Mississippi: Uses private jet for political and entertainment outings, state spent over $500,000 for his air travel (Politico, 12/27).
Race: Controversy over Barbour’s Citizens Council “whitewash” continues (Christian Science Monitor, 12/22).
Government: Says government should not cut defense spending to shrink the deficit (TPM, 12/27).
Social issues: Denounces non-binding treaty on the rights of indigenous people (Fox News, 12/25).
Social issues: Stands by his support for a “truce” on social issues (Politico, 12/27).
Education: Details private school voucher plan (Courier Journal, 12/24).
GOP: Think Progress investigation ties Huckabee to “a firm notorious for defrauding families facing foreclosure with false promises and predatory fees” (Think Progress, 12/27).
Health Care: Huckabee and Palin’s own 2009 speech challenge Palin’s criticism of Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity efforts (The Hill, 12/27).
Language: Claims “Refudiate” was a typo, but she used the term in an earlier interview on Fox News (NY Daily News, 12/27).
Environment: Says conservationists are hypocrites for using pencils and paper (HuffPo, 12/27).
Foreign policy: Former Bush spokeswoman Dana Perino says Palin’s reality show and policy role give her an “authenticity” problem (The Right Scoop, 12/26).
2012: Peggy Noonan predicts that Palin won’t run for President but will have immense clout in the primary (GOP12, 12/26).
2012: Upcoming book tour could serve as “a test of his appeal” to Republican voters nationwide (Gannett, 12/24).
Religious Right: Sidesteps judicial nomination process and appoints Religious Right activist and deputy chief of staff’s wife to district court (RWW, 12/23).
Religious Right: Leaders of Religious Right groups believe Pence can unite social conservatives with fiscal hawks (WSJ, 12/27).
GOP: Columnist believes Pence can successfully run for the nomination by “reuniting the Reagan Coalition” (Forbes, 12/23).
Health Care: Struggles to balance his criticism of coverage mandate with his support for a mandate in Massachusetts (HuffPo, 12/27).
2012: Holiday card asks, “Guess which grandchild heard that Papa might run again?” (Politico, 12/22).
Government: Flounders in attempt to oppose earmarks while requesting more than $100 million (AP, 12/28).
Minnesota: Headlining MN GOP’s Lincoln/Reagan Dinner (Star Tribune, 12/22).
