Richard Cordray: Any Legislation Which Has Even “Incidental Effects on the Economy” is a “Valid Exercise of Congressional Authority”  —  President Obama announced today that he was going to take a new step in the expansion of executive authority by recess appointing a head …

Suddenly, a fun candidate  —  The complaint that Iowa is not a typical American state is true but trivial because there is no such state.  Can you name one whose political culture, closely considered, is more like than unlike any other state's?  Anyway, someplace has to go first …

TPM2012  —  No Revolution For Michele — Bachmann Suspends Campaign  —  Michele Bachmann's presidential dream is over.  At a press conference Wednesday morning in Des Moines, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann announced that she is suspending her campaign for the Republican nomination for president …

Dallas teen missing since 2010 was mistakenly deported  —  DALLAS - “It's very frustrating,” Lorene Turner said.  —  She has spent hours on Facebook trying to find her granddaughter, Jakadrien.  —  “Once I get home I am up until 3 or 4 in the morning searching and looking,” Turner said.

Rick Santorum is coming for your birth control  —  The GOP presidential candidate is against non-procreative sex — even for married couples  —  Here is an actual Rick Santorum quote: “One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country.”

Kodak Teeters on the Brink  —  Eastman Kodak Co. is preparing to seek bankruptcy protection in the coming weeks, people familiar with the matter said, a move that would cap a stunning comedown for a company that once ranked among America's corporate titans.  —  The 131-year-old company …

How Many Stephen Colberts Are There?  —  There used to be just two Stephen Colberts, and they were hard enough to distinguish.  The main difference was that one thought the other was an idiot.  The idiot Colbert was the one who made a nice paycheck by appearing four times a week on …

Herman Cain to launch 9-9-9 bus tour  —  Herman Cain's not a candidate anymore, but he's launching a new bus tour anyway.  —  The former Godfather's Pizza CEO announced plans to tour the country to raise support for the “9-9-9” plan that was the star of his aborted presidential run …

Do Musicians Block GOP Candidates From Using Their Songs?  —  When GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's team was looking for a theme song for his campaign, Kid Rock's hit “Born Free” hit a chord.  But instead of doing what countless other politicians before him had done …

New Hampshire GOP Bill Mandates That New Laws Find Their Origin In 1215 English Magna Carta  —  New Hampshire Republicans are taking textual originalism to a whole new level: three lawmakers have proposed a bill that requires that all legislation find its origin not in the U.S. constitution, but an English document crafted in 1215.

Keith Olbermann Blasts Current TV; Internal Memo Reveals Tension Over GOP Primary  —  “I was not given a legitimate opportunity to host under acceptable conditions,” Olbermann said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter on Wednesday.  “They know it and we know it.  Telling half the story is wrong.”

Georgia Survey Finds Farmers Are Having Hard Time Replacing Migrant Workers  —  A study by the Georgia Agriculture Department of the state farm workforce shows that finding legal employees with the skill and desire to do labor-intensive harvesting is extremely difficult.

California Train Plan Hits Bump Over Funds  —  SAN FRANCISCO—California's ambitious plan for a high-speed rail system hit a big roadblock Tuesday, as an independent panel urged lawmakers to deny authorizing the issuance of $2.7 billion in bonds to kick off the $98.5 billion project.

Oklahoma mom calling 911 asks if shooting an intruder is allowed  —  (CNN) — Home alone with her 3-month-old son, Sarah Dawn McKinley of Blanchard, Oklahoma, said she decided to make a stand when two men tried to break into her home on New Year's Eve.  —  McKinley, who had been widowed less …

Santorum has raised $1M since last night  —  Rick Santorum has raised just over $1 million since his eight-vote loss in Iowa last night, his top strategist tells POLITICO.  —  John Brabender, who revealed that their server briefly went down under the crush last night, said almost all of the cash came online.