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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 exclusively on MSNBC
Tonight we continue the slicin' & dicin' of Woodward's book with James Mann, author of
"The Rise of the Vulcans" (The one about the Bush war Cabinet) & Neocon hawk type
Frank Gaffney (Center for Security Policy) to hash out Woodward's interview over at
black rock last night...Btw, Woodward's in the house on Wednesday so get the TV trays
ready...
We'll also get some input from Newsweek's Fareed Zakaria...And we'll check in on White
House reaction from Howard Fineman...He'll throw in a heavy dollop of political
analysis as well..
Couple items to bear in mind today: Kerry hits Bush over Woodward assertions that the
Saudis will lower oil (thus gas) prices before November election...Saudis just
released a statement denying it...
Plus, Chairman & CEO of NBC Bob Wright will be here to discuss his piece in today's
Wall Street Journal, "The Big Chill." (Unfortunately the Journal is totally
subscription only so I can't link to the piece but check it out in the editorial
section of your hard copy)...Bob argues against further regulation of the televison
industry in the wake of Congressional calls to curb indecency on the airwaves...He'll
make the case tonight on Hardball...
Soon we celebrate Hardball's big 7th anniversary...Would you like to send a
congratulatory greeting to Chris? Click here http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036697/
Fineman: The Gospel According to George...The press wanted contrition. Maybe they
don't understand the man. Bush's faith will guide him-in Iraq and at the polls
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4767275/
National security adviser Condoleezza Rice forcefully disputed on Sunday an assertion
that President Bush decided in early January 2003 to invade Iraq, three months before
official accounts say the decision was made. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040419/D821VVBG0.html
Kerry slams Bush over Woodward book: "Last night ... it was reported that in the Oval
Office discussion around whether to invade Iraq that the president, the vice president
(Dick Cheney), the secretary of defense (Donald Rumsfeld) made a deal with Saudi
Arabia that would deliver lower gas prices," Kerry told a town hall meeting in Lake
Worth.
"But here's the catch," he said. "The American people would have to wait until the
election, until November of 2004..."Now, if this sounds wrong to you, that's because
it is fundamentally wrong and if what Bob Woodward reports is true -- that gas
supplies and prices in America are tied to the American election, then tied to a
secret White House deal -- that is outrageous and unacceptable,"
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=O5K02ZPOJJ3YMCRBAEOCFEY?type=topNews&storyID=4868117
Saudi Arabia said Monday it will not use oil prices to try to sway the U.S.
presidential election, denying an allegation that the kingdom would cut petroleum
prices before November to boost President George W. Bush's re-election bid. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4868753
Briefing Buddy Ana Marie Cox gets a massive shout out in Sunday's New York
Times...We're very impressed
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/18/fashion/18WONK.html?ex=1397620800&en=f58640baa2cb15f6&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
We went to Ed & Jen Henry's party yesterday for their little son Patrick's 3rd
birthday...Spiderman was the theme of the party with music, cake and of course a cameo
by the webbed one himself...Ed, of course, was a long time writer of "Heard on the
Hill" over at Roll Call (and a Briefing fan)...He recently "defected" over to CNN
according to The New York Times and will cover Congress for those folks..."The new
Jonathan Karl" we hear...His wife Jen is a PR czar over at Discovery channel...Happy
Birthday Patrick!
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from Washington, DC
'I Haven't Suffered Doubt'...Bush wanted to invade Iraq. What's striking, Bob
Woodward's new book reports, is how little he discussed it with anyone (Newsweek)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4756962/
Plan of attack excerpt: With CIA Push, Movement to War Accelerated...Agency's Estimate
of Saddam Hussein's Arsenal Became the White House's Rationale for Invasion
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/articles/woodward.html
Bush names Negroponte ambassador to Iraq...U.S. diplomat to U.N. would assume post
after June 30 handover http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4780027/
Violence stilled amid some progress in Fallujah...U.S. death toll at 99 in April,
Bremer issues security warning http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4667742/
Fallujah Leaders Call for Fighters to Turn in Weapons...Commitments Represent First
Results of Direct Negotiations (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A23659-2004Apr19.html
10 GIs Die in Attacks In Iraq...Spain's New Leader Orders Withdrawal (The Washington
Post) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21925-2004Apr18.html
Bush scolds Spanish PM over Iraq pullout...President tells Zapatero to avoid giving
'false comfort to terrorists'
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4772292/
"Every president of the last century did a better job than this president" in building
relationships with other nations, Kerry said during a breakfast where he raised
$250,000 for his campaign. "I know I can make America stronger, safer and more
secure." (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4778355/
Key provisions of the Patriot Act aren't set to expire until after the election, but
President Bush picked Pennsylvania, an electoral swing state, to argue the law is
critical for keeping tabs on terrorists and should be renewed. (AP)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040419/D821VO7O0.html
Kerry pushes for U.N. role in Iraq...Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry said
Sunday that if elected he would commit additional U.S. troops to Iraq if necessary,
but also would offer the U.N. a more substantial role in the violence-torn country.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4771823/
The United States is bracing for possible terrorist attacks before the November
presidential election, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said Sunday...The
opportunity for terrorists to try to influence the election, as was the case last
month in Spain, appears to be an opportunity that would "be too good to pass up for
them," Rice said. (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4772054/
Vice President Dick Cheney used a speech to the National Rifle Association on Saturday
to paint Democrat John Kerry as a firearm industry foe bent on over-regulating gun
makers and owners. (Reuters) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4771649/
Ending months of speculation, Tom Brokaw has finally selected his own personal D-Day,
informing NBC News that he will step down as anchor of "Nightly News" on Dec. 1.
(Variety)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/variety/20040418/va_mi/anchor_away__brokaw_locks_dec__farewell_1
Former acting FBI Director Thomas J. Pickard told the September 11 commission in a
private interview earlier this year that he was surprised that Jamie S. Gorelick is
serving on the panel because she had played a key role in setting the very
counterterrorism policies being investigated.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20040419-124039-3448r.htm
Opinion/Editorial
Pat: Thinking the Unthinkable http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38102
Rouseaux: Lab's Labors Lost? http://www.techcentralstation.com/041904B.html
Landfield: NJ State Republicans See 2004 As a Year of Opportunity
http://www.practicalpolitics.net/landfield/4_16_04.html
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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