------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Break out the popcorn and TV trays folks because we're in for a long, fun ride...Chris anchors coverage of SOTU from 7 to 8 pm ET...Keith takes over for an hour and then Chris and company return for the speech at 9:01 ET until Midnight...At the bewitching hour, Ron & Joe take over for "After Hours" (Remember that from the conventions? With the smooth jazz bumper music?)...They'll kick it for 2 hours for you late night insomniac types... I'm not gonna spend all day convincing you on why you should watch...Devotees of Hardball know that big Washington events are the nights that Chris lives for and really shines...I told him he's going unscripted, unplugged and without a net...Our 7 pm panel will consist in some part: Howard, Scarborough and Laura Ingraham with a dash of David Gregory from the White House (lawn, I assume) and White House spokesperson Nicolle Devenish...We'll also chat with Senators Trent Lott and John McCain (I know folks, this is a record, 3 McCain appearances in 3 days!)... At 8:30 Chris will jump in with Keith and "voice over" POTUS departure from the White House en route to the Capitol...Chris will also want to show off his knowledge of all the Members of Congress, Senators, cabinet et al. as they arrive into the House chamber... At 9 pm we toss to the speech and then the Dem response from Reid and Pelosi...We'll of course have correspondents strategically placed throughout the Capitol, White House and the Pentagon...Shuster will do Statuary Hall which of course will serve as the post-game spin room....Our late night panel: Norah, Meacham, Scarborough & Frum (author of Bush's 2002 "Axis of Evil" SOTU)...And for those of you who stay up late with us, we'll bring you a special appearance by Pat... Our "friends" over at ABC News list a number of interesting things to look for in tonight's speech...Here's one which provoked a chuckle: "Watch how often the pool director chooses Sen. Clinton as the reaction cut-away." So fire up the popcorn, the carryout, the TV trays, whatever and join us for the fun...Live from the Nation's Capitol... Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC Fun MSNBC news: Tucker Carlson finally lands in his new slot at MSNBC http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/10791652.htm His view of New Jersey? "When you live here, it's just Jersey," he reminded us. "I'm embracing every aspect of it. 'The Sopranos' is a blueprint for life in New Jersey, as far as I'm concerned." (Reliable Source) Click & Scroll http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55646-2005Feb1.html Bush to outline goals on Social Security, Iraq...State of the Union speech also tackles democratic reform, domestic issues (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6898631/ This time, confident Bush primed...President expected to portray Iraqi vote as policy vindication (SF Chronicle) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/02/02/MNGMUB49GL1.DTL Presidential promises scorecard (USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20050202/a_scorecard02.art.htm Pope's condition 'improving'...Doctors optimistic, says Italy's health minister (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6886516/ Sunni cleric group calls Iraq's vote illegitimate...Mosul police chief sets 2-week deadline for insurgents (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6874656/ Former Texas Rep. Martin Frost dropped out of the race for Democratic national chairman on Tuesday after failing to win the backing of organized labor, winnowing the field to front-runner Howard Dean and three challengers. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050202/D880F0T80.html Infighting hinders Homeland Security...Squabbles said to reduce department's effectiveness (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6896595/ Chertoff vows to balance security and liberty...Homeland Security nominee faces senators (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6894700/ The Senate won't vote Wednesday to confirm attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales, GOP senators say, in part because Democrats don't want to give President Bush a success to talk about in his State of the Union speech. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050202/D880D8V80.html A Purple Heart changes his stripes (DC Examiner) http://www.dcexaminer.com/articles/2005/02/02/news/d_c_news/003anderson.txt They may both be out of office, but Bill Clinton remains the ultimate boogeyman for former Sen. Jesse Helms. In a fund-raising a letter for his senatorial library, Helms invokes the specter of the former president leading the United Nations after Kofi Annan retires next year (AP) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20050202/ap_on_re_us/helms_clinton&printer=1 Rep. Bobby Jindal is planning to demonstrate solidarity with Iraqi voters by dipping a finger in purple ink before President Bush's State of the Union speech Wednesday. (AP) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&u=/ap/20050202/ap_on_go_pr_wh/state_of_union_purple_ink_1&printer=1 For better and for worse, Carville and Matalin spar - lightly (Home News Tribune) http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2005502020397 Entertaining for Their Countries...On Embassy Row, Some Important Meals Start With a Hands-On Trip to the Market (Post Food Section) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53638-2005Feb1.html Recipe: Buffalo Wings http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53645-2005Feb1.html Power Struggle Grips the Club for Growth (NY Sun) http://www.nysun.com/article/8587 Fidel Castro said Tuesday that U.S. President George W. Bush appears deranged, and that Cubans would much rather live in the Caribbean island's "heaven" than try and survive in what he said was Bush's corrupt, capitalist "hell." (AP) http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_CUBA_US_CASTRO_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Sex and the Yogi? No way, says Yankee legend Yogi Berra. The Hall of Famer is suing Turner Broadcasting System for $10 million, claiming his moniker was tainted when it was used in a racy ad for "Sex and the City." (NY Daily News) http://nydailynews.com/02-02-2005/front/v-echo/story/277109p-237261c.html Opinion/Editorial Shafer: Together, Again...Judith Miller and Ahmad Chalabi. http://slate.msn.com/id/2112900/ Pat: The American-Sunni War http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42656 Carter: I Like Mike...Michael Chertoff isn't the Neanderthal he's been made out to be. http://slate.msn.com/default.aspx?id=2112909 Terry: The Mud Puddle Preservation Plan http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=6474 Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ ========================================= 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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