Digby rocks today over at Firedoglake. The success of Yearly Kos was amazing, with no small part played by the FDL foxy ladies Jane and Christy, and reporters like Murray Waas. If, like me, you were not one of the 1,000 bloggers or blog readers at the event, you can catch what you missed on videos here. The Plame Panel with Jane, Christy, Marcy,Murray and Joe Wilson is here.

Digby's point is that blogs wouldn't exist without readers and commenters, and you all deserve to take a bow -- not because you're online, but because you are changing the national political conversation. We are going to take our country back. Since I can't write like Digby (let's face it, very few can) I'll quote -- and add my thoughts at the end:

We got quite a few visitors this weekend from far right weblogs critical of my Zarqawi and Guantanamo coverage. Commenters from these sites have come over here on the attack. They insult, call other commenters and liberals names and post multiple trashy comments with the intent of dominating the discussion. They also have riled up some of TalkLeft's regular ommenters who have begun to respond in kind. I don't have the time or the interest in playing traffic cop.

Deleting individual comments takes too long. What I've done is delete all comments for Sunday (and some from Saturday) -- both those of the unwelcome visitors and the TL commenters who stepped over the line. The most insulting and chattering of the righties have been banned.

Memo to all commenters: Keep it civil and lose the hostility and the name-calling. This is my site, not yours and it's going to be run on my terms, not yours. And don't lecture me on the First Amendment. I'm not the government.

TalkLeft was down for several hours, it's back up now. Here's an open thread to tell us what we've missed.

1,000 bloggers, assorted Democratic party leaders and candidates and the national press, including Maureen Dowd, Adam Nagourney and Dan Froomkin, are all in Las Vegas for Yearly Kos.

By all accounts I've read, the Plame panel was outstanding (great job, Jane and Christy, Murray Waas, Joe Wilson, Larry Johnson and Empty Wheel.)

Markos is totally the rock star of the blogosphere, and it couldn't happen to a more deserving guy. Even Elisa and Ari are there (old picture.)

Mission Accomplished Man, aka actor Will Keenan, is making them all laugh.

And who's live blogging? Skippy!

Other commitments and time constraints prevented TalkLeft from attending Yearly Kos. I'd be there if I could.

Also not there: Crooks and Liars and Sideshow. We'll all be blogging through the weekend.

Meanwhile, for those who need their Daily Kos fix, check out C-Span and Air Amercia Radio who are broadcasting live.

And check out "Misson Accomplished Man," Will Keenan's new video promo for Yearly Kos..

Also, while I'm on videos, don't forget G.A.G., a gangsta rap for the Bush Administration.

How about an open thread today? Haven't had one in a while and there's lots to talk about.

Via Atrios, for those who can't attend Yearly Kos in person (like me), Air America Radio will be streaming live video, from start to finish. For $10, you can have access to all of it. Sign up here.

And check out actor Will Keenan's latest promo for Yearly Kos.

He is so cool.

I'm about to begin the drive home from Aspen to Denver (a three -plus hour treat of goregous scenery), after which I am going to work on assembling and posting the best of the hundreds of photos I and others took while out at Hunter Thompson's Owl Farm yesterday.

The speakers were top-notch, we all learned some good trial tactics, the comraderie was terrific and the meals unbeatable. The person who impressed me the most was Anita Thompson.

So, while I relish the wonderful five days I just spent here in Aspen during the drive home, here's a place for you to talk about whatever else is going on. I'll be back in time for the final Soprano's Open Thread of the season.

I'm headed up to Aspen for the NORML Legal Seminar. I'll be blogging from Aspen tomorrow through the weekend, with an edited report of our Saturday day trip to Hunter Thompson's Owl Creek Farm where I hear Jimmy Ibbotson of Dirt Band fame, will be performing his brand-new anti-drug war song. Anita (Thompson) is putting together a souvenir booklet of some of Hunter's writings on defense lawyers. If you are a defense lawyer, it's not too late to attend -- just show up to register.

Here's some news from the rest of the world:

• Sen. Barbara Boxer calls for troop pullout from Iraq - by Thanksgiving.

• The Government says Congressman William Jefferson tried to hide his papers. Some are praising Congressman Sensenbrenner for his demand for info on the raid. Not me. He's a menace. He's behind some of the worst proposed legislation out there -- from the most punitive immigration bill in history to his "five years for passing a joint bill" and "snitch or go to jail bill."

• A federal judge has ruled the Government must release information about monitoring converstations beween detainees and defense lawyers. The New York Times reports:

Three days off means catching up on four days of work. For those of you not so hamstrung today, here's a space for you to keep us up to date.

There's been some great blogging this holiday weekend. Many thanks to TalkLeft commenter Squeaky for assembling the first, and I hope not the last, edition of Squeaky's Sightings:

• Jane's Sunday Syllogism. (I'll add: Also check out Jane's tribute to Duane Allman and this rare 1970 footage of the Allman Brothers performing Whipping Post.)

• Atrios on Timmeh

• Empty Wheels awesome two-part Plame Story narrative.

• Crooks and Liars' Late Night Music Club with Wes Montgomery and Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa. (I'll add John's link to Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Prince performing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps.")

Check out this terrific video promotion by Ava Lowery for Yearly Kos.

Here's another , which Yearly Kos writes is by actor Will Keenan.

Thanks to Hoverground for sending them -- a great Will Keenan video is here.

Yearly Kos, June 8 to 11, Las Vegas. My thoughts on the event are here.