memeorandum: Perry: ‘Here we come, South Carolina!’ (Updated) (The Politico)

3:25 PM ET, January 4, 2012

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.

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:

Discussion: National Review, Feministing, Newshoggers.com, CNN, neo-neocon, The Week, Saint Petersblog, Firedoglake, Patterico's Pontifications, Iowa Caucuses, A plain blog about politics and Wake up America

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 …

Discussion: American Prospect, Washington Monthly, Wonkette, Big Government, The Caucus, Indecision Forever, The Hinterland Gazette, Right Wing Watch and Towleroad News #gay

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

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.

Discussion: NPR, Firedoglake, Washington Monthly, Pat Dollard, Wake up America, CNN, Guardian, Hit & Run, The Hill, ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*, americanthinker.com, New York Times, The Politico, FrumForum and Truthdig

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 …

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: Hot Air, Datechguy's Blog, Above the Law, The Other McCain, The Moderate Voice and American Spectator

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 and Indecision Forever

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

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

BuzzFeed:

McCain To Endorse Romney Tomorrow — The 2008 Republican nominee will endorse his former rival in New Hampshire, a source tells BuzzFeed. The move will give Romney some high-profile good news after a close and ambiguous finish in Iowa. — (Getty Images / Mark Wilson)

Discussion: The Politico, ABCNEWS, Hot Air, Guardian, News Desk, Pirate's Cove, Balloon Juice, Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog, The Moderate Voice, Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, CNN, The Daily Dish, Taylor Marsh, TalkLeft, Saint Petersblog, Lynn Sweet and Yahoo! News

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

The Politico:
Perry: ‘Here we come, South Carolina!’ (Updated)

Discussion: GOP 12, Hit & Run and LifeNews.com

Paul Begala / The Daily Beast:
Iowa Results Show Romney's Weakness Even Against GOP ‘Unelectables’

Discussion: CANNONFIRE and Saint Petersblog

Taegan Goddard's Political Wire:
Gingrich Floats Idea of Anti-Romney Alliance

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Wake up America, Atlas Shrugs and Michelle Malkin

Rush Limbaugh:
This Race is Far From Over — RUSH: I can't tell you the number …

Discussion: GOP 12, Campaign 2012 and The Gateway Pundit

Catalina Camia / USA Today:
Perry tweets: ‘Here we come South Carolina’

Discussion: The Caucus, Wall Street Journal, Pat Dollard and Connecting.the.Dots

Alicia M. Cohn / The Hill:
DNC chairwoman: Romney's Iowa caucus win is ‘a loss’

Discussion: CNN, Washington Monthly, The Politico, Business Insider and Weasel Zippers

msnbc.com:
First Thoughts: What we learned from last night

Discussion: The Politico, Washington Wire, NationalJournal.com, Associated Press and The Atlantic Online

Bill / Pundits Blog:
Obama wins Iowa — without even campaigning!

Discussion: The Politico

Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Democrats Target Romney After Iowa Win

Discussion: Political Mojo, Truthdig and The Caucus

The Right Scoop:
Palin: GOP better not marginalize Ron Paul and his supporters

Discussion: Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, GayPatriot, Hot Air and Campaign 2012

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:
Bachmann cancels South Carolina trip

Discussion: Associated Press, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, Daily Kos, PoliPundit.com and Nice Deb

Scott Johnson / Power Line:
A weak frontrunner

Discussion: Weekly Standard and Vodkapundit

William A. Jacobson / Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion:
Rick Perry not suspending campaign, going to South Carolina (Reader poll added)

Discussion: The Politico, American Prospect, The Hill and Marathon Pundit

Emily Schultheis / Reuters:
Bachmann ends campaign

Discussion: Pundits Blog, The Politico, Outside the Beltway and The Political Carnival

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 …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Little Green Footballs, The Politico, The Hill, Business Insider, The Raw Story, Jared Bernstein, Marathon Pundit, The Hill, ThinkProgress, Weasel Zippers, White House Dossier and tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com

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 …

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Washington Wire, Washington Post, Washington Monthly, The Hill, The New Republic, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, The Volokh Conspiracy, Political Mojo, Cato @ Liberty, Booman Tribune, Campaign 2012 and The Raw Story

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 — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who previously held pro forma sessions to block recess appointments by President George W. Bush, said Wednesday he supported President Obama's decision to ignore those sessions to push through one of his key nominees.

Discussion: Mediaite and Weasel Zippers

Donovan Slack / The Politico:
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

Discussion: Washington Post, Associated Press, ACS Blog, The New Republic and DealBook

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Obama to GOP: Get the heck out of the way

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, U.S. Senate Republican … and Political Mojo

WSJ Blogs - WSJ:
White House Concludes It Can Appoint Cordray

Discussion: American Prospect, Firedoglake, The Politico, Bloomberg, ThinkProgress and americanthinker.com

Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
Breaking: National Journal reports Obama to use recess appointment for Cordray

Discussion: NationalJournal.com, Nice Deb, Weasel Zippers, Outside the Beltway, Pundit & Pundette, Daily Pundit and Big Government

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 and Outside the Beltway

Mackenzie Weinger / The Politico:
Ron Paul calls Newt Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’

Discussion: Hot Air, Swampland, Daily Pundit and The Hinterland Gazette

Kevinliptak / CNN:
TRENDING: Paul: Gingrich a ‘chickenhawk’

Discussion: Wonkette, The Politico, The Hill, Indecision Forever and CBS News

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.

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

David Harsanyi / TheBlaze.com:

Santorum: Conservative Technocrat — Rick Santorum, like most Republican candidates, fashions himself the one true conservative running in 2012. If the thought of big, intrusive liberal government offends you, he might just be your man. And if you favor a big, intrusive Republican government, he's unquestionably your candidate.

Discussion: Fox News, The Enterprise Blog, Washington Post, Hot Air, Lawyers, Guns & Money and GayPatriot