The Note's Must-Reads for Monday, December 29, 2008

December 29, 2008 5:04 AM

Compiled by ABC News’ PETER MARTINEZ, CARRIE HALPERIN, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, STEPHANIE WASH and JUSTIN GRANT

2008: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

"RNC's 'Magic Negro' Controversy" LINK

"Caroline Kennedy Speaks Out" LINK

"The Roundtable: Another Sen. Kennedy?" LINK

"Gibbs Looks Ahead" LINK

"Will Auto Makers Keep Their Word" LINK

"The Arab Reaction" LINK

"Focus on the Gaza Strip" LINK

"Death Toll Rises to 300" LINK

"Crisis in the Middle East" LINK

"Remembering Bhutto" LINK

"Senators on Economic Debate" LINK

The Washington Times' Joshua Mitnick: "Israel poised to invade Gaza" LINK

Time Magazine’s Tony Karon: “The Strategic Price of Israel's Gaza Assault” LINK

Time Magazine’s Nicholas Blanford: “Attacking Gaza, Israel Worries About Lebanon” LINK

Newsweek's Joanna Chen: "Israel Hits at Gaza" LINK

Newsweek's evin Peraino: "A Return to Deterrence" LINK

The Associated Press' Ibrahim Barzak and Karin Laub: "Israeli Troops Mobilize as Gaza Assault Widens" LINK

The Associated Press' Deb Riechmann: "U.S. Urges Hamas to Cease Rocket Attacks on Israel" LINK

2008: ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH:

The Associated Press' Sophia Tareen: "LtGov: Blagojevich out by Lincoln's 200th Birthday" LINK

2008: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE WHITE HOUSE TRANSITION:

ABC News' Special Index for the 44th President: LINK

The Associated Press' Jesse J. Holland: "Obama Adviser: Slowing Economy Won't Halt Tax Cuts" LINK

ABC News' Jake Tapper: "Gibbs Prepares for His Starring Role" LINK

The Associated Press' Jocelyn Noveck: "How Normal Will Life Be for Obama's Famous Tweens?" LINK

The Associated Press: "Rice: Obama election a unifying symbol" LINK

The Associated Press: "RNC chair 'shocked and appalled' by Obama parody" LINK

The Hill's Klaus Marre: "Axelrod Says He Won’t Be another Rove" LINK

Politico's Ben Smith & Harry Siegel: "Israel Strike May Shift Obama Plan" LINK

Politico's Andie Coller: "'Daddy O' Brings Parenting Into Politics" LINK

Politico's Ben Smith: "The Banality Of Vacation" LINK

Politico's Lisa Lerer: "Liberal Legal Group Comes To The Fore" LINK

New York Times Editorial: “The Labor Agenda” LINK

New York Times Op-Ed by William Kristol: “George, Abe, Rick & Barack” LINK

The New York Times’ Steven Greenhouse: “Unions Look for New Life in World of Obama” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ David Nicholas: “Obama will stick to tax promise, his aides say” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Richter: “Obama’s Mideast peace plans face tougher road, experts say” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ David Lazarus: “Consumer advocates hope watchdog agencies get more bite” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Tom Petruno: “Waiting on Obama” LINK

Time Magazine’s Peter Boylan: “Protecting Obama When the Lights Go Out” LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Goodwin: "RNC boss appalled by song about Obama" LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Goodwin: "Now's the time for Obama to stand firm on Israel policy" LINK

2008: AUTO INDUSTRY:

ABC News' John Hendren: "Monday Is Payday for Chrysler, GM" LINK

Bloomberg’s Greg Bensinger: “GM, Chrysler to Thin Dealer Ranks as U.S. Aid Eases Cash Crunch” LINK

The New York Times’ Leslie Wayne: “No Word on GMAC Vote as Deadline Expires” LINK

2008: ECONOMY:

USA Today's John Fritze: "Groups send wish lists for economic bill" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Lauren A. E. Schuker: “Hollywood Celebrates Big Showing at Box Office” LINK

The Boston Herald’s Donna Goodison: “Retail stores on the brink” LINK

The Boston Herald’s Donna Goodison: “Closings would roil real estate market” LINK

Bloomberg’s Heather Burke: “Holiday Sales Slump to Force U.S. Store Closings, Bankruptcies” LINK

Bloomberg’s Ron Harui: “Dollar Falls on Concern U.S. Recession Will Deepen; Pound Drops” LINK

Bloomberg’s Sarah Rabil: “New York Times Pursuing Asset Sales as Debt Repayment Looms” LINK

Washington Posts' Robert O'Harrow Jr. and Brady Dennis: "The Beautiful Machine" LINK

The Washington Times' Rod Lamkey, Jr.: "Great Depression witnesses remember" LINK

The Washington Times' Timothy Warren: "National Park sites lift local economies" LINK

The Boston Globe’s Scott Kirsner: “Mum’s the word at bailed-out banks” LINK

The Associated Press: "States look to Japan for example in efficiency" LINK

2008: CAROLINE KENNEDY:

Politico's Michael Calderone: "Kennedy to NYT reporters: 'You should write for women's mags'" LINK

The Boston Globe’s Nicholas Confessore and David M. Halbfinger: “As candidate, Kennedy eloquent but elusive” LINK

The New York Daily News' Kenneth Lovett: "Caroline Kennedy shares misty memories of Camelot" LINK

The New York Daily News' Kenneth Lovett: "Caroline Kennedy tells Daily News: "I won't be beholden to anybody" LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Goodwin: "Say goodnight, Caroline" LINK

2008: CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News' Kirit Radia: "Bush Avoids the Spotlight on Vacation, Despite International Conflict" LINK

The Associated Press' Jesse J. Holland: "Mrs. Bush, Rice: Bush Presidency Not a Failure" LINK

The Associated Press: "First lady refutes criticism of Bush White House" LINK

Washington Posts' Jeffrey Smith: "Under Bush, OSHA Mired in Inaction LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Andrew Malcolm: “In Congress, they’re big believers of religion” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Carol J. Williams: “A child soldier or just a child?” LINK

2008: DEMOCRATS/GOP:

The Hill's Reid Wilson: "RNC Members Call Unprecedented Special Meeting" LINK

Bloomberg’s Ryan J. Donmoyer: “Democrats May End Minimum Tax on Municipal Bonds to Spur Market” LINK

2008: ELECTION:

Bloomberg Commentary by Kevin Hassett: “Minnesota’s Recount Fiasco Needs New Solution” LINK

2008: ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Politico's Erika Lovley: "CAP report: Where's The (Coal) Money?" LINK

Washington Posts' Lyndsey Layton: "Californians Shape Up as Force on Environmental Policy" LINK

Washington Posts' Juliet Eilperin: "Inventors Find Inspiration in Natural Phenomena" LINK

2008: AFGHANISTAN:

The Washington Posts' Walter Pincus: "Plans for Base Illustrate Afghanistan Effort in Microcosm" LINK

2008: OTHER MUST-READS:

ABC News' ABC News' Luis Martinez and Kirit Radia: "Double-Teaming Pakistan" LINK

The Associated Press' Rukmini Callimachi: "Child Maid Trafficking Spreads From Africa to US" LINK

USA Today's Thomas Frank: "Fewer illegal immigrants caught sneaking into U.S." LINK

USA Today's Ken Dilanian: "N.Y.'s Towns set to chair oversight committee" LINK

USA Today's Wendy Koch: "States usher in new laws with the new year" LINK

USA Today's Donna Leinwand: "Bogus money goes mainstream" LINK

Politico's Alexander Burns: "Top 10 People We'll Miss In 2009" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Gary Fields: “Murders of Black Teens Are Up 39% since 2000-01” LINK

The New York Times’ Richard A. Oppel Jr. and Pir Zubair Shah: “Taliban Hit Pakistan Town That Fought Back” LINK

The New York Times’ Brian Stelter: “TV News Winds Down Operations on Iraq War” LINK

The Washington Times' Tom Ramstack: "FBI notes 'uptick' in employment scams" LINK

Time Magazine’s Alison Stateman: “Lawsuits by the Disabled: Abuse of the System?” LINK