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American Morning
Country Remains Divided; flooding in Atlanta area subsides; DHS Advises Increased Security at "Soft Targets"; Tensions Rise over Ahmadinejad's Visit
Aired September 23, 2009 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. It's Wednesday, the 23rd of September. Thanks for joining us on the Most News in the Morning. I'm John Roberts.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kiran Chetry. Glad you're with us. We have some big stories going on today and we're going to be breaking them down for you in the next 15 minutes.
But first, outrage in New York City suburb where Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi pitching a tent on a property that Donald Trump owns. Ghadafi is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly taking place this week. And the State Department says that he's going to use the tent for entertaining in Bedouin tradition. We're tracking this developing story.
ROBERTS: President Obama headlines the list of world leaders who will address the general assembly meeting, he'll call for global cooperation to tackle the world's problems. It's the president's first speech to the world body. Two of the best political minds will be here to break it all down for us this morning.
CHETRY: Also, around the country, Americans speaking out, polarized over politics and divided over health care, the president's agenda, as well as taxes -- the list goes on and on. So can we fix these deep divisions or will we stay a house divided? Our Carol Costello has the latest in our series "Mad as Hell."
ROBERTS: But we begin this morning with a message from a New York suburb to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. That message: stay out. Gadhafi put up a tent in the town of Bedford, about 40 miles outside of New York City. He uses the tent to entertain guests, have meetings when he travels. First, Gadhafi e wanted to put up the tent in Englewood, New Jersey, and then Central Park here in Manhattan, both of those places said, not a chance.
Anger against Gadhafi is still fresh after the Lockerbie bomber got a hero's welcome last month. Scotland set the convicted terrorist free because he's dying from prostate cancer. An author, Rabbi Schmuley Boteach played a big role in keeping Gadhafi out of New Jersey, and he has some choice words for Libya's leader.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RABBI SCHMULEY BOTEACH, AUTHOR & COMMUNITY LEADER: He's thumbing his nose at us. This event with al Megrahi happened about three weeks ago. And we all watched how this killer and a cowardly killer at that, all he did was place a bomb on a plane and let the people be blown to smithereens. He kissed Gadhafi's hands. And we, Americans, need to tell Gadhafi to kiss a different part of our anatomy entirely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: And there's a very American connection to the Libyan leader's tent going up, the property in Westchester County where they're setting up that tent is owned by none other than Donald Trump. His office was quick to react, saying, quote, "We have business partners and associates all over the world. The property was leased on a short-term basis to Middle Eastern partner, who may or may not have a relationship to Mr. Gadhafi. We're looking into the matter."
Well, officials in the town of Bedford have issued an order for work on the tent to stop immediately. The town's attorney says the tent is breaking several laws. So, what now?
Well, we're joined on the telephone by the attorney for Bedford, New York, Joel Sachs.
Mr. Sachs, you say that this violates several statutes there in the town of Bedford. What exactly does the tent violate and why do you think it's illegal to put it out there?
JOEL SACHS, ATTORNEY, TOWN OF BEDFORD, N.Y. (via telephone): Well, the erection and occupancy of a building or a structure without a building permit is a violation of the town zoning ordinance. And in addition, if you wish to have a temporary residence on property, that requires not just a building permit but a special permit to be issued after a public hearing by the elected legislative body of the town. None of those permits have been applied for. As a result, the town did issue a stop-work order yesterday, and we will be conducting a re- inspection of the property today.
ROBERTS: So you don't know if they've actually stopped setting up this tent at this point?
SACHS: No, because the stop-work order was issued late in the day. And again, there will be a re-inspection made today. If the tent is still on the property and it's being occupied or utilized, the town would then have the choice of either commencing a criminal prosecution against the property owner and the individuals responsible, or alternatively bringing an action for an injunction to get a court to order the dismantling of the tent and removal of the occupants from the tent.
ROBERTS: All right. So, looking at this from a strictly legal perspective, because I'm sure that, you know, a lot of politics and personal feelings surround this as well, maybe not from your standpoint but certainly from -- from other people. This idea of the erection and occupancy of a tent violates local ordinances...
SACHS: Without a permit.
ROBERTS: Right, without a permit. But Libya has said that he's not going to be staying in this tent, he's just going to use it for meetings. Now, if somebody wanted to have some sort of outdoor function there on that property, whether it be a wedding or a reception, they wanted to put up a tent, would they need a permit?
SACHS: Yes, I believe that they would.
ROBERTS: All right.
SACHS: Because a tent is defined -- comes under the definition of a structure. It's affixed to the ground and has four walls. And if you are going to be utilizing a building for human habitation, whether it's for sleeping or entertaining, that would require a permit from the town.
ROBERTS: All right. So, what time are your inspectors going out there to see what's going on with the property?
SACHS: I will be conferring with them this morning, and it will probably be sometime later this morning.
ROBERTS: As they said a moment ago, you know, there is the legal aspect of this, and then there's the emotional and political aspect. Politically and emotionally, how is this playing in Bedford?
SACHS: Well, again, I mean, I'm the attorney for the town, the chief law enforcement officer. I don't make political judgments. It's not up to me to, you know, comment on the appropriateness of it. My responsibility, you know, is simply to make sure that the laws of the town are being enforced.
ROBERTS: No question it's a controversial and highly charged issue, I would expect.
SACHS: Yes, absolutely.
ROBERTS: All right. Joel Sachs, he's the attorney for Bedford -- thanks for being with us this morning. Appreciate your time.
SACHS: OK. Thank you.
CHETRY: And, by the way, there were a lot of people out there protesting already the Libyan leader's visit here in New York City. This whole thing is particularly hard for the families and friends who lost loved ones in the Lockerbie bombing.
Our Mary Snow is live at the U.N. with that side of the story this morning.
And, Mary, as we see behind you there, it looks like some of the protesters are already showing up. What's going on?
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: (AUDIO BREAK) Libyan expatriates. And this morning, they are also going to be joined by American protesters.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW (voice-over): It's been a month since the only man convicted in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 received a hero's welcome in Libya, and it's that image, in part, bringing Kathleen and Jack Flynn (ph) to the U.N. to protest Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, the man they hold ultimately responsible for the 1988 bombing that killed their son J.P.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just cannot fathom what people are thinking in the free world to allow this to happen.
SNOW: More than 20 years after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland that killed 270 people, protest organizer Frank Duggan says the release of Abdelbasset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi has re-ignited anger he hasn't seen in years.
(on camera): The reaction of al Megrahi's release, what has it done for this group?
FRANK DUGGAN, PROTEST ORGANIZER: It's given them a -- I hate to say, a new lease on life but it has. I mean, it's gotten people to the point where they really wanted to do something.
SNOW (voice-over): Colonel Gadhafi had worked to ease his way back onto the world stage, but he's ignited fury over al Megrahi's homecoming. And now, doors are being slammed in his face here in the U.S. Protests erupted in the town of Englewood, New Jersey, where Gadhafi wanted to pitch a tent, the plan was nixed.
He was snubbed from Central Park and reportedly found no room at the inn at a posh New York hotel.
Realtor Jason Haber says he was approached about this Tony (ph) New York townhouse that rent as unit for more than $20,000 a month.
JASON HABER, REALTOR: They were looking for representatives of the Dutch government to stay in a town house somewhere on the Upper East Side.
SNOW: The former international relations student says he soon noticed e-mails with Libyan government addresses, and discovered the inquiries were about Gadhafi.
HABER: There must be something we can do, to that effect. I had said in exasperation, well, if you send a convicted terrorist back to Scotland, perhaps we can work something out.
SNOW (on camera): You said that for them.
HABER: And they hung up on me.
SNOW: And that was the end.
HABER: And that was the end. That was the end of it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SNOW: Kiran, the realtor we talked to said since his story got out, he says he's been getting hundreds of supportive e-mails from people around the country. We should also add that we talked to a developer who says he was approached about a mansion in the Bronx for the Libyan leader. He also turned that offer down. So, the Libyan leader not having many options about where he stays in New York during this visit to the U.N. -- Kiran?
CHETRY: Mary Snow for us this morning outside of the United Nations, thanks.
ROBERTS: New this morning -- and nine minutes after the hour -- a very close call for a small child in Sunnyside, Washington, who nearly got crushed by a car. Before you see this frightening footage, and it's frightening, we want you to know that everyone is OK.
Police say a 34-year-old woman with a suspended license backed her car into a pickup truck and then crashed into a building on Sunday night. The car came down, thankfully, on top of a sidewalk barrier pole that kept it from falling on top of the child. Look at that. It hits the pole, lunges up on the air, hits the side of the building, and then gets hung up on the poles.
The child was underneath the car, but because it was hung up like that, she walked away without a scratch. Watch this one more time. Car backs in over those poles, lunges into the air, she's underneath and she's fine.
CHETRY: Well, check out this video. This is cops raiding the home of a suspected drug dealer, happening in Lakeland, Florida, in March. The officers search the property, couldn't pass up the opportunity to then play the homeowner's Nintendo Wii bowling game. In fact, they were at it for hours. They ended up being caught on the suspect's surveillance camera, celebrating their strikes and spares. Police supervisors say the behavior of the officers is embarrassing but they don't think it will jeopardize the case.
ROBERTS: And take a look at this. The Dalai Lama kicking off his two-week visit to North America by fist bumping the mayor of Memphis. There you go.
Tibet's exiled spiritual leader was honored yesterday at the National Civil Rights Museum in Tennessee. Interim Mayor Myron Lowry greeting the 74-year-old monk by teaching him the fist-bump handshake. Later, the Dalai Lama expressed discomfort with the fist-bump, saying it invoked thoughts of violence.
The Dalai Lama is scheduled to travel across the United States and Canada through mid October.
CHETRY: During flu season, it's probably though better than shaking hands in terms of sanitation.
ROBERTS: You know what borders on violence, is fist bumping with John Avlon.
CHETRY: He's a little rough, right?
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: He's going to break your fingers.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: The funny thing about the Dalai Lama, too, I mean, as holy as he is and, you know, as enlightened, he also has a sense of humor about himself.
ROBERTS: He does, very much so. The whole thing is very Zen.
CHETRY: It is.
ROBERTS: Remind us the fist-bump.
CHETRY: Well, we are going to be talking about the president addressing the United Nations General Assembly. This is going to be the first time toward setting the stage for foreign policy agendas, what other countries expect to hear from our leader. James Carville and Ed Rollins live with the political implications as well, joining us in just a moment.
It's 11 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
CHETRY: All right, a look at Club Circle this morning. And it's about 70 degrees, partly cloudy. A little bit later, scattered thunderstorms, 78 degrees. But, boy, a huge day here in New York City.
Thirteen minutes past the hour.
The stage is set for President Obama -- the world stage, that is -- because at 10:00 Eastern, so less than two hours from now, he's going to be addressing the United Nations General Assembly. This will be the first time. So, what will we hear from the president and how will his comments be received on the world stage?
Joining us now: CNN political contributor and Democratic strategist James Carville. We also have with us, CNN senior political analyst and Republican strategist Ed Rollins.
Great to have both of you with us in person. Nice to talk to you this morning.
So, James, let me start with you, because it's certainly a busy week as we know. President has had to tackle many different things on the domestic front and also foreign policy, Mideast, climate change. What does he -- right? I mean, we could end it now. What is he -- what is he going to focus on? What do you think he's going to talk about today as he gives that big speech?
JAMES CARVILLE, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I suspect he'll talk about a number of things. Also, I suspect I think he will have be a very good speech. He will be warmly received. And the speech will last -- in fact, it will last about 10 minutes. And he'll go (ph) on everything because all of the problems that you have before speech are going to be there after the speech.
And -- you know, but he will do quite well. He represents the United States very well in this kind of forums, they are tailor-made for what he does real well. I look forward to listening to it.
CHETRY: Ed, for you, it will be interesting because it will be a switch for many people. I mean, under the Bush administration, we saw efforts to sort of minimize the United Nations. He didn't really hide his disdain and John Bolton didn't at times for that world body. How will this be different?
ED ROLLINS, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think this president cares very much about this body, very much like President Bush's father when he was president, thought there was great merit to having the international community which obviously helped us the First Gulf War.
This is the president's most important week. He really is on the world stage. And he not has this, he is chairing the G-20 meeting -- which is a very difficult task in and of itself even if it was separate from all of this. He made two big speeches on the environment yesterday. He met obviously with the leadership of Palestine and Israel. Didn't accomplish much other than the photo-op, but at the end of the day, he met with the president of China.
These are tough weeks and I think, to a certain extent, the world gets to look at him not as a newcomer but now as -- take some measure, is he really a leader, can he drive this agenda. It's a very, very aggressive agenda and that's tough, as James said.
CHETRY: Well, I'm interested from both of you to just get a sense on how historically, what's going on domestically affects a United States president speaking to the world? Meaning, I mean, he's had a tough week. Health care reforms on hold, you got -- hasn't got at any the cap and trade...
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: I wouldn't call it on hold. He got six bills to be fair, he got six bills out of six different committees. OK?
CHETRY: So -- you're right.
CARVILLE: Difficult crunch time.
CHETRY: There's some progress being made but when it comes to talk of a consensus right now, I mean, it's...
CARVILLE: Look, he's -- he is in a difficult moment. I mean, as our all presidents are as necessary. And his strength around the world very much depends on his strength domestically. The more strength that he has here, the more that world leaders say, "Hey, this guys is going to be around, he's got strength at home" -- all of that is true.
However, it's a big job. And you have to deal with the G-20 and they got to deal with the U.N. and -- but there are some good news here for this president. We shouldn't diminish it. Advancing this bill, the economy is starting to look better.
If it continues to look better next year, there's going to be some potentially real good news for him and the Democrats in this. I don't know that. But he's got some positive indicators, too. But I agree with you, it's very difficult.
CHETRY: Ed, the other question, too, is, how much does -- other governments around the world follow things like the tea party protest, the pushback that he's getting within the liberal wing of his own party about health care?
ROLLINS: Through the blessings of CNN and CNN International, everyone gets to know. When I was in politics initially in the Nixon and Ford, (INAUDIBLE) White House before, you know, you used to have to depend on your ambassador to get information or folks at "The New York Times." Today, they have an instantaneously. They watch it all day long like we do.
I think the key thing here is that the 800-pound elephant in the Oval Office is the Afghan policy. I think to a certain extent, where we go on that and we're asking our allies to hang in there with us, and I think to a certain extent, we don't know what the policy is right today, and in fairness to the president, it's a very tough decision that he'll have to make.
CHETRY: It's also a place where he's losing a little bit of support. I wanted to show you this "Wall Street Journal" poll showing that he faces some doubts with the American public about exactly where the war is going, handling about this. Independents, for the first time, more independents disapprove than approve of the situation. How does he handle that moving forward?
CARVILLE: Look, I think melluva hess. I mean, what can I say? And they're trying to evaluate the policy right now, I think that they are entitled to some time, been there 7 1/2 years. The last figure (ph) I checked in -- having been there, there are no easy answers there. And you know, they are pushing ahead but still need some time.
CHETRY: The other interesting thing is, Ed, apart of what he's going to be talking about today is saying, you know, "Yes, the United States didn't do everything right the whole time, but you can't just sit back rest of the world and expect us to handle your problems." It was very interesting about what he's telling them. He's saying that, you know, it's going to be a new day but that he also needs the help of other people. It can't solely be America's endeavor.
Is he calling about Afghanistan there?
ROLLINS: Well, I think he is. I think that's the most important thing. You know, Iran is the battlefield here. It's what everybody is focusing on and what do they do long term in a very unstable situation there. And I think, to a certain extent, Pakistan, Afghanistan -- they are all interconnected with the war on terrorism.
And I think to a certain extent the decisions that he has to make -- which are tough decisions -- are certainly going to have great consequences and it will also show whether he's the kind of leader he is. Commander-in-chief is a very important role for a president, and right today, the generals are on one side, some of the civilian people led by Biden and others, are not quite so fully engaged in this activity.
And I think, to a certain extent, the decision this president makes, this is -- he doesn't make big bucks but this is why he has the tough job.
CHETRY: All right. Well, I want to thank both of you. What did you say a melluva hess. I love it.
(CROSSTALK)
CHETRY: Double hockey sticks.
CARVILLE: The whole (INAUDIBLE)
CHETRY: James Carville and Ed Rollins for us this morning, always great to hear from both of you.
ROLLINS: It's a New Orleans term.
CHETRY: Yes, melluva hess. That sure is. Hey, John.
ROBERTS: And then there's "Mad as Hell" as well, which is the title of our series this week. Carol Costello is coming up with her latest installment in that, and as well, Christine Romans just ahead. Stocks are starting to look pretty good, you know? If you got them, hang onto them.
Twenty minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW": The owner of the Dallas Cowboys says -- have you seen the new stadium they have -- says the design of his new stadium was inspired by a Celine Dion performance he saw in Las Vegas.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Yes. This explains why the stadium has no acoustics and 10,000 exits.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: That's mean.
ROBERTS: That was harsh.
CHETRY: The show pretty big success. People like it.
ROBERTS: There you go.
CHETRY: Still funny.
(LAUGHTER)
ROBERTS: Christine Romans is here "Minding Your Business." She joins us now.
And the stock market beginning to look not as bad as it used to, huh?
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Beginning to. I mean, if I knew in March, if all of us only knew in March that this was going to happen, huge rally for the stock market.
ROBERTS: Some people hung in through the bad times.
ROMANS: Some people named John Roberts?
ROBERTS: And Kiran Chetry.
CHETRY: We didn't touch our stock. We were terrified to look.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERTS: Yes, hide your eyes. Bury your head in the sand.
ROMANS: Stocks have had an incredible performance, up 58 percent since the March's low. You're going to hear people talking about Dow 10,000, although you made a good point earlier today, John.
ROBERTS: Well, it's only a couple hundred points away.
ROMANS: Right. I prefer that 15,000, that's where, then I'd be even, but whatever. Dow 10,000, people are talking about pulling out the dusty Dow 10,000 caps we used to have now for the stock exchange. And one-year highs. The strategists, the stock strategists missed this. I mean, the average year-end target for the S&P 500 is 5 percent below where we are right now.
So, the expert who is didn't predict this was going to happen are still of befuddled. They say -- a lot of these sources tell me that they just don't get it. The fundamentals of the economy just aren't good enough to support a 60 percent rise for stocks. But they did, you know? I mean, that's where they are now.
ROBERTS: You said there is a wall of money that's weighing out there.
ROMANS: There is a wall of money. People who have money are desperate to find ways to make money and get going again, and people who don't have money are looking at this next story I want to tell you about, Bank of America -- these overdraft fees, the two things I hear most about from viewers. Stock market rally, did I miss it, and these overdraft fees. How can the banks be allowed to charge you $100 in overdraft fees in one day for one overdraft on your debit card?
Congress is getting involved in this. Bank of America this morning is saying that they hear your pain and they are going to lessen those overdraft fees. No fees if you overdraw by less than $10 a day. No fees if you overdraw more than four items a day. And they're going to put a limit on the annual number of possible overdraft.
My one big piece of advice for you, people -- I mean, people are really getting nailed by these overdraft fees. Ten dollars to $38 apiece, call your bank right now, and say, did you automatically enroll me in overdraft protection? I don't want it. If you use your debit card, you don't have money in the bank, you do not want them to let the process (ph) go through or you're going to get -- you're going to get charged. Call your bank right now.
CHETRY: OK. Good advice.
ROMANS: That's all I have to say.
ROBERTS: And if the stock market's looking good right now, don't forget, there is always October.
ROMANS: Yes, exactly.
CHETRY: Thanks.
ROBERTS: History.
ROMANS: I'm glad you guys hung in.
ROBERTS: History.
ROMANS: I'm glad you hung in. Nice. Nice job.
CHETRY: It's not like we had any other options.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: Thanks.
Meanwhile, Carol Costello is going to be joining right now -- in just a moment actually. She has been following all week this whole anger, this whole why are we so mad at each other and whether or not there is a cure. Is this a kumbaya moment? She also is going to be playing some of your responses, especially when it comes to gun rights. A lot of people fired up.
Twenty-five minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
ROBERTS: Welcome back to the "Most News in the Morning."
All this week, we have been talking about a country divided, taking a closer look at all of the outrage over health care, gun control, big government, taxes.
CHETRY: Yes, it's really been quite a year so far with all of this. Politics, fiery people polarized and Washington partisan. So, can we actually put aside enough differences to fix our problems?
Well, our Carol Costello has been looking into that in our morning series, mad as -- wait, how did James Carville say it?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I can't even remember what that was.
CHETRY: A melluva hess. We're in a melluva hess. That's better for the kids. Hi, Carol.
COSTELLO: That's true. That is better for the kids. You know, Kiran, you said, are we done verbally punching each other out? Who knows? Let's talk about solutions now because that's really the tough part. We're on, hopefully, the tail end of a deep recession, we've been living beyond our means, there is a sense not all of our politicians have been stand-up guys and gals. So, what is the fix for all of this?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO (voice-over): This is the picture of American disillusionment.
GOV. MARK SANFORD (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I apologize.
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am profoundly sorry.
ROD BLAGOJEVICH, FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR: I'm innocent of every single allegation.
COSTELLO: So many who serve the people betrayed them and even those who have not, some say are cutting it.
(on camera): What should be done?
CHRIS WESLING, CONSERVATIVE: Well, like I said, I think we ought to fire all of the politicians and get new ones.
COSTELLO (voice-over): Chris Wesling isn't expressing anything new, distrust in politicians is in our DNA. But today, some say it's different.
RICHGALEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Now you've got an entire population on the entire continuum from left to right, including that gigantic center that looks across the political landscape and sees nobody that they like, nobody that they trust, and nobody, frankly, that they want to follow.
COSTELLO: But at the Latrobe-Gateway football game in Western Pennsylvania, there were some still willing to give politicians a chance. The president, after all, has a 55 percent approval rating. The fix for some is Mr. Obama.
STANLEY ZIMMERMAN, INDEPENDENT: He's swimming against the current, you know. And he's got a lot of energy. And he's got a lot of battle.
COSTELLO (on camera): So what's your secret of being in that happy mood?
WALT OLIVER, DEMOCRAT: Because it could be worse. It could be worse. Like a lot of people say, why you smile so much? To keep from crying sometimes, maybe. But I guess as long as I'm working and everything, I'm satisfied, you know.
COSTELLO (voice-over): At the Community of Reconciliation Church in Pittsburgh, the fix is about hope, too, and about redirecting our moral compass.
PASTOR DENISE MASON, COMMUNITY OF RECONCILIATION CHURCH: There's no question in my mind the moral authority in this country is capitalism and narcissism. I mean, it's me and how much. That's the basis upon which most of us make our decisions.
DOLAN VOGLE, REPUBLICAN: It's a very me, me, me attitude. I'm involved because I give to my kids all the time.
COSTELLO (on camera): You know, in all the people I've talked about, I've not heard one person accept blame for what's happening in the country right now. You're the first one.
DOLAN VOGLE: That's what I truly believe.
CARL VOGLE, REPUBLICAN: You're here at a football game. It's just like a football team. Everybody's got to pull their weight, and once you do that, you have a winning team. Same thing would go with the government, and with America.
COSTELLO (voice-over): So maybe despite the anger and the distrust in many of our leaders it will be all right. Nearly everyone here in Pennsylvania, no matter their political persuasion, believed that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The saddest thing I found out in Pennsylvania, and John and Kiran, pay attention to this, because I find this really sad. I asked people who they thought the moral authority was in the country. Nobody could answer that question.
ROBERTS: Really. That's interesting, and troubling at the same time.
COSTELLO: It is troubling. Remember, I asked the psychiatrist Dr. Gail Saltz, if America was your patient, what would be your diagnosis. She said, you know, chronic depression, anxiety, and narcissism.
Her prescription too was empathy. She says Americans have to look outside of themselves. Only then can we begin to repair the damage that's been -- the damage that's been caused between us by this awful politicking going on in the country today.
ROBERTS: Probably some good advice there.
Yesterday, Carol, your report focused on gun control. In particular, with the Democrats controlling both Congress and the White House, are we going to see more restrictions on gun owners?
CHETRY: We also asked for feedback, and we really got it, Carol. This story lit up the show hotline. Let's listen to a little about what people were saying.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: Gun owners by and large sound like this. They're chickens.
CALLER: Our forefathers never imagined AK-47s in every home. There's got to be a limit.
CALLER: People are so upset about dog fighting, but it's OK to blow any other animal away that they feel deemed to be killed. Come on. You know it's barbaric.
CALLER: I'm a young black male. No one wants to talk to us, but those gun laws directly affect us. We're the guys out there that are being wiped out and demolished by these guns.
CALLER: If more people were licensed gun owners and actually carried their guns on their hips, criminals would be a lot less likely to act out.
CALLER: The only one who is going to have the guns is the criminal. You can't do it that way. It doesn't work.
CALLER: Having a gun doesn't always mean you need to use the gun. It's just going to make someone think before they commit a crime on you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: No question, Carol, a lot of passion on both sides of this issue. COSTELLO: Hundreds of comments on my blog as well, most of them for gun rights, and still very afraid that somehow lawmakers are going to take away their gun rights, even though that's really not happening in this country.
And also, please keep the comments coming. We want to know what you think of today's story. Who do you think the moral authority is in this country? I'm really curious about that.
And also, what do you think can be done to repair the damage? Or have we become a country of narcissists? How do we find a way to be less selfish? Comment on my blog at CNN.com/amfix. I'll be interested to know your comments, or you can call the show hotline at CNN.com/amfix.
CHETRY: Or it's 877, right.
COSTELLO: That's right -- 877-my-am-fix. I apologize.
CHETRY: There we go.
ROBERTS: That's one more thing to get upset about. Thanks, Carol.
(LAUGHTER)
CHETRY: I'm mad as hell about it.
Checking our top stories this morning, federal transportation officials are urging cities across the country to check and then double-check their transit lines and their railroads, in particular, if they use the same signal system that failed to stop two subway trains from colliding back in Washington in June.
Nine people died when the capital city's Metro line crashed in that horrible accident.
ROBERTS: After a weeklong search of property owned by Phillip and Nancy Garrido, police in California say they can't find anything linking the couple to two other disappearances, but they say that Phillip Garrido could still be a suspect in those cases. Bone fragments were found, but investigators say they are too old to be connected to this case.
The Garridos are accused of holding kidnap victim Jaycee Lee Dugard for 18 years.
CHETRY: Fresh fire spreading and threatening hundreds of homes in southern California. It's the station fire that killed two firefighters still smoldering in spots and there are new blazes because of the Santa Ana winds northeast of Los Angeles.
This wildfire has now spread more than 8,500 acres. Governor Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for Ventura County.
ROBERTS: In the Southeast, the rain has finally let up, but there is way more water than people can handle after nearly a week of downpours. Flash floods ravaged the region, blamed for nine deaths. Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is asking for federal help to deal with the disaster.
Our Rob Marciano is live in Austell, Georgia, this morning. And Rob, the damage that we're seeing across the southeast there in some cases almost unbelievable.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It's beyond remarkable, John.
You know what's also remarkable in an encouraging way is the rate at which some of these rivers are beginning to recede this morning versus yesterday. Yesterday at this time if I was standing on this bridge I would easily be washed away. Obviously the river has receded somewhat.
Beyond the bridge part of the roads are still washed out, so we still have that issue.
And then also every one of these bridges that has seen water overtake them, you have this sort of damage being revealed, and their structural integrity is certainly questionable. That's the roadway issue.
Then of course the housing issue. The people that live in these homes that have been damaged by the floods, their work has only just begun.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Friends and family of David Miller are scrambling to salvage what's left of his 88-year-old mother's home. They are prying apart swollen and waterlogged antique furniture, trying to recover whatever is inside. Lots of stuff has accumulated over the years.
DAVID MILLER, HOME WAS FLOODED: We moved here in 1956. We lived on the side of the tracks. Daddy bought this house.
MARCIANO: This is David's boyhood home. In the 50 years since he has never seen the water rise this much.
MARCIANO (on camera): Ever think it could be this high?
MILLER: No. Not really.
(LAUGHTER)
MARCIANO (voice-over): The water rushed into the house, inundating the entire home -- living room, dining room, kitchen, a muddy mess.
Separating the wet from the dry is not difficult. Only a few items are dry.
MILLER: Is that wet?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
MARCIANO: More important than dry furniture are the family photos.
MILLER: That's a store we ran.
MARCIANO (on camera): Your grandmother and grandfather?
MARCIANO (voice-over): Some over 100 years old.
MILLER: We had a house that burned.
MARCIANO: The Millers know the feeling of losing a home. Theirs burned down just 12 years ago. But this loss is much worse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is harder for us and her. She doesn't know where she's going right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: One family of many here in Austell. As a matter of fact, I talked with the mayor yesterday. He estimates once his ground crews get out there and assess the damage there may very well be between 500 and 600 homes alone in Austell damaged by floodwaters.
He also mentioned that this Sweetwater River doesn't look too sweet. It actually flattened out when it get to Austell, so that's why this town is so susceptible.
Check this out. Freight containers floating down this what should be a creek, a little stream, floating down this torrent of a river and slamming into this bridge.
So these kind of scenes make you wonder, are these bridges safe? It makes the engineers wonder as well. And even though the waters are receding, engineers have to get out here and check the safety of these bridges before they can reopen them.
So, aside from the cleanup, traffic continues to be a mess. I- 20 remains closed until further notice west of Atlanta, and as if the Atlanta traffic problem is not bad enough when you factor in this big old mess, it's going to be a mess for weeks to come, it seems -- John, Kiran.
ROBERTS: A lot of work left to be done. Rob Marciano this morning. Rob, thanks so much.
So new warnings have gone out about the safety of transit systems, so called soft targets like hotels, sporting events, places where people gather for entertainment.
So in all of this, how to protect Americans. Our Jason Carroll takes a look at the problem coming right up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Developing right now, an expanded terror warning for wide open and crowded places, hotels, stadiums, even restaurants, as officials search for more suspects in the New York/Denver terror plot.
The Department of Homeland Security is now warning police nationwide to step up their watch over so-called "soft targets." Authorities are concerned of a possible Al Qaeda plot to set off bombs that might be hidden in back packs.
CHETRY: Yes, and security analysts say in a way it's actually the improved security that we see at airports and other major land marks that forced al Qaeda to aim smaller.
ROBERTS: So when it comes to smaller places, how do you protect them, because some of these places see thousands of visitors coming and going every day with literally no security? Would you walk through, let's say, a metal detector after you check in at a hotel?
CHETRY: Some places internationally you are used to that. But here in the U.S. is that something that travelers would go for? Jason Carroll is checking it out for is this morning.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a question for some, would you do it? What would you guys do? If it was here, would you walk through a metal detector?
ROBERTS: I would prefer to not have to, but if necessary, I guess you have to.
CARROLL: Yes. Well, a lot of hotels are going to have to rethink security. The Department of Homeland Security has a list of protected measures for hotels to follow if they so choose.
But will they choose to upgrade security, and if they do, will their customers be up for it?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: The United States is a country that prides itself on its open society, a place where people can see a movie or go to a ball game, or check into a hotel without having to pass through the same type of security found at airports.
But what if that changed? What if there were security checkpoints at a hotel?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I kind of would hate to move in that direction. I think what's great about America is the freedom to go places.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Once it starts I think people get used to it.
CARROLL: In comparison, heightened hotel security is not unusual overseas. The Sheraton in Karachi, Pakistan, armed guards on patrol. None at the Sheraton in Los Angeles. The Marriott in Jakarta, Indonesia, metal detectors. None at this Marriott in Washington D.C. Now that the Department of Homeland Security has release a bulletin saying hotels are attractive targets for terrorists and generally lack the security to prevent access by terrorists, some security experts say it's time U.S. hotels become more proactive in increasing security.
Pat D'Amuro is the FBI's former executive assistant director of counterterrorism and counterintelligence.
PAT D'AMURO, GIULIANI SECURITY AND SAFETY: You have to be reasonable. You have to protect your guests and you have to make it as un-intrusive as possible. However, guests are going to have to realize that this is being done for their safety.
CARROLL: Several suggested protective measures are outlined in the Homeland Security bulletin, such as installing perimeter barriers, adding highly visible security, and random screening of guests.
We contacted several major chain hotels including Marriott and Starwood Resorts to ask about the likelihood of implementing the recommendations. None would comment.
Clark Ervin does not believe U.S. hotels will change. He's the author of "Open Target: Where America is Vulnerable for Attack."
CLARK ERVIN, THE ASPEN INSTITUTE: 9/11 proves that we are no longer impermeable to the kinds of security threats that other countries around the world sadly have had to deal with. So we're going to have to learn either to put up with these kinds of security measures before an attack happen or to do it after.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARROLL: A representative at Hilton weighed in on the topic giving us a statement, saying that "Hilton Hotels Corporation views guests and employee safety as our highest priority and has comprehensive security policies and procedures."
We continually monitor security-related practices, and we work with law enforcement whenever additional guidance is need.
And you know, when I spoke to some of the security experts, they say look, we're not asking for you to do this, you know, all across country and at every hotel. It's really the big hotels and the iconic cities like New York, the a Las Vegas, a Washington, D.C.
ROBERTS: We've seen, though, recently in Jakarta, even having some pretty comprehensive security procedures in place, scanners, doesn't protect you against bombs. There were two hotels bombed there.
CHETRY: That's right. And the other interesting thing about that is that Fran Townsend, when we talked to her, the former national security adviser for Bush, said it's the intelligence work that's taking place before they actually can get to that he point. They had scoped that hotel we talked about and felt it was a softer target. CARROLL: But I think everyone can agree that perhaps in some of our major hotels, maybe a little bit more security is needed than what we have now.
We'll see.
ROBERTS: See what they do. Jason, thanks so much.
CARROLL: You bet.
CHETRY: Meanwhile, protesters are already lining up outside of the United Nations General Assembly today. And there are a lot of people that are not happy with Libya's president coming, Libya's leader Moammar Gadhafi. There are also people that are not happy with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad coming here to the United States as well.
And we're going to speak one on one to an Iranian and an Iranian-American about why they feel compelled in the wake of the election there to protest.
It's 48 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: New developments now in the case of three American hikers held captive more than 50 days in Iran, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad now promising that he will request, quote, "extreme leniency for the hikers who wandered across his country's border."
The Iranian leader is in New York this morning and will address the United Nations General Assembly tonight.
In the last hour of the most news in the morning the mother and brother of one of the detained hikers appeared here on AMERICAN MORNING. This is their first public reaction to the news that the Iranian leader plans to ask his courts to show leniency when judging the hikers. Laura Fattal telling CNN that that pledge gives her hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURA FATTAL, MOTHER OF AMERICAN HELD IN IRAN: We're very, very encouraged by the compassion of President Ahmadinejad in the release of all three children, Josh, Shane and Sarah.
We have a humanitarian appeal that he will continue his compassionate attitude towards our children and that he will release them and bring them to the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: That's Laura Fattal. She is the mother of Josh Fattal. And that was Josh's brother Alex also appearing there.
CHETRY: Yes. So fingers crossed. Again, we've been hearing more and more from the leader of Iran about that. And meanwhile, his visit to the United Nations will likely be another headline grabber as well. As we said, this is the man who has repeated that the holocaust never happened. He also told students at Columbia University that there were no gay people in Iran. I don't think he intended it, but it got quite a laugh.
ROBERTS: It certainly did. I think he thought he was being serious, but some of the other people didn't.
For some Iranians living here in the United States it is this summer presidential election there that is the biggest cause for ongoing concern. Our Allan Chernoff is looking into that for us, and he joins us. Good morning, Al.
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you.
And isn't it interesting how political protests can bring people together across ethnic and religious lines? As you'll recall two years ago when Ahmadinejad did speak before Columbia University, it was really the Jews leading the protests after the Iranian president had made some very offensive and ill-informed comments about the holocaust.
There will be plenty of Jewish protesters, but it's the Iranians now who will be in the forefront, particularly after the disputed election and the repression that we've seen in Iran over the past few weeks. For some students, it really, really hits home.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHERNOFF (voice-over): Saharnaz Samaeinejad is filled with heartache, checking her Facebook account and reading messages from home and Iran. Here are her friends Maggie, Ali and Ottoman. Saharnaz hears they were all arrested last week in Tehran amid the protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
SAHARNAZ SAMAEINEJAD, IRANIAN STUDENT AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY: My friends are arrested and torturing, and I'm thinking of them every day and night. In a sentence, I just feel very sad for them. And I think that we have to do whatever we can to help us get out of the prison.
CHERNOFF: Now Saharnaz says it's her time to speak out, her time to stand against President Ahmadinejad, who she suspects stole this summer's presidential election from challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi.
SAMAEINEJAD: I am the voice of my friends. And I got a lot of messages, e-mails, and Facebook and everywhere, and they just ask us that go there, and I want to go out and tell Ahmadinejad that be afraid, be afraid. We are all united.
CHERNOFF: The 24-year-old Saharnaz wears her political allegiance on her wrist, the bright green of Iran's opposition. She's lived in the U.S. for just a year. She's a visiting student at New York University studying Middle Eastern affairs.
But American history now is providing inspiration for her. Rosie the Riveter watches over her Brooklyn apartment.
SAMAEINEJAD: We're the children of reform in Iran. And we want the reform from within and we're asking for our civil liberty, not anything else.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHERNOFF: You can see that they feel a real obligation, the Iranians here in the United States, and so they will be out in force not only in front of the United Nations, but a group including Saharnez will be at the Iranian mission about eight blocks away from the U.N., and then they'll be marching over to the United Nations.
It should be a very interesting day.
CHETRY: Also notable that Facebook and the other social networking sites are really a window for communication and also for them to find out what's going on miles away.
CHERNOFF: Absolutely huge. And that has been a revolution in Iran that the government was unprepared for. That's one reason that the opposition was able to gain so much popularity by using the Internet, using Facebook.
ROBERTS: I love the fact she's got a Rosie the Riveter poster.
CHERNOFF: The American influence as well.
ROBERTS: Allan, thanks so much for that.
CHETRY: All right, we're going to be right back. It's 57 minutes after the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: And again, remember it's going to be a busy day at the United Nations. Here's an inside look at what's going on. In just an hour we're going to hear from the president. He's going to be speaking to the United Nations General Assembly. This is the first time he's addressing that world body. And of course, we'll have it live for you here on CNN.
ROBERTS: All right, yes. And also on cnn.com/live.
Continue the conversation on today's top stories. Go to our blog at cnn.com/amfix.
That's going to wrap it up for us. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again back here bright and early tomorrow morning.
CHETRY: Meanwhile, here's "CNN NEWSROOM" with Heidi Collins.
