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Rick's List

Textbooks Failing Oklahoma City Students?; Search Continues for Miners; Palin Campaigning in Minneapolis; Early Look at Midterm Elections; Unrest in Kyrgyzstan; Interview With Golf Caddy Carl Jackson

Aired April 07, 2010 - 16:00   ET

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

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

KEVIN STRICKLIN, ADMINISTRATOR FOR COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH, U.S. MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION: These are typical numbers after an explosion. And you just have to clear the area out, make sure there's not another explosion, or a chance of another explosion.

Make sure there is not another fire that exists. And make sure the oxygen content is enough to allow rescuers to go in and comfortably evaluate the situation, without worrying about that something bad is going to happen to them.

(CROSSTALK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: All right, everyone, Don Lemon here at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

You are listening to a press conference that's being held in Naoma -- Naoma, West Virginia, right now, about those trapped coal miners. They are talking about trying to get a third hole drilled in to try to get some of that gas out, that methane gas that is posing a problem for rescue -- rescuers and for the people who are trapped in there as well.

Let us not forget that this can cause possibly another explosion, which would be worse, a tragedy on top of a tragedy. So, that is why they said they are going gingerly to try to get this all done.

Listening to all of this is our person on the ground. Our Brooke Baldwin joins us.

Brooke, you heard Kevin Stricklin. He's with the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. You heard the governor there before saying they are pretty close. They drilled through the first hole, right? They got the first hole. They have a second one that is adjacent to that. And they have a third one, and to try to get that gas out. A total of five, they are going to need, because, one, they need to monitor.

So, as you are there on the ground, what are you hearing?

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think what I'm making from that press conference, when they talk about parts per million, methane, carbon monoxide, oxygen, I think it all boils down to they are not ready to go in yet, you know, and that was really, I think, probably discouraging for a lot of miners' families who are likely watching, just like the rest of the world.

They can't go in yet because they cannot put these rescuers' lives at risk. Keep this mind, Don, on Monday, these rescuers were not just 500 feet of this final rescue chamber where these four miners, or perhaps three of them, are. So, they are certainly not taking any chances with the -- the rescuers.

We have had a camera -- this is just an interesting piece of the story just to kind of get a perspective of how this whole process works. This is new to all of us really covering this. So, you mentioned those -- we have these five holes. One of the holes has gone all the way down, 1,100 feet.

They have take this massive exhaust fan, which I think we have pictures of, and it is essentially sucking all that bad gas, the methane, the bad gas, out of there, so they are testing, and they're talking about the numbers as they are testing.

What was interesting is, Kevin Stricklin with MSHA was saying what they might end up doing is put cameras down there, and those cameras could perhaps see -- I don't know -- I think the number I caught was 100 feet, to see if there's any kind of movement.

But MSHA really, bottom line, has said, you know, look, the only way these guys could survive, if -- is, in fact, they are in this rescue chamber.

And, if I can, I would like to just -- let's toss to the sound bite from the vice president of Massey Energy's surface operations just talking about this entire painstakingly slow drilling process.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE SNELLING, VICE PRESIDENT OF SURFACE OPERATIONS, MASSEY ENERGY COMPANY: We have one drill currently in operation. That's drilled down about 560 feet. Right next to that, we have another drill hole that's already been drilled and in place. And it's about 1,100 feet deep. The diameter of the hole is six inches.

And what we have done is, we have put an exhausting fan on that hole so that we can take air readings to measure the quality of the air that's down in the mine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: And then, of course, Don, the next question is, whenever this -- this air testing is finished, and then they can send these rescuers in, the question is, how long would this rescue effort take? And they have still not given us any kind of timetable there.

LEMON: Yes.

You did a very good job of explaining that. Some of the holes, obviously, will be used to put equipment in, even sound equipment, Brooke, because they want to hear tapping to see if they hear movement, even breathing, whatever they can hear.

And, then, also, they -- they -- they wanted to see if they can possibly put a camera down, if a camera will go 500 feet.

Hey, listen.

BALDWIN: Right.

LEMON: This is the interesting thing. And you are there. And I want to get this out, because we are talking about people, obviously, the guys who are down there and who could still be alive, we hope, and the 25 others that they have taken out.

But these are families, really, who are in desperate need right now and who the whole country, really the world, are feeling -- is feeling for.

BALDWIN: Yes.

LEMON: The governor called this a sliver of hope, and he said that the miners and the family members around him really clinging to that sliver of hope right now.

BALDWIN: Absolutely.

And I think it is kind of interesting. The rhetoric has changed. You know, I covered Sago. A lot of us here with CNN covered Sago four years ago.

And when you heard from Governor Manchin January of 2006, he was very hopeful, you know, kept using the M-word, miracle. He keeps mentioning in these news conferences Randy McCloy Jr. He is that sole survivor from Sago.

They have really tampered that, that hope, down. Certainly, everyone is hopeful, including, you know, not just, Don, the families, but the miners themselves in this community. And if I may just share a quick story, you know, I ran into a 19-year-old miner this morning, coal all over his face, all over his hands.

And he told me, you know: What happened is horrific. I hope it doesn't happen to me. But it is a way of life, and it runs in the family.

Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSHUA MITCHELL, MINER: They are your family. You spend more time with them than you do with your real family. So, you just grow into a community of family.

BALDWIN: Does your own family work in coal? MITCHELL: Yes, my uncle Pete (ph), my uncle (INAUDIBLE) my uncle Scott (ph). My papa (ph) did. My dad did. My papa (ph) Rudy (ph) did, yes, my whole -- my whole family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Amazing, isn't it? That was Joshua Mitchell. He's only been 18 weeks on the job. He's a contracted employee, just makes $12 an hour. He is hoping, he said, essentially for the big time. The only game in town, working for Massey Energy. He is hoping he will get his break soon, despite what's happened here at Upper Big Branch.

LEMON: Wow. And, again, our thoughts and prayers go out with those families and the men who, let's hope they are still alive, right, Brooke?

Brooke, thank you so much.

BALDWIN: Absolutely.

LEMON: You're doing a great job there. We will check back with you in just a little bit, OK?

BALDWIN: OK.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Clear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're engaging.

(GUNFIRE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. Look at this. This is a viral video. It had chilling consequences. U.S. forces opened fire on what was thought to be a group of Iraqi insurgents. It turns out two Reuters journalists were mistakenly killed here. A family of one of the journalists speaks out. That is straight ahead.

And those are just some of the deadly -- deadly clashes that are erupting in Kurdistan -- look at that -- the same region that is home to a key supply -- a key supply center, I should say, in the U.S. fight against the Taliban. Riots have escalated all day. We will have the very latest for you coming up. The pictures are unbelievable.

And making the list of price hikes: One airline is now charging for carry-on bags. Can you believe it? And the fees are pretty steep. That's next on the LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hey, listen. We have some -- some breaking news to tell you about on CNN. And it concerns the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

Let me get you the information that just came across the wires here. And this is according to the Associated Press. Here's what they are reporting. They're saying law enforcement officials are telling the Associated Press that the FBI has arrested a Northern California man for making threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over health care reform.

It goes on to say several federal officials say the man made dozens of calls to Pelosi's home in California and in Washington, as well as her husband's office. Charges against the alleged caller have yet to be disclosed. The officials demanded anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss this case publicly.

And you may remember, just yesterday here on RICK'S LIST, they were reporting about conservative Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn saying that people needing to be nicer to Nancy Pelosi and on and on. We have seen the rocks and the bricks thrown through people -- on both sides, that it's been happening.

So, again, according to the Associated Press, someone has been arrested -- and the FBI -- someone has been arrested in Northern California making threatening phone calls to Nancy Pelosi, to Nancy Pelosi.

OK. I'm sorry. Say again? All right. Great.

All right. So, listen, as soon as we get more information on that, we are going to bring it to you.

So, listen, I want to say that: Stay off my Facebook page, mom. That's what a 16-year-old in Arkansas is suing his mom over. He says she slandered him on his profile.

Her name is Denise New. She's been charged with harassment. The prosecutor says she hacked into her son's account, changed his password, and posted slanderous things about him. She says she just needs to know what's going on with him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENISE NEW, SUED BY SON OVER FACEBOOK TAMPERING: I read things about -- on his Facebook about how he had gone to Hot Springs one night and was driving 95 miles an hour home because he was upset with a girl. And it was his friend that called me and told me about all this that prompted me to even actually start really going through his Facebook to see what was going on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK. So, Denise New says she is within her legal rights to monitor her son, who lives with his grandmother. She says the whole thing has gotten a bit out of hand, but she vows that she's going to keep fighting this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) NEW: It is crazy to me that we are even having this interview. I'm going to fight it. If I have to go even higher up, I'm going to. I'm not going to let this rest. I think that it is a precedent. It could be a precedented moment for parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. The prosecutor is not commenting, citing the boy's age.

Denise New's plea date is set for next month. I mean, before we go anywhere, when I was a kid, if I did that, my mom would say, I'm going to give you something to sue about. So, I mean, don't parents have the right to know what their kids are doing, especially when kids are on the Internet, some of them getting abducted, talking to the wrong people? I'm just saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANN-CLORE DUNCAN, TRUSTEE, MEMORIAL MUSEUM: The bombing hasn't been covered in their history classes at all. It is not currently part of the required curriculum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Want to learn about the Oklahoma City bombing? Students there can visit the memorial, but they can't find much about the tragedy in their own textbooks. Why? And will that change? That is ahead for you.

Plus, L.A.'s mayor plays hardball, and it's residents and city workers who could take the hit. That's enough to put him on the top of our list this hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: So, before we move on here, let's talk about the story with the mom whose son is suing her over her Facebook account and wants to keep him out of her Face -- keep her out of his Facebook account.

Let's read some of your tweets. This is from @ricksanchezcnn.

"Kid sues mom for snooping on his Facebook profile. Invasion of privacy?" It says, "F.B. is public domain," meaning Facebook is public domain.

"What was that clueless snooping mom thinking? Her Generation W.E., globally oriented child needs to discipline her. Geez."

Also, "As a former kid, I know kids' activities should be monitored for their safety. Kids will never understand until they are grown."

Flip over there real quickly to one of mine, because you guys have been tweeting me about Roland Martin. Don't get it twisted. I knew what Roland was saying. All I was telling Roland is that he didn't have a crystal ball to know where each of us would be sitting now. And when he explained himself the second time, it was better. It's not that I disagreed with him.

And I am fine. Roland and I talk like that all the time. We're friends. We knew each other even before he came to CNN.

And, also, OK, someone said: "You are a young kid. Roland knows. He is older than you."

Roland is younger than me. So, again, don't get it twisted.

All right, thank you very much. Appreciate your feedback.

Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has been diagnosed with breast -- breast cancer. She has told "People" magazine that the disease was detected early and the prognosis is excellent.

She says she is lucky her condition wasn't worse, because she went four years between mammograms. Navratilova is 53. Wow, nine- time -- nine-time Wimbledon champion who still plays tennis and hockey.

And, by the way, CNN's "LARRY KING LIVE" interviews her tonight. It's an exclusive interview. Make sure you tune in, 9:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

Police have completed their investigation of Ben Roethlisberger. Today, we learned that the officers have turned over the results of their investigation to the DA. NFL star Ben Roethlisberger faces allegations of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman in Milledgeville, Georgia. Police said they would not comment until the DA makes a decision on whether any charges are warranted. So far, Roethlisberger has not been charged with a crime.

A violent revolution on the streets of Central Asia, and it is happening right now. The State Department says it can't confirm reports that the government of Kyrgyzstan has fallen. There are reports this hour that as many as 40 people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces. Thousands are on the streets of the former Soviet republic calling for the government to resign. Police used tear gas, water cannons, and guns to get the crowd under control.

Just listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fires. It's been firing steadily. (INAUDIBLE) louder booms. The smaller shots, I guess, are handheld canisters. And the larger ones, maybe they're for large-scale dispersal. This is my walk that I take every day home. (INAUDIBLE) Fire trucks. (INAUDIBLE) as fast as they can. They are backing them up.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Boy, that is frightening. The government has declared a state of emergency. At least 400 people are reportedly injured. The State Department is watching this one very carefully. Kyrgyzstan has been politically unstable for years. And it is a location of a key U.S. military base that supplies troops in Afghanistan. We will be watching that one closely here on CNN.

Jailhouse revelations from inmates who were friends with Casey Anthony in prison. Anthony, as you remember, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her daughter Caylee. Now, according to police documents released yesterday, Anthony confided to one prison friend that she used chloroform to knock Caylee out, so she could go out at night.

Another inmate told police Anthony claimed to have used chloroform to help the child sleep. Investigators found traces of chloroform in the trunk of a car that Anthony owned after Caylee's disappearance back in June of 2008.

Many details about Anthony's state of mind come from letters she's sent to one of those friends. Anthony's attorney says the letters didn't include incriminating information and show her love for her daughter.

We are watching a beached whale in another story in East Hampton, Long Island. It is not in good shape. And the president of the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation says they are trying to take care of the animal as best they can. The group says the humpback whale may have gotten separated from others in its family group.

And get this one. Starting in August, Spirit Airlines will become the first U.S. major carrier to charge passengers to carry-on their luggage. What do you think about that? You will have to fork over up to $45 for the bags you put in the overhead bins. And in a TripAdvisor.com survey, no surprise here, 90 percent of those questioned say they would not pay the fee.

Would you?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Remember the good things Tiger has done. He has done a lot for kids and a lot for golf. So, let's -- let's go forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: A caddy to history, an insider on some of the Masters' best moments. His reaction to this year's top draw, Tiger Woods, that is straight ahead.

And why isn't one of the worst moments in recent American history actually in history books? That's the question they are asking in Oklahoma City -- next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK.

All right, so, listen. You know who that is? Sarah Palin. She's in Minneapolis for Michele Bachmann.

Let's listen in and then we will talk about it a little bit.

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SARAH PALIN (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR: She said no to that. We want a system that expands choices and freedom and competition. We want a system that we can afford, not another new entitlement program that breaks the bank and really violates much of our Constitution.

Now, Michele told the Democrats to stop, start over. She told them to kill the bill. And now it is Michele who is leading the charge to replace this thing.

(APPLAUSE)

PALIN: Thankfully, Michele is part of that loyal opposition in Washington. She's standing up. She's speaking out. She's offering commonsense conservative solutions to the challenges our country faces.

And when the left tries to push through policies that violate our conscience and our values and our Constitution, it's Michele who is trying to get them to halt. Michele doesn't just tell them no. She tells them H-E-L-L no.

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

PALIN: You know --

(APPLAUSE)

PALIN: -- here, the Republicans have been getting criticized lately with this -- with this mistaken concept, I guess, sort of surrounding Republicans right now, that they are the party of no, that we are the party of no.

And we are saying, what's wrong with being the party of no, when you consider what it is that Obama --

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

PALIN: -- Pelosi, and Reid are trying to do to our country?

(CHEERING AND APPLAUSE)

PALIN: So be it -- not when it violates our Constitution.

Michele knows that we can't spend our way out of problems. And, this fireball, she is not afraid to stand up with that stiff spine. And I think she notices, too, that, as her spine has stiffened, it sure makes the rest of us be inspired and stand up even stronger and do what is right.

LEMON: Listen. As we told you, we would bring you some of the moments there in Minneapolis. And that is none other than Sarah Palin. And she's campaigning on behalf -- it's really a fund-raiser Representative Michele Bachmann.

Republicans there are trying to, you know, go against the Democrats come 2010 in the midterms coming November of this year. So, they are trying to shore up support. They're bringing in Sarah Palin. Tim Pawlenty, who is a possible presidential hopeful on the GOP side, will also be at this fund-raiser for Representative Michele Bachmann. So, we shall see how it turns out.

But there's Sarah Palin, who is believed to be, obviously, the main draw, the most famous of the group here, speaking out on behalf of Michele Bachmann, talking about the health care bill -- she disagreed with it -- and if people in that state, in Minnesota, wanted do get anything done, then they would send Michele Bachmann back to the House of Representatives.

So, again, Sarah Palin, again, Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Convention Center. We will continue to update that. If any news comes out of it, we will bring it to you, of course, here on CNN.

It is an indelible part of our history. Nearly 15 years ago, when the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City was bombed, killing 168 people. But Oklahoma residents worried that students too young to remember the attack weren't being taught about what happened on April 19, 1995.

Where were you? Remember that day? I do. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed a law yesterday. Textbooks used by students in the state now must include information on the attack. And officials are now making sure that day becomes part of the required curriculum.

Reporter Alex Cameron of affiliate KWTV shows us what led to those changes.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Holy cow. About a third of the building has been blown away.

ALEX CAMERON, KWTV REPORTER (voice-over): We may remember this like it was yesterday, but it was almost 15 years ago. And students today don't remember it at all, not because the Survivor Tree has stopped teaching about resilience, the chairs have stopped teaching about the cost of violence, or because the fence no longer teaches the importance of community.

It's because, basically, no one else is helping to spread the word.

ANN-CLORE DUNCAN, TRUSTEE, OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM: I was very disappointed. CAMERON: Ann-Clore Duncan, a trustee of the Memorial Museum, found out her two high school kids haven't been taught anything about what happened here.

DUNCAN: The bombing hasn't been covered in their history classes at all. It is not currently part of their required curriculum.

CAMERON: Believe it or not, that's true, as the memorial director herself discovered firsthand while speaking at an assembly last year.

KARI WATKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL & MUSEUM: And, as I looked up to 250 or so high school students, I could just see this blank stare, like I was almost speaking in a foreign language. I mean, they had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the Oklahoma City bombing.

BOBBY TANNER, TEACHER, CUSHING HIGH SCHOOL: Most of these kids right now that I have got in class were, you know, 1 or 2 years old when this happened.

CAMERON: Bobby Tanner teaches Oklahoma history at Cushing High School. He says he tries to cover the bombing, but there's not much on it in their textbook.

(on camera): That's about it right there?

TANNER: That's pretty much it. So, it's -- it's -- for such a big deal, it is -- we have got basically two pages.

CAMERON (voice-over): In the other Oklahoma history textbooks used in the state, same story, two or three pages at most.

But the real problem is that the bombing is not what's known as a PASS standard, a topic or event that the state requires teachers to cover in-depth, like the Trail of Tears is a PASS standard, the land runs, statehood, the Dust Bowl.

TANNER: It is hard to get through all of it.

CAMERON: Tanner says, with just one semester to cover all those and more, teaching the bombing just can't be a priority.

TANNER: As it is right now, no, it is not. But -- and I think that's why we need to make it a priority.

CAMERON: That's exactly what state superintendent Sandy Garrett and the Board of Education are doing. At the urging of the memorial staff, they are amending the PASS standards to include the bombing starting next school year.

SANDY GARRETT, OKLAHOMA STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION: I would have liked to have done it sooner, but the social studies cycle for changing the standards was not really there yet. But we think that it is high time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Thanks to our affiliate for that report.

Listen, this is just in. We reported just a short time ago about the man arrested for allegedly threatening Nancy Pelosi. Well, CNN has confirmed that now. And this is from Joseph Schadler with the FBI in San Francisco. He is saying that a man was arrested just a short time ago in San Francisco for allegedly threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The FBI identified the suspect. Here's his name: Gregory Guisti, G-U-I-S-T-I.

So, anyway, they are not saying exactly how old he is, but they do confirm arrested in San Francisco just a short time ago for alleged threatening House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It is believed that he made some phone calls to her offices in both Washington and in California, and also made some phone calls to her husband's place of business as well.

We'll continue to update you on that story as we get more information here on CNN.

Meantime, listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I see your element got about four Humvees.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're clear.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Firing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Two Reuters journalists in Baghdad mistaken for insurgents are shot dead by U.S. forces. This tape recently surfaced, and it's really painful for the families. And painful as it is to see at least one person here, one of the journalists here, their families talk to us about it. And we're going to let you hear what they have to say straight ahead.

THE LIST just scrolls on here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A budget crisis playing out big time in California. And the man who is dealing with it is on our "List U Don't Want 2 Be On."

It is L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He may have to furlough thousands of city employees next week and institute some drastic service cuts for residents. He is calling for a shutdown of nonessential agencies and departments two days a week, things like libraries, parks and community centers. He says there's just no way around it.

The city could be out of cash by May 5th. That's not that far in the future. I want you to listen to what he told our Ali Velshi just a little earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA (D), LOS ANGELES: There's no scenario where we don't have to trim our services and the cost of our payroll. The fact is, a big part of the city budget is payroll. You know, our employees have, you know, medical benefits, retirement, they have wages under their contract that are guaranteed. And so unless they take cuts, which I've asked them to do, we are going to have to make these cuts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. And this just in from the Associated Press. It says the L.A. City Council now has moved to take control of the Department of Water and Power away from the mayor.

It's that utility's refusal to hand over $73 million that is blamed for deepening the city's financial crisis. Now, dealing with all that, well, that doesn't sound like an easy job. Right?

And that's why L.A.'s mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, is on "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On."

Take a look at this gentleman right there in the green hat and the white suit to the right. He has caddied for some of the best in golf, spanning decades at events like the Masters. He has seen it all.

So what does he think about the Tiger Woods circus and more just ahead?

And we'll explain that very emotional picture right there. Controversy and pain. Collateral damage from this accidental shooting of two journalists by U.S. pilots. A family member speaks out on this moments away.

THE LIST keeps scrolling.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. On the follow-up list right now, we're getting reaction to this incredible video that we showed you yesterday. Pay close attention.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Crazyhorse 18. Have the individuals left?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got a weapon, too.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So the reaction today is coming from the family of one of the journalists who died in this event. Let me reset this for you.

It's June, 2007, violence is spiking in Baghdad. Lots of American and coalition casualties there.

U.S. gunships, Apache helicopters are overlooking a street in a violent neighborhood. They are eyeing what they thought was a group of Iraqi insurgents.

They would open fire on the group, and two of the casualties would turn out to be journalists. At about this point, you will see a black box on the screen. You'll see that come up. And the reason that we do this is because it is CNN's policy to protect viewers from extremely graphic footage.

This video is of a group of men being shot and killed. Listen in just a little bit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. We just engaged all eight individuals.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're still firing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger, I got them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two-Six, we're mobile.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oops. I'm sorry. What was going on?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. So CNN talked to the family of one of slain journalists Saeed Chmagh. His brother had this reaction to this horrific video, horrific to watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAFA CHMAGH, BROTHER OF KILLED JOURNALIST (through translator): This video showed the truth, all of it, the truth that nobody knew behind the killing of the journalists. When this video was broadcast on television, it showed the whole truth.

Thank God the truth has been revealed and the blood of the innocent people hasn't wasted. What did the two journalists do wrong to deserve to be killed by this American pilot? They were just doing their jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Just doing their jobs.

So Chmagh's son expressed pride in the job his father was attempting to do. Listen to him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SALWAN CHMAGH, SON OF KILLED JOURNALIST (through translator): I am proud of my father because he tried to show the truth. He tried to, but I feel sad because he was killed very suddenly. My father was such a wonderful person. He made a mark with his journalism.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: All right. So, listen, if you want to see that entire video uncensored, you can go to CNN.com. Again, CNN.com. The entire video there, uncensored.

Moving on, it doesn't matter which party, which state, which campaign. This man, the president, is the most important person in the midterm elections. And we'll explain that. That's according to one of the top political bloggers in this business. He's going to explain why, next on THE LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right. You want to learn what's going to -- we'll take you all the way forward to November. You'll probably pay attention to what's going on with the midterm elections, but we're just going to give you a quick -- here's what's going to happen.

You know, this next person we are talking about, he once used statistics to help predict future stars on the baseball diamond. Now Nate Silver takes numbers and makes predictions on the world of politics. And he's pretty good at it, too, even making "TIME" magazine's list of "The 100 Most Influential People." That's a pretty big deal.

And Silver, the founder of the political Web site FiveThirtyEight.com, he joins us now, this afternoon, to help make sense of the upcoming elections.

So, according to you, I don't know, you already know what's going to happen here, Nate. So we're glad that you are here to talk to us today.

So let's start with your predictions here. What are the most interesting races to you this fall that's not getting a lot of attention and that could make a real difference when it comes to the balance of power in Washington?

NATE SILVER, FOUNDER, FIVETHIRTYEIGHT.COM: Sure. I mean, you know, I think a state like California and the Senate is pretty interesting, where Barbara Boxer has been kind of a stalwart in California for years, she's very identifiably liberal. Might be in some trouble now.

And California's a state where, even relative to the rest of the country, they really have trouble with incumbents of any kind because the state is having a fiscal crisis. All kinds of things are going wrong there. So, for her to lose, I guess you could say the same thing about Massachusetts, but it would be a sign that the tide has moved far enough for the Democrats that really are not just in some trouble, but pretty deep trouble, potentially.

LEMON: Yes, pretty deep trouble.

OK. So, listen, some of the more high-profile races in Nevada. The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, may be in trouble in Nevada. We saw the big Tea Party there last week which was in Searchlight, his hometown.

So, coming off of his health care victory, why is Reid struggling at home if he had a big win in Washington?

SILVER: Well, number one, the health care bill isn't that popular nationally. But number two, if you look at majority leaders over time, it tends to be a bad seat to be in, where Bill Frist had to retire. He thought he had presidential ambitions. And, you know, Tom Daschle before that.

When you're the majority leader, you are not looking out for your state, but for your entire constituency. It's kind of a no-win position as far as your constituents are concerned. And there's really a pretty strong track record where, when you have a majority leader, he's more vulnerable than he would be otherwise. I think Harry Reid would need -- he's got a lot of money, you know, the candidate (INAUDIBLE), but we need a minor miracle at least to pull out that race in Nevada.

LEMON: All right. I can go in and talk more about this, but I want to move on because I want to give our viewers -- you know, talk about the key thing that's going to happen in November here.

Pennsylvania, another Senate veteran, Arlen Specter, facing a tough race. He switched parties and now he's going to run as a Democrat. So where does he stand?

SILVER: Well, I think voters are confused about what he stands for. I mean, it's hard to do that, where you make a switch for purely opportunistic motives.

But at the same time, he's a guy that, over time, had built up a lot of credibility in Pennsylvania. He's a sympathetic figure, he's a cancer survivor.

The opponent is not a terrific candidate. He's a guy who was in the Congress before, but is maybe a little bit too conservative, even for Pennsylvania. So that race, I think, will wind up being more of a tossup. It's a better opportunity for Democrats to hold than Nevada, certainly.

LEMON: OK. So, listen, you've laid it out for us, some of the key races here. So, listen, let's get on to this.

You predicted a rough November for Democrats in the House and the Senate. You said it's going to be tough. Not as bad though as some first thought.

What's your latest projection on how many seats that may be lost there from Democrats?

SILVER: I would still say probably 40 or so in the House. I mean, when it looked like there might have been a bounce in the health care polls the week after it was done, then I was marginally optimistic for the Democrats. But that's mostly evaporated. You can see the passion is still on the conservative side, by and large.

I do think Democrats will turn out. There's not going to be the total perfect storm where Democrats don't bother to go to the polls. They know it's an important election. But between how the Independents will vote and the really huge passion you see on the right, embodied by the Tea Parties and so much else, those voters are going to turn out and not vote for Democrats, and Democrats are just going to have to try and tread water here and kind of barely hold on to both chambers.

LEMON: So, Nate, listen, I'm really up against a break here. My producer is going to kill me. But we promised this in the tease.

You said the president -- can we show the president throwing the baseball out at the Washington Nationals as we're talking about numbers and predictions here?

So you said the president, he is the most important person and figure to look forward to in November. And if you can do this for me very quickly, ,why is that?

SILVER: Just history. If you look back at what correlates best with how the party does, it's presidential approval. Not the economy, not the generic ballot, but presidential approval is kind of the key factor in modern politics.

LEMON: OK. All right.

Nate Silver, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Thanks for answering our questions.

We're back in a moment here on RICK'S LIST.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Time now for today's "Wolf Pack." Let's bring Wolf Blitzer right in, because Wolf is the expert here on politics.

Wolf, good to see you.

I'm understanding that we're being told the country's foreign minister told CNN just a few minutes ago she is in charge of an interim government. And then, also, someone else telling John King that all American citizens and personnel in the country have been accounted for.

This is very important considering we have a base there.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: In Kyrgyzstan. It is strategically very important. I remember visiting Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, back in 1991, when James Baker was then secretary of state. I covered that trip to what was then a republic of the former Soviet Union. But it's located -- if you have a map over there, it's located not far away, and it's a base from which U.S. troops deploy to Afghanistan, so it's got some significant, strategic value to the United States.

The U.S. would like to see stability in Kyrgyzstan. Right now it's anything but unstable. You see these dramatic that are pictures coming in. So there's a lot at stake. The hope is that whenever the dust settles there, the same kind of pro-U.S., pro-western-oriented government will emerge that will allow the U.S. to maintain that strategically important facility there while, at the same time, working with that government.

So it's a serious problem, and it's very fluid right now. And it's deadly, too, because some of those demonstrations have turned very, very violent.

LEMON: Yes. And they look violent from the pictures we are getting. And we're checking on it.

But Wolf, we can change the date on this very similar sort of protest back in 2005. Corruption really led to the overthrow of that government, so the last government was elected under familiar, similar circumstances.

BLITZER: It's been an unstable political environment for a while, but as I say, the stakes are really significant, especially for the United States.

Let's not lose sight of this, Don. The protesters, they're really angry, not over foreign policy or over what that government in Kyrgyzstan is doing towards the United States or Afghanistan. They're angry because of the bread and butter issues. The price of a lot of products, including gasoline, are skyrocketing right now, and people are blaming the government because that's what they do.

LEMON: Hey, Wolf, this is a coincidence, but some of the members of the Kyrgyz government, they were on their way to Washington. What were they on their way to do there, and to meet with whom when this violence erupted?

BLITZER: Well, they're coming here for next week. The president is hosting about 40 world leaders. They're coming to Washington over the weekend, and Monday and Tuesday they will be here on these nuclear-related issues. They are going to sign a new international nuclear agreement, part three of the president's plan.

The president is going to be in Prague, as you know. He's leaving tomorrow night. He's actually leaving tonight. He'll be in Prague tomorrow. And earlier, they reached an agreement with Russia, the U.S. and Russia, ,on a new START treaty.

So, the nuclear-related issues are very much front and center right now. And representatives from Kyrgyzstan were supposed to be coming to Washington this weekend to participate in that international summit.

LEMON: Thank you, Wolf. I always learn so much from you. If I'm not at home, it's always locked on you on satellite radio between 5:00 and 7:00 Eastern.

Thank you, sir.

BLITZER: You're a good man. You're a good man, Don.

LEMON: Thank you very much.

Hey, listen, a very famous golf caddy when we come back. You'll want to pay attention.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Tiger Woods not the only one making news returning to the Masters this year.

Do you know the name Carl Jackson? He's a fascinating story.

Carl Jackson is a caddy. And when Jackson arrives at the first tee tomorrow, it will be his 49th Masters. And, as always, Jackson is looping (ph) for his buddy Ben Crenshaw, who has won not once, but twice at the Masters, including a storybook performance back in 1995.

Well, today I spoke with Jackson about his famous win, about the changes at the Masters over the years, and, of course, his thoughts about the return of Tiger Woods tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Mr. Jackson, you know, this is -- you have been doing this for quite a long time, almost 50 years, and you know the whole controversy and everything going on with Tiger.

Is this any different to you than any other year, even with that controversy?

CARL JACKSON, PROFESSIONAL GOLF CADDY: No. It don't feel any different. Tiger has been received well, from what I can see, and it doesn't have any extra spirit about it or anything.

LEMON: Yes. The interesting thing is, I was out there yesterday, and I saw, just in my perspective, just people cheering Tiger and rooting him on. And when you talked to a couple of the spectators in the crowd, they said, "I don't really care what he does off the golf course. Just let him play golf, and that's why I'm here."

JACKSON: The way I see it is, you know, remember the good things Tiger has done. He's done a lot for kids and a lot for golf. So let's go forward.

LEMON: How have things changed at the course, even for you, even for the caddies, since 1961, when it comes to the way people treat you, when it comes to maybe how the club or the course has evolved?

JACKSON: In those days, we were treated very well. A lot of men, older men, took care of their families, and some had even sent their children to college.

LEMON: Let's talk about Ben Crenshaw.

Since 1976, you have been with him, or you have been, as they say, on Ben Crenshaw's bag, helping him through wins. One of them you said that you didn't think he was going to win. You gave him some advice, and it was a very emotional time for him.

JACKSON: '95, when he showed up for the tournament, and the beginning of the week his mentor passed away. And Ben's game was not in good shape.

So, at that time, it was -- you know, it was hard to think about winning. And we just had to think about playing good golf shots.

I saw something in his swing while we were on the front nine. Before we could get off the front nine, I said, "We need to go to the practice tee."

Ben agreed, and we went out to the practice tee and just made a couple of adjustments. It was not rewriting a book or anything, it was just moving the ball back in your stance and get a better shoulder turn with a good tempo. And everything just clicked from there.

LEMON: And he won -- he put on that green jacket that year.

JACKSON: He put on the green jacket that year, Don.

LEMON: So not only are you a caddy, you're kind of a friend and a therapist as well.

JACKSON: We have to grow close to our players. Sometime we have -- you know, we have to be a psychologist, or whatever, or be a motivator. Just whatever it takes, something to fire your player up and get his game going.

LEMON: Once you make it 50 years, are you going to retire or are you going to keep going?

JACKSON: I started a foundation, Carl's Kids Foundation, and I figure it's going to take me a few years up and running like I see in my dreams, so I've started it now and next year it will be time to walk away.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: People like him, they are true heroes. And do you know he actually started in 1958 caddying at Augusta? And then in '61, he went over to the Masters.

Hey, this is yesterday. And as we look at Tiger Woods on the links yesterday, I want to tell you again about Mr. Jackson. They thought he was too young to start caddying, that he should be in school. But, you know, he had to leave school because people laughed at him. He didn't have any pants. He had to help his mom put food on the table. His mom earned $5 a day. He earned much more as a caddy.

I'm Don Lemon. Thanks for watching.

Time now for "THE SITUATION ROOM" and Mr. Wolf Blitzer.