Top Items:

In Defense of Romney — Over the past several months, Mitt Romney has been an excellent presidential candidate. He has performed superbly in the debates. He has outorganized his rivals. He has relentlessly stayed on his core theme of putting Americans back to work.
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Rick Perry slips, Herman Cain rises in bid for GOP nomination, poll finds — After a quick rise in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has experienced an almost equally dramatic decline, losing about half of his support over the past month, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Discussion:
CNN, msnbc.com, New York Post, The Politico, Outside the Beltway, Guardian, Bloomberg, Hot Air, Conservatives4Palin, The Agonist, Swampland, Big Government, The Moderate Voice, Washington Wire, Daily Kos, Ben Smith's Blog, Jay Bookman, The Other McCain, New York Times, Firedoglake, Politics, Iowa Caucuses, New York Magazine, Associated Press, Lynn Sweet, Hotline On Call, Pajamas Media, The 1600 Report and The Hill


Cainmentum — Is the new Republican frontrunner Herman Cain? Maybe for this week anyway. PPP polled Republican primary voters in three pretty different states over the weekend- North Carolina, Nebraska, and West Virginia- and found Cain leading the way in each of them as Newt Gingrich surged …
Discussion:
GOP 12, ThinkProgress, Daily Kos, The Lonely Conservative, The New Republic and Wall Street Journal

‘Now Is Not My Time’ to Run, Christie Says — Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey announced on Tuesday that he had decided not to seek the presidency. — 1:30 p.m. | Updated Saying “now is not my time,” Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey announced on Tuesday that he would not seek the Republican nomination for the presidency.


Gov. Chris Christie will not run for president — TRENTON — He's not running, and he says he means it this time. — At a jammed Statehouse news conference, Gov. Chris Christie announced today that he would not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2012.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Runnin' Scared, Wonkette, Outside the Beltway, Sister Toldjah and Citizens for Legitimate …

Bachmann: Now that Christie's made his decision ‘I think the table is set’
Discussion:
Iowa Caucuses and CNN

Christie Coulda' Been A Contender, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Ran Neck And Neck With Romney, Obama
Discussion:
Washington Wire, GOP 12 and Hotline On Call

Chris Christie won't run for president: Now what?
Discussion:
Big Journalism, The New Republic, msnbc.com, Iowa Caucuses and Addicting Info

Christie clear: It's a no
Discussion:
Guardian, Swampland, Indecision Forever, Gothamist and Conservatives4Palin

On Wall Street, a Protest Matures — “I think a good deal of the bankers should be in jail.” — That is what Andrew Cole, an unemployed 24-year-old graduate of Bucknell University, told me Monday morning in Zuccotti Park, the epicenter of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
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Vice President Joe Biden doesn't know who Van Jones is — In interview on 970 WFLA, the VP says “whoever he is”
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Publius Forum, Weasel Zippers, Michelle Malkin, JammieWearingFool and Pajamas Media


Progressive of Pallor on pointless parade
Discussion:
The Daily Californian and The Daily Caller

Union Workers, Politicians Voice Support For “Occupy Wall Street” Protesters Following Arrests
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and Suburban Guerrilla

Reid blocks attempt by McConnell to vote on president's jobs bill — In a lively spat on the Senate floor Tuesday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) attempted call up President Obama's jobs plan for an immediate vote in the upper chamber. — However, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid …
Discussion:
TPMDC and Weasel Zippers
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Obama administration kept Democratic senators hanging on the phone
Discussion:
CNN, Weasel Zippers and Betsy's Page


Sarah Palin-affiliated law firm made early-state deadline inquiries — Ken Vogel and I both have sources telling us that calls were made on behalf of a mystery candidate to various early states to determine presidential filing deadlines. — The calls were made by representatives …
Discussion:
Politics, The Page, Riehl World View, Hot Air, GOP 12, Big Government, Conservatives4Palin, Citizens for Legitimate … and Atlas Shrugs


Money Dispute May End ‘Simpsons’ — A money dispute between Fox and the actors who voice the characters on The Simpsons may force the long-running hit series to shut down next spring. Lloyd Grove reports exclusively. — As Homer Simpson would put it, “D'oh!”
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, AOL TV, Mediaite, Deadline.com, ArtsBeat, newsfeed.time.com, The Raw Story, WJLA-TV, Gothamist and Gawker, more at Mediagazer »

Warren Buffett says he will release his tax return if Rupert Murdoch does — The billionaire investor Warren Buffett said Tuesday that he would release his tax returns if NewsCorp chairman Rupert Murdoch does. — Buffett's finances became a political target after President Obama made the …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
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Herman Cain: ‘Show Me The Science’ That Being Gay Is Not A Choice — The ladies of The View today challenged newly crowned Republican presidential front-runner Herman Cain on his beliefs about homosexuality. He confirmed that he would bring back Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and “Yes,” he believes being gay is a choice.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Good As You and Towleroad News #gay

House Republicans Request Special Counsel to Probe Holder on ‘Fast and Furious’ — EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans are calling for a special counsel to determine whether Attorney General Holder perjured himself during his testimony to the House Judiciary Committee on Operation Fast and Furious, Fox News has learned.
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Documents show Holder was informed of Fast and Furious operation in 2010
Discussion:
Doug Ross, Wake up America and americanthinker.com

GOP Rep. Wolf rips Norquist, tax pledge — Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) on Tuesday ripped the Grover Norquist tax pledge and the tax activist himself. — Wolf criticized Norquist's pledge, which most Republicans have taken in promising to not raise taxes, and said Norquist had used it to advance …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress
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Wolf: Grover Norquist's Relationships Should Give People Pause
Discussion:
Washington Wire and National Review


After Ruling, Hispanics Flee an Alabama Town — ALBERTVILLE, Ala. — The vanishing began Wednesday night, the most frightened families packing up their cars as soon as they heard the news. — They left behind mobile homes, sold fully furnished for a thousand dollars or even less.
Discussion:
al.com topics and Gawker
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Testimony — Economic Outlook and Recent Monetary Policy Actions — Before the Joint Economic Committee, U.S. Congress, Washington, D.C. — Chairman Casey, Vice Chairman Brady, and other members of the Committee, I appreciate this opportunity to discuss the economic outlook and recent monetary policy actions.
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Fed Chief Raises Doubts on Recovery
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Business Insider, Daniel W. Drezner and The Reformed Broker

Rick Perry, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Mitt Romney to boycott Univision debate over Rubio report — Four Republican presidential candidates are boycotting a proposed Univision debate due to allegations that the Spanish-language media giant tried to strongarm Sen. Marco Rubio …
Discussion:
Ballot Box

Secret Docs Show Foreclosure Watchdog Doesn't Bark or Bite — Why has the administration's flagship foreclosure prevention program been so ineffective in helping struggling homeowners get loan modifications and stay in their homes? One reason: The government's supervision of the program has apparently ranged from nonexistent to weak.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, TalkLeft, Felix Salmon, Business Insider, Poynter, HousingWire and Eschaton

Judicial Watch Obtains Documents Detailing the Cost to Taxpayers for Michelle Obama's Family Trip to Africa — Charges for the Aircraft and Crew Alone Amount to $424,142 — Judicial Watch, the organization that investigates and fights government corruption, announced today …
Discussion:
Campaign 2012, The Gateway Pundit, Politics, Weasel Zippers and JammieWearingFool

Pizza delivery guy calls cops on customer who smoked marijuana — AURORA - A man says he got much more than a large pizza when he called Papa John's for delivery - he got a visit from Aurora Police. — Officers performed a child welfare check and left without filing any charges.
Discussion:
The Consumerist and TalkLeft