Newt Gingrich Said What?  —  Recalling a speech where Newt Gingrich proposed abolishing tenure at state universities, I decided to go through the news archives for other examples of bold, intriguing ideas that went nowhere.  There is no doubt that Newt Gingrich is one of the most creative and energetic thinkers in the Republican Party.

Shockingly, Morning Joe Transcript Actually Worth Five Minutes of Your Time  —  But only five minutes.  —  Down on Obama, and that includes the liberals, who are beginning to get as distracted and depressed as he is, over the burden of having to spin his failures.  —  Video at the link, but here's some good parts.

Occupy L.A.: 30 tons of debris left behind at City Hall tent city  —  Sanitation officials said Wednesday that they expect to haul away 30 tons of debris from the Occupy L.A. encampment — everything from clothing to heaps of garbage to oddball curiosities left behind by the protesters …

Stocks & Bonds: Markets Surge on Action By Several Central Banks  —  A move announced by central bankers on Wednesday to contain the European debt crisis resulted in euphoria in global stock markets, but it also prompted skeptics to wonder: will this time be different?

Three inconvenient truths for Occupy Wall Street  —  Occupy Wall Street needs to recognize some realities about what drives income inequality.  —  Occupy Wall street demonstrators lock arms as they block Broad street near the New York Stock Exchange in lower Manhattan on Nov. 17.  (Mike Segar / Reuters)

Pike church takes stand against interracial couples  —  A small Pike County church has voted not to accept interracial couples as members or let them take part in some worship activities.  —  The decision has caused sharp reaction and disapproval in the Eastern Kentucky county.

Republican leaders warn rank and file: Don't blow our advantage on taxes  —  House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Wednesday that Republicans support extending the payroll-tax cut but that “there's no debate” about whether the measure should be paid for.  —  “We're going to continue …

Barney the bully: Congressman Frank's other legacy  —  The morning after his retirement announcement, Rep. Barney Frank scored an interview on NBC's “Today” show, gaining the opportunity to act as an elder statesman in front of a TV audience of millions.  Instead, the Massachusetts Democrat chose to quarrel with the interviewer.

A second Iranian nuclear facility has exploded, as diplomatic tensions rise between the West and Tehran  —  SHEERA FRENKEL - … AN IRANIAN nuclear facility has been hit by a huge explosion, the second such blast in a month, prompting speculation that Tehran's military and atomic sites are under attack.

Mayor Bloomberg: ‘I Have My Own Army’  —  In a speech at MIT last night to discuss the packed sweepstakes to build a tech campus in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg said he prefers City Hall to the White House.  Almost immediately after Mayor Bloomberg dampened recent speculation he's eyeing a White House bid …

US Embassy in Iran?  Michele Bachmann's ‘Oops’ Moment  —  ABC News' Molly Hunter reports:  —  Did Michelle Bachmann have her “oops” moment?  —  In light of the British Foreign Ministry pulling all U.K. nationals out of the British embassy in Tehran after students stormed the building in protest …

Dem Recruit Attacks GOP Congressman for Backing Obama  —  Here's a telling sign of how much President Obama's fortunes have changed since 2008 — a leading Democratic Congressional recruit is now attacking a Republican congressman for supporting the president.

Mitt Romney Said Allowing People To Forgo Health Insurance Is ‘Not American’ In 2006 … Mitt Romney , Video , Mitt Romney Health Care , Romney Health Care , Individual Mandate , Obamacare , Romney 2006 , Romney Care , Romney Chamber Of Commerce , Romney Health Care America , Romney Individual Mandate , Romney Insurance , Politics News

A Club of Liars, Demagogues, and Fools  —  The German newsweekly Spiegel takes the latest disclosures concerning Herman Cain and the rise of Newt Gingrich as an opportunity to offer a foreign bird's-eye view of the current Republican Party and the American media froth around it.  My translation:

Obama's city visit, Rockefeller tree tourists create traffic ‘nightmare’  —  Is he gone yet?  —  President Obama's fund-raising foray into Manhattan today created enough gridlock to make Congress envious — at almost the exact moment that thousands of tourists jammed into Rockefeller Center to watch the Christmas tree-lighting.

Labor board approves controversial union election rule in 2-1 vote  —  The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) voted Wednesday to move forward with portions of a controversial union election rule after the board's lone Republican member showed up to register his opposition.

Exclusive: Secret Conference Held to ‘Save Exodus International’ from Ruin  —  Exodus President Alan Chambers called a meeting together this past November 16.  The subject was quite simply how to keep Exodus International from social and financial oblivion.