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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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President Bush declared this afternoon that he wanted "no child left behind." That's
nice and cute but I'm here to declare that I want "No Hardball Viewer Left Behind."
When you read today's Briefing and watch tonight's show, you'll understand why...
Tonight we'll lead the show with David Frum, the former Bush speechwriter who just
wrote the book "The Right Man: The Surprise Presidency of George W. Bush"...It's been
creating quite a stir inside the beltway as you're well aware from our Buzz block last
night...Credited with writing Bush's famous "Axis of Evil" speech last year, Frum will
join us to discuss that speech and life inside the Bush White House, Bush the man and
the people who surrounded him. Dig this quote: "If you looked more narrowly at the
White House staff, there was again a dearth of really high-powered
brains...Conspicuous intelligence seemed actively unwelcome in the Bush White House"
Look for some fiesty heat coming right out of the box tonight...
Veteran Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and newly sworn in Senator John Sununu
(R-NH)...You know his dad, he's a regular on Hardball as well (Fmr. NH Gov and Bush I
CoS...Chief of Staff)...They're in the b/c block tonight...They'll discuss the 108th
congressional agenda, the Bush economic plan and the renomination of judge Charles
Pickering...A fight is a brewin' on that one folks...
We're gonna have a little fun in the D Block debate...Republicans opened loopholes in
the House gift ban yesterday that will allow lobbyists to send them lobster, caviar,
prime steaks - as well as more modest fare. (The Hill)
http://thehill.com/news/010803/lobster.aspx
We'll get into with a Common Cause's Don Simon....
In the Buzz we got Eddie Rendell (Hardball buddy and new Gov of PA) plus Tony Blankley
(I like to call him "T") from The Washington Times...We'll get into the Bush tax
cut/stimulus package and Daschle dropping out the race for the White House...
I gotta run...Really busy today as we're down a few soldiers due to illness....
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC...
Dig this missive from Mortman....
Oh, the cajun-style BBQ shrimp. Oh, the fried artichoke and dip. Oh, the
chocolate-dipped strawberries (fresh strawberries in the dead of winter?). Hardball's
Mortman ended the day on the Hill with a drop-by to the Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK)
reception, where he shared secrets with Hardball Briefing loyalist John Fund and PR
diva Diana Bannister and made a silver bulleted contact with the National Beer
Wholesalers Association. Earlier he joined Chris in both press galleries for opening
moments of the 108th Congress. They took in the photo-esque swearing in of the entire
House (highlight -- Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) raising his right hand while juggling
parenting responsibilities), and witnessed the now infamous hearty Lott greeting of
Daschle followed by the Lott snub of Frist. The carnival on the Hill continues today
as Mortman lunches with top DC insiders at a trendy nearby restaurant to discuss the
congressional agenda...Chris Matthews was the only prime time cable TV talk show host
working the Hill yesterday, Mortman adds...
Matthews watch...
8:27 am et on Imus tomorrow morning
http://www.msnbc.com/news/hardball_front.asp
Fund's Diary Missouri Loves Company? Nope...The Democrats have a new front-runner--and
it may not be who you think. http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110002873
Democratic Sen. Zell Miller, a popular former Georgia governor, announced Wednesday he
won't seek re-election in 2004 - a move that could complicate Democratic efforts to
retake the Senate. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20030108/ap_on_go_co/senator_retires
Fresh Face Watch...
Sen. Bob Graham (Fla.) met yesterday with Democratic National Committee Chairman
Terence McAuliffe to discuss the race, and Graham spokesman Paul Anderson said the
senator "has moved to the next level" in his consideration.
McAuliffe lunched yesterday with retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark, who has been talked
about as a possible candidate. In a phone interview, Clark refused to rule out a
candidacy, but said, "I am not a candidate, I haven't declared a political party, I
haven't taken any political money. I'm just a concerned citizen, and I'm talking to
anybody and everybody and I'm not speculating on the future."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24625-2003Jan7.html
B-1 bombers deploy for possible war...The latest signs of the U.S. military buildup in
the Persian Gulf region include the deployment early Wednesday of B-1 bombers.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/852248.asp
U.S. Backs Direct Talks With N. Korea...Shift Aims to Ease Nuclear Standoff (The
Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24853-2003Jan7.html?referer=email
The United States, Japan and South Korea urged North Korea Tuesday to eliminate its
nuclear program, which is in violation of a 1994 anti-nuclear agreement. (UPI)
http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030107-055936-5893r
North Korea mum on U.S. offer of talks...North Korea said the Koreas should "pool
their efforts" to stymie what it called an American design to start a nuclear war on
the peninsula, but kept silent Wednesday on a new U.S. offer of dialogue.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/850567.asp
North Korea stepped up its campaign Wednesday to drive a wedge between Seoul and
Washington over the nuclear standoff, as South Korea's Defense Ministry called for a
stronger alliance with the United States. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=516&e=2&u=/ap/20030108/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear
WashPost: War's cost may dwarf stimulus effect...Mindful of his pending reelection bid
and his father's political mistakes, President Bush is plowing ahead with an ambitious
10-year, $674 billion economic stimulus plan. A Washington Post analysis.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/856378.asp
The 108th Congress opened yesterday with Republicans controlling both chambers, and
they immediately flexed their legislative muscle to pass an unemployment benefits
package in the Senate. Democrats protested but didn't have the votes to pass their own
plan. (The Washington Times) http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030108-189808.htm
Returning Congress Moves Quickly...The Senate extended unemployment benefits as
Republicans took control of both houses and moved to clear the decks for President
Bush's proposed tax cut and other initiatives. (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A24713-2003Jan7.html?referer=email
Democrats 'test' Frist as Senate leader...Sen. Bill Frist's honeymoon as majority
leader lasted about as long as it took to swear in this year's new slate of senators,
thanks to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. (The Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030108-415894.htm
Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman will return to his home town of Stamford,
Connecticut, next week to make his expected announcement that he will run for
president in 2004. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=2011416
A Buchanan and press interview: Sen. John Edwards on Iraq, proposed tax cuts, and 2004
http://www.msnbc.com/news/856663.asp
Former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo told fellow Democrats yesterday to be tougher on
President Bush - on everything from Iraq to tax cuts - if they want to regain power
(NY Post) http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/52853.htm
Opinion/editorial
Pat: The coming U.S. retreat from Asia
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/patbuchanan/pb20030108.shtml
Rich man, poor man, old man...President Bush tries to sell his economic stimulus plan
by turning tax cuts for the rich into tax cuts for senior citizens. By Will Saletan.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/856002.asp
Nachman: Reality TV Now and Then; Jerry Nachman interviews Dalton Delan, the so-called
Father of reality TV. What does he think of reality TV today? "You can't be
responsible for all your children," he says.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/856213.asp
Abrams' Closing Argument: Why the administration's proposed taxcuts could end up
sending the wrong message: The rich get a tax break, and the middle-to-lower class
risk their lives for country.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/846260.asp
Novak: Bush sticks to guns on long-term growth
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-nws-novak08.html
Landfield: Should Athletic Scholarships Be Abolished?
http://www.practicalpolitics.net/landfield/1_7_03.html
Goldberg: Creating tax system with 'shared sacrifice'
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/jonahgoldberg/jg20030108.shtml
Lieberman slams Bush's North Korean policy in the Post today as "unclear, inconsistent
and counterproductively confrontational."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A25026-2003Jan7.html
Rosset: Insane Asylum Policy...The U.N. nurtures terrorists and lets real refugees
fend for themselves.
Sowell: Quotas on trial http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/sowell.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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