For President in 2012, Mitt Romney  —  It is time for Republicans to get serious.  After flirting with just about every candidate in a large presidential field, is is time to come home to the one candidate who has the demonstrated ability to run the largest organization in the United States …

Gingrich wouldn't vote for Ron Paul  —  (CNN) - Newt Gingrich said Tuesday he wouldn't vote for Ron Paul if the Texas congressman won the 2012 GOP nomination.  —  Speaking to CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Gingrich slammed Paul as out of line with mainstream Republican viewpoints, including his stance on Israel, Iran, and September 11.

Ben Nelson retiring from Senate  —  Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska will announce today that he is retiring after two terms, a serious blow to Democratic efforts to hold onto their majority in the chamber next November.  —  Nelson is scheduled to hold a press conference back home …

Perry changes stance to oppose all abortions  —  (CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry revealed a hardening in his stance on abortion Tuesday, telling a crowd in Iowa that he opposed abortions in all cases, including when a woman had been raped or the victim of incest.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton Again Top Most Admired List  —  Clinton Most Admired Woman a record 16th time  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barack Obama continue to be named by Americans as the Most Admired Woman and Most Admired Man living today in any part of the world.

Perry sues Virginia elections board to gain ballot access  —  Taegan Goddard provides the obligatory zinger about a noted fan of states rights and the Tenth Amendment asking a federal judge to overrule Virginia's preferences on ballot access.  The statement from Team Perry:

Romney on Newt: ‘Lucille Ball’  —  POLITICO's Jake Sherman reports this gem from the trail in Portsmouth, NH:

SOPA is the end of us, say bloggers  —  The conservative and liberal blogospheres are unifying behind opposition to Congress's Stop Online Piracy Act, with right-leaning bloggers aruging their very existence could be wiped out if the anti-piracy bill passes.

New York Times Staffers Express ‘Profound Dismay’ With Management … New York Times , Newspapers , Video , Arthur Sulzberger , Bill O'Meara , Janet Robinson , Jill Abramson , Jill Abramson New York Times , New York Newspaper Guild , New York Times Buyouts , New York Times Contract …

University of Wisconsin Law School Mourns the Loss of Professor Jane Larson  —  The University of Wisconsin Law School is deeply saddened by the loss of Professor Jane Larson, Voss-Bascom Professor of Law, who passed away unexpectedly from natural causes at her home in Madison last week.

America's Dirty Little Housing Secret Is Rocking The Suburbs  —  For years, the food pantry in Crystal Lake, Ill., a bedroom community 50 miles west of Chicago, has catered to the suburban area's poor, homeless and unemployed.  —  But Cate Williams, the head of the pantry …

The Defeatism of Depression  —  A number of people have asked me to weigh in on David Brooks's piece today.  Sorry, not gonna do a tit-for-tat.  Let me instead just make a more general point.  —  All around, right now, there are people declaring that our best days are behind us …

The Case for a Conservative  —  Did you hear the news about National Review?  —  Somebody dug deep into the archives and came up with a couple of the old classics from the days when William F. Buckley Jr. was sailing at the front of the conservative movement.

Hamas leader Haniyeh: Goal is destruction of Israel  —  Hamas leader Haniyeh:  —  Goal is destruction of Israel in stages  —  Abbas:  —  Hamas agrees to '67 borders  —  by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik  —  At a ceremony marking the 24th anniversary of the founding of Hamas …

A very unique ad for Newt  —  Step aside Herman Cain.  This one went up on Newt Gingrich's YouTube channel before Christmas.  —  Apparently an all-volunteer production, though I think I can detect some duress in a face or two.  —  “Conservative alternative to Mitt Romney, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la.”