Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Sen. Chris Matthews?
2. Counter Clinton Library Has Terry McAuliffe Browsing
3. Florida's 'Other' Senator for Veep?
4. Russians Like U.S. Less Than Iraq
5. War Date Set for Saudi Convenience?
6. Beijing's Korea Goal: Oust U.S. From Asia
7. Great Deal on John Grisham's Latest

1. Sen. Chris Matthews?

NewsMax hears there is a lot of buzz in Philadelphia that mega talk-show host Chris Matthews will run for Senate in 2004 against Sen. Arlen Specter, R-PA.

One source high in Philadelphia circles reports that a "big Republican" visited Philadelphia and sent shock waves through the political establishment by revealing that Washington Democrats are pushing Matthews to make the bid. Republican strategists fear that Mathews would slaughter Specter in a one-on-one face-off.

Matthews is a hometown Philly boy who made good.

He is the author of three best-selling books, the most recent being "Now Let Me Tell You What I Really Think" (2001), a New York Times bestseller. His first book, "Hardball" (1988), is required reading in many college-level political science courses. "Kennedy & Nixon" (1996) was named by Readers Digest "Today's Best Fiction" and served as the basis of a documentary on the History Channel.

His newest book, "American: Beyond Our Grandest Notions," has been released recently.

The former Washington bureau chief for the San Francisco Examiner (1987 - 2000), Matthews spent 15 years in politics and government working in the U.S. Senate for five years on the staffs of Sen. Frank Moss of Utah and Sen. Edmund Muskie of Maine.

He worked in the White House for four years under President Jimmy Carter as a presidential speechwriter, but earned his political stars as the top aide for Speaker of the House Tip "All Politics Is Local" O'Neill, Jr. for six years.

Matthews is best known for his cable show "Hardball with Chris Matthews," which has aired on MSNBC and CNBC. Recently his cable show sprouted wings, and he began a Sunday talk show, "The Chris Matthews Show," on NBC.

But politics is said to be Matthews' chief passion, and some think he might forgo the millions from his media career to make a shot at the Senate.

Specter, elected to the Senate in 1980 after serving as assistant district attorney of Philadelphia and later as District Attorney of Philadelphia, is considered vulnerable. Conservative Republicans have been seething at Specter's fabled liberalism and were most angered by his vote in 1999 not to remove Bill Clinton after the House impeached him.

As it turns out, Specter will face a strong challenge in a Republican primary from conservative Congressman Patrick Toomey.

Whoever gets the Republican nod may have a hard time beating Matthews.

"The blue-collar Catholics, the 'Reagan Democrats' in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are going to go to Matthews," our Philadelphia source says. Our source noted that Matthews is a moderate Democrat in the Joe Lieberman mold.

A potential Matthews bid is sending shivers down the spines of Republican sources in Washington. Not only would a win by Matthews cut into the Republicans' slim control of the Senate, but Bush's strategists have made Pennsylvania a battleground state for 2004. Matthews at the top of the state's Democrat ticket would not help Bush.

NewsMax was unable to reach Matthews, but a spokeswoman told us that "in the past he has said he is not running for the Senate."

2. Counter Clinton Library Has Terry McAuliffe Browsing

NewsMax's John LeBoutillier reports that at last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in suburban Washington, the most visited and popular booth was hosted by the Counter Clinton Library.

NewsMax first reported about the grassroots effort by several prominent Americans to open a library near the Clinton Library in Little Rock, AR that would chronicle his misdeeds. The Counter Clinton Library also is planning an online museum.

Among those visiting - of all people - was Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe, accompanied by an earpiece-wearing security guard.

When asked by a Counter Clinton Library volunteer for a donation, McAuliffe shook his head and muttered, "This guy [Clinton] has caused me enough trouble already."

Other notables to visit the Counter Clinton Library booth included author Arianna Huffington, Roger Michalski of Human Events, the Wall Street Journal's John Fund and the Economist's Adrian Ford, who interviewed CCL's co-founder, Dick Erickson, for one hour and plans on writing a major piece.

You can join the Counter Clinton Library, become a member and help a worthy cause, Click here.

3. Florida's 'Other' Senator for Veep?

Bob Graham is by far the better known of Florida's U.S. senators, wants to be elected president in 2004 and would have propelled Al Gore to the White House in 2000 had poor Gore been smart enough to pick him for running mate. But now it's the Sunshine State's junior senator, Bill Nelson, who's being touted for the Democrats' next vice presidential nominee.

What has suddenly made Nelson hot? Unfortunately, the shuttle disaster. Nelson flew on the Columbia in 1986, and that has put him in the spotlight again, notes Barry Epstein, a columnist for the Boca Raton News.

Like Graham, Nelson cuts a moderate Democrat image, one that has helped propel that party into the White House before.

4. Russians Like U.S. Less Than Iraq

Most people in our alleged "ally" Russia want their country to remain neutral if the U.S. attacks Iraq, according to a new opinion poll. And get this: Fewer would side with America than with Saddam Hussein's tyrannical dictatorship.

Public Opinion Foundation asked 1,500 Russians what Moscow should do if war is declared on Baghdad. Sixty-one percent said Russia shouldn't support any side. Nineteen percent said Russia should support Iraq. Only seven percent favored the U.S. The poll was conducted on Feb. 1.

5. War Date Set for Saudi Convenience?

The United States will go to war against Iraq two weeks after Haj, scheduled to end Feb. 13, Arab News quotes a former U.S. deputy defense secretary as saying.

"During this massive air attack, the last thing you want is cluttered airspace," he was quoted as saying. "The big thing is that you don't want, right after Eid Al-Adha, hundreds of airplanes flying all over the place, and the Saudis certainly wouldn't want anyone stranded in the kingdom."

6. Beijing's Korea Goal: Oust U.S. From Asia

American Foreign Policy Council's China Reform Monitor, to give insight into Beijing's goals in Korea, this past week offered a strategic assessment by Peter Zhang, a China watcher in Australia. Although he wrote the commentary in June 2000, the article provides valuable perspective on today's situation.

China's political strategy toward the Korean Peninsula should be seen in light of its long-term goal to force U.S. military and political influence out of the Asia-Pacific region, Zhang wrote in the New Australian. Without the 37,000 American troops on the Korean DMZ, Beijing would not consider South Korea to be a military threat, allowing Chinese leaders to reclaim what they consider a historic sphere of influence. A unified Korea, friendly to China, would be an important trading partner dangerously close to Japan. Beijing hopes that after a U.S. withdrawal from South Korea, popular opinion in Japan, particularly Okinawa, would force the U.S. out of its last remaining permanent military bases in northeast Asia.

China Reform Monitor offers an update of Zhang's assessment. After such a scenario, it would be only a matter of time before fearful and opportunistic Southeast Asian leaders would shift allegiances to Beijing. Taiwan would surrender. With China now making major political and economic inroads into the South Pacific islands, and leftist-dominated New Zealand leaving Australia as America's last ally in the region, the U.S. would cease to be an Asia-Pacific power.

Editor's Note: Find out China's strategy. Get you copy of "Unrestricted Warfare" – China's military handbook that first proposed the 9/11 attacks against the U.S. Click here for more information.

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