Top Items:
Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Paul closes in on Gingrich — There has been some major movement in the Republican Presidential race in Iowa over the last week, with what was a 9 point lead for Newt Gingrich now all the way down to a single point. Gingrich is at 22% to 21% for Paul with Mitt Romney at 16% …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, National Review, Salon.com, Mediaite, Examiner, Business Insider, Swampland, The Moderate Voice, Campaign 2012, Weasel Zippers, Outside the Beltway, Patterico's Pontifications, Ballot Box, The PJ Tatler, Bark Bark Woof Woof, americanthinker.com, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Indecision Forever, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Washington Post, CNN, The Politico, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Mahablog and Booman Tribune
RELATED:
Jennifer Jacobs / Iowa Caucuses:
Gingrich's Iowa political director leaves campaign after Mormonism ‘cult’ remark — Craig Bergman (Dave Davidson / Prezography.com) — The new political director for Newt Gingrich's Iowa campaign thinks that some evangelicals believe God would reject Mitt Romney because of his Mormonism.
Discussion:
Publius Forum, The Iowa Republican and The Politico
Washington Post:
Romney blasts Gingrich as ‘extremely unreliable’ conservative leader — BOSTON—Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney blasted rival Newt Gingrich Tuesday as an “extremely unreliable leader in the conservative world” who has taken positions in this campaign that should give GOP voters pause …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Page, The Politico and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
ABCNEWS:
Christine O'Donnell Endorses Mitt Romney for President — Christine O'Donnell, the former Republican Senate candidate and a tea party favorite during the 2010 election, has officially endorsed Mitt Romney for president. — O'Donnell made her endorsement during an appearance this evening on Fox News' “Hannity.”
Discussion:
The Other McCain, Sky Dancing and Weasel Zippers
Kevin Hall / The Iowa Republican:
TIR Focus Group: Evangelicals Will Revolt Against Romney Nomination — A focus group of Iowa conservative activists gathered recently to discuss the upcoming caucuses. The group, organized by TheIowaRepublican.com in conjunction with McClatchy newspapers, included a retiree, a college student …
Discussion:
USA Today, American Thinker, Taylor Marsh, The Moderate Voice, CBS News, TBogg and O.KayHenderson.com
Jonah Goldberg / Los Angeles Times:
Newtzilla to the rescue — Many feel that a Gingrich victory might be scarier than a GOP defeat. His chances may depend on how desperate voters feel about the state of the nation. — Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich poses …
Discussion:
News Desk, Riehl World View, Daily Pundit, Cold Fury, Don Surber, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and The Daily Dish
Mark Murray / msnbc.com:
NBC/WSJ poll: Romney struggles with primary voters, Gingrich with general electorate — Why the difference between Mitt Romney, left, and Newt Gingrich, right? Look no further than the two men's favorability ratings. — By Mark Murray, Deputy Political Director, NBC News
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Hot Air, Washington Wire, The Political Carnival, Ballot Box and Washington Post
Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Christine O'Donnell endorses Romney — Former tea party candidate and U.S. Senate hopeful Christine O'Donnell has cast a, er, endorsement Mitt Romney's way. — O'Donnell, who had indicated she was leaning Romney's way over the last few months, has cred and a voter list of tea partiers …
Discussion:
CNN, The Moderate Voice, ABCNEWS, New York Times, Prairie Weather and The Hill
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Oh my: Ron Paul within one point of Gingrich in Iowa?
Oh my: Ron Paul within one point of Gingrich in Iowa?
Discussion:
The Iowa Republican, Real Clear Politics, Mediaite, NewsBusters.org and Business Insider
Ross Douthat / Campaign Stops:
Ron Paul Rising
Ron Paul Rising
Discussion:
Ellisblog!, Real Clear Politics, Vox Popoli, Prairie Weather, The Daily Caller and Campaign 2012
Pew Research Center / PewResearch.org:
Gingrich Leads, But Likely GOP Primary Voters Have Not Ruled Out Romney
Gingrich Leads, But Likely GOP Primary Voters Have Not Ruled Out Romney
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:
Gingrich Iowa staffer resigns after calling Mormonism a ‘cult’
Gingrich Iowa staffer resigns after calling Mormonism a ‘cult’
Discussion:
The Politico, ABCNEWS and CNN
Neil King Jr / Wall Street Journal:
Gingrich Surges, but Swing Voters Are Wary
Gingrich Surges, but Swing Voters Are Wary
Discussion:
Campaign 2012, Washington Post and MyFox Philadelphia
New York Times:
House Passes Extension of Cut to Payroll Taxes — WASHINGTON — Defying a veto threat from President Obama, the House on Tuesday passed a bill extending a cut in Social Security payroll taxes for 160 million Americans for another year. But the Democratic majority in the Senate vowed to reject …
RELATED:
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Bluff called: House defies Obama veto threat, passes payroll cut extension with Keystone pipeline provision
Bluff called: House defies Obama veto threat, passes payroll cut extension with Keystone pipeline provision
Discussion:
CNNMoney.com, CNN and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
Congress debates payroll tax cut, government funding omnibus
Congress debates payroll tax cut, government funding omnibus
Discussion:
Right Wing News
Pete Kasperowicz / The Hill:
House passes payroll tax cut extension bill despite veto threat
House passes payroll tax cut extension bill despite veto threat
Discussion:
Booman Tribune and The Politico
Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPMDC — Dems To GOP: Deal Fairly On Payroll Tax Or Shut Down The Government
TPMDC — Dems To GOP: Deal Fairly On Payroll Tax Or Shut Down The Government
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Daily Kos
The United States Department of Justice:
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum — Thank you, Mark [ Updegrove] . It is a pleasure to be with you - and to join so many friends, colleagues, and critical partners in welcoming some of our nation's most dedicated and effective civil rights champions …
Discussion:
Law Blog, Power Line, Nice Deb, Truthdig, Doug Ross and The Lonely Conservative
RELATED:
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Holder Signals Tough Review of New State Laws on Voting — AUSTIN, Tex. — Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Tuesday entered the turbulent political waters of voting rights, signaling that the Justice Department would be aggressive in reviewing new voting laws that civil rights advocates …
Discussion:
Flopping Aces, Big Government, USA Today, Booman Tribune, Bark Bark Woof Woof, ACS Blog, Vox Verax, American Power, LBJ Library & Museum and Power Line
Associated Press:
Stephanopoulos back to replace Amanpour at ABC's ‘This Week,’ will remain host of ‘GMA’ — NEW YORK — Christiane Amanpour is being replaced as ABC's Sunday morning political talk show host by the man she took over from — George Stephanopoulos. — ABC News said Tuesday that Amanpour is out as host of “This Week.”
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, Mediaite, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Big Journalism, Taylor Marsh and The PJ Tatler
RELATED:
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Dem Senators to Obama administration: On Plan B, it's put up or shut up time — It isn't every day that 14 Senators aggressively call out their own party's Health and Human Services Secretary, imply that a major decision made their own party's adminstration was not based on science, and demand proof to the contrary.
Discussion:
New York Times, Political Mojo and Daily Kos
The Jewish Week:
My Tim Tebow Problem — I've got a Tim Tebow problem. — I want to root for the guy, but I'm afraid of what will happen if the hulky Denver Bronco quarterback continues to pull off what is fast becoming the Greatest Gridiron Story Ever Told. Since taking over as starting quarterback earlier this season …
Discussion:
Jammie Wearing Fools, Weasel Zippers, The Gateway Pundit, Ed Driscoll, Liberal Values and The Other McCain
Gene Marks / Quicker Better Tech:
If I Were A Poor Black Kid — President Obama gave an excellent speech last week in Kansas about inequality in America. — “This is the defining issue of our time.” He said. “This is a make-or-break moment for the middle class, and for all those who are fighting to get into the middle class.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Sadly, No!, THEROOT.COM, pandagon.net and Balloon Juice
Justin Sink / The Hill:
Trump pulls out of GOP debate — Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will not moderate next month's GOP debate sponsored by Newsmax. — The reality televison show host's decision came after most Republican candidates declined to participate in the debate, with only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreeing to appear.
RELATED:
Catalina Camia / USA Today:
Donald Trump bows out as GOP debate moderator
Donald Trump bows out as GOP debate moderator
Discussion:
Salon.com, Sky Dancing, Towleroad News #gay, The Moderate Voice, Gothamist, Daily Kos and Campaign 2012
Bobby Bank / ABCNEWS:
Donald Trump Backs Out of Debate, Floating Independent Bid
Donald Trump Backs Out of Debate, Floating Independent Bid
Discussion:
2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, PopWatch and entertainment.time.com
Lisa Depaulo / GQ:
The (Real) Governator — Nope, not Ah-nold. On January 1, 2011, Andrew Cuomo rolled into the perpetually dysfunctional city of Albany, New York, and did something truly shocking: He delivered on his campaign promises. Here, in his first major interview since taking office …
Jennifer Epstein / The Politico:
Barack Obama on economic crisis: 'We didn't know how bad it was' — President Barack Obama said Tuesday he wishes he knew the full extent of the economic crisis when he took office, if only so he could have let Americans know just how tough the coming years would be.
Discussion:
The Lonely Conservative, Scared Monkeys, Betsy's Page and Weasel Zippers
Malcolm Moore / Telegraph:
Inside Wukan: the Chinese village that fought back — Something extraordinary has happened in the Chinese village of Wukan. — Thousands of Wukan's residents gathered for a second day in front of a triple-roofed pagoda that serves as the village hall — For the first time on record …
Discussion:
msnbc.com
Phyllis Furman / NY Daily News:
Milk Street Cafe, FiDi eatery that lost business due to Occupy Wall Street barricades, to close for good — Thursday is last day for popular Financial District restaurant that opened in June — Milk Street Cafe owner Marc Epstein, on steps of City Hall in November, complained about Occupy Wall Street barricades hurting business.
Discussion:
The Lonely Conservative, Hot Air and Jammie Wearing Fools
Jonathan Weisman / Wall Street Journal:
Many Twitter Users Back President Obama, Poll Shows — If President Barack Obama's re-election campaign wants to find supporters, it only needs to use 140 characters. — Those who tweet are sweet on Mr. Obama. Among self-identified users of Twitter, the social-media network in which users …
Discussion:
MyFox Philadelphia and The Politico