DAY’S END ROUNDUP

Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) earns rave reviews from liberals after news that President-elect Barack Obama intends to nominate her as the nation’s next Labor secretary, while conservatives voice skepticism of Obama’s statement that Americans of different political persuasions need to “come together” for his inauguration.

Solis is a strong pick to head Obama’s Labor Department, Open Left’s Matt Stoller declares, commending her as someone who can build coalitions among different groups of constituents. Solis has earned high ratings from labor organizations during her time in Congress, MyDD’s Todd Beeton notes, while TAPPED’s Harold Meyerson says she has the talent to become a star of American liberalism.

While Obama says he invited Rev. Rick Warren in order to promote unity, Hot Air’ Allahpundit thinks it’s more likely that Obama needs Warren’t political support as one of America’s most influential evangelicals. And Obama’s call for a bipartisan national day of service on Jan. 19 might fall on deaf ears among the conservatives who criticized him so sharply during the campaign, The Weekly Standard’s Terry Eastland opines.

And while speculation runs wild over whether Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel discussed Obama’s Senate seat with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), conservatives say Emanuel isn’t likely to be in any trouble. Emanuel may have simply told Blagojevich who Obama preferred as an appointment–which isn’t a crime–Dan Riehl speculates at Riehl World View. Emanuel is basically exonerated from wrongdoing by the criminal complaint against Blagojevich, which reports that Obama’s team wasn’t willing to offer him anything, J.G. Thayer writes at contentions.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Good Morning for Franken – kos, Daily Kos
Hilda Solis to Labor – Matt Stoller, Open Left
Specter Quietly Opens Fire on Holder – Erick Erickson, RedState
Rep. Hilda Solis Obam’s Pick for Labor – Todd Beeton, MyDD
Nobody’s Fool – Paul Mirengoff, Power Line
RIP Paul Weyrich – Kate O’Beirne, The Corner
Obama: I’m Inviting Warren in Spirit of Diversity – Allahpundit, Hot Air
Obama Defends Warren – Terry Eastland, The Weekly Standard
Give the Guy a Golden Parachute – Steve Benen, Political Animal
Warren, Obama’s New BFF – Blue Texan, Firedoglake

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Bush Weighs ‘Orderly’ Bankruptcy for Automakers – NY Times
Solis to Head Labor Dept. – The Hill
Clinton Foundation Releases List of Donors – The Hill
Obama Has Rare Opportunity to Remake Fed – Washington Post