Countdown Newsletter -- 05/30/06: Unearthing Haditha (KEITH IS BACK)

[Patsy Stone]

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Tonight on Countdown
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President Bush said Wednesday he was troubled by allegations that U.S. Marines had killed unarmed Iraqi civilians and that, "if in fact laws were broken, there will be punishment." It was Bush's first public comment on allegations that Marines killed about two dozen unarmed Iraqi men, women and children in the western city of Haditha last November. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13065025/

U.S. military officials say the killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha in November appears to have been an unprovoked attack by U.S. Marines, after an investigation found the victims died of gunshot wounds. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-iraq-usa-haditha.html

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

In the first public testimony by a member of Jack Abramoff's inner circle, a former congressional aide told a federal jury yesterday how the disgraced lobbyist identified his "champions" in government and then showered them with favors to get inside information and help for his clients. Neil G. Volz, who was chief of staff to Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio) before joining Abramoff's lobbying firm, testified that among those he and his colleagues considered allies were Ney and former General Services Administration official David H. Safavian, the first person brought to trial in connection with the Abramoff scandal. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053001206.html

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton kicked off her bid for a second Senate term Wednesday, telling supporters to get ready for a Democratic sweep in November. "When the dust clears in November, New York is going to have a Democratic government from top to bottom, and we're going to show the rest of the country what that means," Clinton told New York's Democratic state convention. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053101022.html

The Atlantic hurricane season that starts Thursday will be active, but it shouldn't be as destructive as last year's record-setting season, one of the nation's top hurricane forecasters said Wednesday. The latest forecast from William Gray's team at Colorado State University calls for 17 named storms for the 2006 season. Nine storms are expected to become hurricanes, and five of those are expected to have winds of 111 mph or greater, the forecasters said. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/31/AR2006053100998.html

With Matt Lauer bringing the box of tissues, the "Today" show threw a going-away party Wednesday for 15-year host Katie Couric, who is leaving to become the next anchor of the "CBS Evening News." Co-host Lauer placed the tissue box on the desk at the show's opening, saying "this is not for you, this for me." http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13059461/

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

Finally,
LOS ANGELES -- A widow won $2.1 million from a high-priced matchmaker whom she claimed failed to deliver on promises of introductions to cultured, wealthy men. Anne Majerik, a 60-year-old social worker from Erie, Pa., claimed in a lawsuit that she paid Beverly Hills matchmaker Orly Hadida $125,000 to be introduced to men who wanted monogamous relationships, earned more than $1 million and had estates of up to $20 million. Instead, she said, she only got a few introductions to inappropriate men. For example, her suit claimed, the matchmaker's "international banker" turned out to be "an interpreter that worked in a bank." Orly, an Israeli beauty pageant winner who goes by her first name, countersued. She alleged Majerik is a "serial matchmaker suer" who enjoyed herself with the men she met before claiming she had been "psychologically damaged by the process" and demanding compensation. Orly claimed Majerik became her client after she helped the widow prevail in a lawsuit against another matchmaker. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MATCHMAKER_LAWSUIT?SITE=NWCN&TEMPLATE=STRANGEHEADS.html&SECTION=HOME

What interests me most about this... there are really that many matchmakers out there? Who knew?

-- Carey Fox

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

Other News:
In a major policy shift, the United States said Wednesday it is prepared to join other nations in holding direct talks with Iran on its nuclear program if Iran first agrees to stop disputed nuclear activities that the West fears could lead to a bomb. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13048821/

Delta Air Lines Inc. pilots approved an agreement Wednesday with the bankrupt carrier that calls for $280 million in annual concessions, including an initial 14 percent pay cut, the union said. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13064226/

For companies in the disaster business, 2005 was a very good year. And if preseason predictions are correct, it could be the first in a series of profitable years for a rapidly growing industry that encompasses engineering firms, debris haulers and logistical specialists who rush in whenever disaster strikes. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12875663/

The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's trial threw out one of the top defendants amid fierce arguments Wednesday as the prosecution and defense accused each other's witnesses of lying. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13055090/

Archaeologists say they have dug up a woman skeleton dating to the 10th century B.C. in an ancient necropolis in the heart of Rome. An amber necklace and four pins also were found near the 5-foot-3-inch-long skeleton. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13059675/

A Dutch investigator's report cleared Lance Armstrong of doping in the 1999 Tour de France on Wednesday, calling the accusations against him "completely irresponsible" and raising the possibility of misconduct by anti-doping authorities. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13062398/

Elizabeth Taylor on Tuesday dismissed tabloid reports that she was being treated for Alzheimer's disease or was gravely ill. The Academy Award-winning actress, who uses a wheelchair because of back problems, was asked about the reports during an appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live." "Oh come on, do I look like I'm dying?" the 74-year-old actress asked King in a rare television interview. "Do I look like or sound like I have Alzheimer's?" http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13055222/

[gkhouston]

1. so, why do they believe this year's hurricane season won't be as

destructive as last year's? Is this based on anything other than wishful thinking?

[Patsy Stone]

2. Maybe Pat heard something new from God

and shared it with Max?

Is that the Linux penguin? :hi:

[gkhouston]

3. yeah, it's the Linux penguin.

I'm trying to configure a new kernel. Pray for me. ;-)


Oy, wasn't Barney Frank a stitch last night on Countdown? The Yogi Berra of Congress speaks. :-)

[Patsy Stone]

6. Barney Frank

continues to kick ass. I particularly liked this:

UNGER: Any irony here to the fact that many Republicans in the House seem to be just fine with the warrantless wiretapping of average citizens, and yet when it comes to the warranted search of a congressman's office, not so much?

FRANK: Oh, I would say there is more irony here than in the collected works of George Bernard Shaw.

[SharonRB]

4. Now that Noe has plead guilty, I sure hope he covers the story!

[Berry Cool]

7. Yeah, let's uncover every corrupt bum in Ohio

and throw them all out. Can't wait.

[WolverineDG]

5. Oh God, not more "Bye Bye Katie" crap

Here's to CBS News tanking. :toast:

dg