Morning Read

Democrats should pursue ambitious projects beyond typical government spending, infrastructure and the proposed economic stimulus package, liberal bloggers contend, while conservatives prefer any added money go toward wartime efforts. Meanwhile, Attorney General Michael Mukasey

With the $25 billion bailout for car makers stalling in the Senate, liberal bloggers press lawmakers to get it going again. Democrat Al Franken is gaining votes in the recount of his race against Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), worrying conservative bloggers who think Franken is about to steal the election. And President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security Secretary earns praise from bloggers on the left but dampens hopes of unseating Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2010.

The bailout is necessary since an auto industry collapse would risk setting off a tidal wave of lower wages and lower buying power for consumers, writes The Huffington Post's Robert Creamer. The Senate should pass a $100 billion recovery package and instruct Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to use part of the $700 billion bailout already approved to help the car makers, writes Robert Borosage, also at The Huffington Post.

Franken gained a net of 43 votes during the first day of the recount, reducing his deficit to 172 votes. Four-fifths of the vote have yet to be recounted, and many of those ballots come from Democratic counties, writes FiveThirtyEight's Nate Silver. Franken and Democrats are trying to steal the election by challenging votes that were obviously cast for Coleman, writes RedState's Erick Erickson. Franken may gain enough legitimate votes during the recount that would push him over the top when added to illegitimate votes ACORN and Democrats won for him on Election Day, writes a concerned John Hinderaker at Power Line.

Napolitano is a terrific choice to lead the Homeland Security Department since she's a rising star and is one of the country's best governors, writes Political Animal's Steve Benen. But her appointment means that a Republican will become Arizona's governor and that McCain, who is vulnerable to a Napolitano challenge, has an easier path to reelection, writes MyDD's Todd Beeton. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is option for Democrats in either race, as she has shown political savvy by winning in a Republican district, writes FiveThirtyEight's Silver.

FROM THE BLOGS:
U.S. Needs Strong Auto Industry - R. Creamer, Huffington Post
Free Fall - Robert Borosage, Huffington Post
Unstimulating - Pejman Yousefzadeh, RedState
Franken Gains Net of 43 Votes - Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight
Deeply Concerned About Recount Outcome - J. Hinderaker, Power Line
Numbers Moving in Right Direction - Todd Beeton, MyDD
Stealing Minnesota - Erick Erickson, RedState
Napolitano Is Terrific Choice - Steve Benen, Political Animal
McCain's Possible Challengers - Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight
McCain Dodges a Bullet - Todd Beeton, MyDD

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Fed Reserve Sees Recession To At Least Mid-2009 - LA Times
Obama's Pick of Daschle May Test Conflict-of-Interest Pledge - NYT
Dems: Napolitano Emerges For Homeland Security Job - AP
Big 3 On The Brink - The Hill

Sen. Ted Stevens's (R-Alaska) loss to Democrat Mark Begich is met with mixed reactions by conservative bloggers, who don't like Stevens but worry about a 60-seat Democratic majority. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) has yet to decide whether to become secretary of State, prompting online pundits to analyze what's taking her so long. And Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, in an interview with liberal blogs, seems to be ingratiating himself with President-elect Barack Obama, perhaps in a play for his own Cabinet post.

Stevens, who is refusing to concede his race even though it was called by news outlets Tuesday night, is an "entrenched, pork-stuffed politician" who needs to leave the Senate, writes Michelle Malkin. Republicans should have pushed Stevens out when he was indicted last summer, writes Hot Air's Allahpundit. Stevens's loss means that Senate Democrats now hold 58 seats, and are close to winning a filibuster-proof majority, according to QandO's McQ.

Clinton can't decide on whether to head up the State Department because she just lost a race she had long geared up for and is only now rethinking what she wants to do with her future, writes The Fix's Chris Cillizza. The vet of Clinton and her husband isn't acrimonious, as some have suspected, writes Marc Ambinder. But she may be thinking about how she would work with Vice President-elect Joe Biden and other foreign policy heavyweights in the Obama administration, Ambinder adds. Those who support the idea of her as secretary of State believe that she could help rein in Obama's "naive" foreign policy, while those against the idea worry that she'll undermine the new type of policy Obama has talked about, writes Contentions' Shmuel Rosner.

Dean, on his way out as Democratic Party chairman, ducked questions over whether he wants a Cabinet post, but his stated desire to focus on policy serves as a hint that he would like to serve under Obama, writes The Huffington Post's Sam Stein. Dean told TPM Election Central's Greg Sargent that Senate Democrats allowed Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) to keep his committee gavel because that's what Obama wanted, a position that Dean said he was fine with.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Good Riddance to Ted Stevens - Michelle Malkin
Should Have Pushed Stevens in to Retirement - Allahpundit, Hot Air
58 - McQ, The QandO Blog
Begich After All - Matthew Yglesias
Why Clinton Can't Decide - Chris Cillizza, The Fix
Inside the Clinton Vet - Marc Ambinder
Pro and Con - Shmuel Rosner, Contentions
Dean Basks in Results, Offers Hints - S. Stein, Huffington Post
Mandate for Reconciliation - kos, Daily Kos
Dean is Fine With Lieberman Decision - Greg Sargent, TPM Election

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Automakers Press High-Stakes Plea for Aid - Washington Post
Democrats Gain as Stevens Loses Race - New York Times
Paulson, Bernanke Rebuked on The Hill - Wall Street Journal
Obama Exerts His Power - The Hill

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) may keep his Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee chairmanship after all, bloggers predict, while a Guardian report that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) plans to accept a post as secretary of State is met by doubts in the liberal blogosphere.

Lieberman may walk away from today

After President-elect Barack Obama told CBS

The two ladies who starred in the presidential election dominate the blogosphere on Friday morning. Appointing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) to become Secretary of State splits bloggers, with some saying that it could boost the Obama administration and others saying that it doesn't make much sense. The unnamed governors complaining about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) speech at the Republican Governors Association meeting has peeved Palin's blogging backers.

President-elect Barack Obama is considering Clinton for the top State Department post, according to two Obama advisers who spoke to NBC News. If Obama chooses Clinton, he would be creating the "Team of Rivals" that both he and Clinton talked about during the campaign, writes Taylor Marsh. Clinton would be a strong surrogate abroad for Obama and would underscore Obama's determination to put together the best Cabinet possible, writes MyDD's Jonathan Singer.

But it doesn't make sense why Clinton would want to take a Cabinet post that usually lasts for just one term when she could remain in the Senate for the rest of her career, writes TalkingPointsMemo's Josh Marshall. Obama can't pick Clinton if he wants to make his transition all about transparency, since her husband hasn't released fundraising records about his foundation, writes Townhall's Amanda Carpenter. Picking Clinton could undermine Obama's message of "Hope and Change," especially after he has already added Clinton administration retreads Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) and John Podesta to his staff, writes Hot Air's Allahpundit.

After Palin gave her speech, unnamed governors said it was "awkward" and that it "unfortunately suggested" she was the party's leader, reports CNN. The anonymous governors' backbiting at their own conference merely shows their incompetence about messaging, writes Allahpundit. Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) showed that he's more shrewd than others by shrugging off the suggestion that Palin's sucking up all the oxygen in the room, writes Robert Stacy McCain.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Team of Rivals Realized - Taylor Marsh
Foggy Bottom for Hillary? - Jonathan Singer, MyDD
Obama's Vetting and Hillary - Amanda Carpenter, Townhall
Don't Get It - Josh Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo
Clinton for Secretary of State? - S. Clemons, Washington Note
Special, Special Lady Being Considered - Allahpundit, Hot Air
GOP Govs. Unhappy With Palin - Gottalaff, Political Carnival
Unbelievable: GOP Govs. Sniping at Palin - Allahpundit, Hot Air
Haley Shrugs - Robert Stacy McCain, The Other McCain

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Chances Dwindle on Bailout Plan for Automakers - New York Times
FDIC Details Plans to Alter Mortgages - Washington Post
Hillary Clinton as Mrs. Foggybottom? - Washington Post
Treasury Draws Fire For Shift in Rescue - Wall Street Journal

Democratic proposals to bailout automakers earn skepticism from bloggers on both sides. A bailout may just prolong the companies' inevitable failures, which would lead to trouble for their employees, according to bloggers. Democrat Mark Begich has overtaken Sen. Ted Stevens (R) in the Alaska Senate race, liberal bloggers note. Republicans' last hope of keeping Democrats from getting to 60 seats may rest with Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), conservative bloggers write.

While Democrats and President-elect Barack Obama support more rescue money for Detroit, the car companies can't survive until they whittle down the massive employee compensation packages they owe, writes The Corner's Larry Kudlow. Letting General Motors file for bankruptcy could be one option, but bankruptcy laws wouldn't provide much guidance for how to deal with the 479,000 retirees and their spouses collecting pensions, writes Atrios, who suggests new bankruptcy laws.

After Alaska resumed vote counting on Wednesday, Begich erased Stevens's 3,000-vote lead and is now ahead by 814 votes, writes Swing State Project's James L. More than 35,000 votes remain uncounted, and most of them come from areas where Begich is expected to do well, including Anchorage, his home city. FiveThirtyEight's Sean Quinn now calls Begich the "overwhelming favorite" to win the seat. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) should join Sens. Chambliss and Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) in calling for the ouster of Stevens, a convicted felon, from the Senate, writes Townhall's Amanda Carpenter.

Begich's lead and Democrat Al Franken's "better than even" chance of overtaking Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) in a recount means that a Chambliss victory in the Georgia runoff may be needed to keep Democrats from a filibuster-proof majority, writes Jonathan Garthwaite at Townhall. Chambliss is in trouble now that Democrat Jim Martin is running an ad reminding voters of the "reprehensible" campaign the Republican ran six years ago against Sen. Max Cleland (D), writes Taylor Marsh.

FROM THE BLOGS:
B to the K - Atrios, Eschaton
Paulson's Adjustments Better than Obama's - L. Kudlow, The Corner
Just Great - Pejman Yousefzadeh, RedState
Begich Leads by 814 Votes - James L., Swing State Project
Begich Now An Overwhelming Favorite - Sean Quinn, FiveThirtyEight
Georgia Only In Way of 60 Votes - J. Garthwaite, Townhall
Chambliss in Trouble - Taylor Marsh
Calling The Top Republican in America - A. Carpenter, Townhall
Is This The Right's MoveOn? Really? - T. Beeton, MyDD

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Bailout's Next Phase: Consumers - Wall Street Journal
Showdown Begins over Lifeline to Automakers - Washington Post
Grab a Chair - Washington Post
Alaska Senator Now Trails in Votes - New York Times

Speculation over President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet is swirling on the blogs. Household names, including former Vice President Al Gore, Gen. Colin Powell and two Kennedys, have been floated online for posts in the new administration. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has done little to defend his old running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), angering several conservative bloggers. And the latest CNN poll suggests that Democrats have a mandate heading into the new government, liberal bloggers eagerly note.

According to an unofficial transition flowchart going around Washington, Gore could serve as "climate czar," Powell could serve as Education Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. could become the head of the Environmental Protection Agency and Caroline Kennedy could be ambassador to the United Nations, reports Washington Whispers' Paul Bedard. Obama should consider appointing a Republican senator from a state with a Democratic governor, who could then appoint a Democrat to fill that seat, writes MyDD's Todd Beeton.

When McCain was asked by Jay Leno on Tuesday about the leaks showing Palin in an unflattering light, McCain gave apathetically replied, "These things happen," writes Michelle Malkin. While McCain said he was proud to run with her, he didn't denounce attacks on her or call the rumors untrue, notes Townhall's Amanda Carpenter.

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey shows that 59 percent of Americans think that one-party rule by Democrats is good for the country. This Democratic mandate undercuts McCain and Republicans' argument that Americans want a split government, writes MyDD's Jonathan Singer. The Democrats' strength comes from young voters, a demographic that could carry the party for a long time, laments Hot Air's Allahpundit.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Gore, Powell, Kennedy? - Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers
Cabinet Speculation - Jonathan Singer, MyDD
No Cabinet Appts. Before Thanksgiving - Marc Ambinder
Heckuva Job, McLame - Michelle Malkin
John McCain Defends Palin on Leno - Gateway Pundit
McCain Defends Palin - Amanda Carpenter, Townhall
What a Mandate Looks Like - Todd Beeton, MyDD
Great News: 59 Percent Psyched for Dem Rule - Allahpundit, Hot Air
Chart of the Day - Kevin Drum
Nearly 60 Percent Favor One Party Rule - J. Gardner, Donkelephant

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Top Two Officials in U.S. Intel Expect to Lose Jobs - Washington Post
Democrats Plot Detroit Rescue - Wall Street Journal
White House Scales Back a Mortgage Relief Plan - Wall Street Journal
Reps. Dingell and Waxman Trade Salvos - The Hill

President-elect Barack Obama

Vice President-elect Joe Biden is mocked by conservatives for getting booed at last night