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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
Chris begins Hardball tonight with two news making Senators on torture: Sen. Richard
Durbin (D-Ill) sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee and Sen. Richard Shelby
(R-Al) is former chairman of the committee. Durbin has sponsored an amendment to the
defense authorization bill that would reaffirm the commitment of the United States not
to engage in torture.
Chris then gets into the latest from the 9/11 Commission and hearings with the panel
leaders: Chairman Tom Kean (former Republican governor of New Jersey) and Vice
Chairman Lee Hamilton (former Democratic congressman from Indiana).
Finally, Chris welcomes an extraordinary person: John Walsh, host of "America's Most
Wanted", for the 20th Anniversary of the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Here's what Nancy Reagan wrote today: "It hardly seems possible that it has been
twenty years since my husband spoke at the opening ceremony of the NCMEC. I know he
would be both impressed and gratified by how successful the Center has been."
Meantime, on its website, Dateline NBC is running this promo for its Friday 8 p.m.
show: "Ron Reagan will speak for the first time since his father's funeral in an
interview with NBC's Chris Matthews. Reagan will talk about what is was like growing
up as the youngest son of one of America's most popular leaders surrounded by power,
wealth and celebrity. In addition, he will share private family pictures and memories
never before made public. Reagan will also talk about the last years of his father's
life and how his mother is coping with her recent loss."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/
And check out the news Chris Matthews and Hardball made in the home state paper of the
Senate Minority Leader: http://www.argusleader.com/columnists/dkranz/06_16_04.shtml
Now, the Shuster corner. He favors the Briefing with this preview: "Today, we plunge
into the delicate campaign issue of god, religion, and presidential politics. Those
of you old enough to remember the 1960 election will recall the struggles John Kennedy
had in convincing voters that he, as a Catholic, would not be beholden to the Vatican.
Today, John Kerry's problem to some voters is that the 2004 Democratic nominee is not
Catholic enough. He supports abortion rights and stem cell research, issues that
trouble some Catholic religious leaders and cause religious voters around the country
to cringe. As for President Bush, his belief that God wants him "to engage the forces
of evil" troubles another part of the electorate. We will break it all down... and
make deadline... Amen!!!"
[[Briefing note -- Did you catch that line: "Those of you old enough to remember the
1960 election"??? C'mon, Shuster's 36 years old! Who's he kidding?]]
Shuster bonus -- he also sends this: "More Purple Haze -- technology update or dating
update? First it was a highly suggestive e-mail, then a free oil change, and now
another wonderful byproduct of our purple state package... a free phone! Yes, an
enterprising (and pretty) young lady from Nextel is giving me a test drive of a Nextel
direct/connect phone during the political conventions. If either convention is hit
with a terrorist attack, or if there are any emergencies, traditional cell phone
service likely won't work. (The public switch telephone network will become jammed.)
However, my potential hero advises that the Nextel direct/connect "walkie talkie" uses
a proprietary network that doesn't rely on the public switch. And I'm advised I'll
still be able to talk with my Nextel using colleagues (do I have any?) immediately in
the event of an emergency. Hmmm. "Hello MSNBC, John Kerry has selected his running
mate and it is... can you hear me now?" Tomorrow, the Shuster secret behind the
Mortman family's favorite lasagna...
Dominic Bellone update: Even though it's the 100th anniversary of "Bloomsday" and even
though James Joyce's unlikely hero Leopold Bloom moved through Dublin on June 16th,
1904 and even though Joyce once boasted that if Dublin were ever destroyed it could be
rebuilt from the pages of "Ulysses," I still can't reveal Dominic's whereabouts.
Perhaps he's working on the sequel: "More Ulysses."
Now, here's what's cooking on the threat board:
Bush: We're in Iraq till 'freedom is secure': http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5224382/
Washington Post on torture policy and Sen. Dick Durbin's amendment:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44849-2004Jun15.html
Washington Post: "An Indelible Day
On 9/11, University President Thomas Kean Had No Idea How Much His Life Would Change
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44754-2004Jun15.html
"9/11 panel sees no link between Iraq, al-Qaida": http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5223932/
"Terrorist group threatens to kill U.S. hostage; Video gives Saudis three days to
release al-Qaida militants
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5196406/
"McCain: Saudis paying for dealing with terrorists":
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5196406/
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: http://www.ncmec.org/
"Kerry raises $100 million in three months": http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5224724/
Fineman: "Best advice for Kerry: Be invisible; Bush may self-destruct by the time
November election occurs"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5224486/
>From yours truly, your humble narrator and Briefing caretaker: "American optimism
>still abounds on Iraq"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5216619/
Finally, I was struck by this item over on the Access Hollywood website: "Isn't It
'Ironic?' Alanis Engaged." http://www.accesshollywood.com/news/3424676/detail.html
Now I'm a huge fan of the institution of marriage, so I congratulate the Lost
Continent of Alanis. But I never did understand Ms. Morissette's definition of irony.
She really lowered the bar on irony. The things she described in her song just
happened -- they weren't ironic at all. Maybe one day she'll update the song with
more puzzling examples of what she considers ironic, things like: diving into the
shallow end of a pool, applying sunscreen before going to bed, watching the Daytona
500 then paying all her parking tickets, getting hit in the head with a Frisbee,
waking up one morning and getting herself a beer, wondering what if God were one of
us. Isn't it Ironic? No, it isn't.
I'm Howard Mortman and I approve this Briefing.
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