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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Clearly Iraq once again dominates the headlines as we inch closer and closer to
war...Several headlines we'll get into, or behind as it were, tonight include the
nature of the evidence Powell will/must present to the U.N. next week...Is there a
conclusive link between Saddam and Al-Qaeda? 9/11? And how about those Europeans? Are
they on board or not? 8 European nations penned a letter today expressing support for
Bush's war..."Old" Europe (i.e. Germany & France) remain off the reservation...How
about Arab support? Where do we go from here?
Hitchens is in the House tonight...Btw, my brother was at the debate Tuesday night at
Berkeley between Hitch and New Yorker magazine writer Mark Danner over war with
Iraq...Pete reports that Christopher intellectually body slammed Danner, who opposes
the war...Undoubtedly he'll bring that sensibility to the show tonight as he always
does...
In the debate we'll focus exclusively on the alleged Al-Qaeda/Saddam link...Ledeen &
Arkin will get into it....
In the Buzz, Jerry Springer will discuss his potential Senate bid and the coming war
with Iraq...Tomorrow we have Dennis Miller..
Keep it real, Bellone...
PS Was last night hot or what? I thought for a minute they were going to break out a
mud pit and throw the guests in there!
Sources inform the Briefing today that ace Roll Call reporter Ed Henry has a fun item
in his column about a certain tete-a-tete Tuesday night between Chris and Donna
Brazile...Due to the fact that it's subsriber only (for the wealthy and powerful as
opposed to us regular folk) I can't bring you the story...
A double dose of Mortman today...First the main course or as we say "spinach" (his
latest piece) then the dessert (his appearance at last night's funniest celebrity in
Washington contest)
Mortman: Of war and public opinion...Another quick, successful strike against Iraq
could be a boost for Bush http://www.msnbc.com/news/865647.asp
Dessert....
Last night was the Funniest Celebrity in Washington contest. The Hardball Briefing
brings you this exclusive report filed by Hardball producer Extreme Mortman, a
previous contestant (he lost to Joe Lieberman at the Improv a few years back).
Cheers to Tom Daschle for giving the strongest, gutsiest and funniest performance. A
sample of Daschle jokes: "Trent Lott would be here, but he's playing the Apollo
tonight." With Mondale and Lautenberg on the 2002 ballot, Democrats "demonstrated our
commitment to recycling, to senior citizens, and to the New Deal." Daschle, on
Bush's State of the Union address: "The good parts were written by David Frum, or so
he claims." Daschle, on GOP health care plan: "The only way you're going to get
coverage is if Bill Frist is driving by. Say what you will, but at least John Edwards
gave up ambulance chasing when he came to the Senate."
Mortman also notes he loved Lewis Black's guest spot. His expletive-filled rant
really shook up the National Press Club audience. A welcome tonic to stodgy
Washington. Plus a special thanks to Roll Call for making Mortman the star guest and
number one draw at their table.
Lloyd Grove: NBC News Alpha Male Tom Brokaw and Ecuadorean Trade Minister Ivonne
A-Baki headlined different Georgetown lunches a block apart yesterday, and we managed
to attend both. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63153-2003Jan29.html
United We Stand...Eight European leaders are as one with President Bush. (WSJ)
http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110002994
European Response Is Mixed...President Bush's address appeared to change few minds on
the issue of Iraq, but some European leaders who have been reluctant to go to war
against Saddam Hussein praised Bush's promise to share more intelligence information.
(The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63718-2003Jan29.html
Ricks: U.S. Confirms Presence Of Personnel in Iraq
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63116-2003Jan29.html
Hagel: "I don't think that's a good enough reason to say, 'The hell with the
inspectors. Let's go to war.'"
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030129/ap_wo_en_po/na_gen_us_iraq_27
Jordan to Allow Limited Stationing Of U.S. Troops...Jordanian willingness to
cooperate, although limited, marks a dramatic reversal of the neutrality proclaimed
during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63312-2003Jan29.html
"There's no question there's a residue of bitterness [among Democrats], and it's going
to be here for a while," said Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.). "There's a price to pay" for
the partisan politics Bush often practiced last year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63215-2003Jan29.html
Bush steps up Iraq diplomatic push...President Bush began a flurry of last-minute
consultations with world leaders on Thursday, as the leaders of eight European nations
issued an appeal for support of the U.S. stance on Iraq.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/842500.asp
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer also showed support for a reported Saudi proposal
for Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to leave office voluntarily, saying exile would be
a "helpful" way to resolve the showdown peacefully. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=3VOP1TR2JCTEICRBAEOCFFA?type=topNews&storyID=2141790
Bush Begins 'Final Phase' on Iraq...The administration emphasizes that the decision on
whether to launch a military attack, with or without allies, is weeks away. (The
Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63492-2003Jan29.html?referer=email
US Defense Secretary Donald Rumfeld, who last week stirred anger when he dismissed
NATO members France and Germany, both opposed to war with Iraq, as representing "old
Europe," revisited the subject Wednesday. (AFP)
http://www.spacedaily.com/2003/030130031614.7d6vtg6i.html
President Bush closed ranks with allies supporting his hard line against Saddam
Hussein as the White House lashed out Thursday at U.S. critics, accusing them of
"doing nothing about a growing menace." (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20030130/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_iraq
For my friends up North of the border...
Canada's position on Iraq divides cabinet...Liberal cabinet ministers are sharply
divided over Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien's response to a looming war in Iraq, with a
minority urging Canada to more strongly indicate its support for U.S. President George
W. Bush. (Globe and Mail)
http://www.globeandmail.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/front/RTGAM/20030130/wxcana/Front/homeBN/breakingnews
Will Canada Support War, or Not?...Opposition Pressures Chretien to Clarify Country's
Position on Iraq (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63713-2003Jan29.html
Obstacles to Bush Agenda Loom in Senate...Democrats Angry Over 2002 Campaign Tactics;
Republicans Wary of Rising Deficits (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63215-2003Jan29.html
The White House postponed a poetry symposium out of concerns it would be politicized
after some poets said they wanted to protest military action against Iraq. (AP)
http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/news/politics/5061790.htm
President Bush's threat to disarm Saddam Hussein, the centerpiece of his State of the
Union address, sparked criticism from senior Senate Democrats on Wednesday, some of
whom proposed legislation requiring a fresh congressional or U.N. vote before the
onset of hostilities. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20030129/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq
Search for clues after N.C. plant blast...Investigators were turning to eyewitnesses
early Thursday in the hope of obtaining some clue about the cause of an explosion and
raging fire at a plastics factory that killed at least three people and injured 37
others.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/865980.asp
Israeli troops sweep though Hebron...Israeli troops swept through Hebron, closing
Palestinian police and TV stations, searching homes and blocking major roads in a
crackdown on suspected militants.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/801833.asp
Bush's AIDS pledge 'unexpected'...President Bush asked Congress in his State of the
Union Address to triple AIDS spending in Africa and the Caribbean to $15 billion over
the next five years.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/865886.asp
Anti-war protesters on Wednesday predicted "literally millions" of people in New York,
San Francisco and more than 30 international cities would march the weekend of Feb. 15
against war in Iraq. (AP) http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/5058881.htm
Interest groups that successfully lobbied the White House to get their priorities
mentioned in President Bush's State of the Union address are beginning campaigns to
persuade Congress to make them law. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=544&ncid=703&e=5&u=/ap/20030129/ap_on_go_pr_wh/lobbyists_on_board
Opinion/editorial
Fund's Diary: Republicans have achieved parity among American voters.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110002993
Goldberg: Springer candidacy points to what's wrong with
celebrity politics
http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/jonah.html
Suellentrop: The French...Why do they hate us?
http://slate.msn.com/default.aspx?id=2077874
Eloquence isn't enough...President Bush was brutally eloquent last night about the
cause and the inevitable cost of war with Iraq. But if the words are just crafted for
the moment and haven't been thought through, they becomes an insult. By Michael
Kinsley.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/866044.asp
Will: Bush chooses not to reveal the goods on Iraq
http://www.suntimes.com/output/will/cst-edt-geo30.html
Novak: The reluctant war president
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak30.html
The President Charts His Course...The highlights, and lowlights, of George W. Bush's
State of the Union Message http://www.msnbc.com/news/865865.asp?0dm=C24JN#BODY
Coulter: War-torn Dems
http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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