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CNN Live Today

Cindy Weakens After Landfall; G8 Summit; Former Senator Fred Thompson to Guide Supreme Court Nominee Through Process

Aired July 06, 2005 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Let's take a look at what's happening ""Now in the News."
President Bush arrives at the G8 summit site in Scotland this hour. He'll have dinner with Queen Elizabeth tonight. Two days of summit business gets started tomorrow morning. Earlier in Denmark, the president defended his Iraq policies and pledged to take his time on a Supreme Court nominee.

What's left of Tropical Storm Cindy is soaking parts of the southeast. Cindy has just been downgraded to a tropical depression. The storm made landfall along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana overnight, flooding streets and knocking out power. A weather update is just ahead.

A police report details an 8-year-old Idaho girl's harrowing ordeal. Shasta Groene tells investigators that she and her brother were reportedly assaulted after being kidnapped from her home. She also said that she saw the convicted sex offender, Joseph Edward Duncan, tie up members of her family who were later found murdered. Duncan appeared in court yesterday to face kidnapping charges.

The father of an Alabama teen missing in Aruba says the family is clinging to hope. But authorities say things don't look good. Natalee Holloway's father says the FBI has told the family it is not likely that she is still alive. She's been missing since May 30.

Trafalgar Square erupted in jubilation this morning. The International Olympic Committee announcing that London will host the 2012 games. The city beat out Paris in the fourth and final round of voting.

Good morning, and welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. Let's check the time around the world. 11:00 a.m. in New York City; 4:00 p.m. in Gleneagles, Scotland; and 5:00 p.m. in Paris, France.

From CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan.

Let's go to Rob Marciano with a check of the weather.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: More now on Cindy. The storm is leaving a soggy trail along the Gulf Coast and into the southeast this morning. The storm came ashore in Louisiana overnight, dumping heavy rain and leaving tens of thousands of people without power. Dan Lothian was in the calm after the storm in New Orleans, and he filed this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tropical Storm Cindy has moved on, but here is some of the damage that Cindy has left behind. A large tree that has fallen down onto the roadway, this is one of the major drags right through downtown New Orleans. This tree, of course, blocking part of that roadway. And also, over here, another part of that tree also has fallen down in the median area.

This is a scene that you can see all across New Orleans, the region here. A result of Cindy's powerful punch coming through here overnight, where winds were as high as 70 miles per hour.

The rain was intense at times between dropping about three to six inches of rain on the region. We're told by power officials there are about 200,000 people left without power as a result of Tropical Storm Cindy.

There were some evacuations. Not mandatory evacuations, but people were encouraged to move from low-lying areas to get away from those areas that are prone to flooding. Officials say that, also, those people who worked on the oil rigs were evacuated from the rigs. Of course that is something that traditionally happens anytime there is any major storm activity out there in the Gulf, concern that there could be problems on those rigs. Those people have been evacuated.

Now, what seems to be going on here in New Orleans is a lot of cleanup, trying to remove some of the debris that's out there on the roadways, such as these trees. They're also trying to remove some of the power lines that have been knocked down. Power officials saying it could take a day to a day and a half to fully restore power throughout the region.

Of course everyone now focusing on what lies ahead, Dennis. Dennis potentially could be a threat to the region as well. The people are concerned about that.

That's the very latest from New Orleans. Dan Lothian reporting for CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: To Europe now, and the world stage. President Bush arrived a few minutes ago at the Gleneagles Resort in Scotland for the G8 summit.

Our European Political Editor Robin Oakley is there.

Robin, hello.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hello, Daryn.

Well, as you say, President Bush just arrived via Denmark, and he is really going to be the man under the greatest pressure at this particular summit. First of all, he is the only member of the G8 who has not signed up to the Kyoto treaty to curb global CO2 emissions. And the others are pushing him to move more in their direction in the acknowledgement of the dangers of climate change and the willingness to act together to curb that kind of climate change, and to curb greenhouse gases.

President Bush did seem to move a little bit in their direction with remarks in Denmark this morning saying that he accepted that the Earth was getting warmer and that manmade efforts had something to do with that.

The president will be under pressure also on the question of aid for Africa. He's announced a doubling himself of aid -- of America's aid to Africa. But some of the demonstrators who have been operating outside this conferences, and many of those who attended the Live 8 concerts, which built up such expectations, would like to see America do more, and not build in too many conditions on the aid that it gives.

And finally, the president will be under pressure from Tony Blair and others to cut back on producer subsidies which make it very hard for African producers to compete in world markets. But he and President Chirac of France are unlikely to agree to any hefty curbing there. And President Bush says, if the European Union won't do it, then he's certainly not going to do it himself -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Robin Oakley, live from Gleneagles.

Now let's talk about the protesters. They got a rowdy head start of a march today in a nearby Scottish town. Our correspondent Matthew Chance is standing by live for that -- Matthew.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks very much, Daryn.

Well, you're joining me here in Auchterarder, the small Scottish village just outside the Gleneagles Hotel, where, of course, the G8 summit is to be held. You can see there are thousands of people that have come here to Auchterarder to get their voices heard, their concerns about global warming, about poverty in Africa, and about all sorts of other issues, the war in Iraq, for instance. People have come here in the thousands to voice their voices of protests and to get those voices heard by those leaders inside the G8 summit.

At the moment, the protest has been largely peaceful. Although, over the past few minutes, it's turned a little bit more ugly. A number of protesters, between 40 and 50, according to the police, have actually broken through the police lines and have headed towards the Gleneagles Hotel.

They've been stopped from going any further than just a few meters by the police. But nevertheless, it's raised the tensions in this protest.

Police have taken off their normal hats and put on crash helmets with visors, essentially putting on their riot gear. And we've seen a lot more visible police in full riot outfits as well.

And as you see overhead, if we can get the cameraman to point over there, there's a police helicopter circling now quite low over the protest, between the protest and the Gleneagles Hotel, to make sure none of these protesters actually fully penetrate through the police lines that have been drawn here.

A big security operation. It's been planned for several months, according to the police. There was concerns that this protest may turn -- turn violent. That doesn't seem to have happened as yet, but it's still at a very volatile stage -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Matthew Chance from Scotland. Thank you.

A couple of power birthdays tops this morning's "World Wrap." The Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibet, turned 70 today. He shares a birthday with President George W. Bush, who is 59.

The queen of Denmark presented the president with a birthday cake topped with a large number of blazing candles. President Bush realizing it's taking a little bit of air to get all those candles blown out. Tonight he has dinner with the queen of England. A royal birthday for the president.

Hundreds of animal rights activists turned out in Pamplona, Spain, today. They're protesting the annual running of the bulls. Some war little more than a thong and a smile. Protesters say the century's old festival is cruel, but it always draws some two million visitors to the town. The running of the bulls, by the way, begins tomorrow.

And this from the royal palace in Monaco today. The Associated Press reporting that bachelor Prince Albert acknowledges he has a son with a French flight attendant.

A French magazine went public with the story following the death of Albert's father, Prince Rainier. It's reported the boy is now about 2 years old. Albert is quoted as saying he hopes the media will leave the child alone.

How does London look to you, let's say, seven years? We'll go live to London for reaction on getting the Olympic 2012 bid.

And today is day five in Tour de France. Yesterday Lance Armstrong took the yellow jersey. Where is he today? An update is coming up a little later in the show.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

KATHLEEN HAYS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's the latest business news from Wall Street. More of CNN's LIVE TODAY is coming right up.

KAGAN: And, in fact, right now, because we have news just into us here at CNN. It has to do with the selection of a nominee for the next Supreme Court justice. There is no name just yet, but there is news within the Bush administration concerning a colorful former senator.

With more on that, here's John King.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We now do know who will sit by that choice's side, trying to get this nomination through what all expect to be a tough Senate confirmation battle, and that will be a very familiar face.

If you watch the NBC series "Law and Order," if you're from the state of Tennessee, Fred Thompson, a former senator, a veteran Hollywood actor, he served about 10 years in the United States Senate, actually taking the seat vacated when Al Gore became vice president of the United States back in 1993.

You see from his resume here he was a prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney, plays one now on television. But he was one once in real life, an attorney in private practice. Was on the Watergate Committee back when Richard Nixon was under impeachment by the Congress some time ago and ultimately resigned.

You see Fred Thompson there from his days in the Senate. He will return to be the sherpa, is the language they used here in Washington.

He will essentially help navigate whoever the president chooses to replace Sandra Day O'Connor. An interesting choice here by the White House.

Fred Thompson was a partisan Republican, but also was a good old boy, well liked by Democrats and Republicans alike, knows his way around the Capitol quite well, has excellent relations both with Democrats and Republicans. He will be the diplomat, if you will, on the confirmation team.

Fred Thompson leaving Hollywood for just a bit to help the president get his choice through the Senate. Daryn, we also are told, and the White House has not announced this yet, that heading the political team for the overall confirmation battle will be Ed Gillespie.

He was most recently the chairman of the Republican National Committee. He is very close to senior Bush political adviser Karl Rove. But many Americans who know Fred Thompson either from his days in Hollywood now or his days in the Senate will get to see quite a bit more of Fred Thompson in the days and weeks ahead. And we can tell you this, former Senator Thompson will be a guest of ours this afternoon on CNN on "WOLF BLITZER REPORTS" -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, that's some good booking there. So, the former senator has been a politician, an actor. Now he's going to be this navigator, shepherd for the Supreme Court nominee. How usual is it for an administration to even come up with someone for that role, John?

KING: Well, often, this role goes to a prominent Washington lobbyist. Many in the administration comparing Senator Thompson, saying the reason they wanted former Senator Thompson in this role, they're comparing him to former Senator Jack Danforth from Missouri, who you might remember was a leading sponsor of Clarence Thomas, a good friend of Clarence Thomas when Clarence Thomas went through a very contentious battle in the United States Senate.

You have a polarized fight already. Democrats and Republicans lining up for this battle, interest groups promising to spend perhaps $100 million on ads in this battle.

So with a polarized political environment even before we know who the president will pick, the White House picking somebody who has very strong bipartisan ties to the United States Senate, essentially picking somebody with excellent diplomatic skills, excellent political skills, and excellent communication skills on television to help the president get this nominee through.

And, of course, we still don't know who that nominee will be. The president telling reporters earlier today he's going to take his time on this one. The White House says it could even be three or four weeks before we know.

KAGAN: Yes. Take a deep breath, he says. Just ease up a little bit.

KING: Relax.

KAGAN: John, thank you. And we'll look forward to seeing former Senator Thompson on "WOLF BLITZER" later today. Thank you.

KING: Thank you.

KAGAN: And with that, we'll take a break. Much more news after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: This morning in Britain, London is calling, and the Olympics are on the line. London won the right to host the 2012 Olympics. It was announced in Singapore this morning.

Right now in London they are cheering and saying, "Cheerio" after the royal win. CNN's Don Riddel is gauging the glee.

Hello.

DON RIDDEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there.

Yes, to be honest, I still think Londoners can't quite believe what has happened today. I think thousands of them came here to Trafalgar Square and to another area in the east of London where the games will be head, more in -- more in the hope rather than the expectation that they would actually be staging the games in seven years' time.

Paris was very much the favorite coming into this. And, of course, they were up against Madrid, New York and Moscow. But it came down to the final two, either Paris or London, and London picked by just four votes.

It was ever so close. But I think Londoners are now confident that they will be able to stage excellent games in seven years' time. But there's a bit of work to be done before then.

KAGAN: And just how much work is there to be done?

RIDDEL: Well, the bid actually involved an awful lot of regeneration. And I think that was perhaps one of the things that really impressed the Olympic members, that London really would benefit from these games.

At the moment, there's a big part of London out in the east end which really is in desperate, desperate need of regeneration. And that's the area that's been earmarked for the main stadium, an Olympic village, an aquatic center, a village dome (ph). And that is an enormous amount of construction, also adding in the rail links and the train links that will be needed to be provided for that.

But the legacy that will be left will be, for example, 3,600 apartments which they'll make available as a low-cost housing to the sort of people who do nursing or in the medical profession or teaching, areas which have low income. And so those people will really benefit in years to come from the housing there, and the legacy of the games.

KAGAN: Don Riddel, live from London, a very happy city today. Thank you.

Well, a serious problem here in the states said to be a bigger problem than cocaine or heroin. Now methamphetamine addiction is growing in this country, and what local authorities want the federal government to do about it.

Plus, it's a dreaded day for two reporters. They say they won't reveal their sources. Could that mean jail time for them? The story is up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Two reporters could learn today if they'll be sentenced to jail in a legal battle over press freedom. They refused to reveal their sources to a prosecutor investigating the leak of a CIA operative's name.

The latest from CNN National Correspondent Kelly Wallace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In court documents demanding the testimony of the two reporters, federal special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald wrote, "Journalists are not entitled to promise complete confidentiality -- no one in America is." He said the testimony of Matthew Cooper of "TIME" magazine remains necessary for his investigation into who leaked the name of a covert CIA agent. Last week, "TIME" magazine chose to turn over e- mails and other internal documents. Time, Inc.'s editor-in-chief, Norman Pearlstine, told CNN's Soledad O'Brien he hoped this would mean Cooper was no longer in legal jeopardy.

NORMAN PEARLSTINE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TIME, INC.: Because my own view is that by turning over this information, we obviate the need for Matt to even testify, let alone be incarcerated. But I can't speak for Judge Hogan (ph).

WALLACE: The special prosecutor also opposed the request of Cooper and Judith Miller of "The New York Times" to be placed under house arrest or be sent to a prison of their own choosing.

Wrote Fitzgerald, "Forced vacation at a comfortable home is not a compelling form of coercion."

Cooper and Miller and their attorneys declined to comment.

In an exclusive interview late last month, Miller, who never actually wrote a story about the agent in question, said she would never reveal her confidential sources.

JUDITH MILLER, "NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTER: This is either a principle or it's not. And for me, it's a kind of cardinal principle of our profession. You don't rat on sources.

WALLACE: The person who first reported the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame, syndicated columnist Robert Novak, who is also a CNN contributor. Last week on CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS," Novak, whose role in the investigation remains a mystery, said he hoped Miller and Cooper would not go to jail.

ROBERT NOVAK, SYNDICATED COLUMNIST: I deplore the thought of reporters -- I've been a reporter all my life -- going to jail for any period of time for not revealing sources. But my lawyer said I cannot answer any specific questions about this case until it is resolved, which I hope is very soon.

WALLACE (on camera): And now the stage is set for a high-stakes hearing in a federal courtroom Wednesday afternoon, with Miller and Cooper facing the possibility of spending the next 120 days behind bars.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: That hearing for Matthew Cooper and Judith Miller is set for 2:00 p.m. Eastern in New York City. We'll let you know the outcome as soon as it happens.

It is colorless, it is odorless, and it is highly addictive. Crystal meth has become a bigger problem than cocaine, marijuana and heroin in some communities. Coming up, a closer look at a growing problem in the war on drugs.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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