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CNN Live Sunday
Extensive Damage after Oil Depot Blasts Near London; No Word on Fate of Hostages Held in Iraq; Stanley "Tookie" Williams Wants to be Released from Prison; Critical Week for President Bush's to Win Support for Iraq Strategy; Basketball Team Helps Habitat for Humanity; U.S. Senators Pay Tribute to Eugene McCarthy
Aired December 11, 2005 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN SUNDAY, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Carol Lin. Ahead this hour, a decision in a clemency request for a California death row inmate will come tomorrow, hours before Stanley "Tookie" Williams is scheduled to die by lethal injection.
And Katrina wiped away their house and their livelihood. Today, a new beginning for one family. How big hands helped them bounce back.
But first other stories making news right now. Iraq is beefing up security ahead of its historic parliamentary elections on Thursday. The borders had been closed and a nighttime curfew is in effect in towns along the border. Voters will elect a 275-member assembly that will serve for four years.
A warning to Democrats from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. Frist says he'll take action to restrict the Democrats' ability to filibuster if they try to stall Judge Samuel Alito's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court. A Democratic spokesman calls Frist's comments, quote, "silly and unhelpful."
A major decision that could affect gas prices. OPEC's president said today, "there is no need for member countries to change oil output, at least not for the first quarter of 2006." He says the decision to keep output as is will likely be supported by OPEC members at their meeting tomorrow.
Our top story tonight, is he a killer who deserves to die or a criminal who has redeemed himself and should live? Stanley "Tookie" Williams, sits on death row waiting for a decision on his fate. The man who will make that decision, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He's expected to do that soon, possibly as early as tomorrow. CNN's Kareen Wynter is in San Quentin, California. Kareen?
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fredricka, there's really no telling what may be going through the mind of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as he ponders this clemency request.
As you mentioned off the top, a decision did not come today, as some people had expected. In fact, his own press office said it was likely that he would decide before Monday. That's not the case, which means just one day before his scheduled execution, Stanley "Tookie" Williams, could learn his fate. His legal team said they plan on making an announcement once that decision is reached. So, we'll be hearing from them sometime tomorrow.
In the meantime, the Save "Tookie" Committee says that they will be speaking out, sometime today regarding what they say is perhaps evidence that "Tookie" does deserve a second chance here. They're referring, of course, to a petition that his legal team filed with the state Supreme Court, in which they're challenging his 1981 conviction and also asking for a stay of execution.
In the meantime, things are picking up just a bit outside the gates here of San Quentin Prison. There's a rally that's expected to begin momentarily. They're laying the groundwork now for that. I'm setting up some signs. Some people planning on speaking out.
But tomorrow at this time, it will be a completely different scene, Fredricka. In fact, early in the morning, the traffic coming in and out of this area will be restricted. The gates leading into the prison will be barricaded and there will be guards standing outside. Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: And Kareen, while you talk about people who are assembling right now, we were looking at file videotape of people who have assembled over a period of time. So about how many folks are we talking about who are assembling right now and what's the expectation for tomorrow?
WYNTER: We're not sure how big the crowd will be. It's probably about, not even a dozen people out here. It's just at the beginning stages of that. So, it's really hard to put a gauge on that. But you are right, just within the past few days, over the weeks, we've just seen such a mass appeal from his many supporters out there, talking about the work he's done while behind bars.
In fact yesterday, a rally, a protest right outside the home, the Brentwood home of the governor. So you can see, right up to the very minute and even the final hours, Fredricka, if it comes to that, the committee members say that they will continue placing pressure on the governor.
WHITFIELD: And the flip side to that, Kareen, there had been some rumors that potentially there might be violence, if indeed "Tookie" Williams does not get the stay of execution. Is there any group or anyone who is trying to calm the fears of people that that could potentially happen?
WYNTER: There are local city council members in Los Angeles who are actually pushing -- they're urging the public to change their anger regarding this issue, their sadness of what perhaps could await this condemned murderer, and use it in a different way, and not be violent on the streets of Los Angeles or wherever else they're protesting.
Los Angeles Police, they have spoken out on this issue, saying that while the rumors are out there, that they're somewhat unfounded. That there's no credibility to that. So, they don't want to make a premature decision here to say that, "we're going to deploy more officers or put other measures in place," because right now they say that they don't have the evidence that that will in fact exist. But again, anything's possible when you're dealing with such a compassionate story like this, so much at stake, things could change.
WHITFIELD: All right, and either way it goes, whichever that decision may be, the hope is of course, their is no violence that would follow, no matter what the outcome. Kareen Wynter, thanks so much, from San Quentin.
Well, a journalist who spoke with Williams two days ago joins us a bit later on in this show. Race was a big part of their conversation. Find out more about that, coming up.
And several large explosions at an oil depot near London. The blast rocked the town of Hemel Hempstead, 25 miles north of the British capital. Forty-three people are injured. All but two are out of the hospital.
Police say it looks like an accident. Damage is extensive, the explosion sparked a massive blaze. About 20 petroleum tanks were thought to have caught fire. People closest to the depot were evacuated. Officials say more, but smaller blasts, are still possible. CNN's Paula Hancocks filed this report from the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just minutes after being jolted from his sleep by a massive bang, Danny Escobar was on the streets with his camcorder, filming 100-meter flames.
DANNY ESCOBAR, WITNESS: All of the sky was illuminated, so I thought whatever it was, it was something major. I was hoping that it was a plane crash, basically.
HANCOCKS: The initial shock over, fearful predictions of multiple casualties began. But one saving grace appears to have been the timing of the explosion.
ESCOBAR: There is not meant to be that many people around there. And mostly at that time in the morning on a Sunday.
HANCOCKS: Sandy Cockran has lived in this area for 20 years. Houses close to hers had windows and doors blown out. Cochran's loft collapsed. But it's all material damage.
SANDY COCKRAN, AREA RESIDENT: It's amazing not many people have been injured. I think a lot of people are very lucky today.
HANCOCKS: Cockran is waiting with many of her neighbors for police to give them the green light to go home. Others are already assessing the damage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No other damage apart from the glass, really. Few little cuts here and there, but that's all really, luckily. HANCOCKS (on camera): Many people are deciding to stay in their houses even though they have been strongly advised by the police to evacuate this particular area, still very close to the depot itself. The police around here are telling us that there is a possibility, a strong possibility that there could be more explosions.
(voice-over): Even those in the depot at the time of the first and largest explosion survived.
MIKE PENNING, POLICE AND FORMER FIREFIGHTER: It is a miracle, what's gone on out there. But what appears to have happened is, appears to have been a mushroom effect when the explosion went up. So people that were very close to the explosion, actually I've got a few bumps and bruises, but I've survived.
HANCOCKS: The focus now is fixed not only on putting the fire out, which could take days, but also on the potential health consequences from the smoke cloud that continues to spread over the south of England. Paula Hancocks, CNN, Hemel Hempstead, England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And now other top world stories. A Nigerian air crash death toll rises, 107 people now are dead after the plane crash landed at Port Harcourt yesterday. Four people who survived the crash died today. At least 65 students are among the dead, one American was also killed. Three people survived. The accident's cause is still unclear.
A defiant, but surprising offer from Iran. Tehran says U.S. companies can bid to build a new nuclear plant. Construction of the first phase is already under way. The U.S. wants Iran to stop all nuclear activities. Washington believes Iran wants nuclear weapons.
And Israel's defense minister has quit the Likud party. Shaul Mofaz will join Ariel Sharon's new Kadima Party. The defense minister says he's leaving Likud because of what he called, "right-wing extremists within the party."
Security lockdown in Iraq. Ahead of Thursday's parliamentary elections, international borders between Iraq and Syria are shut. And a 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. curfew is imposed along the border. Only authorized commercial trucks will be allowed passage. In Baghdad and other major cities, security is beefed up. Curfews are extended to quell any attacks on or before polling day. All vehicles will be banned on city streets from Wednesday through Saturday.
Staying in Iraq now, anxious days for the families of four Western hostages. The four Christian aid workers, an American, a Briton and two Canadians, were kidnapped two weeks ago. They're among seven foreigners currently held by insurgents in Iraq. CNN's Aneesh Raman has the latest from the Iraqi capital.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A Saturday deadline has come and gone, and no word yet on the fate of American Tom Fox and three other Christian aid workers kidnapped, now over two weeks ago. Their captors have been silent, a previously unknown insurgent group, calling itself Swords of Justice, who has demanded the release of thousands of Iraqi prisoners.
An earlier Thursday deadline was extended until Saturday. The last we saw of the hostages was on Wednesday. In a video, an American -- as well as the British national shown in orange jumpsuits, blindfolded. These four Christian aid workers, four of seven Westerners, who have been kidnapped in Iraq in the past few weeks, including another American, a French, and a German national.
Meantime, Iraq's interior ministry today announcing exhaustive security measures ahead of next week's general elections. A virtual lockdown of the country, as we've seen twice before, set to take place. International borders will be closed, an extended curfew will be imposed in Baghdad and throughout the country.
These elections are hugely consequential, the first time Iraqis will vote for a permanent government, a four-year government that will set and define the character of the new Iraq. Up for grabs, 275 seats in the country's national assembly.
No one ticket set to get an absolute majority, so we expect weeks of political horsetrading and wrangling to take place after the election, before a prime minister is known. Aneesh Raman, CNN, Baghdad.
WHITFIELD: And join us tonight at 8:00 Eastern, for "CNN PRESENTS: 1,000 DAYS IN IRAQ." You'll see firsthand accounts of the battles, the bloodshed and the politics. That's "CNN PRESENTS: 1,000 DAYS IN IRAQ," tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
Also on CNN, all next week, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" live from Baghdad at 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Full coverage of the historic parliamentary elections and the future of U.S. troops in Iraq, starting on Monday.
And eerie collision of fantasy and reality on the streets of New York. A police officer is dead. An actor, Lillo Brancato Jr., known for playing mob-related roles in film and on television, faces charges in his murder. CNN's Chris Huntington has more on the story and how New York police believe it went down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): That man shooting at Tony Soprano's nephew is actor Lillo Brancato. Brancato's character didn't fare too well after that. He was rubbed out, mob style.
But that was TV drama. Cut to real life and Brancato is in real trouble. He is now one of two murder suspects in the slaying of New York City Policeman Daniel Enchautegui. According to the police, before dawn on Saturday, Enchautegui, who'd only been home and asleep a few hours after working a late shift, woke up to the sound of breaking glass. He grabbed his gun, police badge and his cell phone and went outside to investigate. When he saw a broken basement window next door, he suspected a burglary and called in for backup. But before help arrived, a gun battle broke out. Officer Enchautegui encountered two men rushing out of a building, 29-year-old actor Lillo Brancato and 48-year-old Steven Armento, who has a history of prior convictions and arrests, related to drugs and weapons.
Enchautegui told them to stop and that he was a cop, but police say Armento, armed with a 357 Smith and Wesson revolver, shot and hit Enchautegui, right near his heart. Mortally wounded, Enchautegui shot back, hitting Brancato twice and Armento four times.
When other police finally got there, their fellow cop was on his back, barely breathing. Brancato was up the street, slumped over an SUV. Armento still up and armed, surrendered. All three were taken to a nearby hospital, but 28-year-old officer Daniel Enchautegui did not survive.
MIKE BLOOMBERG, MAYOR, NEW YORK: He did everything he could, just as he was trained to do. This is a devastating example of the bravery and dedication of this police officer, who had just finished a shift a few hours earlier. Sadly, this is the second police officer to be murdered in the last two weeks.
HUNTINGTON: That officer, Dillon Stewart, died under similar circumstances, shot while investigating a suspicious driver, he still chased down the suspect. Like Stewart, Enchautegui is considered to have died in the line of duty. Brancato, who built his career playing street thugs, now finds himself in more serious trouble than he ever encountered as an actor.
CNN was unable to contact anyone representing the suspect. And the Bronx district attorney said he is unaware of whether the suspects have attorneys at this point. Chris Huntington, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Sad story all the way around. His approval ratings are up, but Americans' views on the president's plan to win in Iraq, well they're still down. Now, Democrats in Washington, up the ante.
Plus, playing ball is their game, but helping a family in need is their aim, at least for now. The Harlem Globetrotters, hammering together a new home in Alabama.
And he'll know his fate tomorrow. So what's "Tookie" Williams feeling right now? A reporter who talked to him, joins me next. And here she is. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Tomorrow's sunrise could be the last for Stanley "Tookie" Williams. Convicted in the 1979 killings of four people, Williams is sentenced to die by lethal injection just after midnight on Monday. It actually takes place Tuesday morning, if you look at it that way.
Today Williams' attorneys asked the California Supreme Court for a stay, to allow new arguments to be presented. And Williams' supporters are still urging Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to commute his death sentence. They say the co-founder of the infamous Crips street gang is a reformed man.
Meanwhile, Williams himself is keeping up the fight from his death row cell at San Quentin. Writer Karen Breslau from "Newsweek" magazine joins me now from San Francisco. She spoke on the phone with Williams on Friday night. Good to see you, Karen.
KAREN BRESLAU, SAN FRANCISCO BUREAU CHIEF, NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: Well, what about the access? How easy was it for you to secure that telephone conversation interview with...
BRESLAU: ... well, it was something we'd been negotiating for some time. And he was able to call out on Friday afternoon, and so we spoke for about 15 minutes.
WHITFIELD: How did he sound?
BRESLAU: Very tired. Stressed, I would say. And what was interesting to me is that he's a very soft-spoken man. He has a very soft voice. And I had to listen incredibly closely to what he was saying.
WHITFIELD: And so how aware of the publicity surrounding his case is he?
BRESLAU: He's acutely aware of it.
WHITFIELD: And is he being very much fueled by it as well?
BRESLAU: Well, he's acutely aware of it and he's been a very active participant. He is at the center of an anti-death penalty campaign, the likes of which California has really has not seen for a very long time. This is a very well-orchestrated campaign on his behalf.
WHITFIELD: We're looking at a live picture right now on the right-hand side of the screen, where it appears to be very calm right now at the gates of San Quentin. But it's expected that the crowds will be gathering there from today and into tomorrow.
When you had a chance to talk with him, he spoke very curtly about his sense of redemption and why he is deserving of a second chance. I have a quote from your interview with him, where he says, "I have the heart, the fortitude and the redemption to fight. I'm not culpable. I'm not guilty. I'm not a quitter."
So it's beyond redemption. He's actually imploring that he's innocent as well. BRESLAU: He has said that for over 20 years now. The jury obviously did not agree, which found him guilty in 1981. And 20 years of appeals at all levels, up into the United States Supreme Court have not been successful in overturning that conviction.
But he and his supporters have strenuously insisted and he continued to do on Friday when we spoke, that he did not commit these murders.
WHITFIELD: And you asked him quite frankly if he had an opportunity to sit down and talk with, and see face-to-face the governor, he would have some rather direct thoughts. He said, first, quote, "I would first and foremost say I am innocent, and if I am granted clemency, I will continue to do my work."
BRESLAU: Right. And he has defined his work as trying to persuade young people to abandon the gang culture, which he was in large part responsible for helping to create in the 1970s.
And there's a big battle over this. The prosecutors told Governor Schwarzenegger, "Look, this guy is not redeemed, he has not accepted responsibility for these crimes. Young people on the streets today don't listen to him. He's been gone for a long time."
His own lawyers, you know, obviously said quite the opposite, that he is a unique voice, that he has a lot of credibility with young gang members and with kids who are vulnerable to this culture. So, Schwarzenegger has an awful lot to sort through as he's making this decision.
WHITFIELD: And are prosecutors right when they say that it's not just pushing for clemency, to have life in prison on parole or without parole, but instead that he actually wants release?
BRESLAU: Well, I thought that was the most interesting thing he said in the interview. When I asked him, "Is it true, as the prosecutors told the governor, that this is not about clemency, you want out?" And he said, "If I am innocent, if the district attorney were an innocent man and he were in my position, wouldn't he fight? Why shouldn't I fight?" Implicitly saying, "Look, you know, if I live to fight another day, I'm going to continue to appeal this."
Now, realistically, appeals courts have turned down his arguments for the past 20 years. So it's unclear what, if anything, he could present. This is not a DNA case where there's some missing shred of evidence. This is a question of who do you believe? And the jury believed -- the district attorney and the appeals courts have continued to disregard his pleas.
WHITFIELD: And that will be interesting to see if we learn tomorrow, likely tomorrow at the very latest now, what Governor Schwarzenegger thinks about this as well. Karen Breslau of "Newsweek" magazine, thanks so much for joining us from San Francisco.
Still ahead tonight, remembering two legendary lives. This weekend, America says goodbye to a notable entertainer and a politician.
Plus, the leak that just won't stop. New details out about Karl Rove in the CIA leak investigation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD PRYOR, DECEASED COMEDIAN: We heard about your tooth. Yes, I don't have a tooth, so I went to a dentist. I don't know about you, but dentists, they can kiss my (bleep).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Well, he was known for pushing the comedic envelope and his frank and often audacious style. The loss of Richard Pryor is being felt in comedy clubs across America today. He died yesterday of a heart attack at the age of 65. Friends say Pryor's genius sprang from his life.
His routines were filled with personal insights, helping to make him a Hollywood legend. Pryor is credited with inspiring generations of comedians. Many are paying tribute to his life and career today. And he is also being remembered for helping to push back some of the racial barriers in place during his heyday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL MOONEY, WRITER/COMEDIAN: And when we worked on the TV show, Richard would insist that we have black technicians, we have black directors, and he would insist on it. Black cameramen. And he opened that door, his show. It's the mothership to "In Living Color." It's an apple of the tree.
JONATHAN SLOCUMB, COMEDIAN: Comedians today need to know the importance of doing a live stand-up performance, because not only are we able to reach back and look at the good stuff that Richard Pryor did, but we can laugh like he's still here today. So it was the best. Oh no doubt, man, no doubt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Comedian Steve Martin said of Pryor, quote, "by expressing his heart, anger and joy, he took comedy to its highest form."
Well, U.S. senators are remembering one of their own today. Former Minnesota Senator Eugene McCarthy died yesterday of complications from Parkison's disease. He's credited for opening President Lyndon Johnson's eyes about public sentiment against the war in Vietnam.
As a result, Johnson did not seek re-election. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said, quote, "Eugene McCarthy was a man of compassion and a tremendous figure in the Democratic Party. Though he left the Senate many years ago, he remained an important, respected voice in our nation," end quote. More on his life later in this hour, Eugene McCarthy.
More details are emerging about White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove's alleged role in the CIA leak investigation. They're coming from "Time" magazine reporter Viveca Novak. She says Rove's lawyers were told that Rove may have disclosed Valerie Plame's status as an undercover CIA operative to another "Time" reporter. That was months before Rove corrected his statements to investigators.
Rove remains under investigation. A spokesman for Rove's legal team says that Rove has fully cooperated with prosecutors. Rove had told investigators he forgot a conversation he had with reporter Matt Cooper back in 2003, in which Plame was allegedly discussed.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is threatening to block any possible Democratic filibuster of Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito. The Republican leader said he's prepared to change Senate procedures and strip Democrats of their ability to filibuster Alito's nomination.
Referring to Alito, Frist said, quote, "Supreme Court Justice nominees deserve an up-or-down vote, and it would be absolutely wrong to deny him that," end quote. Senate confirmation hearings on the Alito nomination are set to begin January 9th. A Democratic Party spokesman called Frist's comments, quote, "silly and unhelpful."
Could peaceful elections in Iraq this week pave the way for a brighter second term for President Bush? Republicans say so, but Democrats aren't so convinced. The clash in the nation's capital, straight ahead.
Plus, times they are a-changing. A key appointment by California's governor could signal a seismic shift in politics. CNN's political analyst Carlos Watson weighs in, giving us his fresh take.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. A look at our top stories. Still no announced decision from the governor's office about convicted killer "Tookie" Williams. Arnold Schwarzenegger has the option to commute Williams' death sentence to life without parole but will wait until tomorrow to announce his decision. In the meantime, Williams' attorneys file an appeal for a stay to present new arguments. But at this point, Williams is still slated to die by lethal injection early Tuesday at San Quentin.
Just outside London the fire is still burning and could continue for at least another 24 hours. Flames erupted early this morning after several large explosions at an oil depot. Although it's still too early to determine the cause of the blast, local officials believe it was an accident. Forty-three people were taken to the hospital with injuries. All but two of them have now been released.
More than eight years after his ex-wife Diana died in a Paris car crash, Prince Charles sits down to answer some questions. The "Sunday Times" reports that the future king of England met with London's former police chief, Lord Stevens, for several hours this week. In 1999 a French judge ruled the fatal wreck was an accident, but conspiracy theories have persisted. And in 2004 British investigators launched their own probe headed by Stevens.
Paramount Pictures is buying independent film studio DreamWorks SKG. It's a deal worth more than $1.5 billion. In the buyout, Paramount strengthens its live action film business, it also gains access to DreamWorks' library of 59 films. Two of DreamWorks founding moguls, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen, will get new jobs in company. No word on the future of Jeffrey Katzenberg, however.
Well, welcome back. Now, back to the Iraqi elections. It is an important milestone, not just for Iraqis, but also for President Bush's exit strategy. Much will depend on a successful poll. CNN's Kathleen Koch has the view from the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is a critical week in President Bush's battle to win support for his Iraq strategy. Monday, in Philadelphia will tout political advances there. Polls show the president's two speeches for his plan for Iraq may be bearing fruit. Not only have his job approval ratings gone up, but so has polling on his handling of Iraq. Still some 68 percent of those surveyed don't believe President Bush has a clear plan for victory there. Members of both parties are conflicted on the path ahead.
MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, FMR. SECRETARY OF STATE: I'd love to believe the president when he makes those speeches, but they don't mesh with reality. But we're looking at problems every day in Iraq in terms of the military situation, and the security and the number of Americans that are killed and wounded.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: There is no political consensus in this country, democrats or republicans are struggling, we've lost our national unity when it comes to Iraq.
HOWARD DEAN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN: The idea that we're going to win this war is an idea that is unfortunately just plain wrong.
KOCH: Some republicans, though, bristled at a blunt statement by Democratic Party chairman, Howard Dean turning it into an Internet attack ad.
SEN. JEFF SESSIONS (R), ALABAMA: The leader of the Democratic Party making those kind of statements are very, very damaging. They make our soldiers at greater risk; they undermine our credibility, and make it more difficult to establish a good and decent government in Iraq.
KOCH: And the White House is counting on peaceful parliamentary elections in Iraq Thursday to allay concerns about the ongoing conflict. Still, one democrat wants a delegation of retired military leaders sent to assess progress there, particularly in training Iraqi forces. SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: How quickly can it happen? What's a realistic assessment? We've been hearing overly optimistic estimates for quite some time. That's why this distinguished delegation, retired military people, people who've been generally supportive of the war, the people who I've mentioned, let them come back and give an independent assessment.
KOCH (on camera): So though President Bush's Iraq speeches may be winning him some ground, many believe it will take concrete proof to persuade more Americans the situation is improving.
Kathleen Koch, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And joining us tonight at 8:00 Eastern for "CNN PRESENTS: 1,000 DAYS IN IRAQ." You'll see firsthand accounts of the battles, the bloodshed, and the politics. That's for "CNN PRESENTS, 1,000 DAYS IN IRAQ," tonight at 8:00 Eastern.
Also on CNN, all next week, "ANDERSON COOPER 360" live from Baghdad at 10:00 and 11:00 p.m. Eastern. Full coverage of the historic parliamentary election and the future of U.S. troops in Iraq, starting Monday.
As we've been reporting, this week's elections in Iraq is a crucial marker for President Bush's Iraq policies, but there's also another important milestone looming. Next February, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld presents a key report on the state of America's defenses. It could have a major impact on the administration's Iraq strategy. CNN political analyst Carlos Watson joins us with this week "Fresh Take." Good to see you. Happy Sunday.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good to see you. Happy Sunday to you.
WHITFIELD: All right, so it's called the Quadrennial Defense Report. It sounds awfully mundane, but I understand the results could be anything but?
WATSON: Very much so, Fredricka. I mean, we just heard that, obviously, there are major elections coming up in Iraq, and obviously the president has a State of the Union speech next month. But in fact, the debate over what goes forward in Iraq really could come to a head when this report is released.
We may hear information about how important the use of nuclear weapons will be in our war against terror. We may hear more information about who actually serves in Army and in the military more broadly. We also frankly may hear how much money we'll continue to spend on the military versus spending it in other places and so while, frankly, we often think of things like reports as things that get ignored, maybe a few political junkies like me pay attention to, not only next year, but over the next several years.
This could become an important event as we live in this age of terror, frankly, this military strategy review called the QDR, so watch out for it. It could throw new ideas into the debate.
WHITFIELD: And this may not necessarily come out in the report, but there have been a lot of rumblings inside Washington about Donald Rumsfeld and as to whether he's going to continue to be the secretary of defense. Are your contacts telling you anything about some of those rumblings?
WATSON: I don't think anyone knows yet. I mean, clearly, as you said, over the last several weeks, there has been a lot of speculation this will be his swan song, in fact, after submitting this major report, the QDR, that that in fact will allow him to step aside. But that's that clear, and every time I and others have thought that he might step aside, that hasn't happened.
WHITFIELD: All right, and still may be don't ask, don't tell in the military, but I understand tides are really changing on the political front in terms of cabinet members, appointees, et cetera.
WATSON: Fredricka, you know, sometimes the biggest things that happened in politics were the things that get the least amount of attention. We know that gay issues have been a major part of the political landscape certainly over the last dozen years, and certainly we saw it with a number of the anti-gay -- anti-gay marriage initiatives, rather, in 2004 they played a major role in the presidential election.
But about a week and a half ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor out here in California, named as his chief of staff a woman named Susan Kennedy. Now, what got all the attention was she was a former -- that she's a democrat and was a former senior democratic aide and people said, wow look at Arnold reach to the other side, but over the long term the bigger deal may be that an openly gay woman is now chief of staff to the governor of the largest state in the nation and the economy, which would be 5th or 6th and that frankly it didn't get much notice. And so we may, in fact, be at a turning point here because over the years we certainly have seen gay men and women run for office in their own right.
We certainly have seen gay men and women like Ellen DeGeneres and others play major roles in entertainment, but rarely have we seen straight public officials name a gay official to vary, very senior role, not just a role, but a senior role in an open way. And so look for in 2006 and 2008 maybe even some of these presidential campaigns could end up being headed up by a gay man or woman.
WHITFIELD: Interesting, and you know, speaking of powerful women, not just in our country, but people need to get used to the fact that there are a lot of powerful women worldwide.
WATSON: Very much so. You remember Fredricka, we talked several months ago, we said 2005 could be interesting because a number of women around the world may run for senior offices and over time that could reverberate here in the U.S. We saw Angela Marcel in Germany become chancellor there in that very conservative country, now in Chile, very catholic country, get this, who is the front-runner for president there? A 54-year-old agnostic, divorced, single mother of two who's a socialist is the leading candidate there. It makes you think that when Condi Rice or Hillary Clinton or someone else ultimately decides to run and when someone inventively asks do you think that America's ready for a woman as president, that obvious answer will be do you think that we're any less advanced than Germany or Chile. What happens over there may end up showing up on our doorstep.
Interesting, we will all be watching. Carlos Watson, thanks so very much.
WATSON: Good to see you has always, have a great weekend.
WHITFIELD: Have a good holiday. Hey, thanks so much.
WATSON: You too.
WHITFIELD: Still ahead tonight helping those still homeless the Gulf region. One family's gift from Habitat for Humanity this weekend with some extra special helping hands, we'll tell you who they are.
Among the most popular stories this hour on CNN.com, police say a 7-year-old was at the wheel after a hit and run in Kentucky. Investigators question Prince Charles about the death of Princess Diana. The prince's office said today, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) buried more than a century ago a time capsule from a Hawaiian king has been unearthed, but if, for now, stays buried. Find out why, click on CNN.com for details to all these stories and more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Every week we bring you the more personal stories from the frontlines. This weekend the wizards of basketball, the Harlem Globetrotters, got into the home building business. They helped Habitat for Humanity build a new home for an Alabama family left homeless by Hurricane Katrina. The first nails were driven in Washington, D.C. That's where CNN's Gary Nurenberg picks up the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY NURENBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As Habitat for Humanity volunteers try to help the homeless of Katrina and hammer together new lives, 14-year-old Jacklen Barbour spent this day on Washington's National Mall looking for her new room and getting territorial.
JACKLEN BARBOUR, KATRINA VICTIM: I put my name on my room. Now it's officially mine.
NURENBERG: The new house, one of 51 framed in the shadow of the Washington Monument, will replace the one Jacklen shared in Alabama with her twin sister Jessica and mother Bridgot, the one destroyed by Katrina.
BRIDGOT BARBOUR, KATRINA VICTIM: It's like the inside a washing machine where you throw everything in it and water goes out and that's what you get.
NURENBERG: The walls were shipped by truck to Alabama, built by volunteers from the mortgage company Freddie Mac, by members of Congress like Louisiana's William Jefferson.
REP. WILLIAM JEFFERSON (D), LOUISIANA: People helping people, there's just nothing better than that in the whole wide world.
NURENBERG: The twins cried when their mom got keys to their new home. And their mom came close.
B. BARBOUR: I'd like to thank everybody that's here. I'd like to thank god for putting it in y'all's heart for this, because without him none of this would take place.
NURENBERG: The action moved to Alabama Saturday where the flaming was assembled by local volunteers with some help from the Harlem Globetrotters.
ANTHONY BLAKE, HARLEM GLOBETROTTER: We're not carpenters, but we're trying our best, and we're helping everywhere we -- anyway we can.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is Bridgot Barbour. This is her home -- Bridgot.
(APPLAUSE)
NURENBERG: There is still work to do before the house is finished, before it really is a home. Bridgot says it represents hope.
B. BARBOUR: I just can't find the right words to say, you know, what this means.
NURENBERG: Hope, and this.
B. BARBOUR: Thank god for everyone.
NURENBERG: Gary Nurenberg, CNN Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And now we're going to try to get some of the latest on efforts to rebuild the hurricane-ravaged areas of the Gulf Coast. We're joined by Louisiana representative Bobby Jindal. He's a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and represents the state's first district. He's on the phone now with us from Alexandria, Louisiana.
Good evening, Representative.
REP. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA (on phone): Good evening. I want to thank you for your continued focus on the Gulf Coast, my home state of Louisiana, in particular. You know, it always brings us such joy when we hear stories on Habitat for Humanity and so many other individuals, corporations, churches, and others across the country, being so generous. Rebuilding lives on at a time.
WHITFIELD: Well, it is very uplifting to find and to learn about how people are trying to help out one another. But, on a much grander scale, we keep hearing from so many residents, we saw that on Capitol Hill from some New Orleanians (ph) who were saying they're just not getting enough answers. They make the phone calls. They're told they're being put on the list or they're told to go to Web sites. That's the huge complaint by so many of the residents. But I understand that you tried to set up like a satellite office, if you will, to try to be a little more accessible to people. Explain that.
JINDAL: Well, you're exactly right. There are two sources of frustration for two people down in the Gulf Coast. One is that so often they're getting inconsistent answers from the bureaucracy, whether the state or federal agencies, whether FEMA or some of these big (ph) governments, so many times, for example, I've had constituents say that they've had multiple appraisers or folks come out and get contradictory things (ph). We still have who don't have temporary housing, whose kids are still not in the right schools yet, and they're still waiting for answers, and so on one hand that's been very frustrating.
We've set up satellite offices. We've gone in the communities that still don't have power, still don't have communications so that we can provide services directly to our constituents. But secondly, the other frustration is that people are patient, but they want some assurances there will be greater protection for them come next hurricane season. People are ready to pick up their lives, rebuild their homes, go back to work, but they can't do that unless they're guaranteed that the levees will do a better job than they did this last hurricane season and you know...
WHITFIELD: And you're really -- I understand you're really push for a levee system that is bigger and better, something to withstand at least a Category 3 or greater.
JINDAL: Absolutely, at the very least we need a true Category 3 system before June 1, next hurricane season, and we know how to do it, but ultimately we'll need Category 5 protection and that includes coastal restoration as well as levees...
WHITFIELD: But how do you do that and when do you start? Because people are anxious to get home now, but they can't because they're afraid.
JINDAL: Well, we -- well absolutely. You can't ask people to put their lives and their property in harm's way unless they're better protected and what they're...
WHITFIELD: So, what are the answers? What do you tell them? What's the timetable?
JINDAL: Well we need the corps, we need the administration, we need the Congress, as well as the state to say this is a priority. We need then to say right now, not any later than now, at least before Christmas, so right now... WHITFIELD: Well, where is the resistance coming from? Couldn't everybody be in agreement with that?
JINDAL: Well, you would you think so. And we certainly think so. The city of New Orleans, the southeastern part as well as the southwestern part of Louisiana that got hit so hard produced 30 percent of the nation's energy. It generates $5 billion a year for the federal government. If we just got the fair revenue share that other states get from those revenues we could build the levees right there without money. We could restore the coast with that money. And so, I know right now it's inertia. We just need a greater sense of urgency.
WHITFIELD: All right, well, Representative Bobby Jindal, thank you so much for taking the time out to join us. We'll try to have you and others again as we continue our commitment to try to get some answers so that people there can figure out when they're going to get a chance to rebuild or return to their homes. Thanks so much.
JINDAL: Well, thank you, thank you.
WHITFIELD: Still ahead tonight, remembering a sharp-witted senator who stunned the nation and left his mark on the American political landscape. The life of Eugene McCarthy next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: U.S. Senators are paying tribute to an outspoken critic of a war from another era. The late former Minnesota senator, Eugene McCarthy. He didn't want U.S. troops in Vietnam and he's credited with reshaping the American political landscape by speaking passionately about his beliefs. Our Bruce Morton looks back at McCarthy's life career.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was a poet, a scholar and a right-handed hitting first baseman in semipro ball, the Watkins Clippers in the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) league. No Ted Williams, though they posed together once. But, if you're old enough, the Eugene McCarthy you member is the one who ran for president in 1968 in protest to the Vietnam War.
EUGENE MCCARTHY, FMR. SENATOR, MINNESOTA: It gave people a chance to register their opposition to the war. And there were many who were quite pleased just to do that much because they felt there was no way that they could even make any kind -- other than protesting in the streets, there was no semiformal way in which they could do it. And that was a good in itself.
MORTON: The war was tearing the country apart, Americans dying in Vietnam, Americans screaming at each other back in the states.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in World War II, fellow.
MORTON: Hippies got haircuts, college kids worked precincts in New Hampshire, "neat and clean for Gene," they said.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anybody but Johnson.
MORTON: He came very close losing to President Johnson by roughing 4,000 votes out of 50,000 cast. Johnson saw is message.
LYNDON JOHNSON, FMR. U.S. PRESIDENT: I shall not seek, and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president.
MORTON: And Robert Kennedy, had declined to run when it seemed hopeless jumped in.
ROBERT KENNEDY, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: And my candidacy for the presidency of the United States...
MORTON: McCarthy, who never forgot a slight resented that and would talk campaigning on of those sitting by their campfires throwing notes of encouragement to those down fighting the battle, and then to come down to join in shooting the wounded and declaring victory. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) And then he died in California, the convention nominated Johnson's vice president, Hubert Humphrey. And Chicago's police beat McCarthy's young supporters in the streets and parks outside.
The war went on. And so, of course, did McCarthy. He always had a sense of humor. Called one Senate colleague a Hobbit, a JRR Tolkien character with McCarthy always noted, "little furry feet."
He wrote poetry. One of the things he said he'd do is tear down the fence and hold poetry readings on the lawn. He ran whimsically for president every four years thereafter. This was 1992 on a children's TV show.
MCCARTHY: You have to go on television to make it official, so this will be the closest thing to the official announcement.
MORTON: He was inconsistent and funny and literate. Thanking a friend for a home cooked meal by sending a note quoting famed French gourmet (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
He lived most of his last years in the Virginia horse country and he wrote. "You can be a former candidate," he said once, "but not a former poet." He wrote a poem about the World War II character Kilroy. "Kilroy was here," GI's scrolled everywhere. "Kilroy," McCarthy said, "was absent without leave from Vietnam."
And he wrote this. "There are quiet waters where a berry dropped by a bird flying starts ripples. That from the center of the pond spread in concentrics, dying in silence at the feet of the blue reads. I now know where those waters are."
Bruce Morton, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: McCarthy died yesterday at the age of 89. His funeral is scheduled for Wednesday in Woodfield, Virginia.
Lots more ahead on CNN this Sunday evening. Coming up next, "CNN Presents: Winning the War on Terror." At 8:00 Eastern more "CNN Presents: 1,000 Days in Iraq." At 9:00 Eastern "Larry King Weekend." Larry's guest tonight, Jerry Lewis.
At 10:00, CNN is on the frontlines on the fight against bird flu. Dr. Sanjay Gupta breaks down the deadly virus.
And I'll be back at 11:00 Eastern tonight. JFK Jr.'s life in pictures through the eyes of the photographer who captured him the best. The hours headlines when we come right back and then "CNN Presents: Winning the War on Terror."
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