Return to Transcripts main page
The Situation Room
Major Powers Agree on Package for Iran to Halt Nuclear Program; Will Politicians Pay Price For Katrina Disaster?; Banning Same Sex Marriage May Not Affect Upcoming Elections; Dennis Hastert Is Longest Serving Republican House Speaker In History
Aired June 01, 2006 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Ali. 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 today's top stories.
Happening now, there's a new development in the nuclear standoff with Iran. We'll tell you what it is and what it could mean for all of our future. Also this hour, hurricane season is now officially here. And the forecast is chilling. It's 3:00 p.m. in New Orleans, where residents are bracing for the next storm. A politically-damaged White House is bracing, as well.
Plus, a new push by the president for immigration reform. It's 4:00 p.m. here in Washington, where Mr. Bush had a warning today for Congress and for the business community.
And a history of hot buttons. Gay marriage and flag burning are making a comeback. Will that help Republicans as much as they think? We'll look back at the win and loss record in the culture wars.
I'm Wolf Blitzer. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
First up this hour, the United States and five other world powers appear ready to formally make an offer to Iran. There's late word coming in from Vienna on talks aimed at ending the nuclear standoff with the Tehran government.
The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is taking part in that meeting. She and other officials reportedly have reached what is being described as a substantial agreement on a package of incentives and penalties to formally be presented to Iran.
If Iran is to accept those penalties and those incentives, the whole package, the U.S. presumably would start direct talks with Iran, the first time in more than two decades.
Our national security correspondent David Ensor is standing by. We'll get to him shortly. We also expect to hear shortly from the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice herself. She's on the scene. We'll be hearing from her as she gets ready to make a statement with her colleagues. There they are right now in Vienna, Austria. We'll listen in, we'll monitor this. Once we get the official word of what's going on, we'll go to Vienna live. In the meantime -- actually, let's go there live right now. MARGARET BECKETT, UK FOREIGN SECRETARY: We believe that they offer Iran the chance to reach a negotiated agreement based on cooperation. We are prepared to resume negotiations should Iran resume suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities, as required by the IAEA and we would also suspend action in the Security Council.
We have also agreed that if Iran decides not to engage in negotiation, further steps would have to be taken in the Security Council. So there are two parts ahead. We urge Iran to take the positive path and to consider seriously our substantive proposal, which would bring significant benefits to Iran. We will now be talking to the Iranians about our proposals. Thank you.
BLITZER: And there it is. The foreign minister, the foreign secretary of Britain, Margaret Beckett, making the official announcement on behalf of the world powers. The U.S., the British, the French, the Germans, the Chinese, the Russians, all coming together in Vienna today to announce that there is a proposal for Iran to either accept or reject.
If the Iranians accept this proposal, there will be a package of incentives to go forward to encourage the Iranians to pursue strictly peaceful purposes for the nuclear reactors. If the Iranians reject this, then they will go back to the U.N. Security Council, presumably for economic and diplomatic sanctions, the next step in this process.
If the Iranians accept the proposal coming from these world powers, the United States is now ready to join in direct talks for the first time in decades with the Iranian government. Our national security correspondent David Ensor is on the scene in Vienna. He's been traveling with the secretary of state. David, this is a dramatic announcement coming from the world powers.
DAVID ENSOR, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (on phone): It is indeed, Wolf. And obviously something of a success for American diplomacy. They were counting on getting an agreement tonight but they -- you never have it until you've got it. And there you saw the Russian foreign minister, the Chinese representative as well, standing there shoulder to shoulder with the others, saying, "Here's what we're offering you and if you don't take it, there's going to be further action on the Security Council."
So quite what the details are, we don't know yet. They want to describe them first to the Iranians and that's -- that's the idea that the Iranians should be able to consider this proposal in detail before the rest of the world hears about it. But I imagine some of the details will dribble out over the next day or so. We will be ourselves for ourselves traveling back with Secretary Rice tomorrow.
BLITZER: This is the old carrot and sticks approach toward the Iranians. The United States, the British, the French, the Germans, the Russians, the Chinese, ready to try to help Iran end its isolation, work with Iran, with all sorts of incentives, if the Iranians suspend their uranium enrichment program. That's a big if right now. So far, David, the initial reaction coming in from Tehran through official media sources, there is a flat no. They say this is simply propaganda. From your conversations with U.S. and other officials on the scene in Vienna, are you getting any indication that the Iranians might accept this deal?
ENSOR: Their sense is that the real answer from Iran will take a little longer to come. That they are not going to listen very seriously to comments officials here have said from Iranian officials until Iran has seen the package, the specifics.
Now, as I said, they are not giving us the specifics here yet. I do know a couple of things about the parameters. There are some very specific offers of assistance to Iran, if it wishes to have a civilian nuclear energy program, it could have substantial assistance.
Obviously to have a program which would not allow proliferation, which would be designed so that bomb-grade material could not be gotten out of the process. Secondly, in terms of punishment, in terms of sanctions, a senior U.S. official has said to CNN that the first trench of sanctions, if there are to be sanctions, would not include any against Iran's oil and gas business.
Clearly the Europeans, the Russians and others not willing go that far at this point. Still an official here saying that the kinds of sanctions that have been in principle agreed to, would be painful indeed for Iran -- Wolf.
BLITZER: David Ensor, stand by, we're going to get back to you. Dramatic developments coming out of Vienna right now, breaking news. The United States, the Europeans, the Russians, and the Chinese have formally reached an agreement on a package of proposals to try to encourage the government of Iran from stopping or suspending its uranium enrichment program.
The package includes all sort of incentives to the Iranians if they accept this deal. The threat though being if the Iranians reject it, the U.S. and these other world powers will go back to the U.N. Security Council and impose sanctions on Iran.
Let's go to the White House. Elaine Quijano, our White House correspondent, is watching all of these dramatic developments unfold. It looks, Elaine, like this was a very carefully orchestrated, diplomatic maneuver by the secretary of state. Yesterday she announces a readiness for the U.S. to begin direct talks with Iran if the Iranians suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Today the U.S. works with the European allies and the Russians and the Chinese to get a deal among all of them, with the warning and the encouragement to Iran to go forward. I presume this is precisely what the White House had in mind?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, absolutely, Wolf. And we should note Russia and China, of course, were the big questions about whether or not they in fact they would go along with a package. In fact, it was just this morning that President Bush was asked about whether or not Russia and China were fully on board. That was after his cabinet meeting. And it was interesting to note his response, because he said that after speaking with the Russian president, there was a positive response.
But when asked that question about China, he hedged a little, didn't directly answer that question. Well now of course you have this development and even yesterday, a senior administration official was saying, Wolf, that there was in fact consensus in the world community around the proposition that sanctions might be necessary -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And it's taking place in Vienna, this meeting. That's the home of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Significant that it's there, not so significant that the U.S. forged an alliance with its western European allies.
But Russia and China, both of which have significant influence, presumably a lot more with Iran. The Russians provide all sorts of equipment for Iran's nuclear reactors. The Chinese, a major customer of Iranian oil. It's significant that the U.S. and the Europeans got Russia and China on board. That's a major development.
QUIJANO: It certainly is. And that is something the president himself was lobbying for in phone conversations with world leaders, with President Putin, with President Hu Jintao of China. This was the outcome that they had hoped for, to have the Russians and the Chinese standing side by side, to send what they hoped would be a unified message to Iran, to make the case, if you will, that this was not simply a United States concern, but really a concern of the world community.
So, they believe that by doing this, by standing together and presenting this united front, this will in fact force Iran's hand. They will either have to demonstrate that they are serious about moving forward with cooperating or, in fact, they will move down the path, if necessary, toward the security council.
BLITZER: And if the Iranians are going to reject this proposal, presumably, it will be a lot easier to get those sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council especially because Russia and China both have veto power over all U.N. Security Council resolutions. Elaine, I want to make a turn.
We're going to have a lot more on this major development coming out of Vienna, Austria. The secretary of state working together with the allies and the Russians and the Chinese to forge this proposal to Iran. A lot more coming up on this. I want to make a quick turn though to Immigration.
Earlier today the president was out speaking before the Chamber of Commerce, making a strong pitch once again for comprehensive immigration reform. Not only strengthening border security, but going ahead and finding a way to deal with the 11 or 12 million, or so, illegal immigrants in the United States. What is his point today? What was new and different?
QUIJANO: Well, it is interesting, this of course has been such a contentious issue, as you know Wolf, so the president took his immigration pitch, interestingly, to largely friendly audience, Business leaders at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The group stands firmly behind President Bush's proposal for a temporary guest worker program. That of course would be a source of inexpensive labor for big and small businesses alike. But, this issue certainly has stalled on Capitol Hill.
The House and Senate bills are far apart on this. Conservative Republicans in the House have long called for stronger border security measures. They oppose anything that they say as amnesty. So what was interesting to note is that today we heard the president, despite being in the friendly environment, have some tough talk, really trying to show that he is serious about enforcing U.S. immigration laws. Here's a little bit of what he had to say:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're a nation of the rule of law. We want people to be treated with respect. And so people who, businesses that knowingly employ illegal workers, undermine this law, and undermine the spirit of America and we're not going to tolerate it in this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUIJANO: Now next week President Bush is heading to New Mexico to talk up immigration reform once again. He'll be taking a tour of a Federal law enforcement training center. Now, as for the chances of getting members of the House to come around to the president's view.
One Republican strategist said right now he thinks the chances are 50/50. And as far as the House goes it's still too early to tell. And of course, Wolf, White House officials have said all along that against the backdrop of the upcoming congressional mid-term elections that the immigration issue is going to be a heavy lift for the president.
BLITZER: Elaine, thank you very much for that. Elaine Quijano at the White House.
One of the developments today in the battle over immigration in the next hour the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to make an announcement on whether he supports the president's plan to send national guard troop to the U.S.-Mexican border. So far he says doesn't like the idea but is willing to go along with it on a short-term basis.
We're expecting some new words from him in the next hour. We'll go there once we hear what Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Governor of California, has to say.
Other news we're following today, some brand new storm warnings. This is the first day of what forecasters say will be an active and threatening hurricane season here in the United States. The National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield is urging coastal residents to be prepared for the worst.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAX MAYFIELD, NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER DIRECTOR: I think the main message here is that all of the season forecasters, at least that I know of, are indicating that it's going to be above average activity. We certainly do have a track record of being on the right side of, you know, average. And when everybody is saying it's going to be above average, people need to sit up and take notice and the message is that, you know, very consistent: prepare, prepare, prepare.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: Are federal and local officials though ready? Max Mayfield and FEMA director David Paulison, they're standing by, they will join us here in the SITUATION ROOM in the next hour.
In New Orleans today, Mayor Ray Nagin was sworn in for a second term. He took some political hits for Katrina, but managed to narrowly win reelection. Nagin weathered the storm, but will other politicians pay a price for the Katrina disaster? Let's bring in our Senior Political Analyst, Bill Schneider, Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Wolf, hurricanes don't just cause physical damage, they also cause political damage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCHNEIDER (voice-over): Republicans are supposed to be the "Daddy Party." The party that protects you. That image was reinforced by President Bush's performance after 9/11.
BUSH: The people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon.
SCHNEIDER: That image was undermined by the administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina.
BUSH: The system at every level of government was not well- coordinated and was overwhelmed in the first few days.
SCHNEIDER: But, the Bush administration seemed clueless about the magnitude of the disaster.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When yesterday did you become aware?
MICHAEL BROWN, FEMA DIRECTOR: I think it was yesterday morning when we first found out about it. We were just as surprised as everybody else.
SCHNEIDER: Result? President Bush lost his carefully cultivated image of competence. The president's image of compassion was shaky to begin with. Even though he calls himself a compassionate conservative. Bill Clinton felt your pain. George Bush flew over it.
Historically in midterm elections the president's party pays for the president's sins. A lot of voters see last year's hurricanes as one of a growing list of problems that government has failed to solve. The result is mounting anti-incumbent sentiment.
Only a third of Americans say they would like to see most members of Congress re-elected. Issues like Iraq and immigration are likely to bring out protest votes on the left and on the right. Anti-war, anti-amnesty. Could there be a protest vote over the handling of hurricane damage? Possibly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The result of the negligence of this administration. Its non-concern for people who are poor, for people who are black, for people who are brown, for people of color.
SCHNEIDER: The issue could draw high turn-out among African- American voters still angry over the administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina. Especially if it is handling of this year's hurricanes is not substantially better -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Bill Schneider reporting. Bill Schneider and Elaine Quijano are part of the best political team on television -- CNN, America's campaign headquarters.
And Anderson Cooper and the 360 team will return to New Orleans. They are already there for the first day of this hurricane season. A new report reveals some shocking details about how prepared we are for the storms to come. "A.C. 360," tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern.
And remember, stay with CNN all day and night. We're your hurricane headquarters.
Jack Cafferty is standing by in New York. He has got "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Great line from Bill Schneider -- "Bill Clinton felt your pain, George Bush flew over it."
With midterm elections about five months away, the fundamental right of many Americans to vote might be in jeopardy. Florida has passed a new law that makes it financially impossible for the League of Women Voters to continue to register new voters. They decided they can no longer afford to carry out that mission. It's something they have been doing for 67 years. That's a shame.
In Washington, a new law prevents people from voting if the state cannot match information on voter registration forms with government databases. Good luck depending on the accuracy of government anything.
And Congress is considering a Voter ID requirement that they would tack on to the Immigration Reform Bill. It would require all voters to present federally-mandated photo ID -- even people who have voted for years would have to get one of these photo IDs in order to vote in 2008. People without drivers licenses, including many elderly and city residents who don't drive may fail to do so, and thus would be ineligible to vote.
Don't kid yourself. This stuff isn't happening accidentally. These are calculated moves by people in power to corrupt the system in such a way they are able to remain in power.
Here's the question, is the right to vote being threatened in the United States? E-mail your thoughts to CaffertyFile@CNN.com or go to CNN.com/CaffertyFile.
It's becoming, Wolf, a situation where those who are in power only want those of us to vote who can help those of them who are power. It's a vicious, nasty little thing that's beginning to creep into the system here and there.
BLITZER: We'll watch it closely, together with you, Jack. Get ready for a lot of angry e-mail from our viewers, I suspect. Thank you very much.
And if you want a sneak preview of Jack's questions, plus an early read on the day's political news and what's ahead in THE SITUATION ROOM, you can sign up for our daily e-mail alert. Just go to CNN.com/SituationRoom.
Coming up: More on the breaking news we've been following this hour. An agreement: six powers -- the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia. They all agree on a set of proposals for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment -- proposals that include incentives if they do so, including direct talks with the United States. The announcement coming from the British foreign secretary in Vienna just moments ago. Lots more on this story coming up.
Also, a new chapter in the partisan battle over the president's judicial nominees. That story only moments away.
And the fight over gay marriage: will a Senate vote to ban such unions drive conservatives to the polls this November? Find out in today's "Culture Wars." Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back. President Bush is weighing in once again today on another international flash point, the alleged massacre of civilians by U.S. Marines in the Iraqi city of Haditha. U.S. military officials in Iraq have issued a directive for commanders to participate in what is being called values training. It's to make sure they understand the legal, the moral, and the ethical standards every man and woman in uniform should follow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Our troops have been trained no core values throughout their training but, obviously, there was an incident that took place in Iraq that is now being investigated. And this is just a reminder for troops either in Iraq or throughout our military, that there are high standards expected of them, and that there are strong rules of engagement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The president says he's confident the U.S. military will conduct a fair and thorough investigation into what happened in Haditha last November.
Zain Verjee is standing by at the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta with a look at other important stories making news -- Zain.
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN ANCHOR: Wolf, there's been more deadly violence in Iraq today. Mortars exploded in a crowded Baghdad market. Police say a 2-year-old child was killed. At least 34 people were hurt, including women and children. In a bid to calm the violence, Iraq's prime minister says candidates to fill the country's interior, defense and security posts will be announced on Sunday.
Injured CBS correspondent Kimberly Dozier is communicating with her family. CBS News says that she has been writing questions from her hospital bed in Germany. Her very first question, what happened to her colleagues? Dozier remains in critical but stable condition after being hurt in a bombing in Baghdad on Monday. CBS cameraman Paul Douglas and sound technician James Brolan were killed in the attack.
Eighty-nine detainees have now joined a hunger strike at the U.S. detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A U.S. Navy commander says six protesters are being force-fed. Military officials say the strike may be planned to coincide with upcoming detention hearings to draw media attention. About 460 prisoners are being held indefinitely at Guantanamo on suspicion of links to terrorism -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Zain, thank you.
President Bush today sealed a victory in his drive to put a more conservative stamp on the nation's courts. He hosted the swearing in ceremony for new U.S. Appeals Court Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh is a former White House aide who once worked for the independent counsel Ken Starr in his investigation of President Clinton.
Kavanaugh won confirmation despite critics who complained he was too political and inexperienced for the bench. Mr. Bush urged the Senate to give more of his stalled judicial nominees the green light.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: I'll continue to fulfill my responsibility to nominate men and women of character and integrity who will administer the law and not legislate from the bench. And I call upon the United States Senate to meet its responsibility to give every nominee a fair hearing and a timely up or down vote.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: From judges we turn to other land mines in the "Culture Wars." The Senate is preparing to vote next week on a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Some top Republicans are hoping the issue will help close the widening cracks in the conservative base. But will it?
We are joined now by our senior analyst, Jeff Greenfield -- Jeff.
JEFF GREENFIELD, CNN SENIOR ANALYST: Wolf, it is the political mega-theme of the moment. Republicans are said to want to gin up their unhappy base to the mid-term elections by pounding away on hot button social issues like gay marriage and flag burning. OK, we'll play. Is it a plausible strategy? Has it worked in the past? Can it backfire? Let's check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD (voice-over): In 2004, the issue was gay marriage. After the Massachusetts Supreme Court ordered the state to sanction same-sex marriages, 11 states voted on Election Day to define marriage as one man and one woman.
BUSH: In the great state of Ohio.
GREENFIELD: Ohio was one of those states, and the measure was credited or blamed for turning out enough social conservatives to give President Bush the state and thus, the White House.
This year six states have same-sex marriage bans on the ballot, but only one of them, Tennessee, has what can remotely be called a competitive Senate race. For the record, Democratic candidate Harold Ford Jr. voted for a ban on same-sex marriages.
It's hard to see this issue swelling conservative turn-out in other states. While the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, it will likely fail by a wide margin in the full Senate, taking a good bit of steam out of the issue.
OK, how about the flag? It clearly does pack an emotional political punch. Back in 1988, the first George Bush roundly criticized opponent Michael Dukakis for not requiring Massachusetts teachers to lead kids in the Pledge of Allegiance. Trips to flag factories were regular parts of Bush's campaign day.
But as for flag burning today, while most Americans find the idea highly offensive, it has more or less disappeared from the protest landscape. One protect the flag group has found a grand total of 33 acts of flag desecration in the last five years.
We certainly have seen hot button ballot issues affect elections in the past.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They keep coming.
GREENFIELD: In 1994, California Governor Pete Wilson embraced Proposition 187, a crackdown on immigrants, as part of his successful reelection strategy, although it has cost Republicans heavily among Hispanic voters since. PHIL ANGELIDES, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR CANDIDATE: A bad fiscal culture here ...
GREENFIELD: And this year, one of the California Democratic governors, controller Phil Angelides, is embracing a ballot proposal to hike the tax on big oil companies. But sometimes the ploy can backfire.
In 1982 in California, Los Angeles Mayor Tin Bradley backed a very tough gun restriction ballot proposal and narrowly lost his bid for governor in part because of a huge turnout among gun owners.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GREENFIELD: Now, it can happen that these kinds of issues can gain traction without any political strategy at work. For instance, if New York state's highest court decides that there is a constitutional right to gay marriage, that could put the issue front and center again, which is right where some Republican strategist want it -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Always interesting what is going on in the world of politics. Jeff, thank you very much.
Is there an easy way to gauge your state's stance on gay rights? Three liberal advocacy groups are trying to do just that. The interactive Web site breaks down the issue state by state.
Let's bring in our Internet reporter Jacki Schechner. She is standing by with details -- Jacki.
JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN INTERNET REPORTER: Wolf, it's not just gay rights but also reproductive rights. That, according to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and two women's health groups who attempt to map this out state by state on 25 different factors.
States in blue, like New York or New Mexico, for example, come out on the top of the list with the least amount of restrictions. If you go to a state like Ohio or South Dakota, for example, they rank at the bottom of the list. Here's the ranking up here at the top. You can see, that's at 50.
Now, one of the other things you can do with this map is, if you can close up this panel, go over here to the left, and you can clear all of the policies. Then, what you can do is focus in on something, let's say, like mandatory counseling before abortion. If you can close this up, you can take a look at where your state stands on something like this.
Now, we reached out today to the Ohio's governor's office and did not receive a call back. Who we did speak to was the president of the South Dakota Senate, Lee Schoenbeck, and he says he's not surprised that his state came out on the bottom. He says they are very traditional people, very meat-and-potatoes, very pro-life. And he says he is not surprised, didn't expect the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force to expect them to promote their agenda -- Wolf. BLITZER: Jacki, thank you very much.
Coming up, much more on the breaking news we have been following this hour, an agreement in Vienna, Austria, an agreement announced by the British foreign secretary, Margaret Beckett. The U.S. secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, is there, together with her counterparts from not only Britain, but France and Germany and Russia and China, an agreement on a package of incentives to try to encourage Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment, also containing a warning to the government in Tehran: If they don't, further steps will be taken, presumably sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council -- much more on this story coming up in our "Strategy Session" -- right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Welcome back to THE SITUATION ROOM. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.
Today, in our "Strategy Session," six world powers have now agreed on a set of proposals to convince Iran to halt uranium enrichment. Does the agreement have any chance of being accepted in Iran? Is this the right strategy for the Bush administration to be pursuing?
Joining us now, our CNN political analyst, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, and Bay Buchanan, the president of American Cause.
It looks like a diplomatic triumph for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Yesterday, she announces a readiness to break with tradition, break with a boycott of Iran, open up direct talks, if Iran goes forward and -- and suspends its uranium enrichment. Today, she gets the backing, not only from Britain, France and Germany, but Russia and China.
DONNA BRAZILE, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: This is a great breakthrough for the Bush administration. At a time when all of the options at one point looked to be no good, Secretary Rice has been able to bring China and Russia to the board. And perhaps this will now pressure Tehran to abandon their nuclear program.
BLITZER: A lot of people are going to be looking at her diplomatic triumph and say, where were the diplomats before the war in Iraq? Why didn't they try -- why didn't they secure a diplomatic triumph, the secretary of state, Colin Powell, then, in order to avert a war?
BAY BUCHANAN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, Wolf, you have to give Secretary Powell a great deal of credit. He did his best to see that that wouldn't happen. I mean, he tried to take every possible route to prevent that war from happening.
But in -- but I think a lot of people have learned a lesson about this war and about this country, that we will take action if we feel we're threatened. And, so, I think that for all the countries to come together is terrific news. It's welcome for all Americans. But I will tell you, I think it's important now that those meetings go -- to be quiet, so that we can have -- give Iran an opportunity to save face, to come up with some solution, so they can say, see what we accomplished, and not to remain public as we go forward here.
BLITZER: Because it's clear, if the Iranians reject this set of incentives that the six powers are now bringing forward, they are going to go back to the U.N. Security Council and try to impose sanctions.
BUCHANAN: Exactly.
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Let's talk about some other hot political issues on the agenda right now: immigration reform. The president was outspoken once again this morning before the Chamber of Commerce, saying it's not just border security that has to be tightened. There has to be other steps taken to deal in a very humane, moral way, he said, with the 12 or 11 million illegal immigrants in this country.
That's a powerful message he's sending to his conservative base.
BRAZILE: Yes, but, unfortunately, the chamber is behind him.
He needs to go and talk to those leaders in the House who are apparently against it. They just want a tough border policy. They are not looking at the humanitarian aspects of this. So, it's good that the president went there today, but he needs to go and confront the leaders in the House.
BLITZER: He has got to talk to Bay Buchanan.
(LAUGHTER)
BUCHANAN: He has got to talk to all those people I'm talking to. That's for sure, because they are not buying this, Wolf.
The chamber, of all people, to talk to -- I mean, they -- their number-one agenda was to get something through like the Senate passed, which is just an outrageous bill. Not only does it give amnesty to the millions here. It also gives amnesty to the Chamber of Commerce and their buddies, amnesty for those who hired illegals.
This is an outrage. And for the president to suggest that we now have to show compassion to the 12 million who broke our laws, he should start showing some compassion for American taxpayers, who have been footing the bill, so that his corporate friends could have cheap labor.
BLITZER: Today marks the first day of the hurricane, the new hurricane season.
And, Donna, you're from New Orleans. Your family has suffered from Katrina. Here's what Chris Shays said on May 18 on "LARRY KING LIVE." He said: "Let me just say that I think the thing that has hurt the president most is not Iraq. It's Katrina. People saw an arrogant, but confident administration in Iraq. But when they saw Katrina, they saw arrogance and, frankly, incompetence. And that was very unsettling."
What was more damaging to this administration? Was it the Iraq war or was it the response to Katrina?
BRAZILE: Well, look, I think it's both.
No -- there's no question that the Iraq war has cost this administration a lot of credibility and the country a lot of credibility. But, at the same time, the Katrina episode really showed once again why it is important that government work with state and -- the federal government work with the state and local government to have a unified response to a natural disaster.
I think Louisiana is better prepared today than it was a year ago. The government is still helping us to build the levees. We need $3.7 billion that Congress hopefully will approve when they come back.
I believe that we're in better shape. And let me just say this on a personal note. Our families are better prepared. They know that, when parish officials say, it's time to go, they are ready to go. And I can tell you this. This time, they will leave.
BLITZER: They better.
What do you think, Bay?
BUCHANAN: Well, you know, the -- Katrina, obviously, was a hit for the administration.
They weren't the only ones that should be taking the blame, clearly, but they did take a lot of blame. And it lasted two, three, four months, people very upset.
But the war is day in, day out, day in, day out. That's been now for several years. It's not going away. I think, clearly, that's what has taken its greater drain from this administration.
BLITZER: Donna and Bay, part of the best political team on television -- CNN, America's campaign headquarters.
Coming up next hour, we will have much more on the start of the hurricane season. Is the federal government ready? I will speak live with the FEMA director, David Paulison, and the National Hurricane Center director, Max Mayfield.
A major milestone for the speaker of the House of Representatives -- we will tell you why Dennis Hastert is making not just headlines, but history.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: A milestone today on Capitol Hill -- Dennis Hastert now holds the distinction of being the longest serving Republican House speaker in history. But that doesn't necessarily make his job any easier at all.
Our congressional correspondent Andrea Koppel is joining us now live from just outside the speaker's office in the Capitol -- Andrea.
ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf.
Well, Speaker Hastert isn't here right now. That's why the door is closed. He is gone, with the other members, on their Memorial Day recess. And he didn't do any interviews. As you know, he's someone who likes to be very low-key about this, didn't want to make a big fuss.
But, as you know, Speaker Hastert really has been in lockstep with this White House since he came into office. And, increasingly, we had seen him more at odds, not just with his party, but also with his president.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL (voice-over): It was an uncharacteristic moment for Speaker Dennis Hastert, a man known for his non-confrontational style.
REP. DENNIS HASTERT (R-IL), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: There's ways to do it. And my opinion is that they took the wrong path.
KOPPEL: Hastert publicly rebuked the Bush administration after FBI agents raided the office of a Democratic congressman last month. Could this be the same low-key high school wrestling coach from Illinois who Republicans tapped seven years and five months ago to put a calm hand on the tiller during turbulent times?
(on camera): So, what is the secret to Speaker Hastert's longevity?
JOHN FEEHERY, FORMER SPOKESMAN FOR HOUSE SPEAKER DENNIS HASTERT: He's a listener, not a speaker. He spends most of his time listening to the members before he acts.
KOPPEL (voice-over): According to Hastert's former top aide, John Feehery, unlike the man he succeeded, Newt Gingrich, Hastert isn't brash or outspoken and prefers others take center stage.
FEEHERY: He dares to be dull. He has a sense of decency and humility, and he doesn't want to become a media star.
KOPPEL: In fact, former Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who helped orchestrate Hastert's rise, often eclipsed the speaker's star, and appeared to be the one setting their party's agenda.
But retired Congressman Bill Paxton disputes that notion. BILL PAXTON, FORMER U.S. CONGRESSMAN: Well, you know, Tom liked to be out there. And, look, but Denny was the one who has put -- keeping everything on an even keel, day-to-day basis. And I think that's why members like him. He isn't out there trying to climb over them to get the attention. He isn't trying to set his own agenda.
KOPPEL: And, in 2000, Hastert became a key ally for a new Republican president.
HASTERT: We look forward to this relationship.
KOPPEL: For the first time since the Eisenhower years, Republicans now controlled the White House and Congress. And Hastert helped secure some of Bush's biggest legislative achievements, billions of dollars in tax cuts and prescription drug benefits. But Hastert's critics say, during his tenure, he has put party and ideology above all else.
THOMAS MANN, SENIOR FELLOW IN GOVERNANCE STUDIES, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: I think historians will look back on the Congress under Speaker Hastert and find that it was, in many respects, a dysfunctional Congress.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KOPPEL: But historians will remember the other House speaker from Illinois, Joseph Cannon, whose record Hastert just surpassed today, quite a bit differently.
Cannon had the sort of made-for-movies image, the cigar-chomping politician who had a take-no-prisoners approach. He had the nickname "Czar Cannon," quite a bit different, Wolf, from Hastert, who is known as the affable coach.
BLITZER: Used to be a wrestling coach, indeed.
Thanks very much, Andrea, for that.
And, in case you're wondering, Congressman Sam Rayburn, Democrat of Texas, was the longest serving speaker of House in U.S. history. He held the job for 17 years, though not consecutively.
Coming up: President Bush outscores president's Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and his own dad -- but why it might not necessarily be what he wants to hear.
And, on this first day of the new hurricane season, what is the U.S. military doing to make sure all of us are protected? That's coming up in our next hour.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: We're just getting this in from Sacramento. The California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has now formally agreed to deploy up to 1,000 California National Guard troops to the border with Mexico. The president, as you know, has asked for 6,000 National Guard troops to be deployed along the border between the United States and Mexico, Schwarzenegger now saying he's agreed to send 1,000 troops from the California National Guard.
He says all of the funds that this will require will come from the federal government. He did this reluctantly, didn't think it was necessarily a good idea, but he's going forward with it right now. We will have more on this developing story as it becomes available.
Also on our "Political Radar" this Thursday, there's a new poll, and it finds registered voters rate President Bush as -- get this -- the worst president in the last six decades. The Quinnipiac University poll shows 34 percent of voters put Mr. Bush at the top of the list of worst presidents. Richard Nixon comes in second with 17 percent.
Who was the best president? Twenty-eight percent of the voters surveyed say it was Ronald Reagan. Twenty-five percent say it was Bill Clinton, but another 16 percent of voters rated Clinton as the worst president, whatever that means.
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is changing his policy and will no longer accept free tickets to boxing matches. Reid's spokesman says Reid is allowed to accept those tickets, according to Senate ethics rules. But his spokesman says the senator wants to avoid any appearance of impropriety. The Nevada Democrat raised eyebrows by accepting free seats to three fights from the Nevada Athletic Commission as it was trying to influence his support for legislation to create a federal boxing commission.
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona joined Reid at one of those fights. He decided to go ahead and pay for his $1,400 ticket -- not cheap to go to a boxing match.
Also just coming in right now, new information involving the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.
Let's go to our senior Pentagon correspondent, Jamie McIntyre.
Jamie, what is happening?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we have just received this information from the Military District of Washington Office.
And that is that the trial of Sergeant Santos Cardona has ended with a verdict of guilty on two counts, including a count of aggravated assault and another one of dereliction of duty. Sergeant Cardona was one of the dog handlers at Abu Ghraib accused of threatening detainees at Abu Ghraib with a dog back in 2003.
He was found guilty of the most serious charge of using that dog to -- to threaten a detainee by -- quote -- "means likely to produce -- produce death or serious badly harm," aggravated assault, guilty on that count. He was found not guilty on several other counts. But these counts are serious enough that he faces up to three years in jail, forfeiture of pay, and also a dishonorable discharge. Sentencing has not been conducted yet -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jamie, thank you very much for that.
Up next, the right to vote is the bedrock of American democracy. But is that right in jeopardy? Why do -- a voter I.D. card, why that could become the law of the land. And what could that mean for all of us who want to vote? Jack Cafferty has been looking into this. He's going through your e-mail.
We will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: Jack Cafferty is back with "The Cafferty File" -- Jack.
CAFFERTY: Wolf, the fundamental right of many Americans to vote could be in jeopardy. There are new laws on the books in states like Florida and Washington that will make it more difficult.
Congress is considering a national voter I.D. requirement that they might tack on to the immigration reform bill, if that ever passes. It probably won't.
The question, though is: Is the right to vote being threatened in the United States? We got a lot of mail on this.
Ron in Alexandria, Louisiana: "The right to vote was severely threatened on Election Day in 2004. Ohio made people from predominantly low-income voting districts stand in long lines into the wee hours of the following day. The fact that heads did not roll, people were not prosecuted for such an outrage, speaks volumes about who benefited from that state's electoral outcome."
Steven in New Windsor, Maryland: "I don't usually disagree with you. Today, I must say, the concern that illegal aliens and corpses' votes count outweighs the fear of keeping entitled people away from the polls. It has been observed in the past that more people voted than lived in a particular area, you know, like Chicago. With black box voting and distrust in everything connected to our political process, I think a valid photo I.D. is a good idea."
Patti in Pompano Beach, Florida: "Are you kidding, Jack? Living in the heart of South Florida, I have known since 2000 that Americans were losing their right to vote. Of course, back then, most of the country stuck their head in the sand and said, boy, those people in Florida are too stupid to vote. Well, it looks like, soon, all Americans might be too stupid to vote."
Vince in New Jersey: "No one threatens our right to vote but us. All the potential voters in the U.S., precious few even take the time to register. Once registered, only a small percentage take the time or trouble to vote. More eligible voters end up voting for the new 'American Idol' than vote for their local congressional representative. If there's any threat, it's apathy."
And my friend Reggie in Pearl Harbor: "Jack, as much as I don't agree with anything you ever say on this damned program, I believe voting in America is as strong as ever and will continue to gain popularity. Look at the numbers coming in every week for 'American Idol.' If we could just get those 'Idol' contestants to run for president, we would be all set. Get a real job, Jack, and leave the hardworking Republicans alone for a day."
(LAUGHTER)
CAFFERTY: Thank you, Reggie.
(LAUGHTER)
BLITZER: Glad he's watching.
CAFFERTY: That's my buddy Reggie.
BLITZER: Thank you, Jack.
Still to come: Could there be a breakthrough in the nuclear standoff with Iran? We will have a live report coming in from Vienna.
Stay with us. You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: With the 2006 elections quickly approaching, which Senate candidates are better with technology? Do Democrats have better Web sites, or do Republicans?
Our Internet reporter, Jacki Schechner, has the results of an extraordinary new study -- Jacki.
SCHECHNER: Wolf, Rick Santorum from Pennsylvania, you've got Jim Webb from Virginia, and you've got Mike McGavick from Washington. These are 2006 Senate candidates, all getting high marks for the use of the Internet from the Bivings Group, a nonpartisan organization who did a report about the upcoming Senate campaign and the use of the Internet. Found out that in 2002, only 55 percent of candidates had Web sites. Today we're talking 97 percent, Republicans and Democrats evenly split in terms of aptitude.
Republicans and Democrats not the same on who has a Web site in Spanish. You'll see here the Democrats were a little bit more likely than Republicans to have a Spanish option. As for who had the best Web site overall, they point to Senator Hillary Clinton -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Jacki, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
