Who knew the Dilbert guy, Scott Adams, was such a controversial figure? The cartoonist behind the hapless office drone has found himself in hot water of late, first for comparing women to “children and the mentally handicapped,” and now, for defending Marilyn Davenport, the Republican official who sent emails depicting President Obama as the offspring of chimpanzees.

Today’s installment of “heinous, unacceptable racism disguised as ‘jokes’” features a Republican official on Orange County, California, President Obama, and monkeys in photoshop. GOP official Marilyn Davenport is coming under fire for sending other Republican officials an email depicting President Obama as a chimpanzee, in the arms of chimpanzee “parents,” claiming, “Now you know why– no birth certificate! [sic].” Davenport is sticking to her guns, blaming the media for making too much of a fuss.

In an interview with CNN’s Eliot Spitzer on In the Arena Tuesday, Democratic Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts described the Republican Party as being motivated by “anger and fear.” Patrick called the continued emphasis on the President Obama’s birth as “perverse,” but dodged two attempts by Spitzer to get the governor to comment on whether birtherism was driven by racism.

What Patrick did say was that the priorities of the Republican Party seem driven by fear:

On CNN’s State of the Union this morning, Candy Crowley interviewed Republican Senator Richard Lugar, who had some surprising statements on the state of the White House and the GOP.

“Now, I think since the election, my understanding is that the meetings that President Obama has had have certainly had an element of reaching out. And I think that has been appreciated,” Lugar said.

There has been no shortage of drama and intrigue surrounding tomorrow’s midterm elections, but in the face of what’s expected to be a significant night for the GOP is the battle over the soul of the Republican party: Tea Party vs. Establishment or “old school” vs. new. This, then, was the subtext of a recent interview with GOP Party leader Michael Steele conducted by Shepard Smith, who pulled absolutely no punches in asking some very tough questions with the at-times maligned leader of the GOP.

Sarah Palin is a trendsetter, and she’s going to make this George W. Bush character popular on the campaign trail no matter what challenges stand before her. Yes, Palin invoked he-who-shall-not-be-named at a campaign event earlier today to get Republicans and independents fired up about foreign policy, fiscal responsibility, and “good ol’ Reaganism.” Too soon?

On the heels of President Obama—who lambastes the GOP’s “Pledge to America” for advocating “irresponsible policies”—FactCheck.org is also criticizing the Pledge, saying that it isn’t wholly factually accurate.

With the midterm elections rapidly approaching, the fixation on the Republican Party’s chances for a comeback are evolving into speculation over the future of the GOP should the Tea Party make a serious indent on their collective persona. In light of this, Chris Matthews argued Friday night that the GOP’s biggest problem will not be President Obama or the Democrats, or even the Tea Party candidates themselves, but what to do about Sarah Palin, the candidate.

Former Bush speechwriter and Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson is a bit wary of the Tea Party movement, to say the least, but still considers himself a conservative. Defending his position to an increasingly incredulous Laura Ingraham on The O’Reilly Factor last night, however, he found himself fighting comparisons to DNC chair Howard Dean, the progressive website MoveOn.org, and a certain allegedly left-of-center cable network

Republicans in the House deserve a lot of credit for trying something new. In a further bid to be seen as the party of the people, they announced yesterday that they had created a website called America’s Speaking Out where users can give their opinions on issues that they think Republicans should tackle in their quest to regain control this November. Unfortunately, while the idea is clever and well-intentioned, it’s also a little bit naive. As anyone who has ever been in a message board ever will tell you, the internet is full of crazy people.

RedState Editor and CNN Contributor Erick Erickson has taken the offensive against the right lately. It began when he called for an end to the Tea Party movement, and now he’s taken on the Republican Party for an appearance by RNC Chairman Michael Steele at Al Sharpton‘s National Action Network. Is there a place on the right for someone who is neither a tea partier nor a Republican?

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel was recently interviewed by CBS’ Katie Couric for tomorrow night’s episode of 60 Minutes, a short clip of which has been released online. In the clip made available, Emanuel briefly discusses the challenges of his political foes: the Republican Party, and says that they have their “own problems and fissures” and are “at the behest of a fringe group that’s taken control of their own party.” Video after the jump.

Who: Jeffrey Toobin, Calvin Trillin, Janeane Garofalo and Jonathan Alter, moderated by Andy Borowitz What: The Andy Borowitz Report: Obama’s First Year Where: 92nd St. Y When: January 27, 2010 Thumbs: Up Host/moderator Andy Borowitz set the tone for the evening with ten minutes of stand-up comedy at the top of the event. It sent [...]

CNN makes some news! CNN’s Dana Bash interviewed Senator Joe Lieberman last night for AC360 and when the topic of his political party affiliation came up, the former Democrat and current independent did not rule out a future campaign as a Republican. Lieberman told Bash that a move to the GOP remained a possible, though unlikely, option. “I don’t know what I’ll run as,” he said. “I like being an independent. So that’s definitely a possibility. But I’d say all options are open.”

Joe Scarborough claimed earlier this week that Conservative Radio Host Rush Limbaugh isn’t helping the Republican party by expressing joy over Chicago’s Olympics failure.

Well Limbaugh hit back claiming that Scarborough was doing his “best impression of a neutered chickified moderate” when he spoke out again him. And so it goes.

If the Republican party wants to take a major chunk of seats in 2010 from the Democratic majority, maybe listening to Rush Limbaugh (the de factor head of the Republican Party) isn’t a good idea. And Michael Steele – the actual head of the Republican party – hasn’t exactly excited the masses. Hannity? Beck?

How about Jon Stewart. The Daily Show host delivered a crushing critique of the Democrats ineffectiveness last night.