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The Situation Room
Zarqawi Not Killed Immediately In Air Strike; Murtha May Seek Number Two Seat; More Controversy Over William Jefferson; Arnold Schwarzenegger Interview
Aired June 09, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks very much, Susan.
To our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM where new pictures and information are arriving all the time. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories happening now.
In a startling turnabout, the U.S. military says Abu Musab al- Zarqawi survived that airstrike for a little while. It's midnight in Baghdad where there are new details about the terror leader's last moments.
It's 1:00 p.m. in California on the front lines in the border battle. Republicans find a tough stance may pay off at the polls, but does Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger share the hard line view? Our one- on-one interview. John King sits down with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington where a congressman best known for opposing the war in Iraq now wants to run for a top House leadership position. Will the move by John Murtha split the Democrats in two?
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
It wasn't quite the way it appeared. Images of that shattering U.S. airstrike which reduced an insurgent safe house to rubble suggested nobody could have survived and nobody did for long. But in a stunning new twist today, the U.S. military now says Abu Musab al- Zarqawi was alive for a short while after the bombs fell and was placed on a stretcher by Iraqi police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. GEN. BILL CALDWELL, US ARMY: And then American coalition forces arrived immediately thereafter on site. They immediately went to the person in the stretcher, were able to start identifying by some distinguishing marks on his body.
They had some kind of visual facial recognition. According to the person on the ground, Zarqawi attempted to sort of turn away off the stretcher. They -- everybody re-secured him back on the stretcher but died almost immediately thereafter from the wounds he received from this airstrike.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: According to the Major General Bill Caldwell, the forces on the scene reported the dying terror leader mumbled something but it was very short and indistinguishable. In the hours after al- Zarqawi's death and then again overnight U.S. troops launched more than three dozen raids based on intelligence gathered at the scene.
The military today showed off some pictures of weapons and other items which were seized. But General Caldwell says there already is a likely replacement as a new leader of the al Qaeda group in Iraq. His name is Ubayda al Masri, an Egyptian, who's believed to have met al- Zarqawi in an Afghan training camp. We'll go live to the Pentagon for much more on the story in the next hour.
President Bush says the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and I'm quoting now, helps a lot, but won't end the violence in Iraq. He met at Camp David with the prime minister of Denmark, a key ally in the war. Both men vowed to keep troops in Iraq until the Iraqis can handle their own security. Let's go to the White House. Our correspondent Elaine Quijano is standing by with more. Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, President Bush said today that he was quote, thrilled that al-Zarqawi had been brought to justice. At the same time though, Mr. Bush was still very careful in his tone.
During that appearance before reporters with the Danish prime minister, the president reiterated that U.S. troop levels in Iraq depend on how well the Iraqis are able to secure their own country. He also gave a little bit of a preview of an upcoming meeting via video conference next week with the leaders of Iraq's new government.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The prime minister has put forward a strategy as to how to achieve his objectives which coincide with our objectives, a nation that can sustain itself, govern itself and defend itself. And we want to review all aspects of that strategy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And today, in fact, Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki wrote an op-ed in the "Washington Post." outlining its three- pronged strategy for this country, focusing on reconstruction, reconciliation and security.
A Bush aide says that the meetings next week between U.S. and Iraqi officials are intended to look at how best the United States might be able to help the prime minister achieve his goals. Also, aides do not expect a discussion of time frames for U.S. troop drawdown. They do expect, though, the talks to include looking at U.S. troop presence and how coalition forces are configured in Iraq. Wolf?
BLITZER: Elaine, thank you very much. This important programming note, please join me tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. Eastern for Iraq, q week at war. CNN correspondents from around the world will join me to bring you the only in depth look at all the major events in Iraq and the war on terror this week. Zain Verjee is joining us from the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta with a closer look at some other stories including much more on what is happening inside Iraq. Zain?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, right now security forces in Iraq are on high alert as authorities move to counter the threat of reprisal attacks after the killing of insurgent leader Abu Musab al- Zarqawi. In Baghdad, all vehicle traffic was banned during midday prayers and northeast of the capital in Baquba at this hour, no vehicles are being allowed to pass in or out of the city. Al Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike in that area on Wednesday.
The Pentagon is updating the U.S. death toll in Iraq. A roadside bomb killed two members of the sixth infantry regiment patrolling east of Baghdad in Ramadi on Wednesday. That brings the total number of U.S. fatalities to 2,486 since the war began in March of 2003; 306 of those died this year.
U.S. counter terrorism officials are right now analyzing the latest videotape from al Qaeda. In the tape Ayman al Zawahiri, the second in command to Osama bin Laden praises al Qaeda in Iraq, leader al-Zarqawi calling him a quote, lion of jihad.
It first aired hours ago on Arabic language television Al- Jazeera, but appears to have been made before al-Zarqawi's death. On the tape al Zawahiri goes on to condemn what he calls an economic blockade against Palestinians and says every Muslim must support the Palestinian jihad.
And just hours ago, the militant Palestinian group Hamas' military wing announced it will renew attacks on Israelis which were halted some 15 months ago. It comes after Israeli strikes killed at least 12 Palestinians, including at least seven people picnicking on a beach. The Palestinian prime minister calls it a bloody massacre. Angry demonstrators gathered in Gaza city to call for revenge. The Israeli military reportedly apologized for the incident and is said to be investigating. We're going to bring you a live update from the Middle East in our next hour -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Zain, thanks very much. Moving closer to home here in Washington, two stories, deep divisions in the Democratic Party. We're just getting word that a move that could cause some serious problems for the Democratic Party is unfolding right now. Congressman John Murtha, best known for his calls for an immediate redeployment of U.S. troops in Iraq now says that if the Democrats win back the House of Representatives he will run for majority leader, the number two position between the speaker of the House.
That might not sit well with Congressman Steny Hoyer, currently the number two Democrat in the House. For more on this story, let's go to Capitol Hill. CNN's congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel has details. Boy, this surprised me. ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Wolf and it certainly has taken House Democratic leaders by surprise. You can imagine what is being said behind the scenes here. CNN has spoken with one senior Democratic aide who said that members are angry and confused, that Jack Murtha would disrupt the focus of the caucus for taking back the House and start a leadership race at this time.
As you know, Democrats feel for the first time in 12 years since the Republican revolution of 1994, they have a shot at winning back the majority in the House. We have heard Nancy Pelosi trying to lay out what they -- what the Democratic vision would be. She sees herself as perhaps the next speaker, if in fact the Democrats take back the House.
Steny Hoyer as you mentioned as her number two views himself as the prime contender for the position of majority leader so Jack Murtha has just thrown the Democratic party a big curve ball, something he did last year when he came out and really shocked not just Democrats, Republicans when he announced that he thought that U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq. He is still in the minority of his party, Wolf.
BLITZER: Andrea, stand by. There's another story involving divisions within Democrats, the latest involving the controversy surrounding Congressman William Jefferson. Jefferson faces a criminal probe over allegations that he accepted bribes. Even though an FBI raid reportedly turned up $90,000 in cash in his freezer, Jefferson denies any wrong doing and has not been charged.
But Democratic leaders want to suspend Jefferson from a key committee and now the congressional black caucus is rushing to his defense. Let's go back to Andrea Koppel to pick up the story from there. This is causing a huge split between Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader and the congressional black caucus.
KOPPEL: Absolutely, Wolf. I was just going to say that the situation is clearly escalating, not just pitting Nancy Pelosi against Congressman Jefferson as has been the case for the last several weeks, but now clearly pitting the majority leader -- excuse me, Nancy Pelosi against the black caucus in particular against the chairman, Melvin Watt.
Now this follows a vote that took place yesterday among some senior Democrats in which they all agreed that Mr. Jefferson should resign his seat on the Ways and Means Committee. Then there was a Democratic caucus meeting last night. It was at that meeting that Chairman Watt threw Nancy Pelosi a curve ball, blocking the move for the caucus to take a vote on this.
Instead Watt left the meeting and said in an incredibly angry tone, Wolf, he was absolutely furious, accusing the Democratic leadership of basically a double standard saying quote, "When you start taking up rules and applying them to one person without any set of standards, then people will start to ask, well, OK then why haven't you done that to this person? And why haven't you done this to that person? And if the only person you have applied it to is a black member of Congress, then our community will legitimately ask, what in the world are you all doing?"
Now although Watt didn't name any names, it's pretty clear that the person he was alluding to is another House Democrat, a white member of the Democratic caucus who has also become embroiled in all sorts of reports of possible corruption, although unlike the way Ms. Pelosi has been treating Congressman Jefferson, she has not asked for this other congressman's head on a platter.
We should mention Wolf, that this is the view Chairman Watt is speaking for some members of the black caucus but it's very, very difficult to gauge just how many members are actually feeling -- sharing his sentiment about this double standard. Many of them are saying no comment. They just don't want to go before the cameras or go on the record about this, Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Andrea, thanks very much. Andrea Koppel is going to continue to watch the story for us.
Let's go up to New York, Jack Cafferty standing by. Jack, whenever the Democrats seem to have the Republicans a little bit on the ropes they start fighting amongst themselves. I don't know if you noticed.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Didn't they push Delay out when he was charged over there in Texas in that redistricting thing, the money laundering. I believe they did.
BLITZER: He was formally indicted, though. Jefferson has not yet been indicted.
CAFFERTY: I suppose that's a small difference. Nevertheless the serial numbers on the 90 grand in his freezer matched the money that was used in an FBI sting. This might be a step toward indictment. But you're right. The Democrats will figure out a way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And on a similar note, if this doesn't want to make you want term limits, nothing will.
On Monday, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd who is 88 years old, will become the longest serving member in history. This man has been in the Senate since 1946. That is 60 years and he's not the only one. "USA Today" did a piece today. Average age of the Senate last year more than 60, the oldest it has ever been. Of the Senate's 10 longest serving members ever, four are currently in that august body, Senators Byrd, Kennedy, Daniel Inouye and Ted Stevens.
Over in the House, the average age is 55, a youth group, but it's the oldest it's been since 1949. It doesn't seem like many of them have any plans to retire any time soon. Why would they? They'd have to go get a job. Of the 29 senators who are up for reelection, two are in their 80s, seven are in their 70s and seven more are in their 60s.
The AARP says this reflects a bigger trend of people staying in the work force at older ages. That works if you consider the Senate a workplace. Here's the question, what does it mean when the average senator is 60 years old and the average House member is 55? E-mail your thoughts to CaffertyFile@CNN.com. Go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you, Jack, Jack Cafferty in New York.
Coming up, Arnold Schwarzenegger on the campaign trail running for reelection. But does California's governor see eye to eye with President Bush when it comes to immigration? You won't want to miss John King's candid conversation with Arnold Schwarzenegger. That's coming up next.
Also, President Bush speaks out today on Iraq, but he -- should he start bringing U.S. troops home? Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan face off in today's "strategy session."
And later, Al Gore, the movie star, is the former vice president in a tiff with a Hollywood starlet? We'll tell you what is going on. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: For the second time in three years, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back on the campaign trail. This time he's stumping for a full term as California's governor. But he's sounding some very different notes this time around. Our chief national correspondent John King is here in Washington, just back from California, took the red eye and you had a chance to sit down with the governor.
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Interesting guy, Wolf and is a much more, kinder, gentler tone this time. Remember when he ran last time, he was going to go to Sacramento to kick some serious butt, his words, not mine. This time, he says that was a mistake. It's a much kinder, gentler tone. He's trying to avoid partisan fights except on the issue of immigration.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Tell me how this job has changed you. You came in, everyone focused on the action hero who says he's going to Sacramento to blow up the boxes. Now people say you're more conciliatory reaching out to the Democrats a little more, pushing for more incremental change perhaps, humbled by the job?
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Well, I am a daring person. I would tackle any problem, but I have made mistakes and I have learned from those mistakes. And no matter what you do, if you're in politics or if you are competing for the world championships in body building or if you are doing a movie and you pick the wrong script, you learn from those various different mistakes. And I have rushed things.
That was my big problem in the beginning. I've rushed things and I thought that anyone that was in my way was not agreeing is the enemy. And it was the wrong approach and I've learned from that and now we are working together. Democrats and Republicans are working together. It is a miracle what we have accomplished this year already. KING: You talk about the immigration problem. It's critical to your state. It's also probably the biggest issue in national politics right now. We come here from down in the San Diego area where you just had the special election. The Republican who won that district says that he won because he turned his race around by telling the people of that district the president is wrong, the Senate is wrong, no amnesty, focus on border security. No guest worker program that puts people on the path to citizenship. Is that the right message on immigration?
SCHWARZENEGGER: Well, it was maybe the right message for him in order to win. But I think what is important is that number one, we pay attention to our borders. We got to secure the borders and we have to put the pressure on the Federal government and we have to do everything we can to solve this problem this year.
KING: You had some reservations about the president's plan to send in the National Guard. I think you've worked those out, but is that a gimmick in your view, an election year political gimmick or is that something that is needed and will help strengthen the borders?
SCHWARZENEGGER: When the president called me -- the White House called me, when Secretary Chertoff called, the idea of sending National Guards to the border was half baked and I told him that. It's an idea that is half baked. Let's not rush those things. You can't just go and send you know the National Guard to the borders to do what?
What is -- how long are they staying down there? Who is going to pay for it? How do we make sure that the people, the great men and women that come back from Iraq are not going to get sent to the borders? All of those issues had to be addressed and until we make sure that they are not going to be carrying guns around because it's out of (ph) our border.
It's not the enemy. Mexico is our friends. So we have to make sure there's a certain sensitivity about all of this also at the same time. And it's also important that we know what is really the mission? What happens if you don't get enough border patrols in time of two and a half years from now? Do we stay there? Because usually as you know with military missions, they always supposed to be short term and then they stay forever.
KING: Do you think it was half baked in your words because they were rushing it because of the election year political climate?
SCHWARZENEGGER: I don't want to second guess why was it happening. I think for them it maybe was baked. But every governor has their own challenges and has different needs. So I think what they should have done is if anything, is talked to us first, say come to Washington and let's work this out.
Here's what the mission is and let's work this out so everyone is in agreement and then announce it. So what they have done is they've jumped the gun. They are not intentionally trying to screw things up in Washington. They are all working very hard. They're doing their thing and I think that it's why we have to just work with them, be helpful and assist when there's an emergency like that.
KING: How do you react when you hear people say just build a wall? Build a fence across from the Pacific to the Atlantic, build a wall.
SCHWARZENEGGER: I think that that is not thought through because walls as we have seen with the 40 tunnels that have been discovered doesn't really help the situation because you can build the tunnel. They could drive trucks through it from one warehouse in Mexico to another warehouse in the United States. If we can send a vehicle to Mars and if we can land a man on the moon and we can do all of these incredible things that we are developing, we can find a way of securing the border and at the same time not making it appear like it's the enemy south of our borders.
KING: Let me ask you lastly about your assessment of the national political climate. It's a pretty foul mood right now. The president's polls numbers are down. The Democrats numbers are down too. You mentioned your own recalibrating to get back on the path here that you think you're past your mistakes. A lot of people think this is the perfect opportunity given the disgust with politics in general for a third party presidential candidate in 2008. Do you think, is the mood that bad or is that necessarily bad? Is there any way Arnold Schwarzenegger could support a third party candidacy?
SCHWARZENEGGER: First of all let me just say, that there's more people that are leaving both parties and indeed become independents. We've seen it in California. We see it all over the United States, because people are fed up with politics as usual. People are fed up that they only argue in Washington or they argue in Sacramento whatever capital it is.
People want to see action. People want to see results. Does it have to be 100 percent of the results, no. But just come in with some results because everyone understands that if you have two parties and different opinions that you always come into the compromise. It's a watered down version but come on with something. Don't just always -- every single time you open up the papers, it's about the fight, the partisanship, that you can't get a job as a Democrat if you're now in Washington.
The Republicans are attacking here. The Democrats are always ready to strike, to attack the Republicans. What is that? I mean why are we not thinking more about what is best for the country? How can we build California? How can we build the whole nation and how can we work together rather than other how can we fight each other? People are upset about it. And so I don't blame them for it. And I think this is why I don't fall into this trap.
KING: Do you see yourself supporting some third party effort to break the national mold?
SCHWARZENEGGER: It depends on who that is. I think we can do it in a traditional way with the two parties but got to improve. The Democrats got to improve their way of looking at things and doing things. The Republicans have to improve. They got to find things and ways of working together rather than working against each other and the whole thing is about derailing.
I think the rest of the nation, I think that Washington should actually learn something from California. Because we are in an election year and Democrats and Republicans came together and have worked through and have accomplished a lot this year, more than the previous year. And on top of it, an infrastructure package of $37 billion, the biggest in the history, an election year, in an election year. It shows that if there's a will, there's a way. You can do it. That's what they should do in Washington.
KING: Governor, I have taken too much time. Thank you very much.
SCHWARZENEGGER: Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KING: Interesting listening to the governor. He's a much more calmer, much more as I said, kinder, gentler candidate this time around. He believes that is the best way to sell himself in this very anti-incumbent, anti-political environment. He also said a couple of other things. He said in his view it would be an embarrassment if the House and the Senate cannot come together on a compromise plan this year and he also said he doesn't think he'll have the president out there campaigning for him. He'd like to do it himself.
BLITZER: He seemed very, very relaxed and at ease with himself. A few months ago, a lot of the pundits John as you know, thought that it was over for him as far as his reelection was concerned. Now the Democrats have a candidate, Phil Angelides. How does it look? You got a sense. You spent a few days out there in California.
KING: The Schwarzenegger campaign is increasingly confident. Number one, they say he's the only Republican in the country in a major race whose poll ratings are going up right now. His approval rating has improved over the last couple months. And Phil Angelides, probably unknown to most Americans, has been around in California politics for quite a long time, a state party chairman. He's the state's Treasurer. He has a 56 percent disapproval rating.
He just won the primary, but 56 percent of the people of California had an unfavorable opinion of him. The Schwarzenegger campaign thinks that works to their advantage, which is one of the reasons for as long as he can, the governor is not going to go on the attack.
He thinks the best way to win, especially after a very bitter Democratic primary, is to try to be, I'm the man in the middle. Democrats support me, independents support me, Republicans support me. He's got a lot of money. Some people think he will go on TV ads this summer, not wait until the fall.
BLITZER: I'm sure he does have a lot of money. Thanks very much, John, good work. John King is part of the best political team on television, CNN, America's campaign headquarters. Up next, President Bush and the conflict on Iraq. Is his strategy working? I'll ask Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan They are standing by for the "strategy session."
Also 10 months after Hurricane Katrina struck, there appears to be more political fall-out. In the next hour I'll speak with the former FEMA Director Michael Brown right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Today in our "strategy session," Democratic Congressman John Murtha, one of the chief critics of the war in Iraq, has announced he's interested in being the majority leader, if the Democrats take back the House in November.
Is this a sign of cracks in the Democratic ranks? Joining us now CNN political analysts, Democratic strategist Paul Begala and Bay Buchanan the president of American Cause. What do you make of this? All of a sudden John Murtha announces, "I would like to be majority leader," the number-two Democrat in the House, if the Democrats become the majority. Steny Hoyer, who is the number two right now, obviously not going to be very happy about it.
PAUL BEGALA, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: No.
And watching it right now, as I was driving over here, I was on the phone with a different member of the Democratic leadership in the House, who mentioned nothing of this, didn't know anything about it. And there's a big thunderstorm going on in Washington.
This is a thunderbolt. Jack Murtha is a guy who has become a hero to the anti-war wing of the Democratic Party, which is on the left. And, yet, his career in the House over 20 years has been on the right. He's a conservative Democrat.
So, he could actually unite both factions of the party. Steny Hoyer, on the other side -- on -- the other head, who is the current number-two guy for the House Democrats, is somebody who has been playing the inside game. He's been out there helping Democrats, incumbent Democrats keep their seats, helping challengers win new seats.
So, this is going to be -- it is going to be fascinating. I don't know that it's good or bad for the Democrats, but it is going to be fascinating for us to be able to watch and talk...
(CROSSTALK)
BAY BUCHANAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It's kind of presumptuous, though, wouldn't you admit?
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: A statement came out of his office, Steny Hoyer, saying: "Mr. Hoyer worked extraordinarily hard to unify the caucus and take back the House for Democrats. And that is his first focus. As a result of that unity, Mr. Hoyer is confident that he will be successful in November. And he intends to run for majority leader. He believes that his work as whip, caucus chair and with the DCCC," the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, "has earned him the support of the overwhelming majority of House Democrats."
BLITZER: You must love this internal fighting among the Democrats.
BUCHANAN: I am absolutely thrilled.
They are already fighting for a position they haven't yet attained.
(LAUGHTER)
BUCHANAN: You know, first, you have got to win in November before this position even comes open to them.
And, so, I think it's very fascinating, also, but it is significant. Here you have Pelosi, of course, is against the war. She's been outspoken, supportive of Murtha's position, and Murtha joining forces. Is indeed this Democratic Party going to begin to emerge as an anti-war party? Which would obviously be significant for '08 and Hillary Clinton and Feingold.
All of this could be playing an interesting development here, if indeed they win in November, which I think is a huge if. Guys shouldn't start betting on that. A little too early for that...
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Everybody knows between now and November is a lifetime, as they say in politics.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Let's talk a little bit about Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He's dead. I don't know if you heard about it.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: But he is definitely dead.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Here's what the president said about him today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Zarqawi's death helps a lot. Zarqawi was bin Laden's main advocate outside of some remote parts of the world. Removing Zarqawi is a major blow to al Qaeda. It's not going to end the war. It's certainly not going to end the violence. But it's going to help a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: All right.
How do you like the way the president's been handling this in his public statements since confirmation of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death?
BEGALA: I think both comments were good.
It's Bush, OK? He's not Ronald Reagan or Bill Clinton. But in his sort of hapless way, I think he's making a good point. Don't get too excited, folks.
It's very good news. This is an evil man. Some very heroic American forces took him out. And that's all good.
He made a mistake yesterday, though, if you ask me, when he said, we're turning the tide.
You know, we don't know that that's true. Notice he backed off of that today. But they told us that we were turning the corner when they killed Uday and Qusay and we captured Saddam and we had elections, all these corners. And I was reminded of my old driver's- ed teacher, Coach Melton (ph), back in Sugar Land, Texas. He said, son, if you're turning that many corners, you're going in a circle.
And, so, he needs to be careful to tamp down people's expectations. And I think he did that there.
BLITZER: What do you think?
BUCHANAN: I think there's no question that you don't want to overplay this. You don't want to say that this really is a significant event.
But I think you can underplay it, too. And I think the president hit absolutely correctly. You know, it's the foreign terrorists, with Zarqawi as their leader, that has fomented so much of the problem and the violence. Now, clearly, it has now taken on a nature of its own, where the Iraqis are killing each other as well.
But you got to start somewhere. And if you can stop the foreigners from interfering, then maybe you have a chance of getting the Sunnis and the Shiites to calm down. I don't know if you can. Clearly, this isn't going to solve the problem with the war. But it's a significant development.
BLITZER: They are very flamboyant, and they are brutal, these foreign fighters. But, by all accounts, they're a small percentage...
BUCHANAN: Correct.
BLITZER: ... of the insurgency. Most of them are Saddam loyalists, the Fedayeen. And the sectarian violence is another matter.
BUCHANAN: Correct. BLITZER: Here is what John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee of only two years ago, if that, said yesterday: "With the end of al-Zawahiri and the confirmation of the final vital cabinet ministries in Iraq's new government, it's another sign that it's time for the Iraqis to stand up for Iraq. It's time to work with the new Iraqi government to bring our combat troops by the end of this year."
BEGALA: Well, I think Senator Kerry is trying to sort of carry -- if Mr. Bush is right that this a turning point, that we have turned the tide, well, then we can bring the troops home. And that's the risk of President Bush's strategy.
John Kerry, who supported the war, and was really trapped by it in the election in '04, really never was clear about it, because I think, like many Americans, he was conflicted, has now come out and said, we -- we have to leave.
Frankly, it's a little backward-looking, but, if I were advising Kerry, I would have pointed out that President Bush turned down two opportunities to kill Zarqawi before he invaded Iraq. This has all been published.
Zarqawi was hiding in the Kurdish north region of Iraq. Our intelligence knew where he was. We had the capacity to find him and kill him then and save untold numbers Americans and Iraqi lives. And President Bush chose not to do it, because he thought it might undermine his case for war. Kerry should be pointing that out today.
BLITZER: What do you think?
BUCHANAN: Oh, well, I -- you know, I think Paul is way off on this point. In -- first of all, Clinton held up killing our friend over there a couple times, too.
BLITZER: Osama bin Laden.
BEGALA: He missed. He missed. He tried. He missed.
BUCHANAN: ... get back to bin Laden.
(CROSSTALK)
BUCHANAN: Bin Laden, he didn't even try on one occasion...
BEGALA: Sure he did.
(CROSSTALK)
BUCHANAN: ... when we had him cold.
So, let's put that aside. It's clear here that the president was anxious to kill this man. He managed to get him. We did a terrific job there. But the key here is that Kerry is completely off the mark. Here we have the new prime minister said, listen, give me 18 months. Give me 18 months. A lot of us think 18 months is not enough. But he says, give me 18 months, the new government. The president says, it's a turning point, because we have a new government there, with the defense, interior. We have these ministers, a strong government. Let's give them 18 months.
I don't think the American people are going to suggest otherwise. I think Kerry is looking to be a presidential candidate once again.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: We have got to leave it there.
Bay Buchanan, Paul Begala...
BEGALA: Thanks, Wolf.
BLITZER: ... have a great weekend.
BEGALA: You, too.
BUCHANAN: Same to you.
BLITZER: And coming up: Why are some top Democrats heading to Vegas? Find out next when we get the situation online.
Plus, has Al Gore gone Hollywood? The story in today's "Political Radar."
Stick around. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: By most accounts, the left wing of the Internet had a significant impact on the 2004 campaigns. But are bloggers still relevant? Several big-name Democrats absolutely, positively think so. And they are descending on Las Vegas right now to get a leg up on the next election season.
Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, is all over this story -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, what I have got behind me is video from a panel at a convention called Yearly Kos. It's being held in Las Vegas.
The video is courtesy of Air America, but you have got to pay for it. It will cost you about 10 bucks. This is a -- a four-day convention in Vegas. It's bringing together some of the top minds in the liberal blogosphere, the guys behind Daily Kos, the guys behind Eschaton, the guys behind Think Progress.
It's also bringing together top Democratic leaders and a lot of potential 2008 presidential contenders, guys like General Wesley Clark, Governor Tom Vilsack from Iowa, Governor Bill Richardson from New Mexico. You have also got former Virginia Governor Mark Warner here. And his campaign tells us he has always been on the forefront of technology, and this sort of convention fits right in with that.
And the keynote speaker tomorrow night is going to be Senator Harry Reid. And his office tells us, he thinks blogs are very important to the free flow of ideas in our democracy -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And Las Vegas is a nice place to visit, in any case.
SCHECHNER: Yes.
BLITZER: Thanks, Jacki, for that.
The race for the White House tops today's "Political Radar." Add Tom Daschle to the list of presidential hopefuls who are out on the campaign trail talking to voters in crucial early primary states. The former Senate Democratic leader is in Iowa today, one day after he made the rounds in New Hampshire. He spoke out about potential competitors, such as Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM DASCHLE (D), FORMER U.S. SENATOR: I have great admiration for all the other potential nominees. They are good friends of mine. I don't view this as running against the. We are all looking for -- potentially, at least, looking for the honor of serving our country in this capacity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: From a presidential hopeful to someone who keeps saying he has no desire to run -- Al Gore teamed up with Jay Leno last night.
The former vice president was asked about the race for the White House and his new movie star status.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAY LENO, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": People are talking about you maybe running for president again.
AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Well, I don't...
(APPLAUSE)
GORE: Thank you.
(APPLAUSE)
GORE: Well, I...
(APPLAUSE)
GORE: I appreciate the reaction and the question.
But I was joking earlier, I have said plenty of times...
LENO: Right.
GORE: ... I do not have plans to be a candidate again. I have been there and done that.
LENO: How does it feel being treated like a movie star? Do you like this? Do you like...
(CROSSTALK)
GORE: Well, you know, it's not all easy.
LENO: Yes.
GORE: For example, I'm in this huge feud with Lindsay Lohan now.
(LAUGHTER)
LENO: Really? Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.
(LAUGHTER)
GORE: Yes.
LENO: Can you -- can give us a little bit more. What's...
(CROSSTALK)
GORE: No. She knows what she did.
LENO: Really. Wow?
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Al Gore, a funny guy.
Coming up: It's Friday. And that means it's time for our "Political Play of the Week." Bill Schneider, also a very funny guy, reveals the winner. That's coming up next.
Plus: U.S. counterterrorism officials are closely analyzing the latest videotape from al Qaeda. Our David Ensor standing by in the next hour with a much closer look at this new message sent by the al Qaeda leader.
Stick around. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Sometimes, elected officials deserve another chance. Here's a story of one governor who learned on the job how to govern.
Let's turn to our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider -- Bill. WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, if you're in trouble, try reinventing yourself. It worked for the governor of Alabama, got him the "Political Play of the Week."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Three years ago, Alabama's Republican governor, Bob Riley, looked like a dead duck, after voters rejected his call for a huge tax increase.
GROVER NORQUIST, PRESIDENT, AMERICANS FOR TAX REFORM: We will be regaling little baby Republican governors in the future with -- with scary ghost stories about what happens to Republican governors that decide to loot the people, rather than to govern.
SCHNEIDER: So, what did Riley do? He reinvented himself. He governed. He proved his leadership when Hurricane Ivan hit Alabama in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina the next year.
GOV. BOB RILEY (R), ALABAMA: We have gone through four hurricanes. God's blessed us, but we haven't lost a person yet.
SCHNEIDER: Alabama's economy has come roaring back.
RILEY: Per capita income in this state is growing faster than the national average. And when is the last time you ever heard that?
SCHNEIDER: Riley pumped much of the state's surplus into education.
RILEY: Alabama will never be in the bottom 10 again.
SCHNEIDER: In the Republican primary, Riley faced someone who might have been a formidable opponent, Roy Moore, the famous Ten Commandments judge and hero to the religious rite. Moore ran against the old Governor Riley, who tried to raise taxes, not the new Governor Riley, who cut taxes for the working poor.
ROY MOORE (R), ALABAMA GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm wondering if this is the same governor that, just a few months ago, or few -- a year ago, argued for the greatest tax increase in history.
SCHNEIDER: No, it's not. It's the new reinvented Governor Riley.
RILEY: We will never go back to the failed policies of the past.
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
SCHNEIDER: The new Riley trounced his opponent 2-1, and picks up the "Political Play of the Week."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: In 2003, Governor Riley was one of our political turkeys of the year because of his failed tax proposal. So, now we have learned something. Turkeys can fly -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Thank you, Bill Schneider, for that. Better to be the "Play of the Week" than the turkey of the week.
Coming up, what's in a name? Well, actually, quite a lot when you're running for office. We're going to tell you why when we get the situation online.
Plus, for the White House, it was a week of ups and downs. Our Jeff Greenfield is keeping score. And he's joining us next, right here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: The death of Iraq's most-wanted terrorist was a shot in the arm for an ailing Bush administration, but will it make much of a difference politically?
Let's turn to our senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield, in New York -- Jeff.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: Wolf, can a political near- death experience and a couple of defeats on Capitol Hill be part of a week that adds up to political good news? Yes, if you're part of the Bush White House, and provided you keep a sense of perspective about how much impact that good news may have.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD (voice-over): The president put the gay-marriage ban front and center this week, but proponents couldn't even get a simple majority for the idea in the Senate.
And the push to abolish the estate tax, the death tax, as opponents called it, also fell by the wayside. In San Diego, Republicans only narrowly held on to what is usually a very safe House seat, but hold it they did, with a massive inflow of money and resources, which counts as good news on two fronts.
First, it suggests that the Republican get-out-the-vote machinery is still humming along. Second, victor Brian Bilbray's focus on illegal immigration suggests that that issue may trump corruption in the fall.
But the real good news came out of Iraq. Most dramatic was the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the most visible and most bloodthirsty of the insurgents. The killing and the apparent capture of a treasure trove of intelligence at least offers the hope of lessening the level of violence that has plagued Iraq and that has eroded confidence in the president's policies.
Further, the appointment of key Iraqi cabinet officials, after months of deadlock, is a step, however modest, toward the goal of a more-or-less coherent Iraqi government. That could provide an alternative to a nation violently divided by religious and tribal loyalties. So now comes the crass political question: Just how potent is good news, when the American citizenry is overwhelmingly pessimistic, as the electorate is today? The most recent Gallup survey, taken before the news of Zarqawi's death, says that 67 percent are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States.
The president's father may have some sobering guidance for his son. Back in late October of 1992, as Bush the elder was seeking reelection, the economy was actually running at a pretty decent pace, and it was showing six straight quarters of growth. But the voters didn't buy it.
An overwhelmingly majority believed the country was still in recession, and they turned Bush out of office.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD: In 2006, Iraq has been the issue dragging down this president's standing and threatening his party's control of Congress. So, as a political matter, the question is, how quickly and how demonstrably will the week's good news translate into a broader reality that will change voters' minds about how things are going? Wolf.
BLITZER: Good question, Jeff. Thank you very much.
Jeff Greenfield and, as you saw earlier, Bill Schneider, Paul, Begala and Bay Buchanan, they are all part of the best political team on television -- CNN, America's campaign headquarters.
Former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan calls her mom, but to the rest of Texas, she wants to be known simply as Grandma. Carole Keeton Grandma Strayhorn wants to be on the ballot as an independent in this fall's Texas governor's race. But the candidates in this election are anything but one big happy family.
Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, is here to explain.
SCHECHNER: Wolf, you got to stock with me on this one.
Her name is Carole Keeton Strayhorn. And she wants it to be listed on the ballot for governor as Carole Keeton Grandma Strayhorn. Her campaign says that that is how she is known. She has been in Texas politics for a long time. It comes from this campaign slogan, "One tough grandma."
Now, we spoke to the secretary of state of Texas. And they tell us there's actually rules on the books for this. The nickname has to be less than 10 letters. It can't be a slogan. And you have got to be commonly known as that for at least three years. Her competitors say, it is a slogan, and she shouldn't be allowed to use it.
But it's interesting to note that all of her competitors, or potential competitors, say that they themselves have nicknames. Take a look. Kinky Friedman was born Richard Sammett (ph) Friedman, though he has been Kinky for 40 years. Governor Rick Perry was actually born James Richard Perry. And the Democratic contender, Rob -- Chris Bell, was born Robert Christopher Bell -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacki, thanks very much.
Up next: the graying of Congress. Are our lawmakers on Capitol Hill past their prime? What do you think? Jack Cafferty has your answers.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's go to Jack in New York with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Wolf, the average age in the Senate last year, 60- years-old-plus; in the House, 55. And, on Monday, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, who is 88, will become the longest serving member in history. He was elected to the Senate in 1958, after serving six years in the House of Representatives.
The question is: What does it mean when the average senator is more than 60 years old, the average House member is 55?
Here is some of what you wrote us.
Al in Lawrence, Kansas: "It means they're old enough to remember, remember Vietnam, and the 1986 immigration amnesty program, and the 1970s oil embargo, and Nixon's spying, and Woodstock, and the Iranian hostage crisis, and King's 'I had a dream' speech. Need I go on? Does it seem like we are repeating out past mistakes?"
Jim writes: "Fifty-five and 60, wow. No wonder they can only work 96 days a year, three days a week. I think we should be kind to those old duffers, and, come November, we should retire a few of them."
J. writes: "It's a good thing. No one under 35 ought to be allowed to vote, much less run for president."
Sue in Ringgold, Georgia: "The age of the U.S. senators and representatives and their relative length of tenure in those offices tells me the decisions that affect the daily lives of the American people are being made by mostly old, white, rich, fat men who have no idea what real life and the struggles thereof are."
Bernie in Carbondale writes: "One would think these men and women would understand the wants and needs of society by now. Instead, all we get are a bunch of partisan panderers with selfish agendas and idiotic ideas."
Allan in Burlington, Kansas: "That means you, Jack, are about the right age to be a senator. And Wolf is the right age to be a congressman. You both seem pretty spry, although you might need a nap now and then."
I can't speak for Wolf, but I need a nap now and then. (LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: This weekend on "IN THE MONEY": In a week when the stock market took a header, one expert suggests that it might be more of an emotional event than one based on the facts. And we will meet a man who lived in a subway bathroom with his son. Today, he owns a multimillion-dollar brokerage firm. It's quite a story.
"IN THE MONEY" airs Saturday at 1:00, Sunday at 3:00. We invite you to join us -- Wolf.
BLITZER: We will. Sounds good, Jack. Thanks very much.
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