SCIENCE FICTION

ANOTHER GOP debate

http://crooksandliars.com/richard-rj-eskow/tonights-gop-debate-was-bad-1950s
[Richard RJ Eskow] The GOP Presidential candidates continue to play their parts in an implausible story of a world that could never exist, acting out nonexistent conflicts while delivering dialog that insults the intelligence. That's not because they're stupid. It's because they think you are.

It's like watching a low budget science-fiction movie from the fifties: Dr. Strange vs. The Vulture in the Caverns of the Moon. It's badly executed, even by the low standards of its genre, complete with cheap sets, bad special effects and wooden acting.

They're counting on their audience to provide that state of mind which literature professors call "the willing suspension of disbelief." . . . [read on]

A look back: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/27/2012-debate-audiences-tribute_n_1235713.html

The Liar lies about his own lies – how does he keep it all straight?

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/romney-denies-knowledge-of-ad-he-approved.php
Romney Denies Knowledge Of Anti-Newt Ad He Approved

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/romney-forgets-attack-ad-he-approved

More lies: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/romney_actually_i_kind_of_pay_50_tax.php

The Liar’s shifting stories on why he voted for Paul Tsongas in 1992

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/27/1059049/-Mitt-Romney-offers-yet-another-explanation-for-why-he-voted-in-1992-Democratic-primary

Rewriting history

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/27/1059176/-Mitt-Romneys-campaign-selectively-whitewashes-inconvenient-statements-from-official-transcripts
Mitt Romney's campaign selectively whitewashes inconvenient statements from official transcripts

Whitewash this

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/romney_us_economy_getting_bett034919.php
INGRAHAM: You’ve also noted that there are signs of improvement on the horizon in the economy. How do you answer the president’s argument that the economy is getting better in a general election campaign if you yourself are saying it’s getting better?

ROMNEY: Well, of course it’s getting better. The economy always gets better after a recession, there is always a recovery. […]

INGRAHAM: Isn’t it a hard argument to make if you’re saying, like, OK, he inherited this recession, he took a bunch of steps to try to turn the economy around, and now, we’re seeing more jobs, but vote against him anyway? Isn’t that a hard argument to make? Is that a stark enough contrast?

ROMNEY: Have you got a better one, Laura? It just happens to be the truth.

Newt goes there

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/27/gingrich_readies_brutal_new_ad.html
Newt Gingrich plans to release "a brutal new ad accusing Romney of trying to mislead, deceive, and distort his way to the White House," ABC News reports. . . .

Newt wants moon bases

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2012/01/newt_gingrich_s_moon_colony_and_mars_plan_.html

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/newt-gingrichs-plan-for-a-moon-base-is-it-science-fiction/2012/01/26/gIQAKVC2TQ_story.html

Ron Paul, FOS

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/ron-paul-rewrites-history-healthcare-cnndeb

The end?

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/ron-paul-supporting-former-ron-paul-secretary-he-knew-all-about-those-newsletters.php
Ron Paul-Supporting Former Ron Paul Secretary: He Knew All About Those Newsletters

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/quote-day-ron-paul-shrewd-businessman

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/all-american-entrepreneur-ron-pauls.html

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/27/1059097/-Associates-of-Ron-Paul-say-he-proofed-and-signed-off-on-racist-newsletters
[Meteor Blades] Some will no doubt argue, have argued, in fact, that Paul is not personally a racist. That he only inserted the incendiary racist stuff into an already noxiously conspiratorial and loony newsletter to make money, not because he actually believed any of it. This is an old argument. But, even if it's true in Paul's case, a lack of personal bigotry against other people because of their ethnicity or skin color isn't required to make one a racist. Stirring up hatred and pushing philosophies and policies that serve to keep others "in their place" is what matters.

The irresponsible idiocy of climate change denial

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/climate-change-goes-back-square-zero

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:26 AM

 
FUNNY MONEY

Will people really vote for this guy?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mitt-romneys-tax-return-problem/2012/01/25/gIQAVYt5TQ_story.html
[Al Kamen] Mitt Romney’s release Tuesday of his most recent tax returns — showing accounts in the Cayman Islands and Switzerland, no visible signs of a job (but earning $20-plus million a year), and a tax rate of just 14 percent — have been great fodder for his opponents and the media.

But that’s just his returns for 2010 and 2011. And he emphatically insists he will release no more.

Look for a flip-flop here.

Pressure will surely build for more records. His opponents and the media will start the always-annoying “What is he hiding?” drumbeat.

(That may intensify after people get a look at a Los Angeles Times article Thursday about how Romney didn’t include on his financial disclosure forms a number of on- and offshore accounts that are on his tax returns.) . . .

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/26/romney_tax_returns_differ_from_ethics_forms.html
Romney Tax Returns Differ from Ethics Forms

http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/romney-may-have-paid-zero-taxes-2009
Romney May Have Paid Zero Taxes In 2009

http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/romney-gave-100-million-to-his-sons.html
Romney gave $100 million to his sons and paid zero gift tax

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/top-dem-offshoring-expert-smells-something-fishy-in-romneys-tax-code.php
Top Dem Offshoring Expert Smells Something Fishy In Romney’s Tax Code

More: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/nope_2.php
There’s a lot of evidence that Romney’s ‘blind trust’ isn’t that blind.

The problem for the GOPers: how to keep the teabaggers in the tent without losing independents

http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/romneys-standing-plummets-among.html
Romney’s standing plummets among independent voters

Here’s the problem the GOP worried about with Newt: mercurial, erratic and undisciplined

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/26/does_newt_even_realize_what%E2%80%99s_happening_to_him/
[Steve Kornacki] At the start of this week, Newt Gingrich was threatening to open up a wide lead and run away with the Florida primary. But multiple new polls now confirm that his surge has peaked and is probably receding, raising the possibility that he’ll instead suffer a devastating defeat next Tuesday — and that Mitt Romney will once again emerge as the presumptive Republican nominee. . . .

And mentally unstable? http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/mitt-romney-goes-after-newt-gingrichs-mental-state.php

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/26/1058732/-Mitt-Romney-should-be-embarrassed-by-his-latest-attack-ad--because-it-sucks

And. . .

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/26/1058790/-Newt-Gingrichs-campaign-admits-he-lied-during-debate-about-ABC-News-interview-with-his%C2%A0ex-wife
Newt Gingrich's campaign admits he lied

Another GOP debate!

http://www.samefacts.com/2012/01/campaigns/campaign-2012/missed-opportunity
[Mark Kleiman] On ill-considered impulse, I decided to subject myself to the CNN Republican debate Thursday night. Pretty appalling, all around. Even the joy of watching Republicans form a good old-fashioned Democratic circular firing squad couldn’t making up for the dreariness of living – even for only two hours – in the dim-witted, ignorant, insular, fact-free, hate-filled universe that all four candidates seem to imagine that their voters’ minds inhabit. . . .

More: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/01/jacksonville_fla_debate_romney_pounds_gingrich.html

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/jacksonville-debate-roundup

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/florida-republican-debate-even-the-audience-cant-save-gingrich-from-romney/2012/01/26/gIQAvGtKUQ_blog.html

Highlights! http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/debate-in-100-seconds-grandmas-are-awesome.php

Dangerous news for Scott Walker (Gov. Wisconsin)

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/former_walker_aide_copping_a_plea_bargain_in_probe_other_ex_aides.php
Former Walker Aide Copping A Plea

More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/two_former_walker_aides_charged_with_fundraising_o.php

Bonus item: A nice idea – a nonpartisan, objective site that calls out factual misstatements by all candidates, regardless of party. Unfortunately, PolitiFact isn’t it

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/rachel-maddow-politifact-you-are-fired

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:53 AM

 
HANDS UP!

Let’s vote on it

http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/01/state-of-the-union-live-coverage
Obama took up the call of the Occupy Wall Street movement, decrying unfair tax breaks for millionaires. He adopted a modified version of the OWS 1-vs.-99-percent message: "If you're earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn't get special tax subsidies or deductions. On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. You're the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You're the ones who need relief."

And he countered the typical GOP retort: "You can call this class warfare all you want. But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense." . . .

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/senate-democrats-plan-to-put-republicans-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-middle-class.php
Senate Democrats Plan To Put Republicans On The Wrong Side Of The Middle Class

Can’t get their message straight

http://mediamatters.org/research/201201250010
Right-wing media have responded to President Obama's State of the Union speech with predictable attacks, calling it "class warfare" . . .

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/01/newt-slams-romneys-world-of-swiss-bank-accounts-112234.html
Newt slams Romney's 'world of Swiss bank accounts'

More: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/25/1058462/-Republicans-find-plenty-to-be-outraged-about-in-Obamas-State-of-the%C2%A0Union

The “Doc Fix”

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/gop-changes-its-tune-on-blocking-doc-fix-solution.php

The Liar

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/25/1058470/-Now-Mitt-Romney-claims-he-actually-pays-a-50-tax-rate
Now Mitt Romney claims he actually pays a 50% tax rate

Tell us! Tell us!

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/25/exchange_of_the_day.html
John King, CNN: "Because of your history with Speaker Gingrich, what goes through your mind when you think of the possibility, which is more real today than it was a week or a month ago, that he would be the Republican nominee and that you could come back here next January or next February with a President Gingrich?"

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA): "Let me just say this. That will never happen."

King: "Why?"

Pelosi: "He's not going to be President of the United States. That's not going to happen. Let me just make my prediction and stand by it, it isn't going to happen."

King: "Why are you so sure?"

Pelosi: "There is something I know. . ."

Still fighting

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/gay-marriage-returns-to-the-political-spotlight-as-showdowns-loom-in-at-least-6-states/2012/01/25/gIQAy151QQ_print.html
With a flurry of coast-to-coast developments this week, same-sex marriage is back in the political spotlight and likely to remain there through Election Day as a half-dozen states face potentially wrenching votes on the issue. . . .

The latest from Wisconsin

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/poll-walker-starts-out-ahead-against-dems-in-wisconsin-recall.php
Poll: Walker Starts Out Ahead Against Dems In Wisconsin Recall

More: http://news.firedoglake.com/2012/01/25/wi-gov-walker-leads-in-first-head-to-head-polls-of-recall/

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/26/walker_has_record_fundraising.html

The latest from Oklahoma

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/oklahoma_goper_proposes_bill_to_outlaw_aborted_hum.php
Oklahoma GOPer Proposes Bill To Outlaw ‘Aborted Human Fetuses’ In Food

The latest from Connecticut

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/25/dumbest_mayor_ever.html
Dumbest Mayor Ever?

Santorum’s base

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/colbert-makes-mockery-santorum-refusing-re

http://crooksandliars.com/diane-sweet/santorum-rape-babies-are-gifts-god

Bonus item: Convinced now?

http://crooksandliars.com/tina-dupuy/awkward-family-photos-mitt-laundry

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:18 AM

 
SOTU

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obamas-message-im-back/2012/01/24/gIQAQp56OQ_blog.html
President Obama’s most memorable line in Tuesday’s State of the Union address came when he uttered these three words: “America is back.”

But really, what he was saying is: ‘I’m back.’ . . .

Text: http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/state-of-union-open-thread.html

More analysis: http://www.samefacts.com/2012/01/uncategorized/state-of-the-union-check-and-mate

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/obama-goes-easy-applause-tonights-sotu

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/in-speech-obama-sets-reelection-narrative/2012/01/24/gIQA3o56OQ_blog.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/obamas-state-of-the-union-speech-confrontation-wrapped-in-kumbaya/2012/01/24/gIQA3rR2OQ_blog.html

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/state-of-the-union-obamas-point-by-point-romney-refutation.php

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2012/01/state_of_the_union_president_obama_s_muddled_plan_to_boost_employment_by_hindering_trade_.html

Lots more: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/25/reaction_to_obamas_state_of_the_union_speech.html

The problem with Romney

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/earl-of-romney.html
[Atrios] Romney has said he was unemployed. He's right. He actually does nothing to earn most of his income. He's just in possession of a giant pile of cash. He pays some people to do stuff with that giant pile of cash so it earns a rate of return. And because we are ruled by horrible people who think the lives of the 1% are more important than everyone else, the tax rate on any money that pile of cash earns is much lower than it is on the money earned by people who actually work. . . [read on]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/three-key-questions-raised-by-romneys-tax-revelations.php
Three Key Questions Raised By Romney’s Tax Revelations

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/what_weve_learned_from_romneys034953.php

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/what-the-battle-over-romneys-wealth-is-really-about-in-one-poll-finding/2012/01/24/gIQAiVMNNQ_blog.html

The Wall Street Journal!

http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/wall-street-journal-gop-deserves-lose
The WSJ is the voice of the DC-New York GOP establishment, and that voice was crackling with anger and tears on Tuesday.

Let's just say right now what voters will be saying in November, once Barack Obama has been re-elected: Republicans deserve to lose. [read on]

Demographics

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/24/people_dont_get_more_conservative_as_they_get_older.html
People Don't Get More Conservative as They Get Older

Bonus item: The dark side

http://nymag.com/news/features/negative-campaigning-2012-1/
How Super-PACs, vulnerable candidates, and armies of mercenaries will converge to create the ugliest campaign ever . . . [read on]

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:53 AM

 
LONG HAUL

The end or the beginning?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/romney_paid_139.php
We’ve got the first report about Romney’s 2010 taxes. His effective tax rate was 13.9%. . . .

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/mitt-romney-doing-pretty-well-himself

It ain’t over

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/bad_news_for_mitt_nationwide.php
Two new polls show that Mitt Romney has already lost his lead in Florida since the South Carolina drubbing. Now Gallup shows his lead has evaporated nationwide too. . . .

More: http://www.salon.com/2012/01/23/florida_suddenly_looks_very_different/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/gingrich-rapidly-closing-in-on-romney-nationally/2012/01/23/gIQApTJGLQ_blog.html

When life gives you lemons. . .

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/not_true_reince.php
RNC Chair Reince Priebus says a lengthy primary battle will be good for the GOP and its chances in November. Here’s why that’s not true. . . .

More: http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/gop-establishment-will-panic-and.html
GOP establishment will panic and meltdown if Newt wins FL, top McCain aide says

Expect to see this quote in ads next fall

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/romney_us_economy_getting_bett034919.php
Romney: U.S. economy ‘getting better’ under Obama

Another GOP debate last night (dropping in the order of priority here)

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/23/gop_debate_reaction.html

Ah, finally, SOMEONE’S being punished over US torture

http://www.emptywheel.net/2012/01/23/doj-indicts-former-cia-officer-for-exposing-their-torture/
DOJ Charges Former CIA Officer for Exposing CIA’s Torture

More: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/feds_charge_former_cia_agent_john_kiriakou_for_ill.php

The kind of people they are

http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/just-another-isolated-incident-arkan
Arkansas Dem Staffer's Cat Slain, 'Liberal' Scrawled on Body

Bonus item: Light bulb wars!

http://www.eschatonblog.com/2012/01/and-theyll-make-us-use-sandpaper-for.html

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:58 AM

 
SLAPSTICK

Enjoy the show

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/22/the_gop%E2%80%99s_south_carolina_nightmare/
The GOP’s South Carolina nightmare

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-vs-gingrich-highlights-gop-unease/2012/01/22/gIQAF35KJQ_story.html
Romney vs. Gingrich highlights GOP unease

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/scarborough-gop-base-revolting-against-romne
Scarborough: GOP 'Base Is Revolting' Against Romney

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/22/10210334-first-thoughts-the-race-is-on
We’ve said this before and we’ll say it again: Romney is not going to be the de-facto nominee until he wins over the conservative base of his party . . .

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/22/1057064/-Three-different-primary-winners:-So-who-is-the-front-runner-now
So who is the front runner now?

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/how_gingrich_won_sc034909.php
The exit polls out of South Carolina were pretty fascinating. . .

More: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/opinion/sunday/douthat-a-good-candidate-is-hard-to-find.html
A Good Candidate Is Hard to Find

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/americans-dont-their-presidential-candidates-much

The Bain of his existence

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71795.html
Mitt Romney's misery, in a word

Up next: Florida

http://polltracker.talkingpointsmemo.com/poll/4f1ce16aed4f676e44030bf7
Newt Gingrich 34.4 %
Mitt Romney 25.6 %

More: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/all_eyes_turn_to_florida034910.php

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/22/why_florida_could_be_tough_for_romney.html

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/look_closer_at_those_florida_numbers.php

Here it comes

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/mitt-gives-supporters-what-they-want-offense.php
Romney Starts To Take The Gloves Off

More: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/23/romney_on_the_attack.html

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/mitt_i_can_dog_whistle_too.php

No, this won’t do

http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/romney-to-release-returns-on-tuesday.html
After months of stalling, Romney has finally bowed to the inevitable and pledged to release his returns this Tuesday but only for 2010 and an estimate for 2011. . . .

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/romney_partially_caves_on_tax034911.php
Romney partially caves on tax returns

More: http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/romney-admits-mistake-will-release-tax-retur

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/romney-tax-returns_n_1221889.html

What’s he hiding? http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/what-romney-could-be-hiding-in-his-tax.html

http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/david-cay-johnston-to-calm-storm-romney.html

Obama’s “long game” (thanks to CV for the link)

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/01/15/andrew-sullivan-how-obama-s-long-game-will-outsmart-his-critics.html

More: http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/barack-obama-and-long-game

Very sad

http://my.firedoglake.com/teddysanfran/2012/01/22/gabrielle-giffords-to-step-down-this-week/
Gabrielle Giffords to step down this week

More: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/gabrielle-giffords-resigning-from-congress.php

In case you missed the Sunday talk shows

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/22/tv-soundoff-sunday-talkin_n_1221939.html

Bonus item: News, the way it used to be

http://crooksandliars.com/bluegal-aka-fran/open-thread-220

***If you enjoy PBD and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sending them a copy of its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com).

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***
- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:20 AM

 
NOW WHAT?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71778.html
South Carolina primary: Newt Gingrich blows race wide open . . . The establishment favorite didn’t just lose South Carolina — he got thrashed. Less than a week after he was leading in the polls here, Romney found himself taking a twelve-point beating and dropping all but three counties of the state’s 46 counties.

Romney’s thumping defeat — and his verbal miscues in the days before the election — has many Republicans worried that he’s a more brittle candidate than they thought. As in the past, he had difficulty connecting with the party base and was walloped by Gingrich among conservatives and voters supportive of the Tea Party. It’s the former speaker who is captivating party activists looking for somebody to channel their burn-it-down anger toward President Obama and elites. . . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/politics/exit-poll-tells-story-behind-gingrich-win.html
Gingrich Wins Broad Support in South Carolina

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/bad_sign_for_mitt.php
According to the exit polls, Mitt Romney lost all income levels with the exception of those making over $200,000 a year. . .

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/politics/south-carolina-raises-new-doubts-about-republican-contest.html
For Mitt Romney, the South Carolina primary was not just a defeat, though it was most emphatically that. It was also where his campaign confronted the prospect it had most hoped to avoid: a dominant, surging and energized rival. . . .

http://www.americablog.com/2012/01/newt-40-romney-26-long-nightmare-will.html
What a difference a week can make. Romney has gone from being the inevitable candidate to losing by 14% in the GOP heartland. . . .

http://elections.firedoglake.com/2012/01/20/mitt-romney-bad-week/
Mitt Romney’s Bad Week

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/post/gingrich-wins-south-carolina/2012/01/21/gIQAICk8GQ_blog.html
Newt Gingrich won South Carolina going away. Mitt Romney is now in for a dog fight in Florida and faces a long primary battle. . . .

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/mitt-romney-enters-damage-control-mode-ahead-of-sc.php
Romney Campaign Braces For Crash Landing

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71775.html
Next stop: A brawl at the 2012 Florida primary

http://www.salon.com/2012/01/20/suddenly_mitt_is_bracing_for_defeat/
The two very different narratives that could emerge from Saturday’s South Carolina results . . .

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2012/01/gingrich_wins_south_carolina_how_can_romney_recover_from_his_terrible_defeat_.html
Gingrich wins a smashing victory in South Carolina. How can Romney recover?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/south-carolina-primary-is-a-bump-in-the-road-for-romney-but-hes-still-the-favorite/2012/01/21/gIQAkKYBHQ_blog.html
South Carolina primary is a bump in the road for Romney, but he’s still the favorite

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2012_01/the_problem_thats_hard_to_fix034906.php
What If Voters Just Don’t Like Mitt Romney?

http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/01/mitt-romney-not-unlikeable-media-wants-you-believe
Mitt Romney: Not as Unlikeable as the Media Wants You to Believe

More analyses: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/01/22/state_of_the_republican_race.html
James Carville: “Memo to Republican Establishment: Let me break it to you gently -- you've got a first-class disaster on your hands. . . .”

Andrew Sullivan: “This is the Republican crack-up people have been predicting . . .”

Jonathan Chait: “My view all along has been that any remotely plausible candidate could beat Mitt Romney. My current view is that there are no remotely plausible candidates, which leaves us with Newt. So we have the immovable object meeting the irresistible force, except the exact opposite. . .”

Uh, not good

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mckaycoppins/byu-students-bus-in-to-south-carolina-to-rally-for
[S.C.] Outside Tommy's Ham House here this morning--where Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich scheduled back-to-back visits--a boisterous crowd of young, fresh-faced supporters was waving Romney signs and chanting, "MITT! MITT! MITT!"

But this wasn't a grassroots youth movement rooted at the University of South Carolina. No, many of the students cheering on the candidate told BuzzFeed they were actually BYU students and young Mormons from D.C. . . .

Fasten your seat belts . . .

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/newt-gingrich-attacks-dictatorial-religiou
Newt Gingrich Attacks 'Dictatorial Religious Bigots' During SC Victory Speech

It can’t REALLY be Newt, can it?

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2012/01/quick_thoughts_on_tonights_results.php
Look at these numbers: nationwide Newt Gingrich’s favorability number is 26.5%, unfavorable 58.6%. . . . [read on]

The Sunday talk show line-ups

http://firedoglake.com/2012/01/22/sunday-talking-heads-january-22-2012/
ABC’s This Week: Horse Race 2012 – Rick Santorum. Roundtable: George Will, Matthew Dowd, Ron Brownstein, Katrina vanden Heuvel.

CBS’ Face the Nation: Horse Race 2012 – Newt Gingrich. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and former Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS). Roundtable:CBS News’ John Dickerson, TIME Magazine Columnist Joe Klein, Wall Street Journal Columnist Kelly Evans.

CNN’s State of the Union: Horse Race 2012 – Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich. Then, Sen. Jim DeMint, “the South Carolina GOP ‘kingmaker.’” Also, House Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn (D-SC).

NBC’s Meet the Press: Horse Race 2012 – Newt Gingrich. Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ). Then, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and DC Mayor Vincent Gray discuss the recent U.S. Conference of Mayors. Roundtable: Joe Scarborough, Mike Murphy, Katty Kay, Chuck Todd.

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- posted by Nick Burbules @ 6:41 AM