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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Today, President Bush met with Prime Minister Tony Blair, his top ally in the
Iraq war, and held a White House press conference where he said the U.S. "will
prevail" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16088150/). This comes after Wednesday
marked the deadliest day for American troops in Iraq in 2006
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16075920/). We'll have the latest from NBC's Jane
Arraf in Baghdad, followed by a report from Hardball's David Shuster. Then
we'll be joined by Tim Russert, NBC News Washington bureau chief and moderator
of "Meet the Press" to talk about what lies ahead in Iraq.
And, today could mark the end of a political era as the 109th Congress
concludes and Republicans hand over the reigns after 12 years in power
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16089781/). We'll get Russert's take on what will
happen when the 110th Congress comes to order.
Late Wednesday on Capitol Hill, Bob Gates was confirmed as defense secretary,
replacing Donald Rumsefeld in a 95-2 vote. We'll talk to Senators Kay Bailey
Hutchison (R-TX) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) about the incoming defense
secretary and their reactions to the Iraq Study Group report. And today,
commission co-chairmen James Baker and Lee Hamilton testified before the Senate
Armed Services Committee about their recommendations for policy changes in
Iraq. Later in the show, we'll continue the discussion on the politics of
Iraq, Bush/Blair and Baker/Hamilton with Kate O'Beirne from the National Review
and the Washington Post's Eugene Robinson.
Here are some stories you may have missed today:
- Chuck Todd: If the NCAA Ran Our Presidential Elections:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16094394/
- More on the Iraq Study Group from the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/06/AR2006120602078.html
- Today's HotSoup asks, "What Now, Mr. President?":
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16090736/
- "The Fix" from Washingtonpost.com's Chris Cillizza:
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/
- NBC's First Read: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/
- MSNBC's Political Calendar: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14708421/
Shelby Poduch and Tina Urbanski compiled the Hardball Briefing from Washington,
DC.
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