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The Situation Room

Political Fallout from FBI Raid on Capitol Hill; Senate Ends Immigration Debate; President Bush and Tony Blair Meet in Washington; Seven Members of an Indonesian Family Infected with Bird Flu

Aired May 24, 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: Thanks very much Lou. 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 7:00 p.m. here in Washington. There are two big battles on Capitol Hill. The search of a congressman's office triggers some new shockwaves. House leaders want seized documents back and the senate moves closer to passing an immigration bill, setting up a showdown with the house. I'll talk immigration and lots more with the former president, Jimmy Carter.
Pandemic fears put part of a European capital under quarantine, and an Indonesian family is wiped out. Did bird flu spread from human to human? I'll ask this country's top official on infectious diseases.

And as governor he's been calling the plays in Florida. Could Jeb Bush be up for the top job in the NFL? I'm Wolf Blitzer, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

Tonight, a constitutional showdown over the raid on a congressman's office. The top house republican and democrat are joining forces to make a new demand of the Bush administration. And another twist of the usual partisan lines, democrats are going to new lengths to distance themselves from the target of the raid, fellow democrat William Jefferson. Our congressional correspondent Dana Bash is following all these developments. Dana?

DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the political fallout from this raid is nothing short of bizarre. Democrats are hoping, at least, that their own congressman actually resigns. Meanwhile, republican leaders are not lashing out at the person who is the subject -- the target of this investigation instead they're lashing out at their own republican administration.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: It was a rare act of bipartisanship. The republican house speaker and democratic leader demanding the Justice Department return all materials seized from democrat William Jefferson's congressional office, calling a weekend FBI raid a violation of constitutional principles, designed to protect the congress and the American people from abuses of power. Democrats questioning Bush administration tactics is routine, but --

REP. DENNIS HASTERT, (R) HOUSE SPEAKER: We think those materials ought to be returned.

BASH: This is the top republican in congress, escalating a high- stakes constitutional and political showdown with the republican administration. Speaker Hastert also called for FBI and Justice Department officials involved in the raid to be removed from the case.

HASTERT: Those people involved in that issue ought to be frozen out of that, just for the sake of the constitutional aspect of it.

BASH: His former deputy also stepped into the fray. He has his own legal troubles.

REP. TOM DELAY, (R) TEXAS: And the executive branch understands how dangerous it was and what a huge mistake it was.

Are you going to give the documents back?

BASH: Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty did not answer the question but he defended the raid.

PAUL MCNULTY, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL: The department has conducted similar searches in the past, including the chambers of federal judges and the private residences of members of congress. And we believe our actions were lawful and necessary.

BASH: Meanwhile, Congressman Jefferson received a stinging public rebuke from his own leadership. In a one-sentence letter, democratic leader Nancy Pelosi demanded Jefferson's immediate resignation from the powerful tax writing ways and means committee. Some democrats want Jefferson to quit congress outright, as the election season is getting under way. But Jefferson fired back with his own letter, refusing to step down, saying, "I will not give up a committee assignment that is so vital to New Orleans at this crucial time for any uncertain political strategy."

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

BASH: And Jefferson is now pressing his own case in court, his lawyer filed a motion today, demanding that everything taken from his office from his computer files to boxes of records, be returned immediately. Wolf?

BLITZER: Dana, thank you very much.

Also tonight, the senate is moving closer to passage of a controversial immigration reform bill, probably some time tomorrow. Members voted this morning to end debate on the measure, clearing the way for its final approval. Now divided republicans are bracing for the fight to reconcile the senate and house versions of reform. That will be very tough. Let's bring in our chief national correspondent John King with the latest. John?

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf, at the White House and on the senate side, republicans say, hey look, we had to compromise to get a bill nearing passage in the senate, to get a bill to the president's desk we need some compromise on the house's part, too. Asked republicans there if that's possible, privately they say, yes, maybe, but publicly, house republicans for now standing firm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KING: For the second time in a week, Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove visited house republicans in search of a formula for compromise. And for the second time in a week, his upbeat assessment was not shared by most of those in the meeting.

REP. TOM DELAY, (R) TEXAS: If the senate or the president, insist on an amnesty-type path to citizenship it's a nonstarter and you won't get a bill.

KING: More proof of a party divided over both immigration policy and immigration politics. One side worries, allowing those who broke the law to not only stay in the United States but eventually get citizenship, would infuriate grass roots conservatives critical to republican chances this November.

NEIL NEWHOUSE, REPUBLICAN POLLSTER: The anger is so strong and the frustration is so strong in this issue that, you know, I think, perhaps, the White House may have missed that kind of intensity.

KING: The other side thinks the bigger long-term risk is an anti-immigrant tone that drives away the growing Latino vote.

GROVER NORQUIST, CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST: This is why George W. Bush's presidency is not only important to the country, but important to the Republican Party, in making sure that the Republican Party continues to get 40, 50 percent of the Hispanic vote.

KING: The president's plan to send National Guard troops to the border was one step for the tougher approach favored by the house. And the senate embraced a few more steps, including new fencing and other border security measures, and tougher penalties on employers who hire illegal immigrants. But the guest worker program, allowing those who enter the United States illegally to stay and get citizenship, remains the republican fault line. The question now, whether a weakened president can somehow find a way to lead his divided party from confrontation to an immigration compromise.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

KING: Now despite the tough public words, some house republicans are privately working on compromised proposals that they might put forward once the house senate negotiations begin, but Wolf, talked to some other house conservatives, they say, no way, they think they have the votes to hold firm on their position. That border security should come first and they should deal with guest worker program, other questions about the illegal immigrants already in the United States after the November elections. It's going to be interesting negotiations.

BLITZER: We'll watch together with you, John, thanks very much. Meanwhile, President Bush is preparing to team up once again with his most important ally in the Iraq war, the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. They'll hold talks tomorrow here in Washington, then, they'll face reporters at the White House tomorrow night. Our White House correspondent Ed Henry is watching all of this. He's joining us with a preview. Ed?

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, when President Bush first took office in 2001, there were questions about whether he could forge a close bond with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, because of his close relationship with democratic president Bill Clinton. But now, several years later, Mr. Bush, Mr. Blair are married, for better or for worse, on the issue of Iraq.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: At their first big meeting in February 2001 at Camp David, President Bush and Prime Minister Blair immediately bonded.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We both use Colgate toothpaste.

You know that, George?

HENRY: Little did they know how much closer they would become.

BUSH: I can assure you that when either of us get in a bind, there will be a friend on the other end of the phone.

HENRY: They're both in a bind now, joined at the hip defending a war that has sent their popularity plummeting.

BUSH: The progress we've made has been hard fought and has been incremental. There have been setbacks and missteps, like Abu Ghraib.

HENRY: When Baghdad fell in April 2003, 49 percent of the British people were satisfied with the job Mr. Blair was doing. Today, it's just 28 percent, an even steeper drop for Mr. Bush. His approval rating, 70 percent when Saddam Hussein was removed has plunged to 36 percent. That's why this week the two leaders will try to pivot off the formation of a new Iraqi government, to urge Iraqis to take a greater share of the burden.

BUSH: A watershed event that took place this weekend in Iraq.

HENRY: A theme the prime minister picked up Tuesday during a visit with new Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: This is a new beginning. And we want to see what you want to see, which is Iraq and the Iraqi people able to take charge of their own destiny and write the next chapter of Iraqi history themselves.

HENRY: Maliki released a written statement Wednesday declaring Iraqi forces will be able to take over security by the end of 2007, but U.S. officials insist they do not expect the president and prime minister to make a major announcement about cutting U.S. and British troop levels in Iraq. The two leaders have been battered by allegations they fixed the intelligence to bolster the case for war. But are hoping they'll be vindicated by the decision to topple Hussein.

BLAIR: If we are wrong, we will have destroyed a threat that at its least is responsible for inhumane carnage and suffering. That is something I'm confident history will forgive.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: On the issue of a timetable for troop withdrawal, a senior administration official here basically says, the president doesn't want to get overly optimistic. Wolf?

BLITZER: Ed Henry, thank you very much. And remember, CNN's the place to be for the Bush-Blair news conference tomorrow night. Our coverage here in THE SITUATION ROOM will begin 7:00 p.m. eastern. That's coming up tomorrow.

Jack Cafferty's joining us from New York with "The Cafferty File." Jack?

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, the next presidential election is still two years away and it's becoming harder and harder to find a democratic senator who's not considering a run for the White House. Check out this list so far and it's probably going to get longer. Senators Clinton, Biden, Dodd, Blye, Kerry, Feingold. The republicans have a real challenge as well, that's trying to find someone who has a big enough ego to think they can actually overcome the somewhat pathetic legacy of eight years of George Bush. It might even be next to impossible to find someone worthwhile who's willing to try, which leaves the country in a dilemma. Who's going to be our next leader?

The political graveyard littered with the bodies of failed third party candidates from elections past, Ross Perot, Ralph Nader, John Anderson, Eugene McCarthy. But 2008 might present an opportunity that hasn't been there before. The public is so fed up with the current crop of corrupt, conniving con men and women, that anything might be possible. Here's the question. Who do you think could unite the country behind the third party? Email your thoughts to caffertyfile@cnn.com or go to cnn.com/caffertyfile. Wolf?

BLITZER: Thank you Jack for that. And coming up, bird flu and the possibility of human to human transmission. Find out what's being done to stop a global pandemic from breaking out. Also former President Jimmy Carter one on one here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Here what he has to say about the immigration debate, whether it has racist overtones, human rights including at the prison at Guantanamo Bay and a lot more. And Jeb Bush and the NFL, would he quit being governor to run the National Football League. We'll hear his answers. Stay with us, you're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: Health officials are monitoring ominous bird flu developments on two continents tonight. Either could be a sign that we're closer to a possible pandemic. CNN's Mary Snow is joining us live from New York with the latest information. Mary?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Wolf health officials have intensified their investigation into a rare outbreak of bird flu affecting humans in Asia and what it might mean. And in Europe there are restrictions on some residents in Romania who are being closely monitored.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: In a sign that countries are worried, the Romanian government has quarantined hundreds of residents in two districts of the capital of Bucharest. Concern they may have been exposed to birds with avian influenza, so far no confirmed sickness. In Indonesia six family members died in what health officials say is the largest known cluster of humans dying from bird flu, prompting the World Health Organization to make this sober statement.

PETER CORDINGLY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: We have a team down there, they're examining what's going on and they can't find an animal source of this infection and that worries us. And in the absence of known animal source, we have to treat this as possibly human to human transmission of the virus.

SNOW: Health officials stress that the H5 N1 flu found in this family has not mutated in a way that's easily passed from person to person. It's not the first case of human to human transmission of avian flu, but officials say it's the largest. They're now investigating if any one who had contact with the family may have contracted the disease.

DR. PAUL GULLY, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: What we're trying to identify, if it has occurred is what we call sustained human to human transmission. By one human giving it to another and giving it to another and so on and so forth. Because that would indicate that we have the potential for a pandemic.

SNOW: If that happens and officials stress it's a big if, it would raise the level of pandemic plans. What would happen in the U.S.?

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH: If it occurs, then that would trigger a number of events of preparedness to the next level and some of it might be and could be, restriction of travel to a particular area where there seems to be rather easy spread from person to person. Which is again, I underscore, not the case that we're seeing now in Indonesia.

(END OF VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW: Now concerns about travel were affected in the stock market today. Airline stocks in both the U.S. and Europe traded lower out of concern that international travel may be affected the way it was in 2003 when there was a SARs outbreak in Asia. Wolf? BLITZER: Mary thank you for that. And these latest bird flu developments raise lots of questions. For some answers, we turn to one of this country's top experts.

And joining us now in THE SITUATION ROOM is Dr. Anthony Fauci, he's the director of the Infectious Diseases Institute at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Fauci, a couple of major problems potentially developing right now. First in Romania they're quarantining a whole district right now, there's suspicion of bird flu there. What do you make of this latest report we're getting from Romania?

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: I think the Romanian report really is just a reflection of how a particular country is dealing with the fact that they have infected chickens and people exposed to the chickens. I don't think it tells us much about what the virus is doing there. It's a rather aggressive precautionary measure that the Romanian authorities are taking. It's not surprising that they do that. They're concerned about that.

But we'll have to leave it up to those local authorities of how they handle when they get flocks of chickens are infected. And when they have exposure of humans, they just want to make sure that the people who've been exposed to those chickens, if in fact they do get infected, and there's no indication that there's massive infection there at all, they just want to make sure that the exposed individuals don't ultimately spread it other people. And for that reason, they're doing the containment method that you just described.

BLITZER: Perhaps more worrisome is what has happened in Indonesia in recent days. One family infected with bird flu according to World Health Organization authorities, may have passed that on from family member to family member. What's the latest information you're getting on that, because if there is human to human passing on of the bird flu virus that could be enormously significant?

FAUCI: Well what it looks like we have there if you look at the data as it is unfolded that it is likely that there was transmission from one person to another within that family cluster. If particularly a father who was very close to a child, taking care of a child who was very seriously ill, and other members of the family for example, who was sleeping in the same room together, when one person was coughing very vehemently and was acutely ill. So it cannot be ruled out and it is likely that we do have limited human to human transmissibility within this family. That's of concern. Those are the kind of things we need to keep an eye on.

The somewhat encouraging news thus far, within the framework of the serious situation, is that there have not been other cases outside of the family unit. In other words, not a casual contact, not any of the nurses or the doctors or others who were taking care of them. So this could be a reflection of one of those unusual cases where you do get a family cluster.

You might recall, we discussed some time ago Wolf, that there was a similar, smaller group of people in Thailand, a couple of years ago, when a mother and an aunt got it from a 10 or 11 year old child who was seriously ill. This looks like that kind of a pattern. We need to observe it carefully, take it seriously and just hope it does not go beyond that particular group. Which it looks like it has not at this point, gone beyond the immediate exposure of that family.

BLITZER: So as far as you know, there's no evidence to suggest that the virus has mutated to a form where it would go from human to human, which clearly would spark a pandemic?

FAUCI: Well actually, if you look at the virus and the mutation aspect, what we call the molecular makeup, we've looked at a few of those viral isolates and there's no evidence at all that there's any mutations that would suggest what you're referring to, and it's still a purely bird virus. So it has not assumed any other genes that might make it spread more readily from person to person, that we would make that projection, if we saw that. So, it looks like the same virus that has been circulating in that area for some time now that fundamentally has gone only from chicken to human, chicken to human and stopped. This family cluster is an example of limited spread from a person to person within a family, but the virus itself does not seem to have changed at all from what we were looking at, months ago.

BLITZER: Dr. Fauci, thanks very much for joining us.

FAUCI: Good to be here.

BLITZER: And still to come tonight here in THE SITUATION ROOM, my interview with former President Jimmy Carter. He speaks out and explains why he believes there are racist overtones in the immigration debate.

Also, Al Gore's new campaign it's not for the White House, at least, not yet. Our senior political analyst Bill Schneider will join us to explain. Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Zain Verjee is off. Fredricka Whitfield joining us from the CNN Center with a closer look at some other important stories making news. Fred?

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening to you Wolf. Well President Bush is pitching a plan to expand nuclear power generation. Today the president said the way to do that is by dealing with radio active waste and lessening regulation. The president delivered his message from a nuclear plant near Philadelphia. He said the U.S. must build more nuclear power plants for the sake of economic and national security.

A Pakistani immigrant was found guilty today on charges he wanted to blow up one of New York's busiest subway stations. He now faces life in prison. Prosecutors say the man wanted to bomb the busy subway station near the Macy's department store in retaliation for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The man and one other person were arrested on the eve of the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York. And, Wolf, take a look at this. A raging fire, a massive evacuation and an all out assault to put the fire out. Scenes of a blaze at Istanbul's International Airport in Turkey. The fire swept through the cargo area that contained explosives and chemicals. Officials are blaming the blaze on sparks from a welding torch. Some 2,000 people were evacuated. Officials say three people were injured. Wolf?

BLITZER: Could have been a lot worse. Thanks very much, Fred for that.

Just ahead. Immigration, human rights, Iran, gas prices. Former President Jimmy Carter speaks out on these issues and lots more. My interview with him, that's coming up.

Also, Jeb Bush, and a possible offer to head the National Football League. Would he leave the governor's mansion and take the job? Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. We'll get to my interview with Jimmy Carter in just a moment though, first, some other news. From immigration to human rights, to Iran. Former President Jimmy Carter tends to speak his mind, and he does just that in my one on one interview. That's coming up. Former president is speaking out on immigration and human rights and all sorts of issues from Atlanta, where he hosted a human rights defender's policy forum at the Carter Center.

Joining us now is the former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Mr. President, thanks so much for joining us. Welcome back.

JIMMY CARTER, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's good to be with you again, Wolf, and the folks of THE SITUATION ROOM.

WOLF: Thank you. I know you have a major conference that you are involved with, human rights. I read your remarks on human rights. I want to get to all of those issues, including the human rights aspects of this enormous immigration debate that we've seen unfold in this country, over the past several weeks. You recently wrote in "The Miami Herald" this, you said "Competing legislation from the House of Representatives on immigration has strong racist overtones." What specifically are you referring to?

CARTER: Wolf, it's such a punitive approach to the very sensitive issue of immigration and I tried to point out in my editorial that these people who come to our country and even the ones who employ them, are good honest hardworking dedicated people.

And they don't need to be punished. And so I think whenever you single out a particular category of people for just punitive legislation, as I believe was done in the House version of the bill that might be passed, it does have overtones of distinguishing between a particular class of people. BLITZER: So you're referring specifically to the House legislation, which would categorize these illegal immigrants as felons.

CARTER: That's correct. And also calls for the deportation of all of them. This -- and the categorization, as you just said, of everyone as a convicted criminal. This is not the proper approach to a nation that prides itself on being the champion of democracy, freedom, and human rights.

BLITZER: The president -- the current president's plan calls for stronger border security, a guest worker program, and a path towards citizenship. It sort of -- pretty much coincides with what senators Kennedy and McCain have in mind, what the Senate certainly supports. But there is strong opposition in the House.

On this issue, I take it you don't have a lot of disagreement with President Bush.

CARTER: No, that's exactly right. I think that the approach that has been put forward and currently being considered, the bill in the Senate, as supported, the way I understand it, by President Bush, is very compatible with my own -- my own views.

BLITZER: What about English as the official language of the United States? Should there been legislation that makes English the official or national language of the U.S.?

CARTER: No. I don't think so. You know, we have gotten along for more than 200 years without excluding other languages.

This is a country that is kind of a melting pot for languages around the world. And I don't think there's any need for it.

It's just kind of one of those emotional issues that can turn one part of America against another. You know, we have survived OK without such language. And I think just to specifically say that it's the only language that we will accept officially is the wrong approach.

BLITZER: The speech you delivered on human rights this week was a powerful speech. It included an indictment of current U.S. policy on many sensitive issues in terms of human rights. Let me read an excerpt from what you said.

At the Carter Center you said, "In the last few years we've seen an embarrassment come to my own country in the realm of human rights." And you went on to say, "The equation that used to be taken for granted between a great democracy and a great champion of human rights has certainly been brought into question."

Specifically, what are you referring to? What is embarrassing to you as far as America's current human rights policy is concerned?

CARTER: Wolf, what we have here is a group of human rights heroes that come to us from troubled nations; that is nations within which human rights abuses are a common thing. And in the past I've always been inspired almost without question by the fact that United States was the champion of the protection of human rights, the declaration of human rights, the Geneva Conventions.

And recently, of course as is well known, it's been covered on CNN as well as it has in all news media in the world, we have been guilty of how these people in this country and in our own prisons, in Guantanamo and even in the Gulf Region without accusation being made against them, incarcerated for now years without a trial, without access of lawyers, sometimes even deprived of access to their own families.

It's been highly publicized that there have been many instances of torture and I don't think there's any doubt that the United States has, indeed, on occasion, when attention is been focused on those prisons that are ours, some of them still secret, that we have actually taken prisoners and transported them to other countries where they have very well been tortured.

So these kinds of signals that go from the United States, defended by some of the top people in our government, have sent a wave of consternation and disappointment and disillusionment to people who are applauding for human rights in their own countries. And they see their own oppressive governments using these examples from the United States to condone similar activities against helpless people.

BLITZER: The secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice said this last Sunday. She said, "Obviously, we don't want to be the world's jailer. We will be delighted when we can close down Guantanamo, but I would ask this: If we do close down Guantanamo, what becomes of the hundreds of dangerous people who were picked up on the battlefields on Afghanistan, who were picked up because of their association with al Qaeda?"

What would you say to Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state?

CARTER: Well, last year the major recommendation that our similar conference made was that Guantanamo be closed immediately. And, of course, that's been a similar position taken by the United Nations and by other international organizations that are concerned about human rights.

If we close Guantanamo, there are several things that can be done. One is, those prisoners that we accuse of crimes, let them be put on trial openly and -- so that the world can observe the process. Those that we believe are guilty, let them be sent by their own country -- back to their own countries of origin, some even in Europe, Western Europe, some in the Gulf coast -- the Gulf region, and let them be put on trial there.

Others that are not susceptible to trial and conviction, let them be released. This has been done in the past following previous wars in which the United States has been involved. I think the same thing can be done now. As a matter of fact, there are top people in the administration now, as you well know, who are seriously considering the closing of Guantanamo. And my prediction is that within the next year or two, Guantanamo will indeed be closed.

BLITZER: Should the U.S., should President Bush authorize direct talks between the United States and Iran on Iran's nuclear program? As you know, right now that dialogue consists of others. The Europeans are talking directly to the Iranians, but there's been no direct dialogue. The Iranians apparently want this kind of dialogue. What do you think?

CARTER: I think it's a very serious mistake when the United States refuses to have direct talks with problem regimes. This applies in North Korea and it also applies now in Iran. When we back away from any sort of direct discussion with the leaders of those countries, and threaten either nuclear action against them -- it's been rumored even to consider the use of nuclear weapons -- and either that or very severe punishment through economic sanctions and so we refuse to talk to you at all about this problem, I think it's a mistake.

And I don't know what would be the result of the discussions, but since Iran, under great pressure now, has offered for the first time in more than 25 years to have direct talks with the United States, I think it seems to indicate that the Iranian leaders see that they've made a mistake and that they need to make a firm commitment to the United States and to the rest of the world, we want to improve the high quality of nuclear materials, but that they will be used only for peaceful uses. That is the generation of electricity. And if we work out a good deal between the United States and Iran and Iran and the rest of the world, that we will put them under the observation of the international nuclear energy commission. So I think direct talks would be very helpful.

BLITZER: We're almost completely out of time, Mr. President, but I was going through some research the other day, and I went back to your State of the Union address in 1980 and found this passage. And I want to play a clip for you, from what you said, what, some 26 years ago. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CARTER: Our excessive dependence on foreign oil is a clear and present danger to our nation's security. (Applause). The need has never been more urgent. At long last, we must have a clear, comprehensive energy policy for the United States.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: But 26 years later you could say -- the current president could say exactly the same thing. What has gone wrong? Why has this country failed over these past 26 years to come up with a clear, comprehensive energy policy that will reduce what you call `our excessive dependence on foreign oil'?

CARTER: Wolf, during my four years in office, this was always a top priority, and we were able to reduce dramatically the U.S. dependence on foreign oil by increasing production in this country and other means, and primarily by conservation. We started out with 12 million barrels a day being imported. We reduced it down to four million barrels over a long period of time. Now it's back up to 12 million barrels a day. and this is increasingly making our own country dependent upon and almost forced to collaborate with regimes that would not otherwise be acceptable. And I think it puts the security of our own country in danger, as I said, as you say, 25 years ago.

So, a heavy emphasis on conservation, which I pursued when I was president, would be the first major step, and that's a main step so far that has not yet been taken in recent years.

BLITZER: We have to leave it right there, Mr. President.

I want to leave it on a happy note. This week, you and your former vice president, Walter Mondale, became the longest living ex- president and ex-vice president in American history, beating Adams and Jefferson.

Congratulations to you on that. We hope both of you are around for many, many more years to come. Thanks for all your good work.

CARTER: Thank you, Wolf.

All you have to do is live a long life and choose a healthy vice president.

BLITZER: Well, you did both. Thank you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

And more now on the front lines of the immigration wars. The National Guard chief tells lawmakers the first wave of about 800 troops will head to the U.S.-Mexican border next week.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's ready to commit National Guard troops to his state's border, but he says he still has some serious questions for the Bush administration about the cost. And Schwarzenegger says he plans to talk about all of this with the Mexican president, Vicente Fox, tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R), CALIFORNIA: Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders and allows for a temporary working program.

I will discuss also President Bush's plan for using the national troops to help the Border Patrol on a temporary basis.

And I will make it clear to President Fox that I oppose the using of military for law enforcement duties.

However, I am prepared to commit to the California National Guard troops in support of Border Patrol operations. But as I said, it has to be on a temporary basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Up ahead tonight, here in THE SITUATION ROOM, Al Gore, the movie. The plot thickens. Is the former vice president using his new film to warn the world about global warming or to launch another presidential campaign?

And Jeb Bush and football. Could he be the next head of the NFL?

Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Former vice president Al Gore is launching a new campaign today. He's promoting his new documentary on global warming. Could the film help open the door to another Gore race for the White House?

Let's bring in our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider -- Bill?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, the new Al Gore movie opens tonight. Is it "A Star is Born," or could it be a political star is born again?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Could this be Al Gore's moment?

Since 2000, the former vice president has been traveling the world delivering more than 1,000 lectures on the threat of global warming. Hollywood producers saw Gore's talk and said, this has got to be a movie.

LAWRENCE BENDER, PRODUCER: We filmed him all around the world, in China, all over the country, and giving this presentation. And it's truly phenomenal. It's going to blow your mind.

SCHNEIDER: A lecture by Al Gore?

AL GORE, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: They have made it entertaining and enjoyable and funny, and really watchable.

SCHNEIDER: How did they do that? By doing what Hollywood does best, telling an intimate, personal story, including his sister's death from lung cancer.

GORE: It was so painful on so many levels. My father, he had grown tobacco all his life. He stopped.

SCHNEIDER: The filmmakers see the picture's message as unifying.

DAVIS GUGGENHEIM, DIRECTOR: He frames it now not as a political issue, but as a moral issue, something that we all have to really think about, and some -- and no matter who we are.

(APPLAUSE) SCHNEIDER: OK. Does President Bush plan to see it?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Doubt it.

(LAUGHTER)

(APPLAUSE)

SCHNEIDER: These days, some Hollywood liberals have doubts about Hillary Clinton. Is she selling out? Can she be elected? Al Gore is emerging as their dark horse.

BENDER: He's great on all the issues. He's -- and he's passionate. He's funny. And he's grounded.

SCHNEIDER: Funny?

GORE: Gas is down to 19 cents a gallon, and the oil companies are hurting. I know that I am partly to blame by insisting that cars run on trash.

(LAUGHTER)

SCHNEIDER: Gore calls himself a recovering politician, but adds, there's a danger of a relapse.

GORE: I have said that I'm not at the stage of my life where I'm going to say never, in the rest of my life, will I ever think about such a thing.

SCHNEIDER: The film is coming out at the perfect moment. Millions of Americans are angry at President Bush and worried about energy. The film is not overtly partisan, but who can miss the visual cue here of one of Bush's greatest failures, Hurricane Katrina?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SCHNEIDER: Would Americans really elect a president who served eight years as vice president, then ran for president and failed, then was out of power for eight years? Well, it worked for Richard Nixon, because the moment was right -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Bill Schneider, good report. Thank you very much.

He's the chief executive of Florida right now. Might he become the next commander in chief of the NFL?

Our Brian Todd is joining us, some new details on what is going on -- Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, Jeb Bush had to address the question today amid several reports about what might be next for him after his very successful run as governor.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) TODD (voice-over): He's got approval ratings his brother can now only dream about. He plans to leave office in January, and is searching for, as they say, his next challenge.

GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: A day doesn't go by where someone doesn't have a great idea for what my life looks like for 2007 and beyond.

TODD: So why not take the helm of America's most popular sport? Jeb Bush admits he was recently approached about the NFL commissioner's job, being vacated by Paul Tagliabue. A tempting role for a man who one invested in the Jacksonville Jaguars and makes a virtual appearance as a Miami Dolphin receiver, going against his brother, suited up as a Dallas Cowboy, in the popular Madden NFL '06 video game.

But Jeb Bush isn't taking the bait.

BUSH: I'm not going to consider any other options other than being governor until I finish.

TODD: An NFL official tells CNN the league won't comment on candidates, but hopes to have a new commissioner by mid-August. Leaving early, analysts say, would present a host of problems for the Florida governor.

JENNIFER DUFFY, COOK POLITICAL REPORT: They're heading into a couple of things. Hurricane season, the election season, which you know, he will preside over in one way or another.

TODD: If not the NFL, what is next? Bush has turned down repeated overtures to run for U.S. Senate, replacing his former secretary of state, Katherine Harris, on this year's ballot. He's also repeatedly refused a presidential run in 2008.

GARY FINEOUT, "MIAMI HERALD": I think it's clear right now, there would be Bush fatigue. But now, the thing about Jeb Bush is Jeb Bush is from the conservative wing of the party. And there are a lot of people who are conservative Republicans who like him very much.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: With those credentials, analysts say he Jeb Bush may be more attractive as a vice presidential candidate in 2008, possibly running with moderates John McCain or Rudy Giuliani. But if Bush just wants to make money, he may want to reconsider that NFL job. Right now Paul Tagliabue is said to make about 10 million dollars a year. Wolf?

BLITZER: Not too bad. Brian, thanks for that. Brian Todd and Bill Schneider are part of the best political team on television. CNN, America's campaign headquarters.

Up ahead. Third party president. Who could unite the country to take the White House from Democrats and Republicans? Jack Cafferty is reading your e-mails. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Here's a look at the bottom line. The three major markets gained a little ground in a volatile trading session. All up slightly. Let's go to New York. Jack Cafferty is standing by. Jack.

CAFFERTY: Question is, who could you unite behind a third political party in a run for the White House in 2008?

Jim writes from Las Vegas, "Unfortunately the person would have to be independently wealthy and be able to fend off attacks from Democrats and Republicans. Donald Trump comes to mind. He's also the kind of person who won't take any crap."

Tom in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. "Liberals will not be content with a Republican lite candidates or with Hillary Clinton trying to out-macho Bush. Russ Feingold could unite many millions of Americans behind a third party candidacy."

LaVone in Versailles, Kentucky, "Maybe now is the time for Jesse Ventura."

Well, maybe not, LaVone.

Diane in Chicago. "Either Oprah or Bill Gates. Each one has more intellect, common sense, ethics and compassion in their little fingers than the whole bunch of yahoos currently living off the public largess."

Jim in Redwood City, California. "At this point only one name comes to mind, Colin Powell."

Stan in Ft. Lauderdale. "We might as well make it legal. Elect Vincente Fox. He seems to be able to determine our future now."

Nina in Dixon, Illinois. "A third party guarantees a victory to party one or party two. American saw what Nader did and how America is paying for it now."

Dan in Cincinatti. "You and Bill O'Reilly should run together. You are both truth-tellers and a ticket of you two would unite everyone except those few who watch the witness protection network -- MSNBC."

BLITZER: Good sense of humor, Dan.

CAFFERTY: You know the number one name in all of the emails we got. It wasn't even close, was Lou Dobbs.

BLITZER: He says he's not interested. Let's find out what's coming up right at the top of the hour with Paula.

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks so much. We will start off by talking about that very scary outbreak of the bird flu in Indonesia, and if it can be determined if there was human to human transmission. And also the story of a brave little girl, despite being kidnapped and terrorized, how did she have the presence of mind to collect evidence against the man who abducted her? How did she get away from him, where did she learn it all? It's an amazing. We hope you join us at the top of the hour.

BLITZER: We will Paula. Thank you.

And we're getting word of possible tornadoes that could affect your travel plans, we'll update you on that, that's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

BLITZER: Remember, tomorrow, 7:00 p.m. eastern, our special SITUATION ROOM coverage of the joint news conference between the visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bush. Our coverage begins 7:00 p.m. eastern. I'll be here in the THE SITUATION ROOM for that. Until then, thanks very much for joining us. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. Paula Zahn is standing by with more from New York. Paula.

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