Is Republican party going to pieces over Michael Steele? Steele’s recent comments about Afghanistan sparked a slew of harsh criticism. but perhaps he can take heart that he apparently has Ann Coulter in his corner.

Of the critics of Republican Party chairman Michael Steele since his latest comments against the war in Afghanistan, Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol was the first and loudest, calling for the chair’s resignation in an open letter. He explained his comments on the Hugh Hewitt radio program, where both he and the host agreed it was a “first principles” issue.

If you have followed the career of Republican Party chairman Michael Steele in any capacity, the title of this column should have already had you giggling. Michael Steele, a genius? “Moo moo” Michael Steele? Lesbian bondage-themed nightclub Michael Steele? Yes, there is a reason why Republicans love to hate on their chairman– but it isn’t because of his gaffes.

Fox News’ Bret Baier was doing overtime with his regular Special Report panel last night/early this morning to analyze the incoming election returns, first among those the news that Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln squeaked out a win in a close run-off election with Lt. Governor Bill Halter. While there wasn’t much optimism for Lincoln’s chances in November, there was one thing the panel seemed to agree on: Bill Clinton’s still got it.

With the White House announcement that Elena Kagan has been nominated to the Supreme Court, it won’t be long until the chattering classes again begin to discuss her (lack of a) personal life and the lesbian rumors. Perhaps more importantly, why should it matter whether Kagan is a lesbian or not?

Sometimes it’s hard not to wonder whether Bill Kristol spends his week trying to think up the most inflammatory thing he is capable of saying on any given subject and then merely bides his time until Sunday mornings. Or maybe he just likes to set up Juan Williams to look extra smart and reasonable. Either way, here’s Kristol weighing in on the oil spill currently wreaking havoc on the coast of Louisiana

Sparks flew today on Fox News Sunday between Bill Kristol and Juan Williams during a discussion on yesterday’s release to the public of the Goldman Sach’s emails by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations headed by Sen. Carl Levin. Kristol is outraged. Outraged. Juan Williams suspects he has missed the point entirely. Commence shoutfest.

Last night Jon Stewart made yet another powerful critique of the clear, consistent (and many would argue, powerful) double-standard of hyperbole and generalization made by Fox News opinion-makers. Pegged to a recent NY Times report on the demographics of Tea Partiers, Stewart compared the criticism of oversimplified stereotypes on Fox News with the oversimplified stereotypes made by Fox News pundits and hosts in what is truly a powerful critique of the dominant cable news channel.

Juan Williams has absolutely no faith in the 2012 Republican presidential field. He brought a healthy dose of “fair and balanced” to the FOX News Sunday Panel Plus online-exclusive segment yesterday, where he predicted to his bemused colleagues that, despite their high hopes, if they didn’t find a respectable candidate soon, Barack Obama would win reelection in a landslide.

On a Fox News Sunday round table discussion today, Liz Cheney joined The Weekly Standard‘s Bill Kristol and Ceci Connolly of the Washington Post to speak about, among other things, the ongoing debate centered around the locale for the 9/11 terror trials. Cheney’s response, though, was the most direct: “When we prosecuted and successfully convicted people after the ’93 World Trade Center bombing, after the East African bombing, what it got us was 9/11 and 3,000 dead Americans.”

It looks like Glenn Beck isn’t the only one responding to the media’s personal critiques of his on air behavior. I missed this Monday, but turns out Jon Stewart (very briefly) responded to Howie Kurtz‘s speculation that Stewart was a secret neocon. Funny, funny stuff.

Back in 2008 plenty of people were concerned that Barack Obama’s election would be the end of political humor, particularly where Jon Stewart was concerned. Mostly because Obama was untouchable (ha!). However, Stewart has been taking such sharp aim at the President of late (or is it that Obama is just provided a bigger target?) that some people are speculating he may be…wait for it…a secret neocon!

After Harry Potter’s worldwide record-breaking weekend, we got to talking about certain parallels between the magical land of Hogwarts and the equally magical land of headlines, bylines, cutlines, chyrons, blog pickup and declining ad pages. Turns out, the two have a lot in common!

On that note, for your edification and enjoyment, we present our own version – let’s call it “Harry Potter and the Media Muggles.”

John McCain said today of President Barack Obama‘s Nobel Peace Prize that, “As Americans, we’re proud when our President receives an award of that prestigious category…Americans are always pleased when the President is recognized by something on this order.” According to Bill Kristol and Liz Cheney on Fox News Sunday — not quite.

Yesterday the New York Times fired Sunday business columnist Ben Stein freeing up some of the most valuable real estate in media. When the Times replaced Bill Kristol with Ross Douthat earlier this year they appeared to be not only aiming to attract a younger audience (he was 29 at the time of his hiring), but also an online one. Will they do something similar this time? One can only hope! Here’s some suggestions.

Last night on the Daily Show, Funny People director Judd Apatow revealed that he’d been thisclose to making the cover of Time, but got knocked off at the last minute by Dr. Obama. Ah well, Obama tends to do that sometimes. Luckily, Apatow had a version of “his” cover on hand, with the headline: Funny Person.

When Mets general manager Omar Minaya called a press conference yesterday to announce the firing of Tony Bernazard, the team’s VP for player development, New York Daily News reporter Adam Rubin was bizarrely dragged into the story when Minaya alleged that “for the past couple of years,” Rubin had been “lobby[ing] for a player development position,” and might have wanted Bernazard out of the picture so he could get the job himself.

Is Bill Kristol brave or merely crazy for his continued willingness to appear on The Daily Show? Probably a bit of both. Either way he certainly deserves some credit for having a sense of humor. And truth be told he makes for some good TV watching: Palin, Health Care, Cambridge police, oh my! Also, it’s fairly clear that ideology aside, Jon Stewart loves the foil that Kristol so happily provides.