Top Comments: Iraq Defunding Caucus Grows

We have so many insightful and powerful diaries written here at Daily Kos.  Our diaries inform, inflame, impassion, and even entertain.  We Kossacks have strong voices and an even stronger will to be the change we wish to see in this country.

One of the richest, and perhaps most under-appreciated, areas of thought come in the form of comments attached to these diaries.

Here at Top Comments we strive to recognize and promote the talent of this community by highlighting outstanding comments found throughout the day by the diarist, and through nominations at made at topcomments at gmail dot com by your fellow Kossacks.  

These nominations are subjective, and certainly not complete (as no one can read the complete site on a daily basis!). But hopefully they will serve to shine a light where deserved, and to give the reader a good starting point in finding conversation on the site.

Please come in and make yourself at home!   Join us beneath the fold...

I. The Iraq Defunding Caucus

I wrote a Top Comments diary back in August about what I believe will be the only way the war will end while Bush is still in office: defunding. By defunding, here's what I mean: all that is required to end the Iraq War is for Congress to decline to appropriate any money for the war. In that diary, I explained why I believed defunding was the best option:

The short version as to why I support the "defunding" option is because, mechanically, it completely avoids the problems posed by the other options. Namely, it does not require 61 votes in the Senate to break a filibuster, nor does it require 67 votes in the Senate (and 2/3 of the House) to override a veto, nor does it require 67 votes in the Senate to Impeach.

Some have argued, perhaps somewhat justifiably, that defunding will never work or will never be supported by the American people. I'm pretty sure I felt that way myself, at least at the beginning of the year. As time has passed, however, it has become more clear that (1) the American people are growing increasingly receptive to the option of defunding (I know I just saw a new poll recently, but I'm too lazy to look it up [edit: the poll is in this diary by Rep. Lee, thx andgarden]); and (2) defunding has actually grown as a political possibility.

I'd like to talk about the second observation.

In July, 70 members of the House of Representatives sent Bush a letter indicating that they would support an Iraq supplemental appropriation bill only if the funds were used solely for the purpose of withdrawing the troops from Iraq. In other words, for these members of the House, any Iraq spending bill must have a withdrawal deadline; if it doesn't, they will decline to appropriate any money for the war.

Back then, I thought 70 was pretty impressive. I forget what the previous tally had been, but it had grown from a much smaller number. I call this the Defunding Caucus.

Well, via Greg Sargeant at TPM Election Central, we learned yesterday that the Defunding Caucus continues to grow, and it is now at nearly 90 members of the House:

I've just learned that nearly 90 members of the House of Representatives have now added their names to a letter to the President pledging not to vote for any more funding for the war and only to vote for supplementals that fully fund withdrawal and nothing else.

. . .

Now more than 15 new members have added their names to the letter, bringing the total to 87, another significant step forward.

This is impressive for several reasons. First of all, it shows that the number of politicians who consider defunding to be a valid option is large and growing.  Second, this is important because the number of members in this Defunding Caucus has reached one-third of the Democratic Caucus:

That nearly 90 members are now saying they won't vote for any funding save for redeployment is significant because it means that more than a third of the House Dem caucus is effectively saying they will no longer vote to fund the war, no matter what. Though this doesn't necessarily mean the House Dem leadership won't be able to get some sort of war funding passed, the leadership will have to reckon with this big block of No votes when figuring out its response to Bush's request for war funding.

What this means is that it is becoming increasingly difficult for House leadership to push a bill that does not include firm withdrawal deadlines; the more the Defunding Caucus grows, the more Democratic "NAY" votes will be attached to a bill without deadlines.

In fact, if 25-30 more Democrats add their name to the Defunding Caucus, that will constitute an outright majority of the House Democrats. I don't know how plausible it is to get 30 more democrats on board, but if that happens, it seems to me it will be nearly impossible for Leadership to push a toothless bill opposed by a majority of her party.

Here is the full list of the 87 members of the Defunding Caucus, kudos to them:

Murphy (CT), Jackson, Brown (FL), Thompson (MS), Watt, Meeks, Loebsack, Weiner, Kucinich, DeFazio, Farr, Waxman, Thompson (CA), Lee, Woolsey, Waters, Watson, Frank, Conyers, Filner, Rush, Towns, Clay, Wynn, Delahunt, Holmes-Norton, Butterfield, Solis, Maloney, Nadler, Honda, Cohen, Hare, Napolitano, Hastings, McGovern, Kaptur, Schakowsky, Carson, Linda Sanchez, Grijalva, Olver, Jackson-Lee, McDermott, Markey, Fattah, Pallone, Hinojosa, Stark, Scott (VA), Moran, McCollum, Oberstar, DeGette, Tauscher, Holt, Hinchey, Pastor, Davis (IL), Hall, Velazquez, Rangel, Hodes, Blumenauer, Lynch, Artur Davis, Johnson (GA), Payne, Cleaver, Lewis, Clarke, Abercrombie, Moore(WI), Ellison, Baldwin, Christensen, Scott (GA), Paul, Gutierrez, Welch, Capps, Rothman, Cummings, Tierney, Doggett, Eshoo, and Tubbs-Jones.

If you don't see the name of your representative on that list, give them a call and urge them to become co-signer of the letter. Here are phone numbers for your House members:

Finding you Representative

link

A

Abercrombie, Neil  [phone]  
Ackerman, Gary L.  [phone]
Akin, W. Todd      [phone]
Allen, Thomas H.   [phone]
Altmire, Jason     [phone]
Andrews, Robert E. [phone]
Arcuri, Michael A. [phone]

B

Baca, Joe  [phone]
Baird, Brian  [phone]
Baldwin, Tammy  [phone]
Barrow, John [phone]
Bean, Melissa L. [phone]  
Becerra, Xavier  [phone]
Berkley, Shelley  [phone]
Berman, Howard L.  [phone]  
Berry, Marion  [phone]
Bishop, Sanford D. [phone]  
Bishop, Timothy H.  [phone]
Blumenauer, Earl  [phone]
Boren, Dan  [phone]  
Boswell, Leonard L.  [phone]
Boucher, Rick  [phone]
Boyd, Allen  [phone]
Boyda, Nancy E.  [phone]
Brady, Robert A.  [phone]  
Braley, Bruce L.  [phone]
Brown, Corrine  [phone]
Butterfield, G. K.  [phone]

C

Capps, Lois  [phone]  
Capuano, Michael E.  [phone]  
Cardoza, Dennis A.  [phone]
Carnahan, Russ  [phone]  
Carney, Christopher P.  [phone]  
Carson, Julia  [phone]
Castor, Kathy  [phone]
Chandler, Ben  [phone]  
Clarke, Yvette D.  [phone]  
Clay, Wm. Lacy  [phone]  
Cleaver, Emanuel  [phone]
Clyburn, James E.  [phone]
Cohen, Steve  [phone]
Conyers, John Jr. [phone]  
Cooper, Jim  [phone]  
Costa, Jim  [phone]
Costello, Jerry F.  [phone]  
Courtney, Joe  [phone]  
Cramer, Robert E. (Bud) Jr. [phone]
Crowley, Joseph  [phone]
Cuellar, Henry  [phone]
Cummings, Elijah E.  [phone]  

D

Davis, Artur  [phone]  
Davis, Danny K.  [phone]
Davis, Lincoln  [phone]  
Davis, Susan A.  [phone]
DeFazio, Peter A.  [phone]  
DeGette, Diana  [phone]  
Delahunt, William D.  [phone]
DeLauro, Rosa L.  [phone]
Dicks, Norman D.  [phone]  
Dingell, John D.  [phone]  
Doggett, Lloyd  [phone]
Donnelly, Joe  [phone]
Doyle, Michael F.  [phone]

E

Edwards, Chet  [phone]
Ellison, Keith  [phone]  
Ellsworth, Brad  [phone]
Emanuel, Rahm  [phone]
Engel, Eliot L.  [phone]
Eshoo, Anna G.  [phone]  
Etheridge, Bob [phone]

F

Farr, Sam  [phone]  
Fattah, Chaka  [phone]
Filner, Bob  [phone]
Frank, Barney  [phone]

G

Giffords, Gabrielle  [phone]
Gillibrand, Kirsten E(202) .  225-5614
Gonzalez, Charles A.  [phone]
Gordon, Bart  [phone]
Green, Al  [phone]  
Green, Gene  [phone]  
Grijalva, Raúl M.  [phone]  
Gutierrez, Luis V.  [phone]

H

Hall, John J.  [phone]
Hare, Phil  [phone]  
Harman, Jane  [phone]
Hastings, Alcee L.  [phone]
Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie  [phone]  
Higgins, Brian  [phone]  
Hill, Baron P.  [phone]  
Hinchey, Maurice D.  [phone]  
Hinojosa, Rubén  [phone]  
Hirono, Mazie K.  [phone]
Hodes, Paul W.  [phone]
Holden, Tim  [phone]  
Holt, Rush D.  [phone]  
Honda, Michael M.  [phone]
Hooley, Darlene  [phone]  
Hoyer, Steny H. [phone]

I

Inslee, Jay  [phone]  
Israel, Steve  [phone]

J

Jackson, Jesse L. Jr. [phone]  
Jackson-Lee, Sheila  [phone]  
Jefferson, William J.  [phone]
Johnson, Eddie Bernice  [phone]  
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" Jr. [phone]
Jones, Stephanie Tubbs  [phone]

K

Kagen, Steve  [phone]  
Kanjorski, Paul E.  [phone]  
Kaptur, Marcy  [phone]
Kennedy, Patrick J.  [phone]  
Kildee, Dale E.  [phone]
Kilpatrick, Carolyn C.  [phone]  
Kind, Ron  [phone]
Klein, Ron  [phone]
Kucinich, Dennis J.  [phone]

L

Lampson, Nick  [phone]  
Langevin, James R.  [phone]  
Lantos, Tom  [phone]
Larsen, Rick  [phone]  
Larson, John B. [phone]
Lee, Barbara [phone]  
Levin, Sander M.  [phone]
Lewis, John  [phone]
Lipinski, Daniel [phone]
Loebsack, David  [phone]  
Lofgren, Zoe  [phone]
Lowey, Nita M.  [phone]
Lynch, Stephen F.  [phone]

M
 
McCarthy, Carolyn  [phone]
McCollum, Betty  [phone]
McDermott, Jim  [phone]  
McGovern, James P.  [phone]
McIntyre, Mike  [phone]
McNerney, Jerry  [phone]  
McNulty, Michael R.  [phone]
Mahoney, Tim  [phone]  
Maloney, Carolyn B.  [phone]
Markey, Edward J. [phone]  
Marshall, Jim  [phone]  
Matheson, Jim  [phone]  
Matsui, Doris O.  [phone]
Meek, Kendrick B.  [phone]  
Meeks, Gregory W.  [phone]  
Melancon, Charlie  [phone]
Michaud, Michael H. [phone]
Miller, Brad  [phone]
Miller, George  [phone]
Mitchell, Harry E. [phone]
Mollohan, Alan B.  [phone]  
Moore, Dennis  [phone]  
Moore, Gwen  [phone]  
Moran, James P.  [phone]
Murphy, Christopher S.  [phone]  
Murphy, Patrick J. [phone]
Murtha, John P.  [phone]

N

Nadler, Jerrold  [phone]
Napolitano, Grace F. [phone]
Neal, Richard E.  [phone]

O

Oberstar, James L.  [phone]  
Obey, David R.  [phone]  
Olver, John W.  [phone]
Ortiz, Solomon P. [phone]

P
 
Pallone, Frank Jr. [phone]  
Pascrell, Bill Jr. [phone]  
Pastor, Ed  [phone]
Payne, Donald M.  [phone]
Pelosi, Nancy  [phone]
Perlmutter, Ed  [phone]
Peterson, Collin C. [phone]
Pomeroy, Earl  [phone]
Price, David E.  [phone]

R

Rahall, Nick J. II [phone]
Rangel, Charles B.  [phone]
Reyes, Silvestre  [phone]
Richardson, Laura  [phone]  
Rodriguez, Ciro D.  [phone]
Ross, Mike  [phone]  
Rothman, Steven R. [phone]  
Roybal-Allard, Lucille  [phone]
Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch  [phone]  
Rush, Bobby L. [phone]
Ryan, Tim  [phone]

S
 
Salazar, John T.  [phone]
Sánchez, Linda T.  [phone]  
Sanchez, Loretta  [phone]
Sarbanes, John P.  [phone]
Schakowsky, Janice D.  [phone]  
Schiff, Adam B.  [phone]
Schwartz, Allyson Y.  [phone]
Scott, David  [phone]  
Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby''  [phone]
Serrano, José E.  [phone]
Sestak, Joe  [phone]
Shea-Porter, Carol  [phone]  
Sherman, Brad  [phone]
Shuler, Heath  [phone]
Sires, Albio  [phone] 1024
Skelton, Ike  [phone]
Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [phone]  
Smith, Adam  [phone]
Snyder, Vic  [phone]  
Solis, Hilda L.  [phone]
Space, Zachary T.  [phone]  
Spratt, John M. Jr. [phone]  
Stark, Fortney Pete [phone]
Stupak, Bart  [phone]
Sutton, Betty  [phone]

T

Tanner, John S.  [phone]  
Tauscher, Ellen O. [phone]  
Taylor, Gene  [phone]
Thompson, Bennie G. [phone]  
Thompson, Mike  [phone]
Tierney, John F.  [phone]
Towns, Edolphus  [phone]

U

Udall, Mark  [phone]
Udall, Tom  [phone]

V

Van Hollen, Chris  [phone]  
Velázquez, Nydia M.  [phone]  
Visclosky, Peter J.  [phone]

W

Walz, Timothy J.  [phone]
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie  [phone]  
Waters, Maxine  [phone]  
Watson, Diane E.  [phone]
Watt, Melvin L.  [phone]  
Waxman, Henry A.  [phone]  
Weiner, Anthony D.  [phone]  
Welch, Peter  [phone]
Wexler, Robert  [phone]
Wilson, Charles A.  [phone]
Woolsey, Lynn C.  [phone]  
Wu, David  [phone]  
Wynn, Albert Russell  [phone]

Y

Yarmuth, John A.  [phone]

A reminder. Please keep sending in those top comment nominations to:

topcomments[at]gmail[dot]com

II. Tonight's Top Comments

Via Femlaw:

In my Feminisms diary titled, "Let's Talk About Sex, annrose explains a key contribution of the women's movement.

Also from that diary, rserven begins a great dialogue about "authenticity"; others contribute with both humor and seriousness, somehow bringing together sex, politics, identity, Ricky Nelson and argyle socks all in one place.

Via LIsoundview:

In Ekaterin's diary about teen abuse in boot camps, luckylizard makes a connection between torture and right-wing approval of child abuse.

Via kath25:

[who would have submitted these last night if her cable/internet hadn't crapped out . . .  :(  ]

Carnacki on why Michael Vick would make a better dog catcher than Giuliani.

From DemocraticLuntz' dissertation of a diary on voting records, al Fubar and LarryInNYC discuss pandering to vs. voting your base.

From Brandon Friedman's diary Hate Mail from Dittoheads, RenaRF on why we're truly "discussing" here at DKos.

From the same diary, drbloodaxe asks how Rush supports the troops.

Via brownsox:

GTPinNJ responds to a Ron Paul fan.

Via va dare:

ThirstyGator starts off an interesting thread (with good history, too) about Jimmy Carter.

From sardonyx:

gmoke asks a scientific question, and mem from somerville replies with the answer from mem's diary Republican kids deserve health insurance.

khaavren points out that it's far worse than that in a comment on TocqueDeville's diary You Can Laugh, But the Gore Mania Should Tell You Something.

Top Mojo (thanks BeninSC, you rule!)

Top Mojo - excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments and C&J comments (top 30 of each plus ties):

1 bi-partisan War Party by MD patriot - 136
2 Hillary: call for an investigation of McConnell by Dallasdoc - 131
3 Made in China. by Bob Johnson - 117
4 That article pissed me off so much! by srkp23 - 107
5 I shake my head in disbelief by netguyct - 92
6 what a bunch of unmitigated crap by pfiore8 - 88
7 . by DMiller - 84
8 Sorry but by nyseer - 83
9 Marginalizing the base is not helpful Nancy by vigilant meerkat - 83
10 Bonddad, Bonddad, Bonddad. by Melody Townsel - 78
11 I pray for Nancy every day. by klw1963 - 73
12 Great Diary  I am glad to see the UN talking of by testvet6778 - 72
13 You write: by Bill W - 69
14 I get troll rated for saying Dean was.... by jpfdeuce - 69
15 To hell with her. by khereva - 67
16 Well once again by Spedwybabs - 65
17 They're trigger-happy fucks. by Melody Townsel - 65
18 Ho. Lee. Crap. by kN3eLb4Z0d - 64
19 I was truly taken aback when I read that quote. by srkp23 - 61
20 I'm more disappointed in Pelosi every day by slippytoad - 60
21 Happy Thorsday by Debbie in ME - 59
22 UN is beating Congress Dem majority to action? by antirove - 57
23 Listen Markos,,, by Miss Blue - 57
24 I don't agree she stormed off by elfling - 56
25 many of Carter's problems by Kayakbiker - 55
26 Repubs don't give a @#*!() about the troops by madhaus - 55
27 I switch mine on by vivadissent - 55
28 stunning tidbit by peace voter - 54
29 "Uncrashing the Gates" by Dump Terry McAuliffe - 54
30 This comment . . . by antifa - 53
31 Nice solution by RubDMC - 53

Top Mojo - everything included:

1 Tip jar by chapter1 - 398
2 I don't know what came over me by commonscribe - 360
3 Tips to uphold the rule of law by srkp23 - 289
4 Tip jar by MarkInSanFran - 227
5 Tips, Flames, n/t by Vyan - 227
6 Tip or Troll by SemDem - 184
7 George Clooney for President. by ignatz uk - 156
8 Tip Jar - 11 October by Jerome a Paris - 155
9 Tips for less picking of nits? by Chaoslillith - 142
10 there are so many examples to use by clammyc - 141
11 Amen, brother! by el ganador - 138
12 bi-partisan War Party by MD patriot - 136
13 TIP JAR for confirmation by leveymg - 135
14 Hillary: call for an investigation of McConnell by Dallasdoc - 131
15 Made in China. by Bob Johnson - 117
16 That article pissed me off so much! by srkp23 - 107
17 here i am! by buhdydharma - 102
18 I shake my head in disbelief by netguyct - 92
19 Will Hillary... by ek hornbeck - 91
20 what a bunch of unmitigated crap by pfiore8 - 88
21 . by DMiller - 84
22 Marginalizing the base is not helpful Nancy by vigilant meerkat - 83
23 Sorry but by nyseer - 83
24 Bonddad, Bonddad, Bonddad. by Melody Townsel - 78
25 I pray for Nancy every day. by klw1963 - 73
26 Try as I might,,,, by Miss Blue - 73
27 tips? flames? tea & sympathy? by zdefender - 73
28 Great Diary  I am glad to see the UN talking of by testvet6778 - 72
29 link? n/t by taylormattd - 72
30 You write: by Bill W - 69
31 This by smintheus - 69
32 I get troll rated for saying Dean was.... by jpfdeuce - 69