memeorandum: Fannie, Freddie and Chewbacca (Karl Smith/Modeled Behavior)

6:20 PM ET, January 28, 2012

Top Items:

Josh Lederman / Ballot Box:

NBC, Tom Brokaw ask Romney to take down ad made with news footage — ORLANDO, Fla. — Mitt Romney may have hoped that by featuring former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw in his new campaign ad, he could lend to his attacks on Newt Gingrich the credence of one of the country's most eminent journalists.

Discussion: Hot Air, CNN, Mediaite, Wake up America, National Review and Washington Post

Howard Fineman / The Huffington Post:

Newt Gingrich Campaign Leaking Hot Air Ahead Of Florida Primary, GOP Insiders Say … 2012 Elections , Marco Rubio , Mitt Romney , Newt Gingrich 2012 , Elections 2012 , Florida , Newt Gingrich , Politics , Sarah Palin , Video , Florida Primary , Florida Debate , South Carolina …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Little Green Footballs, M.JOSEPH SHEPPARD'S …, No More Mister Nice Blog, Taylor Marsh and The Politico

Maggie Haberman / The Politico:

NBC asks Mitt to remove Brokaw ad — Via POLITICO's Reid Epstein, NBC News and Tom Brokaw are loudly objecting to the Mitt Romney campaign's use of footage from the 1990s in an ad blasting Newt Gingrich over his House ethics charges. — Brokaw, whose statement noted he was speaking on his behalf …

Discussion: Althouse, Mail Online and Mediaite

Jeremy W. Peters / The Caucus:

NBC News Asks Romney Campaign to Remove Ad — 4:29 p.m. | Updated TAMPA, Fla. - NBC News is asking that the Romney campaign remove from its ads any references to material from the network in response to a new commercial that consists almost entirely of old footage of its former news anchor …

Discussion: The Political Carnival, more at Mediagazer »

Niall Stanage / Ballot Box:

Gingrich camp confronts visiting Romney surrogates — Delray Beach, Fla. — Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) found his own tactics turned against him during a Newt Gingrich event here Friday afternoon. — Chaffetz, a Mitt Romney supporter, has been turning up at Gingrich events during the past two days …

Discussion: CNN, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Hullabaloo

WJXX-TV:
Exclusive Poll: Gingrich, Romney in Dead Heat Statewide

Discussion: The Other McCain, Doug Ross, M.JOSEPH SHEPPARD'S …, The Reaction, Wake up America, The Daily Dish, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and ABCNEWS

Karl Smith / Modeled Behavior:

Fannie, Freddie and Chewbacca — Center-left intellectuals in America apparently have a serious problem comprehending the concept of Bulls**t. — The entire econ world has borne witness to Paul Krugman tearing out his hair over Zombie Lies. Now, Mark Zandi devotes some several thousands words …

Discussion: Brad DeLong and Political Mojo

Guardian:

Sun journalists arrested in corruption investigation — Met police search News International's headquarters in Wapping as four current and former Sun employees are arrested — Four current and former senior Sun journalists and one serving police officer have been arrested as part …

Discussion: Truthdig and US Politics, more at Mediagazer »

Mark Steyn / National Review:

The State of Our Union Is Broke — Had I been asked to deliver the State of the Union address, it would not have delayed your dinner plans: — “The State of our Union is broke, heading for bankrupt, and total collapse shortly thereafter. Thank you and goodnight! You've been a terrific crowd!”

Discussion: Ed Driscoll

Matt Campbell / Kansas City Star:

Cleaver aids woman in trouble — U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver came to the aid of a woman in distress on Friday. — The congressman was in Kansas City to attend a meeting regarding the Green Impact Zone and was riding in a car near 44th Street and Troost Avenue before 10 a.m. when he spotted someone waving …

Discussion: The Hill, Associated Press and CNN

Joe Scarborough / Reuters:

The Newt I know — Yeah, yeah. I know. Newt Gingrich had a lousy week and will probably lose the Florida primary on Tuesday. But for those tempted to once again predict the speedy collapse of his campaign, consider yourselves forewarned. I've known this guy long enough to realize …

Discussion: New York Times, NO QUARTER and Hot Air

Rosie Gray / Politics:
Cooter From Dukes Of Hazzard Really, Really Hates Newt Gingrich

Discussion: BuzzFeed

David Dayen / Firedoglake:

Schneiderman's RMBS Working Group: Resources, Jurisdiction and Will — Eric Schneiderman, co-chair of the newly titled “RMBS working group” investigating financial fraud, appeared on the Rachel Maddow Show last night (the interview starts around the 5:00 mark), and there were a few interesting moments.

Discussion: naked capitalism and The Huffington Post

Nancy Cook / NationalJournal.com:

Impeach Obama? — Grover Norquist predicts a rebellion if President Obama wins reelection and doesn't extend the Bush tax cuts. … While other Washington insiders are wringing their hands over the lack of action expected on Capitol Hill in this election year, Grover Norquist is studying his color-coded maps.