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CNN Live Today
Two Sunni Clerics Killed Within 24 Hours of Each Other in Iraq; Bush Defends Iraq Policy; Kerry To Talk at NYU; Maximizing Your Home's Value
Aired September 20, 2004 - 10:00 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the stories that are now in the news.
At any moment, presidential candidate John Kerry will deliver a speech on Iraq at the campus of New York University. Kerry has been ratcheting up his attack on the administration's handling of Iraq, and the escalating death toll there. President Bush is also sharpening his attacks on Kerry, accusing the Democrat of defeat and retreat policies.
Democratic sources tell CNN the Bush and Kerry campaigns have tentatively agreed to a series of three debates. Details are still being worked out. The Debate Commission called for debates September 30 in Coral Gables, Florida, October 8 in St. Louis, and October 13 in Tempe, Arizona.
To Baghdad, two influential Sunni clerics have been killed in separate incidents within 24 hours of each other. Kidnappers snatched one man outside of a mosque yesterday and then returned his body to that site. The second cleric was gunned down earlier today. Both were members of the influential Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars. The committee weighs in on key issues and sometimes negotiates for the release of hostages.
And the military says two U.S. soldiers were killed and two others wounded today in a firefight in the eastern Afghan Province of Paktika. There are also reports that the Afghan vice president survived an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded near his convoy. Officials expect more violence leading up to next month's presidential elections.
The debate over Iraq heats up today in a presidential campaign that has six weeks and one day left. We'll be hearing about that from our national correspondent Bob Franken and from White House correspondent Dana Bash in a couple of minutes.
But we're going to start with the situation in Iraq, where kidnappings and killings show no sign of letting up. Our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf joins us now with an update -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Daryn, the deadline for the killings of two Americans and a British hostage, seized from their home in a diplomatic district of Baghdad, has come and gone with no word on their fate. The hostage-takers had given people 48-hours to release all Iraqi female prisoners, before they said they would behead the three who worked for a construction company in Baghdad. They are just three of several dozen hostages being held by various groups in this country.
And earlier in Baghdad, worrying developments with, as you mentioned, the killings of two Sunni Muslim clerics. Now, these were some of the top clerics in a very influential Sunni Muslim organization that groups together all of the mosques. The group had also been involved in helping to free some of these hostages.
We're also, Daryn, investigating reports of a car bomb that has gone off in the northern city of Mosul. Initial reports say at least three Iraqis have been killed -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jane, getting back to the hostage situation and the demand that female prisoners be let go, I can't imagine there are that many Iraqi female prisoners.
ARRAF: Actually, probably more than you would expect. Women make up a certain percentage always of the prison population. And they're certainly being held in Iraqi prisons. We have no word on the numbers. They're probably relatively small at this point, but they do exist.
The U.S. is holding two what they call "high-value detainees." And these were officials in the former Baath Party regime in Saddam's former government. But those are just two, and they're certainly not giving them up -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jane Arraf in Baghdad. Thank you.
And now more on that deadline, that you just heard Jane talking about, that was set by the militants holding the two Americans and the one Brit. Well, it is set to expire today, as Jane reported there. It has come and gone. The group has threatened to behead Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley and Kenneth Bigley unless, as Jane was reporting, all Iraqi female prisoners are released from the two jails.
The U.S. official says there are no women prisoners at the Abu Ghraib and the Umm Qasr jails. Jack Hensley's wife spoke to the hostage-takers; she gave an interview to us here at CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his co- workers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families. And it is your decision whether this happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Despite the stepped-up violence by insurgents in Iraq, the country's prime minister says the interim government is committed to holding democratic elections in January. Ayad Allawi's comment came a day before he heads to the U.S. for a meeting with President Bush and a visit to the United States. Allawi met British Prime Minister Tony Blair over the weekend, and he talked about winning the battles against terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYAD ALLAWI, PRIME MINISTER, IRAQ: This is an international war that's being fought on Iraqi territory. Terrorists -- foreign terrorists are still pouring in, and they're trying to inflict damage on Iraq to undermine Iraq, and to undermine the process -- democratic process in Iraq. Indeed, this is their last stand so they are putting a very severe fight in Iraq. We are winning, we will continue to win, and we are going to prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: President Bush will be talking about Iraq today, defending his policy as he faces criticism from within his own party.
Dana Bash is at the White House with more on that -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Daryn, the president is of course going to the United Nations this week for the annual meeting of the General Assembly. And the White House is hoping to try to use his speech there, which is tomorrow, to try to begin to quell some of the criticism about the growing insurgency in Iraq, how he's handling that.
And certainly, he is going to have the Iraqi interim president who you just -- prime minister, who you just saw, Allawi by his side, both in New York and he'll be here in Washington.
And the White House hopes that at least that the American people, perhaps his critics will say, if you don't believe the president, things aren't that bad, believe the Iraqi leader.
But as you mentioned, criticism of how the president is handling Iraq is not just from Democrats. Over the weekend, some senior senators from within the president's own party voiced concerns, like Republican Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar. He called the administration incompetent for only spending $1 billion out of $18 billion they have in their coffers to rebuild Iraq.
And Senator Chuck Hagel, who is certainly a Republican and a frequent critic of the president, stepped up his criticism over the weekend. And he said certainly he supports the president politically, but he also said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R-NE), CHM., FOREIGN RELATIONS CMTE: Is Iraq fair game in a presidential election? Absolutely it is. The policy. But to say that because I'm a Republican, I should keep my mouth shut and not ask questions about our policy is irresponsible. I fail the people who sent me here and I fail this country. I'm a United States senator. I'm not a potted plant for the administration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: But Daryn, perhaps the most noteworthy politically in terms of some of the criticism from the weekend was Senator John McCain. He urged the president to be more aggressive with the insurgents, and also said the president is not being as straight as he should be with the American people about the situation on the ground.
Now, Bush campaign officials privately say that criticism from Senator McCain certainly stung, because they have touted, as you see here, the fact that Senator McCain has been campaigning with the president. Made a very strong convention speech on the president's stewardship in Iraq.
But certainly the Bush campaign says what's important from their perspective is that they don't believe Senator Kerry can do a better job. That is something you're going to begin to hear more from the president on today -- later on today in New Hampshire. The president is going to say that Senator Kerry wants to retreat from Iraq. And he's going to start to defend himself more and more against some of this criticism, even from within his own party -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes. We're going to have more on Senator Kerry in just a moment. But first, I find this relationship with John McCain and George Bush fascinating. It's almost as if the president is with a daisy, you know; he loves me, he loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. One second there, he's there right by his side, and the next second, not so close.
BASH: Well, you know, Daryn, it's funny because Bush campaign aides say that in large part, part of the charm if you will, of having Senator McCain on the president's team campaigning with him is that he doesn't agree with him on everything. And that they think does appeal to Independents who also don't agree with the president. And they look at John McCain and say well, if he can support the president, even though he doesn't agree with him on everything. Well, so can we.
But certainly on the issue of Iraq, the fact that Senator McCain said this and was that strong, particularly on the question of perhaps credibility and trustworthiness, that's something that perhaps the Bush campaign thinks might have gone a little bit too far.
KAGAN: A little past charm? Dana, thank you. Dana Bash at the White House.
Let's check in on John Kerry. He does plan to make what they're calling a big speech this hour. Our national correspondent Bob Franken is in New York City where that's going to take place.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And that speech is coming here at New York University. And everyone will have to decide whether it is such a big speech. Senator John Kerry, according to excerpts that have been released by his campaign, is going to talk about failures in judgment by this administration, and accuse the president once again of not leveling with the American people about Iraq.
And then, he's going to have four suggestions of ways that his administration would do things better than the Bush administration. Which include: getting international support for the effort in Iraq, training Iraqi forces, guaranteeing elections in that country next year, and making sure of an effective reconstruction effort. And as I said, folks are going to have to decide whether this is anything new.
The debate, of course, is heating up in anticipation of the real debate, which now looks like, looks like it just may happen as scheduled. The first presidential debate, one of three, if Democratic and Republican sources are about to believe. Three plus one vice presidential debate. The first one would occur in Coral Gables on the 30. This is I said, is from sources. There has not been a public announcement.
But certainly, as the debates wind out, the Iraq issue is going to be one of the major ones. Although we're going to have to wait and see just how the debates divide up between Iraq and other international policy issues, and the domestic issues.
In any case, John Kerry is trying to frame the debate in his campaign, including the speech he's making here at NYU -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Bob Franken in New York City. Thank you.
Also this programming note, CNN will have live coverage of President Bush's address to the U.N. General Assembly. That is tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
We just might hear the final word today in the controversy over those disputed Bush National Guard documents. Today's "Washington Post" reports CBS News plans to issue a statement saying it was misled about the memos. It's not known if that statement will include an apology. CBS' "60 Minutes" reported on memos suggesting the president received favorable treatment while serving with the National Guard 30 years ago. The authenticity of the document has been questioned.
How does President Bush rate with an international audience? Would voters around the world keep him? Or would they take John Kerry? We're checking international opinions coming up.
And the remnants of Ivan bring heavy rain and high water to the northeast now. Details on that cleanup just ahead.
And later, if you couldn't stay up to watch the Emmys, don't worry about that. We have all you need to know right here. Details on the big winners coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: For the third time this summer, President Bush has visited Florida to assess hurricane damage, and promised swift aid to its victims. Mr. Bush surveyed the wreckage left by Hurricane Ivan, which slammed into the Panhandle last Thursday with 130 mile an hour winds.
For many the hardships and the long lines seem never-ending. Residents are enduring long lines for food, ice, water and gasoline. Hundreds of thousands are without power; water and sewer service, and it could be weeks before those services are restored.
Drying out and cleaning up in the northeast, a region lashed by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan this weekend. Torrential rains pushed rivers and creeks out of their banks and more than 14,000 Pennsylvanians out of their homes. President Bush has issued a disaster declaration for many counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Ivan's torrential rains, in fact, forced evacuations in five states.
Presidential candidate John Kerry set to speak live any moment. His focus, the war in Iraq. You can count on CNN to bring that to you live.
Also, if you're thinking about selling your home, Gerri Willis is here to tell you how to maximize your home's value.
GERRI WILLIS, CNNFN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. We'll tell you the best strategies to sell your home now when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, if you've just decided to sell your home you have some work ahead of you. But CNNfn personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here to help with her "Top Fives Tips."
Ger, good morning.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1: you want to roll up your shirtsleeves. If you've just decided to sell your home, before you call that real estate agent, make sure you check out just exactly how much your house is worth.
Do some research by going to realtor.com, look at homes in your area, about the same size as yours, and check out how much they're going for. Also take a look at what's on offer there. Do they have a swimming pool? How many baths do they have? And figure out if your home is out of date -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Now, to use a real estate agent or not to use a real estate agent? That's the big question.
WILLIS: It is a big question. But there are plenty of people who can benefit from doing it on their own. Think about this. In markets where housing prices have not appreciated very rapidly, that 6 percent commission you pay can be killer. And you can go out on your own by using some of the web sites out there, like forsalebyowner.com to give you some advice on how to do it by yourself.
Remember there are people out there to help you, your attorney, your banker who can give you some advice on how to get the deal done. But do your research before you even get started. KAGAN: And also might want to clean your place up to make it look a little bit more attractive.
WILLIS: Yes. Fixing it up is really important. I think most people know that you're supposed to cut the clutter and depersonalize the space. Make it look as vanilla as possible, so people can imagine their own furniture, and stuff in your house, and personalize it for them.
But another thing to think about is maybe some last-minute updates that will really set your house apart. Think about getting your own kitchen island, installing it yourself. You'd only spend about $1,000. Of course, the bathrooms are important, too. Think about upgrading those fixtures, the sink perhaps. You can spend $500 and make your bathroom look entirely new. So, get to work before you invite people into your home to look at it.
KAGAN: And then what's the formula for figuring out how to price your house?
WILLIS: Well, it's all about the cost. You want to see what other houses are selling like that are just like yours, have the same square footage. And then you can figure out exactly what you should be offering.
Now, here's the issue. Right now if you price your house below market, you could end up getting less than you actually need. You know, when the market is red-hot that might set off a bidding war. That could be a good thing. But when it cools off, it could be dangerous.
If you set the price too high, you could end up having your house on the market for weeks and weeks. Pretty soon, buyers start thinking what's wrong with that house? I don't want to look at it. So, it's critical that you get the right price on that house by looking at others that are in the marketplace and pricing it appropriately.
KAGAN: So, you get your buyer but don't let down your game until you get to closing.
WILLIS: Absolutely right. Get ready for that closing, it's going to cost you a ton; 7 percent to 10 percent of the house's value for taxes, commissions, you name it. Check out Transfer Taxes you'll need to know that if your county or town charges that.
And remember, you're going to have to pay any real estate taxes that are due. It can be expensive to sell. But if you've been holding onto your home through this red-hot real estate market, it may be a good time to think about cashing in for those gains.
KAGAN: Gerri Willis. Gerri, thanks for those tips.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: Appreciate it. We're standing by here. We're expecting to hear from presidential candidate John Kerry. That live picture coming from New York City. He'll be speaking at NYU and we believe he'll be talking about Iraq.
Tomorrow, President Bush is the one in the Big Apple. He'll be speaking at the U.N. What kind of reception will he get there? A preview just ahead.
This is CNN LIVE TODAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's check the stories now in the news. John Kerry is at NYU in New York City. He is due to begin speaking at any moment. He's expected to outline his vision for Iraq, as he sharpens his attack on the Bush administration's handling of the war. President Bush has also ratcheted up his criticism of Kerry, as the election looms just over 40 days from now.
To Baghdad, two influential Sunni clerics have been killed in separate incidents. The attacks took place within a 24-hour period. Kidnappers snatched one man outside of a mosque yesterday and then returned his body to that site. The second cleric was gunned down earlier today. Both were members of the influential Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars, which weighs in on key issues and sometimes negotiates for the release of hostages.
Early results are in from Indonesia's first-ever direct presidential election. The challenger, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, holds a big legal over President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Yudhoyono is a former general who also served as Indonesia security minister. A hundred and forty thousand police officers were deployed for today's vote. Concerns of a potential attack by an al Qaeda linked group blamed for a Jakarta bombing this month.
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Aired September 20, 2004 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look at the stories that are now in the news.
At any moment, presidential candidate John Kerry will deliver a speech on Iraq at the campus of New York University. Kerry has been ratcheting up his attack on the administration's handling of Iraq, and the escalating death toll there. President Bush is also sharpening his attacks on Kerry, accusing the Democrat of defeat and retreat policies.
Democratic sources tell CNN the Bush and Kerry campaigns have tentatively agreed to a series of three debates. Details are still being worked out. The Debate Commission called for debates September 30 in Coral Gables, Florida, October 8 in St. Louis, and October 13 in Tempe, Arizona.
To Baghdad, two influential Sunni clerics have been killed in separate incidents within 24 hours of each other. Kidnappers snatched one man outside of a mosque yesterday and then returned his body to that site. The second cleric was gunned down earlier today. Both were members of the influential Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars. The committee weighs in on key issues and sometimes negotiates for the release of hostages.
And the military says two U.S. soldiers were killed and two others wounded today in a firefight in the eastern Afghan Province of Paktika. There are also reports that the Afghan vice president survived an assassination attempt when a bomb exploded near his convoy. Officials expect more violence leading up to next month's presidential elections.
The debate over Iraq heats up today in a presidential campaign that has six weeks and one day left. We'll be hearing about that from our national correspondent Bob Franken and from White House correspondent Dana Bash in a couple of minutes.
But we're going to start with the situation in Iraq, where kidnappings and killings show no sign of letting up. Our Baghdad bureau chief Jane Arraf joins us now with an update -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Daryn, the deadline for the killings of two Americans and a British hostage, seized from their home in a diplomatic district of Baghdad, has come and gone with no word on their fate. The hostage-takers had given people 48-hours to release all Iraqi female prisoners, before they said they would behead the three who worked for a construction company in Baghdad. They are just three of several dozen hostages being held by various groups in this country.
And earlier in Baghdad, worrying developments with, as you mentioned, the killings of two Sunni Muslim clerics. Now, these were some of the top clerics in a very influential Sunni Muslim organization that groups together all of the mosques. The group had also been involved in helping to free some of these hostages.
We're also, Daryn, investigating reports of a car bomb that has gone off in the northern city of Mosul. Initial reports say at least three Iraqis have been killed -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jane, getting back to the hostage situation and the demand that female prisoners be let go, I can't imagine there are that many Iraqi female prisoners.
ARRAF: Actually, probably more than you would expect. Women make up a certain percentage always of the prison population. And they're certainly being held in Iraqi prisons. We have no word on the numbers. They're probably relatively small at this point, but they do exist.
The U.S. is holding two what they call "high-value detainees." And these were officials in the former Baath Party regime in Saddam's former government. But those are just two, and they're certainly not giving them up -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Jane Arraf in Baghdad. Thank you.
And now more on that deadline, that you just heard Jane talking about, that was set by the militants holding the two Americans and the one Brit. Well, it is set to expire today, as Jane reported there. It has come and gone. The group has threatened to behead Eugene Armstrong, Jack Hensley and Kenneth Bigley unless, as Jane was reporting, all Iraqi female prisoners are released from the two jails.
The U.S. official says there are no women prisoners at the Abu Ghraib and the Umm Qasr jails. Jack Hensley's wife spoke to the hostage-takers; she gave an interview to us here at CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATTY HENSLEY, WIFE OF HOSTAGE: Jack is a simple, generous man who loves the Iraqi people and has made many friends while in Iraq. Since Jack has been a guest in your country, he has been treated with honor and dignity. We ask for your mercy in freeing Jack and his co- workers so that they can continue to return home to their loving families. And it is your decision whether this happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: Despite the stepped-up violence by insurgents in Iraq, the country's prime minister says the interim government is committed to holding democratic elections in January. Ayad Allawi's comment came a day before he heads to the U.S. for a meeting with President Bush and a visit to the United States. Allawi met British Prime Minister Tony Blair over the weekend, and he talked about winning the battles against terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYAD ALLAWI, PRIME MINISTER, IRAQ: This is an international war that's being fought on Iraqi territory. Terrorists -- foreign terrorists are still pouring in, and they're trying to inflict damage on Iraq to undermine Iraq, and to undermine the process -- democratic process in Iraq. Indeed, this is their last stand so they are putting a very severe fight in Iraq. We are winning, we will continue to win, and we are going to prevail.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAGAN: President Bush will be talking about Iraq today, defending his policy as he faces criticism from within his own party.
Dana Bash is at the White House with more on that -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Daryn, the president is of course going to the United Nations this week for the annual meeting of the General Assembly. And the White House is hoping to try to use his speech there, which is tomorrow, to try to begin to quell some of the criticism about the growing insurgency in Iraq, how he's handling that.
And certainly, he is going to have the Iraqi interim president who you just -- prime minister, who you just saw, Allawi by his side, both in New York and he'll be here in Washington.
And the White House hopes that at least that the American people, perhaps his critics will say, if you don't believe the president, things aren't that bad, believe the Iraqi leader.
But as you mentioned, criticism of how the president is handling Iraq is not just from Democrats. Over the weekend, some senior senators from within the president's own party voiced concerns, like Republican Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar. He called the administration incompetent for only spending $1 billion out of $18 billion they have in their coffers to rebuild Iraq.
And Senator Chuck Hagel, who is certainly a Republican and a frequent critic of the president, stepped up his criticism over the weekend. And he said certainly he supports the president politically, but he also said this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHUCK HAGEL (R-NE), CHM., FOREIGN RELATIONS CMTE: Is Iraq fair game in a presidential election? Absolutely it is. The policy. But to say that because I'm a Republican, I should keep my mouth shut and not ask questions about our policy is irresponsible. I fail the people who sent me here and I fail this country. I'm a United States senator. I'm not a potted plant for the administration.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BASH: But Daryn, perhaps the most noteworthy politically in terms of some of the criticism from the weekend was Senator John McCain. He urged the president to be more aggressive with the insurgents, and also said the president is not being as straight as he should be with the American people about the situation on the ground.
Now, Bush campaign officials privately say that criticism from Senator McCain certainly stung, because they have touted, as you see here, the fact that Senator McCain has been campaigning with the president. Made a very strong convention speech on the president's stewardship in Iraq.
But certainly the Bush campaign says what's important from their perspective is that they don't believe Senator Kerry can do a better job. That is something you're going to begin to hear more from the president on today -- later on today in New Hampshire. The president is going to say that Senator Kerry wants to retreat from Iraq. And he's going to start to defend himself more and more against some of this criticism, even from within his own party -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes. We're going to have more on Senator Kerry in just a moment. But first, I find this relationship with John McCain and George Bush fascinating. It's almost as if the president is with a daisy, you know; he loves me, he loves me not. He loves me. He loves me not. One second there, he's there right by his side, and the next second, not so close.
BASH: Well, you know, Daryn, it's funny because Bush campaign aides say that in large part, part of the charm if you will, of having Senator McCain on the president's team campaigning with him is that he doesn't agree with him on everything. And that they think does appeal to Independents who also don't agree with the president. And they look at John McCain and say well, if he can support the president, even though he doesn't agree with him on everything. Well, so can we.
But certainly on the issue of Iraq, the fact that Senator McCain said this and was that strong, particularly on the question of perhaps credibility and trustworthiness, that's something that perhaps the Bush campaign thinks might have gone a little bit too far.
KAGAN: A little past charm? Dana, thank you. Dana Bash at the White House.
Let's check in on John Kerry. He does plan to make what they're calling a big speech this hour. Our national correspondent Bob Franken is in New York City where that's going to take place.
Bob, good morning.
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. And that speech is coming here at New York University. And everyone will have to decide whether it is such a big speech. Senator John Kerry, according to excerpts that have been released by his campaign, is going to talk about failures in judgment by this administration, and accuse the president once again of not leveling with the American people about Iraq.
And then, he's going to have four suggestions of ways that his administration would do things better than the Bush administration. Which include: getting international support for the effort in Iraq, training Iraqi forces, guaranteeing elections in that country next year, and making sure of an effective reconstruction effort. And as I said, folks are going to have to decide whether this is anything new.
The debate, of course, is heating up in anticipation of the real debate, which now looks like, looks like it just may happen as scheduled. The first presidential debate, one of three, if Democratic and Republican sources are about to believe. Three plus one vice presidential debate. The first one would occur in Coral Gables on the 30. This is I said, is from sources. There has not been a public announcement.
But certainly, as the debates wind out, the Iraq issue is going to be one of the major ones. Although we're going to have to wait and see just how the debates divide up between Iraq and other international policy issues, and the domestic issues.
In any case, John Kerry is trying to frame the debate in his campaign, including the speech he's making here at NYU -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Bob Franken in New York City. Thank you.
Also this programming note, CNN will have live coverage of President Bush's address to the U.N. General Assembly. That is tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
We just might hear the final word today in the controversy over those disputed Bush National Guard documents. Today's "Washington Post" reports CBS News plans to issue a statement saying it was misled about the memos. It's not known if that statement will include an apology. CBS' "60 Minutes" reported on memos suggesting the president received favorable treatment while serving with the National Guard 30 years ago. The authenticity of the document has been questioned.
How does President Bush rate with an international audience? Would voters around the world keep him? Or would they take John Kerry? We're checking international opinions coming up.
And the remnants of Ivan bring heavy rain and high water to the northeast now. Details on that cleanup just ahead.
And later, if you couldn't stay up to watch the Emmys, don't worry about that. We have all you need to know right here. Details on the big winners coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: For the third time this summer, President Bush has visited Florida to assess hurricane damage, and promised swift aid to its victims. Mr. Bush surveyed the wreckage left by Hurricane Ivan, which slammed into the Panhandle last Thursday with 130 mile an hour winds.
For many the hardships and the long lines seem never-ending. Residents are enduring long lines for food, ice, water and gasoline. Hundreds of thousands are without power; water and sewer service, and it could be weeks before those services are restored.
Drying out and cleaning up in the northeast, a region lashed by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan this weekend. Torrential rains pushed rivers and creeks out of their banks and more than 14,000 Pennsylvanians out of their homes. President Bush has issued a disaster declaration for many counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Ivan's torrential rains, in fact, forced evacuations in five states.
Presidential candidate John Kerry set to speak live any moment. His focus, the war in Iraq. You can count on CNN to bring that to you live.
Also, if you're thinking about selling your home, Gerri Willis is here to tell you how to maximize your home's value.
GERRI WILLIS, CNNFN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Hey, Daryn. We'll tell you the best strategies to sell your home now when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Well, if you've just decided to sell your home you have some work ahead of you. But CNNfn personal finance editor Gerri Willis is here to help with her "Top Fives Tips."
Ger, good morning.
WILLIS: Hey, Daryn. Good to see you. Tip No. 1: you want to roll up your shirtsleeves. If you've just decided to sell your home, before you call that real estate agent, make sure you check out just exactly how much your house is worth.
Do some research by going to realtor.com, look at homes in your area, about the same size as yours, and check out how much they're going for. Also take a look at what's on offer there. Do they have a swimming pool? How many baths do they have? And figure out if your home is out of date -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Now, to use a real estate agent or not to use a real estate agent? That's the big question.
WILLIS: It is a big question. But there are plenty of people who can benefit from doing it on their own. Think about this. In markets where housing prices have not appreciated very rapidly, that 6 percent commission you pay can be killer. And you can go out on your own by using some of the web sites out there, like forsalebyowner.com to give you some advice on how to do it by yourself.
Remember there are people out there to help you, your attorney, your banker who can give you some advice on how to get the deal done. But do your research before you even get started. KAGAN: And also might want to clean your place up to make it look a little bit more attractive.
WILLIS: Yes. Fixing it up is really important. I think most people know that you're supposed to cut the clutter and depersonalize the space. Make it look as vanilla as possible, so people can imagine their own furniture, and stuff in your house, and personalize it for them.
But another thing to think about is maybe some last-minute updates that will really set your house apart. Think about getting your own kitchen island, installing it yourself. You'd only spend about $1,000. Of course, the bathrooms are important, too. Think about upgrading those fixtures, the sink perhaps. You can spend $500 and make your bathroom look entirely new. So, get to work before you invite people into your home to look at it.
KAGAN: And then what's the formula for figuring out how to price your house?
WILLIS: Well, it's all about the cost. You want to see what other houses are selling like that are just like yours, have the same square footage. And then you can figure out exactly what you should be offering.
Now, here's the issue. Right now if you price your house below market, you could end up getting less than you actually need. You know, when the market is red-hot that might set off a bidding war. That could be a good thing. But when it cools off, it could be dangerous.
If you set the price too high, you could end up having your house on the market for weeks and weeks. Pretty soon, buyers start thinking what's wrong with that house? I don't want to look at it. So, it's critical that you get the right price on that house by looking at others that are in the marketplace and pricing it appropriately.
KAGAN: So, you get your buyer but don't let down your game until you get to closing.
WILLIS: Absolutely right. Get ready for that closing, it's going to cost you a ton; 7 percent to 10 percent of the house's value for taxes, commissions, you name it. Check out Transfer Taxes you'll need to know that if your county or town charges that.
And remember, you're going to have to pay any real estate taxes that are due. It can be expensive to sell. But if you've been holding onto your home through this red-hot real estate market, it may be a good time to think about cashing in for those gains.
KAGAN: Gerri Willis. Gerri, thanks for those tips.
WILLIS: You're welcome.
KAGAN: Appreciate it. We're standing by here. We're expecting to hear from presidential candidate John Kerry. That live picture coming from New York City. He'll be speaking at NYU and we believe he'll be talking about Iraq.
Tomorrow, President Bush is the one in the Big Apple. He'll be speaking at the U.N. What kind of reception will he get there? A preview just ahead.
This is CNN LIVE TODAY.
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KAGAN: Let's check the stories now in the news. John Kerry is at NYU in New York City. He is due to begin speaking at any moment. He's expected to outline his vision for Iraq, as he sharpens his attack on the Bush administration's handling of the war. President Bush has also ratcheted up his criticism of Kerry, as the election looms just over 40 days from now.
To Baghdad, two influential Sunni clerics have been killed in separate incidents. The attacks took place within a 24-hour period. Kidnappers snatched one man outside of a mosque yesterday and then returned his body to that site. The second cleric was gunned down earlier today. Both were members of the influential Sunni Committee of Muslim Scholars, which weighs in on key issues and sometimes negotiates for the release of hostages.
Early results are in from Indonesia's first-ever direct presidential election. The challenger, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, holds a big legal over President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Yudhoyono is a former general who also served as Indonesia security minister. A hundred and forty thousand police officers were deployed for today's vote. Concerns of a potential attack by an al Qaeda linked group blamed for a Jakarta bombing this month.
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