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CNN Live At Daybreak
When Will it End?; Wildfires
Aired June 23, 2005 - 5:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Thursday, June 23. Wildfires rage through western states. It is fire season, so grab the pets and run. Wildfires in the western United States heating up.
Plus, Rumsfeld's dilemma. The timetable for training Iraqi troops, what will the defense secretary tell Congress?
And new details about your plans for living the good life on Social Security benefits.
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on those wildfires in just a minute.
Also ahead, how do you feel about a constitutional amendment that would protect the U.S. flag? The House voted for it again, and that's our DAYBREAK email "Question of the Day."
And later, it is wedding day in Baghdad. Meet couples who want to tie the knot despite the daily violence.
But first, "Now in the News."
Wildfires raging around the West. Thousands of acres are scorched in California, Arizona and Nevada. Residents near Phoenix and in a small southern California town just outside of Palm Springs have had to flee their homes this morning.
The ex-Klansman convicted of the 1964 slayings of three civil rights workers will hear his fate this morning. Sentencing for Edgar Ray Killen is set for 11:00 Eastern in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
And a royal graduation. Prince William, heir to the British throne, graduates from college today. He also loses special protection from media intrusion. So it's playtime for the paparazzi.
And remember, you can view more CNN reports online. Just visit CNN.com and click on to "Watch," and you can check out our most popular stories.
To the forecast center now and Chad.
Good morning.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. (WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Now to Iraq, the next chapter. Many people are asking when will U.S. forces come home. The Bush administration has said that depends on when Iraq can protect itself. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the military's top brass will address the status of Iraqi forces at a hearing on Capitol Hill today.
As CNN's Elaine Quijano reports, the war is beginning to take its toll on President Bush.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Against a backdrop of daily insurgent attacks on Iraqis and coalition forces, President Bush is facing a personal approval rating hovering below 50 percent, as well as falling support for the Iraq conflict. The latest CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll shows only 39 percent of Americans say they favor the war, down eight points from March.
The president is now in the midst of a public relations push, a sharpening of his focus on Iraq, say aides, to provide more context.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're making progress toward the goal, which is, on the one hand, a political process moving forward in Iraq. On the other hand, the Iraqis capable defending themselves.
QUIJANO: The Bush administration says more than 169,000 Iraqi security forces have been trained and equipped. Evidence, officials say, of an approving situation. Yet Democrats are sharpening their criticisms, pointing to statements like this one from Vice President Dick Cheney Last month...
RICHARD CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think they're in the -- in the last throws, if you will, of the insurgency.
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: And suggesting that everything's just honky-dory and the insurgency's on the wane is not -- does not comport with reality.
QUIJANO: Democratic Senator Joe Biden, who recently announced a possible presidential run in 2008, says he believes the security situation in Iraq is more precarious than the administration has depicted.
BIDEN: The disconnect between the administration's rhetoric and the reality on the ground has opened not just a credibility gap, but a credibility chasm.
(END VIDEOTAPE) COSTELLO: That report from CNN's Elaine Quijano. We're going to talk more about President Bush and his sinking approval ratings with Kelly Wallace. A special report coming your way in the 6:00 hour of DAYBREAK.
Vice President Dick Cheney will discuss the administration's position on Iraq and other issues live on CNN's "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS." So don't miss the exclusive interview that will come your way at 5:00 Eastern.
Another big issue for the Bush administration is your Social Security money. House Republicans have unveiled a scaled-down version of President Bush's plan for personal accounts. And here's the latest Republican who wants to bypass the president's plan for those private retirement accounts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JIM DEMINT (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: The president has been a very bold visionary and courageous about the Social Security issue. But a lot of us disagree on how to put together a comprehensive, permanent fix of Social Security. But we all agree, and there's widespread agreement across America, that Social Security taxes should be spent on Social Security.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The new proposal calls for using the cash surplus from Social Security to create individual accounts for workers under the age of 55. I know it's confusing. Social Security benefits would not be altered, and the money in the accounts would only be invested in U.S. treasury bonds. Proponents call it a good first step.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. SAM JOHNSON (R), TEXAS: In (INAUDIBLE) Dallas, when you sit down to eat a 28-ounce prime porterhouse steak in a fine steakhouse, you just have to take it one bite at a time. And that's what our bill -- it's the first bite is the bigger reform. This bill begins the process and gets us off "no" and on "go" to grow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: This is a hot-button issue for President Bush, and he is vowing to keep pushing it until the nation's retirement program is fixed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: The reason I brought it up is I cannot travel our country looking at young workers who are paying payroll taxes into a system that I know is going broke. And so now is the time to come together, both Republicans and Democrats. Forget all that party business, and come together and solve this problem permanently forever.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: The president was speaking at a nuclear power plant near Washington. His Social Security plan differs from the House GOP proposal mainly in that the House plan sidesteps the thorny issue of reducing Social Security benefits or allowing the money to be invested in the stock market.
Following 9/11, the Social Security Administration turned over personal information to the FBI. Internal memos show that sensitive earnings and medical information were not properly protected. The Privacy Act of 1974 does allow government agencies to release records for criminal investigations, but Social Security relaxed its policy after September 11 and provided records to FBI agents investigating the attack.
On to flab burning now, because this is going to be our email question of the morning, so listen carefully. A constitutional amendment to outlaw flag burning has once again cleared the House of Representatives. The vote was 286-130. That is more than the two- thirds majority needed.
Now, it's the seventh time the House has approved this amendment since the Supreme Court ruling 16 years ago that said flag burning is free speech.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R-WI), JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: All 50 state legislatures have passed resolution calling on Congress to pass a flag protection amendment. And polls demonstrate the overwhelming majority of Americans have consistently supported a flag protection amendment.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: However, the legislation faces substantial opposition in the Senate. Here's how the proposed amendment reads. You ready?
It says, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States. Amending the Constitution requires approval by two-thirds of the House of Representatives" -- it got that -- "and approval by two-thirds of the Senate." And everybody expects it will get that as well.
It also requires ratification by at least 38 state legislatures within seven years.
And as I said, Chad, that brings us to our email "Question of the Morning."
MYERS: It certainly does, Carol.
He said that most Americas favor this amendment, or the non- desecration of the flag. We want to know what you think. We want...
COSTELLO: Yes. MYERS: ... to know how important it is to you. Should you have the right to burn the flag, yes or no? Do we need an amendment? Yes, because the Supreme Court has already said, no, you can burn it, it's free speech, it's right of number one. It is the right to free speech.
We have to make a new amendment to make this happen, if you want it to happen. I want to know what you think -- DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
COSTELLO: Oh, I can't wait to see what people think about this this morning.
MYERS: It's pretty deep. This is -- I mean, I'm going to hear a lot of people saying, "Is this all we have to worry about?"
COSTELLO: Well, you know, I think a lot of people will say there should be a ban on burning the American flag, because, supposedly, in all 50 states the majority of people want such an amendment to the Constitution. That's according to Representative Sensenbrenner, who's a Republican out of Wisconsin.
MYERS: Now, 38 of the states of the 50 actually have to approve it as well, correct?
COSTELLO: OK. Well, what do you -- correct.
What do you think? DAYBREAK@CNN.com. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
MYERS: Let 'em fly.
COSTELLO: Oh, we're ready for you.
MYERS: I'm ready.
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, two fast-moving wildfires in Arizona move closer toward a number of luxury homes. We have an update for you.
Also, Prince William reaches a milestone.
That's the wildfires that I was talking about. Let's move on to Prince William now. There he is.
He's reached a milestone in his life. We'll tell you how it's going to change his life.
And despite being a war zone, life goes on in Iraq. We are invited to a very special event amid the rubble.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Let's take a look at the international markets now. They're all looking brighter this morning. Tokyo's Nikkei is up by almost 30 points. The London FTSE is higher by 13. And the German DAX is up almost 13 points.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It is 5:14 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is heading to Capitol Hill today to testify in front of a joint congressional committee about the war in Iraq. Rumsfeld is expected to face some tough questions about the administration's exit strategy.
Two Georgia men have been arrested in the 2001 stabbing death of Ashley Smith's husband. She's the woman hailed as a hero for leading police to Brian Nichols, the man accused of a courtroom shooting melee in Atlanta.
In money news, online stockbroker Ameritrade is acquiring rival online broker TD Waterhouse. Ameritrade has acquired or merged with five companies since 2001.
In culture, eight hours of the Live 8 concerts on July 2 will be telecast on MTV and VH1. Bob Geldof -- that's him on the left -- of course you know who's on the right. Anyway, he developed the concert series with the guy on the right, Bono.
In sports, Annika Sorenstam goes for the third leg of the Women's Grand Slam in golf. Play opens today at the U.S. Women's Open in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado -- Chad.
MYERS: Wow.
Good morning, everybody.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: We're going to talk more about those wildfires now, because we've been telling you about them. Arizona northeast to Phoenix, two of them were sparked by lightning, as Chad said, and they're now close to merging.
Reporter Carey Pena of CNN affiliate KTVK fired this report from Cave Creek on the fires in the Tonto National Forest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CAREY PENA, REPORTER, KTVK (voice-over): An ominous orange glow, a message from Mother Nature: this fire is far from finished.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Usually the nighttime is a time when we can get some good burnout going and we can get some good solid fire line. And I'm sure that's what the firefighters will be working on.
PENA: Today brought unpredictable weather, with winds shifting and temperatures soaring. The high, 113.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, you can see just from around here that it's very windy, and the winds are taking things all over the place out there. Even early this morning, before the winds kicked up substantially, the fuels out there are so dry and so flashy that the fire was moving in all directions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody that lives out here knows that this could happen. And we just figure, you know, it might happen and you might lose it, and it's been worth it.
PENA: We went with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department into one of evacuated area, Tonto Hills. This was not a mandatory evacuation area. Yellow tape shows that people have been warned. Still, many refuse to go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A lot of them won't go. We make them sign a note that says, look, you understand that we're not coming for you if it gets hairy.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're hoping we'll get to stay, but if we have to leave we'll leave, even if it's in the middle of the night.
PENA: Scottsdale firefighters were also here on standby incase the fire moved in on structures.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And we've gone through and talked to a lot of the folks and tried to reassure them that we're going to do everything we can to save their structure and just to make them feel a little bit better before they leave. We know they're under a lot of stress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel kind of sad because maybe my house is going to burn down.
PENA: These are stressful moments for hundreds of residents. But firefighters warn that the flames are erratic. Before saving structures, their focus is always protecting lives.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has gone in there and asked everyone to leave. We really cannot be responsible for the safety of those people and our firefighters at this point.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Again, that was Carey Pena of KTVK. Officials on the scene say there is so much smoke from those two fires that it may be difficult to tell when and if they merge.
A number of tsunami survivors across Asia and Africa are reporting unusual lung and sinus infections. Doctors are finding patients that got sick after inhaling salt water, teeming with bacteria, usually found in soil. In one case, the bacteria even led to a paralyzing brain infection.
The United Nations says more than $10 billion has been pledged to help tsunami victims. That's from individuals and governments around the world. The U.N.'s humanitarian office says while the contributions are more than it's ever seen before, more is needed. It says long-term recovery will take another $5 billion.
Still to come on DAYBREAK this morning, you think you're hot? What about the poor animals with no air -- oh. We'll show you how -- well, we're showing you now how one deer tried to keep cool.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MYERS: Here you go, our email "Question of the Day." Lawmakers trying to make an amendment so that you have -- not have the right, you've lost the right to burn the flag. Should you, though, have the right to burn the American flag if you want to?
Email us at DAYBREAK@CNN.com. We're not talking about proper disposal of the American flag. We're talking about displays in public of the flag burning -- Carol.
COSTELLO: We certainly are. And we're getting a lot of responses already.
MYERS: They are coming in -- I can't read them all it's coming in so fast. So, doing my job.
COSTELLO: We love that. Keep them coming.
MYERS: All right.
COSTELLO: But we know that you need a laugh this morning, because it's one more day until Friday, and we know you've had a tough week. So we have a couple of funny moments to bring you from last night's late shows incase you missed them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": Yesterday, the prime minister of Vietnam met with President Bush at the White House. And as you know, Vietnam is a communist country, so there's no democracy there. There is no freedom. But don't worry, there's no oil either, so we won't be going back.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, "THE LATE SHOW": Had a thing downtown yesterday. Some idiots were putting up a huge popsicle. Put up in a giant -- a 17-ton popsicle. So, for one day only, the coolest thing in New York was not Hillary Clinton.
(APPLAUSE)
LETTERMAN: Hey. The coldest -- the coldest thing.
PAUL SHAFFER, "THE LATE SHOW": That's better.
LETTERMAN: The coldest thing was not Hillary.
SHAFFER: Ugh. You're the coolest.
LETTERMAN: Keep going. Keep...
SHAFFER: You're the coolest thing.
LETTERMAN: Thank you so much.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He blew the joke.
MYERS: What did he say, cruelest or coolest?
COSTELLO: He said coolest.
MYERS: Cool and cold.
COSTELLO: Instead of cold. He blew the joke.
MYERS: OK. I still missed it.
COSTELLO: But anyway, that big Snapple ice pop...
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... thing was funny enough on its own.
MYERS: They tried to get it -- they had to get it upright to actually make the world record. They didn't get it all the way up because it turned into a slushy.
COSTELLO: It melted.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Anyway, let's -- let's head right to our DAYBREAK "Eye Openers" now.
Imagine coming out for a dip in your pool and finding this.
MYERS: Oh, Bambi.
COSTELLO: Oh. This deer jumped a fence to go for a little swim in Macomb Township. That's in Michigan...
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: ... in a backyard swimming pool. And as you can see, the deer -- the deer tried to get out. It had a lot of trouble getting out.
MYERS: Yes, he did. On the other side there were some steps that he finally found that he got out on. So...
COSTELLO: Oh. She looks good, though, slim and trim, because she had to spend an hour in there doing laps before she found those steps.
MYERS: She just walked by them.
COSTELLO: Yes. From deer to turtles, these slow-moving creatures are being cared for in Bakersfield, California, by a turtle rescue group. There are 60 turtles and tortoises at the facility. Some of them are 100 years or older.
And I'll just bet, Chad, they can handle that pool better than the deer.
How would you like a job doing this, cleaning the glass in an aquarium?
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: Actually, it's the French National Sea Experience Center. Maybe you better think twice. Look what's going on behind the cleaners. You'll see it soon.
MYERS: Da duh, da duh...
COSTELLO: There are sharks behind there. Fortunately for the cleaners, the sharks are well fed.
Check out this couple on the dance floor. Obviously, Shirit (ph) is a robot. That's the female portion of this couple. This is robot- crazy Japan, where this honey was created.
She, whatever her name is, can predict her-his partner's movements and move just like the pros. She can tango, rumba, cha-cha. The dance robot, Chad, does it all.
MYERS: OK. Next.
COSTELLO: This kind of looks sick to me. I don't know.
Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.
Despite security concerns, wedding bells are ringing in Baghdad. And we get an invitation to celebrate with one Iraqi couple on their special day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello and Chad Myers.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. And welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.
Coming up in the next 30 minutes, oh, it's graduation day for young Prince William. We'll take you live to St. Andrews, Scotland, for a preview of the prince's big day.
And later, we're asking how you feel about protecting the American flag. Still ahead, we'll read your emails, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.
But first, "Now in the News."
Congressional Democrats are demanding answers from Donald Rumsfeld about the future presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. The defense secretary heads to Capitol Hill today to testify on training Iraq's own security forces. The progress of training Iraqis to defend themselves has been slower than anticipated.
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