The Note’s Must-Reads for Thursday, December 24, 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, CARRIE HALPERIN and CLAUDIA MORALES

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PRESIDENT OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION:

ABC News’ Teddy Davis: “Former Bush Official Slams Obama Foreign Policy” LINK

Politico’s Mike Allen and Alexander Trowbridge: “Obama plans for health care delay, new jobs bill” LINK

Politico’s Eamon Javers: “Inside Obama’s small banker meeting” LINK

The Washington Post’s Scott Wilson: “Obama lists financial rescue as most important thing of his first year” LINK

Time's Suzanne Roig: "Obama, a Favorite Son, Will Perk Up Hawaii's Holidays" LINK

Time's Amy Sullivan: "No Churchgoing Christmas for the First Family" LINK

Bloomberg's Michael B. Marois and William Selway: "Schwarzenegger Seeks Obama’s Help as Budget Gap Defies Solution" LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The Wall Street Journal’s Jay Solomon: “Kerry Floats Plan to Visit Tehran” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Laura King: "Afghan police mistakenly kill parliament member" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Ramin Mostaghim and Borzou Daragahi: "Iran protests spread in heartland" LINK

GUANTANAMO:

The Associated Press' Larry Margasak: "Guantanamo prison may have to stay open until 2011" LINK

HEALTH CARE:

ABC News’ Huma Khan: “End in Sight: Senate Prepares to Vote on Health Care Bill Christmas Eve” LINK

ABC News’ Teddy Davis: “Will the GOP Promise to Repeal ‘Obama Care’ if Returned to Power?” LINK

ABC News’ Matt Jaffe: “Geithner: Health Care Bill Good for long” LINK

Politico’s Chris Frates: “Sunrise vote opens next health phase” LINK

The New York Times’ David Herszenhorn: “In Senate Vote on Health Care Overhaul, New Partisan Vitriol” LINK

The New York Times’ Robert Pear and David Herszenhorn: “Senate Clears Final Hurdle to Vote on Health Care Bill” LINK

The Washington Post’s Lori Montgomery and Alec MacGillis: “Senate and House in search of health-care compromise” LINK

The Washington Post’s Shailagh Murray: “Health-care bill clears last Senate hurdle before passage” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Weisman, Janet Adamy and Greg Hitt: “Obama in Late Push on Health” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Neil King Jr.: “Firms Warn of Cuts to Benefits” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Janet Adamy: “When the Changes Could Take Effect” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Jonathan Rockoff: “Drug Makers Hope to Avoid Bitter Pill in Final Legislation” LINK

The Wall Street Journal: “Senate Nears Last Step for Health Bill” LINK

USA Today's Kathy Kiely: "Senate health care bill close to final vote" LINK

USA Today's Fredreka Schouten: "Lawmakers keep their holiday escape routes open" LINK

The Boston Globe's Lisa Wangsness: "GOP fights to the end on health" LINK

Bloomberg's Catherine Dodge and Nicole Gaouette: "Senate Poised Today to Pass $871 Billion U.S. Health Overhaul" LINK

Bloomberg's Jonathan D. Salant: "Schumer Says Each State Got Benefits in Senate Health-Care Bill" LINK

The Hill's Tony Romm: "President: Healthcare bill is more than 'half a loaf' compromise" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook: "How Harry Reid shepherded healthcare reform through the Senate" LINK

The New York Daily News' Michael Mcauliff : "Embattled Rep. Charles Rangel tells New York not to fear health care reform – he'll safeguard state" LINK

USA Today’s Kathy Kiely: “Senate health care bill close to final vote” LINK

ECONOMY / HOUSING / TARP / BANKING:

ProPublica's Christopher Flavelle: "Schools have trouble tapping stimulus funds" LINK

The Boston Globe's Jenn Abelson: "Last-second Santas" LINK

Bloomberg's Yasuhiko Seki and Anchalee Worrachate: "Dollar Falls as Fed Seen Keeping Stimulus in Place for Longer" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Joel Rubin and Richard Winton: "Los Angeles crime rates plunge despite weak economy" LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Katherine Skiba and Peter Nicholas: "Funding problems delay Obama's Thomson prison plan" LINK

The New York Daily News' Glenn Blain: "Paterson: State will repay schools the funds withheld to keep state afloat" LINK

WHITE HOUSE:

Politico’s Eamon Javers: “Unlikely allies want Rahm out” LINK

CONGRESS:

The Washington Times’ Stephen Dinan: “Long-history of vote-trading on Capitol Hill” LINK

USA Today’s Fredreka Schouten: “Lawmakers keep their holiday escape routes open” LINK

Politico’s Manu Raju: “Nebraska governor to Ben Nelson: Keep the money” LINK

SENATOR ROBERT BYRD:

The New York Times’ Mark Leibovich: Despite Fragile Health, Byrd Is Present for Votes” LINK

CENSUS:

USA Today's John Fritze: "South sees new pull via Census" LINK

USA Today's Dennis Cauchon and Paul Overberg: "Housing crisis cuts U.S. mobility" LINK

CLIMATE:

Newsweek’s Daniel Stone: “Obama: People Are Justified in Being Disappointed About Copenhagen” LINK

Time's Michael D. Lemonick: "Gauging Climate Change: How Fast Is the Earth Shifting?" LINK

OTHER MUST-READS:

The Washington Post’s Jason Horowitz: “White House Letter to Homeland Security Committee denies contact with Salahis” LINK

USA Today’s John Fritze: “South sees new pull via Census” LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Sen. John Barrosso Weighs in on Health Care” LINK

“GOP: 'The Party of No'?” LINK