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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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We lead Hardball with the burning question: Who's more dangerous: Osama or Saddam? We
whupped Iraq, but Saddam's still on loose...We whupped Afghanistan but Osama's still
MIA...Are we any safer? Why all the onerous terrorist threats and new terror tapes?
How many wars will it take to get off this merry-go-round? Have we lost focused on
Al-Qaeda in order to get Saddam? Are our forces stretched too thin? Sacred Rage
author and LA Times hot shot Robin Wright opines on the matter this evening...Plus,
Retired General Wayne Downing will let us know how the War on Terror is playing in
Peoria...Literally....He's out Peoria today but I doubt he'll be doing the Luntz
thing...Expect some serious military analysis for sure...
In the B block we're taking you out to The Windy City and the big AFL-CIO confab...As
a matter of fact, we'll talk to one of their grand poohbahs, Richard Trumka. He'll
size up the Dem field and maybe give us a preview as to who they'll endorse...The guy
to watch is Gephardt...He got the Teamsters endorsement and desperately needs this one
too...Tonight the AFL-CIO is hosting a big Presidential Forum which airs after our
show but we'll bring you the hot sound tomorrow...
In the D block we'll do the big issue of North Korea and our diplomatic dance over
there...They've said of our diplomat over there, John Bolten, "such human scum and
bloodsucker is not entitled to take part in the talks," in response to Bolten saying
that living in North Korea is a "hellish nightmare." Quite an egregious obloquy
wouldn't you say?
We've got a Hawk (Jed Babbin), who hasn't met a rogue nation he doesn't want to
pre-emptively strike and Clyde Prestowitz, an anti-Hawk and former Reagan guy who
wrote a book about the U.S. entitled "Rogue Nation" and who hates the pre-emptive
doctrine...Watch for sparks to fly...
In the Buzz we've got a Norah, Clarence & Stephen Hayes threesome....We'll continue
with the Dean stuff as he was out on the Today show this morning saying he is going
after Nader/McCain/Perot voters...Can he do it? Plus, Gore's going to give a big
speech on Iraq this Thursday but says he ain't running...What's his gig? Plus, we'll
follow up on the Colin Powell story from yesterday: who planted the retirement story
and why? I've also cut some Fritz Hollings sound from his presser yesterday where
he's slamming Bush...
Pls join us...Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from
Washington, DC
The White House yesterday stood behind a top arms-control official's description of
life in North Korea as a "hellish nightmare" and rejected Pyongyang's demand that he
be banned from upcoming talks on the North's nuclear weapons program. (The Washington
Times) http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20030804-111212-6491r.htm
Pyongyang, calling a senior American official "human scum" for criticizing North
Korea's leader, banned him from U.S.-proposed multilateral talks on its suspected
development of nuclear weapons. (AP)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20030804-121425-6611r.htm
New Mortman content: What do Democrats really want?...Polls show schizophrenia, angst,
fickleness guide voters http://www.msnbc.com/news/947009.asp
Howard Dean said Tuesday he has the best chance of beating President Bush because he
appeals to supporters of former independent candidates John McCain, Ross Perot and
Ralph Nader as well as to Democratic Party faithful. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030805/ap_on_el_pr/dean_politics_6
Fresh Face Alert: He's a Washington outsider, a fresh face, at a time many Democrats
may be looking for someone who hasn't been part of the Washington establishment. (Des
Moines Register) http://www.dmregister.com/opinion/stories/c2125555/21916593.html
Fun Clinton News
Former President Clinton rallied the ground troops of the Democratic Party - organized
labor - with a pep talk to union leaders gathered Monday to draw up a political
strategy they hope will take back the White House in 2004. (AP)
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-wh/2003/aug/04/080405030.html
Fun Hillary News
Hillary and Rudy - the best of friends? Asked last night by "Tonight Show" host Jay
Leno if she thought Rudy Giuliani would challenge her for the Senate in 2006, an
evasive Hillary Rodham Clinton did a political soft shoe. (NY Post)
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/2440.htm
Former Gov. Howard Dean will attend the court appearance of his teenage son today on
charges he was one of several teens involved in a scheme to break into a country club
and steal alcohol. (Barre Montpelier Times Argus)
http://timesargus.nybor.com/Regional_News/Story/69660.html
Powell denies departure plans...Secretary of State Colin Powell dismissed as
"nonsense" and "gossip" a report that he and his top deputy had given notice that they
would not serve a second term should President Bush win re-election. (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.com/news/947993.asp
Rep. Richard A. Gephardt is emerging as a top candidate among labor unions as he tries
to win support this week from the AFL-CIO national labor federation. (The Washington
Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030804-100925-6936r.htm
Unions' share of the work force has declined every year for the past 20 years, yet the
power of organized labor at the polling place continues to grow (AP)
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/politics/6459981.htm
Bomb outside Jakarta hotel kills 10...A powerful bomb exploded outside the Marriott
hotel in central Jakarta on Tuesday, killing 10 people and wounding 103 in what an
official said was likely a suicide attack.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/948382.asp
Vote on first gay bishop delayed...Episcopal bishops indefinitely postponed their vote
Monday on whether to approve the church's first openly gay elected bishop while
last-minute allegations of inappropriate conduct are investigated.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/947847.asp
Gay rights loom large on U.S. agenda...A convergence of events has pushed the issue of
the place of gays and lesbians in American society to the top of the nation's agenda.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/947715.asp
Calling himself a "smut peddler who cares," porn king Larry Flynt on Monday formally
announced his bid for California governor but acknowledged that voters might not be
able to stomach his sleazy background. (Reuters)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=638&ncid=762&e=3&u=/nm/20030805/en_nm/politics_california_flynt_dc
Amid talk he's being urged to jump back into the presidential race, Al Gore has
arranged to speak out on Iraq to a large anti-war group at New York University on
Thursday. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/2426.htm
The two 2004 Democratic presidential candidates who have emerged as standard-bearers
for the party's divergent views have sharpened their criticism of rivals as the race
reaches critical tests of strength. (Des Moines Register)
http://www.dmregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/21919180.html
Lieberman calls Dean a 'ticket to nowhere'...Howard Dean is too liberal and would lead
a "ticket to nowhere" if he were to snag the Democratic nomination for president next
year, said Sen. Joe Lieberman, one of Mr. Dean's chief rivals in the race to take on
President Bush. (The Washington Times)
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030804-112110-1524r.htm
Officials at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are referring some outpatients to nearby
hotels because casualties from operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have overloaded the
hospital's convalescence facility. (The Washington Times)
http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20030804-121425-6485r.htm
Opinion/Editorial
The Lieberman conundrum...Joe Lieberman has carved out a crucial, compelling role as
leader of the mainstream opposition. The problem is, he can't play the part. By Will
Saletan. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/948184.asp
Dan's Closing Argument...Why the constant warnings from the FBI and the Department of
Homeland Security about possible terror attacks are not just crying wolf as some
critics have suggested. http://www.msnbc.com/news/948469.asp
'The Real Deal' on the left...The only way Democrats would win is if America fails.
Does the left really have America's best interests at heart?
http://www.msnbc.com/news/948468.asp
Bush Team Plays Games With History (Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/opinion/ny-vprau043401275aug04,0,1891261.story
Steiner on Springer http://www.washtimes.com/national/steiner.htm
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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