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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
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radio on channel 130
We want to clue you in to our special report on our veterans at Walter Reed
Army Medical Hospital...Chris spent a couple of days touring the hospital,
talking to the vets, discussing their daily struggles to cope with their new
life without a limb or other permanent injury...He also hung out with retired
General Barry McCaffrey, who himself was a patient at Walter Reed during the
Vietnam War...McCaffrey has been a frequent visitor and booster to the hospital
ever since...Chris also threw a party for the soldiers there and handed out a
number of gifts...A special shout out and props to the folks at NBC Universal,
The NBC Experience Store, MSNBC, Microsoft, Pampers, Toys R Us & Target for
their generous support and donations...We'll bring you all of it tomorrow
night! Here's more backgrounder on it: 'Hardball' inside Walter Reed...Chris
Matthews on a wounded soldier's journey home..
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6686538/
Chris also kicked it at Fisher House which is an integral part of Walter Reed
and other Army hospitals across the country....According to their website
"These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most
stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness,
disease, or injury. There is at least one Fisher HouseT at every major
military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are
provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment."
http://www.fisherhouse.org/
Tonight....The Neocons are on the war path against Defense Secretary Rumsfeld
for failing to adequately protect the troops and for the fact that we need
more...The attack is being spearheaded by McCain and now Bill Kristol of The
Weekly Standard joins the fight on the editorial page of the Post...
We join the fight with former DCI and prominent Neocon Jim Woolsey (although he
defends Rummy) and Democratic Florida Senator Bill Nelson (FL)...
We do three mongo buzz blocks with Hilary Rosen, Susan Molinari and my old
buddy Robert George of the New York Post...We'll tackle Kerik (it's getting
messier folks), Rummy on the defensive and the new NBC News/Wall Street Journal
poll which has some very interesting numbers on President Bush, his political
mandate and the fav/unfavs on Rummy....
We finish up with a heated economic debate between Stephen Moore (Club for
Growth guy) and fmr. Clintonista Labor guy Robert Reich...
I weigh in on McCain and Rummy on the blog http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/
Keep it Real...Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing
from Washington, DC
Kristol backs up McCain's broadside The Defense Secretary
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A132-2004Dec14?language=printer
New Kerik puzzler...Daily News Exclusive: How does someone who's flat broke
afford a sumptuous renovation of two Riverdale apartments? Ask Bernard Kerik.
In 1999, Kerik had workers convert two first-floor apartments into one large
home at the W. 239th St. building - even though he apparently was having
trouble making ends meet in a single apartment upstairs.
http://nydailynews.com/front/v-echo/story/262247p-224543c.html
Regan on Bernie: "He's Insane and Maniacal"
http://www.nypost.com/commentary/32781.htm
Former NYPD top cop Bernard Kerik didn't file any paperwork or pay any taxes
for his family's Mexican nanny until shortly before he was tapped to be
President Bush's homeland-security chief, The Post has learned. (NY Post)
http://www.nypost.com/news/nationalnews/32762.htm
Cheney: Economy Needs Permanent Tax Cuts (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_economic_conference&printer=1
Fiscal ideas could drive Bush allies away...Two-day conference promotes
ambitious agenda (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6714794/
The GOP is hoping to capitalize on President Bush's swearing-in ceremony next
month, offering donors special inaugural packages that include access to
lawmakers, a parade and galas. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/inaugural_donors&printer=1
Emboldened by their Election Day successes, some Christian conservatives around
the country are trying to put more Christ into Christmas this season. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_re_us/what_s_the_season&printer=1
Opinion/Editorial
Pat: With Bush's 51 percent victory, Colin Powell's departure and the purge at
CIA, many on the Old Right seem sunk in Bunyan's Slough of Despond. They assume
the neoconservatives are now free to pursue war without end.
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=41945
Robert George: Innovative Americans
http://nypost.com/postopinion/books/36178.htm
The Wall Street Journal: Serious About Syria...How young Assad is working
against us in Iraq.
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006030
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