Return to Transcripts main page
Rick's List
Roger Clemens Pleads Not Guilty; Political Shocker in Alaska; Hurricane Earl's Path?; Roger Clemens Indicted; Vice President Biden Visits Iraq
Aired August 30, 2010 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RICK SANCHEZ, CNN ANCHOR: And -- and Ricky Gervais, the thing about him is, he says everything, like, with this little kid's smile on his face that makes it seem--
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Yes.
SANCHEZ: -- like he can get away with stuff the rest of -- of us probably can't.
ANDERSON: He -- I think he can.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: He's unpredictable. He's -- he's quick. He's fun. He's great.
SANCHEZ: Hey, Brooke, good to see you. Thanks. I will look forward to seeing you a little later.
ANDERSON: OK.
SANCHEZ: As we--
ANDERSON: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: -- begin this hour, I want to welcome the men and women that are watching us now on Armed Forces Network all over the world.
Here is your national conversation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Here is what is making your LIST on this day.
ROGER CLEMENS, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYER: Let me be clear. I have never taken steroids or HGH.
SANCHEZ: Roger Clemens accused of being a cheater in more ways than one and now arraigned, charged with six felonies. We're on it.
Who will get it? Hurricane Earl bearing down on a huge swathe, almost too huge to predict.
CAMIE AYASH, SPOKESWOMAN, ISLAMIC CENTER OF MURFREESBORO: This incident has really raised the fear factor for everyone.
SANCHEZ: A fire at an Islamic center in Tennessee, it's not an accident. It is about hate.
Speaking of hate, President Obama calls them out -- what he says about those who call him a Muslim and about Glenn Beck.
And all this for glasses? Really? Glasses.
The lists you need to know about. Who's today's most intriguing? Who's landed on "The List U Don't Want 2 Be On?" Who's making news on Twitter? It's why I keep a LIST.
Pioneering tomorrow's cutting-edge news right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: It is hour two. Time to pick up the pace of today's LIST for those just now checking in.
Number one, suspected arson sparks fears now in Tennessee's Muslim community, after construction equipment burns at the future site of an Islamic center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
That's right. With everything that's been going on in New York with the Islamic center there, the news now shifts to Murfreesboro. The FBI, the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agency, local sheriff's department, local police are all investigating this now.
Saturday morning, fire destroyed an earth-mover and damaged three other construction vehicles that were on the site helping to build this Islamic center.
The FBI spokesperson says it appears that the fire was deliberately set. A spokesperson for the Islamic center says the incident has affected the entire community.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AYASH: We have some supporters in that neighborhood and some that are still a little bit on the opposition side, but I think this incident has really raised the fear factor for everyone, not just in our community, but those that are living in that community as well, because, like you said, God forbid that had traveled to the gas compartment and an explosion would have occurred.
And, you know, God forbid someone would have gotten hurt. Definitely, within the Islamic community, it has raised the fear factor tremendously, not just with the adults, but especially we see the different type of fear with our children.
It's very hard to explain to children what's going on. It's very hard to explain to the little kids, you know, when they ask you, mommy, are these people for us or against us?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. AYASH: It -- it's just -- it's really taken a toll on the community.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: This all happens amid growing opposition to Muslims and their houses of worship, not just in New York and not just in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but in different parts of the country.
In New York, specifically, aside from the -- from the Islamic center controversy, police are saying a 21-year-old man, Michael Enright, got into armed -- Ahmed Sharif's cab, asked if he was Muslim, and then stabbed him repeatedly. Enright nearly killed Ahmed Sharif after stabbing him in the neck.
Also, listen to this. An Islamic center in Madera, California, has been vandalized several times recently with graffiti messages like this one, "No temple for the God of terrorism at Ground Zero," and this one: "Wake up, America. The enemy is here."
Joining me live to discuss the suspected arson of the Islamic center in Murfreesboro community is activist and self-described atheist Kevin Fisher. He organized the protests. And Essam Fathy, he's the chairman and the planning committee for that Islamic center.
Mr. Fisher, let me start with you.
KEVIN FISHER, COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: Sure.
Do you think that your protest could have somehow prompted someone to go too far? Do you feel some responsibility here, or no?
Absolutely not.
I believe this was a situation where simply -- well, let me start by saying that no one condones violence in the community.
SANCHEZ: Mm-hmm.
FISHER: We believe that very strongly. I think it's premature to automatically assume that whoever it was that's responsible for this comes from this side or that side of the debate. I believe very strongly in our local law enforcement and in the ATF. And I believe they will get to the bottom of the situation. And then we will finally have some answers.
SANCHEZ: So, -- what do you think would drive someone to -- so -- so, what do you think then would drive someone to do something like that?
FISHER: Well, there is no telling.
This group has been in our community for 20 years. And they have never had any incident. It's only been since January but suddenly all these incidents are happening.
SANCHEZ: Well, what else has been going on since January? Let me ask you, have you been watching the news? FISHER: Have I been watching the news? Absolutely.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Have you seen what is going on recently? What is -- what has the big discussion in the United States been about?
FISHER: The discussion that we're having down here is based on--
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: No, not about -- not down there. No, no. What discussion is going on around the country that people of Murfreesboro I'm sure are just as privy to?
FISHER: Well, they're -- they're discussing the issue of the mosque, but I -- I don't think you can weight -- I don't think you can group every situation with the mosque--
SANCHEZ: OK.
FISHER: -- as being exactly the same.
SANCHEZ: OK. That's fair.
(CROSSTALK)
FISHER: -- we have here--
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: That's fair. That's -- I mean, I just -- I just -- I also didn't want to ignore it. That's all.
(CROSSTALK)
FISHER: -- New York City or--
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: I get it. I just--
FISHER: -- or California or anything else.
SANCHEZ: No, no, listen, I get it. I just -- I just -- it -- it almost like -- by not mentioning it, it almost seemed like, what, are we having a discussion? There is an elephant in the room. We have got to talk about the elephant.
Mr. Fathy, does that elephant, that--
ESSAM FATHY, CHAIRMAN, ISLAMIC CENTER PLANNING COMMITTEE: Yes.
SANCHEZ: -- that very controversial, very heated discussion about the Islamic center on the national news in New York, do you think that in any way played a part in this act in Murfreesboro?
FATHY: I think Murfreesboro has been presenting itself as a very nice, peaceful city for quite some time, almost for three decades now.
SANCHEZ: That's not my question.
FATHY: And this is -- yes, and what is happening right now, what they are -- or what we are hearing nationally -- and we hear it on the local news -- they -- I mean, it's a lot of hate messages are spreading throughout the wavelengths.
And I'm sure a lot of people are affected by this. And it could be--
SANCHEZ: So -- so--
FATHY: -- I mean, somebody hears so many of that and respond, I mean, with a coward act like that.
SANCHEZ: What makes you -- what makes you think that whatever it is that's happening nationwide -- and you're right -- the three of us, you know, know it's gone on and know that -- what the discussions have been like on both sides -- what makes you think, though, as a resident of Murfreesboro, that that national debate has transcended your community and people there have felt it as well?
Have you heard it on the streets? Have you -- have you seen anything?
FATHY: Yes, we -- of course, we are following the news.
And like I was just saying, Murfreesboro has proved to be a very peaceful place for Muslims for quite some time. And this act and this response by the opposition is -- I'm sure it is fueled by all what is going on nationwide.
SANCHEZ: Well, what -- but you're not being specific enough. And I'm going to ask you to please do that for me.
FATHY: Yes.
SANCHEZ: Have you seen -- prior to this incident, sir, prior to this incident.
FATHY: Yes.
SANCHEZ: -- have you seen threats or have you heard people try and stop the Islamic center there in Murfreesboro? Have you seen resistance, and, if so, in what form, prior to this incident?
FATHY: No. Prior to this incident, there was opposition since we had the approval of the site plan. Before we had the approval of this site plan for our new mosque--
SANCHEZ: Right.
FATHY: -- there was no opposition. There was nobody voicing any opposition to the Islamic center.
SANCHEZ: OK.
Mr. Fisher go ahead, sir.
FISHER: Rick, I -- I terribly -- I very, very sincerely disagree.
This issue -- I believe very strongly this issue had absolutely nothing to do with Islam or with the freedom of religion. People have a right to worship as they see fit. No one has ever from anyone on our side or anyone that I know has ever said the Muslims don't have the right to worship as they see fit.
SANCHEZ: Mm-hmm.
FISHER: What we have a concern with is where the mosque is being put. We have a concern with the water, with soil quality.
We even willing -- we were even willing to sit down with them and discuss other possible areas, other possible places where it could happen, so that it wasn't going to be affecting -- going to affect the rest of the community.
But they have been unwilling to do this. The -- the local commission has been -- didn't give adequate notice, so the citizens would have a right to have a say.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Kevin Fisher, Essam--
FISHER: And--
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: -- Fathy, we're out of time on this segment.
My thanks you to both. We are going to keep tabs on this from you and continue to check in from time to time.
Meanwhile, 24 hours from now, President Obama is going to be getting ready to address the nation live on the future of U.S. involvement in Iraq. He will say the combat mission is over, but Iraqi leaders are warning citizens, prepare for bloodshed. That is ahead.
Also, crews in Chile say it may be Christmas before they can restore -- rescue nearly three dozen miners trapped underground, but now they could be backing off on that timetable. It may be -- well, I will tell you when we come back what it may be. That's next right here on the LIST. I'm Rick Sanchez and this is your national conversation. I'm glad we're having it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: We do lists, and one of the lists we bring you every day is called the roundup list, just a few of the news stories that we are very carefully keeping an eye on.
Number one, you have seen those miners that are trapped below ground in Chile? Well, rescue crews today begin the long and the tedious process of drilling the shaft necessary to rescue the 33 men. It could take up to four months. The miners are surviving on supplies lowered through three small bore holes.
One of those holes is being widened as part of an alternate rescue plan. We're there. We have got crews watching it. And we will bring you reports as they come in.
Meanwhile, number two, Hurricane Earl just north of the Virgin Islands, after that, maybe a 145-mile-an-hour storm. Look at these trees. This is in Saint Martin, already feeling the force of the Category 3 storm.
The center of Earl is expected to rake across the U.S. and the British Virgin Islands and then turn northward. People there are bracing for a lot of rain and a storm surge. Earl could impact areas along the East Coast of the United States by the weekend.
Number three, deep underwater in the Gulf of Mexico, today was going to be the day to haul up that big capping stack from the ruptured oil well leak site. That's the piece of equipment that failed to stop the leak back in July. The trouble is, on the surface, rough weather, high seas, not good for a delicate crane operation. It's going to have to wait a couple of days.
Take a look at this video. This one guy either really wants an eye exam or really wants some cool shades, because he is going through an awful lot of effort to get to that stuff. My goodness. Talk about a smash and grab.
Also, August 31, 2010, that's President Obama's self-imposed deadline to draw down U.S. combat troops in Iraq. So, seven years after the war began, what progress has been made? And how will he sell it to Americans tomorrow night?
That's next right here on the LIST.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: All right. Let's go to Iraq.
Vice President Joe Biden is in Baghdad as American troops prepare to end their combat role tomorrow. This is Biden's sixth trip to Iraq since being sworn in as vice president. He is there to witness the transition of power to Iraqi security forces. Fewer than 50,000 American troops remain in Iraq for Operation New Dawn.
New Dawn is about advising, training, and assisting Iraqi troops, not combat. That's what we are told. Meanwhile, the Iraqis are busy putting on a show of force themselves meant to show that they are ready for the responsibility of protecting their own country.
The first Iraqi tank exits -- units will put on an exhibition for the media, with the U.S. military closely watching. They have the firepower and the armor, but do they have what it takes to defend Iraq from the insurgents?
Joining us now to discuss this is our Pentagon correspondent who has obviously followed this very carefully, Chris Lawrence.
Chris, you're on the ground there in Iraq. What are officials there saying about Iraq's readiness?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rick, it's a great question.
You know, just a couple minutes ago, we just confirmed that two mortars have landed in the Green Zone just in the last hour, since your show went on the air. So, obviously, security is a big, big issue here in Baghdad.
Now, publicly, the top Iraqi officials, like the prime minister, the defense minister, they're saying, look, things are OK. We can handle this.
Privately, some lower, but yet still senior Iraqi officials are saying they are extremely worried, and they think the decision for the U.S. to pull down, to draw down while the Iraqi government is still not fully formed is about as bad a decision as the decision back in 2003 to disband the Iraqi army after the invasion.
Now, I did spend the last couple days embedded with the U.S. troops down south. U.S. military commanders are a little more upbeat than some Iraqi officials. I was talking with the troops who are actually living with some Iraqi troops.
And they say, look, a couple years ago, you couldn't even get these guys to stand a watch. Now they're actually developing their own intelligence, going after their own leads. They're taking the lead on some of these missions, coming up with their own sort of battle plans.
They think they are further along than they're being given credit for -- Rick.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
What -- well, here's what I think a lot of folks are confused about. We keep reading that the troops that will remain, the 50,000 or so, really are going to be there in a training and an assisting and an advising capacity. Well, if the Iraqi troops can't hold their own against the insurgents, what -- what -- what is the threshold for them to suddenly become combat forces once again, and we're back where we were before this drawdown?
LAWRENCE: It's a great question, and it's going to be done on a case- by-case basis.
Here -- here's what's happening, Rick. You know, this big ceremony that's going to happen in just a couple days from now and the big changeover tomorrow night is largely symbolic, in that a lot of this change already happened. They have already shifted from the combat role to the advise and assist.
Look, it's the same soldiers. There is not a special class of adviser/soldier and fighter/soldier. I was talking to some of these guys who are doing this -- this assisting role. They're on their fourth deployment here to Iraq.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
LAWRENCE: I mean, they were in some of the most vicious battles. These are combat-hardened soldiers here.
What they're doing is, instead of -- think of it like this: same convoys, same patrols. The roles have switched and flip-flopped. So, instead of the U.S. being the first through the door, they're behind the Iraqis, coaching them, guiding them, giving them advice. Think of it sort of that way.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
Well, the president is going to be talking about this tomorrow. He is going to address the nation tomorrow at 8:00 p.m., special edition of RICK'S LIST, actually. It's all going to be President Obama. We are going to carry it live right here at 8:00 p.m.
Chris, thanks so much. Appreciate your insight on this.
Meanwhile, a smash and grab is caught on camera. Did you see it? And it's all over glasses? It makes you wonder, huh? Glasses? We are going to explain this one just a little bit.
Also, Education Secretary Arne Duncan is touring the country. Back to this mission of restoring our schools, and who is at fault? Is it us as parents? Is it the teachers? Is it the system? Is it the government? Is it the politicians?
Graham Flanagan has been traveling with him and he gives us a live report on this in just a little bit.
Also, as we go to break, here is how to put today's newscast together. Time now for what we here call "The Rick Vid."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: -- as a nation, especially, have a history with hurricanes. And we know what they have done. I mean, you go back to, you know, the big names, whether it's Betsy or Andrew or Katrina, we -- we have a visual script in our head of what a hurricane did either to us or to someone that we know.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: So, once we hear the word hurricane, you know, you don't have to set up the whole story for them.
(CROSSTALK)
SANCHEZ: It's already there. So, yes, I -- I -- I'm big on, any time you got a hurricane out there, even if you think that you're smarter than your viewers -- "No, that's not going to hit anything" -- no, no, you give them the facts and you let them come up with a decision for themselves, so that they can make decision for themselves. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Let's stay with our education list, shall we?
Welcome back, by the way, everyone. I'm Rick Sanchez. Thanks so much for all of your tweets. I understand what you're saying about all the things that are going on today.
A lot of you have really been getting into this whole discussion about education, so let's continue it. Fixing our schools. How? Those three words, fixing our schools, will drive much of what you see on CNN throughout this week, because, as America's children return to school, CNN has a mission.
We have sent reporting teams all over the country to try and document the education crisis in America as it stands. Most importantly, we are going to shine a light on success stories that can somehow, hopefully, empower all of us, to offer our children so much more than they're getting right now.
Here is a little bit of a quiz. For every four kids who enter high school in the United States, only three will get a diploma, three out of four. What's that mean? That's a national dropout rate of 25 percent. And 25 percent just seems way too high, doesn't it? One- quarter of our kids quit high school?
It sounds even worse when you really drill down on it. Every day, 7,000 kids choose to walk away from walking across the stage in a cap and gown. And that's bad for the economy, according to Education Secretary Arne Duncan. He is on a bus tour visiting schools right now talking to teachers and meeting with parents and students.
CNN's Graham Flanagan is following him now.
Now, what -- what do you do? Because, if the kids don't want to finish school, it must not just be the schools. It must be the entire system that we have set up that is chasing them away from this, right?
I mean, Graham, there's got to be more variable than just the kids or the teachers in this.
GRAHAM FLANAGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I mean, it's definitely -- there's definitely a lot more variables. I mean, it all starts at home -- you might say that -- with the parents. Are the parents high school graduates?
But on this issue of dropping out, one specific area they're working on is focusing on increasing the amount of African-American and Latino male teachers, because a lot of the -- the dropouts that we're seeing fall into that category.
So, Arne Duncan and his department are really drilling down and trying to get out there and increase the amount of black and Hispanic male teachers that we put into the teaching system, so that they can create that kind of mentor and that role model that a lot of these kids need to see it through.
SANCHEZ: But these teachers will tell you, by the way, look, we can't do it alone. Even if you have a Hispanic teacher, you know, assuming that I, as a Hispanic, would listen more to a Hispanic teacher -- I'm not sure that's true, by the way -- but, if the parents aren't involved, then it's going to be difficult.
What -- what does -- what does Arne Duncan say about making sure the entire community, including parents, city government, school systems, teachers are all behind some kind of effort to bring this rate down?
FLANAGAN: Well, you know, Arne Duncan today has sat in on two roundtable discussions. We're in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he is wrapping up one now. He had one in Albany earlier, which you're probably seeing some pictures of that.
He is opening the floor and just asking people, what is working, what's not working? And just now, in Springfield, he heard from a student, a young man who is headed to West Point, who said that his older brother dropped out of high school, and that he basically drove himself to not make that same mistake in order to please his mom.
SANCHEZ: Hmm.
FLANAGAN: He didn't want to make -- he didn't want to upset her.
So, he's hearing these kinds of stories. And -- and, you know, this is what the tour is about, is it -- it's reaching out to these communities, listening to what works and doesn't work, and going from there.
SANCHEZ: Hey, thanks so much, man. We appreciate you, Graham, getting out there and following this for us. I know they're going to probably gather all that information and put out a more comprehensive report. I will look forward to -- to our reporting on that. Thanks for following that.
Meanwhile, Roger Clemens, he faces the music in court today on multiple charges related to suspected steroid use and the -- well, the allegations that he may have lied about it. We are going to tell you how it played out ahead on the LIST.
And, also, an SUV plunges into a swimming pool? We are going to show it to you and then ask that proverbial lifelong question of, why did it go there?
(LAUGHTER)
SANCHEZ: We will be right back. Stay with us.
(LAUGHTER)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Automotive technology seems so advanced these days. GPS, navigation, automatic parking, then we've got these little backup cameras now in most of these cars where people can look back and see what's behind them.
The only thing they haven't figured out yet is how to make cars float. Know what I mean?
Here. Let's do "Fotos."
Can we please keep our vehicles at least out of the deep end of the pool? This is a community swimming pool in a small town not far from Pittsburgh.
Police say that a teenage girl lost control of her SUV and managed to jump out as it rolled toward the pool. It went through a fence and then, splash, happy summer.
The good thing, it was in the middle of the night. Nobody was in the pool at the time, or this story would have had a different tone.
Next one, watch this guy, smashing and grabbing, smashing and grabbing, smashing and grabbing. Surveillance cameras after hours, they catch the thief with a 2 x 4. He's making a mess.
This is an eyeglass store in Cincinnati. Eyeglasses.
He swiped about 100 sets of designer frames, some of them worth $500. No arrest yet, but this guy doesn't even cover his face or wear a disguise. Maybe he didn't notice the cameras because, well, maybe he needs glasses.
Last one, 2,300 people getting soaked, Bakersfield, California, a high school attempt to break the Guinness world record for biggest water balloon fight. When it was all over, disappointing news. There was no new record. But those people, well, they don't look too broken up about it, plus they raised a bunch of money for their high school band.
And that is "Fotos," which you can see for yourself any time you go to my blog at CNN.com/ricksanchez.
Roger Clemens says that he never took steroids and never lied to Congress. Prosecutors say, no, you're lying again.
Could "The Rocket" go to prison? Max Kellerman is going to join me here in just a little bit to take us through this story. What a story it is, in fact, and it won't let go.
We'll be right back. This is your national conversation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey. Welcome back.
He is Roger "The Rocket" Clemens. He has pleaded not guilty to lying to Congress. The former Yankees pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner is charged with felony perjury, obstruction of Congress, and also for making false statements. I mean, they're throwing the book at this guy. Clemens -- there he is -- arrived three hours early at his arraignment at a U.S. District Court in Washington. He is accused of lying when he told a congressional committee that he never used human growth hormone or steroids.
When asked, "How do you plead?" Clemens responded, "Not guilty, your honor." Those words. Judge Reggie Walton then issued a gag order for the high-profile case. Fans and onlookers are expected to fill the courthouse just to get a look at the legendary baseball player.
Now, you may remember that Clemens tweeted the following statement back in August: "I never took HGH or steroids." We kept a copy of it. And "I did not lie to Congress," he continued to say.
The charges stem from the pitcher's January, 2008, appearance before the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee. Clemens' former trainer Brian McNamee and a report by former Senator George Mitchell both say he used banned substances during his pitching career.
Joining me live to discuss Clemens' plea and the case against him is sports analyst and CNN contributor Max Kellerman.
Max, I'm wondering, is there a credibility problem here for him? I mean, look, he's going up against McNamee and he's going up against Mitchell. Who has got more credibility here between those three guys?
MAX KELLERMAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, I think really what it comes down to with Clemens, you identify it right, the credibility factor is an issue for him.
Rick, why did most people -- I'll speak for myself. Why did it seem to me that O.J. did it? It wasn't because I sat through that entire trial and I heard all the evidence. No.
It's because he left a note that seemed to be a kind of confessional suicide note, to my ears, and then he took off in a car. I mean, so once you get it's just a sense, oh, OK, that seems like a guilty person.
Clemens, in terms of his credibility, never seems credible, doesn't seem straightforward when he talks about this, when he has addressed it. He seemed evasive. His body language has been bad.
This is my personal kind of reaction to Clemens talking about it. And so when a trainer like McNamee is not really incentivized to give information necessarily about Clemens, it doesn't seem, and gives him up because he is under oath, he could be perjuring himself if he lies about it, he seems more credible than Clemens, who just has not seemed to be straightforward.
SANCHEZ: Not to mention Senator George Mitchell. I mean, why in the world would Senator George Mitchell have an ax to grind with one of America's, you know, best all-time and most-liked pitchers?
KELLERMAN: This whole issue to me seems to be about Clemens' arrogance more than anything else. Look, it's pretty obvious by now that Mark McGwire is not as big as he used to be and doesn't want to -- didn't want to perjure himself in front of Congress and refused to talk about it. Right? But he wasn't so arrogant that he said, you know, of his own volition, no, I want to talk to Congress to clear my name and started, you know, emphatically denying under oath that he ever took any kind of substances.
Clemens did that. It's really -- the shame of it will be that he was so arrogant, that if he is found guilty he can actually do time. That's the shame of it, because the crime committed there is really him trying to cover up and him trying to clear his name more than actually taking the stuff.
Rick, you talk about old-time baseball players sometimes. I see it.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KELLERMAN: Can you imagine if Gaylord Perry was brought before Congress to ask if he ever threw a spitball? You know, if he strenuously said he didn't, then he would be in trouble.
SANCHEZ: He'd probably be going like this as he was saying it. Right?
KELLERMAN: That's right. It would be hard to imagine Gaylord Perry denying it in front of Congress.
You imagine if he was dragged there, he would have to be dragged there and then would try to be evasive or else just admit it. But Clemens didn't. He didn't have to appear before Congress. He wanted to. He asked for it.
SANCHEZ: If this guy goes -- if he goes down, and I mean in a bad way -- I mean, if he has to even do some time -- is there any chance that Roger Clemens will still be able to make it to Cooperstown? Will he end up being a Hall of Famer, or will that pretty much blow his chances?
KELLERMAN: You know, a lot of that depends on the kind of social norms of the day. And I think that there is an increasingly kind of progressive view of those sorts of things for Cooperstown.
I would hope "Shoeless Joe" Jackson -- I don't see where bad behavior after the fact erases the things you actually did on the field. I think "Shoeless Joe" Jackson and Pete Rose should both be in the Hall of Fame.
The question with Clemens is, was he juicing his entire career, or did it start at a certain time? It seems to me that he suffered a decline in the middle of his career and then he suddenly got really, really great again.
SANCHEZ: Yes.
KELLERMAN: But it seems to me that at the moment he suffered the decline, he was probably already a Hall of Fame pitcher. So he'd have my vote if that means anything. I don't vote for the Hall of Fame. He would have my vote.
SANCHEZ: Max Kellerman, good stuff. Interesting. Interesting analysis. Well stated.
My appreciation to you.
KELLERMAN: Thanks, Rick.
SANCHEZ: Who is the "Most Intriguing Person" on the list making news today? He was orphaned by age 15, never finished college, but worked his -- to a leadership position in the Obama administration.
I'm going to tell you who that is. That's coming up next.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey. Welcome back.
We have got some new information on -- wow, we've got, what, two or three different storm systems that we're following now?
And I think we've been telling you what's been going on with Earl. I know a lot of you are keeping an eye on it. But now apparently something going on with Fiona as well.
(WEATHER REPORT)
SANCHEZ: We've got some folks over here that we want to say hi to.
I don't know, can we get the camera to turn around over there? Can you get them? You've got them? Shoot them.
Ready? One, two, three -- go!
There they are. Look at that. Huh? What a happy-go-lucky bunch.
How about a round of applause for Chad, that wonderful thing he just did for us?
(APPLAUSE)
SANCHEZ: See that? See what I do for you, Clad?
Thanks.
I don't know what he is saying, but he's still talking back there.
Time to check the list now of the "Most Intriguing People" in the news on this day. Here we go.
He's the White House insider. That's the list. You're going to see a common thread of Ivy League, old money, and scholars. Right?
Well, not this guy. This member of President Obama's close staff didn't even finish college.
He was an orphan at 15. He became a fireman and a paramedic, eventually chosen to run the state of Florida's emergency services. And now he is doing the same thing for the United States of America.
Let's see who we're talking about. That is Craig Fugate. He's the Florida native who is the current head of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
He's got a hurricane season to deal with now, armed with lessons learned from hurricanes past. His working man experiences in the field giving him credibility in Washington, and that makes him today's "Most Intriguing."
Wolf Blitzer is coming up next with the political news of the day, and there is plenty there as well.
Stay tuned. We're coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: This situation in Alaska is so interesting. I mean, not only the effect of the Tea Party and Sarah Palin, but now we're learning there is still another party that could, you know, come into this. We're talking about Joe Miller, still leading the incumbent, Lisa Murkowski, in what some would call a shocking Senate primary.
Let's go to Wolf Blitzer on this. He has been following this race.
We've been following it for quite a time as well here, Wolf. This is really fascinating, what's going on in Alaska. It looks like in the end this will likely be a pretty big upset. Right?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Well, they're still counting these absentee ballots. They've got some more work to do. But if he wins it would be a huge upset.
She is the incumbent Republican senator, very popular. There was a poll that just came out in Alaska showing she is still the most popular politician there, but she is fighting for her political life right now, and Joe Miller could easily emerge as the Republican nominee.
SANCHEZ: But, you know, she had a lot of money in her till that she didn't spend. When someone has all that money and they don't spend it, you can't help but think that maybe they were taking their opponent a little too lightly.
BLITZER: Right. She was over confident, clearly.
Sarah Palin stepped in and helped Miller, and I think that was a big help for him. He had some other help as well from some radio talk show hosts and others. But there is no doubt that if he does get the Republican nomination, he'll be well positioned to become the next U.S. senator from Alaska given the politics, given the mood of the country right now, given the mood of Alaska. SANCHEZ: According to the way the politics work in Alaska, she cannot run as an Independent because she would have had to have signed up for that or put her name on the ballot a lot earlier. But she can possibly run as a third party, let's say a Libertarian. But the Libertarians would have to invite her in and say, OK, go ahead, we'll give you our spot.
I'm hearing, Wolf, from our sources today that's not going to happen. Libertarians aren't going to give it to her, so she may not -- when this count is over, she could be done.
BLITZER: There is one other option she has. It's very remote, and it's almost certainly not going to happen.
She could still be a write-in candidate. Not an Independent candidate, because she doesn't have time for that. If the Libertarians want to put her on their ticket, she could do that. But her options, if she loses this count right now, are really, really limited.
SANCHEZ: Wow. What a story. Thanks so much, Wolf. We'll look forward to seeing "THE SITUATION ROOM" on this.
By the way, we're watching Hurricane Earl, and it has just become now a Category 4 storm. Wow --- 4.
Chad Myers standing by to bring you the very latest on this.
I'm Rick Sanchez. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SANCHEZ: Hey. Welcome back.
Hurricane Earl keeps getting stronger out in the Atlantic. Chad Myers is going to be joining us here in just a little bit. Apparently, he just got part of that advisory that he was telling us that he was going to get.
We've got pictures that are coming in that we're going to be sharing with you, and we've also got some tweets. In fact, take a look at this one.
This is from one of the writers at NewsBusters who constantly communicates with our show, follows our show. That's Matthew Balan.
He writes, "The peak of the hurricane season isn't even in for another 12 days. The surf was a bit up in Ocean City, Maryland, ,when I was there."
Is he right? Ocean City, Maryland, would already be affected by these things? And if so, how?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: By Danielle.
(CROSSTALK) MYERS: Earl is still way too far. But the scary part now, Earl gets to be 150 miles per hour.
SANCHEZ: Wow.
MYERS: So it's a Cat 4 already right now, 130, 135, headed to be stronger in those very warm waters.
SANCHEZ: Is this what just came over, by the way? A brand new advisory?
MYERS: Yes. You can have it. It's all in knots, so you have to kind of convert it.
But 130, 135 knots with wind gusts here. You multiply that out by the knots-to-miles-per-hour conversion, and you're up to a sustained wind of 150 miles per hour.
Now, do you know what an eyewall replacement cycle is?
SANCHEZ: No.
MYERS: OK. Eyewall replacement cycle means that at some point in time between Category 4 and Category 5, if the thing continues to get bigger, the eyewall literally cannot support itself anymore and another one will grow inside, or it will get bigger and it will actually fall apart.
So, these storms, actually, they get larger, then they almost explode themselves because it's going too fast. Then they regenerate and they build themselves again. And then, so you never know if you're in that -- and this is where Andrew was so -- it just kept getting tighter and tighter and tighter and tighter.
SANCHEZ: Yes, exactly.
MYERS: And, you know, maybe two, three, four hours later, Andrew may have lost that inner eyewall and lost 40 miles per hour. But it didn't. So, when it was right through Homestead, it was as strong as it had been.
So that's what we're going to see for the next few days: big, small, big, small eyewall. A smaller eyewall like an ice skater with her arms in, bring the ice skater's arms in, the ice skater goes very fast.
SANCHEZ: Very fast.
MYERS: Arms out, ice skater goes slower. And that's what we have. It's a 10-mile eyewall, 20-mile eyewall, 30-mile eyewall, back to 10.
SANCHEZ: But let me ask you a question, Chad. If we're talking 150 miles an hour now, that's a big damn storm. If this thing goes like -- let's suppose our friends in the Bahamas, if this thing gets close enough to them, this could do a lot of damage down there. MYERS: No question about it. Even if it doesn't roll over the islands, the waves now are already up to 35 feet. Thirty-five feet, 4olling on top of a 10-foot island, basically -- and island nation of the Bahamas doesn't go above about 10, 15 feet.
SANCHEZ: Right.
MYERS: There's a lot of sand. A little bit of coral, but a lot of sand.
SANCHEZ: Yes. Well, no --
MYERS: So these waves are going to be crashing on the breakers just -- and rolling that water completely over the islands of the Bahamas. Even the Turks and Caicos are going to get pounded by this.
SANCHEZ: Yes. It says here, "The government of the Bahamas has issued a tropical storm warning, Turks and Caicos islands. Tropical storm watch for the southeastern Bahamas as well."
You know, this is the kind of thing that we might be doing stories in the next couple of days about telling tourists to get out of there. Right?
SANCHEZ: And a tropical storm rather than a hurricane means that the forecast is not for the hurricane to be over the islands. The forecast is for the -- here, let me --
SANCHEZ: Yes, go ahead. Show us if you would what this thing not only is doing there, but what it will do after it leaves there in the next several days.
MYERS: Yes. Here is the big story, is that -- and the islands, the people that were worried about all the people that live, here are the islands. They kind of stop right there.
You've got Abaco, you've got Nassau, you've got the Bahamas, you've got Atlantis. You've got all of these big islands here.
That's where the islands of the Bahamas end. So the cone is not for this storm to get into the islands, not into the Turks and Caicos, nor into the Bahamas. But certainly if you have 30-foot waves off shore and they're rolling into the Bahamas, there's going to be overwash on some of these islands. So they're going to get people out of there, especially on some of these remote islands, almost fly-in, fly-out islands.
There are no roads to get there. There's a boat, but otherwise that's it. You get the boat and you get to the mainland and get somewhere else.
Here's the Category 4 at 135 miles per hour. That's only a couple hundred miles from Charleston, from Wilmington, from -- even as it gets closer, the closest approach would be right there. That would be Cape Hatteras, a little over a hundred miles away from there.
And then realize, Rick, that's the middle. And by that time the air is 200 to 300 miles.
SANCHEZ: Wow.
MYERS: So, literally, the cone now completely on the shore. The potential for this to hit for the Cape, to hit Washington, D.C., to hit -- to get all the way up into New York, maybe even toward Long Island and Boston, you are certainly in that western side of that -- what we call the error of possibility, the cone of uncertainty, whatever you might call it. But you are definitely in the cone.
SANCHEZ: Matt --
MYERS: By the time it's here, if this storm -- go ahead.
SANCHEZ: No, I was just going to say -- Matt, get a shot of this real quick. Not to interrupt, but just look how tight that thing is.
Look at that eye. Look how tight that eye is. That's a bona fide hurricane. That's one of those where you look at it and you don't even have to have Chad's degree to know. Look at that thing.
MYERS: OK. You know what though? I do have a degree. Right?
SANCHEZ: Yes.
MYERS: And let me trump you. Let me show you the radar on Puerto Rico.
SANCHEZ: All right.
Back over here, Matt.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: OK. Not to laugh at this, but here's Puerto Rico, and the radar site is right there.
So here is Puerto Rico, San Juan. And then you get all the way out here, there is a big rain forest out there. You have (INAUDIBLE), and then here, the western side. And then here, the Spanish Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, even the British Virgin islands that's in more of the Leeward Islands here.
SANCHEZ: The most beautiful places in the world.
MYERS: Exactly. And there's one island right there near Atagata (ph), the settlements out there not that far from north of the BVI.
So no islands in the eye, but can you -- I mean, if this is 130, 135, there are people now experiencing 100-mile-per-hour winds that aren't even -- especially gusts -- that aren't in the eye right now.
SANCHEZ: And these are the strong winds right here.
MYERS: Those are the bands.
SANCHEZ: Those are -- take me right over here on this side.
MYERS: Those are the bands. And the bands have actually caused flooding in Puerto Rico today.
SANCHEZ: Bahamas over here?
MYERS: Yes, up in here -- Turks and Caicos.
SANCHEZ: But this thing is supposed to do this before it gets to the Bahamas, right, right in here?
MYERS: That's the forecast.
(LAUGHTER)
MYERS: The forecast to turn now for four days. It hasn't turned.
SANCHEZ: Well, you've got to talk nice to it. Just tell it, turn, turn.
MYERS: Turn.
SANCHEZ: We'll be looking at that thing for a while.
MYERS: All right.
SANCHEZ: I'll tell you, it's scary once you get up to the 150 miles an hour. Thanks so much, Chad. Appreciate it.
MYERS: You bet. All right.
SANCHEZ: Listen, we're going to continue to keep an eye on this. We're going to have the very latest for you at 8:00 tonight as we follow this story and bring you all the updates.
And he is going to have more updates, and as they come in we're going to share those as well.
That's it for us. Thanks so much for being with us.
We'll bring you RICK'S LIST tonight at 8:00 p.m.
Here now, "THE SITUATION ROOM." Blitzer's back.
MYERS: Oh, good.
SANCHEZ: Here he is.
