Fox News Memos: The Whole Batch
After the jump are about 30 memos from Fox News chief John Moody, released to journalists by the makers of the anti-Fox documentary "Outfoxed" to support their claim that Fox bends the rules and twists the news. And boy howdy, do they. There's actually something kind of refreshing and admirable about just how blatant Moody's directives are:
Into Fallujah: It's called Operation Vigilant Resolve and it began Monday morning (NY time) with the US and Iraqi military surrounding Fallujah. We will cover this hour by hour today, explaining repeatedly why it is happening. It won't be long before some people start to decry the use of "excessive force." We won't be among that group. . . More than 600 US military dead, attacks on the UN headquarters last year, assassination of Irai officials who work with the coalition, the deaths of Spanish troops last fall, the outrage in Fallujah: whatever happens, it is richly deserved.
Such rock-ribbed partisanship may rub media critics the wrong way, but give Moody credit for one thing -- at least he has his priorities straight:
The President and the PM of Canada meet today and will make remarks at midday. Take the remarks, even if Jacko is singing on top of a truck with no pants on at the time.
Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's Ware on Journalism [Outfoxed.org]
2003-05-09, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/9/2003
We'll have to devote some time to the tornadoes, simply out of respect to the magnitude of damage they did. Fortunately there were no known deaths from last night's touch downs. But a lot of people have no homes.
Let's spend a good deal of time on the battle over judicial nominations, which the President will address this morning. Nominees who both sides admit are qualified are being held up because of their POSSIBLE, not demonstrated, views on one issue -- abortion. This should be a trademark issue for FNC today and in the days to come.
We'll take the Rumsfeld Franks briefing, as we did in the days before Franks opened his office in Baghdad.
At the UN, Catherine Herridge will follow the US sponsored resolution calling for the lifting of sanctions against Iraq. Not surprisingly, we're facing resistance from our erstwhile European buddies, the French and Germans.
2003-05-22, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/22/2003
The terror alert continues to affect the way Americans live their lives, both as consumers, participants in public events and citizens. Let's explain to viewers that while prudent precautions need to be taken, the disruption of the American way of life is in itself a terrorist goal and should not be conceded to our enemies.
one obvious and visible example is the no fly zone over two disney theme parks, which la jeunesse will do live.
The tax cut passed last night by the Senate, though less than half what Bush originally proposed, contains some important victories for the administration. The DC crew will parse the bill and explain how it will fatten -- marginally -- your wallet.
In ever treacherous Iraq, there was gunplay between US troops and iraqi attacks who paid the price.
The Yale explosion looks like less than first imagined. We'll do some lives and see if any new info comes out.
2003-05-29, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/29/2003
A word about Laci Peterson revelations: we need to be extra careful that we know from WHOM we are getting our information. There is no doubt that Mark Geragos is a skillful manipulator. That doesn't mean that he's wrong or deceitful. But everything he tells us, or anyone else, will be to benefit his client. The same is true of prosecutors and Ms. Allred. We don't need to discount what they say, but we need to be aware that it comes with attitude.
bush's G-8 trip is actually less important than his fledgling efforts to knock together the Israeli and Palestinian PMs' heads. Let's keep in mind that the G-8 contains the most obstreperous dissidents against the war on terror. Bush has a long memory and new friends in Poland the rest of Eastern Europe. FYI: the city where he's landing is pronounced KRAK-ov, not KRAK-cow. Let's see how this goes.
We should make use of Amy Kellogg's access to the newly refurbished St. Petersburg, celebrating its 300th anniversary. The pix should be pretty, even if it's not hard news.
2003-06-02, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 6/2/2003
Heads of state don't leave G-8 meetings early unless they have good reasons. President Bush has two: he has to get to Egypt, and he doesn't like the French. Let's explain to viewers that despite the tepid handshake, Bush and Chirac are far from reconciled, as are the US and Germany. The early departure from Evian should take the sparkle out of the bottled water spa.
We have good perp walk video of Eric Rudolph which we should use. We should NOT assume that anyone who supported or helped Eric Rudolph is a racist. No one's in favor of murder or bombing of public places. But feelings in North Carolina may just be more complicated than the NY Times can conceive. Two style notes: Rudolph is charged with bombing an abortion clinic, not a "health clinic." and
TODAY'S HEARING IS NOT AN ARRAIGNMENT. IT IS AN INITIAL HEARING.
We have FCC Chairman Michael Powell on Cavuto today (hosted by Brenda). Let's do a few hits on the commission's vote about media ownership rules.
2003-06-03, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 6/3/2003
Lots of courtroom action today: the Moussaoui case hits a crucial question today: does a terror defendant have the right to communicate -- albeit by video -- with another terrorist in order to substantiate his innocence. Herridge and Emanuel will run back and forth to cover us.
Scott Peterson has an evidence hearing.
And Eric Rudolph will be arraigned (unlike yesterday) in Alabama in preparation for his death penalty murder trial.
The president is doing something that few of his predecessors dared undertake: putting the US case for mideast peace to an Arab summit. It's a distinctly skeptical crowd that Bush faces. His political courage and tactical cunning are worth noting in our reporting through the day.
The La Jeunesse lives should be used. The national forest as pot field story is pure Fox.
2004-03-12, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/12/2004
For our purposes, as a story, it's very important to know whether ETA or Al Qaeda was responsible for the Madrid bombings. For the victims the distinction is minimal. Terrorism is international, and the United States is the leader of the coalition to stamp it out. That's the tone we want to impart throughout the day. We are beefing up our staffing there and will stay with the story through the weekend.
Scary thought of the day: what if it's a consortium of terrorist groups working together?
Spain's neighbor, the ever-superior France, had its own spate of railway terrorist warnings last week, though it's not clear that those were in any way related to the Madrid bombings.
The President is on the stump, this time for women's rights. His remarks may be worth dipping into and then getting out.
John Kerry may wish he'd taken off his microphone before trashing the GOP. Though he insists he meant republican "attack squads," his coarse description of his opponents has cast a lurid glow over the campaign.
There's a court hearing for Susan Lindauer, accused of selling out her country to Iraq for handful of silver. For the record, Lindauer worked at Fox News (among several other news organizations) in the 90s and was terminated.
Should the border with Mexico be subject to environmental standards, or is its main purpose to keep the nation secure? It's a question the California coastal commision is forcing to a head. Adam Housley looks at book sides.
Kofi Annan always defended the UN's oil for food program in the runup to the Iraq war. Now it appears his son may have had a role in the company that ran the program, which as we now know was used by Saddam to buy cooperation from influential people. Eric Shawn is pieces together the puzzle.
2004-03-16, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/16/2004
What makes police think Charles McCoy is the Ohio Turnpike shooter? Where is he and is he still a danger? This and more needs to be answered, whcih is why Goldblatt is outside the Columbus sherriff's department.
Gas prices are at all time highs in the US. There are reasons for the surge, some economic, some mere business tactics. Remember: US prices, while they seem high tot\ us, are a half or less the cost of gasoline elsewhere.
ERic Shawn will take us through the labyrinth of the UN oil for food program, which is beginning to shine light on the role of SecGen Kofi Annan's son. Can the UN reach a consensus on a scandal in its midst?
The president meets the PM of the Netherlands and talks about healthcare. \
Kerry, starting to feel the heat for his flip-flop voting record, is in West Virginia. There's a near-meaningless primary in Illinois.
2004-03-18, Ken LaCorte
From: Ken LaCorte
Date: 3/18/2004
Resist the urge to make any assumption about the potential Al Zawahiri story. Pakistani reports are often confused, especially when they come to us secondhand. Report only what we know and attribute it.
2004-03-19, Ken LaCorte
From: Ken LaCorte
Date: 3/19/2004
For us, at least, it's spelled and pronounced Al Zawahiri.
The potential capture of al Qaeda's #2 is still the story of the day, but it's still the "potential capture." Stick with what we know, whether it's in reports, teasers or chyrons.
2004-03-23, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/23/2004
TUESDAY UPDATE: (With thanks to Michelle Novy in DC) SHEIKH YASSIN WAS NOT A "SPIRITUAL LEADER" OF HAMAS. HE WAS THE FOUNDER OF HAMAS, OR ITS IDEOLOGICAL LEADER.
Attention mice: the cat is back.
(My thanks to Ken and David for filling in.)
ON AIR TALENT: COULD WE MAKE AN EFFORT TO CUT DOWN ON MOUTH CANDY WHEN GETTING OUT OF GUEST SEGMENTS, SUCH AS, "WE APPRECIATE YOUR PERSPECTIVE."
We will be on full alert for Hamas retaliation for Yassin's precipitious departure, both in Israel and the US. Hamas's vow of vengeance must be taken seriously.
The so-called 9/11 commission has already been meeting. In fact, this is the eighth session. The fact that former Clinton and both frmer and current Bush administration officials are testifying gives it a certain tension, but this is not "what did he know and when did he know it" stuff. Do not turn this into Watergate. Remember the fleeting sense of national unity that emerged from this tragedy. Let's not desecrate that.
Yassin's assassination took the spotlight off Pakistan, but operations there continue. We'll make full use of Palkot and Harrigan from Afghansitan.
And there's the Kobe hearing, which we'll preview. The accuser, whose personal past is now a matter of public conjecture, is likely to testify this week.
2004-03-24, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/24/2004
Wednesday update: If there are any questions about the information that Jim Angle reported today, please let me know. for the record, when Clarke gave the background briefing on government security two years ago, his remarks were on background, meaning his name could not be used. Jim ANgle got a copy of the audio. Today, the White House lifted the restriction, thus taking the two year old briefing off background. Neither Jim nor Fox did anything wrong, except accomplish some good reporting.
For everyone's information, the hotel where our Baghdad bureau is housed was hit by some kind of explosive device overnight. ALL FOX PERSONNEL ARE OK. The incident is a reminder of the danger our colleagues in Baghdad face, day in and day out. Please offer a prayer of thanks for their safety to whatever God you revere (and let the ACLU stick it where the sun don't shine).
As the witness list indicates, today is likely to be the apex of the so-called 9/11 commission hearings. Tenet, Clarke, and Clinton NSC advisor Berger all testify. We will carry their statements, along with he Q&A, live. Remember that while there are obvious political implications for Bush, the commission is looking at eight years of the Clinton Administration versus eight months (the time prior to 9/11 that Bush was in office) for the incumbent.
We also have an interview with chief of staff Andrew Card from Fox and Friends, where he makes the administration's case on the hearings and other things.
The Kobe Bryant case is also hotting up. The NBA star's accuser is expected to testify today, where her past may be discussed. The accuser, whose name we are not using, may pass before TV cameras on her way to the courtroom. While it's OK to show her as she enters the courthouse, let's make every effort not to show her face. Denis King is in contact with the control room and will warn us off any shots that portay the accuser's face.
SCOTUS considers if students can be required to say the pledge of allegiance, including the words "under God." The case is on of the more significant ones the court will have before it this session.
2004-03-25, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/25/2004
There can be no proof more compelling and visual of what Palestinian suicide bombers are all about than the pitiful sight of a teenager frantically cutting away the bomb vest he was wearing in order to save his life. "I don't want to die" he said. Without willing dupes, this barbaric practice can't continue. Let's not overlook that story today, even if the tape has been out there for awhile.
As is often the case, the real news is Iraq is being obscured by temporary tragedy. The creation of a defense ministry, which will be run by Iraqis, is a major step forward in the country's redevelopment. Let's look at that, as well as the deaths of a US soldier in a roadside bombing.
The rummy news conference will be worth dipping into, though full coverage may be too much. Give it a chance.
We'll keep a watch on the Tyco trial, where jury deliberation seems to be dragging a bit.
2004-03-26, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/26/2004
We have competing speeches from the candidates for president. George Bush speaks on home ownership in New Mexico. John Kerry gives an economic policy address in Detroit. We'll take whichever one starts first, time how long we stay with it, then give the same time to the other. Try not to get caught in the ritual "thank you's" that usually precede the meat of the speech.
We expect demos in the West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians vent about the death of Sheikh Yassin. Today is a likely day for retaliatory violence. Be first on it.
Kofi Annan will announce a top level investigation into the oil for food scandal in which his son is a player. How can the investigation get anywhere when it's run by the father of one of the probe's targets?
The LAci and Conner Act passed the Senate and the Prez will sign it. What does this mean for law enforcement and what does it say about the status of the unborn?
2004-03-31, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 3/31/2004
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: PLEASE BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR APRIL 1 HOAXES. IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, TAKE A BREATH AND THINK IT THROUGH. (with gratitude to Rev. Jackson)
Five American GIs killed in Iraq in a bomb and an attack represent one of the grimmest days there in months. There is also footage of a mutilated body being dragged down a road which WE WILL NOT AIR UNTIL IT HAS BEEN CLEARED.
March is the anniversary of the Kosovo conflict. What lessons can we learn from the UN handling of that troubled region as we look at its potential effect on Iraq.
The INTl Court of Justice ruling against the US is something that many americans might find offensive. We'll take a look at just what this court is, and what gives it the right to tell US courts what to do with death row prisoners.
We'll do another day of lives on the missing Wisconsin woman who's missing in suspicious circumstances.
Day 10 of the Tyco trial deliberations. What does the jury think the gold shower rings were for?
And, as if the country wasn't in enough trouble, folks in California are poaching bees so they can pollinate. No stinging or buzz puns, please.
2004-04-01, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/1/2004
Again, and especially today, BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR HOAXES, FRAUDS AND OTHER APRIL FOOL'S STUFF.
The Wisconsin student found yesterday appears to be in good condition. Her captor is still at large. We'll keep Jeff Goldblatt on the story.
The pictures show in the Times and NY Post today of the dead American contractors are exactly what we chose NOT to use yesterday. Please don't get sucked into this taste race to the bottom.
The US military has said its response to the Fallujah massacre will be measured but forceful. Be prepared to get on this when it happens.
Majorie Alexander, the girlfriend of Peter Gotti of mob fame, was found dead with a plastic bag fastened around her head. Our own button man, Eric Shawn, tells the tale of the duct tape.
The President signs the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, also know as the Laci and Conner law. We'll take the ceremony and POTUS's remarks.
Kerry is out of action today because of his shoulder surgery.
Why does it take so long for military absentee votes to be mailed and are they being counted in national elections. Jim Angle has looked into this and has an interesting take on what could be a crucial segment of the electorate.
2004-04-04, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/4/2004
MONDAY UPDATE: Into Fallujah: It's called Operation Vigilant Resolve and it began Monday morning (NY time) with the US and Iraqi military surrounding Fallujah. We will cover this hour by hour today, explaining repeatedly why it is happening. It won't be long before some people start to decry the use of "excessive force." We won't be among that group.
The continuing carnage in Iraq -- mostly the deaths of seven US troops in Sadr City -- is leaving the American military little choice but to punish perpetrators. When this happens, we should be ready to put in context the events that led to it. More than 600 US military dead, attacks on the UN headquarters last year, assassination of Irai officials who work with the coalition, the deaths of Spanish troops last fall, the outrage in Fallujah: whatever happens, it is richly deserved.
The Sharon interview with Israeli Army radio leaves little doubt that Yasser Arafat should not buy any green bananas. It's going to be a tricky road for Sharon who has previously promised not to harm the Palestinian figurehead
By the way, Israel will also be extra vigilant today as Passover begins. To all our collegues about to celebrate it, Zissen Pesach.
The President goes to Charlotte to talk about job training. Buoyed by the 300K job figure last week, he can boast his policies are working.
John Kerry has committed to selecting a running mate in the next two months, well before the Dem convention. He's back on the campaign trail after recovering from shoulder surgery.
2004-04-05, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/5/04
More Americans dead in Iraq, as the military pursues Operation Vigilant Resolve in Fallujah and elsewhere. In Najaf, the anti-American cleric is hold up in a mosque with fighters around him.
The oil for food story being fronted by Eric Shawn is potentially a huge development. We have to be sure of each step, but if it works out, it will be a lede story after Iraq.
Air America, featuring Al Franken and other liberals, got on the air last week, but at what cost? Well, in New York, it took the place of an ethnic show. In LA, it knocked off a Korean program. And in CHicago,a spanish language broadcast was replaced. None of these people are happy.
2004-04-06, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/6/2004
The events in Iraq Tuesday are going to be the top story, unless and until something else (or worse) happens. Err on the side of doing too much Iraq rather than not enough. Do not fall into the easy trap of mourning the loss of US lives and asking out loud why are we there? The US is in Iraq to help a country brutalized for 30 years protect the gains made by Operation Iraqi Freedom and set it on the path to democracy. Some people in Iraq don't want that to happen. That is why American GIs are dying. And what we should remind our viewers.
For consistency, the town is Ramadi, not Al Ramadi.
"Fierce" is a good word, but let's find a few synonyms.
We'll start to preview Dr. Rice's testimony before congress on Thursday. Angle is the point man for this story.
Kerry's speech on the economy at Georgetown is likely to move onto the topic of Iraq. We should take the beginning of KErry's speech, see if it contains new information (aside from a promise to create 10 million jobs) and see if other news at the time is more compelling. It is not required to take it start to finish.
The hearing on Rush Limbaugh's medical records could be a death blow to the case against him. If the 3 judge panel rules that his doctor's records cannot be used bythe prosecution, the case is likely to go away. Orlando Salinas will be available for lives all day.
Eric Shawn will have another day of Oil for Food lives, to coincide with congressional hearings on the topic. It's possible Kofi Annan will offer some additional information on what was going on at the UN. Either way, Eric will have new, and possibly exclusive information.
fyi, and thanks to the DC bureau, here's part of what senate foreign affairs committee chairman richard lugar will say:
THIS CORRUPTION WAS NOT SOLELY A PRODUCT OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S MACHINATIONS. HE REQUIRED MEMBERS OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL WHO WERE WILLING TO BE COMPLICIT IN HIS ACTIVITIES, AND HE REQUIRED U.N. OFFICIALS AND CONTRACTORS WHO WERE DISHONEST, INATTENTIVE, OR WILLING TO MAKE DAMAGING COMPROMISES IN PURSUIT OF A COMPASSIONATE MISSION.
2004-04-08, Ken LaCorte
From: Ken LaCorte
Date: 4/8/2004
The day's main stories are Condoleezza Rice's testimony and the continued fighting in Iraq.
First reports coming out of battlefield are always suspect, especially when on the ground "witnesses" invent things, as often happens in Iraq. Early reports of the "Mosque bombing" were quite different from later ones. When fighters shoot at US troops from Mosque compounds, it shouldn't be surprising that we shoot back.
American deaths in this renewed fighting are an important element, but not the only element of the conflict. A battle is more than a macabre statistics report.
Army troops are "soldiers." Marines are not; they're "Marines."
2004-04-09, Ken LaCorte
From: Ken LaCorte
Date: 4/9/2004
UPDATE: The NY Times this morning has an unnamed source citing a "general mood" that anti-Americanism is rising and the insurgence is getting broader. However, the majority of other report from the region (AP, Reuters and our competitors) state the opposite. Stick with what we know.
US fighting, or the suspension of fighting, in Fallujah is still the story of the day. The kidnapping and threatened execution of Japanese aid workers and a journalist is also noteworthy, as is that government's reaction to the "cowardly threats."
Today is Good Friday and the beginning of a holy week for Christians. Let's not lose sight of the fact that to millions of people, Easter is more than colored eggs and chocolate bunnies.
The religious significance of this week is also not lost on terrorists. Be ready if they're successful.
Condoleeza Rice's testimony will still be picked apart by those looking to blame someone, whether it's Bush or Clinton, for September 11. Let's not forget UBL's share of that blame.
With hearings and bureaucrats getting a lot of air time, don't slip into their language, e.g. a person is given or assigned a project, not "tasked" with one.
2004-04-19, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/19/2004
Today is Patriots' Day. Let's be very alert to the events that have occurred on this day in past years: Ruby Ridge, OKC, Waco, and, one day later, Columbine.
There's also a lot of tension in the Middle East with the weekend killing of Rantisi. Hamas has selected a new leader but is not revealing the name, for obvious reasons.
2004-04-20, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/20/2004
TUESDAY UPDATE: Please say a prayer or offer a kind thought for Gen. Paul Vallely, our valued military contributor and colleague. Gen. Vallely's son, Scott, has died. Until the circumstances become clear, we should not make mention of this on the air, both out of respect for our colleague, Paul and his wife, and until we know what happened.
The inconsistencies in the Woodward book are beginning to mount to the point of questioning the accuracy of the Watergate hero's latest tome. Brian Wilson is looking through the book, what was said, and what's been denied and what's just plain wrong.
Rumsfeld briefing: let's take it.
The time for talking in Fallujah is nearly up. Let's follow this as long as possible before talk turns to a new firefight.
It should be obvious that we are working hard on the oil for food scandal story at the UN. Please be disposed to use stories on this topic, rather than not.
2004-04-21, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/21/2004
The attacks in the south of Iraq have killed a lot of Iraqis, mostly civilians, who have no direct involvement inthe war on terror. The question can be asked: who's in favor of saving lives, and who's trying to take them.
The bombings in SAudi Arabia are one of the kinds of terror in the Kingdom that we've been hearing warnings about for more than a week. We'll pick up whatever info we can, given that we can't get into Saudi Arabia.
The Oil for Food hearings are a turning point in a story that Fox has been pursuing diligently for weeks. Claudia Rossett, a former WSJ writer who has become a paid contributor to Fox, is among the witnesses testifying today. Label her just that way: Former Wall Street Journal reporter/Fox News Contributor.
If Michael Jackson is indicted on sex charges, it's a big story for us, but PLEASE don't turn it into a nonstop circus. Please also remember that an indictment is NOT the same thing as a conviction. We've staffed the Santa Monica courthouse but let's not overdo it.
2004-04-22, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/22/2004
THURSDAY UPDATE: let's rock n roll with the korean train explosion. korean websites are speculating freely that it was a mistimed hit on kim. that gives us the right to quote them, and let guests etc speculate. it is eerie that it happened just hours after the dear leader finished his business in china and pointedly took the train home.
for all the fun i make of the Jackson story, it is competitive and needs to be covered aggressively. With that in mind, we've pulled out the stops for the day after indictment. Jacko will probably plead not guilty when he formally appears in court at the end of the month.
More serious and more important is the US military's end of waiting game for Fallujah. If, as promised, the coalition decides to take Fallujah back by force, it will not be for lack of opportunities for terrorists holed up there to negotiate. Let's not get lost in breast-beating about the sadness of the loss of life. They had a chance.
John Kerry will hold an Earth Day event in Houston. If we know that he's going to speak, we should take some of it.'
'
Similarly, if the president speaks about the environment, we'll take a similar amount of his remarks.
The National Education Association -- the NEA -- is supposedly neutral on the topic of abortion. Why then is it a co sponsor of Saturday's pro choice march in DC. Herridge has lives.
The CBS airing of a still picture of Diana dying in her car in Paris is causing a stir in England. We will not air the still. We can talk about it, describe it, analyze it. But we will NOT air the picture.
2004-04-23, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/23/2004
As we worried yesterday, the death toll in the N Korean train wreck looks like it's being drastically revised downward. that doesn't mean we won't follow the story, to the exten we can get information from the Hermit Kingdom. The chance that it was an assassination against Kim is slim ( i took a poetry class to do this stuff). But it's not impossible.
Oil For Food, a story Fox News and the WSJ alone have kept front and center, may be approaching a new critical stage. Benon Sevan, the former head of the program, has returned to New York from his travels. Jonathan Hunt will track the story and Mr. Sevan's movements. Be careful what we say here. He hasn't been convicted yet, but he is a central figure in a mysterious set of circumstances.
The Moussaoui trial will proceed, a major victory for federal prosecutors and a boost for the judicial arm of the war on terror.
How does Hamas operate in the US? It buys apartment buildings for one thing. Catherine Herridge has the tale of Hamas Heights.
John Kerry has positioned himself squarely on the fight over abortion. He attends a pro-choice rally in DC, then addresses newspaper editors. We'll take the latter live.
The president goes to Florida to continue his Earth day remarks.
At the Vatican, which operates behind closed doors, Catholic theologians are discussing the moral responsibility of lawmakers who claim to be Catholics. While John Kerry's name will probably never be mentioned specifically, the debate includes is candidacy.
2004-04-26, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/26/2004
The military action in Fallujah appears NOT to be the much anticipated US offensive to take the town. It may be terrorist activity to improve position before the push takes place. The coalition has said it will give people a chance to leave Fallujah before the offensive.
There was also an explosion at a factory near Baghdad. The factory's purpose is unclear.
Cheney will deliver a speech at Westminster college in Fulton Missouri. This is where, on March 5, 1946, Winston Churchill delivered his historic remarks and coining the term "The Iron Curtain." It's doubtful Cheney will forget to mention that.
Ribbons or medals? Which did John Kerry throw away after he returned from Vietnam. This may become an issue for him today. His perceived disrespect for the military could be more damaging to the candidate than questions about his actions in uniform.
The President is in Minnesota, where he speaks ot community colleges before returning to the White House. It's a day to make sure we take approximately equivalent live remarks from both candidates.
MONDAY UPDATE: THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES LOOKING INTO PRINCESS DIANA'S DEATH ARE TAKING A "CORONOR'S' TOUR" OF PARIS. NOT A CORONARY TOUR.
Michael Jackson's change of attorney was probably inevitable.We'll await the release of his statement top see if it means anything aside from fewer Mark Geragos pressers.
This is the week Kobe Bryant's accuser has her own seual past dissected. A Judge must decide whether the accuser's amorous history is relevant to her accusations.
Closing arguments in the Jayson Williams trial begin. There have been several delays which now appear at an end.
We'll do some lives about the San Francisco District Attorney who refuses to seek the death penalty for a man accused of killing a police officer with an AK-47. Law enforcement officials are displeased, to say the least.
2004-04-27, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/27/2004
Lots of things to look at today:
TUESDAY UPDATE: Let's not overdo the appearances by Kerry's swiftboat mate John O'Neil. While his appearances so far have been OK, he represents one side of the 30 year recollections of what Kerry did, or didn't do, in uniform. Other people have different recollections.
Fighting overnight in Najaf didn't go the way the militants there had hoped. Reports say 43 of them were killed, with no US casualties being reported. This is one of the few times we've gotten a count of enemy dead. Let's use that to make the point what happens when terrorists take on the coalition.
Lakhadar Brahimi addresses the security council today. His tenure as the UN's man in Iraq is already marked by controversy. The algerian born diplomat blames Israel for the Mideast's problems.
The Al Qaeda confessions in Jordan reveal a sinister plot to kill tens of thousands of people. If anyone wonders if Al Qaeda has mended its ways, this is the answer.
Bill Clinton's book "My Life" may come out in time to let John Kerry have the spotlight by convention time. Then again, maybe it won't.
The Supreme Court hears the contentious case of Cheney v. District of Columbia. The vice president contends that the members his energy task force,convened in 2001, should be protected from disclosure because of Executive privilege. Judicial Watch and other litigants argue that the privilege does not apply. SCOTUS is only HEARING ARGUMENTS not rendering a decision today. It may release tape recordings of the arguments it hears. The role of Justice Scalia has also become a point of contention.
Kobe Bryant case goes into the second day of hearings on the accuser's sexual history.
The Jayson Williams jury is likely to get the case today.
2004-04-28, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/28/2004
WEDNESDAY UPDATE: For perspective, the pictures coming out of Fallujah are a journalistic landmark. Beyond Gulf War I, beyond the first night of the attack on Baghdad, we are seeing very up close and, literally, from a GI-eye's eview, a military operation in real time. Try to explain this to viewers, who may take this incredible visual moment for granted.
Also, let's refer to the US marines we see in the foreground as "sharpshooters" not snipers, which carries a negative connotation.
We'll see a variety of admin officials including Rumsfeld on Capitol Hill to brief lawmakers on Iraq. With the action in Fallujah, they'll want some answers.
Do not ignore the Oil for Food story, please. Fox News is making steady progress in investigating what could be, without exaggeration, the biggest ripoff of all time, the House Intl Relations committee holds more hearings today.
The runup to the Bush-Cheney testimony on 9/11 is bound to generate speculation. Remember, we won't see or hear what's going on, the session won't be formally recorded, and POTUS/VPOTUS will not be sworn in. It will be historic testimony but bad TV.
SCOTUS issues orders and hears arguments onthe cases of Hamdi and Padilla (not an accident law firm), the US born foreign combatants.
2004-04-29, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/29/2004
The president and VP are MEETING with the 9/11 commission. They are NOT testifying before it as did witnesses last week. It is an important distinction that we need to make.
While that is going on, John Kerry addresses the Black Mayors conference in Philly. We should take some of that live, until it reverts to stump stuff.
We'll get to the electronic voting machine debate, making the point that it has the POTENTIAL to delay elections in many states.
It sounds like a "hurrah" but the US based arabic language TV network is more a mixed bag a few months after it went on the air.
Another story that got away from us Wednesday -- the growing use of steroids by high school athletes -- will get some attention today.
Jayson Williams jury continues to deliberate. Even when a verdict is reached, it's not a blow-out-breaks story.
2004-04-30, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 4/30/04 7:45:04
With trepidation, we'll go into the Michael Jackson indictment today ready to blow breaks and stick with it if it's a circus like last time, or to mix it with other news if, as promised by authorities, it retains some sense of legal decorum. It's a big step in the case. It does NOT mean he is guilty.
A story of much greater import in the long run: the influence of radical imams in Europe. Abu Hamza is only the best known of these hate mongers, who have been give much wider rein in Europe than they would even enjoy in their home countries. Kellogg has the goods. Use her.
The President and the PM of Canada meet today and will make remarks at midday. Take the remarks, even if Jacko is singing on top of a truck with no pants on at the time.
Should food stamp recipients be allowed to buy junk food with their government-subsidized coupons? The governor of Minnesota thinks not. Steve Brown's on the case of the taxpayer and the twinkie.
The decision by 20/20 to treat child adoption as a lottery has provoked a lot of reaction. Eric Burns has an opinion on this, as he does on most things.
2004-05-03, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/3/2004
MONDAY UPDATE: WE are all so used to using the AP wires that their (temporary) absence today provides not just a challenge, but an opportunity. Check websites (including AP) and pay special attention to the urgent queue until AP service is restored. But use the outage to check just how much we rely on one service, and figure out alternatives.
We've given the escape of Thomas Hamill pretty good attention since it became known. Let us not overdo it. It's good news for him and for Macon, Ms., but it's weekend news.
As Gen. Richard Myers suggested on Fox News Sunday, Fallujah will not be under the command of former Republican Guard Gen. Saleh. Instead, it'll be a former Iraqi army senior officer who oversees the volatile region.
There will be a service for Pat Tillman, the NFL player turned army ranger turned symbol of patriotism. We can do some lives on the service, but as before, be cautious about making his death, though tragic, any more significant than the deaths of non-famous GI casualties.
Ariel Sharon is in a tough spot. His own party has rejected his Gaza pullout plan as being too soft. His many critics in Israel and around the world view him as too tough. What's a portly prime minister to do? Tobin and Griffin answer.
The president goes to Michigan, accompanied by a powerful campaign asset, the first lady.
Kerry is in Minneapolis buffeted by the addition of Warren Buffet as an economic adviser.
And in Oregon, Dennis Kucinich is making his final stand -- so he says -- in his quest for Democratic party respect. Springer is there.
2004-05-04, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/4/2004
Politics may be the ticket today. Bush in Ohio, Kerry in New Mexico --both battleground states. We also have Kerry's not insignificant media buy as a way to counteract the Bush-Cheney blitz of last week.
Why do teenage girls hurt themselves, sometimes quite seriously? A nationwide trend of self-inflicted injuries suggests they are somehow trying to relieve stress.
We'll get more on the ordeal of Thomas Hamill as he makes his way back to the US, a certified hero. Apparently, he hasn't lost his American identity -- he wanted a burget and fries on his first night out of Iraq.
2004-05-05, John Moody
From: John Moody
Date: 5/5/2004
We'll plan on taking Giuliani's comments on the war on terror at the Council on Foreign Relations. Leventhal will front the story.
Again, if Steve Harrigan pops up during the day, get him on. He's in the middle of the action and exclusive.
The president meets Jordan's king abdullah, after a similar visit was postponed last month in a minor diplomatic ruffle. We'll see if the two have anything to say about the Abu Graib situation.
Wolfowitz is now subbing for Rumsfeld, lowering the importance of the even by a notch.
Thursday update: the pictures from Abu Graeb prison are disturbing. They have rightly provoked outrage. Today we have a picture -- aired on Al Arabiya -- of an American hostage being held with a scarf over his eyes, clearly against his will. Who's outraged on his behalf?
It is important that we keep the Abu Graeb situation in perspective. The story is beginning to live on itw own momentum. The facts of the story may develop into the need to do much more in the days ahead. For the moment, however, the focus appears to be changing to finger pointing within the administration and how it plays out as an issue in the presidential campaign.