Newly recovered court files cast doubt on Gingrich version of first divorce  —  Editor's note: Alan Duke grew up in Carrollton, Georgia, and began his career covering politics there.  He began covering Newt Gingrich during Gingrich's first campaigns for public office.

Statement from fmr. Ron Paul staffer on Newsletters, Anti-Semitism  —  Fmr. Senior Aide, US Cong. Ron Paul, 1997 - 2003  —  Campaign Coordinator, Ron Paul for Congress, 1995/96  —  National Organizer, Draft Ron Paul for President, 1991/92  —  Travel Aide/Personal Asst. Ron Paul, Libertarian for President

Virginia 2011 Independent Candidate for Legislature has Big Impact on 2012 Presidential Primary  —  There are currently many news stories and blog discussions about the Virginia presidential primary ballot access law.  Some large blogs, such as Red State, have over 300 comments about the story.

Schumer bro-in-law judge nod stuns NJ  —  Sen. Charles Schumer's brother-in-law was quietly nominated this month to a federal judgeship in New Jersey — a move that has some in the Garden State crying political foul, The Post has learned.  —  Kevin McNulty, who is married to Schumer's sister …

A first: Newt camp goes on attack (and with oppo)  —  In a sign that he's formally backing off his pledge to avoid negative politics, Newt Gingrich is taking direct aim at Mitt Romney.  —  Gingrich's campaign, urgently in need of recapturing their momentum from earlier this month …

Japan's Secret Plan to Dominate the World  —  And now for something completely different.  The Counterparties blog today highlights an old post from Eamonn Fingleton arguing that Japan's “Lost Decade” is a myth.  This is not the story I've heard before, suggesting merely that Japan …

Georgia woman who threatened 2 New York lawmakers is shot to death by cop  —  Jameela Barnette targeted Rep. Pete King & state Sen. Greg Ball  —  Cobb County, Ga., police investigate shooting of Jameela Barnette.  —  A Muslim woman who had been charged with sending fake weapons and a pig's foot …

GW Bush + Six Years = Islamists?  —  A hat tip to Jim Pinkerton for sending this my way.  —  Washington Post, 22 December 2011: … President George W. Bush, 20 January 2005:

Solyndra: Politics infused Obama energy programs  —  Tony Avelar/FOR THE WASHINGTON POST - Linda Sterio, along with 1,100 full-time and temporary employees, were laid off Aug. 31 from Solyndra.  The company shut down without paying severance; today Sterio remains out of work and in danger of losing her home.

Siobhan Reynolds, RIP  —  I'm saddened to learn this morning that Siobhan Reynolds was killed over the weekend in a plane crash.  —  I met Reynolds several years ago when I attended a forum on Capitol Hill on the under-treatment of pain.  Her story about her husband's chronic pain …

“We Don't Have Our ‘A Team’ on the Field”  —  Speaking of discontent with the Republican field, I talked the other day to a pretty prominent conservative officeholder who's constantly been discussing with people around the country the possibility of a new entrant or a push to draft someone.  But who?

While focus is now Iowa, GOP can't sleep on Florida  —  The attention may be focused on the Republican presidential contests around the corner in Iowa and New Hampshire, but the candidates ignore what's under way in Florida at their peril.  —  More Florida Republicans — about 370,000 …

China Insolvency Wave Begins As Nation's Biggest Provincial Borrowers “Defer” Loan Payments  —  Remember, back in the day, when a bankruptcy was simply called a bankruptcy?  Naturally, this was well before ISDA came on the scene and footnoted the living feces out of everything by claiming …

Daniel Craig: Pols are ‘sh**heads’  —  Actor Daniel Craig put on a display of straight-talk that might have endeared him to voters had he been on the campaign trail, telling Men's Journal that politicians are “sh**heads” who “stab you in the f**king back.”  —  “Politicians are sh*theads,” …

Occupy Protestors Fight on Christmas Day  —  NASHVILLE, Tenn .- Protestors have been together since October 6 th occupying Legislative Plaza.  But on a day that many intended to be full of festivities, quite the opposite took center stage for a time.  —  “Well, today we're celebrating mainly Christmas …