DAY’S END ROUNDUP

Congressional Democrats’ rejection of a $25 million bailout for U.S. automakers today earns approval from liberal bloggers, while conservatives criticize Democrat Al Franken for a fundraiser slated to be held on his behalf by billionaire financier George Soros.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are holding out for a “coherent plan” from automakers before giving away taxpayer money, Political Animal’s Steve Benen asserts. Reid and Pelosi announced today that they are prepared to help the Big Three only if the automakers offer a plan for how they would use the money to stay viable as companies, and Wonk Room’s Pat Garofalo agrees with Reid and Pelosi that federal aid should come with strong conditions on how Detroit uses the money.

Soros is a major backer of Franken’s efforts to closely monitor this week’s recount in the Democrat’s bid to unseat incumbent Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.), Ed Morrissey claims at Hot Air. Soros will reportedly hold a fundraiser for Franken in New York tonight, and RedState’s Jeff Emanuel declares that Soros’s plan is to “buy” Franken by helping him challenge pro-Coleman votes and “steal” the election.

And a judge’s order to release five Guantanamo Bay detainees–including Lakhdar Boumediene of the recent Supreme Court case on habeas corpus rights–sees mixed reactions. There is a question of where the five Algerians will go after they leave Guantanamo, The Corner’s Andy McCarthy warns, while emptywheel’s bmaz declares the order a victory over Bush administration detention policy.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Napolitano to Homeland Security – Ezra Klein
The Real Janet Napolitano – Roger Clegg, The Corner
Mr. $oros Buys a $enator – Jeff Emanuel, RedState
Ga.-Sen.: Not Much Change – kos, Daily Kos
Pelosi, Reid Stall on Bailout – Amanda Carpenter, Townhall.com
Gallup on GOP – Allahpundit, Hot Air
Tension with Gates? – Barron YoungSmith, The Plank
Rahm’s GOP Outreach – Steve Benen, Political Animal
Waxman Pick Signals Obama-Pelosi Direction – John Nichols, The Beat
Nonconventional Warfare – Kevin Drum

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Congressional Leadership Rejects Proposed Auto Bailout – Washington Post
Congress to Return in December – The Hill
Judge Orders Five Guantanamo Detainees Freed – NY Times