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CNN Live At Daybreak
National Security Advisor Going Before 9/11 Commission; Spring Tools Tune-Up
Aired April 08, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A shark attack in Hawaii kills a surfer. He was about 300 yards off the coast of Maui when the shark bit him in the leg and then killed him.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, just about two and a half hours from now, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is set to raise her hand and offer sworn public testimony before the September 11 commission.
Our White House correspondent, Dana Bash, joins us live by phone with a preview of how this will work.
Tell us -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Condoleezza Rice will have an opening statement that we are told from White House officials will last about 20 minutes. Don't expect her to give a formal apology like we heard from her former counter-terror chief, Richard Clarke. But we do expect her to make it clear that she and other administration officials feel sorrow, and that they think that really the best way to honor those who died is to do this investigation into how 9/11 actually happened correctly and also to figure out how to prevent them in the future.
But her opening statement will really be sort of a broad narrative, according to senior officials, of what she says the administration did do in the first nine months that they were in the White House to try to prevent any kind of terrorist attack and actually go after al Qaeda and change the strategy from when the Clinton administration was in office.
COSTELLO: So, each commission member will have an opportunity to ask her questions for a 10-minute period. Is that right, Dana?
BASH: That's correct. We are told the commission made up their final decision last night as to how this is going to go. The chair and co-chair will begin the questioning. They're going to have about 10 minutes each. And then, as you said, each commissioner will also have about 10 minutes.
But we're told that they're going to try to be a little bit flexible, depending on the questioning and the answers go as well.
COSTELLO: Right. If the questions get good and the answers get hot, it's going to go longer than 10 minutes.
OK, two and a half hours total. Is that written in stone? Is she just going to just get up out of her chair and leave after two and a half hours?
BASH: No. No the commissioners are saying that they're essentially going to play it by ear. That's the goal -- two and a half hours. But, you know, if Dr. Rice could stay, if they want to stay, if things get going and they feel like they need a little more time, it sounds like they're going to play it by ear a little bit. But they say that they understand that she has a busy schedule, and this is sort of what they had agreed to -- the two and a half hours.
COSTELLO: All right, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time is the time to watch. Dana Bash reporting live for us from the White House this morning.
Politics are certainly playing into the 9/11 proceedings. Even though it is bipartisan -- the commission, I mean -- it's meant to get to the bottom of why 9/11 happened.
Let's head live to Miami and CNN political analyst Carlos Watson.
Hello -- Carlos.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol. How are you doing?
COSTELLO: I'm good. You've been on both sides of the fence -- a consultant for both Republicans and Democrats. So, tell us how partisan has this commission become?
WATSON: I think there was a lot of partisanship leading up to whether or not Dr. Rice would testify, but I think as we enter the hearing this morning, I think you won't see as much of it as you might have expected.
The toughest questions will come from Democrats, in particular Bob Kerry, the former senator from Nebraska, and Jamie Gorelick, the former deputy attorney general under Bill Clinton. But you may also get some tough questions from John Lehman, the former Navy secretary under former President Reagan.
So, you'll hear some tough questions from both sides of the aisle.
COSTELLO: You know, everyone is wondering how Dr. Rice will present herself. I want to read you part of an editorial written by Mark Goldblatt of the "National Review" last week. He says: "Not only will Rice make short work of Clarke, she will emerge from the hearing with conservatives flinging themselves at her feet, begging her to run for president in 2008." Can she really be that good?
WATSON: He's certainly making her sound like an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type terminator, right? She certainly is very popular. She certainly is widely respected. She's unusual in many ways in the breadth of her expertise.
If she does do well here, it will unquestionably be a star moment. And I think you'll hear a lot of excitement about her more likely for secretary of state or even secretary of defense in a second Bush administration, if that happens. Or if it doesn't happen, you certainly will hear a lot of clamoring for her probably to run for the U.S. Senate from California in 2006 against Diane Feinstein.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Here's another twist for you. This is from "The Washington Post," David Broder. He writes: "President Bush threw Rice to the commission. He gave up Rice, and then turned on his heel and walked out of the briefing room, even as reporters were trying to ask him questions."
How should the American people characterize why President Bush changed his mind and allowed Rice to take the hot seat?
WATSON: I think the president saw his own numbers falling, and he knew that, if you look at some of the polls, Americans believed Richard Clarke in general and some of his criticisms, even though they also had some underlying reservations. But fundamentally, they were believing Richard Clarke. The White House didn't want this to ultimately spin out of control and lose even more credibility. And so, ultimately, the president had Dr. Rice step forward.
I think you'll hear a lot, by the way, Carol, today not only about what the administration did before 9/11, but significantly what they did immediately after 9/11. In other words, did they focus on the right priorities in immediately focusing on Afghanistan and ultimately Iraq? Or should they have focused elsewhere?
COSTELLO: OK, a prediction. Finally after all is said and done, how will this affect the presidential election? Will it affect the presidential election?
WATSON: I think it will affect the presidential election only briefly in terms of today's actual event. I think the president, assuming that Dr. Rice does well, ultimately will get a 1 or 2 or 3 point bump.
But don't forget -- and, of course, none of us will -- but there are so many significant issues going on today on the ground in Iraq that I think by next week in many ways this could be very quickly forgotten as America deals, frankly, with a much more volatile and much more chaotic situation on the ground in Iraq, where lives are being lost on both sides.
COSTELLO: Carlos Watson joining us live from Miami this morning.
You can hear from family members of victims of the September 11 attacks. They'll be guests on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." Of course, that comes your way at the top of the hour.
When we come back, a check of the morning's headlines, and then back to Washington for a look at National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Who is the woman in that powerful position? And what will she be asked under oath today?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It will be a busy day inside that building in Washington, D.C. today. Condoleezza Rice is much admired -- recent polls show that even in light of recent events. But do we really know what she's all about? Rumors are flying around Washington about her now and about her future.
Let's head live back to D.C. and talk to a true insider, Chuck Conconi, editor-at-large for "Washingtonian" magazine.
Good morning, Chuck.
CHUCK CONCONI, "WASHINGTONIAN" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol. It's good to be here this early in the morning.
COSTELLO: I'm sure. We're happy you're with us. Trust us.
How consumed is Washington with the proceedings today?
CONCONI: Oh, I think Washington is always consumed with a story like this. This is one of those big stories. Washington is a political town. I was listening to your earlier report. And it's all politics. This is politics. The president is very concerned about his numbers and hoping Condoleezza Rice will do well today.
COSTELLO: Dr. Rice seems so untouchable and unshakable. What do you know about her personal life in D.C.?
CONCONI: Well, the fascinating thing about her -- and it reflects this administration in many ways -- there's almost a bunker mentality at the White House. You don't see these people around town. Nobody sees Condoleezza Rice around town. I mean, you don't see her. I've heard people running into her at the Safeway at the Watergate, or at a restaurant over there, but she doesn't go out. She's not out socially. She doesn't go to the Kennedy Center. She doesn't go to any of the big black-tie benefits, where most of these political types go.
And in many ways -- I know it sounds frivolous to talk about the social scene in Washington -- but in Washington, there is not a real social scene. Everything here is work, and it's important for administrations to get out there and get to know people.
COSTELLO: Well, in other words, she has not made many powerful friends in social circles, so there are so many people supporting her right now?
CONCONI: That's exactly right. And one of the things that administrations forget when they come to Washington -- a lot of them do -- the Reagan administration was brilliant this way -- was they come to Washington. And Washington is filled with wise men and wise women from each political party, who have seen presidents and administrations come and go, and they know how to trek through the jungle and the morass that can be Washington. Now, when you get in trouble -- and every administration at some time or another gets in some kind of trouble -- it's good to be able to call on those people, and they'll help you through it. This administration, even though the Bushes have been around Washington for years, hasn't done that.
COSTELLO: You know, something else that's interesting about Condoleezza Rice, she is so put together so well.
CONCONI: Yes.
COSTELLO: Regal almost. You never see her being poked fun at on shows like "Saturday Night Live" or David Letterman or Jay Leno.
CONCONI: Well, I think it's difficult. This is -- you know, this is the first black woman to have a high position like that in government. She is rather stiff at times. I mean, I disagree with what a lot of people say that she's great on television, and a lot of people in the administration think she's one of the best spokesmen for this White House. I don't she is. I think she's stiff. I watched her on other television shows. I've watched her a lot. And I don't think she's as effective.
Now, she may be effective today, because she is professorial, and that's an important thing.
COSTELLO: That is an important thing, and I'm sure many eyes will be glued to the set at 9:00 a.m. Easter this morning. Chuck Conconi from the "Washingtonian" magazine joining us live on DAYBREAK this morning.
CONCONI: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We have new pictures to show you this morning as the U.S.-led coalition's fight against Iraqi insurgents enters its second day in Fallujah. You're looking at U.S. Marines, who are battling rebels who remain entrenched at a local mosque. And we do hear Fallujah, the Marines have the city, of course, under control.
Well, aloha. Occupancy in Hawaii's hotels is back up to about 85 percent. That's the highest it's been since before the 9/11 attacks.
U.S. regulators have been looking into the soaring price of gasoline, and they say they have found no evidence -- no evidence -- that oil companies conspired to raise prices.
In sports, where were you 30 years ago today? Hank Aaron was right here in Atlanta belting his 715th homerun to break Babe Ruth's career record.
In culture, are you feeling old this morning, especially after that story? How do you think Times Square feels? It turns 100 today.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right, those are the latest headlines for you. Now let's head live to New York to check in with Bill Hemmer and Heidi Collins, who's in for Soledad. She's in New York. Bill is in Washington.
And I understand you have some commission members on the show this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We certainly do, Carol. Good morning to you.
A split broadcast today here from Washington awaiting Condoleezza Rice's testimony at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We'll talk with Tim Roemer here in D.C. We'll also talk with Slade Gordon as well, about the 9/11 Commission.
Heidi -- good morning to you there in New York this morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill.
Of course, a lot going on in Iraq overnight as well. We are going to be talking about all of that and the Marines and their intense fighting going on in Fallujah. We've also got Jim Clancy in Baghdad to give us the scope there on the ground. And, again, we will be hearing from "L.A. Times" reporter Tony Perry (ph) in Fallujah for more on that.
HEMMER: Well, he was excellent yesterday, yes. Also, the family members, a number of them have pushed for this testimony from Condoleezza Rice for some time. Today is the day they will hear from her, and we'll talk to some of those family members here live in D.C.
COSTELLO: And, you know, I'll be very...
HEMMER: So, we've got a packed show for you yet again today.
COSTELLO: I'll be very interested to know if they want to hear Condoleezza Rice apologize, as Richard Clarke did.
HEMMER: Yes. Well, it's our understanding that it will not be as specific as Richard Clarke, but she will address the survivors of the families, and we should hear that right off the top, about 9:03 a.m. Eastern Time here in D.C.
COSTELLO: All right, Bill and Heidi, thanks so much. We'll catch you in about 15 minutes.
HEMMER: All right.
COLLINS: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, some of you know spring is here from the height of your grass -- some of you, that is. But before you get out and do the yard work, we've got some tips that will make your lawn chores a lot easier this spring. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, good morning, and welcome back.
Dave White from Home Depot joins us now for a weekly segment we're going to do about trying to get your lawn and trying to get your flowers, trying to get whatever, back in shape for spring. And the thing we want to talk about today -- because we've got a new lawn mower here on the set. Mine doesn't look like that, by the way, and it probably doesn't run like that, and yours probably doesn't either.
In the springtime, you've got old gas in the thing, because you forgot to run it out. You've got a lousy fouled spark plug. You're pulling on it, and you're running your arm off trying to get it up. Tell us some of the things, Dave, of what we can do to get this thing running better, and maybe even last a little -- maybe another season or two. These things are getting kind of pricy now.
DAVE WHITE, THE HOME DEPOT: They actually are, and they're lasting longer, but you've got to take care of them.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: So, what I want to tell you about is kind of a five-point maintenance program, if you would.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: You want to look at the blade, the gas...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... the oil, the air filter, and then clean and inspect. And I was going to come up with kind of a pneumonic device for you to use, but all I came up with was begoac (ph), and I didn't think that was really particularly catchy.
MYERS: OK. Sharpen the blade. Let's start, again, from the beginning. If you're going to do any of these things, people, take the spark plug wire off. Right?
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: That's the first thing you do. Before you touch the mower, go up there, grab the rubber thing and pull the spark plug wire off, because you don't want to be under this mower with a spark plug wire on.
WHITE: Right.
MYERS: To sharpen the blade, you've got a couple of things here. And I want to open them up here and show you which camera I'm going to be on here. Two things now that I'm seeing. A lawn mower sharpener blade looks pretty low-tech right here, and then one that looks pretty high-tech here. You put this on your drill.
WHITE: Right. MYERS: And it actually has a pretty good bevel on this thing. I want to kind of open this up. It's a sharpening stone.
WHITE: It is.
MYERS: You put it on your drill, and you spin it around, and you sharpen your blade. That's one of the bad things a about a dull blade is that it just tears the grass up.
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: It doesn't cut it.
WHITE: You're not cutting, and what happens then, Chad, is that you actually -- you don't have as much disease resistance. You don't have as hardy a growth with the grass.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: So, if there's nothing else that you do, make sure your blade is sharp. And it doesn't actually have to be razor-sharp, though. I think people may misunderstand this.
MYERS: Is that right?
WHITE: They think it has to be like a knife.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: It just has to have a nice edge on it.
MYERS: I'm telling you what, I use a dermal tool to try to sharpen the blade without taking it off, and it's a nightmare.
WHITE: It is.
MYERS: It's just not fun at all. Throw me that new blade over there.
WHITE: Here you go.
MYERS: I know this thing is already sharpened. But this little low-tech little guy...
WHITE: It's pretty neat.
MYERS: It is kind of neat.
WHITE: And that actually is something that's kind of a multipurpose sharpener.
MYERS: Oh, which side is supposed to go here?
WHITE: There you go.
MYERS: But you kind of slide it along here, one after another after another, and get it a good blade.
WHITE: Yes.
MYERS: Yes, I'm not sure that that's probably working as well.
WHITE: It's going to work...
MYERS: This thing is.
WHITE: Yes, this is...
MYERS: This thing here is going to sit there and spin, and it's going to give you a nice, nice, nice, new edge right on there.
WHITE: Yes, and that's designed, too, so that you get the right angle and so forth. It also comes with a balancer, because one thing you might run into...
MYERS: Sure, right.
WHITE: ... if you take too much off of one side...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... then your blade is going to get out of balance, and you're not going to get a good run.
MYERS: How quickly I can get this done, but this is a new blade.
WHITE: There you go.
MYERS: You put that bad boy on there.
WHITE: It's balanced.
MYERS: And it shows you that it's balanced. If it was too heavy on one side or too heavy on the other side, it wouldn't be there in the middle.
WHITE: That's right.
MYERS: Air filter. This makes your thing run. If it doesn't get air and it doesn't get gas, it's not going to run.
WHITE: It can't breathe. Absolutely. And this is actually pretty simple. It's usually very easy to find on a mower, and there's basically two kinds of air filters. You're going to find the paper filters...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... and then the foam filters.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: The paper filters, depending on how dirty they are -- and, again, this should be done once a year -- you can -- they're really easy just to replace.
MYERS: They do get dirty. They get dirty.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITE: So, you can also if you need to blow them off or vacuum, you can. The foam filters, however, you can wash them out as long as they're not brittle or cracked.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Once you do, add a couple of drops of motor oil.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: Squeeze it in there and get it moist, and then make sure you dry it out. That will make it last a lot longer.
MYERS: This is a little tune-up kit that I see. It kind of all comes in a pack, and you can check your specifications on your mower. But this comes with a spark plug already. Should you change the plug every year?
WHITE: That -- you know, it's really up to the individual.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Nine times out of 10, you know, those plugs are going to last a long time.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: I would recommend that you have a spare on hand...
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: ... so that if you do have a problem you've got something ready to go.
MYERS: All right.
WHITE: And, you know...
MYERS: Is it already gapped?
WHITE: They should be pre-gapped.
MYERS: It comes gapped and everything.
WHITE: Yes.
MYERS: So, you don't have to worry about that.
Carol's finance was telling her that he was trying to get his mower redone, a tune-up, in Connecticut with $70 at a small engine shop. Does that seem high? WHITE: You're going to find all over the board. I mean, it's going to depend on what location you're in. I know that there's a place that I've taken it, you know, that it's going to depend on how busy they are, you know.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Supply and demand enters into it a little bit.
MYERS: Sure.
WHITE: But $40 to $70, depending on what they find to start with probably.
MYERS: Well, Dave, we've got all kinds of things over here to talk about, but we're out of time. We're going to revisit some things next week, and also do some fertilizer work.
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: Thanks for your time.
WHITE: Thank you. Oh, I've got...
MYERS: We'll see you here next Thursday.
WHITE: Hey, one thing.
MYERS: Oh!
WHITE: Just so you look nice when you're cutting the grass.
MYERS: I'm in John Deere green.
COSTELLO: Oh, geez! Is this a male bonding moment or what?
WHITE: This is great.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: OK, thanks again.
COSTELLO: And thank you, too, Mr. Home Depot. We appreciate it.
Next week we'll have a similar segment, as he said, on fertilizer and more on lawn mower repair.
It's time for our DAYBREAK coffee mug quiz. Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug comes if you answer these questions correctly.
The first question: Which state is unveiling its new quarter?
And the second question this morning: Name three of the five lawn mower tune-up tips that we just talked about.
MYERS: Oh, that's an easy one. COSTELLO: That's an easy one, you're right. Of course, we'll name the winner tomorrow morning at about 6:10 Eastern Time.
Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: No lightning today.
MYERS: I'm down here today.
COSTELLO: You couldn't run up there fast enough.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: But here is "The Lightning Round."
We've been trying to get this story on for days, Chad.
MYERS: That's two now.
COSTELLO: I know. The fairways aren't exactly green and the balls can't be white, but, hey, it's still golf. A pro from the U.K. won the ice golf tournament in Norway with a score of four over par. And that's with the added pressure of polar bears.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: That would make it tough, wouldn't it?
MYERS: Keep moving.
COSTELLO: Armed security guards, Chad, had to stand by the nine- hole course just in case a bear...
MYERS: Oh, my!
COSTELLO: ... wanted to interrupt tournament play.
MYERS: That doesn't look like fun.
COSTELLO: Well, you can call this the running of the sheep, this parade of wool. There it is. This parade of wool kicked off the New Zealand sheering championship.
MYERS: But they got away. They got loose.
COSTELLO: Yes, these few thousand sheep got a little excited and charged the town's stores and banks. They did not want to be sheered (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sheep.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: To buy or not to buy. This rare copy of "Hamlet" from the year 1611 goes on the auction block this month. Isn't that amazing?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Christie's auction house expects a $2 million sale price. I would expect it to go more for more.
MYERS: Who printed that? Or is that handwritten?
COSTELLO: I don't know.
MYERS: Wow! That's phenomenal.
COSTELLO: That's amazing, isn't it?
MYERS: Look at that. No, that's -- it's nice.
COSTELLO: Yes, that does it for us. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
MYERS: Have a great day. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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Aired April 8, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: A shark attack in Hawaii kills a surfer. He was about 300 yards off the coast of Maui when the shark bit him in the leg and then killed him.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Oh, just about two and a half hours from now, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice is set to raise her hand and offer sworn public testimony before the September 11 commission.
Our White House correspondent, Dana Bash, joins us live by phone with a preview of how this will work.
Tell us -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
Well, Condoleezza Rice will have an opening statement that we are told from White House officials will last about 20 minutes. Don't expect her to give a formal apology like we heard from her former counter-terror chief, Richard Clarke. But we do expect her to make it clear that she and other administration officials feel sorrow, and that they think that really the best way to honor those who died is to do this investigation into how 9/11 actually happened correctly and also to figure out how to prevent them in the future.
But her opening statement will really be sort of a broad narrative, according to senior officials, of what she says the administration did do in the first nine months that they were in the White House to try to prevent any kind of terrorist attack and actually go after al Qaeda and change the strategy from when the Clinton administration was in office.
COSTELLO: So, each commission member will have an opportunity to ask her questions for a 10-minute period. Is that right, Dana?
BASH: That's correct. We are told the commission made up their final decision last night as to how this is going to go. The chair and co-chair will begin the questioning. They're going to have about 10 minutes each. And then, as you said, each commissioner will also have about 10 minutes.
But we're told that they're going to try to be a little bit flexible, depending on the questioning and the answers go as well.
COSTELLO: Right. If the questions get good and the answers get hot, it's going to go longer than 10 minutes.
OK, two and a half hours total. Is that written in stone? Is she just going to just get up out of her chair and leave after two and a half hours?
BASH: No. No the commissioners are saying that they're essentially going to play it by ear. That's the goal -- two and a half hours. But, you know, if Dr. Rice could stay, if they want to stay, if things get going and they feel like they need a little more time, it sounds like they're going to play it by ear a little bit. But they say that they understand that she has a busy schedule, and this is sort of what they had agreed to -- the two and a half hours.
COSTELLO: All right, 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time is the time to watch. Dana Bash reporting live for us from the White House this morning.
Politics are certainly playing into the 9/11 proceedings. Even though it is bipartisan -- the commission, I mean -- it's meant to get to the bottom of why 9/11 happened.
Let's head live to Miami and CNN political analyst Carlos Watson.
Hello -- Carlos.
CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Carol. How are you doing?
COSTELLO: I'm good. You've been on both sides of the fence -- a consultant for both Republicans and Democrats. So, tell us how partisan has this commission become?
WATSON: I think there was a lot of partisanship leading up to whether or not Dr. Rice would testify, but I think as we enter the hearing this morning, I think you won't see as much of it as you might have expected.
The toughest questions will come from Democrats, in particular Bob Kerry, the former senator from Nebraska, and Jamie Gorelick, the former deputy attorney general under Bill Clinton. But you may also get some tough questions from John Lehman, the former Navy secretary under former President Reagan.
So, you'll hear some tough questions from both sides of the aisle.
COSTELLO: You know, everyone is wondering how Dr. Rice will present herself. I want to read you part of an editorial written by Mark Goldblatt of the "National Review" last week. He says: "Not only will Rice make short work of Clarke, she will emerge from the hearing with conservatives flinging themselves at her feet, begging her to run for president in 2008." Can she really be that good?
WATSON: He's certainly making her sound like an Arnold Schwarzenegger-type terminator, right? She certainly is very popular. She certainly is widely respected. She's unusual in many ways in the breadth of her expertise.
If she does do well here, it will unquestionably be a star moment. And I think you'll hear a lot of excitement about her more likely for secretary of state or even secretary of defense in a second Bush administration, if that happens. Or if it doesn't happen, you certainly will hear a lot of clamoring for her probably to run for the U.S. Senate from California in 2006 against Diane Feinstein.
COSTELLO: Interesting. Here's another twist for you. This is from "The Washington Post," David Broder. He writes: "President Bush threw Rice to the commission. He gave up Rice, and then turned on his heel and walked out of the briefing room, even as reporters were trying to ask him questions."
How should the American people characterize why President Bush changed his mind and allowed Rice to take the hot seat?
WATSON: I think the president saw his own numbers falling, and he knew that, if you look at some of the polls, Americans believed Richard Clarke in general and some of his criticisms, even though they also had some underlying reservations. But fundamentally, they were believing Richard Clarke. The White House didn't want this to ultimately spin out of control and lose even more credibility. And so, ultimately, the president had Dr. Rice step forward.
I think you'll hear a lot, by the way, Carol, today not only about what the administration did before 9/11, but significantly what they did immediately after 9/11. In other words, did they focus on the right priorities in immediately focusing on Afghanistan and ultimately Iraq? Or should they have focused elsewhere?
COSTELLO: OK, a prediction. Finally after all is said and done, how will this affect the presidential election? Will it affect the presidential election?
WATSON: I think it will affect the presidential election only briefly in terms of today's actual event. I think the president, assuming that Dr. Rice does well, ultimately will get a 1 or 2 or 3 point bump.
But don't forget -- and, of course, none of us will -- but there are so many significant issues going on today on the ground in Iraq that I think by next week in many ways this could be very quickly forgotten as America deals, frankly, with a much more volatile and much more chaotic situation on the ground in Iraq, where lives are being lost on both sides.
COSTELLO: Carlos Watson joining us live from Miami this morning.
You can hear from family members of victims of the September 11 attacks. They'll be guests on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." Of course, that comes your way at the top of the hour.
When we come back, a check of the morning's headlines, and then back to Washington for a look at National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Who is the woman in that powerful position? And what will she be asked under oath today?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It will be a busy day inside that building in Washington, D.C. today. Condoleezza Rice is much admired -- recent polls show that even in light of recent events. But do we really know what she's all about? Rumors are flying around Washington about her now and about her future.
Let's head live back to D.C. and talk to a true insider, Chuck Conconi, editor-at-large for "Washingtonian" magazine.
Good morning, Chuck.
CHUCK CONCONI, "WASHINGTONIAN" MAGAZINE: Good morning, Carol. It's good to be here this early in the morning.
COSTELLO: I'm sure. We're happy you're with us. Trust us.
How consumed is Washington with the proceedings today?
CONCONI: Oh, I think Washington is always consumed with a story like this. This is one of those big stories. Washington is a political town. I was listening to your earlier report. And it's all politics. This is politics. The president is very concerned about his numbers and hoping Condoleezza Rice will do well today.
COSTELLO: Dr. Rice seems so untouchable and unshakable. What do you know about her personal life in D.C.?
CONCONI: Well, the fascinating thing about her -- and it reflects this administration in many ways -- there's almost a bunker mentality at the White House. You don't see these people around town. Nobody sees Condoleezza Rice around town. I mean, you don't see her. I've heard people running into her at the Safeway at the Watergate, or at a restaurant over there, but she doesn't go out. She's not out socially. She doesn't go to the Kennedy Center. She doesn't go to any of the big black-tie benefits, where most of these political types go.
And in many ways -- I know it sounds frivolous to talk about the social scene in Washington -- but in Washington, there is not a real social scene. Everything here is work, and it's important for administrations to get out there and get to know people.
COSTELLO: Well, in other words, she has not made many powerful friends in social circles, so there are so many people supporting her right now?
CONCONI: That's exactly right. And one of the things that administrations forget when they come to Washington -- a lot of them do -- the Reagan administration was brilliant this way -- was they come to Washington. And Washington is filled with wise men and wise women from each political party, who have seen presidents and administrations come and go, and they know how to trek through the jungle and the morass that can be Washington. Now, when you get in trouble -- and every administration at some time or another gets in some kind of trouble -- it's good to be able to call on those people, and they'll help you through it. This administration, even though the Bushes have been around Washington for years, hasn't done that.
COSTELLO: You know, something else that's interesting about Condoleezza Rice, she is so put together so well.
CONCONI: Yes.
COSTELLO: Regal almost. You never see her being poked fun at on shows like "Saturday Night Live" or David Letterman or Jay Leno.
CONCONI: Well, I think it's difficult. This is -- you know, this is the first black woman to have a high position like that in government. She is rather stiff at times. I mean, I disagree with what a lot of people say that she's great on television, and a lot of people in the administration think she's one of the best spokesmen for this White House. I don't she is. I think she's stiff. I watched her on other television shows. I've watched her a lot. And I don't think she's as effective.
Now, she may be effective today, because she is professorial, and that's an important thing.
COSTELLO: That is an important thing, and I'm sure many eyes will be glued to the set at 9:00 a.m. Easter this morning. Chuck Conconi from the "Washingtonian" magazine joining us live on DAYBREAK this morning.
CONCONI: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We have new pictures to show you this morning as the U.S.-led coalition's fight against Iraqi insurgents enters its second day in Fallujah. You're looking at U.S. Marines, who are battling rebels who remain entrenched at a local mosque. And we do hear Fallujah, the Marines have the city, of course, under control.
Well, aloha. Occupancy in Hawaii's hotels is back up to about 85 percent. That's the highest it's been since before the 9/11 attacks.
U.S. regulators have been looking into the soaring price of gasoline, and they say they have found no evidence -- no evidence -- that oil companies conspired to raise prices.
In sports, where were you 30 years ago today? Hank Aaron was right here in Atlanta belting his 715th homerun to break Babe Ruth's career record.
In culture, are you feeling old this morning, especially after that story? How do you think Times Square feels? It turns 100 today.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: All right, those are the latest headlines for you. Now let's head live to New York to check in with Bill Hemmer and Heidi Collins, who's in for Soledad. She's in New York. Bill is in Washington.
And I understand you have some commission members on the show this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We certainly do, Carol. Good morning to you.
A split broadcast today here from Washington awaiting Condoleezza Rice's testimony at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We'll talk with Tim Roemer here in D.C. We'll also talk with Slade Gordon as well, about the 9/11 Commission.
Heidi -- good morning to you there in New York this morning.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, Bill.
Of course, a lot going on in Iraq overnight as well. We are going to be talking about all of that and the Marines and their intense fighting going on in Fallujah. We've also got Jim Clancy in Baghdad to give us the scope there on the ground. And, again, we will be hearing from "L.A. Times" reporter Tony Perry (ph) in Fallujah for more on that.
HEMMER: Well, he was excellent yesterday, yes. Also, the family members, a number of them have pushed for this testimony from Condoleezza Rice for some time. Today is the day they will hear from her, and we'll talk to some of those family members here live in D.C.
COSTELLO: And, you know, I'll be very...
HEMMER: So, we've got a packed show for you yet again today.
COSTELLO: I'll be very interested to know if they want to hear Condoleezza Rice apologize, as Richard Clarke did.
HEMMER: Yes. Well, it's our understanding that it will not be as specific as Richard Clarke, but she will address the survivors of the families, and we should hear that right off the top, about 9:03 a.m. Eastern Time here in D.C.
COSTELLO: All right, Bill and Heidi, thanks so much. We'll catch you in about 15 minutes.
HEMMER: All right.
COLLINS: Thanks.
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, some of you know spring is here from the height of your grass -- some of you, that is. But before you get out and do the yard work, we've got some tips that will make your lawn chores a lot easier this spring. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, good morning, and welcome back.
Dave White from Home Depot joins us now for a weekly segment we're going to do about trying to get your lawn and trying to get your flowers, trying to get whatever, back in shape for spring. And the thing we want to talk about today -- because we've got a new lawn mower here on the set. Mine doesn't look like that, by the way, and it probably doesn't run like that, and yours probably doesn't either.
In the springtime, you've got old gas in the thing, because you forgot to run it out. You've got a lousy fouled spark plug. You're pulling on it, and you're running your arm off trying to get it up. Tell us some of the things, Dave, of what we can do to get this thing running better, and maybe even last a little -- maybe another season or two. These things are getting kind of pricy now.
DAVE WHITE, THE HOME DEPOT: They actually are, and they're lasting longer, but you've got to take care of them.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: So, what I want to tell you about is kind of a five-point maintenance program, if you would.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: You want to look at the blade, the gas...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... the oil, the air filter, and then clean and inspect. And I was going to come up with kind of a pneumonic device for you to use, but all I came up with was begoac (ph), and I didn't think that was really particularly catchy.
MYERS: OK. Sharpen the blade. Let's start, again, from the beginning. If you're going to do any of these things, people, take the spark plug wire off. Right?
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: That's the first thing you do. Before you touch the mower, go up there, grab the rubber thing and pull the spark plug wire off, because you don't want to be under this mower with a spark plug wire on.
WHITE: Right.
MYERS: To sharpen the blade, you've got a couple of things here. And I want to open them up here and show you which camera I'm going to be on here. Two things now that I'm seeing. A lawn mower sharpener blade looks pretty low-tech right here, and then one that looks pretty high-tech here. You put this on your drill.
WHITE: Right. MYERS: And it actually has a pretty good bevel on this thing. I want to kind of open this up. It's a sharpening stone.
WHITE: It is.
MYERS: You put it on your drill, and you spin it around, and you sharpen your blade. That's one of the bad things a about a dull blade is that it just tears the grass up.
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: It doesn't cut it.
WHITE: You're not cutting, and what happens then, Chad, is that you actually -- you don't have as much disease resistance. You don't have as hardy a growth with the grass.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: So, if there's nothing else that you do, make sure your blade is sharp. And it doesn't actually have to be razor-sharp, though. I think people may misunderstand this.
MYERS: Is that right?
WHITE: They think it has to be like a knife.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: It just has to have a nice edge on it.
MYERS: I'm telling you what, I use a dermal tool to try to sharpen the blade without taking it off, and it's a nightmare.
WHITE: It is.
MYERS: It's just not fun at all. Throw me that new blade over there.
WHITE: Here you go.
MYERS: I know this thing is already sharpened. But this little low-tech little guy...
WHITE: It's pretty neat.
MYERS: It is kind of neat.
WHITE: And that actually is something that's kind of a multipurpose sharpener.
MYERS: Oh, which side is supposed to go here?
WHITE: There you go.
MYERS: But you kind of slide it along here, one after another after another, and get it a good blade.
WHITE: Yes.
MYERS: Yes, I'm not sure that that's probably working as well.
WHITE: It's going to work...
MYERS: This thing is.
WHITE: Yes, this is...
MYERS: This thing here is going to sit there and spin, and it's going to give you a nice, nice, nice, new edge right on there.
WHITE: Yes, and that's designed, too, so that you get the right angle and so forth. It also comes with a balancer, because one thing you might run into...
MYERS: Sure, right.
WHITE: ... if you take too much off of one side...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... then your blade is going to get out of balance, and you're not going to get a good run.
MYERS: How quickly I can get this done, but this is a new blade.
WHITE: There you go.
MYERS: You put that bad boy on there.
WHITE: It's balanced.
MYERS: And it shows you that it's balanced. If it was too heavy on one side or too heavy on the other side, it wouldn't be there in the middle.
WHITE: That's right.
MYERS: Air filter. This makes your thing run. If it doesn't get air and it doesn't get gas, it's not going to run.
WHITE: It can't breathe. Absolutely. And this is actually pretty simple. It's usually very easy to find on a mower, and there's basically two kinds of air filters. You're going to find the paper filters...
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: ... and then the foam filters.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: The paper filters, depending on how dirty they are -- and, again, this should be done once a year -- you can -- they're really easy just to replace.
MYERS: They do get dirty. They get dirty.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITE: So, you can also if you need to blow them off or vacuum, you can. The foam filters, however, you can wash them out as long as they're not brittle or cracked.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Once you do, add a couple of drops of motor oil.
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: Squeeze it in there and get it moist, and then make sure you dry it out. That will make it last a lot longer.
MYERS: This is a little tune-up kit that I see. It kind of all comes in a pack, and you can check your specifications on your mower. But this comes with a spark plug already. Should you change the plug every year?
WHITE: That -- you know, it's really up to the individual.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Nine times out of 10, you know, those plugs are going to last a long time.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: I would recommend that you have a spare on hand...
MYERS: OK.
WHITE: ... so that if you do have a problem you've got something ready to go.
MYERS: All right.
WHITE: And, you know...
MYERS: Is it already gapped?
WHITE: They should be pre-gapped.
MYERS: It comes gapped and everything.
WHITE: Yes.
MYERS: So, you don't have to worry about that.
Carol's finance was telling her that he was trying to get his mower redone, a tune-up, in Connecticut with $70 at a small engine shop. Does that seem high? WHITE: You're going to find all over the board. I mean, it's going to depend on what location you're in. I know that there's a place that I've taken it, you know, that it's going to depend on how busy they are, you know.
MYERS: Yes.
WHITE: Supply and demand enters into it a little bit.
MYERS: Sure.
WHITE: But $40 to $70, depending on what they find to start with probably.
MYERS: Well, Dave, we've got all kinds of things over here to talk about, but we're out of time. We're going to revisit some things next week, and also do some fertilizer work.
WHITE: Absolutely.
MYERS: Thanks for your time.
WHITE: Thank you. Oh, I've got...
MYERS: We'll see you here next Thursday.
WHITE: Hey, one thing.
MYERS: Oh!
WHITE: Just so you look nice when you're cutting the grass.
MYERS: I'm in John Deere green.
COSTELLO: Oh, geez! Is this a male bonding moment or what?
WHITE: This is great.
COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: OK, thanks again.
COSTELLO: And thank you, too, Mr. Home Depot. We appreciate it.
Next week we'll have a similar segment, as he said, on fertilizer and more on lawn mower repair.
It's time for our DAYBREAK coffee mug quiz. Your chance to win a DAYBREAK coffee mug comes if you answer these questions correctly.
The first question: Which state is unveiling its new quarter?
And the second question this morning: Name three of the five lawn mower tune-up tips that we just talked about.
MYERS: Oh, that's an easy one. COSTELLO: That's an easy one, you're right. Of course, we'll name the winner tomorrow morning at about 6:10 Eastern Time.
Chad will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: No lightning today.
MYERS: I'm down here today.
COSTELLO: You couldn't run up there fast enough.
MYERS: Right.
COSTELLO: But here is "The Lightning Round."
We've been trying to get this story on for days, Chad.
MYERS: That's two now.
COSTELLO: I know. The fairways aren't exactly green and the balls can't be white, but, hey, it's still golf. A pro from the U.K. won the ice golf tournament in Norway with a score of four over par. And that's with the added pressure of polar bears.
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: That would make it tough, wouldn't it?
MYERS: Keep moving.
COSTELLO: Armed security guards, Chad, had to stand by the nine- hole course just in case a bear...
MYERS: Oh, my!
COSTELLO: ... wanted to interrupt tournament play.
MYERS: That doesn't look like fun.
COSTELLO: Well, you can call this the running of the sheep, this parade of wool. There it is. This parade of wool kicked off the New Zealand sheering championship.
MYERS: But they got away. They got loose.
COSTELLO: Yes, these few thousand sheep got a little excited and charged the town's stores and banks. They did not want to be sheered (UNINTELLIGIBLE) sheep.
MYERS: Oh.
COSTELLO: To buy or not to buy. This rare copy of "Hamlet" from the year 1611 goes on the auction block this month. Isn't that amazing?
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: Christie's auction house expects a $2 million sale price. I would expect it to go more for more.
MYERS: Who printed that? Or is that handwritten?
COSTELLO: I don't know.
MYERS: Wow! That's phenomenal.
COSTELLO: That's amazing, isn't it?
MYERS: Look at that. No, that's -- it's nice.
COSTELLO: Yes, that does it for us. I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
MYERS: Have a great day. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.
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