You know, it makes a sort of cosmic sense that Orwell is dead, because I don't think he could exist on the same planet as Frank Luntz. You've really got to listen to this Air America clip , it's just...I mean wow. It's the first time I can confidently call Orwellian an understatement. And, sadly, the private accounts-personal accounts switch is happening in full sight of, and with total cooperation from, the media . Keith Olbermann or some enterprising program should air a special on the manipulation of political language with this Administration's verbal contortions on Social Security being the backbone. That'd be Must-See TV, not too mention a service to their viewers. But, be honest, can you really see such an informative piece airing outside Jon Stewart's studio? Yeah, me neither.

I'm going to keep this atop the page for the day, or at least the morning. New posts will appear under it. If you've read the welcome message already, just scroll on down for fresh blogging goodness. If not, click "More" and have at it.

Good post by Kos on the changes Reid has wrought. The Senate Dems really have transformed from a yipping, useless caucus to a united opposition force. And it's as much in what they do -- The 10 Leadership bills, Schumer retiring the DSCC's debt in record time -- as in what they feel freed to do, with the recent, finally contentious hearings being a perfect example. It almost makes losing those three seats worth it. Almost. Also : His post on Barbara Boxer being Wellstone's heir-apparent is a good one. But her reinforced backbone didn't pop out of thin air, not only did she get more votes nationwide than anyone not named "Bush" or Kerry", but, in California, she got more votes period. She beat Kerry by 200,000, Bush by quite a few more, and absolutely demolished the Arnold-approved Bill Jones. With that achieved, she's got six clear years and a true mandate backing her, so expect big things. Also : Kos is right . No on Gonzales. That whole vote for him or Hispanics will hate you thing...

During an overly busy Monday, an important post got away from me. Yesterday morning, the Senate Democratic Leadership unveiled the 10 bills comprising the year's Democratic agenda. And they're good. Max has the policy papers up for download , Steve Soto has more in the way of summaries and I've put the Leadership's rundown after the jump. Anything I would add to those three would be redundant, but it's worth cautioning what these are not -- they are not a Contract With America, there's no bullet point list of policies we want implemented. It's not an agenda targeted at Republican weaknesses. Instead, the Senate Leadership has created a policy package on every issue so no Republican proposal ever lacks a progressive counterpoint, so no critic can ever charge that Democrats lack alternatives and so no Democratic flack will step on a Sunday show without an affirmative counterproposal backing his criticisms. Props to Reid, it's an important first step that shows he's getting our house (or...

In the land of the cool, Random House discovered a genius author working in their mailroom and, after getting a five-figure, two-book deal, he's still toiling among the envelopes. Oh, and his book might become a movie. It doesn't get much sweeter than that. Via The Elegant Variation .

With Republicans sweatily gripping all the levers of government, it's worth taking a moment to see how the worm has turned. MoJo blog had a great post showing that Bush's speech wasn't so much penned by Michael Gerson, as lifted from an acceptance address 50 years ago: