The Note's Must-Reads for Thursday, January 8, 2009

January 08, 2009 5:26 AM

Compiled by ABC News’ PETER MARTINEZ, CARRIE HALPERIN, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, LAURA GREENE, JAYCE HENDERSON and JUSTIN GRANT

2009: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“White House Power Lunch” LINK

“Presidents Welcome the New Guy” LINK

“Elite Lunch Guests Tackle the Economy” LINK

“Senate Leaders Sound Off on Burris” LINK

“Stepping Out with Obama” LINK

“Burris Pleased With Reid Meeting” LINK

“The Children of Gaza” LINK

“Dozens of Palestinian Civilians Killed” LINK

“Israel Hits 1,000 Hamas Targets” LINK

2009: CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST:

The Associated Press Ibrahim Barzak and Steve Weizman: “Attack on Israel from Lebanon Threatens 2nd Front” LINK

ABC News’ Miguel Marquez: “Cease-Fire Coming? Israel Pauses for Gaza Relief Aid” LINK

The Associated Press: “Attack on Israel from Lebanon threatens 2nd front” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Charles Levinson: “Israelis Watch the Fighting in Gaza From a Hilly Vantage Point” LINK

Bloomberg’s Stanley White: “Yen Rises After Attack in Northern Israel Sparks Risk Aversion” LINK

Bloomberg’s Calev Ben-David and Saud Abu Ramadan: “Rockets From Lebanon Hit Israel; Gaza Conflict Widens” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Andrew J. Bacevich: “The lessons of Gaza” LINK

The New York Times’ Ethan Bronner: “Gaza War Role Is Political Lift for Ex-Premier” LINK

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Nicholas D. Kristof: “The Gaza Boomerang” LINK

The New York Times’ Taghreed El-Khodary: “Grief and Rage at Stricken Gaza School” LINK

The New York Times’ Isabel Kershner: “Israelis Honor Fallen Soldiers, While Seeing the Gaza Campaign as Justified” LINK

The Washington Post's Craig Whitlock: "Red Cross Reports Grisly Find in Gaza" LINK

The Washington Post's Griff Witte: "Hamas Pulling Back Into Crowded Cities, Beckoning Israelis" LINK

2009: FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ROLAND BURRIS:

The Washington Times’ S.A. Miller : “Support grows for Burris on Hill” LINK

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf, Jonathan Karl and Huma Khan: “Burris Getting Closer to Obama's Senate Seat” LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Mcauliff: "Senate majority leader cracks door for Blago appointee Burris" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Naftali Bendavid and Brad Haynes: “Democrats Retreat on Burris” LINK

The Boston Globe Wire Service: “Skies brighten for Burris, would-be senator from Ill.” LINK

New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Gail Collins: “The Illinois Senator Checklist” LINK

The New York Times’ Carl Hulse: “Senate Democrats Open Way to Seat Burris” LINK

2009: ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH and the SENATE SEAT:

ABC News’ Teddy Davis: “Dean: 'You Gotta Hand It to Blagojevich' LINK

USA Today’s Judy Keen: “Ill. panel nears decision on Blagojevich impeachment” LINK

Politico's Ben Smith: "Blagojevich The Strategist" LINK

Politico's Jim Vandehei & Mike Allen: "Obama Eyes Wall Street Super-Regulator" LINK

2009: NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON:

The Wall Street Journal’s Stephanie Simon: “Richardson's Stumble on U.S. Stage Erodes Clout at Home” LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE WHITE HOUSE TRANSITION:

Newsweek Magazine’s Howard Fineman: “A Bumpy Start” LINK

The Washington Times’ Ben Conery: “Holder hearings won't be 'smooth sailing'” LINK

The Washington Times’ Joseph Curl: “POLITICAL THEATER: The presidents meet” LINK

The Washington Times’ Nicolas Kralev: “Obama picks Ross for policy on Mideast” LINK

The Washington Times’ Ishmael Jones: “Where loyalty is vital” LINK

The Washington Times’ Christina Bellantoni: “Obama stumbles after smooth road to top” LINK

The New York Daily News’ Kenneth Bazinet: "All the Presidents' lunch: Obama meets past presidents" LINK

The New York Daily News' James Gordon Meek: "Obama draws heat on choice to head CIA" LINK

LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Jess Bravin: “Obama's Regulatory Czar Likely to Set a New Tone” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Kris Maher: “SEIU Plans to Spend Big on Its Agenda” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah N. Lynch: “SEC Nominee to Face Tough Questions at Confirmation Hearing” LINK

Bloomberg’s Nicholas Johnston and Andrew Harris: “Senate Democrats Map Plan to Seat Obama’s Successor” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Scott Helman: “Obama's challenge: Be urgent but hopeful” LINK

The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny and John Harwood: “Obama Says He Will Seek Overhaul of Retiree Spending” LINK

The New York Times’ Peter Baker: “Obama Is Reported Set to Revise Counterterrorism Efforts” LINK

The Washington Post's Michael D. Shear and Ceci Connolly: "Obama Assembles Powerful West Wing" LINK

The Washington Post's Shailagh Murray: "Lawmakers and Financial Experts Question Obama's Tax Cuts" LINK

The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery: "Congress Urges Spending Restraint" LINK

The Washington Post's Michael D. Shear and Ceci Connolly: "Obama Assembles Powerful West Wing" LINK

The Hill's Sam Youngman: "Bush to Obama: ‘We Want You To Succeed’" LINK

The Hill's Jordy Yager: "Secret Service Closes Bridges For Inauguration Day" LINK

Politico's Andy Barr: "Obama 'Sure' Bad Press Is Coming" LINK

Politico's David RogerS: "Obama, Dems Face Hard Sell On Stimulus" LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE INAUGURATION:

The Washington Times’ Timothy Warren: “Inaugural chaos: Three bridges to close” LINK

ABC News’ Pierre Thomas: “Unprecedented Public Safety Plan for Obama Inauguration” LINK

ABC News’ Rick Klein: “Obama Inaugural Committee Helps With Clinton Debt, Too” LINK

ABC News’ Russell Goldman: “Newest High-Tech Limo to be Unveiled at Inauguration” LINK

The Washington Post's Eric M. Weiss and Lena H. Sun: "Inauguration to Close Bridges and Highways" LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE ECONOMY:

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Laura Meckler: “Stimulus Plans Intact, Despite Big Deficit” LINK

2009: BERNARD MADOFF SCAM:

Bloomberg Commentary by Susan Antilla: “Thanks, Bernie, Now We See the Light About SEC” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Ross Kerber: “The whistleblower” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Beth Healy: “Burned in Madoff saga, Shapiros hire a lawyer” LINK

The New York Times’ Alex Berenson: “Madoff Sent 16 Watches and Jewelry” LINK

2009: ECONOMY:

The Washington Times’ David M. Dickson: “Budget office forecasts long recession” LINK

USA Today’s Richard Wolf and David Jackson: “Economy projected to shrink 2.2%” LINK

The Associated Press’ Jeannine Aversa: “Pink Slips Pile Higher Amid Deepening Recession” LINK

USA Today’s Barbara Hagenbaugh and Sue Kirchhoff: “Unemployment could get 'truly gruesome', analysts predict” LINK

Bloomberg’s Dan Levy: “U.S. Banks Offer Mortgage Rates Below 5% as Fed Buys Securities” LINK

Bloomberg’s Heidi Przybyla: “U.S. Voters More Worried About Spending Than Jobs, Survey Shows” LINK

The New York Times’ Keith Bradsher: “China Losing Taste for Debt From the U.S” LINK

New York Times Editorial: “Starting the Regulatory Work” LINK

The Washington Post's David S. Hilzenrath: "2008 Leaves Pensions Underfunded" LINK

The Hill's Sam Youngman and Silla Brush: "$1.2T Deficit Roils Congress" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Jim Puzzanghera and Janet Hook: "Political Wrangling Bogs Down Economic Stimulus Package" LINK

2009: CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News Analysis by Gary Langer: “Bush Legacy: A Tale of Two Terms” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Alicia Mundy: “FDA Outlays for Morale-Boosting Draw Fire From Lawmakers” LINK

Bloomberg’s Holly Rosenkrantz and Mark Drajem: “Bush Pushes ‘Midnight Rules’ to Support Companies as Term Ends” LINK

The Hill's Alexander Bolton and Susan Crabtree: "A Familiar Mccain Back On Old Stomping Ground"LINK

Politico's Andy Barr: "Cheney: I'm Actually 'Lovable'" LINK

2009: CONGRESS:

The Washington Post's Paul Kane: "Despite Majority, Senate Leader Has Rough Start" LINK

The Washington Post's Perry Bacon Jr.: "Senate Appointee Makes Inroads" LINK

The Hill's Jeffrey Young: "Tom Daschle Returning To New Senate" LINK

The Hill's J. Taylor Rushing: "Burris Closer Than Ever To Taking Seat In Senate" LINK

Politico's Michael Calderone R: "Matthews Isn't Running For Senate" LINK

2009: SARAH PALIN AND FAMILY:

ABC News’ Joseph Brownstein: “Bristol Palin's Cameo Role in Teen Pregnancy Trend” LINK

2009: OTHER MUST-READS:

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf: “Obstruction and Pork Already? Change Comes Slowly to Capitol Hill” LINK

ABC News’ Luis Martinez: “Army Apologizes for John Doe Letters to Gold Star Families” LINK

The Washington Post's Michael S. Rosenwald: "Romney Rejoins Marriott Board" LINK

The Washington Post's Steven Mufson: "Citgo to Continue U.S. Heating Aid After All" LINK

Politico's Michael Calderone R: "CNN's New Sunday Show: 'State of the Union'" LINK

The Hill's Jared Allen: "Blue Dogs Are Taking A Leap Of Fiscal Faith " LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Faye Fiore: "National Mall Reflects Magnificence And Neglect" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Julian E. Barnes: "Army Apologizes For Error In Letters" LINK