Grover Norquist is in Politico’s ‘Arena’ discussing the minefield that sits between today and the 2012 elections: “Unlike 2006, the only potential presidential candidate who must vote on such compromises is South Dakota’s John Thune. All the other possible Republican candidates, including the new governors in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, etc., are free to oppose such compromises, signaling the (obvious and largely irrelevant ) point that if they were president, such a compromise would have been settled much to the right. True… But not terribly useful in discussing how one constructs the frustrating, but necessary “deals” between now and 2012 when, Republicans expect, the presidency and the Senate majority fall into their hands.”

From Business Wire and The Daily Caller, “The Daily Caller to Co-Host Republican National Committee’s Chairmanship Debate with Americans for Tax Reform on January 3rd.”  Here is Grover’s take on the event:  “‘We are pleased to host this debate with The Daily Caller. The actual vote for RNC Chairman will be made by the 168 members of the Committee, but the impact will be felt by all,’ said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. ‘Therefore, every activist should play a role in questioning the candidates and communicating with RNC members who cast votes…just like lobbying your Congressman and Senators.’”

ATR friend and ally Christopher Freind expresses a grave concern in The Philly Post over the prospects that the GOP may not have a viable candidate to challenge and tax-and-spend (and tax some more) Senator Bob Casey in 2012: “You would think that with Pennsylvania’s Republican roots, which have run especially deep over the last several decades, freshman Democratic senator Bob Casey would be vulnerable in 2012… You would be wrong… Incumbents don’t lose unless they’re challenged by viable, first-tier candidates, as the Senate elections in Nevada and Alaska proved…”