Top Links: The latest on Petraeus, the fiscal cliff and GOP 2012 grumblings

While most of Washington is focused on the Petraeus fallout and “fiscal cliff” negotiations, some Republicans would prefer to grumble about the meaning behind the 2012 election. People, that is literally so last week.

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• The latest on the Petraeus scandal—and why the FBI waited so long to inform top officials of the investigation. (NBC News)

• So where was Paula Broadwell the moment the story broke about her affair with now ex-CIA Director David Petraeus? In Virginia with her husband celebrating her birthday. (The Washington Post)

• The opinions on the “fiscal cliff” couldn’t be more varied or heated: Do we call it a “cliff” a “slope” a “wall” or something else? (The Reformed Broker) and (Wonkblog)

• Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has a slightly different take on the 2012 election: Let’s scrap the electoral college system. (East Valley Tribune)

• Grover Norquist: Obama only won because Romney was a “poopy head”. Yes, serious discussions for serious times. (The Hill)

• You don’t always get what you pay for: “As of Oct. 17, [Romney] campaign manager Matt Rhoades had received $292,000 in salary and bonuses, compared with $197,000 for Obama campaign manager Jim Messina.” (The Washington Post)

• Oh, and remember all that rhapsodizing about his hometown of Janesville, Wisconsin, Paul Ryan did on the campaign trail? “He lost his hometown of Janesville twice: by 10 points for Congress and by 25 points for vice president.” (The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)