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CNN Live Today
Fate of Patriot Act Hangs in the Balance; New York City Transit Strikes Complicates Commuting
Aired December 21, 2005 - 11:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And let's go back to Capitol Hill, where the fate of the Patriot Act hangs in the balance. Senator John Kerry having the floor right now. Key provisions of the anti-terror law expire in 10 days, but Democrats and a handful of Republicans are blocking the renewal. They cite concerns over civil liberties. In the last hour, President Bush, you saw live here on CNN, calling the action by Democrats inexcusable and urged the Senate to act. We're watching the developments, and we will keep you updated.
That Patriot Act is just one of the issues the Senate is trying to wrap up today. Congressional correspondent Ed Henry tracking all these developments on patriot -- see, I have Patriot Act on the brain. Let's start with that, Ed, on Capitol Hill.
ED HENRY, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning again, Daryn.
That's right. In fact, the Senate right now, though, is not having a showdown of the Patriot Act. that's still pending. That's been pending since Friday when, as you know, the Senate basically sustained a filibuster. Democrats and four Republicans were able to sustain a filibuster of a four-year extension of 16 key provisions of the Patriot Act. And as we've been reporting all this week, in fact, they're still trying to work out a deal on that. There's no deal yet, but the House has not officially not gone out of session. They're still technically here. Even though House lawmakers are out of town, they could deal with any tweaks that the Senate could bring up, the Senate still in session with no end in sight at this point.
The president, as you mentioned, once again hitting senators, mostly focusing on Democrats, but as I pointed out, there are also four Republicans that supported the filibuster. And the bottom line is Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer earlier today came forward and claimed that he has at least 52 senators in both parties who are willing to support a three-month extension of these 16 provisions of the Patriot Act. That would kick this past the holidays and let both sides try to let cooler heads prevail and restructure this early next year. But so far no deal on that.
What they're fighting about right now is ANWAR, opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration. Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska has been fighting for this for 25 years. Environmentalists, of course, have been vehemently opposing it.
Stevens has added it as a provision to the defense spending bill. Democrats and some moderate Republicans concerned about that. There's a filibuster of basically the overall defense-spending bill on the floor right now. We're expecting a showdown vote about 11:45 Eastern Time. If Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist does not reach 60 votes, he's going to have a big problem on his hands. He's going to have to figure out whether to strip Anwar out of this defense bill.
I can tell you on the way into the chamber just a few minutes ago, I asked Senator Frist whether he had the 60 votes. He said, frankly, I don't know -- quote -- "I'm walking in on a razor blade."
It's gives you an idea of the high drama up here. It's very rare that the majority leader walks in on the floor and says he has no idea how it's going to turn out -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Some of the drama involved Vice President Dick Cheney, who cut short overseas trip just in case he had to cast a tie-breaking vote, and indeed that turned out to be a good move for the Republicans.
HENRY: That's right, he did. He casts a tie-breaking vote to basically push forward on the Republican budget deal, $40 billion in spending cuts. Democrats did win a procedural vote that's going to force the budget to be sent back over to the House for some technical corrections.
Again, Senator Major Leader Bill Frist, though, insisting that it's really not going to have any substantive changes to the budget. So Vice President Cheney did help there.
Now he can not help to try to break this filibuster, but if there's a future procedural vote later today on this defense bill dealing with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
You can see Vice President come back in here.
KAGAN: All right, you'll be watching for us. Ed Henry on Capitol Hill, thank you.
President Bush we've heard from not one, but twice today, as he pushes for the Patriot Act, as he's calling it an essential weapon in the war on terror.
Let's go to the White House now and our Elaine Quijano for more on that -- Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.
And complicating the discussion on the Patriot Act is the revelation, recent revelation, of that secret NSA domestic spying program authorized by President Bush. That really serving as the backdrop, if you will, for this discussion on the Patriot Act itself.
Now the concern primarily over civil liberties. That has been a sticking point. That continues to go on, as we've heard from Ed, but the clock is ticking on the Patriot Act, as the provisions set to expire at the end of the year. So today, President Bush urged the Senate to move forward on this issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRES. OF THE UNITED STATES: In order to protect America, the United States Senate must reauthorize the Patriot Act. The terrorists still want to hit us again. There's an enemy that lurks, a dangerous group of people that want to do harm to the American people, and we must have the tools necessary to protect the American people.
The majority of the United States Senate supports reauthorization. A minority of senators is filibustering, and preventing the Senate from voting to renew the Patriot Act. The Senate Democratic leader recently boasted about killing the Patriot Act. This obstruction is inexcusable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: And the president aiming his comments clearly at the Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, but making no mention of the four Republicans who are also expressing concerns over ensuring more safeguards for civil liberties.
Now, in the meantime, President Bush continuing on with his schedule. At this hour, he is at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland nearby. We are told he and Mrs. Bush are scheduled to visit with wounded Marines, five wounded Marines, five wounded Marines in the ICU unit. He'll be awarding some Purple Hearts as well. The president will also move on to another ward, meet with about 17 more Marines and their families, and award three Purple Hearts. But this is something that the president does on a regular basis. This, though, coming at a critical time. The president also in his brief remarks before heading over to the medical center, urging the Senate as well to come together on the defense appropriations bill.
KAGAN: Elaine Quijano at the White House. Elaine, thank you.
In Baghdad today, Saddam Hussein's trial continued. And here's a concept: He actually showed up in the courtroom. We'll go live to Baghdad for the latest on the trial, as well as the latest on the other seven defendants.
We're back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: A calmer and quieter Saddam Hussein showed up for trial today. That's for most of the day, at least. But as the session neared an end, he opened up with an outburst making sensational claims.
CNN's Aneesh Raman joins us now from Baghdad with this late breaking news. Aneesh, hello.
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN BAGHDAD CORRESPONDENT: Daryn, good morning. A heated exchange taking place just moments ago between Saddam Hussein and the court. Saddam alleging that he has been beaten while in custody. As you say -- and we'll roll some video of the exchange between Saddam and the judge -- earlier the day, I was in that courtroom.
Saddam very sedate as he entered; the last, as always, of the eight defendants. He had boycotted the last session. He was quiet, only spoke a couple of times and in very hushed tones. But then moments ago, really lashing out at those who have him under custody. And here's a little sound of what Saddam Hussein said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SADDAM HUSSEIN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF IRAQ (through translator): Yes, my answer, yes. I was beaten on every part of my body and marks are still on my body. I'm not complaining about Americans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMAN: Now, Daryn, you're looking at delayed pictures coming out of the court. They come out about 20 minutes after events take place inside that courtroom. Right now, we're hearing from further witnesses. We were to hear from five total. So far we've heard from two.
So court likely again to resume tomorrow unless they can get everything done today. But again, Saddam Hussein quiet all morning, lashing out in the past few moments, saying that he has been bruised while under custody. That is something that he complained about earlier as well.
Really, it's the defense strategy to make this case as much about Saddam in custody and about the current situation in Iraq as the crimes against humanity, the charges that Saddam Hussein faces for what took place in July, 1982 -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Yes, we have that live graphic up, but as you were explaining, it's actually a 20-minute delay of what we're seeing, correct?
RAMAN: Exactly. When we're in the courtroom -- and you might be able to see it in some of the shots, there's a sound-proof, blast- proof glass wall where the media sits. We sit, obviously, in the real time. But the video is delayed. A number of reasons why. The biggest reason being security concerns. They delete out both video and audio that they feel is a security breach. So if Saddam Hussein comes out and details where he is being detained, specifics about who is holding him, that all is kept from coming out into public domain -- Daryn.
KAGAN: And also, then, Iraqis aren't actually seeing everything that we're able to see. They're censoring it for Iraqi viewers?
RAMAN: Yes, for anyone that is not in that courtroom, which includes the media representatives that are there in that bottom floor area, and as well as public observers who are above the courtroom, anyone not inside will see this sort of edited video release.
And that has been a lingering question of this court, exactly why they choose to delete certain things. When you're inside, you get a sense, based on the microphones when they get switched off, what is being cut out. They tell us it's all because of security reasons.
At times, though, diatribes of the defendants do get curtailed. And so it is a lingering question of this court exactly what it is that the world is seeing, relative to what exactly takes place inside -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Aneesh Raman, live from Baghdad, thank you.
And we'll take a break. A lot more news after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAGAN: Let's send out some sympathy to New York. It's cold and frustrating in the Big Apple today. They're going by foot, by taxi, any means possible. New Yorkers trying to find ways to get around town as the city's transit strike drags on. Looking at a live picture from the Big Apple right now.
The strike by the Transport Workers Union is having a big impact on millions of people who use the nation's biggest transportation system. Talks aimed at averting the walk-out stalled over pension and pay issues and there's no word on if or when the negotiations might resume. They're not even talking right now.
And on a normal day -- consider this -- just getting around in New York, one of the world's biggest cities, can be quite a headache. With the transit strike going on, commuters have to be quite inventive to get where they're going.
CNN's Rick Sanchez shows us what it's like for New Yorkers as they cope with the strike.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Commercial banker Dustin Craven knew how to prepare for New York's first transit strike in 25 years.
DUSTIN CRAVEN, ROLLERBLADING COMMUTER: I have ski gear on.
SANCHEZ: And roller blades for the improvised commute to and from her office in Lower Manhattan to her home in Queens.
SANCHEZ: An hour and a half on skates?
CRAVEN: That's right.
SANCHEZ: Is that grueling?
CRAVEN: It's a long haul but it was fun! SANCHEZ: Not so fun for the millions of commuters who walked, biked, and carpooled their way out of Manhattan after work Tuesday night. Store manager Damani Ali says he can't afford to miss work.
DAMANI ALI, WALKED TO WORK: If our tax money is going towards that service, then that service should be available.
SANCHEZ: And that's what you're mad about?
ALI: Yes.
SANCHEZ: And you got to walk for two hours now?
ALI: Yes.
SANCHEZ: We're talking about seven million people that are trying to get into the city every day. And this morning, many of them decided they'd just have to drive, it would be the only way in. It's now about 5:30 and some of those people are trying to get back out. You can imagine what's happened. Gridlock.
How many you got in there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have eight.
SANCHEZ: Eight people you're taking home?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: And these are all family, workers?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole family. Wife, sister.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She just walked from Water Street to get over here.
SANCHEZ: An hour on a bicycle?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: That's a long way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's a long way. It could be a lot worse, though.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some of us live in Queens. Some of us live in Brooklyn but, you know, we carpool and we've got to do it.
SANCHEZ: As for Craven, she says she's OK to keep skating to work for now. But talk to her in a week.
CRAVEN: One day is not too bad for us, you know? But if it lasts much longer, it's a big -- it's, you know, a hassle to get in. I guess we'll do what we have to do. SANCHEZ: And so will billions of other New York commuters.
Rick Sanchez, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAGAN: So the transit strike in New York is hitting the city where it hurts, right in it's pocketbook. Right now, estimates say the city is costing it up to $300 million every day. Down the drain, an estimated $22 million in tax revenue. And there's extra money for overtime pay for police.
Plus, stores and restaurants are also losing millions of dollars. The week before Christmas usually accounts for up to 20 percent of holiday sales for many retailers in New York. For the average commuter, the cost is up to $60 a day.
(MARKET REPORT)
KAGAN: Another break, and we are back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAGAN: Very important story just ahead, very important, talking to Santa Claus. Santa, yes, this is just in to CNN, Santa getting federal flight clearance today from the Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta. He has signed his open skies agreement with Mr. Claus. The landmark deal gives the North Pole resident greater access to U.S. rooftops, just in time, just days away from Christmas Eve.
And just so you know, kids, can you track Santa's flight Christmas Eve. Log on to NORADSANTA.org. Of course you want to get mom or dad's permission first.
Also we're inviting you to join us Friday here on CNN LIVE TODAY. Santa has a very busy schedule, but will stop by for a chat, and we've invited some very special kids to be along with us.
Annual visit from Santa here on this show. We look to it every year.
I'm Daryn Kagan.
International news is up next. Stay tuned for YOUR WORLD TODAY. Michael Holmes and Zain Verjee are along today, and they'll be with you after a quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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