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A Man Becomes a Human Raft in Niagara Falls; Attorney General Dealing with Cloud Hanging Over Credibility
Aired March 25, 2007 - 22:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Two strange tales at sea.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard the screams of a man and woman.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: From pleasure cruise to bad news, a young couple falls off a cruise ship balcony.
A man becomes a human raft in Niagara Falls. Could you survive a water rescue? I'll show you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, the attorney general is dealing with a cloud hanging over his credibility.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Are some Republicans turning on the president's legal eagle? Do they want to clip his wings? You'll hear him.
Anna Nicole and rumors of what killed her. Finally, the truth will be told.
And flinching, Anne Coulter has a gown. So (INAUDIBLE).
All this from the CNN NEWSROOM.
And hello again, everybody. I'm Rick Sanchez. Two dramatic rescue efforts to tell you about tonight. One involves a couple who fell off a balcony of a cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico. The other involves somebody trying to sneak into the United States through Niagara Falls. Incredible.
We're going to begin, of course though, with Iran and signs that this standoff may be escalating now, because Iran is now threatening to put the British sailors that we've been telling you about and the marines on trial.
It's been three days since Iranian forces arrested 15 Royal Marines and sailors patrolling an Iraq/Iranian border waterway. Now Iran is saying that the British trespassed. The U.K. is saying, no way, we were in Iraqi territorial waters, which we're protecting. An Iranian news agency is now reporting that the sailors and the marines are being held in Tehran, that's new, and that they've confessed to violating the border, and that they face criminal charges on top of that. In London, the British foreign minister is asking her Iranian counterpart to set the troops free, or at the very least, to allow a diplomatic visit. That's from today.
Also, Prime Minister Tony Blair, who had said nothing up to now, is tonight using this blunt language.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: They should not be under any doubts at all about how seriously we regard this act, which was unjustified and wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: It's hard to get this story unless we're able to get a geographic sense of where it is. So let's go to the telestrator now and we'll show you the area we're talking about. Go ahead, Roger and move this animation. And you'll see that waterway that seems to be in question. It's right there. OK, there's the Persian Gulf as you're looking at it right there. This is the waterway. I'll draw it back, going back in this direction right there.
So right here is really the mouth of the waterway. And that is supposedly where this incident has taken place. It's interesting because it's kind of like that argument that the Brits had with the Argentinians, is it the Malvinas Islands or is it the Falcon Islands?
Iran is over here. They call the channel theirs. And they've given it their own name. Iraq is over here. They call the channel theirs. And they've given it their own name. So it all centers on that area right in there. Tat's what we're going to be focusing on for a while as we study this story.
And there's something else that we should tell you tonight to try and get -- help you to get this story. And that is that not even four years ago, a nearly identical chain of events happened. Same piece of waterway, same accusations.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): British Navy boats patrol a disputed waterway off the Persian Gulf. They're surrounded, arrested by Iranian forces accused of trespassing. Iran says there will be a trial. Someone will pay.
Sound familiar? That's been nearly three years ago, June 2004, almost point for point. So far, the two incidents are a mirror image of one another. Today, like then, the message from Britain's leaders is measured, but stern.
TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: This is a very serious situation. And there is no doubt at all that these people were taken from the boat in Iraqi water. It simply is not true that they went into Iranian territorial waters. And I hope the Iranian government understand how fundamental an issue this is for us.
SANCHEZ: In 2004, the British detainees were not physically hurt. This time, we don't know. In 2004, the British detainees say they endured mock executions. This time, we don't know.
Across the United Kingdom tonight, British people are hoping this incident ends the way it did in 2004. All eight troops were let go after four days, unharmed.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: As you might imagine, we've been getting a lot of phone calls, many from you about this story. Many of you have also called to voice your opinions on this. And we've received your e-mails. Will this incident lead to a war with Iran? Will it lead to more of crisis in the area? Here are some of those phone calls we've recorded. And then we're going to play them for you now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALLER: I think war with I ran is inevitable. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's goal is to bring about the return of the 12th imam, according to Islamic law. And he is out to start a war no matter what.
CALLER: And this is just another speed bump as far as I'm concerned. And this -- Iran seems to be taking care of itself.
CALLER: No, it will not lead to war with Iran. No, it will not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You heard what they had to say. We want to hear what you have to say. Are you worried that this conflict could lead to a problem? Something that escalates or even war with Iran?
Give us a call now at 1-800--807-2620. We'll keep the conversation going. That's 1-800-807-2620. We're going to air some of your responses later this hour.
Tonight, there are new calls for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign. And some of the toughest talk is actually coming from some fellow Republicans.
The question is was the firing of eight U.S. attorneys done for purely political reasons? And if so, did Gonzales play a roll in that? We now learn that Gonzales will testify about the purge before the Senate Judiciary Committee. That'll happen next month.
Senator Arlen Specter, top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, is calling it a make or break appearance.
Other lawmakers, by the way, are even more critical tonight. Some Republicans and senators question whether Gonzales is even telling the truth in this case. One says the Attorney General has a credibility problem.
Meantime, Democrats believe the eight attorneys were sacked for political reasons. And they say new documents appear to show that Gonzales was more involved than he claimed earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R), NEBRASKA: Unfortunately, the attorney general is dealing with a cloud hanging over his credibility. And the president is going to have to deal with that.
SEN. PATRICK LEAHY (D), VERMONT: First, the attorney general said he's out of the loop. Then he said - and then the e-mail said he was in the loop. It's bad either way. I mean, this was a horrible mistake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: All right, it's important to note that the White House is still backing Gonazles, and so are the majority of Republicans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MINORITY WHIP: I don't have any particular desire to be defensive or supportive of the attorney general. But frankly, under current circumstances, I think it would be a mistake for the president to have his attorney general resign. This is really blood lust.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This is a controversy that has simply exploded on the blogosphere. So coming up this hour, two top bloggers on both sides of the aisle are going to join us with their unique takes on what's going on, one from the left, one from the right, to be fair.
Straight ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, there's got to be an easier way to get into the U.S. besides trying to go over the Niagara Falls. Wouldn't you think? Well tonight, we're going to take you to upstate New York, let you see this one for yourself, and how it ended.
Also, holding on for dear life, a strong earthquake shakes things up. This is in Asia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dr. Joshua Perper said he knew the answer more than a week ago and wanted to wait to talk to investigators.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: That's our Rusty Dornin. She's back, back in the Bahamas that is. And she's waiting to find out the latest information on what killed Anna Nicole Smith. She's going to join us live at the bottom of the hour, right here from the NEWSROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And we welcome you back. We have moved again, this time because we want to bring you some new videos and feed that we've been checking.
First of all, we want to show you an old video, because there's a new update to it. Here it is. You've seen this. He weighs about 250 pounds, he's about 6'1 or 6'2". She's just a little itty-bitty thing. And she's working as a female bartender. He gets mad at her because she won't serve him a drink. And he, at least according to the video, beats her up.
He's under investigation now. In fact, he could be charged. And he's a police officer. So they're thinking about taking away his badge.
We show you this because there's now another story in the same city. Look at this. This is in Chicago. This is an upscale bar. And we're being told that six other off-duty Chicago police officers are being investigated now for roughing up patrons at this particular place. We'll keep tabs on that one.
And we're also checking this. This is an earthquake that takes place in Japan, Wadena to be exact. This is in a kindergarten. It was doing a class play. And somebody was rolling at the time when it happened. You can see how concerned people are. They all hit the ground at the time.
This is a 6.9 magnitude earthquake, pretty serious. It's toppled some homes, toppled some temples as well. It had several aftershocks. One person is dead. We're told there were several landslides. We're even told there was a small tsunami that was caused on this, accent on the word "small" by the way. That's important.
And then there's this story that we're checking on for you. This is out of Cincinnati. They're trying to catch dead beat dads with pizzas. This is what they do. They've got a pizza box. Everybody gets it. And there's a picture of the men, who are fugitives essentially, there. The people who are putting together with child welfare say dead beat dads, fugitives probably don't go out to eat. So this is a real good way of catching them because so many of the people are going to be seeing this, kind of like advertising.
Another big story that we're going to bring you in just a little bit has to do with the immigration problem in the United States. And this one is more personal. This is about a man who tries to get into the United States through Niagara Falls. Had to be rescued. We'll take you there. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here we are in B Control. We get a lot of feeds and a lot of videos that we watch throughout the course of the evening in here. So we're going to share a couple of them with you now. People still talking tonight about the latest rescue at Niagara Falls. But this weekend's drama is different from all those that you've heard about in the past or read about. This time, a man gets rescued. And then he gets arrested right away. Roger Peterson is on the story for us from CTV.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROGER PETERSON, CTV NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 42- year-old man was taken to hospital after a harrowing night on the water. Officials say he got in the river near the top right of your screen, about a kilometer from the rushing waters of Niagara Falls. As he stepped onto a block of ice, it broke off and he was taken by the current. But this dam stood in his way.
In the control tower above it, a worker jumped into action. On duty this morning, Peter Larsen. He credits a quick thinking colleague with saving the day.
PETER LARSEN, DAM OPERATOR: When he raised the gates, what he had done was limit the current into the structure, so that it would prevent him from going through the open gates here right at the dam.
PETERSON: The water slowed from its usual pace of about 500 cubic feet per second. And the Niagara Falls Fire Department sent out two boats to rescue the man not far from the dam. He was treated, but also arrested. Police say he was trying to sneak into the United States. His identity hasn't been released.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: That was Roger Peterson from CTV.
And here's another dramatic water rescue to tell you about tonight, this one in the Gulf of Mexico. American couple in their 20s fell from the balcony of a cruise ship. It happened at about 1:30 in the morning. About four hours later, the ship's crew was finally able to locate them.
They're saying at the very least, that they're extremely lucky. Here's an update. We were told just a couple minutes ago by the cruise line that the couple in fact is recuperating nicely.
Go ahead and bring me back out on camera, Roger, if you would. The update is telling me that there's a possibility that one of them might be let off the cruise ship. We don't know if it's for medical reasons or not. And the other one might stay on.
Obviously, we'll continue to update the story. We'll have more for you if there's any developments. And certainly CNN will continue to follow it in the morning.
Now let's go back. Amazingly, a similar incident happened about 10 days ago. A man apparently intoxicated jumped into the waters off of Florida from a balcony on a Carnival cruise ship. He had to tread water for about eight hours before the Coast Guard finally found him. He was treated we're told for mild hypothermia. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You can't see what's on the other side of the waves. And unfortunately, in a rescue situation, it's harder for them to see you as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: What's it like to be lost at sea? And what can you do to better your chances of survival if you or someone you know literally goes overboard as those two stories that we just told you about? Well, I asked the Coast Guard to show me by dropping me out in the middle of the - well, not the middle of the Atlantic, but far out into the Atlantic. I'm going to bring you that story. It's coming up in just a little bit.
Also still to come right here, supporters and critics, Bill Cosby has plenty of both. Right? Tonight, the outspoken comedian has an outspoken author taking direct shots at him.
And no shots have been fired in the latest Persian Gulf standoff, but it could still explode. 15 British troops are still being held in Iran right now. And we are going to be all over that story throughout the evening. You can still tell us what you think about this one, by the way. Are you worried as this conflict goes, that it could escalate, could possibly even lead to a war with Iran? Give us a call at 1-800-807-2620. 1-800-807-2620. Your responses shared in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: And here we go with this segment we've been telling you about. When it comes so celebrities, there's no doubt that few can match the popularity and the influence of Bill Cosby. Right? Most of us grew up watching him. So pardon me for defending him against the barbs of an equally well-spoken social commentator. Here's my conversation now with author Michael Eric Dyson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Bill Cosby is trying to say, to a lot of people in this country, especially the young people, come on, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and go out there and make a good representation of all of us. And that way, you help all of us.
MICHAEL ERIC DYSON, AUTHOR/PROFESSOR: So you heard him go, you poor white people, you poor white trash are an embarrassment to America. Paris Hilton, you got all that money and you're acting like a...
SANCHEZ: But he's not a white guy. He's a black guy. He's allowed to speak for black America.
DYSON: OK. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke out for white supremacy. He's a black guy. Jesse Jackson is a black guy, spoke out against white supremacy. Now he also demanded that black people be responsible. See the problem...
SANCHEZ: Does a black leader like Bill Cosby not allowed to stand up and say we as a people need to get some things right that we're doing?
DYSON: He's a comedian. When did he become a leader?
SANCHEZ: Well, he certainly is more than just a comedian.
DYSON: Well, he is. He's a philanthropist. He's a comedian. As a leader, a self-conscious decision to proactively intervene on behalf of a population to articulate their view points. I don't think he's a leader at that level.
But let me say this.
SANCHEZ: You think he's besmirching the African-Americans when he said what he said?
DYSON: I did write a book called Bill's Cosby - and argued that very vigorously.
But let me tell you more what I believe. Bill Cosby for 40 years never spoke out about issues and interests that define African- American people. He would be more legitimate among more black people if he was there when the stuff was going rough for us.
Hey, Bill Cosby spoke out against the mis education of black people. Bill Cosby spoke out when black people were being beat up. Bill Cosby spoke out when black people were being lynched. Bill Cosby was there in Birmingham with Martin Luther King, Jr. What did he say then? I'm not going anywhere where they're throwing rocks and I can't throw rocks back.
All of a sudden, there's been a magical transformation of Mr. Cosby into now super leader? Bro, that's the white media buying that. Many black people have bought it, but many black people are skeptical.
So I'm saying to you, what I'm trying to say to you and what I'm trying to get you to understand is that Bill Cosby played it safe. It's the easiest thing in the world to do, to beat up on poor black people. White people will agree with you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: There you have it, outspoken, to say the very least. Dyson, by the way, actually has written an entire book, you may have seen him mentioning it there, taking on Cosby's critiques, entitled "Is Bill Cosby Right"?
Also, Dyson also has a new book. It's called "Debating Race. " Good read, by the way.
And while we're talking about outspoken people, who's more outspoken than Simon Cowell? The acerbic judge of the "American Idol" is the king of the killer putdown. What a perfect way to say it. And he's talking to Anderson Cooper. I thank my writers for that line on tomorrow night's "AC 360", you'll see . it, but here's a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Cowell's gotten used to private planes and constant attention. Wherever he goes, he attracts a crowd. And apparently, it's not just singers who want Cowell's critique.
I read some story that people come up to you and ask you to criticize them.
SIMON COWELL, AMERICAN IDOL: I was once offered money to judge somebody in bed, yes, a couple.
COOPER: They wanted you to watch them in bed?
COWELL: Yes.
COOPER: And critique them?
COWELL: Yes.
COOPER: While they were making love?
COWELL: Yes. And I stupidly turned it down.
COOPER: How much did they offer you?
COWELL: About 100 grand. And I should have taken the money. Yes, because it would be a much more interesting story now other than I didn't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: The guy who people love to hate, right, the one and only Simon Cowell. Just part of tomorrow night's AC "360". Gets started at 10:00 Eastern. It's right here on CNN. Should be a good one.
Straight ahead, Simon Cowell has certainly made his share of aspiring pop singers flinch. Speaking of flinching, there's a whole lot of shaking going on these days. This is amazing video. You've got to see this. Sit still. We're going to show it to you in just a little bit.
Also, do you remember this unbelievable video? Two little kids smoking pot, and they seemed to have done it before? We were the first to bring you this story on one of the weekends. In fact now, you won't believe what else the police have found out these small children, these toddlers were doing. Details coming up next.
But first, our Rusty Dornin. She is in the Bahamas. There you are, right over there. She's going to give you an update real quick. And then we're going to take you live later. But go ahead, give us the short version. What do you got, Rusty?
DORNIN: Well, it looks like we're going to finally find out what happened to Anna Nicole Smith from Florida tomorrow, why she died. But here in the Bahamas, there is still a mystery surrounding her son's death. Details coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Back in the main chair. Welcome back. Speculation mounting tonight about what killed Anna Nicole Smith. And the answer's just a few hours away. Autopsy results are going to be released in Florida tomorrow.
And then Tuesday, the inquest into her son's sudden death last year begins as well in the Bahamas. It's going to be a busy week on this story. A lot of theories about why Anna Nicole Smith actually died. Was it, for example, a drug overdose? Was it a suicide? Was it an infection possibly, given the fact that she had such a horrible fever at the time? Was it something more sinister than that?
Now you were going to recall that Smith passed away after collapsing in a Florida hotel room. She was 39.
Here now, CNN's Rusty Dornin.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's been the tabloid topic for weeks. Exactly how did Anna Nicole Smith really die? Dr. Joshua Perper said he knew the answer more than a week ago, but wanted to wait to talk to police investigators.
Finally, Monday, there will be answers about her autopsy result. Answers are also what Bahamian authorities are seeking in the death of the Smith son, Daniel, last year. Reportedly 21-year-old Daniel Smith died from an overdose of two antidepressants combined with methadone.
It happened here at Doctor's hospital in Nassau. He came to celebrate the birth of his baby sister and died during the night in his mother's hospital room. Tuesday, the inquest into his death will begin. Chief Magistrate Roger Gomez will preside. The sudden death during such a festive occasion, he says, made Bahamian officials want to investigate.
ROGER GOMEZ, BAHAMIAN CHIEF MAGISTRATE : He came here to see his newly born sister. And for him to just suddenly drop down dead raises a lot of questions.
DORNIN: Questions will be asked of 40 witnesses over the next few weeks here, including hospital workers, friends of the young man, police from the U.S., and one person who they definitely want to talk to, Howard Stern.
How important is it for you to talk to Howard Stern and why?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, he'd be very key witness because he was the only surviving person who was in that room when Daniel died. Anna Nicole, unfortunately, has died. And we were looking forward to hearing her evidence. But unfortunately, we don't have it anymore, because she has died.
And her death has really increased the amount of interest in this case.
DORNIN: One thing that will be talked about are these photos, allegedly methadone found in Anna Nicole Smith's refrigerator after she died. Family and friends say the drug was planted but because her son died of an overdose, there will be questions asked at the inquest. Seven jurors will hear testimony and come up with a verdict. That verdict will be passed onto the Bahamian attorney general.
GOMEZ: They can decide if it's just an accidental death, as was suggested by the pathologist from the U.S. who Anna Nicole had hired, or they may decide something else may have happened but there needs to be evidence to support that.
DORNIN: You mean criminally?
GOMEZ: Yes. I mean criminally.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
DORNIN (on camera): Bahamian police investigators last year initially said they did not suspect any foul play in Daniel Smith's death. The chief magistrate did tell me now he can't say whether foul play is suspected. Of course a lot of those answers will be -- things will be answered at the inquest and they're of course very interested in the circumstances surrounding Anna Nicole Smith's death. They're expecting the inquest to last about three or four weeks.
Rick?
SANCHEZ: That's amazing. So while they're trying to figure out what killed the mother in Florida, they're also going to be trying to figure out what killed the son in the Bahamas. That's a lot of inquests.
Let me ask you a question about some of the people who are going to be asked to testify. If you're a U.S. citizen, do you have to go to the Bahamas to serve as a witness?
DORNIN: No. You volunteer to come. Apparently most of the people they have asked, which are Daniel Smith's friends and some California investigators that apparently cooperated with the Bahamians right after Daniel Smith died, they have all agreed to come. But they cannot compel U.S. citizens to come. Bahamians, however, they can. They can issue a warrant for your arrest. If they show up. They can also issue a warrant for Howard Stern's arrest if he did not show up despite the fact he is a U.S. citizen living here.
SANCHEZ: You mentioned Howard Stern's name, that was going to be my next question. Is he going to be - is he on the witness list? Do you expect him to testify early?
DORNIN: I'm not sure exactly when he's going to testify. But as the chief magistrate said, he is a key witness because he is the only person now surviving that was in that hospital room the night that Daniel Smith died. They really wanted to talk to Anna Nicole, apparently looking forward to her testimony. Of course she is now dead and they are very much looking forward to questioning Howard Stern.
SANCHEZ: Rusty Dornin who is now probably on a first-name basis with every single resident of the Bahamas, she has spent so much time there following this story.
Rusty, we thank you for bringing us up to date.
Disturbing update tonight to tell you about on a story we first brought you right here in THE NEWSROOM just a couple of weeks ago. Remember this story? It was a videotape out of Texas. You can see two young children there being fed marijuana cigarettes and they are smoking them, allegedly provided by their uncle and his friend.
Well now sources are telling the "Ft. Worth-Star Telegram" the children also had cocaine in their system. As a result of that, they're now in foster care. How sad.
White House spokesperson Tony Snow is getting ready for surgery tonight. He is going to the hospital tomorrow so doctors can remove a small growth in his abdomen. Snow says that cancer tests have been negative since it was discovered but he says doctors decided to remove the growth, quote, "out of an aggressive sense of caution."
Snow had colon cancer just a couple of years ago. The procedure will keep him out of the White House for several weeks. We certainly wish him well.
Let's go across America tonight. Tragedy on top of tragedy in West Warwick, Rhode Island. A teenager standing at the roadside spot where his friend died just hours before, was struck and killed by a hit and run driver. It is a community in deep shock tonight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope the person that hit Andrew will come out because what you did was so wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just hope that person feels very, very horrible for what you did to my friend. He did not deserve it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Also, this story, new rule, at a shopping mall near Atlanta, teens who want to hang out after 6:00 on the weekends at this mall, you have to bring mom or dad or you have got to go elsewhere.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It keeps down crime, they keep the gangs out the mall, I'm with it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Kids running around acting crazy, you should make them leave, not people that's not even doing nothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: By the way, not everybody is on board with this idea. A growing trend in America that mall owners say cuts down on trouble and keeps customers there and creates a more family friendly environment.
And what's gotten into this woman? Did she win the lotto or something? No. Something much more important. Her wedding pictures. The photographer's equipment was stolen on her wedding day one year ago so she's never gotten see a single picture. The camera finally turned up this week. Digital photos are intact and this no longer newlywed is one happy lady, she is in Menasha, Wisconsin.
Send me an e-mail if I got that wrong.
Also people in the Texas Panhandle were keeping a weary eye on the skies today. This is why. Dark funnel clouds over Lubbock, Texas. Our Jacqui Jeras has been monitoring all this and she is at the weather center right now to let us know how much damage it did.
Well, it looks ominous but did it act ominously?
JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, there was a brief touch down with that and we call it a cold air funnel and from what I understand little to no damage occurred.
(WEATHER REPORT)
JERAS: Back to you.
SANCHEZ: Appreciate you bringing us up to date on that.
The news just keeps coming about the deadly pet food that we have been telling you about and so many people all over the country are extremely concerned. The details that you need to know are coming up next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALBERTO GONZALES, ATTORNEY GENERAL: I acknowledge that mistakes were made here.
I think that I did make mistakes.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT: Al was right, mistakes were made.
He's right. Mistakes were made.
GONZALES: Mistakes were made.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: I guess mistakes were made. We've heard it and we've heard it again and again. Find out what people really think about Alberto Gonzales and the fired prosecutors. It's ahead on our blog buzz.
And then, gotcha! It will make you jump out of your seat and laugh out loud when you watch this report. I'll tell you what. Just about every person that has seen this story has wanted to see it again. It's all coming your way in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We always like telling you what most people are going to cnn.com for. And we have got the list tonight.
First of all, a bartender making flaming drinks may have started a fire that killed 10 people at a strip club. This is in Moscow early today. Investigators are looking into whether the 911 Club violated fire safety code. That's what it's called, the 911 Club.
Across the world in Jamaica police hope footage from a hotel security camera is going to help find the killer of Pakistan's cricket coach, Bob Woolmer was found strangled a week ago during the World Cup. Speculation that match fixing may have been the motive in this one.
Also, scary prediction tonight about the pet food blamed for deaths of at least 16 cats and dogs so far. Experts are warning to toll is likely to grow significantly. The recall has owners watching their pets closely and swamping vets with all kinds of phone calls. Visit cnn.com for more on these stories and other stories as well. THE NEWSROOM, come here (ph), returns in just a little bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I don't know. Is it a duck or a flinch? What do you think? We all do it, those moments when something loud suddenly catches us off guard, it's a little embarrassing when it happens to you. Bur admit it, it's funny when it happens to somebody else. Just try and sit still. Here's a great story by Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When things go boom -- and cameras happen to be rolling, you can bet that videotape is going to get rolled over and over again. Everyone was comparing how the new U.N. secretary-general tended to --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Duck and cover.
MOOS: While the hard-nosed Iraqi prime minister --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nouri al-Maliki really never even moved.
MOOS (on camera): The blast in Baghdad got us thinking about that most human of reactions -- the flinch.
(voice over): We, in the media, do a lot of flinching.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sorry, that scared me. MOOS: With our clumsy lights and our falling lights.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The challenge that he made to his Democratic opponents.
MOOS: There's a lot to make us flinch.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The first day to allow citizens -- excuse me, we're having some technical problems in the studio.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a fire in the studio.
MOOS: Sometimes we desert the ship. And sometimes we're the last ones to flee.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: We're actually now getting some fire. Some rockets have been fired.
MOOS: Anderson Cooper doesn't flinch at mortal danger. Anderson flinches at frogs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just --
COOPER: Whoa!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Relax there.
MOOS: One of the most fearsome non-flinchers was the since- executed president of Afghanistan, in the middle of an interview, his interpreter had an epileptic seizure. You'll hear him scream and then fall into his leader's lap. Najibullah never bats an eye; the interpreter recovered.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In front the Israeli Defense Force-- that's what I said.
MOOS: Coolness under fire counts, except when you are seriously worried about a chemical weapon's attack by Saddam.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, it looked like it might have been an explosion in a crowd there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My apologies. He's putting on a gas mask.
MOOS: Who wouldn't flinch if you think you're under a poison gas attack?
We played childhood games that teach us not to flinch. It becomes a test of manliness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not going it flinch.
MOOS: That's what they all say until the jet swoops by a little too low.
Sometimes it pays to duck, as Ann Coulter found out facing a pie thrower. The secretary-general shouldn't feel bad about ducking. It could have been much worse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody please put that -- ah! Jesus Christ!
MOOS: We, in the media even practice self-inflicted flinching.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh! Oh, man.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: That's crazy. Who in the world would taser themselves like that?
Wow, in just three minutes, he's on the hot seat and all over the Internet. Alberto Gonzales and an army of bloggers. Will they help or will they hurt? The bloggers, that is. We're going to talk to a few of them here. We'll start a debate for you.
Then, man overboard, me, to be specific. I am going to show you how to save your life if this were to happen to you. The things you're supposed to do and things you're not supposed to do ahead right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Here we go. We welcome back. Tonight another look at the growing scandal about the firing of eight U.S. attorneys and the role that was played or was not played by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.
The bloggers have been all over this one. In fact the "L.A. Times" says it's because of the blogs that the Democrats are running with this one. One blog that got a lot of people talking is called "Talking Points Memo." Here's what they say.
"This is about using U.S. attorneys to damage Democrats and protect Republicans. Using the Department of Justice as a partisan cudgel in the war for national political dominance." Obviously that's a lefty blog.
Now let's go to a right blog, a conservative blog, "The National Review." They write, "Gonzales has allowed a scandal to be created where there was none. This is quite an achievement. How could he allow his aides to go to Capitol Hill unprepared or misinformed?"
Joining us now from Washington, we get to have a little fun. Political consultant John Aravosis, he is a founder of the liberal leaning "America Blog." Also, Jim Geraghty, he is a contributor to "The National Review Online" blog. Hey, thanks guys for being with us.
Jim, let me start with you. You think the Democrats are on to something here? JIM GERAGHTY, NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: You saw the full-throated defense of Gonzales from "National Review" right there. It's one of those things where there is a defense. The defense is incompetence. The defense is that they had no idea what was going on with these U.S. attorneys.
It would have been nice if they said before we replaced these eight fellows and ladies that we know why they are firing them and a couple of cases ...
SANCHEZ: But that goes to the question here. John, let me take it back over to you.
It's not a question as to whether or not he didn't know. The question is did he know that possibly politics were involved here. Because the president - We have heard this a million times if we heard it once, they serve at the pleasure of the president. If the president or Karl Rove is trying to remove them for political reasons, that would be unethical, right?
JOHN ARAVOSIS, AMERICABLOG.COM: Well, it's worse than political reasons. Because as you said, every president can remove the U.S. attorneys because he wants one that is more conservative, more liberal, whatever.
But what happened here was in repeated cases you either had U.S. attorneys who refused to file trumped up charges against Democrats, they were thrown out or U.S. attorneys like Carol Lamb who brought down a senior Republican Congressman, Randy "Duke" Cunningham, she brought down the number three guy in the CIA, she found out he was corrupt last year and he lost his job. As a result, she lost her job. This woman was not incompetent, she was frankly too competent and that got the Republicans scared.
SANCHEZ: What do you say to that, Jim? Apparently the argument is it is not just a matter of politics, but it is actually matter, in some cases, if proven, we should add, to be fair, they may have interfered with the justice system itself when it comes to prosecution and who gets prosecuted.
GERAGHTY: The administration has claimed that the reason the attorney - the U.S. attorney in San Diego being dismissed was they weren't happy how she was enforcing immigration laws and her local congressman there was complaining.
It is one of those things where you hope the administration, before they make a personnel change like this, would be able to have that reasoning at their fingertips and to be able t5o say why did this person lose their job, if you say, oh, for performance reasons, what were the performance reasons? And you can say, OK, immigration issues. The U.S. attorney in Michigan, there was a disagreement over the application of the death penalty.
At least there you can say we wanted something done and this U.S. attorney was not doing what we liked and that was the reason. They don't do it in this case. SANCHEZ: You know what I'm hearing from you, it sounds as a conservative, that you're real disappointed with Alberto Gonzales, not because he did anything wrong because of what he's failed to do, am I right?
GERAGHTY: Fascinating you could interpret that in this e tone of my voice. You notice I am not rushing to the aid of Alberto Gonzales. When I saw ...
SANCHEZ: You don't have to hit me over the head with a brick.
GERAGHTY: I was kind of thrilled when I saw the headline "Alberto Gonzales Sent to Minors." I thought the president made a decision. Unfortunately it was a shortstop for the Yankees who got sent to Columbus. So it was the wrong Alberto Gonzales ...
ARAVOSIS: Can I ...
SANCHEZ: Go ahead, John. You've got about 15 seconds here.
ARAVOSIS: What I want to say really quick is what we found out about Gonzales is he went before the nation two weeks ago and said, I knew nothing about this scandal. I wasn't involved in any discussions. We found out on Friday that in fact he had a an hour- long meeting a week before these guys were fired, he approved the entire plan. It's so political, it's horrendous.
SANCHEZ: You're right. And then there is the e-mails as well. Quick question, yes or no, will the bloggers take this guy down?
ARAVOSIS: I think everyone's taking him down now, it's no longer just the bloggers. The bloggers certainly started it.
SANCHEZ: So you think it is going to happen? Jim, because we only have a little time, I want to get your opinion, too. Do you think it's going to happen?
GERAGHTY: Bush will never fire him. So I don't think it is going to happen.
ARAVOSIS: I hope he keeps him. Continued fun.
SANCHEZ: Gentlemen, thanks. Good conversation. We appreciate it. Sorry to have to rush you. There's more to come. It's my producer rushing me.
There's more to come on the CNN NEWSROOM and on the high seas as well. It seems people are falling off cruise ships all the time these days. So I wanted to find out what would happen if something like that happened to you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You can't see what's on the other side of the waves, unfortunately in a rescue situation, it's harder for them to see you as well. (END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: I am going to show you what it takes to survive, that's coming up in 90 seconds.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Seen a pattern all day long today, wild day for water rescues, huh? As we told you tonight, that couple who fell off the cruise ship not only managed to survive a 50 foot drop, they spent four hours in the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico. What's the best way to survive in a situation like that? I asked the U.S. Coast Guard to help me explain this to you. Here's what we put together.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got a visual. Start your bow, coming down, coming right, coming to starboard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Got him on the radar.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming up!
SANCHEZ, (voice-over): The U.S. Coast Guard demonstrating their precision. A boat, a boater, is lost at sea. Their job is to search and rescue. As they peer toward the horizon, they know that somewhere, out there, someone is desperately hoping to be found.
MIGUEL SANTOYA, COXSWAIN, U.S. COAST GUARD: Sometimes the information's not accurate. Sometimes we'll get a search, where the communications get cut off before we get all of the details and we don't know exactly what we're looking for, or where we're looking for.
SANCHEZ: And then it's really, like, finding a needle in a hay stack?
SANTOYA: Right.
SANCHEZ: And the odds get even worse, if they're looking, not for a boat, but for a person. We experienced it firsthand. By going out about a mile offshore and jumping overboard. Nothing more than a life vest. It's amazing when you get here, your line-of-sight is literally covered or obstructed by most of these waves. You can't see what's on the other side of the waves. And unfortunately in a rescue situation, it's harder for them to see you as well.
SANTOYA: The rougher it is, the harder it is to spot it, especially because, if it gets choppy up here you may think you saw something for a second and then it gets behind a wave and you may not see it again for another five minutes.
SANCHEZ: That is why it's important to wear a life vest that's approved by the Coast Guard. Bright reflective colors like orange that stand out against the blue/green surface of the water. Experts also advise that you conserve your energy. Don't splash. Try to keep both arms folded and legs crossed. The longer you're out here, the more you increase the chances of dehydration, hypothermia, and exhaustion. Together, those three things make it more difficult for you to be able to help yourself while the Coast Guard are trying to find you. As planned, the 41-footer has spotted me in the water and is in the process of executing a rescue operation. Because we're out so far from shore, I'm figuring, they couldn't get to me soon enough. As a human being, once you're in the water for a long period of time, you start to realize that you've just dropped at the very bottom in the food chain. It's about a thousand feet of water under you. And who knows what kind of animals.
For us and Coast Guard officials, it is a worthwhile exercise that can save lives. For people who've actually lived through this ordeal, it is a moment frozen in time.
(END OF VIDEO TAPE)
SANCHEZ (on camera): And might I add, extremely lonely sitting out there for yourself for about an hour. My thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard stationed in Miami Beach for their help with that report. My thanks to you as well for being with us on this night and continuing to reach us here and join us on weekends.
We did ask you a very important question earlier today about the situation in Iran. Do you think this could escalate? Are you worried it could turn into a war? Here's what you had to say. Good night, everybody.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
CALLER: I think the war with Iran is inevitable. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad goal is to bring about the return of the 12th imam according to Islamic law and he is out to start a war no matter what.
CALLER: This is just another speed bump as far as I'm concerned. Iran of itself with their economic downfall, just about.
CALLER: Sends a message, basically, to the west, that Iran is one country that is not necessarily going to get bullied.
CALLER: No, it will not lead to war with Iran. No, it will not.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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