The Note’s Must-Reads for Tuesday, December 16, 2008

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

2008: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

"Cheney ‘Aware’ of Gitmo Waterboarding" LINK

"White House Releases Barney Cam" LINK

"Caroline Sweet on Senate Seat" LINK

"’View’ on Bush’s Shoe Business" LINK

2008: ILLINOIS SENATE SEAT SCANDAL / GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH:

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe: "Hockey team to Celebrate Blago with Prison Uniforms" LINK

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe: "Amid Impeachment Discussion, Blago Hires Attorney" LINK

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe: "Blago Attorney Says He’s Not Guilty, Not Resigning" LINK

ABC News’ Matthew Jaffe: ‘Blago to Reporters: ‘I Can’t Wait to Talk to You Guys’" LINK

The Washington Times’ Editorial Staff: Keep Fitzgerald on the Job” LINK

The Washington Times Tara Wall: “Blago’s blunders” LINK

The New York Times’ David Johnston: "Legal Hurdle in Blagojevich Case: A Crime, or Just Talk?" LINK

The New York Times’ Monica Davey and Susan Saulny: "Illinois Legislature Votes for Impeachment Efforts" LINK

The New York Times’ Jeff Zeleny: "Obama Says Inquiry Shows Nothing Wrong" LINK

The Washington Post’s Peter Slevin: "Illinois Panel to Explore Ouster of Blagojevich" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Douglas Belkin and Thomas M. Burton: “Process To Oust Governor Starts” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman: “Obama Team Delays Releasing Findings” LINK

Boston Herald’s Hillary Chabot: “Rod Blagojevich for VP? Report: Ill. Gov. Wanted ’04 Spot” LINK

The New York Daily News’ David Saltonstall: "Obama admits aides spoke with Blagojevich" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Christi Parsons and John McCormick: “Obama clears himself and staff in Blagojevich case” LINK

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

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

ABC News’ Teddy Davis: "Obama Energy Pick Backs Higher Gas Tax" LINK

ABC News’ Sunlen Miller: "Obama to Name Salazar Interior Secretary" LINK

USA Today’s Greg Toppo and Mark Memmott: "Obama to tap Chicago schools chief for Education post" LINK

USA Today’s Traci Watson: "Obama presents energy-climate team" LINK

The Hill’s Walter Alarkon and Bob Cusack: "Salazar Accepts Obama Offer To Join Cabinet" LINK

The Hill’s Sam Youngman : "Obama Names Energy, Environment Team" LINK

Politico’s John F. Harris & Alexander Burns: "Straw Man? Historians say Obama is no Lincoln" LINK

Politico’s Carol E. Lee & Erika Lovley: "Obama to Pick Duncan, Salazar" LINK

The Washington Times’ Stephen Dinan: “Obama team clears itself on Blagojevich” LINK

The Washington Times’ Jerry Seper: “Obama aide tied to failed immigration policy” LINK

The Washington Times’ Valerie Richardson: “Greens grapple with economy for Obama priority” LINK

The New York Times’ Sam Dillon: "Schools Chief from Chicago Is Obama’s Choice for Education" LINK

The New York Times’ Elisabeth Bumiller: "Challenges and Perhaps More Influence for Chairman of Joint Chiefs" LINK

The New York Times’ Helene Cooper: "A World of Issues Waiting, Obama and His Foreign Policy Squad Brush Up" LINK

The New York Times’ Michael Falcone: "One More Round of Voting, as Elextors Do Their Duty" LINK

The New York Times’ John M. Broder and Andrew C. Revkin: "Hard Task for New Team on Energy and Climate" LINK

The Washington Post’s Anne E. Kornblut and Philip Rucker: "Obama Picks Chicago’s Schools Chief for Cabinet" LINK

The Washington Post’s Nikita Stewart and Michael E. Ruane: "Like Lincoln, Obama Will ride the Rails To D.C." LINK

The Washington Post’s Tim Craig and John Wagner: "Members Cast Ballots on a Day of Big Emotions" LINK

The Washington Post’s Michael A. Fletcher and Jon Cohen: "Poll Finds Support for Obama’s War Views" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Power: “Obama Picks Team for EPA and Energy” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s John Hechinger and Laura Meckler: “Duncan Is Obama’s Choice For Education Secretary” LINK

Bloomberg’s Hans Nichols and Julianna Goldman: “Obama Cabinet Is Shy On Southerners, Republicans” LINK

Boston Herald Editorial Staff: “Barack Obama Won, Get Over It” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Tankersley and Tom Hamburger: “Environmental groups, scientists cheer Obama appointments” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Tankersley and Julie Cart: “Obama picks Salazar as Interior secretary” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ James Janega and Carlos Sadovi: “Obama to pick Arne Duncan as Education secretary” LINK

The Boston Herald Political Intelligence’s Bryan Bender: “Kerry officially gets Foreign Relations post” LINK

2008: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA’S INAUGURATION:

ABC News’ Sunlen Miller: "Obamas & Bidens to Arrive by Train to Kick-Off Inauguration Weekend" LINK

The Hill’s Reid Wilson: "Quinn Reception A Hot Ticket" LINK

2008: SENATOR HILLARY CLINTON:

USA Today’s Jill Lawrence: "Kennedy would follow in Clinton as late-bloomer senator" LINK

The New York Daily News’ Kenneth Lovett: "Kennedy is interested in Hillary’s seat and making calls" LINK

The New York Daily News’ Michael Daly: "Caroline Kennedy embodies the spirit of JFK" LINK

2008: ECONOMY/AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY BAILOUT:

ABC News Analysis by Gary Langer: "Blaming Management, Not Economy, Most Still Oppose Automaker Loans" LINK

The Associated Press: "Fed Ready to Slash Rates Amid Deepening Recession" LINK

USA Today’s Kathy Chu: "Changing credit card terms squeeze consumers" LINK

USA Today’s Alan Levin: "Holiday travel declines; deals still possible" LINK

USA Today’s Kathy Kiely: "Pelosi pledges quick passage of $600B stimulus plan" LINK

USA Today’s Sharon Silke Carty: "Bankruptcy wouldn’t stop shoppers from buying U.S. cars" LINK

Newsweek Magazine’s Mark Gimein: “The Madoff Dilemma: How can you spot a Wall Street Crook?” LINK

The Washington Times’ Jon Ward: “Treasury’s prized persuader” LINK

Time Magazine’s Joseph Szczesny: “Ford Family Values: Why the Automaker Wants to Go It Alone” LINK

The New York Times’ Nelson D. Schwartz: "Global Car Industry Fearful for Detroit" LINK

The New York Times’ Ashlee Vance: "Dell Trails Its Rivals in the Worst of Times" LINK

The Washington Post’s Jill Drew: "Frenzy" LINK

The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery and David Cho: "Pelosi Pushing Mortgage Relief" LINK

The Washington Post’s Jon Cohen and Jennifer Agiesta: "Majority of Public Opposes Auto Rescue" LINK

The Washington Post’s Renae Merle: "Investors Wait — and Sell" LINK

Bloomberg’s Craig Torres and Steve Matthews: “Fed Readies For Balance Sheet As Main Tool As Rate Nears Zero” LINK

Bloomberg’s Ron Harui: “U.S. 10-Year Notes Gain On Optimism Fed To Cut Rates To Record” LINK

Bloomberg’s John Hughes: “U.S. May Give Car Czar Power To Force Bankruptcy, Levin Says” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Puzzanghera: “U.S., auto executives trying to craft bailout” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Maura Reynolds: “How low will the Federal Reserve go on interest rates?” LINK

2008: CONGRESS:

ABC News’ John Berman: "Caroline Kennedy Seeks N.Y. Senate Seat" LINK

The Hill’s Reid Wilson and Alexander Bolton: "Jackson Now Unlikely Obama Replacement" LINK

The Hill’s J. Taylor Rushing: "Reid Unveils Senate Committee Chairmen" LINK

Politico’s Ben Smith & Glenn Thrush: "Kennedy Hires Insider To Soothe Critics" LINK

Politico’s Josh Kraushaar: "Minn. Senate Race Nearing Conclusion" LINK

Time Magazine’s Karen Tumulty: “Is Caroline Kennedy Ready for the Senate?” LINK

The New York Times’ Nicholas Confessore: "Caroline Kennedy Is Seeking Seat Held by Clinton" LINK

The New York Times’ David M. Halbfinger: "Resume Long on Politics, but Short on Public Office" LINK

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: "Caroline Kennedy Seeks Clinton’s Seat" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Brad Haynes and Monica Langley: “Caroline Kennedy Seeks New York Senate Seat” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s T.W. Farnam: “Senators Won’t Keep Political Donations” LINK

2008: DEMOCRATS:

The Wall Street Journal Capital Journal: “Democrats Risk Losing Hispanics” LINK

2008: MADOFF INVESTIGATION:

The New York Times’ Stephanie Strom: "Giant Wall St. Fraud Leaves Charities Reeling" LINK

The New York Daily News’ Glenn Bain and Richard Sisk: "Schumer among politicians giving up Madoff money" LINK

2008: CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News Exclusive by Jonathan Karl: "Cheney Holds Hard-Line Stance" LINK

ABC News Closing Argument from Nightline: "Cheney on Guantanamo Bay" LINK

ABC News Analysis by Gary Langer: "President George W. Bush Exits White House to Record Job Disapproval" LINK

The New York Times’ Charlie Savage: "Report Finds Interference in Interior Dept. Actions" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Naftali Bendavid: “Treasury Pressured To Help Homeowners” LINK

The New York Daily News’ Thomas DeFrank: "Very Valuable Guantanamo should stay open Cheney says" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Julian E. Barnes: “Secret Service faces questions after Bush shoe incident” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ David G. Savage: “Supreme Court revives lawsuit by former detainees” LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Greg Miller: “Cheney was key in clearing CIA interrogation tactics” LINK

2008: OTHER MUST-READS:

The Associated Press: "Indian official: No plans for military action against Pakistan" LINK

The Washington Post’s Del Quentin Wilber: "Ex-Contractor Gets 21/2 Years in Prison In Cunningham Case" LINK