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 …

Source: Herman Cain to Endorse Newt Gingrich Monday  —  ATLANTA - Herman Cain might be out of the running as a Republican presidential candidate, but his voice still carries weight with his many loyal supporters.  Since he bowed out of the race Saturday, there has been much speculation on who he would endorse.

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.

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 …

Explosion Seen as Big Setback to Iran's Missile Program  —  WASHINGTON — The huge explosion that destroyed a major missile-testing site near Tehran three weeks ago was a major setback for Iran's most advanced long-range missile program, according to American and Israeli intelligence officials and missile technology experts.

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.

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 …

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.

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio Failed To Investigate Over 400 Sex Crimes, Including Molestations Of Undocumented Children  —  Arizona's infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R) spends a lot of time playing politics and apparently no time doing his actual job.  The AP reports that, over a three-year period ending in 2007 …

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 …