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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Hardball airs on MSNBC at 7p, 11p & 4a ET & 4p, 8p & 1a PT Find MSNBC on your
TV http://www.msnbc.com/CableOperator.asp MSNBC also is on your XM satellite
radio on channel 130
A couple of journalists are being threatened with jail time if they don't
testify before a grand jury and give up a source in the Bush administration who
leaked the name of Valerie Plame...Plame you'll recall is a CIA operative and
the wife of former ambassador to Iraq Joe Wilson (circa Gulf War I). Wilson was
the guy who disputed President Bush's assertion that Saddam was trying to buy
uranium (read nuclear material) from the African country of Niger. Plame's
name was leaked to and reported by columnist Bob Novak. Wilson claims the
leaking of his wife's name was meant to intimidate him and put his wife's life
in danger as a covert operative. Those two journalists, Matt Cooper of Time
magazine and Judith Miller of the New York Times will join us..
Shuster does a package on the "Rummy on the hot seat" story...Bush commented on
the armor question earlier today and the Pentagon held a presser...Shuster will
bring you the latest on it... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6676765/
We'll also bring in Tony and Hilary Rosen to do the politics of it and a few
other newsie items of the day...
We finish up with the lawsuits some soldiers are filing to prevent being
dragooned involuntarily back to Iraq by the controversial "stop-loss"
program...Here's the background
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1506&u=/afp/20041209/ts_alt_afp/usiraqjustice_041209184310&printer=1
We'll talk to the lawyer of Qualls
Blankley backgrounder: On the new Intel honcho: Long live the czar
http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/tblankley.htm
And don't forget, tomorrow Jimmy Carter's in the house for a sit down with
Chris!
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Briefing from Washington, DC
A shortage of "up-armored" Humvees in Iraq, highlighted Wednesday by a
soldier's pointed question to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, is a
consequence of insurgent tactics the military didn't anticipate, the Pentagon's
chief spokesman said. (The Dallas Morning News)
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/10370644.htm
Bernard Kerik, President Bush's choice to run the Homeland Security Department,
made $6.2 million by exercising stock options he received from a company that
sold stun guns to the department - and seeks more business with it. (AP)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6684832/
President Bush on Thursday ruled out raising payroll taxes to help pay for
Social Security reform, a transition experts have estimated will cost $1
trillion to $2 trillion. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=IV0QLLKITDEO0CRBAE0CFFA?type=politicsNews&storyID=7042237
The Bush administration on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to allow Ten
Commandments displays on government property, adding a federal view on a major
church-state case that justices will deal with early next year. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=558&u=/ap/20041209/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_ten_commandments&printer=1
Bush continues to shape Cabinet for second term...Nicholson to head VA; 4
others to stay on job (AP) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6685600/
Officer Alleges CIA Retaliation...Lawsuit Says Agency Urged False Reporting on
Iraqi Arms (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A49647-2004Dec8?language=printer
On a gray wintry morning at this huge Southern California Marine base,
President Bush offered an unusually sober assessment Tuesday of the war in
Iraq, acknowledging that the insurgency is getting worse, that newly trained
Iraqi soldiers are fighting poorly at times and that the war's casualties are
taking a heavy toll on military families (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/12/08/MNGPBA8DPH1.DTL
All of John Kerry's one-time rivals in the Democratic presidential primary
eventually lined up to support him as the nominee, but only one got paid for it
- Al Sharpton (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&u=/ap/20041209/ap_on_el_pr/sharpton_democrats&printer=1
Secretary of State Colin Powell bid a nostalgic farewell on Thursday to the
NATO Western security alliance he first served as platoon commander facing down
the Soviet army 46 years ago. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=TAFVOHNOAMMBKCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=7040354
Secretary of State Colin Powell said Thursday he won't seek political office,
dismissing suggestions that he run for governor or senator in New York. (AP)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/POWELL_POLITICS?SITE=NYNYD&SECTION=POLITICS&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Howard Dean, with an eye on leading the Democratic Party in the wake of
widespread election losses, said Wednesday that Democrats must campaign on
their convictions and not give into the temptation to behave like Republicans.
(AP) http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041208/D86RN9MO0.html
Recognition of 'Christianophobia' sought...A Vatican diplomatic campaign is
trying to have "Christianophobia" recognized as an evil that is equal to hatred
of Jews and Muslims. (The Washington Times)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/world/20041209-122008-5991r.htm
Kissinger's Shadow Over the Council on Foreign Relations (The Nation Mag)
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20041227&s=sherman
Jesse Jackson: 2004 Election 'Ain't Over' (Marc Morano)
http://www.cnsnews.com//ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200412\POL20041208b.html
Opinion/Editorial
Cohen: Kerik's Bully History
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/260382p-222902c.html
Terry: Illegal Aliens Licensed to Kill
http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=5982
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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