The Midday Brief: Dec. 22, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

• "Less than two weeks before Iowa Republicans make their crucial caucus choices on the night of Jan. 3, George H.W. Bush offered words of support, if not an official endorsement, to an old friend, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. 'I think Romney is the best choice for us,' former President Bush told the Houston Chronicle this week. 'I like Perry, but he doesn’t seem to be going anywhere; he’s not surging forward.'" — Bush 41 backs Romney for president, admits he’s not Gingrich’s ‘biggest advocate,’ Houston Chronicle

• "Ron Paul’s campaign has gone hard after religious conservatives in the final days leading to the Iowa GOP caucus, seeking to broaden his appeal and cement a win in the state." — Ron Paul woos religious conservatives as he pushes hard for win in Iowa, The Hill

• "Will the walkout hurt his chances of winning the Iowa caucuses? Per se, it probably won’t. But the newsletter issue could be a big problem for Paul, despite the fact that he thinks he’s addressed it adequately. … Many voters probably weren’t aware of the controversy over the newsletters, even though it’s been reported in years past. They might be surprised to find out that the crinkly and consistent libertarian they admire today was ever associated with such words. Paul might need to not just disavow them, but disavow them with emotion, emphasizing that he recognizes how hateful they sound today." — Ron Paul: why racist newsletter flap could hurt him in Iowa, The Christian Science Monitor
  

• "Despite his mantra to stay 'positive,' Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich took a swipe at rival Ron Paul on Thursday, suggesting that the Texas congressman's political base consists of 'people who want to legalize drugs.'" — Gingrich: Ron Paul's base is "people who want to legalize drugs," CBS News
  

• "On Thursday, eight Democratic U.S. House members from Texas jumped into a fray over state insurance regulators' request for delay of a federal rule that sets medical-spending minimums for health insurers." — 8 Democratic U.S. House members oppose delay of 'medical loss ratio' rule, Trail Blazers

New in The Texas Tribune:

• "While some immigration advocates are hailing the Obama administration's condemnation of alleged civil rights abuses by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, others question the timing. Was it just a ploy to curry political favor with Hispanic voters, or is immigration reform in sight?" — Progress or Posturing? Arpaio Investigation Drawing Mixed Reviews