------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
"Hardball with Chris Matthews" airs tonight on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp Let's get right to the marquee name: Rudy Giuliani plays Hardball tonight. Team Chris Matthews remains in the Big Apple. Watch Chris get into the 9/11 commission and terrorism with Giuliani -- with a healthy dose of Iraq, politics, and Republican convention talk. The former NYC mayor has his own private consulting firm and is working to help re-elect President Bush and VP Cheney. He also attended the Reagan funeral. Some have even speculated Giuliani for CIA Director -- the NY Post called it "a groundswell of support for Giuliani, a tough manager who won widespread praise for his leadership in the wake of the 9/11 attacks." What a Rudy awakening that would be. The perfect guest for tonight's show. Before getting to Giuliani, Chris will begin with the latest breaking news from Iraq, including the handover of Saddam and latest casualties. President Bush mentioned all that in his press conference today. Richard Engel will report from Baghdad. Then Chris will question a top foreign policy expert, former U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke -- a Kerry adviser. Look for this VP Cheney sound bite to make it into tonight's show: "He (Saddam) was a patron of terrorism. He had long established ties with Al-Qaida." Also watch for President Bush's response to a question today about Ron Reagan's eulogy: "I think it's important for people of religion to serve," President Bush said. "I think it is very important for people who are serving to make sure there's a separation of church and state." Also tonight: Chris' MSNBC colleague Bill Press will discuss his new book: "Bush Must Go: The Top Ten Reasons Why George Bush Doesn't Deserve A Second Term." Finally, Chris mixes hearty debate and belly laughs with comedian Al Franken, host of "The O'Franken Factor" on Air America. Meanwhile, Hardball correspondent David Shuster e-mailed this today: "Here is what I'm working on for tonight. (We may not have room in the show for a full blown report... but the elements will make it in somewhere.) The Democratic group, movon.org, has started a million dollar advertising campaign that seeks to ride the wave of controversy now surrounding Vice President Cheney and Halliburton. The ad points out that Cheney's old company was caught by the Pentagon $61 million for gasoline in Iraq and billed over one hundred million dollars for meals for our troops that they never delivered. There is no evidence the Vice President knew about the overcharging or was involved in any way... so the inference is a stretch. But, Democrats now see the VP as "damaged goods" in part because of earlier statements about Halliburton that have now been undercut. On Meet the Press (9/13/2003) Cheney said about Halliburton contracts, "I have absolutely no influence of, involvement of, knowledge of in any way, shape or form of contracts led by the Corps of Engineers or anybody else in the federal government." But this week, Time magazine obtained an internal e-mail written 6 months earlier in which a Pentagon official says "action" on a multi billion dollar Halliburton contract was "coordinated" by the VP's office. It's a great story. Hopefully we will have it tonight or tomorrow." And speaking of Shuster, surely you caught his package yesterday on the purple states. Shuster went well below the surface. Talk about Deep Purple. Today Shuster sends this follow-up note to Briefing readers: "My on-air contributions sometimes prompt some interesting proposals from the Hardball fanatics... and I'll admit to being quite proud of the racy note a young lady sent me not long ago. However, today I received something really valuable... a free oil change!!! Yes, it seems that Tom and Mohammad at the Georgetown Exxon are big fans of the show. They pointed this out to me yesterday. And this morning, when I picked up my car following some muffler work, Tom said "I love the purple states. It was a great report. So, the oil change is on the house." I was flattered, of course, especially since the muffler work seemed a bit pricey. However, I am now feeling wracked with guilt. After all, I am a devout follower of our GE NBC/UNI ethics guidelines... I'm hoping that the oil change was free because I'm a regular... and not because Tom and Mohammad really love the purple states. But, then again, you never know." Yes, that's our Deep Purple Highway Star, David Shuster. No Smoke on The Water he. Just ask My Woman From Tokyo. Meanwhile, Briefing editor Dominic Bellone continues on his well-deserved vacation. He asked me to keep secret his whereabouts, and I will comply with that request. But I must confide with you that for some reason I can't get out of my mind super-model Kathy IRELAND, former Congressman Andy IRELAND, and ex-NOW president Patricia IRELAND. Perhaps it's got something to do with Dom's trip. Maybe he's in Italy. Or Israel. Here's what's cooking on the Threat Board (for you Dr. Strangelove fans): "Cheney: Saddam Had Strong Al-Qaida Ties." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5215019/ Washington Post: "Al Qaeda may have delayed 9/11 attack; Commission finds evidence pointing to earlier date" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5211549/ "Bush cautious on handing over Saddam: Iraqi official says ex-dictator could be charged soon" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5209099/ "Islamic Conference endorses Iraqi government Support for U.S.-backed leadership could stem insurgency." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216701/ Rudy Giuliani on President Reagan: "How This Great Man Restored Our Spirit." http://www.nypost.com/seven/06112004/news/regionalnews/22780.htm "Kerry stays on Bush over economy" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5215744/ Bill Press' book: http://www.billpress.com/ Al Franken's show: http://www.ofrankenfactor.com/ Finally, in yesterday's Briefing we ran the item announcing Courtney Cox's newborn, Coco Cox (imagine what they'll say about her in high school -- "Look, there goes Hot Cocoa Cox.") So imagine our giddiness today to see this Jeannette Walls item on MSNBC.com: "Are Aniston and Pitt expecting a little Friend?" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5211160/ Keeping in mind that Hollywood loves to embarrass its kids with bizarre names (just ask Chastity or Dweezil or Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter Apple ), might we recommend a first name for the littlest Pitt? How about Olive. Or Money. Or if they're into those fancy Hollywood initials-only names, perhaps BBQ Pitt. I'm Howard Mortman and I approved this Briefing. ========================================= 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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