Newt Gingrich attacked Mitt Romney on two fronts this morning, arguing that Romney has too much faith in the government safety net and that his proposed minimum wage index would increase unemployment among young people.

"He favors indexing [the] minimum wage when virtually every economist in the country believes that further makes it difficult for young people to get a job," Gingrich said on Meet the Press of his rival's plan to tie the minimum wage to inflation. "This is a country right now where 43 percent of young African-Americans are unemployed. In Nevada, it's 31 percent of all teenagers are unemployed. We should be making it easier for young people to get a job, not raising the cost of hiring young people, making it harder. I'm for much, much bolder tax changes than he is."

Romney's minimum wage proposal has received attention since he said "I’m not concerned about the very poor" in a recent interview. Gingrich criticized him on that front, as well. "You just had a quote from Governor Romney that's a perfect example," he told David Gregory. "He says he doesn't worry much about the very poor because they have a safety net. Well, the safety net in many ways has become a spider web. It traps them at the bottom."

The Romney campaign often enlists old House colleagues of Newt Gingrich to tell reporters that the former speaker is unqualified to be president.  In recent weeks, Team Romney has hosted conference calls featuring Jim Talent, Peter King, Susan Molinari, and others to criticize Gingrich's record and personality.

 

When it comes to PETA, no meat-lover’s holiday is sacred, even the Super Bowl--an event 600 million chickens give their wings for--as the first family is finding out.

In a friendly letter to the White House, the friends of fur, feathers and fins urge the presidential chef to go vegan with the wings as a demonstration that the blood sport of the nation’s biggest sports event stay on the field and not the dinner plate.

“I think you would be making history,” says PETA DC Outreach Coordinator Leila Sleiman in her letter. “I doubt faux chicken wings, although they are easy to find nowadays in any grocery store, have been served in the White House ever before.” She even sends White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford a recipe for “Happy Wings,” and some other meat-free “meat” treats.

Sleiman also reveals a grim stat about Super Bowl feasting: “600 million, yes million, chickens will lose their wing and their lives for just this one game.”

The White House didn’t have any immediate comment, though the first family is known to be fans of real fried chicken while also champions of health eating.

Here’s PETA’s letter:

“Cristeta Comerford

White House Executive Chef

Dear Ms. Comerford,

I’m not sure whether you will be watching the Super Bowl this coming weekend, but I suspect you will be cooking up a storm for the President and First Family's Super Bowl evening. I’m also not sure if you have heard that 600 million, yes million, chickens will lose their wings and their lives just for this one game. That's why I am making a special request to you:  please will you serve up some delicious, totally cholesterol-free, tasty, and cruelty-free faux wings for this event?  Although President Clinton's chef cooked veggie burgers for him and made vegetarian meals for Chelsea, I think you would be making history.  I doubt faux chicken wings, although they are easy to find nowadays in any grocery store, have been served in the White House ever before.

I am out on the streets of Washington, and my colleagues are outside the stadium in Indiana all week, offering faux wings to visitors and residents.  We would love to hear that you gave the President and the First Family a taste of "happy wings"—wings for which no gentle birds had to lose their lives. No matter which team you place your money on to win the Super Bowl, going vegan is always a safe bet.

Here is the recipe I recommend and the one my "ordinary" family will enjoy this weekend.

With every good wish for a healthy, humane game time,

Leila Sleiman

PETA Outreach Coordinator

An obvious victim of CNN's graphic-heavy election presentation, news anchor John King called Mitt Romney "Governor Mormon" last night, during coverage of the Nevada election results.

As expected, Mitt Romney had an overwhelming win in Nevada, another step in his increasingly likely march toward the Republican nomination. The substance of his victory speech was a mostly paint by numbers attack on President Obama, but he delivered it in front of a loud and energized group of supporters. With each victory he chalks up -- and there will likely be more this month -- he looks and acts more and more like the nominee.

Here’s the entrance poll for the Nevada caucuses, showing Mitt Romney with 55% of the vote, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul each with about 18% and Rick Santorum with 7%. This looks like a solid Romney victory, with a real battle between Gingrich and Paul for second place. A third place finish would be demoralizing for Gingrich, particularly if it’s combined with a win or strong second for Santorum Tuesday in the non-binding primary in Missouri, where Gingrich did not qualify for the ballot.  

Religion. Mormons constituted 26% of the electorate, and 91% of them voted for Romney. Non-Mormons seem to have preferred Romney over Gingrich by 42%-26%, a margin similar to that in Florida, with 23% for Paul, much more than he received in Florida.

Demographics. As in other contests, Paul does much better among young voters, while Gingrich does much better among older voters. Paul also does better than average among non-college voters, low income voters,

Ideology. Romney carried very, somewhat and all conservatives, and was presumably helped by many Mormons characterizing themselves as some brand of conservative (who constituted 83% of caucusgoers). Interestingly, Romney got the same 51% among very conservatives on the one hand and those who characterized themselves as moderate or liberal. Romney also carried strong, somewhat and all tea party supporters (74% of caucusgoers), and white evangelicals (23% of caucusgoers). Self-identified Independents favored Ron Paul over Romney 48%-31%.

Geography. Romney leads in Clark County with 63% of the vote, to 17% for Paul and 14% for Gingrich. This presumably doesn’t include the one precinct being kept open late to accommodate Jewish voters who felt bound not to vote until after sundown. Clark County includes Las Vegas and 70% of Nevada’s population; it is more Democratic than the rest of the state and cast just 55% of the votes here.  Since Clark County reports late, we can expect Romney’s percentage to rise there. Washoe County, which includes Reno, cast 22% of the vote and went 42% for Romney, 27% for Gingrich and 23% for Paul. In the rest of the state, sometimes referred to as the Cow Counties, went 48% for Romney, 26% for Gingrich and 21% for Paul.  

One additional point. It has been speculated that Romney will be hurt by saying that housing prices need to fall to a bottom. But that doesn’t seem to have hurt him at all in Clark County, Nevada, which has the highest percentage of houses under water of any large metro area in the nation.

UPDATE: One more thought. Among the 44% of Nevada caucusgoers who said that "can defeat Obama" was the most important candidate quality (as against "strong moral character," "truce conservative" and "right experience," which got 16% to 20% each), Romney led Gingrich by an overwhelming 74%-18% margin. Contrast this to South Carolina, where those who chose "can defeat Obama" favored Gingrich by a 51%-37% margin. That's a metric that gives you some idea of how poorly Gingrich has performed in debates and public appearances in the 14 days from January 21 to February 4.

Today, the U.S. Park police came to clean up McPherson Sq, where Occupy DC protesters have built a tent camp for the past several months. The photo above, depicts a clean up crew clearing out a section of the square. I shot the video below, which shows cops in riot gear pushing protesters out of the north east section of the park.

The Obama campaign is delighted with the latest job report, launching a social media campaign to spread the message.

You'd be wise to keep a cool head if you're going to CPAC. From the D.C. AFL-CIO:

Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)With workshops like “Return of Big Labor: What Can We Learn from Wisconsin & Ohio,” and “Taking back Wall Street: The Tea Party vs. Occupy Wall Street,” the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) descends on the nation’s capital February 9-11 and local labor activists are planning a DC lesson to ensure that the voice of the 99% are heard at this elite conservative gathering. Actions are currently being planned for noontime and after work on Friday, February 10. Featured speakers at CPAC include Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, and presidential candidates Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum.

You may remember what the union-aided Occupiers managed to do at the D.C. conference center in November. When conservatives staged a conference there, they banged on the windows, physically harmed at least one old woman, blocked local traffic, and used children as human shields. Much of the action was caught on tape.

The AFL-CIO is planning a disruption of some sort at noon Friday and another at 5 p.m. Here are some details about the event that AFL-CIO plans for noon:

Where
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (2600 Woodley Rd at Connecticut Ave NW)

When
Feb 10   12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

What do Wisconsin Governor SCOTT WALKER, presidential candidates MITT ROMNEY, NEWT GINGRICH, RICK SANTORUM and House Budget Committee Chair PAUL RYAN have in common?

They all represent the greed of the wealthy 1% and they’ll all be at the 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference.

WE’VE HEARD ENOUGH FROM THE 1%!
Join the rally featuring tents, an inflatable fat cat, puppets, “candidate Walmart,” and more to
LET THE VOICES OF THE 99% BE HEARD!

Friday, February 10, at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (2600 Woodley Rd at Connecticut Ave NW), by the Woodley Park Metro Station

Coordinated by the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO

United States Armed Forces could win simultaneous conflicts in the Korean peninsula and against Iran, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told American soldiers in Germany today, despite the impending force reductions.

"We could be fighting a land war in Korea, and suddenly Iran moves to close the Straits of Hormuz," Panetta said, discussing a hypothetical scenario, during a visit to soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center today. "We’ve got to have the capability to be able to confront each adversary, to not only deter them, but defeat them.  And we can do that with the force that we’ve put in place."

North Korea, currently transitioning from one dictator to another and armed with nuclear weapons, has concerned United States foreign policy analysts for decades. Similarly, Iran's push to develop nuclear weapons has resulted in oil sanctins and the possibility of an Israeli strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.

Panetta assured the troops that the United States could defeat two such enemies, but the scheduled force reductions will preclude fighting a two-front war on the scale of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "If we are engaged in a major combat operation in one theater, we will have the force necessary to confront an additional aggressor by denying its objectives or imposing unacceptable costs," Panetta explained in a recent summary of Defense Budget Priorities and Choices.

 

Sharron Angle, the Tea Party sweetheart who narrowly lost her 2010 bid to unseat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in Nevada has come out for Rick Santorum.  On Thursday, the Santorum campaign issued a statement from Angle heaping praise on their candidate:

"Rick Santorum and I have known each other for years. He is a strong fiscal and social conservative who stands on principles above politics. He has never wavered in his support for family values understanding the impact that strong families have on a prosperous economy. His continuous opposition to Amnesty, Obamacare, the bail-outs, and cap and trade are a perfect fit with our main street Tea Party movement."

Nevada's political playing field seems ripe for a surprise.  A small number of committed activists can make a difference in this contest. 

Conventional Wisdom - built on his strong showing in Nevada in 2008 - holds that Nevada Mormons will turn out in force for their co-religionist Mitt Romney, but that's based on a relatively fine slice of the overall Nevada GOP electorate.  Estimates based on Church of Latter Day Saints figures and census data indicate that Mormons make up less than 7% of Silver State population.

Ron Paul is targeting Nevada as one of the caucus states where he hopes to harness his sometimes small - he was polling last, at 7% statewide - but famously enthused support base to rack up enough delegates to make a stink at the convention in Tampa, but he expects to post much higher on Saturday.  Some of Paul's folks are veterans of their 2008 "outmaneuvering" of Republican regulars to maximize delegate accrual.  They know the arcane caucus rules inside out.  Four years ago, Nevada hosted one of Paul's only two county-wide wins.

So, if Angle can rile up some of her Silver State Tea Party pals, still loyal after her Nevada GOP establishment primary upset and Harry Reid near miss in '08, her nod may have an impact on the results, and maybe the course of the race.  Just a fraction of the some 70,000 2010 GOP primary voters she won over could be key.

Post-Florida primary, Santorum suggested that Newt Gingrich has blown his chance - yet again - as to be the conservative alternative to Romney, and that it was his turn to take up that mantle - again? - from that point on. 

If Politico's headline is right - "Newt Gingrich's Nevada campaign unraveling" - Santorum has a chance to best Newt in Nevada.  The question is: will Sharron Angle's endorsement influence enough activists to show up and caucus on a Saturday afternoon to surprise pundits in this expected snoozer?

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has said he would not bring a budget to the floor for a vote this year, the Hill reports, which would make this the third straight year without such a resolution.

Mitt Romney:

 

Mitt Romney cruising toward solid win in Nevada

 

Romney: Obama's policies have prevented a true economic recovery

 

Romney Op-ed: President Obama versus religious liberty

 

Newt Gingrich:

 

Newt Gingrich's Nevada campaign unraveling

 

Newt: Romney is 'George Soros approved' candidate

 

Casino mogul backing Newt Gingrich plays his own game

 

Ron Paul:

 

Paul: States should resolve land management issues

 

Ron Paul Finds Wall Street Support in the Strangest Places

 

In Vegas, Ron Paul visits The Phantom of the Opera

 

Rick Santorum:

 

The man behind Rick Santorum’s money: An interview with Foster Friess

 

Santorum "Tebows" with supporters

 

Santorum: Missouri isn't safe if Iran gets nukes

 

Santorum fails to qualify for Indiana ballot, vows to challenge the decision

 

Santorum on Komen reversal: 'Very disappointed'

 

Santorum targets Newt's Moon base

   The Superbowl may be one of the most apolitical events of the year, but when it arrives in the middle of a highly-charged election like Indiana’s Senate GOP primary, somebody is bound to piggyback on it.

  Enter Republican Sen. Dick Lugar, the former mayor of Indianapolis, who’s so far successfully fighting off a Tea Party challenge. Not one to normally brag, we hear he is moving to take some credit for reviving the host city of Superbowl XLVI.

 

   In a letter to supporters, for example, he takes a little credit for pushing the city into the world-class category, though he was a senator when the Colts packed up and moved from Baltimore. And in a move that will have voters in the friendly Midwestern state nodding in appreciation, he also spreads the credit around to the local community.

 

   Elections expert Charlie Cook has the state staying in GOP hands, presumably with Lugar serving another term, but the state’s longest-serving senator is still in the battle for his life. And looking football friendly this weekend isn’t a chance to miss.

 

   Here is his letter to supporters:

“Indiana's capital city has trained very hard for this moment. Super Bowl XLVI is one all Hoosiers should enjoy.

 

As mayor, I worked to make Indianapolis a world-class city. As Senator, I've kept my eye on the ball. But while officials often get credit for the rebirth and rebuilding of Greater Indianapolis, in reality, it has been a team effort of our citizens - citywide and statewide.

 

Hoosier Hospitality is not just a saying or slogan. The friendly, helpful nature of Indiana's people make our state an attractive destination for visitors and employers alike. Our work ethic and dogged determination bring events and investment marveled by other states, even nations.

 

Thanks go out to all Indiana hosts, volunteers and fans of Super Bowl XLVI. Your efforts symbolize true Hoosier Hospitality and have been vital for attracting and hosting this weekend's big game.

 

Congratulations, team!

 

Sincerely,

Richard G. Lugar

U.S. Senator for Indiana

Congressional Budget Office bean counters are taking a fresh look at President Obama’s national health care law, and will have updated figures on key provisions in March, director Doug Elmendorf testified this week in Congress.