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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Question: If we attack Iraq, is the FBI prepared to defend against another big
terrorist 9/11 type of attack? Experts, including Chairman of the Senate Intelligence
Committe Bob Graham, don't think so...Dig this quote from today's Washington Post:
"They [FBI] still don't know where the terrorists are, how many are here, what their
intentions are, what kind of support network they have...They can't give me an answer
because they don't have one...They have so little to show for their work and we have
so little time to take action now....There will be hell to pay if we don't use the
next 60 days [before a war with Iraq might begin] to do everything in our power to
dismantle their capability."
I don't make this stuff up folks...
With intelligence agencies predicting that Iraq and sympathetic Islamic extremists
will attempt to launch terrorist attacks against the United States in the event of
war, many government officials are growing concerned that the FBI is dangerously
unprepared to detect or thwart strikes on U.S. soil. (The Washington Post)
http://msnbc.com/news/833700.asp
All this in light of the lame-duck session of Congress this week in which the White
House is pushing for the creation of the new Homeland Security Department...Will it
happen? Will it protect us? Find out tonight exclusively on MSNBC, America's
NewsChannel and protector of great cable tv...9 pm et
President Bush said Tuesday the creation of a Homeland Security Department is the
"single-most important business" before the lame-duck Congress, and summoned lawmakers
to the White House for private arm-twisting sessions. (AP)
http://msnbc.com/news/833668.asp
We'll talk to some of the arm twisted...
Plus...Iraq assembly rejects U.N. demand...Iraq's parliament voted on Tuesday to
reject the tough new U.N. Security Council resolution to disarm the country, though
lawmakers said they would leave the final decision to President Saddam Hussein.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/821736.asp
Our ace lead booker Mike Tirone is breaking out the all star big gun panel tonight:
Coulter, Cottle, and Blankley with special guest appearances by Senator John Breaux
and Senator-elect/FOH (Friend of Hardball) Lindsay Graham...
Btw, wasn't it great during the Impeachment trial when Lindsay said in his famous
Southern drawl, "I don't know about you, but where I come from if you're talking to
someone on the phone at 2 am, you're up to no good."
In the D block we're going a bit cerebral with a debate on where this country is
heading demographically and what it means for each party...Ruy Teixeira just
co-authored a book called "The Emerging Democratic Majority" which says the trend
favors Dems...Cato institute Director of the Center for Representative Government John
Samples says that's not the case...Shuster & Jamison are putting their package
together as we speak...
In the Buzz block we'll go from spinach to a hot fudge sundae dessert....We'll take a
walk on the sleazy side with National Enquirer reporter David Wright, who co-authored
the book "Sex, Power & Murder" about Gary Condit...
And don't forget, tomorrow is the Big College Tour at the Air Force Academy
College Tour Backgrounder links
Air Force Academy http://www.usafa.af.mil/flash/index.html
MSNBC Air Force backgrounder (Bratty-Go updating)
http://stacks.msnbc.com/news/831599.asp
College Tour Homepage http://www.msnbc.com/modules/tvnews/hardball_collegetour/
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing in Washington, DC...Happy
Anniversary Pops!
The F.B.I. has initiated an unusual behind-the-scenes attack on another law
enforcement agency, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, as part of an effort
to protect its turf and responsibility for domestic security, law enforcement
officials said today (The New York Times)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=68&ncid=68&e=1&u=/nyt/20021112/ts_nyt/f_b_i__attacks_a_t_f__in_draft_report
President Bush scoffed Tuesday at the Iraqi parliament's recommendation that the
latest United Nations arms-inspection resolution be rejected, calling it "nothing but
a rubber stamp for Saddam Hussein." (AP)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apwashington_story.asp?category=1152&slug=US%20Iraq
A majority of Americans support President Bush's push for war against Iraq and say
Democrats are not tough enough in dealing with terrorism, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll
shows. http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2002-11-11-poll-usat_x.htm
Complete poll http://www.usatoday.com/news/polls/tables/live/1111.htm
Democratic Gov. Howard Dean signed up a veteran party activist Monday to help him
raise money for his expected run for president. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021112/ap_on_el_pr/dean_president_2
Moderates hope their slightly greater presence as a result of last week's election
will lead to both parties putting aside some of their strident political differences
when a new Congress convenes in January. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20021111/ap_on_go_co/congress_the_middle
Democrats to lead lame-duck Senate...The interim senator from Minnesota will remain
independent, meaning that Democrats will retain control of the Senate for another two
weeks. http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/833668.asp
Lame Ducks Return With Bush Directive...Democrats Retain Senate Control for Now
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40862-2002Nov11.html
Milbank: Lott's Promise to Bring Up Abortion Worries Bush Aides
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40763-2002Nov11.html
The Rev. Al Sharpton met for an hour yesterday with the Iraqi ambassador to the United
Nations. (NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/61936.htm
Edwards will echo GOP in speech on economy...He'll call for keeping tax cuts, trimming
government by 10% (Charlotte Observer)
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/4498608.htm
Democrats' losses may help Edwards...Blame could bury better-known Gore, Gephardt,
Daschle (Charlotte Observer)
http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/local/4498620.htm
The Supreme Court isn't giving any help to states that want to collect more
information about campaign spending...Justices turned down a request Tuesday by
Mississippi and 20 other states that want to clarify what campaign speech is so states
can more closely regulate it. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=558&ncid=703&e=4&u=/ap/20021112/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_judges_elections
Webster likely to step down...Questions persist about failed Internet investment firm
(The Wall Street Journal) http://msnbc.com/news/833833.asp
Mum's no longer the word...Last we heard from Susan McDougal, she was contemplating
political office. Instead, she penned a tell-all about her incarceration for refusing
to rat out former President Bill Clinton in the Whitewater deal. (Washington Whispers)
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/021118/whispers/18whisplead.htm#mcdougal
Cindy Adams on Condi: What are her obsessions? Who were her lovers?
http://pagesix.com/cindyadams/25153.htm
Liz Smith on 2004: http://www.pagesix.com/lizsmith/lizsmith.htm
Reiter (Salon) Trading places...Bobby Brown poses as a schoolmarm, Val Kilmer as a
prude. Plus, J.Lo gets dissed on TV.
http://www.salon.com/people/col/reit/2002/11/12/nptues/index.html
Kurtz: On CNBC, Boosters for The Boom...Has network been tarnished by its enthusiastic
support for discredited CEOs and analysts?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41103-2002Nov11.html?referer=email
Opinion/Editorial
Coulter Latest: It's hard to say whether election night was worse for Saddam Hussein
or Barbra Streisand. Apparently America doesn't want to surrender in the war on
terrorism or outlaw the Pledge of Allegiance.
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter.html
Ingraham: Eminem, a rebel? You gotta be kidding!
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/1102/ingraham.html
Ed Koch: 'God help the Democratic Party'
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_5.html
Hentoff: Barring Clarence Thomas
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/hentoff.html
Mondo Washington: Attention, Small-D Democrats...The Party's Over
http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0246/ridgeway.php
Wickham: Pelosi offers leadership House Democrats need
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usatoday/20021111/cm_usatoday/4610355
Bray: The Case for GOP Triumphalism...This is no time to go wobbly on economic policy.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/tbray/?id=110002608
Mallard Fillmore http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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