Midday Open Thread

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday April 19, 2007 · 11:07 AM PDT

2007/04/19 · 11:07

Twelve people were killed in a suicide bomb in Baghdad today, a still horrific day, but one that pales in comparison to yesterday. Iraqis have started the process of burying the more than 230 that were killed yesterday.

Beyond Fredo's day on the Hill, the Capitol is busy today. The House is discussing DC voting rights yet again. This is the best part so far:

Dreier: Will the gentlewoman yield?

Holmes Norton: I will not yield, sir. The District of Columbia has spent 206 years yielding to people who would deny them the vote. I yield you no ground. Not during my time. You have had your say, and your say has been that you think the people who live in your capital are not entitled to a vote in their House. Shame on you.

Go BYU! Students and alumni at Brigham Young University are trying to create an alternative commencement in protest of BYU's selection of Dick Cheney as commencement speaker this year. Here's part of their statement:

Last month, Brigham Young University invited Vice President Dick Cheney to speak at the school's April commencement. Many students, faculty members, alumni, and community members believe that Vice President Cheney represents neither their standards nor those of the University.... Instead of responding with criticism and traditional forms of protest, we want to give students, faculty, and community members an opportunity to express dissent in a constructive way. Our program will focus on alternatives as well, featuring speakers who offer creative, democratic solutions to the problems facing our country and government.

Kossacks rock. The liveblogging threads you've organized are a huge service to the site all of our readers. Thanks to Ellicat (Part 1), donnamarie (Part 2), kate peterson (Part 3), Miss Blue (Part 4), Catte Nappe (Part 5), asimbagirl (Part 6), jancw (Part 7), Night Owl (Part 8), shayera (Part 9), and all those lined up for the second half of the day. Ready for Round II?

This is cool. Rolling Stone is going to celebrate its 40th anniversary by releasing a DVD set of the magazine's entire history.

Chris Dodd as Stoller says, "keeps making so much sense." This time it's his plan for a corporate carbon tax. This brings the issue to the presidential debate. Good show. (mcjoan)

Action item: The WaPo editorial page brings down the hammer on the anonymous Republican senator who has put a "secret hold" on the Senate electronic disclosure bill. Take a minute and help the Sunlight Foundation track down the offender. (Adam B)