conditions. and the annual punching festival. don't worry, it's just a festival. men, women, children, beating each other in the name of tradition. that's later in the show. first, let's get to the news live at 2:30 a.m. here in burbank, california. new polling shows gingrich and romney are both facing their own distinct challenges. romney's main obstacle lies with his party's primary voters while gingrich faces hurdles with the general electorate. the latest poll shows gingrich topping the republican presidential field with 40% support. the highest percentage any republican candidate has received in the race so far. mitt romney 17 points behind the former speaker at 23%. ron paul comes in third with 9% among likely gop voters. gingrich may hold the lead in that republican primary race, but polling shows romney has the better chance against president obama in a general election match-up. head to head, romney and barack obama in a statistical tie, while gingrich trails president by 11 points. president obama is up against a generic republican candidate, he loses that match-up by 2 points. this may be a reflection of the frustration within the ranks with a majority of voters calling the republican field average and 27% calling the candidates weak. poll also sheds light into why romney may be losing ground among republican voters. 70% of republicans call themselves conservative, but only 29% believe romney fits that category. 57% believe newt gingrich checks the conservative box best. and as mitt romney tries to win over that base of voters, he's going after gingrich hard questioning his conservative credentials. the former massachusetts governor says if part he's been aphave a ordinarily unreliable leader in the conservative world. in the last two to three years and even during the campaign, the number times he's moved from one spot to another has been remarkable. i think he's shown a level of unreliability as a conservative leader today. that mitt romney talking about gingrich in the "washington post." gingrich says he will stick to a positive campaign. former house speaker let go of an iowa staffer after he referred to mormonism as a cult before joining the gingrich campaign. he's stepping up his efforts in iowa where other recent polling seems to suggest his lead may be slipping just a bit. meanwhile donald trump backing out of his own debate he was scheduled it to host on december 27th after the majority of the republican presidential peeled said they would not attend. in and online video, trump says he hopes to avoid a potential conflict of interest by stepping away from his own debate. >> they want plea to announce that i won't run as an independent candidate and i won't do that. because if the republicans pick the wrong person, i would in fact seriously consider running. but because of the fact that the republicans are upset and because of the fact that i refuse to give up the possibility of runs, i've decided to cancel the debate. >> the debate is off. trump thanked you newt gingrich and rick santorum, the only two republican canndidates who agred to participate. you can expect a new round of finger pointing on capitol hill today after another partisan vote pushed the two sides even farther apart. late yesterday, the house passed an extension of the payroll tax cut, something president obama has of course been pushing for, but what republicans attached to the bill has drawn fire from democrats. the proposal included a mandate the obama administration make a decision on approving the controversial keystone pipeline within 60 days. the administration had delayed that decision until 2013 citing a need to review environmental concerns. of course that would push it past the 2012 presidential election, helpful for president obama. the president has vowed to reject any attempts to link the pipeline to the payroll tax cut, but in a statement ahead of yesterday's vote, the white house did not mention that project directly, instead saying the measure revisits, quote, old political battles. this debate should not be about scoring political points, the debate should be about cutting taxes for the middle class. if the president were presented with it, he would veto the bill, that statement from the white house. john boehner called the veto threat disappointing and in remarks after the vote, said the issue now rests solely with the senate. >> the american people are asking where are the jobs. the house is listening. we've passed a large bill that contains many of the priorities of our caucus and the white house. we've worked to find common ground. now senate democrats must act. the senate can take up our bill, they can pass it, they can amendment it, or they can move their own bill. but it is time for the senate to act. >> the house plan also would reduce the maximum time that unemployed americans could receive jobless benefits to 59 weeks from 99 weeks. that's a proposal that along with other aspects of the bill enrage some democrats. >> here here once again with my republican colleagues who are trying to ram through this fat cat's tax extenders legislation providing mere crumbs from the master's table for working people that will neither help will the american people weather this economic malaise nor create a single job. >> oppose this bad deal and come together, pas a long term clean extension of employment benefits. that's the thing to do. >> this bill is terrible. it is terrible. the holidays must have come early for the majority. what we have here is a serious proposal? it's a stocking stuffed to the brim with ideology. >> the focus now shifts to the senate where majority leader harry reid has vowed to defeat the house republican plan before final year end showdown begins. the obama administration is marking the end of the u.s. led war in iraq with events overseas and here at home. president obama heads to ft. bragg in north carolina today to meet with service members and their families. his defense secretary meanwhile is expected to attend an end of mission ceremony in baghdad. vice president joe biden speaking last night to rachel maddow reflected on the end of the nearly nine year conflict. >> i feel like i participated in something that i can be proud of the rest of my life. no matter how engaged i was, i don't think i would have been in a position to be able to effect events on a day to day basis to bring us to this point. our troops and diplomats brought us to this point, but i'll be blunt with you. after i made that speech in the palace with maliki, the president and prime minister to iraqi and american assembled troops, i left, got on the phone and called the president and said thank you, thank you for giving me the opportunity to do something that meant a great de deal, to end this war in iraq. >> when asked how he would respond if they ask for troops to stay behind. >> no, i don't think that would have ever, i don't think we would respond to that. had they said leave troops to help us train, that we would consider. but the idea of keeping 20,000 troops there, no. leon panetta made an unannounced stop yesterday. he told u.s. forces the coming year will mark a turning point for the american wars in the region. 10,000 u.s. forces will be withdrawn from afghanistan by the end of the year with a pentagon plan to pull out all combat forces by the year 2014. and there is an unprecedented push under way to increase safety on our country erodes. one that could have a big impact on the cell phone industry. tom costello has that story. >> reporter: investigators say the fatal chain reaction crash involving two school buses in no in last year was caused by a 19-year-old pickup driver texting while driving. 11 texts in 11 minutes. after years of similar reports, the ntsb said it's heard enough. >> no one can drive safely when they're distracted. >> reporter: the safety board called on all 50 states and d.c. to ban the use of all portable electronic devices for all drivers. an exception would only be made for emergencies and gps units. but not hands free devices. at the moment, 35 states ban texting while driving, ten and d.c. ban handheld devices. but no states have the kind of total ban the nts bcht wants. >> we need to stand up and say this is not acceptable behavior. >> reporter: under a new refined reporting system, the government says there were 3092 fatalities as a result of distracteded driving in 2010. meanwhile, roughly 20% of all drivers and 50% of drivers between 21 to 24 years of aged a note texting while driving. >> she was looking at my message that i had just september her. she was actually ejected through the driver's side door. >> reporter: public service campaigns like this one have tried to drive home the dangers of distracted driving. >> four little letters. that's what killed her. >> i sent one stupid meaningless text and killed a man. >> reporter: the wireless industry declined to comment on any potential ban instead calling for new products and services including those that can disabled driver's mobile device. in los angeles, mixed reaction. >> a complete ban of any cell phone use in your car, i don't think i would support that. >> i can live without it. i lived twowithout it for 30 ye. >> we know this recommendation will be very unpopular with some people. but we're not here to win a popularity contest. >> tom costello reporting for us there. the mntsb's recommendation is nonbinding. still ahead here on way too early, live this morning from burbank, bad lip reading.com returns to take a crack at rick perry's there's something wrong with the country where gays can serve openly in the military but kids can't openly celebrate christmas ad. plus ron paul with programs the strangest applause line. he's not going to take this pasturized milk thing sitting down. that clip and a check on weather when "way too early" comes right back live from burbank. on president's failure visit to iraq, a grave insult. a sign of deep contempt. mr. bush and iraqi prime minister nuri al maliki were about to take questions when a television reporter hurled a shoe shouting this is a gift from iraqis, this is a farewell kiss, you dog. television reporter hurled a [ dog ] i am a rockstar. my coat? solid gold. my insides? pure platinum. 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[ toy robot sounds ] welcome back. it is 2:46 in the morning if you can believe it. a more civilized hour back east. that's where we find bill karins. >> everyone wants to know, have you been to bed yet? >> that's between me and my doctor. >> that's true. i don't blame you. as far as what we're dealing with out here in the east and throughout middle of the country is a rainy forecast. we don't have a lot of cold air yet. we don't have a lot of snow he to talk about, just a wet weather day. all of ohio, michigan and indiana bring the umbrella with you, chicago, milwaukee also for you. even up in minneapolis, we're getting rain and that's kind of rare for this time of year. and back through des moines, even some thunderstorms around kansas city with downpours. last stop in the desert southwest, heavy rain yesterday in phoenix. still snow north of albuquerque. so the forecast for today, temperatures pretty mild, mid-40s for highs. partly cloudy skies. but if you'll be in pennsylvania from pittsburgh northward to erie up to buffalo, that's where you need the umbrella. also and he through the middle country, 62 is fairly cool by l.a. standards. >> it's pretty chilly out here. coming in, in the 40s. not what i expected. i'll be home soon. thanks so much. turning to sports, the case against jerry sandusky moving closer to trial after the former penn state assistant football coach shocked a pennsylvania courtroom by backing out of a preliminary hearing at the last minute. several of his alleged being a could you seers were ready to testify about allegationses that they were sexually abused other than a 15 year period. the 67-year-old coach waived his right to the hearing entering a not guilty plea to 52 criminal counts. sandusky's attorney says the accusers are only out to make money from false allegations. well, the steelers likely will be playing monday without james harrison who has been given a one game suspension by the league for a helmet to helmet hit against the browns. the 2008 nfl defensive player of the year being punished for laying out colt mccoy on thursday. the hit left mccoy with a concussion. wow. after the game, mccoy's father said his son did not remember anything that happened after the hit, including playing the final few minutes in the team's 14-3 loss. did not remember playing in the game. harrison becomes the first player penalized under the nfl's new rules cracking down on hits to the the head. the four time pro bowler who has been flagged for tif excessive hits in three seasons is now appealing the ruling on that brutal hit. coming up at the top of the hour on "morning joe," back in new york city, newt gingrich sitting on a lead stays above the fray as mitt romney lobs attacks about his conservative credentials. we'll have new polls that layout the party's dilemma with this duo. and when we come back here, we'll huddle up around the water cooler to watch the world's finest annual tradition, peruvians punching each other for fun. "way too early" coming right back. [ male announcer ] cranberry juice? wake up! ♪ that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm [ male announcer ] for half the calories -- plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. as we told you, the latest source of washington gridlock, the extension of payroll tax cuts, has hinged on the question of the keystone pipeline which supporters say would bring an additional 700,000 barrels of crude oil daily to the united states from canada. if you want to sound smart, tell your friends canada is the number one supplier of crude oil to the united states. saudi arabia second. mexico third. separate study by the house of representatives shows canada accounted for it accounted for 22% of all u.s. oil imports last year. let's huddle up around the water cooler to check in with our friends at badlipreading.com. they've hit all the candidates and now he they're circling back to rick perry. in the ad he put out last week in which he declares there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate christmas. here is bad lip reading's version of that ad. >> that movie sucked. the whole script was wrong when seth rogen, he had to serve a big red duck. man, he'd scalp a sentimental cripple. what a [ bleep ]. i bet you i could eat a grimmy squirrel on a windshield. i'll fit a chicken with hands, a real chicken. you can find me in montreal in a bithing arcade. i'm proud of my gun. >> there it is, bad lip reading.com doing it again. a new poll has congressman ron paul trailing newt gingrich by just one point in iowa. in a statistical tie for the lead. that's in the state of iowa. meanwhile, some hysteria for ron paul in the state of new hampshire. paul filled a town hall auditorium with hundreds of supporters where he unrolled an unusual talking point and got rousing applause. he wants to end regulations on the sale of raw milk. >> the drug companies, insurance company, they're the big lobbyists and they promote things. and they also prevent and would like to regulate all alternative care and vitamins and nutritional from ducts to keep people from it. so my idea as a symbol of move management different direction, i would like to restore your right to drink raw milk anytime you wanted to. >> like a rock star, the place just blew up when he said that. in the state of new hampshire, there's a law that says you can make raw milk, but you can't sell it in stores or supermarkets. ron paul could change all that. live free or die. finally, a community festival in peru, we show you this every year and it is that time again. it helps villagers solve things the old fashioned way, by duking it out. all in good fun, believe it or not. they hammer out their problems. that's one way to do it. will is just a tradition, don't worry. if it gets too serious, people start to get hurt, apparently they intervene, although it doesn't look like it based on those pictures. happy season. still ahead on "way too early," why are you awake? and "morning joe" back in new york city just moments away. i'm good about washing my face. but sometimes i wonder... what's left behind? [ female announcer ] purifying facial cleanser from neutrogena® naturals. removes 99% of dirt and toxins without dyes, parabens or harsh sulfates. so skin feels pure and healthy. [ female announcer ] from neutrogena® naturals. laces? really? slip-on's the way to go. more people do that, security would be like -- there's no charge for the bag. thanks. i know a quiet little place where we can get some work done. there's a three-prong plug. i have club passes. [ male announcer ] now there's a mileage card that offers special perks on united, like a free checked bag, united club passes, and priority boarding. thanks. ♪ okay. what's your secret? ♪ [ male announcer ] the new united mileageplus explorer card. get it and you're in. top story on msnbcs.com, how do you choose these, i asked again this morning, two newly discovered frog species considered the smallest ever found. and apparently they are smaller than a penny. number two story, alexander graham bell speaks from the 1880s. you people and your choice of internet stories are odd. we asked you what you're doing up at this hour. i know why i'm here. it's 2:58 in the morning in burbank. what are you doing across the country? our producer back in new york has answers. >> we have stewart on twitter wrote woke up sick and i still got the better deal. 2:30 in the morning, oh, my. gorng writes burbank, i thought compton was more your style. and dude, i can't believe you're here in l.a., did you even go to sleep any just got home from the clu club. >> i wish i were cool enough to say just rolled in, kutcher and i were hanging out. no, i went to bed at like 7:00 in my room, had warm milk and crackers. how about one more. >> brian writes i've been up all night worried that that scary old lady would host your show again. >> that's in the right. mike barnicle was kind must have to sit in, getting up in the middle of the night to h