MORNING READ

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