memeorandum: US to use foreign aid to promote gay rights (Julie Pace/Associated Press)

5:20 PM ET, December 6, 2011

Top Items:

Ramesh Ponnuru / Bloomberg:

Heartbreak Awaits Republicans Who Love Newt: Ramesh Ponnuru — Before Republicans put Newt Gingrich at the top of their party, they should consider what happened the last time he led it. — In the mid-1990s, Gingrich was the de facto head of the Republican Party.

Discussion: The Daily Caller and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

The Gallup Organization / Gallup:

Gingrich 37%, Romney 22% Among GOP Voters Nationwide — Gallup's initial Daily tracking finds all other candidates in single digits — PRINCETON, NJ — Newt Gingrich leads Mitt Romney 37% to 22% in Gallup's inaugural Daily tracking of Republican registered voters' preferences …

Discussion: Firedoglake, GOP 12, A plain blog about politics, Washington Post, RedState, Guardian, Ballot Box, Daily Kos, Taegan Goddard's … and Donklephant

Charles P. Pierce / Esquire:

The Truth About Pundit Crap: Could Jon Meacham Be the Most Insufferable Human in Washington? — I have long proposed that every single major elite political pundit be frog-marched away from the buffet tables inside the Beltway and deep into the Blue Ridge Mountains, there to be confined …

Discussion: TIME Ideas, FishbowlDC, Balloon Juice and The Impolitic

Pema Levy / 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPM2012 — The Libertarian Intelligentsia Is Freaking Out Over Newt — Libertarians in Washington are not happy about how the Republican primary is shaping up. Barring a miracle, there are two candidates with a decent shot at the nomination. Mitt Romney, the godfather of Obamacare, is not libertarians' first choice.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Outside the Beltway, The Volokh Conspiracy, Talking Points Memo, Lawyers, Guns & Money and The Daily Caller

The Caucus:

Gingrich Surges Ahead in Iowa — DES MOINES - A month before the Republican nominating contest opens here, former Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a substantial lead among voters who say they are likely to participate in the Iowa caucuses, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, 2012 Decoded, The Right Scoop, Outside the Beltway, The Hill, Firedoglake, Iowa Caucuses, Guardian and New York Times

Molly K. Hooper / The Hill:
GOP kingmakers unhappy with choice between Romney, Gingrich for 2012

Discussion: CNN, Taylor Marsh, CANNONFIRE and The Politico

Kevinliptak / CNN:
Romney latest candidate to say no to Trump

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blog

Judy Kurtz / The Hill:
Gaming website picks Hillary Clinton over Bachmann and Santorum for president

Discussion: Reuters

Alexander Burns / The Politico:
Newt Gingrich: 'Kids shouldn't work in coal mines'

Discussion: Indecision Forever, ThinkProgress and JustOneMinute

Glenn Beck:

Transcript of Newt Gingrich interview — Glenn is back on TV! Watch Glenn's new two-hour show available live and on-demand Monday through Friday on GBTV.com! Start your two week free trial HERE! — Below is a rush transcript of Glenn's interview with Newt Gingrich this morning.

Discussion: ABCNEWS, The Hill, Mediaite, Hot Air, Business Insider, ThinkProgress, National Review, Capital Hill, American Spectator and The Right Scoop

Jake Tapper / ABCNEWS:
Pentagon Encourages Newt Gingrich to Read Panetta Speech Before Criticizing

Discussion: Rubin Reports, Newshoggers.com and Right Wing News

Caroline Glick:
An ally no more — With vote tallies in for Egypt's first round …

Discussion: Atlas Shrugs, The Gateway Pundit and Israel Matzav

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
TRENDING: Beck the latest GOPer to take on Gingrich

Discussion: The Spectacle Blog and The Huffington Post

Daniel Strauss / Ballot Box:

Call him crazy but Huntsman shifts on climate change — GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman shifted his position on global warming Tuesday, telling a conservative audience that there is “not enough information right now” on the issue to formulate policies.

Discussion: CNN

The Politico:
Jon Huntsman tacks to skepticism on climate

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Slate, Los Angeles Times, msnbc.com and Grist

Evan McMorris-Santoro / 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPM2012 — Jon Huntsman Flip-Flops On Climate Change

Discussion: The Atlantic Online, Washington Monthly, Little Green Footballs, The Heritage Foundation, The Spectacle Blog and Talking Points Memo

Shushannah Walshe / ABCNEWS:

Rick Santorum Has Tense Exchange on Gay Rights and Health Care in Iowa — SIOUX CENTER, IOWA—Rick Santorum is usually quite amiable on the trail, but Monday evening at campaign event at small Christian college in Sioux City he had some tense back and forth exchanges with one student and another graduate of the college.

Discussion: ThinkProgress and The Raw Story

Eric Kleefeld / 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPM2012 — Santorum: People Die In America Because They ‘Make Poor Decisions’

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Outside the Beltway, ThinkProgress and Towleroad News #gay

Felicia Sonmez / Washington Post:

Senate Republican filibuster blocks Obama D.C. Circuit nominee Caitlin Halligan — Senate Republicans on Tuesday filibustered the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, blocking a nominee tapped last year by President Obama to serve on one of the country's most powerful courts.

Discussion: Law Blog, Washington Monthly, ACS Blog, A plain blog about politics, NetRight Daily and RedState

Guy Benson / Townhall.com:
Alert: Left-wing Obama Judicial Appointee Faces Crucial Vote Today

Discussion: The Politico, Hot Air, Washington Post and LifeNews.com

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:

Obama says economic ‘inequality’ hurts everyone — (CNN) - President Barack Obama said Tuesday that economic inequality in America is at “a level we haven't seen since the Great Depression” and “hurts us all.” — “When middle-class families can no longer afford to buy the goods and services …

Discussion: The Impolitic and Weasel Zippers

Grace Wyler / Business Insider:
Here's The BIG Class Warfare Speech Obama Is Giving In Kansas Right Now

Discussion: Hot Air and National Review

Rachel Rose Hartman / Yahoo! News:

On private call, Republicans say attacking Obama personally is too dangerous: Yahoo News exclusive — Obama greets a crowd at Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport (Carolyn Kaster/AP) — Republicans on a private Republican National Committee conference call with allies warned Tuesday …

Discussion: Ben Smith's Blog, National Review, Outside the Beltway, Gawker and The Daily Caller

Benjamin Domenech / Heartlander Magazine:

Quarter-Billion Taxpayer Dollars Spent on Penis Pumps — Benjamin Domenech is managing editor of Health Care News and a research fellow at The Heartland... (read full bio) — TWITTER — According to data collected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) …

Discussion: Marathon Pundit

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
An absurd choice for a health care award

Discussion: PERRspectives, Paul Krugman and The Politico

James Hibberd / Inside TV:

Republicans vs. Democrats TV survey results: Lefties want comedy, right wingers like work — Republicans don't watch MTV's Jersey Shore. But they dig ABC's Castle. — Democrats don't like Discovery's Deadliest Catch. But they swoon for NBC's Parks and Recreation.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Guardian, Big Hollywood and Mediaite

Julie Pace / Associated Press:

US to use foreign aid to promote gay rights — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration is announcing a wide-ranging effort to use U.S. foreign aid to promote rights for gays and lesbians abroad, including combating attempts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality.

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, American Spectator and Campaign 2012

Justin Sink / The Hill:
Obama announces foreign aid to promote gay rights; plan panned by Perry

Discussion: CNN and ThinkProgress

Judy Kurtz / The Hill:

Bob Woodward says sitting next to Al Gore is ‘taxing, unpleasant’ — If you plan on throwing a dinner party full of VIPs, whatever you do, don't seat Bob Woodward next to Al Gore. — In a speech at the Organization for International Investment's annual dinner at D.C.'s Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Thursday …

Discussion: iOwnTheWorld.com

William Glaberson / New York Times:

N.Y.C. Police Maligned Paradegoers on Facebook — They called people “animals” and “savages.” One comment said, “Drop a bomb and wipe them all out.” — Hearing New York police officers speak publicly but candidly about one another and the people they police is rare indeed, especially with their names attached.

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Colorlines, The Atlantic Online, Gawker and Gothamist

Debbie Siegelbaum / The Hill:

Unemployed protesters stage sit-ins in dozens of lawmaker offices — Nearly 3,000 protesters are staging sit-ins in congressional offices at the Capitol on Tuesday, demanding they be heard on the plight of the unemployed. — The protests, organized by activist groups including OurDC and Moveon.org …

Discussion: The Political Carnival

Spike Dolomite Ward / Los Angeles Times:

‘Obamacare’ to the rescue — A woman who felt President Obama had let the middle class down has changed her mind. — In this August 20, 2009 photo, President Obama spoke during a town hall meeting on healthcare at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington. (Alex Wong/Bloomberg)

Discussion: The Mahablog, The Political Carnival, Washington Monthly, Balloon Juice and Daily Kos

Judy Kurtz / The Hill:

Correction from White House: President didn't say he's ‘mad living here’ — Note to critics of President Obama and any remaining birthers out there: Contrary to what the White House originally claimed, the president didn't actually say he was “mad” living here.

Discussion: CNN