Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
New York Prepares for Republican National Convention; No Gold For U.S. Men's Basketball Team
Aired August 27, 2004 - 15:00 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the news now, all quiet in Najaf. Iraqi police are now patrolling the streets of Najaf's old city, this a day after the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani brokered an agreement with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to stop three weeks of fighting. American forces remain near the combat area in defensive positions.
Suspicious new evidence, Russia's top intelligence agency saying now it believes terrorism behind the crash of one of two passenger airliners earlier this week. The planes went down within moments of each other, after taking off from the same Moscow airport. Investigators say traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of one of the planes.
President Bush takes action. He signed executive orders today that give the CIA director more power. The orders will create a national counterterrorism center. Sources familiar with the orders say they fall short of changes proposed by the 9/11 Commission, however.
Another loss in Athens to tell you about. Just moments ago, Argentina defeated the U.S. team of NBA stars 89-81 in the Olympics semifinals. The best the so-called dream team can do now is a bronze.
Well, no offense to the weekend or anything, but we're spending part of our Friday afternoon looking to Monday, when the GOP takes Gotham for its first ever convention in the city where the Republicans make up a very small minority.
Here's CNN's Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Workers prepare for what will be a GOP first, the first Republican convention to be held in New York City. Some New Yorkers are not exactly rolling out the welcome wagon.
CROWD: Drop the debt now!
WALLACE: Some even stripped to make their point. This is a city where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans five to one. Isn't this enemy territory for Republicans?
KIERAN MAHONEY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: There's no question it's enemy territory for Republicans. But the fact of the matter is, is that you're speaking to America from New York City. WALLACE: Speaking to the nation at a crucial time, with this race neck and neck.
The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows the president leading senator John Kerry 50 percent to 47 percent among likely voters, unchanged from two weeks ago.
There are signs the swift boat controversy could be having an impact, namely on Senator Kerry. A month ago, 41 percent said that Kerry's military service made it more likely they would vote for him. That number has dropped to 22 percent.
As for the president, Republican strategists Kieran Mahoney says he must accomplish two things next week...
MAHONEY: He's got to establish that he's an effective war leader who's led the country appropriately through a time of crisis. And he's got to establish that the economy is, in fact, back and vibrant and that he's the one responsible for it.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The president of the United States, George W. Bush!
MAHONEY: And it is no coincidence the president started his eight-state, pre-convention swing with former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani.
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A man who brought calm to the citizens of New York City during a tragic day.
WALLACE: Another convention challenge, reminding voters of what he did in the days after September 11th.
BUSH: I can hear you!
WALLACE: Without appearing to be playing politics with the tragedy.
(on camera): There will be some Democrats in New York City. The party is setting up a war room just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, just as the Republicans did during the Democratic Convention in Boston.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The star of the RNC did some tinkering with the CIA today and the NSA, the NRO and the many other agencies that gather and analyze intelligence for the U.S. government.
Behind closed doors at the White House, President Bush signed executive orders that implement some of the intel overhaul measures recommended by 9/11 investigators. The orders set up a national counterterrorism center and broaden the authority of the CIA director, pending congressional approval of a national director of intelligence. On Sunday night, "CNN PRESENTS" looks at the mission of George W. Bush, a mission forged in the crucible of September 11.
Our John King has a preview now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: And I walked up to his right ear, leaned over and whispered in, a second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack. I wanted to be efficient in how I delivered the message, but I also wanted to be unambiguous about the consequence.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Testing time for a president just seven months in office.
ERIC DRAPER, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: We were approaching Washington and everyone had noticed the fighter jets that's escorted Air Force One outside. We had been on the plane all day without being in Washington, and so we were finally home.
MARY MATALIN, BUSH CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: I remember the night of 9/11 saying to us, this is the mission of this government. This is the mission of this administration. We will bring these terrorists in whatever form it takes to justice.
KING: Two new challenges: rally the country from its shock and comfort the families.
BUSH: We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead and for those who loved them.
CROWD: USA, USA, USA, USA!
BUSH: I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
BUSH: And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty emotional. He cried with a lot of the families. He hugged a lot of the families. Everyone had tears in their eyes. The families were holding pictures of their loved ones who they lost. It was very intense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And you can see "The Mission of George W. Bush" on CNN Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, followed by a special pre-convention edition of "LARRY KING LIVE."
O'BRIEN: In California, today, Senator Kerry is asking supporters to get out the checkbooks, Kerry backers gathering for a fund-raising event this San Francisco this afternoon. Kerry reportedly tallied more than $3 million at an event last night in Santa Monica.
On the message front, Kerry is pushing curbs on credit card fees is proposing other measures designed to combat predatory lending.
Another political voice weighs in supporting John Kerry today. Former senator and former astronaut John Glenn says it's time to get past Vietnam and talk about what's ahead for the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN GLENN, FMR. U.S. SENATOR: He was out there. He volunteered to go out at a time when other people were avoiding it. And he was wounded out there. He still has shrapnel in his body. So, there wasn't any doubt about he got hit out there.
But I just think it's time to get past this. And maybe he invited it. I wouldn't even make a judgment on that. But the important thing now, with the last few days of this campaign coming up, is to get back to things that are going to build the future, not just dwell on something from 35 years ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Be sure to join Judy Woodruff at the bottom of the hour, 3:30 Eastern, for the full interview with former Senator Glenn on today's edition of "INSIDE POLITICS."
PHILLIPS: News across America now.
The Kobe Bryant trial began today with 500 potential jurors filling out questionnaires. Attorneys have to whittle the number down to 12. Bryant, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman last year, is not present.
Cleaning out California. The state is holding the mother of all garage sales this weekend. It was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's idea to get rid of that stuff that was just collecting dust. Workers went through state warehouses sorting through thousands of items.
And this dog Sugar is alive after an alligator attack thanks to the bravery of its owner. Matthew Goff of Gainesville jumped on to the 6-foot alligator's back and stabbed with it a penknife. Goff and Sugar were both scratched up, but they were not seriously hurt.
New York has some unconventional ways to welcome the Republican Convention to town. We're going to talk about that, plus some of the issues the GOP will bring to the Big Apple, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: Republicans just about ready for their big party. And how best to tell us about it than a couple of our "CROSSFIRE" pals, James Carville, Robert Novak. They're in New York City in Chelsea, right by the Hudson River.
Good to see you guys.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERT NOVAK, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Good to be...
JAMES CARVILLE, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Thank you.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's talk about President Bush today in "The New York Times," Mr. Novak, admitting he miscalculated on Iraq. It's a big revelation, isn't it?
NOVAK: Well, it's kind of a surprising that he would admit it, but I think that's a credit to him.
I think he did miscalculate. If you listen to me, I didn't want to go to war there. But they did it. And I think the idea that you're omniscient and you always know exactly what you're doing, I think it's refreshing for a political leader to say that he made a mistake.
O'BRIEN: I should say so.
What do you think, Jim Carville?
CARVILLE: Well, let's be factual here. The vice president of the United States said that we would be greeted with roses. They were told time and time and
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: OK, that was definitely a miscalculation, I'd say.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: ... by people that this would happen.
O'BRIEN: Right.
CARVILLE: It was way more than a miscalculation. It was the greatest screw-up that we've had in American military policy since Vietnam.
O'BRIEN: Bob Novak, would you go along with that assessment?
NOVAK: Well, I don't know if it was that going in there was totally wrong. All of James' friends, Senator Carville, Senator Edwards voted to go in. So, a lot of people were on the wrong side of that. I didn't think we had to. But I'm just a humble journalist. I'm not a great politician, like these guys.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: A humble journalist. Did you just say humble journalist?
(LAUGHTER)
NOVAK: Yes, sir.
CARVILLE: The audio is down completely.
O'BRIEN: Have you lost us?
CARVILLE: I'm getting a dial tone.
O'BRIEN: You got dial tone?
How about you, Bob Novak? Can you hear me?
NOVAK: I can hear you perfectly.
O'BRIEN: All right, then why don't you relate to Jim Carville, James Carville...
CARVILLE: All I have is a dial tone.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: You know what? Let's take a breather, because this is not fair. We can't do this with dial tone.
We'll take a break. We'll get it fixed. We'll bring them back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: All right, we have made our connection with our humble "CROSSFIRE" team. Let's get right back to it, Bob Novak, James Carville.
James Carville, can you hear me?
O'BRIEN: He took his earpiece out.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: ... can't hear anything.
O'BRIEN: All right. You know what, Bob Novak? I am going to ask you, since I got you here, about these new polls. "L.A. Times" is out with some polls from Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio. And they all show Bush really doing pretty well. Of course, it's still within the sampling error, or pretty close, 49-44 percent in Ohio. It is 48-44 percent in Wisconsin, 46-44 percent in Missouri.
Those are pretty good numbers for the president going into a convention, aren't they? NOVAK: What is happening right now is that Senator Kerry is in a decline. We have got a long way to go before the election, Miles, but all these people have been running around saying he's going to win, he's going to win. I never know who is going to win. But he is dropping right now.
I think the swift boat controversy has hurt him. And he's dropping in all the battleground states. The battleground polls say he is now behind in Ohio, behind in Florida, probably behind in Wisconsin. One poll shows him behind in Pennsylvania. So, I'd say this is a very bad time for Senator Kerry.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: James Carville, when you look at those numbers, those are bad numbers, aren't they?
CARVILLE: Well, they're bad for Bush.
O'BRIEN: Really?
CARVILLE: You have got an incumbent president not at 50. Yes.
You have got an incumbent president not at 50 in any state. If you look inside these polls, a "Wall Street Journal" poll had Kerry up by four in the battleground states. So, I'm not -- again, has Kerry slipped a little bit in the last couple of weeks? Yes, he slipped a little bit. But I'd be stunned if Kerry loses this election. In fact, I'd be stunned if the election is close.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: You're easily...
O'BRIEN: Go ahead.
CARVILLE: What happened to what...
NOVAK: You're easily stunned, James, because on election 2002, you were stunned. You put a waste basket on your head, you were so stunned. So, don't be so sure this time.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: Again, I would be -- let me say this clearly. I think Kerry is going to win. I don't think it is going to be close.
O'BRIEN: OK.
CARVILLE: But I'm not scared to say that.
O'BRIEN: But Kerry didn't have much of a post-convention bounce, did he?
CARVILLE: Well, he doesn't really need one. You have got an incumbent president that is barely at 50 -- that is barely -- that is not at 50 percent in anything but the CNN polls.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Everybody needs a bounce here and there, right?
CARVILLE: You know -- you know what? You ain't going to bounce by saying that you had a miscalculation. You're not going to bounce by not even knowing about your global warming report. You're not going to bounce with a million or more and a half people in poverty.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: I hope James is just giving spin.
CARVILLE: No, I'm not.
NOVAK: Because if he were on the inside right now of the Kerry campaign, he is saying, we got a problem. You had a great opportunity in August and you blew it. It is a real problem for Kerry.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: Can he come back? Of course he can come back.
O'BRIEN: Final thought.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: I don't think their campaign is doing that good. I think they are going to win easy. I've always thought that. I'm not scared to say it.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I want to talk about what's really going to be going on in New York this week, some of the protests. Let's take a look at some of these protesters. And well, they're not attired like you gentlemen are. That's for sure.
Will this particular convention be marred by, well, just raw naked power in the street or something?
NOVAK: Let me tell you something.
I went to a convention in 1968 in Chicago where you really had grassroots protests. And it hurt the Democratic Party. These are a bunch of morons who take off their clothes. They injured a cop. They should go to prison. And I really think the best thing that the media can do with morons like that is ignore them.
O'BRIEN: Oh, boy. I guess I failed on that test, didn't I?
James Carville?
CARVILLE: I guess you did, huh.
Look, as the mayor of New York said, this is New York. Of course there's going to be naked people.
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: The Republicans came here to try to get some kind of political gain. There are going to be a quarter of a million people here. A lot of nutty people are going to be here, a lot of well- meaning people. There are going to be a lot of different kind of people coming up here.
But you know what? This is America. And it was their choice of a city and they'll have to live with their choice.
NOVAK: You don't condone those people who injured a cop, do you, Carville? You don't do that.
CARVILLE: Well, no. I don't condone anybody that breaks the law. But I'm telling you people are coming up here. There are a lot of well-meaning people going to be here.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: I don't think they're well-meaning people. I think they're morons who ought to be ignored.
CARVILLE: Some of them are and some of them are well-meaning.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CARVILLE: You think anybody who disagrees with you is a moron.
NOVAK: That's about right.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: Unfortunately, the president...
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: We don't have a moron, but we have got somebody who is ignorant in the Oval Office and didn't read his own global warming report.
O'BRIEN: All right, I've got to tell you, I'm overwhelmed by the humility of the both of you. Thank you very much, gentlemen.
CARVILLE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Both of you, Mr. Carville, Mr. Novak, our humble team there along the Hudson River in Chelsea. Get rid of that earpiece and move on.
All right, "CROSSFIRE" of course is at 4:30 Eastern everyday. And if you miss it, you're missing a lot of fun, clearly -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Do they like each other?
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I think there's some serious...
PHILLIPS: Just a little tension.
O'BRIEN: They don't really spend lot of time mixing it up beyond -- as you see there.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's get to the Olympics. I guess you could say there was a bit of a cold reception in Athens for U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in the center of the city today to protest his visit. He's there, as you know, for Olympics closing ceremonies on Sunday. So, anti-war activists say his visit could spoil the festive atmosphere at the Olympics.
But inside the Games, a big upset for America's so-called dream team. I'll tell you somebody who is not protesting his assignment. That's Michael Holmes. He's live from Athens.
Hi, Michael. What's the update with the basketball?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've got to tell you, Kyra, it's tough assignment. But as we keep saying, somebody has to do it. I'm prepared to continue to volunteer.
I will tell you all about the basketball. For the first time since 1992, U.S. men's basketball team will not be taking home a gold medal. We're going to have that and a lot more when we come back.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right a little, had to have a little commercial break.
Let's go back to Athens, Greece, our Michael Holmes continuing his riveting thoughts on basketball -- Michael.
HOLMES: Oh, you're putting the pressure on there, riveting. OK, I'll do my best.
The U.S. men are not going to win a gold medal. They're not going to win a silver medal. And they are going to have to work pretty hard to win a bronze medal. Think about this. The U.S. men's basketball team has never come home without an Olympic medal. Well, it could happen this time. They went down to Argentina, no easy beat. These guys are the runners-up in the world championships last.
And they went down 89-81. They did not look good, Argentina clearly the better team on the night. The U.S. team is having a lot of trouble with international rules, what many people in the rest of the world would say are the real rules of basketball. They're getting called for traveling and moving screens, stuff they get away with in the NBA.
Now, Italy and Lithuania are playing the other semifinal match. Whoever wins that will play Argentina for the gold. Whoever loses will be playing the dream team, who are not having much of a dream run, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, we got to talk Marion Jones. Either way you look at it, whether she's winning or losing, boy, she's amazing to watch.
HOLMES: She is. She's always news wherever she goes. She was in the long jump tonight. She picked up bronze in Sydney for that. And of course, Marion Jones, the 100 and 200 gold medal winner from Sydney, didn't qualify for those events here in Athens.
She competed tonight in the long jump. She's not taking home a medal either. She ended up fifth in the running there, so not a good night for Marion Jones. The one thing about her is because Torri Edwards is now out of these Olympics after the investigation there, what is going to happen is that she's going to run in the four-by-100 relay. So, she still has a chance to take home some sort of medal, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, we have got to talk about that Italian soccer team, Michael, before we come to the end here, and the fact that they're wearing armbands in honor of one of their own that was killed in Iraq.
HOLMES: Yes, it's not just the Italians either. What's interesting about this, the Iraqis, of course, by way of background, they are playing at the moment for the bronze medal in the Olympics. It would be their first medal since 1960, which was their only medal. Iraq are one currently 1-0 down. They're well into the second half. So, Iraq may not win a medal.
But that Italian journalist who was killed affected both teams in terms of what they decided to do, which is both teams, Iraqi and Italian, are wearing black armbands to honor that journalist who was murdered in Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Quite a statement.
Real quickly, Michael, did that Dutch rower who left his silver medal in the taxicab, did he get it back?
HOLMES: Oh, this was funny, wasn't it, yes? How would you be?
You come all the way to Athens. You row in the men's eights. You pick up a silver medal and then you go home and you leave it in the taxi. Seriously. I'm not kidding you. This is a fellow, Diederik Simon, won the silver medal in the men eights. He gets into a cab. He leaves it on the back seat. As you can imagine, he noticed it was missing eventually, called Olympic authorities.
There are 5,000 taxis in Athens right now. They put out the APB over the wire there for the -- and the cabbie did the right thing, turned in the silver medal. And Mr. Simon will be going home with his medal, as well as a red face.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: And the cabbie will get a great reward.
Michael Holmes, live from Athens, thank you.
HOLMES: He is. He's going to get a reward.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll do a follow-up.
We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories now in the news -- a clash in Athens. Greek police fire tear gas at anti-war demonstrators. They were protesting Secretary of State Colin Powell's weekend visit for the Olympics closing ceremonies. The group was attempting to march to the U.S. embassy.
Elsewhere in Athens, the Dream Team dethroned. In an upset, the U.S. men's basketball team fell to Argentina in today's semifinal game. The score was 89-81. The U.S. was the three-time defending champs -- well, they'll now have to settle for playing for the bronze.
President Bush signed executive orders today that give the CIA director more power. Those orders also create a National Counterterrorism Center. Sources familiar with the orders say they fall short of the changes proposed by the 9/11 Commission.
Now, stay tuned -- Judy Woodruff and "INSIDE POLITICS" right ahead.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 27, 2004 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: In the news now, all quiet in Najaf. Iraqi police are now patrolling the streets of Najaf's old city, this a day after the Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani brokered an agreement with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to stop three weeks of fighting. American forces remain near the combat area in defensive positions.
Suspicious new evidence, Russia's top intelligence agency saying now it believes terrorism behind the crash of one of two passenger airliners earlier this week. The planes went down within moments of each other, after taking off from the same Moscow airport. Investigators say traces of explosives were found in the wreckage of one of the planes.
President Bush takes action. He signed executive orders today that give the CIA director more power. The orders will create a national counterterrorism center. Sources familiar with the orders say they fall short of changes proposed by the 9/11 Commission, however.
Another loss in Athens to tell you about. Just moments ago, Argentina defeated the U.S. team of NBA stars 89-81 in the Olympics semifinals. The best the so-called dream team can do now is a bronze.
Well, no offense to the weekend or anything, but we're spending part of our Friday afternoon looking to Monday, when the GOP takes Gotham for its first ever convention in the city where the Republicans make up a very small minority.
Here's CNN's Kelly Wallace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Workers prepare for what will be a GOP first, the first Republican convention to be held in New York City. Some New Yorkers are not exactly rolling out the welcome wagon.
CROWD: Drop the debt now!
WALLACE: Some even stripped to make their point. This is a city where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans five to one. Isn't this enemy territory for Republicans?
KIERAN MAHONEY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: There's no question it's enemy territory for Republicans. But the fact of the matter is, is that you're speaking to America from New York City. WALLACE: Speaking to the nation at a crucial time, with this race neck and neck.
The latest CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup poll shows the president leading senator John Kerry 50 percent to 47 percent among likely voters, unchanged from two weeks ago.
There are signs the swift boat controversy could be having an impact, namely on Senator Kerry. A month ago, 41 percent said that Kerry's military service made it more likely they would vote for him. That number has dropped to 22 percent.
As for the president, Republican strategists Kieran Mahoney says he must accomplish two things next week...
MAHONEY: He's got to establish that he's an effective war leader who's led the country appropriately through a time of crisis. And he's got to establish that the economy is, in fact, back and vibrant and that he's the one responsible for it.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The president of the United States, George W. Bush!
MAHONEY: And it is no coincidence the president started his eight-state, pre-convention swing with former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani.
GEORGE W. BUSH (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A man who brought calm to the citizens of New York City during a tragic day.
WALLACE: Another convention challenge, reminding voters of what he did in the days after September 11th.
BUSH: I can hear you!
WALLACE: Without appearing to be playing politics with the tragedy.
(on camera): There will be some Democrats in New York City. The party is setting up a war room just a few blocks from Madison Square Garden, just as the Republicans did during the Democratic Convention in Boston.
Kelly Wallace, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The star of the RNC did some tinkering with the CIA today and the NSA, the NRO and the many other agencies that gather and analyze intelligence for the U.S. government.
Behind closed doors at the White House, President Bush signed executive orders that implement some of the intel overhaul measures recommended by 9/11 investigators. The orders set up a national counterterrorism center and broaden the authority of the CIA director, pending congressional approval of a national director of intelligence. On Sunday night, "CNN PRESENTS" looks at the mission of George W. Bush, a mission forged in the crucible of September 11.
Our John King has a preview now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW CARD, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: And I walked up to his right ear, leaned over and whispered in, a second plane hit the second tower. America is under attack. I wanted to be efficient in how I delivered the message, but I also wanted to be unambiguous about the consequence.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Testing time for a president just seven months in office.
ERIC DRAPER, PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHER: We were approaching Washington and everyone had noticed the fighter jets that's escorted Air Force One outside. We had been on the plane all day without being in Washington, and so we were finally home.
MARY MATALIN, BUSH CAMPAIGN ADVISOR: I remember the night of 9/11 saying to us, this is the mission of this government. This is the mission of this administration. We will bring these terrorists in whatever form it takes to justice.
KING: Two new challenges: rally the country from its shock and comfort the families.
BUSH: We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead and for those who loved them.
CROWD: USA, USA, USA, USA!
BUSH: I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people...
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
BUSH: And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon!
(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Pretty emotional. He cried with a lot of the families. He hugged a lot of the families. Everyone had tears in their eyes. The families were holding pictures of their loved ones who they lost. It was very intense.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: And you can see "The Mission of George W. Bush" on CNN Sunday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, followed by a special pre-convention edition of "LARRY KING LIVE."
O'BRIEN: In California, today, Senator Kerry is asking supporters to get out the checkbooks, Kerry backers gathering for a fund-raising event this San Francisco this afternoon. Kerry reportedly tallied more than $3 million at an event last night in Santa Monica.
On the message front, Kerry is pushing curbs on credit card fees is proposing other measures designed to combat predatory lending.
Another political voice weighs in supporting John Kerry today. Former senator and former astronaut John Glenn says it's time to get past Vietnam and talk about what's ahead for the country.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN GLENN, FMR. U.S. SENATOR: He was out there. He volunteered to go out at a time when other people were avoiding it. And he was wounded out there. He still has shrapnel in his body. So, there wasn't any doubt about he got hit out there.
But I just think it's time to get past this. And maybe he invited it. I wouldn't even make a judgment on that. But the important thing now, with the last few days of this campaign coming up, is to get back to things that are going to build the future, not just dwell on something from 35 years ago.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Be sure to join Judy Woodruff at the bottom of the hour, 3:30 Eastern, for the full interview with former Senator Glenn on today's edition of "INSIDE POLITICS."
PHILLIPS: News across America now.
The Kobe Bryant trial began today with 500 potential jurors filling out questionnaires. Attorneys have to whittle the number down to 12. Bryant, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman last year, is not present.
Cleaning out California. The state is holding the mother of all garage sales this weekend. It was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's idea to get rid of that stuff that was just collecting dust. Workers went through state warehouses sorting through thousands of items.
And this dog Sugar is alive after an alligator attack thanks to the bravery of its owner. Matthew Goff of Gainesville jumped on to the 6-foot alligator's back and stabbed with it a penknife. Goff and Sugar were both scratched up, but they were not seriously hurt.
New York has some unconventional ways to welcome the Republican Convention to town. We're going to talk about that, plus some of the issues the GOP will bring to the Big Apple, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER UPDATE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) O'BRIEN: Republicans just about ready for their big party. And how best to tell us about it than a couple of our "CROSSFIRE" pals, James Carville, Robert Novak. They're in New York City in Chelsea, right by the Hudson River.
Good to see you guys.
(CROSSTALK)
ROBERT NOVAK, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Good to be...
JAMES CARVILLE, CO-HOST, "CROSSFIRE": Thank you.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's talk about President Bush today in "The New York Times," Mr. Novak, admitting he miscalculated on Iraq. It's a big revelation, isn't it?
NOVAK: Well, it's kind of a surprising that he would admit it, but I think that's a credit to him.
I think he did miscalculate. If you listen to me, I didn't want to go to war there. But they did it. And I think the idea that you're omniscient and you always know exactly what you're doing, I think it's refreshing for a political leader to say that he made a mistake.
O'BRIEN: I should say so.
What do you think, Jim Carville?
CARVILLE: Well, let's be factual here. The vice president of the United States said that we would be greeted with roses. They were told time and time and
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: OK, that was definitely a miscalculation, I'd say.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: ... by people that this would happen.
O'BRIEN: Right.
CARVILLE: It was way more than a miscalculation. It was the greatest screw-up that we've had in American military policy since Vietnam.
O'BRIEN: Bob Novak, would you go along with that assessment?
NOVAK: Well, I don't know if it was that going in there was totally wrong. All of James' friends, Senator Carville, Senator Edwards voted to go in. So, a lot of people were on the wrong side of that. I didn't think we had to. But I'm just a humble journalist. I'm not a great politician, like these guys.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: A humble journalist. Did you just say humble journalist?
(LAUGHTER)
NOVAK: Yes, sir.
CARVILLE: The audio is down completely.
O'BRIEN: Have you lost us?
CARVILLE: I'm getting a dial tone.
O'BRIEN: You got dial tone?
How about you, Bob Novak? Can you hear me?
NOVAK: I can hear you perfectly.
O'BRIEN: All right, then why don't you relate to Jim Carville, James Carville...
CARVILLE: All I have is a dial tone.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: You know what? Let's take a breather, because this is not fair. We can't do this with dial tone.
We'll take a break. We'll get it fixed. We'll bring them back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: All right, we have made our connection with our humble "CROSSFIRE" team. Let's get right back to it, Bob Novak, James Carville.
James Carville, can you hear me?
O'BRIEN: He took his earpiece out.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: ... can't hear anything.
O'BRIEN: All right. You know what, Bob Novak? I am going to ask you, since I got you here, about these new polls. "L.A. Times" is out with some polls from Wisconsin, Missouri and Ohio. And they all show Bush really doing pretty well. Of course, it's still within the sampling error, or pretty close, 49-44 percent in Ohio. It is 48-44 percent in Wisconsin, 46-44 percent in Missouri.
Those are pretty good numbers for the president going into a convention, aren't they? NOVAK: What is happening right now is that Senator Kerry is in a decline. We have got a long way to go before the election, Miles, but all these people have been running around saying he's going to win, he's going to win. I never know who is going to win. But he is dropping right now.
I think the swift boat controversy has hurt him. And he's dropping in all the battleground states. The battleground polls say he is now behind in Ohio, behind in Florida, probably behind in Wisconsin. One poll shows him behind in Pennsylvania. So, I'd say this is a very bad time for Senator Kerry.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: James Carville, when you look at those numbers, those are bad numbers, aren't they?
CARVILLE: Well, they're bad for Bush.
O'BRIEN: Really?
CARVILLE: You have got an incumbent president not at 50. Yes.
You have got an incumbent president not at 50 in any state. If you look inside these polls, a "Wall Street Journal" poll had Kerry up by four in the battleground states. So, I'm not -- again, has Kerry slipped a little bit in the last couple of weeks? Yes, he slipped a little bit. But I'd be stunned if Kerry loses this election. In fact, I'd be stunned if the election is close.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: You're easily...
O'BRIEN: Go ahead.
CARVILLE: What happened to what...
NOVAK: You're easily stunned, James, because on election 2002, you were stunned. You put a waste basket on your head, you were so stunned. So, don't be so sure this time.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: Again, I would be -- let me say this clearly. I think Kerry is going to win. I don't think it is going to be close.
O'BRIEN: OK.
CARVILLE: But I'm not scared to say that.
O'BRIEN: But Kerry didn't have much of a post-convention bounce, did he?
CARVILLE: Well, he doesn't really need one. You have got an incumbent president that is barely at 50 -- that is barely -- that is not at 50 percent in anything but the CNN polls.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: Everybody needs a bounce here and there, right?
CARVILLE: You know -- you know what? You ain't going to bounce by saying that you had a miscalculation. You're not going to bounce by not even knowing about your global warming report. You're not going to bounce with a million or more and a half people in poverty.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: I hope James is just giving spin.
CARVILLE: No, I'm not.
NOVAK: Because if he were on the inside right now of the Kerry campaign, he is saying, we got a problem. You had a great opportunity in August and you blew it. It is a real problem for Kerry.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: Can he come back? Of course he can come back.
O'BRIEN: Final thought.
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: I don't think their campaign is doing that good. I think they are going to win easy. I've always thought that. I'm not scared to say it.
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I want to talk about what's really going to be going on in New York this week, some of the protests. Let's take a look at some of these protesters. And well, they're not attired like you gentlemen are. That's for sure.
Will this particular convention be marred by, well, just raw naked power in the street or something?
NOVAK: Let me tell you something.
I went to a convention in 1968 in Chicago where you really had grassroots protests. And it hurt the Democratic Party. These are a bunch of morons who take off their clothes. They injured a cop. They should go to prison. And I really think the best thing that the media can do with morons like that is ignore them.
O'BRIEN: Oh, boy. I guess I failed on that test, didn't I?
James Carville?
CARVILLE: I guess you did, huh.
Look, as the mayor of New York said, this is New York. Of course there's going to be naked people.
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: The Republicans came here to try to get some kind of political gain. There are going to be a quarter of a million people here. A lot of nutty people are going to be here, a lot of well- meaning people. There are going to be a lot of different kind of people coming up here.
But you know what? This is America. And it was their choice of a city and they'll have to live with their choice.
NOVAK: You don't condone those people who injured a cop, do you, Carville? You don't do that.
CARVILLE: Well, no. I don't condone anybody that breaks the law. But I'm telling you people are coming up here. There are a lot of well-meaning people going to be here.
(CROSSTALK)
NOVAK: I don't think they're well-meaning people. I think they're morons who ought to be ignored.
CARVILLE: Some of them are and some of them are well-meaning.
O'BRIEN: All right.
CARVILLE: You think anybody who disagrees with you is a moron.
NOVAK: That's about right.
(CROSSTALK)
(LAUGHTER)
CARVILLE: Unfortunately, the president...
(CROSSTALK)
CARVILLE: We don't have a moron, but we have got somebody who is ignorant in the Oval Office and didn't read his own global warming report.
O'BRIEN: All right, I've got to tell you, I'm overwhelmed by the humility of the both of you. Thank you very much, gentlemen.
CARVILLE: Thank you.
O'BRIEN: Both of you, Mr. Carville, Mr. Novak, our humble team there along the Hudson River in Chelsea. Get rid of that earpiece and move on.
All right, "CROSSFIRE" of course is at 4:30 Eastern everyday. And if you miss it, you're missing a lot of fun, clearly -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Do they like each other?
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I think there's some serious...
PHILLIPS: Just a little tension.
O'BRIEN: They don't really spend lot of time mixing it up beyond -- as you see there.
PHILLIPS: Well, let's get to the Olympics. I guess you could say there was a bit of a cold reception in Athens for U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. Hundreds of demonstrators marched in the center of the city today to protest his visit. He's there, as you know, for Olympics closing ceremonies on Sunday. So, anti-war activists say his visit could spoil the festive atmosphere at the Olympics.
But inside the Games, a big upset for America's so-called dream team. I'll tell you somebody who is not protesting his assignment. That's Michael Holmes. He's live from Athens.
Hi, Michael. What's the update with the basketball?
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I've got to tell you, Kyra, it's tough assignment. But as we keep saying, somebody has to do it. I'm prepared to continue to volunteer.
I will tell you all about the basketball. For the first time since 1992, U.S. men's basketball team will not be taking home a gold medal. We're going to have that and a lot more when we come back.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right a little, had to have a little commercial break.
Let's go back to Athens, Greece, our Michael Holmes continuing his riveting thoughts on basketball -- Michael.
HOLMES: Oh, you're putting the pressure on there, riveting. OK, I'll do my best.
The U.S. men are not going to win a gold medal. They're not going to win a silver medal. And they are going to have to work pretty hard to win a bronze medal. Think about this. The U.S. men's basketball team has never come home without an Olympic medal. Well, it could happen this time. They went down to Argentina, no easy beat. These guys are the runners-up in the world championships last.
And they went down 89-81. They did not look good, Argentina clearly the better team on the night. The U.S. team is having a lot of trouble with international rules, what many people in the rest of the world would say are the real rules of basketball. They're getting called for traveling and moving screens, stuff they get away with in the NBA.
Now, Italy and Lithuania are playing the other semifinal match. Whoever wins that will play Argentina for the gold. Whoever loses will be playing the dream team, who are not having much of a dream run, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, we got to talk Marion Jones. Either way you look at it, whether she's winning or losing, boy, she's amazing to watch.
HOLMES: She is. She's always news wherever she goes. She was in the long jump tonight. She picked up bronze in Sydney for that. And of course, Marion Jones, the 100 and 200 gold medal winner from Sydney, didn't qualify for those events here in Athens.
She competed tonight in the long jump. She's not taking home a medal either. She ended up fifth in the running there, so not a good night for Marion Jones. The one thing about her is because Torri Edwards is now out of these Olympics after the investigation there, what is going to happen is that she's going to run in the four-by-100 relay. So, she still has a chance to take home some sort of medal, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, we have got to talk about that Italian soccer team, Michael, before we come to the end here, and the fact that they're wearing armbands in honor of one of their own that was killed in Iraq.
HOLMES: Yes, it's not just the Italians either. What's interesting about this, the Iraqis, of course, by way of background, they are playing at the moment for the bronze medal in the Olympics. It would be their first medal since 1960, which was their only medal. Iraq are one currently 1-0 down. They're well into the second half. So, Iraq may not win a medal.
But that Italian journalist who was killed affected both teams in terms of what they decided to do, which is both teams, Iraqi and Italian, are wearing black armbands to honor that journalist who was murdered in Iraq -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Quite a statement.
Real quickly, Michael, did that Dutch rower who left his silver medal in the taxicab, did he get it back?
HOLMES: Oh, this was funny, wasn't it, yes? How would you be?
You come all the way to Athens. You row in the men's eights. You pick up a silver medal and then you go home and you leave it in the taxi. Seriously. I'm not kidding you. This is a fellow, Diederik Simon, won the silver medal in the men eights. He gets into a cab. He leaves it on the back seat. As you can imagine, he noticed it was missing eventually, called Olympic authorities.
There are 5,000 taxis in Athens right now. They put out the APB over the wire there for the -- and the cabbie did the right thing, turned in the silver medal. And Mr. Simon will be going home with his medal, as well as a red face.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: And the cabbie will get a great reward.
Michael Holmes, live from Athens, thank you.
HOLMES: He is. He's going to get a reward.
PHILLIPS: All right, we'll do a follow-up.
We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Checking stories now in the news -- a clash in Athens. Greek police fire tear gas at anti-war demonstrators. They were protesting Secretary of State Colin Powell's weekend visit for the Olympics closing ceremonies. The group was attempting to march to the U.S. embassy.
Elsewhere in Athens, the Dream Team dethroned. In an upset, the U.S. men's basketball team fell to Argentina in today's semifinal game. The score was 89-81. The U.S. was the three-time defending champs -- well, they'll now have to settle for playing for the bronze.
President Bush signed executive orders today that give the CIA director more power. Those orders also create a National Counterterrorism Center. Sources familiar with the orders say they fall short of the changes proposed by the 9/11 Commission.
Now, stay tuned -- Judy Woodruff and "INSIDE POLITICS" right ahead.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
