The Note’s Must-Reads for Friday, February 26, 2010

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’ JAYCE HENDERSON, PETER MARTINEZ, KRISTEN RED-HORSE, CLAUDIA MORALES AND CARRIE HALPERIN

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PRESIDENT OBAMA:

The Associated Press: "House sends extension of Patriot Act to Obama" LINK

Bloomberg’s Alison Vekshin and Julianna Goldman: “Obama Pulls Back From Stand-Alone Consumer Financial Agency” LINK

FOREIGN AFFAIRS:

The New York Times’ Mark Landler: “Despite Pressure, China Still Resists Iran Sanctions” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Michael M. Phillips: “Afghan Flag Marks a Turning Point in Marjah” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Charles Levinson: “Iraq Vote Will Have Presence Of Sunnis” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Tony Perry: “Afghan government raises its flag in Marja" LINK

AFGHANISTAN:

The Washington Post’s Joshua Partlow: “Taliban defectors accept U.S. approach but wait for promises to be kept” LINK

HEALTH CARE SUMMIT:

ABC News’ Jake Tapper, Karen Travers, and Sunlen Miller: “Bipartisan Health Care Summit Yields Little Agreement, No Deal” LINK

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl: “Health Care Summit Fact Check: Will Premiums Go Up?” LINK

ABC News’ Jake Tapper: “At Close of Summit, President Obama Says It’s Time for Decisions” And then That’s What Elections Are For” LINK

Politico’s Glenn Thrush: “No clear winner in seven-hour gabfest” LINK

The Washington Times’ Jennifer Haberkorn: “Obama: Health bill whatever it takes” LINK

The New York Times’ Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Robert Pear: “President Urges Focus on Common Ground” LINK

The New York Times’ David Herszenhorn: “Uniting Democrats Is Challenge at Health Forum” LINK

The Washington Post’s Shailagh Murray and Anne Kornblut: “At health-care summit, Obama tells Republicans he’s eager to move ahead” LINK

Newsweek’s Sarah Kliff: “Why This Health-Care Summit Won’t Be a Game Changer” LINK

Newsweek’s Sarah Kliff: “Today In Untrue News (Health-Care-Summit Edition!): Democrats Aren’t Talking About Reconciliation” LINK

USA Today's Susan Page: "Analysis: Common ground at health summit stays barren" LINK

USA Today's The Oval: "After the Obama summit: Still a stalemate" LINK

Time's Kate Pickert: "Health Care Summit: Civil and Substantive" LINK

Time's Karen Tumulty: "Obama Finds No Common Ground at Health Care Summit" LINK

Politics Daily's Patricia Murphy: "Health Care Summit Yields Little Agreement, No Clear Progress" LINK

Politics Daily's Bruce Drake: "Nearly 6 in 10 Say Start Over if Health Care Compromise Is Not Reached" LINK

Politics Daily's Patricia Murphy: "Obama: 'I'm Pretty Certain I'm Not Wrong' On Premiums– but Is He?" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Laura Meckler and Janet Adamy: “More Talk, No Deal At Health Summit” LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Janet Adamy: “Talks Suffer An Outbreak Of Anecdotes” LINK

Bloomberg’s Kristin Jensen and Roger Runningen: “Obama Bipartisan Health Summit Clears Path to Party-Line Vote” LINK

Bloomberg’s Nicole Gaouette: “Obama’s Health-Summit Debate With Alexander Omits Cost Details” LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Noam N. Levey and Janet Hook: “Healthcare summit reveals chasm between parties" LINK

ECONOMY / JOBS / HOUSING:

ABC News’ Mathew Jaffe: “EXCLUSIVE: Republicans Claim Obama’s Housing Help Program Has ‘Failed’” LINK

The New York Times’ Steven Greenhouse: “Plan to Seek Use of U.S. Contracts as a Wage Lever” LINK

Politics Daily's Christopher Weber: "2009 Saw Biggest Slump in Global Trade Since World War II" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Sudeep Reddy: “Bernanke Says Deficit Action Is Key” LINK

Bloomberg’s Peter S. Green: “Clinton Says U.S. Deficit, Debt a National Security Concern” LINK

DEMOCRATS / REPUBLICANS:

The New York Times’ Damien Cave: “Democrat Seeks Part of Spotlight in Florida Senate Race” LINK

REP. RANGEL:

The Washington Post’s Paul Kane: “Rep. Rangel’s trips broke congressional gift rules, panel says” LINK

USA Today's On Politics: "Rep. Rangel receives 'public admonishment' by ethics committee" LINK

Politics Daily's Christopher Weber: "Ethics Panel Concludes Charlie Rangel Broke House Rules" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Greg Hitt and Brody Mullins: “Rangel Blamed for Ethics Offense” LINK

GOV. PATTERSON:

The Wall Street Journal’s Jacob Gershman: “Aide's Legal Case Hits Gov. Paterson” LINK

Bloomberg’s Henry Goldman: “N.Y.’s Paterson, Cuomo Face Risks in Abuse Probe, Analysts Say” LINK

The New York Daily News' Glenn Blain, Elizabeth Benjamin and Kenneth Lovett In Albany and Celeste Katz, Rocco Parascandola and Helen Kennedy: “Gov. Paterson declares he has 'open mind' on quitting race as allies continue to abandon him" LINK

CONGRESS / HOUSE:

Politics Daily's Christopher Weber: "Most Congressional Offices Violate Federal Workplace Safety Standards" LINK

Politico’s Jonathan Allen: “House delays jobs bill as Dem objections mount” LINK

Politico’s Jonathan Allen: “A House in chaos” LINK

Politico’s Jake Sherman and Manu Raju: “Bunning holds floor: ‘Tough s—t’” LINK

Politico’s Meredith Shiner: “House votes to renew Patriot Act” LINK

The Hill's Susan Crabtree: “Panel finds Rangel broke ethics rules” LINK

The Hill's Susan Crabtree: “Intel bill pulled over controversial added interrogation provision” LINK

ENVIRONMENT:

The Wall Street Journal’s Jeffrey Ball and Keith Johnson: “Push to Oversimplify at Climate Panel” LINK

OTHER:

ABC News’ Kim Randolph: “Bush and Cheney Reunite, First Since Leaving Office” LINK

USA Today's The Oval: "Obama spokesman Gibbs loses bet on U.S.-Canada hockey game" LINK

USA Today's Joan Biskupic: "High court to define reach of gun-control laws" LINK

Politics Daily's Janet W. Battaile: "Insurance Nightmare: Why We Need a Better System" LINK

The Wall Street Journal’s Amy Merrick: “Illinois Seeks to Boost Taxes, Cut Spending” LINK

ABC NEWS VIDEOS:

“Obama to McCain: The Campaign Is Over” LINK

“Bush and Cheney: First Meeting Since Office” LINK

“GOP on Health Care Summit: Waste of Time” LINK