Top Items:
Opinionator:
Is This Man the G.O.P.'s Best Bet for 2012? — Gail Collins: David, are you reconciled to the fact that Mitt Romney is going to be the Republican presidential nominee? — David Brooks: Oh, I went through that phase a few weeks ago after the debate at the Reagan library.
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Campaign 2012 and driftglass
RELATED:
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Perry Slumps in Polls, but Not to Romney's Gain — There have been three scientific national polls released of Republican voters since the Sept. 22 debate: a CNN poll that was conducted over the last weekend, and polls by Fox News and Economist/YouGov released on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Politics, The New Republic, Salon, The Raw Story, Mediaite, GOP 12 and Daily Kos
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
Political Memo: Romney Endures More G.O.P. Flirtation With Alternatives — WASHINGTON — The Republican who may have the strongest shot of winning the White House, at least in the eyes of President Obama and his advisers, is Mitt Romney. Now, if Mr. Romney could only persuade Republican voters.
Discussion:
Washington Post, RedState, msnbc.com, Poll Watch Daily, Associated Press, New York Magazine and The Page
Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: GOP Race Top Tier Now Romney, Perry and Cain
Fox News Poll: GOP Race Top Tier Now Romney, Perry and Cain
Discussion:
The Reaction, GOP 12, Top of the Ticket, Campaign 2012, Jay Bookman, The Daily Dish, RedState, Sunshine State Sarah, Don Surber, americanthinker.com, Guardian, Business Insider, National Review, Pajamas Media, Outside the Beltway, The Other McCain, Ben Smith's Blog, Hot Air, Trail Blazers Blog, CNN and Public Policy Polling
The Politico:
Complex calendar gives Romney edge
Complex calendar gives Romney edge
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, msnbc.com, GOP 12, Swampland and CNSNews
John Rossomando / The Daily Caller:
More solar companies led by Democratic donors received federal loan guarantees — A Daily Caller investigation has found that in addition to the failed company Solyndra, at least four other solar panel manufacturing companies receiving in excess of $500 million in loan guarantees …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Campaign 2012 and Pajamas Media
RELATED:
Andrew Restuccia / The Hill:
GOP's Solyndra probe threatens to ensnare Energy Secretary Chu
GOP's Solyndra probe threatens to ensnare Energy Secretary Chu
Discussion:
The Politico and JammieWearingFool
Serena Williams / The Onion:
Congress Takes Group Of Schoolchildren Hostage — WASHINGTON—Brandishing shotguns and semiautomatic pistols, members of the 112th U.S. Congress took a class of visiting schoolchildren hostage this morning, barricading themselves inside the Capitol rotunda, where they remain at press time.
Michael Lewis / Vanity Fair:
California and Bust — The smart money says the U.S. economy will splinter, with some states thriving, some states not, and all eyes are on California as the nightmare scenario. After a hair-raising visit with former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who explains why the Golden State has cratered …
Abby Goodnough / New York Times:
Man Is Held in a Plan to Bomb Washington — BOSTON — A 26-year-old man from a town west of Boston was charged Wednesday with plotting to blow up the Pentagon and the United States Capitol using remote-controlled aircraft filled with plastic explosives. — The suspect, Rezwan Ferdaus of Ashland …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, The Monkey Cage, New York Magazine and Creekside
RELATED:
Lydia Saad / Gallup:
Democrats Dispirited About Voting in 2012 — Republicans' enthusiasm for voting matches 2004 and exceeds 2008 — PRINCETON, NJ — In thinking about the 2012 presidential election, 45% of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, CNN, Weasel Zippers and Hot Air
The Politico:
Obama's health reform law rests with the Supreme Court — “Unfortunately the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Affordable Care Act's individual responsibility provision. We strongly disagree with their decision and today, the Obama administration will ask the Supreme Court to hear this case …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and ABCNEWS
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Michael D. Shear / The Caucus:
Supreme Court Ruling Could Revive Health Care for 2012 Campaign
Supreme Court Ruling Could Revive Health Care for 2012 Campaign
Discussion:
Prairie Weather
New York Post:
Christie seriously considering presidential bid after GOP prodding — By JOSH MARGOLIN in New York and S.A. MILLER in Washington — After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run — and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, City Room, The Daily Caller and Daily Kos
Jonathan Turley / Los Angeles Times:
Obama: A disaster for civil liberties — He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties. — President Obama failed to close Guantanamo Bay, continued warrantless surveillance and military tribunals and asserted the right to kill U.S. citizens he views as terrorists.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online and Cato @ Liberty
New York Post:
A ‘Furious’ revelation — This just might be the smoking gun we've been waiting for to break the festering “Fast and Furious” gun-running scandal wide open: the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives apparently ordered one of its own agents to purchase firearms with taxpayer money …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Hot Air, Confederate Yankee, Pundit & Pundette and The Daily Caller
Jennifer Jacobs / Iowa Caucuses:
Register exclusive: Newt Gingrich releases ‘21st Century Contract with America’ — Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, with his wife, Callista. (AP photo) — Republican Newt Gingrich, who has positioned himself as the idea guy in this presidential campaign, will today call for Americans …
Discussion:
CNN, Politics, Business Insider, Washington Post and The Daily Caller
New York Times:
Killing the Recovery — The world has barely dug out of recession and the global economy is again slowing dangerously. Most leaders seem eager to make things even worse. — Instead of looking for ways to reignite growth, Europe's leaders — and Republicans on Capitol Hill — are determined to slash public spending.
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
Romney addresses his Achilles' heel — Last week, in one of the more amusing political claims of the year, Mitt Romney boasted, “I stand by my positions. I'm proud of them.” Given Romney's record of abandoning every policy position he's ever taken, it was hard not to marvel at his shamelessness.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Unqualified Offerings and Balloon Juice
RELATED:
Emily Friedman / Politics:
Romney Addresses Flip-Flop Criticism at N.H. Town Hall
Romney Addresses Flip-Flop Criticism at N.H. Town Hall
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, Weasel Zippers, Campaign 2012 and National Review
RealClearPolitics Video Log:
Janeane Garofalo: Racist Republicans Support Herman Cain — Janeane Garofalo: “Herman Cain is probably well liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican party. Conservative movement and tea party movement, one in the same. ”
Discussion:
Moonbattery, Weasel Zippers and Pajamas Media
Joel Siegel / ABCNEWS:
Chris Christie: Is New Jersey Governor Too Overweight to Become President? — For Chris Christie, there was no way around it. “In case you haven't noticed, I'm slightly overweight,” he said during a debate in his successful campaign for governor. — Two years later, Christie is the man …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Politics and Trail Blazers Blog
Erica Pearson / NY Daily News:
Deportation would force 19-year-old and mom to leave ‘everything I know’, including dad and siblings — Nadia Habib who is facing deportation to Bangladesh, packs at her Queens home Wednesday night. Her and her mother are only allowed one 50-lb suitcase. — Her suitcase is packed …
Discussion:
Nation Now and New York Magazine
Associated Press:
Top Giuliani adviser meets with NH Republicans — CONCORD, N.H. — Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani dispatched a key emissary to New Hampshire on Wednesday to gauge their interest in his possible presidential bid. — One of the mayor's closest political advisers, Jake Menges …
Discussion:
The Hinterland Gazette, The Political Carnival and The Daily Caller
Campbell Robertson / New York Times:
Alabama Wins in Ruling on Its Immigration Law — A federal judge on Wednesday upheld most of the sections of Alabama's far-reaching immigration law that had been challenged by the Obama administration, including portions that had been blocked in other states.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Washington Post, The Caucus and UrbanGrounds
Eric Scheiner / CNSNews:
NYC Mayor Bloomberg: 'Government's Highest Duty' Is to Push ‘Healthy’ Foods — (CNSNews.com) - During a United Nations General Assembly summit on non-communicable diseases — a discussion that included diet and eating habits — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said …
Joe Kemp / NY Daily News:
Shocking video shows attempted murder of teen outside Brooklyn McDonald's — Three toughs pulled off a choreographed plan to pass a gun between them like a hot potato before one of them opened fire at a teen outside a Brooklyn McDonald's - and all of it was caught on camera.
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared and Gothamist