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Recovering from Irene; Libyan Rebels Issue Deadline; CNN Poll: Perry Has Double-Digit Lead; Huntsman Dead Last in GOP Polling; Vick Signs $100 M Contract; Irene's Flooding Still Impacting The Northeast. Rescue Operations Underway In Patterson, New Jersey
Aired August 30, 2011 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Wow, look at you guys. It's like a kumbayah moment there! Everybody holding hands, OK, we're sharing the love! I'm reaching out! Good morning, guys.
Well, we begin this hour with lingering misery caused by Hurricane Irene. You're looking at live pictures now from Patterson, New Jersey, where crews are actually going door-to-door rescuing people from their homes. That water, by the way, coming from the Passaic River is supposed to crest today at its highest level since 1903.
A pretty eye-catching image of just how massive the storm was. This is coming to us from NASA. It's an animated satellite of Irene as it's churning up the Eastern Seaboard like a buzz saw. And at last check, 5 million people are still without power. Throughout the morning, the death toll has been jumping as well, 38 people are now confirmed dead in 11 states and it could get even higher.
Three Navy ships off the coast of New York to help with search and rescue missions, and reps from the Obama administration are going to fan out across three of the hardest-hit states, Virginia, North Carolina, and Vermont.
And let's go ahead and start there where floodwaters have destroyed roads and bridges, left hundreds of people stranded.
Amber Lyon is in town of Saxtons River, Vermont.
Amber, how are things looking this morning?
AMBER LYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, not too good out here, Kyra -- as you can see from this road behind me. This is one of the main roads in town and the local river just flooded across here leaving a layer of mud and muck, making this road impassible. It's closed down.
Nearly every road in this state is having issues. Yesterday, we just tried to drive about 30 miles west across the state and it took us two and a half hours because we came across so many road blocks. You'd see people sitting out on the sides of the roads looking at maps, trying to figure out how to get home or even how to get to work. We have also talked to people within communities that have been essentially turned into islands because the roads and bridges leading in and out of town, have been wiped out.
We spoke with one man who lives in a neighborhood of a home near here. He says that so far, residents are only able to walk over bridge to leave town, to get supplies. He says they haven't received any type of aid so far.
And making matters worse, Governor Shumlin says they expect the rivers to crest today. There are still flood warnings across the states as some of these brooks and streams flooded are now pouring into the state's major rivers, which will eventually cause those to rise as well.
Also, people still missing in the state unaccounted for, and making matters even more difficult is that these rescue crews are having difficulties entering some of these remote mountain villages to assess the damage and also try to recover the missing, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Do they have enough people to do that, Amber?
LYON: Well, they have National Guard troops -- about 250 National Guard troops. Yesterday, Obama declared a state of emergency in Vermont, so more aid is expected to flow in.
But I just spoke with someone who -- this man who lives in the neighborhood near here who has been turned into an island. And he says they haven't seen any type of aid come into their neighborhood to help them.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Amber Lyon, OK, we'll keep talking throughout the morning.
Tough situation there and millions of people in New England and across the Northeast are also dealing with floodwaters. This is the view this morning of Morris County, New Jersey. As you can see, entire neighborhoods are under water there. Some of those rivers across the state are still rising.
And then in Maine, the river has crested but it could take weeks to repair the roads and bridges washed out by the flash floods. In neighboring New Hampshire, fire crews had to act quickly to save a man and his two young daughters. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DISTRICT CHIEF AL POULIN: We're talking within seconds of them letting go and nothing between them and the falls.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the family was apparently on a personal watercraft that overturned in those swift waters. All three were bruised and treated for hypothermia, but otherwise they are OK.
And if you want to make a difference and help those devastated by hurricane Irene, we have compiled a list of relief organizations for you.
Just visit our Impact Your World page. That's a CNN.com/impact.
Now to the latest on the war in Libya. Rebels are closing in on Sirte, the hometown of deposed dictator Moammar Gadhafi. And they are issuing a deadline for his troops to surrender there and other loyalist towns.
CNN's Dan Rivers is in Tripoli for us.
So, Dan, what's the latest?
DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they are saying that they have four days to surrender over Eid, or they will basically move into Sirte. That is the hometown, as you say, of Colonel Gadhafi, still in the hands of Gadhafi loyalists, despite the fact that is now being approached from the east and the west by the rebels.
Meanwhile, reports from the Algerian government that Hannibal Gadhafi, Colonel Gadhafi's son, and another son, Mohammed, his daughter Aisha and wife Saifa have all entered Algeria at 8:45 a.m. yesterday local time for humanitarian reasons, according to the Algerian government. Of course, Algeria doesn't recognize the rebel National Transitional Council here and they have been apparently offered some sort of safe haven there. The NTC is saying that they should be force to do come back here. They should be extradited to face trial here and if Algeria doesn't do that, it will be considered as an active aggression against the will of the Libyan people.
So, some pretty tough rhetoric from the rebels here who are clearly desperate to finish this job off, finish the fighting, but also to bring Colonel Gadhafi and his family members to justice.
PHILLIPS: All right. Dan, thanks. You know that search for Gadhafi in his hometown is making news on the international scene.
Of course, Zain Verjee is joining me now from London. What are the headlines saying?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Kyra. Let's take a look at them.
This is what "The International Herald Tribune's" is. It says, "Libya hunts for a living ghost." This article goes on to say this: "It was perhaps only fitting that Colonel Moammar Gadhafi would be as unpredictable on the lam as he was in power for 42 eccentric years."
And then "Gulf News," Kyra. This is the headline. "It's too soon for Libyans to celebrate freedom." It says, "There are too many questions begging to be answered. The one currently on most people's mind is, of course, where is Colonel Moammar Gadhafi? Put simply, his whereabouts are mysterious as the man himself."
They were describing his family, wife , two kids and grandchildren all across the border into Algeria. U.S. sources, though, has said that there has been no indication that Moammar Gadhafi has left Libya. But the fact of the matter is, nobody really knows for a fact where exactly he is.
One thing that just came in a short while ago, Kyra, is that the AFP is quoting the Algerian news agency as saying that Colonel Gadhafi's daughter Aisha just gave birth today to a baby girl. She was very pregnant and one of the reasons they probably wanted to get out of Libya and into Algeria so she could give birth safely because there was no hospital that was going to do that for them in Libya -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Wow. Story gets much more interesting, Zain.
Zain Verjee out of London for us -- Zain, thanks.
Well, the politics now here at home. Our latest poll shows that Rick Perry is rocking the Republican White House race. CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in Manchester, New Hampshire, this morning with all of the numbers --Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, Kyra. Did you need more evidence that Rick Perry's late entry into the race is really shaking things up?
Well, here it is. You just mentioned our poll. Check it out. This is CNN/ORC. We polled Republicans and independents who say they lean towards the GOP. Look at that right at the top. The long time Texas governor, 27 percent say they want him as their nominee for the party. Look at that.
Mitt Romney who was the front-runner in about every poll earlier this summer -- well, the former Massachusetts governor at 14 percent, Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor, at 10 percent, Michele Bachmann, the congresswoman from Minnesota, at 9 percent, as is Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor.
But, listen, Palin and Giuliani, they are just flirting with a run for the White House. They haven't yet announced. So, take them out of the mix and here's what looks like -- Perry 32 at percent, Romney at 18 percent, Bachmann at 12 percent, Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, at 7 percent, and Ron Paul, the congressman from Texas, who is making his third run for the White House, at 6 percent.
Kyra, a lot of people who jumped into the race late in elections past have also jumped quickly to the top of the polls. It will be interesting to see if Rick Perry has staying power. And remember, we've got five presidential debates including two CNN ones coming up in the next two months. So, a lot of things to test Rick Perry in the next two months, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: That's true.
All right. Well, let's turn to the Democratic side, shall we? You remember yesterday at the White House briefing, Jay Carney was asked about Hillary Clinton running for president in 2012. Let's go ahead and listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPORTER: Running away from this question? I mean, can you guarantee that, I mean, are you sure that Hillary is not going to run?
JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: You have to ask her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: You can hear the different people with the different views there and bottom line, he said you're going to have to ask her. So, what do you think? Is a Hillary run really possible?
STEINHAUSER: You know, a lot of people have asked her. In fact, our Wolf Blitzer asked her in March and all of these times she's been asked she says, no, no, not running for president again. She's even said she doesn't want a second term as secretary of state.
But what do Democrats think on the same poll? Look at this, Kyra. We asked Democrats only in this question. Should the president be renominated or not? Look at that, 27 percent say he should not be renominated to lead the Democrat Party in 2012 election. That's up from earlier this year.
So some Democrats a little upset right now with President Barack Obama, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Paul Steinhauser from New Hampshire -- Paul, thanks.
We'll have your next political update in just about an hour.
And a reminder, for all the latest political news, just go to our Web site, CNN/politics.com.
Well, Dick Cheney says heads will explode over his new memoir. Well, it already started to happen. Who inside the Bush White House says he's taking cheap shots? We'll tell you coming up.
And polygamist sect leader Warren Jeffs is in a coma. We'll have that story when we go cross country after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Once again, we want to show you these live pictures out of Paterson, New Jersey. We have been able to actually watch the search and rescue teams go door-to-door trying to get people out of their homes. We've been telling you about the water there coming from the Passaic River, supposed to crest today at its highest level since 1903.
Sergeant Alex Popov is on the phone now with Paterson, New Jersey Police Department to talk us through some of these live pictures.
So, Sergeant, as we are getting this feed in from WABC, can you tell us who all involved in these search and rescue missions and exactly what they are doing?
SGT. ALEX POPOV, PATERSON, NEW JERSEY POLICE DEPARTMENT (via telephone): Yes. Good morning.
Paterson Fire Department, in coordination with the police department, and our Office of Emergency Management, we are dealing with quite a few rescue rescues. We've had over 500 people rescued by boat and pretty much approaching that has been safe in a shelter in Bergen County Community College, which is now nearing its capacity.
PHILLIPS: What type of people have you been rescuing, Sergeant? Has it been families, kids, elderly? Can you kind of describe to me? Oh, we're actually, looking at a shot now of one of the rescue workers holding what looks like a brand-new baby with the rest of the family here and none of the boats.
Describe to us. Is this mainly what you are dealing with, are families that were trapped?
POPOV: We are dealing with elderly people, families, small children, and pets as well along the flood-prone areas of the Passaic River. It's been pretty much 24 hours a day when people call, we dispatch the fire department and they get out there with the boats. We also have several people rescued from the river who have jumped into the river or fallen off of a bridge. We have rescues also from the Passaic River.
PHILLIPS: How many people do you think you've rescued so far, Sergeant?
POPOV: It's over 500 and the amount is climbing. We are still getting calls for people that are trapped and need to be rescued. So, we're dealing with that as we speak.
PHILLIPS: Now, I -- I don't like asking this question. But, as you know, we have been covering the number of people that have died due to these conditions. Are you coming across folks that didn't make it?
POPOV: Luckily, to this point, we have not had any fatalities and we're hoping it stays that way. As far as the other municipalities along the river, I don't know. But in Paterson, we have not any fatalities as of yet.
PHILLIPS: So, what are you advising people in your area that may be home, watching CNN, and seeing these live pictures? If they are trapped, how, besides calling 911 -- is there a way that they can get the attention of your rescue crews by maybe stepping outside, going out into a patio?
What are you advising? Because you, obviously, want people to stay safe before rescuers are able to get to them.
POPOV: If at all possible, if they don't have a phone or access to a phone, if they can somehow get to a neighbor's house and call. We have a hot line. Our command post is up 24 hours a day, if you can advise. The phone number would be 973-321-1142 and 973-321-1195. Those are two dedicated phone lines that we have and then we dispatch the fire department and we will come get them if need be.
PHILLIPS: OK. And just one more time for folks that are tuning in. I caught the first number, not the second. The first hot line if you are, indeed, in the area, need help, 973-321-1142.
Sergeant, one more time can you give me the other number?
POPOV: Sure. It's 973-321-1195, and that's manned 24 hours a day. That's our command post, and we will dispatch the fire department there. And we also are providing transportation to the shelter which is another municipality in a different county.
PHILLIPS: Well, we are watching the live pictures of your men and women carry out these search and rescue operations. They are doing an incredible job.
Sergeant Alex Popov there with the Paterson, New Jersey Police Department -- Sergeant, thanks for calling in.
POPOV: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: Other stories are making news right now.
Polygamist Warren Jeffs apparently in a critical condition in the hospital. Texas prison officials tell CNN that Jeffs fell ill while fasting in his prison cell and he's now in a coma. As you know, Jeff is serving a life sentence and child sex charges.
And the FBI has arrested a former NBA player, Javaris Crittenton, on murder charges. He was taken in custody last night in L.A. while trying to board a plane to Atlanta. Apparently, he's wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting death of a woman in Atlanta on August 19th.
And a hard landing for United Express flight in Moline, Illinois. The plane veered off the runway landing yesterday and coming to a stop in a nearby grassy area. No one was hurt. Federal transportation officials are still investigating what exactly happened.
Dick Cheney's memoir is out today. And he's promised that, quote, "heads will explode" over this book. Well, as you can imagine, they already have.
First one to do so, former Secretary of State Colin Powell. Powell has been the first one to come forward and say that the book is full of, quote, "cheap shots." Its title is "In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir." For the first time, we get insight into personal conversations with Cheney and the George W. Bush inner circle.
John Avlon is a CNN contributor and senior political columnist with "The Daily Beast."
John, I know you have -- you haven't had a chance to get the full read. But just like all of us, we have read the excerpts. We've seen the interview so far. You know, he reveals, apparently, all of these personal conversations with Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, George Tenet, and, of course, the former President George W. Bush.
You know, his supporters are saying, look, Cheney is just blunt, honest, straightforward like he always does.
Critics are saying he is rewriting history. He just wants it portrayed the way he wants it portrayed.
What's your take?
JOHN AVLON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, Kyra, you know, Winston Churchill once said that history will be kind to me because I intend to write it.
And I always think that's part of the motivation of any memoir.
Of course, Dick Cheney is going to tell us his own side. And love him or hate him, he's had an amazingly successful career and there's probably a lot to learn here. But always take it with a grain of salt. You know, this is going to be Dick Cheney's version of events, not an objective historian's account.
PHILLIPS: Well, and there was always talk out there, John, that Cheney was really the one calling the shots on crucial decisions, not George W. Bush. And he was actually challenged on that point in an NBC interview. Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I turn to the team gathered in the Oval Office and said, let's go. You write, the president kicked everyone else out of the Oval Office, looked at me and said, "Dick, what do you think we ought to do?"
DICK CHENEY, FORMER U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: That's the way I recall it. And I was giving advice. I wasn't making the decision. He was making the decision.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think these revelations will embarrass President Bush?
CHENEY: I don't know why.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, he is saying let's go. I'm the leader.
CHENEY: But he was.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But you're revealing that it didn't happen that way. He cleared out the office and said, "Dick, what do you think we should do?"
CHENEY: Right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a very different picture.
CHENEY: Right. But then he made the decision. It wasn't my decision.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't you think it will embarrass him that you point out the difference?
CHENEY: I -- I didn't set out to embarrass the president or not embarrass the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Discussing the call to go to war in Iraq.
So, what's your take? Set out to embarrass the president or not? Disrespectful? Not respectful?
AVLON: I don't think. So, no, I think it's a fairly slim read. Obviously, the decision to go to Iraq is something that hangs over the Bush administration in the eyes of history, whether you're for it or against it.
But in this case, I think what Cheney is credible. Of course, the president asked his advice.
But this man is too far too skilled, a bureaucratic infighter, somebody who is the chief of staff to President Gerald Ford at the age of 37, DOD secretary, V.P. He would never try to disrupt the chain of command because that would ultimately hurt his own effectiveness.
So, I have no doubt while he was enormously influential in the administration and probably did help to drive the president to decision, in some cases probably picking information to be brought to the president, at the end of the day, the president made the decision. And I don't think Dick Cheney would think it was in his own interest to disrupt that chain of command.
PHILLIPS: Well, John, on CBS, you know, Powell did talk about this and he said that the team was not functioning as a team. He was very blunt about that.
So, what do you think is behind this book? Is it venting, anger, is it saving face? Or is it just getting the truth out about an administration that didn't get along very well and was being slammed for Iraq, waterboarding and all of the various resignations that happened?
AVLON: I think this an attempt to get Dick Cheney's truth out. And that's the perfectly appropriate role for a memoir. At the end of the day, Dick Cheney is an unapologetic fellow. He'd never was one to internalize, you know, criticisms. And, of course, he's going to stand his ground on waterboarding and everything else.
One of the things we knew about the administration, even when it was in office, is that there were deep fault lines between the personnel. There were neocons, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, and the more center-right voices like Colin Powell and Condi Rice. And, frankly, they didn't get along. We knew that during the administration. That was one of the sources of tension and perhaps created tension inside the administration.
Dick Cheney is a hard-liner. Dick Cheney is putting out his version of events. And it's going to be an interesting book if only because he's been such a successful bureaucratic infighter with such disproportional influence on the American political history over the last several decades.
PHILLIPS: John Avlon, thanks for weighing in this morning.
AVLON: Thank you.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
Former prosecutor, top rated TV host and now dancer. HLN's Nancy Grace is joining "Dancing with the Stars." Your entertainment headlines are next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. Let's hit your showbiz headlines.
Apparently, HLN's top-rated former prosecutor is graceful. Nancy Grace joins 11 other celebs in the season's "Dancing with the Stars." Also dancing, actor David Arquette, NBA's Ron Artest and U.S. soccer star Hope Solo. The new season of "Dancing with the Stars" will begin September 19th.
And according to Twitter, Beyonce's pregnancy announcement at the MTV VMAs ignited more than 8,800 tweets per second. Twitter says that's fastest rate ever for any event.
And the Cleveland bus driver tells TMZ she warned actor Matthew Fox to get off. He wasn't invited on the bus. But he just wouldn't listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HEATHER BORMANN, SAYS SHE TRADED BLOWS WITH ACTOR: I warned him three times and then here comes the fest and he started whaling on me. So, I started swinging back.
REPORTER: Did you hit him?
BORMANN: I did. I hit him in the mouth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Bormann tells TMZ Fox was drunk and hasn't decided yet if she'll press charges.
All right. Alison Kosik is in the New York Stock Exchange. The opening bell is just a few minutes away. And we had a big rally yesterday.
What do you think is in store for today, Alison?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We did have a nice rally yesterday. Actually, it was the second time we saw the Dow jump 200 points in August. But guess what, at the opening bell, expect to see the markets take a step back.
But let's look at the positive here with Monday's jump. All of the markets are still in the red but the Dow is actually getting closer to the break even mark. We did get one economic report so far today on home prices showing that home prices had a bit of a comeback over the past three months, jumping 3.6 percent. But if you compare to how home prices were back in 2010 over the same period, they are still down 6 percent. Not really having a big impact on the opening numbers on futures right now.
We are also expecting reports on consumer confidence and Fed minutes as well. We'll be looking at those Fed minutes because in the last meeting, that is when the Fed put an exact date how long it would keep rates low until 2013 and we could find out why the Fed members disagree on doing that. We'll have our eye on all the numbers for you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Sounds good, Alison. Thanks.
And the weather experts may have been right on target when it came to tracking hurricane Irene. But they missed the mark when it came to just how hard the winds would be blowing. We'll take a look at how the National Hurricane Center develops its forecast, in four minutes.
And if you believe the latest polls, Rick Perry is way out in front of among Republican White House contenders. We've got the numbers and a closer look at the Texas governor -- straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now. Moammar Gadhafi's wife, and three of his children in Algeria after the Algerians allowed them on humanitarian grounds. AFP reporting that Gadhafi's daughter gave birth early this morning, as well.
Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick signed six-year $100 million contract. Just two seasons ago, Vick was a third string quarterback after coming out of prison.
Tropical Storm Katia is way out in the Atlantic Ocean now. But expected to strengthen and speed up, too soon to tell if Katia will make landfall in the U.S.
Irene has left the national stage but its impact is far from over. Let's take a look. At least 5 million customers now without power. At least 38 people confirmed dead in 11 states. And three Navy ships with several large helicopters are off New York and can also provide search and rescue missions. Also reps from the Obama administration are fanning out across three of the hardest hit states today, North Carolina, Virginia, and Vermont. Let's take a live look now from Patterson, New Jersey, where massive flooding there has taken place. The Passaic River actually crested overnight; its highest level in more than a hundred years. The "Star Ledger" newspaper is reporting at least 400 homes have been evacuated.
Now in the last hour, I spoke with the police officer in Patterson and he says that those rescues have been going on throughout the night and this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SGT. ALEX POPOV, PATTERSON, NEW JERSEY POLICE: Were dealing with elderly people, families, small children, and pets as well, along the flood-prone areas of the Passaic River. It's been pretty much 24 hours a day when people call, we dispatch the fire department, and they get out there with the boats. We also had several people rescued from the river who have fallen or jumped into the river or fallen off of a bridge; rescues also from the Passaic River.
PHILLIPS: How many people do you think?
POPOV: It's over 500 and the amount is climbing. We are still getting calls for people that are trapped and need to be rescued so we are dealing with that as we speak.
PHILLIPS: I don't like asking this question. But as you know, we have been covering the number of people that have died due to these conditions. Are you coming across folks that didn't make it?
POPOV: Luckily, to this point, we have not had any fatalities and we're hoping it stays that way. As far as the other municipalities along the river, I don't know, but in Patterson we have not had any fatalities as of yet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Good. I was just having a conversation. I thought I had said Little Falls, New Jersey. No. Those were pictures from Patterson, New Jersey. We are following the live pictures from search and rescue operations taking place all night.
Now, Irene was not the monster storm that everyone was expecting when it roared up the East Coast, but forecasters and many of those people cleaning up this morning say that its impact actually justified those government warnings to get out of the way. Our John Zarrella takes a look at how experts at the National Hurricane Center predict these storms.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Max Tucker owns a bar and grill just outside of Philadelphia. It flooded. Tucker says no way did the government overreact to Irene.
MAX TUCKER, OWNER, MAD RIVER BAR & GRILL: I think we all got really lucky. It could have been a lot worse. I'd rather be safe than sorry. I think they did what was necessary. I think always better safe than sorry.
ZARRELLA: This is where the information comes from that helps keep you safe, rather than sorry, the National Weather Service in Miami. Here, the science of forecasting is digested, regurgitated. All that science, everything the super computers were computing told forecasters Irene would be a major hurricane when it hit North Carolina.
BILL READ, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER: At least in the guidance we were looking at, there was no indication of anything that would cause the storm to weaken. So we thought we would have Category 3 storm at landfall.
ZARRELLA: Instead, Irene was a Category 1, the weakest. So what happened? Simple. Hurricane forecasters say they are pretty good at telling where a storm will hit, but technology and science aren't there yet when it comes to forecasting how strong a storm will be. Despite all of the modern-day advances, they just don't fully understand what makes these storms tick. And in every storm, Read sees a curveball.
READ: In this case, it was one where it went downhill. In Charley, just a few years ago, it was one that went uphill. Neither case did we see that coming. And that is my measure of the fact that we have a long way to go.
ZARRELLA: Aside from the might of the wind, Read says the forecast was on the money. Heavy rainfall, storm surge up the East Coast, and inland flooding; for portions of the Northeast, the rain was a 1 in 100-year event. In Vermont, is anyone saying there was an overreaction?
GOV. PETER SHUMLIN, VERMONT: I do not think that there is any blame to go around. I think that, frankly, those that got hit have their hearts broken and understand how serious this storm was.
ZARRELLA: It's estimated overall damage could reach $10 billion or more. If that happens, Irene will rank as one of the top 15 costliest hurricanes ever.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: John is joining us from Miami now.
John, what is the Hurricane Center doing to better understand the intensity of these storms?
ZARRELLA: Hey, you know, Kyra, Bill Read was telling me yesterday they are no better off now than they were 20 years ago at forecasting hurricane intensity. There is a project that is under way right now where they are using the super computers, advance modeling and Doppler radars to try to get a better look at the core of the hurricane, the heart of the hurricane, right around the center, to try and start to get a better understanding of what makes them tick. And they say some of the things they are finding, some promising stuff coming out of that project.
PHILLIPS: We will keep watching. John, thanks.
Michele Bachmann making headlines again. This time, it was about the earthquake and the arrival of Hurricane Irene. Messages, she says, from God.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELE BACHMANN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Washington, D.C., you'd think by now they would get the message. An earthquake! A hurricane! Are you listening? The American people have done everything they possibly can. Now it's time for an act of God and we're getting it!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now her explanation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BACHMANN: Of course, it would be absurd and ridiculous to think that that was the intention of my comment. If you know me, you know that I am a person who loves humor. I have a great sense of humor and I think it's important to exhibit that humor sometimes when you're talking to people as well.
(APPLAUSE) And if you take everything that a person says straightforward, you misunderstand the intent. So, of course, I was being humorous when I said that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: That stop, by the way, in Miami, it wrapped up a four-day swing through Florida.
You've heard about what Rick Perry said last night and you're wondering did he really say that? Here you go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK PERRY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Adios, mofo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: It appears to be working for him, too. We have got a new poll to show you that puts Perry well out in front of the GOP race.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Rick Perry only jumped into the race for the White House not too long ago and already he is kicking some you know what. A new poll of Republicans puts the Texas governor way out in front of GOP presidential candidates. It isn't even close in this one. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is in a pretty distant second. So CNN's Ed Lavandera lays it out for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Rick Perry is described as a brash calculating politician, but not above ending a satellite interview with a Houston TV station a few years ago with this bomb.
RICK PERRY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Adios, mofo.
LAVANDERA: Adios, Mofo, became an infamous snapshot. It inspired T-shirts and coffee mugs. Ray Sullivan has spent more than 10 years working with the governor. He says, Perry is a fun, small town guy. What you see is what you get.
RAY SULLIVAN, PERRY CAMPAIGN: The American people don't want robots. They don't want sound bites. They want folks who speak from the heart, and that is what Rick Perry has always done.
LAVANDERA: But critics say behind closed doors, the governor can be vindictive and divisive.
MIKE VILLARREAL, TEXAS STATE HOUSE: He is smart and he is aggressive. He is focused on winning elections.
LAVANDERA: Mike Villarreal is a graduate of Texas A&M, just like the governor. And was elected as a Democratic state representative at the same time Perry became governor. He says Perry rarely gets involved in the nitty-gritty details of public policy.
VILLARREAL: He delegates out responsibility to governing. Governing decisions are largely driven by political polls, and he keeps his sights set on winning the next election. And so I wouldn't consider him dumb on governance. I just think that is not his priority.
SULLIVAN: Perry is a guy who sets a clear agenda and rolls up his sleeves and gets to work, taking his message to the people.
LAVANDERA (on camera): During Rick Perry's tenure as governor there have been a long trail of news stories alleging that major campaign donors have received preferential treatment from state agencies, that they have been awarded lucrative state contracts, or they have been appointed to government positions. Critics say the governor has created a pay to play political culture in Texas.
(On camera): Is the governor guilty of that?
SULLIVAN: Rick Perry is the most scrutinized, analyzed, probed elected official, probably in Texas history. He has been very transparent.
LAVANDERA: In last year's Texas governor's race his opponent called him "part-time Perry". The attack came after the governor's officials schedule suggested several dozen days without state business, and a working week averaging just seven hours in the first half of 2010. Perry says he works around the clock.
PERRY: I've been the governor for 10 years. And if they made anybody that can outwork me yet, please introduce me to him, or her.
LAVANDERA: Even his staunchest political adversaries offer this warning.
Rick Perry doesn't loose elections and should never be underestimated. Ed Lavandera, CNN, Dallas.
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PHILLIPS: Straight ahead, L.D. Granderson in his latest op-ed, he says Jon Huntsman needs to restart his campaign and run it like Ross Perot. That is next.
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PHILLIPS: Well, when LZ Granderson looked at the current field of Republican candidates he says he feels trapped. As a matter of fact he said if he had to go to the ballot box tomorrow he would be forced to make a decision. A decision he says that would be like deciding which limb to cut off.
So there is one candidate he says he wants to hear more from, Jon Huntsman. And LZ in your CNN.com editorial you say he should just reboot his campaign and become an independent. Why?
LZ GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: Because when last I checked, I think the Gallup polls, he was behind Lady Gaga among Republican favorites to win the primary.
So I -- so I think this party, his campaign needs to seriously reconsider what they have been doing and I think it's not even I think -- I know for a fact there are a lot of independents who think he is an attractive candidate, but as long as he is focusing in on trying to be a GOP candidate, he won't be able to get that national platform the way that a lot of independents would like to see him do.
And so I think re-booting, going Ross Perot if you will, make actually help him a great deal.
PHILLIPS: So you say, you're taking me back to Lubbock, Texas, when I was a young reporter covering a man by the name of Ross Perot. I will never forget it. But we saw what happened there. Boy, did he gain some speed and then it kind of went -- so what is it that -- that you would want to see Huntsman do specifically and why Huntsman?
GRANDERSON: Again, because I think Huntsman is someone who has shown to have politics that appeals to both conservative -- or conservative Democrats, as well as more liberal-leaning Republicans. When Ross Perot ran, you know, we weren't really looking at the independent voter as a serious movement, as a serious group of voters. That's totally different today.
And I think if you look at the polls -- in fact, there are only 13 percent of Americans approve of Congress, that means there are a lot of people right now, they are looking for someone outside of the establishment and Huntsman, who has worked with the Obama administration has had criticism, who has had criticisms directed at his GOP running contenders, is someone who looks more of middle line and more moderate and more attractive.
PHILLIPS: LZ, thanks for joining us this morning.
GRANDERSON: Hey, thank you, as always.
PHILLIPS: You bet. You can also read LZ's latest piece on CNN.com/opinion. If you like join the conversation, he loves that. Leave him a comment and get him fired up.
Checking stories now making news later today.
President Obama addressing the American Legion National Convention in Minneapolis at noon.
At 12:15 Eastern the Republican Governors Association releases a report detailing 32 policy solutions for fixing Medicaid.
And at 3:00 Eastern the United Nations Security Council meets to discuss removing a freeze on Libya's assets in aiding the transitional government.
And still ahead a wild courtroom attack in Cleveland all caught on tape; we'll tell you what was behind the incident.
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PHILLIPS: Stories "Cross Country" now. Barack Obama's uncle has been arrested on a DUI charge. Police in Massachusetts say that Onyango Obama failed a field sobriety test. A federal law enforcement source tells CNN he is in the country illegally. The White House confirms he is the half brother of President Obama's late father.
A wild attack in a Ohio courtroom all caught on tape. This man appears in court for trespassing charges, clearly upset and he hurls a backpack at the judge who managed to duck under the bench. Officers nearby jumped into action and tackled the man to the ground.
Michael Jackson fans and family are celebrating what would have been the King of Pop's 53rd birthday. Yesterday hundreds of fans gathered outside Jackson's childhood home there in Gary, Indiana, and Jackson's three children made a rare public appearance.
Well, we're following lots of developments in the next of the CNN NEWSROOM. Let's go ahead and check in first with our Dan Rivers in Tripoli -- Dan.
DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, thanks.
People here are digesting news that members of Colonel Gadhafi's family have fled across the border to neighboring Algeria. Two of Colonel Gadhafi's sons, his wife and daughter are believed to have crossed yesterday at 8:45 confirmed by the Algerian government which doesn't recognize the rebel National Transitional Council. They were allowed to cross on humanitarian grounds.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Christine Romans in New York. What the President needs to do now to create jobs, and why his critics say, Kyra, it's not what he does, but what the President must un-do to create jobs. The biggest political fight you've seen yet over jobs. That's coming up at the top of the hour.
AMBER LYON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Amber Lyon in Vermont where floodwaters have turned some communities in this state in to essentially islands and some residents say they have been left to fend for themselves. I'll have more coming up at the top of the hour.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks, guys.
And are natural disasters a sign from God to clean up our act? Coming up in the next hour we're talking to a religious scholar. Despite what some pundits say, he says natural disasters are now firmly rooted in the language of science and not religion.
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PHILLIPS: It's hard to believe just two years ago Michael Vick was getting out of prison. Jeff Fischel now he is cashing in. It's remarkable.
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JEFF FISCHEL, ANCHOR, HLN SPORTS: Incredible.
It really is. Truly one of the great football players we've seen in the last couple of decades but then, of course, it all went wrong and now talk about a comeback. The Philadelphia Eagles giving Michael Vick a six-year $100 million contract and $40 million of it guaranteed.
This is truly an amazing comeback story. Vick signed the biggest contract in football history back when he was with the Falcons, but then the dog fighting. He spent a year and a half in prison he went bankrupt in the process. Last year with the Eagles he was named the comeback player of the year and he made the pro bowl, this year the Eagles because of Vick, are favored to get to the Super Bowl and now he is one of the highest paid members of the NFL.
Giants and Jets pre-season game last night. It was delayed two days by Hurricane Irene. The Jets Antonio Cromartie oh, he had a little trouble with the kick off and then he gets it going, and takes the ball back 70 yards before getting pushed out of bounds. That's a nice run back, you're not going to see as many kick offs this year because of the new rules. Six plays later quarterback Mark Sanchez hit Antonio home for the touchdown. The Jets win this one 17-3, and the NFL regular season starts in nine days. I know you're excited.
Venus Williams in an unusual spot at the U.S. Open, she is unseeded; taking on Russia's Vesna Dolonts (ph) in the first round at the Open and the backhand winner. Look who is in the house, Tony Bennett. Venus is nagged by injuries all year, but she had the serve working goes wide. She went 6-4, 6-3, she is looking for her first U.S. Open title in ten years. That's right, back to 2001.
And finally some baseball at the Royals/Tigers game, the fans came to play. The foul ball and the fan came with the glove and the nice grab, but look at the huge mitt. I mean that thing is enormous it's like a butterfly net or something. It's is enormous.
PHILLIPS: That's a big boy mitt.
FISCHEL: That's a fist bumps. To be fair, I'm guessing he probably plays slow-pitch softball or something like there where you need the big mitts. But that is one big glove that's for sure. And of course, they were celebrating, the Tigers did lose at home.
PHILLIPS: I played slow-pitch softball. I don't remember having a bigger mitt.
FISCHEL: You can use those bigger mitts. I mean --
PHILLIPS: Is that what my problem is? Maybe that is why I missed every single pop-fly that came to center.
FISCHEL: You're right. All but scored with it. That was not --
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PHILLIPS: Thanks, Jeff.
FISCHEL: Ok.
PHILLIPS: All right.
