memeorandum: Health Care Law Will Let States Tailor Benefits (Robert Pear/New York Times)

10:15 PM ET, December 17, 2011

Top Items:

The Des Moines Register's GOP caucus endorsement: Mitt Romney is best to lead — Sobriety, wisdom and judgment. — Those are qualities Mitt Romney said he looks for in a leader. Those are qualities Romney himself has demonstrated in his career in business, public service and government.

Discussion: CNN, The Caucus, Ballot Box, Fox News, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Campaign 2012, National Review, NewsBusters.org and The Page

Melina Mara / ABCNEWS:

Ron Paul Takes Swipes at GOP Rivals, Says Michele Bachmann ‘Hates Muslims’ — Ron Paul has gone Hollywood. — Appearing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” the presidential hopeful took a swipe at his GOP rivals telling the crowd that Michele Bachmann “hates Muslims.”

Discussion: The Caucus, The Other McCain, Zandar Versus The Stupid, New York Times, Little Green Footballs, No More Mister Nice Blog, Iowa Caucuses and National Review

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

Paul on Bachmann: ‘She hates Muslims’ — Ron Paul took his disagreement with Michele Bachmann over foreign policy as relates to Iran to Jay Leno's couch last night, and putting a finer point on his thoughts, via POLITICO's Ginger Gibson. — Ron Paul on Jay Leno's show took a dig …

Spencer Platt / ABCNEWS:
Rick Perry Picks Up the Attacks on Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul for Earmarks

Discussion: Campaign 2012

Associated Press:
Gingrich says rivals' criticism taking a toll

Discussion: National Review

A.Killough / CNN:
TRENDING: Paul claims Bachmann ‘hates’ Muslims

Discussion: The Politico

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:

Democrats: Concession to GOP on Keystone will force Obama to kill pipeline — Senate Democrats say the Obama administration will kill the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline, a controversial issue in the debate to extend the payroll tax holiday. — Senate leaders on Friday agreed …

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, RealClearPolitics Video Log, Daily Kos, The Lonely Conservative and Daily Pundit

Manu Rajuand Scott Wong / The Politico:

Payroll deal sails through Senate, 89-10 — The Senate on Saturday morning approved a two-month extension of a payroll tax break and jobless benefits, easily passing a year-end legislative package that also forces President Barack Obama to make a controversial decision on a major oil pipeline in the thick of his reelection campaign.

Discussion: The Enterprise Blog, Michelle Malkin, The PJ Tatler, Outside the Beltway, Scared Monkeys and The Hill

Jonathan Allenand Jake Sherman / The Politico:

House GOP revolts on payroll deal — House Republicans are in full revolt in the wake of Senate passage of a two-month payroll tax holiday package, casting serious doubt on the fate of a bill that already has President Barack Obama's approval. — In a private conference call on Saturday afternoon …

Discussion: Power Line, The Other McCain and Don Surber

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPMDC — GOP Wins On Keystone As Senate Agrees To Two Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Discussion: Liberty Street and Zandar Versus The Stupid

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
Senate Votes to Extend Payroll Tax Cut

Discussion: ABCNEWS, Washington Post, DownWithTyranny!, Grist, The Hill, The Caucus, THEROOT.COM and The Politico

David Dayen / Firedoglake:
Senate Passes Two-Month Extension for Payroll Tax Cut, Unemployment Benefits, Doc Fix

Discussion: Hullabaloo, Crooks and Liars, Wake up America and ThinkProgress

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Senate leaders strike short-term deal to extend payroll tax holiday

Discussion: The Politico, CNN, Booman Tribune and Daily Kos

ABCNEWS:

Romney Declares Himself ‘Ideal’ Tea Party Candidate — CHARLESTON, S.C. — Mitt Romney said today he's “the ideal candidate” for the Tea Party movement because his stance on issues lines up “pretty darn well” with the movement he says will soon realize that GOP frontrunner Newt Gingrich isn't their best option for president.

Discussion: Mediaite, Washington Times, Michelle Malkin, Patterico's Pontifications and The PJ Tatler

Sara Murray / Washington Wire:
Can Tea Partiers Grow to Love Mitt Romney?

Discussion: MyFox Philadelphia and Wall Street Journal

Alexander Burns / The Politico:
Newt Gingrich just wants to have fun

Discussion: Taylor Marsh

Susie Madrak / Crooks and Liars:

Scott Walker Shuts Down Cancer Screenings Through Planned Parenthood — Gov. Scott Walker is a ruthless extremist, and more women in Wisconsin will die of cancer, thanks to his right-wing vendetta against Planned Parenthood. At least we have the satisfaction of knowing that every time he pulls …

Discussion: Zandar Versus The Stupid and The Moderate Voice

Kate Sheppard / MoJo Articles:
Scott Walker's Next Target: Cancer Screenings for Women

Discussion: Daily Kos and TBogg

Mike Masnick / Techdirt:

SOPA Markup Runs Out Of Time; Likely Delayed Until 2012 [Update: Or Not...] — So this was a bit of a surprise. Lots of people expected Lamar Smith to keep the SOPA markup process going until he could get a vote out, even if it was late tonight. But it looks like he ran out of time.

Discussion: Boing Boing, BizzyBlog and US Politics, more at Mediagazer »

David Taintor / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPMDC — MN GOPer Resigns Leadership Post Over Alleged ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ — Minnesota's Republican Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch abruptly resigned from her leadership post this week, and there are now allegations that she had an “inappropriate relationship” with a subordinate staffer.

Discussion: The Blotter, Firedoglake, Hot Dish Politics, The Raw Story and Hullabaloo

Milt Shook / The PCTC Blog:

There's No Such Thing as an “Indefinite Detention Bill” and Other Pro Left Lies — One of the most galling things about the professional left is the number of times they lie to make a point. You can't be a progressive and also lie to the people who read your stuff.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, The Impolitic, Zandar Versus The Stupid and Angry Black Lady Chronicles

Martin Newman / Mirror.co.uk:

Bollywood actress Veena Malik reported missing after nude FHM photo scandal — Veena Malik — There were fears today for the wellbeing of Bollywood actress Veena Malik after she was reported missing by her manager. — The controversial Pakistani model and actress …

Discussion: The Jawa Report and Scared Monkeys

Russell Berman / The Hill:

Gingrich ramps up objections to judicial branch's power — Newt Gingrich is giving fair warning to judges and courts across the country: If he becomes president, the judiciary won't reign supreme. — The former House Speaker and current Republican presidential front-runner convened …

Discussion: Zandar Versus The Stupid and The Raw Story

CBS Miami:

Don King's Turkey Giveaway Canceled After Truck ‘Hijacked’ — Boxing promoter Don King (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images) — MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Hundreds of needy South Floridians were disappointed to learn Friday that a truck loaded with Christmas turkeys to be donated by boxing promoter Don King had been hijacked.

Discussion: THEROOT.COM