------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Hardball airs tonight at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Tonight we lead with the controversy over Ted Koppel's decision to read the names of American KIA in Iraq on his show and Sinclair Broadcasting Group's decision to have some of its ABC stations preempt it http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040430/D8296E5G3.html We'll talk to Vanity Fair media guy Michael Wolff and loyal Briefing subscriber John Fund about the hoopla We'll also run a block or two of legendary TV journalist Lesley Stahl on Iraq and the rising poll numbers for President Bush... Did you miss any of our exclusive Rummy interview last night? Have no fear...We'll "chunk it"* for you and get reax from Fund and Wash Post columnist Richard Cohen http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/opinion/columns/cohenrichard/ Oh and dont' forget! We're gonna re-air the Rummy interview tomorrow at 4 pm ET & Sunday at 1 pm ET http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4871859/ Tomorrow is the 1 year anniversary of the President's "mission accomplished" speech on the carrier.. And you thought our 7th Anniversary week festivities were done? Think again...Ron Reagan's in the house tonight with another little trick up his sleeve... Have a great weekend...We'll chat on Monday * Highly scientific television talk meaning to run clips or "chunks" of the interview...I usually think of a "sot" or "sound on tape" as a term typically used for bites :45 or less..."Chunk" implies a lengthier "sot".. Briefing subscriber/Friend of Chris Gerry Rafshoon may be honcho-ing a new Howard Dean TV endeavor according to Daily Variety http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20040429/va_mi/dean_preps_for_talkshow_04_292004_1 PS Briefing friend John Edgell tells us that you guys really stepped up for a good cause with the Chris Matthews charity bobblehead...Thanks! http://www.bosleybobbers.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=BB0055 Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC President Bush told the September 11 commission yesterday in a closed-door meeting that a memo saying Osama bin Laden wanted to conduct terrorist attacks in the United States did not provide enough intelligence for his administration to stop the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. (The Washington Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040429-113358-9307r.htm In a stunning snub, two Democrats on the 9/11 commission yesterday abruptly walked out in the middle of the Oval Office interview with President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/19924.htm Major developments Friday in Iraq (AP) http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGATX58COTD.html U.S. casualties for April (AP) http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2004-04-05-april-toll_x.htm Marines begin Fallujah pullback....One of three battalions of U.S. Marines had mostly departed its positions in an industrial zone in the southern portion of Fallujah, witnesses reported Friday, as U.S. commanders met with local representatives to work out details of a deal aimed at lifting the month-long siege of the city. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4824213/ Arab TV shows GIs humiliating Iraqi detainees...Images of prisoner abuse inflammatory in Mideast (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4855930/ GI reportedly complained about Iraq abuses...Relative says commander ignored plea for rules (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4871554/ President Bush has condemned the apparent mistreatment of some Iraqi prisoners, saying, "Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people. That's not the way we do things in America. I didn't like it one bit." (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040430/D82986DO0.html US general suspended over abuse...Abu Ghraib prison was much feared in Saddam Hussein's day...A US general has been suspended in Iraq over the alleged abuse of prisoners by US troops in jails she ran (BBC News) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3669331.stm Asked how many American troops have died in Iraq, the Pentagon's No. 2 civilian estimated Thursday the total was about 500 - more than 200 soldiers short. (AP) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=542&u=/ap/20040430/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/iraq_deaths_wolfowitz_2&printer=1 'Al-Qaida' denies chemical plot...A purported tape from al-Qaida operative Abu-Musab al-Zarqawi said Friday his group did not plan a chemical weapons attack as the Jordanian authorities have alleged, but said the group is targeting Jordan. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4868468/ Kerry says Iraq is far from stable...Candidate marks 1-year anniversary of Bush's carrier speech (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4871021/ Most Iraq rebuilding funds still unspent...U.S. shifts money to security, administrative expenses (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4866459/ Cheney Praises Fox News Channel...Vice President Calls Network 'More Accurate' Than Others (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53974-2004Apr29.html The Sinclair Broadcast Group will yank Nightline from its seven ABC stations tonight because of a plan to devote the show to reading the names of the hundreds of American service members killed in Iraq, which Sinclair says is intended to damage support for U.S. actions there. (The Baltimore Sun) http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/tv/bal-to.sinclair30apr30,0,2707993.story?coll=bal-features-headlines The CableNewswer guy is ticked off about it http://www.cablenewser.com/archive/2004_04_01_archive.htm#108333378783926112 Fineman: Kerry plans early veep pick...Campaign sources say look for running-mate decision by end of May http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4863243/ War of Perceptions...The U.S. military is devising plan to end the siege of Fallujah. But will it win on the battleground of Iraqi public opinion? (Newsweek) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4865405/ Kerry organization lacking in key states...Sen. John Kerry has yet to establish campaign organizations in battleground states that likely will decide who wins the presidential race in November, Democratic strategists said yesterday. (The Washington Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040429-113454-8128r.htm One Wisconsin poll says Bush leads, another says Kerry (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) http://www.jsonline.com/news/state/apr04/226062.asp House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, like Sen. John Kerry a Catholic who supports abortion rights, said Thursday she will continue to ask for Holy Communion in spite of Vatican opposition to pro-choice Catholics doing so. (AP) http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/8557192.htm Forget Republicans. The sharpest rebuke of Rep. Jim McDermott's omission of the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance has come from the leader of his own party. (Seattle Times) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001916516_mcdermott30.html The Federal Election Commission yesterday said it will not give Rev. Al Sharpton any more matching funds for his campaign - and might try to recover the $100,000 he's already gotten. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/19925.htm President Bill Clinton's autobiography, "My Life," isn't due out for two months, but preorders already have him rivaling Harry Potter, according to one online retailer. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/business/19862.htm Opinion/Editorial Laswell: Swept Away...The Fox network joins Hillary Clinton to play the race card. http://www.opinionjournal.com/taste/?id=110005021 Landfield: Air America Tries to Cut Through the Conservative Static http://www.practicalpolitics.net/landfield/4_7_04.html Ilana: The ostensible choice before the American people Nov. 2 is between Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber - between Kerry and Bush or Bush and Kerry, according to taste. http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38279 Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. 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