<b>Morning Chatter</b>

Quotes of the Day -- Behind the Curtain in Des Moines The Rachels: RealClearPolitics' Scott Conroy says on Twitter, "What they're watching at Santorum's party #iacaucus." The Rachels tortured us early Wednesday morning with a very special episode of "Up With Chris Hayes" at 1 a.m. Fishbowl Des Moines (Adios, Mike Allen, we're taking back the night.) Luntz's puffy coat "Frank Luntz on Fox News has the biggest, puffiest down jacket I have ever seen in my life." -- Zach Wolf, ABC News Political Unit. (Photo credit: Yahoo! News's Chris Moody.) Confusion on the campaign trail "Ron Paul staffer gets confused thinks I work 'the times' instead of 'in these times' asks if I want to speak to the Congressman." -- Labor journo Mike Elk. Journo loses his belt; disaster averted "At the lovely Capitol in Des Moines to join @BretBaier. Fortunately we'll be seated so my lost belt shouldn't result in YouTube hilarity." -- Reuters' Sam Youngman. Birthdays: "Happy 1st birthday to Wee-Bey, the dog. The one year old goldendoodle will be celebrating by licking his balls." -- FBDC's Peter Ogburn. (h/t Ogburn and h/t Mike Allen for h/t) Asked about presents, Peter remarked, "I did get Wee-Bey a present. The exciting new E-Book from Politico, The Right Fights Back." The Beauty Experts "Sarah Palin's half-beehive is back!" -- Politico media writer Keach Hagey. (Photo credit: Business Insider's Glynnis MacNicol.) "Loser or not, Michelle Bachmann looks fabulous." -- HuffPost's Christina Wilkie. Wilkie also observed Ron Paul's wife, saying, "Carol Paul is rocking a fur collared coat. A big one. Indoors. At a campaign event. Thoughts? #iacaucus." "First time a presidential candidate's on-stage surrogate has EVER has a neck tattoo. #iacaucus" -- WaPo's Aaron Blake. Lizza lets loose "Can we all agree the Iowa Straw Paul is f*cking stupid now?" -- The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza, who also wrote, "I picked a terrible night to be on deadline for a 10,000 word piece not about GOP politics." But our favorite Lizza from the night is by far this: "What's on Marcus's lips?" (In reference to Michelle Bachmann's hubby, Marcus.) On another note entirely, what the f$%# was Marcus doing buying their dog, Boomer, sunglasses in Iowa? Tapper pays Busey a compliment (wink! wink!) "I cannot understate the importance of the Gary Busey endorsement, then withdrawal of said endorsement, of @NewtGingrich." -- ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper. Spotted: Journos being journos "Spotted in Des Moines, midnight Central: A bunch of reporters who thought they would be drunk and/or in bed right now." -- The Atlantic's Molly Ball. Watch out. Harwood's caffeinated. "Modern media life: Up 4 am in Iowa. 19 hours of live shots. Charter flight to NH. Arrive hotel. Now, coffee...then more live shots." -- CNBC's and NYT's John Harwood. Arianna cracks on CNN's John King "Waiting for John King to get sucked into his Touch Screen Map, Poltergeist-style." -- HuffPost/AOL Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington. And back in Washington... The weather outside is frightful "NEVER GOING OUTSIDE AGAIN and also other irrational things because it's just so so cold." WaPo's Lindsay Apple. An evening in "Leftover palak paneer? Check. Bottomless iced tea? Check. Power outlet? Check. Bring it on, Iowa. #caucus" -- NPR's Andy Carvin. The TV Critics "Fox News discussion hours before the caucuses: Are reporters who tweet full of themselves?" -- Tribune's Mike Memoli. "Bret Baier back on this 'guy in a truck' thing...what the hell? Enough already." -- The Times of London's Matt Spence. "I thought it was odd when Sanford signed off his Fox News interview with, 'Tienes los ojos más bonitos del mundo.' -- National Review Online's Jim Geraghty on former S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford's punditry appearance on FNC last night. "Gingrich translated: 'If the truth hurts, fuck you.'" -- Metro Weekly Co-Publisher Sean Bugg. "Marcus Bachmann would have made a lovely first lady. #iacaucus" -- Crooks & Liars' Tina Dupuy. "As Ron Paul speaks, Rand is standing behind him looking like he's at a funeral." -- The Atlantic's Molly Ball. "I think we can all agree that Boomer Bachmann getting new sunglasses was more interesting than this speech." -- FNC Democratic political analyst and Daily Beast columnist Kirsten Powers. Teeth brushing or Romney speech? That's easy. "How captivated was I by Romney's stump/victory speech? Half-way through, I ran to brush my teeth." -- Roll Call's Shira Toeplitz. Why Santorum? Well, for one thing... "I am rooting for Santorum to win because, as far as I am aware, he has not strapped a dog to his car while driving long distances." -- Activist and former DCist writer Dave Stroup. Hawaiian Pool Duty comes to a close "Just checked out of my room in Hawaii. The president's vacation is over for him and now for me too. I'm relieved." -- Politico's Jennifer Epstein. Makeup lady on Roland Martin "Doing @rolandsmartin makeup. He's bringing some soul to the makeup room!" -- Stevie Martin. Boybander pledges quality "My pledge to you: writing on a short deadline does not give me license to mix metaphors. Danger Room: Where Quality Is Job #1." -- Wired's Spencer Ackerman. Tracy gets racy "No, I will not be CAUCUSING tonight. Sounds a bit perverse." -- Cheoff Geoff Tracy, husband to CBS Chief White House Correspondent Norah O'Donnell. Holy S#%t! Tschida's got rats "So exterminator confirms I have very SMART rats. They dodge the traps and gorge on bananas. Just realized... I'd prefer ghosts." -- ABC7 reporter Stephen Tschida. Convo Between Two Journos The Guardian's Ana Marie Cox: "Fox News turning out to be a really good source for news about the bottom four candidates." Lizza: "Future on-air talent." MUST CREDIT BUZZFEED. Or else! "I won't do a 'Must Credit BuzzFeed.' But please do credit BuzzFeed. We're a fragile young thing." -- BuzzFeed Editor Ben Smith on their exclusive that Sen. McCain plans to endorse Romney today. Unnecessary Tweet of the Day "I hate politicians who say they aren't politicians. Even if they're wearing a super-cute blue blazer." -- Metro Weekly's Mr. Bugg. Congrats Bugg! You've won back your crown.

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Morning Chatter

Betsy Rothstein

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