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How Safe are Americans at Olympics; Christie Inaugural Speech to Focus on Unity; Seahawks Player's Rant Nothing New
Aired January 21, 2014 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Hi -- good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thank you for joining me.
Checking our "Top Stories" at 33 minutes past the hour -- it is inauguration day for Chris Christie as he begins his second term as New Jersey's Governor. The day of pomp and ceremony is overshadowed by recent scandals.
And a new development we learned less than an hour ago. This morning, the State Assembly and Senate will announce the formation of one committee to investigate allegations of abuse of power.
If you're one of the millions of people who received an e-mail from Target after that massive security breach, be careful about scammers. They may try to send you a fake e-mail that looks similar to the real e-mail from Target in order to steal your information. A few things you can do check out Target's corporate Web site for more information. Also be sure to check your credit report and bank statements.
This morning, Russian security forces have begun anti-terrorist operations not far from the site of the Olympic Games. Now these operations come as concerns of the security grow among athletes, dignitaries and the hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to attend.
Some 40,000 Russian officers are being put into place just two weeks before the opening ceremonies get underway. But many worry that's not enough. In fact the U.S. plans to have military support within hours of Sochi, including warships, helicopters and transport planes in case of a terrorist attack.
Former FBI crisis response agent, Carl Herron joins me now. Good morning thank you so much for being here.
CARL HERRON, FORMER FBI CRISIS RESPONSE AGENT: Good morning.
COSTELLO: And I know that you worked security at two of the most recent Olympic Games in London and Turin, Italy. So you have a lot of experience in this area. So I'll just come right out and ask you. Will the Olympics be safe from all you've heard? Can it be?
HERRON: I think from the things that were put in place, it will be as safe as possible based on the threat level. I think what you are hearing is the threats before the Olympics. Every Olympics, there has been some type of threat. This is -- (CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: To this extent, though?
HERRON: This is more. This is definitely more. And the plans that are put into place, the contingency plans, that's always done for the Olympics. They are just -- you just don't probably hear about them as much as we're --
COSTELLO: -- we're hearing now.
HERRON: Correct.
COSTELLO: So when the Russians talk about a ring of steel, what do they mean by that?
HERRON: They are talking about the perimeter. And that perimeter can be around the Olympic Village or the Olympic facilities and/or it can encompass all of that, which might include, you know, residential and business areas but normally, it's around the Olympic venues and the Olympic Village.
COSTELLO: So the sort of the tighter the ring around the venues, the safer it is.
HERRON: Correct, the better -- the better, the security will be much more tighter around the venues and the village than outside the village.
COSTELLO: So if I'm a spectator going to the Olympic Games I want to stay right in the Olympic village. I don't want to like sight see outside of that perimeter, because that might not be wise.
HERRON: I would say you would be more safer inside. It depends. And normally, the perimeter is for where the venue, the spectators would be, where you come and watch the games. And like I said for the athletes at the Olympic village.
COSTELLO: So what kinds of security personnel will the Russians have in place? Because right now, right near Sochi, they are looking for these black widows, these female suicide bombers who are threatening terrorist attacks.
HERRON: I'm sure they will have their military and other counter terrorism assets. And these things can be personnel and then other type of equipment such as cameras, other things that they might deploy.
COSTELLO: How hard would it be if, God forbid, there is an attack inside? Because we know that the United States is sending warships to the area, they are sending planes and helicopters. In case there is an attack and we need to get American athletes out, how simple would that be in Russia for the Americans to carry out?
HERRON: For planning and I was in London almost a year. And at that time, there were folks going over to Russia and planning for that. And like I said all of the games, there are contingency plans for this type of situation. It is just that because of all of the threats and because of the attacks before, it's a little bit more out in the open. So those plans are worked way in ahead of time, within the United States government agencies. And then they also have to coordinate and plan that with the Russians.
So I'm sure at this stage, whatever contingency plans that are for evacuation, they have coordinated that with the Russians.
COSTELLO: So, on a scale of 1-10, how worried should we be?
HERRON: I would say under five probably, because of the activity that has occurred before. The already -- the attacks and then the threats that have occurred before the games, so close to the games.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much for being with us, Carl Herron we really appreciate it.
HERRON: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM. A new Arctic blast descends on the United States and the airlines cancelations are already starting to add up. CNN's Rene Marsh live at Reagan National good morning.
RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol typically, we are in the hundreds. But already, we're in the thousands when it comes to cancelations. Coming up we'll tell you which airports are being slammed the most when it comes to those cancellations.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Pretty much no escaping the cold and the snow today up to a foot of snow expected in some parts of the Northeast. And temperatures could dip into the teens and single digits. Oh, yes.
The fierce winter storm also making travel a nightmare; so far today, more than 2,500 flights have been canceled. And in Washington, D.C., nonessential government workers are being told to stay off the roads and stay home.
CNN's Rene Marsh live at Reagan National for all the madness, good morning.
MARSH: Good morning Carol. Yes all the madness because you just gave that number off the top -- over 2,000 cancellations already. Again a typical day, we usually see around 200. So we are well above that at this point.
So we want to take a look at the top airports that really are getting slammed so far today. This is what it's looking like. Philadelphia right on top they have more than 400 cancellations. Also seeing problems at LaGuardia, in New York, Newark right here in Washington D.C., we're seeing problems at Reagan, as well as Dulles and we can't forget about JFK. So this airport where I am, Reagan National, they saw cancellations last time around when we saw this storm the beginning of this month. But they are expecting way more cancellations this time around and they are certainly getting prepared for it. It is an all hands on deck type of mentality here at Reagan National. Take a listen to what they told us just a few minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS PAOLINO, METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON AIRPORTS AUTHORITY: So we've got snow teams we have recalled. We have them on standby at the moment. They will be out on the runways throughout the day, running in shifts, keeping the -- keeping the runways clear. And then, we have additional personnel on stand by and actually at work we have additional personnel in our operations department who are monitoring the situation and keeping an eye on all the -- the different variables that go into running an airport.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARSH: All right. So you know we always talk about that ripple effect. And that is not the exception here at all. We will see a ripple effect, of course, here at Reagan. This is the hub for U.S. Airways. Dulles is the hub for United. So even if you are going to someplace that's really sunny the weather looks really good, you could be impacted as well.
Of course Carol we will be tracking these numbers all throughout the day.
COSTELLO: All right Renee Marsh, many thanks to you. Let's bring in Indra Petersons now. Oh please tell us when the warmth will return.
INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's not exactly the forecast I have for you Carol. How about just some travel delays, just little guys, you know over four hours. That is what we are currently seeing toward Newark and LaGuardia, towards New York, so definitely the troubles only beginning.
Keep in mind this is an Alberta Clipper where it started off as that. Just two days ago we're seeing light amounts of snow. Notice we're only seeing about one or two inches of snow because typically these are dry systems.
Chicago, they got a little bit a lake effect snow, so yesterday about three inches. What is the difference today well we have this huge low now parts off the ocean the close you are to the coastline, you are getting all of that moisture off the Atlantic and that's now bringing in these heavy amounts of snow. Blizzard conditions off of the Cape, out towards Boston of course, for the south of Boston, 8-12 inches, 4- 8 inches in Boston itself; 6-10 inches for New York, Philly, even D.C. The timing of this well today we're already talking about it towards New York City, even D.C., Boston expecting it by the afternoon. Staying all day long not making its way off throughout of D.C., until tonight finally tomorrow morning exiting out of New York still, hanging around in Boston in the morning, finally exiting out of New England by tomorrow.
But keep in mind that low it strengthens as it makes its way up the coastline. So it's developing so the winds they get stronger. So as that happens it's very cold snow, it's powdery. It's going to be blowing around. The visibility is going to be low and the temperatures, talk about low well below normal.
A second clipper may come in and may come out even colder temperatures for the next the day for the wind chill. Yes Carol, feeling like single digits.
COSTELLO: I just saw that minus 12 in Atlanta.
PETERSONS: Subzero yes you're worried about that. Try looking up here.
COSTELLO: I know, I shouldn't complain.
PETERSONS: Not at all.
COSTELLO: All right Indra Petersons, many thanks.
PETERSONS: Sure thanks.
COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, Chris Christie officially kicks off his second term today even as controversy looms over his administration. We'll talk next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Checking our top stories at 48 minutes past the hour.
After more than nine years of waiting, thousands of files became public today revealing details on Chicago priests accused of sexually abusing children. Many victims who say the archdiocese concealed or covered up the abuse will also speak out about the allegations later today.
Ford needs more women in top jobs. That's what Ford's chief operating officer, Mark Fields, is saying. He made the comments in a speech yesterday before a Detroit women's group. Fields added that Ford is stepping up recruitment efforts. Just last month in a historic announcement, GM made Mary Barra its CEO, the first-time ever, a woman heads one of Detroit's big three carmakers.
And the NFL is thinking about doing away with the extra point. Under a plan they considered, a team would get seven points for a touchdown. If a team wanted an eighth point, it could run a play from the two- yard line, two-point conversion. If that failed, you would lose a point. I guess you'd have six or -- anyway.
Commissioner Roger Goodell tells the NFL network, the extra point has become so automatic, it is boring.
They may be on very different sides of the political spectrum but Bill Clinton and the man he defeated in the 1992 presidential election, George H.W. Bush, have formed a very tight bond since leaving the White House. Now, in a new interview with C-Span, Barbara Bush talks about why she thinks her husband and Clinton are so close.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA BUSH, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: My husband, Bill Clinton, and I have become great friends. I think he thinks of George a little bit like the father he didn't have and he is very loving to him. I really appreciate that. I love Bill Clinton. Maybe not his politics but I love Bill Clinton.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Clinton and Bush Senior have teamed up to work on humanitarian issues over the past decade.
After a bruising few weeks and allegations of political revenge against key staff, Chris Christie will try to put the focus back on governing today when he delivers his inaugural address.
Christie is not expected to mention any of the recent controversies choosing instead to focus on unity. That might be a wise move on Christie's part as a new Pew Research poll shows negative views of the New Jersey governor have jumped in the last year from 17 percent in January of 2013 to 34 percent this month. That's compared to a little changed favorable view.
National political reporter, Peter Hamby is in Washington to talk more about this. Good morning.
PETER HAMBY, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER: Hey, Carol. Yes.
This Pew poll is pretty interesting. Christie's favorable ratings as you just showed have actually remained pretty steady but his negatives have really jumped up since one year ago. Now, look. This poll did not measure, you know, the window of time after the bridge scandal sort of exploded. This is over the course of a year.
So, you know, Christie's numbers in January, 2013, were still really high, remember, after Hurricane Sandy. There was a lot of sympathy for him and a lot of respect after the way he handled the storm. Those numbers were always going to come down. He is sort of falling back to earth now. And you know, the bright side here again is that his favorable ratings really remain about the same.
Look, if he runs for president in 2016, those numbers are going to close. If you compare Hillary Clinton's fave-unfave numbers, she is about a plus 7 spread. Christie is about the same right now. And 30 percent of the country still doesn't know enough about Chris Christie at all to have an opinion. So that's something (inaudible) -- America still has to get to know Chris Christie a good bit before he runs for president, if he does. But that's a long way out, as we know.
COSTELLO: I don't know whether this is good or bad but Donald Trump is coming to Christie's aid. Tell us about it. HAMBY: That's right. Donald Trump is surprised in New Hampshire. He is speaking at Saint Anselm's Institute of Politics in New Hampshire -- a great little school and a great little program they run there today. He brought up Chris Christie today. He talked about the scandal. Take a listen to what he said about Christie just now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, ENTREPRENEUR: Well, he is a friend of mine. He's a good friend of mine. He is a good guy. He is one e-mail away from a disaster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAMBY: Donald Trump is prone to sort of over the top statements. In this case, he is actually being pretty sober and rational. He was saying that he is close to Christie. He is one e-mail away from disaster. Basically, if another shoe drops in this investigation that shows Christie knew more than he let on about the lane closures then he would be in much bigger trouble.
Donald Trump is absolutely right. But look, Donald Trump, we just showed his face on national TV. He loves the attention. And that's exactly why he is in New Hampshire today, Carol.
COSTELLO: All right. Peter Hamby -- many thanks to you.
HAMBY: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Stay with us for live coverage of Chris Christie's swearing in and inaugural address. Our coverage begins this morning at 11:00 Eastern with Jake Tapper. I'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A Colorado skier survived an avalanche that he triggered catching the whole thing on his helmet video cam. Lance Light an experienced skier decided to take a risk on a questionable run. He said he watched the snow split under him and open up into an avalanche.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LANCE LIGHT, SKIER: When you watch the video up close, I ski over a couple other people's tracks that didn't trigger it initially. It just kind of comes down to whoever is going to -- I don't know. It's just kind of random chance.
Then I saw it fracture. I just tried to go over the cliff and then just instantly deploy my air bag.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: That air bag saved his life. Light now realizes conditions were ripe for an avalanche and he hopes other skiers will learn from his mistake. Do not do that. Maybe you are thinking of making the trip to New Jersey for the Super Bowl. I hope you are. Well, if you are, I kind of have a reality check for you because I'm sure you actually already know this. The cost won't just burn a hole in your wallet it will catch your pants on fire.
Let's say you'll be happy with an upper deck ticket. You can find one on StubHub right now for just under $2,600. There are no limo or taxi drops this year so you need a parking pass will cost you an additional $293.
You will also need a place to crash. A three-night hotel stay will be required, $450 at the very minimum. That comes out to $3,333. That doesn't even count good food and drink.
Of course, if money is no object, you can pick up a seat on the 50- yard line for $50,000. That's $1 a yard. I'll be watching the game from my couch for free. Kind of not for free because any way you get it.
He is the new angry face of football. Richard Sherman, the Seattle Seahawks player who went on that now famous post-game rant. When it comes to people that go off the deep end, he has plenty of company. Here is more now from Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): First, he tipped the ball and then he ran his mouth.
RICHARD SHERMAN, NFL PLAYER: When you try me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that's the result you're going to get. Don't you ever talk about me.
MOOS: Now, we can't stop talking about him. Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has joined the ranks of the ranters.
Number nine, Bobby Knight, famous for shooting a chair across the court and shooting off his mouth at his own team.
BOBBY KNIGHT: Now, I'll (EXPLETIVE DELETED) run your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) into the ground. You think last night was a (EXPLETIVE DELETED) picnic. You better get your head out of your (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: Number eight, Oklahoma State coach who defended one of his young football players.
MIKE GUNDY, OKLAHOMA STATE COACH: Because it's garbage. Come after me, I'm a man. That's all I got to say. It makes me want to puke.
MOOS: Or instead of throwing up, throw things. That's what the press made then Kansas City Royals manager Hal McRae do.
HAL MCRAE, KANSAS CITY ROYALS: You think I'm a (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: One sportswriter hit by a tape recorder left with an inch and a half gash.
MCRAE: Put that in our (EXPLETIVE DELETED).
MOOS: What was Charlie Sheen smoking during his rants?
CHARLIE SHEEN, ACTOR: Can you smell your rotting dog (EXPLETIVE DELETED), your fermented puke that is your viscera?
MOOS: Viscera, fancy word.
Alec Baldwin used a three-letter word in a phone rant to his then teenage daughter.
ALEC BALDWIN, ACTOR: What a rude little pig you really are.
MOOS: All grown up, she said it was made out to be a much bigger deal than it actually was.
BALDWIN: You are a rude, thoughtless little pig, ok?
MOOS: Mike Tyson threatened to eat his rival's kids.
MIKE TYSON, FORMER BOXING CHAMP: My style is impetuous. My defense is impregnable. And I'm just ferocious. I want your heart. I want to eat his children. Praise be to Allah.
ANTHONY WEINER (D), FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN: It is a shame.
MOOS: Before he was shamed by his own sexting scandal, Congressman Anthony Weiner was a ranter par excellence.
WEINER: I will not yield to the gentleman. And the gentleman will observe regular order.
MOOS: Regular order went flying when an Illinois state representative lost it.
STATE REP. MIKE BOST (R), ILLINOIS: These damn (INAUDIBLE) all damn the time.
MOOS: And then there was the guy who was asking Ohio Republicans to nominate him for county treasurer. Treasure this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I have been Republican in times good, and I have been a Republican in times bad.
MOOS: He didn't get the nomination, but he did get in a Volkswagen ad.
SHEEN: Everybody wins.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I will hit the ground running, combat ready --
MOOS: New York. (END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: My family lives in Minerva, Ohio. I don't remember that guy. I'll call my mom later today.
Thank you for joining me today. I'm Carol Costello.
Our special coverage of Chris Christie's inaugural address is next.
