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American Morning
Blagojevich's Next Move; Bush Shoe Attack
Aired December 15, 2008 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up on one minute before the top of the hour.
A look at the top stories this morning. The Iraqi reporter who threw a pair of shoes at President Bush, there you see it happening in Baghdad yesterday, is being held, and apparently being tested for drugs and alcohol. Here's a listen to the scuffle.
CHETRY: As you can see, our president managed to duck in time, largely shrugged off the insulting attack. The president is on his way back to the U.S. after a stop in Afghanistan.
Will Illinois Governor Ron Blagojevich step aside? Or be forced to resigned. Developments that could happen today. The state republicans are now calling for a special election to fill Barack Obama's empty Senate seat. Meantime, Illinois's attorney general says that Blagojevich could step aside sometime today. The governor's spokesperson is dismissing that. The state legislature meets this afternoon and could push for impeachment. As for the governor when pressed by reporter, he would not answer any questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. ROD BLAGOJEVICH (D), ILLINOIS: There will be an appropriate time to talk about this but let me just wish everybody happy holidays and things will work out just fine.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The rumor is you intend to resign. Is that true or false?
BLAGOJEVICH: I just think that you should all have a great holiday.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: And a busy day for President-elect Barack Obama. He's meeting with his national security team including Hillary Clinton and defense chief Robert Gates. The Obama team says this is part of a series of meetings that will make sure the team is ready to hit the ground running. Also in a press conference scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Eastern time this afternoon, Obama is expected to formally name physicist, Steven Chu, as his energy secretary.
And officials in Washington are warning that if even half of the projected 2 million to 4 million show up for Barack Obama's inauguration 36 days from now the city's transit system could completely collapse. They're now looking at ultimate plans, but the tight security means finding alternative routes and it could make it really next to impossible there.
Back to our top story this morning, authorities questioning the Iraqi journalist who hurled shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Baghdad. His arrest now sparking protests in Baghdad with thousands of people calling for the reporter's release.
CNN's Michael Ware is live in Baghdad. Give us an update now on why he's being held and what we know about him.
MICHAEL WARE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kiran, this is an Iraqi Shia journalist who works for al Baghdadia Television Network, and he's from the area of Sadr City here in the capital of Baghdad; a stronghold of the rebel cleric Muqtada al Sadr.
What we know as you can see from the pictures that we're about to show you again -- and I suggest you get used to seeing them -- I think they're going to be living with us that he rose up and threw his shoes at the president in the middle of a press conference. I suggest that these images are almost certainly going to become icons of the war in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WARE: This will be something few in Iraq will ever forget. Shoes hurled at the president by an Iraqi TV correspondent. He's quickly tackled. The journalist from al Baghdadia Television called the president a dog in Arabic and cried, "this is your farewell."
When calm was restored, President Bush sort of brushed the incident aside --
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So what if a guy threw a shoe at me?
WARE: -- and then tried to turn it into a positive.
BUSH: One thing is for certain, he caused you to ask me a question about it. I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it. These journalists here were very apologetic. They were you know, they were -- said this doesn't represent the Iraqi people, but that's what happens in free societies, where people try to draw attention to themselves.
WARE: For Iraqis, throwing shoes in the rudest of insults reserved for the likes of a statue of Saddam Hussein or some more prophetically an effigy of President Bush himself just weeks ago. But this trip, the president's fourth and last, was made to be a farewell and a celebration; one to thank his troops --
BUSH: I am honored to be at Camp Victory.
WARE: -- and to applaud a new deal with Baghdad, called SOFA, the Status of Forces Agreement, governing a complete non-negotiable U.S. troop withdrawal within three years. It's the beginning of the end to the U.S. phase of this war. Though the president declared the war not yet over and while President Bush hailed the agreement a success, some American officials on the ground see it as far less. To them, it's merely the best that could be gained from a weak negotiating position.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WARE: And from that position we now see protests like this and in the streets of the capital. The man who started all of this, the Iraqi journalist, is still in detention. He's in custody, according to the prime minister's office, and is being investigated for assaulting the prime minister of Iraq, who was standing next to President Bush. Authorities saying he can't say who he threw his shoe at.
As we said earlier, all of this prompted fiery demonstrations today in Sadr city, that area of the capital. And there we saw not only calls for the journalist's release from detention, but also saw a tide of anti-Americanism rise to the surface with the American flag being burned in Baghdad streets -- Kiran.
CHETRY: And you had an interesting note, what it would be like if this happened under Saddam Hussein or would this happen under Saddam Hussein?
WARE: Yes, that's certainly one of the things that Iraqis around me are asking, and indeed the Iraqi community is divided right now. Whilst everyone understands this journalist's message and frustration, that's without question. The division lies in whether they approve of his behavior.
Now, his television network is running almost endless pleas for his release, with his picture on the screen, and tickets with SMSs from hundreds of Iraqi citizens supporting him and calling him a national hero.
Other Iraqis say this is simply bad form, this is not the way you treat guest, even if you disagree with him -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right, Michael Ware for us in Baghdad, thanks.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Speculation is high that disgraced Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich will resign today. The announcement could come as the state's house and senate move forward to remove the governor from office.
So far Blagojevich ignored repeated calls to step down since his arrest for what U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald called a political corruption crime spree.
CNN's Drew Griffin, live in Chicago this morning -- Drew, will this resignation really happen?
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think that's speculation. It's just wishful thinking by the Democratic Party here who wants this nightmare to go away. They want Blagojevich to step down and so they can get somebody appointed to that U.S. Senate seat and get another governor in the governor's office. But his press secretary, Rod Blagojevich's press secretary told me yesterday he not resigning, at least today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: It may about cold day in Chicago, but the governor is feeling the heat.
PAT QUINN, ILLINOIS LT. GOVERNOR: I hope the governor does resign. I think that's best for the people of Illinois as well as for himself and his family.
GRIFFIN: The Illinois legislature meets today to talk about stripping him of power or outright impeachment.
LISA MADIGAN, ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL: It is absolutely obvious that he is incapable of governing, and for the best thing to do is to move aside.
GRIFFIN: At the same time, Illinois attorney general, Lisa Madigan, is trying to get the state Supreme Court to declare Blagojevich unfit for office, but will Blagojevich give them a chance?
MADIGAN: We have heard that there is a possibility that tomorrow he will make an announcement that he will step aside.
GRIFFIN: His office denies it, and there are signs he's preparing for a fight. He spent nearly eight hours Sunday talking to a high-priced Chicago attorney known for helping big shots in a bind. But gave little hint as to his next move on the way out.
BLAGOJEVICH: There will be an appropriate time to talk about this, but let me just wish everybody happy holidays and things will work out just fine.
GRIFFIN: The rumor is you intend to resign. Is that true or false?
BLAGOJEVICH: I just think you should all have a great holiday season.
GRIFFIN: one issue could be money. The governor accused of trying to sell a senate seat is said to be in a tough spot financially. One option could allow him to step aside but keep his salary.
MADIGAN: I have heard as well that that is one of his main concerns, his financial circumstances right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GRIFFIN: Carol, the wheeling and dealing is going to go on down in Springfield. The governor will be here in Chicago.
One of the options on the table is if they can pass some kind of legislation stripping the governor of his power to appoint the next U.S. Senator and making it a special election, but in a sign of just how bizarre this is, the governor would have to sign that bill into law. We just don't know if he'll do that. COSTELLO: He has veto power. That's right. Drew Griffin, live in Chicago. Thank you.
John McCain also making some headlines this morning appearing on ABC News. McCain was asked if he would support his former running mate Governor Sarah Palin for president in 2012. Listen to his answer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC ANCHOR: You said after the election that Governor Palin had a bright future in your party. Does that mean if she chooses to run for president she can count on your support?
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) ARIZONA: Oh, no. Listen, I have the greatest appreciation for Governor Palin and her family and it was a great joy to know them. She invigorated our campaign. And she was just down in Georgia and invigorated their campaign.
But I can't say something like that. We've got some great other young governors. I think you're going see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why not? Six months ago you thought she was the best person --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: As you heard, George Stephanopoulos pressing the Arizona senator about his answer, but McCain would only joke saying, my corpse is still warm. You know?
CHETRY: All right. Antidepressants and your sex life; millions of Americans suffering the side effects and now a growing body of research suggesting that these side effects may be far more common than previously thought. We'll have the latest.
Also home values tumbling in the last year, so is it the time to snatch up a bargain?
It's ten minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: All right. With real estate prices plunging a lot of people are asking if now's the time to try to get into the market. Perhaps there's a bargain to be had.
Christine Romans is "Minding Your Business." She joins us now. You are skeptical?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are bargains but are those bargains going to get cheaper that's the question. Are you in a position where you're going stay in that home for a long time? Do you have a good credit score, good credit rating? Do you have the money for a down payment and you don't have another house you're trying to unload? Just people asking the question is the sign that at least people are starting to ask questions about whether it's the right time to buy for the right person. And we know that policy makers are talking a lot how they can push interest rates further down next year.
Mortgage rates are already below 6 percent now and there's a lot of talk that maybe policy makers want to target 4.5 percent of mortgage rate. Can you imagine? That would really inspire a little more confidence and maybe people wouldn't just be asking the question anymore. They'd be actually going out there and actively buying.
CHETRY: A lot of people might refinance.
ROMANS: Absolutely right.
COSTELLO: Could do you that?
ROMANS: If rates keep falling, that's going to be appropriate, that's going to put more money in their pocket and that can help stimulate the economy. That's what the policy makers are looking for.
But Zillow.com is a real estate outfit that monitors 163 metro markets and this is what they found so far this year. The value of your biggest asset, your home is down considerably here; down 8 percent. $2 trillion of value in your home has simply disappeared this year and almost 12 million Americans are under water on that mortgage that means they owe more on the mortgage than the home is worth.
We know that foreclosures, expected to increase. Zillow.com say they expect that crisis to continue into next year. And we also have the jobs part of it plays in now, too. So if you are one of those people asking the question, is now the time buy, there are so many caveats on that.
I mean, people are asking me. I hear people around here talking about, gee, I wonder if I should looking at foreclosed homes? Gee, I wonder I should be --
CHETRY: That's an investment.
ROMANS: As I keep saying you have to have a very, very strong constitution and you have to be solvent and bold, and there might be something out there, but -- we do know that foreclosures and jobs are these two things that are going to continue to be very troublesome next year.
COSTELLO: And speaking of jobs, you lost your job, now what? Don't panic. We have a layoff survival guide to help you get through these tough times.
It's 15 minutes past the hour.
The disgraced governor's next move.
BLAGOJEVICH: They'll be an appropriate time to talk about this. Things will work out just fine. COSTELLO: Discussing possible impeachment and the push to rule him unfit.
Plus with a lawyer nearly eight hours, where can he go from here?
You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: President Bush dodging shoes instead of fielding questions yesterday during a news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki in Baghdad. And while the president brushed off the insult, it was certainly an unwelcome metaphor for a president whose legacy will be largely defined by the Iraq war.
Joining me now to talk about this is radio host Michael Reagan, (AUDIO GAP) from Los Angeles, great to see both of you this morning.
Michael, you know -- duck, right? I'm looking behind me right now. He was supposed to go there and there was progress made. I mean, they signed this agreement, signed a couple of agreements. They're looking at a way to hand over power and to eventually have U.S. troops move on and this was all we've seen all over the news for the past 24 hours.
MICHAEL REAGAN, CHAIRMAN, REAGANACTION.COM: Yes. Things like this do make news. When somebody throws their shoes at the president of the United States, it tends to make a lot of news. Of course, that's what's leading the news everywhere.
It's interesting to watch this. I was saying to somebody yesterday, if the president of the United States made moves like that over the last eight years he'd probably still control the House and the Senate of the United States. They were pretty good moves he made ducking the shoes and not getting hit by it. You know something? The man who threw the shoes, lucky nothing happened to him.
CHETRY: We don't know yet. He's still in custody today by Iraqi officials. We'll see what happens.
But Stephanie, do you look at this as an isolated incident or does it speak to the way that President Bush is perceived by some in Iraq?
STEPHANIE MILLER, LIBERAL RADIO TALK SHOW HOST: Yes, Kiran. People seem to get so touchy when you unnecessarily invade their country. We're going to look forward to the day when they pull down a statue of George Bush and hit that with shoes as well.
CHETRY: Hold on, though. Can I just say one think that I did think it was interesting? We are joking about it; there is a comical element but a sad element at the same time. This Shia reporter, right? Under Saddam Hussein, you could argue, wouldn't even be covering that press conference and certainly wouldn't still be alive.
MILLER: Well, you know, that's true, Kiran, but it doesn't make the war anymore legal or any more necessary. And I think that, you know -- history has already judged that, as have the American people. CHETRY: So in 36 days --
REAGAN: Can I step in? I mean, Arab-Americans, the left had been throwing shoes at the president of the United States for about eight years, the way I see it. They've been hitting him with shoes. At least he ducked he them now.
This isn't anything more than one guy, one incident, upset, angry and mad. These things do happen. That's why the president of the United States has secret service protection, why Barack Obama has secret service protection, because there are people like this, the crazies do exist.
CHETRY: I want to ask you this though Michael because in 36 days it's going to be Barack Obama's problem, unfortunately, both the Iraq situation and the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan. Are there lessons to be learned as he meets with his national security team again about the future for the U.S. presence in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan?
REAGAN: Well, what he's going to learn is it's going to be his ownership. He can own Afghanistan. He's been talking about it for a long time. He's going to own Iraq.
What is he going to do? I don't think he's going to pull out because I think he's already getting information that if he does it's really going to deteriorate and become worse than it is today. He's going to have to become president of the United States, not somebody who's only speaking for the moveon.orgs and the left in the country.
CHETRY: Stephanie, we certainly have not heard -- you said moveon.org but he's actually criticized for being a little bit more centrist when it comes to those things.
Stephanie as he talks about and increased troop presence in Afghanistan, what does Barack Obama need to think about in terms of making sure it doesn't turn into another Iraq?
MILLER: Well, you know I think he's been consistent about that, Kiran, through the campaign, and I think the military has agreed with him that we took our eye off the ball and Afghanistan, by going into Iraq, and now have to finish the job in Afghanistan. So -- by the way, Michael, you've got old talking points. He's not moveon.org. They're actually mad at him.
REAGAN: I don't really get talking points. I make my own up, thank you.
CHETRY: I just want you to hear this. This is John McCain on ABC "This Week" with George Stephanopoulos. And I want to get both of your reactions quickly before we have to go. It's about Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCCAIN: We've got some great other young governors. I think you're going to see the governors assume a greater leadership role in our Republican Party.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Why not -- six months ago you thought she was the best person to proceed you if something had happened to you.
MCCAIN: Sure, but now we're in a whole election cycle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: That, Michael, doesn't sound like a glowing endorsement for Palin 2012 from McCain?
MILLER: I think governors will play a big role, not that one.
REAGAN: Don't start this election today. Let's wait a while. In reality, historically, governors are the people we turn to. Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush. We turn to people who have had executive experience. Maybe we should have done that this time.
MILLER: Michael, come on you knew Ronald Reagan. She's no Ronald Reagan. Come on.
(CROSS TALK)
REAGAN: I'm not talking about Ronald Reagan. I'm talking about the governors in this country, Republican governors, who are very much qualified to be president of the United States, more qualified than senators.
MILLER: Yes, but I thought she was the person most qualified to be president of the United States just a couple of months ago; John McCain said.
REAGAN: I don't know about you but I always vote for the top of the ticket. Don't you? People voted for Goldwater, not Miller. What can I tell you?
CHETRY: It's just interesting to hear McCain's words for sure. Great to talk to both of you. Stephanie Miller and Michael Reagan. Thanks.
Carol?
COSTELLO: Disgraced Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich may not be talking and he may not laughing either after a skit on "Saturday Night Live" portrayed him before the U.S. Senate trying to extort a personal bailout.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're currently facing federal charges for attempting to sell to the highest bidder the Illinois senate seat left vacant by the election of Senator Obama. Why do you feel entitle to a government bailout?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First of all, senator, because it was a federal prosecutor who spiked my deal to sell the senate seat in the first place. And second, because if I don't get this bailout I swear to God I will appoint some psycho mother [ bleep ] to [ bleep ].
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In my opinion you are a disgrace to the state of Illinois. Well, maybe not Illinois, but you know what I'm saying. If you the governor of any other state you would be a disgrace to that state.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: [ bleep ].
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me ask you, are you retarded?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First of all, senator, the correct term is developmentally challenged. And, yes, I am mildly developmentally challenged.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's just so funny. That was "Saturday Night Live's" take on the Illinois governor's scandal, but another governor's impersonation on the show is causing some controversy. Did the show go over the line?
And how do you survive a layoff with so many people getting laid off. What do you do after you get the news? It's crucial. Gerri Willis will be here with a step-by-step guide for the jobless.
It's 25 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What would you say you do here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, look, I already told you. I deal with the [ bleep ] customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills! I am good at dealing with people! Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: I always wanted to do that in an interview.
Welcome back to the most news in the morning.
How to survive a layoff? Gerri Willis is offering some important advice all week in a special series. This morning's first installment what do you do if you think you're about to lose your job?
Gerri's here now. I know you've been blogging all morning and you've been getting questions from viewers.
GERRI WILLIS: That's right. We have been getting questions from viewers and also advice. I'll share some of that with you, too.
The first question comes from Bennyam, he asks, "I need to make my resume look better. Can you help me with that please?" Your resume, it's your calling card. That's the one thing the potential employer sees first about you, it's how they get to know you. Absolutely remember this essential advice. Don't list every job you've ever had. Make it a list of accomplishments.
If were you a salesman in Ohio, were you the best salesman? Did you sell more than anybody else? The employer wants to hear what you did that helped the company, not just a list of jobs and where you've been.
Next question from Claudia in Florida who asked, "my husband just found out he may be losing his job next month. The possibility greatly concerns us. We do not know how to prepare. What advice do you have for us?"
We've been talking about having a savings together so that you can pay that mortgage or rent, you put food on the table, transportation. It's essential you that get three to six maybe even nine months' worth of savings together. And one way to do that if you're absolutely sure you'll be laid off, stop participating in that 401(k). Redirect all extra money to savings so you have some available so you can hang on to that house.
Another thing, use up those health benefits before your husband loses his job. You don't know what your health insurance is going to look like after you're unemployed. Finally, take the rolodex now. You don't know if after you're unemployed you'll be able to get access to it. So definitely get your essential contact list with you.
And finally is a comment from Purcell in Illinois. He says to us, his advice, if you do any work for free, put that on your resume, too. Experience does not only come from earning a salary. Great advice from one of our viewers. Thanks so much for that, Purcell.
COSTELLO: You know, I think the most difficult part, though, even if you were laid off and maybe your prospected employer understands about the economy, it's explaining why you were the one laid off.
WILLIS: Right. Well you know how this works. When you are laid off in a mass layoff like what is going on right now where thousands of people are let go from a company, typically what they do is they don't answer questions like that. Why me?
Because they're letting so many folks go at one time. You know the lawyers tell these managers exactly how to handle these things. We'll be talking about this more tomorrow. The day of the layoffs. What do expect. What you need to do. The essential advice.
COSTELLO: Can't wait to hear. Thank you so much, Gerri.
WILLIS: My pleasure.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN, ANCHOR: All right. It is 30 minutes after the hour. A look at top stories this morning.
The Iraqi reporter who threw a pair of shoes at President Bush in Baghdad is being held, tested for drugs and alcohol. As you can see, the president was not hit. He ducked in time and largely shrugged off the attack.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRES. GEORGE W. BUSH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: So what if a guy threw a shoe at me? I consider it an important step - on the road towards an Iraq that can sustain itself, govern itself and defend itself. But let me talk about the guy throwing the shoe. It is one way to gain attention. It's like going to a political rally and having people yell at you. It's like driving down the street and have people not gesturing with all five fingers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: There's mounting pressure on Illinois Governor Ron Blagojevich to step down from his post. The state's legislature meets this afternoon and could push for impeachment. The Illinois attorney general says that Blagojevich could step aside sometime today. The governor's spokesmen dismisses that. Republican lawmakers are pushing for a special election to fill Barack Obama's senate seat.
Meanwhile, John McCain is criticizing his own party for an ad tying the President-elect to the governor of Illinois. McCain instead saying the country's problems are simply too big to be focusing on these types of issues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I don't know all the details of the relationship between President-elect Obama's campaign, his people and the governor of Illinois, but I have some confidence that all the information will come out. It always does. It seems to me.
CHETRY: Well, McCain went on to say that the people want the government to unite and work together.
As the scandal surrounding Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich develops is becoming more of a distraction for Barack Obama and his transition team, some republicans in fact are trying to make it stick to the President-elect. CNN's Jim Acosta is live in Washington. You know some people are saying, how long is this going to drag on?
JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Kiran, just take for example the Illinois legislature. Some there are saying that the impeachment process there could drag on for weeks, perhaps months, and that is not good news for Barack Obama, because the longer this scandal drags on, the more of a distraction it becomes for the incoming president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: Right now, my main focus is to make sure that we elect Ron Blagojevich as governor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're working hard for Rod?
OBAMA: You bet you.
ACOSTA (voice-over): Complete with eerie music, this republican national committee web site video has the feel of a campaign attack ad highlighting Barack Obama's past ties to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and questioning the president-elect's handling of the scandal. The problem is, not all republicans approve that message.
MCCAIN: In all due respect to the Republican National Committee and anybody, right now I think we should try to be working constructively together.
ACOSTA: Even conservative Sean Hannity has noted what federal prosecutors have made clear. That there are no allegations of wrongdoing facing the next president.
SEAN HANNITY, "HANNITY & COLMES": If anything the governor expressed frustration that Obama wouldn't give him anything. Now I think that's fairly sculptorily (ph) for him.
OBAMA: Now what I'm absolutely certain about is that our office had no involvement in any deal making around my Senate seat.
ACOSTA: Still, Mr. Obama's promise to detail any conversations between his staff and Blagojevich has the nation's capitol waiting in suspense. Various news accounts say incoming chief of staff Rahm Emanuel did have contact with the governor's office about possible candidates for Mr. Obama's senate seat, but CNN has learned Emanuel is not a target of the Blagojevich investigation.
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: I do this this is a distraction and in fact we're now into the fifth day without a report on exactly who said what to whom.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I think overall this is a nuisance.
ACOSTA: A veteran observer of the Chicago political scene and CNN contributor Roland Martin says there's one big reason to take plenty of time addressing the matter.
MARTIN: Get it right coming out of the gate. They cannot afford to come out and release a report or whatever and say here are the context and then something else comes out later saying, no, here were some other context.
ACOSTA: Illinois's attorney general says she's heard Governor Blagojevich may offer his resignation soon, perhaps today. That along with the promise of disclosure from the Obama transition team could help push the Chicago political storm out to sea, or Kiran, as the case may be, Lake Michigan.
CHETRY: Before it freezes over. No. It doesn't freeze over, right?
ACOSTA: That's right.
CHETRY: It doesn't, right?
ACOSTA: Something's going freeze over.
CHETRY: Right. Exactly. Jim Acosta. Thank you.
COSTELLO: It's 35 minutes past the hour. Time to fast-forward to stories that are making news later today. The Federal Reserve will be meeting later today to discuss interest rates, but an announcement is not expected until tomorrow. Investors are wondering if we could see zero percent.
Tonight in New York City, Barack Obama's secretary of state nominee Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton will attend a fund- raiser aimed at retiring her campaign debt. It will be hosted by "Ugly Betty" actress America Ferrara and you can expect long lines at the post office today. It's the busiest mailing day of the entire holiday season. So if you still have letters to get in the mail to friends and to family, you better get there early.
CHETRY: First you got buy the presents before you can worry about mailing them out. I'm way beyond the eight ball here.
Well if you want a job, how about 50? Meet a man who got 50 jobs in 50 states and what he's learned that may help you land one.
Also, making fun of a governor's disability. Did a "Saturday Night Live" skit go too far? It's 36 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Millions of Americans are struggling to find jobs. Meet someone who has found 50 of them. Daniel Seddiqui is on a mission to explore the various careers America has to offer, and he's doing it in all 50 states in 50 weeks. Now I'm joined by Daniel Seddiqui. Welcome.
DANIEL SEDDIQUI, FMR. ATHLETIC COACH, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY: Hey. Good morning.
COSTELLO: Good morning. So you graduate from USC, you can't find a permanent job so you decide to get a job in each of the 50 states? What's the point of this?
SEDDIQUI: Yes. Well, I decided to write a book about different careers and cultures and different opportunities that America has to offer, and there's so many things that America has to offer and I didn't realize that until I started traveling.
COSTELLO: OK. So you're on your 15th state and you're 15th job right now. You're in New Mexico. What you doing now?
SEDDIQUI: This week I'm going to be a landscape architect and I start in about two hours. So we'll see what that entails.
COSTELLO: Wait. You got job as a landscape architect? That's not you graduated from? You got a degree in economics.
SEDDIQUI: I know. A lot of people ask that. How are you qualified for these jobs? Well, I'm like showcasing their careers through my book, and I'm also getting my foot in the door into these places. For instance, I was a hydrologist my second week and I had no science background whatsoever. By the end of the week they said, we wouldn't mind hiring you. So it definitely worked out.
COSTELLO: That's fantastic. So you go into the job interview telling people you just want to try out this job for a couple of weeks?
SEDDIQUI: Just a week. Yes. I don't want to be like a burden or anything on their job or anything.
COSTELLO: So employers are really hip to this idea? I mean, why would they agree to allow you to work for just a week at these jobs?
SEDDIQUI: Oh, no. My first - my first couple months heading his project up I got rejected thousands of times. So it wasn't just like, hey, I'll hire you for the week. No. I had to find the right people and the right fit. And I was so persistent on setting this project up, I was not going to give up no matter what. So because this is what I want to do, because I couldn't find a job in anything related to economics or accounting or finance. I said, well, maybe this is what my calling is right now.
COSTELLO: Maybe it's a better idea not to go into the field of economics right at this particular time. So a lot of people have been laid off. They're looking for jobs. You've managed to talk to 15 employers and to hire you for just a week and paying you.
SEDDIQUI: Right.
COSTELLO: Give us some advice on how were you able to do that?
SEDDIQUI: Well, I found the alternative. When I couldn't find a job in economics, I went into collegiate athletics, and I just got my foot in the door and they said, and they said well you don't have enough experience to get paid. So I had to start volunteering. So I coached at Northwestern, then I went to the University of West Virginia, and then finally I got internships and then I started getting paid. So that's the route I took. I mean, that's my advice to a lot of people. Just get your foot in the door and use networks. So that's what I've done.
COSTELLO: Be persistent. Persistent, persistent. OK. Well, good luck at your job as landscape architect. I hope you design your first lawn greatly. Daniel Seddiqui, thank you for joining us this morning. Kiran.
SEDDIQUI: Thanks for having me.
CHETRY: Still ahead, how taking drugs for depression can affect people in the bedroom and how long those potential side effects could last. We have new information this morning. You're watching the most news in the morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHETRY: Certainly some dangerous driving west of Colorado. Many drivers were caught off guard after the slush turned to ice on the mountain roads this weekend. There were no reports, though, of any serious injuries. An avalanche in Utah, in the mountains there though turned deadly. A two-foot wall of snow buried a female skier at popular Snowbird Resort. She died at a hospital. The second avalanche, buried another skier. He was dug out alive by friends.
And right now, the National Guard and power cruisers scrambling to restore power after a massive ice storm coated New England. Hundreds of thousands of people still in the dark. President Bush declaring a state of emergency in parts of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Our Rob Marciano is with us in Atlanta this morning. You're following this. There's like a big - there's some strange weather in that it's freezing in the middle part of country and it's going to be unseasonably warm for us here on the east coast.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN, METEOROLOGIST: It is good news for folks who are buried in the ice and have power out, they're going to warm up, at least for the next day and a half when things turn cold. On the west coast, you mentioned an avalanche. Avalanche danger very high as well a threat for mudslides. Next storm coming in with a lot of moisture. Flash flood watches and some mornings out for parts of southern California. We could see the land and the snow start to move there.
Meanwhile, frigid temperatures barreling down from Canada. We've been watching the temperature drop in Louisville all morning long from 50 now down to 40. St. Louis down into the teens and we got more moisture riding up and over the top of that cold air. So winter storm warnings have been posted for much of the Tennessee Valley, some of the mid south may see ice, all the way down, even south of Memphis, down the Mississippi River. There is your mild temperatures. There is your really cold temperatures. Some of this air, the coldest we've seen in several years, especially across the northwestern third of the country. This does not include the wind.
It's currently 6 in Chicago. It's currently minus 7 in Minneapolis. Not including the wind, it's minus 17 in Denver, Colorado, and currently 51 degrees in New York City. So yes, Kiran. Enjoy the mild weather. It won't last forever. It won't get to minus 17, but it will get cooler come about mid-week.
CHETRY: Just feel like minus 17, after 51. Wow. I'll be spoiled.
MARCIANO: Well, it's definitely (inaudible).
CHETRY: Rob, thanks.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: CNN NEWSROOM just minutes away. Heidi Collins is at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead. Hi, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Carol. That's right. Here's a check of what we're working on in the NEWSROOM now. President Bush met with heads of state and his head almost met with a couple of shoes. He goes abroad to bid farewell. Does the world say good-bye as well?
Automakers on the road to ruin or recovery? The White House scrambles to come up with a bailout loan as the clock ticks down.
And it's a canine Christmas. Barney. The presidential pooch, takes us on a final holiday romp through the White House.
We get started at the top of the hour right here on CNN. Carol.
COSTELLO: And Barney's the star in that video. Thank you, Heidi.
COLLINS: He is. You bet.
COSTELLO: Hey, if you're taking anti-depressants, listen up. It may impact your interest in sex. And the effects may linger long after you stop taking them.
And did a "Saturday Night Live" skit about a governor's disability cross the line? You be the judge. It's 48 minutes past the hour.
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COSTELLO: The numbers are huge. Millions of Americans are prescribed medication to combat depression and there is a side effect many people don't talk about. That would be sexual dysfunction. Elizabeth Cohen is here to tell us more. So Elizabeth, this is way more common than previously thought, right?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. Some studies show as many as one out of three people or even perhaps more who take antidepressants end up having problems with their sex drive because of the antidepressants and here's what happens. Antidepressants sort of mess up the serotonin levels in your brain, which can be great for your depression but serotonin also governs your sex drive. It can lower your sex drive. And this often takes people by surprise. You take a pill for one problem and it seems to be causing another. What you need to do is you need to go back to your doctor. Do not stop taking your antidepressants, because you want your sex drive to go up. You have to talk to your doctor of how to address this problem.
COSTELLO: Is there any way to address the problem? I mean, is there any way to limit the side effects?
COHEN: Oh, absolutely. I talked to one woman, a nurse, actually, who was having libido problems because of her anti-depressants. She switched antidepressants and actually that worked for her. Let's take a look at a couple other ways, other things that you can do if you're having libido problems because of antidepressants. Anti-impotence drugs sometimes help both men and women. It's not FDA approved for women but you can chat with your doctor about it. There are some anti-stress herbs like ginseng which can sometimes help and testosterone, taking testosterone in a patch or a pill form can help both men and women. Again, only approved for men, but women sometimes find relief as well.
COSTELLO: A drug like Viagra, I was trying to think what that first drug might be that you mentioned.
COHEN: Oh yes. I'm sorry. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra. That's what I mean by anti-impotence drugs. That they are approved only for men, but some women with antidepressants-induced libido problems have found relief as well by taking those drugs.
COSTELLO: Got you. Elizabeth Cohen live in Atlanta. Thanks so much.
CHETRY: All right. Funny or third-grade humor. Did a bit about a governor's disability cross the line on "Saturday Night Live"? See for yourself, when we come back. You're watching the most news in the morning.
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COSTELLO: Some videos right now on CNN.com. Most popular, President Bush dodging those flying shoes on his visit to Baghdad. An Iraqi journalist hurled, yelling, "it is farewell. Hit you dog." President Bush said it was nothing to worry about.
Also, OK. Check out "GQ" magazine if you must. Jennifer Aniston baring it all wearing as Kiran likes to say, nothing but a tie and some men.
CHETRY: It was just a tie.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: The last time I looked it was just a tie -
COSTELLO: But she has men too. She also revealed she can only laugh when she now here's Angelina Jolie talk about her affair with ex- husband Brad Pitt. So wrong. Those are the most popular videos right now on cnn.com.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRED ARMISEN, COMEDIAN "SNL" AS GOV. DAVID PATERSON: The president- elect must be prepared to help this state a grave economic crisis. It's bad out there, Seth. If you don't believe me, take a look at this graph that I got here. Now - it shows that unemployment in 2008 -
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Governor, it's upside down.
ARMISEN AS PATERSON: You bet it is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Well, that was Fred Armisen playing New York Governor David Paterson who in real life is legally blind. The skit failed to amuse the governor and he is responding today. For more on that, I'm now joined by Alina Cho. And he's not somebody who takes himself too seriously but I think he felt this really crossed the line.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well yes, I mean some people say, take a joke, and other people do say it did cross the line. You know, Kiran, the New York governor is known for having a very good sense of humor, even makes fun of his own blindness himself, but it is clear that Governor Paterson clearly believes that "SNL" stepped over the line when it portrayed him as blind and bumbling. Take a look at clip and see for yourself.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARMISEN AS PATERSON: I was not supposed to be your governor. I kind of fell ass backwards into this about 10 months ago to a sex scandal that I was miraculously not at the center of. I mean, come on. I'm a blind man who loves cocaine, who is suddenly appointed governor of New York. My life is an actual plot from a Richard Pryor movie.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHO: Well, what do you think? Well, a spokesperson for the governor's office said "the governor is sure that "Saturday Night Live" with all its talent can find a way to be funny without being offensive."
Now, according to the "New York Times," the governor himself was less direct when asked whether he was offended saying "I run the place that I work in. So I don't have to worry about being discriminated against. The point is, a lot of people who don't get promotions and opportunities and don't even get work are disabled in our own society." The National Federation of the Blind says it considers the skit an attack on all blind Americans.
Now, we have reached out to both the governor's office for further comment and "SNL" for a response. We have not heard back from "SNL" but it does raise an interesting question. When you are an elected official or a celebrity you certainly open yourself to ridicule. It comes with the territory. And you look at someone like Governor Blagojevich, Kiran, "SNL" made fun of his hair. You know, his use of profanity over the weekend, even his wife.
And some people say that's OK, but with this, going after Governor Paterson's blindness, that crossed the line. I mean, you know, he never asked to be blind, but having said that, other people say, you should be able to take a joke. Certainly "SNL" made a name for itself, became famous with its sort of cutting, biting humor. So, you know, there are two sides to the story.
CHETRY: Absolutely. And as I said before, we've interviewed the governor. He is somebody who is very jovial and he also -
CHO: He does.
CHETRY: He doesn't take himself too seriously. CHO: He doesn't. And he has made light of the fact that he is blind. He's made fun of himself on several occasions, but he certainly believes in this case it crossed the line, and he said in a statement that he even has some suggestions for "SNL" on how to be funny. Kiran.
COSTELLO: You know, not to interrupt, in the "Daily News," the governor actually is quoted. I love to read tabloids in the morning. He says "I can take a joke but only 37 percent of disabled people are working. And I'm afraid that kind of third-grade humor certainly adds to this atmosphere. Let's just say I don't think it helped. That's what he told the "Daily News" yesterday.
CHO: Yes because he thinks it's an attack on all blind people and certainly he says, you know, in a statement, that he can take the joke, if it's just about him, and he can make fun of himself, but you go after everyone, and that's where it crosses the line. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Alina Cho, good to see you this morning. Thanks.
All right. And so there you have it. Let's see what else happens with it, but as I say, he's somebody who doesn't take himself too terribly seriously.
COSTELLO: I don't think "SNL" is going to stop. Remember the Joe Cocker stuff that they used to do back in the day?
CHETRY: Yes. Stevie Wonder, and on and on.
COSTELLO: Yes.
CHETRY: Anyway, well we want to thank you for being with us today on AMERICAN MORNING. We'll be back here tomorrow and Carol it was great having you in for John Roberts.
COSTELLO: It was a lot of fun. Thanks for having me. I'll be back in Washington tomorrow. Right now, let's head to Atlanta and Heidi Collins.
