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President Bush To Canada; Before the Supreme Court; 'Today's Talker'

Aired November 30, 2004 - 06:30   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: Good morning, everybody. Thanks for waking up with us today. I'm Heidi Collins. There's a lot going on this morning. We want to check the headlines "Now in the News."
As international trips go, it's not that far, but President Bush does leave today for a two-day visit to Canada. There's a lot of anti-war sentiment in Canada. The president will not be addressing the Canadian Parliament.

Members of the 9/11 Commission speaking out. They plan a news conference this afternoon to explain why they think Congress should vote on homeland security legislation before the year is over.

We may learn more today about the weekend crash involving NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol. Investigators are going over the chartered jet's cockpit voice recorder. Last night, a body believed to be that of Ebersol's 14-year-old son was found beneath the wreckage.

The man charged with killing six deer hunters in Wisconsin makes his first court appearance today. Chai Vang is charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Each carries a life prison term. He also faces two counts of attempted homicide.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: President Bush is getting ready to head to Canada today. He's expected to leave in about a couple of hours from now. And patching up relations is the No. 1 goal.

Let's go to our Elaine Quijano in Washington now for details on this.

Elaine -- good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi.

President Bush does leave the White House in just a few hours. He will be heading up north for a visit to Canada, and he'll be making a stop in Ottawa first, where he'll meet with the Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin.

Now, the two will hold talks, and the president afterwards will have a working lunch with the prime minister and his staff.

Now, it's been almost 10 years since an American president has visited Canada. The last time was in 1995. That was when President Clinton traveled there.

This time around, though, there are still some lingering sore feelings in that country over the Iraq invasion. Canada did not send troops as part of that effort.

And so as the president looks to try to patch up relations in an effort to reach out to Canadians, he will be making a second stop in Halifax. He'll deliver a speech there, focusing largely on the war on terrorism.

Now, many Americans may not realize that in the days after September 11 when flights were stopped and some diverted that thousands of Americans found themselves stranded in Halifax and other Canadian provinces. Well, Canadians opened up their homes, took in these stranded travelers. President Bush will talk about that on Wednesday. He will thank Canadians for their efforts.

And, Heidi, both U.S. and Canadian officials are hoping they can now turn the corner, perhaps start a new point in their relationship, move beyond some of the strained relations because of the Iraq invasion -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Elaine. Also, I want to ask you a little bit about the 9/11 reform bill. Can you tell us anything about the status, as you see it?

QUIJANO: Well, what the White House continues to say is that the president remains committed to seeing that legislation passed as quickly as possible.

Now, of course, that's little comfort for the 9/11 family members, because you have not only the people on both sides of the aisles on Capitol Hill pressing for this, but the commissioners, the 9/11 commissioners, who studied this, who came out with their recommendations, many of which are in that intel reform bill, you have them all pressuring the president to move and try to break the deadlock that currently exists on Capitol Hill.

Well, the White House says, we are doing that. Administration officials are pressing Republicans, who are holding out because the Republicans, a couple of congressmen, seem to find a couple of the -- their concerns not addressed in the bill, things having to do with immigration and also the military chain of command.

In any case, the administration maintains that they have always been committed to seeing this legislation pushed through, and they simply dismiss any argument that they are not pressing hard enough. They say they are doing the work; they're doing everything that they can -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Elaine, we are going to be talking about that a little bit later on today in this show. Elaine Quijano by telephone for us this morning from Washington.

Turning now to the Supreme Court. It's revisiting an earlier ruling. The court once said that juries, not judges, have the final say in making a defendant's prison term longer. That ruling came in a Washington State case.

The question before the court this morning is whether the decision applies to federal courts.

So, let's see what your opinion is about some issues before the Supreme Court. Now, we want to begin with medical marijuana.

So the question for that, we turn to Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, Frank Newport. He's joining us from Princeton, New Jersey, this morning.

Frank, good morning to you.

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Heidi.

Indeed, as you mentioned, this was a complicated states' right issue before the Supreme Court on medicinal marijuana. But one of the justices, I was reading, said to the plaintiffs, you want to get the Federal Drug Administration to change the overall federal law if you're really interested in medicinal marijuana. And if the government, the FDA, followed public opinion on that issue, there would be no question about it.

Yes, there would be legalized use of marijuana for medicinal use. This is the last time we asked that here at Gallup, and the numbers are unequivocal: 75 to 22 percent Americans say marijuana should be legal for those purposes.

Heidi, by the way, if you simply say should marijuana be legalized in general, only a third say yes. So, the American public clearly makes a distinction between the use of the weed, so to speak, for medical purposes and just for recreational purposes -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, quite a different question there. But while we are talking about the Supreme Court, Chief Justice William Rehnquist has still not returned to the bench after his operation, obviously, for thyroid cancer that we've been talking about in the news. Has the public's opinion of him changed since that diagnosis?

NEWPORT: Well, we just asked a favorable/unfavorable on the chief justice. We haven't seen a lot of change over the years. We've asked about Justice Rehnquist three different times. About even now. About a quarter of Americans don't have an opinion. Overall, his favorable ratings have stayed the same. His unfavorable ratings have gone up just a little to 20 percent. But that basic image of Rehnquist is certainly much more positive than negative at this point.

Now, Bush, of course, may have the chance to appoint more Supreme Court justices over his next four years, given everything that we know about the health and age of the Supreme Court at this time. Look at how political it's going to be. Will he do a good job? Are you confident? Republicans are highly confident Bush can appoint good justices. Democrats are almost a mirror opposite; Independents in the middle.

So, it's going to be a political issue if and when the president appoints new justices.

Heidi -- back to you.

COLLINS: All right, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll Frank Newport this morning. Frank, nice to see you. Thanks.

The intelligence reform legislation is still stalled in Congress, and lots of people are looking for someone to blame. Up next, we'll have finger pointing from both sides of the political aisle.

And later, a look at Israel's take on reality TV where the focus is diplomacy. And there's more at stake than just prize money, too.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We've got a mixed bag of issues this morning for our political pundits to tackle from the left and the right. So let's get right to it.

Joining us from Washington is syndicated columnist, Armstrong Williams.

Good morning to you, Armstrong. Nice to see you.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Good morning, Heidi. Good seeing you.

COLLINS: And from Chicago, radio talk show host Nancy Skinner.

Nancy, hello to you and nice to see you as well.

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: Let's go ahead and begin if we could about the 9/11 reform bill. Nancy, why don't you go ahead and start things off for us. What's going on with this? Why is taking so long?

SKINNER: Who knows? This is really incredible, Heidi. President Bush ran on the war on terrorism and national security as his major agenda items. Now, his party controls all power in Washington. Remember this? A pack of wolves in our back yard. Dick Cheney was saying that terrorists were just about to nuke all of our cities.

Now, they have all of the power, majority support for this common-sense legislation, and they can't get this bill passed. Why is that?

COLLINS: Yes, but, Armstrong...

SKINNER: Because they don't want the Democrats...

COLLINS: Armstrong... SKINNER: ... participating. This is partisan! They can't even...

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: OK, Nancy. Armstrong, wouldn't you say, though, that this is not something that should be rushed? A lot of details here to work out. It's not a quick fix.

WILLIAMS: It is not a quick fix, obviously. Mr. Sensenbrenner has shown that he's willing to compromise and meet the other conferees halfway. The big issue is border security. They do not want to have repeat of 9/11, where they were able to get these false ID's and identifications, where they were able to get in this country and do the damage that they did.

There is also the issue of the Pentagon is very concerned as to whether or not the intelligence community, the agency or people in suits should have governance over the military, over the troops on the ground. So, those are serious issues.

And I also think it's a very good sign to the American people that even though the Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House that they're not necessarily in agreement; that these Republicans, these conservatives, are willing to go against their president if they feel a compromise is the best interest of the security of this country.

COLLINS: All right, let's talk also about, as we know and we've already mentioned today, the president will be going to Canada today. Talk a little bit about his international standing, Nancy.

SKINNER: Well, Heidi, I don't even think Dr. Phil could help mend this relationship here. You don't get a second impression. And what's incredible to me is that most Americans just don't realize how bad the rest of the world views our president.

Sixty-seven percent of Bush supporters in a University of Maryland study said they thought the rest of the world actually wanted Bush re-elected. Now, what's wrong with that picture? He's going to go there and he can't even address the Parliament because of catcalls.

This is the problem. You can't have it both ways. You can't go it alone. You can't neglect the world's opinion and then expect to play nicey-nicey (ph) when you show up on their doorstep.

COLLINS: Armstrong, does the president need to play nicey-nicey (ph) will all of the countries of the world?

WILLIAMS: The president needs to show humility as well as strength. Obviously, our fight in this war against terrorism and how we're going into Iraq alienated many of our allies. The president has a tough bar. He has already started the process by going to Asia, by going to Canada, also in other places reaching out to the international community, having private conservations via telephone. I think he's also signaling by the appointment of Condi Rice as secretary of state that he's willing to get in the midst of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Prime Minister Tony Blair has been urging him into.

I think the president -- I think Nancy is right. There has been certainly some alienation from foreign countries. But let's not fool ourselves that America looked at its interests for a change and did what she felt was necessary to protect itself from terrorist threats around the world.

I think the president has an opportunity to mend those wounds. I think the country prays that he does the job. And I think the fact that he's reaching out shows...

COLLINS: OK.

WILLIAMS: ... that he understands better than anybody else that he has to do this.

COLLINS: I just want to make sure I heard you right. You agree a little bit with Nancy there.

WILLIAMS: Yes.

COLLINS: All right.

WILLIAMS: Yes.

COLLINS: Just making sure. All right, now medical marijuana, Nancy, tell us your thoughts on this. Should be legalized? Should not be legalized?

SKINNER: Well, it's interesting...

COLLINS: I think I know what you're going to say.

SKINNER: It's interesting because it's a states' right issue, really. And this Supreme Court has been really militantly for states' rights, except when it goes against their conservative agenda. And I suspect this will be the same thing. When it's the Violence Against Women Act or when it has to do with stopping the counting of votes in Florida so as not to install President Gore, then it's a federal issue. But now, again, we'll see it looks as if they're going to say that this is now a federal issue, and they're going to go against the ability of states to make that decision on their own.

COLLINS: All right, Armstrong, last word here.

WILLIAMS: You know, I think this is a very serious issue. I mean, certainly we have not walked in the shoes of those who feel that the only relief they get from their pain is through this medicinal marijuana. But you don't want to have a situation where people are getting stoned from using this marijuana and going out driving, causing accidents or causing people threatening their lives.

I think this is an issue that makes me very uncomfortable. I think...

COLLINS: OK.

WILLIAMS: ... medical marijuana makes it a little too easy. And I just think we need to find other forms of drugs that can do the same without doping people up in this country.

COLLINS: All right, from the left and the right this morning. We appreciate it, guys.

SKINNER: Thanks.

COLLINS: Nancy Skinner and Armstrong Williams, thanks again.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

COLLINS: It's time now to check in with Miles and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Hey, guys.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Heidi. Good morning to you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Some of the headlines we're taking a look at on this "AMERICAN MORNING," the intelligence reform bill. Heidi was just talking about it. We've been talking about it all week and last week as well. The 9/11 bill is stalled in Congress, obviously. What needs to be done? This morning, we talk to 9/11 Commissioner Lee Hamilton, who is helping to hold a press conference this morning about that.

M. O'BRIEN: And hurricane season is over. This is the official end today, of course, for people in Florida, all across that state and all across some other Gulf states. It isn't going to be over for quite some time. How extensive was the final damage? What damage remains? We'll talk to FEMA's director, Michael Brown.

S. O'BRIEN: And if you want to know the 100 greatest discoveries, there's a new special on the Science Channel. We'll tell you who made the cut. We're going to talk this morning to Bill Nye, Science Guy, a friend of mine.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, he's a good guy.

S. O'BRIEN: We look forward to chatting with him.

M. O'BRIEN: Don't you think peanut butter and jelly together was a great discovery?

S. O'BRIEN: Brilliant.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I'm not sure that's one of them, though.

S. O'BRIEN: No. My guess is no. But it's still a good discovery. And when you have your own 100 greatest discoveries... M. O'BRIEN: I get to do that? Paper clips, Velcro.

S. O'BRIEN: You can do that one.

M. O'BRIEN: Peanut butter and jelly.

S. O'BRIEN: You make up your list. I'll finish up here.

M. O'BRIEN: It's OK. I'm going to get to it.

COLLINS: I agree with the PB&J and so would my little 3-year- old, Riley.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COLLINS: He'd be all over that.

S. O'BRIEN: Exactly. For mommies everywhere...

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: All right...

M. O'BRIEN: Heidi, where are you? Why aren't you here?

COLLINS: I don't know.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh.

COLLINS: I don't know.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: I'll be over there in a little while this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: Get in the car, come visit.

COLLINS: OK.

S. O'BRIEN: We'll see you in just a few minutes.

COLLINS: All right, guys, it sounds good. Thanks.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is now 6:48, and here's what's all new this morning.

A car bomb explodes near a U.S. military patrol in the northern Iraqi city of Baije today, killing four Iraqi civilians. The military says 19 people, including 3 American soldiers, were wounded. South of the city, a U.S. soldier was wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Actor John Barrymore, the father of actress Drew Barrymore, has died. He was 72. No information has been released on the cause of his death. In money, a California company is giving $5,000 to any of its U.S. employees who buy the gas-electric hybrid car that gets at least 45 miles to the gallon. It's a real hot deal, designed to promote cleaner air.

In culture, the Sundance Film Festival has named the film that will compete at its 2005 festival. It's coming up next month. Documentaries include one about the rise of energy giant Enron.

And in sports, this woman is making history. Barbara Zemen (ph) is a banker by trade, and now she's the first female player for a men's hockey team in Austria. She holds a key position, too. She's the goalie. I love that story. Favorite story of the day.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: It's "The Apprentice" with more politics, less business, and none of the Donald. But Israel's latest venture into reality TV has the country enthralled. We'll take a look.

Plus, "Spider-Man" weaves its web on Wall Street. We'll tell you why he dropped in on the Stock Exchange.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It looks like Donald Trump and his reality show, "The Apprentice," are having an influence on Israel. At the center of it all is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

CNN's John Vause explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Take 14 ambitious young people, put them on TV, fighting it out for a New York job. Sound familiar?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, guys. My name's Aton Schwartz (ph). I'm 30 years old. I'm from Israel.

OFRA BIN NUN, CONTESTANT, "THE AMBASSADOR": My name is Ofra Bin Nun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Vernon El-Alem (ph).

VAUSE: But this is reality TV, Israeli-style. Called "The Ambassador," the winner will work for a year for Joey Low, a Jewish- American businessman who runs an Israeli advocacy group.

JOEY LOW, FOUNDER, ISRAEL AT HEART: You'll be faced with many challenges but have a chance to make a real difference. That's up to you.

VAUSE (on camera): Do you think Israel has an image problem?

NACHMAN SHAI, JUDGE, "THE AMBASSADOR": No doubt about it. VAUSE (voice over): Nachman Shai, a former Israeli army spokesman, is one of three judges. Each week, they'll decide who stays and who's fired.

SHAI: Here we deal with a very small country that cannot exist without world public support. As seriously as that.

VAUSE: On the first episode, they addressed a group of students at Britain's Cambridge University, making the case for Israel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority declined to every opportunity that the Israel has offered them.

VAUSE: And there were some tough questions as well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people find this kind of sickening when we talk about generous offers. It's like me busting into your home, OK, taking control, killing a few of your family members, and telling you that you can now live in the closet and saying now that's a generous offer.

BIN NUN: And we make it very clear...

VAUSE: And the reply, less than diplomatic.

BIN NUN: Israel has not taken anything from anyone. If you go back...

VAUSE: Which may explain why she was the first to be fired.

(on camera) And when the first show went to air, more than a million viewers tuned in, the highest-rating debut for an Israeli reality program ever, and perhaps a sign of things to come. Reality TV, where the entire country has a real stake in the outcome.

John Vause, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Up next, some beloved action figures have their day on the town. This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: And it's a dismal day in the overseas markets, unfortunately. Japan's Nikkei closed down 78 and a half points. Britain's FTSE is trading down 38 points, and the French CAC is down almost 14.

Well, Godzilla took the West Coast, and "Spider-Man" showed up in these. And now there's Rob Marciano standing there in front of the clouds.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I am. What do you mean, Heidi? Tell us.

COLLINS: Listen to this now. Spidey actually decided to drop in on the New York Stock Exchange. Look at this.

MARCIANO: Cool!

COLLINS: A two-disc special edition of "Spider-Man 2" comes out today. So I guess that's why he was there.

MARCIANO: Shoot your web, Heidi. Shoot it.

COLLINS: Yes.

MARCIANO: No, no.

COLLINS: And Godzilla has a few things to blow smoke about now. He just got his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He was so much bigger than that in the movie. He celebrated his 50th birthday and is launching his 28th film. Huh, how about that?

MARCIANO: I wonder, does King Kong have a star? He's got to be jealous.

COLLINS: I don't know. All right, we'll check that out for you, Rob.

MARCIANO: Thank you.

COLLINS: Have a great day, Rob.

MARCIANO: You too.

COLLINS: And from the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Heidi Collins. "AMERICAN MORNING" is next.

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Aired November 30, 2004 - 06:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. Thanks for waking up with us today. I'm Heidi Collins. There's a lot going on this morning. We want to check the headlines "Now in the News."
As international trips go, it's not that far, but President Bush does leave today for a two-day visit to Canada. There's a lot of anti-war sentiment in Canada. The president will not be addressing the Canadian Parliament.

Members of the 9/11 Commission speaking out. They plan a news conference this afternoon to explain why they think Congress should vote on homeland security legislation before the year is over.

We may learn more today about the weekend crash involving NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol. Investigators are going over the chartered jet's cockpit voice recorder. Last night, a body believed to be that of Ebersol's 14-year-old son was found beneath the wreckage.

The man charged with killing six deer hunters in Wisconsin makes his first court appearance today. Chai Vang is charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide. Each carries a life prison term. He also faces two counts of attempted homicide.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: President Bush is getting ready to head to Canada today. He's expected to leave in about a couple of hours from now. And patching up relations is the No. 1 goal.

Let's go to our Elaine Quijano in Washington now for details on this.

Elaine -- good morning.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Heidi.

President Bush does leave the White House in just a few hours. He will be heading up north for a visit to Canada, and he'll be making a stop in Ottawa first, where he'll meet with the Canadian prime minister, Paul Martin.

Now, the two will hold talks, and the president afterwards will have a working lunch with the prime minister and his staff.

Now, it's been almost 10 years since an American president has visited Canada. The last time was in 1995. That was when President Clinton traveled there.

This time around, though, there are still some lingering sore feelings in that country over the Iraq invasion. Canada did not send troops as part of that effort.

And so as the president looks to try to patch up relations in an effort to reach out to Canadians, he will be making a second stop in Halifax. He'll deliver a speech there, focusing largely on the war on terrorism.

Now, many Americans may not realize that in the days after September 11 when flights were stopped and some diverted that thousands of Americans found themselves stranded in Halifax and other Canadian provinces. Well, Canadians opened up their homes, took in these stranded travelers. President Bush will talk about that on Wednesday. He will thank Canadians for their efforts.

And, Heidi, both U.S. and Canadian officials are hoping they can now turn the corner, perhaps start a new point in their relationship, move beyond some of the strained relations because of the Iraq invasion -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Elaine. Also, I want to ask you a little bit about the 9/11 reform bill. Can you tell us anything about the status, as you see it?

QUIJANO: Well, what the White House continues to say is that the president remains committed to seeing that legislation passed as quickly as possible.

Now, of course, that's little comfort for the 9/11 family members, because you have not only the people on both sides of the aisles on Capitol Hill pressing for this, but the commissioners, the 9/11 commissioners, who studied this, who came out with their recommendations, many of which are in that intel reform bill, you have them all pressuring the president to move and try to break the deadlock that currently exists on Capitol Hill.

Well, the White House says, we are doing that. Administration officials are pressing Republicans, who are holding out because the Republicans, a couple of congressmen, seem to find a couple of the -- their concerns not addressed in the bill, things having to do with immigration and also the military chain of command.

In any case, the administration maintains that they have always been committed to seeing this legislation pushed through, and they simply dismiss any argument that they are not pressing hard enough. They say they are doing the work; they're doing everything that they can -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right, Elaine, we are going to be talking about that a little bit later on today in this show. Elaine Quijano by telephone for us this morning from Washington.

Turning now to the Supreme Court. It's revisiting an earlier ruling. The court once said that juries, not judges, have the final say in making a defendant's prison term longer. That ruling came in a Washington State case.

The question before the court this morning is whether the decision applies to federal courts.

So, let's see what your opinion is about some issues before the Supreme Court. Now, we want to begin with medical marijuana.

So the question for that, we turn to Gallup Poll editor-in-chief, Frank Newport. He's joining us from Princeton, New Jersey, this morning.

Frank, good morning to you.

FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Heidi.

Indeed, as you mentioned, this was a complicated states' right issue before the Supreme Court on medicinal marijuana. But one of the justices, I was reading, said to the plaintiffs, you want to get the Federal Drug Administration to change the overall federal law if you're really interested in medicinal marijuana. And if the government, the FDA, followed public opinion on that issue, there would be no question about it.

Yes, there would be legalized use of marijuana for medicinal use. This is the last time we asked that here at Gallup, and the numbers are unequivocal: 75 to 22 percent Americans say marijuana should be legal for those purposes.

Heidi, by the way, if you simply say should marijuana be legalized in general, only a third say yes. So, the American public clearly makes a distinction between the use of the weed, so to speak, for medical purposes and just for recreational purposes -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Yes, quite a different question there. But while we are talking about the Supreme Court, Chief Justice William Rehnquist has still not returned to the bench after his operation, obviously, for thyroid cancer that we've been talking about in the news. Has the public's opinion of him changed since that diagnosis?

NEWPORT: Well, we just asked a favorable/unfavorable on the chief justice. We haven't seen a lot of change over the years. We've asked about Justice Rehnquist three different times. About even now. About a quarter of Americans don't have an opinion. Overall, his favorable ratings have stayed the same. His unfavorable ratings have gone up just a little to 20 percent. But that basic image of Rehnquist is certainly much more positive than negative at this point.

Now, Bush, of course, may have the chance to appoint more Supreme Court justices over his next four years, given everything that we know about the health and age of the Supreme Court at this time. Look at how political it's going to be. Will he do a good job? Are you confident? Republicans are highly confident Bush can appoint good justices. Democrats are almost a mirror opposite; Independents in the middle.

So, it's going to be a political issue if and when the president appoints new justices.

Heidi -- back to you.

COLLINS: All right, editor-in-chief of the Gallup Poll Frank Newport this morning. Frank, nice to see you. Thanks.

The intelligence reform legislation is still stalled in Congress, and lots of people are looking for someone to blame. Up next, we'll have finger pointing from both sides of the political aisle.

And later, a look at Israel's take on reality TV where the focus is diplomacy. And there's more at stake than just prize money, too.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: We've got a mixed bag of issues this morning for our political pundits to tackle from the left and the right. So let's get right to it.

Joining us from Washington is syndicated columnist, Armstrong Williams.

Good morning to you, Armstrong. Nice to see you.

WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: Good morning, Heidi. Good seeing you.

COLLINS: And from Chicago, radio talk show host Nancy Skinner.

Nancy, hello to you and nice to see you as well.

NANCY SKINNER, RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Good morning, Heidi.

COLLINS: Let's go ahead and begin if we could about the 9/11 reform bill. Nancy, why don't you go ahead and start things off for us. What's going on with this? Why is taking so long?

SKINNER: Who knows? This is really incredible, Heidi. President Bush ran on the war on terrorism and national security as his major agenda items. Now, his party controls all power in Washington. Remember this? A pack of wolves in our back yard. Dick Cheney was saying that terrorists were just about to nuke all of our cities.

Now, they have all of the power, majority support for this common-sense legislation, and they can't get this bill passed. Why is that?

COLLINS: Yes, but, Armstrong...

SKINNER: Because they don't want the Democrats...

COLLINS: Armstrong... SKINNER: ... participating. This is partisan! They can't even...

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: OK, Nancy. Armstrong, wouldn't you say, though, that this is not something that should be rushed? A lot of details here to work out. It's not a quick fix.

WILLIAMS: It is not a quick fix, obviously. Mr. Sensenbrenner has shown that he's willing to compromise and meet the other conferees halfway. The big issue is border security. They do not want to have repeat of 9/11, where they were able to get these false ID's and identifications, where they were able to get in this country and do the damage that they did.

There is also the issue of the Pentagon is very concerned as to whether or not the intelligence community, the agency or people in suits should have governance over the military, over the troops on the ground. So, those are serious issues.

And I also think it's a very good sign to the American people that even though the Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House that they're not necessarily in agreement; that these Republicans, these conservatives, are willing to go against their president if they feel a compromise is the best interest of the security of this country.

COLLINS: All right, let's talk also about, as we know and we've already mentioned today, the president will be going to Canada today. Talk a little bit about his international standing, Nancy.

SKINNER: Well, Heidi, I don't even think Dr. Phil could help mend this relationship here. You don't get a second impression. And what's incredible to me is that most Americans just don't realize how bad the rest of the world views our president.

Sixty-seven percent of Bush supporters in a University of Maryland study said they thought the rest of the world actually wanted Bush re-elected. Now, what's wrong with that picture? He's going to go there and he can't even address the Parliament because of catcalls.

This is the problem. You can't have it both ways. You can't go it alone. You can't neglect the world's opinion and then expect to play nicey-nicey (ph) when you show up on their doorstep.

COLLINS: Armstrong, does the president need to play nicey-nicey (ph) will all of the countries of the world?

WILLIAMS: The president needs to show humility as well as strength. Obviously, our fight in this war against terrorism and how we're going into Iraq alienated many of our allies. The president has a tough bar. He has already started the process by going to Asia, by going to Canada, also in other places reaching out to the international community, having private conservations via telephone. I think he's also signaling by the appointment of Condi Rice as secretary of state that he's willing to get in the midst of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which Prime Minister Tony Blair has been urging him into.

I think the president -- I think Nancy is right. There has been certainly some alienation from foreign countries. But let's not fool ourselves that America looked at its interests for a change and did what she felt was necessary to protect itself from terrorist threats around the world.

I think the president has an opportunity to mend those wounds. I think the country prays that he does the job. And I think the fact that he's reaching out shows...

COLLINS: OK.

WILLIAMS: ... that he understands better than anybody else that he has to do this.

COLLINS: I just want to make sure I heard you right. You agree a little bit with Nancy there.

WILLIAMS: Yes.

COLLINS: All right.

WILLIAMS: Yes.

COLLINS: Just making sure. All right, now medical marijuana, Nancy, tell us your thoughts on this. Should be legalized? Should not be legalized?

SKINNER: Well, it's interesting...

COLLINS: I think I know what you're going to say.

SKINNER: It's interesting because it's a states' right issue, really. And this Supreme Court has been really militantly for states' rights, except when it goes against their conservative agenda. And I suspect this will be the same thing. When it's the Violence Against Women Act or when it has to do with stopping the counting of votes in Florida so as not to install President Gore, then it's a federal issue. But now, again, we'll see it looks as if they're going to say that this is now a federal issue, and they're going to go against the ability of states to make that decision on their own.

COLLINS: All right, Armstrong, last word here.

WILLIAMS: You know, I think this is a very serious issue. I mean, certainly we have not walked in the shoes of those who feel that the only relief they get from their pain is through this medicinal marijuana. But you don't want to have a situation where people are getting stoned from using this marijuana and going out driving, causing accidents or causing people threatening their lives.

I think this is an issue that makes me very uncomfortable. I think...

COLLINS: OK.

WILLIAMS: ... medical marijuana makes it a little too easy. And I just think we need to find other forms of drugs that can do the same without doping people up in this country.

COLLINS: All right, from the left and the right this morning. We appreciate it, guys.

SKINNER: Thanks.

COLLINS: Nancy Skinner and Armstrong Williams, thanks again.

WILLIAMS: Thank you.

COLLINS: It's time now to check in with Miles and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Hey, guys.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Heidi. Good morning to you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, yes.

S. O'BRIEN: Some of the headlines we're taking a look at on this "AMERICAN MORNING," the intelligence reform bill. Heidi was just talking about it. We've been talking about it all week and last week as well. The 9/11 bill is stalled in Congress, obviously. What needs to be done? This morning, we talk to 9/11 Commissioner Lee Hamilton, who is helping to hold a press conference this morning about that.

M. O'BRIEN: And hurricane season is over. This is the official end today, of course, for people in Florida, all across that state and all across some other Gulf states. It isn't going to be over for quite some time. How extensive was the final damage? What damage remains? We'll talk to FEMA's director, Michael Brown.

S. O'BRIEN: And if you want to know the 100 greatest discoveries, there's a new special on the Science Channel. We'll tell you who made the cut. We're going to talk this morning to Bill Nye, Science Guy, a friend of mine.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes, he's a good guy.

S. O'BRIEN: We look forward to chatting with him.

M. O'BRIEN: Don't you think peanut butter and jelly together was a great discovery?

S. O'BRIEN: Brilliant.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes. I'm not sure that's one of them, though.

S. O'BRIEN: No. My guess is no. But it's still a good discovery. And when you have your own 100 greatest discoveries... M. O'BRIEN: I get to do that? Paper clips, Velcro.

S. O'BRIEN: You can do that one.

M. O'BRIEN: Peanut butter and jelly.

S. O'BRIEN: You make up your list. I'll finish up here.

M. O'BRIEN: It's OK. I'm going to get to it.

COLLINS: I agree with the PB&J and so would my little 3-year- old, Riley.

M. O'BRIEN: Yes.

COLLINS: He'd be all over that.

S. O'BRIEN: Exactly. For mommies everywhere...

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: All right...

M. O'BRIEN: Heidi, where are you? Why aren't you here?

COLLINS: I don't know.

M. O'BRIEN: Oh.

COLLINS: I don't know.

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: I'll be over there in a little while this morning.

M. O'BRIEN: Get in the car, come visit.

COLLINS: OK.

S. O'BRIEN: We'll see you in just a few minutes.

COLLINS: All right, guys, it sounds good. Thanks.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It is now 6:48, and here's what's all new this morning.

A car bomb explodes near a U.S. military patrol in the northern Iraqi city of Baije today, killing four Iraqi civilians. The military says 19 people, including 3 American soldiers, were wounded. South of the city, a U.S. soldier was wounded in a rocket-propelled grenade attack.

Actor John Barrymore, the father of actress Drew Barrymore, has died. He was 72. No information has been released on the cause of his death. In money, a California company is giving $5,000 to any of its U.S. employees who buy the gas-electric hybrid car that gets at least 45 miles to the gallon. It's a real hot deal, designed to promote cleaner air.

In culture, the Sundance Film Festival has named the film that will compete at its 2005 festival. It's coming up next month. Documentaries include one about the rise of energy giant Enron.

And in sports, this woman is making history. Barbara Zemen (ph) is a banker by trade, and now she's the first female player for a men's hockey team in Austria. She holds a key position, too. She's the goalie. I love that story. Favorite story of the day.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COLLINS: It's "The Apprentice" with more politics, less business, and none of the Donald. But Israel's latest venture into reality TV has the country enthralled. We'll take a look.

Plus, "Spider-Man" weaves its web on Wall Street. We'll tell you why he dropped in on the Stock Exchange.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It looks like Donald Trump and his reality show, "The Apprentice," are having an influence on Israel. At the center of it all is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

CNN's John Vause explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Take 14 ambitious young people, put them on TV, fighting it out for a New York job. Sound familiar?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, guys. My name's Aton Schwartz (ph). I'm 30 years old. I'm from Israel.

OFRA BIN NUN, CONTESTANT, "THE AMBASSADOR": My name is Ofra Bin Nun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My name is Vernon El-Alem (ph).

VAUSE: But this is reality TV, Israeli-style. Called "The Ambassador," the winner will work for a year for Joey Low, a Jewish- American businessman who runs an Israeli advocacy group.

JOEY LOW, FOUNDER, ISRAEL AT HEART: You'll be faced with many challenges but have a chance to make a real difference. That's up to you.

VAUSE (on camera): Do you think Israel has an image problem?

NACHMAN SHAI, JUDGE, "THE AMBASSADOR": No doubt about it. VAUSE (voice over): Nachman Shai, a former Israeli army spokesman, is one of three judges. Each week, they'll decide who stays and who's fired.

SHAI: Here we deal with a very small country that cannot exist without world public support. As seriously as that.

VAUSE: On the first episode, they addressed a group of students at Britain's Cambridge University, making the case for Israel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority declined to every opportunity that the Israel has offered them.

VAUSE: And there were some tough questions as well.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of people find this kind of sickening when we talk about generous offers. It's like me busting into your home, OK, taking control, killing a few of your family members, and telling you that you can now live in the closet and saying now that's a generous offer.

BIN NUN: And we make it very clear...

VAUSE: And the reply, less than diplomatic.

BIN NUN: Israel has not taken anything from anyone. If you go back...

VAUSE: Which may explain why she was the first to be fired.

(on camera) And when the first show went to air, more than a million viewers tuned in, the highest-rating debut for an Israeli reality program ever, and perhaps a sign of things to come. Reality TV, where the entire country has a real stake in the outcome.

John Vause, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Up next, some beloved action figures have their day on the town. This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: And it's a dismal day in the overseas markets, unfortunately. Japan's Nikkei closed down 78 and a half points. Britain's FTSE is trading down 38 points, and the French CAC is down almost 14.

Well, Godzilla took the West Coast, and "Spider-Man" showed up in these. And now there's Rob Marciano standing there in front of the clouds.

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I am. What do you mean, Heidi? Tell us.

COLLINS: Listen to this now. Spidey actually decided to drop in on the New York Stock Exchange. Look at this.

MARCIANO: Cool!

COLLINS: A two-disc special edition of "Spider-Man 2" comes out today. So I guess that's why he was there.

MARCIANO: Shoot your web, Heidi. Shoot it.

COLLINS: Yes.

MARCIANO: No, no.

COLLINS: And Godzilla has a few things to blow smoke about now. He just got his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. He was so much bigger than that in the movie. He celebrated his 50th birthday and is launching his 28th film. Huh, how about that?

MARCIANO: I wonder, does King Kong have a star? He's got to be jealous.

COLLINS: I don't know. All right, we'll check that out for you, Rob.

MARCIANO: Thank you.

COLLINS: Have a great day, Rob.

MARCIANO: You too.

COLLINS: And from the Time Warner center in New York, I'm Heidi Collins. "AMERICAN MORNING" is next.

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