Today it appears our buddy Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee has made it into the news!

Limbaugh and Steele at a recent Fundraiser

He noted on CNN’s “D.L. Hughley Breaks the News” that he was the leader of the Republican party, not infamous radio host Rush Limbaugh. He also took the time to mention that Rush is an ‘entertainer,’ whose show is ‘incendiary’ and ‘ugly.’

Ouch.

Clearly a slip of the tongue, we’ll see how Rush Limbaugh responds! Rush, remember, is always looking for ways to get himself back in the news. News stories drive up his number of listeners – and that’s always a good thing!

The question is though: is Michael Steele really the head of the Republican Party? Of course, he’s the official head – but perhaps someone else is really in charge? In the time since President George W. Bush has stepped down, we’ve seen a scramble for power in the Republican party. Who came out ahead, if anyone? Is it Rush? Palin? Rick Perry? Someone in Congress?

This is a pretty neat site that shows us what the Electoral Map would have looked like this year if only women voted, or men, or people over 65, etc, etc, etc.

The information is of little practical use – but it’s quite fascinating for you Government junkies!

Click here for: Hypothetical Election Maps!

According to CNN exit polls, this is what the map would have looked like if voters 65 and older decided the election.

It’s too bad for McCain that all those voters under 65 showed up! (kidding)

Tonight at 8:00 John McCain and Barack Obama will debate each other – face-to-face – for the first time!

Just Wednesday, however, McCain threatened to back out of the debate in order to focus on the economy and the discussion going on in congress. Just a few minutes ago – McCain announced he WILL attend the debate! They’re meeting in Oxford, Mississippi, home of the University of Mississippi.

Do you think the debate will change any person’s mind? Or will it reinforce what they already believe? Also, what’s more important, what the candidates SAY, or HOW they say it?

It’ll be worth watching – entertaining television to say the least! (Seriously) I’ll be watching it on DVR a few hours later (or Saturday morning). They’re showing it on CNN and MSNBC (and maybe more channels).

Was there a clear ‘winner’ and ‘loser’? Did the candidates appear respectful of each other? What did you learn from the debate?

Let me know what I missed in the comments!

If you write up a debate summary with some of your own analysis and turn it in on Monday, I’ll give up to 50 possible points!!!

According to a new study from The Pew Research Center (.pdf) Fox News’ viewers are the most evenly divided among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Fox News really is balanced after all! I’m surprised by CNN’s numbers, however. I would have thought CNN’s numbers would have looked more like Fox’s.

CNN: 51% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 23% independents

MSNBC: 45% Democrats, 18% Republicans, 27% independents

Fox News: 33% Democrats, 39% Republicans, 22% independents