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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
Tonight on Hardball we take a closer look at the recent bin Laden audiotape,
the upcoming election in Iraq and the continued violence...We talk with
terrorism expert, Roger Cressey, formerly a top counterterrorism guy in the
Bush administration...Plus, crack Washington Post diplomatic reporter Robin
Wright will join us as well...We begin, however. with a report from Tom Aspell,
NBC's man in Baghdad..
Later in the show we deal with the sticky issue of judicial appointments,
possible Supreme Court vacancies, the new composition of the Senate Judiciary
Committee and potentially bruising confirmation battles...We'll talk to Chuck
Babington of The Post
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A14759-2004Dec20?language=printer)
and Tom Goldstein of SCOTUS blog (http://www.goldsteinhowe.com/blog/index.cfm)
...Shuster kicks it off with a package on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales
for AG and other pressing judicial matters...Gonzales backgrounder
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A29893-2004Dec27?language=printer
In the back half we do a political roundup and prognosticate on President
Bush's second term with Katrina and Tony....Today the Post reported that the
Bush administration would defer major tax reform until 2006...This afternoon
The White House called the report false and that tax reform was a top
priority...Looks to me like a classic Washington "trial balloon" scenario where
an idea is floated in the press to get public reaction...If the reaction is
negative the idea is quickly retracted...
We think you'd be well advised to join us tonight...
Did you catch that smooth introduction of Lawrence Eagleburger by Pete last
night?
"We are delighted and honored to have Lawrence Eagleburger with us to help sort
this out. He served as the secretary of state under the first
President Bush, and is custodian of one of the sharpest political minds on
these questions."
I'm definitely gonna work that "custodian" phrase into my lexicon, as should
you...
On Friday (12/31) we re-air our Walter Reed/Fisher House special: "A Soldiers
Journey Home"...Since the show's first airing on December 16th, Fisher House
has received over $250,000 in donations...You too can help at
http://www.fisherhouse.org/support/support.shtml
We can't thank enough our generous sponsors who donated to the troops at Walter
Reed: NBC Universal, The NBC Experience Store, MSNBC, Microsoft, Pampers, Toys
R Us & Target
In addition the Washington Post reports that "Gifts for Wounded Strain Walter
Reed...Hospital Runs Out of Storage Space"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A30335-2004Dec27?language=printer
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled The Briefing from Washington, DC
Blankley: Rumsfeld's Logic: http://www.washingtontimes.com/op-ed/tblankley.htm
Katrina: Martha Stewart's Christmas Message...A recipe for reform sentencing.
http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7&pid=2091
Bush expected to delay major tax overhaul...Social Security, budget grab center
stage (The Washington Post) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6760039
The White House insisted on Tuesday that the timetable for President Bush's
proposed revamp of the tax code had not changed and Bush sees it as a top
priority. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=7193765
Attacks on Iraqi security forces kill 24...Gunmen assassinate local police
commander in Sunni Triangle (MSNBC) http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6727646/
Wright Backgrounders:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A26055-2004Dec25?language=printer
Powell Advised Bush to Add Iraq Troops...Secretary Joined Blair And President
in Talks
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A23381-2004Dec23?language=printer
Toll From Tsunami Rises to More Than 51,000...Threat of Hunger, Disease Looms
As Reeling Nations Appeal for Aid (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A30965-2004Dec28?language=printer
The Bush administration yesterday pledged $15 million to Asian nations hit by a
tsunami that has killed more than 22,500 people, although the United Nations'
humanitarian-aid chief called the donation "stingy." (The Washington Times)
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20041228-122330-7268r.htm
Powell: U.S. aid will be 'billions'...He regrets 'stingy' remark from U.N.
official http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6762079/
The secretary of state, who declared President Bush the official winner in
Ohio, is seeking a court order to keep himself from being interviewed as part
of a court challenge of the Nov. 2 vote. (AP)
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&u=/ap/20041228/ap_on_re_us/ohio_vote_challenge&printer=1
Comic big cops to addiction...Potty-mouth comic George Carlin, who made a
career out of gags about drugs and dirty words, checked himself into rehab
yesterday after confessing he was using too many prescription painkillers and
alcohol. (NY Daily News)
http://nydailynews.com/news/gossip/v-echo/story/266011p-227851c.html
Opinion/Editorial
Miniter: The Second Term Curse...George Bush beat John Kerry. Now he must beat
Richard Nixon. http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/bminiter/?id=110006078
Carter/West: Iraq 2004 Looks Like Vietnam 1966..Adjusting body counts for
medical and military changes. http://slate.msn.com/id/2111432/
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
Mallard: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
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