Top Items:
Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:
Paul maintains his lead — The last week and a half has brought little change in the standings for the Iowa Republican caucus: Ron Paul continues to lead Mitt Romney by a modest margin, 24-20. Newt Gingrich is in 3rd at 13% followed by Michele Bachmann at 11%, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum at 10% …
RELATED:
New York Times:
The Retooled, Loose Romney, Guessing Voters' Age and Ethnicity — DAVENPORT, Iowa — When Mitt Romney introduces himself to voters, he has a peculiar habit of guessing their age or nationality, often incorrectly. (A regular query: “Are you French Canadian?")
Discussion:
Jezebel, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, Hotline On Call, ABCNEWS, Prairie Weather and The Caucus
The Politico:
Mitt Romney in striking distance of Iowa win — Don't look now, but Mitt Romney suddenly seems like the Iowa front-runner. — The former Massachusetts governor has carefully tempered expectations in Iowa all year, visiting only a handful of times and saving the bulk of his television spending for the final weeks of the race.
Discussion:
The State Column, Washington Monthly, CNN, ABCNEWS, Wall Street Journal, Fortune, iOwnTheWorld.com and Governors Journal
John Hinderaker / Power Line:
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 …
Kevinliptak / CNN:
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.
New York Times:
Republican Rivals Unleash Broadside on Paul in Iowa — MASON CITY, Iowa — The Republican presidential candidates sharpened their criticism of Representative Ron Paul on Tuesday in an effort to keep his support from growing among voters who are frustrated with government and may be inclined …
Discussion:
ABCNEWS, 2012 Decoded, The Caucus, Reuters, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Iowa Caucuses, Washington Post, msnbc.com, Taegan Goddard's … and Daily Kos
Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Romney, Perry take veiled swipes at Paul over Iran
Romney, Perry take veiled swipes at Paul over Iran
Discussion:
The Page
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Polling Gridlock in Iowa Could Produce Last-Minute Momentum
Polling Gridlock in Iowa Could Produce Last-Minute Momentum
Discussion:
Daily Kos and Outside the Beltway
Scott Keyes / ThinkProgress:
After Watching Citizens United Film, Perry Shifts To Oppose Abortion Even For Victims Of Rape Or Incest
Jonathan Easley / Ballot Box:
Romney describes health mandate as conservative principle
Romney describes health mandate as conservative principle
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers
NBC's Alex Moe / msnbc.com:
Pro-Gingrich Super PAC: Romney is ‘2nd most dangerous man in America’
Pro-Gingrich Super PAC: Romney is ‘2nd most dangerous man in America’
Discussion:
Iowa Caucuses and The Iowa Republican
Boston Herald:
Endorsement: Nation needs Romney
Endorsement: Nation needs Romney
Discussion:
American Prospect, The Atlantic Online, NationalJournal.com, GOP 12, msnbc.com, Boston Globe and Politisite
Jonathan Easley / Ballot Box:
Paul holds slim lead over Romney in first post-Christmas Iowa poll
Paul holds slim lead over Romney in first post-Christmas Iowa poll
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Washington Examiner
Cameron Joseph / Ballot Box:
EMILY's List ranks Gingrich as ‘worst’ GOP presidential candidate
Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
For Romney, stealth campaign brings real hopes of winning Iowa
For Romney, stealth campaign brings real hopes of winning Iowa
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, The Politico, The Page, 2012 Decoded and ABCNEWS
David Weigel / Slate:
Poll: Newsletters Not Hurting Paul in Iowa — Think about it. If Ron Paul was suffering and taking damage from the stories about his old newsletters, what sort of voters would abandon him? Who'd be offended by signed editorials about fleet-footed blacks and skeezy gay men?
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Hit & Run and CNN
RELATED:
Charles P. Pierce / Esquire:
Mitt Romney: The Real Austerity Candidate — Over the holidays, Willard Romney has been seeking once again to define himself, a job that is very similar to that undertaken by the people who renovate old country homes. The first thing you have to do is to tear down the accumulated improvements …
Discussion:
Suburban Guerrilla
Bare Naked Islam:
Well, well, well, the Texas Christmas Day massacre of 7 people, including the killer, was a MUSLIM honor killing, after all. — Truth be told, I quickly discounted my initial reaction that Muslims might be involved because the killer was reported to be in a Santa costume. Stupid me.
Discussion:
The Jawa Report
RELATED:
Robert / Jihad Watch:
Islamic honor killing in Texas: “Santa” …
Islamic honor killing in Texas: “Santa” …
Discussion:
Pat Dollard, The Gateway Pundit, Atlas Shrugs, ABCNEWS, UrbanGrounds, msnbc.com and Biased BBC
Stephen Gordon / speculist.com:
In the Future Everything Will Be A Coffee Shop — Phil and I ended last week's FastForward Radio show discussing how higher education will change in the coming years. My conclusion: — Universities Will Become Coffee Shops — We're faced with an education bubble.
Discussion:
EconLog and Belmont Club
Jeffrey Gettleman / New York Times:
Somalia Faces Alarming Rise in Rapes of Women and Girls — A rape victim in Mogadishu hid her identity. Aid workers say there has been a free-for-all of armed men preying upon women and girls displaced by famine. More Photos » — MOGADISHU, Somalia — The girl's voice dropped …
Discussion:
Jezebel, The Jawa Report and Hullabaloo
Michelle Hirsch / Business Insider:
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 …
Discussion:
BizzyBlog
Daily Mail:
'Don't worry kids, I'll be fine': Marine shot three times in street robbery survives... by plugging bullet holes with his fingers — A U.S. Marine officer has told the incredible story of how he survived a street robbery by plugging bullet holes in his body with his fingers.
Discussion:
The Jawa Report and Breitbart.tv
Lori Montgomery / Washington Post:
Washington's year of drama leaves little done regarding debt — Reid Ribble, a Wisconsin roofing contractor-turned-Republican lawmaker, has helped change the way Washington talks about the national debt. That's not to say he has done much about the debt itself.
Meredith Dake / Breitbart.tv:
Going Rogue: Independent Group Runs Palin For President Radio Ads In Iowa — An independent group is running radio ads on WHO in Des Moines, IA asking Iowans to “vote rogue” for Sarah Palin on caucus day.
Discussion:
GOP 12, Mediaite, Hot Air and The Raw Story
idf.il:
IDF targets terrorists involved in attempted terror attack — IAF aircraft target two Global Jihad affiliated-terrorists in northern Gaza who prepared attacks on Israel-Egypt border; an additional terrorist squad was targeted earlier — Following the targeting of a Global Jihad affiliated-terrorist …
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers, The Long War Journal and The Jawa Report
Greg Miller / Washington Post:
Under Obama, an emerging global apparatus for drone killing — U.S. Air Force/GETTY IMAGES - A crew chief from the 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron completes post-flight inspections of the RQ-1 Predator after one of its sorties in Balad Air Base, Iraq.
Discussion:
White House Dossier and Prairie Weather