Free Republic

Which leaves the two-hour debate on ABC, moderated by the network’s George Stephanopoulos and Diane Sawyer, a combo fraught with liberal peril, says Media Research Center analyst Geoffrey Dickens. He predicts many prime-time “jabs,” considering that 75 percent of Mr. Stephanopoulos‘ questions to the candidates in recent interviews were left-leaning.

Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich is more like Ronald Reagan than any of his rivals, according to a new survey of Republican voters in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire - an indicator that could reveal the power of nostalgia, not to mention the emotionally charged leanings of skittish conservatives.

Some have not forgotten the catalyst of the tea party movement on Feb. 9, 2009, when CNBC analyst Rick Santelli went ballistic on camera over the state of homeownership and the economy, accusing the government of “promoting bad behavior,” and raising the notion a “Chicago tea party.” Just launched on the political landscape: the Draft Rick Santelli for President 2012 Campaign for a “straight-shooting, non-politician.”

Doubts about Mitt Romney’s fitness for the White House disappear when skittish Republicans, conservatives and even evangelicals consider the alternative: another four years of President Obama and his evolving administration.

A reassuring 96 percent of Americans are still thankful for their lot in life, despite claims from moody pundits and much of the alarmist press that the U.S. has seen “better days.”... There is a partisan divide in one pertinent query, though. Who are the bigger “turkeys” — Washington politicians or Wall Street executives?

When in doubt, say, “Ronald Reagan.” The cachet of the former president continues to fixate Republican presidential hopefuls who are convinced they can win one with the Gipper. Reagan’s name has been invoked so many times during the presidential debates that University of Minnesota political scientist Eric Ostermeier decided to tally the phenomenon. In the past 10 GOP debates, Reagan has been mentioned 53 times, or more than five times per debate. All other ex-presidents combined have been mentioned a mere 38 times, Mr. Ostermeier says.

Andy Martin - a “birther” Republican presidential hopeful who has endlessly challenged President Obama’s citizenship - is now convinced that Rep. Ron Paul will “undermine” the Republicans should he go for a third-party campaign run. Mr. Martin appreciates the Texan’s fierce supporters and recommends that the Republican Party embrace rather than reject “the Paulists.” But a third party? Mr. Martin is so sour on the idea that he insists the Republican Party create a “loyalty oath” for 2012 hopefuls that guarantees they will not suddenly emerge as third-party candidates. “Republican Party leaders are allowing Ron Paul and the liberal media...

“CBS’ treatment of Congressman Ron Paul is disgraceful,” says the Texas lawmaker’s spokesman Jesse Benton, who noted that Mr. Paul only garnered 90 seconds of face time during the televised hour of the national security and foreign policy debate, which moved online for its last 30 minutes. “If we are to have an authentic national conversation on issues such as security and defense, we can and must do better to ensure that all voices are heard. CBS News, in their arrogance, may think they can choose the next president."

The presidential debates are Mitt Romney-centric: He gets more time on camera than any other candidate, offering some quantifiable proof that, indeed, Mr. Romney is the “inevitable” candidate — the mainstream media’s preferred choice for Republican nominee. A delightfully nitpicky review of recent debates by the University of Minnesota categorizes the ongoing debates as “the Mitt Show,” faulting the “grossly unequal distribution of face time.”

The Occupy Wall Street crowd appears to have made a lasting cultural mark: The Global Language Monitor has announced that “Occupy” is the “top word of 2011,” based on the number of times it was cited in about 75,000 print and electronic news sources in the past year. In second place is deficit, followed by fracking, drone and a whole bunch of words with overseas roots. In fifth place: Non-veg (India, referring to a meaty meal); kummerspeck (Germany, meaning excess weight gained from emotional overeating); haboob (an Arabic term for massive sandstorms)

White House spokesman Jay Carney allowed that he had no comment “on the specific conversation.” Not so Abraham H. Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. “We are deeply disappointed and saddened by this decidedly un-presidential exchange between Presidents Sarkozy and Obama,” says Mr. Foxman. “What is sad is that we now have to worry to what extent these private views inform foreign-policy decisions of the U.S. and France — two singularly important players in the peace process."

Presidential hopeful Rick Santorumcontinues to battle his way down the campaign trail, doggedly staying on message. He’s trolling for grass-roots support and sending up flares to prove his viability and focus. The candidate also renamed his campaign the “Faith, Family and Freedom Tour” and retooled a motto that echoes the distant days of the George W. Bush administration. “I am a passionate conservative, and I am the only passionate conservative running for president,” Mr. Santorum says

The toxic press continues to dwell on sexual-harassment charges against presidential hopeful Herman Cain, to the point that one CBS story erroneously reported he had been accused of “sexual assault,” says Matthew Balan, an analyst with the watchdog site Newsbusters. Are voters buying it? A new Rasmussen Reports voter poll conducted Tuesday finds Mr. Cain remains 13 points ahead of rival Mitt Romney; details at column’s end.

There’s a reason why even he-man Texas Gov. Rick Perry is leery of incoming presidential candidate debates, perhaps: “Politician” is one of the scariest jobs in the nation, say thousands of Americans asked to rank professions according to such factors as “imminent danger,” “public speaking” and ” potential humiliation.”

Yes, Mr. Obama was in Las Vegas on Monday before the Republican glow from last week’s debate had even dissipated. Along with attending two private fundraisers in Los Angeles, the president will dally with Jay Leno on NBC’s “Tonight Show” on Tuesday. The Air Force One tab is still mounting. And for those keeping count, this is Mr. Obama’s fourth appearance on the late night show. Several curtain calls are left, though

As a complex week full of discord looms, consider “President Reagan’s Favorite Macaroni and Cheese,” a recipe shared by “Mrs. Ronald Reagan, Washington, D.C., Wife of the President” in a spiral-bound community cookbook published by the American Cancer Society’s Northern Virginia division in 1983. Here’s the recipe for six people.

The most “sought after” adult Halloween costumes of 2011 are Angry Birds, of Rovio mobile app fame, this according to Buy.com, the massive online retailer that has 60,000 costumes to choose from.

The mainstream media has a crush on Mitt Romney.

The media embrace ‘noble’ extremists occupying Wall Street and ignore radicalism 88 percent of the time...The news media ridiculed, obscenely nicknamed and attempted to discredit the tea party movement.”

The tea party is “most welcome” at Wall Street protests. That is what veteran consumer advocate, gadfly and occasional presidential hopeful Ralph Nader tells Inside the Beltway. He’s fresh from addressing a disgruntled throng just a block from the White House. But civil rights, the environment, nuclear war, feminism and other 1960s iconic fare is not No.1 on the agenda... The septuagenarian activist also insists the tea party has become “marginalized” - fightin’ words for tea partyers - but he extends the protest welcome mat nonetheless.