------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
I needn't remind you to tune in tonight for Al Gore at Lehman College in the Bronx...but I'll do it anyway...Chris will spend the full hour with the former Veep in front of the students discussing a potential run for the White House, his critique of the Bush administration and his run in 2000...We'll hit all these topics plus the impeachment of Bill Clinton and much more... Al Gore has said repeatedly that should he run, he'll dump the pollsters and consultants, "let 'er rip" and let the chips fall where they may...We expect that tonight...9 pm et only on MSNBC... In other news, the Trent Lott controversy is heating up since it's been revealed that he made similar statements about Strom in 1980...We'll see how that plays out and check in on the topic tomorrow night...Senator John McCain will join us as will former Senator Bob Kerrey...Plus, should the DoD use landmines in Iraq? We'll debate it... You've all been following the N. Korean ship that was clandestinely shipping scuds to Yemen? Guess what? The U.S. just released the vessel and it's cargo to Yemen... http://www.msnbc.com/news/845880.asp A particularly disturbing piece of news on the front page of the Washington Post this morning which I believe is worthy of everyone's attention...It concerns Bush's "preemptive" military doctrine and its application vis-a-vis nuclear weapons... Dig this excerpt..."Against today's new enemies, the administration has argued, it may be necessary to strike preemptively and with nuclear weapons that would keep fallout to a minimum." U.S. Will Use 'All Options' To Defend Against Attack...The United States reminded Iraq and other countries Tuesday that it was prepared to use nuclear weapons if necessary to respond to an attack from weapons of mass destruction (The Washington Post) http://msnbc.com/news/845955.asp Mortman on the Soprano's and HUD http://www.msnbc.com/news/845423.asp En fuego!! A new Hotline poll, due later this week and sure to generate media buzz, will have Kerry leading Al Gore in New Hampshire. (Boston Globe) http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/345/living/In_image_race_Kerry_is_starting_to_pick_up_pace-.shtml Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing in Washington, DC...Weather rainy, icy, cold & gloomy Gertz: The missile shipment was first disclosed by The Washington Times on Dec. 2 after the vessel departed several weeks ago from the North Korean port of Nampo with the Scud missiles and their components and a missile fuel chemical http://washingtontimes.com/national/20021211-17872888.htm Squitty: The Pentagon is preparing to use anti-personnel land mines in a war with Iraq, despite U.S. policy that calls for the military to stop using the mines everywhere in the world except Korea by 2003 http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2002-12-10-landmines-usat_x.htm U.N. force steps up Iraq inspections...A reinforced team of U.N. arms monitors on Wednesday sent experts to sites across Iraq, including a newly declared site mentioned in Baghdad's massive weapons report and a return visit to a large complex where Iraq once worked on a nuclear bomb. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/842500.asp Key factor: Iraqi scientists...US dampens expectations of 'smoking gun' on Iraq weapons and urges access to scientists (CS Monitor) http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/1211/p01s04-wome.html The CIA, coordinating a rush effort by as many as eight U.S. agencies to translate and evaluate Iraq's 12,000-page weapons declaration, expects to deliver a preliminary assessment to the White House today, administration officials said. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/world/20021211-16072764.htm The United States needs a "chief executive" in charge of its various spy agencies to ensure they overcome a reluctance to share information, the co-chairman of a Congressional committee investigating intelligence failures related to Sept. 11 said on Wednesday. (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=1888479 U.S. Catholic church in uproar...The Roman Catholic Church was in turmoil Tuesday after the New Hampshire diocese acknowledged that there was probably enough evidence to convict church officials of child endangerment and dozens of priests called on the archbishop of Boston to resign. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/844789.asp White House officials spent Tuesday trying to douse political brushfires sparked by conservatives' concerns that President Bush is putting together a new team of economic advisers who are more interested in balancing the budget than seeking the new round of tax cuts he plans to propose. (USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-12-10-econ-team_x.htm Friedman Appointment as Bush Advisor Put Off for a 2nd Day...Conservatives rally against choice for senior economic aide, saying he doesn't back tax cuts (LA Times) http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gopecon11dec11.story Lott Remarks on Thurmond Echoed 1980 Words...Criticism Unabated Despite Apology for Comment on Former Dixiecrat's Presidential Bid (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37288-2002Dec10.html At 1980 rally, senator made similar controversial remarks (Jackson Clarion-Ledger) http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0212/11/m02.html Five days after Sen. Majority Leader Trent Lott made his unfortunate comments regarding the political heritage of the Dixiecrats, Republicans on Capitol Hill and conservatives in Washington and around the country are discussing how best to call for Lott's stepping aside as Senate leader. (American Prowler) http://www.americanprowler.com/article.asp?art_id=2002_12_11_0_3_33 Several black Democrats, scolding Sen. Trent Lott for his remarks at Sen. Strom Thurmond's 100th birthday party and saying his apology is insufficient to allay their anger, directed some of their ire yesterday at Sen. Tom Daschle for defending his Republican colleague. (The Washington Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021211-192903.htm Members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday rejected Senate Republican leader Trent Lott's apology for saying that America would have been better off if Strom Thurmond had won the U.S. presidency in 1948, when he ran as a segregationist. (Reuters) http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/4709058.htm Congressional Democrats are preparing an economic plan focusing on short-term boosts and long-term budget balance as an alternative to a package President Bush is expected to unveil in a few weeks (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=1888425 Democratic national chairman Terry McAuliffe says his party's victories in statewide elections in a number of states that were strongholds for President Bush give him hope that Democrats can compete for the presidency in 2004. (AP) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=548&ncid=703&e=7&u=/ap/20021211/ap_on_el_ge/democrats_chairman Can Daschle lead in a Senate crowded with hopefuls? The first battleground in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination may not be Iowa or New Hampshire, but the Senate floor. (Argus Leader) http://www.argusleader.com/news/Wednesdayfeature.shtml New York City is close to winning the prize of the 2004 Republican National Convention, the Daily News has learned, despite White House concerns that Mayor Bloomberg is not enough of a team player. (NY Daily News) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/42555p-40158c.html Republican Bob Beauprez was officially named the winner yesterday of the closest congressional race of 2002, as three suburban Denver counties completed a mandatory recount in Colorado's new 7th House district. Beauprez squeaked past Democrat Mike Feeley by 121 votes of about 164,000 cast. (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37451-2002Dec10.html President Bush's 2000 presidential campaign should repay the government about $700,000, but taxpayers owe Bush's election effort some money too, federal auditors say. (AP) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&ncid=703&e=6&u=/ap/20021211/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_gore_audits GOP site question tests Bush's loyalties...Jeb Bush walks a fine line between touting Tampa's bid to be the site and supporting whatever is best to re-elect his brother, the president. (St. Petersburg Times) http://www.sptimes.com/2002/12/11/TampaBay/GOP_site_question_tes.shtml Cherie Blair, wife of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, choked backed tears yesterday while publicly acknowledging mistakes in her involvement with an Australian con man. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/world/20021211-335909.htm Ruff: Capital Comment: Daily news notes, political rumors, and important...events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1202/capital_comment.html Opinion/Editorial Hitchens: Imperialism...Superpower dominance, malignant and benign. http://slate.msn.com/?id=2075261 Kramer: Lott & Strom: Time for both to pack it in http://www.nydailynews.com/news/story/42544p-40150c.html One step forward, two steps back...President Bush needs more people like William Donaldson and less like John Snow on his economic team. By Dan Gross. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/845899.asp Kelly: Left everlasting http://www.jewishworldreview.com/michael/kelly.html Gross: Snow Job...President Bush appoints yet another phony businessman, this time as treasury secretary. http://slate.msn.com/?id=2075270 Dupont: Power to the People...New energy for a new century. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110002751 Mercer: Purging Paul O'Neill http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29946 Conason: Lott Is Unfit To Run the Senate http://www2.observer.com/observer/pages/conason.asp Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received The Hardball Briefing Newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. 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