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The Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus Or "Idiot Liberals" of the World Unite!

By Big Tent Democrat, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 11:46:17 AM EST
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As usual, I speak for me only

Last week I asked for the following -- Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus or Idiot Liberals of the World Unite! The response has been overwhelming . . . Ok, actually, a few bloggers do agree with me. They are, along with other organizations:Peace Action; United for Peace; Military Families Speak Out; Insitritute for Public Accuracy; Code Pink; Democracy Rising; True Majority; Labor Against the War; PDA;Drawing the Line; Take It Personally; edger; Just A Bump in the Beltway; afterdowningstreet.org; democrats.com; NION; downwithtyranny; My Left Wing; propaganda press, as well as some FPers at daily kos, and the previously mentioned corrente and Gun Toting Liberal. I am sure there are others. I just do not know who they are.

Via Democrats.com:

Call your members of Congress now toll free at 800-828-0498, 800-459-1887 or 800-614-2803.

In furtherance of that goal, I reprint a post from the afterdowning folks:

The House will vote soon on the current "supplemental" appropriations bill for Iraq. (It is/was marked up in the House Appropriations Committee today.)

Barbara Lee (D-CA) has offered an amendment that would require that any money appropriated for Iraq be spent only for a "fully funded withdrawal," bringing American troops home by the end of this year.

Some members of the House Progressive Caucus have previously stated they would vote against the Iraq supplemental unless it includes Lee's amendment. But the House leadership is now pressuring them to back down. We need to find out quickly: where do Progressive Caucus members stand?

Working together with other anti-war groups, we are creating a whip list on this issue. Please take a moment to now to call one of the representatives in the "UNKNOWN" category below, and ask them:

Are you committed to voting NO on the current supplemental spending bill for Iraq if it doesn't include Barbara Lee's amendment for a fully funded withdrawal?

Note: even if a vote is allowed on Lee's amendment and a Congress Member votes yes, that is absolutely no excuse for him or her to turn around and vote yes for the Supplemental!

You can find the phone number of each progressive member here (scroll down). Or just call the Congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected.

The aides answering the phone may know the answer; if not, ask to speak to their press secretary or legislative assistant for foreign policy.

Then, leave whatever answer they give you in comments below. We'll be continually checking and updating this list.

Thank you!

(You may also want to read "The Out Of Iraq Caucus Must Support Barbara Lee's 'Fully Funded Withdrawal' from Iraq" by Bob Fertik, and listen to a podcast with Rep. Lee.)

Note: there are a dozen or so conservative Dems planning to vote No for the wrong reasons, 3 Republicans planning to vote Yes, and about 20 and dropping progressive Dems planning to vote No, all of which makes it possible Pelosi will not bring the thing up for a vote this week.

QUESTION
Are you committed to voting NO on the current "supplemental" spending bill for Iraq if it doesn't include Barbara Lee's amendment for a fully funded withdrawal?

CONFIRMED COMMITMENT TO VOTING NO
Rep. Raul Grijalva (only leaning no according to Politico)
Rep. Dennis Kucinich
Rep. Barbara Lee
Rep. Charles Rangel (via comments)
Rep. Maxine Waters
Rep. Lynn Woolsey
Rep. John Lewis (via comments, may vote "Present," Politico)

VOTING NO but need to be called for confirmation Rep. Dan Boren (leaning: The Hill)
Rep. Keith Ellison (leaning: The Hill, leaning No Politico)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (The Hill, leaning No Politico)
Rep. Pete Stark (The Hill, Politico)
Rep. Edolphus Towns (The Hill)
Rep. Diane Watson (The Hill, Politico)
Rep. Jim Marshall (Politico)

VOTING YES
Rep. Jerry McNearney (from comments; note: this guy got elected on peace platform)
Rep. Neil Abercrombie (The Hill)
Rep. Michael Arcuri (The Hill)
Rep. Melissa Bean (The Hill)


Rep. Nancy Boyda (The Hill)
Rep. Dennis Cardoza (The Hill)
Rep. Peter DeFazio (The Hill, sold out for pork: Politico)
Rep. Chet Edwards (The Hill)
Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand (The Hill)
Rep. Phil Hare (The Hill)
Rep. Tim Mahoney (leaning: The Hill)
Rep. Mazie Hirono (leaning: The Hill)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (The Nation and via comments)
Rep. Steve Kagen (The Hill)
Rep. Tom Lantos (The Hill)
Rep. John Larson (The Hill)


Rep. Carolyn Maloney (The Hill)
Rep. George Miller
Rep. Chris Murphy (The Hill)
Rep. Patrick Murphy (The Hill)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (The Nation)
Rep. John Olver (via comments)
Rep. Donald Payne (The Hill)
Rep. John Salazar (The Hill)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Rep. Jose Serrano (The Nation)
Rep. Joe Sestak
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (The Hill)
Rep. Tim Walz (The Hill)
Rep. Charlie Wilson (The Hill)

UNDECIDED/UNKNOWN
Tammy Baldwin
Xavier Becerra
Robert Brady
Corrine Brown
Michael Capuano
Julia Carson
Yvette Clarke (undecided but leaning No, Politico)
William "Lacy" Clay
Emanuel Cleaver
Rep. Steve Cohen (The Hill, leaning No Politico)
John Conyers
Elijah Cummings
Rosa DeLauro
Lloyd Doggett
Sam Farr

Chaka Fattah
Bob Filner
Barney Frank
Luis Gutierrez
John Hall
Maurice Hinchey
Michael Honda
Hank Johnson
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Marcy Kaptur
Carolyn Kilpatrick
David Loebsack
Ed Markey
Jim McDermott
James McGovern
Juanita Millender-McDonald (leaning No, Politico)
Gwen Moore
Jim Moran
Ed Pastor
Bobby Rush
Linda Sanchez
Louise Slaughter
Hilda Solis
Bennie Thompson
John Tierney
Tom Udall
Nydia Velazquez
Mel Watt
Henry Waxman
Peter Welch
Bobby Scott (undecided, Politico)
Danny Davis (undecided but leaning yes, Politico; previously voting No, The Hill)

You know what to do. Call. Cajole. AGITATE!

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    The Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus Or "Idiot Liberals" of the World Unite! | 27 comments (27 topical)

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    It seems clear to me (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:06:03 PM EST
    that it's within our ability to defeat this bill.

    Just called my Congressman (Fattah) (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by andgarden on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:10:14 PM EST
    again and urged a "no" vote, FWIW.

    Parent
    Good job (none / 0) (#4)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:21:50 PM EST


    Parent
    Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by Melanie on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:21:12 PM EST
    Add me to the list.

    Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:27:24 PM EST
    Add me also.

    may i suggest that we also call pelosi's office (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by conchita on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:43:11 PM EST
    as well.  it seems she needs to feel the heat.  i have called jerry nadler's office every day this week, altering my message this morning to accomodate the president's stand off on subpoenas last night, reminding them that this is not the time for compromise.

    code pink email announces pelosi in nyc on 3/22 (none / 0) (#21)
    by conchita on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 04:10:56 PM EST
    and asks people to join them in telling her to Stop Buying Bush's War! Meet at 6-7:30pm at Cipriani, 55 Wall Street.

    Parent
    fwiw, pda and the pen sent out similar emails (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by conchita on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 12:44:55 PM EST
    to their memberships/distributions last night.  we are not alone in idiocy.

    count me in (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by profmarcus on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 01:34:30 PM EST
    And, yes, I DO take it personally

    Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by leoncarre on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 01:57:17 PM EST
    Add Drawing the Line to the list

    And on the list of Congress members opposed:

    Congressman John Lewis

    John Lewis on the Iraq Supplemental: "It's either non-violence or non-existence"  
    Written by Rep. John Lewis    
    Wednesday, 21 March 2007  

    Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a civil rights leader and senior chief deputy whip who has long been seen by many Democrats as the caucus' conscience, came out publicly against the Iraq war supplemental in a passionate speech on the House floor Monday night.

    "As a nation, can we hear the words of Gandhi, so simple, so true--that it's either non-violence or non-existence? Can we hear the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. that we must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish as fools? Tonight I must make it plain and clear, that as a human being, as a citizen of the world, as a citizen of America, as a member of Congress, and as an individual committed to a world at peace with itself, I will not and cannot vote for another dollar or another dime to support this war."  

    Source: Jonathan Weisman, Democrats Split on Iraq Bill, Washington Post, March 20, 2007
    Out Of Iraq Blogroll - Reciprocal Blogroll (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 02:10:48 PM EST
    This is a great idea, Big Tent!

    I've also started an Out Of Iraq Blogroll on my blog: Edgeing

    It is intended to be a reciprocal link list of Out Of Iraq blogs that will be posted separately from other blogrolls on each member blog.

    To join it email me: edger10{at}gmail.com. As new blogs join it I will send a new copy of the blogroll each evening to all other members so that it can be kept current and growing.

    So far the following have agreed to post (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:41:43 PM EST
    the Out Of Iraq Blogroll on their blogs:


    Anyone else?

    Parent
    ME of course (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:44:03 PM EST


    Parent
    Are you speaking for TL this time? (none / 0) (#18)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:47:13 PM EST


    Parent
    Out Of Iraq Blogroll (none / 0) (#19)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:54:32 PM EST


    Parent
    Just added... (none / 0) (#23)
    by Edger on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 04:42:21 PM EST
    Lotus - Surviving a Dark Time

    Parent
    Out of Iraq Bloggers Caucus (none / 0) (#26)
    by leoncarre on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 06:07:54 PM EST
    expanded list here:

    Bloggers Drawing the Line on Iraq Supplemental

    Parent

    I called (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by Che's Lounge on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 02:19:10 PM EST
    Bob Filner's office to encourage a NO vote.

    Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by leoncarre on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:12:37 PM EST
    add these orgs and publications to your list

    THOSE OPPOSED to IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL

    Progressive Democrats of America
    US Labor Against the War
    Nation Magazine Opposes Iraq Supplemental
    True Majority
    Democracy Rising US
    CODE PINK
    Backbone Campaign
    Institute for Public Accuracy
    United for Peace and Justice
    Peace Action
    Declaration of Peace.org
    Military Families Speak Out
    Iraq Veterans Against the War
    Working Assets

    (AfterDowningStreet.org
    Democrats.com
    you've got these)

    I'm waiting for a response from Veterans for Peace

    I neeed the links for those (none / 0) (#16)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:43:21 PM EST


    Parent
    forthcoming (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by leoncarre on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 04:16:16 PM EST
    ...


    Progressive Democrats of America

    US Labor Against the War

    Nation Magazine Opposes Iraq Supplemental

    AfterDowningStreet.org

    True Majority

    Democracy Rising US

    Democrats.com

    Working Assets

    Iraq Veterans Against the War

    Military Families Speak Out

    CODE PINK

    The Backbone Campaign

    Institute for Public Accuracy

    United for Peace and Justice

    Peace Action

    INDIVIDUALS

    Jonathan Tasini: No More Blank Checks: Vote NO on Iraq War Money

    Howard Zinn: Howard Zinn Replies to MoveOn's support for the supplemental

    Norman Solomon: The Pragmatism of Prolonged War

    John Stauber: 96% of MoveOn Members Did Not Show Support for the Pelosi Bill

    Sheldon Rampton: Iraq: Why Won't MoveOn Move Forward?

    and there's more to come...

    Parent

    I put in the organizations (none / 0) (#24)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 05:15:54 PM EST
    I could verfiy as opposign the supplemntal.

    Zinn and the others are not bloggers or prganizations. But welcome of course.

    Parent

    yes, i put them as individuals (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by leoncarre on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 05:36:27 PM EST
    i am waiting on more organizations

    veterans for peace
    instead of war coalition
    American Friends Service Committee
    Catholic Action Network
    Center for Theology and Social Analysis
    College Progressives for Peace
    Human Rights Action Service
    Institute for Peace and Justice
    Methodist Federation for Social Action
    Peace Economy Project
    Alliance for Democracy
    Women in Black
    Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
    World Community Center

    Parent

    Jerry McNerney ,CA-11, is in a Blue Dog type... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by cal11 voter on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:27:15 PM EST
    district.  But he has been a critic of the Iraq War for years.  He's probably the most vulnerable California Dem congressman.  The Repubs will be looking to show him the door in '08.  I am not surprised by his position.

    Rep Baldwin's office (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Ben Masel on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:31:45 PM EST
    I suggested that if the will's not there to not fund immediately, appropriate until Oct. 1, and call Ryan's bluff. Staffer liked it, I'm hopeful Tammy will call back, and introduce as a substitute.

    Out of Iraq blogger caucus (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by LarryE on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 03:56:03 PM EST
    There was a moment when, thinking back to Vietnam and how funding was never cut off but was slowly strangled, I could have supported the Pelosi bill as the least bad available alternative. I would have been unhappy about it and intending to press for stronger restrictions at the first opportunity, but I could have done it.

    That was before a vote on the Lee amendment was blocked; the provisions requiring troops to be trained, equipped, and rested could be waived; the provision about Iran got scrapped; and the only enforcement mechanism, the funding cutoff, was dumped, turning the "benchmarks" into nothing but polite suggestions.

    On March 10, I wrote:

    Let's be real here. This plan isn't about opposing Bush. It's not about stopping the war. It's about saying you oppose the war while at the same time running away from any actual responsibility for doing anything about it. It's about, bottom line, positioning for the 2008 campaign and who gives a damn about the lives, American (and allied) and even more Iraqi, ruined in the meantime.

    You can add Lotus to the caucus list.

    Not the time to play nice (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by fafnir on Wed Mar 21, 2007 at 06:34:26 PM EST
    I  oppose this seriously and needlessly flawed supplemental, too. My Rep (a Republican) is happy to vote no, but for the wrong reasons.

    House Democratic leaders had an opportunity to construct a bill that would not only reflect the values of the anti-Iraq occupation progressives, but the expressed will of the nation.

    The Democratic Congress must act with conviction and resolve to end this disastrous occupation now. Our troops deserve nothing less.

    The Out of Iraq Blogger Caucus Or "Idiot Liberals" of the World Unite! | 27 comments (27 topical)

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