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CNN Live Today

Tense Demonstration in Gaza City; Discussion With Senator Saxby Chambliss

Aired January 27, 2006 - 10:33   ET

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

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: I want to get back to our developing story out of Gaza.
Ben Wedeman's there outside the home of Mahmoud Abbas and a very tense situation -- Ben.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn.

Well, it appears that with the arrival of Mohammed Dalan (ph), the senior Palestinian Authority official, the situation has calmed down significantly. The crowd -- although you can hear they're still shooting, some of them -- seems to be heading back to the legislative council. I think they've been told to calm down their protests and take it elsewhere. That looked like it is happening right now. But they are still noisy. (INAUDIBLE) -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Ben, are they just expressing themselves? Are they trying to get the president come out? What exactly do they want to happen by showing up there at the president's house?

WEDEMAN: Hold on, Daryn, I couldn't hear a word you said.

Go ahead again, please.

KAGAN: I'll try one more time. The demonstrators -- are they trying to get the president come out? Or are they just expressing themselves?

WEDEMAN: No, our understanding the president isn't even in Gaza City; he's in Ramallah, on the West Bank, where he was overseeing the election process. So really more than anything it was a symbolic demonstration outside his house, but nonetheless, Palestinians security went into fast high alert, deploying around the house itself. Now the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, is expected to come to Gaza, or was, at least, either today -- or rather tomorrow or the next day. But it may be given the emotions that are very apparent on the street here, he might not feel now is the best time to come.

KAGAN: Especially if he's watching these pictures, live on CNN.

Ben Wedeman, on the phone from Gaza, thank you.

And we'll have a chance to talk with leading Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss live from Davos Switzerland in just a moment.

We're back after this. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Let's talk about teenagers for a moment. A new study showing teenagers may be turning their backs on American stuff. An ad agency survey suggest that American brands, though they are well known, are not necessarily the most popular items with teens overseas.

According to the survey, Coca-Cola, Disney and McDonald's score in the top 10 for global recognition. However when it comes to being liked by teenager, Coke is eighth, Disney is 23rd, McDonald's is 32nd. Drawing the most positive responses are what's over the ears and on their feet -- Sony, Nokia and Adidas.

(MARKET REPORT)

KAGAN: All right, we lighten things up a little bit. Albert Brooks explores humor as he searches for what makes Muslims laugh this weekend at the movies.

Mr. Moviefone Russ Leatherman joins us from Los Angeles. Hey, Russ, how are you doing?

RUSS LEATHERMAN, MR. MOVIEFONE: I'm doing good, Daryn. And I hope you don't, but I'd to take my three minutes today to focus on the Middle East, if we could.

KAGAN: OK, since we're kind of already doing. Maybe -- is there comedy there in the Middle East?

LEATHERMAN: Well, I think there is if you're Albert Brooks. And, you know...

KAGAN: And he does have kind of a twisted, different kind of sense of humor.

LEATHERMAN: He really does. He's very dry and I think it works well in this movie. He plays sort of a worn-out has-been comedian that gets hired to go to the Middle East to try to figure out what makes Muslims laugh, because the government believes they don't really understand these people and comedy may be the key.

So he goes to the Middle East. And as you know, his comedy is very dry. And really the funniest thing about this movie is the fact that he barely makes people in America laugh, so you can imagine how his comedy goes over in the Middle East.

I got to tell you, I like this movie. I thought it was funny. Every now and again, it's good to put a funny spin on a serious subject. And he does it really well. The movie is tasteful, it's funny, and I liked it a lot.

KAGAN: On to a documentary that's not meant to be funny at all. It's called "Why We Fight."

LEATHERMAN: It is called "Why We Fight." It's by Eugene Jarecki and it's a documentary about really why American go to war. It looks at the military/industrial complex and how Eisenhower a long time ago in his farewell speech said we have to watch out for this because it really becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy and maybe the tail is wagging the dog.

I like the way this movie presents facts. I think it's smart, I think it's truthful. And really, Daryn, what I think we should do is when we have the opportunity to go see a movie like this, as Americans, we should do it, no matter what side of the fence you're on, whether you think we should be at war, shouldn't be at war, should have invaded Iraq, shouldn't have.

Whatever the case, go see a movie like this because I think you're going to learn something. And the more information we have, the smarter we're going to be. So I like this movie, I like the way the information was presented. I say if this is in a theater near you, go check out "Why We Fight."

KAGAN: And if nothing else, provokes discussion. Now, I'm wondering -- personally I did not know that the world needed another version of "Big Momma's House," but apparently it did. "Big Momma's House II."

LEATHERMAN: Well, here's the deal. "Big Momma's House II." Yes, Martin Lawrence is back in the fat suit. And this is one of those movies the studio didn't want to show to me, Daryn.

KAGAN: You're kidding.

LEATHERMAN: No, hard to believe it. And, you know, usually I'm really upset about that. But, frankly, I think maybe a hot poker in the eye would have been more fun than having to sit through "Big Momma's House II." So I can't tell you whether it is good or bad. You're going to have to spend your $10.50 and get back to me and let me know.

KAGAN: Yes, I think I'll be hanging on to my $10.50 for that. Russ, thank you.

LEATHERMAN: My pleasure.

KAGAN: Quick session today.

LEATHERMAN: Bye, Daryn.

KAGAN: Appreciate the time. You can keep your eye on entertainment 24/7 by pointing your Internet browser to CNN.com/entertainment. Among the highlights, an interview with "Desperate Housewives" star Marcia Cross and the true-life story of an actress who was discovered while filling orders at a Kentucky Fried Chicken store. Go figure.

We'll have more from the movie world ahead. We're going live to Sundance to meet the stars of a documentary. It's about kids and their families fighting cancer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Let's get back to some politics now. As we told you earlier, Senate Republicans hoped to have Judge Samuel Alito confirmed to the Supreme Court in a vote next Tuesday. But Democratic Senator John Kerry is making a last-ditch effort to filibuster. Kerry is over in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Conference.

Also attending that conference is Georgia Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss. Joins me live now from Davos.

Senator, good afternoon to you there in Davos.

SEN. SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R), GEORGIA: Glad to be with you, Daryn. We don't get much of this in Atlanta. It's great to be here.

KAGAN: No, it's been a very mild winter here in Atlanta. Let me ask you about this political storm that's brewing a little bit. Any comment on Senator Kerry from there in Davos calling for a filibuster of the Alito vote?

CHAMBLISS: Well, I would be very much surprised if the Democrats do decide to filibuster Judge Alito. I understand Senator Kerry went home early this morning, as a matter of fact, went back to Washington to do whatever is going to be done relative to that.

But, you know, I think we have the votes. We're scheduled right now to vote at 4:30 on Monday afternoon on the cloture, and then we'll vote Tuesday morning on the confirmation. And, you know, this man's qualified. I think the American people understand that, particularly after watching the hearings. So hopefully it will move forward very quickly.

KAGAN: And I take it you'll make it home in plenty of time for both of those votes?

CHAMBLISS: We will.

KAGAN: Senator, as a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee that you are, I would like to ask you a couple questions. First of all, the NSA domestic wiretap scandal and controversy. Do you support the president and his take that this program is needed in order to keep Americans safe?

CHAMBLISS: Well, I do, Daryn. You know, the folks in opposition to this program would try to make you believe that they are intercepting -- that we are intercepting conversations between two people who are carrying on legitimate conversations. That's simply not the fact.

First of all, these monitoring are extremely limited in number. And as to who they are -- and they're initiated by calls from outside the United States from an individual that we don't suspect, Daryn, is a terrorist, we know the person is a terrorist and gets up every day thinking what harm they can do to Americans.

When that individual make as phone call, which is usually to Germany, France or some part -- some other part of the world, we monitor those calls occasionally. That call comes to the United States -- and that call that comes to the United States is not coming for a legitimate purpose. It's coming for the purpose of potentially planning and scheming to carry out an act of terrorism inside the United States by somebody who is here for the wrong reason.

KAGAN: And Senator...

CHAMBLISS: This is a very limited program and...

KAGAN: Yes, I'm sorry, with our satellite delay, it's a little hard not to sound like I'm interrupting you. But what would you say to people who say that they want to be safe here in the U.S.? Their big concern is those limitations and without a warrant, there's no checks and balances. And they're concerned about where the line would be drawn in terms of who would be allowed to be listened into?

CHAMBLISS: Well, we have a process called the FISA process, Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, that does allow us to get warrants to monitor conversations inside the United States. And we use that from time to time.

But unfortunately, if we are monitoring somebody in Pakistan who make as call to the United States and asks the question of the person inside the United States -- listen, I know we've been talking about carrying out this act of terrorism, tell me when and where it's going to take place, obviously, we don't have time to go get a warrant before that person inside the United States answers that question.

And let me assure you, and assure the viewers that are watching this, that we have used this process with success to interrupt and disrupt potential activity by terrorists inside the United States. It's worked, even though we used it on a very, very limited scale.

KAGAN: I guess the problem since it's classified information people can't find out exactly what you've been able to find out.

Final question for you, senator, on the Patriot Act, those provisions and the extension on the provisions that were set to expire. That's going to happen again or set to happen again next week. Are you confident that the Patriot Act and the provisions will be extended and that program will go on?

CHAMBLISS: Well, I think we will. I think it expires the second, third or fourth, something like that of February. So we've got to have some action quickly. I know that John Sununu happens to be here in Davos. And he and I were talking about it. He's one of the folks who is working on the Republican side to make sure that his questions and his concerns get answered, and he's confident that's going to happen. We simply have got to have this act continued. Do we need to make sure that civil liberties are protected? Absolutely, we do need to do so. But we're going to make sure that our law enforcement folks and our intelligence folks have the tools they need to do the very best job they can to protect Americans, and that's what the patriot act is all about.

KAGAN: Sounds like there's quite a gathering of senators and other people other there in Davos.

Senator Chambliss, thank you for your time today. And I wish you safe travel back here to Georgia and to Washington D.C.

CHAMBLISS: Thank you, Daryn, always good to be with you.

KAGAN: Thank you, senator.

We're going to head out to Sundance to Park City. Documentaries, this is really the focus of what Sundance is all about. It's not really about all about the celebrities and the stuff they give away for free. A heartwarming and heartbreaking documentary, and some of the stars of that, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're waiting for the blood count to come back, and then she's going to get a spinal tap.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is that like?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They took (INAUDIBLE) and then they put a needle in the back, and then they can take your blood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: It breaks your heart.

"A Lion in the House" gets a standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival. It documents five family's battle with childhood cancer. In this case unfortunately, life imitates art. Filmmaker Julia Reichert has now been diagnosed with cancer herself. More on that in just a moment. Feature of the movie, our cancer survivor, Jennifer Moone and her mother, Beth. And with them is oncologist Dr. Cynthia Delaat. They are joining me from Park City, Utah.

Good morning, ladies.

Jennifer, we're going to start with your story, but I want to start with you, mom, because Jennifer was a little bit young when this was all taking place. Tell us quickly her story, how you first discovered that she was ill.

BETH MOONE, JENNIFER'S MOTHER: We discovered she was ill with leukemia in May of 1997. She had been sick for several months. She had had fevers and viruses, and she was finally diagnosed with leukemia, and we started treatment. She started treatment in May of 1997.

And as we said, she is a success story. It's one thing to -- and we need to drop that live bug on our screen, please, because that's not a live picture.

It's one thing, mom, to go through this with your family; it's another to be part of a film.

MOONE: Oh, yes.

KAGAN: How did that come about?

MOONE: Well, we were asked to be part of a film, and at the time we had no idea what was going to happen. We thought maybe it was going to be a documentary to provide teaching for hospitals, doctors, social workers. We had no idea that the magnitude and how this film was going to finally come about. It's a wonderful, wonderful documentary. A little difficult to watch at times, because we're kind of reliving some of the things that happened years ago, but a wonderful documentary.

Now, so, Jennifer, when you watched the movie, how much of it do you remember? And how much does it feel like you're watching a different little girl?

JENNIFER MOONE, CANCER SURVIVOR: I haven't seen much of the movie. But the parts that I did see -- I was younger, so I don't really remember much of it, but it was weird.

KAGAN: I bet it was.

Dr. Delaat, this whole project comes about because your hospital invited these filmmakers to tell the story. Why did that seem like a good idea at the time?

DR. CYNTHIA DELAAT, ONCOLOGIST: Well, it was really an idea of our head of our oncology department, Dr. Arsisi (ph).

But I think the scope of this movie and to show the general public what these families go through, what these kids go through, to have a better understanding. And the way this has been portrayed in the film is just absolutely amazing. I think anybody who watches this film will really get an idea of the struggles, the challenges, the fears, the depth and impact of what a diagnosis of cancer for a child has on the child and on the family.

KAGAN: And on that note, we mention that Julia Reichert, one of the filmmakers, has been diagnosed herself with cancer. Can you tell us anything about her condition?

DELAAT: I think she's in excellent spirits right now. They are I think in the process of determining what type of cancer, what the extent of it is, what type of treatment. Isn't it ironic she does a film about children with cancer and now she faces the same battles? She's a strong woman, and I know she'll do well with getting through this. And I think after having done this movie may give her a lot of strength from these kids and these families.

KAGAN: Great sources of inspiration. The movie is called "A Lion in the House." It will be in PBS later in June, runs about four hours. To the Moones and to Dr. Delaat, thank you very much for sharing your story and time from Park City this morning.

B. MOONE: You're welcome.

DELAAT: You're welcome.

KAGAN: And coming up in the next hour, more from Sundance, including a film that takes aim at the Hollywood rating system.

Also ahead, lethal injection, is it cruel and unusual punishment? Some death row inmates are working to save their own lives. But a late-night decision from the Supreme Court didn't save one of them this morning.

The second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY begins after a quick break.

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