Lots of former House Republican colleagues are coming forward and giving bracingly negatives reads of the Speaker Gingrich they knew in the 1990s. But not now-Sen. Lindsey Graham (R), who was at the center of the failed coup to topple Newt in 1997. Graham says he sees signs of a new, more ‘subtle’ Newt.
Medford, New Jersey Mayor Chris Myers (R) has resigned after being ensnared in a scandal tied to the male escort site Rentboy.com.
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There’s another poll of Iowa out tonight (from PPP) and it shows the basic picture as the others — Newt Gingrich with a solid lead followed by Romney and Paul battling for second (in this case Paul wins that battle).
What’s more interesting are the internals. Read More
Mitt Romney endorses the Democratic proposal to extend the payroll tax cut he earlier derided as “like temporary little Band-Aids.”
It’s admittedly excruciating to have to pay any attention to the Trump-moderated debate, but it will be interesting to watch which GOP candidates agree to participate and which bail.
So far, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are in, and Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman are out.
The rest, including Romney, Perry and Bachmann, have yet to say.
President Obama will appear in the White House briefing room shortly to make a statement on the payroll tax cut debate. Watch.
Here’s our latest on the current state of play.
Historic social upheaval. Global economic crisis. Out of control carbon emissions. Political revolution on a grand scale.
Meanwhile, the GOP presidential campaign has turned into an episode of The Apprentice, and Donald Trump continues to dabble in birtherism.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is by any reasonable measure a total mess and has been for years. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) is suggesting that ATF be eliminated and folded into the FBI. (It’s actually the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives now, a name change designed to protect its jurisdiction and turf, but ATFE doesn’t have the same ring to it.) Everyone who matters seems to agree on this point except ATF itself — and the NRA.