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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Hardball airs tonight at 7p, 11p & 4a ET....4p, 8p & 1a PT
Lots more stuff to talk about tonight RE: 9/11 Commission, Will she or won't she?
(Condi testify under oath), The White House campaign to "correct" Richard Clarke's
recollection of his years as counterterrorism czar and the political fallout thereof...
We're really jammin' and Mortman is out this week so I'm on "banner duty" which means
writing those cute and informative factoids you see in the lower third of your TV
screen during the show...
Here's our lineup...
Lee Hamilton, 9-11 Commission co-chair does the continuing brouhaha over the hearings
and the "Condi V. Clarke" story...
Roger Cressey, Clarke's former deputy and current business partner weighs in on
Clarke's behalf http://www.goodharbor.net/sides/aboutus-cressey.html
A group of 9/11 families are ticked off at Clarke, his testimony and his book...They
wrote an open letter to Clarke which appeared in the NY Post yesterday....We'll talk
to one of the signatories to the letter
No Thanks Mr. Clarke
http://nypost.com/seven/03282004/postopinion/opedcolumnists/17665.htm
In the back half we'll talk to Congressman David Dreier and Ron Suskind, author of
"The Price of Loyalty" (you know that one about Paul O'Neill and the inside scoop on
the Bush White House?)...Those two will debate the Condi V. Clarke story and the White
House strategy vis-a-vis the 9/11 Commission...It gets a little heated between those
two trust me...
Finally, Howard Fineman wraps it all for us with the White House 2004 angle, the
latest polls and his reporters notebook on the White House's negotiations to get Condi
to testify...
PS A special shout out and major kudos to Briefing subscriber Robert Cox over at
http://thenationaldebate.com who was instrumental in reshaping the New York Times'
corrections policy on the editorial page...As you know his website played Hardball
with the Times (parodying their corrections policy) which caused some heartburn over
at The Grey Lady...They tried to shut him down but ultimately he prevailed...His ideas
and name appear below...
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/28/weekinreview/28bott.html?pagewanted=print&position=
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC
Rice steadfast in refusal to publicly testify...Pressure grows for open testimony from
national security adviser
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601195/
The White House looked for a deal on Monday with the Sept. 11, 2001, commission under
which national security adviser Condoleezza Rice would appear in private before the
panel, but it refused to budge in the face of demands she testify in public and under
oath. (Reuters)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=578&e=1&u=/nm/20040329/pl_nm/security_rice_dc
9/11 Hearings Backgrounder http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4601064/
Bush welcomes seven new NATO nations...White House ceremony showcases new European
defense http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4623309/
Clarke wants info declassified...Richard Clarke, the former chief counterterrorism
adviser at the White House, told NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that he "would welcome"
the attempt by Republicans to declassify his testimony before Congress.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4619346/
Several hundred people stormed the small yard of President Bush's chief political
strategist, Karl Rove, yesterday afternoon, pounding on his windows, shoving signs at
others and challenging Rove to talk to them about a bill that deals with educational
opportunities for immigrants. (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31890-2004Mar28.html
A Massachusetts police officer describes his Democratic senator, John Kerry, as a
presidential candidate who likes higher taxes in a radio ad that President Bush's
re-election campaign began airing nationwide Monday. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040329/D81K9C0O0.html
Cheney: Kerry would erase Bush tax cuts...Vice president seeks to bolster president's
standing on economy (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4623329/
Sen. John Kerry brought his presidential campaign to a St. Louis church Sunday, mixing
preaching with politics, and Scripture with soul. (The St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/News/St.+Louis+City+%2F+County/C880131FB7D7C7D686256E660025D041?OpenDocument&Headline=Kerry+preaches+jobs+at+church+in+city
John Kerry cited a Bible verse Sunday to criticize leaders who have "faith but has no
deeds," prompting President Bush's spokesman to accuse Kerry of exploiting Scripture
for a political attack. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20040329/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_21&printer=1
John Kerry lashed out at Vice President Dick Cheney on Monday, accusing Cheney of
distorting his Senate record on taxes as the Democrat sought to shift the debate to
President Bush's stewardship of the economy. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040329/D81K8KG00.html
Kerry in need of a blueprint...He has yet to put distinctive stamp on candidacy (The
Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4615655/
Hughes Rises to Bush's Defense...Trusted Adviser Launches Book Tour, Plans to Join
Campaign (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31906-2004Mar28.html
Blow for Bush Over 9/11 Charges...Public confidence in the president's handling of
homeland security has been damaged by the testimony of former counterterrorism chief
Richard Clarke to the 9/11 panel this week, according to the latest Newsweek poll.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4614818/
Hamas: Bush is enemy of God...The new Hamas leader branded President Bush on Sunday
"the enemy of God, the enemy of Islam," but stopped short of threatening to attack
American targets in retaliation for the assassination by Israel of the Islamic
militant group's founder.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4575552/
Opinion/Editorial
John Fund on the Trail...Kerry's antiwar record deserves more scrutiny from the press.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110004881
Barnicle: The burning questions...Too bad 9/11 victims couldn't confront some
witnesses http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ideas_opinions/story/177837p-154734c.html
Novak The transformation of Richard Clarke
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak291.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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