------------------------------------------------------ The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC ------------------------------------------------------
Barnicle's in Washington today so I gotta make this short and get right to producing the Political Buzz segment which will be "B-1" Bob Dornan and a Lefty TBD...I got a call out to Caddell but sometimes he takes a while to get back to me, so Caddell if you're out there and reading the Briefing (last I checked his e-mail was broken) call me and join the fun tonight... We'll lead with the arrest of the Adelphia Communications execs and the fight against corporate corruption with Stu Taylor and Joe diGenova (I hear he's on fire on this one...Maybe he'll bring his cigar...I call him Joey D)...Plus, the fight in the Senate over Priscilla Owen's nomination with Gloria Feldt and C. Boyden Gray....In the D block we'll ask the question "Can Harvey Pitt over at the SEC credibly investigate Dick Cheney? Is it a conflict of interest for him? He was appointed by a transition team headed by Dick Cheney and is now asking for a raise and promotion....What do you think? We'll do the Shuster/Jamison package and then talk to Kudlow and Robert Lenzner of Forbes magazine.... Still working out the buzz topics...Probably more polls numbers on Bush plus I'm looking for some Clinton sound out of Chicago yesterday...Also, there's an NYT piece on Conservative discontent with Ashcroft.. Don't miss the fun folks! Written, compiled and edited by Dominic Bellone in Washington, DC...For those of you with hard copies of the Washington Post, the Briefing got a little shout out on C7, the de Moraes column... http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53711-2002Jul23.html We got a kick out of Johnson's take on Chris' illness: Malaria quiets Chris Matthews - for now http://www.usatoday.com/life/columnist/media-mix.htm >From Imus this morning: Bernie: "He was half on his death bed listening to some barbarian in a cowboy hat savage him on the radio and TV." Rick Sanchez: "It could be caused by stress. If you were really beating the guy up that badly, which I recall you were, there is a possibility that you may have something to do with it Don." Imus: "I might have contributed to Chris being in the hospital, he has malaria what difference does it make what some jerk on the radio says about him." MSNBC's Rick Sanchez explains to Imus the repercussions of him bashing on Chris Matthews. Three members of the founding family of troubled cable operator Adelphia Communications Corp. were arrested on Wednesday as government officials claimed they "looted" the company they created over 50 years ago. (Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml;jsessionid=FQG4ZYLC02PKCCRBAEKSFEY?type=topnews&StoryID=1244422 "We had a wonderful lunch" Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill's only public comment after meeting with Wall Street on Tuesday Chutzpah award... Harvey L. Pitt, who barely goes a week without new calls for him to step down as chairman of the S.E.C., is asking Congress for a raise and more respect. (NY Times) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=68&ncid=68&e=2&u=/nyt/20020724/ts_nyt/s_e_c__chief_seeks_promotion__chances_look_dim The White House on Wednesday dismissed a request by Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Harvey Pitt for a raise and a higher profile, calling it a "potential distraction." (Reuters) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55859-2002Jul24.html Fun Clinton news... Former President Bill Clinton took several swipes here Tuesday at the Bush administration for focusing on the war against terrorism at the expense of the deepening AIDS epidemic. (Chicago Sun Times) http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-push24.html The 2000 presidential election case between George W. Bush and Al Gore is an example of a hypocritical Supreme Court majority that broadens the rights of states only when it serves conservative ends, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said. (AP) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020724/ap_wo_en_po/us_clinton_supreme_court_1 Is the Torch in danger of being extinguished? The latest exclusive Eyewitness News Survey USA Poll of the New Jersey senate race shows a real deadlock between incumbent Senator Robert Torricelli and Republican challenger Douglas Forrester. http://kyw.com/news/StoryFolder/story_103336632_html President Bush's approval rating has slipped to the mid-60s amid growing nervousness about the economy. (AP) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&ncid=716&e=3&u=/ap/20020724/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_polls Americans sour on the economy...Corporate accounting scandals and the plummeting stock market have taken a heavy toll on public confidence in the economy, according to results of an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/784520.asp A Bid to Regain Economic Initiative...President Bush's economic policy team is starting a heightened public relations campaign to highlight the economy's bright spots and a push to grab the legislative initiative (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53511-2002Jul23.html Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle quietly slipped into a spending bill language exempting his home state of South Dakota from environmental regulations and lawsuits, in order to allow logging in an effort to prevent forest fires. (The Washington Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20020724-662627.htm Many who pressed President Bush to appoint John Ashcroft attorney general now say they have become troubled by his actions in the fight against terrorism. (NY Times) http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=68&ncid=68&e=3&u=/nyt/20020724/ts_nyt/ashcroft_s_terrorism_policies_dismay_some_conservatives Senate rejects prescription drug bills...The Senate scuttled rival bills Tuesday to provide Medicare prescription drug coverage in a standoff with implications for the fall campaign. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/784616.asp As lawmakers and aides sought agreement in private talks, Democratic sources said the lead Senate negotiator, Banking Committee Chairman Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.), was refusing to make significant changes in the Senate's approach to such central issues as disciplining auditors and restricting their ability to serve as consultants to companies they audit. (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53943-2002Jul24.html With homeland security in mind, summer camp trains teens...Evacuating buildings, putting out fires, and doing CPR. A post-9/11 camp in Bucks teaches how to take the lead...(Philadelphia Inquirer) http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/news/nation/3725453.htm Palestinians Vow Revenge For Gaza Attack...Enraged Palestinians vowed swift and deadly revenge Tuesday for an Israeli missile attack that killed 15 people and scuttled a proposed accord among Palestinian militants to end suicide bombings. (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51401-2002Jul23.html?referer=email Soldiers were pressing the search for top Taliban fugitive Mullah Mohammed Omar earlier this month when the mission tragically went awry, killing dozens of Afghans celebrating a wedding, defense officials said Tuesday. (AP) http://nandotimes.com/special_reports/terrorism/retaliation/story/475440p-3800209c.html The incoming head of the Transportation Security Administration has been asked by Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to take a fresh look at whether to allow pilots to carry guns (AP) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=542&ncid=703&e=8&u=/ap/20020724/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/airline_security_17 House set to vote today on giving Traficant the boot (Cleveland Plain-Dealer) http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news/1027503642269190.xml The Rev. Al Sharpton came out swinging yesterday at a long-secret FBI tape of him discussing a cocaine deal, claiming it presents a "distorted" picture of him that another tape refutes. (NY Daily News) http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/5581p-5131c.html The Rev. Al Sharpton threatened HBO with a $500 million lawsuit over a "distorted" undercover video - that appears to show him discussing a drug deal - the network aired last night. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/53276.htm Hedging your bets is a time-honored form of political wagering, but it may be more popular than ever in this year's crowded, continually shifting campaign for governor of Massachusetts. (The Boston Globe) http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/205/metro/Split_decisions_Campaign_contributors_spread_wealth+.shtml Gubernatorial race tightens, voter poll finds...Survey: As Townsend loses her big early lead over Ehrlich, the undecided 10 percent will be crucial in deciding the election. (The Baltimore Sun) http://www.sunspot.net/news/local/bal-te.md.poll24jul24.story?coll=bal%2Dhom A leading Democrat criticized President Bush on Tuesday for planning to spend a month at his Texas ranch while the stock market plunges and foreign affairs remain volatile. "It's clearly the wrong signal," said Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening (USA Today) http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-07-23-bush-vacation_x.htm State demands end to 'obscene' e-mails...The State Department has warned Foreign Service officers and employees at U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide to stop sending "abusive, obscene" e-mails such as those that recently ridiculed members of Congress. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/world/20020724-433741.htm Vice President Dick Cheney took an eight-hour ride aboard a Navy nuclear submarine Tuesday during a secret visit to Brevard County, his second stealth trip to the South in the past two weeks (Orlando Sentinel) http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/state/orl-locmveepvisit24072402jul24.story?coll=orl%2Dnews%2Dheadlines%2Dstate With Adoption Push, Bush Adopts a Clinton Tactic (The Washington Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53186-2002Jul23.html Is Connie Chung CNN's best shot? CNN is trying to fight Fox News with Connie Chung, and MSNBC is doing battle, too. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/784540.asp In the latest behind-the-scenes drama involving the NBC series "The West Wing," Rob Lowe is quitting his role as White House deputy communications director Sam Seaborn. (Variety) http://dailynews.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=855&ncid=579&e=2&u=/variety/20020724/en_variety/television_westwing_dc_3 Sandra Bernhard's anti-U.S. act....Plus: Brad Pitt as political pawn; Gisele won't be an 'Angel' http://www.msnbc.com/news/784617.asp NBC to get in on Martha-bashing with movie...On Media: NBC announced yesterday that the network is rushing a saga of Martha Stewart's various potboilers, cliffhangers and financial travails into a production to be ready by May. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20020724-94372008.htm Opinion/Editorial The Wall Street Journal: Political Malpractice...Do Senate Democrats want a prescription plan or an issue? http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pdupont/?id=110002030 And now for a hot flash...Want to clear a crowded room? Try starting a discussion about menopause, writes Newsweek's Anna Quindlen on who's to blame for hormone therapy. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/783402.asp Kelly: Do Have a Nice Day http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53621-2002Jul23.html Mondo Washington - by James Ridgeway...Are we headed for martial law?; churches to play important role in Bush's Citizen Corps; top execs land safely atop wall street debris http://villagevoice.com/alertrd.php3?article=36779 Conason: Bush's Tangled Past Is Relevant Today http://www.observer.com/pages/conason.asp Kemp: 'Infectious greed' and other miasmatic diseases http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/kemp.html Berlau: Tax Code Trauma http://www.insightmag.com/news/258763.html Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/ Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp ========================================= This email is never sent unsolicited. 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