MORNING READ

The passage of the auto bailout in the House has frustrated online conservatives. The media coverage of partisan reaction to the Senate seat scandal in Illinois disappoints bloggers on both sides. And Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R) statement that he’s not interested in a presidential bid in four years doesn’t sound convincing to liberal bloggers.

The House approved a $15 billion bridge loan to rescue the U.S. auto industry by a 225-179 vote. The 10 Republican House members who voted for it all come from Michigan or surrounding states, notes Townhall’s Amanda Carpenter. One of those lawmakers, Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Mich.), needs to remember the Republican principles that he likes to talk about as the solution to GOP woes, writes Michelle Malkin. Even if the bailout was blocked and the auto industry collapsed, the worst-case scenario portrayed by econometric models wouldn’t be armageddon, writes The Corner’s Jim Manzi.

President-elect Barack Obama’s transition website may be taking questions from the public, but it’s censoring those about the scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) and Obama’s old Senate seat, writes Ben Smith. But declaring censorship is an accusatory way of describing something that’s a new and innovative attempt to gauge the will of the people, writes Balloon Juice’s John Cole. Reuters deserves criticism for writing that conservatives are “gleeful” about Blagojevich’s arrest, writes Malkin, who doesn’t recall much reporting on liberals’ glee over the fall of various Republicans.

Jindal says he’ll run for governor in 2011 and that he’s not interested in a White House bid in 2012. But Jindal could still pull off a national campaign without much infrastructure, just like Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) did in 2008, writes MyDD’s Jonathan Singer. Jindal could go back on his pronouncement, just Barack Obama and Bill Clinton did when they ran for president, writes Political Animal’s Steve Benen.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Ten House Republicans Backed Bailout – A. Carpenter, Townhall
House Passes UAW Bailout – Michelle Malkin
Simple Questions About Bailout – Jim Manzi, The Corner
Blagojevich Questions Censored on Transition Site – Ben Smith
Smith Can’t Define Censorship – John Cole, Balloon Juice
Reuters Doesn’t Like Conservative Snarking – Michelle Malkin
Jindal Bows Out – Kevin Drum
Jindal’s Future – Steve Benen, Political Animal
Jindal Says He’s Not Interested – Jonathan Singer, MyDD

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
House Approves Autos Package; Senate Lacks Votes – The Hill
Bailout Considered Just a Beginning in Revival – Washington Post
Calls For Governor to Quit in Scandal On Senate Seat – New York Times