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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Tom DeLay is out of the House and in the hot seat on Hardball tonight. The
former House majority leader and 11-term representative phoned Chris last night
to say he would abandon his bid for a 12th term and resign from his seat some
time soon. Why is he quitting? Is it bad polls for him in his district? Is it
the looming possibility of a bitter trial on money-laundering charges back in
Texas? Is it the ever expanding wrath of the Abramoff investigation, which has
already lead to guilty pleas by two former DeLay staffers? Is it fear of
damaging his party in the 2006 election? Or is it something else? Chris will
find out tonight as DeLay sits down to discuss it all.
Check out MSNBC's report on it all here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12141276/.
Read Chris' account of DeLay's call to him on Hardblogger:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/. And here's the AP's timeline of DeLay's
House career: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12142403/.
Also tonight, former Rep. Susan Molinari (R-NY) and Hardball Political Analyst
Bob Shrum will discuss with Chris what DeLay's departure means for the
Republican agenda and President Bush's odds of having a GOP-controlled Congress
for the rest of his presidency.
Plus, Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), chairman of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee, will be here to talk about what DeLay's decision means for
the Democrats and their attempt to take control of Congress.
By the way, have you noticed the "HARDBALL HEADLINES" scrolling at the bottom
of the screen during Hardball lately? If not, please do!
Here are some things you might not have read yet today:
--Time's Mike Allen on DeLay
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1179853,00.html
--AP hears the president hint at more changes
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12150694/
--Hardblogger http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5445086/
--NBC's First Read http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3626796/
--Doonesbury http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.html
Brooke Brower compiled the "Hardball Briefing" in Washington, D.C.
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