I'm deep in wiretap motions for a hearing tomorrow, so if something is going on in the world, here's a place to discuss it. And if you haven't voted in the Koufax awards yet, TalkLeft is nominated for Best Single Issue blog. I'd really appreciate your vote so TalkLeft makes it to the semi-finals. We haven't had any votes in days.

You can vote by leaving a comment that simply says "TalkLeft" here -- or if you'd like your ballot or identity to be secret, you can e-mail Dwight or Mary Beth and just say "TalkLeft for Best Single Issue Blog."

And 'round the Bloggerhood, check out:

• Law Prof Doug Berman on South Dakota sentencing laws and the new abortion ban.
• Part II of Larisa Alexandrovna's series on neo-con Michael Ledeen at Raw Story.
• USA Today: 8,000 desert during Iraq War
• Thoughts of an average woman on Wal-Mart using bloggers [hat tip Patriot Daily.]
• Avedon Carol of Sideshow and Digby and Tena at First Draft on abortion and sex and the radical right.

Voting is now open for the semi-finals in the 2005 Fourth Annual Koufax Awards for the left-leaning bloggers.

You can only vote once and for one blog in each catgegory.

TalkLeft is nominated for Best Single Issue blog. We are the only blog to win a Koufax award in the same category three years in a row (2002, 2003 and 2004.) In 2004, we shared the award with the excellent Grits for Breakfast.

This year will be the toughest yet, and perhaps it's time to give up the crown. But, if you'd like to vote for TalkLeft, I'd be thrilled to have your vote.

You can vote by leaving a comment that simply says "TalkLeft" here -- or if you'd like your ballot or identity to be secret, you can e-mail Dwight or Mary Beth and just say "TalkLeft for Best Single Issue Blog."

Say hello to Centcomm, the official U.S. Central Command website. Central Command is the major combat command that covers U.S. military operations in most of the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. It provides news/press releases, images and casualty reports from the CENTCOM area of responsibility, including anti-terrorism activities.

When reporting on government activities, it's helpful to get their side of the story, especially since I tend to opine so much on why they are wrong or where they are being less than candid.

Also, say hello to Up Against the Law, it's much more my style.

I'll be gone the rest of the afternoon, so here's an open thread.

The third annual blogads survey is up. It is a survey only of readers of politically influential blogs. If you'd like to be included, head on over and read.

For question 23, asking which blog referred you to the survey, it would be helpful if you'd answer "TalkLeft" so that later Blogads can break down the answers on TalkLeft readers.

The point of the survey, as stated by Henry of Blogads:

Even though the results will be severely unscientific, the project helps us all better understand blogs and where we all fit in the infosphere. Stuff like this also helps with evangelism -- headlines notwithstanding, too many pundits, advertisers and journalists are still blind to the political bloggers' radical force.

Again, the survey is here and only takes about five minutes.

It was 79 degrees in Denver today, way too nice to stay indoors working or blogging. Here's some things I would have blogged about had I been around. If you'd rather discuss other things, this is also an open thread.

• Rikki Lee Jones writes an anti-Joe Lieberman letter to Howie Klein (via Firedoglake.)

• Dan Froomkin's column in the Washington Post asking about President Bush, How Low Can He Go (make sure you make it to the last page where he cites me and TalkLeft, twice -- thanks, Dan!)

• Instapundit has quotes of Karl Rove commenting on the blogosphere. And don't forget to buy Glenn's excellent book, Army of David. just click on the ad on the right side of TalkLeft.

These are the final photos from Amsterdam, taken at a dance club called the Sugar Factory. I lasted until 2am, the kool kids stayed till 4.

Lindsay, the TL kid, Amanda and Ezra

larger version

Proof I was there at one point.

First, a huge thanks to TChris who has kept this site running while I've been in Amsterdam. Tomorrow is my last day here and there is so much more to see.

The hotel has only wireless, and mine seems to go out every five minutes or so, requiring me to log in with user name and password over and over again and eating many posts, which has been quite frustrating. Ezra, Amanda and Lindsay haven't had this problem, so it must be my computer settings.

The best part of the trip has been the walking, probably five to ten miles a day. While there are trams that go everywhere, walking has let me take in so much more and get a better feel for the city. It's been very cold and gray every day, but we were forewarned and brought coats, gloves, hats and scarves, so it's not much of a problem.

The Rembrandts are really something to see. So are the Van Gogh paintings. The architecture is very intriguing and the city is well laid out. All in all, a great trip so far.

Here's an open thread to discuss whatever else is going on in the world.

by TChris

The TalkLeft writers are working or playing or hanging out in Amsterdam. Here's a place to chat about the week's events.

Ok, everyone, I'm out of here for a week. I'll be in Amsterdam with fellow bloggers Ezra, Amanda of Pandagon and Lindsay of Majikthise, courtesy of Holland.com, and the TL kid, courtesy of me.

Here's the disclosure statement on what the bloggers are getting and giving for the trip, via the arrangement between Holland.com and Blogads.

Of course I'll have my laptop and a camera, and will blog a little about the trip, and sporadically about some news, but not with my usual frequency.

There will be open threads up throughout the week (this is one), and TChris and Last Night in Little Rock will weigh in as their schedules permit. So check back often, they write great stuff.

It's a great day to show some appreciation for your favorite bloggers.

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It's too beautiful to stay in Denver today, so I'm headed to Vail. There's lots to read and talk about in the blogoshphere:

• Digby on Joe DiGenova (Mr. Victoria Toensing)'s "hissy fit" on Wolf's show yesterday while debating the terrific Richard Ben-Veniste. I can add from personal experience it is not an infrequent occurrence that he blows his stack, and it's very humorous to watch. Maybe Crooks and Liars will get the video up.

• Peter Daou on Scandal Fatigue. I thought I was the only wondering what was so important about the British guy from Boston being arrested for his wife and child's murder that required 24/7 coverage from the cable news networks.

• Raw Story and BradBlog (both with audio) on the She Pundit With Long Blond Hair's latest attack on Muslims. There's a reference to a comment by her about missing her opportunity to "kill" Bill Clinton, but I wonder whether she was referring to killing him or doing something else with him.

Coulter on killing Bill Clinton: (Responding to a question from a Catholic University student about her biggest moral or ethical dilemma) "There was one time I had a shot at Clinton. I thought 'Ann, that's not going to help your career.'"

• Arianna connecting Bush's LA attack speech with a new play about Big Brother.

While re-reading Lewis Libby's discovery motions has been a worthwhile exercise, I've got wiretap motions due today. There's lots going on to talk about, so I'll leave it to you.

On a related Libby note, guess who's speaking at the annual All That Jazz seminar for criminal defense lawyers in New Orleans at the end of April? William Jeffress, one of Libby's lead lawyers. His topic: "Perjury, False Statements and Obstruction- If We Can't Get You For a Crime, We'll Get You For the Coverup" (pdf). It's Saturday, April 29 at 10:30 am.