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American Morning
AP Reports Representative Porter Goss to Head the CIA; Turkish Blasts; 'Political Pop'
Aired August 10, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It's just about half past the hour now on this AMERICAN MORNING.
One of the stories that we're following, the Associated Press reporting that President Bush has selected Florida Congressman Porter Goss to succeed George Tenet as CIA director. We're going to have a lot more on this just as soon as it becomes available.
Also, an apparent terrorist attack in Istanbul, two deadly blasts in the Turkish city. We'll give you the very latest on that as well.
HEMMER: And the final 9/11 report is once again getting some close attention on Capitol Hill. The chairman and the vice chairman of that commission are among those scheduled to testify today. We'll get a live report from D.C. on the Hill in a moment on that.
COLLINS: Plus, First Lady Laura Bush comes out in defense of her husband on stem cell research, quite at different stand from that of another Republican first lady. The "Political Pop" panel is going to be talking about that in just a moment.
HEMMER: And they are getting ready, are they not?
COLLINS: They're fired up.
HEMMER: That's right.
In the meantime, though, let's get more on Porter Goss and the story that's breaking out of Washington right now. Again, the AP is reporting that the Republican congressman out of Florida will be the one that George Bush will peg as the successor to George Tenet.
George Tenet resigning back in June, and over the past several months there was a lot of talk about how the intelligence agencies, and specifically the CIA, is restructured and reorganized pending the report from the 9/11 Commission. We're watching those hearings that will get under way later today, later this morning in Washington.
Ed Henry is on that story and that beat for us today.
Ed -- good morning to you.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Porter Goss is a former CIA official. A lot of Republicans feel that he would be the perfect person in order to shape up this Central Intelligence Agency.
But a lot of Democrats have said in recent weeks they think Porter Goss is the wrong person. He might be too close to the intelligence community, first of all, intelligence community in general, but also they feel it might be a political appointment; that it's not a good idea to select a Republican congressman to head the CIA at a time when politics has broken out, that there has been so much partisanship over the intelligence issue that he might not be the right person for the job.
And what's very interesting as well is this potential appointment is coming at a time when the 9/11 Commission's recommendations where also we're seeing a partisan divide really develop here.
You mentioned that Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton, the 9/11 Commission co-chairs, will be here today. This morning, they will first talk to the House Democrats in a private meeting. And the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, has been very aggressive in challenging President Bush and congressional Republicans in saying they're not moving fast enough to adopt the 9/11 Commission recommendations. So, there will be a very sympathetic audience for Kean and Hamilton there.
But then at noon, Kean and Hamilton will go over to the House Armed Services Committee, where they will get a much different reception, a more skeptical reception. The House Armed Services Committee, since 80 percent of the intelligence budget is controlled by the Pentagon, a lot of people at the Pentagon and at the House Armed Services Committee are skeptical of these changes recommended by the 9/11 Commission. You're going to see a lot of tough questions for Kean and Hamilton.
And in general, we're hearing a lot more from Republicans who believe that the Democrats are pushing too hard, that there is too much momentum perhaps behind this 9/11 Commission report, and that basically everyone should slow down, calm down and not move too fast.
I can tell you, Democrats are insisting these changes should be made before the elections. The 9/11 commissioners themselves are also pushing for quick action.
But Republicans are saying the clock is ticking. There's not a lot of legislative time. It will be very hard to do these changes before the election. And, in fact, a lot of Republicans are now saying there may need to be a lame duck session after the election to deal with this -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed, how does this news of Porter Goss play into these hearings today?
HENRY: I think, again, it's going to add a little bit more partisanship. When Porter Goss's name surfaced a few weeks ago as a potential CIA chief, Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller put out a statement saying he would oppose that nomination. It's very rare on, you know, the intelligence committees in the House and Senate for there to be partisanship. Usually they're very bipartisan. But the fact is that Porter Goss's name surfacing has actually created a lot of partisanship, and I think this is going to be a very controversial pick if, in fact, President Bush does it -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Ed, thanks for that. Ed Henry working the story on Capitol Hill.
Again, the AP had it earlier, CNN now confirming that Porter Goss will be the one selected by the White House to succeed George Tenet, a graduate of Yale University going back to 1960, married with four kids, 11 grandchildren. We may see him later this morning. In fact, the president is expected to make this announcement at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time from the Rose Garden. When it happens live, we'll get you there next hour here.
Now -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Simultaneous explosions rocked two hotels in Turkey. They hit a tourist area in Istanbul. The bombings are believed to be terrorist attacks.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh has more from Turkey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hello, everybody.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At edge of the Grand Canyon, the Democratic nominee finally answered the president's challenge: Knowing what he knows now, would he still, in fact, given the Bush administration the authority...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Obviously the wrong tape there. We are trying to get to Alphonso Van Marsh to tell us more about this story out of Istanbul and the explosions there.
Let's try to take a look once again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turkish authorities say they aren't ruling out any possibilities as to who might be responsible for a series of bomb blasts that rocked Istanbul.
This hotel behind me is one of two hotel properties targeted between Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Turkish authorities say that in the blast two people died and at least half a dozen other people injured.
A little bit outside the city, two more bomb blasts at a liquefied fuel refueling station. A company spokesman saying that while the blasts went off, there was very little damage. Now, the blasts come at a very sensitive time for Turkey. This is Turkey's high tourist season, plenty of people from plenty of different countries in town. And Turks are very sensitive about allegations of terror in their country. Some viewers might remember last November, four suicide car bombs killing some 60 people, including the British consular to Istanbul.
But in terms of who might be responsible for this series of bomb blasts, Turkish authorities say it could be anyone.
Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The bombings were just a few miles from a hotel, where the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team is staying during the final stop of its pre-Olympic tour.
HEMMER: Only three days away from opening ceremonies in Athens, too.
It's 36 minutes past the hour. A check of the other news, Carol Costello again at the CNN center.
Good morning -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Thank you.
The U.S. Army say sit will not be able to verify a grainy videotape showing an apparent killing of U.S. soldier in Iraq. Arab television network Al-Jazeera reported last June that the tape is of Army Reservist Matt Maupin being shot by his kidnappers.
Well, Maupin's parents spoke out yesterday on the four-month anniversary of his capture. They say there is hope Maupin is still alive.
A detention hearing is expected today for two mosque leaders charged in connection with a plotted assassination of a Pakistani ambassador in New York. The two men were arrested in an FBI sting last week. Federal authorities yesterday unsealed a 19-count indictment against them. It includes charges of conspiracy to launder money and promote terrorism.
New information this morning suggests that Las Vegas authorities may have decided against alerting the public to a possible terror threat. The Associated Press says city officials and hotel security personnel were more concerned about tourism and liability than terrorism. When told about videos suggesting suspected terrorists had cased the city's casinos in 1997, the city's mayor says he never knew about the tapes.
In Brazil, rescue workers and biologists are trying to rescue a humpback whale that washed up on a beach near Rio de Janeiro. Take a look at this. The nearly 10-ton, 35-foot long mammal has been stuck there since Sunday, but appears to be unhurt. Efforts to pull the whale back to sea with a tugboat failed yesterday. Rescuers say they'll try again.
Back to New York now.
COLLINS: Oh, what a shame. I hate to see those huge animals laying up there. All right, Carol...
COSTELLO: Well, at least he's not hurt, though.
COLLINS: Not hurt, so maybe they can push him back. There's enough people.
Carol, thanks so much for that.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: It has been three decades, 30 years since President Nixon stepped down. "Tonight Show's" Jay Leno jokes that a lot has changed in the world since then.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Here's something interesting. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the resignation of President Richard Nixon. He resigned 30 years ago today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
LENO: Talk about embarrassing. The Department of Homeland Security said what? Nixon resigned? Why weren't we told?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Jay Leno from last night.
COLLINS: That's right. All right, still to come on AMERICAN MORNING today, former Enron CEO Ken Lay tells his lawyer, let me go it alone. That's ahead.
HEMMER: Also, the retired general who led the U.S. into war into Iraq, and before that Afghanistan, who does he back for president? Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Donald Trump's hotel empire may need a little help, and former Enron boss Ken Lay has a request.
Christine Romans is in for Andy Serwer today. She's "Minding Your Business" this morning.
All right, Donald Trump. Ouch!
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: You know, this guy is somebody who always get so much press, so much good press for...
COLLINS: It's the hair.
ROMANS: It's the hair. For what a, you know, mega-investor he is. But his Trump Casino and Hotel company will be filing for bankruptcy. He's going to lose his job as the CEO, stripping him of some of the power in that company. He will maintain his role as chairman, but the bondholders, the debt holders in this company wanted to restructure how it's done.
You know, this company has been very close to defaulting on some of its credit and some of its debt before. It's been a tough business for him to be in.
And so, Donald Trump, who gets all of this great press about what a good businessman he is, is losing some power in his own company.
COLLINS: Maybe he's getting better on TV instead of...
ROMANS: It's taking up a lot of time.
COLLINS: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Designing clothes, right.
COLLINS: Right. OK, so Ken Lay, he's asking to start the trial right away, and I'm sure that he has got plenty of money to defend himself, correct?
ROMANS: Right. The disgraced former leader of Enron, and for a lot of people, putting him on trial for the collapse of Enron is something they've been looking forward to for about two and a half years.
He'd like to get this thing over as quickly as possible. Ken Lay would like to see a trial, maybe without a jury even, just with a judge, by this fall, September. His attorney yesterday said that he is ready to do this. Also, a $15 million war chest is what he has ready for that defense.
COLLINS: Wow!
ROMANS: Other Enron executives have also millions of dollars, Jeff Skilling, millions of dollars for their defense in this fraud case. So, this is only going to get more interesting.
COLLINS: Lawyers are going to be lining up, you know.
ROMANS: Absolutely. And the irony is that lawyers and accountants are still making an awful lot of money from the Enron case. I mean, nothing is dead and gone, and they're still making a lot of money.
COLLINS: You bet. All right, Christine Romans...
HEMMER: I liked the story about Trump yesterday that Andy had about the new clothing line.
ROMANS: Yes, absolutely.
HEMMER: Here's my red tie that goes with my blue pinstripe, and here's my blue tie that goes with my black pinstripe.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: That's going to bail him out.
HEMMER: Can't you see the variety?
BOROWITZ: That's going to bail him out. Forget about the casino thing. It's the clothing line.
ROMANS: Right. All that time in the closet apparently, you know, picking out his clothes has been a detriment to the...
HEMMER: Good morning, Andy. What's happening? The "Question of the Day"?
BOROWITZ: Well, we've got a big question. Now, you know, some people have said that they're not happy with either presidential candidate. But help is on the way. Actor Will Smith has told a Swedish newspaper that he could be president if he wanted to.
Now, he wouldn't be the first celebrity to make the leap into politics. We have Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Bono to name a few.
So, our question to you is: Which celebrity would you like to see run for president? OK. And I don't know what your answers are, because no one has told me. So maybe we should come back to that when we have the answers.
HEMMER: Wait a minute. Do you have ideas?
BOROWITZ: You know what? I'm really just here to raise questions, not so much to give answers.
HEMMER: Well, you opened the show besides saying you're inquisitive, right?
BOROWITZ: I am.
HEMMER: As you always are.
BOROWITZ: I am. So, I'm just throwing that out there once again. We'll be back with your answers shortly.
HEMMER: You got it. All right, thanks.
BOROWITZ: Thank you.
HEMMER: Oh, by the way, there is a secret hand that just came into studio here.
BOROWITZ: What do you know? What do you know? The amazing technology.
OK. Are we ready for this?
Weldon from Canada. Thank you, Weldon: "If it has to be a Kerry, why not a certified Jim Carrey? He would at least give everyone a reason to smile and maybe even laugh."
OK, and we certainly need that.
Mike from Saint Louis, Missouri, writes: "John Kerry, becoming president for him is just a stepping stone to a brilliant acting career."
Yes, we saw that coming.
Zach from Okemos, Michigan, writes: "I would like to see Paris Hilton elected. She would probably give at least as much thought to the issues as the current president."
Oh, that's kind of mean.
OK. And finally Dave writes: "Oprah Winfrey of course. I wrote the Kerry campaign months ago telling them to pick her for vice president. All Americans know and respect her. Born in rural Mississippi, grew in the swing state of Wisconsin. She has a great compassion and is a good organizer, plus she can finance her own campaign."
I am Oprah Winfrey and I approve this message is all that's really missing from that.
HEMMER: And thanks to Wendell (ph) for saving your tail.
BOROWITZ: Oh, my gosh! Thank you. Thank you, Canada.
HEMMER: You got it. Let's get a break here. In a moment, what could be a case of dueling first ladies, Laura Bush on the campaign trail yesterday defending her husband's policy on stem cell research. Will that become a hot button issue? We'll get to that in "Political Pop" as we continue in a moment here after the break on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
First the news from D.C. this morning. Senior White House officials confirming with CNN the president will name Florida Congressman Porter Goss to lead the CIA. We're told that announcement will come in about 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, about 40 minutes away from the Rose Garden. We'll get you there live when that happens.
Now for "Political Pop" today. Cooking on the left with us, Democratic strategist Kirsten Powers back with us. Holding middle, John Devore, political satirist from "Maxim" magazine.
Good morning, John.
JOHN DEVORE, POLITICAL SATIRIST, "MAXIM": Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: And on the right, Mark Simone, talk show host at WABC Radio here in New York City.
How are you guys doing?
MARK SIMONE, WABC RADIO HOST: Good.
KIRSTEN POWERS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Great.
HEMMER: Ready to go? Three topics.
Laura Bush yesterday, on the screen, talking about the Kerry campaign, trying to urge more research for stem cell research in this country. Here's how she addressed the Kerry campaign's claim about this so-called ban. She says: "That's so ridiculous. It's one of the myths that start during a campaign."
Strong words. Are we starting to see her emerge right now, Kirsten, on this now?
POWERS: Oh, yes. I mean, they're probably rolling her out to, you know, be this sort of nice, soft face of the Bush administration. But she's, you know, starting to attack a little bit. And it's actually a little distressing, because what she is saying is actually not true. And they're trying to pretend that they support stem cell research when, in fact, they limit funding on it. And you know -- but, you know, I've always...
HEMMER: But there is a measure of research the White House has allowed going back to August of 2002.
POWERS: There is a measure of research, but they are limiting it. And people who are truly in support of stem cell research and the scientists and the people that actually know about this say that we should spend some money on it. And she is now coming out and sort of saying is, like, whoa, whoa, let me explain to you how this works. It's like, you know, she's a lovely person. She's the first lady. But she's not a doctor and she's not a scientist.
SIMONE: Not like Ronald Reagan Jr. But there's a misconception here. They're not banning stem cell research. There is going to be plenty of it. They're just talking about federal funding. And will it cure everything? You know, it's already cured Kerry from flip- flopping. It's the one issue he's consistent on.
DEVORE: Laura Bush is the big gun in the campaign, and I hear that she's actually been leaving flaming bags of dog pooh outside of Nancy Reagan's door.
HEMMER: Do you -- in a bigger sense, though, is this Laura Bush now taking on Teresa Heinz Kerry in a battle for first ladies on the trail? Do you see that?
SIMONE: Lord, I wish. I hope it is. I want them mud wrestling.
POWERS: I think that she is definitely one of the secret weapons for the Bush administration. She's been pretty quiet for most of the administration, and she's a very smart, articulate, lovely person. And they're smart to be bringing her out.
HEMMER: All right, next topic here. Tommy Franks says John Kerry would make a good commander-in-chief.
SIMONE: Yes.
HEMMER: But he's leaning towards George Bush. He's got a book out right now.
SIMONE: Yes.
HEMMER: Is he playing both sides?
SIMONE: No, because in "TIME" magazine they asked him about Bush, and he had all of this praise. He talked about the quality of his judgment, the honesty of his leadership. When it came to Kerry, all he said was, Well, I guess he's qualified.
You know, I get a letter every week that says I'm qualified to win $25 million. That doesn't mean anything.
HEMMER: John?
DEVORE: Tommy Franks is trying to serve his country. I mean, the idea that the military is a political institution, I think he's at least trying to put out the appearance that military men are not monolithically Republican.
HEMMER: I think the bigger issue with Tommy Franks is just the quote he gave to the AP, saying he is responsible for the mission accomplished trip off the coast of San Diego last spring.
POWERS: Well, and I just think if I'm George Bush, I'm not super-psyched that he's saying I don't really know if I'm voting for you. I mean, you know, it's like he should be clearly saying which way he wants it go. And he's actually said much nicer things about John Kerry rather than just saying he's qualified.
HEMMER: Do you think matters with Frank?
SIMONE: Well, yes, I think that...
HEMMER: To what degree, though?
SIMONE: Well, he's a very credible figure. And, you know, he's the guy that really fought the war.
HEMMER: That's right, Iraq, and Afghanistan before that.
John, let's talk about the regular guys.
DEVORE: All right.
HEMMER: These guys can't get enough about talking about how much they hunt and fish. What's going on here?
DEVORE: They are adorable, those two. For a pair of blue- blooded aristocrats, Yankee dandy, I love how they play like they're regular folk. You know, Bush does it I think the best as a make- believe cowboy. But Kerry...
HEMMER: Well, he did a spot on Outdoor Life network, fishing at his ranch in Crawford.
POWERS: Right.
HEMMER: John Kerry is always talking about hunting and fishing on the campaign now as he goes through the middle part of the country.
POWERS: Yes. Well, I think it's like most Americans have done their whole lives, sort of aspiring to move ahead. And these, you know, two candidates are sort of aspiring to be like everybody else. And I don't think it's, you know, lost on anybody sort of how silly it is.
SIMONE: Well, I'm sorry, but Kerry has no credibility in this area. You can see Bush on the pickup truck, you know, on the ranch. But...
DEVORE: On his play ranch.
SIMONE: Well, but...
DEVORE: I mean, it's a play ranch!
SIMONE: Yes, but Kerry...
POWERS: George Bush bought that ranch in 1999, the ranch that has no cattle on it, that's you know...
SIMONE: But be honest. Kerry is the guy in the Rolls-Royce who hands you the Grey Poupon.
POWERS: Oh, that's...
DEVORE: On occasion, Kerry does make like a personality...
HEMMER: We should have started with this topic, by the way. Thurston Howell, III?
DEVORE: Well, he makes Thurston Howell, III look like, you know, Eddie Izzard (ph). Kerry can be really wooden and patrician.
POWERS: Yes, I don't think we're going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the president and the head of the CIA.
HEMMER: Listen...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: They only hunt and fish, but I remind you, so do kings.
SIMONE: Even when he goes to the beach, he can't just swim. He's kite surfing. Whoever heard of that?
HEMMER: We got to run. Thanks to all three, all right?
Here's Heidi again across the room -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, President Bush picks his man for the CIA. We're going to have the announcement coming to you live at 8:30 from the Rose Garden.
Also, how heliports in New York City are getting new help with security now. It's coming from the feds. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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Aired August 10, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: It's just about half past the hour now on this AMERICAN MORNING.
One of the stories that we're following, the Associated Press reporting that President Bush has selected Florida Congressman Porter Goss to succeed George Tenet as CIA director. We're going to have a lot more on this just as soon as it becomes available.
Also, an apparent terrorist attack in Istanbul, two deadly blasts in the Turkish city. We'll give you the very latest on that as well.
HEMMER: And the final 9/11 report is once again getting some close attention on Capitol Hill. The chairman and the vice chairman of that commission are among those scheduled to testify today. We'll get a live report from D.C. on the Hill in a moment on that.
COLLINS: Plus, First Lady Laura Bush comes out in defense of her husband on stem cell research, quite at different stand from that of another Republican first lady. The "Political Pop" panel is going to be talking about that in just a moment.
HEMMER: And they are getting ready, are they not?
COLLINS: They're fired up.
HEMMER: That's right.
In the meantime, though, let's get more on Porter Goss and the story that's breaking out of Washington right now. Again, the AP is reporting that the Republican congressman out of Florida will be the one that George Bush will peg as the successor to George Tenet.
George Tenet resigning back in June, and over the past several months there was a lot of talk about how the intelligence agencies, and specifically the CIA, is restructured and reorganized pending the report from the 9/11 Commission. We're watching those hearings that will get under way later today, later this morning in Washington.
Ed Henry is on that story and that beat for us today.
Ed -- good morning to you.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill.
Porter Goss is a former CIA official. A lot of Republicans feel that he would be the perfect person in order to shape up this Central Intelligence Agency.
But a lot of Democrats have said in recent weeks they think Porter Goss is the wrong person. He might be too close to the intelligence community, first of all, intelligence community in general, but also they feel it might be a political appointment; that it's not a good idea to select a Republican congressman to head the CIA at a time when politics has broken out, that there has been so much partisanship over the intelligence issue that he might not be the right person for the job.
And what's very interesting as well is this potential appointment is coming at a time when the 9/11 Commission's recommendations where also we're seeing a partisan divide really develop here.
You mentioned that Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton, the 9/11 Commission co-chairs, will be here today. This morning, they will first talk to the House Democrats in a private meeting. And the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, has been very aggressive in challenging President Bush and congressional Republicans in saying they're not moving fast enough to adopt the 9/11 Commission recommendations. So, there will be a very sympathetic audience for Kean and Hamilton there.
But then at noon, Kean and Hamilton will go over to the House Armed Services Committee, where they will get a much different reception, a more skeptical reception. The House Armed Services Committee, since 80 percent of the intelligence budget is controlled by the Pentagon, a lot of people at the Pentagon and at the House Armed Services Committee are skeptical of these changes recommended by the 9/11 Commission. You're going to see a lot of tough questions for Kean and Hamilton.
And in general, we're hearing a lot more from Republicans who believe that the Democrats are pushing too hard, that there is too much momentum perhaps behind this 9/11 Commission report, and that basically everyone should slow down, calm down and not move too fast.
I can tell you, Democrats are insisting these changes should be made before the elections. The 9/11 commissioners themselves are also pushing for quick action.
But Republicans are saying the clock is ticking. There's not a lot of legislative time. It will be very hard to do these changes before the election. And, in fact, a lot of Republicans are now saying there may need to be a lame duck session after the election to deal with this -- Bill.
HEMMER: Ed, how does this news of Porter Goss play into these hearings today?
HENRY: I think, again, it's going to add a little bit more partisanship. When Porter Goss's name surfaced a few weeks ago as a potential CIA chief, Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller put out a statement saying he would oppose that nomination. It's very rare on, you know, the intelligence committees in the House and Senate for there to be partisanship. Usually they're very bipartisan. But the fact is that Porter Goss's name surfacing has actually created a lot of partisanship, and I think this is going to be a very controversial pick if, in fact, President Bush does it -- Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Ed, thanks for that. Ed Henry working the story on Capitol Hill.
Again, the AP had it earlier, CNN now confirming that Porter Goss will be the one selected by the White House to succeed George Tenet, a graduate of Yale University going back to 1960, married with four kids, 11 grandchildren. We may see him later this morning. In fact, the president is expected to make this announcement at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time from the Rose Garden. When it happens live, we'll get you there next hour here.
Now -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Simultaneous explosions rocked two hotels in Turkey. They hit a tourist area in Istanbul. The bombings are believed to be terrorist attacks.
CNN's Alphonso Van Marsh has more from Turkey.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hello, everybody.
JOHN KING, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At edge of the Grand Canyon, the Democratic nominee finally answered the president's challenge: Knowing what he knows now, would he still, in fact, given the Bush administration the authority...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Obviously the wrong tape there. We are trying to get to Alphonso Van Marsh to tell us more about this story out of Istanbul and the explosions there.
Let's try to take a look once again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Turkish authorities say they aren't ruling out any possibilities as to who might be responsible for a series of bomb blasts that rocked Istanbul.
This hotel behind me is one of two hotel properties targeted between Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Turkish authorities say that in the blast two people died and at least half a dozen other people injured.
A little bit outside the city, two more bomb blasts at a liquefied fuel refueling station. A company spokesman saying that while the blasts went off, there was very little damage. Now, the blasts come at a very sensitive time for Turkey. This is Turkey's high tourist season, plenty of people from plenty of different countries in town. And Turks are very sensitive about allegations of terror in their country. Some viewers might remember last November, four suicide car bombs killing some 60 people, including the British consular to Istanbul.
But in terms of who might be responsible for this series of bomb blasts, Turkish authorities say it could be anyone.
Alphonso Van Marsh, CNN, Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: The bombings were just a few miles from a hotel, where the U.S. Olympic men's basketball team is staying during the final stop of its pre-Olympic tour.
HEMMER: Only three days away from opening ceremonies in Athens, too.
It's 36 minutes past the hour. A check of the other news, Carol Costello again at the CNN center.
Good morning -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill. Thank you.
The U.S. Army say sit will not be able to verify a grainy videotape showing an apparent killing of U.S. soldier in Iraq. Arab television network Al-Jazeera reported last June that the tape is of Army Reservist Matt Maupin being shot by his kidnappers.
Well, Maupin's parents spoke out yesterday on the four-month anniversary of his capture. They say there is hope Maupin is still alive.
A detention hearing is expected today for two mosque leaders charged in connection with a plotted assassination of a Pakistani ambassador in New York. The two men were arrested in an FBI sting last week. Federal authorities yesterday unsealed a 19-count indictment against them. It includes charges of conspiracy to launder money and promote terrorism.
New information this morning suggests that Las Vegas authorities may have decided against alerting the public to a possible terror threat. The Associated Press says city officials and hotel security personnel were more concerned about tourism and liability than terrorism. When told about videos suggesting suspected terrorists had cased the city's casinos in 1997, the city's mayor says he never knew about the tapes.
In Brazil, rescue workers and biologists are trying to rescue a humpback whale that washed up on a beach near Rio de Janeiro. Take a look at this. The nearly 10-ton, 35-foot long mammal has been stuck there since Sunday, but appears to be unhurt. Efforts to pull the whale back to sea with a tugboat failed yesterday. Rescuers say they'll try again.
Back to New York now.
COLLINS: Oh, what a shame. I hate to see those huge animals laying up there. All right, Carol...
COSTELLO: Well, at least he's not hurt, though.
COLLINS: Not hurt, so maybe they can push him back. There's enough people.
Carol, thanks so much for that.
(WEATHER BREAK)
HEMMER: It has been three decades, 30 years since President Nixon stepped down. "Tonight Show's" Jay Leno jokes that a lot has changed in the world since then.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": Here's something interesting. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the resignation of President Richard Nixon. He resigned 30 years ago today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right.
LENO: Talk about embarrassing. The Department of Homeland Security said what? Nixon resigned? Why weren't we told?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: Jay Leno from last night.
COLLINS: That's right. All right, still to come on AMERICAN MORNING today, former Enron CEO Ken Lay tells his lawyer, let me go it alone. That's ahead.
HEMMER: Also, the retired general who led the U.S. into war into Iraq, and before that Afghanistan, who does he back for president? Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: Donald Trump's hotel empire may need a little help, and former Enron boss Ken Lay has a request.
Christine Romans is in for Andy Serwer today. She's "Minding Your Business" this morning.
All right, Donald Trump. Ouch!
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: You know, this guy is somebody who always get so much press, so much good press for...
COLLINS: It's the hair.
ROMANS: It's the hair. For what a, you know, mega-investor he is. But his Trump Casino and Hotel company will be filing for bankruptcy. He's going to lose his job as the CEO, stripping him of some of the power in that company. He will maintain his role as chairman, but the bondholders, the debt holders in this company wanted to restructure how it's done.
You know, this company has been very close to defaulting on some of its credit and some of its debt before. It's been a tough business for him to be in.
And so, Donald Trump, who gets all of this great press about what a good businessman he is, is losing some power in his own company.
COLLINS: Maybe he's getting better on TV instead of...
ROMANS: It's taking up a lot of time.
COLLINS: Yes.
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Designing clothes, right.
COLLINS: Right. OK, so Ken Lay, he's asking to start the trial right away, and I'm sure that he has got plenty of money to defend himself, correct?
ROMANS: Right. The disgraced former leader of Enron, and for a lot of people, putting him on trial for the collapse of Enron is something they've been looking forward to for about two and a half years.
He'd like to get this thing over as quickly as possible. Ken Lay would like to see a trial, maybe without a jury even, just with a judge, by this fall, September. His attorney yesterday said that he is ready to do this. Also, a $15 million war chest is what he has ready for that defense.
COLLINS: Wow!
ROMANS: Other Enron executives have also millions of dollars, Jeff Skilling, millions of dollars for their defense in this fraud case. So, this is only going to get more interesting.
COLLINS: Lawyers are going to be lining up, you know.
ROMANS: Absolutely. And the irony is that lawyers and accountants are still making an awful lot of money from the Enron case. I mean, nothing is dead and gone, and they're still making a lot of money.
COLLINS: You bet. All right, Christine Romans...
HEMMER: I liked the story about Trump yesterday that Andy had about the new clothing line.
ROMANS: Yes, absolutely.
HEMMER: Here's my red tie that goes with my blue pinstripe, and here's my blue tie that goes with my black pinstripe.
ANDY BOROWITZ, BOROWITZREPORT.COM: That's going to bail him out.
HEMMER: Can't you see the variety?
BOROWITZ: That's going to bail him out. Forget about the casino thing. It's the clothing line.
ROMANS: Right. All that time in the closet apparently, you know, picking out his clothes has been a detriment to the...
HEMMER: Good morning, Andy. What's happening? The "Question of the Day"?
BOROWITZ: Well, we've got a big question. Now, you know, some people have said that they're not happy with either presidential candidate. But help is on the way. Actor Will Smith has told a Swedish newspaper that he could be president if he wanted to.
Now, he wouldn't be the first celebrity to make the leap into politics. We have Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course, Jesse Ventura, Sonny Bono to name a few.
So, our question to you is: Which celebrity would you like to see run for president? OK. And I don't know what your answers are, because no one has told me. So maybe we should come back to that when we have the answers.
HEMMER: Wait a minute. Do you have ideas?
BOROWITZ: You know what? I'm really just here to raise questions, not so much to give answers.
HEMMER: Well, you opened the show besides saying you're inquisitive, right?
BOROWITZ: I am.
HEMMER: As you always are.
BOROWITZ: I am. So, I'm just throwing that out there once again. We'll be back with your answers shortly.
HEMMER: You got it. All right, thanks.
BOROWITZ: Thank you.
HEMMER: Oh, by the way, there is a secret hand that just came into studio here.
BOROWITZ: What do you know? What do you know? The amazing technology.
OK. Are we ready for this?
Weldon from Canada. Thank you, Weldon: "If it has to be a Kerry, why not a certified Jim Carrey? He would at least give everyone a reason to smile and maybe even laugh."
OK, and we certainly need that.
Mike from Saint Louis, Missouri, writes: "John Kerry, becoming president for him is just a stepping stone to a brilliant acting career."
Yes, we saw that coming.
Zach from Okemos, Michigan, writes: "I would like to see Paris Hilton elected. She would probably give at least as much thought to the issues as the current president."
Oh, that's kind of mean.
OK. And finally Dave writes: "Oprah Winfrey of course. I wrote the Kerry campaign months ago telling them to pick her for vice president. All Americans know and respect her. Born in rural Mississippi, grew in the swing state of Wisconsin. She has a great compassion and is a good organizer, plus she can finance her own campaign."
I am Oprah Winfrey and I approve this message is all that's really missing from that.
HEMMER: And thanks to Wendell (ph) for saving your tail.
BOROWITZ: Oh, my gosh! Thank you. Thank you, Canada.
HEMMER: You got it. Let's get a break here. In a moment, what could be a case of dueling first ladies, Laura Bush on the campaign trail yesterday defending her husband's policy on stem cell research. Will that become a hot button issue? We'll get to that in "Political Pop" as we continue in a moment here after the break on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone.
First the news from D.C. this morning. Senior White House officials confirming with CNN the president will name Florida Congressman Porter Goss to lead the CIA. We're told that announcement will come in about 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, about 40 minutes away from the Rose Garden. We'll get you there live when that happens.
Now for "Political Pop" today. Cooking on the left with us, Democratic strategist Kirsten Powers back with us. Holding middle, John Devore, political satirist from "Maxim" magazine.
Good morning, John.
JOHN DEVORE, POLITICAL SATIRIST, "MAXIM": Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: And on the right, Mark Simone, talk show host at WABC Radio here in New York City.
How are you guys doing?
MARK SIMONE, WABC RADIO HOST: Good.
KIRSTEN POWERS, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Great.
HEMMER: Ready to go? Three topics.
Laura Bush yesterday, on the screen, talking about the Kerry campaign, trying to urge more research for stem cell research in this country. Here's how she addressed the Kerry campaign's claim about this so-called ban. She says: "That's so ridiculous. It's one of the myths that start during a campaign."
Strong words. Are we starting to see her emerge right now, Kirsten, on this now?
POWERS: Oh, yes. I mean, they're probably rolling her out to, you know, be this sort of nice, soft face of the Bush administration. But she's, you know, starting to attack a little bit. And it's actually a little distressing, because what she is saying is actually not true. And they're trying to pretend that they support stem cell research when, in fact, they limit funding on it. And you know -- but, you know, I've always...
HEMMER: But there is a measure of research the White House has allowed going back to August of 2002.
POWERS: There is a measure of research, but they are limiting it. And people who are truly in support of stem cell research and the scientists and the people that actually know about this say that we should spend some money on it. And she is now coming out and sort of saying is, like, whoa, whoa, let me explain to you how this works. It's like, you know, she's a lovely person. She's the first lady. But she's not a doctor and she's not a scientist.
SIMONE: Not like Ronald Reagan Jr. But there's a misconception here. They're not banning stem cell research. There is going to be plenty of it. They're just talking about federal funding. And will it cure everything? You know, it's already cured Kerry from flip- flopping. It's the one issue he's consistent on.
DEVORE: Laura Bush is the big gun in the campaign, and I hear that she's actually been leaving flaming bags of dog pooh outside of Nancy Reagan's door.
HEMMER: Do you -- in a bigger sense, though, is this Laura Bush now taking on Teresa Heinz Kerry in a battle for first ladies on the trail? Do you see that?
SIMONE: Lord, I wish. I hope it is. I want them mud wrestling.
POWERS: I think that she is definitely one of the secret weapons for the Bush administration. She's been pretty quiet for most of the administration, and she's a very smart, articulate, lovely person. And they're smart to be bringing her out.
HEMMER: All right, next topic here. Tommy Franks says John Kerry would make a good commander-in-chief.
SIMONE: Yes.
HEMMER: But he's leaning towards George Bush. He's got a book out right now.
SIMONE: Yes.
HEMMER: Is he playing both sides?
SIMONE: No, because in "TIME" magazine they asked him about Bush, and he had all of this praise. He talked about the quality of his judgment, the honesty of his leadership. When it came to Kerry, all he said was, Well, I guess he's qualified.
You know, I get a letter every week that says I'm qualified to win $25 million. That doesn't mean anything.
HEMMER: John?
DEVORE: Tommy Franks is trying to serve his country. I mean, the idea that the military is a political institution, I think he's at least trying to put out the appearance that military men are not monolithically Republican.
HEMMER: I think the bigger issue with Tommy Franks is just the quote he gave to the AP, saying he is responsible for the mission accomplished trip off the coast of San Diego last spring.
POWERS: Well, and I just think if I'm George Bush, I'm not super-psyched that he's saying I don't really know if I'm voting for you. I mean, you know, it's like he should be clearly saying which way he wants it go. And he's actually said much nicer things about John Kerry rather than just saying he's qualified.
HEMMER: Do you think matters with Frank?
SIMONE: Well, yes, I think that...
HEMMER: To what degree, though?
SIMONE: Well, he's a very credible figure. And, you know, he's the guy that really fought the war.
HEMMER: That's right, Iraq, and Afghanistan before that.
John, let's talk about the regular guys.
DEVORE: All right.
HEMMER: These guys can't get enough about talking about how much they hunt and fish. What's going on here?
DEVORE: They are adorable, those two. For a pair of blue- blooded aristocrats, Yankee dandy, I love how they play like they're regular folk. You know, Bush does it I think the best as a make- believe cowboy. But Kerry...
HEMMER: Well, he did a spot on Outdoor Life network, fishing at his ranch in Crawford.
POWERS: Right.
HEMMER: John Kerry is always talking about hunting and fishing on the campaign now as he goes through the middle part of the country.
POWERS: Yes. Well, I think it's like most Americans have done their whole lives, sort of aspiring to move ahead. And these, you know, two candidates are sort of aspiring to be like everybody else. And I don't think it's, you know, lost on anybody sort of how silly it is.
SIMONE: Well, I'm sorry, but Kerry has no credibility in this area. You can see Bush on the pickup truck, you know, on the ranch. But...
DEVORE: On his play ranch.
SIMONE: Well, but...
DEVORE: I mean, it's a play ranch!
SIMONE: Yes, but Kerry...
POWERS: George Bush bought that ranch in 1999, the ranch that has no cattle on it, that's you know...
SIMONE: But be honest. Kerry is the guy in the Rolls-Royce who hands you the Grey Poupon.
POWERS: Oh, that's...
DEVORE: On occasion, Kerry does make like a personality...
HEMMER: We should have started with this topic, by the way. Thurston Howell, III?
DEVORE: Well, he makes Thurston Howell, III look like, you know, Eddie Izzard (ph). Kerry can be really wooden and patrician.
POWERS: Yes, I don't think we're going to (UNINTELLIGIBLE) with the president and the head of the CIA.
HEMMER: Listen...
(CROSSTALK)
HEMMER: They only hunt and fish, but I remind you, so do kings.
SIMONE: Even when he goes to the beach, he can't just swim. He's kite surfing. Whoever heard of that?
HEMMER: We got to run. Thanks to all three, all right?
Here's Heidi again across the room -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Still to come this morning, President Bush picks his man for the CIA. We're going to have the announcement coming to you live at 8:30 from the Rose Garden.
Also, how heliports in New York City are getting new help with security now. It's coming from the feds. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.
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