Asking what is the "best" electric guitar is like asking what is the best acoustic guitar. It is every bit as personal a decision, and the instruments are at least as varied as their acoustic counterparts. There is a lot to digest on this topic, and all of it matters -- the feel of the neck, the acoustic response, the soundness of the neck joint (whether bolt-on, set in, or neck-through), the type and quality of the electronics, the woods used, the scale length (Fenders are typically 3/4-inch longer scale length than Gibsons), the type of bridge/tailpiece (whammy, stop-tail, string-through), the contours of the body, the weight of the instrument on your shoulder, whether it's comfortable to play sitting down, etc.

Get into amps, and you have more choices -- tube or solid state, type of circuitry, loudness (not always apparent from the wattage rating), number and size (and type) of speakers, effects options/routing, weight (important if you play out), and a host of other variables. The amp is an integral part of your sound, and it has to mesh well with what the guitar is putting out.

What you should get depends on what you want (in all these categories), but just like with an acoustic guitar, you don't necessarily know what you want until you've been playing a while. We can give you information on the difference between single-coil pickups and humbuckers (dual coils), but you won't really know which you prefer until you spend some time with them. I don't say this to discourage you, but just to advise you that this is just as complicated and personal as any other instrument-buying decision.

I've been playing both electric and acoustic guitars for over thirty years, both professionally and for my own enjoyment. I have owned Les Pauls, Strats, Telecasters, and a number of others. My current axe of choice is a PRS CE-24, with a Peavey Steve Cropper model (sort of a mutant Telecaster) as a backup. For a basic rhythm guitar, the Telecaster is not a bad choice, although a lot of us kind of cringe at the harshness of some Telecaster bridge pickups and the sometimes "tinny" sound they can produce. I generally prefer a Strat myself (more versatile), but in most cases that means you're stuck with a whammy bar, which can just be a tuning headache if you don't use the thing. If you're primarily a rhythm player, I probably would not recommend a Les Paul.

As someone alluded to, the "big names" are really umbrella corporations at this point, and the quality of their guitars can really vary. Two Fender Telecasters may look pretty much the same, but the quality control, quality of the electronics, etc. can vary widely. Some education on this helps (how do Mexican Fenders compare to California Fenders?), but in the end you may have to be guided by the feel and sound. Don't be too gentle with the guitar when you try it out -- shake it around, twirl the knobs and flip the switches, listen for rattles and hums, etc. These things are supposed to be able to take some abuse.

While some of the advice on effects (stomp boxes and such) is worth heeding, do not assume that an effects controller can make up for a bad sound. Best bet is to try these things out "clean," and evaluate how pleasing they are. Also, remember that an electric instrument responds differently to playing dynamics than an acoustic instrument does -- you have to take it on its own terms.

There's more I could say, and probably will if this thread continues. Good luck, and ignore those folks who categorically dismiss electric guitars -- it's perfectly acceptable to play both.