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 …

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 …

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:

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

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.

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 …

Parties roll out dueling payroll tax proposals  —  House Republicans and Senate Democrats are on a collision course over extending a payroll tax break as the two sides intensify their legislative gamesmanship ahead of a crucial year-end deadline.  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans …

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 …

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).

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 …

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.

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.

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 ObamaCare Recusal Nonsense  —  The left doesn't want Justice Thomas to hear the case.  The right says Justice Kagan is too biased.  The full court should decide the case.  —  No sooner had the Supreme Court agreed to hear the challenge to the constitutionality of the Obama administration's …

Society: Governments must tackle record gap between rich and poor, says OECD  —  The gap between rich and poor in OECD countries has reached its highest level for over over 30 years, and governments must act quickly to tackle inequality, according to a new OECD report.