Gingrich tears up while discussing his mother at Iowa town hall  —  Newt Gingrich choked up while discussing his mother's struggle with mental illness during a town-hall meeting in Des Moines.  —  Gingrich was asked to speak about a time his mother affected him at the event sponsored by CafeMom …

What's the Deal with Romney's Taxes?  —  So what's the deal with Romney's tax returns?  Or more specifically, what's the deal with Mitt Romney letting himself get more and more nippy press by refusing to release his tax returns when virtually every serious presidential candidate of the last 40 years has done it?

Ron Paul: Know Who's Really Behind Islamic Terrorism?  The Jews.  —  One of the more insane claims in Ron Paul's newsletters was that the Israelis were behind the WTC bombings in 1993: … This claim is of course so ridiculous and absurd that even Paul has to protect himself by claiming that “a Jewish friend” told him about it.

RSS Feeds … CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Four protesters, including the spokesman of Occupy Charlotte, were charged after setting fire to two American flags early Friday near the Occupy camp in Center City, police said.  —  Charlotte-Mecklenburg police weren't sure earlier if the four men …

Gingrich sees Sarah Palin as vice president, Cabinet secretary  —  Newt Gingrich said that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin would be among the candidates that he would consider when considering a potential running mate, adding that the former GOP vice presidential nominee would be an ideal candidate for secretary of Energy.

Occupy's Rose Parade float: 70-foot octopus of corporate greed  —  Occupy protesters are busy finishing their float that will run at the end of the Rose Parade: a 70-by-40-foot octopus made of recycled plastic bags.  —  The octopus, said activist Mark Lipman of Los Angeles …

Why I Am Endorsing Newt Gingrich for President  —  This country is in trouble and bold leadership is needed.  As someone that has had the privilege to vet these candidates as closely as just about anybody else has, I've come to the conclusion there are several good, Christian people running that most years I would vote for.

Democratic fundraiser convicted of engineering $21 million bank fraud scheme  —  Courtney Dupree is a former Tarheel basketball player who hosted a 2008 fundraiser for Obama  —  Attorney Thomas Foley, 43, leaving Federal Court in Brooklyn after a jury acquitted him of bank fraud.

Have the youth given up on Obama?  —  Editor's Note: Brad Chase is a partner with Capitol Media Partners, a Los Angeles-based communications and public affairs consultancy.  —  By Brad Chase - Special to CNN  —  In 2008, the youth vote helped sweep Barack Obama into office.

Kim Jong Il's presence is felt in series of images  —  PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — It's hard to imagine a North Korea without Kim Jong Il, who led the nation for 17 years until his death in December.  —  His portrait hangs in every building, his visits to factories and shops are commemorated with signs in his honor.

Black leaders in Phoenix area ask Arpaio to step down  —  The calls for Joe Arpaio to resign in the wake of a U.S. Justice Department investigation continued to grow Thursday as a group of the Valley's Black leaders implored the five-term Maricopa County sheriff to step down.

Holder's Racial Politics  —  The AG's attack on voter ID laws may backfire legally and politically.  —  Eric Holder must be amazed that President Obama was elected and he could become Attorney General.  That's a fair inference after the Attorney General last Friday blocked South Carolina's voter ID law …

Norman Lear on fighting the good fight  —  The Occupy Wall Street movement has unleashed patriotic outrage.  If you don't want to camp out or protest in the street, find another way to let your voice be heard in the new year.  —  Occupy Wall Street protesters carry American flags up Seventh Avenue toward Times Square.

Are we alone in the universe?  —  Huge excitement last week.  Two Earth-size planetsfound orbiting a sun-like star less than a thousand light-years away.  This comes two weeks after the stunning announcement of another planet orbiting another star at precisely the right distance — within the …