Newsletter: 6/29/05 : Re-Selling the War

[Patsy Stone]

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Tonight on Countdown
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Repeatedly invoking the Sept. 11 attacks and even quoting Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Bush described the mission during a prime-time address as fundamentally a battle against the terrorist network. In the 28-minute speech, the president referred to "terror" or "terrorism" 34 times, and made six direct references to the Sept. 11 attacks. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/iraq/la-fg-bush29jun29,0,7572565.story?coll=la-home-headlines

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The U.S. military now believes that all 17 service members aboard the helicopter that crashed in Afghanistan on Tuesday were killed, a senior Pentagon official told reporters Wednesday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8391112/

The names of more than 30 fugitives, including 9 murder suspects and one person on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most-wanted list, did not trigger any warnings in a test of the nation's passport processing system, federal auditors have found. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/politics/29passport.html?hp&ex=1120104000&en=b6692c5973a1e978&ei=5094&partner=homepage

In a rare marketing ploy, the No. 2 U.S. movie theater chain, AMC Entertainment, is offering a money-back guarantee to customers for boxing picture "Cinderella Man," hoping to boost interest in the struggling film amid a record box-office slump. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8204170/

Quieter cubicles? Monica Novotny reports on "Babble-On".

Keith's special report on Moonlight Graham.

That's some of what we're planning for tonight's show.

Finally,
A man is accused of driving an electric-powered shopping cart around a grocery store in Devils Lake, North Dakota, while drunk, endangering other customers. Clifford Mattson, 27, was charged with disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, Detective Sue Schwab said. Schwab said police went to the Leevers grocery store Monday afternoon, after reports of a drunken man driving the shopping cart into people and nearly knocking them down. "He appeared to be actually driving after them," Schwab said. No one was hurt, she said. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RECKLESS_SHOPPING_CART?SITE=NWCN&TEMPLATE=STRANGEHEADS.html&SECTION=HOME
Give him a break. What else is there to do in North Dakota? (Just kidding!)

-- Carey Fox

Countdown Home: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

Keith blogs: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/

More:
British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Wednesday defended the war in Iraq, and brushed off a new question about a government memo that suggested Washington had been determined to justify the invasion. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8402894/

The economy logged a solid 3.8 percent growth rate in the first quarter of 2005, a performance that was better than previously thought and a fresh sign the expansion is on firm footing. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8402306/

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and CIA Director Porter Goss have told the White House they oppose a recommendation by the Sept. 11 commission to transfer the CIA's control of covert paramilitary operations to the Pentagon. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8398092/

The newest plan for the Freedom Tower at the former World Trade Center site features a more bomb-resistant design pushed well away from the street and incorporating heavily protected elevators and utilities. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8398770/

A court appearance comes today for the two people accused of planting a finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8402991/

Mr. Spielberg's extraterrestrials, who rampage across New Jersey in metal death-ray-shooting tripods are - I'm looking for the precise critical term here - wicked scary. And the terror they spread as they incinerate buildings and vaporize people cannot help recalling more immediate and painful scenes. http://movies2.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/movies/29worl.html?

Former Presidents Bush and Clinton teed off Tuesday for a round of golf on the second day of a get-together by the former political foes at Bush's summer home along the Maine coast. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/28/AR2005062800574.html

[RevCheesehead]

1. Moonlight Graham!

That should be awesome.
Too bad Burt Lancaster is not with us, I'd love to see his smile again. But something tells me we'll see the "Field of Dreams" clip, regardless. :)

[Berry Cool]

2. What's the news peg?

I know, I know, Keith hardly needs an excuse to do a report on an ancient baseball player. And it's bound to be wonderful. Just wondering what the connection to the news is. Did I miss something? (After all, he could have done a story on Jeff "Baseball Is Hard Work" Kent.)

[RevCheesehead]

3. I dunno....

but do I smell a blog brewing? :)

[Berry Cool]

4. I think what you smell is indeed Harry Potter's kettle

as Keith brews up a batch of fresh blog to post tonight...