Countdown Newsletter -- 05/10/06: Ready for Another Bush?

[Patsy Stone]

My answer: NO!!!


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Tonight on Countdown
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President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he thought his younger brother Jeb would make "a great president" but the two-term governor of Florida had given no hint about his intentions. "I have no idea what he's going to do. I've asked him that question myself. I truly don't think he knows," Bush said in an interview with Florida reporters posted on the St. Petersburg Times Website. The president said he had pushed his "independent minded" brother fairly hard about his plans after leaving the governor's office next January. He predicted Jeb could have a "very bright" political future. http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2006-05-10T153102Z_01_N10179503_RTRUKOC_0_US-BUSH-JEB.xml

On Wednesday afternoon in the U.S. Capitol, Distinguished Service Awards will be bestowed upon Vice President Dick Cheney and former CIA Director Porter Goss. "The Congressional Distinguished Service Award was established to honor former Members of the House who have performed their duties on behalf of their constituents and the American people with such extraordinary distinction and selfless dedication as to merit special recognition," reads an invitation to the ceremony. http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/GOP_House_Speaker_Frist_picks_Cheney_0509.html
Um, Really?

Countdown w/ Keith Olbermann broadcasts LIVE at 8 pm et, and the count is never complete without you. Join us.

USA Today Editorial: Sometime Wednesday, the Bush administration is scheduled to release Secret Service records detailing the number of times disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff visited the White House. The administration is not doing this voluntarily. It is under an order from a federal judge acting on a watchdog group's lawsuit. If Abramoff and administration officials are to be believed, the records won't show that the one-time superlobbyist - who has pleaded guilty to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials - was particularly tight with President Bush or his top aides. Which would make the Bush administration's months-long stonewalling all the more inexplicable. Had it released details long ago about the president's relationship with Abramoff, it likely would have limited any political embarrassment. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2006-05-09-abramoff-records_x.htm

Commentary, by Jonathan Turley: The nomination of four-star Gen. Michael Hayden as the next CIA director shocked many people, including civil libertarians who associate Hayden with the controversial National Security Agency domestic spying program--an operation viewed as criminal by many experts. Even Republican senators expressed dismay this week at yet another controversial nomination by President Bush. Despite the vocal surprise, Hayden's nomination is actually all too predictable. While alleged violations of federal laws have long been viewed as a negative resume item, it doesn't appear to be a problem for Bush's inner circle. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0605100108may10,0,3155843.story?coll=chi-newsopinioncommentary-hed

Mr. Turley will join us tonight.

* Artist uses X-rays to make art.
* Cool new inventions like a fake beer belly that lets you sneak beer into events.

The rest of the show is still in planning stages, but obviously, lots of good political segments tonight.

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

Finally,
Cingular Wireless LLC pulled a ringtone from its Web site Tuesday after learning that it carried a message the company called "blatantly offensive." The ringtone started with a siren, followed by a male voice saying in a Southern drawl, "This is la Migra," a slang term for the Border Patrol. "Por favor, put the oranges down and step away from the cell phone. I repeat-o, put the oranges down and step away from the telephone-o. I'm deporting you back home-o," the voice continued. Hispanic activists called the product racist. Cingular removed the $2.49 ringtone, among thousands available for downloading from its Web site, Tuesday afternoon, said company spokesman Mark Siegel. Cingular officials were reviewing the process used to screen ringtones, which are developed by several other companies, he said. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CINGULAR_LA_MIGRA?SITE=TXHOU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-05-09-22-48-15

-- Carey Fox

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

Other News:
Rove revamps the Republican strategy. By Howard Fineman. The way I read the recent moves of Karl Rove & Co., they are preparing to wage war the only way open to them: not by touting George Bush, Lord knows, but by waging a national campaign to paint a nightmarish picture of what a Democratic Congress would look like. Rather than defend Bush, Rove will seek to rally the Republicans' conservative grassroots by painting Democrats as the party of tax increases, gay marriage, secularism and military weakness. That's where the national message money is going to be spent. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12703794/

President Jalal Talabani said Wednesday that nearly 1,100 bodies were found in Baghdad last month, the victims of executions, and urged Iraq's feuding factions to unite against surging crime and terrorism. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12719344/

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Western nations on Wednesday of hypocrisy and said their expressions of concern over nuclear programs were a "big lie". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12683977/

Rescue crews were going door-to-door Wednesday in two Texas towns to check for any other casualties after tornadoes overnight left three dead and 10 injured in a path of destruction that tore apart brick houses and knocked out power. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12714797/

Whirlpool Corp. said Wednesday that it will eliminate 4,500 jobs by closing three plants and consolidating corporate offices and other sites following its acquisition of rival Maytag Corp. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12718867/

Obese man ends cross-country health trek. 100 pounds lighter, Steve Vaught revels in journey as much as destination. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12711006/

The baby bump is for real. Britney Spears told David Letterman Tuesday that she is pregnant with baby No. 2. "Don't worry Dave, it's not yours," the pop princess quipped. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12709894/