------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Hardball airs tonight on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp MSNBC also is on your XM satellite radio on channel 130 Tonight Andrea honchos another big name blockbuster of a show as we slice and dice the "TOP" (Transfer of Power) from all angles...Dan Senor, the former CPA spokesman, is back from Baghdad and sits down to discuss his work over there and what lies ahead for the nascent Iraqi government... It was announced over the weekend that John McCain will have a prominent speaking role at the RNC convention in New York...We'll preview what his message will be, get his take on the TOP and assess the impact Iraq will have on Bush's reelection campaign... Senator Chuck Hagel, a Vietnam vet who was elected to the Senate from Nebraska in '96, will stop by to chat up Andrea with his thoughts on Iraq...Hagel sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and brings great gravitas to the subject matter. Finally Howard Dean will weigh in on Iraq, his support for Kerry and the new NYT poll out today...Speaking of Howard Dean, his former campaign manager Joe Trippi has a new book coming out which we'll discuss with him next week and Shuster will do a set up piece... Housekeeping note: Chris will return on Monday July 5th from vacation....For those special Shuster fan club members, David is heading off on vacation tomorrow and will return next Tuesday... Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC 3 Marines killed in Baghdad blast...Guerrillas detonated a roadside bomb as a U.S. convoy passed in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing three American marines and wounding two, the U.S. military said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5322157/ Saddam to face Iraqi court...Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi declared that Saddam Hussein will be handed over to Iraqi custody on Wednesday and face charges before an Iraqi court the following day. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5314794/ Bush says Mideast's future is freedom...Speech promoting democracy lauds Turkish model (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5323486/ Three Turkish hostages freed in Iraq...Father pleas for kidnapped U.S. Marine's release (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5310187/ Friends and supporters of Army Spc. Keith "Matt" Maupin gathered in vigils and prayer Monday while his family waited behind closed doors for the official word on his fate, amid reports that Iraqi militants had killed him. (Cincy Enquirer) http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/06/29/loc_loc1a.html >From occupation to 'partnership'...Despite threat of violence, U.S. soldiers prepare >to slip into the background (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5320385/ U.S. Sen. John McCain said Monday he supports the surprise decision by the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority to grant power to Iraqi's interim government two days early. (AP) http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=89784 WP: Bremer's mission ends...L. Paul Bremer arrived here almost 14 months ago with a seemingly limitless reserve of energy and a mission unparalleled in U.S. diplomatic history: to remake a nation by using near-dictatorial powers. When he left Iraq on Monday after surrendering authority to an interim government, it was with a somber air of exhaustion. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5320332/ Shuster: How the handover could affect the November elections http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5318731/ Americans are skeptical about the turnover of political control to Iraqis at a time the country has not been stabilized, according to polls released Monday. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040629/D83GMJ684.html The Bush administration must regroup legally and politically after the Supreme Court dealt a major setback to the government's anti-terrorism tactics since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040629/D83GN95G0.html Despite concerns about his handling of Iraq, and an overall approval rating of 42%, George W. Bush is still running neck and neck with Democrat John Kerry as the choice of registered voters. Growing public optimism about the nation's economy has helped lift support for the President. (CBS News/NYT) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/28/opinion/polls/main626478.shtml President Bush's continued edge over Democrat John Kerry on leadership skills and battling terrorism are keeping the presidential race close despite widespread concerns about Iraq, a bipartisan poll suggests. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040629/D83GNE601.html Kerry Urged to Do More to Get Black Votes...Lack of Diversity Among Top Campaign Officials, Absence in Community Are Concerns (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A13190-2004Jun28?language=printer President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry are locked in a very close race in their battle for the 27 electoral votes in Florida, according to a new poll in the essential swing state of 2000. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040629/D83GMHQG0.html Veep wannabe's play the waiting game...Kerry choice expected before convention (Reuters) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5318106/ Cheney trumpets Iraq turnover, chides Kerry...Hours after yesterday's early transfer of sovereignty to Iraq, Vice President Dick Cheney reminded Republicans that Sen. John Kerry had once "described himself as an opponent of the war." (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040628-110200-8770r.htm The heavily Democratic San Francisco Bay area welcomed two of its political darlings Monday, with former President Clinton continuing his blockbuster book tour and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton headlining a campaign fund-raiser. (AP) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20040629/ap_on_re_us/clintons_san_francisco Former President Clinton and Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts are in line for prime speaking slots at the Democratic National Convention in Boston next month. (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5318112/ Featured speakers at the Republican convention in New York will include John McCain, Rudolph Giuliani and Arnold Schwarzenegger, party officials said on Monday, while Boston's Democratic convention will spotlight party icons Bill Clinton and Edward Kennedy. (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5534407 When they arrived at an event Monday and found that Iraq's new chief justice and president as well as U.S. governor L. Paul Bremer were there, CNN's Christiane Amanpour and ABC's Peter Jennings looked at each other. Could this be it? Indeed it was. (AP) http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/aptv_story.asp?category=1401&slug=Iraq+Media Opinion/Editorial The Washington Times: The Transfer of Power http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20040628-092022-7839r.htm The Washington Post: Two Steps Forward http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13562-2004Jun28.html Leo: Comparing Bush to Hitler no longer confined to loonies http://www.townhall.com/columnists/johnleo/jl20040628.shtml Kaplan: Let's Hear It for the Handover...Finally, Bush does something right in Iraq. http://slate.msn.com/id/2103030/ Doonesbury http://msnbc.com/comics/daily.asp?sFile=db040629 Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp Steiner http://www.washtimes.com/national/steiner.htm ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received The Hardball Briefing Newsletter because you subscribed to it or, someone forwarded it to you. To remove yourself from the list (or to add yourself to the list if this message was forwarded to you) simply go to http://www.msnbc.com/tools/newstools/e/emailextra.asp?nfeature=19 Microsoft Corporation - One Microsoft Way - Redmond, WA 98052 MSN PRIVACY STATEMENT http://privacy.msn.com