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American Morning

Palestinians Have a New Leader Today; 'Kamber & May'

Aired January 10, 2005 - 08:31   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. 8:30 here in New York City, starting off on a Monday morning. Good to have you along with us today.
In a few moments, we'll check out the scene in the West Bank. Palestinians there yesterday celebrating the election of their president again today. Is this a new beginning on the road to peace? We'll look at some of the issues facing Mahmoud Abbas, some of the challenges, and there are many. We'll get to that this half hour.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, President Newt Gingrich? How does that sound? The former speaker of the House apparently interested in running. We'll talk to Kamber and May about what his chances might be.

HEMMER: We have four years to make that list very, very long, don't we, on both sides of the political aisle.

O'BRIEN: Then we start paring it back down.

HEMMER: Mother Nature giving a pounding in the West. Another day of dangerous weather in Southern California expected today.

Also in the Sierras, northern part of the state, they're expected even more snow. This on top of the 19 feet already blocking highways and stranding an Amtrak train.

Meanwhile, it's been raining in the L.A. area since Thursday of last week. And one of the many rescues near L.A., a man just misses serious injury. His daughter, her friend had already been saved from their car as it was being carried away in a swollen creek. This man was being rescued. He lost his pants, almost lost his life on that concrete support. Later, they rescued him. We'll tell you how a bit later today.

Also, three people have died as a result of the weather. Homes have collapsed under the mud. There are power outages and a whole lot of headaches again today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Kelly Wallace with a look at the news this morning. Hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again. And good morning again, everyone. Now in the news, President Bush is meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell this morning. Powell brief the president on the recovery efforts in Southern Asia, operations he observed firsthand last week in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The president is then expected to meet with various humanitarian groups, including USAID, employees to get an update on relief efforts.

A peace deal in Sudan raising hopes steps now will be taken to stop massive suffering in the country's Darfur region. Sudanese and rebel leaders yesterday signed the agreement to end decades of civil war. U.S. officials have expressed hope the deal will speed up talks, ending what some in the international community have characterized as genocide.

Continuing medical problems will keep Chief Justice William Rehnquist off the Supreme Court bench again when the Supreme Court reconvenes in just about two hours. The 80-year-old Rehnquist has been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. Rehnquist is expected, though, to swear in President Bush for a second term on January 20th. Of course, that is next week.

The Palestinians have a new leader today. Mahmoud Abbas has been selected the new president of the Palestinian Authority. Results just out this morning show he won with more than 62 percent of the vote, and there has been lots of celebrating on the streets of Ramallah. More with bill on this right now -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, thank you, Kelly.

Guy Raz standing by there.

Guy, good afternoon.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good afternoon from Ramallah. We're outside the Mukata (ph) complex. This is the administrative headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority, and of course the place where Mahmoud Abbas will now be working out of, a momentous day for Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, has been elected the Palestinian National Authority president. Mr. Abbas is a moderate. He's someone who is opposed to violence, and perhaps most importantly, he's a man who could perhaps revive the flagging Middle East peace process.

Now, Israeli and the United States both refused to deal with Mr. Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat. Mahmoud Abbas is a man who both the Israelis and the United States believe they can do business with.

Now preliminary results of the election are in, and we understand that Mr. Abbas won about 62 percent of the vote. as many as 70 percent of eligible voters turned up to the polls. His closest opponent was Mustafa Barghouti, who won about 20 percent of the votes. But official and final results will be out later this week.

Now that Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, has won the election, he faces considerable challenges. Bill, top of his agenda is reforming the Palestinian Authority; as he described it, getting the Palestinian house in order, strengthening public institution, strengthening democracy. At the same time, he needs to begin pursuing the process of peace talks with Israel.

Now, of course, a lot of that depends on whether the Israeli government is prepared to meet with Mr. Abbas. But there have been some signs from the Israeli government and Mr. -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel that he would be willing to meet with Mr. Abbas as early as the end of this week -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Guy, thanks. Guy Raz there with the latest. Thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: What will the election of Mahmoud Abbas mean to the Mideast peace process? A look at that from both sides now.

Joining us from Washington D.C., Democratic consultant Victor Kamber.

Hey, Vic, good morning.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Cliff May, former RNC communications director, now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, also with us this morning.

Nice to see you, Cliff. Good morning. Happy New Year to both to you guys.

CLIFF MAY, FMR. RNC COMM. DIR.: Thank you. You too.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right to it. Thank you very much.

What do you think, Cliff -- let's start with you -- this is going to be to the Mideast peace process. We know that certainly with the large number, percentage-wise, that Mahmoud Abbas was able to walk away with, he certainly has a mandate. But a mandate for what exactly? Do you think this means peace is close to certainty as it's ever been?

MAY: No, I think it's an optimistic moment. But I think that's the most you can say. And it depends on how Mahmoud Abbas uses this moment. In your report just now, Guy Raz called Abbas a moderate. I respectfully disagree. A moderate is somebody who says terrorism is wrong, you don't murder other people's children. He's never said that. What he has said is that terrorism is not helping the Palestinian cause at this time, so we shouldn't use it. That's very different. I don't think he's done a lot in this campaign to prepare the Palestinian people for hard compromises with Israel, but that doesn't mean he can't do it now.

And also this was not a competitive election. Mustafa Barghouti was the only who was one against him. Again, Guy Raz called him a human rights activist. I disagree. He was supported tacitly by Hamas, a terrorist organization. So it's going to be hard thing to tell Palestinians that Arafat is wrong, Israel won't be wiped off the face of the earth, we have to make some hard compromises, or we're going to sacrifice more generations of Palestinian children.

O'BRIEN: Vic, what do you think President Bush should be doing right now at this clearly critical time?

KAMBER: Well, I think this is one time he has to wait just a little bit and see where Mahmoud Abbas puts his initial emphasis. I think, again, your reporter, Guy Raz, said that he has to use the next few days to start sorting out his government, start putting people in place.

Unlike Cliff, I have -- I am more hopeful. While the definition of a moderate can be debated, he clearly is a moderate within the Palestinian context of who ran for office. It's the first chance we've had in a long time I think to see a potential peace beginning in the Middle East. It's not going to happen overnight. Just because there's an election doesn't mean it will happen. Israel has to come to the table. Palestinians still has to a agree on what they want to do and how they want to do it and have to step away from terrorist tactics. And I think George Bush can be the moderator and hopefully bring peace to the Mideast, but I think we have a little wait and see yet.

O'BRIEN: All right let's change gears in the little bit of time that we have left and talk a little bit about Social Security. There are some who say the White House is using scare tactics.

Vic, why don't you tackle this one for us. People have been red flagging Social Security for years. Why is it now scare tactics?

KAMBER: Well, I think the whole approach of this administration to virtually every activity they've undertaken is try to scare the American public into believing that this is a crisis that has to be dealt with. That's how we got in the war in Iraq. We're there because of weapons of mass destruction, because of ties to 9/11. We scare the American public, and then we go in.

With Social Security, there's no doubt we have to tackle Social Security if we want to deal with it in the next 15, 20, 30 years. There's no fear of it next year or the following year. The difference becomes let's not scare America; let's educate them about the problems, let's explore the possible opportunities, and then let's take some action. But what the Bush administration wants, they've got 18 months, in their view, to do something. So if you scare people now, you can rush something through legislatively.

O'BRIEN: You think it's rushing?

MAY: No, I think this is an area, an issue we've been avoiding for years and years. I think that everybody understands that when Social Security was created, there was something like 16 workers for every retiree. Now it's something like two workers for every retiree. Young people don't really believe they're going to get Social Security. We have an opportunity now to possibly fix it. Democrats and Republicans will have to get together if they're going to fix it, or we can say, never mind, let's look at this again in 10 or 20 years or whatever. But I think it's an urgent issue, and it's one I think Bush deserves credit for trying to tackle now.

KAMBER: No one disagrees we shouldn't try to tackle something. The difference is, do you scare people into doing something quickly, or do you take the time, the thoughtful time and look at the problem over the next year to two years and come up with the legislative solution?

O'BRIEN: Let me ask another question, because obviously, there's much more to debate on Social Security as time goes by. I want to ask you a quick question, though, before we run out of time about Newt Gingrich. Word is that maybe he's considering a presidential run. At least he hasn't actively said that he would not. Why don't you start with this, Vick. What do you think of that?

KAMBER: I have a smile on my face. I'm going to with a Gingrich for president button, then I'm assured the Democrats will win in 2008. This man has more baggage and more problems, and frankly, couldn't bring about a united Republican Party, let alone a united America.

O'BRIEN: And, Cliff, what do you think?

MAY: Let me tell you, Soledad, I've known Newt Gingrich for a number of years. He is one of the smartest people I've ever met, one of the most intellectually creative people I've met. But Vic is right, he brings baggage; he'll have to change his image over the next four years if he wants to win either a nomination or the election. So do such people as Hillary Clinton. It's not impossible to do.

O'BRIEN: Not impossible to do is not exactly the warmest way to put it.

MAY: He's a brilliant guy, a brilliant guy, and he's a policy thinker, like few other politicians I know in this town. I'm a great fan of his, but yes, he has an image problem, partly because he's been demonized by Democrats, partly because...

KAMBER: And partly because of his own actions.

MAY: Well, we can debate, which of his actions you think are so terrible.

O'BRIEN: We could, but you know what, we're not, because we're out of time.

Gentlemen, as always, nice to see you. Thanks for being with us -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, we're paging the good doctor right now, Sanjay, about the toxic toll from last week's train wreck in South Carolina. Nine are dead, thousands of residents now evacuated because of a chlorine gas leak. It is not clear even today when they'll be able to go home. Sanjay's back home in Atlanta after his coverage in Sri Lanka, and welcome back my friend, and wonderful work overseas. It's good to see you back in the U.S.

What is the potential health risk there in South Carolina, Sanjay?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, first of all, Bill, let's start with some of the good news down there. They've been able to patch, at least temporarily, one of the tankers that actually caused that first leakage, actually a temporary patch on there now. So no more chlorine gas actively leaking.

The process here actually quite interesting, Bill. What they do is they then pump sodium hydroxide into the tanker, turning the chlorine into bleach, into normal household bleach, which can then be removed much more safely.

The concern, Bill, these other two tankers -- there are three cars total. Two other tankers sort of partially buried. It's unclear, though, when they're lifted, whether they're going to start actively leaking. There is a potential health threat there still. But right now, at least the one tanker that was leaking, that has been stopped.

HEMMER: A couple more health questions for you. The symptoms of chlorine poisoning are what, Sanjay?

GUPTA: You know, they're actually pretty easy to recognize, and a lot of people think about chlorine poisoning. It's probably what you think of. First of all, the color of the gas, you see a yellowish-green color. It's very a pungent odor. It smells like on a bleach, and it's heavier than air. As far as the symptoms themselves, if you are to breathe in some of this chlorine gas, it can cause problems with your eyes, your skin, your lungs. You might have coughing. You may have burning sensation, difficulty breathing as well. Obviously those are concerning health risks. They tend to take place in people who are very close to the problem. There is no antidote. If someone is exposed to this, Bill, typically they need to go to a hospital, they need to be decontaminated, and they may need to be on a breathing tube.

HEMMER: If that is the case, is there still a risk of being contaminated today?

GUPTA: Again, the two tankers are partially buried, so it's unclear whether or not they're going to leak once they're lifted. Right now, though, there is no active chlorine gas leak. They're not going to let people come back to their homes yet until they're sure that the problem won't recur with those two tankers being lifted -- Bill.

HEMMER: And earlier today, we were talking with the NTSB. We thought they could go back on Wednesday of this week. Now we're being told don't know. So perhaps more information as the day unfolds there in South Carolina. Thanks again, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Thank you.

HEMMER: Good to see you. See you again next hour -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: There's a new sign over at one of the major airlines. It says, don't feed the flight attendants. We'll explain that ahead, as Andy minds your business.

HEMMER: Also, the Oscars aren't until next month. But we could know later tonight whether or not million dollar baby has the goods and what it takes.

Back in a moment here after this on a Monday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The airline industry just gets more ridiculous by the moment. Delta, with yet another way to save money. Andy Serwer's here with that and a market preview, "Minding Your Business."

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: This Delta thing is a real morale booster, isn't it?

CAFFERTY: Oh, man, how much can they save, too? I mean, this chump change in the grand scheme of things, right?

SERWER: Yes, it really is funny.

Let's talk about the market last week, not a laughing matter at all. A terrible start to the year. And you know, they say that the first week of the year is a predictor for how the rest of the year will turn out in the stock market.

I actually did some work, and it's a predictor that works 50 percent of the time. Yes, that's, like, flipping a coin. Don't worry about it, in other words. We'll just move on from here.

Delta Airlines has found a new way to save money, according to "The Wall Street Journal." It's going to be cutting back on employees, surprise, surprise. Also, though, it is going to be ending meals for flight attendants. As of April 1st, the paper reports, pilots and flight attendants will have to bring their own food.

CAFFERTY: They're not cranky enough. Just stop feeding them now.

SERWER: No, can you imagine?

CAFFERTY: You think they're nasty now on a long flight.

SERWER: You're hungry? I'm hungry. Can you imagine?

HEMMER: Pack a lunch.

SERWER: And this is another good one with food and flight attendants. Flight attendants at Alitalia, the Italian airline, were teed off at their bosses recently and so they had a snack-out. They refused to serve passengers food.

CAFFERTY: For which the passengers were eternally grateful.

SERWER: Exactly. Second prize is. And finally here, we promised you earlier in the program we're going to show you pictures of this Ford Synus, this concept car. We do have pictures of...

CAFFERTY: Well, that's attractive.

SERWER: ... the Ford Synus.

CAFFERTY: Like a bread truck.

SERWER: It's a pint-sized brinks vehicle, armored, bullet-proof glass. Ford says it is kind of a, you know, funny thing. Let's hope it never comes to this, that you need to drive that thing around the city. The Ford Synus, people...

CAFFERTY: It's pretty ugly.

SERWER: ... as promised. Pretty ugly.

CAFFERTY: And as promised, after this commercial break, we're going to come back and do Soledad's favorite story, which is porn for a penny. "The Cafferty File" is next.

O'BRIEN: Because I'm shocked and appalled.

SERWER: Oh, yes. Shocked.

O'BRIEN: As a moral American, yes I am.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAFFERTY: All right. It's time now for "The Cafferty File." The state of Texas gets $600 million in Homeland Security money. There's a huge debate about where the Homeland Security money is being spent. Do the states that face the greatest potential threat from terrorists get the lion's share of the money?

Well, the critics in this case might have a point. An audit in Texas found that some of the Homeland Security money was spent by one county to buy a trailer in order to haul lawnmowers to the lawnmower drag races. Sounds like they're taking lessons from the United Nations.

China's 1.3 billionth citizen was born last week, a little baby named Xiong Ichi (ph). This week, he is a big star. A number of companies have approached his parents about doing commercials and ads for things like diapers and baby formula. But Ichi's parents have turned them all down except for one offer from an insurance company, which is offering the family free insurance. The baby's father says that quote, "it's lucky to be China's 1.3 billionth citizen, but too many commercial activities will have a negative impact on the boy's healthy growth." What a guy. The Chinese government says without the country's one child per family planning policy, it would be really crowded over there.

Columbia House, the nation's largest -- this is for you, Soledad. The nation's largest direct distributor of DVDs and home video is getting into the porn business. The company is going to launch its own adult video club along with Playboy Entertainment at the end of the moth. The service called "Hush" will use the same 12 CDs for a penny approach as the original Columbia House Record Club, which has been around since I was a kid. Do the math. Columbia House has 8.5 million current club members, the porn industry's $12 billion annually. And that would be a lot of pennies.

HEMMER: Sure would.

CAFFERTY: Porn for a penny.

SERWER: Always a business approach.

CAFFERTY: I know, you want the address.

O'BRIEN: No, I don't. You know what? So way too busy for all of that in my life, Jack. I think America knows that.

CAFFERTY: You think America knows that?

O'BRIEN: Yes, I do.

SERWER: So you think porn should be more expensive?

O'BRIEN: No, what I'm saying is I'm appalled that it's so accessible and you know they're going to send off 12 CDs for a penny to some 12-year-old boy accidentally, who probably won't tell anybody.

CAFFERTY: It won't be an accident. There are 12-year-old boys right now on the Internet looking for the address.

SERWER: Dialing.

CAFFERTY: How do I order this stuff?

O'BRIEN: Oh, I'm so done with you today.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here.

SERWER: Already?

HEMMER: Yes, already.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: What is it? 9:00 on the first morning back?

O'BRIEN: Not even, not even.

HEMMER: Including Jack and Soledad's continued discussion here on AMERICAN MORNING, nasty weather in California. Get to that top of the hour here. Back in a sec. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired January 10, 2005 - 08:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back, everybody. 8:30 here in New York City, starting off on a Monday morning. Good to have you along with us today.
In a few moments, we'll check out the scene in the West Bank. Palestinians there yesterday celebrating the election of their president again today. Is this a new beginning on the road to peace? We'll look at some of the issues facing Mahmoud Abbas, some of the challenges, and there are many. We'll get to that this half hour.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Also this morning, President Newt Gingrich? How does that sound? The former speaker of the House apparently interested in running. We'll talk to Kamber and May about what his chances might be.

HEMMER: We have four years to make that list very, very long, don't we, on both sides of the political aisle.

O'BRIEN: Then we start paring it back down.

HEMMER: Mother Nature giving a pounding in the West. Another day of dangerous weather in Southern California expected today.

Also in the Sierras, northern part of the state, they're expected even more snow. This on top of the 19 feet already blocking highways and stranding an Amtrak train.

Meanwhile, it's been raining in the L.A. area since Thursday of last week. And one of the many rescues near L.A., a man just misses serious injury. His daughter, her friend had already been saved from their car as it was being carried away in a swollen creek. This man was being rescued. He lost his pants, almost lost his life on that concrete support. Later, they rescued him. We'll tell you how a bit later today.

Also, three people have died as a result of the weather. Homes have collapsed under the mud. There are power outages and a whole lot of headaches again today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

O'BRIEN: Kelly Wallace with a look at the news this morning. Hello.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again. And good morning again, everyone. Now in the news, President Bush is meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell this morning. Powell brief the president on the recovery efforts in Southern Asia, operations he observed firsthand last week in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The president is then expected to meet with various humanitarian groups, including USAID, employees to get an update on relief efforts.

A peace deal in Sudan raising hopes steps now will be taken to stop massive suffering in the country's Darfur region. Sudanese and rebel leaders yesterday signed the agreement to end decades of civil war. U.S. officials have expressed hope the deal will speed up talks, ending what some in the international community have characterized as genocide.

Continuing medical problems will keep Chief Justice William Rehnquist off the Supreme Court bench again when the Supreme Court reconvenes in just about two hours. The 80-year-old Rehnquist has been undergoing treatment for thyroid cancer. Rehnquist is expected, though, to swear in President Bush for a second term on January 20th. Of course, that is next week.

The Palestinians have a new leader today. Mahmoud Abbas has been selected the new president of the Palestinian Authority. Results just out this morning show he won with more than 62 percent of the vote, and there has been lots of celebrating on the streets of Ramallah. More with bill on this right now -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, thank you, Kelly.

Guy Raz standing by there.

Guy, good afternoon.

GUY RAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good afternoon from Ramallah. We're outside the Mukata (ph) complex. This is the administrative headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority, and of course the place where Mahmoud Abbas will now be working out of, a momentous day for Palestinians across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, has been elected the Palestinian National Authority president. Mr. Abbas is a moderate. He's someone who is opposed to violence, and perhaps most importantly, he's a man who could perhaps revive the flagging Middle East peace process.

Now, Israeli and the United States both refused to deal with Mr. Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat. Mahmoud Abbas is a man who both the Israelis and the United States believe they can do business with.

Now preliminary results of the election are in, and we understand that Mr. Abbas won about 62 percent of the vote. as many as 70 percent of eligible voters turned up to the polls. His closest opponent was Mustafa Barghouti, who won about 20 percent of the votes. But official and final results will be out later this week.

Now that Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, has won the election, he faces considerable challenges. Bill, top of his agenda is reforming the Palestinian Authority; as he described it, getting the Palestinian house in order, strengthening public institution, strengthening democracy. At the same time, he needs to begin pursuing the process of peace talks with Israel.

Now, of course, a lot of that depends on whether the Israeli government is prepared to meet with Mr. Abbas. But there have been some signs from the Israeli government and Mr. -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel that he would be willing to meet with Mr. Abbas as early as the end of this week -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, Guy, thanks. Guy Raz there with the latest. Thanks -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: What will the election of Mahmoud Abbas mean to the Mideast peace process? A look at that from both sides now.

Joining us from Washington D.C., Democratic consultant Victor Kamber.

Hey, Vic, good morning.

VICTOR KAMBER, DEMOCRATIC CONSULTANT: Good morning, Soledad.

O'BRIEN: Cliff May, former RNC communications director, now with the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, also with us this morning.

Nice to see you, Cliff. Good morning. Happy New Year to both to you guys.

CLIFF MAY, FMR. RNC COMM. DIR.: Thank you. You too.

O'BRIEN: Let's get right to it. Thank you very much.

What do you think, Cliff -- let's start with you -- this is going to be to the Mideast peace process. We know that certainly with the large number, percentage-wise, that Mahmoud Abbas was able to walk away with, he certainly has a mandate. But a mandate for what exactly? Do you think this means peace is close to certainty as it's ever been?

MAY: No, I think it's an optimistic moment. But I think that's the most you can say. And it depends on how Mahmoud Abbas uses this moment. In your report just now, Guy Raz called Abbas a moderate. I respectfully disagree. A moderate is somebody who says terrorism is wrong, you don't murder other people's children. He's never said that. What he has said is that terrorism is not helping the Palestinian cause at this time, so we shouldn't use it. That's very different. I don't think he's done a lot in this campaign to prepare the Palestinian people for hard compromises with Israel, but that doesn't mean he can't do it now.

And also this was not a competitive election. Mustafa Barghouti was the only who was one against him. Again, Guy Raz called him a human rights activist. I disagree. He was supported tacitly by Hamas, a terrorist organization. So it's going to be hard thing to tell Palestinians that Arafat is wrong, Israel won't be wiped off the face of the earth, we have to make some hard compromises, or we're going to sacrifice more generations of Palestinian children.

O'BRIEN: Vic, what do you think President Bush should be doing right now at this clearly critical time?

KAMBER: Well, I think this is one time he has to wait just a little bit and see where Mahmoud Abbas puts his initial emphasis. I think, again, your reporter, Guy Raz, said that he has to use the next few days to start sorting out his government, start putting people in place.

Unlike Cliff, I have -- I am more hopeful. While the definition of a moderate can be debated, he clearly is a moderate within the Palestinian context of who ran for office. It's the first chance we've had in a long time I think to see a potential peace beginning in the Middle East. It's not going to happen overnight. Just because there's an election doesn't mean it will happen. Israel has to come to the table. Palestinians still has to a agree on what they want to do and how they want to do it and have to step away from terrorist tactics. And I think George Bush can be the moderator and hopefully bring peace to the Mideast, but I think we have a little wait and see yet.

O'BRIEN: All right let's change gears in the little bit of time that we have left and talk a little bit about Social Security. There are some who say the White House is using scare tactics.

Vic, why don't you tackle this one for us. People have been red flagging Social Security for years. Why is it now scare tactics?

KAMBER: Well, I think the whole approach of this administration to virtually every activity they've undertaken is try to scare the American public into believing that this is a crisis that has to be dealt with. That's how we got in the war in Iraq. We're there because of weapons of mass destruction, because of ties to 9/11. We scare the American public, and then we go in.

With Social Security, there's no doubt we have to tackle Social Security if we want to deal with it in the next 15, 20, 30 years. There's no fear of it next year or the following year. The difference becomes let's not scare America; let's educate them about the problems, let's explore the possible opportunities, and then let's take some action. But what the Bush administration wants, they've got 18 months, in their view, to do something. So if you scare people now, you can rush something through legislatively.

O'BRIEN: You think it's rushing?

MAY: No, I think this is an area, an issue we've been avoiding for years and years. I think that everybody understands that when Social Security was created, there was something like 16 workers for every retiree. Now it's something like two workers for every retiree. Young people don't really believe they're going to get Social Security. We have an opportunity now to possibly fix it. Democrats and Republicans will have to get together if they're going to fix it, or we can say, never mind, let's look at this again in 10 or 20 years or whatever. But I think it's an urgent issue, and it's one I think Bush deserves credit for trying to tackle now.

KAMBER: No one disagrees we shouldn't try to tackle something. The difference is, do you scare people into doing something quickly, or do you take the time, the thoughtful time and look at the problem over the next year to two years and come up with the legislative solution?

O'BRIEN: Let me ask another question, because obviously, there's much more to debate on Social Security as time goes by. I want to ask you a quick question, though, before we run out of time about Newt Gingrich. Word is that maybe he's considering a presidential run. At least he hasn't actively said that he would not. Why don't you start with this, Vick. What do you think of that?

KAMBER: I have a smile on my face. I'm going to with a Gingrich for president button, then I'm assured the Democrats will win in 2008. This man has more baggage and more problems, and frankly, couldn't bring about a united Republican Party, let alone a united America.

O'BRIEN: And, Cliff, what do you think?

MAY: Let me tell you, Soledad, I've known Newt Gingrich for a number of years. He is one of the smartest people I've ever met, one of the most intellectually creative people I've met. But Vic is right, he brings baggage; he'll have to change his image over the next four years if he wants to win either a nomination or the election. So do such people as Hillary Clinton. It's not impossible to do.

O'BRIEN: Not impossible to do is not exactly the warmest way to put it.

MAY: He's a brilliant guy, a brilliant guy, and he's a policy thinker, like few other politicians I know in this town. I'm a great fan of his, but yes, he has an image problem, partly because he's been demonized by Democrats, partly because...

KAMBER: And partly because of his own actions.

MAY: Well, we can debate, which of his actions you think are so terrible.

O'BRIEN: We could, but you know what, we're not, because we're out of time.

Gentlemen, as always, nice to see you. Thanks for being with us -- Bill.

HEMMER: All right, we're paging the good doctor right now, Sanjay, about the toxic toll from last week's train wreck in South Carolina. Nine are dead, thousands of residents now evacuated because of a chlorine gas leak. It is not clear even today when they'll be able to go home. Sanjay's back home in Atlanta after his coverage in Sri Lanka, and welcome back my friend, and wonderful work overseas. It's good to see you back in the U.S.

What is the potential health risk there in South Carolina, Sanjay?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, first of all, Bill, let's start with some of the good news down there. They've been able to patch, at least temporarily, one of the tankers that actually caused that first leakage, actually a temporary patch on there now. So no more chlorine gas actively leaking.

The process here actually quite interesting, Bill. What they do is they then pump sodium hydroxide into the tanker, turning the chlorine into bleach, into normal household bleach, which can then be removed much more safely.

The concern, Bill, these other two tankers -- there are three cars total. Two other tankers sort of partially buried. It's unclear, though, when they're lifted, whether they're going to start actively leaking. There is a potential health threat there still. But right now, at least the one tanker that was leaking, that has been stopped.

HEMMER: A couple more health questions for you. The symptoms of chlorine poisoning are what, Sanjay?

GUPTA: You know, they're actually pretty easy to recognize, and a lot of people think about chlorine poisoning. It's probably what you think of. First of all, the color of the gas, you see a yellowish-green color. It's very a pungent odor. It smells like on a bleach, and it's heavier than air. As far as the symptoms themselves, if you are to breathe in some of this chlorine gas, it can cause problems with your eyes, your skin, your lungs. You might have coughing. You may have burning sensation, difficulty breathing as well. Obviously those are concerning health risks. They tend to take place in people who are very close to the problem. There is no antidote. If someone is exposed to this, Bill, typically they need to go to a hospital, they need to be decontaminated, and they may need to be on a breathing tube.

HEMMER: If that is the case, is there still a risk of being contaminated today?

GUPTA: Again, the two tankers are partially buried, so it's unclear whether or not they're going to leak once they're lifted. Right now, though, there is no active chlorine gas leak. They're not going to let people come back to their homes yet until they're sure that the problem won't recur with those two tankers being lifted -- Bill.

HEMMER: And earlier today, we were talking with the NTSB. We thought they could go back on Wednesday of this week. Now we're being told don't know. So perhaps more information as the day unfolds there in South Carolina. Thanks again, Sanjay.

GUPTA: Thank you.

HEMMER: Good to see you. See you again next hour -- Soledad.

O'BRIEN: There's a new sign over at one of the major airlines. It says, don't feed the flight attendants. We'll explain that ahead, as Andy minds your business.

HEMMER: Also, the Oscars aren't until next month. But we could know later tonight whether or not million dollar baby has the goods and what it takes.

Back in a moment here after this on a Monday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody.

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: The airline industry just gets more ridiculous by the moment. Delta, with yet another way to save money. Andy Serwer's here with that and a market preview, "Minding Your Business."

Good morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: This Delta thing is a real morale booster, isn't it?

CAFFERTY: Oh, man, how much can they save, too? I mean, this chump change in the grand scheme of things, right?

SERWER: Yes, it really is funny.

Let's talk about the market last week, not a laughing matter at all. A terrible start to the year. And you know, they say that the first week of the year is a predictor for how the rest of the year will turn out in the stock market.

I actually did some work, and it's a predictor that works 50 percent of the time. Yes, that's, like, flipping a coin. Don't worry about it, in other words. We'll just move on from here.

Delta Airlines has found a new way to save money, according to "The Wall Street Journal." It's going to be cutting back on employees, surprise, surprise. Also, though, it is going to be ending meals for flight attendants. As of April 1st, the paper reports, pilots and flight attendants will have to bring their own food.

CAFFERTY: They're not cranky enough. Just stop feeding them now.

SERWER: No, can you imagine?

CAFFERTY: You think they're nasty now on a long flight.

SERWER: You're hungry? I'm hungry. Can you imagine?

HEMMER: Pack a lunch.

SERWER: And this is another good one with food and flight attendants. Flight attendants at Alitalia, the Italian airline, were teed off at their bosses recently and so they had a snack-out. They refused to serve passengers food.

CAFFERTY: For which the passengers were eternally grateful.

SERWER: Exactly. Second prize is. And finally here, we promised you earlier in the program we're going to show you pictures of this Ford Synus, this concept car. We do have pictures of...

CAFFERTY: Well, that's attractive.

SERWER: ... the Ford Synus.

CAFFERTY: Like a bread truck.

SERWER: It's a pint-sized brinks vehicle, armored, bullet-proof glass. Ford says it is kind of a, you know, funny thing. Let's hope it never comes to this, that you need to drive that thing around the city. The Ford Synus, people...

CAFFERTY: It's pretty ugly.

SERWER: ... as promised. Pretty ugly.

CAFFERTY: And as promised, after this commercial break, we're going to come back and do Soledad's favorite story, which is porn for a penny. "The Cafferty File" is next.

O'BRIEN: Because I'm shocked and appalled.

SERWER: Oh, yes. Shocked.

O'BRIEN: As a moral American, yes I am.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAFFERTY: All right. It's time now for "The Cafferty File." The state of Texas gets $600 million in Homeland Security money. There's a huge debate about where the Homeland Security money is being spent. Do the states that face the greatest potential threat from terrorists get the lion's share of the money?

Well, the critics in this case might have a point. An audit in Texas found that some of the Homeland Security money was spent by one county to buy a trailer in order to haul lawnmowers to the lawnmower drag races. Sounds like they're taking lessons from the United Nations.

China's 1.3 billionth citizen was born last week, a little baby named Xiong Ichi (ph). This week, he is a big star. A number of companies have approached his parents about doing commercials and ads for things like diapers and baby formula. But Ichi's parents have turned them all down except for one offer from an insurance company, which is offering the family free insurance. The baby's father says that quote, "it's lucky to be China's 1.3 billionth citizen, but too many commercial activities will have a negative impact on the boy's healthy growth." What a guy. The Chinese government says without the country's one child per family planning policy, it would be really crowded over there.

Columbia House, the nation's largest -- this is for you, Soledad. The nation's largest direct distributor of DVDs and home video is getting into the porn business. The company is going to launch its own adult video club along with Playboy Entertainment at the end of the moth. The service called "Hush" will use the same 12 CDs for a penny approach as the original Columbia House Record Club, which has been around since I was a kid. Do the math. Columbia House has 8.5 million current club members, the porn industry's $12 billion annually. And that would be a lot of pennies.

HEMMER: Sure would.

CAFFERTY: Porn for a penny.

SERWER: Always a business approach.

CAFFERTY: I know, you want the address.

O'BRIEN: No, I don't. You know what? So way too busy for all of that in my life, Jack. I think America knows that.

CAFFERTY: You think America knows that?

O'BRIEN: Yes, I do.

SERWER: So you think porn should be more expensive?

O'BRIEN: No, what I'm saying is I'm appalled that it's so accessible and you know they're going to send off 12 CDs for a penny to some 12-year-old boy accidentally, who probably won't tell anybody.

CAFFERTY: It won't be an accident. There are 12-year-old boys right now on the Internet looking for the address.

SERWER: Dialing.

CAFFERTY: How do I order this stuff?

O'BRIEN: Oh, I'm so done with you today.

HEMMER: Let's get a break here.

SERWER: Already?

HEMMER: Yes, already.

(CROSSTALK)

CAFFERTY: What is it? 9:00 on the first morning back?

O'BRIEN: Not even, not even.

HEMMER: Including Jack and Soledad's continued discussion here on AMERICAN MORNING, nasty weather in California. Get to that top of the hour here. Back in a sec. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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