Countdown Newsletter -- 12/07/05: Christmas Chutzpah

See you kids live tonight -- if I don't fall asleep on the couch.

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Tonight on Countdown
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What's missing from the White House Christmas card? Christmas. This month, as in every December since he took office, President Bush sent out cards with a generic end-of-the-year message, wishing 1.4 million of his close friends and supporters a happy "holiday season." Many people are thrilled to get a White House Christmas card, no matter what the greeting inside. But some conservative Christians are reacting as if Bush stuck coal in their stockings. "This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture," said William A. Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. Laura Bush's press secretary: "Their cards in recent years have included best wishes for a holiday season, rather than Christmas wishes, because they are sent to people of all faiths." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/06/AR2005120601900.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10355980/
But don't expect THAT explanation to satisfy many among the religious right.

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

Defending his strategy in Iraq, President Bush said Wednesday that reconstruction has been "uneven" but spreading economic progress is giving people hope for a democratic future. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10360949/

Part 2, Howard Stern interview.

It has become a holiday tradition -- a look at the White House holiday decorations with first dog Barney. This year, Scottish terrier Barney is joined for the first time by the first family's other dog, Miss Beazley. http://www.nbc4.tv/irresistible/5482860/detail.html
Hidden messages in the Barney Cam? Uh, um, well, we'll see.

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

Finally,
A judge has told Sam Buck that she can't call her coffee shop Sambuck's. The judge ruled the name violated the trademark of coffee giant Starbucks. But there is a silver lining for the small business owner. Buck won't have to pay Starbucks' legal fees, even though it could under the ruling by U.S. District Judge Ancer Haggerty. A Starbucks representative said the company never planned to ask Buck to cover its legal costs. "It's not about David and Goliath," said May Kulthol, manager of media relations for Starbucks Coffee. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/STARBUCKS_SAM_BUCKS?SITE=NWCN&TEMPLATE=STRANGEHEADS.html&SECTION=HOME
Really?

-- Carey Fox

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

More:
Saddam Hussein refused to attend his trial for crimes against humanity on Wednesday, delaying the often chaotic proceedings for hours before the presiding judge decided to press on with the televised hearing without him. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10318347/

In a full-length version of a tape previously broadcast, al-Qaida's deputy leader called for attacks against Persian Gulf oil facilities and urged insurgent groups in Iraq to unite to drive out American forces, according to a videotape posted on the Internet Wednesday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10357325/

Angry relatives of more than 100 people killed in Iran's worst air disaster for three years complained Wednesday that officials knew in advance that the crashed plane was not safe to fly. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10363954/

A 38-year-old French woman who had the world's first partial face transplant has asked journalists to respect her privacy after a media frenzy over the operation that gave her a new nose, lips and chin. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10363201/

A sustained decline will hit the U.S. housing market next year, costing the nation as many as 800,000 jobs, according to a new economic report released Wednesday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10364485/

A vice mayor in charge of evacuating a Chinese city where a chemical plant exploded is believed to have hanged himself, an official said on Wednesday, as a toxic river flow resulting from the accident spread. Wang had been quoted as saying that the accident would not cause widespread pollution. In fact 112 tons of cancer-causing benzene compounds spilt into the Songhua river which provides drinking water for the 9 million people of the city of Harbin. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10363131/

A Belgian shepherd dog saved the lives of three people from a burning building by waking them up with loud barks but perished in the flames, apparently because he was afraid to jump out of the window, police said on Wednesday. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10365047/

I'll have to tape tonight. A very good friend of my mother's died and we have to go pay a shiva call. I doubt I'll be back before the end of the show. Say hello to everyone for me if I don't make it.

Sorry to hear the bad news. How's your mom taking it?

:hug:

Thanks for asking. The woman's daughter just got married a month ago and she's in her mid-40s. She lives in Boston and her mom couldn't even make it to the wedding because she was so ill. We just got home a few minutes ago. We're the closest thing to family she's got here. Her aunt and uncle came in from Boston, but otherwise it was pretty much her mom's friends. There were about 35 people at the funeral and very few people at the shiva house tonight. I'm glad we got there early and had dinner with them. She's doing just fine, though, actually. Her mom was 84 and was diagnosed with leukemia not that long ago. They wound up pulling the plug on Monday and she died within a couple of hours.

What a story. It does sound like a good thing that you went. I did miss ya.

i think mr. donohue needs to review the definition of "catholic" in the dictionary. he also needs to take a gander at the "red words" in the new testament. i think jesus had a few things to say about being tolerant of others & loving our neighbors, you know, like the "Good Samaritan" & stuff like that.

:rant: the starbucks story reminds me of a case around san antonio where the owners of the "texas roadhouse" went after the sole proprietor of the "true blue texas roadhouse" because it might "confuse customers." AS IF ANYONE would confuse that poor man's run-down honky tonk dive for a real "texas roadhouse" restaurant. and get this: they even requested that he be required to take down all decorations in his place that were shaped like texas!! what? they own the copyright to the shape of this state?? ONLY IF THEY CAN DRAW IT FREEHAND!!!!

dg

on edit: damn grammar

but I imagine Mr. Donahue's group is akin to Jews for Jesus. See, we're born Catholic, but now NeoCon evangelical fascism works for us. :)
See you later, alligator.