The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, October 22, 2009

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 ABC News Desk Assistants JAYCE HENDERSON, PETER MARTINEZ, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CLAUDIA MORALES, CARRIE HALPERIN and DOMINICK TAO

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IRAN:

The New York Times’ David Sanger: “Iran Deal Would Slow Making of Nuclear Bombs” LINK

The Washington Post’s Glenn Kessler: “Iranian officials accept draft deal on uranium transfer” LINK

PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News: “Closing Arguments: Obama Slashing Exec Pay” LINK

ABC News’ Jake Tapper and Ely Brown: “At Bush Administration Reunion, Cheney Attacks Obama… Again” LINK

Politico’s Josh Gerstein: “W.H. rejects lobbyists’ pleas” LINK

Politico’s Jim Vandehei and Mike Allen: “Obama strategy: Marginalize most powerful critics” LINK

Politico’s Eamon Javers: “President Obama defends all-male hoops game” LINK

Politico’s Eamon Javers: “White House slashes pay for Wall Street executives” LINK

The Washington Post’s Karl Vick: “Obama rallies Democrats for Corzine campaign” LINK

Time’s Michael Scherer: “Obama in New Jersey: Trying to Rescue Corzine” LINK

NY Daily News’ Larry McShane: “Newark Airport security guard John Brek arrested for making threats against President Obama”: LINK

NY Daily News’ Elizabeth Benjamin and Michael Saul: “President Obama rakes in serious cash during brief visit to New York City” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Elizabeth Williamson and Henry J. Pulizzi: “Checks for Seniors Face Opposition” LINK

The Washington Times' Jon Ward: “White House offensive raises specter of 'enemies list'” LINK

USA Today's Pallavi Gogoi: "Obama pay czar seeks to slash compensation at bailout firms" LINK

USA Today's Kathy Kiely: "Obama's campaigners now push his agenda" LINK

The Boston Globe's Political Intelligence: "Inspector general frustrated with pay" LINK

OTHER FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

ABC News’ Martha Raddatz and George Stephanopoulos: “Is Afghanistan Impossible for Obama?” LINK

ABC News’ Sunlen Miller: “Kerry: “Common Sense” that Obama Should Wait on New Afghan Strategy Until Run-off Complete” LINK

ABC News’ Kirit Radia: “Clinton: U.S. Will Never Have Normal Relations With a Nuclear North Korea” LINK

The Washington Post’s John Pomfret and Blaine Harden: “U.S. pressures Japan on Military package” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Yaroslav Trofimov and Anand Gopal: “Security Fears Revive Ahead of Afghan Runoff” LINK

Bloomberg’s Viola Gienger: “U.S. ‘Attentive’ to Having Fair Afghan Runoff Vote, Gates Says” LINK

The Hill's Sam Youngman: “Obama hints Afghan decision may wait” LINK

The Associated Press: "Cheney: Stop the 'dithering' as troops face danger" LINK

The Associated Press' Anne Gearan and Matthew Lee: "US signals Afghan coalition government is possible" LINK

The Associated Press' Lara Jakes: "Gates says all eyes on Afghan runoff election" LINK

JOHN MCCAIN/IMMIGRATION:

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “Sheriff has McCain in immigration jam” LINK

ECONOMY/STIMULUS/TARP:

The Washington Post’s Tomoeh Murakami Tse and Brady Dennis: “U.S. to cut pay for bailed-out bosses” LINK

The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery: “House moves to create jobs, prevent economy from slipping” LINK

Newsweek’s Daniel Stone: A Stimulus by Any Other Name . . . Would Probably Smell the Same” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Deborah Solomon and Dan Fitzpatrick: “Pay Czar to Slash Compensation at Seven Firms” LINK

The Washington Times' Sean Lengell: “Bernanke: Speeding up credit card rules could hurt consumers” LINK

USA Today's David J. Lynch: "Weak dollar raises talk of alternative world currency" LINK

USA Today's Christine Dugas: "Obama announces plan to boost small businesses" LINK

The Associated Press' Anne Flaherty: "Congress moves to expand financial oversight" LINK

HEALTH CARE:

The New York Times’ Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn: “Democrats Lose Big Test Vote on Health Legislation” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Janet Adamy and Greg Hitt: “Vote on Medicare Payment Cuts Divides Democrats” LINK

Bloomberg’s Kristin Jensen and James Rowley: “House Targets Insurers With Antitrust Challenge, Public Option” LINK

The Hill's Jared Allen: “Blue Dogs getting spending fatigue; wary of new economic fixes” LINK

The Hill's Mike Soraghan: “Speaker’s move left on public option draws centrist complaints” LINK

The Hill's Sam Youngman and Jeffrey Young : “Looking to unite Democrats on health reform, Obama takes partisan tone” LINK

The Washington Times' Jennifer Haberkorn and Kara Rowland: “Senate defeats costly Medicare 'fix'” LINK

USA Today's Fredreka Schouten: "Health care groups lobby at record pace" LINK

The Associated Press' Charles Babington: "Key senators may rebuff Obama on health care" LINK

DEMOCRATS:

ABC News’ David Chalian: “Dems Breathe Life into NY Conservative by Attacking Him” LINK

The New York Times’ Jackie Calmes: “Strains for Democrats in Budget-Balancing Act” LINK

ENVIRONMENT:

The Wall Street Journal’s Rebecca Smith: “States Invest More in Energy Efficiency” LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

The New York Times’ Peter Baker: “Fate of White House Counsel Is in Doubt” LINK

The New York Times’ Charlie Savage: “Chief of Unit Under Fire for Stevens Case Steps Down” LINK

The New York Times’ Peter Baker: “Emanuel at the Epicenter: Then and Now” LINK

The Washington Post’s Mary Beth Sheridan: “Ex-officials decry Senate’s holds on State nominees” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Brody Mullins and T.W. Farnam: “Wall Street Steps Up Political Donations, Lobbying” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Andrew Zajac: “Bill giving FDA new powers to oversee food supply has wide support” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' David Pierson: “Is China's rebound for real?” LINK

USA Today's Jeff Martin: "Memo details Mount Rushmore security lapses" LINK

The Associated Press: "Group fixing up Vietnam memorial" LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“George: 'Deep Divisions' on Troop Surge” LINK

“Bailout Execs Face 90 Percent Pay Cuts” LINK

“Obama to Small Businesses: We Stand Behind You” LINK

“Clinton: N. Korea Must Denuclearize” LINK

“Americans Divided Over Afghan Strategy” LINK