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.
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I. Speaker Pelosi Pledges to End the War by Denying Additional Funding
I wrote about defunding back in August and again last week. I have come to believe that defunding, i.e., ending the Iraq War by declining to appropriate any money for the war, is likely the only method by which the war will end before Bush leaves office in 2009. So it was with great pleasure that I read this diary, in which Turkana details Speaker Pelosi's promise to defunding during her interview with Ariana Huffington.
Although many commenters at Huffington Post criticized Ariana for declining to ask Pelosi about impeachment, to me, the critical part of the interview has been overlooked: for the first time, Nancy Pelosi promised to end the war through defunding.
Let me repeat that, the Speaker of the House has finally promised to end the war. Not to "move in a different direction" on Iraq. To end it.
While we have previously heard from Representative David Obey, the chairman of the appropriations committee, that he would hold up any bill that did not include a firm deadline for withdrawal, this is the first time we have heard the Speaker say she would support his position. Specifically, Pelosi has now made us a promise that no funding bill will ever be brought up for a vote unless it includes a firm withdrawal deadline:
(O)ver the course of the interview, Pelosi made . . . specific promises on the question of funding the war . . . 1) that the House will not take up a war appropriations bill this year [and] 2) that there will be no war appropriations bill next year that doesn't include a fixed date for bringing the troops home
Now, some in Turkana's diary have argued very, very understandably that Pelosi is not to be trusted on this, and that she has abetted previous capitulations. But folks, that really isn't the point and it doesn't really matter. What needs to happen is that we treat Speaker Pelosi's words as a direct and specific promise to each and every one of us that she will prevent consideration of any funding bill without a withdrawal deadline, and we act accordingly.
Of course, for there to be any kind of pressure on her to keep her promise, she needs to understand that we know about and approve of her promise.
So what to do? We must give her a call or write her a note letting her know we heard about her promise, we are happy about it, we intend to tell everyone we know about her promise, and we will be sorely disappointed at best if she does not deliver on her promise.
Here is her contact info:
Email address form
telephone: (202) 225-0100
facsimile: (202) 225-8259
I'm not sure if this works, but I also found this direct email for Speaker Pelosi: sf.nancy@mail.house.gov
A reminder. Please keep sending in those top comment nominations to:
topcomments[at]gmail[dot]com
II. Tonight's Top Comments
Via casperr:
[actually a slightly late submission from last night . . .]
I liked the following exchange between TheOrchid and LarryInNYC. Larry's response is funny, as usual.
Via Land of Enchantment:
emmasnacker's makes a thought-provoking comment about "clean coal"
From Bob Johnson's breaking news about how Republicans will use robots to avoid sex scandals, Rolphyboy6 starts this rather amusing exchange with the diarist.
Via madgranny:
In the rather amusing comments of this Bush Press Conference Live Blog, HighSticking starts what turns into quite a funny discussion about republicans.
From the same diary, Hobbitfoot takes note of a rather frightening offhand comment by Bush.
Via Lucky Ducky:
Groucho Marxist cracks one about the revelation that Obama and Cheney might be eighth cousins.
Via taylormattd: (hey, that's me!)
goffnews has a simply inspired idea about how to finally end the Chevron Ad controversy.
From Bob Johnson's diary about GOP / robot sex, boran2 reveals the robot manufacturer, and revbludge has good news for Larry Craig.
Via 4Freedom:
In JDWolverton's heartbreaking diary, Cracker makes a spot on comment
If it wasn't enough that the diary broke your heart, this comment will mend it with anger.
Top Mojo
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars and first diary comments:
1) He should be out on bail by FishOutofWater — 109
2) I can't rec this enough. by lineatus — 107
3) First order of business by Califlander — 104
4) and TPM is all over it by whitewidow — 79
5) The Alabama papers are Republican by FishOutofWater — 77
6) I do. Your Humanity. by cskendrick — 77
7) Thanks Page by Welshman — 74
8) Couldn't disagree more. by HarveyMilk — 73
9) Thank you by Debbie in ME — 73
10) Incredible diary. Speechless. n/t by Reel Woman — 70
11) Watch for Bolton to play a key part in... by Melody Townsel — 69
12) oh geez, I'm sorry by Reel Woman — 67
13) Happy Hump day to all by baffled — 64
14) Wednesday comes too soon by vigilant meerkat — 62
15) The Congruence and the Contrast by Uthaclena — 62
16) Here's a thought : Bush may have just overplayed by Troutfishing — 61
17) Buddha of the Autumn leaves by Brahman Colorado — 60
18) The act of Pardon... by Ken in MN — 60
19) HiPoli!! by Predictor — 58
20) WTF? by Lisa Lockwood — 58
21) Amen. by Melody Townsel — 56
22) Morning Bill! by PoliSigh — 55
23) IP Cee and Jay by Irish Patti — 54
24) Happy Hump Day from IL by benny05 — 54
25) Hi Timroff by Predictor — 53
26) Happy Hump Day by Debbie in ME — 52
27) I wish Kos would take that down by goffnews — 52
28) Mornin P! by jetskreemr — 50
29) It's a real coup. by Adam B — 50
30) No words needed. Good thing, can't see by sherlyle — 50
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Tip Bucket by FishOutofWater — 609
2) What tangled webs we weave by debel u — 474
3) No Tips, by JDWolverton — 205
4) thank you speaker pelosi! by Turkana — 182
5) I'd call it "The Apocalypse's Cattle Prod"... by Troutfishing — 178
6) Well it is true . . . by nyceve — 177
7) Tips for my asploding head by The Termite — 174
8) Tip Jar! by NeuvoLiberal — 154
9) tips, flames and comments by testvet6778 — 148
10) Tips for Al by NYPopulist — 143
11) Will he or won't he? Tip Jar. by VickiStein — 115
12) He should be out on bail by FishOutofWater — 109
13) I can't rec this enough. by lineatus — 108
14) First order of business by Califlander — 104
15) Autumn Humpday Cheers!!! by Predictor — 97
16) I appreciate it! by Larry Kissell — 91
17) tip jar by desmoinesdem — 88
18) cheers to Phil! by condoleaser — 83
19) I do. Your Humanity. by cskendrick — 81
20) and TPM is all over it by whitewidow — 79
21) Tipped for lighting a candle by jhutson — 79
22) The Alabama papers are Republican by FishOutofWater — 77
23) Tips and donations! by fink — 74
24) Thanks Page by Welshman — 74
25) Couldn't disagree more. by HarveyMilk — 73
26) Thank you by Debbie in ME — 73
27) Tip jar. by Eternal Hope — 73
28) Incredible diary. Speechless. n/t by Reel Woman — 71
29) Tips / Flames by pdxattorney — 70
30) Message from LaRocco by Larry LaRocco — 70