LAUGHING AT CHENEY’S EXPENSE…. I don’t usually post these, but I liked my appearance on last night’s “Rachel Maddow Show,” in large part because Rachel laughed when I made fun of Dick Cheney. (The segment follows up on this post from yesterday.)

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Two quick, pre-emptive responses. First, the fake-book backdrop really isn’t my fault; it’s there for all of my appearances; and I seem to be stuck with it. I try not to think about it.

Second, if it seems my hair looks funny, it’s because I’d just gotten a haircut a few hours before the appearance.

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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.