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MY ENDORSEMENT FOR PRESIDENT — Exclusive: Chuck Norris reveals his choice for Republican nomination — Our republic as America's founders created it is under assault from extremists outside our country and anti-constitutionalists inside our country. Combined with the flailing American economy …
Discussion:
The Hill, Pat Dollard, Mediaite, Balloon Juice, Riehl World View, Hot Air, Gawker, Lawyers, Guns & Money and The Daily Caller
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America hates Newt Gingrich — Unlike Mitt Romney, who occasionally beats President Obama in general election poll match ups, Newt Gingrich trails far behind President Obama in every survey. But just how bad are Gingrich's unfavorable among the general public compared to Obama and Romney?
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Outside the Beltway, Wizbang and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Fake CNN email used as dirty trick in South Carolina — CNN did not send out the email alert. — Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @politicalticker — It's not clear how many people received the fake email, though at least two members of the South Carolina GOP Executive Committee …
Discussion:
Politics, The Politico, ABCNEWS, FITSNews, The Other McCain, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Telegraph, Reuters, Hardball Blog, American Spectator, 2012 Decoded, Balloon Juice, Outside the Beltway, The Daily Caller, Washington Wire, TVNewser, Wake up America, Washington Post, Taylor Marsh and Daily Kos


Clemson Palmetto Poll finds Gingrich leading, 20% of S.C. voters still uncommitted — CLEMSON, S.C. — With polls opening in less than 24 hours for the important South Carolina presidential primary election, the final Palmetto Poll shows Newt Gingrich leading over Mitt Romney in a gritty battle fraught …

Newt expands South Carolina lead — Newt Gingrich heads into South Carolina election day as the clear front runner in the state: he's now polling at 37% to 28% for Mitt Romney, 16% for Rick Santorum, and 14% for Ron Paul. — Gingrich's lead has actually increased in the wake of his ex-wife's controversial interview with ABC.
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, M.JOSEPH SHEPPARD'S …, The Reaction, Hot Air, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Erick's blog


Newt Gingrich's three marriages mean he might make a strong president — really — Former Speaker of the House and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was attacked Thursday in an interview on ABC News by his second wife Marianne. She accused him of beginning an affair …

Santorum now the Iowa winner, officially — This statement just landed from the Republican Party of Iowa, just about 20 minutes shy of midnight: … This is a switch from the party's stand yesterday morning, that the results were inconclusive and a winner couldn't be called because of a number …

Romney's National Lead Down to 10 Points — Romney 30%, Gingrich 20% in the latest Gallup Daily tracking — PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney is a considerably weaker front-runner among Republican registered voters nationally than he was at the beginning of the week.


A Test for Gingrich as Political Strategist — CHARLESTON, S.C. — If Newt Gingrich soars on his strong debate performances this week, overcomes the blowback within his party from attacking Mitt Romney as a corporate buyout king, and goes on to do well when South Carolina voters go to the polls on Saturday …
Discussion:
TalkLeft and The Caucus

Romney adviser: We could lose South Carolina
Discussion:
Guardian, The Politico, Telegraph, Hot Air and The Daily Caller

Newt Gingrich Surges In South Carolina, But Expect The Unexpected
Discussion:
Guardian, The BRAD BLOG and ABCNEWS

The Momentum of Ideas — During last night's Republican debate …
Discussion:
National Review, Swampland, American Spectator and Campaign 2012

Sen. Scott Brown urges Romney, Gingrich — come clean
Discussion:
The Politico, Hot Air, The Hill and ThinkProgress

A statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended …
Discussion:
Religion Dispatches, Daily Kos and The Raw Story
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Health plans ordered to cover birth control without co-pays — Most healthcare plans will be required to cover birth control without charging co-pays or deductibles starting Aug. 1, the Obama administration announced Friday. — The final regulation retains the approach federal health officials proposed …


Obama Administration Approves Rule That Guarantees Near-Universal Contraceptive Coverage — Our guest blogger is Jessica Arons, Director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at American Progress. — Today, in a huge victory for women's health, Health and Human Services Secretary …

Obama administration gives groups more time to comply with birth control rule
Discussion:
Salon, Crooked Timber and Political Mojo

How Should the Supreme Court Rule on the Individual Mandate? — Commenter Brandon, a frequent critic of my posts on the individual mandate, offers the following question tonight in a comment thread: … I wasn't planning to blog on this. But because Brandon asks so nicely, I thought I would respond.
Discussion:
The Other McCain and Hit & Run
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Supreme Court Rejects Judge-Drawn Maps in Texas Redistricting Case
Discussion:
msnbc.com, ProPublica, ABCNEWS, Election Law Blog, Washington Post, Firedoglake and The Atlantic Online


NBC's Chuck Todd Blasts Stephen Colbert: ‘He Is Making A Mockery Of The System’ — Appearing at a Winthrop University panel Thursday, MSNBC host and NBC White House correspondent Chuck Todd ripped into Stephen Colbert and his not-yet-official run, suggesting that Colbert might …


Singing legend Etta James dies at 73 — Etta James, here performing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 2009, died Friday, January 20, due to complications from leukeimia, said her longtime friend and manager, Lupe De Leon. The singer was 73. — HIDE CAPTION — Etta James through the years
Discussion:
THEROOT.COM, Washington Post, TalkLeft, The Democratic Daily and Gothamist
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Florida debate uncertain without Romney commitment — Mitt Romney's campaign has not said they are committed to Monday night's Republican debate in Tampa, Fla., leading to speculation the former governor will not be participating. — NBC News has not canceled the event but a statement …
Discussion:
www2.tbo.com and Pat Dollard
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Mitt Romney leaves NBC Florida Republican debate uncertain
Discussion:
Politics, Daily Kos, Naked Politics, No More Mister Nice Blog and ABCNEWS


Our Mr. Brooks Climbs The Romney Family Tree — The applause came from deep in the plush leather armchairs gathered by the fireplace in the clubroom of the Premature Fogies Club. It was warm and sustaining, as was the morning brandy. People touched the patches on his master's blazer as he walked by.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice and New York Times
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Supreme Court's Antonin Scalia sounds off at law gathering … Justice Antonin Scalia said Thursday he is prepared to discard a major precedent in abortion law when considering a future challenge to state regulations that require extra staff and expensive equipment at abortion clinics, such as one approved in Virginia last year.
Discussion:
LifeNews.com and Shakesville


Four Years Ago, Romney's Wealth Was Not an Issue — In 2008, Mitt Romney willingly — and publicly — tapped into his personal fortune to run for president, pumping nearly $45 million directly into his political campaign. — There could not have been a more visible demonstration …
Discussion:
The Mahablog
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Left to Obama: Time for constitutional amendment against Citizens United — With unprecedented amounts of cash set to flood the airwaves this year, campaign finance reform advocates have slowly began to coalesce around a far-fetched idea: How about a constitutional amendment to ban big money in politics?
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Political Mojo and Hit & Run

President Obama holds call to gather ‘input’ on State of the Union — President Obama held a conference call late Friday afternoon to “solicit input” from state, local and tribal leaders on the State of the Union address, according to attendees on the call.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers