memeorandum: The Sultriest Members of Congress (John Hudson/The Atlantic Wire)

8:10 AM ET, January 7, 2012

Top Items:

Emily Schultheis / The Politico:

New Paul S.C. ad hits Santorum on ‘betrayal’ — Ron Paul's campaign is out with this new ad in South Carolina, which hits Rick Santorum on his “record of betrayal.” — “One serial hypocrite exposed,” the ad says, showing clips of Newt Gingrich. “Now another has emerged: Rick Santorum …

Discussion: National Review, The Reaction, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS, Vox Popoli, American Power and New York Times

Adam Sorensen / Swampland:

TIME/CNN/ORC Poll: Romney Storms Ahead in South Carolina — In another sign of the front-runner's growing strength. Mitt Romney has taken the lead in South Carolina, according to a TIME/CNN/ORC poll released Friday. — The poll, which surveyed likely primary voters on Wednesday and Thursday …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, Firedoglake, Political Mojo, Guardian, Washington Post, Hot Air, The Politico, Outside the Beltway and Talking Points Memo

Universal Uclick / uExpress:

SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES UNITE FOR SANTORUM — On Tuesday night in Iowa, he stood before the cheering throngs like a Republican Rocky, or better yet, a latter-day Rudy suddenly lifted above his Notre Dame teammates in a fantastic storybook finish. — On Tuesday night, for the first time, Rick Santorum was a contender.

Discussion: Balloon Juice and National Review

Charles Lane / Washington Post:

Rick Santorum's baby—and mine. — The latest intra-pundit flap of Campaign 2012: a couple of my liberal colleagues have called Rick and Karen Santorum “crazy,” or “very weird” for wrapping and caressing the body of their baby, who died only two hours after emerging from 20 weeks in utero …

Discussion: CatholicVote.org and National Review

Rick Perlstein / Crooks and Liars:

Santorum's ‘Freedom’ is Pretty Much Slavery — Rick Santorum got high marks for his near-victory speech in Iowa. In the Washington Post, E.J. Dionne called it “by far the best speech Tuesday night.” Santorum's address impressed me, too, but for a different reason: his astonishing endorsement …

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Geneva Sands-Sadowitz / The Hill:
Gingrich turns fire on Santorum

Discussion: PJ Media, The Politico, The Daily, CNN, Washington Post, The Hill, Hot Air and ABCNEWS

WMUR:
Poll: Romney Holds Onto Big Lead In NH

Discussion: New York Times, Hot Air, ABCNEWS and Rasmussen Reports

Justin Sink / The Hill:
Paul blasts Santorum as ‘serial hypocrite’

Discussion: The Politico

Shushannah Walshe / ABCNEWS:
Pro-Santorum SuperPAC Buys Ad Time in South Carolina

Discussion: Mediaite and The Page

Gschwarzcnn / CNN:
CNN/Time Poll: Romney and Santorum soar in South Carolina

Discussion: FP Passport, americanthinker.com, Reuters, The Politico, The Caucus, The Hill, Business Insider and Rasmussen Reports

James Oliphant / Los Angeles Times:
Rick Santorum jeered after comparing gay marriage to polygamy

Discussion: 2012.talkingpointsmemo.com, Firedoglake, Opinion L.A., NewsBusters.org blogs, The New Republic and Taylor Marsh

Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:

‘The Obamas’: Book Reveals Friction Between Rahm Emanuel, Michelle Obama (UPDATE) … Barack Obama , Michelle Obama , Rahm Emanuel , White House , Obama , Video , Jodi Kantor , Obama White House , The Obamas , Obama Marriage , Obamas Marriage , The Obamas Jodi Kantor , Politics News

Discussion: Guardian, Firedoglake, Lynn Sweet and The Politico

Jodi Kantor / New York Times:

Michelle Obama and the Evolution of a First Lady — Michelle Obama was privately fuming, not only at the president's team, but also at her husband. — In the days after the Democrats lost Edward Kennedy's Senate seat in January 2010, Barack Obama was even-keeled as usual in meetings …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Carol Felsenthal / Chicago magazine: Jodi Kantor Goes Inside the Obamas' Marriage in New Book

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:

Another Romney layoff victim, this one a conservative, speaks out — Reuters published a blockbuster story today on GS Technologies, a steel mill in Kansas City that was acquired by Bain Capital, leading to the layoffs of some 750 workers. In this case, the workers lost promised severance pay …

Discussion: Wonkette, Riehl World View and GOP 12

Reuters:
Special report: Romney's steel skeleton in the Bain closet

Discussion: Addicting Info, Daily Kos, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, rubber hose, Balloon Juice, Washington Monthly, ThinkProgress and Ricochet Conversations Feed

Paul Krugman / New York Times:
Bain, Barack and Jobs

Discussion: Political Mojo, Business Insider, ABCNEWS and Daily Kos

Elizabeth McNeil / People.com:

Kristy McNichol Wants to ‘Be Open About Who I Am’ — Kristy McNichol has been out of the public eye for 20 years. Now she's chosen to come out - to try to help kids who are being bullied. — McNichol, 49, who has lived with her partner Martie Allen, also 49, for the past two decades …

Discussion: Joe. My. God., Steve Rothaus' Gay …, Towleroad News #gay and Box Turtle Bulletin

Amie Parnes / The Hill:

Obama takes victory lap — Two days after defying Republicans and appointing Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, President Obama took a little time to gloat. — Making a victory lap of sorts at the independent agency, Obama cracked a joke …

Discussion: CNN, Weasel Zippers, The Politico and RedState

New York Post:
This power grab's a sign of weakness

Discussion: Belmont Club and Betsy's Page

Washington Post:
Obama's recess appointments are unconstitutional

Discussion: Big Government, The Daily Caller, The Volokh Conspiracy, The Heritage Foundation and RedState

Dylan Byers / The Politico:

What Newt said about food stamps — Newt Gingrich's comments about African-Americans and food stamps, made at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire yesterday, have made the expected media rounds — from Slate to The Daily Beast to The Associated Press to MSNBC — but the interpretation has changed somewhat along the way.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, No More Mister Nice Blog, CNN, Daily Kos, JSOnline, The Caucus, Little Green Footballs and nation.foxnews.com

Lyle Denniston / SCOTUSblog:

Two new cases granted — UPDATE: The Court has announced that it will issue opinions in argued cases on both Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Further orders from today's Conference will be issued at 10 a.m. Monday. — The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to clarify when police may use …

Discussion: Election Law Blog, Washington Post and TalkLeft

John Hudson / The Atlantic Wire:

The Sultriest Members of Congress — If you're the best-looking member in Congress, that won't guarantee you a high-ranking committee chair but it will bring you coveted media attention. — That's the finding from a new study by two Israeli professors in the journal of Political Communication.

Discussion: Booman Tribune, New York Times and Hotline On Call

Sydney Morning Herald:

Climate change castaways consider move to Australia — Ben Doherty in Male, Maldives — Threat ... much of the Maldives could be lost to climate change. — THE President of what could be the first country in the world lost to climate change has urged Australia to prepare for a mass wave …

Discussion: ThinkProgress and Tim Blair

Mike Pflanz / Telegraph:

20 killed as Nigerian gunmen attack Christian mourners — Gunmen in Nigeria on Friday opened fire on friends and relatives gathered to mourn the deaths of three Christians killed on Thursday, leaving up to 20 more people dead. — Nigeria has recently experienced a surge in ethnic and sectarian violence

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers and Jihad Watch

Michael Falcone / ABCNEWS:

Rick Perry Unwinds Before New Hampshire Debate At Texas Shooting Range — ABC's Michael Falcone and Arlette Saenz report: — Ready, aim fire. That's apparently Texas Gov. Rick Perry's idea of relaxation before returning to the campaign trail this weekend.

Discussion: Washington Post and The Gateway Pundit