Day's End Round-Up

Caroline Kennedy's overt campaign for a Senate appointment gets a cold reception online. Sunday's shoe attack in Iraq on President Bush has instantly become a defining moment of his presidency, according to Bush critics. But the media coverage of the shoe throw has been unfair, according to conservative bloggers.

Kennedy, by first telling New York's political figures of her desire for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) seat, is showing her sense of entitlement and is forgetting about the little people, writes Jane Hamsher at The Huffington Post. People who aren't named Kennedy would be more wary about pursuing a Senate appointment in the wake of the Senate seat scandal in Illinois, writes Ross Douthat.

A shoe thrown at Bush in Iraq is akin to a rotten tomato thrown at the guy who screws up everything, writes D-Day. The praise for the shoe thrower in the Arab world reflects the low opinion the world has of Bush, which President-elect Obama should be able to improve upon, writes Taylor Marsh.

But the journalists playing up the glee over the shoe attack fail to recognize that Bush was the one who made the freedom to protest possible, writes Sister Toldjah. A New York Times story featuring supporters of the shoe thrower fails to note that one of its sources is close to anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, writes Bill Roggio at The Weekly Standard.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Kennedy Lets Elites Know - Jane Hamsher, HuffPo
Kennedy to Seek Appointment - Chris Cillizza, The Fix
The 'Campaign' Begins - Ross Douthat
The Shoe Thrower Uprising - Taylor Marsh
A Defining Moment - D-Day
'So What?' - Steve Benen, Washington Monthly
Brother Explains Shoe Toss - R. Muhammad, Baghdad Bureau
Losers: Mainstream Media and Far Left - Sister Toldjah
Nuanced View on Shoe Thrower - B. Roggio, Weekly Std.

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Obama Team: Review Shows No Inappropriate Contact - AP
Caroline Kennedy to Seek Clinton's Senate Seat - NY Times
Pelosi Stands Behind Emanuel, Jackson - The Hill

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) praise for President-elect Barack Obama's transition draws acclaim from liberals today, while conservative bloggers wonder why McCain refused to endorse Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) for the 2012 race. Also, bloggers on both sides get a laugh after an Iraqi journalist throws his shoes at President Bush.

While McCain's praise may not hold up over time, his defense of Obama is a positive sign that the president-elect may be able to accomplish an ambitious agenda in Congress, MyDD's Jonathan Singer asserts. McCain's bipartisanship talk has long been part of a strategy to cultivate his maverick image, d-day notes, but his self-interest could end up being an asset to Obama.

It would have been easy for McCain to throw Palin a bone without having to be committal, Hot Air's Allahpundit argues, saying nothing's changed since the election except for Palin's usefulness to McCain. The Arizona Senator's behavior serves as a reminder why many conservatives had to hold their nose to vote for him, Josh Painter blogs at RedState.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at the president was simply living out the dreams of the staffs at MSNBC and the New York Times editorial board, Michelle Malkin jokes. The journalist's choice of talking of "dogs" and throwing his shoe--two of the most insulting symbols in Iraqi culture--should tell Americans about Bush's reception, firedoglake's

Revelations that White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel may have maintained talks with the indicted Illinois governor causes conservative bloggers to pounce, while President-elect Obama's choice to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development draws praise from liberals. Also, conservative bloggers remember the five-year anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture.

If reports that Emanuel spoke with troubled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) are true, then Obama's assertions at a press conference this week about a lack of contact are untrue, Scared Monkeys offers. Pushes by the Illinois Attorney General to remove Blagojevich as soon as possible would offer convenient political cover to Obama and Emanuel, Gateway Pundit alleges. Citing a source who has allegedly listened to wiretap tapes, Emanuel could be in deep trouble, MacRanger claims.

Obama's pick for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, worked diligently to make housing more affordable for 2 million Americans during the Clinton administration, Faiz Shakir notes at Think Progress. Donovan is unquestionably perfect for the job, Washington Monthly's Steve Benen argues, citing his research on innovation in housing policy.

December 13 marks the five year anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein, conservative bloggers note. While the optimism at the time turned out to be unwarranted, the U.S. has achieved significant success for which Americans should be thankful, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey blogs. When Hussein was pulled from his spider hole, Iraqis were offered a glimmer of hope for the first time in years, Gabe Ledeen asserts at The Corner.

FROM THE BLOGS:
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White House Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel

GOP opposition may thwart the proposed auto bailout when the Senate votes on it tonight, liberal bloggers predict, while conservatives question President-elect Barack Obama's statement that he never contacted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) about his vacant Senate seat.

After Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) voiced opposition to the auto bailout today, Open Left's Chris Bowers says it looks like Detroit will have to wait until 2009 for financial assistance from the government, pointing out that Obama's popularity may not be enough to push the deal through. GOP opposition, led by McConnell, has effectively killed the auto bailout's prospects, Jeralyn decides at TalkLeft, while AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay accuses Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill (Mo.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) of helping the U.S. economy sink into a depression after news that the two say they'll join Republicans in opposing the deal tonight.

Obama said he had not spoken to Blagojevich about his Senate seat at a news conference today, but The Corner's Andy McCarthy thinks the statement will come back to bite him, claiming it will "inevitably" be revealed that Obama or someone on his behalf contacted Blagojevich to weigh in on the appointment process. The other part of Obama's statement--that he's confident no one representing him would have engaged in any deal-making--strikes Hot Air's Allahpundit as a big claim, given that facts have yet to be gathered from Obama's team.

And Sen. Jim Demint (R-S.C.) earns jeers for his assertion yesterday that there will be "riots" if the government continues to bail out various sectors of the failing U.S. economy. DeMint's claim was an over-the-top attempt to justify his opposition to the proposed auto bailout, Political Animal's Steve Benen pronounces, while Think Progress's Satyam Khanna says it's more likely that laid-off autoworkers would riot if the Big Three don't get help from the government.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Senate GOP: Let Us Destroy UAW - DHinMI, Daily Kos
Card Check's Powerful New Opponent - Brian Faughnan, RedState
He's a Smooth Operator - Paul Mirengoff, Power Line
Franken's Pathos - Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
How Will Obama Approach China? - Perry Link, The Stump
The Death of an Axiom - J.G. Thayer, contentions
Obama Appoints Super Cool Sutley - Lisa Derrick, The Campaign Silo
Hot Rod More Than Hot - Victor Davis Hanson, The Corner
Merkley Pens Fundraising E-Mail for Reid - Jonathan Singer, MyDD
On 'Pragmatism' - Ezra Klein

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Detroit Bailout Faces Senate Fight - CNN
Obama: No Contact with Blagojevich - The Hill
Daschle Will Lead Healthcare Overhaul - NY Times

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) fails to convince some bloggers that he never dealt with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) in a pay-to-play scheme for President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, while conservatives question whether Obama made a strong enough call today for Blagojevich to resign.

After Jackson confirmed today that he is the "Senate Candidate #5" listed in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich, Balloon Juice's Michael D. accuses the Illinois congressman of giving a "non-denial" of his involvement. Jackson denied any wrongdoing at a news conference this afternoon, and emptywheel says the conference was essentially a campaign commercial for Jackson's candidacy for Obama's seat. If Jackson didn't ask his associates to talk to Blagojevich, as the complaint alleges they did, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey wonders who did send them.

Obama left himself some wiggle room today in his call for Blagojevich to resign, Abe Greenwald writes at contentions, pointing out that the call came from a spokesman, not Obama himself, and that it did not explicitly advocate Blagojevich's resignation. Obama was late in joining the chorus, The Campaign Spot's Jim Geraghty concludes, noting that other public figures had already called for Blagojevich to step down before Obama's spokesman issued today's statement.

The Cabinet nomination games have begun, AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay writes after news that Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wants to slow down the nomination process for Eric Holder, Obama's pick for attorney general. Specter and committee chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) could be falling out over Holder's nomination, suggests TPM Muckraker's Zachary Roth, noting that the two senators have had a good relationship over the years.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Jackson = Five - A. Serwer, TAPPED
Minnesota Recount: Unanswered Questions - Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Obama Lied? You decide. - Josh Painter, RedState
Wingers Should Give Up - Josh Orton, MyDD
Obama Team's New Questions Site - G. Sargent, TPM Election Central
Pelosi Enables 'Culture of Corruption' - Carol Platt Liebau, Townhall.com
Who Runs for Obama's Seat? - J. Geraghty, The Campaign Spot
Reid's Shot at Blagojevich - Steve Benen, Political Animal
Critiquing Saltsman's 'Online' Plan - MichaelTurk - The Next Right
Jackson, Jr.'s Non-Denial of Misconduct - Michael D., Balloon Juice

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Jackson Says He Didn't 'Pay to Play' - The Hill
Obama Calls for Blagojevich to Step Down - NY Times
Panel Overseeing Bailout Criticizes Treasury Dept. - Washington Post

The arrest of President-elect Obama's home-state governor gives conservatives a chance to wonder whether Obama will soon find himself in trouble. But Obama's backers see evidence that he and his team were smart enough to avoid Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's games. At the very least, the complaint against Blagojevich raises questions about a number of Illinois politicians, bloggers note.While Obama on Tuesday said he had no contact with Blagojevich about the Senate seat the governor allegedly tried to sell, Obama's strategist David Axelrod said last month that the two men had talked about potential candidates, notes Commentary's Jennifer Rubin. The press needs to step up and find out whether Obama's advisers had any connection to Blagojevich's alleged schemes, Rubin adds. Though U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald said he found no evidence of misbehavior by Obama, the president-elect and his team faces a higher burden and will thus deal with more questions about the scandal, writes Swampland's Michael Scherer.

But the complaint suggests that Obama understood that dealing with Blagojevich meant trouble, as he and his adviser, Valerie Jarrett, pulled her name from consideration for Obama's old seat, notes Ta-Nahesi Coates. Obama comes out cleain in the complaint, but it's clear that he dodged a major bullet by refusing to engage with Blagojevich, writes The Plank's Jason Zengerle.

Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich considered sticking it to Obama by appointing an unnamed candidate who was open to a deal. That candidate may have been Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D), whose meeting with Blagojevich matches up with events in the complaint, writes Marc Ambinder. Another possibility is state Senate President Emil Jones (D), who has the money that the governor was looking for, writes Capitol Fax's Rich Miller.

FROM THE BLOGS:
The Plot Thickens - Jennifer Rubin, Commentary
Why Liberals Can't Govern - Ross Douthat
Cao to Washington, Blag to Jail - Daniel Larison, Eunomia
Obama's Burden - Michael Scherer, Swampland
Arrest Muddies Illinois Political Waters - C. Cillizza, The Fix
What Happens Next? - Jon Henke, The Next Right
Emanuel May Have Tipped Off Investigators - F. Shakir, Think Prog.
About That Obama/Blago Connect... - Ta-Nahesi Coates
Feds Would've Had Obama Dead-To-Rights - J. Zengerle, The Plank
Selling The Senate Seat - Rich Miller, Capitol Fax
Who Is Senate Candidate 5? - Marc Ambinder

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Ill. Governor Charged in Obama Successor Probe - Associated Press
Illinois Lawmakers Distance Themselves From Probe - The Hill
White House Seeks GOP Support on Auto Bailout - New York Times

The Supreme Court

President-elect Barack Obama earns praise from across the blogosphere for tapping retired Gen. Eric Shinseki as Veterans Affairs secretary. But blogger reaction to the possibility of Sen. Caroline Kennedy (D-N.Y.) is mixed.

Choosing Shinseki, the general who publicly contradicted the Bush administration plan to use a relatively small troop force to occupy Iraq, means "karmic justice" for his detractors, writes James Fallows. The personal courage of Shinseki, who ended his military career by disagreeing with civilian leaders, is unparalleled, writes Spencer Ackerman. No other single Cabinet appointment sends a louder message to the current administration, writes Taylor Marsh.

Centrist and mainstream media pundits like the pick, too. Shinseki, who called for several hundred thousand U.S. troops in Iraq, was a logistics guy who got it right, according to Marc Ambinder. Shinseki is a good fit for the VA post since he's a "soldier's soldier" who has received two Purple Hearts and knows the mental and physical sacrifices made during war, writes The Moderate Voice's Dorian de Wind. Townhall's Carol Platt Liebau throws a little cold water on Shinseki story, noting that no one forced him out of the military.

Appointing Kennedy to fill Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (D-N.Y.) seat is a "truly terrible idea," since she wasn't much of a liberal leader when Republicans were in power and since there's no way to tell if she can take the heat as an elected official, writes Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher. Though Hamsher's criticism is largely valid, she's being selective in questioning Kennedy's qualifications for a job that has easy-to-meet minimum requirements, writes QandO's McQ.

FROM THE BLOGS:
We Need a Hero - Spencer Ackerman, Attackerman
Karmic Justice - James Fallows
Obama Gives a General His Due - Taylor Marsh
Never Mind 'Poetic Justice' - Dorian de Wind, Moderate Voice
A Truly Inspired Choice - James Joyner, Outside The Beltway
Not Far From the Mark - Marc Ambinder
Pearl Harbor Day - Joe Klein, Swampland
Shinseki for VA - Carol Platt Liebau, Townhall
Caroline? Thanks But No Thanks - Jane Hamsher, Firedoglake
A Good Argument, But Selective - McQ, QandO

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Obama: Economy 'A Big Problem and It's Going to Get Worse' - AP
Obama Formally Taps Shinseki for Cabinet - The Hill

President-elect Barack Obama's proposal to revive the economy with public works divides bloggers along their usual lines. Conservatives decry the increase in government spending, while liberals applaud Obama for putting forth solutions to the economic crisis. William Ayers's latest denial that he isn't a terrorist is also greeted with derision by the right.

Obama compared his plan to upgrade the country's infrastructure and create new jobs to the interstate highway project started by President Eisenhower. But the country faces debt and entitlement liabilities that it didn't have when Eisenhower was in power, notes Hot Air's Ed Morrissey. Obama will be making a mistake by borrowing and spending, which is what President Bush has done, writes Don Surber.

But it's a good thing that the president-elect is taking the lead and putting forth solutions to the economic crisis before he even gets into office, writes AMERICAblog's Joe Sudbay. In talking about his plan, Obama was more specific about his proposals than he has been, stressing the need for better roads, schools and medical information technology, writes Political Animal's Steve Benen.

Ayers, the former Weather Underground member, denied in an op-ed that he's a terrorist even though he fits the legal definition of one, writes The Volokh Conspiracy's Eric Posner. Ayers, no longer angry, is still unrepentant about the bombs that his group set off, notes JammieWearingFool.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Obama's New Old Deal - Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Five-Year Plan - Don Surber
How Many 'Hopeful' Workers? - Riehl World View
Fast Start, Short Honeymoon - M. O'Hare, Reality Based Comm.
A Public Works Push - Steve Benen, Political Animal
Ready to Hit The Ground Running - The Impolitic
Obama Addresses Crisis W/ Solutions - J. Sudbay, AMERICAblog
Was Ayers a Terrorist? - Eric Posner, Volokh Conspiracy
Unrepentant Ayers - JammieWearingFool
1984 in 2008 - Ayers Speaks - J. Rosenbaum, The Seminal

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Obama Banking on Large-Scale Public Works - Associated Press
Time Short, Congress Tries to Seal Auto Deal - Associated Press
Senate Campaign Chief Open to Matthews Bid - The Hill