Deep Thought.

Michael Steele, to the extent that he's in charge at all, is the Ahmadinejad of the Republican Party -- sure, he's allowed to go through the motions, publicly, of having a say in his party's direction, but it's pretty clear he's the leader only nominally. Meanwhile, Rush Limbaugh, despite his protestations, holds the Ali Khamenei role -- absolute power -- whether he wants to or not.

Proof? The National Review, just a month ago, said that Steele was "a good guy and he certainly has the gifts to be what the party desperately needs." Today, given the opportunity to back the most powerful black man in the party (and, in the process, lance an extremely cancerous boil), they chose to hang Mr. Off The Hook out to dry. Rush wins.