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American Morning

Three Days After Wilma, Anger and Frustration in Florida; President Bush Heading to Florida to Check Out Damage

Aired October 27, 2005 - 07:00   ET

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

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Miles O'Brien. The same story, different storm. Three days after Wilma, anger and frustration in Florida as thousands wait in long lines for water, food and gas, asking why wasn't the government ready? Today the president will see for himself. We're live in Florida.
And there's another storm brewing. Tropical Storm Beta, born just hours ago. We'll have a forecast.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Zain Verjee, in for Soledad. All eyes on one of the president's men, Karl Rove, his lawyers getting ready for the worst-case scenario in the CIA leak probe. A report from Washington just ahead.

And hail to the mighty White Sox.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE I can't believe it!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'BRIEN: She can't believe it!

Eighty-eight years of waiting and how sweet it is. And she wasn't waiting 88 years, but collectively they have been. Chicago celebrating a World Series sweep, celebrating all night long, and into this AMERICAN MORNING.

Good morning. I'm feeling a little low this morning.

VERJEE: Low.

O'BRIEN: Look at me, I don't know. No more slouching.

VERJEE: I'll put this down, and we'll be on the same level.

O'BRIEN: I'm Miles. This is Zain. Soledad is still off, enjoying some time at a spa.

VERJEE: And go, go, go, go, go White Sox.

O'BRIEN: Go White Sox is right. Shoeless Joe Jackson and all the Black Sox curse finally eradicated. Red Sox last year, White Sox this year. Who knows, Cubs next year? We'll get all these long streaks over with. But let's start first of all with Wilma and its aftermath. Many people in Florida simply fed up this morning. Three days after Hurricane Wilma, essential supplies, food, ice water, still very hard to find. Fuel, too, is desperately in short supply.

Alan Chernoff live at a gas station in Sunny Isles, Florida.

Alan, what's the scene like there. Still awfully early, and I see some cars in line.

ALAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Miles, this line began forming at 4:00 in the morning. Let's have a look at the road warriors. We've got a few cars here, but this car appears to be well empty right now, but they're jumping back on in. The line extends all the way up the block, and then turn around with me, and you'll see, see, things are -- tempers are a little flared over here. This line extends down the block around, and then loops around to the Citgo station. We have probably at least 250 cars in line over here, all trying to get gasoline at this station, which opened about a half hour ago. Tempers are flaring. As a matter of fact, just five minutes ago a car tried to sneak into line right over here. A police officer came over, kicked the woman out. There are 14 police officers. The entire force of Sunny Isles, Florida on patrol at the gasoline station.

Now these lines, as you hear the honking, it's really mayhem here just after 7:00 in the morning. These are just some of the lines, because keep in mind, there are only a handful of gas stations open in this region because most regions still don't have complete power. You need power to pump that gasoline.

Now, there are also been long lines at whatever stores are open. Grocery stores. At a Kmart yesterday, I saw a line of cars at least a mile-and-a-half long extending out of the shopping center. Of course, yesterday, we were showing you some of the lines for people waiting for ice and water. It's leading to tremendous frustration throughout Southern Florida.

Governor Bush said he'll take the blame.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: I'm going to have a no criticize zone established as we focus on recovery. And if anybody wants to blame anybody, let them blame me. Don't blame FEMA. This is our responsibility. And we are doing a good job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHERNOFF: The governor has also said that he is now considering having a plan to require gas stations to have backup generators in the event power goes out again, so that perhaps could help the situation out.

By the way, some of these gas pumps are pumping very slowly right now. We've only had about 15 cars go in and out of the station thus far. And as I said, the station has been open for a half hour now.

O'BRIEN: Allan Chernoff in Sunny Isles, where things are looking so sunny this morning. Thank you very much.

Finally some good news for all those folks stranded down in Mexico after Wilma barreled through there. About 6,000 finally got on flights out of Cancun yesterday. They've been waiting for days outside the resort's international airport, and it ain't over yet. Thousands more still there, hoping they'll get flights today. We wish them well.

(WEATHER REPORT)

VERJEE: President Bush is heading to Florida today to check out the damage from Hurricane Wilma. Dana Bash is live at the White House.

Dana, what's on the president's agenda today?

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, officially we know that he's going to go to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, but as always when he goes on the trips we expect him to tour some of the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma. But it is certainly the political damage that president is going to try to stop. As we heard from Alan Chernoff, there is a lot of frustration and anger by locals who say they don't have food, water, ice, and local officials who are blaming the federal government. It sounds very familiar. It's quite reminiscent of the administration criticism after Katrina. And there is one key difference we also saw earlier reported, and that is something the White House is quite happy about. The president's brother is, of course, the governor in Florida, and he is very much taking the blame -- Zain.

VERJEE: And, Dana, the White House really trying to come off, you know, as look, this is just, you know, every day we're coming into work, it's business as usual, but what's the mood really like there at the White House?

BASH: Well, as a matter of fact, it's almost like Groundhog Day, because just like you and I were talking about yesterday morning, Bush aides are trying to come in trying to sort of, as you said, go about business as usual, but yesterday, they actually thought perhaps there would be an end, or at least some kind of finality, to the two-year- long investigation that has really been focused on Karl Rove, you see there, and also the vice president's chief of staff Scooter Libby, but just like yesterday we see pictures like this, cameras waiting for them as they come in and try to just do their business, go about their business, and right now as we speak, they are, just like yesterday, preparing for their regular morning senior staff meeting, waiting to see once again if there are any announcements here at a very, very anxious White House -- Zain.

VERJEE: Groundhog Day for Dana Bash at the White House -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: In the CIA leak investigation, Karl Rove's lawyers are starting to mount a public defense, just in case an indictment is on the way. So what does that mean for the president's top adviser?

AMERICAN MORNING's Bob Franken is on the Groundhog Day desk covering once again the federal courthouse in Washington.

Bob, yesterday the truth was we didn't have much to report. Today more of the same?

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm going to make it sound like I do.

O'BRIEN: That's your job.

FRANKEN: Here's what we know. We know that the grand jury met yesterday. We've been told the obvious, that there was a review of the evidence that the official prosecutor, Patrick Fitzgerald, is presenting. We know that Fitzgerald met for 45 minutes with the chief judge. We know that the grand jury's deadline is tomorrow, and we know that the grand jury is scheduled to meet tomorrow. What we don't know is whether indictments have been handed down. We, of course, do know that there's a very strict rule called 6-E, by the way, that prohibits any information about the grand jury's deliberations being discussed in public. We know that the special prosecutor has made it his career to keep these things secret.

When the time comes, he'll make an announcement, if there is an announcement to make. The announcement might be no indictments. The announcement might be indictments.

We know, as Dana pointed out, that top White House aides Karl Rove and Scooter Libby have been among those that have been the subject of a lot of questioning in this nearly two-year extension. We know it is theoretically possible that Fitzgerald could ask for an extension of this grand jury, or even use another, but there's every indication he wants to wrap this up, and certainly every indication that White House would like to get this wrapped up so it can deal with whatever the news is, bad, good, or nonexistent -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Bob Franken, watching it for us. Thank you very much -- Zain.

VERJEE: Miles, Israel is vowing a campaign of arrests and even targeted killings after Wednesday's deadly suicide bombing in Hadera.

John Vause joins us live from Jerusalem.

John, what's the prime minister, Ariel Sharon, saying?

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has ordered an open-ended military campaign against Palestinian militants, especially Islamic jihad, the group which claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing in Hadera. Overnight airstrikes in Gaza, a bridge and road were damaged, a large crater was left in an open field which Israel said is used by militants as a launching area to fire rockets into Israel, Gaza and the West Bank have been sealed off. The Israeli military has been ordered to step up arrests of Palestinian militants, especially those associated with Islamic Jihad, and Israel says it will continue with its practice of targeted killings of senior militant leaders. The Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, said all of this is necessary because the Palestinian authority is doing nothing to stop the kinds of attacks which we saw in Hadera yesterday, which left five Israelis dead, and dozens more hurt. According to witnesses, a 20- year-old suicide bomber simply walked into the open-air market, stood line for a while, and then blew himself up.

And there is a growing sense of pessimism on both sides that there is a sense of optimism and hope that after the Israelis pulled out of the Gaza Strip, withdrew all of the settlers and all of the soldiers, that there would be this new chance of peace, that after this suicide bombing, the first suicide bombing in Israel since the disengagement, there is a feeling that chance of peace is starting to slip away -- Zain.

VERJEE: CNN's John Vause reporting for us from Jerusalem. Thanks, John.

Members of the international community are condemning the president of Iran after he called for the destruction of Israel. President Mahmoud Ahmdinejad said on Wednesday that Israel should be, quote, "wiped off the map." The Iranian president made the comment during a conference titled "The World Without Zionism."

In Israel Vice President Shimon Perez responded by saying, Iran should be expelled from the United Nations.

O'BRIEN: The world champion White Sox. Let me repeat that. The world champion White Sox. Yes, folks, it's true, the Sox are going back home to Chicago with a trophy. It's been 88 years since anyone could say that. Chicago beat Houston one-nil -- that's for you, Zain -- last night without outstanding defense, especially from shortstop Juan Uribe, gunning down Orlando Palmeiro for the final out of a four- game sweep.

Anne Kavanagh of affiliate WFLD on Chicago's South Side. Fans, I assume, are still up from last night. A lot of people won't be at work, I suspect, but you are.

ANNE KAVANAGH, WFLD REPORTER: I'm at work. I think a lot of people in Chicago are going to have that black-and-white White Sox flu today, because I'm at this dinner just a couple of miles from the cell, the White Sox play here on the south side, and I don't think anybody on the south side has been to bed yet. They were partying, guys, like it was 1917, and of course that's the last time we won a World Series here in Chicago. The White Sox did it. And as soon as that final out came, fans poured on to Division Street in the downtown area, celebrating the huge World Series win. It's hard to believe that the White Sox swept this World Series. They won 16 of their last 17 games. They totally dominated. And Chicagoans were ready for a party. People gathered at bars and restaurants all over the city. Nowhere, though, were fans more excited than on the south side, because they have followed this team for centuries.

In the Bridgeport neighborhood a couple blocks from the cell (ph), people actually watched the game out on the streets. They gathered and watched TVs and stuff. It's kind of a small town atmosphere in a big city.

And you know, it's often been said that White Sox are the second team in the second city, but not today. Everybody in Chicago, even Cubs fans, celebrating this World Series victory, because you know, it just doesn't happen too often here in the Windy City. Probably have to wait another 88 years, although Sox fans are already talking repeat, so we'll have to see.

That's it for now, though. Back to you, guys.

O'BRIEN: It's tough to repeat but Red Sox, White Sox, next year it's going to be the Cubbies. I feel it coming.

KAVANAGH: Now that would really be a miracle.

O'BRIEN: Wouldn't that be something? That would be quite a story.

KAVANAGH: That would be a miracle. And you're saying the Cubs and the Sox, cross town World Series.

O'BRIEN: Wow. That would be something, the el-train series something. Anne Kavanagh of our Chicago affiliate WFLD, we thank her and them very much -- Zain.

VERJEE: Miles...

O'BRIEN: Oh. by the way, Zain has notes here. I don't know if you can get a shot of this. This is her notes on this, and it says here, just see has the names of the people. It says "AJ" and it says "catcher." That's the catcher.

(CROSSTALK)

O'BRIEN: Just so she knows who's pitcher, catcher, and it's hugging World Series.

VERJEE: But I know that Jermaine Dye had the final winning run, and that wasn't in my notes.

O'BRIEN: That's excellent. That's excellent. That and the Greek alphabet, you're good for the morning.

VERJEE: I'm done then, thank you.

O'BRIEN: You can go home now.

VERJEE: Still to come, more on the waiting game in Washington as we wait here too. Everybody wants to know, how will the CIA leak case end. Jeffrey Toobin will join us and help us try to sort it out.

And a little later, Democrats come up with a new plan for fighting terror. Is it any different from the president's? Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright here with us today to tell us about it. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VERJEE: Tension is mounting in Washington, and now the White House may have to wait a little bit longer for any news in the CIA leak case. Still, there are some tidbits coming out about what went on Wednesday between the grand jury and the judge, and there are many legal possibilities.

CNN's legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin is here. Thanks so much for joining us.

JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN SR. LEGAL ANALYST: Good morning.

VERJEE: Good morning. And there is a "Washington Post" today story saying an announcement on a decision can be expected Friday. What do you make of that?

TOOBIN: Well, that actually is news, because there is at least the legal or theoretical possibility that investigation could be extended, either through a new grand jury or using another grand jury that already exists in Washington, so the fact that Fitzgerald, at least according to "The Washington Post," is going to shut down on Friday, is very significant. Either with an indictment of some people or one person, or saying there are no charges going to be filed at all.

VERJEE: It's significant, too, though, he met with Judge Thomas Hogan, right? It's quite unusual. And is that it you need to meet with a federal judge in order to get an approval for a sealed indictment?

TOOBIN: No. Well, sometimes. It varies by district. That is often done as a matter of course.

But it does indicate that Fitzgerald appears to be wrapping up the investigation. He is not the U.S. attorney in Washington. He is an outsider. He's actually the U.S. attorney in Chicago. So he is covering his bases, paying courtesy calls on the judge, explaining this is what we want to do. How will that fit with your procedures. And you know, one possibility certainly is we are about to announce an indictment. There's going to be a lot of press attention. How do you want us to handle that? That would be a plausible interpretation of what might have happened there.

VERJEE: But there is a possibility, though, that he may close the investigation without charges?

TOOBIN: And what's significant about that is, he is not an independent counsel the way Kenneth Starr was. That was law that has since expired, but it has had a provision for a public report by a prosecutor when it was over. Patrick Fitzgerald is part of the justice department. If he does not file charges, it's very possible he will issue no public report. So Friday could come and go, announces no charges, but we learn nothing of what he learned in two years of the investigation.

VERJEE: Will there be a sense of outrage, though, if that happens?

TOOBIN: Certainly among reporters.

(CROSSTALK)

TOOBIN: Certainly among reporters. Wait a second, we covered this for all these years. You know, the rule of grand jury secrecy, rule 6-E of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, says you can't disclose, so unless he gets some specific order from the judge allowing him...

VERJEE: Members on the grand jury...

TOOBIN: They're not allowed so to speak either. The witnesses can talk about what they said when they testified, but the people who heard the testimony, and his staff, and the grand jurors and FBI agents are bound by grand jury secrecy.

VERJEE: We keep hearing Patrick Fitzgerald straight arrow, apolitical.

TOOBIN: I think it's right. I think he does not feel pressure to bring charges -- either to bring them or not to bring them. I do think he feels pressure to wrap it up. Prosecutors feel an obligation to put up or shut up. He has been doing this for two years. That's a long time on one investigation. So I think "The Washington Post" story makes sense he wants to get this thing done by Friday and not extend it anymore.

VERJEE: We'll see you Friday.

TOOBIN: Well, I'm on duty. See what happens.

VERJEE: We'll get you some Kenyan tea.

TOOBIN: That's good.

VERJEE: All right, Jeff Toobin, thank you -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Still to come, a loss for the White House is a win for Gulf Coast recovery workers. Andy has that, "Minding Your Business" next on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

O'BRIEN: All right. One of the saddest chapters for -- certainly workers in the wake of Katrina was this Davis-Bacon act thing. Listen up, class. Don't -- eyes glazing over. Davis-Bacon Act basically allows the federal government to pay people less than the prevailing wage in times like this. And it was -- well, it wasn't well received in New Orleans, to say the least. Andy Serwer here with the backtrack.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: It was controversial. This is a turnabout by the Bush administration. And I think you can categorize it as a rare victory for organized labor over the past couple years ago. The Davis-Bacon act was suspended by the administration days after Hurricane Katrina struck. Basically the prevailing wage rule that miles is referring to means if you're working on a federal project, you must be paid what workers in the area are getting paid. For instance, if you're rebuilding a post office and people are getting paid $15 an hour to do construction in the area, you've to pay the people rebuilding the post office $15 an hour.

There was an outcry, as Miles suggested, and now the has backtracked, apparently because of pressure by moderate Republicans who represent districts where there is organized labor, feeling a lot of heat on this.

And there were some anecdotes here which didn't kind of go over too well for instance. There were some electricians who were making $22 an hour rebuilding -- or working at a naval air base near New Orleans. They lost their jobs because a Halliburton subcontractor found employees who would work for less. This just not going over well. Not playing well in Washington at all.

O'BRIEN: So locals who were making a decent wage, help them get back on their feet, lost their jobs.

SERWER: They lost their jobs. That's right.

O'BRIEN: That's not a good way to get back towards recovery, is it?

SERWER: That's right. And now it's been reversed.

O'BRIEN: All right, we're glad to that has changed in New Orleans.

SERWER: Exactly.

O'BRIEN: Thank you very much, Andy Serwer.

Coming up, the war on terror might be the president's biggest strength politically, but Democrats think they can do it better. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on her party's plan to fight terror. She joins us just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

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