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California Wildfire Partially Contained; Tension Over Possible Timeline for the Pullout of U.S. Forces in Iraq
Aired October 28, 2006 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GLORIA AYALA, FIREFIGHTER'S MOTHER: As the ash was coming down, I keep thinking that's part of my baby coming down on me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A mother's anguish over the death of her son, one of four firefighters to die in Southern California. The latest on the battling of the blaze next in THE NEWSROOM.
And then, negative ads and more negative ads -- voters say they hate them, but they get the job done. We've got the buzz on the blogs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Internets?
Well, there's more than one?
The president's unique view of the World Wide Web coming up.
This is the CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Carol Lin.
let's first catch you up on the headlines.
President Bush seeks to ease tension with the Iraqi prime minister on the way he's running the new Iraq. A live report from the White House just minutes away.
And a promise from NATO's supreme allied commander to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. General James Jones told Karzai today he'll launch a full investigation into a NATO operation in Afghanistan that left about 70 civilians dead.
Police in Jamaica say former heavyweight boxing champ Trevor Berbick has died. He was found dead early this morning, suffering from head wounds. Nothing more is being said about the circumstances around his death. Berbick was 52. And this quick reminder. We fall back to Standard Time at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. So if you live in a Daylight Saving Time state, don't forget to set your clocks back one hour before you go to sleep tonight.
Our top story now. Fire crews in Southern California making progress against the deadly Esperanza wildfire. The Santa Ana winds, which had been fanning the flames, are easing, and that's giving firefighters a much needed chance to get the upper hand. The fire is now 40 percent contained and for the first time in days, evacuated residents in the communities of Twin Pines and Poppet Flats are briefly being allowed to check on their homes. Now, more than two dozen houses have been destroyed by the flames.
Our Gary Tuchman is in Beaumont, California with the very latest on that fire.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Substantial progress is being met in fighting this huge wildfire. But the conversation here at the command center in Riverside County, California still centers around the firefighters who lost their lives.
Five firemen were in a truck in the mountains trying to protect a house when fire overtook them. Three of them were killed on the scene. Another one died in the hospital. The fifth fireman is in the hospital. His prognosis is poor. He has burns over 90 percent of his body, had surgery last night. Seventy percent of his skin was removed. But doctors are not optimistic.
And what makes people here so sad and so angry, this fire did not start from lighting, it did not start from natural causes. They believe an arsonist or arsonists started the blaze. And, therefore, it's a criminal act. The possibility when these men or women or man or woman are caught that they could face murder charges. And a $500,000 is being offered for a capture and for a conviction.
So people here are very somber about that. They're still trying to protect themselves. There's still a very dangerous situation, even though many of the flames have been put out. But the fact is people can't get this out of their minds. This is the deadliest day at a wildfire in the United States since 2001, when four firefighters were killed fighting a blaze in Washington State.
Earlier, reporters talked with the girlfriend of one of the firefighters who was killed and the mother and a sister of another.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WHITNEY LINGAFELTER, FIREFIGHTER'S GIRLFRIEND: I just want him back. That's all I want. I want him back. I'm angry at whoever -- whoever started this fire. I'm so angry at them because they killed him.
AYALA: He was too new. He was too green to be in there. He only started October 4th. He was doing temp work before. I don't know. I need to know if that was right or wrong.
MONICA AYALA, FIREFIGHTER'S SISTER: My brother was amazing. I looked up to him. He was my hero. I'm going to miss him a lot.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: It's just an incredibly sad story. It's very difficult watching that young lady talking about her brother.
There are 2,100 firefighters who are here and more than 270 fire trucks. They come from all over the United States. And many of the firefighters who are here at the command center have very scary stories to tell, saying they were trapped, surrounded by fire. One firefighter told us he had to drive his truck through the fire just to get away from it.
But they're hoping today they end up, by the end of the day, seeing substantial progress.
This is Gary Tuchman, CNN, in Riverside County, California.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LIN: The weather has everything to do with whether those firefighters are going to succeed with this big wildfire.
So Jacqui Jeras standing by at the chief CNN Weather Center with more on that -- Jacqui.
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, gradual improvement, Carol.
The Santa Ana winds have weakened just a little bit, but still weather conditions are critical for these firefighters. The winds will be gusting, at times, 35 to 40 miles per hour, but will gradually diminish throughout the rest of the afternoon and tonight.
The winds right now are still offshore, so they're predominantly coming in from the east-southeast. So those are the hot, dry winds bringing into the area. Unfortunately, temperatures are going to be up there this afternoon into the middle 80s.
Now, the good news is that the winds become a little bit lighter this afternoon and very variable. We've got a new weather system approaching. Look at how cool the temperatures are on up to the north. We're seeing 50s and 60s.
Well, as that weather system approaches, our winds are going to be changing direction. They're going to be pulling in from the southwest by tomorrow. This is the onshore winds, the kind of winds that we like, that bring in increased humidity, much cooler temperatures.
So Sunday, this is going to last through Monday, even into Tuesday, Carol. So the next three days looking a little better. Still kind of touch and go this afternoon, but watch for better weather tomorrow through your Tuesday -- back to you.
LIN: I bet they need it out there in California.
JERAS: Yes, they do.
LIN: Thanks, Jacqui.
Row after row of weapons found near Ramadi, Iraq this week. U.S. military officials say this is just one of several massive weapons caches Iraqi police have uncovered with the help of Iraqi civilians. Now, the stockpiles include mortar rounds and bombs and land mines.
This month an extremely deadly one for U.S. troops. U.S. military officials say a Marine died yesterday in the dangerous Anbar Province, bringing October's U.S. death toll to 98, the fourth highest monthly death toll since the war began.
Security in Iraq was the sole focus of a video summit today between President Bush and Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Al-Maliki. And while the issue has recently been a sore point between Al-Maliki and the U.S. today he and the president presented a united front.
Here's the details.
CNN's White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano -- Elaine, good evening.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good evening to you, Carol.
Senior Bush aides say that this discussion today was just part of regular consultations between the two leaders. But, of course you know it comes at a critical time in both domestic and international politics.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
QUIJANO (voice-over): In Indiana, at his first public campaign rally this election season, President Bush tried to go on the offensive, hitting Democrats on the issue analysts say is Republicans' biggest political liability -- Iraq.
BUSH: And all the people listening here, I want you to think about the Democrat plan for success. There isn't one. Iraq is the central front in this war and yet leading Democrats argue we should pull out right now.
QUIJANO: With a little over a week to go until the Congressional mid-term elections, both the president and First Lady Laura Bush tackled domestic politics Saturday, each campaigning in different states.
LAURA BUSH, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: And thanks for coming to support Congressman Tom Reynolds and Congressman Randy Kuhl, both to be reelected to the United States Congress.
QUIJANO: At the same time, the White House tackled international politics, seeing to downplay recent reports of increased tensions between Baghdad and Washington over timelines for Iraqi progress. Aides say President Bush spent almost an hour Saturday morning on a videoconference with Iraq's prime minister, Nuri Al-Maliki, describing the meeting as part of ongoing consultations.
But it came on the heels of the prime minister telling the U.S. Friday he was "not America's man in Iraq."
Still, a senior Bush aide called reports of tensions over hyped and a joint statement by the two leaders after the videoconference said: "We are committed to the partnership our two countries and two governments have formed and will work in every way possible for a stable, democratic Iraq and for victory in the war on terror."
Against that backdrop, Democrats have seized on Iraq as an example, they say, of the Bush administration's and Republicans' failed policies.
JIM WEBB (D-VA), SENATE CANDIDATE: With the right leadership, the situation in Iraq is solvable in a way that will increase stability in the Middle East and reduce the threat of international terrorism. But the key word is leadership, which has been a scarce commodity among this administration and its followers.
QUIJANO: And the president may be facing an uphill fight.
AMY WALTER, "COOK POLITICAL REPORT": I think right now there's very little that an individual candidate, the president himself, even with his bully pulpit, can do to change the mood of voters right now. They are in a very angry mood.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
QUIJANO: Now, as for U.S.-Iraqi relations, that joint statement outlines some common goals for the two countries, including accelerating the pace of training Iraq's security force and also transferring security responsibilities to Iraq's government.
The statement also announced the formation of a high level working group, with top Iraqi and U.S. officials, in order to make recommendations on how to reach those goals -- Carol.
LIN: Elaine, thank you so much.
In fact, we want to show where the president went after Indiana. Here he is. He's milling around the crowd -- you can't quite see him -- at the Charleston Air Force Base in Charleston, South Carolina, where he just finished addressing the troops there.
He's also in town for a Republican fundraiser. That's going to take place in a couple of hours.
We wanted to bring that picture to you live. But, also, listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: And it's tough fighting because the enemy understands the stakes of a free Iraq. It's hard fighting and we've got a lot of brave citizens of ours in the midst of the fight. But we have a plan for victory. We're in Iraq to help that young democracy fight off the radicals and the extremists. We're in the fight in Iraq to make sure there is not a safe haven from which to launch further attacks on the United States.
Our plan for victory says that we want an Iraq that can defend itself and govern itself and sustain itself. And we've got some great things going for us. We've got a military that is constantly adjusting to the enemy on the ground. We've got commanders who are wise and brave and are bringing justice to our enemies there in Iraq. And we've also got at our side brave Iraqis who have suffered unbelievable loss, but yet still cling to the hope, as reflected in the voices and votes of 12 million people who defied the car bombers and the terrorists.
They want to live in freedom. I believe in the universality of freedom. I believe in everybody's soul is the desire to be free. It is in this country's interests that we defeat the enemy in Iraq and help this young democracy survive.
You see, this is a different kind of war. And make no mistake about it, if the United States of America were to leave before the job is done, the enemy will follow us here. And that is why we will support our military and that is why we will fight in Iraq and that is why we will win in Iraq.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The president of the United States at Charleston Air Force Base, where, obviously, the troops and their families pretty excited to see the president of the United States, as Mr. Bush continued to press to stay the course in Iraq, make that commitment to that country.
In the meantime, the vice president's wife is standing by her man this evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE SITUATION ROOM")
LYNNE CHENEY: That's a big house you're building on top of that mole hill there, or a mighty mountain. You know, this is a complete distortion. He didn't say anything of the kind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: Lynne Cheney talking to our Wolf Blitzer. Lynne Cheney firing back at critics of the Bush administration right here in THE NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM RNC CAMPAIGN AD)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Harold, call me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: And if you watch any television at all, you can't miss the dirty political ads.
Are they working?
We're headed inside the blogs to find out.
And next, political attacks on our nation's independent judicial system.
Is our government broken?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Checking some of the most popular stories on cnn.com, investigators in Southern California searching for the arsonist who set the deadly Esperanza wildfire. The reward for information leading to his or her capture now up to a half million dollars.
And more worries for former Beatle Paul McCartney. The British tabloids are buzzing about the latest nasty turn in his divorce battle with his wife, Heather Mills McCartney. The most recent headlines involve claims of physical and emotional abuse. Many Beatles' fans say they're growing depressed over the public dispute.
And according to a new CNN poll, a majority of Americans do not believe elected officials should have more control over federal judges. This despite politicians' complaints that judges have too much power. To read more about it, log onto cnn.com and click on the "most popular" tab.
In the meantime, right here tonight on CNN, Broken Government -- "Judges On Trial," a ground breaking series continues with a look at attacks on independent judiciary.
CNN's Jeffrey Toobin speaks with Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, FORMER SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: We saw legislation introduced to somehow restrict or affect judges at both the state and federal levels. And even public opinion polls about courts and judges showed an increase in dissatisfaction with the American public. And there was a great deal of rhetoric about activist judges, and that seemed to be a mantra of some kind.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Federal judges, they are appointed. They're not democratically elected. They serve, essentially, for life.
Why should we trust you rather than the government officials who are answerable to the people?
STEPHEN BREYER, SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: That's a very good question.
Why would anyone want a system like ours in a democracy?
The answer has to be it's possible, despite those words on paper, that a majority could gang up on a minority. The prayer of the founders was that that wouldn't happen here.
I can remember in my youth Governor Orval Faubus...
ORVAL FAUBUS, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS: Well, the unusual thing about Arkansas is that...
BREYER: ... stood in the schoolhouse door with the state militia and said, "The Supreme Court has told me to let the black children into the white school, but I won't. I won't do it."
It took more than the Supreme Court. It took President Eisenhower to send paratroopers to Little Rock, who took those children by the hand and walked into that white school, integrating the school, according to law.
I tell you that story -- it's one of many -- because it both shows a need for judges to be independent, and more important than that, it shows a need for people in the United States to understand how that independence is part of their life, why they might support it, why they might stand up for judicial decisions, even those that they think are very wrong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: Jeffrey Toobin hosts "Broken Government -- Judges On Trial." That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Now, against all odds, something good amidst the death and destruction in Afghanistan. The children of war and their sense of hope, coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM RNC CAMPAIGN AD)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So he took money from porn movie producers. I mean, who hasn't?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: 'Tis the season, folks. And we aren't talking yuletide carols. Dirty politics and the blogs, ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
JERAS: And a powerful storm is whipping winds across the Northeast, causing power outages and major travel trouble.
All the details coming up in your weather forecast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Accessing America now.
Convicted D.C. sniper Lee Boyd Malvo confesses to another deadly shooting. Police in Tucson, Arizona say Malvo admitted that he and fellow sniper John Allen Muhammad fatally shot a 60-year-old golfer in 2002. Malvo was granted immunity from prosecution in return for the confession.
And in South Florida, five teenage boys have been arrested following this assault of a 14-year-old on a school bus last month. Hollywood police have charged the vive boys, who range in ages from 11 to 14, with lewd behavior and false imprisonment.
And in New York City, police and Secret Service officials are downplaying yesterday's powder scare at the office of former President Bill Clinton. A staffer became concerned after opening an envelope containing a white, powdery substances. Tests show the powder is not toxic.
And Jerome McInnis probably never had a profitable, well, as profitable a day as his last, at the Atlanta Ford Auto Plant, which closed yesterday. On his way into work, McInnis bought a scratch and win lottery game and it won him a cool $225,000, an unexpected extra to top his retirement package from Ford.
And there's something to be said about aging gracefully. The Statue of Liberty celebrates her 120th birthday today, officially dedicated by former President Grover Cleveland. Her formal name is Liberty and Lighting the World.
Well, maybe not the best of weather for Lady Liberty's commemoration in and around the Big Apple.
CNN meteorologist Jacqui Jeras tracking the stormy Northeast, as well as the windy West, from the Severe Weather Center -- Jacqui, I think Lady Liberty looks pretty good for 120, don't you think?
JERAS: Absolutely. But did you see how much it was shocking there?
Not the statue itself, of course.
LIN: Well, you would over 100, I imagine.
JERAS: Well, not the statute, but the camera that was fixed on it. There you can kind of see the shaking around from those strong winds.
LIN: Windy.
JERAS: Yes.
(WEATHER REPORT) LIN: Well, it's amazing how much dirt is tossed in this year's political ads. The big question -- are the ads working?
We're going to check the blogs to find out, coming up in THE NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: The Internets?
More than one?
The president's take on computer technology, just ahead in THE NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LIN: Calmer winds today have helped crews fighting the Esperanza wildfire in Southern California. But forecasters warn the winds could still pick up before the night is through. The blaze is about 40 percent contained. Four firefighters have died battling the fire. A fifth was critically burned.
President Bush and Iraq's prime minister have a meeting of the minds via videoconference today. The two reportedly agreed on mutual goals for Iraqi security and Iraq's fledgling democratic government.
And former heavyweight champ Trevor Berbick has died. Police in his hometown of Port Anthony, Jamaica found the boxer's body this morning. They say he had suffered some kind of head trauma. Trevor Berbick was 52 years old.
And quite a cleanup job in St. Louis, after the Cardinals bring home their first World Series since 1982. The Cards dispatched the Detroit Tigers last night, winning game five, 4-2. And in doing so, St. Louis claimed a dubious record -- their 83 regular season wins, the fewest of any World Series champ.
And don't forget to set your clocks back an hour before you go to bed tonight. Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2:00 a.m. Sunday.
Well, you may have seen it by now. It's one of the most talked about ads of the political season. It was run-in Tennessee by the Republican National Committee against Democratic Senate hopeful Harold Ford.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM RNC CAMPAIGN AD)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Harold Ford looks nice.
Isn't that enough? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Terrorists need their privacy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I die, Harold Ford will let me pay taxes again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ford's right, I do have too many guns.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met Harold at the "Playboy" party.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd love to pay higher marriage taxes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Canada can take care of North Korea. They're not busy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So he took money from porn movie producers. I mean, who hasn't?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Harold, call me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: All right, all right.
Now, some say the ads are just politics. Others say it's a sign of politics gone too far.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I met Harold at the Playboy party.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd love to pay higher marriage taxes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Canada can take care of North Korea, they're not busy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So he took money from porn movie producers. I mean, who hasn't?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Republican National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Harold, call me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: All right. . Some say the ads are just politics, others say it is a sign of politics gone too far. Joining us now for our weekly blog buzz, John Aravosis of americablog.com and Mary Katherine Ham of townhall.com. Both are in Washington today. Good to see both of you. I feel like we're feeding the fire by airing the ad one more time, guys.
But just in case the people missed the headlines last week, do we all agree that the reason why these run is because they work? Mary Catherine? MARY KATHERINE HAM, TOWNHALL.COM: Well, I for one am not sure that that ad is quite as negative as people make it out to be.
LIN: What? Implying that he consorts with prostitutes.
HAM: I don't think she's a prostitute.
JOHN ARAVOSIS, AMERCABLOG.COM: Consorts with white women is the real crime ...
HAM: No, no. That's my problem with it is this crying of racism, which is frankly ridiculous, coming from Washington denizens and political pundits who have never lived in the south.
ARAVOSIS: Actually, it's coming mostly from black leaders are the ones who have spoken out about it, it hasn't really been those of us living in DC as much.
I'm sorry, go ahead, finish first.
HAM: I entirely disagree with the idea that it is a racist ad. I mean, the assumption is that all southerners, Tennesseans in particular are these troglodytic racists who at the same time are susceptible to these very sophisticated subtle race coded messages in the ads.
LIN: All right. But Mary Katherine, even Bob Corker, the Republican opponent, Harold Ford's Republican opponent specifically asked the RNC to pull that ad. John, what does it say to you? What is the blog buzz out there about the fact that the RNC said no?
ARAVOSIS: And I think the blog buzz out there is that first of all, the ad is subtly racist, unfortunately the current people running the Republican Party, they have got a trend of doing to this. The other Harold Ford ad has little jungle bongo drums playing in the background. Excuse me, the ad against Harold Ford. Every time you hear his name, you hear boombababoombaba.
Jungle black guy going after white chicks. I think Mary Katherine is right, the assumption is southerners are a bunch of racists, and that's why the Republicans are running this ad. But my fear is there is vein of racism still left in America. And I think there is a danger of those ads tapping into a core because I think they do work, I just think they're immoral when they cross over the racism line.
LIN: You have got Michael J. Fox saying his piece about stem cell research.
ARAVOSIS: And how does that compare to racism?
LIN: Well, Rush Limbaugh comes out and says he's faking it but then he says a form of an apology.
ARAVOSIS: Then he went back and said I didn't apologize. He did both -- classic Limbaugh. HAM: Can I speak to the radio ad with the drums real quickly?
LIN: Go for it.
HAM: I would just say that liberal pundits and bloggers and this kind of thing who hear drums in the back of an ad that are meant to be sinister negative music behind the opponent they're running against and immediately think jungle drums, maybe the ones with the racial hang-ups not the people who are listening to the ad.
ARAVOSIS: All right. Let's talk about phobia. The Republicans are running ads against Democratic candidate saying that Nancy Pelosi who would be the speaker for the Democrats if they win the House is going to implement the homosexual agenda. What we see every time -- last presidential election, we saw ads sent out by the Republican National Committee showing a gay couple on one side and the Bible on the other and the Bible had an x through it. There's a problem with negative ads going too negative sometimes. That's my problem.
I'm not saying all Republicans are racist, that's not the issue. But this time I think things are going a little too negative.
LIN: What about the Dixie Chicks, they can't buy their way - at least their movie trailer -- on to NBC's air. Decided not to run the movie trailer. The implication is that it is simply too critical of President Bush. Mary Katherine is NBC just simply kowtowing to a conservative administration.
HAM: I read about this story, and I'm a little frankly concerned about the NBC blanket rule that seems to be not taking ads that deal with public controversy. That seems an odd rule. I'm not sure their motivation was actually that it was disparaging toward Bush. That's the line that came out of the Dixie Chicks distribution company. I'm not positive that's the reason.
Frankly the ads have run on various affiliates on all three networks. It is really hard to say that the Dixie Chicks are being silent when we're sitting on CNN speaking about them right now and they're earning a week of earned media over this controversy. So the silencing is deafening frankly.
ARAVOSIS: The issue with negative ads, part of it is you want them to be reported on the news. Whoever runs the Michael J. Fox ad saying Republicans are against stem cell research wants that ad reported on the news, because it is free media. And the same thing on the Republican side.
What I think you come back to at the core of the issue here is why do negative ads run, I think they run because unfortunately they do work. The real question is how negative is each side willing to go and why. This time the Republicans have decided to get a little bit racist and a little bit homophobic and frankly it's because they're the guys who are in trouble this time. They public isn't too happy with their message so they go for a message that's a little extreme.
And the Democrats are fortunately in a better position this time. LIN: All right. We are going to have to leave it there. I wish we had time to talk about George Allen and Jim Webb's soft porn novel. And allegations by Lynne Cheney. Did you see the interview, by the way, with Wolf Blitzer, Lynne Cheney and Wolf Blitzer?
ARAVOSIS: I did. Wolf was quite a tiger.
LIN: He was quite a tiger and you know what? She was pretty impressive too. We're going to run a portion of that at the 10:00 program tonight so I hope you guys watching.
ARAVOSIS: She has got a great lesbian sex novel out there.
LIN: No. No.
HAM: Real proud of Lynne.
LIN: The book is "Sisters," folks, and she denies it has anything to do with lesbianism.
All right, John, great to see you, Mary Katherine, terrific to have you on the program.
ARAVOSIS: Thank you.
HAM: Thank you.
LIN: We also have a program alert here.
All next week beginning at 7:00 Eastern, Wolf Blitzer and Paula Zahn lead the best political team on television for a special two-hour edition of THE SITUATION ROOM. Breaking news plus all the political headlines as we head toward the midterm elections. THE SITUATION ROOM, all next week all week from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
All right and we've got much more ahead as well. We were just talking about Lynne Cheney, well the vice president says he wasn't endorsing torture when he discussed dunking terror suspects to make them talk. Here's the question asked by an interviewer Tuesday. "Would you agree a dunk in water is a no-brainer if it saves lives?" Well, Cheney's answer, "It is a no-brainer for me."
Seeking clarification yesterday, another reporter asked about the process of water boarding, inducing the feeling of drowning suspects by pouring water on suspect's faces.
Well, Cheney's response is I didn't say anything about watered boarding. Well, as we were just talking about, the vice president's wife joining the fray there in an interview with CNN. Lynne Cheney said reports of her husband's comments amount to a mountain atop a molehill and didn't stop there. In fact, we're going to run part of that interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
That's a mighty house you're building on top of that molehill. And she didn't stop there. So in fact we're going to run part of that interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LYNNE CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT'S WIFE: That is a mighty house you're building on top of a molehill there, a mighty mountain. This is a complete distortion, he didn't say anything of the kind.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN HOST: Because of the dunking, using the water and the dunking.
CHENEY: I understand your point, it's kind of the point of a lot of people right now, to try to distort the administration's position. And if you really want to talk about that, I watched the program on CNN last night, which I thought it's your 2006 voter program, which I thought was a terrible distortion of both the president and vice president's position on many issues. It seemed almost straight out of Democratic talking points. Using phrases like domestic surveillance when it is not domestic surveillance that anybody has talked about or ever done. It's surveillance of terrorists. It's people who have al Qaeda connections calling into the United States. So I think we're in the season of distortion and this is just one more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: All right. Lynne Cheney on THE SITUATION ROOM with Wolf Blitzer. We're going to be having more of that interview later on CNN tonight.
In the meantime. While we're on fiery discourse. Here's Bill O'Reilly of Fox News, talking last might to David Letterman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL O'REILLY, FOX NEWS HOST: But it isn't so black and white, Dave, it isn't we're a bad country, Bush is an evil liar. That's not true.
DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: I didn't say we're a bad country. I didn't say he was an evil liar. You're putting words in my mouth. Just the way you put artificial facts in your head.
A reasonable person can't believe what you're saying.
O'REILLY: No. That's ridiculous. That's absurd.
LETTERMAN: No, no, it is.
O'REILLY: That's a total absurdity. I have the highest ratings in cable for the last five years.
LETTERMAN: Then how come I can't find the damn show.
O'REILLY: Did you enjoy "Culture Warrior," the book.
LETTERMAN: I haven't read the book.
O'REILLY: You really haven't read it. You're going to love -- You're in the book.
LETTERMAN: I looked at it and I thought what is this, a book about sailing. Then I said. I said no. I don't need that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIN: That's funny.
Ouch, Letterman and Bill O'Reilly last night. O'Reilly wasn't the only subject of political humor this week.
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GEORGE W. BUSH, U.S. PRESIDENT: One of the things I've used on the Google is to pull up maps.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was referring it to the Google like the Donald.
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LIN: The president and his Internets. Still to come in the NEWSROOM. Plus amid the battles in Iraq and Afghanistan, a ray of hope from the children of war.
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LIN: Well, just about everybody wants to look good for a big event, a wedding or a dream vacation, you name it, so for many looking good means shedding some pounds. In tonight's bridal boot camp is the answer. Here is Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
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JEANNIE POSNER, SHOP OWNER: This is one of our best dresses that you have on right now. We stock it in a 6, a size 14, and a 20.
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN HOST (voice-over): The obesity epidemic radically changed the way new Natalie's Bridal Shop does business. Five to 10 years ago, owner Jeannie Posner sold mostly size 6 and 8. Now it's more like 8 to 14.
POSNER: We're also seeing an increase in brides that are looking at dresses that over size 18 to 24.
GUPTA: Posner says designers have been slow to adjust. Many bigger dresses are special order at other shops, but she's careful to stock hundreds of dresses size 16 and up.
POSNER: One of the things we hear all the time is it's so nice to try on a dress that's zipping.
GUPTA: Because no matter what your size, surveys show a bride's number one concern is, how will I look in the pictures?
STACY SEE: One, two, three. I didn't want to look at my wedding pictures 20 years from now and go, I don't look as good as I could.
GUPTA: So Stacy See went on a diet and put herself in a kind of bridal boot camp.
SEE: Five, six, seven -- eight, nine, hooyah!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got to tell you guys a secret. You just did 110 pushups in one sitting.
HEIDI ZIEGELE, INSTRUCTOR: Lots of people panic before weddings.
GUPTA: Boot camp instructor Heidi Ziegele says they design this intense 30-day workout to jump start a fitness plan or get you in shape for a big event.
ZIEGELE: Because you know, the type of workouts we do is an all over condition. So they lose a lot of fat. And you know, it looks great for wedding day.
SEE: Ten...
GUPTA: Stacy hates exercise, but she's thrilled with the results.
SEE: I dropped almost 32 pounds in between when I first bought my dress and now.
GUPTA: That's four dress sizes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We take in the sides, both sides. And we take in the front darts.
GUPTA: The seamstress took this in three times.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This one makes me feel skinnier like in.
GUPTA: Most women aren't as successful at battling their bulge. But no matter if you're a 2 or a 20 ...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to walk out feeling beautiful. Yay!
GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN reporting.
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LIN: Very windy day in New York City there. And here mistakes were made. That's a quote, the words of NATO's supreme allied commander who gave his account of a NATO operation in Afghanistan that left about 70 civilians dead. General James Jones said the Taliban uses civilians as human shields, but he admits, in the heat of battle differentiating the two can be difficult. The general promised Afghan President Hamid Karzai he'll launch a full investigation.
And despite mistakes and occasional setbacks, NATO's supreme commander is convinced the effort in Afghanistan is showing real signs of success.
From the Afghan city of Jalalabad, CNN's Jamie McIntyre reports.
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JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just outside a U.S. forward operating base in Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan, the cliche winning hearts and minds has turned from slogan to full-fledged American brand. Enthusiastically embraced by the local children.
SPEC. JESSE REDER, U.S. ARMY: I wonder if he's planning that. He want me to go out and win somebody's heart and their mind is through kindness, to make friends.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love these American people.
MCINTYRE: U.S. troops this Jalalabad, one of 24 NATO reconstruction team spread across Afghanistan are far from the fighting. So they're free to put down their arms and pick up a cricket bat if that's what it takes to connect with the community.
(on camera): This is really the front line in the war for hearts and minds and the weapon of choice is soccer ball. Every Friday here they have soccer Friday, in which the troops come out and give out shoes and soccer balls and it is a huge hit.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They say is it soccer? Can we play? It is a great way for the kids to interact and see that we're all helping you, we're all having a good time. Trying to make this a safer happier place for you guys.
MCINTYRE: Jalalabad is a success story. The Americans feel real warmth from the locals and enjoy the lifting living standards and spirits. A pair of hand-me-down shoes gives one boy confidence. A simple bar of soap sends another into a sudsy frenzy at the public well. It is on such acts, the ability of NATO to replicate these smiles across Afghanistan that the future of country hinges says NATO's supreme commander. But General James Jones won't see that day while he's in charge, he retires in less than six weeks. Jamie McIntyre, CNN, Jalalbad, Afghanistan.
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LIN: At the top of the hour a special edition of this week at war, CNN's John Roberts reports this week from Baghdad. The show comes your way at 7:00 Eastern.
Going global now with the headlines, we begin in Nepal where at least 42 are dead and another 40 or more hurt after an overloaded passenger bus went flying off a mountain road and crashed into a ravine. The pope speaks out against sexual abuse committed by catholic clergy. It is the first statement on the part of the pope on the subject by Benedict XVI. He was speaking to visiting bishops from Ireland. He said sexual abuse by priests is an egregious crime and it is important to investigate cases from the past.
Disaster officials from Ethiopia say thousands of people are heading to higher ground after days of torrential rains spawning flooding. In August, more than 600 Ethiopians died in what is called the worst flooding there in decades.
And today we're kicking off a new weekly segment called the tech effect. We hope to show you how advancing technology is making life easier, even for those that live and work in a low tech environment. Now in today's premier, the art of cleaning 8 million gallons of water. Here's CNN's Daniel Sieberg.
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DANIEL SIEBERG, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Georgia Aquarium, behind the kaleidoscope of fish, including the world's largest, the whale shark, lurks a complex beast. Fortunately this one is controlled by people like Eric Hall who helps oversee the infiltration and flow of 8 million gallons of water.
ERIC HALL, GEORGIA AQUARIUM: I actually can send commands out to the equipment. I can turn pumps on and off. I can open and close valves. We can actually move water all over the entire building here, from point A to point Z.
SIEBERG: This is the coral tank.
HALL: This is the coral tank offer over in the tropical diver gallery.
And what you have here, you have, you have an, a representation of the exhibit. And you have some real time information coming in from analog sensors that monitor temperatures, we're getting a readying of current up to date reading of 77.9 degrees Fahrenheit and getting a real-time reading of the level using an ultrasonic water level sensor.
SIEBERG: Much of the process is automated, the system that controls the filtration can make 150 million decisions per second. But there are more than 3,000 points where something could go wrong and the system will page Hall and his team detailing any problems. Or they can tap into the system from the office or wirelessly from anywhere the aquarium.
(on camera): The aquarium uses about 60 miles of plastic piping. It is plastic to cut down on the corrosion that can come from saltwater. Most of that piping is contained right here in this room.
(voice-over): The salt must be topped off manually, you could call it adding a pinch compared to the size of the tanks and the system will calculate when the water can be reabsorbed. The filtering inside large tanks is meant to simulate the ocean with sand and foam, which is used to draw away waste and a particulates.
(on camera): How different is this with what somebody has at home with their smaller aquarium.
HALL: Strangely enough it's actually not that different at all. Really the big differences are the size and quantity. Obviously we're dealing with much larger components and a lot more but the same fundamental principles exist here.
SIEBERG (voice-over): Which includes keeping the fish of all shapes and sizes alive and well. Daniel Sieberg, CNN, Atlanta.
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LIN: Now we all make mistakes when it comes to the English language. But when you're the president, a lot more people notice.
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BUSH: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
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LIN: Is there more than one Internet. President Bush's understanding of the World Wide Webs. Get it? Webs. Next in the NEWSROOM.
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LIN: Even his admirers admit President Bush occasionally misspeaks. And his latest Bushims has earned him the nickname Googler-in-chief. Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He can handle power saw, but when it comes to the power of the Internet.
BUSH: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
MOOS: Not once but at least twice, President Bush has inexplicably added an S.
BUSH: We can have filters on Internets.
MOOS: Leading young whippersnappers to mock him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone is on the Internets. That's our fearless leader. Woo.
MOOS: And now the leader dubbed Googler in chief by the "Wall Street Journal" has struck again. During a CNBC interview, the president was asked if he ever Googles.
BUSH: Occasionally and one things I have used on the Google is to pull up maps. MOOS: The Google, it may be petty, but "The Google" had techno geeks agog. I wonder on which one of the Internets he uses the Google posted one.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was referring to it as the Google, like the Donald.
MOOS: Forget the Donald.
BUSH: But I'm the decider.
MOOS: When the decider the Google, the editor who is working on sixth edition of Bushisms is the man to call. Jason Weisberg e-mailed back that he was eating "the lunch" when we called for an interview.
JACOB WEISBERG, EDITOR, SLATE: It is a little bit the way my mom talks about technology. Sort of sweet, kind of endearing. She called to tell you she got an e-mail.
MOOS: President Bush said he uses the Google to look at satellite maps of his ranch in Crawford, Texas, reminds me where I want to be sometimes. Who are we to talk, I had to get my producer to help.
MOOS (on camera): We're downloading Google Earth. We're not sure if the president did this or knows how to do this, I don't know how to do it.
(voice-over): Next thing we knew we were zooming in on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
You practically can see him in there. He is on the Internets.
STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDIAN: I'm no fan of the Internets.
MOOS: Comedians and Internet wags have immortalized the Internets.
BUSH: I hear there's rumors on the Internets.
MOOS: As for the Google. The company says it is flattered, he can call whatever the heck he wants to call it. Besides, he's technically correct, there's more than one Internet net. Internet2 is a better faster network used by universities and others.
The president is not the only politician to get tripped up by the Internet.
SEN. TED STEVENS, (R) AK: It is a series of tubes.
JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: The Internet is a series of tubes through which goods and services travel.
MOOS: Better to have the tubes tied than the president' tongue.
Jeanne Moos, the CNN, New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
LIN: And the show is over. But there's still much more ahead on CNN. Up next BROKEN BORDERS with Lou Dobbs. Under the micro scope, immigration and border security.
Then THIS WEEK AT WAR, John Roberts has the latest on the U.S. military presence in Iraq and the war on words in the Congress. That's at 7:00 Eastern. First, though, BROKEN BORDERS, next on CNN.
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