Try checking out the built in web inspector tools in your browser. Right-click on an element and then select the "Inspect Element" option. You should see a panel open up with the HTML for what you clicked on highlighted and all of the CSS that applies to it as well. It's a great way to see which CSS rules take precedence too because you can see which rules are crossed out and which ones aren't (the crossed out ones get overridden by stronger CSS rules).

Also keep in mind that CSS posted on other sites might not work for you because they're using a different theme.

I see that http://thepoliticalpaige.wordpress.com/ is using the iThemes2 theme, so try adding the following to your Appearance → Custom Design → CSS editor to cut off the header image and make it appear shorter:

#custom-header-image {
	display: none;
}
#masthead > a {
	display: block;
	width: 978px;
	height: 180px;
	background: url(http://thepoliticalpaige.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/cropped-2am-52.png) no-repeat;
}

Note that this overrides the image that is set on the Appearance → Header page using custom CSS. So if you want to change the header image in the future, you need to remember to update it on the Appearance → Custom Design → CSS page.

you obviously know your stuff -- any chance you know where in there the "header height" is located? literally not seeing it. thanks again for your help.