Top Items:
Erick Erickson / Erick's blog:
Everything You Heard Last Night Was Bull, Perry Might Want to Stay In, & a Newtlear Attack — As you wake up this morning, Rick Santorum only lost to Mitt Romney by 8 votes. Santorum spent about a dollar per vote and Romney spent hundreds of dollars for his votes.
Discussion:
Slate, National Review, Washington Examiner, The Politico, 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, Hot Air, TalkLeft, American Spectator, Ballot Box, Taylor Marsh, Democracy in America, Weekly Standard, Talking Points Memo, Campaign Stops, Patterico's Pontifications, Pundit & Pundette, BizzyBlog, The Huffington Post, The Gateway Pundit, Riehl World View, Ross Douthat, GOP 12, Daily Pundit and New York Times
RELATED:
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Winning Ugly, but Winning — I don't care if you call it a win or a tie. In Iowa on Tuesday, Mitt Romney had a performance that looks ugly on the stat sheet , but which accomplished quite a bit when you consider it in its broader context. — The two most important things that Mr. Romney accomplished are as follows:
Ron Fournier / NationalJournal.com:
Bachmann Ends Presidential Run — Source — Rep. Michele Bachmann is suspending her presidential campaign, said a senior Republican official with direct knowledge of the lawmaker's plans. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Minnesota lawmaker, a favorite …
Grace Wyler / Business Insider:
Ron Paul May Have Secretly Won The Iowa Caucuses — DES MOINES — Ron Paul may have officially come in third tonight, but if the campaign's caucus strategy went off as planned, then Paul may actually be the real winner of the first Republican voting contest.
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Conservative elites to huddle — A group of movement conservatives has called an emergency meeting in Texas next weekend to find a “consensus” Republican presidential hopeful, POLITICO has learned. — “You and your spouse are cordially invited to a private meeting with national conservative leaders …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Ballot Box
David Corn / MoJo Articles:
Newt the Destroyer — Gingrich is now on a single-minded mission to detonate Mitt Romney's presidential prospects. Will he blow up the GOP in the process? — Newt Gingrich has finally reached his destiny: destroyer of the GOP. — In a bitter and spiteful concession speech last night in Iowa …
Discussion:
CNN, Rod Dreher and Indecision Forever
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
Romney Wins Iowa Caucus by 8 Votes — “Onto New Hampshire, let's get that job done!” Mitt Romney told supporters before being declared the winner. More Photos » — DES MOINES — Mitt Romney's quest to swiftly lock down the Republican presidential nomination with a commanding finish …
Discussion:
The Caucus, Iowa Caucuses, Pressthink, Washington Post, CNN, Campaign 2012, ThinkProgress, The Politico, Los Angeles Times, ABCNEWS, Associated Press, Boston Globe, Ballot Box, Reuters, CBS News, The Iowa Republican, No More Mister Nice Blog, Shakesville, pandagon.net, Firedoglake, Outside the Beltway, Scared Monkeys, Capital New York, msnbc.com, Marbury, Wake up America, Gothamist and The Page, more at Mediagazer »
Russell Goldman / ABCNEWS:
Michele Bachmann Drops Out of Presidential Race — Rep. Michele Bachmann will “suspend her campaign,” a senior campaign official told ABC News today, hours after placing last in the Iowa caucuses and vowing to continue in South Carolina. — Bachmann cancelled plans to travel to South Carolina …
Discussion:
CBS News, Hot Air, Datechguy's Blog, Above the Law, The Other McCain, The Moderate Voice and American Spectator
David Weigel / Slate:
Rickrolled: Three Lessons from Iowa … - Is the Virginia Law Keeping Perry and Gingrich Off the Ballot Constitutional? — The Real Threat to Marriage Isn't Gay Marriage—It's Straight Civil Unions — The App That Keeps You Going to the Gym by Charging You Money When You Don't
Discussion:
Firedoglake, The Huffington Post, Investor's Business Daily, The Daily Beast, Washington Monthly, Balloon Juice, Austin American-Statesman, Washington Post, The Politico, Wonkette, Iowa Caucuses, The Mahablog, Don Surber, FrumForum, The Atlantic Online, The New Republic, Political Mojo and The Daily Dish, more at Mediagazer »
Jason Embry / Austin American-Statesman:
Perry stays in presidential race, says it 'wasn't a hard decision' — Gov. Rick Perry said today he will continue his presidential campaign despite a fifth-place showing in the Tuesday Iowa caucuses and serious questions about whether he can continue. “I re-assessed,” Perry said as he left …
Discussion:
Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Sister Toldjah
Paul Begala / The Daily Beast:
Iowa Results Show Romney's Weakness Even Against GOP ‘Unelectables’
Iowa Results Show Romney's Weakness Even Against GOP ‘Unelectables’
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE and Saint Petersblog
Emily Schultheis / The Politico:
Newt won't congratulate Mitt on win
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
Gingrich Floats Idea of Anti-Romney Alliance
Gingrich Floats Idea of Anti-Romney Alliance
Discussion:
Reuters, Los Angeles Times, Wake up America, Atlas Shrugs and Michelle Malkin
Jay Cost / Weekly Standard:
Morning Jay: What Iowa Tells Us About the State of the Race
Morning Jay: What Iowa Tells Us About the State of the Race
Discussion:
Power Line, Vodkapundit, Wall Street Journal and Betsy's Page
msnbc.com:
First Thoughts: What we learned from last night
First Thoughts: What we learned from last night
Discussion:
The Politico, Washington Wire, NationalJournal.com, The Atlantic Online and Associated Press
Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:
DNC chairwoman: Romney's Iowa caucus win is ‘a loss’
DNC chairwoman: Romney's Iowa caucus win is ‘a loss’
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Monthly, The Politico, Business Insider and Weasel Zippers
Catalina Camia / USA Today:
Perry tweets: ‘Here we come South Carolina’
Perry tweets: ‘Here we come South Carolina’
Discussion:
The Caucus, Wall Street Journal, Pat Dollard and Connecting.the.Dots
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Democrats Target Romney After Iowa Win
Democrats Target Romney After Iowa Win
Discussion:
Political Mojo, Truthdig and The Caucus
Associated Press:
AP sources: Obama bucks GOP, OKs consumer watchdog — WASHINGTON (AP) — In a defiant display of executive power, President Barack Obama on Wednesday will buck GOP opposition and name Richard Cordray as the nation's chief consumer watchdog even though the Senate contends the move is inappropriate …
RELATED:
Dan Pfeiffer / White House.gov Blog:
America's Consumer Watchdog — Today the President will appoint Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He has one important job: look out for the best interest of American consumers. He'll work on behalf of millions of families across the nation to ensure they're …
Peter Schroeder / The Hill:
GOP blasts Obama for ‘unprecedented power grab’ with appointment — Republican leaders in the House and Senate are blasting President Obama's move to recess-appoint a key nominee as an “unprecedented power grab.” — Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said the president …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Pat Dollard and The Volokh Conspiracy
Peter Schroeder / The Hill:
Reid backs Obama after using pro forma sessions to block Bush
Reid backs Obama after using pro forma sessions to block Bush
Discussion:
Mediaite and Weasel Zippers
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Obama to GOP: Get the heck out of the way
Obama to GOP: Get the heck out of the way
Discussion:
Political Mojo, Campaign 2012 and emptywheel
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
McConnell's concern for ‘precedent’
McConnell's concern for ‘precedent’
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, U.S. Senate Republican … and ThinkProgress
Donovan Slack / The Politico:
Boehner: Richard Cordray appointment ‘unprecedented power grab’ by Obama
Boehner: Richard Cordray appointment ‘unprecedented power grab’ by Obama
Discussion:
Daily Kos and Balloon Juice
The Caucus:
Defying Republicans, Obama to Name Cordray as Consumer Agency Chief
Defying Republicans, Obama to Name Cordray as Consumer Agency Chief
Discussion:
Washington Post, Associated Press, ACS Blog, The New Republic and DealBook
Kevinliptak / CNN:
Army soldier rallying for Paul violated military ban on political activity — (CNN) - Ron Paul spent Tuesday heralding his support among members of the military, but one active-duty supporter may be in trouble after lauding Paul on stage while wearing his Army uniform.
Discussion:
Political Mojo, Big Government and Outside the Beltway
RELATED:
Mackenzie Weinger / The Politico:
Ron Paul calls Newt Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’
Ron Paul calls Newt Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’
Discussion:
Hot Air, Swampland, Daily Pundit and The Hinterland Gazette
Kevinliptak / CNN:
TRENDING: Paul: Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’
TRENDING: Paul: Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’
Discussion:
Wonkette, The Politico, The Hill, CBS News and Indecision Forever
The Politico:
Perry: ‘Here we come, South Carolina!’ (Updated) — Despite his announcement last night that he would return to Texas and “reassess” his campaign, Rick Perry's tweet just now suggests he's not done just yet: … Perry's continued presence in the race is a net positive for Romney …
Discussion:
GOP 12, LifeNews.com and Hit & Run
RELATED:
Rush Limbaugh:
This Race is Far From Over — RUSH: I can't tell you the number …
This Race is Far From Over — RUSH: I can't tell you the number …
Discussion:
GOP 12, Campaign 2012 and The Gateway Pundit
William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:
Rick Perry not suspending campaign, going to South Carolina (Reader poll added)
Rick Perry not suspending campaign, going to South Carolina (Reader poll added)
Discussion:
The Politico, American Prospect, The Hill and Marathon Pundit
Andrew Garber / Seattle Times:
Gregoire proposes legislation to legalize gay marriage — Gov. Chris Gregoire on Wednesday said she'll put forward legislation to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples. — The proposal will be introduced during the legislative session that starts Monday.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …, Guardian, Towleroad News #gay and Joe. My. God.
Kevinliptak / CNN:
Bachmann ends GOP presidential bid — (CNN) - Michele Bachmann ended her bid for the Republican presidential nomination Wednesday, hours after a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Iowa caucuses. — The Minnesota congresswoman suspended her campaign, a legal technicality that will allow …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Breitbart.tv, Bleeding Heartland, Mediaite, Wonkette, The Gateway Pundit and Taylor Marsh
RELATED:
Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Bachmann cancels South Carolina trip
Bachmann cancels South Carolina trip
Discussion:
Associated Press, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, Daily Kos, PoliPundit.com and Nice Deb
Vanity Fair:
The Meaning of Mitt — Mitt Romney has long been a front-runner for the G.O.P. nomination—even if no one really knows who he is. Digging into the candidate's record as a Mormon leader, his business deals at Bain Capital, and that infamous car trip with the family dog strapped to the roof …
Discussion:
FishbowlDC and Craig Crawford's Trail Mix
Investor's Business Daily:
The Great Golden State Business Exodus — States: California's in trouble. Businesses are leaving along with intellectual and investment capital and skilled workers. But rather than face up to serious problems, legislators pass silly laws. — One would think that given the serious nature …
Richard Cordray / The Huffington Post:
Standing Up for Consumers — Richard Cordray , Richard Cordray Obama , Richard Cordray Cfpb , Richard Cordray Nomination , Richard Cordray Senate , Business News — Today, I was appointed by President Obama to serve as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Discussion:
The Politico