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Romney's Taxes: $3 Million — Candidate Paid a 14% Effective Tax Rate for 2010 on $21.7 Million in Income — WASHINGTON—GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney paid a 14% effective income tax rate in 2010 after making $3 million in tax-deductible charitable donations and drawing …
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Mitt Romney's tax returns shed some light on his investment wealth — Mitt Romney offered a partial snapshot of his vast personal fortune late Monday, disclosing income of $21.7 million in 2010 and $20.9 million last year — virtually all of it profits, dividends or interest from investments.

Newt up 5 in Florida — PPP's first post-South Carolina poll in Florida finds Newt Gingrich with a small lead. He's at 38% to 33% for Mitt Romney, 13% for Rick Santorum, and 10% for Ron Paul. — Gingrich has gained 12 points since a PPP poll conducted in Florida a week ago. Romney has dropped 8 points.

Romney's released tax return reveals 13.9% rate, holdings in foreign ‘tax havens’ — TAMPA, Fla./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney released tax records on Tuesday indicating he will pay $6.2 million in taxes on a total of $45.2 million in income over the years 2010 and 2011.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Zandar Versus The Stupid and TBogg


Gingrich's former firm releases Freddie Mac contract — GOP candidate Newt Gingrich, who has said he never lobbied on behalf of his consulting clients, reported to a top lobbyist with Freddie Mac as part of a $25,000-a-month contract, according to records released late Monday.
Discussion:
New York Times, Hot Air, ThinkProgress and Naked Politics

Calling Mitch Daniels — For months now, even as the rest of the conservative commentariat has gradually resigned itself to the existing presidential field, the Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol has continued to pine — publicly, unstintingly, immune to either embarrassment or fatigue— for another candidate to jump into the race.


Romney Paid 13.9% Tax Rate on $21.6 Million in 2010 — Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney earned $21.6 million in 2010 and paid 13.9 percent of that amount in income taxes, using the preferential rate on investment income and charitable deductions to pay a smaller share of his earnings than top wage earners typically do.
Discussion:
Washington Post, ThinkProgress, American Prospect and ABCNEWS


Mitt Romney to pay $6.2M in taxes for 2010-2011
Discussion:
David Cay Johnston, Tax Foundation, NewsBusters.org blogs, The Reaction and Mediaite

Debate Winner: Mitch Daniels
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, New York Times and The Daily Caller


Photos: Protesters “glitter-bomb” Santorum's town hall meeting — 2012 Republican presidential contender Rick Santorum's town hall meeting in Lady Lake ended with an unexpected twist, Monday afternoon, when two protesters rushed the stage, throwing glitter and shouting at the candidate.
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and The Gateway Pundit
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Santorum To Rape Victims: ‘Make The Best Out Of A Bad Situation’
Discussion:
TBogg, Wonkette, Shakesville, Zandar Versus The Stupid and Little Green Footballs


The classiest telling off in concert hall history? Witty musical response of violinist who was interrupted mid-solo by mobile phone ringtone — It is the most infuriating addition to any performance for artist and audience alike. — While engrossed in a captivating piece of theatre …


John Kerry, on the right wing, breaks nose — Senator John Kerry sported a broken nose and two black eyes at a White House event today honoring the Stanley Cup champs, the Boston Bruins. He suffered the injuries in a pickup hockey game. (REUTERS/Larry Downing)
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Judge: Americans can be forced to decrypt their laptops — American citizens can be ordered to decrypt their PGP-scrambled hard drives for police to peruse for incriminating files, a federal judge in Colorado ruled today in what could become a precedent-setting case.
Discussion:
The Verge, Gizmodo, msnbc.com and Vox Popoli, more at Techmeme »


Former CIA officer charged in alleged leaks — The Justice Department on Monday charged a former CIA officer with repeatedly leaking classified information, including the identities of agency operatives involved in the capture and interrogation of alleged terrorists.
Discussion:
The Politico, msnbc.com, Erick's blog, RedState, Atlas Shrugs, Weasel Zippers and The Talking Dog, more at Mediagazer »


Barack Obama attacked Hillary Clinton in negative campaign leaked memos show — Barack Obama agreed to using character assassination tactics against Hillary Clinton during his 2008 presidential campaign, White House memos show, despite a pledge to steer away from negative electioneering.
Discussion:
Don Surber and Weasel Zippers

From Gingrich To Palin To Gingrich — Let us now play the tiniest violin for what is called the “Republican Establishment”. I'm not sure what this phrase means or represents any more - the Chamber of Commerce? John Boehner? The Bush family? But the concept of a responsible, sane …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, driftglass, Eunomia, Washington Examiner, A plain blog about politics and Enik Rising

11 stunning revelations from Larry Summers's secret economics memo to Barack Obama — A lengthy piece in The New Yorker looks at policymaking in the Obama White House. A key source for writer Ryan Lizza is a 57-page, “Sensitive & Confidential” memo written by economist Larry Summers …
Discussion:
Pirate's Cove, Doug Ross, The Politico, Washington Post, Weasel Zippers, Politics, ThinkProgress, Firedoglake, Paul Krugman and The PJ Tatler
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The Summers Memo — In a piece this week on Barack Obama's shift …
Discussion:
Political Mojo, Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic Online, DealBook and New Yorker

Draft Jeb Bush — In the early months of the election year, a polarizing president with a lackluster approval rating bided his time as the opposition party unraveled. Its nominating fight dissolved into chaos as the establishment front-runner collapsed, and an insurgent with a talent …
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COURAGE IN AMERICA

More Americans Uninsured in 2011 — However, more adults aged 18 to 26 now covered … WASHINGTON, D.C. — More American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since Gallup and Healthways started tracking it in 2008. The uninsured rate has been increasing since 2008, climbing to 17.1% in 2011.
Discussion:
The Politico

Romney, Gingrich tussle in GOP debate — Mitt Romney unleashed his harshest attacks to date on Newt Gingrich Monday in an antagonistic debate in Florida. — He chipped away at the former House Speaker's record from every direction as he worked to fend off the rival who has unexpectedly put Romney's hold …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Politico, ABCNEWS, Taylor Marsh and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog


The GOP Deserves to Lose — That's what happens when you run with losers. — Let's just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose. — It doesn't matter that Mr. Obama can't get the economy out of second gear.
Discussion:
The Enterprise Blog and Ricochet Conversations Feed


Gov. Christie nominates two for state Supreme Court, including gay African-American mayor — TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today nominated an openly gay African-American Republican mayor and a Korean-American assistant attorney general to the state's highest court.
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Towleroad News #gay
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N.J. Gov. Christie Nominates Bruce Harris - Out Gay, Black Mayor - to State Supreme Court
Discussion:
Washington Blade and Joe. My. God.


Rand Paul on TSA detainment: 'I was barked at: 'Do not leave the cubicle! " — Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul told The Daily Caller that being “detained” by the Transportation Security Administration at the Nashville airport Monday was a major ordeal that underscores flaws in TSA's procedures …
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White House sides with TSA in Rand Paul standoff
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Daily Caller, Hit & Run, The Other McCain, The Gateway Pundit, The Politico and LewRockwell.com Blog