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The Situation Room
New Chapter in Iraq?; Iraq and Oil Prices; 'A Day Without Immigrants'
Aired May 01, 2006 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: And to our viewers, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where new pictures and information are arriving all the time.
Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you tonight's top stories.
Happening now, it's 3:00 a.m. in Iraq. Three years ago today, President Bush stood under a "Mission Accomplished" banner and declared an end to major combat operations. Now he says the U.S. has entered a new chapter in Iraq. Is it the final chapter?
It's 4:00 p.m. in Los Angeles, where immigrants are leaving their jobs and taking to the streets. Part of a nationwide boycott as they try to show that the nation can't get along without them
And one day the president decided to call him "the decider". Now everyone is seemingly making fun of that title. Only our Jeanne Moos has a unique look.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
This is a very busy night, and we're following several developing stories.
Immigrants and their supporters on the march tonight in parts of the country. We're live on both coasts for what's been billed as "A Day Without Immigrants."
Also tonight, a new definition for America's pain at the pump. Two Bush administration officials now are calling it a crisis.
And with hurricane season just one month away, there's some surprising storm science we're going to share with you. We'll show you how even some of the experts are seeing things they have never seen before.
But first this, the Iraq mission.
Exactly three years ago, after President Bush declared major combat was over, tonight that famous "Mission Accomplished" banner still is haunting the White House, even as the president now says a new chapter is beginning in Iraq.
Our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre, is standing by.
Let's go to the White House first. Our White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, has the latest -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, when President Bush made that speech, he never said, "Mission Accomplished." In fact, he issued a warning, saying there was more difficult work ahead. But this is a speech that continues to haunt this president and this administration, of course, because it has come to symbolize failure in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX (voice over): President Bush tried to project a new, more hopeful phase in Iraq and perhaps a shift in his own presidency.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We believe this is a turning point for the Iraqi citizens, and it's a new chapter in our partnership.
MALVEAUX: It was three years ago when Mr. Bush stood in front of a mission accomplished banner and declared...
BUSH: My fellow Americans, major combat operations in Iraq have ended and the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.
MALVEAUX: That photo-op meant to draw a clear battle line for the American people has embattled President Bush ever since.
DAVID GERGEN, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: That speech will always be remembered as a symbol of the mistakes and misjudgments that have characterized this war.
VIN WEBER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: We've been in Iraq a lot longer than people thought we would be, it's cost a lot more money and it's cost more lives. And we still can't quite see the end.
MALVEAUX: Since Mr. Bush's victory speech three years ago there have been accomplishments.
KEN POLLACK, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: The markets are full of food. Lots of people have cell phones. There are certainly children going back to schools.
MALVEAUX: And Iraqis have gone to the polls three times to form their first Democratically-elected government.
POLLACK: Many Iraqis cling to the hope that tomorrow will be better.
MALVEAUX: But Americans are not so optimistic. Polls show most don't feel any safer, have greater doubts about the U.S.-Iraq mission and regret going to war. Since Mr. Bush's mission accomplished moment, close to 2,400 Americans have lost their lives in Iraq and more than 30,000 Iraqis, and the insurgency has strengthened dramatically.
POLLACK: We've, unfortunately, replaced the problems of Saddam Hussein with the problems of a budding civil war in Iraq.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: And Iraq, of course, continues to define this president, as well as his legacy. Administration officials continue to insist that that "Mission Accomplished" moment was really just a snapshot in a long-term project, an effort to bring Democratic form to Iraq, and that they believe ultimately it will be successful -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Suzanne Malveaux at the White House.
Thanks.
Tonight, our new poll shows the vast majority of Americans, 84 percent, say the mission in Iraq has not been accomplished. Will it eventually be accomplished? Americans clearly divided on that question. Forty-nine percent say yes, 44 percent say no in this CNN poll conducted by Opinion Research Corporation.
Long before the president stood under that "Mission Accomplished" banner, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld listed what he saw as the goals for the war. But how many of those goals now have been met?
Let's go live to our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, you know Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is very careful about making predictions about how things will go. But back just as the war was getting under way, he did lay down what he considered the criteria for success.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE (voice over): Back on March 21, 2003, just two days into the Iraq war, Rumsfeld put himself on record about what was supposed to be accomplished.
DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Our goal is to defend the American people and to eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and to liberate the Iraqi people.
MCINTYRE: Rumsfeld outlined eight objectives, of which only one is complete.
RUMSFELD: To end the regime of Saddam Hussein by striking with force on a scope and scale that makes clear to Iraqis that he and his regime are finished.
MCINTYRE: The search for weapons of mass destruction is over, but only because no WMDs were ever found. The effort to drive out terrorists has evolved into a vicious counterinsurgency operation with no end in sight. As for gathering intelligence on terror and WMD networks, goals four and five, intelligence has improved as Iraqi forces have taken over, but the U.S. still doesn't have a clear idea of the extent of the insurgency or its links to WMDs. The Iraqi people have seen some improvements, but a report out just this week shows, despite a $21 billion rebuilding campaign, projects in some of the most critical areas, water, electricity, and oil and gas, are less than half complete. And while many oil facilities are back on line, production is barely at prewar levels and no where near at covering the cost of rebuilding the country, as some had hoped.
The objective that's perhaps the most crucial and still in some doubt is the transition to a representative self-government.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCINTYRE: Now, Pentagon officials admit that not all of the goals that Rumsfeld outlined three year ago have been fully achieved. But they insist there has been significant progress on all fronts. And Rumsfeld himself believes that he will be vindicated by the judgment of history -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie, thanks for that.
I want to show our viewers some pictures that are happening right now. Take a look at this. These are live pictures you're seeing from Los Angeles.
A huge immigration rally under way right now. Similar rallies being held elsewhere around the country. We're going to Los Angeles. We're going to go to New York. Lots more on these rallies that are under way.
Back, though, to the situation in Iraq and specifically the price of oil. It soared since the start of the war in Iraq. Not exactly what many of the pro-war supporters had anticipated. But is there a connection between the insurgency and your pain at the pump?
Let's bring in our Brian Todd. He's joining us from the newsroom -- Brian.
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, oil analysts say there is a definite connection. What they're looking at right now, how much of a role the Iraq war really plays in what's called a perfect storm of factors that are driving prices up.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice over): How much longer will you be squeezed whenever you squeeze that handle? A dire prediction from the U.S. Energy secretary.
SAMUEL BODMAN, ENERGY SECRETARY: We're going to have a number of years, two or three years, before suppliers are going to be in a position to meet the demands of those who are consuming this product. TODD: Compare that to three year ago. In the spring of 2003, oil was at less than $30 a barrel, compared to more than $70 now. More than a doubling in the three years since the invasion of Iraq.
FRANK VERRASTRO, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: It's a contributing factor. When markets are tight in terms of supply and we've had growing demand, then the contribution from Iraq is really important.
TODD: Iraq sits atop one of the largest oil reserves. And U.S. officials had predicted before the war that oil exports would pay for the cost of reconstruction. Now experts say Iraq produces at least half a million barrels less per day than it did before the invasion.
SAAD RAHIM, PFC ENERGY: On any given day, if you have, you know, militants blowing up a pipeline or a threat to a port, or any sort of supply disruption, you're really starting to see those barrels come off the market and just aren't available.
TODD: But experts caution Iraq is just part of a perfect storm that's driven prices up in recent years; market jitters over what might happen with Iraq's oil-producing neighbor, Iran; violence and political unrest in oil-rich Nigeria and Venezuela; hurricane devastation in the Gulf of Mexico; refining capacity not up to par; and ever-growing demand in China, India and the United States.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TODD: Still, one expert says if Iraq could raise production even slightly, it would provide noticeable relief at the pump. But analysts say that won't happen anytime soon. Even if Iraq were stabilized tomorrow, they say, it would take at least two years to build back to its previous capacity -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Brian, thanks for that.
I want to show our viewers some pictures that are coming in, these huge protests. Check these out. Protests coming in Los Angeles, in New York.
Lots of people demonstrating, Jack Cafferty, across the country. You're looking at this story as well.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: That would be in support of illegal immigration, right?
BLITZER: They're in support of the immigration. That's correct.
CAFFERTY: Illegal immigration. This is a pro-amnesty demonstration, as I understand it.
Ostensibly, the reason, Wolf, that there are between 12 and 20 million illegal aliens in this country is because the quality of life in Mexico isn't as good as it is here. Maybe this is one of the reasons why... the Mexican congress has passed a law that makes possession of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and heroin legal. President Vicente Fox hasn't signed the bill yet, but he says he will. Can't provide jobs for his people or create a quality of life that will keep them from wanting to risk their lives to come here. But I guess he thinks it's OK if they want to snort heroin or cocaine.
Critics worry the new law will attract tourists only looking to get high. And some Mexican police say they're confused. They're being asked to fight drugs and allow people to consume them at the same time.
Vexing.
Here's the question: Is it a mistake for Mexico to legalize small amounts of cocaine and heroin?
E-mail us at caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile.
BLITZER: Does it make any difference what the definition of "small amounts" are, Lou? Excuse me -- Jack?
CAFFERTY: No, Aaron, it doesn't. Yes it -- of course it makes a difference.
If you're carrying more than what they say is -- I guess an amount that would be for personal use. I don't know how much that is. I'm not conversant in that area of pharmacology.
Andy Serwer would know about these things. But if you have any more than that, then you're considered a dealer and I guess you're subject to -- I don't know. Unless you can prove you're an addict, that's the other caveat.
if you're arrested and you have this stuff, and they look at it and they say, well, that's more than prescribed under the law, then if you can prove you're an addict, then I think you can beat the rap as well. It's all very confusing.
BLITZER: Very confusing. Thanks, Jack.
CAFFERTY: You're welcome, Wolf
BLITZER: Coming up, immigration rallies coast to coast. What will their impact ultimately be? We're covering the nation. We're watching all these demonstrations.
Also, one month until hurricane season. Are we ready for the next big one?
And President Bush said it first, "I'm the decider." Now it seems the phrase is on everyone's lips, including Jeanne Moos. She's tracking its spread.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Cross-country calls to action. State by state statements of protest. Today millions of immigrants and their supporters stayed away from work, choosing the streets instead. Protest organizers call it "A Day Without Immigrants," a protest against a proposed crackdown on illegal immigration.
Check this out. In Denver, thousands chanted the slogan, "We are the backbone of what America is, legal or illegal."
Houston, thousands gathered at the city's Memorial Park.
Also, many marched to the office of Senator John Cornyn. Cornyn is opposed to the so-called amnesty for illegal immigrants.
In Florida, demonstrators held provocative signs saying, "Kids are not criminals" and "We die in desert for beans."
And in Chicago, even McDonald's is weighing in. McDonald's says many of its Chicago employees went to the rallies. So the fast-food chain opened some of its restaurants with limited work crews, shorter hours, and some with only drive-through.
The nation's two largest cities are not being spared the protests.
In Los Angels, our Chris Lawrence is standing by, but let's go to Mary Snow in New York. She's with the demonstrators there -- Mary.
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, demonstrators wrapping up their rally. They've been out for several hours.
And, you k now, we're about one block away from where the rally ended at Foley Square (ph) here in downtown Manhattan. And that's because the police had us move to make room for protesters. They're not giving an official number of how many people showed up, but they admit that more people showed up than they had anticipated.
Some of the speakers here today, Jesse Jackson, also Al Sharpton, saying that New York's rally is different from some other cities because there's so many immigrant groups. Reverend Sharpton saying this not just a Mexican issue. Many people here today calling for amnesty.
Now, there were some people who say that they were not willing to stay out of work or school. And around the city today at lunchtime, there were some human chains in the five buroughs around this city.
Exactly at 12:16, December 16th, is the day the House bill passed that would pose tough penalties on illegal immigrants. And that is what they were protesting.
Now, in terms of businesses, there are some scattered reports of small businesses that were shut down. But for the most part, most businesses up and running.
The Department of Education, though, in New York City does say that they did see more children stay home from school today. And they directly link that to today's marches -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Mary. Thanks very much.
Let's head out to the other coast. That would be in Los Angeles. Chris Lawrence is there -- Chris
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, hundreds of thousands of people continue to march through the streets of Los Angeles right now chanting, (SPEAKING SPANISH), "United we stand. We can do it." And what we're seeing it now is some of the organizers starting to say they're going to look beyond today's boycott to the actual ballot box.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice over): Markets bustling with business on Friday empty out during Monday's boycott. And millions of marchers rally across America. But organizers are already looking to the next step.
NATIVO LOPEZ, ORGANIZER: Today's movement translates into augmented voter power and voter consciousness and a voting bloc.
LAWRENCE: That last part won't be easy. Different groups, different priorities. Some want the government to legalize undocumented immigrants, but some Asian-Americans say it first needs to ease the backlog on family visas for those who emigrated here legally.
EUN SOOK LEE, KOREAN-AMERICAN RIGHTS LEADER: Because there's not enough visas for services, people are waiting a long time.
LAWRENCE: Eun Sook Lee says she knows families who have lost decades.
EUN: Would you wait 20 years to bring your daughter to the country? Wouldn't you find any other means?
LAWRENCE: Politically, some see a growing sophistication in the immigrant rights movement, such as replacing Mexican flags from earlier rallies with American flags.
ALLAN HOFFENBLUM, POLITICAL ANALYST: Here in California, Latinos decided to become an active political force.
LAWRENCE: Political analyst Alan Hoffenblum says Republicans controlled the state legislature 12 years ago, but they lost it after taking a shrill stance on immigration rights.
HOFFENBLUM: So I warn my Republican allies nationwide, better be careful. Look here what happens here in California. They lost every legislative seat in California that had a predominant or a significant Latino population. Because Republicans perceive that being anti- Mexican, anti-immigrant, the Latinos vote for them.
(END VIDEOTAPE) LAWRENCE: Some of the organizers had urged students to boycott school today. L.A.'s mayor and other leaders warned them not to. We've learned that about 72,000 students in grades 6 through 12 did not show up for school today. That means more than one-quarter missed class -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Chris Lawrence in L.A.
Thank you
Still to come, the mayor of Los Angeles joins us in THE SITUATION ROOM. You may be surprised by some of his thoughts on boycotts and the national anthem in Spanish.
Also, one month until hurricane season, are we really ready for the next big one?
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Our Zain Verjee is off this week. Betty Nguyen is joining us from the CNN global headquarter in Atlanta with a closer look at some other stories making news.
Hi, Betty.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, Wolf.
Hundreds of government employees protested in Puerto Rico today. A budget standoff closed government offices and public schools.
Take a look. The U.S. Commonwealth lawmakers and governor failed to reach an agreement on a deal despite last-minute bargaining.
Half a million children stayed home from school and nearly 100,000 people were out of work for at least today. Now, the governor says essential personnel, like police and hospital workers, are staying put.
A major legal victory for former "Playboy" playmate Anna Nicole Smith. The Supreme Court today unanimously ruled that she can pursue her battle in federal court for a share of her late husband's billion- dollar estate. Oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall's youngest son claims he is the rightful heir.
Well, Rush Limbaugh says he's been vindicated by a settlement with Florida prosecutors. Under the agreement, prosecutors will drop a single charge of prescription fraud against the talk show host. Now, in return, Limbaugh must take a random drug test, or several of them, for the next 18 months and complete drug treatment. He says the settlement underscores his innocence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RUSH LIMBAUGH, TALK SHOW HOST: The sum total of all of this is, the case is over. And the operative words that everybody needs to understand are "not guilty." Not guilty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: In other news, Bolivia's president is ordering troops into his country's natural gas fields. President Evo Morales says the soldiers are being sent to installations run by overseas petroleum companies, including ExxonMobil. Morales threatens to evict the companies in six months if they don't turn over control of production to Bolivia. Bolivia has South America's second largest natural gas reserves after Venezuela -- Wolf
BLITZER: Thanks very much, Betty, for that
And just ahead, immigration rallies coast to coast. I'll ask the mayor of Los Angeles what he thinks of these demonstrations. And you may be surprised about what he says about the national anthem sung in Spanish
And hurricane season one month away from today. Are you ready for the next big one?
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Let's get back to one of our top stories that's unfolding right now, an economic boycott by immigrants across the nation. Tens of thousands are demonstrating tonight, hoping to show their economic and political clout. A late protest under way in Los Angeles this hour.
One prominent elected official in Los Angeles says he doesn't support boycotts but does encourage people to make their voices heard.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Joining us now is the mayor of L.A., Antonio Villaraigosa.
Mr. Mayor, thanks very much for coming in.
Was this a good idea to organize these demonstrations and these boycotts today?
MAYOR ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA (D), LOS ANGELES: What I've said is -- on that issue is that participating in a boycott is a personal decision. I didn't oppose or argue for a boycott, either way.
What I did say was that I want kids to stay in cool. We know many have stayed in school, but some are participating in today's march. I also said that there would be an opportunity later on in the day to -- for young people to march, and we're hoping that that's what they'll do.
You know, it's hard to tell. I only say this: that these marches, that the tens of thousands of people -- and we don't have an exact estimate, but we know that it's going to be a very, very large demonstration. We understand maybe the largest in the nation.
What's clear is they're peaceful. What's clear is that they're celebratory in their mood, their families, children, grandparents. It's a very positive environment.
I, of course, have spent most of my time with the emergency operation center to ensure that we're managing this number of people. Although we expect it to continue to be peaceful, there's obviously a lot of things that can happen when you have so many people concentrated in such a small area.
BLITZER: Mr. Mayor, has there been any problems yet, any demonstrations getting violent, any incidents?
VILLARAIGOSA: No. In fact, we just had an update about an hour and a half ago of our emergency operation center. It was reported that there had been no incidents, no arrests, no -- one injury. Somebody tripped while walking. Other than that, things have been very, very peaceful, very positive.
And I'm happy to say that the vast majority of people have American flags, as they should. And that people are very, very positive about the American dream.
BLITZER: Should they not carry Mexican flags?
VILLARAIGOSA: Well, I've said from the beginning, look, we live here in the United States of America, I was born and raised here. If you want to be part of this nation, an American flag is appropriate. And, you know, the other flags that people may fly are certainly an indication of their, you know, yearning for the old country, but, you know, it's important for us to demonstrate that we want to be part of the American dream.
BLITZER: What did you think of this controversy that erupted in recent days over the translation of "The Star-Spangled Banner" into Spanish? What was your take on that?
VILLARAIGOSA: Wolf, let me just say to you, let me make it absolutely clear, I was offended. I was offended, because, for me, the national anthem is something that I believe deserves respect. And I think that the -- without question, that the vast majority of people in the United States of America were offended, as well.
We want, you know, this -- our anthem should be sung in English. The Spanish and Mexican anthems should be sung in Spanish. The French anthem in French.
So, I was offended by it, and I think most people were. And remember, very few people bought into that. It really was a non- issue, but I think it was important to dismiss it as quickly as possible.
BLITZER: A lot of us were concerned when we heard last week, Mr. Mayor, that there had been death threats against you and the lieutenant governor of California, Cruz Bustamante. Where does that stand right now? Is it indicative of a bigger problem that erupted here, growing out of this whole battle of immigration reform?
VILLARAIGOSA: I hope not. And first of all, let me make something absolutely clear, Wolf. The FBI looked into that threat. There's nothing to it.
There have been others in the past, I'll admit. But I can tell you this, that with a job of mayor or governor, you're going to get that kind of thing from time to time. I don't let it bother me. I have a great security team that's with me at all times.
I can tell you this, my belief is that you call them like you see them. You stand by your convictions and your principles. And, you know, if people disagree with that, so be it.
BLITZER: Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher of California, your neighbor out in Orange County, he said this not that long ago. He said, "Over the years it's been evident that the Democrats exploit illegal immigrants for political reasons. Granting amnesty will only serve to draw more illegal aliens to our country and add to the burden placed in our public school system, health care system and criminal justice system."
On this specific issue of amnesty, a lot of the protesters today want amnesty for the 10, 12 million illegal immigrants in this country. Where do you stand on the issue of allowing these people to live here legally and eventually become citizens?
VILLARAIGOSA: First, let me just say that Dana Rohrabacher is a friend of mine. I have a lot of respect for him. We don't agree on every issue. In fact, we don't often agree on many issues. But he's a good person.
I disagree with that idea, though. The idea that somehow all of these people are asking for amnesty. What they're asking for is a fair and sensible bipartisan immigration reform that secures our borders, that enforces our laws, that holds people accountable for the consequences of breaking the law by finding them, that says that employer sanctions should be levied on employers who hire the undocumented, but that there should also be a pathway for citizenship if you play by the rules and pay your taxes and have not gotten involved with the law.
So, you know, look, people are going to say what they're going to say. Unfortunately, some like to polarize. I don't think that's something endemic to any party. I think, unfortunately, there a lot of demagogues out there and they like whipping it up.
BLITZER: The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa.
I know it's been a busy day for you. Thanks for spending a few moments here in THE SITUATION ROOM.
VILLARAIGOSA: Thank you, Wolf. BLITZER: Happening now -- massive immigration rallies continuing in cities across the country. Let's go back live to the streets of Los Angeles. Anderson Cooper, what are you seeing there?
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, I'm right outside City Hall. The demonstration here really winding down. Elsewhere in Los Angeles, another one starting about half an hour ago. As you heard from the mayor, overwhelmingly peaceful, about 300,000 people here this morning.
AS the mayor said, very much a family atmosphere here. A lot of kids, a lot of kids skipping school, about a quarter of the kids from sixth grade to twelfth, according to local school officials skipped out on school today to attend these demonstrations.
Whether or not they achieved nationally what organizers had hoped, remains to be seen. People on ground here will tell you they're pleased with what they saw today on the ground.
BLITZER: Anderson will have a lot more coming up 10:00 p.m. eastern. "ANDERSON COOPER 360." You'll want to stick around tonight for that, he'll be reporting live from L.A.
Meanwhile, here in Washington, immigration protests around the country have figured prominently into the political debate over immigration. Is today's boycott though, making a similar impression. Our congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, is watching this story.
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Of course the whole point of these demonstrations is to try to influence members of Congress here who are trying to get through the deadlock over immigration legislation. Even lawmakers on the side of the activists out on the streets today say they are very concerned that it will actually hurt their cause.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): Just a few miles from the Capitol, this car wash is always humming. Powered seven days a week by more than 20 immigrant workers. A boycott here would have shut the place down. But supervisor Javier Molena says they thought that was the wrong way to support immigration legislation.
JAVIER MOLENA, CAR WASH SUPERVISOR: I think the best way for us to show them is like what you see right now, everybody's working.
BASH: Not all immigrants agree. In D.C.'s Hispanic areas, many store owners, like Julio Pinto, closed in support.
JULIO PINTO, GROCERY STORE OWNER: A lot of people come here to work. I don't think they should be treated as criminals. That's why we closed.
BASH: Yet on Capitol Hill, it was hard to find a lawmaker who felt that a boycott could help the immigrant's cause. At a demonstration three weeks ago, Senator Ted Kennedy took center stage. SEN. EDWARD KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: I stand with you, and you.
BASH: Today the Massachusetts Democrat is out of sight, issuing only a written statement, saying, "Instead of boycotting on Monday, people should go to work or school, and then join together to keep up the drumbeat and help us enact real reform."
Senate negotiators say they're making progress towards breaking the deadlock on an immigration bill and worry a backlash to the boycotts could knock it off track.
SEN. MEL MARTINEZ (R), FLORIDA: I'll be quite honest with you, we have a little bit of momentum going on in Congress. The thing we don't need is anything that sets us back. I'm very concerned that the tenor of the demonstrations is not being very well-received.
BASH: Republican supporters, like Senator Mel Martinez, are most concerned the boycott will put off some GOP colleagues he is trying hard to convince and good reason.
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: These big demonstrations are counterproductive. They hurt with a guy like me who is trying to look at this in a way that is responsible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASH: Still too early to tell what impact, if any, those demonstrations are going to have on members of Congress, and specifically the delicate negotiation over the immigration legislation. But Democrats and Republicans alike say just the power of the demonstrations today, even over the objection of some of their supporters here on Capitol Hill is a testament to the growing political clout of the Hispanic community, Wolf.
BLITZER: What kind of impact will have these mass impacts have on the nation's economy. Ali Velshi is joining us with tonight's "Bottom Line." Ali?
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, what Dana just said might be the greatest impact. The power, the message it sent out. We wanted to get the calculator out and try and do some math and figure out exactly what today's protests were worth. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(voice-over): There are an estimated 11.5 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. Now if every undocumented immigrant stopped buying, spending and working today, the cost to the U.S. economy would have been $1.25 billion. Every one of them didn't. Organizers were hoping to making two economic statements: immigrant workers are crucial to the U.S. economy and immigrant consumers are crucial to the U.S. economy.
And that is a fact. Take Hispanics. As a group, they have seen their spending power more than double twice in the last five years. Hispanic owned small businesses are opening up at three times the national average.
On the worker side, the effect of these protest might be less obvious. Goya Foods, the country's largest Hispanic owned food company, suspended deliveries across the country in observance of the day. Anything Goya didn't deliver today, well, it will get delivered later this week. Likewise a house that not being built today will still get built, will eventually get built. Even a shop that is closed in support of the protests, it still needs to pay rent and utilities.
So, the great American boycott, any long term economic impact, not likely. Any long term economic message, clearly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VELSHI: Why no long-term economic impact, well, think about it this way, this was expected and it was planned for. Take a look at July 4 this year, it falls on a Tuesday, which means the Monday, July 3, lot of peoples and businesses will take that day off. But the effect will be minimal because the economic activity on that day will just shift to the previous working day before July 3 or after July 4. And that is why no lasting economic impact -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Ali with "The Bottom Line," thank you.
And up ahead tonight here in THE SITUATION ROOM, for all their ferocity last year's killer hurricanes only hit the U.S. coast as Category 3 storms. The next storm season is still a month away, actually not much time. So what's in store for all of us?
And ever since President Bush referred to himself as the decider, comics and critics have had a field day. Our Jeanne Moos tells us what the uproar is all about, and of course she adds to it. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: There is still widespread devastation along the Gulf Coast eight months after Hurricane Katrina. And parts of Florida are still struggling to recover from pair of hurricanes there. The next storm season -- get this -- is only one month away from today. So what can we expect?
CNN's John Zarrella is joining us now live from Miami with more -- John.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, with that one month to go, recently I spent some time with hurricane scientists, the folks who get paid to study storms. And what they told me is pretty frightening. While you and I may think that one hurricane is like any other, they are just wind and rain and water, that couldn't be further from the truth.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA (voice over): Last year's hurricane season was, in fact, filled with oddities and firsts.
ED RAPPAPORT, DEP. DIR., NATIONAL HURRICANE CTR.: Every storm turns out to be different. Perhaps the surprise is when there's no surprise.
ZARRELLA: When Hurricane Wilma reached Florida, the storm's eye was so large, that tiny Hurricane Charlie from a year earlier could fit neatly inside of it. When Hurricane Dennis hit just east of Pensacola last July, St. Mark's, Florida, 180 miles to the east went underwater.
How could storm surge propagate so far from the center of a hurricane? It turned out the be a unique phenomenon.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And here is where the shelf-trap wave starts to develop.
ZARRELLA: This computer animation shows what happened. The hurricane's path ran right along the edge of the continental shelf. The path, coupled with strong winds along the coast, created a wave that travelled parallel with the hurricane going inland near St. Marks.
(on-camera): And you had never seen anything like that before?
STEPHEN BAIG, HURRICANE RESEARCHER: Never seen anything like that before.
ZARRELLA (voice over): This animations, these psychedelic flowing lines of colors, represent wind from Hurricane Rita, flowing toward a radar site in Beaumont, Texas, and then away from it. The different colors represent different wind speeds.
PETER BLACK, NOAA HURRICANE RESEARCHER: Blue indicating high winds of around 75, 80 miles per hour.
ZARRELLA: What scientists are finding is the existence of horizontal powerful streaks of wind embedded in the hurricane. Wherever these streaks occur, the wind can be five to 25 miles an hour stronger than in the overall storm. The streak may only be 100 yards wide.
BLACK: It can make a difference between one house suffering, you know, very bad damage, losing a roof or something, and an adjacent house, like a couple of houses down, feeling minor damage.
ZARRELLA: Streak winds from Hurricane Andrew leveled the community of Naranja Lakes near Homestead.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ZARRELLA: And forecasters are warning that in terms of strength we did not get the big one last season. On a hurricane one to five scale, Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita and Wilma were all Category 3 storms when they made land fall. That too was a first -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, John, thank you very much. Looks like you're going to have a busy season coming up, unfortunately.
Could this year's hurricane season out pace the record 27-named storms that developed last year. One weather guru already has some predictions. Let's bring in our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, that would be Dr. William Gray from Colorado State. He has released his predictions for the upcoming season. So there is going to be 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and five intense hurricanes. That would be category 3, 4, or 5.
The likelihood these will hit the coastal line, the entire U.S. coast, 81 percent, the Gulf Coast, the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas, 47 percent.
How accurate are these? Well, last year wasn't very close. But then again, who could have predicted there was going to be 27 named storms, 15 hurricanes, seven of them intense. This report will be updated again at the end of the month, Wolf. You can go to cnn.com/situationreport. We have posted it there.
BLITZER: All right, Jacki, thanks.
Up ahead, President Bush said it first. Now, I'm the decider has become the catch phrase of the moment. Our Jeanne Moos is tracking its spread.
Plus, cocaine and heroine possession might soon be legal in small amounts in Mexico. What do you think about that? Jack Cafferty is reading your e-mail. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Last week the president called himself the decider when he told reporters that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was keeping his job. But as our Jeanne Moos explains, that opened up a little bit of comedic ribbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To his critics, he has become the decider-in-chief ever since these fateful words escaped his lips.
BUSH: But I'm the decider and I decide what is best and what's best is for Don Rumsfeld to remain.
MOOS: But what also remained with was that quote.
JON STEWART, TALK SHOW HOST: The decider.
STEPHEN COLBERT, TALK SHOW HOST: He's the decider.
MOOS: It made it onto blogs. It made it onto T-shirts. You could be the decider or undecider. Robin Williams chose decisively. ROBIN WILLIAMS, ACTOR: The decider just seems to be a progression. You just kind of go -- every time he stands next to Tony Blair, I just want to put a telethon number.
MOOS: "The Daily Show" turned the quote into a comic strip.
STEWART: It's time for another exciting installment of "The Decider."
MOOS: It shows W. as a superhero with a "D" on his chest and his cape.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow, he's also wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he sure is decisive.
MOOS: Big-named columnists like Maureen Dowd and Frank Rich chimed in, as did regular folks.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But when somebody calls themselves the decider, it's more parental or omniscient or god-like.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It reminded me the kind of language games my 6-year-old plays.
MOOS: A little like the kid's rant in the film "Gloria."
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am the man. Do you hear me? I am the man, I am the man.
MOOS: But before you circle it as wrong.
(on camera): We report, you decider. Is it a real word?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I think it's a made-up word.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sure in his world, it is.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well I suppose you could use it -- decider, yes, it's a real word.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To me, it is not, no.
MOOS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it is?
ERIN MCKEAN, OXFORD'S AMERICAN DICTIONARIES: The decider is a perfectly fine, perfectly acceptable word.
MOOS (voice-over): It's listed in dictionary as a noun, though dictionary editor Erin McKean says...
MCKEAN: The word usually used is decision maker.
MOOS: If the president had said decision maker, the trackers wouldn't have the deciders to derive.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: Tough act to follow. Let's check in with Paula to see what's coming up at the top of the hour. Paula?
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm not going to even try to follow that, Wolf. We're going to more live coverage from the immigration reform rallies going on all over the country tonight. We are also following the saga of the 89-year-old millionaire who's now dead and his Playboy playmate wife. Has the U.S. Supreme Court made it more likely that Anna Nicole Smith will inherit part of her late husband's fortune?
And get a load of this, take a look at these pictures. Not of her, but of this crash. How does a guy walk away from a 300-mile-an- hour wreck with barely a scratch? He will tell us tonight. I think there were some angels watching over him, Wolf. I mean, you look at that video, and it seems like a miracle that the guy walked away.
BLITZER: Amazing stuff. Paula, we'll be watching. Thanks very much.
Our Internet reporter Abbi Tatton is standing by with some late developments at Duke, involving the Duke lacrosse investigation. Abbi, what has happened?
ABBI TATTON, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, this is from the Duke University Web site, just posted in the last few minutes, finds of two committees, internal committees that were tasked with investigating issues related to the March 13th lacrosse incident.
Findings online, now, bottom line, the men's lacrosse program according to the investigations, should resume. Although they've been looking into some of the behavior of some of the team members over the past few years and found at time it's been socially irresponsible. Wolf, all of this posted now at duke.edu.
BLITZER: Thanks, Abbi, for that. Still ahead, cocaine and heroin possession. It's about to become legal in small amounts in Mexico. Jack Cafferty has your e-mail.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Let's check in with Jack in New York. Jack?
CAFFERTY: The question is, is it a mistake for Mexico to legalize small amounts of cocaine and heroin?
Robert says it's a step in the right direction. He writes: Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like heroin, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime.
Darryl in Dayton, Ohio: We have no more business telling Mexico what their drug laws should be than they have telling us what our immigration laws should be.
John in California: It's good that Fox will legalize drugs for personal use. The government will save money by not wasting it on incarcerating small-time users. Perhaps now he can provide for a little better quality of life for his people with the extra money. Or his government could just steal the extra money.
Karen in Los Angeles: What's a small amount of heroin? Being a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, there is no small amount. They sure will increase their tourist trade though.
Daniel in Tempe, Arizona: I'm all for it if it means that Rush Limbaugh will be moving to Mexico and the American public will no longer have to listen to him.
And Bill in Bay City, Michigan: This may work in a roundabout way. It is possible that if the program is successful, Mexican citizens will be so stoned that they either can't find the border or they'll forget why it was they left the house in the first place, thus easing the illegal immigration problem.
Wolf?
BLITZER: Very clever e-mail writers. We have a lot of smart viewers out there. Jack, see you tomorrow here in THE SITUATION ROOM. And we're in THE SITUATION ROOM weekday afternoons 4:00-to-6:00 p.m. Eastern and back at 7:00 p.m. Eastern for another hour. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Tomorrow, the former secretary of state Madeleine Albright joins us. Paula Zahn standing by now live in New York. Paula?
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