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:
Campaign Stops, Prairie Weather, Examiner, Salon.com, Mediaite, Business Insider, Patterico's Pontifications, Swampland, Real Clear Politics, The Daily Caller, Campaign 2012, Weasel Zippers, Ballot Box, Outside the Beltway, Washington Post, The Moderate Voice, Indecision Forever, The PJ Tatler, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, The Politico, Bark Bark Woof Woof, americanthinker.com, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, CNN, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Mahablog, National Review and Booman Tribune
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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 Page, The Politico and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
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
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:
Sky Dancing and Weasel Zippers
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:
Hot Air, Daily Kos, Washington Wire, The Political Carnival, Ballot Box and Washington Post
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:
The Moderate Voice, American Thinker, Taylor Marsh, TBogg and O.KayHenderson.com
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:
The Moderate Voice, ABCNEWS, New York Times, CNN, Prairie Weather and The Hill
Pew Research Center / PewResearch.org:
Gingrich Leads, But Likely GOP Primary Voters Have Not Ruled Out Romney — Tepid Support for Both Leading Candidates — Newt Gingrich holds a substantial 35% to 21% lead over Mitt Romney among Republican and Republican-leaning independent voters who say they are very likely to vote …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
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:
Ellisblog!, Real Clear Politics, The Iowa Republican and Mediaite
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:
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:
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
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, Big Journalism, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Taylor Marsh and The PJ Tatler
RELATED:
Michael Calderone / The Huffington Post:
Christiane Amanpour To Leave ‘This Week’ But Remain At ABC, Host New CNN International Show
Christiane Amanpour To Leave ‘This Week’ But Remain At ABC, Host New CNN International Show
Discussion:
GayPatriot, FishbowlDC, Poynter and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
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:
USA Today, Booman Tribune, Bark Bark Woof Woof, ACS Blog, American Power, Vox Verax, LBJ Library & Museum and Power Line
RELATED:
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:
Power Line, Nice Deb, Truthdig, Doug Ross and The Lonely Conservative
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
RELATED:
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:
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
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, The Moderate Voice, Gothamist, Daily Kos and Campaign 2012
Jennifer Jacobs / Iowa Caucuses:
Trump dumps Iowa - again - by backing out of Dec. 27 debate
Trump dumps Iowa - again - by backing out of Dec. 27 debate
Discussion:
Firedoglake
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
Scott Baker / TheBlaze.com:
GINGRICH FLASHBACK: ‘PROGRESSIVE’ FDR WAS ‘GREATEST PRESIDENT OF THE 20TH CENTURY’ (PLUS - SEIU'S ANDY STERN IS VISIONARY UNION LEADER!) — Scroll down for the video — or read this first: — I've always liked the feisty tone Newt Gingrich brings to debate.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Hot Air, The Lonely Conservative, The PJ Tatler, National Review and Business Insider
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Nicholas Wapshott / The Great Debate:
Streep's shallow take on Thatcher — By Nicholas Wasphott — The views expressed are his own. — When it was announced Meryl Streep was to play Margaret Thatcher in the movie biography “The Iron Lady,” to be released here on December 30 and in Britain a week later …
Discussion:
Verum Serum
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:
Hot Air and Jammie Wearing Fools
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System:
For immediate release — Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in November suggests that the economy has been expanding moderately, notwithstanding some apparent slowing in global growth. While indicators point to some improvement in overall labor market conditions, the unemployment rate remains elevated.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Firedoglake, msnbc.com and FT Alphaville