GOP caves into Obama on payroll tax

• "House Republicans caved to President Barack Obama’s demand for a two-month payroll tax cut extension, ending an impasse that threatened to raise taxes on millions of Americans on Jan. 1. The capitulation came fast Thursday afternoon as House Republicans found themselves increasingly isolated in insisting that a full one-year extension was the only solution to the year-end crisis. The end of this debate will also come quickly — the House and Senate hope to clear the $33 billion legislation on a voice vote Friday morning." - Politico
• "Particularly strange is that this is breaking within just a few hours of The One holding a presser to demand action with middle-class taxpayers lovingly arrayed behind him. Now it looks like even more of a capitulation than it is. Merry Christmas from the GOP, champ." - Hot Air
• Payroll tax cut standoff's impact: What $40 a paycheck means to you - CNN
• Time to end Washington's banana republic budgeting - Washington Examiner editorial
• "Two-thirds of voters disapprove of House Republicans, while only one-quarter approve, a jump in disapproval from the 62 percent disapproval and 26 percent approval rating they had for the House GOP last month." - The Hill

Senate GOP worries tax standoff could cost them chance at upper chamber

"Senate Republicans are worried the standoff over extending the payroll tax holiday could hurt their chances of winning the upper chamber next year. ... The political operative said incumbents such as Sens. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and Dean Heller (R-Nev.) could pay the price. These Republican senators have spoken out against House GOP colleagues. Others lawmakers on the ballot next year have urged House members to pass the payroll tax package to avert tax hikes in January. " - The Hill

Having been a frontrunner weeks ago, now Newt Gingrich tries to lower expectations for an Iowa victory

"Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich on Thursday seemed to be lowering expectations for the upcoming Iowa caucuses, saying he'd be happy with a third or fourth place finish. "My goal is to be the top three or four [in Iowa]," the former House speaker said at a campaign stop in Richmond, Virginia. "I'd love to win."" - CNN

• Newt blames Romney for his drop in support: "“There was a period when I was the frontrunner, but frankly if you get $7 [million] or $9 million in ads – most of them false – the sheer weight of negativity has a real impact,” the former House speaker told reporters." - Politico
• "In a fresh sign in his pledge to run a positive campaign, Newt Gingrich reportedly is getting ready to unleash a "Pets with Newt" website and a music education video featuring his wife, Callista." - USA Today

Romney turns down Gingrich debate challenge out of ‘respect’ for rest of field - The Hill

President George H W Bush backs Mitt Romney

"Said Bush: "I think Romney is the best choice for us. I like Perry, but he doesn't seem to be going anywhere; he's not surging forward." As for Newt Gingrich, Bush said, "I'm not his biggest advocate."" - Political Wire

• "New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who dashed many Republican hopes when he said he would not run for president in 2012, said on Thursday he had not ruled out running for vice president." - Reuters
• Mitt Romney declines to release tax returns - LA Times

In an ad for his newsletter, Ron Paul forecast "race war"

"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. ... Among other things, the articles... said that AIDS sufferers "enjoy the attention and pity that comes with being sick." ... Paul has said that he is not sure who wrote the articles that were published under his name. He has said the articles do not reflect his views, and noted that his public stances - supporting gays in the military for example - have run counter to the incendiary statements in the newsletters." - Reuters

• Erick Erickson: "Ten years ago, when confronted with some of the crazy stuff... Ron Paul says he wrote them, but they must be taken in their whole context to understand them. Fast forward to the present and Ron Paul never wrote them, does not know who wrote them, cannot recall the names of anyone who worked for him who might have written them, is shocked to learn he made big money off them, and people think this guy has the qualifications to be President of the United States?"
• Six comments he needs to explain - Politico

Latest Iowa polling: Romney leads, Paul second, and Gingrich close behind

"The new Rasmussen Reports survey of Iowa caucus participants shows Romney on top with 25% of the vote followed by Paul at 20% and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at 17%." -Rasmussen Reports

• "With just three in ten saying things are going well in the country today and 70% saying they are going badly, economic issues are still the main priority for the country this holiday season." - CNN

Second tier candidates fail to make ballot in Virginia primary

"Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum all missed the deadline and will not be in the running on March 6 for the commonwealth's 50 delegates. Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Rep. Ron Paul will all be appearing on the ballot." - National Journal

More than two million voters have left the Republican and Democratic parties since 2008

"A USA TODAY analysis of state voter registration statistics shows registered Democrats declined in 25 of the 28 states that register voters by party. Republicans dipped in 21 states, while independents increased in 18 states. The trend is acute in states that are key to next year's presidential race. In the eight swing states that register voters by party, Democrats' registration is down by 800,000 and Republicans' by 350,000. Independents have gained 325,000." - USA Today

Democrats confident they will recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker

"Overlooked in the effort to get Walker's name on the ballot next year is the fact that Democrats are targeting four GOP state senators as well ... if they [win], it will mean another opportunity to put control of the state's upper chamber in the hands of voters (Republicans currently hold a slim 17-16 advantage) ... Here's one possibility: Walker survives a recall election, but Democrats pick up at least one seat in the state Senate. Then, the overall effort will be viewed as at least a partial victory." - National Journal

Federal judge blocks parts of South Carolina anti-immigration law

"The first section blocked makes it a felony to transport or conceal a person "with intent to further that person's unlawful entry into the United States" or to help that person avoid apprehension. A second section makes it unlawful for an adult to "fail to carry" an alien registration card or receipt. And the final section blocked would have allowed local law enforcement with "reasonable suspicion" to detain any person the officers believe is in the United States illegally." - CNN 

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