Fools' Rally Ends; Ron Paul's Peak; Payroll Tax Cut, and More: Reason Evening Links

Stock market battles reality: Stocks slump throughout the day as global debt mismanagement grinds on. Dow Jones Industrial Average has a minor correction. Current DJIA number.

Obama's weird GOP outreach. President Obama's re-election campaign asks supporter[s] to cough up contact info on known Republican friends. The campaign's stated goal of letting donors "have a little fun at the expense of a Republican in your life by letting them know they inspired you to make a donation to the Obama campaign" sounds like half the story. Given how few of this administration's policies the current Republican Party could honestly object to, it wouldn't be surprising if Obama were hoping to poach some voters. 

"We have to try Islamic rule to be able to decide if it's good for us," 60-year-old voter tells AP as Egyptians turn out for second round of parliamentary elections. Islamic parties gained big numbers in the first round of post-Mubarak voting last month.

"In political terms, it probably means we're peaking at the right time," Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) says as a new Public Policy Polling survey shows him one point behind Newt Gingrich and five points ahead of Mitt Romney. 

Because who's a better judge of art than a labor union? White Shadow-led Screen Actors Guild releases this year's nominees [pdf] for its eponymous prize. Did you know that a movie has a cast but a TV show has an ensemble? That television can be subdivided into "comedy" and "drama" but there can only be one best theatrical release? 
Best cast, motion picture: The Artist, Bridesmaids, The Desendants, The Help, Midnight In Paris. 
Best ensemble, TV drama: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife.

Payroll tax cut out where the woodbine twineth: Senate Democrats want to vote now on extending payroll tax treatment that passed the House yesterday; Senate Republicans are trying to delay a vote that would probably end in a defeat for the measure. Democrats' opposition is odd given that the payroll tax bill also extends unemployment benefits, making it the perfect Washington compromise: Revenue doesn't go up, but spending does. 

Get Reason email! No more waiting for the Pony Express each month. Reason offers a variety of email alert options. Sign up for one or all of them today.