Bachmann: Gardasil causes “mental retardation”  —  Earlier today, I noted that Michele Bachmann finally scored points on Rick Perry by hitting him on his ties to Merck and linking that to the Gardasil mandate Perry imposed through executive order in Texas.  This is a fair point on Perry's record …

The frontrunner has no clothes  —  The applause identified Rick Perry as the crowd favorite when he took the stage in Tampa for Monday night's Tea Party debate, greeting his lesser rivals as “fellas.”  —  But two hours later, those fellas - and a gal from Minnesota - had made some serious …

Social Security hurting Perry?  —  Americans strongly disagree with the statements Rick Perry made about Social Security in last week's Republican Presidential debate, and Barack Obama has nearly doubled his lead over Perry nationally in the span of just 3 weeks.

Rush: Bachmann jumped the shark over Gardasil causing mental retardation  —  Rush had high praise for Bachmann's performance last night, but in the clip below he says she's gone too far today, jumping the shark over repeating the anecdote she heard last night after the debate that suggested that Garadasil might cause mental retardation:

The Gardasil Flap  —  I can't make up my mind over this whole controversy.  I think I'm torn because both sides are making good and bad arguments.  I think the charge of crony capitalism against Perry is valid generally and looks on target in this case in particular.  The issue isn't just that he got $5,000 from Merck.

Is Rick Perry Making Mitt Romney a Better Candidate?  —  Republican presidential candidates Rick Perry (left) and Mitt Romney at the end of the debate sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express at the Florida state fairgrounds on Monday.  —  Rick Perry has cost Mitt Romney his lead in the polls …

Census: US poverty rate swells to nearly 1 in 6  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranks of America's poor swelled to almost 1 in 6 people last year, reaching a new high as long-term unemployment left millions of Americans struggling and out of work.  The number of uninsured edged up to 49.9 million, the biggest in more than two decades.

Dems' fate in NY special sparks '12 fears  —  A looming Democratic loss in New York's special election Tuesday would be seen as a sign of big political and policy problems for President Obama and his party heading into next year's election.  —  Democrats have held former Rep. Anthony Weiner's …