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 …

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 …

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:

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Fox News Candidate is... Fox News  —  Mwahahaha.  —  When six GOP primary contenders descended on Fox News' midtown headquarters for a “candidates forum” with a trio of red state attorneys general on Saturday night, the candidates probably expected tough questions about their positions.

Aaron Sorkin's HBO Cable News Series To Be Called ‘Newsroom’  —  Exclusive: The upcoming HBO drama about cable news from “The West Wing” creator Aaron Sorkin finally has a name.  TVNewser has learned that HBO is expected to call the series “Newsroom.”  —  Sorkin's series follows fictional …

Italian Yields Are Collapsing  —  The yields on the Italian 10-year has fallen below 6.2%!  —  Just remember, it was just the week before Thanksgiving that the yield here was above 7.4%, so this is a huge move.  —  Obviously investors are reacting to the twin promises of new austerity …