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CNN Sunday Morning

Yushchenko Speaks Out; Dean Campaigns for DNC Chairmanship

Aired December 12, 2004 - 08:00   ET

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

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


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is reportedly scrutinizing dozens of phone calls between the world's top nuclear watch dog and Iranian diplomats. The Washington Post says the White House is gathering ammunition to oust Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
And dangerous weather continues to stall efforts to clean up an oil spill in Alaska. Twenty four foot seas and winds up to 60 MPH are whipping up the Bearing Sea. The oil spill came from a freighter that cracked in two sections on Wednesday. Early estimates put the size of that spill at 140,000 gallons.

Delegates from nearly 200 nations are in Buenos Aires today preparing to launch the Kyoto Protocol. This landmark treaty will go into effect in February. It commits major industrialized nations to curb emissions from factories, vehicles and coal burning power plants that are blamed for global warming.

The United States pulled out of the treaty in 2001.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And here's what we've got coming up for you this hour. He has become the face of Ukrainian politics. Victor Yushchenko speaks out this morning. We'll tell you what he had to say. And then...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF VERMONT: We need a 50-state strategy in this country. Not an 18-state strategy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Democrats get a call to action from a man who wants to lead them. Howard Dean campaigning again. And later this hour, two different women, one holy bond in our Faces of Faith Segment. A new look at the two Marys.

To our top story now. Victor Yushchenko speaks out for the first time since doctors confirmed he was poisoned with dioxin. Just over an hour ago the Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential candidate made a statement at a clinic in Austria.

Yushchenko says the recent upheaval in Ukraine means the current regime is coming to an end. His wife translated for him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VICTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER (through translator): The students declared a general national strike. We hadn't seen anything like that for the past 100 years. I think it would be appropriate to compare this to the fall of the Soviet Union or the fall of the Berlin Wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: These before and after pictures show the damage the poison did to Yushchenko's face. He claims his political enemies poisoned him. Ukrainian officials are investigation.

NGUYEN: Time now for our weekly security watch. The White House is looking for a new Homeland Security chief after former nominee Bernard Kerik backed out. Our White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us now with the latest.

Good morning, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. And it is back tot he drawing board. They have to essentially uncheck a box that they thought was definitely very much checked and that is to put in place the person who is going to be in charge of the Home Security Department.

As you well know, the former New York City police Commission Bernie Kerik was the president's choice, but he withdrew Friday night saying that he had discovered that a nanny, who he had employed, had questionable legal status.

And some have begun to wonder whether or how something like that which has sunk nominees in the Clinton and Bush administration got past the vetting process, the White House lawyers, who were looking into Bernie Kerik, whether he was appropriate to nominate.

Now at least one Democrat says that he thinks it's because the White House was too eager to rush to get their nominees through. But Bernie Kerik says the blame should fall squarely on him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE KERIK, FMR. NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: This is my mistake. It wasn't a mistake made by the White House. I think during their vetting process this was something that they had looked at. But in a deeper closer look by me it was something that I felt was just something I couldn't move forward on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now White House officials agree with Bernie Kerik that it was his mistake and saying that they're breathing a sigh of relief that they don't have to go through the confirmation process. That would have been quite ugly because of this.

They're also defending their vetting process saying that the way it works essentially is that once the president makes his decision, as he did with Kerik, then a team of White House lawyers begin to question the nominee about his records, about his finances, about other things that they should be concerned about.

They do independent investigation of their own and that this was essentially asked and they were told that this was not a problem.

And of course there were other issues, Betty, that have been unearthed by the media over the last several days that had put into question whether or not there was a conflict by Kerik and the White House says that they knew about all those other stories out there, but that this is something they did not know about.

And they said it's time to move on. And they said they're going to try to find another nominee very quickly.

Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, and speaking of moving on there's talk hat the White House may announce his replacement before December, before Christmas I should say. Who's on that short list?

BASH: Well, as we know now from the vetting process, there were others who were questioned, others who were looked at before Bernie Kerik was found. Some of those we are told are for example, Asa Hutchinson, somebody who is an assistant secretary over at the Home Security Department now.

Fran Townsend, who is the president's homeland security adviser. Those are on the short list.

As a matter of fact, Senator Susan Collins, who heads the committee who will confirm the Homeland Security secretary said that she thinks Asa Hutchinson is a good idea.

Also she mentions her colleague in the Senate, Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat. She said that she thought he might be somebody who might be appropriate for the job. But we'll just have to wait and see who the president picks.

NGUYEN: A lot of names. All right. Dana Bash at the White House, thank you.

Tony.

HARRIS: Meantime Bernard Kerik's friends are standing up for him. Kerik served as New York police commissioner with Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

Giuliani says he can understand why Kerik dropped out of the running for homeland security chief considering the questions over his hired nanny's immigration status.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The worse part of this is he's going to be running the immigration service. He's going to have to ask for strict compliance of the immigration laws. And every time an immigration issue comes up this would be a problem. Also mindful of the fact that this president has as part of his agenda immigration reform.

Bernie did not want to put the president through a difficult confirmation process where the odds were because of this issue he wouldn't get confirmed. Maybe he could have been. Nobody will ever know, but it would not have been the right thing to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: So that means someone new has to come in. That brings us to our e-mail question this morning. Who would you like to see heading the Department of Homeland Security? Let us know at wam@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: Military doctors say President Bush is fit for duty. They gave the president his annual physical checkup yesterday. Still they had a few concerns. Bush's cholesterol level was up a bit. So he will take medication for that.

The president's weight is also up. He says too many donuts on the campaign trail were a problem and promises to lose the excess pounds.

Overall though doctors say the president is in superior fitness for a man his age.

Democratic party leaders are mulling over who will be the next chairman. Eight hopefuls are vying for the party's top spot. They all addressed a Florida meeting this week to make their case. The focus was very clear, how to redefine the party and win more elections.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, DNC CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: We need a 50 state strategy in this country not an 18 state strategy. I run a little organization called Democracy for America. We had candidates in all kinds of states. We won in Alabama. We won in Georgia. We won in Idaho. We won in South Carolina. We won...

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: We did. We won in a lot of states that are so-called red states. There is no such thing as a red state or a blue state. They're all purple states.

MARTIN FROST, DNC CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: We clearly need to be competitive everywhere. We need to have a party that is cooperative. The national party needs to cooperate with state parties. We need to be your partner.

There are lots of ways that we can do that. And we also need to work with you on developing message. People in this room can carry the message. And there are elected officials all over the country that can carry the message.

The Democratic party stands for the majority sentiment, the majority values in this country and we need to work together to become the majority party once again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And on a related note. President Bush's November win becomes official tomorrow. The Electoral College delegates meet around the country to cast their votes.

HARRIS: And here's a look at other news across America. New allegations against Michael Jackson this morning. A source tells CNN that fingerprints from Jackson and his accuser were found on pornographic magazines seized at his Neverland ranch last year. It's not clear what role that kind of evidence could play even if it is admitted in court.

Massachusetts Hyannis Harbor is opened once again after an oil spill there yesterday. Nearly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled when a man refueling a ferry had a fatal heart attack. The Coast Guard says most of the spill was contained by the afternoon.

University of southern California's Matt Lenart now has the Heisman trophy to go with his perfect season. The junior quarterback led the top ranked Trojans to a 12 winning record and a spot in the Orange Bowl.

NGUYEN: Well, two women with drastically different lives, the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene (UNINTELLIGIBLE). A look at both Marys in our Faces of Faith ahead.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's the happiest time of the year and that means the food is plentiful and the drinks, well they are just flowing. If you're looking for new ways to mix your cocktails or preparing that perfect meal you are just a click away. Holiday recipes are ahead next hour in our Best of the Web segment. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: That's a good song.

NGUYEN: Yee-ha.

HARRIS: That's a good -- that was a good Yee-ha too.

Good morning Las Vegas. A city built by losers. Think about it.

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: You'll get all those gamblers because everybody...

NGUYEN: I've lost quite a bit in Los Vegas.

HARRIS: Yes. We'll get your complete weather forecast in just a couple of minutes. NGUYEN: But you don't go there to win. You expect to lose.

All right. Now to our top stories. In the Ukraine presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko says he is just happy to be alive and the is ready to return to the campaign trial. This after doctors announced he's been poisoned with dioxin. The poison has left Yushchenko's face bloated and pox marked.

In the southern Philippines at least six people are dead after a bomb exploded at a public market packed with Christmas shoppers. It happened in General Santos City. Dozens were also injured. Recently local Islamic terrorists have targeted the city.

And the Bush administration reported is scrutinizing dozens of phone calls between the world's top nuclear watch dog and Iranian diplomat. The Washington Post says the White House is gathering ammunition to oust Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

ElBaradei questioned U.S. intelligence for going to war in Iraq.

HARRIS: OK. Let's get you to Orelon Sidney now. We're going to take another shot of Los Vegas because they're having a big event out there. It's a big national rodeo that's going on with cowboys and cowgirls and $5 million. I was going to make a little fun of it until I saw they're giving out ...

NGUYEN: Yes, $5 million on the line.

HARRIS: ...$5 million and now I want a rope and a mighty steed.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Entertainment news now. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association picks the quirky new comedy "Sideways" as 2004's best film.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDRA OH, ACTRESS: And it was a silver medal winner at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) last year.

PAUL GIAMATTI, ACTOR: I will tell you something. I come never to expect greatness from a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and this one is no different. It's kind of a hollow, flabby, overripe...

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH, ACTOR: I don't know. It tastes pretty good to me.

So, do you live around here?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: "Sideways" gets four other awards as well including best director. The awards ceremony is January 13th in Los Angeles. The nominees for the Golden Globe Awards will be announced tomorrow morning. Robin Williams, a five time Globe winner will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for career achievement.

NGUYEN: That will be quite an animated speech once he does win that.

All right. Two of Christianity's most studied women, Mary the mother of Christ, and the repentant prostitute Mary Magdalene. Exploring the two Marys, beliefs about them then and now. Your preview of tonight's "CNN PRESENTS" hosted by Sigourney Weaver is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In this morning's Faces of Faith the two Marys the Madonna and the Magdalene. CNN presents a new look at the two women closets to Jesus and their role in the birth of Christianity. The documentary is narrated by Sigourney Weaver.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIGOURNEY WEAVER, ACTRESS (voice-over): they are two of the most popular women on the planet, billions pray to them, great temples honor them and both are bona fide media stars in blockbuster movies and in best selling books. And this, despite the fact that they have both been dead for nearly 2,000 years.

One is venerated as the mother of Jesus. The good Virgin Mary who said yes to God's request and who reigns from heaven crowned with stars.

LESLEY HAZLETON, AUTHOR: In a sense you can say that Christianity began the moment Mary gave birth. In fact, you could say the whole modern world began with the moment Mary gave birth. It's the way we date our checks. It's the way we make dates. It's the way we count our age, count our anniversaries and so on, from the moment Mary gave birth.

WEAVER: The other Mary called Magdalene called bad girl who was seized by demons. In ancient times, scholars say, her flaming red hair was a sign that she was touched by Satan until she found Jesus. And her conversion at his hands made her Christianity's original hooker with a heart of gold.

PROFESSOR KAREN L. KING, HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL: I think I've learned what most people did, which is that Mary Magdalene was a repentant prostitute. She was a follower of Jesus, but she was the woman caught in adultery. She appeared at the resurrection.

But the prominent imaginary of her was the repentant bad girl.

WEAVER: Scholars have called these two Marys the two faces of Eve. One the first perfect woman. The other the first fallen woman. When Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden Christen doctrine says she stained humanity with original sin and women have been struggling ever since to overcome that burden.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: Again, CNN presents "The Two Marys, the Madonna and the Magdalene." The documentary narrated by Sigourney Weaver premiers at 8 p.m. eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific right here on CNN.

NGUYEN: Well a symbolic Christmas gift to the nation. Two bald eagles released into the Tennessee hills yesterday after completing their rehabilitation. He hope is that the eagles named America and Patriot will find mates and breed in the wild.

Saving bald eagles and returning them tot he wild is the mission of The American Eagle Foundation in Tennessee. And you can learn more about the group at www.eagles.org.

HARRIS: So, who would you like to see heading up the Department of Homeland Security now that Bernard Kerik has withdrew his name from consideration?

NGUYEN: Barbara says my choice for director of Homeland Security would be Colin Powell. I don't think he was comfortable as secretary of state, but I do think homeland security would be more in his realm of expertise.

HARRIS: And this from Ron. I'd like to see Bernard Kerik as Homeland Security secretary. He is a tough knowledgeable cop. Just what we need in today's turmoil. Why do we in this country continually shoot ourselves in the foot by eliminating top notch people from our government over some of the most petty dirt that can be dragged up.

NGUYEN: And Mike from New Jersey says simply the great Bill Clinton.

HARRIS: We want to encourage you to send those e-mails along at wam@cnn.com. There's the question again. Who would you like to see heading up the Homeland Security Department.

Eating well and giving healthy gifts for the holidays.

NGUYEN: That's coming up at the bottom of the house on "HOUSE CALL" with Elizabeth Cohen. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We'll be back at the top of the hour with the latest headlines and "HOUSE CALL" straight ahead.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired December 12, 2004 - 08:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: The Bush administration is reportedly scrutinizing dozens of phone calls between the world's top nuclear watch dog and Iranian diplomats. The Washington Post says the White House is gathering ammunition to oust Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
And dangerous weather continues to stall efforts to clean up an oil spill in Alaska. Twenty four foot seas and winds up to 60 MPH are whipping up the Bearing Sea. The oil spill came from a freighter that cracked in two sections on Wednesday. Early estimates put the size of that spill at 140,000 gallons.

Delegates from nearly 200 nations are in Buenos Aires today preparing to launch the Kyoto Protocol. This landmark treaty will go into effect in February. It commits major industrialized nations to curb emissions from factories, vehicles and coal burning power plants that are blamed for global warming.

The United States pulled out of the treaty in 2001.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And here's what we've got coming up for you this hour. He has become the face of Ukrainian politics. Victor Yushchenko speaks out this morning. We'll tell you what he had to say. And then...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, FORMER GOVERNOR OF VERMONT: We need a 50-state strategy in this country. Not an 18-state strategy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: Democrats get a call to action from a man who wants to lead them. Howard Dean campaigning again. And later this hour, two different women, one holy bond in our Faces of Faith Segment. A new look at the two Marys.

To our top story now. Victor Yushchenko speaks out for the first time since doctors confirmed he was poisoned with dioxin. Just over an hour ago the Ukrainian opposition leader and presidential candidate made a statement at a clinic in Austria.

Yushchenko says the recent upheaval in Ukraine means the current regime is coming to an end. His wife translated for him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VICTOR YUSHCHENKO, UKRAINIAN OPPOSITION LEADER (through translator): The students declared a general national strike. We hadn't seen anything like that for the past 100 years. I think it would be appropriate to compare this to the fall of the Soviet Union or the fall of the Berlin Wall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: These before and after pictures show the damage the poison did to Yushchenko's face. He claims his political enemies poisoned him. Ukrainian officials are investigation.

NGUYEN: Time now for our weekly security watch. The White House is looking for a new Homeland Security chief after former nominee Bernard Kerik backed out. Our White House correspondent Dana Bash joins us now with the latest.

Good morning, Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Betty. And it is back tot he drawing board. They have to essentially uncheck a box that they thought was definitely very much checked and that is to put in place the person who is going to be in charge of the Home Security Department.

As you well know, the former New York City police Commission Bernie Kerik was the president's choice, but he withdrew Friday night saying that he had discovered that a nanny, who he had employed, had questionable legal status.

And some have begun to wonder whether or how something like that which has sunk nominees in the Clinton and Bush administration got past the vetting process, the White House lawyers, who were looking into Bernie Kerik, whether he was appropriate to nominate.

Now at least one Democrat says that he thinks it's because the White House was too eager to rush to get their nominees through. But Bernie Kerik says the blame should fall squarely on him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BERNIE KERIK, FMR. NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: This is my mistake. It wasn't a mistake made by the White House. I think during their vetting process this was something that they had looked at. But in a deeper closer look by me it was something that I felt was just something I couldn't move forward on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BASH: Now White House officials agree with Bernie Kerik that it was his mistake and saying that they're breathing a sigh of relief that they don't have to go through the confirmation process. That would have been quite ugly because of this.

They're also defending their vetting process saying that the way it works essentially is that once the president makes his decision, as he did with Kerik, then a team of White House lawyers begin to question the nominee about his records, about his finances, about other things that they should be concerned about.

They do independent investigation of their own and that this was essentially asked and they were told that this was not a problem.

And of course there were other issues, Betty, that have been unearthed by the media over the last several days that had put into question whether or not there was a conflict by Kerik and the White House says that they knew about all those other stories out there, but that this is something they did not know about.

And they said it's time to move on. And they said they're going to try to find another nominee very quickly.

Betty.

NGUYEN: Yes, and speaking of moving on there's talk hat the White House may announce his replacement before December, before Christmas I should say. Who's on that short list?

BASH: Well, as we know now from the vetting process, there were others who were questioned, others who were looked at before Bernie Kerik was found. Some of those we are told are for example, Asa Hutchinson, somebody who is an assistant secretary over at the Home Security Department now.

Fran Townsend, who is the president's homeland security adviser. Those are on the short list.

As a matter of fact, Senator Susan Collins, who heads the committee who will confirm the Homeland Security secretary said that she thinks Asa Hutchinson is a good idea.

Also she mentions her colleague in the Senate, Senator Joe Lieberman, a Democrat. She said that she thought he might be somebody who might be appropriate for the job. But we'll just have to wait and see who the president picks.

NGUYEN: A lot of names. All right. Dana Bash at the White House, thank you.

Tony.

HARRIS: Meantime Bernard Kerik's friends are standing up for him. Kerik served as New York police commissioner with Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the 9/11 terrorists attacks.

Giuliani says he can understand why Kerik dropped out of the running for homeland security chief considering the questions over his hired nanny's immigration status.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI, FMR. NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: The worse part of this is he's going to be running the immigration service. He's going to have to ask for strict compliance of the immigration laws. And every time an immigration issue comes up this would be a problem. Also mindful of the fact that this president has as part of his agenda immigration reform.

Bernie did not want to put the president through a difficult confirmation process where the odds were because of this issue he wouldn't get confirmed. Maybe he could have been. Nobody will ever know, but it would not have been the right thing to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: So that means someone new has to come in. That brings us to our e-mail question this morning. Who would you like to see heading the Department of Homeland Security? Let us know at wam@cnn.com.

NGUYEN: Military doctors say President Bush is fit for duty. They gave the president his annual physical checkup yesterday. Still they had a few concerns. Bush's cholesterol level was up a bit. So he will take medication for that.

The president's weight is also up. He says too many donuts on the campaign trail were a problem and promises to lose the excess pounds.

Overall though doctors say the president is in superior fitness for a man his age.

Democratic party leaders are mulling over who will be the next chairman. Eight hopefuls are vying for the party's top spot. They all addressed a Florida meeting this week to make their case. The focus was very clear, how to redefine the party and win more elections.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD DEAN, DNC CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: We need a 50 state strategy in this country not an 18 state strategy. I run a little organization called Democracy for America. We had candidates in all kinds of states. We won in Alabama. We won in Georgia. We won in Idaho. We won in South Carolina. We won...

(LAUGHTER)

DEAN: We did. We won in a lot of states that are so-called red states. There is no such thing as a red state or a blue state. They're all purple states.

MARTIN FROST, DNC CHAIRMAN CANDIDATE: We clearly need to be competitive everywhere. We need to have a party that is cooperative. The national party needs to cooperate with state parties. We need to be your partner.

There are lots of ways that we can do that. And we also need to work with you on developing message. People in this room can carry the message. And there are elected officials all over the country that can carry the message.

The Democratic party stands for the majority sentiment, the majority values in this country and we need to work together to become the majority party once again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And on a related note. President Bush's November win becomes official tomorrow. The Electoral College delegates meet around the country to cast their votes.

HARRIS: And here's a look at other news across America. New allegations against Michael Jackson this morning. A source tells CNN that fingerprints from Jackson and his accuser were found on pornographic magazines seized at his Neverland ranch last year. It's not clear what role that kind of evidence could play even if it is admitted in court.

Massachusetts Hyannis Harbor is opened once again after an oil spill there yesterday. Nearly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled when a man refueling a ferry had a fatal heart attack. The Coast Guard says most of the spill was contained by the afternoon.

University of southern California's Matt Lenart now has the Heisman trophy to go with his perfect season. The junior quarterback led the top ranked Trojans to a 12 winning record and a spot in the Orange Bowl.

NGUYEN: Well, two women with drastically different lives, the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene (UNINTELLIGIBLE). A look at both Marys in our Faces of Faith ahead.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's the happiest time of the year and that means the food is plentiful and the drinks, well they are just flowing. If you're looking for new ways to mix your cocktails or preparing that perfect meal you are just a click away. Holiday recipes are ahead next hour in our Best of the Web segment. Stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: That's a good song.

NGUYEN: Yee-ha.

HARRIS: That's a good -- that was a good Yee-ha too.

Good morning Las Vegas. A city built by losers. Think about it.

NGUYEN: Right.

HARRIS: You'll get all those gamblers because everybody...

NGUYEN: I've lost quite a bit in Los Vegas.

HARRIS: Yes. We'll get your complete weather forecast in just a couple of minutes. NGUYEN: But you don't go there to win. You expect to lose.

All right. Now to our top stories. In the Ukraine presidential candidate Victor Yushchenko says he is just happy to be alive and the is ready to return to the campaign trial. This after doctors announced he's been poisoned with dioxin. The poison has left Yushchenko's face bloated and pox marked.

In the southern Philippines at least six people are dead after a bomb exploded at a public market packed with Christmas shoppers. It happened in General Santos City. Dozens were also injured. Recently local Islamic terrorists have targeted the city.

And the Bush administration reported is scrutinizing dozens of phone calls between the world's top nuclear watch dog and Iranian diplomat. The Washington Post says the White House is gathering ammunition to oust Mohamed ElBaradei as head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

ElBaradei questioned U.S. intelligence for going to war in Iraq.

HARRIS: OK. Let's get you to Orelon Sidney now. We're going to take another shot of Los Vegas because they're having a big event out there. It's a big national rodeo that's going on with cowboys and cowgirls and $5 million. I was going to make a little fun of it until I saw they're giving out ...

NGUYEN: Yes, $5 million on the line.

HARRIS: ...$5 million and now I want a rope and a mighty steed.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HARRIS: Entertainment news now. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association picks the quirky new comedy "Sideways" as 2004's best film.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SANDRA OH, ACTRESS: And it was a silver medal winner at (UNINTELLIGIBLE) last year.

PAUL GIAMATTI, ACTOR: I will tell you something. I come never to expect greatness from a (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and this one is no different. It's kind of a hollow, flabby, overripe...

THOMAS HADEN CHURCH, ACTOR: I don't know. It tastes pretty good to me.

So, do you live around here?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: "Sideways" gets four other awards as well including best director. The awards ceremony is January 13th in Los Angeles. The nominees for the Golden Globe Awards will be announced tomorrow morning. Robin Williams, a five time Globe winner will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award for career achievement.

NGUYEN: That will be quite an animated speech once he does win that.

All right. Two of Christianity's most studied women, Mary the mother of Christ, and the repentant prostitute Mary Magdalene. Exploring the two Marys, beliefs about them then and now. Your preview of tonight's "CNN PRESENTS" hosted by Sigourney Weaver is straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: In this morning's Faces of Faith the two Marys the Madonna and the Magdalene. CNN presents a new look at the two women closets to Jesus and their role in the birth of Christianity. The documentary is narrated by Sigourney Weaver.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SIGOURNEY WEAVER, ACTRESS (voice-over): they are two of the most popular women on the planet, billions pray to them, great temples honor them and both are bona fide media stars in blockbuster movies and in best selling books. And this, despite the fact that they have both been dead for nearly 2,000 years.

One is venerated as the mother of Jesus. The good Virgin Mary who said yes to God's request and who reigns from heaven crowned with stars.

LESLEY HAZLETON, AUTHOR: In a sense you can say that Christianity began the moment Mary gave birth. In fact, you could say the whole modern world began with the moment Mary gave birth. It's the way we date our checks. It's the way we make dates. It's the way we count our age, count our anniversaries and so on, from the moment Mary gave birth.

WEAVER: The other Mary called Magdalene called bad girl who was seized by demons. In ancient times, scholars say, her flaming red hair was a sign that she was touched by Satan until she found Jesus. And her conversion at his hands made her Christianity's original hooker with a heart of gold.

PROFESSOR KAREN L. KING, HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL: I think I've learned what most people did, which is that Mary Magdalene was a repentant prostitute. She was a follower of Jesus, but she was the woman caught in adultery. She appeared at the resurrection.

But the prominent imaginary of her was the repentant bad girl.

WEAVER: Scholars have called these two Marys the two faces of Eve. One the first perfect woman. The other the first fallen woman. When Eve ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden Christen doctrine says she stained humanity with original sin and women have been struggling ever since to overcome that burden.

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HARRIS: Again, CNN presents "The Two Marys, the Madonna and the Magdalene." The documentary narrated by Sigourney Weaver premiers at 8 p.m. eastern, 5 p.m. Pacific right here on CNN.

NGUYEN: Well a symbolic Christmas gift to the nation. Two bald eagles released into the Tennessee hills yesterday after completing their rehabilitation. He hope is that the eagles named America and Patriot will find mates and breed in the wild.

Saving bald eagles and returning them tot he wild is the mission of The American Eagle Foundation in Tennessee. And you can learn more about the group at www.eagles.org.

HARRIS: So, who would you like to see heading up the Department of Homeland Security now that Bernard Kerik has withdrew his name from consideration?

NGUYEN: Barbara says my choice for director of Homeland Security would be Colin Powell. I don't think he was comfortable as secretary of state, but I do think homeland security would be more in his realm of expertise.

HARRIS: And this from Ron. I'd like to see Bernard Kerik as Homeland Security secretary. He is a tough knowledgeable cop. Just what we need in today's turmoil. Why do we in this country continually shoot ourselves in the foot by eliminating top notch people from our government over some of the most petty dirt that can be dragged up.

NGUYEN: And Mike from New Jersey says simply the great Bill Clinton.

HARRIS: We want to encourage you to send those e-mails along at wam@cnn.com. There's the question again. Who would you like to see heading up the Homeland Security Department.

Eating well and giving healthy gifts for the holidays.

NGUYEN: That's coming up at the bottom of the house on "HOUSE CALL" with Elizabeth Cohen. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. We'll be back at the top of the hour with the latest headlines and "HOUSE CALL" straight ahead.

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