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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Another big day in Washington and Hardball-land as we cover day two of the 9/11
Commission hearings...CIA Director George Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller take
their turns on the hot seat today...We'll bring you live coverage throughout with
political analysis from Howard Fineman and the reportage of David Shuster (live from
the hearing) and Dana Priest who has an explosive piece fronting the Post this
morning...
And later, during our 7 pm ET show we'll wrap up the hearings with Commissioners Slade
Gorton (R) & Jamie Gorelick (D)...Plus the latest out of Iraq and maybe some more
political slicin' and dicin' of last night's POTUS presser...Btw, where's Kerry in all
this? He's out today on Iraq and maybe we'll play some sound from that...We'll use
that to kick around a discussion on the Iraq/9-11 Commission hearings and how it's all
playing out politically as Bush seeks re-election...
Briefing "must reads"
Dana: Panel says Bush saw repeated warnings...Tenet: 'System was blinking red'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4734564/
Mortman: People magazine, Spears get it right on Sept. 11...No demagoguery from this
sassy singer http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4733689/
Are you an "Apprentice" like the rest of us? MSNBC.com's Sam Go throws her support
behind Bill on the eve of Thursday's grand finale...Here's why: Bill has the edge on
'The Apprentice'...Throughout the series, he's proven he's a leader
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4704160/
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC
Tenet: CIA five years away from terror readiness...Intelligence chief tells 9/11 panel
more structural changes needed (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4738424/
Bush defends U.S. policy in Iraq...President Bush used a prime-time news conference to
reassure the nation about the occupation of Iraq and defend the administration's
response to a pre-Sept. 11 memo that warned of al-Qaida threats.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4723799/
Curry: A plea for perseverance - and for a second term...'I don't plan on losing my
job,' Bush tells televised press conference http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4732837/
Shales: A Prime Time to Ask The President Questions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A9997-2004Apr13.html
Iraqi cleric offers peace proposal...An Iraqi envoy appointed by rebel Shiite cleric
Muqtada al-Sadr said the cleric had asked him to convey a set of peace proposals to
U.S. officials. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4667742/
Fallujah fighting flares, truce in doubt...Baghdad scare as rocket hits Sheraton Hotel
(MSNBC) http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4667742/
U.S. troops poised to seize al-Sadr in Najaf suburb...U.S. forces massed on the
outskirts of Najaf yesterday as part of a campaign to capture anti-American Shi'ite
cleric Sheik Muqtada al-Sadr dead or alive. (The Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/world/20040414-010335-7691r.htm
U.S. warplanes and helicopters firing heavy machine guns, rockets and cannons hammered
insurgents Wednesday in the besieged city of Fallujah, and the commander of U.S.
Marines here warned that a fragile truce was near collapse. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040414/D81UM8U00.html
U.S. Army to extend Iraq combat tours...Move breaks earlier pledge to thousands of
soldiers (AP) http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4739978/
French journalist freed, U.S. soldier among corpses...Russia pulling workers out of
Iraq over violence (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4684713/
John Kerry is caught in a political quagmire: How do you criticize the Bush
administration's policy in Iraq without undermining the American troops fighting - and
losing their lives - there? (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040414/D81UFG280.html
President Bush appears vulnerable on several fronts, including support for whether he
deserves re-election and worries about the country's direction, but Democratic rival
John Kerry has been unable to capitalize on those weaknesses, a bipartisan poll
suggests. (AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040414/D81UK3V00.html
Ashcroft: U.S. 'blinded' to enemies...John Ashcroft blamed the refusal of the FBI and
the CIA to work together during the Clinton administration for the failure to detect
the Sept. 11 plot, quoting an FBI investigator Tuesday as complaining that "whatever
has happened to this, someday somebody will die."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4721976/
Wonkette's Gossip Roundup
http://www.wonkette.com/archives/gossip_roundup_modest_edition_015065.php
Toomey to appear on Friday's edition of Hardball
Senate race splits Republicans...Conservative political organizations are at odds over
which Republican to support in the Pennsylvania Senate primary between incumbent Sen.
Arlen Specter and Rep. Patrick J. Toomey. (The Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040414-123949-2466r.htm
Walls: Streisand poised to sing for Kerry? Plus, odds favor 'Apprentice' Bill; Lavigne
back in the mall http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4609976/
John Kerry, Young Republican? Among the many activities listed under Kerry's photo in
the Yale University yearbook of 1966 is membership in Yale Young Republicans. Both the
Democratic presidential candidate's campaign and the club's president at the time
think the listing is a mistake, if not a prank. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040414/D81UKA500.html
Opinion/Editorial
Rabinowitz: The 9/11 Widows...Americans are beginning to tire of them.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/medialog/?id=110004950
Terry: Two That Didn't Get Away http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=3592
Margolis: The Mother of All Blunders http://www.eric-margolis.com/
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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