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{ Pete Stark } Congressman questions DOD presence
AP via SFGate ^ | 5/16/8 | ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 05/16/2008 1:10:05 PM PDT by SmithL

WASHINGTON, (AP) -- An anti-war Democratic congressman is demanding to know why there were uniformed Defense Department personnel watching House proceedings from a public gallery Thursday, who they were and what they were doing.

"If they were here on official duty, this was an abhorrent misallocation of our military resources at a time of war," Northern California Rep. Pete Stark asserted Friday in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Stark, an 18-term incumbent known for his liberal positions and outbursts of temper, said he observed the contingent of 20 or so officers, apparently Army generals, in the gallery for a couple of hours while the House debated and voted on an Iraq war spending bill.

"At a time when our nation is at war, our troops are overextended, and the administration is literally asking for emergency military spending, what good to the 'war on terror' is having U.S. generals and other top-ranked officers — who were likely accompanied by staff and escorted by their chauffeurs — spending hours sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives?" Stark asked.

The query drew a stinging response from a Pentagon spokesman.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; US: District of Columbia
KEYWORDS: antiamerican; antimilitary; fortney; fruitcake; petestark; stark
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Big, bad, soldiers scared poor little Fortney.
1 posted on 05/16/2008 1:10:06 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
As Dick Cheney said to Leaky Leahy,

Go *F--K* Yourself, Stark. Got it?
2 posted on 05/16/2008 1:13:09 PM PDT by mkjessup
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To: SmithL

Ooooh! Get the big, bad Army mens away from me! I’m skeered!


3 posted on 05/16/2008 1:13:40 PM PDT by Edgar3 (Steve Spurrier for President!)
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To: SmithL

Ey, Petey - STFU! What a dweeb!

Colonel, USAFR


4 posted on 05/16/2008 1:14:27 PM PDT by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: SmithL
"Stark said he didn't have a problem if the military personnel were there on their own time, but if they were there on official duty he wanted to know why. He asked Gates for an accounting by Monday of the name, rank, branch and duties of each of the officers as well as how many staff members and drivers were involved."

He should tell him where to shove that "accounting" up as fast and in front of as many cameras as could be found.

Little pissant girlyman...

5 posted on 05/16/2008 1:15:15 PM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: SmithL

Arresting the Democratic congressmen for sedition would have been a nice touch.


6 posted on 05/16/2008 1:16:15 PM PDT by Bobkk47
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To: jagusafr

Hey Petey, the Preakness is tomorrow, if ya’ know what I mean.


7 posted on 05/16/2008 1:16:18 PM PDT by massgopguy (I owe everything to George Bailey)
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To: SmithL

Making him nervous, hmmmm?


8 posted on 05/16/2008 1:16:24 PM PDT by Ikemeister
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To: SmithL

What part of the concept “public gallery” does he fail to understand?


9 posted on 05/16/2008 1:17:35 PM PDT by Squawk 8888 (TSA and DHS are jobs programs for people who are not smart enough to flip burgers)
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To: SmithL

Lunatic on the loose!


10 posted on 05/16/2008 1:17:48 PM PDT by Reagan Man (McCain Wants My Conservative Vote --- EARN IT or NO DEAL !!!)
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To: SmithL

Hey Stark, why don’t you come out here to Eastern PA and lose your temper with me? You douche bag!!


11 posted on 05/16/2008 1:18:11 PM PDT by mortal19440
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To: SmithL

Fortney should have teamed up with his pal, Fat Jack Murtha, went up there to the “public” gallery and opened a can of good ol’DemocRAT whoopass on those military meanies. DemocRATS do have cans of whoopass don’t they?


12 posted on 05/16/2008 1:19:23 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (De-Globalize yourself !)
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To: SmithL
stark should be the one whose presence is questioned.

what a lugnut

13 posted on 05/16/2008 1:19:42 PM PDT by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
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To: massgopguy

You’re dating yourself, but it is a good book.


14 posted on 05/16/2008 1:20:13 PM PDT by starlifter
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To: SmithL

It may come as a suprise to Rep. Stark and many other Democrats....but members of the military are still citizens and may exercise their rights to participate in the political process....including voting!


15 posted on 05/16/2008 1:20:18 PM PDT by HardStarboard (Take No Prisoners - We're Out Of Qurans)
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To: mortal19440

Stark is gay, right?


16 posted on 05/16/2008 1:20:59 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra ("Don't touch that thing")
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To: SmithL

So he does not think Army generals would be interested in the proceedings? or should be interested?


17 posted on 05/16/2008 1:22:13 PM PDT by NEMDF
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To: SmithL
"At a time when our nation is at war, our troops are overextended, and the administration is literally asking for emergency military spending, what good to the 'war on terror' is having U.S. generals and other top-ranked officers — who were likely accompanied by staff and escorted by their chauffeurs — spending hours sitting in the gallery of the House of Representatives?" Stark asked.

Is this fool freely admitting that the work of congress is worthless?

18 posted on 05/16/2008 1:22:51 PM PDT by HawaiianGecko
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To: SmithL
"Stark is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a degree in engineering and the University of California, Berkeley with a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA).

In 1963, he founded Security National Bank in Walnut Creek. The bank grew from a small storefront operation to a $100 million financial institution with branches in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Stark sold his interest in the bank after his election to Congress.

Before his business career, Stark served in the U.S. Air Force. His other civic activities have included: Director, Common Cause; Chairman, Board of Trustees, Starr King School of Ministry; Board Member, Housing Development Corporation; Board Member, Council for Civic Unity, and many others.

Stark has four daughters, three sons, and eight grandchildren."

I can't believe someone with his background could turn out to be such a lame excuse for both logic and patriotism...

19 posted on 05/16/2008 1:23:17 PM PDT by Abathar (Proudly posting without reading the article carefully since 2004)
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To: SmithL
And here I thought it was the right of any citizen to view our government in action. Silly me.

Pete works for us. Those Officers are the guarantors of his ability to even raise his objection (regardless of its inanity).
20 posted on 05/16/2008 1:23:44 PM PDT by conservativeharleyguy (Democrats: Over 60 Million Fooled Daily!)
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To: SmithL

Even generals need entertainment once in awhile.


21 posted on 05/16/2008 1:23:45 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words". ~ St. Francis of Assisi)
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To: Abathar
I can't believe someone with his background could turn out to be such a lame excuse for both logic and patriotism...

Dementia from syphilis will do that.
22 posted on 05/16/2008 1:25:25 PM PDT by mkjessup
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To: Abathar

Was he wearing pink and marching at Marine Recruiting Station Berkeley?


23 posted on 05/16/2008 1:27:03 PM PDT by greatvikingone
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To: SmithL
...And yet, this guy will win his Congressional re-election in a landslide.
I don't live in his district, but the entire Bay Area is represented by nothing but left-wing zealots ('North, South, East, West -- we're surrounded')...
Stark-crazy is yet one of many.
24 posted on 05/16/2008 1:28:06 PM PDT by El Cid (Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house...)
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To: SmithL
Stark, an 18-term incumbent known for his liberal positions and outbursts of temper, said he observed the contingent of 20 or so officers, apparently Army generals, in the gallery for a couple of hours while the House debated and voted on an Iraq war spending bill.

They failed to mention that Stark has single handedly socialized medicine in the US. He is up there with Durbin as one of most evil Congressman in our government. I am not surprised about his reaction to the Military. They are a reminder that we are a Constitutional Republic and not a Socialist Dictatorship.
25 posted on 05/16/2008 1:28:50 PM PDT by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media.)
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To: SmithL

I’d like to know sometime what the hourly operating costs are for the two houses of Congress. I’d have to bet it’s a seriously large number, with the support staffs. So when they spend 3 days grilling Barry Bonds on something nobody could possibly give a crap about we get some idea how much money is being utterly wasted.


26 posted on 05/16/2008 1:31:05 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder ()OK. We're still working on your ones.)
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To: Abathar

Gee, you just ruined my day.    BSEE University of Missouri, MBA Stanford (close to Berkeley) ... My largest clients were in Walnut Creek (Contra Costa), I served in the USAF, have two daughters and two sons and eight grandchildren.  I hope Stark is the aberration and not me. :-)

27 posted on 05/16/2008 1:31:14 PM PDT by HawaiianGecko
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To: Pete Stark

I’ll make a deal with you, Pete. We’ll stay out of your building, if you stay out of ours.

 


28 posted on 05/16/2008 1:31:51 PM PDT by Fundamentally Fair (Well, he's not Obama. McCain '08!)
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To: SmithL
Dear Fortney (or is it Courtney?) Stark-Raving-Mad,

You have been selected to participate in a medical experiment to see if it truly anatomically impossible to screw yourself.

Signed,
A significant segment of the American people

29 posted on 05/16/2008 1:36:50 PM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel
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To: SmithL

Hey Pete the dunce, this is our house not your’s so go F yourself


30 posted on 05/16/2008 1:37:57 PM PDT by boomop1
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To: SmithL

I want my mommy!


31 posted on 05/16/2008 1:42:46 PM PDT by dbacks (Taglines for sale or rent.)
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To: Abathar
I can't believe someone with his background could turn out to be such a lame excuse for both logic and patriotism...

Simple answer. This is what narcissists do when they get money. You can see this time and again when a moderate or even a conservative gets a bank account in the millions. It's an "I've got mine - pull up the ladder" mentality. Stark's money is safe from taxation. He's already made it. That gives him free reign to throw his guilt down on others. I think the term is "limousine liberal".

32 posted on 05/16/2008 1:43:13 PM PDT by Toskrin (Bringing you global cooling since 1999)
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To: SmithL

Is this guy crazy?


33 posted on 05/16/2008 1:44:31 PM PDT by Radix (The Army Times will not let me post "their images" of OUR Troops on Free Republic)
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To: El Cid
the entire Bay Area is represented by nothing but left-wing zealots

Stark was just doing his usual theatrics for the groundlings in his home district. It's the people of the San Fransicko Bay Area who elect these socialist-pacifist horses'-a$$es term after term.

Imagine what it's like to live here in CA and be "represented" by Senators like Boxer and Feinstein. The CA GOP has been dead for at least 15 years, playing at being "socialist lite" instead of standing up for conservative principles. The public union-welfare voting machines in the big cities simply overwhelm voters in smaller population regions of the state.

34 posted on 05/16/2008 1:50:54 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
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To: SmithL

When I attended the program manager’s course at the Defense Systems Management College at Ft Belvoir, part of the curriculum involved a Capitol Hill day, where we visited Congress, sat in on defense related sessions, and met with congressmen, to get acquainted with Congress’ role in the acquisition process. Observing congress that day was part of our official duties, as well as a required part of the program management course. For the Congressman to get all hot and bothered over something like this is absurd.


35 posted on 05/16/2008 1:52:05 PM PDT by jpthomas
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To: SmithL

Uh, Pete? They were voters. You work for them. Remember?


36 posted on 05/16/2008 1:52:28 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: SmithL

Maybe the homo was too turned on by the men in uniform and didn’t trust himself.


37 posted on 05/16/2008 2:01:02 PM PDT by CodeToad
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To: SmithL

Typical liberal. Doesn’t realize or recognize that military people are citizens also............


38 posted on 05/16/2008 2:05:36 PM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Patriot Guard Riders - Standing for those that stood for us.)
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To: mkjessup

so let me get this straight....active duty military personnel CANNOT sit in the gallery but Code Pink can????


39 posted on 05/16/2008 2:06:02 PM PDT by BamaDi (John McCain.....not my first choice but the alternative is unacceptable!)
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To: SmithL
It is essential that our armed services know the enemy.

That's why uniformed officers observe Congress.

40 posted on 05/16/2008 2:06:35 PM PDT by Jacquerie (McCain will offer battle to Islam - The Obamabeast will offer our heads.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer
DemocRATS do have cans of whoopass don’t they?

Pretty sure they don't, but they definitely have a bunch of dumbasses!

41 posted on 05/16/2008 2:28:57 PM PDT by Bushbacker1 (Kill 'em til they're dead, then kill 'em again!)
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To: Jacquerie
It is essential that our armed services know the enemy.
That's why uniformed officers observe Congress.

Truer words of wisdom have never been spoken.

42 posted on 05/16/2008 2:31:22 PM PDT by Bushbacker1 (Kill 'em til they're dead, then kill 'em again!)
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To: SmithL

He looks like a jerk even.

43 posted on 05/16/2008 2:37:29 PM PDT by Robert DeLong
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To: SmithL

I wonder if that dirtbag went on any junkets this year


44 posted on 05/16/2008 2:43:12 PM PDT by notaliberal (Christ Our Hope!)
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To: Robert DeLong

Well, that was painful.


45 posted on 05/16/2008 3:18:43 PM PDT by SmithL (Reject Obama's Half-Vast Wright-Wing Conspiracy)
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To: Robert DeLong

Does this guy know what a toothbrush is?


46 posted on 05/16/2008 3:41:42 PM PDT by PA Engineer (Liberate America from the occupation media.)
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To: BamaDi
so let me get this straight....active duty military personnel CANNOT sit in the gallery but Code Pink can????

In Pete Stark's diseased mind, apparently so.
47 posted on 05/16/2008 3:45:18 PM PDT by mkjessup
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To: Robert DeLong

I looked a while on google images for a good shot of a turkey vulture. I mean that is what came to mind when I saw the photo of the honorable Rep Stark. I’ve seen them feeding up close — a few feet away. Dopplegangers.


48 posted on 05/16/2008 3:51:59 PM PDT by bvw
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To: FlingWingFlyer
DemocRATS do have cans of whoopass don’t they?

Nope they have warehouses full of asswhoopings though.

49 posted on 05/16/2008 4:26:51 PM PDT by El Gato ("The Second Amendment is the RESET button of the United States Constitution." -- Doug McKay)
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To: SmithL

“If they were here on official duty, this was an abhorrent misallocation of our military resources at a time of war,” Northern California Rep. Pete Stark asserted Friday in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates.”

Like you actually give a crap about that, Fartney.


50 posted on 05/16/2008 5:02:05 PM PDT by headstamp 2 (Been here before)
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