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CNN Live Today

Selling Social Security; View From Abroad; Super Bowl Week

Aired February 03, 2005 - 11:00   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: And we begin by looking at many Americans who watched the State of the Union address are giving the speech a positive review. According to a CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll taken right after the speech, 60 percent rated their reaction to the speech as positive. For the record, the audience was mostly Republican.
Alberto Gonzales is expected to be confirmed today as the next attorney general. A vote is expected late this afternoon. As many as 30 Democrats might vote against Gonzales, but they say no filibuster is planned.

Condoleezza Rice embarks on a fence-mending tour today. Her first trip abroad since becoming secretary of state. Eight European capitals and the Vatican are on her itinerary. A top priority is a meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders prior to their summit Tuesday in Egypt.

An interim report on the U.N.'s oil-for-food program in Iraq will be publicly released in about four hours. Paul Volcker, chairman of the independent committee investigating the program, warns that the findings so far do not make for pleasant reading. Volcker writes in today's "Wall Street Journal" that the humanitarian program was tainted from top to bottom.

We are just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, and just past 8:00 on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez.

CNN this morning is going to be following this story live for you. We're going to begin in Fargo, North Dakota. That's in the next hour, and that's when President Bush -- pardon me -- becomes a traveling salesman.

He's visiting five red states with Democratic senators selling his Social Security overhaul. And for the first time, some details on the plan in last night's State of the Union speech. First off this hour, the White House and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.

Good morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

Well, President Bush early this morning attended a prayer breakfast that has really become a tradition for the White House. President Bush, of course, being a man of faith, and many people, of course, believe, many born-again Christians, say that they delivered the White house to the president. They are now looking for the president to deliver on some of their social issues on the agenda.

Two-thirds of a poll shows that those who identify themselves as born-again Christians believe that Mr. Bush is going doing a good job. But, of course, they are looking at his agenda and the priorities.

One of those priorities is pushing for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Last night, we heard the president in his State of the Union address give his conservative base that nod.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges. For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, already, there is some pressure on the White House. Evangelical and Christians have said that they are not going to support Social Security reform unless they see that constitutional amendment. And, of course, you know, Rick, it is going to be a tough sell all around for the Social Security reform.

President Bush arguing, making the case to create personal accounts, private accounts, taking part of the payroll tax and using that for investments. This particularly for younger workers. The president outlining some of the highlights of those details last night, saying that he believes that the program should allow people born in 1950 or later to be eligible, that it would be a voluntary program beginning in 2009, that workers would be able to invest up to 4 percent of their wages.

It would also, of course, require some guaranteed benefits that would be reduced. And finally, the government estimates here are that it would cost $754 billion, the transition costs, to make it happen.

There are some Democrats and independent groups that say it's going to be a lot more than that, about $2 trillion, they believe. And I've been speaking with Democrats on the Hill who say that they believe listening to the president's address that he was, perhaps, a little bit loose with the facts. They say that they will actually take issue.

And despite the fact that President Bush is hitting the road, these five states in two days, to push, to sell for his Social Security plan, Democrats say they are going to be pushing an education campaign, a program to show that the president's facts are not correct. That there is not a crisis and that the Social Security private accounts is a bad idea -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Didn't I also read that the president is going to be welcomed in some places by protests from Democrats?

MALVEAUX: Well, it's very possible that he could be welcomed by protesters. There are a lot of people, as you know, in a nation divided that are not pleased with the president's performance.

If you look at the latest polls, you show his approval rating is under 50 percent. That is not like second-term presidents that we've seen in the past. And, of course, there are still people who are looking at the Iraq war, saying they do not believe it is worth it.

And they are looking at Social Security reform, also saying they do not believe that it's worth it to put that forward. And actually they believe they're going to have those -- those benefits cut at some point -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's quite a tour, quite a trip involving several states. Suzanne Malveaux following things there for us at the White House. As usual, we thank you.

And, of course, you can stay with CNN. We're going to have live coverage for you of the president's remarks on Social Security changes. He's going to speak the next hour at 12:30 Eastern. That's going to be in Fargo, North Dakota. Then it's on to Montana, then Nebraska, and then Arkansas, and finally, Tampa, Florida.

KAGAN: President Bush may be out and about selling Social Security change, but Democrats are not in a buying mood. They accuse the press of hyping the fiscal threat to the program and they weren't shy about expressing their displeasure last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: President Bush will need at least five Senate Democrats to help him pass Social Security changes. But they're calling his privatization proposals a high-stakes gamble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: In 1978, when George Bush, candidate for Congress, ran for Congress, he predicted -- and we have the quotes from all the newspapers -- that Social Security would go broke in 1988 if it wasn't privatized. So this is something he's wanted to do for a very long time.

And the truth of the matter is, if you look at Social Security, it has been so successful. And without it, 50 percent -- 50 percent of our seniors would be living in poverty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Plenty of ordinary Americans like you have had a lot to say about the State of the Union speech. Let's go to CNN's Lindsey Arent in Washington with more public reaction.

Hi, Lindsey.

LINDSEY ARENT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Now, of course, in last night's State of the Union speech, we saw President Bush make his case directly to Congress and to the nation, talking about Social Security and offering some insight into the role he would like the U.S. to gradually take in Iraq. But while lawmakers had some very strong but predictable reactions to the president's speech, regular Americans here in Washington had some surprisingly powerful and varied responses of their own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was very encouraged by the sentence (ph) on Iraq. I thought it was wonderful to have the Iraqi woman there in the audience.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There were certainly some things that I thought I could agree with. But, you know, as they say, the devil's in the details. And there weren't too many of those.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Now, quite a few of the people we spoke to on their morning commutes today in Washington were very excited by the president's plans to reform Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't understand fully, but I like the fact that he's trying to change it and make a big difference for people my age. Because I know that there's not a good chance that it will be around by the time I'm wanting Social Security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Meantime, a lot of other people felt the president hedged on the specifics, and some even wondered whether the speech, the State of the Union, has any meaning anymore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Social Security, I don't think he made a case. I don't think he actually presented enough detail for anybody to make a judgment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Normally it's the same old spin that you hear constantly. The message doesn't change. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Now, generally, most of the people that I spoke with today had a pretty positive reaction to the president's speech. Most of them commenting on how emotional they thought it was, particularly when Bush introduced the parents of a U.S. Marine who was killed in Iraq.

But also notable, Daryn, was the number of people I spoke to who hadn't even bothered watching the State of the Union. This is very much an industry town here in Washington, D.C. You've got to wonder how much around the rest of the country the people elected simply not to watch -- Daryn.

KAGAN: We'll have to check those television ratings coming out soon. Lindsey, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Take you live to the Capitol now. The Senate is opening debate this hour on Alberto Gonzales' nomination to be the next attorney general. He's under fire in some quarters for his role in the White House policies on the war on terror.

Critics at the Senate hearing pointed to the treatment of detainees accusing Gonzales of essentially endorsing torture with some of his memos that he'd written and received. Gonzales denies those claims. As many as 30 Democrats may vote against him when the tally is taken today, but they say they won't tie up the nomination with a filibuster. Meaning the nomination will be passed.

Now, Democrats have delayed the committee vote on President Bush's nominee as the new Homeland Security chief. That's Michael Chertoff. We showed you some of that yesterday.

He faced more than three hours of questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Despite Democratic questions about whether he helped approve the improper interrogation of terror detainees, Chertoff is also expected to easily win confirmation.

KAGAN: Of course, you'll remember the pope was having trouble breathing yesterday. We're going to let you know how he's doing today straight ahead.

SANCHEZ: Also, what and where. We're going to have the details on the very latest move to try and help more tsunami victims.

KAGAN: And Nelson Mandela is on a crusade again. We'll tell you where and what he is up to.

CNN LIVE TODAY returns in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is embarking on her first trip abroad in her new role as the nation's top diplomat. Rice is visiting Europe and the Middle East, with the first stop in London. Great Britain, as you know, has been Washington's strongest ally in the Iraq war.

Rice will then also visit other allies, Italy and Poland, and then offer an olive branch to France, which strongly opposed the military action. Part of Secretary Rice's mission is to follow up on President Bush's State of the Union address, particularly how it might affect the rest of the world.

Our European political editor, Robin Oakley, joins us now from London with reaction there to the president's speech.

Hello.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hello, Daryn.

Well, I think most people in Europe took the president's State of the Union address as an extension of his inaugural speech on which he had already made plain his desire to tackle tyranny and to extend democracy in the Middle East. So I think there were few surprises for Europeans.

I think they felt that the tone was perhaps a little softer than the inaugural speech. But what did worry them a little bit was the only mention that came of Europe was in the section when the president made very clear his feelings about Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Today Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing and end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people I say tonight, as you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OAKLEY: I think, Daryn, that Condoleezza Rice is going to be asked to explain by a lot of Europeans what exactly the president meant by standing by the people of Iran in their search for liberty. Does that mean military action? Does it mean economic support? Does it just mean moral pressure?

I think she'll have a fair bit of explaining to do on that particular question -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And what about other relationships that she might cement or try to repair as she goes on her tour? OAKLEY: Well, I think significantly she's choosing Paris to make a speech towards the end of her trip about the state of transatlantic relations. And I think the biggest amount of fence-mending that will need to be done is with the French, perhaps the most resolute opponents of the Iraq war.

I think perhaps Condoleezza Rice will hope that the Europeans will be in a new mood after the comparative success of the elections in Iraq. That was clearly the president's hope. But that is actually leading a number of Europeans to say, well, yes, OK, now they've had the elects. That means it's time to look at an exit strategy.

And a lot of them, those who have had troops with the coalition forces in Iraq, are now either reducing or removing those troops. They're saying it is time to bring the troops home.

So I think Condoleezza Rice is going to have to stiffen some resolve, but she will, I think, get some help from the European Union in the training of police and further offers from NATO, for example, to help with the training of Iraqi security forces -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, in terms of removing, she's making a statement by where she's not going. And she's not going to Spain, which removed its troops last April.

OAKLEY: Well, indeed, yes, but I mean she is, to be fair, going to seven European capitals. She can't go to them all. She's also going to Turkey, where she may face a few problems, and of course going to Israel and to see the new leader of the Palestinian Authority.

So it is a very full program. She's not going to fit in every country. And, as you say, Spain certainly wasn't going to be near the top of her list after it was an early country to pull out the troops after the change of government there to Mr. Zapatero -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Robin Oakley giving us some perspective from London. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Here's what else is making news overseas on this day in this morning's "World Wrap," in fact.

The pope is expected to deliver his Sunday address, as usual, but sources say that he'll do it from the hospital instead of the Vatican. Church officials say the pope is showing signs of improvement from a respiratory infection. They have not indicated how long he is going to be hospitalized, but they do anticipate he will keep next week's appointment with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as aforementioned.

A concert to aid tsunami relief efforts is now under way in Bangkok, Thailand. Asia Aid is hosted by Alicia Keys. And it's being broadcast live on MTV2.

An edited version is going to be shown tomorrow afternoon on regular MTV. The fund-raiser benefits UNICEF tsunami recovery operations in the area of south Asia.

In London, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela called on rich nations to forgive the debts of poor countries and make trade rules more favorable, and try and boost aid as well. Mandela is in Britain as the G7 finance ministers prepare to meet Friday. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed to make Africa one of the group's top priorities.

KAGAN: It is another -- not the same one -- another basket brawl. But it's not the NBA. We're going to tell you what happened and what went wrong here.

SANCHEZ: Wow.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Well, there goes the neighborhood, literally.

SANCHEZ: Wow.

KAGAN: Fences fell, shrubs sagged, satellite dishes sank. The earth moved a good seven or eight feet on this lake-front property. It's just outside of Dallas.

The residents think the problem started with a storm drain allowing the soil to erode over the years. City workers did come out a half-dozen times to fix the drain. Apparently their work didn't quite do the trick, however. Imagine that call to the city. Hello?

SANCHEZ: Well, it's a layered look. People pay thousands of dollars for landscaping to have...

KAGAN: A terraced garden.

SANCHEZ: Exactly.

KAGAN: Yes. What are you complaining about?

Here's Orelon Sidney to take a look at the weather -- Orelon.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks a lot.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Thank you.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: Here's that story you were talking about just a little ago. Take a look at this, Orelon. You're going to think this is really interesting.

This is in Prattville, Alabama. This is a girls' high school basketball game. Suddenly it roughs (ph) into a brawl.

About 100 people trade punches and shoves in this melee, which was apparently rooted in an earlier dispute between students of two schools. Police had to fire tasers to try and stop it. There were no serious injuries.

Does Philadelphia have an off-field advantage in Sunday's Super Bowl? Is it Mrs. McNabb souper-mom, S-O-U-P, by the way.

Here's sports correspondent Larry Smith.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the rough, tough world of the National Football League, nobody wants to be known as a mama's boy unless you're ma is Wilma Mcnabb. If you've seen the commercials you know she's also the unofficial team mother for the entire eagles squad.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the rough, tough world of the National Football League, nobody wants to be known as a mama's boy, unless your mama is Wilma McNabb, the mother of Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb. But if you've seen her Campbell's Soup commercials, you know she is also the unofficial team mother for the entire Eagles squad.

WILMA MCNABB, DONOVAN MCNABB'S MOTHER: I call myself the MVP -- I'm the most visible parent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You might not know anybody else's mom on the team, but you know who Mrs. McNabb is.

W. MCNABB: They know I'm at every game and if their mom's not there, that I'm going to be there.

KOY DETMER, EAGLES BACKUP QUARTERBACK: She's great. I mean she's there every game and, you know, always with a smile on her face and giving everybody hugs and making everybody feel good.

W. MCNABB: We all just enjoy each other because they do a lot for Donovan. And I just want to make sure they know that I appreciate it just as he does.

SMITH: With her popularity skyrocketing amongst Eagles' players, Mrs. McNabb has grown accustomed to cheers.

However, her son wants to make sure she keeps it in perspective.

DONOVAN MCNABB, EAGLES QUARTERBACK: As kids, your parents sit down and tell you, OK, you need to understand, you know. We -- I had to sit down and talk to her about, you know, some of that. She's a rookie at the game.

W. MCNABB: He's Mr. Man. That's what, he is the quarterback. He's the famous, infamous quarterback. I'm just the mother. And I just, I like it like that.

SMITH: Wilma McNabb certainly hopes that Donovan is the man after Super Bowl 39.

Larry Smith, CNN, Jacksonville.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

KAGAN: And Super Bowl is right around the corner. SI.com has a sneak peek for you, all the action, including the Super Bowl commercials. Veronica De La Cruz is at the CNN dot-com desk with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Whether you're watching for the commercials, the halftime show or the actual game, SI.com brings the NFL championship to you. Gearing up for Sunday, see how opposing players stack up. Who has the edge between Patriots running back Corey Dillon and Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter?

You can log on and get your talking points for the big party on Sunday in the daily match-up. And if you're wondering what the differences are between the AFC and NFC and how they might impact the match-up between the Patriots and Eagles, Peter King and Cris Collinsworth have the pre-game analysis in "King's Corner."

Finally, we've seen how rough and tumble the game of football can be. What is it like to be at the bottom of a crush of football players? Well, apparently strange things can take place at the bottom of a pile. Read the players' own personal stories in "Down Under."

Getting you ready for Super Bowl XXXIX. From the dot-com newsdesk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Thank you, Veronica. We hear words like "values" and "morals" quite a bit.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Evangelicals are certainly a growing political power, no doubt, in this country. A conservative Washington lawyer is going to join us after the break to talk about what the group wants and what they got last night in the president's speech.

We'll be back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired February 3, 2005 - 11:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin by looking at many Americans who watched the State of the Union address are giving the speech a positive review. According to a CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup poll taken right after the speech, 60 percent rated their reaction to the speech as positive. For the record, the audience was mostly Republican.
Alberto Gonzales is expected to be confirmed today as the next attorney general. A vote is expected late this afternoon. As many as 30 Democrats might vote against Gonzales, but they say no filibuster is planned.

Condoleezza Rice embarks on a fence-mending tour today. Her first trip abroad since becoming secretary of state. Eight European capitals and the Vatican are on her itinerary. A top priority is a meeting with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders prior to their summit Tuesday in Egypt.

An interim report on the U.N.'s oil-for-food program in Iraq will be publicly released in about four hours. Paul Volcker, chairman of the independent committee investigating the program, warns that the findings so far do not make for pleasant reading. Volcker writes in today's "Wall Street Journal" that the humanitarian program was tainted from top to bottom.

We are just a minute past 11:00 a.m. on the East Coast, and just past 8:00 on the West. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Daryn Kagan. Good morning once again.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Rick Sanchez.

CNN this morning is going to be following this story live for you. We're going to begin in Fargo, North Dakota. That's in the next hour, and that's when President Bush -- pardon me -- becomes a traveling salesman.

He's visiting five red states with Democratic senators selling his Social Security overhaul. And for the first time, some details on the plan in last night's State of the Union speech. First off this hour, the White House and CNN's Suzanne Malveaux.

Good morning, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Rick.

Well, President Bush early this morning attended a prayer breakfast that has really become a tradition for the White House. President Bush, of course, being a man of faith, and many people, of course, believe, many born-again Christians, say that they delivered the White house to the president. They are now looking for the president to deliver on some of their social issues on the agenda.

Two-thirds of a poll shows that those who identify themselves as born-again Christians believe that Mr. Bush is going doing a good job. But, of course, they are looking at his agenda and the priorities.

One of those priorities is pushing for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. Last night, we heard the president in his State of the Union address give his conservative base that nod.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Because marriage is a sacred institution and the foundation of society, it should not be redefined by activist judges. For the good of families, children and society, I support a constitutional amendment to protect the institution of marriage.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Now, already, there is some pressure on the White House. Evangelical and Christians have said that they are not going to support Social Security reform unless they see that constitutional amendment. And, of course, you know, Rick, it is going to be a tough sell all around for the Social Security reform.

President Bush arguing, making the case to create personal accounts, private accounts, taking part of the payroll tax and using that for investments. This particularly for younger workers. The president outlining some of the highlights of those details last night, saying that he believes that the program should allow people born in 1950 or later to be eligible, that it would be a voluntary program beginning in 2009, that workers would be able to invest up to 4 percent of their wages.

It would also, of course, require some guaranteed benefits that would be reduced. And finally, the government estimates here are that it would cost $754 billion, the transition costs, to make it happen.

There are some Democrats and independent groups that say it's going to be a lot more than that, about $2 trillion, they believe. And I've been speaking with Democrats on the Hill who say that they believe listening to the president's address that he was, perhaps, a little bit loose with the facts. They say that they will actually take issue.

And despite the fact that President Bush is hitting the road, these five states in two days, to push, to sell for his Social Security plan, Democrats say they are going to be pushing an education campaign, a program to show that the president's facts are not correct. That there is not a crisis and that the Social Security private accounts is a bad idea -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Didn't I also read that the president is going to be welcomed in some places by protests from Democrats?

MALVEAUX: Well, it's very possible that he could be welcomed by protesters. There are a lot of people, as you know, in a nation divided that are not pleased with the president's performance.

If you look at the latest polls, you show his approval rating is under 50 percent. That is not like second-term presidents that we've seen in the past. And, of course, there are still people who are looking at the Iraq war, saying they do not believe it is worth it.

And they are looking at Social Security reform, also saying they do not believe that it's worth it to put that forward. And actually they believe they're going to have those -- those benefits cut at some point -- Rick.

SANCHEZ: Well, it's quite a tour, quite a trip involving several states. Suzanne Malveaux following things there for us at the White House. As usual, we thank you.

And, of course, you can stay with CNN. We're going to have live coverage for you of the president's remarks on Social Security changes. He's going to speak the next hour at 12:30 Eastern. That's going to be in Fargo, North Dakota. Then it's on to Montana, then Nebraska, and then Arkansas, and finally, Tampa, Florida.

KAGAN: President Bush may be out and about selling Social Security change, but Democrats are not in a buying mood. They accuse the press of hyping the fiscal threat to the program and they weren't shy about expressing their displeasure last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: By the year 2042, the entire system would be exhausted and bankrupt. If steps are not taken to avert that outcome, the only solutions would be dramatically higher taxes, massive new borrowing or sudden and severe cuts in Social Security benefits or other government programs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: President Bush will need at least five Senate Democrats to help him pass Social Security changes. But they're calling his privatization proposals a high-stakes gamble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARBARA BOXER (D), CALIFORNIA: In 1978, when George Bush, candidate for Congress, ran for Congress, he predicted -- and we have the quotes from all the newspapers -- that Social Security would go broke in 1988 if it wasn't privatized. So this is something he's wanted to do for a very long time.

And the truth of the matter is, if you look at Social Security, it has been so successful. And without it, 50 percent -- 50 percent of our seniors would be living in poverty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: Plenty of ordinary Americans like you have had a lot to say about the State of the Union speech. Let's go to CNN's Lindsey Arent in Washington with more public reaction.

Hi, Lindsey.

LINDSEY ARENT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Daryn.

Now, of course, in last night's State of the Union speech, we saw President Bush make his case directly to Congress and to the nation, talking about Social Security and offering some insight into the role he would like the U.S. to gradually take in Iraq. But while lawmakers had some very strong but predictable reactions to the president's speech, regular Americans here in Washington had some surprisingly powerful and varied responses of their own.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I was very encouraged by the sentence (ph) on Iraq. I thought it was wonderful to have the Iraqi woman there in the audience.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There were certainly some things that I thought I could agree with. But, you know, as they say, the devil's in the details. And there weren't too many of those.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Now, quite a few of the people we spoke to on their morning commutes today in Washington were very excited by the president's plans to reform Social Security.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't understand fully, but I like the fact that he's trying to change it and make a big difference for people my age. Because I know that there's not a good chance that it will be around by the time I'm wanting Social Security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Meantime, a lot of other people felt the president hedged on the specifics, and some even wondered whether the speech, the State of the Union, has any meaning anymore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Social Security, I don't think he made a case. I don't think he actually presented enough detail for anybody to make a judgment.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Normally it's the same old spin that you hear constantly. The message doesn't change. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ARENT: Now, generally, most of the people that I spoke with today had a pretty positive reaction to the president's speech. Most of them commenting on how emotional they thought it was, particularly when Bush introduced the parents of a U.S. Marine who was killed in Iraq.

But also notable, Daryn, was the number of people I spoke to who hadn't even bothered watching the State of the Union. This is very much an industry town here in Washington, D.C. You've got to wonder how much around the rest of the country the people elected simply not to watch -- Daryn.

KAGAN: We'll have to check those television ratings coming out soon. Lindsey, thank you.

SANCHEZ: Take you live to the Capitol now. The Senate is opening debate this hour on Alberto Gonzales' nomination to be the next attorney general. He's under fire in some quarters for his role in the White House policies on the war on terror.

Critics at the Senate hearing pointed to the treatment of detainees accusing Gonzales of essentially endorsing torture with some of his memos that he'd written and received. Gonzales denies those claims. As many as 30 Democrats may vote against him when the tally is taken today, but they say they won't tie up the nomination with a filibuster. Meaning the nomination will be passed.

Now, Democrats have delayed the committee vote on President Bush's nominee as the new Homeland Security chief. That's Michael Chertoff. We showed you some of that yesterday.

He faced more than three hours of questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Despite Democratic questions about whether he helped approve the improper interrogation of terror detainees, Chertoff is also expected to easily win confirmation.

KAGAN: Of course, you'll remember the pope was having trouble breathing yesterday. We're going to let you know how he's doing today straight ahead.

SANCHEZ: Also, what and where. We're going to have the details on the very latest move to try and help more tsunami victims.

KAGAN: And Nelson Mandela is on a crusade again. We'll tell you where and what he is up to.

CNN LIVE TODAY returns in a moment.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) KAGAN: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is embarking on her first trip abroad in her new role as the nation's top diplomat. Rice is visiting Europe and the Middle East, with the first stop in London. Great Britain, as you know, has been Washington's strongest ally in the Iraq war.

Rice will then also visit other allies, Italy and Poland, and then offer an olive branch to France, which strongly opposed the military action. Part of Secretary Rice's mission is to follow up on President Bush's State of the Union address, particularly how it might affect the rest of the world.

Our European political editor, Robin Oakley, joins us now from London with reaction there to the president's speech.

Hello.

ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN EUROPEAN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hello, Daryn.

Well, I think most people in Europe took the president's State of the Union address as an extension of his inaugural speech on which he had already made plain his desire to tackle tyranny and to extend democracy in the Middle East. So I think there were few surprises for Europeans.

I think they felt that the tone was perhaps a little softer than the inaugural speech. But what did worry them a little bit was the only mention that came of Europe was in the section when the president made very clear his feelings about Iran.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUSH: Today Iran remains the world's primary state sponsor of terror, pursuing nuclear weapons while depriving its people of the freedom they seek and deserve. We are working with European allies to make clear to the Iranian regime that it must give up its uranium enrichment program and any plutonium reprocessing and end its support for terror. And to the Iranian people I say tonight, as you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

OAKLEY: I think, Daryn, that Condoleezza Rice is going to be asked to explain by a lot of Europeans what exactly the president meant by standing by the people of Iran in their search for liberty. Does that mean military action? Does it mean economic support? Does it just mean moral pressure?

I think she'll have a fair bit of explaining to do on that particular question -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And what about other relationships that she might cement or try to repair as she goes on her tour? OAKLEY: Well, I think significantly she's choosing Paris to make a speech towards the end of her trip about the state of transatlantic relations. And I think the biggest amount of fence-mending that will need to be done is with the French, perhaps the most resolute opponents of the Iraq war.

I think perhaps Condoleezza Rice will hope that the Europeans will be in a new mood after the comparative success of the elections in Iraq. That was clearly the president's hope. But that is actually leading a number of Europeans to say, well, yes, OK, now they've had the elects. That means it's time to look at an exit strategy.

And a lot of them, those who have had troops with the coalition forces in Iraq, are now either reducing or removing those troops. They're saying it is time to bring the troops home.

So I think Condoleezza Rice is going to have to stiffen some resolve, but she will, I think, get some help from the European Union in the training of police and further offers from NATO, for example, to help with the training of Iraqi security forces -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, in terms of removing, she's making a statement by where she's not going. And she's not going to Spain, which removed its troops last April.

OAKLEY: Well, indeed, yes, but I mean she is, to be fair, going to seven European capitals. She can't go to them all. She's also going to Turkey, where she may face a few problems, and of course going to Israel and to see the new leader of the Palestinian Authority.

So it is a very full program. She's not going to fit in every country. And, as you say, Spain certainly wasn't going to be near the top of her list after it was an early country to pull out the troops after the change of government there to Mr. Zapatero -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Robin Oakley giving us some perspective from London. Thank you.

SANCHEZ: Here's what else is making news overseas on this day in this morning's "World Wrap," in fact.

The pope is expected to deliver his Sunday address, as usual, but sources say that he'll do it from the hospital instead of the Vatican. Church officials say the pope is showing signs of improvement from a respiratory infection. They have not indicated how long he is going to be hospitalized, but they do anticipate he will keep next week's appointment with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as aforementioned.

A concert to aid tsunami relief efforts is now under way in Bangkok, Thailand. Asia Aid is hosted by Alicia Keys. And it's being broadcast live on MTV2.

An edited version is going to be shown tomorrow afternoon on regular MTV. The fund-raiser benefits UNICEF tsunami recovery operations in the area of south Asia.

In London, former South Africa president Nelson Mandela called on rich nations to forgive the debts of poor countries and make trade rules more favorable, and try and boost aid as well. Mandela is in Britain as the G7 finance ministers prepare to meet Friday. British Prime Minister Tony Blair has vowed to make Africa one of the group's top priorities.

KAGAN: It is another -- not the same one -- another basket brawl. But it's not the NBA. We're going to tell you what happened and what went wrong here.

SANCHEZ: Wow.

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KAGAN: Well, there goes the neighborhood, literally.

SANCHEZ: Wow.

KAGAN: Fences fell, shrubs sagged, satellite dishes sank. The earth moved a good seven or eight feet on this lake-front property. It's just outside of Dallas.

The residents think the problem started with a storm drain allowing the soil to erode over the years. City workers did come out a half-dozen times to fix the drain. Apparently their work didn't quite do the trick, however. Imagine that call to the city. Hello?

SANCHEZ: Well, it's a layered look. People pay thousands of dollars for landscaping to have...

KAGAN: A terraced garden.

SANCHEZ: Exactly.

KAGAN: Yes. What are you complaining about?

Here's Orelon Sidney to take a look at the weather -- Orelon.

ORELON SIDNEY, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Thanks a lot.

(WEATHER REPORT)

KAGAN: Thank you.

SIDNEY: You're welcome.

SANCHEZ: Here's that story you were talking about just a little ago. Take a look at this, Orelon. You're going to think this is really interesting.

This is in Prattville, Alabama. This is a girls' high school basketball game. Suddenly it roughs (ph) into a brawl.

About 100 people trade punches and shoves in this melee, which was apparently rooted in an earlier dispute between students of two schools. Police had to fire tasers to try and stop it. There were no serious injuries.

Does Philadelphia have an off-field advantage in Sunday's Super Bowl? Is it Mrs. McNabb souper-mom, S-O-U-P, by the way.

Here's sports correspondent Larry Smith.

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LARRY SMITH, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the rough, tough world of the National Football League, nobody wants to be known as a mama's boy unless you're ma is Wilma Mcnabb. If you've seen the commercials you know she's also the unofficial team mother for the entire eagles squad.

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LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the rough, tough world of the National Football League, nobody wants to be known as a mama's boy, unless your mama is Wilma McNabb, the mother of Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb. But if you've seen her Campbell's Soup commercials, you know she is also the unofficial team mother for the entire Eagles squad.

WILMA MCNABB, DONOVAN MCNABB'S MOTHER: I call myself the MVP -- I'm the most visible parent.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You might not know anybody else's mom on the team, but you know who Mrs. McNabb is.

W. MCNABB: They know I'm at every game and if their mom's not there, that I'm going to be there.

KOY DETMER, EAGLES BACKUP QUARTERBACK: She's great. I mean she's there every game and, you know, always with a smile on her face and giving everybody hugs and making everybody feel good.

W. MCNABB: We all just enjoy each other because they do a lot for Donovan. And I just want to make sure they know that I appreciate it just as he does.

SMITH: With her popularity skyrocketing amongst Eagles' players, Mrs. McNabb has grown accustomed to cheers.

However, her son wants to make sure she keeps it in perspective.

DONOVAN MCNABB, EAGLES QUARTERBACK: As kids, your parents sit down and tell you, OK, you need to understand, you know. We -- I had to sit down and talk to her about, you know, some of that. She's a rookie at the game.

W. MCNABB: He's Mr. Man. That's what, he is the quarterback. He's the famous, infamous quarterback. I'm just the mother. And I just, I like it like that.

SMITH: Wilma McNabb certainly hopes that Donovan is the man after Super Bowl 39.

Larry Smith, CNN, Jacksonville.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

KAGAN: And Super Bowl is right around the corner. SI.com has a sneak peek for you, all the action, including the Super Bowl commercials. Veronica De La Cruz is at the CNN dot-com desk with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN ANCHOR: Whether you're watching for the commercials, the halftime show or the actual game, SI.com brings the NFL championship to you. Gearing up for Sunday, see how opposing players stack up. Who has the edge between Patriots running back Corey Dillon and Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter?

You can log on and get your talking points for the big party on Sunday in the daily match-up. And if you're wondering what the differences are between the AFC and NFC and how they might impact the match-up between the Patriots and Eagles, Peter King and Cris Collinsworth have the pre-game analysis in "King's Corner."

Finally, we've seen how rough and tumble the game of football can be. What is it like to be at the bottom of a crush of football players? Well, apparently strange things can take place at the bottom of a pile. Read the players' own personal stories in "Down Under."

Getting you ready for Super Bowl XXXIX. From the dot-com newsdesk in Atlanta, I'm Veronica De La Cruz.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: Thank you, Veronica. We hear words like "values" and "morals" quite a bit.

SANCHEZ: Yes. Evangelicals are certainly a growing political power, no doubt, in this country. A conservative Washington lawyer is going to join us after the break to talk about what the group wants and what they got last night in the president's speech.

We'll be back.

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