The Note’s Must-Reads for Tuesday, January 6, 2009

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

2009: ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

"A Look at Life in the War Zone" “ LINK

"Civilian Suffering in Gaza" “ LINK

"Jake Tapper on Obama’s Econ Plan" “ LINK

"Did Madoff’s Mailings Violate Bail?" “ LINK

"Stephanopoulos on CIA Pick" “ LINK

"Jake Tapper on Obama’s D.C. Arrival" “ LINK

"George: Countdown to Inauguration" “ LINK

"Obama Visits Hill to Discuss Economic Plan" “ LINK

"Ex-eBay CEO to Run for Calif. Governor" “ LINK

2009: CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST:

ABC News’ Lara Setrakian: "Hezbollah Threat: Lebanon Watches Gaza Fight" “ LINK

A Special ABC News article: "’People Are Being Killed in Their Homes’" “ LINK

PHOTOS: Death and Destruction in Gaza “ LINK

The Associated Press: "Gaza Civilian Toll Rises; Diplomats Seek Truce" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Craig Whitlock: "Israel Rejects Intensified Push for Cease-Fire" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Sudarsan Raghavan and Reyham Abdel Kareem: "At Gaza Hospital, Chaos and Desperation" “ LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Capitol Journal: “Gaza Crisis Could Create Openings” LINK

Bloomberg’s Calev Ben-David and Saud Abu Ramadan: “Israel, Hamas Trade Fire as Gaza Truce Efforts Fail” LINK

Bloomberg Commentary by Bernard Lewis: “Mideast Peace Rests With Arabs, Not U.S., Europe” LINK

2009: ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH and the SENATE SEAT:

ABC News’ Kate Barrett: "Choice Words From Gov. Blagojevich" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Carl Hulse: "Early Hurdle in Senate Confronts Illinois Pick" “ LINK

The Boston Herald Editorial Staff: “More Blagojevich fallout” LINK

Boston Globe’ Op-Ed by H.D.S. Greenway: “Don’t blame Burris for Blagojevich’s actions” LINK

2009: FORMER ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL ROLAND BURRIS:

ABC News Nightline: "Closing Arguments: Burris and the Senate Seat" “ LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Mike Dorning and Monique Garcia: "Burris heads toward Face-Off" LINK

2009: NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON:

The Washington Post’s Carol D. Leonnig and Michael D. Shear: "Richardson, Obama Teams Trade Blame" “ LINK

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

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

ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "One President at a Time?" “ LINK

USA Today’s Kathy Kiely: "Obama will work with nation’s oldest Congress" “ LINK

USA Today’s Peter Eisler and David Jackson: "Obama opts for outsiders in intelligence picks" “ LINK

USA Today’s Joan Biskupic: "Key Justice nominees rooted in academia" “ LINK

The New York Daily New’s Kenneth Bazinet: "Obama picks Panetta to head CIA" “ LINK

The New York Daily News’ James Gordon Meek: "Obama’s kids make move to new classes" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Mark Mazzetti and Carl Hulse: "Panetta Chosen as C.I.A. Chief in Surprise Step" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Eric Lichtblau: "Obama Names 4 for Justice Jobs in Break From Bush Path" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Anne E. Kornblut and Joby Warrick: "Panetta Chosen As CIA Director" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Carrie Johnson and Robert Barnes: "Obama Nominates Four To Senior Justice Posts" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Mary Beth Sheridan: "Optimistic Push for D.C. Vote In House" “ LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman and Greg Hitt: “Stimulus Plan Would Expand Tax Credit for Poor” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Siobhan Gorman: “Panetta Is Surprise Pick to Run the CIA” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Evan Perez and Jess Bravin: “Fierce Bush Critic Picked for Justice Post” LINK

Bloomberg’s Laura Litvan and Brian Faler: “Obama Is Said to Favor About $775 Billion for Stimulus Plan” LINK

Bloomberg’s Indira A.R. Lakshmanan: “Obama May Use Chavez as First Test for Talking With Adversaries” LINK

The Boston Herald’s Jay Fitzgerald: “Barack Obama theme seen as money in bank” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Michael Kranish: “Economists divided over cutting taxes” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Joseph Williams: “Obama goes to bat for stimulus” LINK

The Boston Globe’s Sasha Issenberg: “Obama taps Harvard Law School dean as solicitor general” LINK

The Hill’s Mike Soraghan: "Pres-Elect Courts GOP On Stimulus" LINK

Politico’s Kenneth P. Vogel: "Transition Donors Give Less" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Peter Wallsten: "Obama’s Election Is Changing The Politics Of Race" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Puzzanghera and Christi Parsons : "Obama sweetens stimulus for GOP" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Josh Meyer and David G. Savage: "Obama picks Clinton officials for four Justice Department posts" LINK

The Hill’s Sam Youngman: "Panetta’s Experience Questioned " LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Greg Miller and Christi Parsons: "Panetta A Surprise Pick To Run The CIA" LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE INAUGURATION:

ABC News’ Z. Bryon Wolf: "Burris Credential Rejected by Senate Parliamentarian" “ LINK

The New York Daily News’ Richard Sisk: "Obama inauguration on Jerusalem’s mind?" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Katharine Q. Seelye: "Obama’s Inauguration Fund-Raising Tops $24 Million" “ LINK

2009: PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA AND THE ECONOMY:

ABC News’ Jake Tapper, Stephanie Smith and Jennifer Duck: "Obama on the Economy: ‘The Situation Is Getting Worse’" “ LINK

ABC News’ Jake Tapper: "President-elect and House Republicans Bond Over Transparency; Biden Says Economic Crisis Means Congress Must Act As if ‘We’re At War’" “ LINK

ABC News’ Russell Goldman and Jake Tapper: "Obama Pushes Economic Plan, Saying It Can’t Wait" “ LINK

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: "Reid Suggests Stimulus Package Could Reach $1.3 Trillion" “ LINK

The New York Daily News’ Michael McAuliff: "Obama hits D.C. with economic policy on his mind" “ LINK

The Associated Press’ Steven R. Hurst: "Obama Says His Plan With Tax Cuts to Get Quick OK" “ LINK

2009: VICE-PRESIDENT ELECT JOE BIDEN:

The New York Times’ Peter Baker: "Biden Schedules Fact-Finding Journey to Asia" “ LINK

2009: BERNARD MADOFF SCAM:

ABC News’ Emma Schwartz, Aaron Katersky and Richard Esposito: "Government Wants Madoff in Jail Now" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Zachary A. Goldfarb: "SEC Broadens Its Probe Of Failures in Madoff Case" “ LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Sarah N. Lynch and Siobhan Hughes: “Madoff Case Symptom of Widespread Problems, SEC’s Kotz Says” LINK

Bloomberg’s David Glovin: “Madoff Sons Reported Jewelry Violations to U.S., Lawyer Says” LINK

The Hill’s Silla Brush: "Lawmakers Criticize SEC In Madoff Probe" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Maura Reynolds: " Regulators ‘Failed Miserably’ In Madoff Case, Lawmakers Charge" LINK

2009: AUTO INDUSTRY:

The Associated Press Shino Yuasa: "Toyota to suspend production for 11 days in Japan" “ LINK

USA Today’s Sharon Silke Carty: "Cars outsell trucks in rough year" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Bill Vlasic and Nick Bunkley: "Automakers Fear a New Normal of Low Sales" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Kendra Marr: "U.S. Auto Sales Fell 36% in December" “ LINK

2009: ECONOMY:

USA Today’s Adam Shell: "Numbers look good so far for Wall Street in 2009" “ LINK

USA Today’s Roger Yu: "Company cost cuts put limits on business travelers" “ LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Hitt: “Businesses Focus on Finding Common Ground” LINK

Bloomberg’s Craig Torres: “Fed Focuses on Consumer, Corporate Rate Spreads Over Treasuries” LINK

Bloomberg’s Bob Ivry: “Metro-Area Foreclosure Sales Tripled in First 10 Months of 2008” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Kelly Evans: “Hard-Hit Families Finally Start Saving, Aggravating Nation’s Economic Woes” LINK

Bloomberg’s Craig Torres: “Fed Focuses on Consumer, Corporate Rate Spreads Over Treasuries” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Sharon Terlep and Matthew Dolan: “Auto Makers Close Books On Awful Year, Face More Ills” LINK

Bloomberg’s Mike Ramsey and Alan Ohnsman: “U.S. December Auto Sales Dive 36%, Drag Industry to 16-Year Low” LINK

2009: CAROLINE KENNEDY:

The Associated Press’ Michael Gormley: "Kennedy missteps might not trip her up" “ LINK

The New York Daily News’ Kenneth Lovett: "New poll says Caroline Kennedy is unsweetened" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Jeremy W. Peters: "Kennedy Shadow Looms Over Senate Hopefuls" “ LINK

2009: DEMOCRATS/GOP:

ABC News’ Teddy Davis: "G.O.P. Bigs Back Bailout Condemnation" “ LINK

The Associated Press: "Kaine says he’ll limit time spent as party leader" “ LINK

2009: CURRENT ADMINISTRATION:

USA Today’s Susan Page: "Bush’s long-time aides predict history will judge him favorably" “ LINK

The New York Times’ john M. Broder: "Bush to Protect Vast New Pacific Tracts" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Juliet Eilperin: "Bush to Protect Three Areas in Pacific" “ LINK

The Boston Globe’s Peter S. Canellos: “Acrimony sown by Bush will forever define his presidency” LINK

Boston Globe’ Op-Ed by Derrick Z. Jackson: “Bush’s one last blow to environment” LINK

2009: CONGRESS:

ABC News’ Rick Klein: "Reid: Minnesota Race is ‘Over’" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Kirk Johnson: "Democrat Is Winner in Recount of Minnesota Senate Race" “ LINK

The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza: "Franken Win Certified, but Senate Will Delay Seating" “ LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Brad Haynes: “Two Seats Up in the Air as New Senate Convenes” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Naftali Bendavid and Greg Hitt: “Democrats’ Factions Could Stall Grand Plans” LINK

Boston Herald Op-Ed by Michael Barone: “Democratic majority not permanent” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Susan Davis: “RNC Hopefuls Stress Return to Core Beliefs” LINK

The Hill’s Reid Wilson: "RNC Candidates Call For A New Direction" LINK

Politico’s Alexander Burns: "RNC Hopefuls Predict Obama Backlash" LINK

Politico’s Josh Kraushaar: "NRSC Chair Encourages King Candidacy" LINK

The Hill’s J. Taylor Rushing: "Dems Scrambling To Avoid Spectacle" LINK

The Hill’s Molly K. Hooper: "Pelosi’s Power Move Leaves House Republicans Fuming" LINK

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: "Disputes And High Turnover Fuel Unprecedented Senate Disorder " LINK

The Hill’s Reid Wilson: "New DNC Chief Signals A Change" LINK

The Hill’s Sam Youngman: "Democrats Dispute Idea That Obama Is Playing Toward Political Center" LINK

The Hill’s Jordy Yager: "Automatic Pay Raises Targeted" LINK

2009: PAKISTAN:

ABC News’ Karen Russo and Nick Schifrin: "India Provides Proof of Mumbai Attacks to Pakistan" “ LINK

2009: GOING GREEN/ENVIRONMENT:

USA Today’s Wendy Koch: "Cities give ‘green’ light on parking perks for hybrid drivers" “ LINK

2009: FRANKEN/ COLEMAN:

The Hill’s Aaron Blake: "Franken May Be Sworn In This Week " LINK

Politico’s Josh Kraushaar: "Coleman Vows To Challenge Results" LINK

The Los Angeles Times’ Kim Murphy: "Minnesota board declares Al Franken winner of Senate race" LINK

2009: OTHER MUST-READS:

ABC News’ David Wright: "Politics Embroiled in Pay to Play Trades" >LINK

USA Today’s Leslie Cauley: "TV converter coupon program’s out of cash; wait list started" “ LINK

USA Today’s Jon Swartz: "Apple’s Steve Jobs has hormone imbalance, will remain CEO" “ LINK

USA Today’s Julie Appleby: "Spending on prescription drugs slows" “ LINK

The New York Times’ Robert Pear: "Spending Rise for Health Care and Prescription Drugs Slows" “ LINK

ABC News’ Scott Michels: "Mother of Bristol Palin’s Fiance Pleads Not Guilty to Drug Charges" “ LINK

Politico’s Jonathan Martin: "Richardson Blames Investigation Length" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Ellen Byron and Stu Woo: “EBay Ex-Chief Spurs Political Speculation” LINK

The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: "Democratic Lawmakers Not Intimidated By Kennedy Bid" LINK

Politico’s Andy Barr: "Whitman Testing Waters In California" LINK