memeorandum: Romney Says He Won't Release Tax Returns (Michael D. Shear/The Caucus)

9:55 AM ET, December 23, 2011

Top Items:

House Republicans Agree To Payroll Deal — House Republicans on Thursday crumpled under the weight of White House and public pressure and have agreed to pass a two-month extension of the payroll-tax cut, Republican and Democratic sources told National Journal.

Jamie Klatell / The Hill:

GOP freshman: House caved to Dems again, gave gift of uncertainty — The deal struck between Republican House leaders and Senate Democrats to extend the payroll tax holiday for two months did not fill Rep. Time Huelskamp (R-Kansas) with holiday cheer. — “Washington wrapped and put under …

Discussion: The Politico and ourfuture.org/blogs_chrono/*

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:

TPMDC — Boehner Takes Strong Hand With House GOP After Payroll Tax Meltdown — In a conference call with House Republicans early Thursday evening, Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) took no questions after making it clear to his members that the game was up and they would have to swallow the Democratic payroll tax extension.

Discussion: Balloon Juice and The Moderate Voice

Jackie Calmes / New York Times:

News Analysis: For Obama, Payroll Tax Victory Was Aided by Republicans — WASHINGTON — President Obama did not win much substantively with his victory Thursday over House Republicans in their showdown over extending payroll tax cuts and unemployment aid for two months.

Discussion: Washington Post and The Page

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Dems win one as GOP caves

Discussion: Speaker and Prairie Weather

Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
The GOP's payroll tax debacle

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Booman Tribune and The PJ Tatler

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
House Republicans cave in payroll fight

Discussion: Washington Post, American Power, New York Times, The Impolitic and Outside the Beltway

Brian Beutler / tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com:
TPMDC — BREAKING: House Republicans Cave, Agree To Two-Month Payroll Tax Cut Extension

Discussion: American Prospect, Blue Virginia, The Reaction, Mediaite and Crooks and Liars

Washington Post:
House GOP agrees to 2-month extension of payroll tax cut

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Atlantic Online, Daily Kos, Moe Lane, THEROOT.COM and Calculated Risk

New York Times:
House G.O.P. Leaders Agree to Extension of Payroll Tax Cut

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Prairie Weather, The New Republic and The Moderate Voice

CNN:
House GOP relents on payroll tax cut deal

Discussion: Mediaite, Weasel Zippers, The Lonely Conservative and ABCNEWS

Alexander Burns / The Politico:

Santorum's pop-up Iowa pitch — Rick Santorum's campaign will release a new 60-second ad in Iowa this morning — an upbeat spot in the style of VH1's “Pop Up Video,” emphasizing Santorum's credentials as a family man and cultural conservative. — “Rick Santorum. Karen Santorum.

Discussion: CNN, Mediaite, Indecision Forever, Good As You, Iowa Caucuses and The Other McCain

Andrew Cain / Richmond Times-Dispatch:

Bachmann, Huntsman, Santorum not on Va. primary ballot — Four Republican presidential candidates - Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Ron Paul — submitted paper work in time to qualify for Virginia's March 6 primary ballot. — No other GOP contender will be on the Virginia ballot.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, The Other McCain, Hot Air, Catholic Bandita, Ballot Box, msnbc.com, National Review, Moe Lane and The Politico

Joe Holley / Rick Perry 2012 Campaign for President:
Bush 41 backs Romney for president, admits he's not Gingrich's ‘biggest advocate’

Discussion: The Caucus, Reuters, Los Angeles Times, American Prospect, Mediaite, Hot Air, CNN, The Politico, The Hill, Campaign 2012, GOP 12, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Raw Story

ABCNEWS:
Iowa Conservative Leader Mired in Controversy After Rick Santorum Endorsement

Discussion: GOP 12

Jim Geraghty / National Review:
Why Must We Care About the Whims of So Few Iowans?

Discussion: The Iowa Republican, The Other McCain, RedState and Rasmussen Reports

Reuters:

In ad for newsletter, Ron Paul forecast “race war” — (Reuters) - A direct-mail solicitation for Ron Paul's political and investment newsletters two decades ago warned of a “coming race war in our big cities” and of a “federal-homosexual cover-up” to play down the impact of AIDS.

Discussion: The Hill, The New Republic, Riehl World View, Campaign 2012, Questions and Observations, iOwnTheWorld.com, The Politico, Catholic Bandita, ABCNEWS, Weasel Zippers, Hot Air, The Daily Caller, Little Green Footballs, CBS News, The Right Scoop, Doug Ross and Total Return

Bill Adair / PolitiFact:

Fact-checking in the Echo Chamber Nation — At a Republican campaign rally a few years ago, I asked one of the attendees how he got his news. — “I listen to Rush and read NewsMax,” he said. “And to make sure I'm getting a balanced view, I watch Fox.” — My liberal friends …

Discussion: americanthinker.com, Paul Krugman, CANNONFIRE, The Huffington Post, Balloon Juice, Daily Kos, Blue Virginia, Wizbang, Campaign 2012, US Politics and Pressthink, more at Mediagazer »

Joe Biden / Des Moines Register:

Vice President: This is what a real opportunity society looks like — M itt Romney recently laid out his plan for America. Reading about it, I thought of my dad. My dad was a hard worker. He took pride in what he did. And, like millions of Americans, that pride was put to the test …

Discussion: CNN, Ballot Box, Pirate's Cove and Fox News

Wall Street Journal:

Oh Wow! — Some highlights of 2011. — The great words of the year? “Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” — They are the last words of Steve Jobs, reported by his sister, the novelist Mona Simpson, who was at his bedside. In her eulogy, a version of which was published in the New York Times …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog

Michael D. Shear / The Caucus:

Romney Says He Won't Release Tax Returns — Mitt Romney, who is one of the wealthiest men ever to seek the presidency, said on Wednesday that he had no intention of releasing his tax returns if he became the Republican presidential nominee, breaking with a long tradition in both parties.

Discussion: Betsy's Page, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Doug Ross, Pundit & Pundette, Moe Lane, Business Insider, Daily Kos, TBogg, The Politico, Los Angeles Times and msnbc.com

Elicia Dover / ABCNEWS:

Gingrich to Campaign With Pets and Music — RICHMOND, Va. — Forget the back and forth attacks with Mitt Romney. Newt Gingrich's campaign has decided to take another route on his bid to the Republican nomination: pets and music. — The campaign said today that it will soon launch a …

Discussion: TBogg and The Right Scoop

Jason Linkins / The Huffington Post:

George Allen Did Not Enjoy That Facebook Chat He Had With You, Virginia … 2012 , 2012 Speculatron , 2012 Election , Elections 2012 , Video , George Allen , George Allen Facebook , George Allen Senate , George Allen Senate Campaign , Virginia Senate 2012 , Politics News

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Wonkette

CNN:

State media: Suicide bombers strike government buildings in Damascus — (CNN) — Two suicide car bombs shook the seat of Syrian power on Friday, said state-run media, a strike the government blames on terrorists and opposition forces call the work of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Discussion: The Jawa Report

Scot Paltrow / Reuters:

Special Report: The watchdogs that didn't bark — (Reuters) - Four years after the banking system nearly collapsed from reckless mortgage lending, federal prosecutors have stayed on the sidelines, even as judges around the country are pointing fingers at possible wrongdoing.

Discussion: The Big Picture and naked capitalism