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Tension on Korean DMZ as K. Korean Prepares for Nuclear Test; Foley Scandal Plagues Republicans; Californian Gubernatorial Candidates to Debate
Aired October 07, 2006 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: E-mails, I.M.s and more talk of a GOP cover-up. Straight ahead in the NEWSROOM, the Foley scandal. We've got the talk on the blog, the talk on the Hill and the talk on whether it will even matter come November.
This is CNN LIVE SATURDAY and I'm Carol Lin.
Let's catch you up first on the headlines.
And we are talking about more fallout for Mark Foley. A child safety advocate running for Congress in Minnesota slams Congressional leaders over their response to the scandal. Patty Wetterling gave this week's Democratic radio address.
And the head of the Republican House Campaign Committee is apologizing to his constituents. New York Congressman Tom Reynolds says in a new TV ad he is disappointed that he didn't catch on sooner to Foley's contacts with teenage Congressional pages.
Ground beef distributed in seven states is being recalled by an Iowa company. Jim's Market and Locker thinks the meat might be contaminated with the same E. coli strain recently found in tainted spinach.
And things are finally better in Apex, North Carolina. Firefighters say a chemical fire has been extinguished. It broke out Thursday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of people.
A new, bleak report on the health of Cuba's Fidel Castro. "Time" magazine cites U.S. officials who say that the 80-year-old may have terminal cancer. Castro has been in his sick bed since surgery in July. But Cuban officials said he will return to power.
Now, there are worries that North Korea's threatened nuclear test could come as soon as tomorrow. Earlier today, South Korean troops opened fire at five North Korean soldiers after they crossed into the off limits demilitarized zone.
And baseball mourns one of its best ambassadors. Buck O'Neil Negro League player and manager, died in Kansas City last night at the age of 94. In 1955, O'Neil became the first African-American to coach in the major leagues.
Up first this hour, growing discontent with the party in charge in Washington and Republican efforts to stop the bleeding a month before the election. Now, a poll out today suggests a deepening threat to Republican rule of Congress. And now another House Republican appears to be criticizing Speaker Dennis Hastert in connection with the Mark Foley scandal.
We're going to start our coverage in Washington with CNN's Sumi Das -- Sumi, tell us more about this ad by Congressman Reynolds.
SUMI DAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: For a lot of people here in Washington -- well, Congressman Tom Reynolds is one of several Republicans under fire for having knowledge of Mark Foley's questionable messages to House pages but not doing more to address the problem. Tom Reynolds is seeking reelection in Upstate New York. With a month to go before elections, the contrite Reynolds is making an unusually impassioned public apology.
In a new television ad, Reynolds says although he never saw a single e-mail between Foley and a page, after he learned about "odd but not explicit e-mails," he reported what he had been told to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TOM REYNOLDS (R), NEW YORK: Last week, we all learned of other e-mails, worse than anything I had heard before. I immediately forced Foley to resign. Nobody is angrier and more disappointed than me that I didn't catch his lies. I trusted that others had investigated. Looking back, more should have been done and for that, I am sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DAS: Reynolds says he told Hastert about the non-explicit e- mails. In an interview earlier this week, Dennis Hastert told CNN that he didn't recall the conversation.
There are also others who are claiming that Hastert's office was made aware of Foley's behavior earlier than Hastert has claimed. A former chief of staff for both Foley and Reynolds, Kirk Fordham, has said he alerted Hastert's office more than two years ago.
Today, the "Washington Post" reports that a current Congressional staffer supports Fordham's claim, saying Hastert's chief of staff, Scott Palmer, met with Foley to discuss complaints about his conduct well before November, 2005.
In response to the claims in the "Washington Post" story, Hastert's spokesman, Ron Bonjean, says: "The Standards Committee is investigating this matter and we are confident in its ability to determine the real facts."
The stakes are high and time is of the essence. Mid-term elections are four weeks away and Democrats need 15 seats to tip the political balance of the House in their favor. And in the wake of the Foley scandal, Carol, several additional seats are now in play.
LIN: That's what we hear. Sumi Das, thank you very much.
Now, with the election just a month from today, a "Newsweek" poll shows that there is a serious threat to the Republican rule of Congress. The "Newsweek" poll shows 53 percent of Americans now want a Democratic majority. Fifty-two percent, including nearly three of 10 Republicans, believe House Speaker Dennis Hastert knew of Mark Foley's inappropriate conduct and tried to cover it up. Forty-two percent say they now trust Democrats to do a better job of handling moral values issues. And 36 percent favor the Republicans.
So will the Foley scandal affect your vote next month?
Send us your thoughts. Our e-mail is weekends@cnn.com.
Now, that "Newsweek" poll we showed you includes an assessment of President Bush, and not a good one, either.
And for that part of the story, CNN's Elaine Quijano at the White House -- Elaine, I know that you guys were quickly working on a poll of polls, as well, to balance out what we're seeing in "Newsweek."
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely, Carol.
And, you know, President Bush has been out on the road lately, Carol, trying to campaign for Congressional Republicans. And he continues to be a big draw at those events, despite the fact that his poll numbers are in the 30s.
The latest, as you mentioned, that "Newsweek" poll, showing him at about a 33 percent approval rating. Now, that is on the low end of the average.
If you take a look at the poll of polls, the average of "Newsweek," "Time," A.P. Ipsos, the "Wall Street Journal" and CNN -- NBC/"Wall Street Journal," pardon me -- and CNN, that shows his approval number a little bit higher, at 37 percent.
Now, those numbers have not stopped President Bush from going out and hitting the stump, trying to shape the agenda, really, this election season.
Earlier this week, in fact, he was out on a West Coast campaign swing, really focusing -- or trying to -- on taxes and national security. The president trying to hit hard against Democrats, trying to paint them as being weak in the war on terrorism.
But at a time when the president had hoped to draw sharp distinctions between Democrats and Republicans on that issue of national security, instead, we have seen the president finding himself having to weigh in on the Foley matter. We saw that earlier this week, the White House trying to make clear that the president is standing by House Speaker Dennis Hastert.
And with those mid-term elections just around the corner, look for the White House to essentially try to change the subject in the days and weeks ahead, Carol, even as officials here brace for any possible future political fallout over the Foley scandal -- Carol.
LIN: Change the subject? Subject to what?
QUIJANO: Oh, they'll be talking about the war on terrorism. This has traditionally been their strength, as we know. Before all of this -- the Mark Foley scandal really developed -- what we saw were Democrats trying to talk about Iraq. The Bush administration -- and we heard President Bush say this over and over -- has been insisting that Iraq continues to be the central front in the larger war on terror.
They believe if they hit the message, if Republicans continue to hit the message on national security, that, in fact, that will resonate.
But now, of course, this news of the Mark Foley scandal playing into the mix, it is very much a difficult issue for this White House. There is only so much that the president can do to try to essentially out shout the headlines, Carol. So it's a difficult, delicate situation. But the president is trying to do what he can to boost his party -- Carol.
LIN: Elaine Quijano live at the White House.
Thank you.
Also, news out of Cuba. Cuban leader Fidel Castro may be dying of cancer. That's according to the Web site time.com. U.S. intelligence sources tell "Time" that Castro is unlikely to return to power.
Now, earlier in the newsroom, we spoke with time.com's Washington correspondent, Tim Burger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIM BURGER, "TIME" MAGAZINE: What's going on now is that the U.S. government has received more credible and more detailed reports than in the past about the Cuban dictator's health. And you put that together, obviously, with something you don't need intelligence reports to understand, which is that he's been sidelined and out of public view since the summer, and they say he won't even be out for another couple of months.
So, obviously, something grave is going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Now, is this the weekend North Korea conducts a nuclear test?
Well, despite a U.N. warning, there is no sign Kim Jung Il will be -- will back down from his threat. And tensions in the resignation are increasing.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has a report. (BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): North Korea's leader, Kim Jung Il, happily waved to his military commanders as world pressure mounts for him to cancel plans to conduct his country's first nuclear test.
Pyongyang's announcement has thrown diplomatic efforts at the United Nations into a frenzy. If there is a nuclear detention, the world changes.
JOSEPH CIRINCIONE, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS: This immediately affects the calculations of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, all of whom might decide that they need to have their own independent nuclear arsenals, as well. If North Korea gets away with this, Iran would be encouraged to go forward.
STARR: Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill sounded ominous this week, saying: "North Korea can have a future or it can have these weapons. It cannot have both."
But the Bush administration is avoiding talk of a preemptive strike or a military response afterward.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: That's -- it's a decision for the country. It's a decision for presidents.
STARR: There is plenty of U.S. firepower in the region -- 28,000 troops in South Korea and some 20 warships based out of Japan. Half a dozen B-52 bombers are in Guam.
But what is the target?
U.S. intelligence shows North Korea is preparing several sites for a potential test. But one intelligence analyst told CNN it's a game of nuclear three card Monte -- trying to force the CIA to guess which hole in the ground is the right one.
The first signs of a nuclear detonation will come from more than 100 underground monitoring stations around the world. Spy planes such as this nuclear sniffer are already flying overhead and satellites are trained on the region 24-7.
(on camera): But will the intelligence community be able to quickly tell what North Korea has done after a missile test?
Intelligence analysts tell CNN that little useful information was ever collected after North Korea's July missile test.
Barbara Starr, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Just ahead, the latest on that chemical fire that forced mass evacuations in North Carolina.
And later, what the blogs are saying about the Foley scandal.
Lots more ahead.
You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Here's a look at some of the most popular stories on cnn.com.
Actress Farrah Fawcett has been diagnosed with cancer. She says she's maintaining a positive attitude to get through it. The 59-year- old former "Charlie's Angels" says that she has begun-six weeks of cutting edge, state-of-the-art cancer treatment. Her publicist would not reveal what kind of cancer Fawcett has, but says it was recently diagnosed and it involves a fast growing tumor.
And many of you are also clicking on a report from Pennsylvania to see how the Amish community is coping after this week's school shootings.
And is North Korea about to test a nuclear device?
Well, Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr's report is getting a lot of hits. You can see all of those reports and more at cnn.com. Just click on most popular.
Now, an all clear today for the thousands of people who fled a chemical fire in North Carolina. Firefighters have now got control of the blaze that broke out Thursday at a hazardous materials plant in Apex. At least 16,000 people had to leave their homes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KEITH WEATHERLY, APEX, NORTH CAROLINA: Overnight, the HAZMAT firefighters did extinguish the fire and that was, as we've always stated, one of the first prerequisites for allowing the re- entry of our citizens. That has been confirmed by our fire chief and we are ready to start now a re-entry of our citizens into the areas previously evacuated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The plant stored a number of chemicals, including paint and household cleaners and detergents.
In other News Across America, in Indianapolis, a shooting at a strip club. Police say four members of the NBA Pacers basketball team were involved in a "altercation." One of the team members, guard Stephen Jackson, fired a gun-into the air in apparent self-defense.
In Oakland, California, a delay in the arraignment of a man suspected of killing a woman in a basement torture chamber. Earl Stefanson was scheduled to enter a plea yesterday, but his arraignment had been pushed to next week. Police caught Stefanson last Tuesday after a car chase. And the death of a Nebraska woman has been linked to the nationwide on the brink of E. coli tainted spinach. The elderly woman died in late August. Two other people have already died from eating the contaminated greens.
Heavy rains and high waters are causing problems in Richmond, Virginia. Up to nine inches of rain have forced people in a six block section of town to evacuate. Rains have also led to the suspension of ferry services across the James River.
A lot of rain out there, so let's check in with Bonnie Schneider to see how the weather picture is shaping up this weekend -- Bonnie.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LIN: Now, coming up, a one of a kind look at the plight of gorillas in Central Africa from CNN's Anderson Cooper.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Visiting the mountain gorillas is probably one of the most incredible and intimate experiences you can have with an animal in the wild. When you're this close to the gorillas and when you see their eyes, you see how intelligent they are and how really similar they are to human beings. Each one really has a unique personality. Each one is an individual.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: All this week, Anderson Cooper has been reporting on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the people have suffered a terrible toll. But some of the not so obvious victims are the gorillas of Central Africa.
In this latest report, Anderson shows us why their future is in question.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
COOPER (voice-over): After years of war and government neglect, nothing is easy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To find the last remaining mountain gorillas, you have to drive for hours along bumpy dirt roads. Then, guarded by park rangers, hack your way through thick forests.
(on camera): There's only about 700 mountain gorillas left in the entire world and all of them live in Central Africa. They live in two distinct groups. One group of about 320 live on a mountain in Uganda. The others, about 380 of them, live here in the Virungas, a densely forested series of mountains that straddles Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
(voice-over): In Rwanda, the mountain gorillas are the country's biggest tourist attraction, bringing in about $2 million a year. But here in the Congo, years of fighting have driven away the tourists and since 1994, more than 100 of these park rangers have been killed.
(on camera): The gorillas here in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are under threat from all sides. Farmers desperate for land are encroaching on their habitat. So are miners who are exploiting the natural resources of the country. Miners also need food to eat and so they hunt gorillas. They also set traps, snares for other animals that the gorillas get caught in.
(voice-over): Many gorillas have lost hands to snares. Others have died from subsequent infections or been killed by poachers looking to steal baby gorillas and sell them on the black market. The park rangers patrol every day, searching for snares set by poachers.
(on camera): These guards protect the gorillas from hunters and poachers. But their salaries aren't being paid by the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact, the government here can rarely pay anybody's salary. The salaries are picked up by the U.N. and a consortium of private conservation groups. But without these guards, it's likely many more gorillas would get killed.
(voice-over): After hiking for more than an hour, the park rangers find a nest where a family of gorillas spent the night. Nearby, they discover food...
PATRICK MEHLMAN, DIAN FOSSEY GORILLA FUND INTERNATIONAL: These are the bamboo shoots.
COOPER: ... recently eaten by the gorillas. A few feet away, in a small clearing, we get our first sight of the mountain gorillas. They're playing together.
(on camera): There's nine gorillas in this group and every gorilla group is headed by an adult male, called a silver back. That's the silver back right over there, because of the distinctive coloring on his back. A fully grown silver back can weigh about 500 pounds.
MEHLMAN: His name is Umba and we think he's about 22, 24 years of age. He's the only silver back in this group.
COOPER (voice-over): Patrick Mehlman is a gorilla expert with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and Conservation International.
MEHLMAN: He's just testing us. He's just testing us. It's OK. He's just trying to pass now. Just let him pass. As long as he doesn't feel like we're doing anything threatening, he'll just walk right by us, as he did.
COOPER: Gorillas are highly susceptible to human diseases. So visitors are only allowed one hour with the mountain gorillas. But it's more than worth the trip.
(on camera): Visiting the mountain gorillas is probably one of the most incredible and intimate experiences you can have with an animal in the wild. When you're this close to the gorillas and when you see their eyes, you see how intelligent they are and how really similar they are to human beings. Each one really has a unique personality. Each one is an individual.
(voice-over): Despite the obstacles mountain gorillas still face, there are, in some ways, a success story. In recent years, their numbers have been slowly climbing. For other gorillas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, however, so-called lowland gorillas, the picture is much bleaker.
MEHLMAN: The lowland gorillas have, indeed, suffered from the effects of civil war because you've had several armies and all of these armed rebel groups moving through the habitat. And there are occasions when they'll just take out their AK-47s and have target practice. That happens.
COOPER: That happens and likely will continue to happen until a government takes hold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that makes protecting gorillas a priority. If not on principle, then simply as a way to bring in some desperately needed tourist dollars.
Anderson Cooper, CNN, Goma.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: Tonight, Anderson Cooper hosts a CNN special report from Africa, "THE KILLING FIELDS: AFRICA'S MISERY, THE WORLD'S SHAME." It airs at 8:00 Eastern, only on CNN.
Now, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is the clear favorite to keep his job. But nothing is ever certain in politics. Coming up, a live preview on tonight's debate between the governor and his Democratic challenger.
And the Foley scandal has set the blogs on fire. We're going to find out what two of the best are saying. That's straight ahead in the newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Let's catch you up on the headlines.
New York Republican Congressman Tom Reynolds is defending himself against criticism over the Foley scandal. Reynolds has two television commercials apologizing for not catching what he termed "Mark Foley's lies."
A month away to election day and the scandal is hurting the GOP. A new poll shows more than half of Americans believe House Speaker Dennis Hastert tried to cover-up Foley's trail of salacious e-mails.
Five thousand pounds of ground beef are being recalled by an Iowa company over concerns the meat may be tainted with E. coli. The company thinks the beef may be contaminated with the same strain of E. coli that killed three people during the recent spinach scare.
And Cuban leader Fidel Castro may have terminal cancer, according to a report in "Time" magazine. U.S. officials quoted the report, saying that they doubt the 80-year-old revolutionary will resume his official duties.
And now a political drama that is set to play out on a California stage tonight. It is the state's only gubernatorial debate. Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will face Democratic challenger Phil Angelides. CNN's Chris Lawrence, live in Sacramento right now.
Chris, I hear one of the more interesting aspects of watching this debate is you never know what the governor will say.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM: That's right and some political analysts are saying that may be Phil Angelides' real only hope to try to close some of the numbers gap that he's facing now.
The way this debate is set up, the candidates have an opportunity to challenge each other's responses. Again, it may be Phil Angelides last chance to really close that gap with the governor. But there are several things working against him.
Number one, if you believe the polls, there aren't very many undecided voters left out there now. The current polls show the governor leading Angelides by 10 to 17 points. Both of these men are going into tonight's debate with very different expectations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARNOLD STEINBERG, REPUBLICAN POLITICAL STRATEGIST: Angelides needs a home run. All Schwarzenegger has to do is just kind of coast. Now, Schwarzenegger, the governor has an uncanny ability to actually create his own crises by saying something utterly preposterous. We can never underestimate the possibility he'll make an issue of himself in that debate.
But failing that, he needs merely coast. It sounds to me by having a Saturday debate with the governor's campaign team, which is a good campaign team, what it's done is let's do one debate so that doesn't become an issue. Get it over with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Now, some Democrats have jumped all over Governor Schwarzenegger in last couple of days for some remarks he made just a few days ago, saying that some immigrants have trouble assimilating here in California.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, (R-CA): You make an effort to become part of America, that you learn the language, that you learn the history of America, and that you learn the way Americans do business. And you have to become part of America. This and is very difficult for some people to do, and especially, I think, for Mexicans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAWRENCE: Now the Schwarzenegger campaign defended those remarks saying they're very consistent with what Governor Schwarzenegger has been saying for years, and they come out of his own experiences as an immigrant to the United States, and things that he very much believes in -- Carol.
LIN: All right, Chris Lawrence, let us know what happens, OK? We'll be talking to you later tonight.
LAWRENCE: Yes.
LIN: Well, a shot across the bow of a new warship, that's the president's sister Dorothy, doing the honors at the christening today of the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush; here is the president honoring his dad.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A young American became a war hero and learned an old lesson, with the defense of freedom comes loss and sacrifice. George H.W. Bush honors a generation that valued service above self.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As an officer I remember I had to read the outgoing mail, we had to censor the mail of all the shipmates. And I learned a lot from that. I learned a lot about the human nature and I learned a lot about the hearts and dreams of these -- these kids -- and I would see these letters written, and I would count my own blessings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Oh, what an emotional day for the former president.
Now, though officially christened today, the big Warship Bush needs a lot more work. It is set to sail in 2008.
A new poll shows most Americans want a change of guard in Congress. Coming in the wake of the Mark Foley scandal, the "Newsweek" poll shows 53 percent of the public want Democrats to be in the majority. A congressional candidate delivered today's weekly Democratic radio address.
REP. PATTY WETTERLING, (D) MINNESOTA: Foley sent obvious predatory signals, received loud and clear by members of the congressional leadership, who swept them under the rug to protect their political power.
If a teacher did this, and the principal was told, but did nothing, once the community found out, that principal would be fired. If this happened in a church, and the minister received information, and did nothing, he would be fired. Congressional leaders shouldn't be held to a lower standard than what we expect of our community leaders."
LIN: Congresswoman Wetterling perhaps chosen because her son was kidnapped by a child predator.
Now with a federal investigation under way, former Congressman Foley could face charges in one or more states. State laws governing underage sex are often tougher than federal statutes. But a lawyer representing one of the former pages says it is still too early to tell.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN JONES, ATTORNEY FOR FMR. HOUSE PAGE: There are two or three statutes that may be applicable. But I don't know whether there is evidence of a crime yet, that would justify prosecution. I think it is awfully early to draw those kinds of conclusions. I think it is better to trust the process.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Well, much of the Foley story is being driven by Internet bloggers. Joining me now is John Aravosis of americablog.com and Jim Geraghty of the online edition of "The National Review".
Welcome back gentlemen. Our segment was pretty popular last week. Thought we would have you back given all the developments this week.
Have you both seen Congressman Tom Reynolds ad?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes we have.
LIN: Where he turns on the Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert. Let me play a portion of it for our audience.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. TOM REYNOLDS (R): I reported what I had been told, to the speaker of the House. At the time, I thought I had done the right thing. I immediately forced Foley to resign. Nobody is angrier and more disappointed than me that I didn't catch his lies. I trusted that others had investigated. Looking back, more should have been done. And for that, I am sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Jim, what did you make of this and what are the bloggers saying about this sort of turning on the House leadership there?
JIM GERAGHTY, NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Well, you can see overwhelming love that everyone has for Dennis Hastert, and his management of this crisis. Way to step up in a crisis, Denny.
Interesting that ad reminded me of, if you recall in 2002, Bob Torricelli resigned from -- well, he didn't resign from Congress -- decided he would not run for re-election after all kinds of allegations of taking gifts. But he had a very similar ad, he was behind a desk, he was saying he made mistakes and regretted bringing shame upon his state of New Jersey.
By the way, you to go really far to bring shame upon the state of New Jersey.
But somehow didn't have much of an effect. People concluded Torricelli was a -- looked like he was an extra on the "Sopranos" -- and it didn't do anything to improve his numbers. And then probably within like a month he was out of race.
Thankfully, Reynolds is in a situation in which he's basically made a sin of omission, not a sin of commission. But, you know, it's one of those things where his constituents are going to judge him based on this. That's not the most invigorating ad. I think something more in the vein of -- I would have strangled this guy with my bare hands if I had known what was going on -- would have been more effective. We'll see. It seemed a little politiciany for me. But we'll see what his constituents think of it.
JOHN ARAVOSIS, AMERICANBLOD.COM: It is very Mike Dukakis in a way. I mean the whole issue Dukakis had with the death penalty where he gave this legalistic answer about if his wife was -- rather than saying I would kill the guy. I think the ad rings a little hollow.
He called the e-mails odd. They weren't odd. They were perverted. They were the kind of thing any mom in the country would go, get away from my kid! Mr. Reynolds was just -- he was very stiff. And you know his story just kind of keeps changing. I mean, a week ago he wasn't sure what to tell the press. And today he's the hero.
LIN: Are you guys predicting that Dennis Hastert will have to resign?
GERAGHTY: My first instinct is that we have seen the end of Hastert as speaker within these next couple of months. Either the Democrats win the House and, you know, Nancy Pelosi will become speaker.
And then the second possibility is that even if Republicans do somehow hold on to it, who is going to look at Dennis Hastert's leadership in these last couple of weeks and say, yes, that's the guy -- this unbelievably overweight, balding terribly ineffective leader, that's the guy we want who nearly blew it this time. Let's keep him around.
It is hard to believe this is the guy that people will say, yeah, he's the leader we need.
ARAVOSIS: Short of taking an opinion on his weight, I would agree with Jim in that I think -- the problem with Hastert, which is kind of fascinating, is each day his prospects go up and down. On Monday he was going to resign. Tuesday he was saved. Wednesday, Kirk Fordham, you know, former chief of staff to Congressman Reynolds, came out and said I told Hastert years ago about this. He went down.
LIN: Yes, now a second congressional staffer came out.
ARAVOSIS: Actually -- exactly. A second meeting, I believe, I heard that now there are two additional people corroborating that Hastert's office knew years ago. Every day he's like a seesaw back and forth. I think Jim is right. He's not going to become leader again. That's crazy.
The question is whether Hastert will bring the party down over the next four weeks, and people finally say, you know what, you're making this story a story. Go away.
LIN: We asked our viewers what they thought, whether this Foley scandal and how the GOP was handling it was going to affect people's votes. I want to throw some responses out to you guys and see what you guys think.
This one from C.J. from Merrit Island, Florida: "The way the Republicans have handled Foley's disgusting e-mails (quit or be fired), has encouraged me to vote Republican. The Dems just fight these scandals to retain power."
Ouch, John?
ARAVOSIS: Well, honestly the Dems haven't been fighting any scandal at all. I mean, this has been a Republican issue for the past week. They have been the ones fighting each other. As you just noticed in your introduction we've not got Congressman Reynolds attacking Congressman Hastert, saying I told you. Hastert says no, you didn't. Congressman Boehner says, yes, you did. It is a circular firing squad. I think Dana Bash, I think has called it that before, as have others. This is -- the Democrats wisely have more or less been sitting out and just watching it happen.
LIN: Jim, we're also hearing from people who are at the core of GOP support here, this one, I think from an anonymous person, writes: "I'm an evangelical Christian who's been voting straight Republican in every election since I've turned 18 in 1984. But the Foley scandal has changed everything for me. I'll never vote again."
The polls are showing that they want -- that a majority of people right now, today, want to see change. They want to see the Democrats in power. They are really turned off by this scandal. How is the GOP going to respond to the next four weeks?
GERAGHTY: Well, the only upside is there are four weeks between now and election day. And with any luck, Kim Jong-Il will blow up a nuclear weapon in the next month or so. It may literally take a nuclear explosion to get this off the front page.
LIN: Well, that may happen -- a nuclear test may happen as soon as tomorrow. So, you're right the tide could turn.
GERAGHTY: Safely, Kim Jong-Il got that memo.
(CROSS TALK)
GERAGHTY: Beyond that, it is one of those things where the good news for the typical House Republican is to say, look, I had no idea this was going on. If I had known it I would have beat the crap out of Foley. I'm as outraged as anybody.
The people you have to worry about is, obviously, Foley's seat, which there was some poll that had the Republican stand in within 10 points, and if he pulls that off, that's a miracle. Hastert may be in trouble. But it's hard to see the speaker of the House disappearing immediately.
ARAVOSIS: Reynolds --
GERAGHTY: Reynolds is the question now.
ARAVOSIS: I think, again, as Jim and I are agreeing here, but I think the issue is we have got four weeks. It is not clear where the story will go. I think for a lot of people -- granted I'm coming from the left -- but for a lot of people, they still feel like we quite haven't gotten answer. I'll give you a quick example: Denny Hastert gave this press conference yesterday, and said, the buck stops here. I take full responsibility and I did nothing wrong.
LIN: See, and it's "did nothing" though, for -- it did not turn anything for the GOP, things have gotten worse this week.
GERAGHTY: I think the problem is, he said I take full responsibility -- and I did nothing wrong. People just want to see you get up and say here is what I did. I'm wrong. I'm sorry. I'm going to fix it, or I'm going it resign, in this case. Dennis Hastert is digging in his heels and I'm not sure why.
LIN: Well, political survival.
ARAVOSIS: He's speaker of the House. No one likes giving up the cushiest job in Washington.
GERAGHTY: Sure.
LIN: Not if they don't have to.
ARAVOSIS: He is third in line to the presidency.
GERAGHTY: Maybe Mr. Reynolds will call on him to resign. We can only hope.
LIN: You know what, there's another week, gentlemen. I hope we'll be talking next week, because this is getting pretty interesting.
ARAVOSIS: I hope we'll be around to talk about this next.
LIN: Jim Geraghty, pleasure to have you. "National Review Online". John Aravosis, Americablog.
Thanks to our viewers for writing in, as well.
Now CNN's new political ticker has the latest political news. Go to cnn.com/ticker.
Pro baseball has lost one of its great ambassadors. Former Negro League player and manager Buck O'Neil passed away last night in Kansas City, Missouri. He was a star player in that city for many years before becoming the first black coach in the Major League. But he'll be remembered for popularizing Negro League history with filmmaker Ken Burns. John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil, dead at the age of 94.
(INAUDIBLE)
LIN: These are the stories being followed in the NEWSROOM. At least 17 deaths reported across Iraq today. The deadliest attack, a suicide bombing in Talafar, in the north. The bomb exploded at an Iraqi army checkpoint killing 14 people.
They can hear them, they just can't see them. U.S. troops tracking would be killers through the streets of Baghdad. CNN's Arwa Damon has that story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSROOM (voice over): The troops call it chasing the ghosts of small arms fire. They used to laugh at these ghosts and their poorly aimed potshots. Now they take them very seriously.
Lieutenant Daniel Quinn and his men move with caution, still trying to engage the people. But these streets are both friendly and deadly. One minute a child is waving. The next --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got two rounds, same directions we heard that one round from.
DAMON: The ghosts fire shots, then fade away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is not way to ID where it came from.
DAMON: The men move through the dusty trash-filled back alleys, hunting for clues, eyes scanning roof tops. Around them, life on the street seems to continue as normal. Some of the ghosts are just taking pot shots. Others, well-trained snipers, who is lay deadly traps. Another call, another ghost. Quinn's platoon responds to another unit's call for backup, just a short distance from the other incident.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shots, one wounded in action. They're still engaged.
DAMON: But by the time they arrive on site, the ghosts have slipped away.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was coming from this house.
DAMON (on camera): But no weapons were found in there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not yet.
DAMON (voice over): This clearly nervous man is the only person in the house.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sound, here, yes.
DAMON: Upstairs, the men look for clues and possible escape routes.
(On camera): The soldier was shot on that street corner, taking a bullet through the arm, U.S. forces immediately medivaced him and searched this home, finding shell casings littering the rooftop.
(Voice over): The Iraqi man is detained for questioning and gun powder tests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If it was us up here, we would shoot, and then scurry down a couple roof tops before going down. And having a predetermine -- like one of these doors opened to get out. It's a good possibility that's what he did.
DAMON: It seems the ghost shooter is long gone.
The Army says the wounded shoulder will recover. But the soldiers say every time they hit the streets, they roll the dice. And with each step, the stakes seem to go higher. Arwa Damon, CNN, Baghdad.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Tomorrow we'll focus on U.S. military strategy in Iraq. We'll ask CNN's military analysts to lay out the challenges, and what would they do differently if they were in charge. That starting at 7:00 a.m. Eastern with analysis throughout the day, right here on CNN.
A military judge has sentenced a Navy corpsman to one year in prison for his role in the murder of an Iraqi civilian. Petty officer 3rd Class Melsen Bacos pleaded guilty to kidnapping and conspiracy yesterday in California. He agreed to testify in the courts-martial of seven Marines also charged in the incident in the Iraqi town of Hamdaniya.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETTY OFC. 3rd CLASS MELSON BACOS, U.S. NAVY: I feel that my honor was gone and I let people down. But testifying truthfully, got it off my chest, and hopefully that family will forgive us for what we have done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: And going more global now, this weekend marks the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan and India. About 75,000 people died. And millions were left homeless. Relief agencies say nearly 2 million survivors are still living in tents.
And the big drug ring bust in Colombia. Officials say they have shut down a major operation that smuggled cocaine and heroin into the U.S. Colombian police, the DEA and the FBI were involved in the case.
Sudan admits there have been human rights abuses in Darfur. But a Sudanese official says charges of widespread violations are exaggerated. He says a U.N. report this week cited fabricated data.
Ad wait until you hear this next story. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How many dogs have you had take themselves into the emergency room at a human hospital?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Without a medical card?
LIN: That's right this dog took himself to the hospital. A little levity. We need it straight ahead in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: A pumpkin patch with real pizzazz, you might say. A farm in Natick (ph) Massachusetts is displaying about 3,000 Jack-o'- Lanterns. Some of the more elaborate ones are carved by professional artists from around the country. Sadly it is art with an expiration date. The pumpkins last about five days after they're carved. But organizers say new pumpkins will take their place.
And now the story of a one of a kind dog. Buddy, a six-year-old Shepard mix was hit by a car. Even though he was seriously hurt this dog didn't just roll over. He took charge of his own health care in a most amazing way. Christina Gonzalez from affiliate KTTV has the tale.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA GONZALEZ, REPORTER, KTTV (voice over): Meet buddy. Still drowsy from pain killers, after an ordeal his vet can only describe as --
DR. RAFAEL SALVADOR, VETERINARIAN: It is incredible how buddy here sensed to go to the emergency hospital.
GONZALEZ: The human's hospital that is.
OK, let's back up. It all begins at this rental yard where buddy lives. A new fence was being installed, the gate wasn't in, and here is where Buddy got out. His owner searching everywhere.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go to the shelters and posted signs. Couldn't find him.
GONZALEZ: It turns out Buddy, injured by a car after his escape, had literally limped into the Kaiser Emergency Room a few blocks away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw him walk in, I was in the triage area. And I was like oh, my god there is a dog in here. So, then -- Security!
GONZALEZ: Security tried escorting Buddy out.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right away he turned around and came back and sat next to one of the waiting room chairs and laid there. Then we realized wait there is something wrong. Because I kind of noted that he was limping.
GONZALEZ (on camera): Now, Buddy over here looks pretty good. But you see his hip right here. Well, let me show you what that hip looks like in that X-ray over there.
SALVADOR: It has to be surgically repaired.
GONZALEZ (voice over): The bones popped out of the socket. Buddy is heading to an orthopedic surgeon but not at Kaiser.
How many dogs have you had take themselves into the emergency room at a human hospital?
SALVADOR: Without a Kaiser medical card?
GONZALEZ: He laughs, but look at buddy he has to admit --
SALVADOR: never. Maybe in my lifetime -- that's incredible.
GONZALEZ (on camera): Did you know how bright your dog was?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not until recently.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Our credit to Christina Gonzalez for that terrific story.
There is still much more ahead on CNN. Mark Foley's old seat is up for grabs. And CNN's Rusty Dornin is live on the campaign trail in Florida. More from the NEWSROOM after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: You're in the NEWSROOM. You're link to the world, the web and what's happening right now. I'm Carol Lin. And straight ahead in this hour. The Foley fallout. Today a Republican apologizes and a Democrat says the GOP swept the predatory signals under the rug.
Also, do disapprove or approve of the job the president is doing? You might be surprised by the latest numbers.
And the legend remembered: We'll look at the life of baseball great Buck O'Neil.
Is it a throw back to the bad old days? A prominent Russian journalist was found shot to death in her apartment building's elevator. Prosecutors suspect the killing was linked to her work. She published many stories critical of the Russian military's campaign in Chechnya.
And you may want to skip the burgers this weekend; 5,000 pounds of ground beef are being recalled. The meat may be contaminated with the same strain of e. Coli from the recent spinach.
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