Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Saturday

Tom DeLay Abandons Bid to Return as House Majority Leader; Ariel Sharon's Condition; Update on Randy McCloy's Condition; Dispute Settled Between Mayor of New Orleans and City Council

Aired January 07, 2006 - 15:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: You've been listening to Tom DeLay today. He announced that he would quit his leadership post in the House. However, he just said he intends to remain a representative of the district the 21st District in Texas, Sugarland, Texas, where he was speaking from.
For more on this, we're going to go to Elaine Quijano in Washington.

Elaine, are you there?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Gerri.

Yes, I can tell you that the embattled former House majority leader of course has been bruised by two political scandals. Now, of course, you heard just a moment ago announcing that he has, in fact, made the decision that the time has come for him to step aside from his leadership post for good.

Now, of course it was last fall when Congressman DeLay first stepped down from his post in what he thought would be a temporary move after being indicted in Texas on charges of conspiracy and money laundering. Now, as late as Friday night, DeLay, though his spokesman, insisted he would return to his position but, of course, the political environment changed dramatically this week after the once powerful lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion charges.

Now, Republicans in general, and DeLay in particular, were rocked by the news, as well as Abramoff's agreement to testify against more than a dozen lawmakers and staffers, including DeLay.

Now, Democrats have seized on the development, calling it evidence that a "culture of corruption" exists among Republicans. And some in the GOP rank and file had feared that DeLay had become the face of GOP ethics problems.

Nevertheless, on the Texas charges, you heard Congressman DeLay defend himself. He has steadfastly maintained his innocence and his language there, echoing what he said in a letter to colleagues and in a letter to the House speaker, Dennis Hastert, earlier today.

Now, as for the White House, you'll recall that is was just a few weeks ago that President Bush was asked about Tom DeLay's situation. The president at that time choosing to weigh in. When asked if he thought Tom DeLay was innocent, the president said yes. Also when asked whether or not he hoped Tom DeLay would return to his position as House majority leader, the president also said yes.

But today, a much different tone coming out of the White House. In fact, a spokeswoman, Erin Heely (ph), telling us earlier today, "We respect Congressman DeLay's decision to put the interests of the American people, the House of Representatives and the Republican Party first. We look forward to continuing to work with Speaker Hastert and all House Republicans to build upon the important accomplishments we have achieved on behalf of the American people to make America safer and more prosperous."

Now, as for Republicans on Capitol Hill, Gerri, still many questions yet to be answered. Namely, will they now be able to move past this latest scandal of Jack Abramoff? Will this move by Tom DeLay allow them to do that -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Elaine, a lot of talk this afternoon about possibly a larger house cleaning in Republican leadership. What are you hearing today?

QUIJANO: Perhaps that could be something that we might see. It remains to be seen, though.

What we know is that some Republicans have definitely voiced their concerns about wanting to see a more aggressive approach perhaps in the way of reform, and if that's not seen, there might be additional shakeups. But at this point, of course, they are hoping that for now, at least, this move by Congressman DeLay will allow them to get past this immediate point -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Elaine, interesting DeLay said that his first job has been always representing the 21st district. He says he's going to run for re-election this fall. Were you surprised by that?

QUIJANO: Not really. That is similarly to the tone that we have heard from Congressman DeLay before.

In fact, all along he has vowed to fight against these charges in Texas. And so his tone not at all surprising.

And we should also note that President Bush has praised Tom DeLay as an effective leader in the past. In that same interview in which the president a few weeks ago voiced his support, saying he hoped Tom DeLay would return to his post, he said the reason why is because Tom DeLay essentially can get things done.

When the president has an agenda that he wants to push forward in Congress, it is known that Congressman DeLay is someone the White House can count on. Now, of course, some questions on that front as the White House looks to -- and not just the White House, but, of course, Republicans on the Hill looking to see who may fill the vacancy left behind now.

We'll just have to see how all of that plays out -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Elaine Quijano. Thank you for that report.

Joining us now from Washington, CNN political analyst Ron Brownstein, a columnist for the "Los Angeles Times."

Welcome to the show.

RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Hi, Gerri.

WILLIS: Let's start with the basics here. A big turnaround for Tom DeLay this afternoon. Were you surprised? And why did he make the move?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, not surprised after yesterday a group of House Republicans went public with their demand for a new leadership election to replace him. Privately, even senior Republican aides in the House were saying they were hoping he would read the writing on the wall. And I think he recognized that once Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist, made that plea deal earlier this week, that even if Tom DeLay surmounted the legal challenge he finds himself in, in Texas, there was the possibility of further indictments of him or those around him in the Abramoff investigation, and that was simply too much for House Republicans to bear.

WILLIS: All right. Let's get to the political ramifications of this announcement this afternoon.

There's a lot of talk about many more house cleaning for the party. What do you think is going to happen?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, let's start with Tom DeLay. No one in politics is indispensable, but he was pretty close to it for the Republicans.

As he pointed out, they have been very united these last 11 years in the majority. They have gotten an awful lot done on a very narrow margin. And he has been a key ingredient in both coercing and sort of sweet-talking that level of unity.

He has also been the key link between the party -- and this is, of course, where he's getting into some of these questions and trouble -- the key link between the party and the lobbyists and the fund-raising community. He's been a formidable fund-raiser, very formidable at trying to push the business community to be more supportive of Republicans, direct more of their contributions. Again, that's where he's getting into trouble.

It's going to be very difficult to replace him, both of those functions, in particular, with one individual. Any of those who are being talked about for the job.

WILLIS: And who do you think is likely to get ground?

BROWNSTEIN: Well, I mean, Roy Blunt has the job now and certainly, you know, has the advantage of incumbency. John Boehner, who was a leader among House Republicans, forced out in 1998 after the backlash against impeachment, he's been talking about a comeback -- now the chairman of the House Education Committee.

But there are others. The conservatives could have a candidate. There could be someone who could kind of more -- perhaps more of a reform candidate. Mike Rogers has been talked about; more of a long shot.

I don't think we know. But what we see here in this move, though, Gerri, I think, and which probably sets up for change looking forward is that House Republicans understandably feel nervous. The congressional approval rating is down almost as low as it was in 1994 when Democrats were swept out of power in a landslide election. The scandal investigation promises more difficult headlines as the year goes forward.

So they want a leadership team that is both above reproach and capable of steering them to a safer harbor than they feel that they're in right now.

WILLIS: Well, you've steered us to a safer harbor with your analysis this afternoon. Ron Brownstein, thanks for joining us.

BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.

WILLIS: This afternoon we want to talk to you a little bit about the wildfires in Texas. We're getting reports right now that some homes are threatened.

You can see the pictures right now by wildfires in South Arlington, Texas. We've been talking all day about how conditions are ripe, just perfect for wildfires to emerge. And we've had an eye on that area all afternoon long.

The panhandle really threatened with wildfires. And we're seeing right now pictures, you know, it looks like a suburban area where people are already trying to douse some of these fires. The conditions perfect: dry weather, lots of wind, and of course, as you see here, wildfires beginning to erupt and threaten homes in South Arlington, Texas.

Now to Israel and very slight signs of improvement. That's how doctors are describing Ariel Sharon's condition today, but they warn the Israeli prime minister's life remains in danger. And he's still in a medically-induced coma after suffering a massive stroke Wednesday. But that could change soon.

CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is in Jerusalem with the details -- Fionnuala.

FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Gerri, the mood is slightly more upbeat here at the Hadassah Medical Center. But as you just said, Ariel Sharon's life remains in danger.

It is just after 11:00 in the evening here. The end of the Jewish Sabbath was at sundown. And shortly thereafter, we had the first definitive assessment of Ariel Sharon's condition from the director of the hospital here in Jerusalem.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SHLOMO MOR-YOSEF, DIR. GEN., HADASSAH MEDICAL CENTER: Prime Minister Sharon, as I said, is still at risk. There is an improvement in the CT scan results, which is a slight improvement in the edema. We will be able to tell something about the meaning of this improvement only when we slightly reduce the depths of the anesthesia, which we'll do in the next few days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SWEENEY: Well, a decision will be taken tomorrow when doctors meet following yet another brain scan on Ariel Sharon. And if they determine that the results are satisfactory, they may then attempt to take him out of this medically-induced coma into which he has been placed over the last three days. And it is then and only then, Gerri, that doctors say they will be able to determine the extent of any damage the 77-year-old prime minister has suffered.

But as I was saying, the mood is slightly upbeat. And one of the visitors to Ariel Sharon today here at the hospital was his senior adviser and spokesperson, Dr. Ra'anan Gissin.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RA'ANAN GISSIN, SR. SHARON ADVISER: I followed the man for 10 years, 25 years with the press, and I can tell you that he's got out of the dangerous zones and life-threatening situation more than the average person. And therefore, my belief is that he's going to pull through, because if we have to rely on the medical bulletins, at least, there is very little that we know yet.

SWEENEY: But they're more upbeat than they have been. I mean, today -- I mean, still very, very cautious, but slightly more upbeat.

GISSIN: Well, yes, every day is another battle. The man is fighting for his life, but that's not the first time he's been doing it. So that's why I think most of the advisers, people who are close to him, believe that he is going to pull through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SWEENEY: Ariel Sharon indeed fighting for his life, perhaps in the battle of his life. The fear now over the next few days is that if he is able to come out of this coma and the doctors are able to determine that there is any kind of response from him as he slowly comes out of this coma over a process that will take a number of hours, then that will be a good sign.

What the doctors say will happen if there is no response, they say that will not be good news at all. There is also, of course, the risk of infection, but for the moment, Ariel Sharon is clinging onto life here in Jerusalem -- Gerri.

WILLIS: We'll be watching and waiting. Fionnuala Sweeney, thank you for that report.

And now this programming note. Israel's vice premier, Shimon Peres, will be one of Wolf Blitzer's guest on "LATE EDITION" tomorrow. It airs live from Jerusalem starting at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 8:00 Pacific.

The first funerals for the 12 miners killed in West Virginia will take place tomorrow. Meanwhile, the lone survivor of the accident is still critically ill, but doctors are noting substantial improvements in his condition. They're hoping treatment in a special chamber that bombards the body with oxygen will help him pull through.

CNN's Chris Huntington is at the hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- Chris.

CHRIS HUNTINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gerri, thanks a lot.

The doctors here have been reporting steady progress for Randy McCloy. They are very encouraged by particularly the recovery that he's showing in his heart and other major organ functions. In particular, his left lung, which had been collapsed when he was in the mine. They were able to re-expand that.

It had been enflamed. It was collecting fluid as recently as yesterday. And doctors were concerned that that was going to impede the progress that they would like to ultimately make in his neurological recovery.

But last night a good night, and doctors this morning, as a result of this stabilized physical condition, were able to, in fact, fully stop the sedative that has been keeping him in a medically-induced coma so that they could further examine him, further examine Randy McCloy neurologically.

Here's how Dr. Richard Shannon, the head of medicine here at Allegheny General Hospital, described the neurological exam today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. RICHARD SHANNON, ALLEGHENY GENERAL HOSPITAL: Clinically, when we've stopped the sedatives and lightened up on the medically-induced coma, Mr. McCloy does move spontaneously, he does flicker his eyelashes, all his brain stem functions appear to be intact. He bites down on the tube, he begins to develop attempts to swallow. So all of this does suggests, indeed, that he is awake underneath our coma.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HUNTINGTON: And that is particularly welcomed news, because there had been a series of CT scans and MRIs showing some damage to the rear portion of his brain. What they needed to do, obviously, was to check that clinically, as they say, to see how he responds to stimulus. He apparently is doing so.

After that checkup this morning, they put him back under heavy sedatives, into, again, a medically-controlled coma so that he could undergo another high-pressure oxygen treatment, which he underwent midday today. This is the third such treatment.

Dr. Shannon alluded to the fact that this may be -- may be the last of these high-pressure oxygen treatments. And Gerri, he alluded to the fact that if the results of Mr. McCloy coming through that treatment are strong, and if other systems in Mr. McCloy are stable, that they might -- might -- I underscore "might" --consider moving him back to West Virginia possibly as soon as this evening.

Now, another press briefing has been scheduled for about 45 minutes from now. And we should get an update not only on his condition, but whether or not any decision has been made with whether or not they want to return Mr. McCloy to West Virginia.

The thinking about returning him to West Virginia, by the way, Gerri, is to respond to the quest from his family. To get him basically on to his home turf so that he can be near his children -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Chris Huntington, thank you for that report.

Five days after the Sago Mine disaster, the community is still mourning. But there are miners who need to return to work.

CNN's Adaora Udoji talked to one of the miners who survived the blast and is preparing to go back to work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAORA UDOJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Ron Growel (ph) was in the Sago Mine, felt the enormous blast, and just barely escaped the explosion. After living through the painful hours of rescue efforts, he intends to go back, back to the mine shafts where his 12 friends died.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what I love to do, and I don't do anything else.

UDOJI: The people who anxiously waited and prayed at the nearby Baptist church hour after hour either worked with the men, knew them or know someone who mines. West Virginia is coal country, the nation's second largest coal producer, a state where mining isn't just a job, it's a proud profession.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are not pick and shovel guys. These are guys that are very technically proficient, they're very well trained.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a very respected way of making a living, it's a very respected occupation in this region. And, you know, I think that's where -- it's almost like a brotherhood, if you will.

UDOJI: A brotherhood of generations, sons following their fathers. Today, jobs start at around $30,000 a year, alluring money for someone without a college degree. For roughly 100,000 miners around the country, living with danger is part of their DNA.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just like to do it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Family members is gone...

UDOJI: Even now, after the deaths of his friends, many like Growel (ph) want, need to get back to work. It's what they do, and it's how they earn a paycheck.

(on camera): And there are worries about just how long the mine here will stay closed and what that will mean for their families. So while they and the community mourns the loss of the 12 who died, there are many, though they won't say on camera, who worry about what the future will bring.

The company has said they will pay their employees for the past week and then try to place them elsewhere until the mine reopens and life goes on.

Adaora Udoji, CNN, Tallmansville, West Virginia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: "CNN Presents" is going inside the Sago Mine disaster. We'll take a closer look at what really happened and talk with the families about how they're coping with the tragedy. "Hope & Heartbreak: Inside the Sago Mine Disaster" airs tonight at 8:00 Eastern, 5:00 Pacific.

In Texas, it's bracing for the worst again, just as the governor orders a probe into arson as a possible cause of the devastating wildfires. That's ahead.

And meet a brand-new grandmother in Missouri. Her daughter's blessings have her totally stressed out. That story is coming up.

Also, cleanup efforts in New Orleans Ninth Ward are under way, but some residents aren't happy about it. We'll explain.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: There are arson worries today in Texas. Governor Rick Perry has ordered an investigation into the cause of so many fires in his state.

Now, forestry officials estimate 70 of them were set intentionally. The blazes charred thousands of acres. Firefighters remain on the front lines today.

Texas is suffering one of its worst droughts in decades. Grasslands and brush are tinder-dry. It looks like a perfect day; it's perfect for fire. Thirty-five new fires started between Thursday and Friday. Since the day after Christmas, 269 wildfires left three people dead and destroyed 244 homes.

Weather conditions are adding to concerns about the fire danger today. Let's bring in meteorologist Monica McNeal for the details.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WILLIS: It's a girl! No, it's a boy! It's a girl! No, it's not a state of confusion, it's a state of chaos for a Missouri woman after her three daughters have three babies in three days.

Betsey Bruce, with our affiliate KTVI, files a stork report in triplicate from Warrenton, Missouri.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BETSEY BRUCE, REPORTER, KTVI (voice over): First born baby Sophia (ph), followed by the lone boy, baby Jack, and the smallest, baby Kara. These are not triplets, but their births are creating just as much of a sensation.

SONDRA DAMES, GRANDMOTHER: Everybody was there, and then just all three of them having them at the same time, you know, day after day after day.

BRUCE: Sondra Dames has three daughters and now three new grandchildren.

(on camera): After celebrating a big family Christmas, the sisters expected a little bit of a break before their babies arrived. That did not happen.

(voice over): Tracey, who was due New Year's Eve, wound up at St. Joseph's Health Center in St. Charles three days after Christmas.

TRACEY MUELLER, SOPHIA'S MOM: It was an initial shock that we were all pregnant together.

BRUCE: The next day, sister Trisha Duvel stopped by.

TRISHA DUVEL, JACK'S MOM: I went and visited her first at the hospital. And then when I went in, my husband was just like, "You've got to be kidding me."

BRUCE: The youngest s sister, Jamie, couldn't be outdone.

JAMIE RODEN, KARA'S MOM: I was cutting it close, and when I found out Trisha went in, everybody was like, "Come on, Jamie, you got to get in here." And so I'm running through the hospital, going up and down elevators.

BRUCE: But having a cousin close in age won't be an oddity for this large family. Jamie and Tracey's daughters, Addison (ph) and Andrea (ph), are only five weeks apart.

MUELLER: Well, like I said, it was special for our family. So it was just kind of a unique -- a unique experience. Something that we'll never go through again, because I'm not having anymore.

BRUCE: The flurry of attention made grandmother Dames, a postal worker, late for her mail delivery route.

DAMES: I finally asked the postmaster -- I said, "Can I please call somebody to come in and run the route?" Because I wasn't going to get done. And I knew I'd have more phone calls all afternoon. So I thought, well, I better get somebody in here to help me.

BRUCE (on camera): So neither rain, snow or sleet, but three babies did it.

DAMES: And the mail will go.

BRUCE: By someone else.

DAMES: Yes, by someone else.

BRUCE (voice over): As for Sophia, Jack and Kara, it's time for shut eye. They'll hear soon enough about the amazing week of their birth.

In Warrenton, Betsey Bruce, FOX 2 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: That is so cute.

On a totally different topic, the cleanup is under way in New Orleans, but not everyone in the Ninth Ward is happy about it. We'll show you why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Is clearing away the rubble left by Hurricane Katrina a good thing or not? People want to rebuild New Orleans, but where? And how that rebuilding happens can really make a difference.

Gulf Coast correspondent Susan Roesgen explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Four months after New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward was completely walloped by Katrina, there are signs of life and protest.

On Thursday, community activists and homeowners were infuriated to learn that work crews were cleaning sidewalks. The protesters claim houses were also being swept away in defiance of a court order in place until a lawsuit which homes should be demolished is resolved.

The protesters confronted the workers, and one of the workers confronted our camera. Eventually, the workers gave in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go ahead, pull the plug. Get your crew out of here.

ROESGEN: And a half-dozen federal agents escorted the big equipment away. But an underlying issue remains: where and how much to rebuild of the Lower Ninth Ward. Many homes here belong to poor African- Americans, and some suggest the city is trying to keep them from coming back.

GRETA GLADNEY, HOMEOWNER: The mayor and others have said they don't want entrenched poverty, and by keeping poor folks from coming back, that eliminates some of that problem. They don't have to deal with providing services to poor people, and many of them, the majority of them, are African-Americans.

ROESGEN: Greta Gladney is fixing up her home even though she's afraid it might eventually be torn down. She's part of the lawsuit demanding a say in what happens to her neighborhood. Bill Quigley is representing the homeowners.

BILL QUIGLEY, LAWYER: Even if it looks like a pile of rubble to other people, it's people'd most treasured possessions. And they have a right to at least have notice that it's coming down so they can get a chance to get there and take their stuff out of it, or be able to challenge it if, in fact, they think it's a mistake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a perfect example of what we're talking about.

ROESGEN: Greg Meffert, whose office will oversee the demolition, says the city only plans to knock down what's left of homes that can't be saved, not destroy the neighborhood.

GREG MEFFERT, NEW ORLEANS CITY OFFICIAL: I understand that fear. Believe me, I get calls every day about that fear. But it's not tied to what we're doing. The city just needs to get back to the point of stop playing victim and start the rebuilding. And if you can't start here, where do you start?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: It took the intervention of Louisiana's governor, but Mayor Ray Nagin and the New Orleans City Council say they've ended a bitter dispute that was holding up the city's recovery. They say they've reached general agreement over where to place temporary trailers to house those people who were left homeless by the hurricane. The accord was reached during a mediation session hosted by Governor Blanco.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. KATHLEEN BLANCO, (D) LOUISIANA: We're bringing all the groups together, and now we know our missions, where to attack the problems.

MAYOR RAY NAGIN, NEW ORLEANS: We're all working as hard as we can to bring people back, and you know, the governor got us focused on this issue.

CYNTHIA WILLARD-LEWIS, NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL: We've don't math, we set manageable goals with an executable timeline, and we're going to be monitoring it and holding folks accountable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WILLIS: City officials say the number of people who filed for temporary housing is nearly 47,000. Mayor Nagin says temporary villages now being planned will include no more than 200 trailers each.

Here are the latest developments. Republican Congressman Tom DeLay is maintaining his innocence of campaign financing charges. He announced his decision today to step down permanently as House majority leader. The White House says it respects the move. And a French hostage has been freed in Iraq. The humanitarian worker has been held more than a month. He was abandoned by his captors in a farmhouse west of Baghdad during a joint U.S./Iraqi military operation in the area.

And Senator Barack Obama and other members of Congress are visiting Baghdad today. They are on a tour of the Middle East. After an earlier stop in Israel they headed to Iraq to meet with U.S. troops. Visits to Kuwait, Qatar, Afghanistan and Pakistan are also scheduled.

Israeli leader Ariel Sharon, a man of peace, a warrior or both? Wolf Blitzer explores the roots of the man Israelis called "The Bulldozer." Straight ahead.

And standing by live in Sacramento, Dr. Bill Lloyd is going help us understand what a stroke is and what you can do to prevent one?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon remains in critical condition in a Jerusalem hospital. For decades now war and peace have played a major role in his life. It is a combination familiar to many leaders in the Middle East. CNN's Wolf Blitzer has the story.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): Ariel Sharon was a warrior long before he tried to be come a peacemaker. By all accounts, he was a brilliant field commander in all of Israel's wars. In 1948, 1956, 1967, and finally in 1973, when he led Israel's counter strike against Egyptian forces along The Suez Canal, a move that turned the tide in the war.

There's been a long history of warrior peacemakers in this part of the world. Sharon's immediate predecessor, Ehud Barak was Israel's top general before he became prime minister. The late Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated by an Israeli Jew ten years ago in Tel Aviv, had served on Israel's battlefields as a highly decorated military officer and became chief of the Israeli Defense Forces.

Over the years, there's been a similar warrior/peacemaker trend among Israel's Arab adversaries. The late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, who rose through he military, electrified the world by a stunning announcement in 1977 to travel to Israel, address the Knesset and make peace with Israel.

His successor, Hosni Mubarak, a one-time Egyptian Air Force commander, has maintained that peace treaty with Israel over all these years.

The late King Hussein of Jordan led his forces in battle against the Israelis over the decades, but all that stopped when he authorized a peace treaty ceremony with Israel in 1994 in Aqaba.

A year earlier, the late Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian's top warrior, seemed to come tantalizingly close to a peace deal with Israel when he shook hands with Rabin on the South Lawn at White House, egged on by then president, Bill Clinton. But that peace remained elusive.

Wolf Blitzer, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: Obviously, every second counts when someone has a stroke. What cause strokes and how can you prevent them? Joining us now is Dr. Bill Lloyd, he's a surgeon with the University of California, Davis, Medical Center in Sacramento. Dr. Bill, welcome.

DR. BILL LLOYD, SURGEON: Hi, Gerri.

WILLIS: You know we've all been following this coverage of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. And watching him struggle, first with a mini stroke and then with really a massive stroke. What can you tell us about the coincidence of those two things? First having a small stroke and a larger one, is that typical?

LLOYD: It's a typical pattern, Gerri. Every year about, 700,000 Americans sustain a stroke, many of them don't survive their stroke. And many of them have one of these small mini strokes, called a TIA, beforehand. There's many million more Americans who experience TIAs but never have a stroke.

Here's what's important. If you encounter a mini stroke, you need to get help to identify the cause of the stroke and hopefully to prevent you from getting the bigger, catastrophic stroke.

WILLIS: What causes those strokes?

LLOYD: Strokes are kind of like a heart attack of the brain, meaning you're not getting enough oxygen. It happens one of two ways, either the fresh blood that's supposed to get to a specific area of the brain no longer gets there because there's something inside the blood vessel, a chunk of cholesterol, a little piece of heart valve or maybe some blood clots, or the blood vessel has burst and the blood is oozing out inside the brain so those damaged tissues don't get the oxygen they need.

WILLIS: Does that mean there is there something you can do to prevent a stroke, is it hereditary? What can family members do to help.

LLOYD: The first thing you can do is identify your personal risks for stroke. Doctors know exactly what those risks are. The first is race, did you know African-Americans are more prone to having strokes? Also people with high blood pressure, people who are overweight, don't forget smokers, diabetics have a much greater risk of having stroke. People with preexisting heart disease.

You think of Teddy Bruschi, the defensive lineman for the New England Patriots, a year ago, because of a heart defect, he developed a stroke and he's recovered and he's back in uniform trying to help his team get to The Super Bowl. And again folks with elevated cholesterol, folks may put themselves in a situation where they'll be at risk for stroke.

WILLIS: Sometime people have multiple strokes. We'll about the risk of having those. Clearly they can be incredible, but certainly mobility is an issue, tell us more.

We know roughly half of all people who have a stroke have a second stroke within five years, that's one important reason you need immediate medical attention. Find the real cause. You talk about older people having strokes about, two-thirds of all strokes are in people over the age of 55.

But anybody throughout their life could be at risk, if they have a problem elsewhere in the body that might send a small piece of debris -- again, blood clots, a chunk of cholesterol, a piece of a damaged heart valve -- into the circulation and up to the brain to cause the serious damage that occurs with stroke.

WILLIS: Dr. Bill Lloyd, thank you so much.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WILLIS: It's a new year. Are you looking for a new career? We'll take a look at what's hot on the job front for 2006.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Taking a look at other stories across America, hundreds of police officers lined the streets of Jersey City today to pay their respects to a fallen officer. Robert Nguyen and another officer were killed when their truck plunged from an open drawbridge into a river Christmas Evening. The 30-year-old Nguyen was remembered today for his willingness to help others.

Two triple murder suspects have been captured in Philadelphia. The men were arrested hours after a family of three were found murdered in their Richmond, Virginia home. Police there are saying very little other than they don't believe it's linked to two other multiple killings that occurred last weekend.

And Hurricane Katrina evacuees are getting another reprieve. Thousands of evacuees are supposed to move out of their government paid hotels by February 7th. Now, FEMA says evacuees who want more time can register to stay until February 13th or even later. Evacuees must register by the end of January.

New year, new job. If you're thinking about changing careers right now, you're probably not alone. Here to give us the lay of the land, one of the top job analysts out there, John Challenger of the employment firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. He's live from Chicago. John, welcome.

JOHN CHALLENGER, CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS: Hi, Gerri.

WILLIS: All right. So, the big question -- 2006, what are the big job categories that will actually be growing, hiring more people?

CHALLENGER: Well, we expect good news in 2006. We've seen four million jobs created in the last two years, and that should continue. the -- one of the first and best areas is health care. That's been creating jobs right on through the last five years, and with the baby boomer population retiring, it's going to be great in the next five years.

WILLIS: What else? Health care, what other categories are growing?

CHALLENGER: Well, another strong area is energy, very broad based from oil and gas to coal -- kind of ironic with the story in the news now about the coal miners -- but nuclear power, the electrical utility industry. That whole area because the demand for energy and -- from around the world is going to continue.

WILLIS: So when you talk about jobs that are being created, is it going to be mostly entry level jobs? Middle management? We've seen so many jobs lost over the last few years and really across the board.

CHALLENGER: Well, the strongest growth areas are actually in skilled jobs, and that covers a broad range of professional jobs. It's not just management jobs but it's jobs in areas where you bring knowledge to the table, education is key, in fact, life long education is key in the upcoming jobs market, because you need to keep those skills in your field constantly updated, especially with the technology.

WILLIS: Well, you know, that's great advice for people who are trying to get back in the workforce and older workers who may want to supplement that retirement a little bit. But what about recent college grads who are looking right now? What's your advice to them?

CHALLENGER: Well, if you've just graduated from college, the key is to stop sitting on the Internet. You know, so many people are used to doing that, sending out resumes. You've got to get engaged.

Join organizations, your alumni network. The people that you grew up with all have parents who are out in companies. Go see them, ask their advice. The job market should be good in 2006 for new grads.

WILLIS: All right. Well, that's good news. So if you are one of those people who has enjoyed a lifelong, you know, work history, you've been in and out of the workforce, what you should do if you want to get back in and you're an older worker? Because let's face it, there is some job discrimination out there.

CHALLENGER: Well, there is age discrimination, but often people are so defensive about their age or if they've been out of the workforce awhile, they think nobody is going want to hire them and then they shoot themselves in the foot, so it's important to be positive about the skills that you do have to take an inventory and understand what it is can you offer an organization. A lot of people have been volunteering and developing skills, so can you use those in that area. Key is, again, you have to get out there, you have to see people, you have to see them in person. You can't just get caught calling and waiting for them to call you back.

WILLIS: John, quickly, best time year to look?

CHALLENGER: You know, this first two months is the best time of year. Many companies come back from the last quarter, they've cut -- they've made their, you know, plans and as they go into 2006, they say, all right, now is the time to bring in people to try and meet our new goals. So this is a great time to get out there, be working hard pounding the pavement.

WILLIS: John Challenger, thanks for the help today.

CHALLENGER: Thank you, Gerri.

WILLIS: Fredricka Whitfield is here with a preview of what's to come. Fredricka, what's on tap for your show at 5:00?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, good to see you, Gerri, and happy new year.

WILLIS: And good to see you. Happy new year to you.

WHITFIELD: As we begin the new year, a lot of folks always look forward to what's in the "Farmer's Almanac" -- the old "Farmer's Almanac." Well, it's not just weather predictions that they have their finger on the pulse of, but instead, they also are concentrating on lifestyle. So this year it's an issue of where people are choosing to live, why, and what they're willing to do in order to get there. That's in our 5:00 hour.

And then in our 6:00 hour, folks are always trying to think, in the new year, you know, how to stay healthy, how to stay fit. Well, we've got some ideas and some suggestions on how to live the healthy way, the way that folks do it in the Sonoma, the wine country of Sonoma. Sometimes it's not just an issue of what you eliminate, but instead what you include in your diet. The power foods is what they call it.

WILLIS: I love that idea, especially if it's based in Sonoma.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I like it too, and I like the idea of including things as opposed to eliminating things from your diet.

WILLIS: Fredricka, thank you so much.

WHITFIELD: All right, good to see you, Gerri.

WILLIS: They call him "bubble gum bandit." Coming up, one of the weirdest burglary stories you're likely to hear in a while. It's even getting weirder.

And then, the double headed snake, a story only Jeanne Moos could wrap herself around. That's straight ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: This is no jive talking. One of the Bee Gees just bought Johnny Cash's longtime home. Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, lived in the almost 14,000-square-foot home for 35 years before both died in 2003. Barry Gibb, the oldest of the Australian brothers who made up the Bee Gees said it will always be the spiritual home of the Cashes. The house, on four and a half acres on Old Hickory Lake near Nashville went on the market this year.

Why would anyone break into a business just to steal money from a gum ball machine? Look at the video store surveillance tape. You think this guy was after the Hope Diamond. Look at this, hooded, gloved and slithering across the floor in the apparent belief he might set off sensors.

The so-called Bubblegum Bandit used his fist to break the machine and swipe the change. Melbourne, Florida, police say he's made at least 16 hits targeting candy dispensers. His crimes may be escalating. The same guy is blamed for a Wednesday night burglary at a preschool where he smashed a candy vending machine and stole a DVD player. Police say it appears as though he fixed himself an English muffin before making his escape. Great story.

What's pale, two-headed and slimy all-over? A two headed snake of course. A one of a kind reptile is on the auctioning block and commanding big bucks as we find out from CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Move over Medusa. For sale, a snake that's head and shoulders, make that two heads and no shoulders, above the rest. Albino two headed rat snake.

(on camera): The starting bid is $150,000?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $150,000 a head.

MOOS: No $150,000 for both heads.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, so we're not buying cattle here.

MOOS (voice over): So their have been two headed calves and two headed pigs, but the two headed snake is being put up for auction on the Internet by the World Aquarium in St. Louis.

We call the snake We, We, W-E.

MOOS: The aquarium settled on We after rejecting names like Them and Together. It is believed We is a hermaphrodite. One head is bigger, a female head. The other smaller, a male. It's the male head that is dominant. When We slithers, the other head is along for the ride.

Most two-headed snakes don't live long, but We is already six, its survival aided by the fact that the two heads are connected to one stomach.

(on camera) How much would you pay?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nothing

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Zero

MOOS: Come on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's hideous.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pay to take it away from me.

MOOS: Sure on eBay you can find two-headed snake rings and belt buckles and sock puppets. If you want to bid on the real thing, go to sellingblock.com.

Two heads may be more expensive than one, but what are they good for?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eating two mice?

MOOS: Actually they feed each head on an alternate day. Two headed creatures tend to fight over food. This turtle named Lefty- Righty.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Righty is trying to take a by the of this. Lefty just got it. They say We could live another ten years, it's already been stolen from the aquarium once and recovered.

Its owners compare the sale of We to a priceless art object that reminded this guy of something else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Or a sling shot.

MOOS: That insult went right over We's head, both of them. Jeanne moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WILLIS: People in parts of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada and Utah should be able to see the show. It's bringing back dust from, this, the Wild Two Comet (ph) and other Stardust. The reentry of Stardust should make it the fastest man-made object to return to Earth.

There's still much more ahead on CNN. Fredricka Whitfield is up next with more of CNN LIVE SATURDAY after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com