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Fire Danger Lingers in Florida; J-Mac Meets President Bush

Aired March 17, 2006 - 15:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Fredricka Whitfield in the newsroom, talking more about same Florida wildfires. What do you know, Fred?
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, keeping a close watch on these brushfires taking place in central Florida in Highlands County, specifically, which also houses cities like Seabring, Avon Park and Lake Placid. Apparently, according to our affiliates at WFLA, the schools in that area are on lockdown and many of the residences near these brushfires are being evacuated.

We don't know how many people specifically it might affect, but this is taking place in central Florida in Highlands County. We don't know the extent of the brushfires, but you can see it just from this aerial view, that it does look pretty sizable. Of course, when we get any more, we'll bring that to you -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Fred, thanks so much. We're going to take a quick break. More LIVE FROM right after.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: So, how are you coming with that $30,000? That's your share and my share and everybody who lives in America's share of the new national debt limit, $9 trillion. That is nine with 12 zeros. And you were worried about your credit card.

CNN's Ali Velshi is in Washington with more on the government's addiction to buying now, paying later.

All right, did you bring the big scroll?

ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I left the scroll in Washington, Kyra, the big scroll. Because it's so big that, you know, when I unroll it, you can't actually see all the numbers because a trillion has nine zeros in it.

And I really am truly fascinated how little attention this sometimes gets, because it's math and it's accounting and it's hard for people to figure out. But it's not hard for people to figure out the simple fact that the government continues to spend more than it gets in every year by billions, by tens of billions, by hundreds of billions. This year, $400 billion.

And I've spoken to a number of people today, Kyra, and they have said well, that's kind of what it is. It's not really money, it's debt. Well, it's real money. And the real money that it goes toward financing the debt, which stands right now at $8.2 trillion, but as you said, it can go up to $9 trillion now, is $200 some odd billion just this year. That's just interest.

The Department of Education spends $83 billion in a year. You don't have to understand how much a billion or a trillion is to understand that as this debt increases, we have to pay interest on that, and if we don't keep -- if we don't cut back on spending somewhere, someone is going to get this bill. Eventually, bills have to be paid.

And just like the rest of us, Kyra, we get into debt, we call up the bank, we want a higher credit limit. But at some point, you're banking on the fact that you will continue to be employed and you'll get more income next year and one day you will pay this off. It is kind of hard to imagine how we will pay off $9 trillion in debt.

PHILLIPS: I don't think it -- it will never happen. That's the whole -- it's just going to keep getting bigger, right?

VELSHI: Well, you know what happens? We like paying little in taxes. We like getting these tax reductions. We have the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We had Hurricane Katrina. All of these things take money. We're spending more, getting less in. If you ever have to pay this off, if all of a sudden these debts -- which are in the form of bonds, by the way. For people who think it doesn't exist, it is real money that is owed to bond holders. Some of them are foreign countries, some of them are investors.

At some point, what -- if have you to pay for it, it's going to come out of Social Security or Medicare or it's going to come in the form of taxes to our kids and grandchildren. And maybe not even that far away. It might be us. It might be the fact that you expect the government to take care of things and to build things and they won't have the money to do so.

It is very, very real. And for some reason, we have been convinced that because of other priorities that require money, somehow we don't have to balance the books. We have to balance the books. If we're going to fight a war and it's going to cost $200 to $300 billion a year, somewhere it is going to have to come out there, or we're going to have to pay more taxes.

PHILLIPS: You know, you listen to this, and you think OK, all this money, there's nothing I can do. It glosses right over. And you just keep going on with your daily spending.

VELSHI: And we vote for people who say they will continue to lower taxes. The fact of the matter is, this is elementary school math. The sad part is, the person who says to us we have to pay this down and I'm not going to cut taxes, isn't really going to get a lot of votes, chances are. So we keep living in this bubble. And you know, whatever I can do to just remind people, this is a serious as you having a credit card that you can't pay. At some point, you got to face the music.

PHILLIPS: Believe me, I pay those credit card bills. I don't want to pay that high APR.

VELSHI: Can we vote for you? Can you be elected?

PHILLIPS: Too many skeletons in the closet. I'd be toast, Ali Velshi. All right.

VELSHI: We'll talk in a while. Markets are strong again today. It's going to be the best year -- best week of the year so far.

PHILLIPS: Sounds good. See you closer to the end of the hour.

Alaskan oil going to waste on Alaskan soil. It's a leaky section of pipeline well north of the Arctic Circle, and the mess is only part of the problem. The pipeline is shut down for repairs, and that means $11 million a day in lost revenue for the state of Alaska. The weather isn't helping. Spring may be coming, but the temperature in northern Alaska is still about 40 below zero. It could be two weeks before full production returns.

And call it the perfect storm times two. A hurricane damages U.S. refineries just as a terrorist attack cripples Mideast oil production. Casualties may be few, but damage to the world's oil supply would be catastrophic.

This weekend on "CNN PRESENTS," Frank Sesno explores the possibilities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK SESNO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Houston, Texas, it is a terrifying time. The streets are deserted. Just the day before, gridlock finally gave way to exodus, as residents fled one step ahead of this year's monster storm, Hurricane Steve.

The region is home to nearly two dozen major refineries. Together, they process about a fourth of all the oil used in America. Category 5 Hurricane Steve slams ashore, with winds of nearly 200 miles an hour.

The death toll is modest, but the physical damage is breathtaking, especially oil refineries, storage facilities and hundreds of off-shore platforms, badly damaged. Gasoline prices shoot up across the country. Panic buying leads to long lines and fears of shortages.

September 26th, 2009. Saudi Arabia is pumping 10 million barrels a day. Much of the Kingdom's oil passes through the sprawling Abqaiq processing facility near Ras Tanura.

At 12:45 p.m., air traffic controllers pick up a distress call from a passenger jet flying from Tehran to Riyadh. The plane disappears from their screens.

At 1:04, an Arab satellite channel reports massive explosions at Abqaiq. Within minutes, there are reports of a second attack on Saudi Arabia's two largest export terminals at Ras Tanura, and at Yanbu on the Red Sea. Oil markets are in chaos. A barrel of crude quickly tops $150. Oil experts predict gasoline will hit $7 a gallon in the U.S., $10 a gallon in Europe. Political and business leaders fear the worst.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: $8 for a gallon of gas, rationing groceries -- it sounds pretty drastic, but it could be a reality the next time a major hurricane strikes. Just how vulnerable is the world's oil supply? Can America handle a system that is at its breaking point? Find out on "CNN PRESENTS: WE WERE WARNED" Saturday and Sunday night, 8:00 p.m. Eastern, only on CNN.

Well, they were the shots heard round the nation. And the White House. When his big moment arrived, Jason McElwain, J-Mac, was all over it on the hard court. He had another big moment, meeting the president. We have a big moment next, meeting Jason when LIVE FROM continues.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Otis (ph), we used to play that during basketball practice. That's how far back that songs goes. All right. Move over, Michael Jordan. J-Mac is the new mac daddy of baseball -- or basketball, rather.

Jason McElwain rained down six three-pointers in four minutes in his one and only high school basketball game. Now, see, Jason has autism but he showed the world, including President Bush, that nothing slows him down.

This week Jason got to Mr. Bush who called Jason J-Mac, and said Jason could call him George W. Well, I talked Jason McElwain and his father, David, in Rochester, New York.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So, Jason, what do you think about all this attention that you are getting? Are you handling it OK?

JASON MCELWAIN, HOOPS HERO: It's just been a dream come true. And it's also been an amazing senior year, and it's just been great.

PHILLIPS: Well, that's how your senior year is supposed to be.

J. MCELWAIN: It happened in my last year of high school basketball. It is just so great.

PHILLIPS: Now, David, how did this all happen? How did Jason get a chance to play in the game?

DAVID MCELWAIN, JASON'S FATHER: Well, Jason has been managing, you know, managing the team both his junior and senior year. He practices with the team. He helps out and so forth. He is involved in shooting drills and so forth. And the coach about a month ago said that, you know, there's a chance -- I can't promise you but, you know, I might get you in the last game of the year on senior night.

PHILLIPS: So, Jason, how did it feel to suit up and be on the court and go for it and just take your shots?

J. MCELWAIN: It was actually another -- it was actually exciting.

PHILLIPS: How did your teammates ...

J. MCELWAIN: Especially on my senior year, so ...

PHILLIPS: How did your teammates react? Were they just cheering and go Jason?

J. MCELWAIN: They were cheering and going nuts. They were just happy for me to do it.

D. MCELWAIN: I think the whole school was happy. I mean, they were all -- the word got around school he might get it, and everybody had seen him jumping up and down, cheering the team for the last two years so they were all very excited.

PHILLIPS: And, Jason, did you know you could do it? I mean, did you know as soon as you got on that court, you knew exactly how to make the shot?

J. MCELWAIN: Hard work pays off. I played at the Y and all the recreation center and I have watched a bunch of other games they've played in, and also I have worked hard up until this point. Now it pays off. It actually paid off pretty well on my last home game in my high school basketball career.

PHILLIPS: It sure did.

J. MCELWAIN: And I won the sectional title, so I'm fine.

PHILLIPS: I love it. He is talking like a true athlete, David.

D. MCELWAIN: Yes. He is.

PHILLIPS: No doubt. And, David, what did you see differently in your son during that game? I mean, this had to have been such an amazing moment for you as a parent.

D. MCELWAIN: Well, Jason is -- he has always lacked fear, OK? I mean, the student section were chanting his name starting in the first quarter, you know, and when he finally -- coach finally, you know, called him into the game, everybody started screaming.

If it was me, I probably would have, you know, had trouble standing up off the chair let alone going on out and try to throw, you know, make a basket or whatever. But he is always, you know, -- he's always Mr. Positive and, you know, he is not afraid. He's going to make it. His mindset is he is going to shoot and make it in.

PHILLIPS: And, Jason, we talked about the fact that have you autism and do you get a lot of questions about that at school? Do the teammates ask you about autism?

J. MCELWAIN: No, not at all.

PHILLIPS: No. Do you think that this is a great message though for other kids your age that are autistic?

J. MCELWAIN: I think it's a great message to kids with disabilities, but I don't think it affects me at all. Kids that have other disabilities, I think it sends a great message that you just have to keep dreaming, keep working and you will get your chances and you will get your, dreams -- accomplished. Somehow, I did.

PHILLIPS: Well what's next, J-Mac? Are you going the play in the NBA?

J. MCELWAIN: Next is -- I will be managing the ADA basketball program, it's a professional basketball program, it's the first year they've done it. I did it for one day, I worked the team to a 40- point win and that's one of my plans after graduation. And then I hope to go to MCC and continue my education in business management and then also get a job at probably Wegman's.

PHILLIPS: I love it. He's got it all planned out, David. I love how you're sitting there. You are so darned proud. So I guess finally, I want to ask you both, J-Mac, what was it like to meet the president?

J. MCELWAIN: It was a dream come true. It was like -- it was like one of the top things I've ever accomplished. It was a dream that I'm officially doing is going to the ESPYs in July and we won the sectionals this year, so it was one of the dreams, another one.

PHILLIPS: And David, I'm sure you're living these dreams with your son?

J. MCELWAIN: Yes. The president was extremely impressive and very gracious and made you really feel welcome. That plane is pretty big.

PHILLIPS: Yes, well did you get anything, was there anything cool on the plane? J-Mac, did you get any cool freebies? What did you get?

J. MCELWAIN: Well from him, I got a tie clasp and a bookmark from George W. Bush.

D. MCELWAIN: It was a presidential tie clasp and a presidential bookmark he gave him.

PHILLIPS: That's fantastic.

D. MCELWAIN: It was really nice. PHILLIPS: That is great.

D. MCELWAIN: We're going to make sure...

PHILLIPS: ... He's going to save those, right?

D. MCELWAIN: Yes, yes.

PHILLIPS: J-Mac, congratulations. I hope we get to follow your career, not only as a business professional but also a ball player and David, wonderful to talk to you, too. What an absolutely fantastic story, thanks, guys.

J. MCELWAIN: Thank you.

D. MCELWAIN: Thank you very much.

PHILLIPS: All right, time now to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, he's standing by in THE SITUATION ROOM to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour. Hey, Wolf.

BLITZER: I love that story, Kyra, good work, thanks so much.

When we come back at the top of the hour, war and politics. Pessimism about Iraq here at home. Were your expectations raised too high, too soon? We're going to be taking a closer look at that.

Plus, we'll speak to Colin Powell's former chief-of-staff. You may be surprised to hear what he says about the Iraq war now.

And dying for the Internet. One man's crusade for freedom of information almost kills him. We're taking you live to Havana. Plus, disturbing new developments. The Taliban making a grizzly comeback. It's in control of parts of Pakistan and making some horrifying documentaries to prove it. We have the video.

And what a drag, one California town cracking down on smokers with the strictest law in the nation. Will the rest of the country, Kyra, follow suit? All that coming up right at the top of the hour.

PHILLIPS: Looking forward to it. Thanks, Wolf. More LIVE FROM coming up after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: We have been following these fires taking place in Florida. We actually just got a report in specifically out of Highland County, we're getting word that evacuations are taking place in homes in Sebring, Florida. Judd Chapin is a correspondent from one of our affiliates, WFLA in Tampa. He just filed this report for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JUDD CHAPIN, WFLA HELICOPTER PILOT (voice-over): WFLA pilot reporter Judd Chapin reporting from the Sebring area, just to the west of U.S. 27, where we've got a forest fire that has burned over 500 acres and is continuing to burn.

Forestry has been on the scene for several hours. Okeechobee fire district and the local fire district is fighting this fire with bulldozers, brush trucks and fire trucks. There is a spotter plane from forestry, a forestry three nine (ph) who is orbiting the scene.

The pilot is doing a wonderful job. She has really been telling these folks where to move their tractors and how to stop these spot- overs. There is so much smoke right now because the wind has shifted that the residential areas at the head of the fire, which is the east side, are completely obliterated from view.

That's their worry is that this fire is going to change direction and jump the lines, which it's done several times, and advance into the residential areas. Now we have about a dozen dozers like the one you are looking at in the picture that are working frantically to build some fire breaks to stop this fire from spreading across into those homes.

We'll be with this fire throughout the afternoon and the evening until they get it knocked down and there is no danger to these homes. They do have, we understand, some evacuations that are voluntary and a shelter set up just northeast of here in a high school for anybody that needs to take refuge.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Wow, quick-moving assistance there in Highland County, Florida. We'll continue to stay on top of that story of course, via our affiliate WFLA. Let you know about those homes now that have been evacuated and what's at stake in that area.

Meanwhile, Ali Velshi celebrating St. Patrick's Day in Washington, listening hard for the closing bell. Lots of loud green.

VELSHI: You told me I got my numbers wrong earlier.

PHILLIPS: Uh oh, well I wasn't going to say anything about it. But since you brought it up, you got me going back counting the zeros.

VELSHI: There's 12 zeroes, right, in a trillion?

PHILLIPS: Right, when you had said 12, and you had said nine. You probably confused with the $9 trillion.

VELSHI: This is what you do when you force me to deal with numbers this big, I can't even conceive of it.

PHILLIPS: And we're not even the math people.

VELSHI: Exactly, that's exactly right. Kyra, I have a great deal of respect for you, for catching that. That's why I use that scroll. Big deficit, we will continue to talk about that.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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