memeorandum: Egyptian Soldiers Chase and Beat Unarmed Civilians in Cairo (David D. Kirkpatrick/New York Times)

9:55 AM ET, December 18, 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.

A.Killough / CNN:

Des Moines Register endorses Romney — (CNN) - The Des Moines Register, the largest newspaper in Iowa, backed Mitt Romney late Saturday in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. — The much-anticipated endorsement gives the former Massachusetts governor special bragging rights …

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, The Politico, Washington Post and USA Today

Associated Press: Gingrich says rivals' criticism taking a toll

Maggie Haberman / The Politico: Paul on Bachmann: ‘She hates Muslims’

Scott Clement / Washington Post:
Poll watcher: Gingrich slides in national, Iowa polls

Discussion: Scared Monkeys, The Moderate Voice and Don Surber

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

Discussion: Iowa Caucuses, Reuters, The Iowa Republican and The Politico

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

Discussion: MyFox Philadelphia and Wall Street Journal

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: Booman Tribune, Power Line, The Other McCain and Don Surber

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 Other McCain, Minneapolis Star Tribune, MinnPost, The Blotter, Hullabaloo, Firedoglake, Hot Dish Politics and The Raw Story

Manu Rajuand Scott Wong / The Politico:
Payroll deal sails through Senate, 89-10

Discussion: The PJ Tatler, The Enterprise Blog, Michelle Malkin, Taylor Marsh, Wall Street Journal, Scared Monkeys and Outside the Beltway

Nick Gillespie / Hit & Run:

Vaclav Havel, RIP — The great anti-communist dissident, writer, and politician Vaclav Havel is dead at the age of 75. — From Matt Welch's great 2003 profile, Velvet President: … Read the whole thing. — Reason on Havel.

Discussion: Reuters, Associated Press, Harry's Place and Outside the Beltway

Jason Clayworth / Iowa Caucuses:

Rick Perry: Herman Cain is the type of person I'd consider for cabinet appointment — Spencer, Ia. — Herman Cain is the type of person Texas Gov. Rick Perry said he'd consider for his cabinet if elected president, he told a crowd here today. — “He has all the characteristics of the type …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Mediaite and Political Mojo

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

Discussion: Campaign 2012

Melina Mara / ABCNEWS:
Ron Paul Takes Swipes at GOP Rivals, Says Michele Bachmann ‘Hates Muslims’

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

Allysia Finley / Wall Street Journal:

The Chicago Expulsion Act of 2011 — Windy City pols are bankrupting Illinois with bailouts for their hometown. Now downstate legislators are fighting back. — 'Why would anyone want to live in Illinois? " So muses Curt Wooters, who works for the state and helps his dad run …

Discussion: americanthinker.com and Instapundit

New York Times:

Last Convoy of American Troops Leaves Iraq, Marking an End to the War — BAGHDAD — The last convoy of American troops to leave Iraq drove into Kuwait on Sunday morning, marking the end of the nearly nine-year war. — The convoy's departure, which included about 110 vehicles and 500 soldiers …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly, Reuters and msnbc.com

Financial Times:

False assumptions underpinned British strategy — UK's isolation at EU summit follows policy of secrecy — Statecraft in Europe is usually exercised on a full stomach. So it was that Angela Merkel and David Cameron sat in the stark white dining room of Berlin's chancellery on a cold November afternoon …

Discussion: Political Mojo

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: Scared Monkeys and The Other McCain

Frank Bruni / New York Times:

Op-Ed Columnist: Newt Gingrich's Self-Adoration — MARVELING over a presidential candidate's arrogance is like noting that a hockey player wears skates. It states not just the obvious but the necessary. You can't zip across the ice in Crocs, and you can't thrash your way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Daily Kos and Bark Bark Woof Woof

Blue Yeti / Ricochet Conversations Feed:

When Events Collide: An “Uncommon Knowledge” from July, 2002 with Hitchens and Gingrich — A few days ago as part of his remembrance of Christopher Hitchens, Rob posted an episode of Uncommon Knowledge from 1998 with Hitchens and William F. Buckley. Almost immediately …

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPMDC — GOP Wins On Keystone As Senate Agrees To Two Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension — Senate leaders have agreed to a plan that will prevent key policies, including a two percent payroll tax cut for employees, from lapsing on January 1, 2012, according to top aides.

Discussion: Liberty Street and Zandar Versus The Stupid

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

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Hullabaloo and ThinkProgress

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

Discussion: Roll Call, The Huffington Post, CNN, The Hill, Business Insider, DownWithTyranny!, Washington Post, The Caucus, The Hill, ABCNEWS, THEROOT.COM and Daily Kos

David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:

Egyptian Soldiers Chase and Beat Unarmed Civilians in Cairo — CAIRO — Egypt's military rulers escalated a bloody crackdown on street protesters on Saturday, chasing down and beating unarmed civilians, even while the prime minister was denying in a televised news conference that security forces were using any force.

Discussion: The Atlantic Online and americanthinker.com