memeorandum: In Gingrich, Romney Now Sees a Grave Threat (John Harwood/The Caucus)

6:00 PM ET, December 5, 2011

Top Items:

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPM SLIDESHOW: Meet The 2012 GOPers — Newt Gingrich — Pelosi knows more about Gingrich than perhaps any other major national political figure. She was a senior Democrat when Gingrich was House Speaker, served on the ethics committee that investigated Gingrich for tax cheating …

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, The Politico, Capital New York, Riehl World View, National Review, GOP 12, The Raw Story, Don Surber, Rod Dreher, Weasel Zippers, Hot Air, Mediaite, Taegan Goddard's …, Campaign 2012, iOwnTheWorld.com, The Maddow Blog and Swampland

Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:

Pelosi: I'll reveal information on Gingrich ‘when the time is right’ — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is holding back some information on Republican Newt Gingrich that could detract from his presidential campaign, according to a report published Monday.

Discussion: The Politico, The Right Scoop, The PJ Tatler, Campaign 2012, Weasel Zippers, Michelle Malkin, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Gateway Pundit and Mediaite

The Politico:

Telling: Newt's critics shut up — Newt Gingrich's critics within the GOP are legion, but for the moment they're also something else: quiet. — They all remember the last time Gingrich held power, as House speaker: the bombast, the reckless personal life, the arrogance and lack of discipline that bordered on dangerous.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos, A plain blog about politics, Betsy's Page, Rod Dreher, Little Green Footballs and Connecting.the.Dots

Justin Sink / The Hill:

Gingrich fires back at Pelosi over threat — Newt Gingrich said that a threat from ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to disclose information she learned while serving on an ethics committee investigating him during his time as Speaker of the House would “totally abuse the ethics process” …

Discussion: National Review

Maggie Haberman / The Politico: Newt Gingrich: Nancy Pelosi comments on ethics are ‘early Christmas gift’

Frank Newport / Gallup:

Republicans See Gingrich, Romney as “Acceptable” Nominees — All other candidates seen as unacceptable by half or more of Republicans — PRINCETON, NJ — Newt Gingrich (62%) and Mitt Romney (54%) are the only two candidates Republicans say would be acceptable presidential nominees from their party …

Discussion: Washington Post, 2012 Decoded, Firedoglake, Daily Kos, A plain blog about politics, Outside the Beltway, Washington Wire, Taegan Goddard's …, National Review, NewsBusters.org, Guardian and HotAirPundit

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Newt Gingrich defends Donald Trump from Ron Paul — After a nearly hour-long meeting at Trump Tower, Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich emerged for a joint press conference, where the former House Speaker defended The Donald from slams from Ron Paul that him moderating a debate would create a “circus” atmosphere.

Discussion: CNN, ABCNEWS, ThinkProgress, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, The Political Carnival, The Spectacle Blog, Swampland, The Loyal Opposition, Indecision Forever, Daily Kos and Portland Mercury

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

Send in the Clueless — There are two crucial things you need to understand about the current state of American politics. First, given the still dire economic situation, 2012 should be a year of Republican triumph. Second, the G.O.P. may nonetheless snatch defeat from the jaws of victory — because Herman Cain was not an accident.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, The Moderate Voice, Business Insider, Washington Post and The Mahablog

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:

The Morning Plum — * Top Romney operative admits ad attacking Obama was “propaganda”: This one should be seen as a defining moment for Campaign 2012. Check out the new defense of that dishonest ad attacking Obama that a top anomymous Romney campaign operative has now given to the New York Times' Tom Edsall:

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Daily Kos and The Impolitic

Thomas B. Edsall / Campaign Stops:
The Reinvention of Political Morality

Discussion: Washington Post and The Reality-Based Community

Igor Volsky / ThinkProgress: Bob Vander Plaats Whips Up Support For Gingrich In Iowa: 'He's Had A Life Transformation'

New York Times:
Gingrich Surges, but Romney Organization Is Stronger

Discussion: msnbc.com, Associated Press, Runnin' Scared, ThinkProgress, Washington Post, The Caucus, ABCNEWS, The Hill, Prairie Weather, The Politico, Booman Tribune, Taylor Marsh, Wall Street Journal, National Review, The Daily Caller, Ballot Box and Los Angeles Times, more at Mediagazer »

John Harwood / The Caucus:
In Gingrich, Romney Now Sees a Grave Threat

Discussion: New York Times, ABCNEWS and msnbc.com, more at Mediagazer »

Leslie Bennetts / The Daily Beast:

Ginger White on Herman Cain's Exit, His Arrogance—and Her Sex Claims — Ginger White, who dealt the death blow to Herman Cain's campaign by alleging a 13-year relationship, talks to Leslie Bennetts about: — A few hours after Herman Cain announced the end of his presidential campaign …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, neo-neocon, Guardian, PolitickerNY, Gawker and Business Insider

myfoxatlanta.com:
Source: Herman Cain to Endorse Newt Gingrich Monday

Eason Jordan / Poll Position:
Post-Cain, Gingrich edge 14%

Discussion: Ballot Box, Wake up America and CNN

Cynthia R. Fagen / New York Post:

Occupier gets an occupation — She's gone from Occupy Wall Street to occupying a job on Wall Street. — Down-on-her-luck protester Tracy Postert spent 15 days washing sidewalks and making sandwiches at Zuccotti Park — then landed a dream job at a Financial District investment firm thanks …

Discussion: City Room, Gothamist, Outside the Beltway, Ed Driscoll, Campaign 2012, The Daily Caller, Jammie Wearing Fools and DealBook

Erin Einhorn / NY Daily News:
Zuccotti Park owners Brookfield Properties owe city $139G in back taxes

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Business Insider, Balloon Juice, Daily Kos and Gawker

Zack Ford / ThinkProgress:

Fox News Business: The Muppets Are ‘Brainwashing’ Young People To Hate The Oil Industry — Life's a happy song, but not when Fox Business is singing along. The network is upset that the new Muppets movie, The Muppets, features an oil tycoon as a villain, with various contributors complaining …

Discussion: Media Matters for America

Jordan Zakarin / The Huffington Post:

The Muppets Are Communist, Fox Business Network Says … Muppets , Fox Business , Fox Business Network , Kermit The Frog , Kermit The Frog Miss Piggy , Muppets Communists , Fox News Muppets , Muppet Movie , The Muppets , The Muppets Are Communist , Entertainment News

Discussion: Washington Post and Mediaite

Glenn Greenwald / Salon:

George Orwell on the Evil Iranian Menace — “Actions are held to be good or bad, not on their own merits, but according to who does them” — The U.S. has long had Iran virtually encircled as a result of the American occupation of Afghanistan on Iran's Eastern border …

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Danger Room, Unqualified Offerings, The Long War Journal and americanthinker.com

John T. Bennett / The Hill:
Rep. Kucinich: Downed drone plane ‘a step’ toward war with Iran

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

New York Times:
Explosion Seen as Big Setback to Iran's Missile Program

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Firedoglake, Tikun Olam, americanthinker.com, Israel Matzav, EA WorldView and Reuters

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Senate Democrats shrink payroll tax cut to lure GOP support — Senate Democrats have shrunk a proposal to cut payroll taxes in hopes of luring Republican votes for the centerpiece of President Obama's jobs plan. — Democrats have reduced the $265 billion extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut …

Discussion: tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com, Washington Monthly, msnbc.com, Taylor Marsh and Hullabaloo

The Politico:
Parties roll out dueling payroll tax proposals

Discussion: Opinion L.A., Washington Wire and The Spectacle Blog

CBS News:

NASA finding feeds talk of a new Earth — Artist's conception illustrates Kepler-22b (NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech) — NASA has found a new planet outside Earth's solar system that is eerily similar to Earth in important aspects. — Scientists say the temperature on the surface of the planet is about a comfy 72 degrees (22 Celsius).

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Balloon Juice and Shakesville

The Playlist / Indiewire Blogs, Film News and Reviews:

Exclusive: ‘Dragon Tattoo’ Producer Scott Rudin Replies To David Denby's Upcoming New Yorker Review Embargo Break — “They reviewed what?” — If you follow movie insider baseball news you may have heard the embargo on Sony's “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is about to break tomorrow …

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, Poynter and Gothamist, more at Mediagazer »

David Denby / New Yorker:
DOUBLE DARE … - BOOKS - MOVIES - ART - MUSIC …

Discussion: Guardian, Gawker, AllThingsD and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »

Joe Weisenthal / Business Insider:

CHART OF THE DAY: Something Has Really Shifted In Europe This Time — It's tempting and easy to just say that whatever European leaders are cooking up right now is bound to fail, like every other past attempt at ending the crisis. — But here's a noteworthy market fact: Italian yields are collapsing today.

Joe Weisenthal / Business Insider:
Italian Yields Are Collapsing

Discussion: Questions and Observations, The Daily Dish and Economist's View

Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:

Rove says RNC should ‘discourage’ Trump-moderated debate — GOP veteran strategist Karl Rove said Monday the head of the Republican National Committee should step in to “discourage” presidential candidates from attending the upcoming debate moderated by Donald Trump.

Discussion: Business Insider and Sky Dancing

Travis Waldron / ThinkProgress:
Trump: Huntsman Has To Tell The Truth 'Because He's A Mormon' (Updated)

Discussion: GOP 12, The Raw Story and Business Insider

Keith Laing / The Hill:

FAA chief Babbitt placed on leave after drunk driving arrest — Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt has been placed on administrative leave after being arrested this weekend for driving while intoxicated, Department of Transportation officials said Monday.

Discussion: The Politico and Washington Post

Washington Post:
FAA head Randy Babbitt placed on leave after drunk driving arrest in Fairfax

Discussion: Don Surber and DCist

Josh-Williams / Gowalla:

Gowalla is Going to Facebook — Three years ago Gowalla's journey began when I took a photograph of Lake Tahoe on my iPhone. I had just finished a phone call with my dad, and I wanted nothing more than to share that photo and place with him. Not just in a text message or status update sort of way …

Discussion: Guardian, The Verge, TechCrunch, AllThingsD, GigaOM, Bits and Digits, more at Techmeme »

ABCNEWS:

U.S. Continues Radio Silence on Drone Held by Iran — There's no indication an unmanned missing U.S. drone was brought down by the Iranians through jamming or cyber attack, a senior military official told ABC News today. — The military is looking at this as strictly a malfunctioning drone.

Discussion: Washington Post and The Raw Story

Washington Post:
Iran says it downed U.S. stealth drone; Pentagon acknowledges aircraft downing

Discussion: Fox News, The Week, Wall Street Journal, ThinkProgress and Outside the Beltway

Radley Balko / The Huffington Post:

SWAT Raids, Stun Guns, And Pepper Spray: Why The Government Is Ramping Up The Use Of Force — In February of last year, video surfaced of a marijuana raid in Columbia, Mo. During the raid on Jonathan Whitworth and his family, police took down the door with a battering ram …