Newt Gingrich: I crossed the line  —  SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Newt Gingrich signaled Wednesday that he believes his criticism of Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital is a mistake — and that he's created an impression that he was echoing Democratic rhetoric.  —  Gingrich conceded the problem …

James O'Keefe's Group Appears To Commit Voter Fraud In Order To Gin Up Hysteria Over Non-Existent Fraud Problem  —  James O'Keefe's latest video features surrogates appearing to commit voter fraud in yesterday's New Hampshire primary election, all in an attempt to highlight voter fraud …

Warren Buffett Ready to Take Republicans' Tax Challenge  —  Warren Buffett is ready to call Republicans' tax bluff.  Last fall, Senator Mitch McConnell said that if Buffett was feeling “guilty” about paying too little in taxes, he should “send in a check.”  The jab was in response …

The Fantastical Crackpot Cult of Ron Paul  —  During Tuesday night's New Hampshire Primary election coverage, Lawrence O'Donnell hilariously and saliently described Ron Paul as “not a candidate,” therefore Jon Huntsman was the realistic second place winner, though not technically since he placed third on paper.

Justices Recognize ‘Ministerial Exception’ to Job Bias Laws  —  WASHINGTON — In what may be its most significant religious liberty decision in two decades, the Supreme Court on Wednesday for the first time recognized a “ministerial exception” to employment discrimination laws …

NH turnout dropped 16% among actual Republicans  —  Over at Townhall, Guy Benson has defended the strength of Mitt Romney's victory in New Hampshire, and I don't think there's any disputing that it was a solid win.  But I think there's one important point worth clarifying.

Homeland Security watches Twitter, social media  —  (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's command center routinely monitors dozens of popular websites, including Facebook, Twitter, Hulu, WikiLeaks and news and gossip sites including the Huffington Post and Drudge Report, according to a government document.

Bolton to Back Romney  —  Former U.N Ambassador John Bolton is set to endorse Mitt Romney and will join his top team of foreign-policy advisers, according to people close to the campaign.  —  The move is a blow to Newt Gingrich, who is close to Mr. Bolton and said recently that he would nominate …

Romney: Questions about Wall Street and inequality are driven by ‘envy’  —  Mitt Romney had a remarkable exchange on NBC this morning that may not be as attention-grabbing about his “fire people” gaffe — but may actually be just as revealing and significant.  And I hope it gets some attention.

Rising Share of Americans See Conflict Between Rich and Poor  —  The Occupy Wall Street movement no longer occupies Wall Street, but the issue of class conflict has captured a growing share of the national consciousness.  A new Pew Research Center survey of 2,048 adults finds that about two-thirds …

Correction on the Mankiw Model  —  I have to apologize.  I made a mistake in a post from last week in calculating the interest rate based on Professor Greg Mankiw's interest rate model.  —  His model for where the Fed funds rate ought to be is: … In my original post …

El Che: The Crass Marketing of a Sadistic Racist … There's something about Che Guevara that convinces older European men that they will become cooler through association with his “brand.”  We saw that again yesterday when Mercedes-Benz Chairman Dieter Zetsche launched a new car under a banner picture of Guevara.

TPM2012  —  CNN Apparently Waives Its Own Debate Rules To Let Rick Perry In  —  CNN now says that Rick Perry is being invited to their debate in South Carolina on January 19, two days before the big primary in which he hopes to make his last stand.  This despite the fact that he has not met …

Mayor's plan to limit booze sales  —  Party pooper!  —  First, Mayor Bloomberg went after smoking in public places.  Then trans-fats, salt and sugary drinks.  —  Now Bloomberg — known for sipping fine wine and downing a cold beer from time to time — wants to crack down on alcohol sales …

W.H. guests bail, Biden gets a seat  —  Dozens of journalists packed into the East Room at the White House today for the president's remarks on “in-sourcing,” at least 60 of them lining the press risers and walls.  —  But what many couldn't see in press coverage of the event …

Bishop Romney Pressured Single Mother To Give Up Baby, Book Says  —  The Boston Globe's biography opens new windows into the candidate's time as a Mormon lay leader.  Romney was a traditionalist.  —  Republican presidential candidate former Governor Mitt Romney, left …

Obama's Peculiar Re-Election Strategy  —  I know we're all supposed to think that the primaries are poised to turn out a weak Republican nominee and that President Obama will swoop in this fall and carry the day with some brilliant pincer move that simultaneously dubs the Republican too extreme, too moderate, too boring, and too weird.