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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Wonkbook: A huge week for Europe  —  It is no exaggeration to say that this week could be remembered as the week that Europe either pulled back from the cliff or careened off of it altogether.  —  German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends debates at the Bundestag after giving a government declaration …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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).

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 …

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