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Politics Today: Blagojevich Sentenced, Jon Stewart On Trump GOP Debate, Gingrich Promise Breaks Law, And More

Tracy Bloom |
December 7, 2011 | 12:51 p.m. PST

Deputy Editor

Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for his corruption convictions.  Blagojevich was accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat after he was elected president. A federal judge has ordered Blagojevich--who turns 55 on Sunday--to begin serving his sentence within 90 days.

Republican Presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich may have inadvertently broken the law when he said he would ask former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton to serve as his Secretary of State if elected. According to Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 29, Section 599 of the U.S. Code, it is illegal to name individuals you would appoint to office before the election.

An advisor to President Obama said he might delay his Hawaii vacation if Congress does not reach a deal to extend the payroll tax cuts by December 17. Valerie Jarrett told MSNBC today: "He is intending to stay right here in Washington. He intends to hold Congress accountable." Jarrett said Senate Majority Leader is also committed to staying in Washington until a deal is hammered out.

With Mitt Romeny, Ron Paul and Jon Huntsmen all declining Donald Trump's invite to his GOP presidential debate later this month, it's unclear just how many of the Republican candidates will actually show up. Still, that doesn't really matter to "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart, who gleefully proclaimed Trump "da best debate guy ever" on his program last night.

Despite touting the importance of his endorsement, Donald Trump was not among the names that made the list of John Avlon's "10 GOP Endorsements That Still Matter In 2012's Presidential Election." Among those who did make the list: Sarah Palin, John McCain, Jeb Bush, Rudy Giuliani and Herman Cain.

The GOP Presidential ad wars are heating up. Among the latest offerings: Mitt Romney touts his 42-year marriage, Rick Perry says he'll "end Obama's war on religion" and Ron Paul releases a blistering attack ad against Newt Gingrich.

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Michele Bachmann was left speechless when 8-year-old Elijah went up to the GOP presidential hopeful at a recent book signing in South Carolina and told her his "mommy's gay but she doesn't need any fixing."

BONUS VIDEO OF THE DAY: Does New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie or his staff plant questions at a town hall meeting? That's the question one constituent posited at a recent town hall meeting. Here's part of Christie's entertaining response: "If I plant questions, why the hell did I call on you?" Watch the full exchange below:

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