had been offering dueling proposals on the Iowa's future, agreed that the ship should be transferred to California for permanent donation status and that any city in the state could bid for it.

Pombo's proposal would have directed the Navy to give the 63-year-old Iowa, now moored in Suisun Bay, to the Port of Stockton. Feinstein proposed opening it up for bid.

The language will be included in the defense authorization conference report that Congress is expected to pass in the next few days. If it does, Feinstein aide Howard Gantman said, the Navy could decide on the winning bid within a year.

...

But San Francisco's Iowa supporters are hoping to reintroduce what they call a "brand new" resolution to the board in mid-January. It would include a proposal to hold an annual "peace conference" on the battleship. Supporters are meeting with supervisors about their new plan.

Friday's agreement between Feinstein and Pombo "absolutely turns up the heat for San Francisco to decide whether it wants this," said Jim Maloney, executive director of the Military Education Initiative. The organization, which seeks veterans' support for gays and lesbians in the military, is working with the Historic Ship Memorial group to bring the Iowa to San Francisco.

It wants to open a museum on the Iowa focusing on the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military.

[walkerk]

This continues to drag on.

[Yossarian]

I wouldn't mind the Iowa coming to San Francisco....

...if its guns were still active, it could pound the place in the manner that it deserves!

[durasell]

This just in: Denver, Colorado has placed a high bid.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

"It wants to open a museum on the Iowa focusing on the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military."

Only in Sfran...why are they excluding everyone else? were gays, lesbians, ethnic minorties and women the only ones that served on her?

[YOUGOTIT]

Why would SF want a United States ship of war when they have decided to leave the United States and support the enemies of the American People?

I think it would be a disgrace for a left-wing anti-American city like SF make a mockery of a GREAT SHIP OF WAR.

[EGPWS]

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, who had been offering dueling proposals on the Iowa's future, agreed that the ship should be transferred to California for permanent donation status and that any city in the state could bid for it.

And the band plays on...

[Pontiac]

I think Fresno should come up with an offer.

You should come up with an offer.

I propose a special FreeRepublic Fund Drive to finance the bid.

The Army Corp of Engineers will have to figure a way to move the ship inland to Fresno of course.

[Paleo Conservative]

The Iowa should empty its magazines on San Francisco.

[frankjr]

"It would include a proposal to hold an annual "peace conference" on the battleship."

LOL. SF is F'd.

[edpc]

Seems fitting for a ship with an accident allegedly related to a gay love triangle.

[JustAnotherOkie]

They are going to turn it into a Gerbil museum.

[alisasny]

Totally false story. Take it from someone who knows, my dear friend died that horrid day April 21, 1989.

I find it insulting what SF is proposing. Bring the ship somewhere it will be appriciated. I say near the Intrepid and fitting since my friend was a New Yorker.

[kilowhskey]

"It wants to open a museum on the Iowa focusing on the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military."

Makes me retch! Think about it. We are AMERICANS. Not lesbian-Americans, not gay-Americans, not ethnic minority-Americans. It says on every greenback "The United States of America." This divisivness weakens the fabric of our society. End of rant.

[aomagrat]

I'd rather see her scrapped than given to san fransicko.

[alisasny]

Excuse me, it was April 19, 1989. My dear friend would have been 21 on April 21. 1989. I often confuse the 2 sad days.

[Jim Robinson]

"The Army Corp of Engineers will have to figure a way to move the ship inland to Fresno of course."

No problem. Just put wheels under her keel, and we'll tow it up hiway 5 behind the mighty FReepmobile:

[oldbrowser]

I wouldn't mind the Iowa coming to San Francisco....

If its loaded with dynamite.

[tarepeter]

with respect to the SFO proposal to convert the USS IOWA into a floating homosexual pleasure palace and peace is keen feel good memorial---

"..these proceedings are closed."

[Cobra64]

I wouldn't mind the Iowa coming to San Francisco.... ...if its guns were still active, it could pound the place in the manner that it deserves!

I laughed so loud, my wife thought I was having a cardiac arrest!

BTW, both of our children are living in the San Fransicko Gay area. We're trying to get them to come back home to NC. I hate San Fran, and since we will be visiting the kids over Christmas time, I will be searching for a blindfold so that I won't have to watch guys holding hands and licking each other's earings.

BTW, both our kids are homophobes and that said, I have not a clue why they'd want to live in CA; capital state of queers, fruits, nuts and crime. Except they like the weather (and earthquakes?).

Then again, that is just my stereotyping of a state with which I am not an expert.

[samtheman]

They want to turn it in to a floating gay bath-house with "In The Navy" playing on the loud speakers.

[DemforBush]

I agree. I'd rather see the old girl "cut up for razor blades" than subjected to the future SF is planning for her.

[ScreamingFist]

SF doesn't deserve the this ship. Gay museums, yearly peace conference? Screw them, their horses and that entire town. I would rather see the Iowa sunk as a living reef than have these F'ing commies set foot on that ship....
FU San Fransisco

[Cobra64]

This just in: Denver, Colorado has placed a high bid.

Hey Bud!. We lived near Breckenridge in South Mountain Park for years. Elevation only 10,200 feet. I'd move the ship near the Trail Ridge Parkway up in Estes Park, 13,100 ft. Much better view of the Western slope.

And as an added bonus, for the tourists, Iowa-Class mountain slides to the bottom. LOL

Series, we did live in CO for almost 10 years, and did own many properties in CO.

[WorkingClassFilth]

I think a much better memorial for SF would be to secure a decommisioned Soviet fishing trawler. As a symbol of 'inclusion' nobody could be better than the commies at enslavement under a common flag. Further, the ship would stink like fish so the GBLT community would be sure to feel right at home and it would be loaded with electronic surveilance gear so that the sedition and espionage community would also feel at home and their productivity could be enhanced. Such a win-win deal would allow the commies to unload some of their problematic toxic materials and we could put it to use where it could do the most good.

[Texas WOP]

The USS Enterprise is docked in my beloved Corpus Christi Texas. I would LOVE to see her escorted by the Iowa. We have the room. A Flat Top deserves a proper escort.

[rottndog]

TAKE THAT!!!!!!!

[Yossarian]

Why I love CA, and the Bay Area in particular, and think it's worth fighting for:

1. Yosemite National Park. The Yosemite valley floor is God's gift to mankind. Make a beeline for it when you get here - yes, even if it is cold out.
2. Lake Tahoe. Its opal blue beauty inset into the Sierra Madre mountains is a sight you have to see. If you get a chance, go skiing at Homewood, and you'll get a great view, as well as a nice time skiing at a non-corporate resort.
3. On your way up to or down from Lake Tahoe, take the 88 starting at Stockton - it is one of my favorite drives, especially coming back from spring skiing. It takes you through CA's horse country on your way to Tahoe.
4. The Golden Gate Bridge. 'Nuff said.
5. North Beach. In particular, Caffe Sport on the corner of Green and Columbus. Bring cash, as credit cards make money laundering impossible....
6. After Caffe Sport, go eat desert at Caffe Puccini down the street, and listen to some opera with your tiramisu
7. Napa Valley - go ahead, go on a wine tasting tour. At least Napa County isn't as liberal as Marin County!
8. The Silicon Valley - not much of a place to visit, but it's my home, and the absolute proof of the value of hard work, ingenuity, and U.S. Capitali$m. Come down and visit the Computer Museaum in Mt. View and/or the Tech Museaum of Innovation in San Jose anyways.
9. While you're down here, go to "Dish-Dash" in Sunnyvale, and order the "Mashwi"
10. If you're still down here, go run or walk off your meal at Rancho San Antonio park in Cupertino - it is one of my favorite places - a taste of wilderness to run or hike in, right next to the high-tech industry.
11. Go a little further south, past Santa Cruz (blech), and go to the beach at Capitola. The weather is warmer, the waves more surfable, and the girls are prettier!
12. A bit further south, go to the Monterrey Aquarium - you may have to fight through crowds of other tourists, but it's worth it.
13. Once you're down there, drive for a bit south along Highway One, right along the ocean. It is really spectacular.

Well, that's some of what I love. Keep your radio tuned into AM-640, don't watch TV news, don't venture into the Castro district, and I think you'll have a very Merry Christmas here in the Bay Area!

[Yossarian]

Actually, I meant "AM-560", not "AM-640"..... Rush is on 560....

[RTINSC]

The USS Iowa may end up painted in a soft pastel pink in order to appease the homosexual community.

[durasell]

It should be in NYC.

[mad_as_he$$]

What happened to the Stockton bid? I would love her there - don't have to go to the city to see the great old girl. The four of them are some of the prettiest ships ever built.

Sorry about the loss of your friend. Best wishes.

[Cobra64]

Thank you Sir. Our children like CA a lot. In fact, a man whom my daughter has been dating for several years is a native CA guy raised in Lake Tahoe. He's a straight arrow. No tattoos, piercings, good looking, etc. The man is very well educated, imaginative, well spoken, plays the piano, and worked as a second Director on Will Smith's latest movie. He and my daughter just became engaged last night.

We're off to San Fran this coming Wednesday for a week for Christmas.

[Bars4Bill]

Better the Iowa be scuttled far at sea rather than turned over to the degenerates that run SF.

[Cobra64]

It should be in NYC.

Yes. Next to the carrier in Mid-Town? That would be awesome!

Any reason why the Iowa was chosen over the New Jersey? They both had 16" guns.

Regardless, I'd have these great warships lined up. We lived near West Point on the Hudson River. There was an armada, right after WWI that steamed up the Hudson. My Dad, who was a Naval Officer in the South Pacific saw the armada. He talked about it all the time. Then again he was a Commander, and loved our Navy ships.

[dk/coro]

Please let me close the breech -- and hit the firing button!

I did my last midshipman in Iowa -- summer '56; and it would kill me outright to know that a bunch of lesbian activists from SFO were treading the hallowed after-deck I holy-stoned!

I would rather she were cut up for scrap!

Happy Weekend, fellow Freeepers.

[EricT.]

Why I love CA, and the Bay Area in particular, and think it's worth fighting for:

The problem with California is the Californians.

[EricT.]

It should be in NYC.

Negative. Put it down in Mobile, next the USS Alabama BB-60. That fine ship needs to stay in a red state, where it will be appreciated.

[durasell]

The Intrepid is one of the most popular museums in NYC. The planes on deck, including an A-12 Blackbird, is the highlight.

[btcusn]

Any reason why the Iowa was chosen over the New Jersey? They both had 16" guns.

The New Jersey is in Camden, New Jersey. Right across from Philly, where sh was made.
Jack

[Political Junkie Too]

San Francisco said that they didn't have the money to support the USS Iowa, but the were able to find the money to cover Fillmore Street with snow for a day for some MTV X Game event.

-PJ

[stboz]

"Keep your radio tuned into AM-640"

Nah...AM-580 KMJ. 50,000 watts coming in from Yuba City to over the Grapevine.

[dancusa]

How about bringing the Iowa to the state it was named for. Is it possible to bring a ship of that size up the Mississippi River as far as Davenport, Keokuk or Burlington?

[Cobra64]

The New Jersey is in Camden, New Jersey. Right across from Philly, where sh was made. Jack

Thank you for the update. I lost track of The New Jersey. She was in moth balls for years after WWII. I thought she was revived for active duty service a while (15 years) ago.

[Cobra64]

How about bringing the Iowa to the state it was named for. Is it possible to bring a ship of that size up the Mississippi River as far as Davenport, Keokuk or Burlington?

If it were physically feasable, I think it is a terrific idea. It seems fitting to me. If I were and Iowan, I'd be pleased as punch to tour The Iowa.

[Phsstpok]

if its guns were still active, it could pound the place in the manner that it deserves!

My first thought, exactly.

One of my favorte recent series of books is John Ringo's Aldenata stories, starting with "A Hymn Before Battle" (avaiable as a free ebook from the Baen Free Library). In the second book, "Gust Front," he has a scene with a reactivated USS Missouri firing a ranging round. The local unit that called in the strike doesn't know who they've called for fire and they're surprised when they are told "danger close." They respond "we're 400 meters away" and the call "danger close" is repeated. Then they see the shell beginning to fall from the sky.

lovely scene. The young lieutenant calling fire was dutifully impressed.

[bulldozer]

It wants to open a museum on the Iowa focusing on the contributions of gays, lesbians, ethnic minorities and women to the military.

What exactly is going to be put in this museum on the Iowa?

[Wombat101]

Let's bring her home to new York, where she was BUILT (at the Brooklyn Navy Yard), and once stationed (Naval Station Staten Island).

She'd make a great addition to the Intrepid museum.

[SFC Chromey]

Alameda would be cool, park it next to the USS Hornet!

[SFC Chromey]

I'm a born/raised Californian, and I am damn proud of it, but when the logging trails from 100 years ago are now closed to even mountain bikes, it is definitely time to leave.

Hence, Nevada here we come! I won't have to rent, I can open-carry firearms, I can ride my dirtbikes where and when I want...
the list is endless.

[prairie dog]

How about bringing the Iowa to the state it was named for. Is it possible to bring a ship of that size up the Mississippi River as far as Davenport, Keokuk or Burlington?

Don't know what her draft is, but she wouldn't fit through the locks between St. Louis and Iowa anyway.