memeorandum: A Mortgage Tornado Warning, Unheeded (Gretchen Morgenson/New York Times)

11:55 AM ET, February 5, 2012

Top Items:

Gingrich Patron Adelson Called Open to Aiding Romney — LAS VEGAS — Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino executive keeping Newt Gingrich's presidential hopes alive, has relayed assurances to Mitt Romney that he will provide even more generous support to his candidacy if he becomes the Republican nominee …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Politics, Outside the Beltway, State of the Union, Swampland, The Raw Story, msnbc.com, 2012 Decoded, Washington Post and HotAirPundit

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

Romney up in Colorado, close race in Minnesota — Last night's results in Nevada were bad news for Newt Gingrich and PPP's first day of polling in Colorado and Minnesota indicates things may only get worse for him in the coming days. — In Colorado Mitt Romney looks primed for another big Western win to match his one in Nevada.

Discussion: Taegan Goddard's …

Julian Pecquet / Ballot Box:

Santorum looks to Tuesday's contests after Nevada drubbing — Rick Santorum is banking on a better showing in the next three races Tuesday to reenergize his struggling campaign after his last-place drubbing in Nevada's GOP caucuses Saturday. — The former Pennsylvania senator told Fox News Sunday …

Discussion: Politico

Mark Z. Barabak / Los Angeles Times:

Mitt Romney cruises to victory in Nevada caucuses — Mitt Romney greets supporters during a campaign rally at Colorado Springs Fabrication on Feb. 4, 2012 in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) — Reporting from Las Vegas— Mitt Romney romped to a commanding victory Saturday …

Discussion: The Caucus, Connecting.the.Dots and Patterico's Pontifications

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Mitt Romney wins overwhelming victory in Nevada caucuses — LAS VEGAS — Mitt Romney won an overwhelming victory in Saturday's Nevada caucuses, giving the former Massachusetts governor his second consecutive victory of the year as he tightened his claim to dominant front-runner status …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and Saint Petersblog

Ashley Powers / Los Angeles Times:
'She's a spy!': Reporter banned from Nevada caucus

Discussion: Las Vegas Sun, Hit & Run, The Impolitic and The Political Carnival

Emily Schultheis / Politico:
Facebook/POLITICO poll: Trump endorsement a net negative for Romney

Discussion: Mediaite and AlterNet

Cameron Joseph / Ballot Box:
Romney wins big in Nevada

Discussion: Politico, The Maddow Blog, Washington Post and The Other McCain

New York Times:
Romney Takes a Solid Win in Nevada Caucuses, Fueling Momentum

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Runnin' Scared and The Caucus

CNN:
CNN projects Romney will win Nevada

Discussion: National Review, The Gateway Pundit, The Lonely Conservative, Towleroad News #gay, Fox News, Hot Air, Gawker, The Reaction and NationalJournal.com

Megan R. Wilson / The Hill:

Watch the five most politically controversial Super Bowl ads of all time — Super Bowl advertisements have a long history of attracting political controversies, and this year is no different. — While the match-up between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will be country's focus on Sunday …

Discussion: Politico, The Moderate Voice, Power Line and Mediaite

Gretchen Morgenson / New York Times:

A Mortgage Tornado Warning, Unheeded — After his own experience dealing with a mortgage mess, Nye Lavalle set out to learn all he could about the mortgage industry, traveling nationwide to dig into records. In 2003, he compiled a dossier of practices at Fannie Mae.

Discussion: The Big Picture, Prairie Weather and naked capitalism

Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:

Komen confirms continued involvement of Ari Fleischer on Planned Parenthood strategy — Yesterday, ThinkProgress exclusively reported Ari Fleischer's involvement — dating back at least to December — with the Komen Foundation, including issues related to Planned Parenthood.

Discussion: Washington Post, Lez Get Real and US Politics

Ross Douthat / New York Times:

The Media's Abortion Blinders — IN the most recent Gallup poll on abortion, as many Americans described themselves as pro-life as called themselves pro-choice. A combined 58 percent of Americans stated that abortion should either be “illegal in all circumstances” or “legal in only a few circumstances.”

Discussion: DISSENTING JUSTICE, TBogg, American Thinker, Balloon Juice, Rod Dreher, Whiskey Fire, The Huffington Post, Mother Jones and Jezebel, more at Mediagazer »

Christina D. Romer / New York Times:

Do Manufacturers Need Special Treatment? — EVERYONE seems to be talking about a crisis in manufacturing. Workers, business leaders and politicians lament the decline of this traditionally central part of the American economy. President Obama, in his State of the Union address …

Discussion: The Hill and Greg Mankiw's Blog

Associated Press:

‘Occupy’ protesters march through Oakland streets — OAKLAND, CALIF. - Dozens of Occupy Oakland demonstrators burned an American flag and marched through the streets Saturday night, a week after police fired tear gas to quell violent demonstrations and hundreds were arrested following a mass break-in at City Hall.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and Weasel Zippers

Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:

Dick Armey says Gingrich campaign has turned into a ‘first-rate vendetta’ — Freedom Works chairman and former Rep. Dick Armey (R-Texas) blasted Newt Gingrich for his continued tough attacks on Mitt Romney saying Gingrich was carrying out a vendetta against the Republican frontrunner.

Discussion: Politico