Stark Says Stop the Stupid War

San Leandro Times ^ | 6/22/06 | Jim Knowles

[counterpunch]

Pete Stark was elected to Congress in 1972 during the Nixon administration as an anti-war candidate. Today, it’s just like old times.

The United States is once again bogged down in a small country halfway around the world, fighting a costly, unpopular war, in which we’re not sure who the enemy is, or what we’re fighting for.

Stark’s view of the war is the same as it was 34 years ago: Get the hell out.

“For those of you who have been in the service,” said the Air Force veteran, “it’s called ‘about face.’”

There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said.

“The Iraqis will realize it’s stupid to keep killing each other,” Stark said. “They will come back to a stabilized society.”

Stark said that the recent killing of Al-Queda honcho Abu Musab al-Zarquawi wasn’t due to the 150,000 troops in Iraq, but a Jordanian tip on his whereabouts and two Air Force bombs.

“It was the Jordanian intelligence who got sick of those guys,” he said. “They dropped a dime on him to get rid of him.”

Stark spoke Saturday at the Marina Community Center on the war, illegal immigration, plus medical insurance costs and other issues. The one-hour Town Hall Meeting in San Leandro was one of three sessions the Congressman held Saturday, along with other talks in Fremont and Alameda.

A lot of people came to talk about illegal immigration, including a group called the East Bay Coalition for Border Security. Stark noted that some of the crowd had also attended his meeting in Fremont earlier in the morning.

The border security crowd dominated the beginning of the meeting and called on Stark and Congress to do more to stop illegal immigration, and build a wall along the Mexican border. But the Congressman and the rest of the crowd wanted to talk about more than just that one issue.

Stark answered a few questions about illegal immigration, until finally he seemed to tire of the topic and sarcastically said, “Well, we could gas them? We could throw them all in prison.”

A few people in the audience fired back some remarks at Stark. But just then, one guy came up with a solution that could bring peace to the meeting, or at least a laugh.

“What we’re spending on Iraq,” said the grey-haired man, “we could have built a 200-foot-high wall clear around the world for that.”

Still, not everybody opposed to illegal immigration was a heckler. There were some reasonable arguments as well.

Corporate America favors illegal immigration because it lowers wages, said several people.

“You’re right,” Stark agreed. “Big business, the hotel association and the restaurant association don’t want restrictions (on immigration).”

The problem is difficult to solve, Stark said.

“What do you do with the 12 to 15 million (illegal immigrants) who are already here?” Stark asked. “They’re hard to find. I’ve talked to police chiefs and they don’t want the job. They’re busy with murders and robberies and other crimes.”

Illegal immigrants don’t join a union, so it hurts organized labor, said a retired union representative.

“Big business is pitting one worker against the other, and they’re using the illegals,” said Robert Moffatt, a retired union rep for the machinists, who worked at Freidan Calculator and Sherwin-Williams can factory in San Leandro.

“The meat packers earned $19 an hour 25 years ago, and now they’re making $9 an hour,” he said. “They’ve gotten rid of employees through attrition and hired illegals. The employers won’t check on them because it’s racial profiling.”

On another subject, Stark said an investigation will determine what happened when the Veterans Administration lost the personal information on 26 million vets whose names, birth dates and Social Security numbers on a VA employee’s laptop were lost.

Stark said he doesn’t believe it was due to malfeasance in the VA, though. “They just screwed up,” he said.

[counterpunch]

Stark finally reveals the Democrats' Iraq plan:

There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said.
“The Iraqis will realize it’s stupid to keep killing each other,” Stark said. “They will come back to a stabilized society.”

And the Democrats' plan to control illegal immigration:

“Well, we could gas them? We could throw them all in prison.”

[Beckwith]

Fortney "Pete" Stark is the stark raving Dhimmicrat from California's 13th District.

[coconutt2000]

There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said.

Sure, he's right about that. But the whole point of staying is to help build up the Iraqis we want to stay in control of Iraq by stacking the deck in their favor with training, native troop numbers, and institutional history. Factors that the cut and run, anti-war idiots seem to overlook.

There's also the fact that no non-extremist government is going to be popular with the terrorists, and that as long as their are extremists, there will be terrorism against secular, Christian, and moderate governments and societies.

[familyop]

Stark, the author who wrote his opinions and their publisher are so irrelevant, that conservative site readers shouldn't be bothered with their anti-defense, anti-American material.

If there's too much trouble in Iraq, taking Iran's leaders and military forces down will solve it. The area is a good base of operations from which to win the War on Terror.

[csvset]

Pete Stark

That's all I had a read. He's a f'ing loon.

[Enterprise]

"Stark Says Stop the Stupid War"

I hope the voters stop the stupid Stark.

[Luke21]

He and his voters are lunatics. Fortney is practically to the left of Boxer.

[Tennessee_Bob]

“For those of you who have been in the service,” said the Air Force veteran, “it’s called ‘about face.’”

Gee - how about another command...."Stand Fast!"

[AngelesCrestHighway]

Stick it Stark where the sun don't shine!

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

“The Iraqis will realize it’s stupid to keep killing each other,” Stark said. “They will come back to a stabilized society.”

. . . which is run by people loyal to the winners, either Saddam Hussein or Osamma ben Laden or both. Iraq was so "stable" under Hussein that 4% of the population was killed and 10% of the population emigrated in terror.

And Stark wants Iraq - wants all of the middle east - run by people who identify America with Bill Clinton - vain, self absorbed, narcissistic and ineffectual. People who think that, the number and quality of our weapons and our military personnel notwithstanding, we can be conquered because we will collapse if pushed. People, IOW, who see the United States in essentially the same terms that Ronald Reagan saw the USSR.

[proudmilitarymrs]

There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said.


Yeah, just like in Vietnam.

What a loser this guy is!

[gaspar]

The foul-mouthed, foul-tempered Pete Stark has been for years a member in good standing of the Democrat Progressive (Marxist) Caucus in the House. As the American Left has come to embrace the Islamist right, politics has come full circle.

[strange1]

“it’s called ‘about face.’”

it's also called "retreat" and if put in the proper context it would be just like in the Monty Python movie "The Holy Grail", "Run away, run Away".

[BigSkyFreeper]

Fortney is practically to the left of Boxer.

Right in the middle of the Democrat base.

[garylmoore]

or what we’re fighting for?

This guy is really stupid, how did he get this job? Was he in a comma on 9/11?

[Just mythoughts]

I read this after your timely post about the mind of terrorists and just have to wonder if the liberal think is just a coincidence.

[sgtbono2002]

What would we do with the 10 to 12 million people who would probably vote for democrats?

Thats what worries stark and his cronies .

Of course the first thing is we bring this border crossing thing to a screeching halt., The we start sending illegals back whenever and wherever they are found, and fining their employers.

[DugwayDuke]

"There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said."

Just as there was 'some violence' in Vietnam when we last followed the democrat strategy.

[MNJohnnie]

Peter Stark is an utter moron who has obviously gone senial. Hey Pete, 9-11-01. Grow up you super stupid twit. It is NOT 1971 and this is NOT Vietnam.

[harpu]

Kalifornian's have got to be proud of the "pile of crap"...they keep reelecting him to office!

[carumba]

...due to malfeasance in the VA, though. “They just screwed up,” he said.

You say tomato, I say tomato.

[MNJohnnie]

35 years later the same lies, the same Treason. These twits really are stuck in 1971. Here is Stark now.

****Snip******

"Stark finally reveals the Democrats' Iraq plan: There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said. The Iraqis will realize it's stupid to keep killing each other,Stark said. They will come back to a stabilized society."

****Snip*****

Here is John Kerry's 1971 Testimony before the US Senate about probable impact of US leaving Vietnam.


http://www.c-span.org/2004vote/jkerrytestimony.asp

***Snip****

"Mr. Kerry: Well, I think if we were to replace the Thieu-Ky-Khiem regime and offer these men sanctuary somewhere, which I think this Government has an obligation to do since we created that government and supported it all along. I think there would not be any problems. The number two man at the Saigon talks to Ambassador Lam was asked by the Concerned Laymen, who visited with them in Paris last month, how long they felt they could survive if the United States would pull out and his answer was 1 week. So I think clearly we do have to face his question. But I think, having done what we have done to that country, we have an obligation to offer sanctuary to the perhaps 2,000, 3,000 people who might face, and obviously they would, we understand that, might face political assassination or something else. But my feeling is that those 3,000 who may have to leave that country."

*****Snip******

So not only are the Democrat Party Leadership reliving History, they have learned NOTHING from their own personal history. Millions dead, millions of refuges after the Fall of Saigon means NOTHING to these super morons.

[MNJohnnie]

Is also called "retreat" and if put in the proper context it would be just like in the Monty Python movie "The Holy Grail", "Run away, run Away

Put in the proper context it's called Treason. Actively and Knowingly aiding Terrorists who massacred thousands of American Civilians.

[Quix]

Stark . . . . hmmmmm . . . Stark . . .

Be patient . . . it's coming . . .

Ahhhhhh, yes, the picture forms more clearly . . .

Render him stark naked and ride him out of town on a rail. Methinks that would fit Stark's starkly ignorant postulations very well.

[austinaero]

Maybe just before we leave the Grand Stark can go to Iraq, to report on the violence that "may happen." Just make sure the Iraqi's know where he is. I mean, by his logic, he'll be safe.

Iraqis will kill each other, just like Americans kill each other. Stark has people killing each other in his own state! He hasn't been able to stop that. Stark lives in some fantasy la-la-land where he is perpetually drunk on his own perceived importance.

[rlmorel]

If anyone is interested, THIS is how the "esteemed" Pete Stark treats his constituents. This is a faxed letter from a consituent who was recently home from serving in Iraq, and Stark's response he left on the guy's voice mail at his house.

---

Dear Mr. Stark,

I am appalled that you voted against today's House Resolution 627, Roll Number 150. This measure would have shown publicly that you condemn the abuse of the prisoners in Iraq while simultaneously commend the service of the fine men and women who are serving in Iraq that bring honor to the uniform that they wear and to the Nation that they serve.

There are many Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coastguardmen from your 13th Congressional District who are serving with pride and distinction . These men and women bring great credit upon their hometowns and the State of California.

Your "NO" vote is an indication that you do not support the troops who selflessly serve our nation and in many cases have given the ultimate sacrifice so that you might have the freedom that you enjoy as a citizen of this great Nation. Further, your "NO" vote on this resolution is a disgrace to the people of this district who have elected you.

I urge you to stop your contemptuous display of bitter partisanship and your politicization of this War. Your actions are very divisive and destructive to the morale of our troops and the morale of our nation. I know that a majority of the population of the 13th Congressional District are very strong in their support of our soldiers and in their support of the War in iraq. Your "NO" vote today reflects that you are way out of touch with the people of this district.

Very Sincerely,
Daniel L. Dow

---

Learned Congressman replies to Constituent in voice mail after receiving fax of letter

"Dan...this is Congressman Pete Stark, and I just got your fax. Ahh...you don't know what you're talking about. So if you cared about enlisted people, you wouldn't have voted for that thing either. But, probably somebody put you up to this, and I'm not sure who it was, but, I doubt if you could spell half the words in the letter and somebody wrote it for ya. So I don't pay much attention to it, and I'll call you back later and let you tell me more about why you think you're such a great goddamned hero, and, uh, why you think that this generals and the Defense Department who forced these poor enlisted guys to do what they did shouldn't be held to account, that's the issue. So if you want to stick it to a bunch of enlisted guys, have your way. But if you want to get to the bottom of the people who forced this awful program in Iraq then you should understand more about it than you obviously do. Thanks."

---

This was a comment on a blog later by the soldier (Dan Dow) who had sent the fax:
Yes, I ran for State Assembly in 2002...against a multi-millionaire developer John Dutra. Pete Stark is not "aware" enough to have noticed. I have met Stark on occasion, but I don't think that he would have left that message if he had known that I had run for office and might release his voicemail. I am not currently running for office and I have no plans to do so in the near future...

You're absolutely right that I didn't mention that I had been deployed or anything like that. This is not about me. I am merely a concerned citizen who wanted to contact my "Representative". I am no hero. And I would never claim to be.

---

If anyone wants this, I can make his voice recording available as an mp3.

What an asshole.

[headstamp]

"There will be some violence in Iraq if we leave, but the Iraqis will sort it out, the Congressman said.

“The Iraqis will realize it’s stupid to keep killing each other,” Stark said. “They will come back to a stabilized society.”


Just like when we left the South Vietnamese to the communists, Right Pete?

Idiot liberal. How anybody could trust these nut cases with national security is beyond me.

[Quix]

Works for me.

[Quix]

Wow.

Craziness.

Thanks.

[WOSG]

If that is reality, then yes, definitely make an MP3 of it, put it on the web somewhere and I will link to it from my blog. You might want to check out the latest post from it:

http://freedomstruth.blogspot.com/

[WOSG]

The Left-wing Democrats were wrong about Vietnam and are wrong about Iraq today.

[GoRepGo]

Stark is a maroon.

[UCANSEE2]

Well he certainly clarified the definition of 'stark-raving mad'

[Bernard Marx]

Stark is stark raving mad. Unfortunately, so are the voters in his safe socialist anti-American district.

[Petronski]

His name is Fortney, not Pete.

[RightWhale]

“The Iraqis will realize it’s stupid to keep killing each other,” Stark said.

They already know that. Was Stark one always this smart?

[rlmorel]

I am going to Bermuda for a week tomorrow morning, but might be able to get it to you tonight. It is for real...

[Republican Wildcat]

He's a spoiled brat kid who never grew up. It's really disturbing seeing a guy his age acting like a little brat on the floor of the U.S. House. He's even worse than Harold Ford.

[Republican Wildcat]

Yes, please make an mp3 of this recording. You may even want to make it a separate post when you get it uploaded. zshare.net is a free upload service if you need a place for the file.

[AdvisorB]

I worked in Bill Kennedy's campaign against fortney pete back in the early eighties. Stark is too me, the very personification of evil. Looking into his cold blue eyes one can't help but notice the fanaticism and hate in this man, and it's all consuming. A toilet bug of the lowest order, stark is a perfect fit for this deranged district in California. The district's dirtbags make taliban johnny walker appear moderate by comparison.

[rlmorel]

Hi Everyone,

Here is the voice mail. You need to listen to realize fully the arrogance and condescention towards one of his serfs" constituents". If the link fails to work, just freepmail me with your email.

Link to Voicemail

[Republican Wildcat]

Give that its own thread! That IS his voice. What a nutcase. He gets numerous amounts of correspondence as a Congressman and he just randomly calls and insults one of them?

It's typical of his behavior. He's totally unprofessional and NEVER grew up. What an idiot!

[Republican Wildcat]

bttt

[MarkL]

Stark is a mealy mouthed, bullying, hateful little troll with a napolean complex. He's hateful of those in the military (as seen when he left an obscenity laced voice mail for one of his constituents, who happened to be in the military. He wrote a letter disagreeing with this POS, and Stark couldn't believe the nerve of a peon disagreeing with him!) He's also one of the biggest "gun-grabbers" in Congress.

If he was a republican, he would have been thrown out of Congress years ago, for threatening other congressmen, as well has his "homophobic" and hate filled name calling. But being a Dim, he gets a pass.

Mark

[MarkL]

I always felt that the voicemail should have been entered into the Congressional Record.

Mark

[Republican Wildcat]

Agreed. Maybe it is in the cooler up there to be used at a future date.

[Republican Wildcat]

Oh yeah...he went ballistic on the House Ways and Means Committee a couple of years back attacking a Republican member as a fruitcake. "Yes, I called you a fruitcake! What are you going to do about it?" Total idiot with a middle school mentality (with apologies to all middle schoolers).