RECHARGING THE BATTERIES…. Regular readers know that I’m a shameless workaholic loath to take time off from blogging, so it may come as a surprise to learn that I’m stepping away from the keyboard for a few days.

While I’m gone, Hilzoy will be around, and I’ve recruited dday from Hullabaloo and publius from Obsidian Wings to help out, too. (That all of them write pseudonymously is just a coincidence.)

I’ll be back on Tuesday morning, rested and ready. Be nice to the substitutes — everything from the guest posters will be on the final exam, so pay close attention.

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Follow Steve on Twitter @stevebenen. Steve Benen is a producer at MSNBC's The Rachel Maddow Show. He was the principal contributor to the Washington Monthly's Political Animal blog from August 2008 until January 2012.