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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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No sooner had I gotten back to my desk after kicking some guerrilla booking tactics
(fun story below) than the big UN resolution passed and Bush was issuing more threats
against Saddam in the Rose Garden...The UN appears to be speaking with one voice on
the 15-0 Security Council vote...We've crossed the proverbial Rubicon I suppose...What
exactly is in the resolution? What's our next move? Is peace possible or is war a
fait accompli?
Bush reax: "The United States has agreed to discuss any material breach with the
Security Council, but without jeopardizing our freedom of action to defend our
country. If Iraq fails to fully comply, the United States and other nations will
disarm Saddam Hussein."
We're putting together an all-star panel for a uniquely styled Hardball "slice and
dice". The lineup at this hour includes Bauer, Barney and a military type or two....
U.N. approves new Iraq resolution...Pact paves way for inspectors' return to Baghdad
(MSNBC) http://msnbc.com/news/821736.asp
In the D block, we'll do some early handicapping of the Dem '04 field...As the blood
continues to spill, recriminations fly and wounds licked, the Democrat party must
decide who will lead it and what the agenda will be...We'll get into those questions
and much more with political heavyweights Gergen and Fund...
Big Breaking News..MARTIN FROST IS EXPECTED TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE FOR MINORITY
LEADER THIS AFTERNOON. The votes aren't there...Developing hot...Also, in a twist
today, Rep. Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN) has thrown his hat into the ring for the
position...It's now a Pelosi-Ford matchup....
In the E block (although we may throw him in the front half as well) we'll have none
other than Christopher Hitchens on the Iraq resolution and some more "Dems in
Disarray"...I'd be remiss if I didn't insert a gratuitous plug for his book...Why
Orwell Matters
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0465030491/qid=1036775202/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_1/104-6438696-3190343?v=glance&s=books&n=507846
Fun little story behind the Hitch booking...Hitchens and Sullivan were doing a mighty
fine dog and pony show on C-Span this morning in front of a group of college
students...C-Span is a couple of floors below us so I stood by the elevators as Andrew
and Hitch were vacating the premise while Brian Lamb saw them off...As I approached
and Hitch offered a handshake, Andrew remarked "aren't you a little out of place?"
(read an MSNBC guy hanging out at C-Span)...I joined the two gents on the ride down as
I pitched them on tonight's show...Andrew said he was leaving town tonight (claimed he
sent me an e-mail about being in town this week...I must've missed it) and couldn't do
it...We all shared some fun humor down in the courtyard (off the record of
course)...Hitch and I conducted an impromptu pre-interview over a smoke and
espresso...We did some election reax, Dems in disarray, and the meaning of today's UN
vote...Anyway, he's doing the show and it should classic, as usual...
In the F block we're looking at Sebastian Junger ("Fire", "Perfect Storm", NatGeo,
Northern Alliance dude) on his latest piece in one of my favorite mags Vanity
Fair...Apparently Al-Qaeda has some operations in South America and Sebastian has the
goods on 'em...
All this for your viewing pleasure....Pls make plans to join us....
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from a sunny Washington, DC
"I urge the Iraqi leadership for the sake of its own people and for the sake of world
security and world order to seize this opportunity and thereby begin to end the
isolation and suffering of the Iraqi people," U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan told
the council. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=topnews&StoryID=1703773
Iraq's neighbor prepares for war...Jordan, a key U.S. ally seeks to persuade wary
citizens to support Iraq battle plans (MSNBC) http://msnbc.com/news/830732.asp
Ford will challenge two veterans for House Democrat leadership...Rep. Harold Ford Jr.
(D-Tenn.) said he would announce today he is challenging two veteran congressmen next
week for House Democratic leadership. "My candidacy and leadership would offer a new
era of energy and vision for the party," Ford, 32, said in a telephone interview late
Thursday. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/politics/article/0,1426,MCA_1496_1532752,00.html
"I recognize that I am an underdog because I'm starting out late," said Ford. But the
Tennessee Democrat also said that in the wake of Tuesday's election losses, "there's a
real yearning and a real appetite for change in the party." (MSNBC)
http://msnbc.com/news/831764.asp
VandeHei: In a post-election shakeup, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a California liberal, is the
front-runner in the race to succeed Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.) as the House
Democratic leader, key lawmakers said yesterday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25635-2002Nov7.html
Frost on Pelosi:"I think that her politics are to the left, and I think that the
party, to be successful, must speak to the broad center of the country," the Texas
Democrat told reporters in formally announcing his bid for the top House Democrat job.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20021108-504525.htm
Peggy: They Got What They Wanted...Can the Democrats find a purpose?
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/?id=110002591
Gephardt Defends Election Strategy...Bush's Popularity Overwhelming, Outgoing House
Democratic Leader Says (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25489-2002Nov7.html
Orin: Former President Bill Clinton yesterday defended the performance of his
handpicked Democratic national chairman, Terry McAuliffe, as grumbling grew over the
roles of both Clinton and McAuliffe in the Democrats' Election Day debacle.
http://www.nypost.com/commentary/50326.htm
President Bush summoned GOP congressional leaders Friday to press for swift passage of
his proposed Department of Homeland Security, trying to erase doubts by incoming
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott that this month's "lame-duck" session can accomplish
anything. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&e=2&u=/ap/20021108/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush
With two years in the U.S. Senate under his belt, Republican Sen. George Allen is
running for a leadership post in his party, according to Senate sources. (Daily
Progress) http://www.dailyprogress.com/frontpage/MGB5CM8N98D.html
Sneed: White House whispers: The UN resolution President Bush is seeking against Iraq
is expected to pass before the weekend is out.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sneed/cst-nws-sneed08.html
Iraq's neighbor prepares for war...As Iraq's neighbor and a crucial U.S. ally in a
possible war to oust Saddam Hussein from power, tiny Jordan is trying to convince its
population to rally behind the United States. By Paul Nasser.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/830732.asp
Homeland security is Bush priority...With his party set to hold majorities in both
houses of Congress, President Bush on Thursday laid out his priorities, with the top
job being to pass a bill creating a Department of Homeland Security.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/828323.asp
Afghan War Faltering, Military Leader Says...Myers Cites Al Qaeda's Ability to Adapt
(The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25588-2002Nov7.html?referer=email
Gertz: U.S. intelligence agencies have told U.N. weapons inspectors that Iraq has
hidden 7,000 liters of anthrax, but chief inspector Hans Blix never reported the
information to the U.N. Security Council, The Washington Times has learned.
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20021108-712686.htm
AL Gov. Don Siegelman on Thursday night called for a statewide recount of Tuesday's
gubernatorial election, saying that was the only way to know the rightful winner
(Birmingham News)
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/xml/story.ssf/html_standard.xsl?/base/news/103675054168430.xml
Statement from U.S. Rep. Bob Riley's campaign, issued Thursday night in response to
Gov. Don Siegelman's call for a statewide recount of the election totals in the
governor's race (Montgomery Advertiser)
http://www.accessmontgomery.com/NEWS/StoryLocalRILEYSTATEMENT.htm
Former Sen. Gary Hart, whose name has surfaced as a possible presidential candidate,
says he doesn't want to run for office, "but I don't want to sit on the sidelines
either." (AP)
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HART_PRESIDENT?SITE=SCGRE&SECTION=HOME
Harper: That's it, girls. Forget about it: White House spokesman Ari Fleischer is
getting married tomorrow, taking one of the nation's most eligible bachelors off the
romance market. http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20021108-87302353.htm
Opinion/Editorial
Heading for the exit polls...The net effect of keeping exit-poll results off the air
for hours is to make election coverage less accurate on average, not more so, writes
Michael Kinsley.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/832119.asp
Henniger: It's All Over Now, Baby Blue...The Democrats' reindeer armies are going
home. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/dhenninger/?id=110002593
Peretz: How the Dems handed Bush the election
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1102/peretz.html
Krauthammer: The uses of political courage
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/krauthammer.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
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