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American Morning
"Deep Throat" Has Died; White House Looking for Orderly Bankruptcy for Auto Industry; Inauguration Outrage on Rick Warren; Clinton's Donors List Revealed; Caroline Kennedy Meets with Al Sharpton; Detroit Automakers and Lions Fight to Survive; Bush's Mea Culpa
Aired December 19, 2008 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Breaking news. "Deep Throat" is dead. The former G-man who blew the whistle on Watergate.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He saw something wrong in the government. And what should he have done?
ROBERTS: This morning, Carl Bernstein talks about journalism's best kept secret.
Plus, the family business.
CAROLINE KENNEDY, SEEKING SENATE SEAT: This is a time when nobody can afford to sit out.
ROBERTS: Caroline Kennedy making a serious Senate run. But is she more than just a name? We'll ask the Reverend Al Sharpton live on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And good morning. Thanks very much for being with us on this Friday, December 19th. We got all that. We got a huge snowstorm making its way into the northeast as well. How much are we going to get?
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Six to ten inches, which is, you know, terrifying when you think about it trying to drive in that.
ROBERTS: Exactly. Yes. So we got complete coverage of that. We got our whole team out across the northeast and the Midwest to bring you the latest on the weather.
CHETRY: I know. You're from Canada, this is nothing.
ROBERTS: All right. I love driving in the snow. It's great. (INAUDIBLE) national sport.
But anyway, we've got all kinds of coverage on that for you. So we'll let you know about airport delays, travel delays, how much snow you're going to get, et cetera, et cetera. So stay with us here on CNN. CHETRY: And meanwhile, we begin with news that broke overnight about Watergate's "Deep Throat," the news of his passing.
Mark Felt has died in California. He was 95 years old. Felt's identity was Washington's best kept secret for three decades. In 2005, Felt told "Vanity Fair" that he was the source who secretly supplied Bob Woodward with leads in the Watergate affair that brought down President Nixon. He was number two at the FBI at the time.
The White House says an orderly bankruptcy could be just what the doctor ordered for U.S. lawmakers. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says bankruptcy should be avoided if possible, but an orderly reorganization may be the best way to keep the industry from collapsing.
General Motors and Chrysler are awaiting a White House decision on billions of dollars in emergency federal loans. And much of the country is getting an early taste of winter. This is what we were talking about.
The northeast bracing for a powerful storm that dumped more than a foot of snow from Arizona to Illinois. The National Weather Service issuing a storm warning, a winter storm warning for the entire New York metropolitan area. And ice storm warnings issued for parts of five states in the Midwest. So far, more than 100 flights canceled at Chicago's two main airports.
And we are tracking the extreme weather. Reynolds Wolf is at the CNN weather center for us in Atlanta. We have Susan Roesgen at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. And that's where we start today.
So the weather really paralyzing the airports in the Windy City. Hey there, Susan.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, you know, Kiran, actually those 100 flights canceled, those flights were canceled by 4:00 yesterday afternoon. That's how concerned people where here in Chicago about what we might be getting. Here this morning in the airport, things are moving pretty smoothly. I'm going to check the cancellations and departures board here.
Well, I'd say about a tenth of the flights are canceled so far this morning, but that could change because right now there isn't a lot of snow on the ground right outside the airport. They've had the plows out. And also Chicago does snow well. This is what Chicago prepares for.
I talked to the folks at the street and sanitation department this morning, and they tell me that they have about 9,500 miles to plow. They have 274 trucks with salt and the plows on them already.
You know, 9,500 miles, Kiran, that would be from Chicago to Australia. They know they have a big job. They're used to it. They do have the plows ready. They have the salt ready. And they actually say that this is the eighth, the eighth winter storm that we've had so far. We're only in December. The last really, really big storm here was almost ten years ago, January of 1999 when they got more than 20 inches in two days. But it looks like so far we may not get that much -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. Susan Roesgen for us in Chicago this morning. Thanks.
ROBERTS: Our Reynolds Wolf is tracking all the extreme weather for you from the extreme weather center down there in Atlanta.
Reynolds, you know, a tradition we hold here particularly in New York that the more we make of these storms on the way in, the less they deliver. What are we looking at today?
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Right now in Chicago, you know Susan is actually right, the storm not expected to deliver a great deal of snowfall in Chicago. About one to three inches of accumulation is expected, but you have to remember some of that is going to come in the form of ice. And ice is going to be the big danger for many locations.
Now currently in Chicago, you see a lot of white popping up on radar. Obviously that's your snowfall where you see pink that's a bit of a mix.
Now, from Chicago southward, it looks like the best potential for dealing with ice. However, when you get north of Chicago up towards Milwaukee, that's where you see the snowfall totals get much closer to about a foot or so.
Farther north you go the better likelihood you're going to be seeing by dealing with some issues with that snowfall. But in Chicago, again, one to three expected. We have no delays to report anywhere in the nation right now. That is going to change I guarantee you for both airports in Chicago.
As we pull away a bit more to the east, you're going to see some snow forming in parts of Michigan. From Cleveland to Toledo, at this time, primarily it's an ice storm or ice event at this time.
From State College in Pennsylvania to Allentown, we're seeing just a little bit of a wintry mix right now. But back in New York, it hasn't happened yet but later on, we're expecting this morning for the snow to begin to pile up.
New York City, I'm thinking anywhere from four to eight inches of snowfall for the downtown area. However, there will be some places that could get anywhere from six to ten over towards Brooklyn. Certainly a possibility in Yonkers. When you get farther to the north to Schenectady, anywhere from six to 12, possibly six to 12 back into Finger Lakes in New York. So it's going to be a tremendous mess.
Boston, listen up, very carefully. In Boston, you might be seeing over a foot of snowfall, maybe up to 15 inches of snowfall as we ran up the weekend all due to the storm system that is several hundred miles in width all drifting off towards the east. It is going to be a better day for you in Chicago. I'd say the next couple of hours, I would think things are going to begin to slow down in terms of that precipitation. But remember, guys, key thing is with all that precipitation, all that ice, all that snow on the ground with temperatures below freezing today, it's not going anywhere.
Let's send it back to you.
ROBERTS: Reynolds, as you were saying, three to six inches yesterday max -- sorry, one to three inches max in New York yesterday. And now you're saying four to eight?
WOLF: Absolutely. Just a little bit of a shift. You know, we may have to change these numbers again. Anytime we have new computer models they come in that show the track of the slope. Maybe going a bit farther to the south, maybe going a bit farther to the north. A couple of them with the interaction of the cold air could change everything. No question.
ROBERTS: That's the great thing about meteorology. If you don't like what you got now, just wait a little while because it will probably change.
WOLF: There you go.
ROBERTS: Reynolds, thanks so much for that. We'll keep in touch with you -- close touch with you this morning. Thanks, buddy.
Happening right now, production at all 30 of Chrysler's plants coming to a screeching halt this morning. They're going to be shut down for the next month.
Right now, President Bush still mulling his bailout options but for the first time yesterday, the White House said it's looking at orderly bankruptcy as a potential way to deal with this auto crisis.
The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at President Bush is now appealing for mercy. A spokesman for Iraq's prime minister says Muntadar al-Zaidi apologized in a letter calling the incident a "great ugly act" and pleaded for leniency. He's expected to stand trial shortly. The shoe thrower's brother says he doubts that any such letter was sent, though.
A U.S. commander casting doubt that North Korea's reclusive leader is ill. Yesterday, Admiral Tim Keating said 66-year-old Kim Jong-Il is alive and remains in control of North Korea's government. There has been speculation about his health since September when he didn't appear at a military parade marking North Korea's 68th anniversary.
And Pastor Rick Warren responding to the outcry over his role at the inauguration. Warren commends Barack Obama for his courage to pick him and take enormous heat from gay Americans, their supporters and liberal groups. CNN's Jason Carroll has been looking into this. He's got more on this firestorm.
Good morning to you.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
Obama is the one who's really being criticized by some of his supporters, even saying this is an incredibly sensitive move. Those on the left and some on the right are calling it a betrayal. President-elect Obama says he hopes his choice will help bring America together on social issues. What it shows is how far apart both sides really are.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL (voice-over): Liberal bloggers are in an uproar.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Emotionally, it felt like a kick in the gut. It's also just very puzzling.
CARROLL: They're writing headlines such as "Obama picks homophobe." To his followers, Pastor Rick Warren is a spiritual leader. But his critics say the choice for him to do the invocation at the inauguration is a slap in the face.
KATHRYN KOLBERT, PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY: He has taken positions against women in America, against gays and lesbians in America.
CARROLL: Why so much anger? Warren is against a woman's right to choose and same-sex marriage, which he appears to compare to incest and pedophilia.
PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: I'm opposed to having a brother and sister being together and call that marriage. I'm opposed to an older guy marrying a child.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you think those are equivalent to gays getting married?
WARREN: Oh, I do.
CARROLL: So why would President-elect Obama choose such a controversial figure for such a historic day?
BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his. And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign has been all about.
CARROLL: Some of those who supported Obama during his campaign say they feel betrayed.
HARRY KNOX, HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN: We worked very hard for Senator Obama's election. For us to not be respected by his choices in this case is really very disappointing.
CARROLL: Disappointment not just from the left. Some Evangelicals say Warren has no business preaching at the inauguration. DAVID BRODY, CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK: My e-mail box is flooded with pro-life conservatives saying this is ridiculous. So why is Rick Warren associating himself with Barack Obama on such a historic day?
CARROLL: Does anyone think Obama made the right choice? Politically some analysts say he may have.
STEPHEN HAYES, "THE WEEKLY STANDARD": You have criticism from the left as he heads into his first 100 days. That could be helpful as he looks to sort of quickly pass several bills. He's going to need centrist help.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: And this morning, Democratic Congressman Barney Frank is also slamming Obama's choice of Warren calling it disappointing.
Pastor Warren has responded to the backlash. He commended Obama for his courage in selecting someone with views different than his own. Warren says, "Hopefully individuals passionately expressing opinions from the left and from the right will recognize that both of us have shown a commitment to model civility in America."
ROBERTS: And at this point, does it seem like there's any chance that Barack Obama will change his mind? So I guess they're just going to --
CARROLL: Not yet. But definitely there are some of his critics who were saying he should.
ROBERTS: Yes. Well, I think they look like they're prepared to take the heat. So we'll see which way this goes.
Jason, good to see you this morning. Thanks.
CARROLL: All right.
CHETRY: Well, as we mentioned just a moment ago, the most famous anonymous source in American history has died. Mark Felt, better known as "Deep Throat" was the whistle blower who exposed the Watergate scandal and help bring down the Nixon White House.
CNN's Fredricka Whitfield looks at Felt's life and his unique place in American history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): William Mark Felt could have been a footnote in the history of the FBI. Remembered as its associate director in the early '70s, except for one crucial thing. He was journalism's best kept secret.
He was "Deep Throat" as portrayed in the movie "All the President's Men," code name for the mysterious informant who leaked information about Watergate to "Washington Post" reporters' Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Like all complicated relationships, he said, "Push me. I've been a street agent in the FBI and you don't get anywhere unless you push people like hell. So go ahead."
WHITFIELD: Felt's clues helped expose a cover up by the Nixon administration about the botched 1972 burglary at the National Democratic Committee headquarters in the Watergate Hotel.
Born August 17, 1913 in Twin Falls, Idaho, graduating from the University of Idaho and George Washington University law school, he joined the FBI in 1942. As a G-man, Felt hunted Nazi spies during World War II. He had a bag of counterintelligence tricks honed during his long career with the bureau.
In retrospect, some say clandestine meetings in a garage were not out of character, they were part of his game.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I appreciate you coming out like that.
WHITFIELD: It wasn't until he was 91, four years after a stroke, Felt revealed his secret. A California lawyer enlisted by Felt's daughter wrote a tell-all article for "Vanity Fair" magazine in 2005.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're all so proud of him not only for his role in history for that, but the character that he is.
STATEMENT FROM MARK FELT, JR.: We believe our father. William Mark Felt Sr. was an American hero. He went well above and beyond the call of duty at risk to himself to save this country from a horrible injustice.
WHITFIELD: Some speculated that Felt resented being passed over by Nixon for the top role at the FBI following J. Edgar Hoover's death in 1972. Ironically, Felt's life was a paradox.
He was eventually convicted of authorizing unrelated illegal FBI break-ins himself. He was pardoned by President Ronald Reagan and never served any time in prison. While he spent his career serving several presidents --
ROBERT REDFORD, ACTOR AND DIRECTOR: Why he did it is certainly an interesting notion, but for me it's just a fundamental fact that he did it is what changed everything.
WHITFIELD: He'll be remembered for helping to bring down one commander in chief.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: End of an era in America and American politics.
CHETRY: Sure is. It's very interesting, you know, how history comes full circle when he talked about -- when he was convicted of the wiretapping, it was Weather Underground. It was the radical anti-war group of the 1970s that came up in this election because of William Ayers.
ROBERTS: It was so incongruous too in 2005. This nice little old man standing on the porch of his home and he was the guy that helped bring down a president.
CHETRY: Exactly.
ROBERTS: Pretty incredible.
CHETRY: Well, Caroline Kennedy wants to succeed Hillary Clinton in the Senate. But is she qualified to serve? We're going to talk with one prominent New Yorker who's convinced that Kennedy has the right stuff.
ROBERTS: And secret donors revealed. Bill Clinton disclosing who gave millions of dollars to his charity. Does the donor list present a problem for Hillary Clinton as secretary of state? We'll find out.
It's 13 minutes after the hour.
CHETRY: The Detroit City blues.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Detroit needs help. It's just kicking the city in the stomach.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: The big three in big trouble. Sky-high unemployment and a team that just can't win. And it could get worse.
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, Christine Romans joins us now "Minding Your Business." We're talking about the White House which is saying that perhaps an orderly bankruptcy for the troubled auto industry could be just the ticket. This is what you brought up yesterday...
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Right.
CHETRY: ... with the White House spokesperson Dana Perino's statement saying a disorderly bankruptcy would --
ROMANS: Right. She said a disorderly collapse of the industry should be avoided. And then later in the day the president almost to the word said the same thing, we want to avoid a disorderly collapse, which had a lot of people saying, wow, are they talking about an orderly collapse of the industry? Are they talking about some sort of managed bankruptcy? And indeed, that's what it looks like.
Last night, the treasury secretary flushing out sort of what they're talking about saying that it's kind of a last option. But he said, "If the right outcome is reorganization or bankruptcy, then isn't it better to get there through an orderly process where every effort is made to avoid it. And if it can't be avoided, everyone's prepared for it."
So this is clearly one of the options on the table. I mean, what does it look like, a managed bankruptcy? But one industry insider told us, look, it's just like reorganizing a bankruptcy organization but it's all happening outside of the courts and they're getting all the concessions they need. They're getting guarantees from the government and they're going to make this happen so that you don't have -- you don't have people not buying cars or you don't have people absolutely hit by a bankruptcy.
There are other people who are saying no. It could be an actual bankruptcy reorganization but that the government goes in with some guarantees ahead of time. You know, the president yesterday also making some comments just talking about the idea. As he said, putting good money after bad. Let's listen to what the president said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am worried about a disorderly bankruptcy and what it would do to the psychology and the markets. They're beginning to, you know, to thaw, but there's still a lot of uncertainty. I'm also worried about putting good money after bad. That means whether or not these autos will become viable in the future.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: So one thing here that I think is pretty interesting is there's probably a lot of negotiations going on between the companies and the White House. So a lot of people telling me don't underestimate the politics of these statements, trying to press the automakers into getting some more concessions than maybe what the White House wants by raising the threat of some sort of bankruptcy reorganization.
ROBERTS: The White House wouldn't be saying what it's saying if it's not talking to the automakers about it.
ROMANS: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. Chrysler will not comment this morning on any of these reports or any of the policy options. GM has said for the record that they think bankruptcy filing would be catastrophic for the company. I think people would not buy their cars if there was bankruptcy.
ROBERTS: But if the government guaranteed warranties and things like that as something like Mitt Romney was saying...
ROMANS: Right. Right.
ROBERTS: ... presented, you know, perhaps they would.
ROMANS: That's right. And that's what -- I'm sure that's what's on the table and they're trying to hammer out right now. But day-by- day, the fortunes change for this industry and day-by-day they get closer to the brink.
ROBERTS: That's right. We'll see where it goes.
Thanks, Christine.
Almost 19 minutes now after the hour. Stay with us we'll be right back.
CHETRY: Clinton's secret donor list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHEILA KRUMHOLZ, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are all going to be flash points that the next secretary of state is going to have to deal with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Who gave Bill Clinton what? Opening the books on the former president's half a billion dollar charity and what it means for Hillary Clinton's chances of being secretary of state?
You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Former President Bill Clinton pledging to do everything he can to help his wife become the next secretary of state. His charitable foundation now releasing its donor list. CNN's Joe Johns looks at whose on it and if they could present any problems for Hillary Clinton.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: John and Kiran, no more questions about what, if anything, Bill Clinton is hiding.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Thank you.
JOHNS (voice-over): After resisting this for ten years, his list of more than 200,000 donors who gave at least $492 million is now an open book. Nearly 3,000 pages long and posted online. The biggest two donors far and away are a British charity group called The Children's Investment Fund Foundation dedicated to improving lives of children in poverty and UNITAID, a World Health Organization partnership to fight HIV/AIDS. Both donated more than $25 million.
CLINTON: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
JOHNS: But the eye openers if you could call them that are the foreign interests in the Middle East. The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at least 10 million. Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Dubai, each at least one million.
(on camera): So the question is whether donations to Bill Clinton's foundation could somehow complicate Hillary Clinton's confirmation as secretary of state, and if she's confirmed her getting the job done.
SHEILA KRUMHOLZ, CENTER FOR RESPONSIVE POLITICS: Saudi Arabia specifically and the Middle East and India are all going to be flash points that the next secretary of state is going to have to deal with early.
JOHNS (voice-over): Other donors seemingly could complicate things for Hillary Clinton or at least create questions at her confirmation hearing. Amar Singh lobbied Congress including Senator Clinton to allow India to get nuclear fuel and technology. The same guy gave at least a million dollars to the Clinton foundation.
And the controversial security firm Blackwater, which recently had five employees indicted over a firefight in Baghdad also gave a small donation. The next secretary of state will have to decide whether Blackwater keeps its contracts to protect American diplomats. If any donor starts looking like a conflict of interest for Hillary Clinton, a long time friend and aide says she can just take herself out of the loop.
LANNY DAVIS, FMR. CLINTON AIDE: The commitment is 100 percent that whatever the White House, whatever the president wants, the secretary of state will do because he's the president.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: With such a long list of names at least the mine fields are out in the open -- John and Kiran.
ROBERTS: Joe Johns reporting for us this morning. Joe, thanks so much.
She has shunned the media spotlight in the past, cultivated a real sense of privacy around her. But now Caroline Kennedy is running the political gauntlet in New York. We'll ask the Reverend Al Sharpton why he's supporting her quest for Hillary Clinton's Senate seat.
And this morning, a city and its fans struggling alongside the auto industry. But can Detroit's football team save the city. We'll find out.
It's 25 minutes after the hour.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLINE KENNEDY, SEEKING U.S. SENATE SEAT: I come as a mother, as a lawyer, as an author, as an education advocate, and, you know, from a family that really has spent generations in public service and I feel this commitment. This is a time when nobody can afford to sit out and I hope that I have something to offer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." That's Caroline Kennedy yesterday telling reporter what she feels she brings to the table in her quest to fill Hillary Clinton's Senate seat. Now Kennedy broke bread with the Reverend Al Sharpton at a Harlem landmark, Sylvia's, yesterday. And Reverend Sharpton joins me now with more and what they talked about.
Great to see you this morning. Thanks for coming in.
REV. AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: Good morning. Good morning.
CHETRY: So what did you guys talk about at the lunch?
SHARPTON: We talked about education. We talked about some of the things that I felt would be important for whoever is chosen by Governor Paterson to fill Senator Clinton's seat.
She listened a lot. She gave some of her ideas. She and I have known each other in working in education reform. So what we tried to do from National Action Network is talk to her, talk to some of the candidates in Illinois about what we would like to see before the Senate. I haven't endorsed Caroline or anyone in New York or anyone in Illinois. But I want to set a tone.
I was frankly surprised when she called me three days ago and said she was running. And I was even more surprised that people say she's not qualified or some I think there's political motive behind that.
I think she's qualified. I think she's very unique. And I'll see who the governor chooses.
CHETRY: And let me ask you about this. Why did she seek you out? Why did you think? Was she looking for an advocate, for a mentor? Did she want your endorsement?
SHARPTON: I think she never asked for an endorsement. She went upstate New York and met with mayors and people. She called other people that head national groups and local groups based in the state. I think she wants to talk to a variety of people to get ideas and to show she can deal with a wide array of people.
Hillary Clinton came to us when she first came to the state. In fact, I sat at the same table in Sylvia's yesterday with Caroline Kennedy that I had dinner with Barack Obama with over a year ago. The exact same thing.
CHETRY: So -- and is there an implicit endorsement, I guess, in eating with you at Sylvia's and you standing next to her as she announces why she thinks she's qualified?
SHARPTON: I mean, I've talked to Attorney General Cuomo who's on the list of those being considered. I've talked to Carolyn Maloney. I don't know if it's an implicit endorsement. I think it is clear when you say she's qualified, she's unique. And I think those that are just upset with her because she endorsed Obama rather than Clinton, should, you know, exhale, get a life. She's qualified that Governor Paterson made the decision.
CHETRY: And there have been criticisms for sure. There's an interesting one today. Kathleen Parker writes in "The Washington Post" not necessarily about her experience but just about this nepotism. I'm writing that the, "The real rub is she hasn't earned it. The sense of entitlement implicit in Kennedy's plea for appointment mocks our national narrative. We honor rags-to-riches, but riches-to-riches animates our revolutionary spirit."
Is that a fair point?
REV. AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK: No. In my opinion, when you look at the fact that she's used her celebrity to push education reform, push education programs, train principals, as a constitutional lawyer written books on that, she's shown public service.
If she just used her celebrity to do celebrity things, that's a fair point. She has been involved in public service. The question becomes, do you hold against her the fact she was the president's daughter? I heard the same criticisms, by the way, when Hillary Clinton came hear. She's only been the first lady, only been married to a president. What does that mean?
CHETRY: Right.
SHARPTON: She has been a good senator when she was elected.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: She went on to earn the respect (INAUDIBLE).
SHARPTON: So, she is replacing someone if in fact that's the governor's decision. They have to face the same criticism. The irony is -- who is she replacing here, someone who have to face the same type of criticism. Mayor Bloomberg in New York who never held office...
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: But you know...
SHARPTON: The only thing was he was a billionaire.
CHETRY: The one thing that I will say that all of the people that you highlight right now are capable of raising large amounts of money, which is really what you need in the political world these days. Is that a consideration for Governor Paterson?
SHARPTON: Well, I don't know what he will consider. He and I talked. We've not talked about this. But it is a political consideration. Whoever he appoints will have to run almost immediately a year later and then run again two years later. Raise money and help the ticket, and to be able to reach the White House and work in the Senate.
With Harry Reid endorsing Caroline Kennedy who is the majority leader in the Senate coming January, and the fact that she supported Obama, I think she won't have problems getting to the White House and getting to the majority leader if she's selected.
CHETRY: She certainly has a lot of help on her side. Reverend Al Sharpton, great to talk to you as always. Thanks for coming in this morning.
SHARPTON: Happy holidays.
CHETRY: You, too. John?
ROBERTS: 32 minutes after the hour. Right now, a major storm gaining strength and zeroing in on the northeast this morning. That same wintry system already bringing heavy snow to Arizona all the way up to Illinois. And there's a live picture this morning of O'Hare Airport. More than 100 flights were canceled there today so far. But those are cancellations, they were actually in place yesterday in anticipation of the storm coming in.
Our Reynolds Wolf, of course, is tracking all of delays across the Midwest and on into the Northeast today as the storm makes its way across the northern tier.
Mark Felt, the man better known as Deep Throat has died. He was the whistle blower who exposed the Watergate scandal and helped bring down the Nixon administration. The former FBI agent suffered from congestive heart failure, but so far the cause of his death is not known. Mark Felt was 95.
And this morning, the assembly lines at all of Chrysler's U.S. plants are out of service for the next month, while Detroit begs for a bailout. But it's not just the Big 3 who are fighting to survive. So is the city, it's workers and its home football team, the Detroit Lions.
CNN'S Carol Costello is live in Washington. She's watching all of this.
Good morning, Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. All right. I admit it. I'm going to admit it right up front. I am a Detroit Lions fan. I said it. I have a joke for you, John, because I can admit that I'm a Lions fan and I have a sense of humor. How do you keep a Detroit Lion out of your backyard, John?
ROBERTS: Ah -- OK, I'll bite.
COSTELLO: You put up goal posts.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Where do you go when a tornado hits Michigan? To Ford Field. They never have a touchdown there. I mean, pity Detroit. Some say the win-less Lions have become a perfect metaphor for the city itself.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): You could call Detroit the "Big Hurt." It's sole major industry is begging for a government bailout. Right now, the answer is a big, fat no.
SEN. RICHARD SHELBY (R), ALABAMA: This is only delaying their funeral.
COSTELLO: Ouch! Unemployment stands at 10.1 percent. Foreclosure rates are staggering. And the city's mayor?
KWAME KILPATRICK, FORMER DETROIT MAYOR: I'm asking for, you know, your forgiveness. It will never happen again.
COSTELLO: He lost his job and landed in jail for lying under oath about a lurid sexual affair. Detroit, the "Big Hurt."
DREW SHARP, "DETROIT FREE PRESS" COLUMNIST: Detroit needs help not just from the economic standpoint but, you know, people in this town count on the sports team to kind of help them get through the real world, and as bad as the Lions were this season, it's just kicking the city in the stomach even more.
COSTELLO: Are they ever. The Detroit Lions, far from uplifting, they've become a metaphor for what's wrong with Detroit. Owned by William Clay Ford, yes, those Fords, the Lions are on the verge of a historic NFL record. If they lose this Sunday, they will be 0-15. Yes, 0-15. For you non-sports fans, that means they have not won a game all season. If they lose this Sunday after, they will be 0-16. Fans are beyond angry.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With any luck maybe William Clay Ford will hire George W. Bush to our new general manager. And if that happens, you thought 0-16 was bad? We might even lose the pre-season.
COSTELLO: Detroit seems to be taking out all of its woes on the team, booing them so relentlessly that Lions center Dominic Raiola gave the finger to his own fans with no regrets.
DOMINIC RAIOLA, DETROIT LIONS CENTER: I'm tired of being a doormat. You know, for people to just talk to us, how do they want to talk to us. I'm just not going to put up with that any more.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But desperate times calls for desperate measures?
ROD MARINELLI, DETROIT LIONS COACH: No. Why do you say that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm asking you, are you desperate for a win?
MARINELLI: I want to win. COSTELLO: Some fans are starting to drift away, but for many there remains those beautiful things that Lions fans have always had and that Michigan possesses -- intense loyalty and hope. You can hear it in the governor's voice.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In Michigan, we are going to be all right.
COSTELLO: And in sports fans' hearts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm one of the few people in this town who actually thinks 0-16 is impossible in the NFL.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: But you know what, John? Some fans are actually hoping for 0-16 because at least the Lions will win something -- an embarrassing place in history.
ROBERTS: And you know why the Lions want to clone, don't you?
COSTELLO: Why?
ROBERTS: So they can have somebody they can beat. Carol, thanks. Good to see you this morning.
COSTELLO: OK.
ROBERTS: 36 minutes after the hour.
Santa's secrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In this economy, consignment shopping is the only way to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Buying on a budget. Lola shows us how to dress the kids up without running up a tab. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Well, with the economy putting a squeeze on your wallet, the days dressing your kids in the latest trends may be on hold, but it doesn't mean that your kids have to sacrifice style. Our own recessionista Lola Ogunnaike is here with some great tips for shopping second hand. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (on camera): I don't know if that's going fit you, honey? What do you think? Maybe?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: It goes up to my knees. OGUNNAIKE: And this is only $30.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: It feels warm.
OGUNNAIKE: Yes. We got to find some more stuff. It's a party dress.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: And it comes with a scarf.
OGUNNAIKE: $75. Yes, we're doing it.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Are we going to buy it?
EVA DORSEY, JANE'S EXCHANGE CHILDREN'S RESALE: Someone will drag someone in here kicking and screaming, oh, I only want something new for my brand new instant baby, and they get in here and they end up with handfuls of clothes.
DARCIE SHIELDS, CUSTOMER: In this economy, consignment shopping is the only way to go. It just makes sense.
MARGORIE INGALL, CUSTOMER: By the time your kids are 2 year, you're going to figure out your kid is going to trash everything that you put them in. So, you know, used stuff is a really great buy.
(SONG PLAYING)
OGUNNAIKE: OK, so what are you thinking?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: I like this.
OGUNNAIKE: OK, so you like the dresses?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Yes. I like this, and this, and this. I want to try it on.
(SONG PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: When I try that on, some might be loose too bit.
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Can I try it on?
OGUNNAIKE: You are a shopper, aren't you?
UNIDENTIFIED GIRL: Yes.
OGUNNAIKE: I knew it. I knew it.
MARCIE ANO BOHAN, STILL HIP RESALE SHOP: A lot of people have concerns about quality control when things are second hand. So there's things like the Consumer Products Safety Commission that you can check for weekly e-mails about recalls, and definitely talk to the store owner about it.
OGUNNAIKE: All right, girls, I think we're ready to go try on clothes. Yehey!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yehey (ph)!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Now in full disclosure, we have to let you know these adorable kids are our producer, Jamie, and his wife, Mary Claire. They are so adorable -- Beatrice, Dilia (ph).
OGUNNAIKE: Dilia.
CHETRY: And then the first little girl we saw was our business producer, Hussein's (ph) daughter, Lara. So adorable.
So were they -- they were excited at the clothing?
OGUNNAIKE: They had the best time. But I think I had a better time looking for the pint size deals and outfits. And they were so gracious and so sweet, and so adorable. They had a great time.
CHETRY: It does make sense, you're right. A lot of new mothers out there know -- I mean, you get so many gifts, right? And baby clothes, and half the time your kids, especially with the fancy dresses or the little boys suits, they only wear them one time.
(CROSSTALK)
OGUNNAIKE: They grow so quickly.
CHETRY: And so it's a smart way to get rid of your stuff and to let somebody else also be able to use them for a deal.
OGUNNAIKE: Exactly. And a lot of mothers feel guilty about spending so much money, and it only gets one use. So they figure it's a good way to recycle clothing. You're being ecologically friendly, and you're also helping another mother out.
CHETRY: And you're right. And when it comes to the pocketbook, it's so smart. So that little girls can play dress up all they want and it doesn't cost you.
OGUNNAIKE: Exactly. I mean, some of the things that we saw were only $6, $5. So it's great. You can give it away and not feel badly about it at all.
CHETRY: Very cute. Very cute, stuff. Lola, thanks so much.
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
CHETRY: John?
ROBERTS: This just in to CNN. Right now, a monster storm commanding the attention of people living in the northern plains, in the Midwest, and now on into the northeast later on this morning. This system could dump up to a foot of snow in some parts of Michigan. Joining us now from our affiliate WDIV is Jim Kiertzner. He's live in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. Just a little bit northwest of the City of Detroit.
It looks pretty snowy where you are this morning, Jim.
JIM KIERTZNER, WDIV CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, John. We're watching the snow blow through here horizontally. We're almost into the second chapter of this snow story. The second hour of the snowfall. It's coming down at a rate of almost two inches an hour. In fact, let me give you a quick little measurement here.
We had two inches of snow on the ground when we started. We're now just a little bit under four inches. Take a look at historic Woodward Avenue. This is the first paved street in the United States. We've seen about half a dozen snow plows go by, but this is going to be an ongoing work in progress all day, just trying to keep ahead of the snow.
I can tell you we've had hundreds of school districts here in the Detroit metro area that are already closed, more closing as the morning progresses. We've had several communities here already declare snow emergencies. What that means is they don't want people to park on the public streets so the snowplows can get through. We are right in the bull's eye as far as Michigan is concerned. We're expecting six to ten inches before it all ends this afternoon.
John?
ROBERTS: That's an awful lot of snowfall, Jim. It's going to take an awful lot of money to be cleared out. We know that some municipalities are having problems with budgetary constraints, re- supplying themselves with salt, making sure to keep the plows are running. There in Bloomfield Township, but I guess in the greater metro Detroit area, any idea if they're going to have some problems, making sure that all that snow is gone by, you know, I guess at least Sunday morning?
KIERTZNER: All of the counties have told us they're going to have their entire army, their entire fleet of snow plows out for this, and they are going to need them all day today. They have had some shortages of salt, but this is going to be more of a snow plow event than a salt event today.
John?
ROBERTS: All right. Jim Kiertzner for us just outside of Detroit reporting, who where it looks certainly like a winter wonderland. Jim, thanks very much for joining us.
46 minutes now after the hour. We'll be right back.
Smile big. No teeth. Shiny teeth. It doesn't matter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Our favorite mug shot came in at number two, though she did number one on the neighbor's porch.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Jeanne Moos counts down the most unusual mug shots of the year. You're watching the "Most News in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: 49 minutes after the hour. Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning." Tis the season for list. And as year enders go, this is one of the least coveted compilations. The top 20 mug shots of 2008. CNN's Jeanne Moos has the gruesome countdown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MOOS (voice-over): Should old acquaintance be forgot, the least we can do is acquaint you with the Top Mug shots of 2008. From the guy photographed without his teeth and with them, to the fellow whose metallic grill caught the light like a twinkling star, to the man with a handlebar mustache.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's very Salvador Dali.
MOOS: And who better to make the picks than the smoking gun Web site.
(on camera): Got to hand it to the guys at the smoking gun. They have to sift through over hundred thousands mug shots a year.
(voice-over): At number 19, we have the joker. He went to the movies "The Dark Knight" dressed as the Heath Ledger character.
HEATH LEDGER AS JOKER: Kill the Batman.
MOOS: Then got arrested for stealing Batman posters. This guy was out on Halloween.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Dressed up as a prisoner and arrested smoking some marijuana with his friends in a parking lot.
MOOS (on camera): Sad to say.
ANDREW GOLDBERG, MANAGING EDITOR, THE SMOKING GUN: This was not a banner year for celebrity mug shots. You know, there were no Nick Noltes this year.
MOOS: So, we'll have to settle for Andy Dick, arrested for pulling a teenager's top down. He played guilty to battering.
(on camera): Number 10.
GOLDBERG: See, this is nice because, you know, he's all made up for the arrest. MOOS: This guy was arrested after placing an ad offering a cross dresser in short, tight mini skirt. Number 8 is a father-son tattoo duo. Then there was this guy with before and after tattoos. This dad was arrested after an accident.
GOLDBERG: He was -- he was drunk, had about 15 beers, and asked his little kid to drive the van.
MOOS: This compilation of 15 people arrested over the year wearing Obama gear was awarded the top spot. But we preferred the guy with Obama-Biden carved into his hair. And all he did was played his music too loud. Our favorite mug shot came in at number two, though she did number one on the neighbor's porch -- dressed as a cow.
GOLDBERG: Dressed as a cow.
MOOS: Scaring kids?
GOLDBERG: Yes. Scaring -- running around the neighborhood, blocking traffic, drunk at the time.
MOOS: Meanwhile in North Baltimore, Ohio, the police department has decorated its Christmas tree with sex offender photos, hoping they will get more attention than if they were stuck on a bulletin board.
GOLDBERG: Nothing says Christmas likes sex offenders hanging from a tree.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: By the way, all those pictures you saw of those people, well, they may or may not be guilty of the charges against them. But they should all be glad that bad judgment is not a crime. It's 52 minutes after the hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I came with the idea of changing the tone in Washington.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Confessions of a president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Frankly, didn't do a very good job of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: President Bush expressing regrets and showing remorse in a revealing exit interview.
Plus, changing the way Washington works. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: When I am president, they won't find a job in my White House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Barack Obama's promise to keep out lobbyists. But will he have to learn to love them?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The perception is that lobbyists are bad. As can you tell, I left my horns and tail at home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: You're watching the "Most Politics in the Morning."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I'll miss the petty name calling. I mean, I won't miss it. I came with the idea of changing the tone in Washington and, frankly, didn't do a very good job of it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the "Most Politics in the Morning." Just 32 days left in office for President Bush and suddenly he's admitting a lot of things went wrong. So, why the mea culpa now?
Joining me now from Washington, CNN contributor and "Washington Post" reporter Dana Milbank.
Dana, back in 2004, as you recall, at that press conference our colleague John Dickerson asked the president what mistakes he'd made. He couldn't recall any. Now, he's got nothing but regrets. What's going on?
DANA MILBANK, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, I think he's like a one-man confession booth right now. You know, he told Charlie Gibson he was unprepared for war. He told Candy Crowley he abandoned the free market. Yesterday, he was talking about how things went wrong on immigration, on social security, as failing to change the tone. I thought he was going to ask the audience to start throwing shoes at him.
ROBERTS: He told the AEI, American Enterprise Institute, as part of that talk that we saw there just a second ago when she said he was going to miss the name calling, and then, no, no, I won't miss it. He also said, quote, "this is one of those presidencies where you -- this is not one of those presidencies where you ride off into the sunset waving goodbye." I remember one of the endearing images of the American presidency over the years was Ronald and Nancy Reagan, waving goodbye to Washington. I mean, what a triumphant moment after eight years in power. It's kind of like -- is President Bush going to slink away with his tail between his legs? What's this all about?
MILBANK: Well, he can wave goodbye. I don't know if anybody is going to wave back at him. You know, the sun is pretty much set already. There was a poll out from yesterday from the Pew Research Center, 11 percent of Americans think that Bush will be remembered for having an above average presidency, and I suspect those are now, you know, paid staff and family members.
ROBERTS: So, how does this fit with the program of burnishing your legacy because you eliminate -- in your column on this, this is Karl Rove's program of mea culpa.
MILBANK: Yes, he's working -- well, Karl is working on the Bush legacy project. But the problem is you're trying to burnish the legacy, but, you know, you've got a lot of images to compete against. You know, you've got yellow cake uranium and mission accomplished and joking on the pretzel and falling off the Segway. He's got a lot of -- sort of built-in imagery to overcome here.
ROBERTS: Hey, by the way, you were at the Code Pink demonstration at the White House, where they dressed somebody up as President Bush in prison garb and were throwing shoes at him. What was does about? And why?
MILBANK: It was an inspired bit of political satire. The guy himself apparently is apologizing, but they're making him like a hero. You know, the next Cindy Sheehan. They were throwing clogs and pumps and sandals and boots, pretty much everything they could at this gigantic paper mache Bush. I got a little close to him and got pelted with a couple of shoes myself, John.
ROBERTS: So, what does it feel like to get hit by a shoe because we're wondering that President Bush -- I mean, he was very adept at ducking the shoe and to his credit, he didn't dive behind the podium and, you know, put his hands over his head and have Secret Service agents jump all over him. He was right there and almost looked like he wanted to take the guy on when the second shoe came flying away. So, what does it feel like to get hit by a shoe?
MILBANK: Well, his reflexes were pretty impressive. Not -- mine, not so much. You know, if you're just going to get grazed by it, but if you get one of those, you know, stiletto heels particularly in the wrong spot, very, really bad news.
ROBERTS: I imagine it could be bad. So, groups like Code Pink, I mean, they were formed as a reaction against President Bush's policies, in particular the Iraq war. So, what are they going to do after January the 20th when Barack Obama is inaugurated as president?
MILBANK: I think they're very worried about it now. They are already starting on Rick Warren, so he can protest Obama a little bit. But I think this shoe-throwing thing is going to stick. In fact, if I don't like the questions you're asking me, I'm coming up there to the set. I'm going to hit you with one of these 10-1/2s.
ROBERTS: That looks like a pretty -- pretty typical reporter shoe there with a rubber sole.
MILBANK: Exactly.
ROBERTS: Nobody's pounding leather shoe anymore. There aren't doing synthetic soles. All right. Dana Milbank, it's always good to see you, buddy. I understand you're off for a couple of weeks. Have a great holiday.
MILBANK: Thank you, too.
ROBERTS: All right. Take care. See you when you get back.
