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Job Report Worsens; Commissioning the Carrier George H.W. Bush; New Air strikes in Gaza
Aired January 10, 2009 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. Next hour starting right now on this Saturday, January 10th, hello to you all. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes hello everybody I'm Betty Nguyen. It is the worst jobs report in decades and it could get worse. The president-elect saying unemployment could hit double digits and this morning is detailing his plans to save or at least create up to 4 million jobs.
HOLMES: We'll also take you live this hour, there, Norfolk, Virginia, a special day for the Bush family, commissioning of a nuclear aircraft carrier named for the former President Bush, and his son will be along, the current president to help him with that.
Those stories plus new air strikes in Gaza. That's all live this hour in the CNN NEWSROOM.
NGUYEN: First up, 10 days before he takes his new job, President-elect Barack Obama ups the ante on a plan to put Americans back to work. CNN's Kate Bolduan is live in Washington. All right Kate, let's lay it out here, 4 million jobs, that is a huge number.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a big number, and it's an estimation at this point too, Betty, all eyes remain on the economy. The president-elect today in his weekly address using the latest devastating jobless numbers, to underscore his urgent call for an economic stimulus package. The general outline of the proposal has been out for a while now, however the details and the total price tag still aren't finalized. But the transition team has already released an internal report detailing how much help they say this plan could offer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT-ELECT: The report confirms that our plan will likely save or create 3 to 4 million jobs. 90 percent of these jobs will be created in the private sector. The remaining 10 percent are mainly public sector jobs we save, like the teachers, police officers, firefighters and others who provide vital services in our communities.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Now we should point out, the report acknowledges that the findings are subject to significant margins of error since we don't know yet what the final plan will look like once it emerges from congress of course. But to continue making his pitch though, Obama's top economic advisers were on Capitol Hill this week discussing the recovery plan with House and Senate Democrats. But it wasn't entirely an easy sell. Congressional Democrats voiced concern that not enough money would be directed toward infrastructure spending while too much money would be going to tax cuts under the current outline. Democrats have made clear though that in the end they do plan to support the economic stimulus bill. Obama is pushing for a fast timeline, we've been talking about it Betty, asking for a bill to be on his desk by mid-February. So they will be working on this day in and day out.
NGUYEN: All right, Kate Bolduan joining us live. Thank you Kate.
How bad is the job market? The Labor Department says 524,000 jobs were lost just in December. Total job losses in 2008, 2.6 million. That is the highest number since World War II. The majority of pink slips were handed out over the last four months. And 2009 isn't starting off very well either. Boeing is laying off 4,500 workers. Government contractor Halliburton tightening their belt as well. And then Goody's stores, they have started liquidating stock yesterday and they're closing all stores. If you have one of the 22 million KB Toys gift cards in circulation, you better use it by tomorrow or you will lose it, as the stores prepare to shut down.
One of the biggest threats to America's future could be the ever- growing deficit. In a two hour special event, CNN will air the highly acclaimed documentary IOUSA. Plus we are going to break down all of this with some of America's top economic minds. That is today at 2:00 and tomorrow at 3:00 eastern.
HOLMES: There was a brief halt in the fighting in the Middle East today between Israel and Hamas. But that ended about two hours ago now and it ended in this way, renewed Israeli air strikes on Gaza City. Israel gave a three-hour respite to Gaza residents for humanitarian purposes and relief supplies. This new video from that battle we have seen now, we've been watching for the past few hours. Israeli military strikes hitting a structure in Gaza and igniting a building there.
Also, more gather around the world in protest of Israel's military action. Police in London tell CNN some 12,000 protesters took to the streets earlier today. And in places such as Indian controlled Kashmir, we're seeing demonstrations as well. Demonstrators there lit an Israeli banner on Friday. This as the international community calls for a new cease fire to be observed by both sides.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMIE CARTER: The international community needs to assure that when another cease fire is negotiated under their pressure, then it will be publicized and both sides, Israelis and the Palestinians will have to certify that they will abide by it. And then there needs to be a monitoring of the situation in Gaza, that is an adequate supply of food and necessities going in to the starving people, secondly no rockets coming out of Gaza and third, no permission or entryway for additional weaponry to come into the Palestinians who are living in Gaza.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, he's not vice president just yet, but some say he may be acting the part. Joe Biden just wrapped up a trip to Pakistan and now he's in Afghanistan. But some say he's stepping on Hillary Clinton's territory as the next secretary of state. Brian Todd with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Joe Biden in Pakistan, meeting leaders in one of the most sensitive regions for American national security, 10 days before becoming vice president. Is he being quick off the mark or too soon out of the gate?
THOMAS DONNELLY, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: I think it's far too early for the incoming administration to have anything like a coherent south Asia policy and that would be an unfair expectation of them.
TODD: But a Biden senate aide says there is no time to waste and that Biden's purpose is to gather facts and listen to the leaders and commanders in the region. He is not articulating policy or engaging in diplomacy. President-elect Obama this week reiterated that until January 20th, only President Bush speaks for the U.S. Biden's office says he's traveling in his capacity as senator with Republican Senator Lindsay Graham. But what about the risk of Biden stepping on the toes of Hillary Clinton, President-elect Obama's choice for secretary of state.
STEVE CLEMONS, NEW AMERICA FOUNDATION: Right now the real reality is Hillary Clinton is not secretary of state and they wanted intel from foreign policy people very early on.
TODD: It's certainly not unheard of for a vice president to play a role in foreign policy. But another analyst is wondering whether there will be a turf war between Joe Biden and the secretary of state.
DONNELLY: It's not a train wreck but there are a lot of big trains traveling at very high speeds and we don't know whether there's going to be an intersection of the tracks or whether they're just going in parallel directions.
TODD (on camera): And Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden aren't the only heavy hitters in this discussion. There's talk that Mr. Obama may appoint former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy to Pakistan, Afghanistan and South Asia. And Mr. Holbrooke is no shrinking violet either. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And again, Vice President-elect Joe Biden is now visiting Afghanistan. A military spokesman describing it as a quote, "quick visit." He's meeting with President Hamid Karzai and the U.S. general who heads the NATO force in Afghanistan. Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina also on that trip. The visit comes as the U.S. is rushing to deploy thousands more troops to Afghanistan to fight a resurging Taliban.
NGUYEN: Well the U.S. Navy's fleet is expanding. Boy, take a look at this. I want to give you some live pictures of the new nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the George H.W. Bush, yep, it's named after the former president and it is being commissioned today. The current President Bush is attending the ceremonies. Give you a little bit of information about this. The $6.2 billion carrier is the last ship in the nuclear powered "Nimitz" class. It's nearly 1,100 feet long and one of the largest warships in the world. You can tell by this picture, it can't even fit in the screen. Some 20,000 dignitaries and guests are attending today's event. Former President Bush is the fist American president to visit his name sake carrier.
HOLMES: And this is near and dear to his heart. He's a former president, he's a navy guy, former navy guy and he's got a ship named after him now. But we will, when that ceremony does happen, we'll dip in and take some of that live. Again, his son going to be there and 20,000 others. They say that sucker sits up 20 stories from the water.
NGUYEN: And it is an amazing sight as you can see right there. And it's great that the former president is going to be there for this. Like you said, he's going to be the first one to be there for the commissioning of his namesake ship or carrier I should say, 84 years old.
HOLMES: Ronald Reagan of course had an aircraft carrier named after him as well but he was unable to visit it because he was ailing at the time and died before he was able to make it to his namesake. But George H.W. Bush will make it there. So again, we will dip in and show you some of this live when the ceremony does start.
We'll turn to some weather now, and give me a word to describe it.
NGUYEN: Cold.
HOLMES: Cold, that's one word, some would say nasty.
NGUYEN: Yeah.
HOLMES: What would you say Reynolds?
NGUYEN: And in some places avalanches.
WOLF: Yeah, we have had a little bit of everything. Seriously, all around the country you can basically find every type of weather that you would ever want or not want. We have got it all today. We've had the mudslides and snow slides down toward the west, in the areas of the Great Lakes, it's mainly snow as we speak right now from parts of Michigan back to Chicago. Chicago getting a light dusting right now. Some parts of the Great Lakes area, may see around eight inches, maybe up to a foot into other places. We'll have that coming up in a few moments right here on CNN Saturday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, some severe weather on tap for western Pennsylvania, with a winter storm warning in effect for much of that area, also a nasty mix there of snow, freezing rain and sleet possible. Snow is bad enough for here in Pennsylvania's mayor to declare a snow emergency until Monday morning. Days of rain along with melting snow pack is making a real mess in Washington State. This is the scene above Pierce County, this is near Seattle. They have opened some roads mostly for crews to clean up the mud and debris that was left behind. Flood warnings remain in effect despite a drier forecast.
We turn to Wisconsin now, they're expecting even more snow after yesterday's snowfall that caused all kinds of issues out there on the roadways. As much as eight inches fell in some places, such a great scene giving snowplows plenty of stuff to do throughout the evening.
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: Take a look at this, we have some live pictures out of Norfolk, Virginia doesn't look like the weather is too bad, although cold. You can tell by the coats there, they are getting ready for the commissioning ceremony at the George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. This thing is huge. Over 1,000 feet long, and to give you an idea, it is twice as long as the empire state building is tall. We're going to bring you portions of this live. Stay here for CNN.
HOLMES: Also we have another story coming up that this is one of those heebie jeebie stories, a social worker accused of hypnotizing women and then doing some unsavory things to them. We have that story coming up.
NGUYEN: And this one, he was once on top of the world in the NFL, now his former mansion is heading for the auction block.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: A freed Saudi tanker is now on its way to port after pirates off the coast of Kenya were reportedly paid some $3 million in ransom. Not all of them got away with it. At least four pirates drowned with their share after their small boat capsized. Our David McKenzie has the latest on the tanker.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRSPONDENT (on camera): The ordeal for 25 sailors taken hostage by Somali pirates is finally over. The Syria Star a massive Saudi supertanker that was captured over a month ago southeast of Kenya has finally been released by pirates with an estimated ransom say sources of almost $3 million or up to $3 million. The ship was taken 450 miles southeast of the Kenyan port of Mombassa and caused quite a stir because it was outside of the usual hunting ground for pirates, which is along the coast of Somalia and along the Gulf of Aden. While experts are happy that this won't be released and that the shipping industry will get a ship back with almost 2 million barrels of oil, they do warn that increasing ransoms might just mean more attacks on ships.
There were a record number of attacks by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia last year and those show no signs of abating. The U.S. Navy says they are pleased that the ship is being released but they do remind us that there are almost 300 sailors still held hostage off the coast of Somalia. David McKenzie, CNN, Nairobi.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Police now combing through a Chicago school after a shooting that happened last night at Dunbar High School on the city's south side. Five people hit by bullets, a sixth was injured in a fall. This happened during overtime at the school's basketball game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DERRICK WHITE, WITNESS: They came inside of the school with a gun and got to chasing kids, students around the school with the gun. The students got to running everywhere.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The police say the incident may have been gang related. This was a drive by shooting according to police. At last check this morning, no suspects have been arrested.
Also, we turn to Oklahoma now where a licensed social worker there accused of taking advantage of his female patients. His name is Stephen Lee Kristic, the 64-year-old who allegedly groped four hypnotized women. He's charged with 11 counts of sexual battery, police say they began investigating Kristic in July after two complaints were filed. Then more complaints turned up. Authorities say one of Kristic's victims was a 16-year-old who was seeing him for help with stress and family issues.
NGUYEN: It is a mystery, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is trying to solve what's behind a salmonella outbreak in dozens of states which has sicken over 400 people. Minnesota health officials may be on the trail of the culprit. Health officials say salmonella bacteria was found in a brand of creamy peanut butter and they're testing it to determine if it's like the bacteria found in the national outbreak. Results they are expected in about a week.
"Dirty Dancing" star Patrick Swayze has reportedly checked himself into a Los Angeles hospital for observation after contracting pneumonia. Swayze has been battling pancreatic cancer but is to appear in a new TV drama this month called "The Beast" on A&E. A&E's vice president says Swayze's chemotherapy treatments have taken a toll on his immune system so illnesses are a part of it.
Well imprisoned former Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick hopes a bankruptcy judge allows his Georgia home to go on the auction block next month. The price of the multimillion dollar mansion has been slashed by some $400,000, but still no takers. It's currently priced at a reported $4.1 million. Vick is serving 23 months for federal dog fighting charges. His lawyers are trying to get him transferred to a halfway house. Vick still has three other homes in Virginia and he's trying to sell two of them as well.
HOLMES: Also, let's take you back now live to Norfolk, Virginia. This is a live picture. It appears to be a beautiful day there at Norfolk. What we're seeing is the commissioning of the USS "George H.W. Bush." You see the governor Tim Kaine, he's among the dignitaries, there he is. Also you see the former president now starting to peak through the crowd just making his way out. We understand that he's been using a cane to get around, but still moving pretty good right now, the 84-year-old former navy guy. But this is the USS "George H.W. Bush" being commissioned today. The former president's son, the current president, will be on tap to help with this commissioning.
Also, the first lady of the U.S. and the former first lady, there you're getting a shot of her and that signature white hair of hers coming through the crowd. They're making their way through. You're hearing this applause, this is certainly on the navy, near and dear to the heart of the former President George H.W. Bush who was a former navy guy who was actually shot down, had to be rescued during his time back as a pilot. But making his way out. As you see there talking about the cane he's using, but still getting around pretty well. This is a massive, massive ship as you know Betty.
NGUYEN: Oh, absolutely. As we talked a little bit earlier, it's twice as long as the Empire State Building is tall and some 20,000 dignitaries on hand for this. To talk a little bit more about the former president's service, he joined the navy on his 18th birthday, June 12, 1942. T.J. talked a little bit about what he did, but later, he was awarded the distinguished flying cross and three air medals for his navy service in the pacific theater. So this obviously is quite a day for him, and what a warship this is, $6.2 billion.
HOLMES: And we just heard the announcer there make the announcement that here comes the president and the current President Bush and the current first lady Laura Bush. You get a look at some of the dignitaries there, we see the vice president, the defense secretary there, Lynne Cheney is there as well for this ceremony. But a big day for the Bush family. I also saw Jeb Bush in the back there as well in the crowd. A huge crowd and a big group of dignitaries on tap there. We'll continue to keep an eye on this live picture there at Norfolk, Virginia. Expect a lot of people to step up to that microphone and make some comments. We will be dipping back into the ceremony in just a few minutes.
Also another piece of video we want to show you. I don't know how dignified when we're looking at those dignitaries, I don't know how dignified this video is.
NGUYEN: It's one of those that they say could come back to haunt you one day.
HOLMES: It could haunt you today Wolf.
NGUYEN: No, I think Wolf has got some pretty good moves. Check him out. We'll have so much more on this coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, a lot of people just getting back from vacations over the holiday and you may not think of January as a good time to travel. But there are great deals to be had this month if you know where to look. Our Richelle Carey gives you some tips in today's "On the Go."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICHELLE CAREY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Want to get away? Well, holding out for those last-minute deals may be paying off.
CHRIS MCGINNIS, EXPEDIA.COM: The cheapest time to travel is typically in early January, this is what's known in the travel business as the dead weeks. To draw business, the airlines, the cruise lines and hotels are really rolling out some of the deepest discounts.
CAREY: McGinnis says prices for some Caribbean cruises will dip as low as $25 a night. And expect certain hotels to offer rock bottom prices too.
MCGINNIS: Hotel suites on the strip in Las Vegas going for about $75 a night. And if you just want a regular room, you can get that for as low as $29. We're really seeing some astounding travel deals to warm weather destinations and to the ski resorts believe it or not.
CAREY: Let your fingers do the walking and visiting websites like Travelocity, Hot Wire and Expedia, and don't forget to look for those promotional codes to save even more.
MCGINNIS: Look for last-minute trips on last-minute websites. You're going to find some really good deals, and if you're ready to jump, you'll have a really nice, inexpensive vacation.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: You remember that scene of Roland Burris when he was turned away by senate officials.
HOLMES: Yes, we should have that burned in our brains now. But was he really the first? Take a look at this here. Former State Representative Julian Bond, he was getting the cold shoulder as well. Hear his story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Now, Barack Obama increasing his jobs goal, the president-elect says his stimulus package could save or create 3 to 4 million jobs now. But that stimulus package is not an easy sell at nearly $800 billion. Even harder sell at $1 trillion. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser with us now from Washington now. And Paul, the election is over, the celebration is over, he hasn't been sworn in just yet. But already, politics, it's time to get back to politics now and he's getting opposition from not just Republicans, a little push back from some Democrats.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yeah, getting push back from members of his own party, exactly T.J. Of course Republicans have a problem with the overall price tag, they may think it's too expensive, but the Democrats are pushing back as well. They say they're not going to rubber stamp whatever Barack Obama gives them. They say they have as much of a say in this as he does. What are they opposed to? Well our Candy Crowley is telling us that some of them don't like the tax cuts that are going to businesses that would create new jobs and our Dana Bash is reporting that some Democrats would like to see more money in this plan to try to jump- start the economy to go toward infrastructure, roads, bridges, tunnels, hospitals, rather than tax cuts. So they are pushing back. Is this anything new? No, Democrats don't always get along with each other. It was 16 years ago, similar situation, Bill Clinton in the White House, Democrats controlling congress. They definitely didn't sing "Kumbaya." And remember during Jimmy Carter's four years as president, he clashed quite often with the Democrats in congress.
HOLMES: We actually do that every morning before our show, we sing Kumbaya right here, don't we Betty? Let's talk about the vice president to be, Joe Biden now, he's doing some running around in the Middle East neighborhood. A lot of people, or some are saying, I should say, say he's maybe stepping on the toes a little bit of the expected to be incoming secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Tell us about this trip and is there any sign of any rift internally or is this just something all the outsiders and pundits are talking about?
STEINHAUSER: You know this is a little interesting because people are talking, you're absolutely right. With about 10 days to go until he's inaugurated as vice president, where is he, Joe Biden is on the other side of the world, he's in Afghanistan today, Pakistan yesterday. He's doing it because, remember, he is still a member of the U.S. senate, he not only won an election as vice president, but he also was re-elected as the senior senator from Delaware. He was sworn in the other day for the seventh term. He is still foreign relations chairman until he steps down next week and he is going in that capacity and this trip to southwest Asia to talk with leaders there both military and political about the security situation. They want to get some good intel before they get into the White House. But you do raise a good point, some people are raising the question, is this Hillary Clinton's turf? But you know overall, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton get along pretty well so I don't think there is going to be too much of a problem here. T.J.?
HOLMES: All right, no problem there. Does Sarah Palin have a problem?
STEINHAUSER: Sarah Palin may have a problem with the media, she's speaking out and blaming the media once again. I'll be back next hour with that one T.J.
HOLMES: All right, we'll see you again soon. Always a pleasure to have you with us on Saturday morning. Thank you so much Paul.
A lot of people out there worried about layoffs, worried about salary freezes as well. Today at 5:00 eastern, we're bringing in an expert who advises some of the top executives in this country. One of the strategies we'll discuss, why you should be taking on more right now. We'll have tips on how to make yourself necessary to your boss as well. I need to hear that one. Ten strategies to keep your job, me, you, we will be tuned in at 5:00 eastern here in the newsroom.
NGUYEN: All of us. Front and center, I will be watching. In the meantime though, a man who's having a very tough time trying to keep his job, Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich. Yesterday the Illinois House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach the governor. But he is vowing to fight, promising to prove he's innocent of corruption charges. The question of whether to remove Blagojevich now goes to the state senate, which will hold a trial, a 2/3 vote is required to convict and expel him from office.
You know, you win some, you lose some, yesterday the Illinois supreme court ruled the governors' appointment of Roland Burris is valid even though the secretary of state refuses to sign off on it. Illinois' senior senator Dick Durbin says he doesn't buy it. He says without that signature Burris will not be accepted to fill Barack Obama's open senate seat.
HOLMES: Well, does race have any place in the debate over Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris to the U.S. senate? Some civil rights activists certainly think it does. One in particular. Here now CNN's Louise Schiavone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LOUISE SCHIAVONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For NAACP chairman Julian Bond, the senate's rejection of Roland Burris this week was all too familiar. Here is Julian Bond sitting out his own swearing in to Georgia's legislature in 1966.
JULIAN BOND, NAACP CHAIRMAN: In 1966, I endorsed a statement opposing the war in Vietnam. The members of the Georgia House where I was expected to be seated objected to this and said that I couldn't believe in the statement and take the oath of office and be a legislator. I had won the election, I was old enough and I lived in Georgia. But they disagreed and they voted to put me out.
SCHIAVONE: With a full out campaign by Martin Luther King, Jr.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.: When Julian Bond will be back in that state legislature.
SCHIAVONE: And the authority of a unanimous supreme court ruling Bond ultimately took his seat and is somewhat incredulous that similar images are still alive four decades later. Senate Democratic leaders say long standing procedure, not racism accounts for the standoff.
SEN. HARRY REID, (D) MAJORITY LEADER: Roland Burris, one of the first things he said to us, this is nothing that's racial, I understand that so a lot of people tried to make this a racial issue, Roland Burris has not.
SCHIAVONE: The charge that the Illinois governor wanted to sell the senate seat made Democrat leaders suspicious of the Burris appointment. But Bond suggests.
BOND: You have to ask yourself what were they thinking or were they thinking at all when the whole Democratic caucus in the senate, including then Senator Obama said let's not seat this guy, didn't one of them say this is going to look bad?
SCHIAVONE: The NAACP says the Burris appointment is legitimate and he should be seated. The congressional black caucus has said the same.
REP. DONALD PAYNE, (D) NEW JERSEY: Many times when decisions are made without it being thought through clearly, you tend to find yourself in very embarrassing and difficult positions.
SCHIAVONE (ON CAMERA): The question could move soon to the senate rules committee where the chairman, Senator Dianne Feinstein has already said she believes Roland Burris should be seated. Louise Schiavone for CNN, Washington.
(END OF VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Race relations in America, are they changing as we prepare for the inauguration of the nation's first African-American president?
HOLMES: Young people talking quite frankly about it with our Tony Harris.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think in the 60s, people were honest about their racism and right now it's more under the rug.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Confession, you don't want to miss what these kids have to say.
NGUYEN: And you don't want to miss this. We're going to show you some live pictures of the commissioning ceremony of the "George H.W. Bush" aircraft carrier. Governor Tim Kaine speaking at the podium right now, but there are a lot of dignitaries in the crowd, including both the current and former president. I understand that the president will be speaking next and I believe he is coming to the podium shortly. And when he does, we'll try to bring that to you live. Stay here with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: And right now we are watching this live event play out. Take a look at it. The commissioning ceremony for the "George H.W. Bush" aircraft carrier. We're seeing right now Defense Secretary Robert Gates speaking. We are waiting for both the current and former presidents to speak. And of course we'll bring that to you live. But in the meantime, if you would like to watch this in its entirety all you have to do is go to cnn.com.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right, live pictures right now as we are watching President Bush speak at the commissioning ceremony of an aircraft carrier named after his father. Let's take a listen.
BUSH: My father, an awesome man, President George H.W. Bush. To prepare for this day, I went back to some of my father's letters. I thought it was especially interesting to read one that he wrote in the late 1940s. He sent it to a friend. And here's what he said, he said, "You should see Georgie now. Whenever I come home, he greets me and talks of a blue streak, sentences disjointed, of course. He tries to say everything and the results are often hilarious." Some things do not change. The aircraft carrier which we commission today may be the navy's newest ship, but she has already had an interesting past. Her catapult testing took place during an unseasonable cold snap. Her christening was thrown into chaos by a fierce nor'easter, and during construction, the shipyard was closed down because of hurricane Isabel. So in keeping with this ship's short history, I brought along an equally strong force of nature, my mother.
Mr. Vice president and Lynne, thank you for joining us. Vice president Cheney has been a fabulous vice president of the United States. Governor Kaine thank you for your welcoming remarks. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, I appreciate you joining us. Other members of the administration and their families, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, CNO Gary Roughhead, Captain O'Flaherty, other members of the United States armed forces and their families. Shipyard workers and managers, members of our family who have joined us and all the friends of George H.W. Bush, we are glad you are here.
The story of the USS "George H.W. Bush" begins in the early days of World War II when our dad enlisted in the United States Navy. Like many servicemen deployed overseas, he was sustained by a girl he loved back home. From her dorm room, she knitted socks for him. In remote pacific islands, he collected seashells for her. And when he returned home from war, the first thing he did was to make her his bride. And for 64 years ago this week, the love of my father's life has been Barbara Bush. Over the years, our parents have built a family bound forever by closeness, warmth and unconditional love. Jeb, Neil, Marvin and Darrow and I will always feel blessed to have had the best father anyone could ever ask for. We will always be inspired by the faith, humor, patriotism and compassion he taught us through his own example.
And for as long as we live, we will carry with us dad's other lessons that integrity and honor are worth more than any title or treasure. And that the truest strength can come from the gentlest soul. George H.W. Bush has the deep love of his family, the admiration of his friends, and the thanks of a grateful nation. So today, we are faced with -- so what do you give a guy who has been blessed and has just about everything he has ever needed? Well, an aircraft carrier. The ship that bears our dad's name is more than 95,000 tons of aluminum and steel. She will carry nearly 6,000 of the finest sailors and marines in the world.
She represents the craftsmanship of many skilled builders and thousands of hours of preparation and so I congratulate all of you on this tremendous achievement. The ship is a fitting tribute to a generation of men with whom my dad was privileged to serve. She's also a tribute to a new generation of American soldiers and sailors and coast guard men and women, airmen and marines who have stepped forward to defend the United States of America. Again, our troops are facing down a brutal enemy. Again, they are making America and the world safer, and, again, they will come home in victory.
People often ask what I treasure most about being the president. Nothing comes close to the honor of being your commander in chief. Every day I'm amazed by the skill and courage of our men and women in uniform, and as we send the "USS George H.W. Bush" into service I know you will do credit to the sailors who served before you and the good man for whom this ship is named. I ask that God protect this ship and let her know only victory and peace, and I ask God's continued blessings on our wonderful nation. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mr. President.
HOLMES: All right, again, listening in here and taking a look, this is the commissioning ceremony for the "USS George Herbert Walker Bush," the former president of the United States having this aircraft carrier commissioned and named after him. We've been seeing a parade of people come up to the microphone. There is just a long list of dignitaries here right now. Many of them will be talking -- will be talking during this ceremony and we'll be listening to many of them. We've seen a lot of familiar faces there. We saw the governor of Virginia Tim Kaine step up to the microphone, also seeing the former president there with his former first lady Barbara Bush, also soft. Vice president Cheney and his wife there as well, all the Bush family there, but a big day for the former navy pilot who was actually shot down during the war. The navy certainly near and dear to his heart, but this is a massive, massive nuclear aircraft carrier. That doesn't even tell the story there but this sucker sits about 20 stories high, and Betty, I think the word was that you said earlier, yeah, in comparison to the Empire State Building.
NGUYEN: Yeah, twice as tall as the Empire State Building is long so that gives you an idea, I mean it's 1,092 feet in length. This is a huge aircraft carrier. It cost $6.2 billion and today we are seeing the commissioning ceremony, and as you mentioned, there are a whole lot of people in the crowd, including dignitaries that you listed off as well as the defense secretary who we heard speak just moments ago. This is a huge day for the Bush family and it appears all of them are there to celebrate.
HOLMES: There's a lot of them.
NGUYEN: Yes, it is.
HOLMES: But some 20,000 is the number we've been told expected to attend, amazing to think that you can get that big of a crowd just gathered. There is an area big enough to hold 20,000 people, almost you think of arenas and other stadiums and things like that, that 20,000 people can get into. But a lot more can be held on this ship, but they have an area that can hold 20,000 for them to sit up and watch this commissioning ceremony. Certainly not the first person to have an aircraft carrier named after him, we also know that Ronald Reagan had an aircraft carrier named for him as well, his namesake, but George H.W. Bush is the first president to actually visit a ship that was named after him. Ronald Reagan was want in good enough health to make it to his ship and actually visit it. We'll keep an eye on this ceremony, expecting the former president to step up to the microphone and make some comments. We'll continue to monitor what's happening there in Virginia. Stay with us.
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NGUYEN: Live to Norfolk, Virginia as we are watching the commissioning ceremony of the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. In fact, we have learned that within that break they have just raised the colors on that carrier which signifies that this aircraft carrier has been commissioned.
HOLMES: It has to go through its official process. We still expect a little more pomp and circumstance and certainly everybody waiting to hear from the former President George H.W. Bush. I keep mixing that up.
NGUYEN: They're both there though.
HOLMES: You have to throw the h in there, but yes, the son, the current president is there as well. But like you said, the official ceremony, so it's official now. It is the "USS George H.W. Bush." We have a little more here to go through with this ship. Again, this is one of the last in its class of nuclear aircraft carriers, but we're, once again, going to stay with this for just a little while longer and listen in here as this commissioning ceremony continues.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- and to our future. The standard that you set will last a very long time when you consider that the last commanding officer of George H.W. Bush has not yet been born. This great war ship will be a part of the next 50 years of American history in peace and in war. None of us can predict what the next 50 years will hold and few would have expected when we commissioned the "USS Kitty Hawk" decades ago, the aircraft carrier that this ship replaces, that it would go from donating 300,000 gallons of water to drought- stricken Hong Kong, to launching carrier air strikes into southeast Asia, to participating in a contingency operation during the Iranian hostage crisis, and to striking ashore in two wars in the Middle East. Recently, we have seen our carriers strike targets ashore, and similarly, they have served as staging bases for the largest humanitarian relief operations --
FREDERICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Much more of the commissioning of this ship "George H.W. Bush." We expect the former president to be speaking momentarily and when he does we'll carry that live as well. I'm Fredericka Whitfield, thanks so much for joining us here in the NEWSROOM.
