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Every one a scoop! Straight from the Anchor DeskBy Rick Horowitz
It's the bottom of the hour where you are -- here's the top of the news here in Washington: * President Bush today marked the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq by conceding that there had been some "difficult moments" along the way, but reaffirming his belief in the ultimate success of the mission. The White House, meanwhile, released figures suggesting that the recent up-tick in sectarian violence has been more than matched by a sharp increase in presidential speeches. * More polls out this week showing diminishing support for the president as a strong leader on the world stage -- and experts say a rapid turnaround could prove difficult. On the negative side, the continuing problems in Iraq, growing worries about Iran, a possible nuclear threat from North Korea and the rise of anti-U.S. regimes in Latin America. On the plus side, the president will no longer have to try to pronounce the name "Slobodan Milosevic." * Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has lashed out again at the media for what he called "exaggerated" reports about the worsening security situation in Iraq. These reports, Rumsfeld charged, "inflame the situation" and "give heart to the terrorists." In Baghdad, meanwhile, authorities are still trying to explain last week's discovery of 18 exaggerated bodies found shot and strangled inside an exaggerated minibus. * Hillary Clinton denied again today that she's looking beyond her re-election campaign this fall to a possible presidential bid in 2008. In other news, New York's junior senator says she'll soon be introducing legislation mandating the "highest levels of safety and security" for the Port of Des Moines. * In Memphis, the first straw poll of the 2008 campaign has earned home-state senator Bill Frist a hard-earned victory over several potential GOP rivals. Said Frist, "It's still early in the process, but the American people have clearly shown that they value a leader who knows how to charter buses." * Arizona Sen. John McCain also attracted plenty of attention at the Memphis gathering with his strong support of President Bush, particularly after the two were such bitter enemies during the Republican primaries back in 2000. Reminding fellow Republicans that the president still had nearly three years left in his second term, McCain declared, "We're stuck with him, so let's stick with him." * Good news and bad news for Washington baseball fans this spring. The good news: long-awaited final approval on a stadium deal for the Washington Nationals. The bad news: The construction crew is from Dubai. * Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean insisted today that his remarks were taken out of context. * Convicted super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff is critical of prominent Republicans now claiming they barely knew him. But in the next issue of Vanity Fair magazine, Abramoff denies he ever had any contact with President Bush. People suggesting links between the two men, Abramoff says -- and we're quoting here -- "want to ruin my reputation." * For its part, the White House today continued fending off charges that the president and Abramoff were well acquainted with one another. Photos showing the two standing very close together at various White House events are "essentially meaningless," said communications director Dan Bartlett. The president, Bartlett said, was "just trying to save film." And finally: * Still hoping to improve America's image in the rest of the world, Under Secretary of State Karen Hughes today announced the appointment of a special envoy to the United Nations. Now you can call him Ambassador Bode Miller. Like he cares what you call him. That's all the news for now. When there's more to know, we'll tell you. Posted 3/14/06. Stay
way ahead of the news right here at "Rick's"!
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Rick Horowitz
