Good Thursday afternoon. Turns out Politics Nation isn't invincible after all, especially when it comes to ankles. Here's what Washington is watching today:

-- The Senate continues consideration of a housing reform bill today, with a cloture attempt coming this morning. Later, the upper chamber will vote on nominations of General David Petraeus to take over U.S. Central Command and Lieutenant General Ray Odierno to take Petraeus's slot as commander of troops in Iraq. The House takes up a bill on designations of historic trails, which could cause a fight over private property rights. And President Bush will sign the new FISA bill into law this afternoon at the White House.

-- The big news of the day, though, is an apology issued by the Rev. Jesse Jackson after comments he made on a live mic in which he said he would like to deprive Barack Obama of a sensitive part of the male anatomy for what Jackson said was talking down to African Americans. Jackson made the comments to a Fox reporter in what he thought was a private moment, though the comments have now been replayed on Fox News and will continue to make the rounds. Universally repudiated, Jackson apologized for the comments, an apology Obama accepted.

-- The underlying sentiment, though, is an interesting point that cuts to the heart of Obama's candidacy. The old guard, be it of African American political leaders or of the Democratic Party as a whole, has passed the torch to Obama and a new generation of leaders. Some have done so gracefully -- many early Obama endorsers said as much when they backed him -- and others, most notably Jackson and Bill Clinton, have been less artful. Jackson's sentiment that Obama is in some way stealing his thunder is understandable, but that he would say it in such a manner just makes Jackson look worse.

-- The generational gap is a theme that's going to play out in the general election, too. The two candidates will frame it as another "change versus experience" battle, but with one septuagenarian candidate and one who hasn't even turned 50, it would be nearly impossible not to see the election as a contest of two contrasting generations. But while the Democratic primary electorate may be ready for a new set of leaders, the electorate at large may be less so, giving McCain a hope for November. Don't forget that senior citizens are the most reliable voting bloc, while the younger voters Obama hopes to turn out have always proven fickle.

-- Among those out of the gate with statements condemning Jackson's comments was his son, Obama national co-chairman and Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. The younger Jackson repudiated his father's remarks and urged him to "keep hope alive and any personal attacks and insults to himself." By the way, Jackson's own apology stressed that the remarks were meant to be private and that he didn't know the mic was on, channeling President Bush's apology for comments about New York Times writer Adam Clymer. Politicians of both parties should remember the fundamental rule of public speaking: Always assume the mic is on. And the rest of America should keep asking: Is an ugly sentiment said in private any better than an ugly sentiment aired in public?

-- Another lesson in politics: If you want to be read, get your stuff on the Drudge Report. Drudge was first up with the explosive headlines about Jackson's comments yesterday, reminding The Fix just why Drudge is one of the biggest names in politics right now. Drudge makes a story, Cillizza writes, by promoting it to his unique and powerful audience, including every political writer in the country, and by figuring out what story is about to bust wide open. "Drudge has become center court at Wimbledon," GOP strategist Alex Castellanos told The Fix. "If it doesn't happen there, it doesn't happen."

-- On the Republican side, we've said it before and we'll say it again: If John McCain is the next president, Mark Salter is going to be a prominent reason why. McCain's former Senate chief of staff, Salter is like a brother to the Arizonan, as McCain himself told Bloomberg's Ed Chen.

Salter is no Karl Rove or Mark Penn, in that he is not a political strategist. He's not a John Podesta or Charlie Black, Washington power players extraordinare. He's simply the person best able to put McCain's thoughts into words. That, for a candidate who is less oratorical than his opponent, makes Salter one of the most crucial cogs in the McCain campaign wheel.

-- Clip-And-Save Of The Day: Political writers will soon begin to offer their version of a Ph.D. thesis -- the definition of voters they see as key to winning in November. USA Today's Susan Page has the first version we've seen this year, based on the level of enthusiasm a voter feels. The news isn't good for McCain: Those most excited to vote are big Obama backers, while those who aren't excited generally prefer McCain. The Republican is going to have to fire up some new backers if he wants a shot at the White House.

-- Today On The Trail: Obama is in Fairfax, Virginia this afternoon for a town hall meeting on economic security for women, while wife Michelle goes a-courtin' in Kansas City, Missouri. McCain is holding a town hall meeting in Belleville, Michigan, before heading to Minneapolis for a rally as his plane touches down. Later, the Arizona Senator will have a tele-town hall meeting with Virginians.