The Note

The Note's Must-Reads for Tuesday, January 13, 2009

January 13, 2009 5:25 AM

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com.

Compiled by: PETER MARTINEZ, LAURA GREENE, CARRIE HALPERIN, JAYCE HENDERSON, STEPHANIE WASH and JUSTIN GRANT

2009: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

"Obama on Economy, 'Grand Bargain'" LINK

"Dodd: Homeowners Need More Help" LINK

"Jake Tapper on Obama's Economic Plan" LINK

"The Obama Family Explores D.C." LINK

"Hasselbeck Visits President Bush" LINK

"Obamas' 'Ruff' Decision" LINK

"George on the Presidency" LINK

"Bush: I Had Fun During Darkest Moments" LINK

"Bush Wishing Obama 'All the Best'" LINK

"Tapper Gets Bush to Defend History" LINK

"Phoenix: Housing Crisis' Ground Zero" LINK

2009: CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST:

The Associated Press' Ibrahim Barzak and Christopher Torchia: "Israeli Army Chief: Troops to Continue Gaza Fight" LINK

ABC News' Matthew McGarry: "Israel Pushes Deeper Into Gaza" LINK

The New York Times' Ethan Bronner: "Israelis United on War as Censure Rises Abroad" LINK

The New York Times' Mark Landler: "From Experts on Mideast, No Shortage of Advice" LINK

The New York Times' Taghreed Ed-Khodary: "U.N. Warns of Refugee Crisis in Gaza Strip" LINK

2009: FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ROLAND BURRIS:

The Associated Press' Liz Sidoti: "Senate Democrats Expect to Seat Burris" LINK

ABC News' Z. Bryon Wolf: "Senate Dems Agree to Seat Burris" LINK

The Chicago Tribune's Monique Garcia and Jill Zuckman: "Senate lets Burris in" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jill Zuckman and Christi Parsons: “Democrats drop objections to Roland Burris appointment” LINK

2009: ROD BLAGOJEVICH SCANDAL:

The New York Times' Monica Davey: "Uneasy Times for Blagojevich and His Colleagues in Illinois" LINK

2009: BERNARD MADOFF:

ABC News' Richard Esposito and Jerika Richardson: "Madoff Remains Free, Judge Rules" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Joann S. Lublin: "CEO Firings on the Rise as Downturn Gains Steam" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Staff: "Giant Bank in Probe over Ties to Madoff" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Walter Hamilton: “Court refuses to jail Madoff for alleged bail violation” LINK

2009: FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ROLAND BURRIS:

The Associated Press' Liz Sidoti: "Senate Democrats Expect to Seat Burris" LINK

ABC News' Z. Bryon Wolf: "Senate Dems Agree to Seat Burris" LINK

The Chicago Tribune's Monique Garcia and Jill Zuckman: "Senate lets Burris in" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jill Zuckman and Christi Parsons: “Democrats drop objections to Roland Burris appointment” LINK

2009: ROD BLAGOJEVICH SCANDAL:

The New York Times' Monica Davey: "Uneasy Times for Blagojevich and His Colleagues in Illinois" LINK

2009: BERNARD MADOFF:

ABC News' Richard Esposito and Jerika Richardson: "Madoff Remains Free, Judge Rules" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Joann S. Lublin: "CEO Firings on the Rise as Downturn Gains Steam" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Staff: "Giant Bank in Probe over Ties to Madoff" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Walter Hamilton: “Court refuses to jail Madoff for alleged bail violation” LINK

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

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

ABC News' Jake Tapper: "Executive Order Being Prepped: PEBO to Close Gitmo" LINK

l ABC News' Teddy Davis: "Battle Lines Are Drawn on 'Medicare Advantage'" LINK

USA Today's Jill Lawrence: "Activists cheer Obama's choice of gay bishop" LINK

The Chicago Tribune's John McCormick: "David Axelrod's new WH painting" LINK

The New York Times' William Glaberson and Helene Cooper: "Obama's Plan to Close Prison at Guantanamo May Take Year" LINK

The Washington Post's Shailagh Murray: "Obama Shelves Jobs-Credit Proposal" LINK

The Washington Post's Cecilia Kang: "Obama Picks Julius Genachowski to Head FCC" LINK

The Hill's Molly K. Hooper: "Obama Accepts Invitation to Speak to House GOP" LINK

Politico's Ben Smith & Lisa Lerer: "Obama to Reverse Bush Executive Orders" LINK

Politico's David Rogers: "Stimulus Slots More Cash for Schools" LINK

Politico's Jonathan Martin: "Obama to Meet With House GOP" LINK

Politico's Carol E. Lee: "Obama Talks Policy with Calderon" LINK

Politico's Carol E. Lee: "The Meeting with Talabani" LINK

Politico's Chris Frates: "Will Cabinet Hearings Be Love Fests?" LINK

Time Magazine’s Massimo Calabresi: “Clinton's Confirmation Hearing Is First Diplomatic Test” LINK

Time Magazine’s M.J. Stephey: “Obama's White House” LINK

The Washington Times' Tony Blankley: “Truncated Honeymoon? Congressional Democrats challenge Obama” LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Mcauliff: "Stars will act in concert for inaugural" LINK

The New York Daily News' Meredith Kolodner and Elizabeth Lazarowitz: "Many will skip school in favor of inauguration" LINK

The New York Daily News' Kenneth Bazinet: "In President's final press conference, his soundbites are tough to digest" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Puzzanghera: “Obama to name Julius Genachowski as FCC chief” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Frank James and Ken Ellingwood: “Obama, Calderon meet in Washington” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Julian E. Barnes: “Obama faces decision on how to deploy troops in Afghanistan” LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE INAUGURATION:

ABC News' Tahman Bradley: "Rev. Wright Follows Obama to D.C." LINK

The New York Times' Laurie Goodstein: "Gay Bishop Is Asked to Say Prayer at Inaugural Event" LINK

The Washington Post's Lena Sun: "Capacity Crowd Will Close Checkpoints" LINK

The Washington Times’ Julia Duin: “Gay bishop to offer Obama inaugural prayers” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Christi Parsons and Manya A. Brachear: “Obama chooses gay bishop to pray at inaugural event” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Michael Paulson: “Obama calls upon gay N.H. bishop” LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE ECONOMY:

USA Today's Matt Kelley and John Fritze: "Congress, Obama could spar over $350B request" LINK

The New York Times' David M. Herszenhorn and Edmund L. Andrews: "Despite Anger, Release of $350 Billion More for Bailout Gains Favor" LINK

The Washington Post's Lori Montgomery and David Cho: "Obama Seeks Rest of Bailout" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Puzzanghera and Peter Nicholas: “Obama promises a better bailout” LINK

2009: SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON:

ABC News' Jake Tapper: "Hillary on the Hot Seat" LINK

USA Today's Ken Dilanian: "Clinton takes on world in State confirmation hearing today" LINK

The Hill's Reid Wilson: "Clinton Will Continue Raising Money for Dems" LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Mcauliff: "Clinton's case for brains over brawn" LINK

The Boston Globe’s Farah Stockman: “Bill Clinton’s policies may echo at hearing” LINK

2009: ECONOMY/AUTO INDUSTRY:

ABC News' David Muir: "Phoenix: Real Estate's 'Ground Zero'" LINK

USA Today's Judy Keen: "Cash-strapped states anxiously await federal government funds" LINK

USA Today's James R. Healey and Sharon Silke Carty: "Detroit shows some restraint in annual auto event" LINK

USA Today's Kathy Chu: "During financial pinch, banks reduce credit card rewards" LINK

USA Today's Sharon Silke Carty: "Carmakers lean toward higher gas tax to fuel small-car sales" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Deborah Solomon and Damian Paletta: "U.S. Seeks Rest of Bailout Cash" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Staff: "'Global Pullback Likely Hit November Trade" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ David Pierson: “Some businesses think big during the downturn” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Kathy M. Kristof: “IRS is willing to cut taxpayers some slack this year” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Jenifer B. McKim: “Fed report shows loan inequities” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Bella English: “The boomerang kids” LINK

2009: CAROLINE KENNEDY:

The New York Daily News' Kenneth Lovettt: "Kennedy still has a shot at U.S. Senate seat, gov says" LINK

2009: DEMOCRATS/REPUBLICANS:

Politico's Josh Kraushaar & Manu Raju: "Voinovich Retires, GOP Eyes Portman" LINK

The Washington Times’ Sean Lengell: “Voinovich's exit steepens GOP's uphill climb” LINK

2009: CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News Nightline: "Closing Arguments: The Long Bush Goodbye" LINK

ABC News' Jennifer Duck and Kate Barrett: "Bush Holds Final News Conference" LINK

ABC News: "Politics Live: Bush Holds Final Press Conference" LINK

USA Today's David Jackson: "Bush ready for life after Oval Office" LINK

The New York Times' Sheryl Gay Stolberg: "Mistakes, I've Made a Few, Bush Says at Final News Conference" LINK

The Washington Post's Michael Abramowitz: "Bush's Ultimate Exit Interview" LINK

The Washington Post's Glenn Kessler: "Rice, Eager to Depart, Heartily Defends Record" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's John D. Mckinnon: "Bush Defends His Tenure, Concedes Some 'Disappointments'" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Vanessa Fuhrmans: "Surgeon Shortage Pushes Hospitals to Hire Temps" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Paul Richter: “Olmert says he talked Bush out of cease-fire vote” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Mark Silva: “Bush defends legacy in final press conference” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Susan Milligan: “Bush defends tumultuous terms in last news conference” LINK

2009: SENATE:

The New York Times' Carl Hulse: "Burris Will Take His Seat as a Senator from Illinois" LINK

The New York Times' Carl Hulse: "Kerry, After Setbacks, Aims to Make a Mark as a Senate Chairman" LINK

The Hill's Jared Allen and Silla Brush: "Pelosi Seeks Changes To TARP" LINK

The Hill's Reid Wilson: "Sanford Accuses Clyburn Of Playing Race Card " LINK

2009: ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

USA Today's Traci Watson: "Energy pick ardent about climate change" LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Stephanie Simon: "'Trashion' Trend: Dumpster Couture Gets a Boost at Green Inaugural Ball" LINK

2009: OTHER MUST-READS:

The Associated Press: "1 Killed, 4 Hurt in Black Hawk Crash at Texas A&M" LINK

USA Today's Gregg Zoroya: "Army suicides rise as time spent in combat increases" LINK

USA Today's Thomas Frank: "Report: Coast Guard focuses more on security" LINK

The New York Times' Robert Pear: "Congress Set to Renew Health Care for Children" LINK

The Washington Post's Kendra Marr: "GM Puts a Charge in Auto Show" LINK

The Washington Post's Lois Ramano: "'08 Campaign Guru Focuses on Grass Roots" LINK

Politico's Ben Smith: "Not Talking About Palin" LINK