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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Hardball airs tonight on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your
TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp
Terrorism has us starting the show tonight with U.S.-Saudi relations. Two U.S.
contractors were recently killed in Saudi Arabia. Is the Saudi royal family in
danger? How about our oil supply? NBC News' chief foreign affairs correspondent
Andrea Mitchell has the latest with perspective. And no one knows Saudi Arabia better
than Chris' guest Richard Murphy, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.
New York Gov. George Pataki, whose state was victimized by terrorism and now gears up
for the Republican National Convention, joins us next. Pataki is one of the
President's best friends and allies and he's a Bush campaign surrogate. Chris will
get the inside scoop on the Battle for the White House. Speaking of New York, Team
Chris Matthews is in the city that never sleeps -- doing the show out of the NBC
mother ship at 30 Rock.
Up With Purple!
>From Purple mountains majesty to purple rain, America loves purple. Now, purple
>states are the "in" thing. All this royal purple is turning the presidential
>campaigns black and blue. Hardball elections correspondent David Shuster does the
>definitive piece. Here's his preview: "Our package tonight will focus on the so
>called 'purple states,' those election battleground states where the polls show the
>2000 margin of victory was 5% or less. We will examine what the polls suggest for
>the Kerry/Bush match up, what the unique issues are in the purple states, and why we
>use that color to begin with."
Ed Rendell, governor of one of the purplest states of 'em all, Purple Pennsylvania,
brings his purple prose to the show, sharing with Chris the latest in politics.
Surely Rendell will render the inside scoop on Kerry's search for a running-mate.
We'll round out the show with an exciting, spicy serving of political gumbo: The
Nation's Katrina vanden Heuvel vs. Human Events' Terry vanden Jeffrey (his name sure
comes alive with "vanden" in there, doesn't it? Most do). Chris will lead the
debating duo through Presidents Bush and Clinton (they hung Clinton's official White
House today), more on Planet Clinton (his book comes out soon), the Reagan legacy, and
Cheney. We'll also get into the politics of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Cheney isn't the only one who inhabits undisclosed secure locations. Briefing editor
Dominic Bellone is on vacation this week. We can't tell you where, but it rhymes with
Plyerland. His replacement for the week is Howard Mortman who will be -- as they
often call cabinet secretaries appointed to fill out the last days of lame duck
administrations -- a non-controversial caretaker.
Back to Shuster. He notes that former President Bush and others jumped out of an
airplane over the weekend
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5197521/ and, with both feet planted firmly on the ground
but tongue in cheek, sends along this e-mail: "Given that another unnamed cable
network is getting their unnamed political anchors to jump out of airplanes in search
of a story... we at MSNBC have decided that this is a terrific development in the
world of broadcast journalism. So, this week, our own prime time lineup will
include: "Chris Matthews, the Human Cannonball," "Bungee Jumping with Tom Brokaw,"
"Tim Russert's Fun with Alligators," "Barreling Niagara with Brian Williams," "Keith
Olberman's Rip Tide Challenge," "Blasting over Snake River Canyon with Lester 'Evil
Knievel' Holt," "Deborah Norville's Rodeo ride," and "Shooting the apple off of Joe
Scarborough's head." Please tune in."
Saudi clerics blast violence, American still held; Al-Qaida seen starting new tactic
in drive against Saudi regime http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5196406/
Saudi Arabs, Americans, and Oil:
http://www.saudi-american-forum.org/Newsletters/SAF_Essay_10.htm
Understanding US-Saudi Relations: Challenging Stereotypes
http://www.saudi-us-relations.org/newsletter/saudi-relations-interest-12-12.html
NBC News' Carl Quintanilla has this piece on MSNBC.com: Kerry heads back on campaign
trail After unexpected break, supporters see time to regain momentum
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5191006/
Bush and Kerry back on campaign trail Overt politicking avoided during Reagan mourning
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5206869/
Washington Post: "Doubts linger as Kerry advances; Supporters want a sharper image
from Democratic candidate http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5203735/
Official portraits of Clintons unveiled; Artist is first black commissioned to do
presidential painting http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5208309/
Time magazine has a poll on religion and the presidential race.
http://www.time.com/time/
Finally, here's an item that made the rounds of our morning conference call:
"Courteney Cox, husband just cuckoo about Coco Former 'Friends' star gave birth to
baby girl a week before due date." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5202798/
Watergate junkies know we recently lost Archibald Cox. We still have Chris Cox. Now,
we've gained Coco Cox. Love those "hard K" sounds. Always get a laugh.
I'm Howard Mortman and I approved this Briefing.
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