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Rick's List
Interview With Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich; Al Qaeda on the Run in Pakistan?
Aired March 18, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Here is what is making the LIST today.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation.
SANCHEZ: Dennis Kucinich also joins the LIST live to tell us why he really flipped.
LLOYD PAULSON, NOT SELLING HOUSE: I don't want to leave. I want to stay here, because I enjoy it so much.
SANCHEZ: He wouldn't leave, so they built an earthen dam around his house, while the floodwaters continue to rise.
And an infamous polygamist has the book thrown at him for sexual assault of a child bride.
The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a list, pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: This is the second hour of the LIST. Time to pick up the pace of today's stories that you may be checking into.
Number one on the LIST: Al Qaeda is perhaps for the very first time being taken apart in Pakistan. And, yes, that is where bin Laden is said to be. Now, in an indication that the U.S. is making headway against al Qaeda, an intelligence official tells CNN the group is on the run.
Here is what was written in today's "Washington Post." A message intercepted from an al Qaeda lieutenant has him pleading directly with Osama bin Laden to be rescued and for him to -- quote -- "provide some leadership." That's what it says.
Number two on the LIST: Here's what's going on around the country, floods in the Northeast and in the Midwest. But the worst are in the area around Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota. It is so bad, folks, that people are being told to leave their homes, and sometimes for good. But this guy right here, he won't leave.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LLOYD PAULSON, NOT SELLING HOUSE: This is my house.
CHRIS WELCH, CNN ALL PLATFORM CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On this stretch of River Shore Drive, Lloyd Paulson is the last man standing.
PAULSON: I don't want to leave. I want to stay here because I enjoy it so much.
WELCH: His neighbors' homes look like this. they have been sold to the city so a permanent levee system can be built in their place, but Paulson remains, saying no thanks to the city's purchase offer.
PAULSON: There isn't a better place to go. The whole way out, as far as the neighborhood is concerned, it's just so ideal.
WELCH: The buyouts are voluntary, but since Paulson stayed, the cost his second of the new levee comes out of his own pocket.
WELCH (on camera): How much money did that cost you?
PAULSON: I have no idea. I haven't got the bill.
WELCH (voice-over): But Paulson says it will be worth it. That mountain of land should mean no more sandbags. Last year it took him 30,000 to stay dry. This year as an extra precaution, he'll be surrounded on all sides by the clay hills.
PAULSON: The freezers are stocked up, so I can stay here for weeks without having to go out.
WELCH: Most walls will be removed after the flood, but the one in the backyard stays.
PAULSON: We had a nice view of the river before they put this dike in. But it will protect my home.
WELCH: And for Paulson, that's all that matters.
Chris Welch, CNN, Moorhead, Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Number three on the LIST: The woman charged with wanting to help terrorists kill a man overseas has pleaded not guilty. She called herself Jihad Jane. But her real name is Colleen LaRose. She pleaded not guilty to all four counts against her related to terrorism.
Now, here's what the Justice Department is saying that she was trying to do. She planned to recruit men on the Internet to wage violent jihad. A source says that her target was a Swedish cartoonist who drew a picture of Mohammed with a dog's body. Her trial has been set for May 3, and we will have crews there to cover it for you.
Number four on the LIST, the international child abuse scandal hitting the Catholic Church again. It's causing more grief for the Vatican. The pope announced yesterday that he has written a pastoral letter, in essence, a statement. We can expect to see it Saturday.
Meantime, the church's chief exorcist -- that's right, the chief exorcist -- says that there's -- he's declared that the recent sex scandal confirms that the devil is at work somehow inside the Vatican.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FATHER GABRIELE AMORTH, VATICAN'S CHIEF EXORCIST (through translator): Well, yes, the devil tempts everyone. He tempts everyone in every environment. In particular, he tempts those on top in politics, in economics and sport. And, naturally, he tempts, above all, the religious leaders. So, you shouldn't be surprised that the devil tempts those in the Vatican. That's his job.
QUESTION: Have you ever performed an exorcism on a priest accused of molesting a child?
AMORTH (through translator): No, it's never happened. Now, pedophiles are not possessed by the devil. They are tempted by the devil. They don't need exorcism. They need to be converted, to be converted to God. That's what they need. They need to confess. They need true penance, true repentance. That's what they need.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: In case you thought this only happens in the movies, I want you to take a look at this video. We have proof it happens elsewhere. That's ahead.
Also, topping our list of politicos today, you heard from Michael Steele. Now you're going to hear from Dennis Kucinich. He's going to be joining me live in a little bit. And we will go mano a mano.
Stay right there. The LIST is scrolling on for you, as it does every day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: A man convicted of child sex assault tops my list that you don't want to be on today.
I have had dealings with this fellow before. His name is Merril Leroy Jessop. His family name might sound familiar to you. He and his religious group made a lot of news when their polygamist ranch was exposed and raided by authorities in Texas. That's where grown men say they were spiritually married to young girls, some as young as 13.
A jury has found Jessop guilty of sexually assaulting the girl that he took as his -- quote -- "wife." Jessop's half-brother Raymond Jessop was sent to prison for 10 years on similar charges, we should add. Look, I know a thing or two about this ranch, by the way, this polygamist compound in Texas. I was one of the first reporters sent there back in 2006, when the leader of the religious sect was arrested. Watch what happened, by the way, when I tried to ask questions and get into the compound.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: A work permit explains what the property really is, YFZ, a religious church organization. We called the number on the permit to ask for Ernest (ph) Jessop.
Hi. Is this Mr. Jessop?
But we're told we had the wrong number.
We also tried to catch up with one of Jeffs' followers driving a truck loaded with film. But he spotted us, ran, and then drove away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes. That was four years ago. Justice is now catching up to the men who kept their child brides at their ranch and didn't let me back then go in and at least ask them some questions. Maybe now we know why. Guilty verdict for Merril Leroy Jessop, and that puts him at the top of the list that you don't want to be on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), OHIO: I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CAMPBELL BROWN," MARCH 4, 2010)
SANCHEZ: You said you disagree with the president and you're not going to vote for this bill? Is that what I heard you say?
KUCINICH: Well, I voted against the bill in the House. I voted against it because it essentially is a privatization of our health care system, which already is creating double-digit premium increases four consecutive years.
It's pricing people -- more and more people out of health care. And just simply requiring people to have health care, even with a government subsidy, may not solve the problem for the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Dennis Kucinich told me recently that he would not vote for the president's plan. And then he went on the president's plane, and he changed his mind. And, today, he's here to tell us what it is that changed his mind.
He will address you specifically here on RICK'S LIST. We're coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back to the LIST. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Just want to remind you that Dennis Kucinich is going to be joining me here in just a little bit. And he's always a good interview.
Now, you could easily make the argument that James Inhofe and Jim DeMint are so far to the right on most issues that they are to the Republican Party what some say that Kucinich is to the Democratic Party.
I want you to listen to something that happened on the floor of the U.S. Senate yesterday. Senator James Inhofe calls out Senator Jim DeMint for adding millions of dollars in earmarks to a piece of legislation. Here it is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JAMES INHOFE (R), OKLAHOMA: So, these are earmarks, Senator DeMint, $10,000 for the construction of I-73 at Myrtle Beach, $15,000 to -- I'm sorry -- $15 million -- $10 million, then $15 million to widen U.S.-278 to six lanes, $10 million engineering design and construction of a poor access road, $10 million improvements to the U.S.-17, $5 million widening the SC-9, whatever that is, $3 million to complete the construction.
Now, what I'm saying, these are earmarks that were done by Senator DeMint. And I don't blame him. That's what we're supposed to be doing. I have done the same thing.
Now, you add all these earmarks on just that bill, it comes to $110 million. Now, that's that's Senator DeMint's earmark on that one bill. So, what I'm saying is, these guys all earmark, but, somehow, the public thinks that there's something wrong with earmarks.
And I say, fine. Define earmarks. Be as honest as the House of Representatives. The House of Representatives says earmarks are authorizations and appropriations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: So, Inhofe is calling out DeMint for using earmarks, admitting it's a tool all lawmakers use.
But look at what Senator DeMint himself has been tweeting about earmarks recently. So, he says -- or writes, I should say -- or tweets -- "It's only pork if it's somebody else's project?"
Right, Senator. Well, the House might be on to something here. The grudge match continues. And we're going to continue to follow it for you. By the way, that's a list of what -- the people that we follow all the way in Washington, so everything from CPAC, to Democrats on the Hill, Republicans in the Senate. And you can go to ricksanchezCNN, my Twitter account, and you can take a look at the list and see what people are saying. That's why we put it there for you. And that's why we started this thing called RICK'S LIST.
Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, trying to negotiate a lasting peace between the Palestinian and Israelis is tough. But it was a hell of a nice break from health care.
(LAUGHTER)
BIDEN: God bless our troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: The vice president was a bit of a cut-up at last night's Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington. Not everyone thought he was funny, though. He's ahead on the LIST.
And why is a governor angering hunters and meat producers in her state? She becomes the most intriguing person in the news today. But who is she? Stay right there, and you will find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: You may recall that this show that you're watching now was the very first to question Nevada Senator John Ensign about his sexual scandal, not because he had apparently cheated on his wife, but rather because, in an effort to hide that, he may have tried to cover it up by getting lobbying jobs for his mistress' husband.
Well, guess what? There is a follow-up on this story. And I want to bring it to you. CNN has just confirmed that at least one company and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have now been issued subpoenas. So, subpoenas are going out in the case of John Ensign requesting documents in a federal grand jury investigation.
The Senate Ethics Committee also is investigating Ensign, who has been dogged by these allegations that we have been telling you about of improper conduct, not just stemming from the affair itself, but what he did with a former aide as a result of the affair. An ethics spokesperson has declined to comment precisely on what they're doing right now. But, obviously, CNN, as well as some CNN affiliates in Las Vegas, and at least one newspaper, are now reporting that subpoenas are going out in the case of -- the potential case against John Ensign, to be sure -- to be fair. It's not a case yet.
But it certainly looks like both the Justice Department and the Senate Ethics Committee are both continuing to investigate this story. If we learn anything else, certainly, I will share it with you as well.
Now, I do like to keep a list for you every day of the most intriguing people in the news.
Number one on that list, knock it out. She was born in Canada. But she came to the United States when she was 4 years old. She went to Harvard Law, then into politics, became a Democrat, elected as her state's first ever woman attorney general. And, then, in a big triumph in 2002, she was elected her state's first woman governor.
Today, a lot of people are mad at her. And this is why. Governor Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, she declared this coming Saturday Michigan Meatout Day to support vegetarianism as a healthy lifestyle. Who's got a problem with that? The thousands of people in Michigan who make a living at raising livestock for food.
It doesn't make them feel any better that Governor Granholm is not a vegetarian herself. Granholm can't please all of the people all of the time, but she does find herself today as one of the most intriguing persons in the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All we can work with is factual information, and as of right now, there is no factual information to discredit Mr. Sikes' statement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: OK. Now the trooper who came to the rescue says, yes, it seemed to me that that Prius was out of control, because I could see the brakes burning as he was trying to stop the car. That's going to be coming up on Brooke's list.
Now, how does a pony get in a swimming pool? Maybe because he didn't know about swimming pool covers? That's ahead.
Stay right there. We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez. This is the LIST. Happy to have you with us.
Dennis Kucinich is topping our political list as the first Democrat who opposed the health care bill to change his mind. The liberal congressman from Cleveland does so reluctantly, so we wanted to bring him on so that you could hear more about why he flipped directly from him.
And, by golly, there he is.
Congressman, good to see you, sir.
KUCINICH: Rick, thank you. And I appreciate a chance to be on your show.
SANCHEZ: Good. Look, last time you and I talked, that was about two weeks ago on a Friday. I was doing the 8:00 show. I asked you to come on, and you were kind enough to do so. And this is what you said about the vote then.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "CAMPBELL BROWN," MARCH 4, 2010)
You said you disagree with the president and you are not going to vote for this bill? Is that what I heard you say?
KUCINICH: Well, I voted against the bill in the House. I voted against it, because it essentially is a privatization of our health care system, which already is creating double-digit premium increases four consecutive years. It's pricing more and more people out of health care.
And just simply requiring people to have health care, even with a government subsidy, may not solve the problem for the American people. Now, this is something that I have made no secret about, Rick, and I voted for the bill in committee. But when it -- a public option, which is the only way you control the insurance company rates, was stripped out, once that was stripped out, it really gave me some limitations about what I could do to be helpful, even though I want to be.
SANCHEZ: If you could -- if you...
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: You know what's interesting, Congressman? I listened to you yesterday. I was in my car when you were making your announcement.
And, because I live in Atlanta, of course, I was listening to it on a conservative radio talk show station, because that's all there is here. And, man, they were just blasting you, and making fun of you, and hating on you, because, of course, they liked you when you were going to vote against it, but...
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: ... they didn't like you so much yesterday, or when you made the decision.
But when I listen to you, you haven't changed on anything. You're just willing to vote for this, even though you still disagree with it, right?
KUCINICH: I'm willing to give it a chance to survive, so that, after this bill is done, we can move towards a more comprehensive approach to health care, which includes addressing diet, nutrition, complementary alternative medicine, even spiritual health practices.
We have -- we have got to enlarge the debate. If we don't, if -- if the bill fails, we won't get a chance to do that. And I -- when I learned that, from vote-counters, I was in a pivotal position, I -- I certainly didn't want to be the one that killed it, despite all the disagreements I have about it.
SANCHEZ: Now, there's a lot of folks out there who are saying, you know -- and, look, I'm reading some -- there's a lot of folks who are saying -- and I'm reading them on Twitter -- that they respect you for what you did, because it's an important vote and they needed it.
There's other folks saying, you know, he's no different than any other politician. They will go any way the wind takes them or whoever is doing them a favor. What do you say to those folks out there who are criticizing you pretty heavily for this?
KUCINICH: I did everything I could to bring about a public option and to secure the right of states to pursue single-payer. I was basically the last person standing on that. There were 77 members of the House last year who signed a pledge saying they were going to go and support the bill only if it had single-payer -- or not single-payer -- only if it had a public option.
And, then, when the bill came before the House, it didn't have a public option, 75 of those members voted for it. I was one of the ones who didn't. You know, let -- I -- I am going to continue my efforts, but -- Rick, but the fact of the matter is, the provision that -- the bill that's before us is not the bill I want, by any means.
SANCHEZ: Look -- looking at it...
KUCINICH: But it is what it is.
SANCHEZ: Looking at it through your eyes, and others who think as you do and are proponents of the public option, for example, if you really look at this bill, it's doing a huge favor to a lot of these insurance companies.
It's giving them thousands and -- tens of thousands of more customers that the governor -- the government is putting -- sit -- sitting on their lap and saying, here, here's 1,000 more, here's 1,000 more.
Do you have a problem with that?
KUCINICH: Of course I do. But, you know, I'm -- the reason I'm voting for it is to enable a space to be created for health care reform down the road.
Remember, when the Clintons advocated health care reform back in 1993- 1994, what happened is that it went down. It took 16 years to have another opportunity. If it goes down now, are we going to wait another 16 years?
So, we get a bill, however flawed. You get it passed. And then the thing that I'm interested in, which eventually leads to single-payer, I can start again. If we block this now, it's like this. I'm driving a car. I hit a sign that says roadblock. I can go through the roadblock, take the car over a cliff, or I can go around the -- go to a detour, and then try to get back to my destination.
I did not want to take this bill over a cliff.
SANCHEZ: Did you hear or see -- you were probably voting at the time, I think my -- my assistants told me. I just had a conversation with Michael Steele a little while ago, just before I talked to you. And I asked him why it is that we continue to hear people saying that we have the best health care system in the world, when we obviously don't?
What -- what do you...
KUCINICH: Well -- well...
SANCHEZ: What do you think when you hear people say, we have the greatest health care system in the entire world? What do you think of that?
KUCINICH: Well, this is what brought me into the issue to begin with, because, clearly, there are -- there's a lot of good medicine in this -- in the country.
SANCHEZ: Of course there is.
KUCINICH: But not everybody -- you know, some people can't afford it. Some people don't have access to it.
And -- and, so, there's plenty to challenge in that. But when I -- what I hope to do, in making this decision, Rick, is to enlarge the discussion beyond this bill, so that we can get to a point where we can redefine health care in America, look at the personal responsibilities for the choices that, you know, any of us make on diet and nutrition and exercise.
Look at it -- look at what we can do in pursuing alternative and complementary medicines.
SANCHEZ: But -- but you can't let -- you know you can't...
(CROSSTALK)
KUCINICH: Explore every area to enlarge the health care debate.
SANCHEZ: But you -- but, Congressman, you can't legislate that. You know that. You -- there -- there's no way you're going to teach...
KUCINICH: You know what?
SANCHEZ: Can you legislate -- can you tell people to -- to be good, you know?
(LAUGHTER)
KUCINICH: You know, you know, you can't -- you can't legislate it in -- in -- in the way that you state that.
But what you can do, is you can incentivize it, and you can create a spirit, a spirit of our times which says, look, obesity is a serious problem. We should look at the choices we're making as far as food. People are ending up with higher levels of cardiovascular risk. We should see the connection between that and diet.
We have to start becoming more health-conscious consumers. I mean, this is -- and -- and, if we can get a bill passed that can then create a space for a larger discussion about health care, then my making this decision will have served a higher purpose.
SANCHEZ: Let me ask you about the president himself. If you hadn't -- if you hadn't flipped on this and others don't do the same, and this bill dies because the Dems themselves don't vote for it, do you believe it would have ruined his presidency?
KUCINICH: Is the Obama presidency at stake here? Yes, it is. That's something that should give everyone pause.
You know, whether you voted for President Obama or not -- and I voted for him and I campaigned for him -- he is our president. He's our president for the next three years. And we should want him to succeed.
Now, I've had differences of opinion with the president on a whole range of things. This bill is a defining moment. I can't get what I want, but this isn't about me. This isn't about me clinging to -- hard to an ideological position while the rest of the country falls apart.
We have to look at this as a defining moment. We can help not just repair the opportunity for our president to be a stronger president, but we can make this a stronger democracy if we give our country a chance to enlarge the debate about health care.
And then the president needs help in turning to deal with matters of the economy, of jobs, unemployment, of the fact that small businesses can't get loans, housing. There's so many things we need to do, but we're all riveted to this health care debate. We need to pass this, move forward, and that's what I'm determined to help the president do.
SANCHEZ: And you think it will happen Sunday? You think Sunday we'll see the votes come through?
KUCINICH: I think that it will pass and I think that we will see it happen this week.
SANCHEZ: Congressman Dennis Kucinich, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir, for coming in and taking the time to take us through this.
KUCINICH: Rick, thanks for the chance to be with you. Thank you so much.
SANCHEZ: I appreciate it. We'll get you back, sir. Appreciate it.
KUCINICH: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: Take a look at this one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. BARNEY FRANK (D), MASSACHUSETTS: What we have just seen has been the total devastation of economic growth. We have seen economic leveling. We've seen economic decline because of the lack of regulation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Tomorrow, here on THE LIST, we've got another big politico. Barney Frank is going to be here to talk about the overhaul of our financial regulatory system. Maybe the biggest overhaul since the Great Depression. And we have been all over that, as you know, with Jessica Yellin on "Yellin's List" every day at 3:15.
And, of course, health care. We'll discuss that with him as well.
Next, hot off her big Oscar win, is it the ultimate slap in the face for Sandra Bullock? And it has to do with her husband and a woman with more tattoos than 20 drunken sailors.
That's ahead right here. What a bizarre story. Is she married to -- anyway, let's go to the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: I told you a little while ago because we have been following this story so carefully that, in fact, it does look like John Ensign, senator from Nevada, is being investigated. We know that because subpoenas are now going out and CNN has confirmed that.
I told you that I had interviewed him, was one of the first to ask him some of the very difficult questions about this sex scandal. No so much because he had a relationship outside of his marriage, but because he may have tried to cover it up and in the process got a lobbying job for the husband of his mistress. That's what's really on the table here.
There's John Ensign. Again, developing story that there are subpoenas going out.
Let's go to Mark Preston. He's got more information for us. He's been drilling down on this as well in Washington.
Mark, what you got?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, Rick.
Well, I'll tell you, certainly terrible news today for John Ensign. The fact that a federal grand jury has put out subpoenas regarding this is very, very bad news.
Of course, as you said, you had interviewed him just a short time ago. A couple months ago he said that he would always comply with any investigation that's ongoing.
I will tell you right now we do know a subpoena has gone to the National Republican Senatorial Committee. This is the fundraising arm for Republican senators.
I have been told by sources at the NRSC that it has nothing to do with their current operation. It has to do with the time when John Ensign headed that organization. That was the last election cycle.
Also, we should keep in mind, personally, while this could take down John Ensign personally, this could actually have an impact on the re- election bid of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He is a Democrat from Nevada. Republicans are trying to take him out.
It makes it a little bit more difficult, though, Rick, when you have one of the top Republicans in the state being investigated for ethics violations. So the GOP not very happy right now that one of their own is being investigated. Again, not a big surprise, but good news for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
SANCHEZ: Yes. So you're saying there's a possibility -- and I know you speak from experience, you're one of the best political diggers that we have at CNN. So you're not just kind of putting two things together out of nowhere.
The possibility that this could end up hurting the Republicans and helping Harry Reid, even though obviously we're talking about two different seats here, they're not opponents directly, but because it could create the opinion or the thinking in Nevada that Republicans, perhaps, are more apt to create malfeasance?
PRESTON: Sure. And let's look at it on two levels.
Nationally, the culture of corruption, a theme that Democrats ran on in 2006, 2008, they did very well. Well, as of late, Republicans were hoping to seize the mantle of that.
We saw that with Eric Massa just a few weeks ago. Eric Massa had to step down under his own ethics violations, a Democrat.
Well, I'll tell you, back in Nevada right now, if John Ensign did not have this dark cloud over his head, just think of what he could do to help try to unseat Harry Reid. It's not good for the Republican Party when they're trying to knock off the Democratic leader to have one of their own have some very, very, very deep problems.
SANCHEZ: Yes. No, maybe that's why it took me so long to get that question out. I was thinking through it because you're putting an idea in my head that I hadn't actually put -- I never put those two stories together, Harry Reid -- Harry Reid's situation and Ensign's situation. Interesting point. I'm glad you raised that.
Thanks so much, Mark. We appreciate it. Let us know whatever else you find, OK?
PRESTON: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: OK. Here's what else we got for you.
A famous television star has just passed away. And if you're a baby boomer like me, you have fond memories of his work.
This is one, especially if you're a boy -- because we all had a suit just like his. You'll know who I'm talking about.
And then "Brooke Block" is coming up in just a little bit. She brings us her own list.
A Hollywood marriage crumbles. This is a shocker when you consider what her husband, the husband of Sandra Bullock, did while she was creating an Academy Award-winning movie.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
I want to show you something that's going to make us all think of our childhood and the little costumes that we used to wear.
(MUSIC)
SANCHEZ: Fess Parker, there he is. He played Daniel Boone. We all grew up watching him. We all wanted to be like him.
I just thought I'd share that with you folks, because we just got information that he just passed away at home. I remember the outfit.
You don't remember that, do you, Brooke?
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: My dad always talked about Daniel Boone. I'm a child of the late '70s.
SANCHEZ: All right.
If you ever wondered if your pool cover can support the weight of a horse, wonder no more, folks. Why?
Time for best pictures.
We call this "Fotos del Dia."
Marshfield, Massachusetts. Excuse me, ma'am, but there's a pony in your swimming pool.
This 900-pound horse got out of the barn and galloped straight into another fine mess. Rescue crews brought in a backhoe and hauled her out of the deep end. The pony's find. A little chilly. Apparently the pool had one of those covers on it, and it looked like it was just something you could walk on.
BALDWIN: Can she do the pony paddle?
SANCHEZ: The pony paddle. Very good, Brooke. That's why we've got you here.
Now this. More life-or-death action. Watch the rescue guy. It looks like he needs some help and some long pants as well.
BALDWIN: Ouch.
SANCHEZ: A kayaker got in trouble on the Hilo (ph) River, lost his boat, got stuck in a tree, and then waited for the cavalry and some --
BALDWIN: Oh!
SANCHEZ: He's not hurt.
BALDWIN: He's like, I'm never going kayaking again.
SANCHEZ: No, I wouldn't be laughing. It looks like something I would do. Just ask my wife.
Anyway, he had a rugged day, you might say. And he lost his shorts.
Also this. Someone please tell me why the bad guys always run from the police. Eye in the sky. Watch this textbook pit maneuver.
They're going to turn the car around here. That's what they do.
Boom! Well done, huh? These guys are good.
A suspected stolen car. The driver led police on a high-speed chase. This is, of course, in Los Angeles.
It ended here in a neighborhood in Redondo Beach. Hands up. You are busted.
And you are on "Fotos del Dia."
BALDWIN: "Fotos del Dia."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, trying to negotiate a lasting peace between the Palestinian and the Israelis is tough. But it was a hell of a nice break from health care. God bless our troops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Yes, the vice president was a bit of a cut-up last night. If only folks would laugh at his jokes at the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner in Washington. Not everyone thought he was all that funny.
That's ahead. I'll let you hear for yourself, and you decide if the jokes were worthy of a ha-ha or even a big laugh.
And Brooke is here.
BALDWIN: Yes. No laughing matter in this next one.
SANCHEZ: Because it's "The Brooke Block." And you have your own list. And there you go.
BALDWIN: I like that shot.
Very nice, Robert.
SANCHEZ: I mean, that is what I call high-tech stuff just for you.
BALDWIN: Wow. White erase board. Very nice.
SANCHEZ: We'll be back. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey, welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Every day at this time we do something that's called "The Brooke Block." It's a list of stories that Brooke works on and then shares it with us.
And what is on your list today, Brooke?
BALDWIN: This story is a story that all the ladies on the show, we have been talking about this. We've been bombed. We have been bombed since breakfast time.
And now more details, Rick Sanchez. Your wife could be talking about this over dinner.
SANCHEZ: Oh, is it about Sandra Bullock?
BALDWIN: This is Sandra Bullock.
SANCHEZ: Oh, she's my favorite.
BALDWIN: Here's the thing. We initially had heard that she abruptly dropped out of the London premiere of her big movie in which she won best actress, "The Blind Side," due to what Warner Brothers is calling unforeseen personal reasons.
Well, what reason might that be? Well, "In Touch" magazine -- it's a tabloid magazine -- they broke this story that her husband, Jesse James, was having this 11-month affair with this woman.
She's a tattoo model. There she is. Her name is Michelle "Bombshell" McGee.
I watched this video. She actually does a little show and tell with the tattoo on her forehead. It reportedly says, "Pray for us sinners because we're all sinners in life."
She told the tabloid magazine that she had had a months-long affair with James while Bullock was here in Atlanta filming "The Blind Side." She said she met him when she applied with a modeling job for his company, West Coast Choppers.
In fact, I just got this statement. It's an apology from her husband. I want to read it for you. This is from Jesse James to Sandra Bullock from People.com (ph).
He says, "There was only one person to blame for this whole situation, and that is me. It is because of my poor judgment that I deserve everything bad that is coming my way. This has caused my wife and kids pain and embarrassment beyond comprehension, and I'm extremely saddened to have brought this on them."
"I am truly very sorry for the grief I've caused them. I hope one day they can find it in their hearts to forgive me."
CNN, of course, we reached out to James, Bullocks' attorneys, publicists. Have yet to hear back. There are reports that she has moved out of their family home in southern California. They've been married for just five years, raising his kids.
SANCHEZ: When you're married to a woman like Sandra Bullock, why?
BALDWIN: Thank you.
SANCHEZ: It just seems like the obvious question.
BALDWIN: I don't know.
SANCHEZ: And the woman does have more tattoos than 20 drunken sailors. I'm standing by that.
BALDWIN: He's very proud of that line.
SANCHEZ: What else you got?
BALDWIN: Let's move on.
Remember this story from a couple weeks ago -- southern California, the runaway Prius? It was James Sikes behind the wheel. He was doing, like, 90 on Highway 8 in San Diego.
His accelerator stuck. That's what he said. Well, his credibility was called into question.
Some people were saying fishy, fishy, Mr. Sikes. And Toyota did this investigation. They claim that Sikes' account of what happened was inconsistent, to use Toyota's words. And they did these tests.
Well, now, California Highway Patrol has released its incident report. And they maintain that Sikes was not lying.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER BRIAN PENNING, CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL: The highway patrol is completely neutral on this. We have no opinion one way or the other.
All we can work with is factual information. And as of right now, there is no factual information to discredit Mr. Sikes' statement.
Copious amounts of brake dust that were located inside the wheel well, on the rotors and on the calipers, as well as on the pavement inside the front wheels. Right now we have been presented -- the highway patrol, we have been presented no factual evidence that we can use to dispute Mr. Sikes 'statement. Mr. Sikes' statement is taken at his word at this point in time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So, as far as CHP is concerned, case closed.
SANCHEZ: Have I ever told you that I've always had a crush on Sandra Bullock?
BALDWIN: Oh, I have a total girl crush on Sandra Bullock. It's OK to admit that.
SANCHEZ: Is that OK?
BALDWIN: She seems beautiful inside and out.
SANCHEZ: And by the way, my wife knows about this. And I know about hers with Pitt's.
BALDWIN: Pitt? Brad Pitt?
SANCHEZ: Brad Pitt.
BALDWIN: Mr. Pitt's. Oh my goodness.
SANCHEZ: He's no Rick Sanchez, that guy.
BALDWIN: Right.
SANCHEZ: Thanks, Brooke. Appreciate it.
BALDWIN: Thanks.
SANCHEZ: Oh, God.
All right. When we come back, it's time for Wolf Blitzer. He is going to be joining us on a segment that he himself has named. It is called "The Wolf Pack." And we're talking health care.
Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: You know, trying to negotiate a lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis is tough. But it was a hell of a nice break from health care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Oh, Vice President Biden doing the Biden thing last night. The Biden thing is -- here's how it works. You tell a joke and no one laughs. Well, sort of.
Anyway, do we have a little more from that?
Let's do a little more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BIDEN: -- is credited with banishing snakes from Ireland. There were never any snakes in Ireland. St. Patrick just made that up, which for the first time I realized explained why he's the patron saint of Fox News.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Zing!
Mr. O'Reilly, you are on deck, sir.
I'm not sure. You know, as you look at Bill O'Reilly there, I can't quite figure out whether he's smiling or angry.
Time for "The Wolf Pack." And here's the list that Wolf brings us every day.
But first, Wolf, do you think Mr. O'Reilly is angry or smiling? Can you tell?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I couldn't really tell. But, you know, he's got that look. A look that is not a look of love.
SANCHEZ: He's a smart guy and he's got a great sense of humor. I'm sure he probably enjoyed it.
BLITZER: Probably.
SANCHEZ: All right.
So, your response to what appeared to be a bit of a brouhaha today on Capitol Hill? The Republicans are trying to stop the Democrats. There's even talk that they will take them to court on the constitutionality of the deem and pass, while the Dems are now saying we're ready to vote this weekend and we're going to give folks 72 hours to read this thing.
There was a lot of movement on this story today, Wolf.
BLITZER: Yes. We now know that the bill has basically been passed with all the changes, all the amendments.
They're going to have to pass the Senate version in one way or another, which a lot of Democrats are going to hold their noses and vote for. But then they're going to have these -- what they call the sidecar, all the changes that they want to make, eliminating some of the Senate language. And that's going to have to go back to the Senate. So, even if they pass it, Rick, this is going to take a while for all of it to be -- to go through, because in the Senate, the Republicans are saying they're going to introduce a lot of amendments. Amendment after amendment after amendment.
They're going to try to drag it out. They're going to try to tweak it, to change it. Then it's going to -- those amendments, whatever they change in the Senate, will have to go back to the House. So it's not a done deal by any means yet.
SANCHEZ: Well, but hold on. Once the -- once they pass something on Sunday, let's say they come back on Sunday as it looks like they're going to do.
BLITZER: It looks like they're going to do it Sunday afternoon.
SANCHEZ: Sunday afternoon, right. Doesn't that at least start the process at least at that point? Wouldn't it be very difficult for the opposition to stop the process?
BLITZER: If they pass the Senate bill as is, and they vote and pass that bill, that bill can then go to the president, and it becomes the law of the land. As soon as the president signs it, the Cornhusker, the Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, the special benefits for Florida Medicare-plus recipients, $800 billion, whatever that is -- $800 million, I think -- whatever that is for the special treatment for Florida seniors, that will be the law of the land.
What they want to do, though, is they want to eliminate some of that in this side legislation, the reconciliation bill, as they call it. And that has to go back to the Senate for consideration. And that could take some time.
SANCHEZ: That's amazing. Well, I'll tell you --
BLITZER: Even though it only needs 51 votes in the Senate, there are procedural ways, parliamentary maneuvers, ways that the Republicans can dramatically slow it down, because they can introduce amendment after amendment and force roll calls, some of which the Democrats will be inclined to support. They could make changes which would then have to go back to the House. So, in the meantime, if the president signs the Senate version into law, that Senate version is the law of the land until it's changed.
SANCHEZ: This is becoming very procedural. And obviously there's a lot of maneuvering that's going to be taking place.
Wolf, this is going to be a fun story to cover.
BLITZER: Let me just tell you and your viewers something interesting? Scott Brown, the newest senator, he's going to be in "THE SITUATION ROOM" in the next hour. He's a Republican from Massachusetts and we've got a lot of questions for him.
SANCHEZ: Good. And with all his clothes on, I hope.
BLITZER: Yes.
SANCHEZ: You'll explain that later to the viewers. Right?
Appreciate it.
Wolf Blitzer coming up in "THE SITUATION ROOM.".
Take a look at this. If you only thought that this happened in the movie, well, guess what? It happens in real life.
We're going to be right back. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Welcome back. I'm Rick Sanchez.
Want to show you some amazing video from Australia.
This guy stole a car on Wednesday and was chased by police. The pursuit lasted for hours.
At one point he darts past a police blockade, then he careens off of the road into a park, forces the driver out of another car, and then tries to do the same with three others. Then look what he does! He forces that guy out right there.
That's the money video. And then he takes off. Police are like, I can't believe this guy has done this again.
The chase finally ends when the suspect rams a police cruiser and rolls his stolen car. He was injured and admitted to a hospital this morning. As he was being taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair, he jumped up and ran. Unbelievable.
Talk about somebody who just can't be stopped.
That's our news. Thanks for being with us today on RICK'S LIST. We'll be looking for you again tomorrow.
I'm Rick Sanchez.
Here now, Wolf Blitzer and "THE SITUATION ROOM."
