SUNDAY ROUNDUP

President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, wins praise from liberals for rejecting the White House’s suggestion that its free trade agreement with Colombia should be included in a second economic stimulus package. The possibility of Obama swiftly reversing President Bush’s executive orders, meanwhile, sees debate from liberals and conservatives.

Emanuel sent a message that Democrats aren’t concerned with President Bush’s opinions on a second economic stimulus bill, Matthew Yglesias declares after Emanuel’s appearance today on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.” Emanuel said a package should only address “essential needs” like unemployment insurance and healthcare assistance for states, and Open Left’s David Sirota congratulates Emanuel for standing up for Obama’s agenda.

Obama’s apparent desire to reverse hundreds of Bush executive orders once in office proves that the Democrat means what he says, Spencer Ackerman writes at ATTACKERMAN. Obama’s transition advisers have compiled a list of policies that could be swiftly undone, The Washington Post reported today, and Hot Air’s Ed Morrissey warns that Obama could be in for some big controversies if he upends Bush policies on stem cell research and foreign aid to organizations that counsel women on abortion.

Former Vice President Al Gore’s New York Times op-ed today on climate change, meanwhile, gets mixed reviews. Gore has once again ignored the possibilities of nuclear energy, contentions’ Abe Greenwald charges after reading the op-ed, in which Gore outlined his own plan for America to produce 100 percent of its energy from carbon-free sources in 10 years. On the left, The Vine’s Bradford Plumer says Gore was simply trying to broaden the discussion of what’s possible for clean energy in America.

FROM THE BLOGS:
The Climate Change Reformation – Abe Greenwald, contentions
Quid Pro Quo – Matthew Yglesas
Update on the Minn. Senate Race – A. Carpenter, Townhall.com
Bailout Watch: Bush’s Subtle Scheme – David Sirota, Open Left
Russia’s in a Hurry – Skanderberg, RedState
Big Government & Taxes – Todd Beeton, MyDD
Bad News, Good News – Kathryn Jean Lopez, The Corner
No Boosted Turnout This Election – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air
Deeper – Christopher Orr, The Plank
Bigger Than 1992 – Jed Lewison, The Jed Report

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Preparing for the Obama Era – Washington Post
Emanuel Urges Aid for Auto Industry – NY Times
Lieberman Can Still Help Dems, Reid Says – CNN