Links, 1-29-12

After the loss to Gingrich in South Carolina, Gingrich's poll numbers in Florida spiked.  Then many in the GOP establishment began speaking out against Gingrich and Romney's campaign decided to attack Gingrich directly, and the poll numbers reversed.  Gingrich hasn't given up, attacking Romney for his health care plan and moderate record in Massachusetts, but the numbers look bleak and February looks like it could be a good month for Romney.  Meanwhile, Gingrich still leads in national polls.

Gingrich also made a few notable statements last week.  The two that drew the most attention were his plan to form a colony on the moon by the end of his second term and his admission that, contrary to what he told Jon King while excoriating him at the second SC debate, his campaign did not actually offer witnesses to ABC to rebut his wife's claim.

The up and down movement in the polls likely reflects the Republican electorate's frustration with their choices, which was reflected by conservative columnist Bret Stephens' recent piece entitled "The GOP Deserves to Lose: That's what happens when you run with losers"

While "Super PAC" spending is dominating the Republican primary race, the candidates in what may be the highest profile senate race this fall (Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown in MA) have signed an agreement not to allow super PAC ads.

The Economist takes an in-depth look at the American economy writing, among other things, about how we can raise the highest tax rates without doing too much damage

Here's a graphic detailing the usage of various words in the last ten State of the Union speeches and here is a fact check of the SOTU and the Republican response.