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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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We are already celebrating the new year here, because as Newsweek's cover
demonstrates, it will be a year of Hardball! As Washington celebrated the
arrival of 2006, more details emerged this weekend regarding the NSA domestic
spying program and an internal administration debate in the lead up to its
inception. In 2004, White House Chief of Staff Andy Card and then-White House
Counsel Alberto Gonzales made an unprecedented bedside visit to ailing Attorney
General John Ashcroft when his deputy, James Comey, objected to the NSA
program. Yesterday, President Bush while again defending the eavesdropping,
responded "We're at war. I've got to use the resources at my disposal, within
the law, to protect the American people. And that's what we're doing." The
debate over national security versus civil liberties continues tonight on
Hardball, as we examine the press for presidential power.
For legal insight into this story and the implications of the DOJ investigation
into the NSA leak, Chris will turn to Bush 41 administration attorney David
Rivkin, and Democratic attorney Stan Brand, who was counsel to the US House of
Representatives.
Newsweek's Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas, who co-wrote the magazine's
lead story this week (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10663996/site/newsweek/),
will join Chris and NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Andrea Mitchell to
answer his magazine's cover question: "How Much Power Should They Have?"
And last but certainly not least, our favorite Hardbloggers and Political
Analysts Bob Shrum and Pat Buchanan will look at the political fallout of this
program and the leak investigation. Senators are already questioning the
program - will Congress be abuzz with hearings next week when members return?
We'll ask Bob and Pat.
Here are some stories you might not have seen yet:
-New York Times Public Editor writes on NSA story
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/01/opinion/01publiceditor.html?ei=5090&en=73506e1ec61c1adb&ex=1293771600&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print
-NY Daily News: Bush Hopes for Better New Year
http://www.nydailynews.com/01-02-2006/news/wn_report/v-pfriendly/story/379418p-322227c.html
-Ron Brownstein likens George W. Bush to President Polk
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-na-outlook2jan02,1,121006.column?coll=la-news-columns
-Time Magazine exclusive on the Risen book
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/printout/0,8816,1145228,00.html
Colleen King compiled the Hardball briefing in Washington, D.C.
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