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CNN Sunday Morning
Busy Session Ahead for Congress; Controversy Surrounds President Obama's Upcoming Speech to School Children; Crack Found in San Francisco Bay Bridge; Two Great White Sharks Spotted Near Cape Cod
Aired September 06, 2009 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Swine flu is an issue right now, we're starting to see it pop up in places where students are going back to school. We're talking to the CDC about their concerns now. A lot of students are going to be congregating again back on campuses, back at their high schools and junior high, all around the country now. So that could cause a problem. We do have some top stories that we want to update you on. Some stuff happening overnight.
This news we got overnight that one of the president's advisers is resigning. There he is, Van Jones, you've probably heard that name and seen that face a lot over the past week or so. But he is stepping down mainly for signing a petition in 2004 that suggested that the government let the 9/11 attacks happen. Jones was the president's adviser on green jobs. An administration source says Jones didn't read that petition carefully. Jones has apologized but also gave this statement saying, "On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide." We will be talking much more about Van Jones this morning.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And we're talking more this morning about Afghanistan. We told you about a deadly air strike yesterday. Today, an insurgent attack there leaves a U.S. service member dead. The American was killed in eastern Afghanistan. Five Americans have been killed in Afghanistan so far this month, and a total of 52 lost their lives there last month. And that is the highest monthly total since the war began nearly eight years ago.
HOLMES: Five people are dead in a small plane crash in Oklahoma. This happened not long after the plane took off from an airfield in Tulsa. The Federal Aviation Administration says the plane fell after it hit a wire. An FAA spokesman says the plane was headed to Dallas.
BALDWIN: Time to head back to Capitol Hill. Recess, vacation, whatever you want to call it just about over. This week lawmakers are headed back to Washington where of course they'll be talking health care reform.
HOLMES: Of course, we've been talking about that for a while. And our Matt Cherry explains now, they may return to find the White House trying to do the job for them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT CHERRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Maybe I'll put some cards on the table. Sources close to the health care reform process say the White House is considering drafting its own legislation, this, after months of work by democratic congressional leaders has led to little progress on a health care plan. One expert thinks this strategy could pay off.
KENNETH THORPE, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSOR, EMORY UNIVERSITY: I think the president does have to step up and take ownership of the issue right now. This is a critical time in this debate.
CHERRY: Sources say if it was necessary, the bill would be presented after the president's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. Reports say the legislation would not include the so- called public option, but would include a provision to allow for public insurance under certain circumstances. It would also include reforms such as not allowing insurance companies to deny coverage based on preexisting conditions. Republicans meanwhile Saturday reminded Americans they introduced their own ideas in June.
REP. JOHN KLINE, (R) MINNESOTA: Our plan is designed to make health care more affordable, reduce the number of uninsured Americans and increase quality at a price our country can afford.
CHERRY: The White House insisted this time it has not written any formal legislation. I'm Matt Cherry reporting from Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: The president's address to congress is the big political news next week. But there are other developments we are certainly keeping our eye on as is CNN's deputy political director Paul Steinhauser for us in Washington. Paul, let's continue with Congress but push health care reform aside for a moment. Once lawmakers return to Capitol Hill what are their other priorities here?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yes, they're coming back on Tuesday after a month off Brooke, a raucous month off I think you could say. They have a lot on their agenda besides health care. We've got clean energy and cap and trade. It's a huge bill, it's a big priority for this president. It barely passed the House. What will the Senate do with it? That's a big question mark.
Another thing, the administration wants to re-regulate Wall Street and the banks, the financial services. This is another big item they want to get through Congress. There's going to be a lot of talk and a lot of debate over that the next couple of months. And then there's the mundane stuff that you need to do to keep the country going, like the spending bills. And there will be a lot of discussion over the money and the spending bills the next couple of months.
BALDWIN: A lot of people though will of course be watching and waiting for his address Wednesday night. But before then, let's talk about Tuesday. He's addressing school kids nationwide here and his message from what I understand according to the administration, really telling kids, hey, you know work hard, stay in school, and he's also issuing a lesson plan and it has a lot of parents up in arms. Explain the controversy.
STEINHAUSER: Yes, that lesson plan that the Education Department put out really is what sparked this controversy. It's been on talk radio, we've been hearing a lot about it the last couple of days. The lesson plan originally called for schools to recommend that students write letters to themselves about what they could do to help President Obama. That got a lot of conservatives a lot on the right very concerned that this was going to be a political speech and that the president would be putting out there political ideas that they don't agree with. That's what this controversy has been about.
The White House says no, it is not. The White House also says they will post online on Monday, the president's comments so parents can read what's going to be in there and they can decide whether they want their kids to listen in to the president. Brooke?
BALDWIN: Shifting gears, Paul, it is hard to believe that it's been, what, eight years since 9/11 of 2001 and the attacks. Do we know yet what the president's plans will be to commemorate the tragedy?
STEINHAUSER: Yes, the White House has said that this Friday the president will be at the Pentagon for the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He'll visit the memorial there and make a speech. Remember, it was last year that then presidential candidate Barack Obama and presidential candidate John McCain were both at ground zero in Lower Manhattan in New York City. Brooke?
BALDWIN: It is a beautiful memorial there at the Pentagon. Deputy political director Paul Steinhauser for us in Washington, Paul good to see you, thank you.
HOLMES: And you heard from Paul there, talking about how the president's plan to address students on Tuesday certainly generating a lot of controversy. Here now, listen to some of the folks out there on the street.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE GUTMANN, JR., LAW GOVERNMENT TEACHER: It's the president talking to students. The embrace of technology as a young student, I would have been so excited as a kid to have the president talk to me. So I think it's a great opportunity for our students and we're going to embrace it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Trying to bring his views all into the school and with the school kids and things. No, I don't think it's a good idea for him to do that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You all have been chiming in and we appreciate it. We've been getting a lot of comments on our Twitter pages, Facebook and all that good stuff and also on our blog. Here is what some of you all are saying. Suzy says, "What happened to the days when we analyzed all sides of a situation. Students should listen to the speech and parents should embrace the opportunity to have a discussion with their children. We must stop fostering ignorance and empathy." Lorenzo says, "The United States has to be the laughing stock of the world! Here's the political agenda - get a good education and stay in school." Also one from William, "A speech from the president would be great if the country by majority felt that he was someone they wanted to be an example to their children... and really that is not clear because he surrounds himself with questionable people." So some of your comments. Please continue to send those on. You can go to our blog, cnn.com/tj. Send those comments into us this morning. Also, you know how to find us Facebook, Twitter, all that good stuff.
BALDWIN: And you can watch the president's address to all of those students Tuesday. But Wednesday, a big day he'll be mapping out his strategy essentially on health care reform this week, happening Wednesday. The president will be addressing a joint session of Congress Wednesday evening. You can watch that speech in its entirety, right here on CNN and of course we'll be talking about it afterwards. What is he saying, public option, trigger option. Everything else we've been talking about. Our best political team on television will be talking about it as well, that is at 8:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Trouble in the San Francisco/Oakland area for folks driving. You lived there you know how big a deal this is.
HOLMES: It is a huge deal if they do not have this thing back open on Tuesday morning.
BALDWIN: This is the Bay Bridge and this is how you get from San Francisco to Oakland and Berkeley. And you know what they found? What was it, Thursday? They found what workers are calling a significant crack in this bridge in the eastern span of the bridge. These are pictures coming in from our affiliate in the Bay area and they decided after finding this significant crack that you know what, they have to fix it and it may take longer than Tuesday.
HOLMES: See it was already closed over the weekend, there's been kind of a back story. They were closing it over the Labor Day weekend so they could actually replace a piece. They have been working on it, a big retro project to make it -- so it can hold up to an earthquake essentially. So they were doing that, and they found a crack. They planned on opening the bridge by Tuesday morning when rush hour starts up again but now because they found this crack it might not be able to open by Tuesday, which means you have a hot mess going on in the bay area on Tuesday morning. Because you have --
BALDWIN: Once people are headed back to work after the weekend.
HOLMES: A quarter million vehicles go back and forth over that every single day. You have a few other bridges out there, the (INAUDIBLE), the San Mateo, the Golden Gate of course, but that is the main bridge out there. If they don't have it ready, there is going to be a --
BALDWIN: So what do you do, you lived there, if that bridge is closed?
HOLMES: You have to go around, like I said.
BALDWIN: Bypass.
HOLMES: The San Mateo Bridge, San Rafael Bridge, those are smaller bridges but that would be such a strain, it would be unreal.
BALDWIN: I'm sure there's such pressure on those workers to get this thing done.
HOLMES: But you have to get it right and again that bridge was the one that a section of it fell during the 1989 quake. So you have to get it right. Tuesday morning if that's not open. Oh!
BALDWIN: Not fun.
Also not fun, sharks over the Labor Day weekend if you were at the cape, Cape Cod. Some people actually caught a glimpse, a very rare glimpse. It's obviously keeping a lot of people out of the water at Cape Cod. I think we have some pictures of maybe the scene.
HOLMES: We're going to be showing those this morning. We saw at least two in the video. Make sure you stick around. We promise you, we will be showing you that video.
Also, some video we can show you that's readily available, science fiction fans, they are in Atlanta. That's actually Brooke in that robot outfit you just saw.
BALDWIN: You just outed me T.J.
HOLMES: This is what they call Dragon Con and you get the idea. This is what those who love all that science fiction stuff, the trekies and all that. They have come to Atlanta. We'll tell you what they're up to.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Yes, that's the Margaritaville guy. You're right on track there, my friend. Jimmy Buffet, and the song is titled "Fins." It's a nice little segue, thanks Deanna, for this video. I'm not even OK watching "Jaws" on TV or in the movie theater, let alone seeing a shark, a great white shark in the water on my Labor Day weekend, if I'm at Cape Cod. But that's exactly what some people saw over the weekend. Two great white sharks were spotted yesterday. And they say they are pretty common during the summer. Although you would think that great whites, off of New England -- maybe Bonnie knows. Off of New England, especially that close, can't be --
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, not that common. Normally we talk about whale watching off the New England coast. But I'll tell you an interesting bit of trivia. Guess where the movie "Jaws" was filmed?
HOLMES: It was right there, wasn't it? SCHNEIDER: In Martha's Vineyard, that's right. Because I was in Martha's Vineyard a couple of years ago and it's a big claim to fame. But that's a mechanical shark, not a real one.
BALDWIN: That's the kind of shark I like, mechanical shark.
SCHNEIDER: Like when you go to Universal Studios, the one that opens and closes. A lot less menacing when it's fake. Great whites off the coast of Massachusetts and Cape Cod. Right now, the temperature across the region is in the 60s, and it looks like this will affect beachgoers for sure. They close beaches because of that. Now what we're looking at is 66 in surfside. This is Nantucket, not too far from Martha's Vineyard and here's Cape Cod. You have Eastem on the cave. New Bedford right now at 62, the temperature is about 60 in Manchester, New Hampshire. We have a live picture to show you what it looks like there. That's just north of Boston. And it looks like we're going to see a nice day. There is the beach. The beautiful coastline of New Hampshire, courtesy of our affiliate, WMUR.
If you are heading to other beaches, besides the ones where the great whites were, we're looking at some really nice weather for the Jersey shores, 70s for today, the water temperature is 74 degrees, a nice day in Southampton. Long Island the temperature will be in the 70s and we're also tracking beach weather in Florida, where it's not so nice. That's where we have scattered showers and thunderstorms, particularly in South Florida where we are getting a lot of rain right now in and around the Miami-Dade area, so we're watching for that in Boca Raton and into Ft. Lauderdale. Most of it's offshore but if you're in South Beach, you may have a little storm to contend with for this long holiday weekend. Back to you.
HOLMES: Good morning, by the way, Bonnie.
BALDWIN: Hi Bonnie.
HOLMES: With us this weekend.
SCHNEIDER: Nice to see both of you.
HOLMES: Hello, good to see you. Glad you could be here with us.
BALDWIN: We just jumped right in with the sharks, taking over.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, you did.
HOLMES: We didn't even say hello, how rude of us. But thank you we'll check in with you again here shortly.
We have some new video just coming in to us. A bit of a problem out in California. They can redirect some of this water to some of those fires in L.A. County that would be great. This is a different issue, this is a water main break we've seen in Studio City. A huge pipe here broke, 64-inch pipe. This is in Studio City again and you can see, it looks like quite literally there's been a flood. But it hasn't been raining out in California as we know. Actually firefighters had to do one rescue because somebody was swept away by the waters from a water main break. Apparently that person is OK but they had been in the car, got swept away but several feet deep as you can see in some of this water. Different pictures we do have here for you.
BALDWIN: There we go.
Several feet deep, 125 firefighters responding to this thing. Can you imagine? This happened late Saturday night, you're in your home, people were evacuated. Not a fun way to enjoy your Labor Day weekend.
HOLMES: That is amazing video. Looks like some kind of rushing river or something. But this is a street in L.A. right now. We'll keep an eye on that and see if they can get that taken care of.
Also our viewers sounding off on the controversy over the president speaking to students. We'll have some more of your comments from our blog this morning.
BALDWIN: And Josh Levs has the best of what is on cnn.com. Josh, what's out there?
JOSH LEVS: We've got fun stuff for you this morning. Susan Boyle beating Whitney and the Beatles. This is wild.
Plus, robot fish are headed to the water. No joke. They're designed to look like real ones and have cameras. We'll show you everything about her plus those robo fish.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Looking at some of the top stories we're keeping an eye on this morning. After more than a week now battling that huge wildfire, firefighters finally gaining the upper hand. This is north of Los Angeles. This fire no longer threatening homes on its western flank. The fire has destroyed already however at least 76 homes and burned at least 250 square miles. Again, this is at the Angeles National Forest.
BALDWIN: Pretty big news out of Washington this morning. Van Jones, you know the name, he is one of President Obama's advisers and he is officially stepping down from his post for signing this petition, right around 2004 that essentially suggested that the government let the 9/11 terrorist attacks happen. Jones was the president's adviser on green jobs. And an administration sources says Jones did not read the petition carefully. Jones, he has apologized, but he gave a statement accusing opponents of the president's health care reform plan of smearing him.
HOLMES: We have a house versus vehicle story to tell you about out of Suffolk County, New York. This is an SUV ended up not where it's supposed to be.
BALDWIN: Not where it's supposed to be. Here are pieces of this home and glass, quite a mess. Obviously the driver, according to police, speeding, hit something, maybe a berm there on the side of the road and smashed into the second floor of the house. And after slamming into the second floor, that's not all. Look at that. Slams into the second floor, falls into the foyer of the home. You don't often see that, you see them go through the wall. How does that happen?
HOLMES: He went airborne to get to the second floor?
BALDWIN: And then fell to the foyer. Do we have sound, I think we have sound.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN SARLI, HOMEOWNER: I was shocked. How did you do this? What were you thinking? How fast were you going? He was doing "Dukes of Hazard."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: "Dukes of Hazard" in real life. I love that, what happened? We don't know.
HOLMES: At least Bo and Luke, when they were going airborne, they did the horn thing. Da, da, da, da, da, da, yall remember that, the general lee? Some of the fellows in here know what I'm talking about.
BALDWIN: They're nodding, yes, yes, yes. Any way, the good news, no one was hurt.
HOLMES: Nobody hurt.
BALDWIN: No one was hurt.
HOLMES: All right, quick break, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: I love "The X Files."
BALDWIN: You watch that? Your favorite event was in town this weekend.
HOLMES: Yes, I mean it's a big thing for me, I'm getting out of this suit as soon as I'm done here and putting on my real suit.
BALDWIN: Clark Kent, Superman, because I did see a grown man in blue tights leaving work yesterday, Superman.
HOLMES: Was that your ride home?
BALDWIN: Very funny.
HOLMES: I didn't know where you were going with it, but go ahead.
BALDWIN: Superman, Spiderman, this guy, this is Dragon Con and it's been going on in Atlanta since Friday, it lasts through tomorrow. It was kind of cool because yesterday they had this huge parade. It's a serious thing. It's a huge pop culture celebration. In fact --
HOLMES: You say it was a serious thing and showing this video. It's a serious thing?
BALDWIN: People come, there are hundreds of workshops. They learn sci-fi writing, anime. I think some people take this pretty seriously.
HOLMES: Well they obviously do.
BALDWIN: I read it's the largest multimedia pop culture convention in the country.
HOLMES: OK, that's putting it very nicely.
BALDWIN: What do you think it is, my friend?
HOLMES: A freak show. But, you know, people are into this stuff. Just because that's not my thing or your thing, but they are into it. To get 50,000 folks together year in, year out for this, obviously --
BALDWIN: You're going to have some cling ons coming to get you after the segment. I'm going to step away.
HOLMES: But the cool part of what they're doing, and I might go check this out tonight, the thriller. They are actually trying to break the Guinness World Record tonight at the convention for the thriller dance. You're going to see these people dressed up like this doing Michael Jackson's thriller dance tonight. They're trying to break the record.
BALDWIN: They're trying to break the record I think it was in Mexico City the last time it was something like 12,000 people dancing in the city. You have to be certified by the Guinness Book of World Records, they have to go over the routine, make sure all the moves match up to Michael Jackson's moves. But, kind of cool. Kind of a scene in downtown Atlanta.
HOLMES: I love it.
BALDWIN: President Obama plans to deliver a TV and web address to the nation's school kids Tuesday.
HOLMES: However, as you've heard, some parents say they won't let their kids listen to the president. Why is the president speaking to school children so controversial? Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Hello again everybody. Welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING, I'm T.J. Holmes.
BALDWIN: Good morning, I'm Brooke Baldwin in for Betty Nguyen. Let's get going, get to our top stories first here this morning. Talking about the situation now in Afghanistan. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan says he is convinced that civilians were among those killed in a NATO air strike. We told you about this air strike yesterday. About 90 people were killed in northern Afghanistan and what happened was it came after two tanker trucks were hijacked late Thursday by the Taliban. A large number of people were attempting to siphon fuel from the trucks when they were hit. General Stanley McChrystal, he did visit the site, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN: It's important to me that we be as honest with the Afghan people and with people around the world as possible. Of course, you don't know all the facts until an investigation is complete. And I clearly don't know all the facts now and would not want to affect a potential investigation by making some conclusion that would be inappropriate. From what I have seen today in going to the hospital, it's clear to me that there were some civilians harmed at that site.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Some civilians, though we still don't know how many. You heard it mentioned that investigators, with NATO and the Afghan government both are investigating.
HOLMES: Funerals for seven people in one town yesterday in rural Georgia. Seven of the eight people killed last week north of Brunswick were laid to rest yesterday. The 22-year-old son of one of the victims has now been charged with eight counts of first degree murder. More than 200 mourners attended those funerals.
Also news overnight. Van Jones, one of the president's advisers is resigning amid a lot of controversy. Among the controversy, was that he signed a petition in 2004 that suggested the government let the 9/11 attacks happen. Jones was the president's adviser on green jobs. An administration source says Jones did not read that petition carefully. Jones also had come under fire for some video that surfaced that showed him out in California, calling the republicans a nasty word that I can't repeat here. Jones then gave this statement saying, "On the eve of historic fights for health care and clean energy, opponents of reform have mounted a vicious smear campaign against me. They are using lies and distortions to distract and divide."
BALDWIN: The president of the United States taking a breather this weekend up in Camp David for a little R&R. But he has a big week ahead of him.
Coming up, health care reform. He will be talking about it for a couple of days this week. Big speech Wednesday; he will push his reform plan at a Labor Day rally, first in Cincinnati tomorrow. And then, on Tuesday, the president will give his address to the nation's school kids. We've been talking about that and the controversy surrounding that.
Wednesday the pressure is definitely on. The president will address a joint session of Congress on health care; he's supposed to map out his health care reform strategy. And, then Friday, of course, it's been eight years -can you believe? - since 911. The president will be commemorating the tragedy at the Pentagon for that memorial ceremony.
Eight years, hard to believe. We all remember where we were.
HOLMES: A lot has happened since then.
BALDWIN: President Obama's speech to school children has delivered a tough lesson to the White House.
HOLMES: Which of course, has been facing some angry backlash from a lot of parents. And the White House now plans to release the transcript of Tuesday's speech, tomorrow, on Monday. CNN's Tom Foreman on the story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Call it a fast lesson in public pushback. The president's plan to talk to school kids on Tuesday has some conservative parents saying he is trying to brainwash their kids into buying his politics.
SHANNEEN BARRON, PARENT: Thinking about my kids (SOBS) in school having listening to that, just really upsets me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Politics is totally up to the family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, will I send my child? I don't know. Right now I would say no, I'll keep them home.
FOREMAN: Across the country, many school districts are encouraging students to watch. In New Orleans , it will be required, but that's an exception. In virtually every state, at least some schools have decided to either not to show the speech, review it first, or make viewing optional. Some cite scheduling conflicts and technical difficulties, but this was not what the White House expected.
The president's speech will focus on keeping kids in school, a subject he's promoted before.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Unfortunately, nearly 30 percent of U.S. high school students aren't making it to graduation.
FOREMAN: But the core complaint seems to be with supplementary teaching materials from the Department of Education. Originally they called for students to write, quote, "What they can do to help the president."
(On camera): The White House has since changed that. Suggesting the children now write about their own educational goals. Furthermore, the text of the president's speech will now be put online Monday, so any teacher, parent, or politician can preview what's going to be said.
(Voice over): Plenty seemed fine with that, including the national president of the PTA.
CHARLES SAYLORS, PRESIDENT, NAT'L. PTA: We have an opportunity here in the United States for parents, teachers, and students to take part in a tremendous civics lesson.
(PROTESTORS CHANTING)
FOREMAN: Still, just like the crowds at all of those town hall meetings, others are far from satisfied.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My rights as a parent are being circumvented so that this president can speak to my children.
FOREMAN: And they clearly resent the notion that they are unfairly questioning the president's motives.
GEORGE. H.W. BUSH, FMR. PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Education matters. What you do today, and what you don't do, can change your future.
FOREMAN: After all, they point out, when the first President Bush spoke to school kids on TV 1991, top Democrats called that just political advertising on the taxpayers' dime.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: We have been asking this weekend what you think about the president addressing the country's school children. A lot of people are weighing in, a lot of response on this one.
One response, we're getting, from a 14-year-old, by the name of Jasmine. She says she'll be a freshman on Tuesday. And the president will be talking at her school. She says, "I'm excited and honored he's coming. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Also a message from Carol says. She's not quite 14. She admits she's 56 in here. She says, "I have always raised my children to respect those in authority. I can not remember a time in my life that our children have not been urged to listen to their president! I am a white woman, 56 years old, and I am the first one who hates the race card being used, but this is so obvious."
That from Carol. We're getting a lot of responses this morning. We appreciate them coming in. Continue to send them to our blog, CNN.com/TJ. Send the comments there. Also you know how to find us on Facebook and Twitter as well.
BALDWIN: Well, that is Tuesday, that address to school kids nationwide, but Wednesday, is a huge day for the president. He'll be mapping out a strategy when it comes to health care reform. We're also hearing from CNN sources that the White House, the administration will be drafting their own legislation, their own version here. But the president Wednesday will be addressing this joint session of Congress that evening. You can watch that right here on CNN, followed by analysis from the best political team on television. That begins Wednesday, 8:00 o'clock, right here on CNN.
HOLMES: Of course, the lawmakers get back from their recess. They will be back this week. And of course, the issue that will continue to loom large with the speech, and with all of the bills out there, health care reform.
BALDWIN: Health care reform: And in Drexel Hill, that is in Pennsylvania, discussion was described as lively but polite at this town hall meeting hosted by Congressman Joe Sestak. Now, the Democrat does support the option of government-run insurance. His has defied his own party leaders, even the president, by challenging Independent Senator Arlen Specter in the May primaries.
Opponents of health care and big government are making sure their protests remain fresh in their lawmaker's memories. On this very last weekend at home for members of Congress, opponents are staging rallies like this one. These Tea Party rallies, like this one in Louisville, Kentucky, and CNN dispatching its crews to these rallies. We want to cover both sides of this here. Today's stops for the Tea Party Express, Bloomington, Indiana and Champaign, Illinois.
HOLMES: How worried -you've been hearing a lot about it.-but how worried should you actually be about H1N1? A lot of people call it swine flu, but H1N1 is what we are talking about. When can you also get a vaccine? We're talking to someone from the CDC. We're going to the source. Got some answers for you coming up.
BALDWIN: And an American killed in Afghanistan, our correspondent there in Kabul talked to the top U.S. commander there. She is shadowing him and she will tell us what is on his mind after three months - three months - there on the job. Stay right here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Good morning. Welcome back here to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. We have a lot of things that developed overnight, keeping an eye on.
Of course, the big week for the president coming up.
BALDWIN: Busy week for the president.
HOLMES: Coming up with a couple of speeches he has. A lot of things to keep an eye on. You all have been weighing in. We appreciate that. Continue to weigh in on our top stories. Also, of course, with the president making a speech to school children. Facebook, Twitter, our blog as well. Please, chime in.
Also, this morning, a few other stories you might not have heard about. First to tell you about, at least three people killed today in a ferry accident in the Philippines. The Philippine coast guard officials say the ferry capsized as it was sailing from Mindanao to Manila. At least 227 people were rescued, crews are still searching the scene; 964 people were on board that ferry.
BALDWIN: A holiday weekend ending, really, in tragedy for a Pennsylvania family. A desperate search for a missing four-year-old boy ends on a tragic note. Police say they found the body of Wayne Thomas Smitsky stuffed inside a neighbor's septic tank Saturday. Apparently he went missing Friday after playing with his sisters. The Associated Press is reporting that authorities have a suspect here and anticipate filing charges.
HOLMES: Also, do not go in the water. That's not what a lot of people want to hear. That will change your mind real quick when you see that in the water. This Labor Day weekend a lot of people at the beaches, but two large Great White sharks are off the coast of Chatham, Massachusetts. Some beaches have been closed because of this. The Great Whites were tagged to help monitor their movement. Wildlife officials make sure they throw a little something on them so they can monitor them, figure out exactly where they are. There are three other sharks that were sighted over the past three days. Not deterring some people. They are still going into the water. But some people, like I said, can't because some of the beaches are closed.
All they have to do is play this music on loudspeakers out at the beach. And that will change their minds.
Stay with us, quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Come on in and stay while. That is what a Connecticut couple is urging people to do. They are owners of a bed & breakfast and saw their business drop off during the recession, but things are starting to rebound. Our Gerri Willis has the story in today's "Money & Main Street" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (voice over): At the heart of Litchfield County, Connecticut are its bed & breakfasts, like the one Dean and Jean Marie Johnson bought in the town of Norfolk, five years ago. At the time, it seemed like a cash cow. But last year, along with the economy, bookings dropped off even steeper than the national average of 7.3 percent.
JEAN MARIE JOHNSON, OWNER, BED & BREAKFAST: We were down about 20, 25 percent overall, in terms of bookings, and that was really a reflection of the economy, people holding back on discretionary spending. This year, it started out fairly weak. The bad weather, the wet spring, the season didn't help.
WILLIS: But help was on the way. This is the first summer of the Infinity Music Hall and Bistro. It's a newly refurbished public music venue in town, making Norfolk an overnight destination. KIM YAFFA, ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR, INFINITY MUSIC HALL: I think it's becoming a destination for people. I know inns are filling up. I know the restaurants is busy, the restaurant next door is busy. So, I'm sure we're making an impact.
WILLIS: It's an impact the Johnsons are starting to feel, but not enough of one to sit back and relax. Dean and Jean Marie are taking all possible steps to bring overnight visitors in the door.
DEAN JOHNSON, OWNER, BED & BREAKFAST: We can call this our budget room, but actually a lot of people find it, it is small, it is intimate and it is a lot less expensive than some of the other rooms.
WILLIS (On camera): What's the price differential?
D. JOHNSON: The price here, is about, maybe $100 less than some of the more expensive rooms down the hall.
WILLIS (voice over): These days budget means bookable. The Johnsons seen more guests in this room than any other. They are willing to negotiate.
J. JOHNSON: Given the fact that people are stretched and more concerned about their discretionary funds, we're much, much more flexible. So, if someone says we can only stay one night, we almost always accommodate them for that one night stay.
WILLIS: And one night stays are on the rise in part thanks to Infinity; 200 scheduled shows, sold out performances and big name bands has meant needed bookings for Mountain View Inn.
D. JOHNSON: I think it has probably added maybe 20 percent more than we would have had, previously.
WILLIS: And for the remainder of the summer season?
D. JOHNSON: We're pretty much sold out every weekend.
WILLIS: Gerri Willis, CNN, Norfolk, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: You can catch a new "Money & Main Street" segment this morning -or rather, Thursday morning, on "American Morning". Get my mornings mixed up. That starts at 6:00 a.m. Eastern. Again, that is on Thursday.
BALDWIN: We've been talking about so much this morning about the president's schedule. You know, he has a big speech to students nationwide, Tuesday. Wednesday talking to a joint session of Congress, talking health care reform, but Friday, Friday is the eighth anniversary of September 11th.
HOLMES: Yes, and with it comes key questions for the president. There is a report due out this week as well. We'll tell with you about that and what a former brigadier general has to say. This is all about Afghanistan. Stay with us this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We heard about the H1N1 virus for the first time just months ago. Now a new White House report warns up to 50 percent of the U.S. population could be infected by the virus by winter. President Obama says he wants to be ready with answers before that ever happens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We're also making steady progress on developing a safe and effective H1N1 flu vaccine. And we expect a flu shot program will begin soon. This program will be completely voluntary, but it will be strongly recommended.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Doctor Beth Bell, an epidemiologist with the CDC joins me now.
Ma'am, thank you for being here. We just heard the president say we are making steady progress on developing a safe and effective vaccine for this H1N1. How close are we to having a safe and effective vaccine right now?
DR. BETH BELL, EPIDEMIOLOGIST, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL: The clinical trials are going on right now. We are anticipating that vaccine should be available by mid October. We're working as fast as we possibly can. We know people are eager to receive the vaccine and so we are focusing on getting this done as soon as possible to make sure we have a safe and effective vaccine.
HOLMES: All right. You feel pretty good that you are working on something, you say trials, and you think you'll have one by October or so. So, it sounds like, at least, you have something you believe will be effective?
BELL: Yes, these vaccines are being made in the way that very well known to us. It's very similar to the way we make seasonal influenza vaccines. And as you probably know, more than 100 million people receive seasonal influenza vaccines each year. So we have every expectation that we will a safe and effective vaccine.
HOLMES: And Doctor Bell, tell us -there's a lot of talk out there about once the vaccine comes out, what will it look like? Will this be one vaccine? Or will people need to get two separate shots? Which way, so far, are we leaning on that?
BELL: That's one of the big questions that we expect to answer with the clinical trials. We think probably at least some people, maybe children, will need two doses of the vaccine, we really won't know for sure until we're able to look at all of the study data when the clinical trials are completed.
HOLMES: So, I guess, Doctor Bell, how problematic could that be if people have to get one shot and then go back a few weeks later to get a second. And I guess they're not fully covered and, I guess, protected against this until later in the year. We could be going for another month or two, or maybe beyond, with everybody running around this country still not necessarily immune, but with no resistance to the swine flu?
BELL: Well, even now with the seasonal influenza vaccines, children nine years and younger do need two doses. So it's not surprising that some people might need two doses of the new vaccine as well.
You know this 2009 H1N1 really has not gone away at all since it first appeared in the spring. We continue to see activity throughout the summer. There were outbreaks in camps. Now that school is starting, I think we can expect to see disease increasing, and actually, even now in the Southeast part of the country, where schools opened a few weeks ago, we are starting to see increases in disease activity in many parts of the Southeast.
HOLMES: So do you think that is directly the cause of some of something that I was going to ask you next, where we are seeing it. But some of the locations we are seeing it do you attribute that to the fact that people are starting to go back to school?
BELL: One thing about influenza, is that it is very predictable. And we've always seen lots of variation across the country, in terms of what areas have a lot of disease at any particular time. So it is hard to be sure of exactly why disease appears to be increasing right now in the Southeast. Certainly possible that one factor might be that schools opened just a few weeks ago.
HOLMES: All right. One thing here, and I want you to break this down, as simple as possible. Because I know this is on the minds of a lot of people, just a very simple way to break it down. I don't get the flu vaccine every year. I know I should, but I don't get a flu shot. I got the flu last year. I fought it off, I drank my fluids, got some rest, and I was fine. Now if I don't get a swine flu vaccine, an H1N1 vaccine, and I happen, God forbid, to get H1N1, will my body be able to fight it off just the same way as the seasonal flu, or do I have more to worry about?
BELL: We know anybody can get very ill from seasonal flu, although most people do fine. And it seems that things are fairly similar in terms of the 2009 H1N1.
HOLMES: Well, a lot of people are -- we're trying to educate folks. Because a lot of people seem to be - certainly and should be concerned. We don't want everybody to be necessarily, just alarmed at the same time. We appreciate you coming on and continuing to educate us about this. Thank you so much, Doctor Bell.
BELL: Thank you so much for having me.
BALDWIN: T.J. getting some good answers and Sanjay Gupta getting answers as well. The doctor will be heading to the nation's health secretary to get some answers on the real threats of the H1N1 flu. Could the answer to the nation's health care issues be found in Cleveland? Discover why many experts actually say yes. Plus, learn why a drink tonight might help you mind later in life. "House Call" with Doctor Sanjay Gupta, at 7:30 Eastern Time, right after this newscast.
And a lot of viewers sending us questions on H1N1, and Josh Levs monitoring those questions, checking them out.
Josh, what are you seeing?
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So many questions, Brook, especially a lot of skepticism about that vaccine. So here is what we have. A doctor who is, himself, part of the clinical trial, taking questions directly from our blog and Facebook; answering them. Your safety concerns, coming up in the next hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're keeping an eye on things happening on the web. So, is there as well, , Josh Levs, keeping an eye on that for us this morning.
BALDWIN: Hey, Josh. Good morning. What is this army of robot fish?
LEVS: Yes.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: What's up with that?
LEVS: We have Susan Boyle and we have an army of robot fish.
When Susan Boyle's album comes out, are you guys going to buy it?
HOLMES: No.
LEVS: No?
HOLMES: I should think about it for a second, right? Yeah.
BALDWIN: Uh.
HOLMES: Yes.
LEVS: You guys will be in the minority, well, all over the world, but check this out. This is one of our most popular stories on CNN.com. People have been clicking on it like crazy. It comes from "People" magazine originally.
They point out that right now, Susan Boyle is beating Whitney Houston and The Beatles, even though her album does not come out until the end of November. People don't realize this is historic. Never been a literal overnight sensation like this. Check this out. Here is our story from CNN.com. And this, right here, is the Amazon best- seller list they are pointing to. Susan Boyle number one, then you have Whitney Houston below it, and then you have some of this re-mastered Beatles albums. We have Willie Nelson in there. So people are already lining up this far in advance to buy advance copies of Susan Boyle.
And as for this robot fish, I know you guys are excited about that. Right, Brooke? Take a look at that.
BALDWIN: Robot fish.
LEVS: Robot fish. Take a look at that. One of our most popular stories at CNN.com in recent days.
Researchers at MIT have created this little robot that swim in the water. They are designed to look like real fish. They are not going to be clear and have wires sticking out of them. And they will be able to do surveillance, and apparently the Navy is among the places that are interested in these. They have cameras inside.
BALDWIN: Except those -the sharks we've seen off Cape Cod. Those are not robots. Those are the real deal.
LEVS: Yes. I know I was thinking about that. When you have the sharks, I hope those sharks don't eat one of these things by mistake. That could be a rough digestive issue.
BALDWIN: Pretty bad.
LEVS: So, you know, some of the fun stuff we have going here. And by the way, just to tie this up hour, because T.J. always loves pictures of baby animals. Here's a little baby lion cub for you, T.J. Can we see him there? There you go.
HOLMES: I'm OK.
LEVS: A weekend just isn't a weekend without this.
BALDWIN: Cute!
LEVS: A new lion cub at the London Zoo. Come on, T.J.
HOLMES: As long as it's not another polar bear.
(LAUGHTER)
BALDWIN: You got issues with polar bears?
HOLMES: I got issues with baby bears.
LEVS: We get it all at dot.com.
HOLMES: It's a long story from my childhood. We'll get to it.
BALDWIN: Won't go there.
HOLMES: Josh, thank you. Meanwhile, we'll roll on here with our next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING on September 6th, the day before Labor Day. Good morning to you all. We are so glad you could be here with us. I'm T.J. Holmes.
BALDWIN: Good morning. Hello, there. I'm Brooke Baldwin sitting in for Betty this weekend. Thank you for continuing, hopefully, your holiday weekend with us. Lots to talk about -- the president's weekend ahead.
Also the president adviser on green jobs. You know the name, Van Jones, pretty big deal here, because he is stepping down from his post. He was essentially tapped to create all these different green jobs because of the economy.
Well, apparently he signed this petition, a couple of years ago, essentially suggesting that high government officials deliberately allowed the 9/11 attacks to happen. The administration said he didn't read the petition quite carefully. That is the news out of Washington this morning.
HOLMES: Also new pictures we're getting out of Los Angeles. This looks like a flood. But it has not been raining in LA.
BALDWIN: No rain.
HOLMES: We'll explain to you exactly what the situation is out there and why thousands -- and several homes -- I don't know about thousands of people just yet, but a number of people had to be evacuated. We'll be talking about that shortly. Going to start with some other stories you may have missed overnight, things that have developed overnight.
Five people dead in a small plane crash in Oklahoma. This happened not long after takeoff from an airfield in Tulsa. FAA says the plane hit a wire and then came down. An FAA spokesman says the plane was on its way to Dallas.
BALDWIN: Well, after more than a week now, following that massive wildfire out west, firefighters are finally gaining the upper hand just north of Los Angeles. The fire is no longer threatening homes on its western flank.
But you've seen the pictures of all those flames -- massive undertaking for these firefighters. Seventy-six homes have been destroyed, and the fire has burned nearly 250 square miles of the Angeles National Forest.
HOLMES: And a key week coming for health care for the president. He'll push his reform plan in a Labor Day rally in Cincinnati tomorrow. Then, on Tuesday, he gives his address to the nation's school kids. Then, on Wednesday, that's when the president will address a joint session of Congress on health care, and then, on Friday, he'll be at the Pentagon for a 9/11 memorial ceremony.
BALDWIN: Well, Van Jones, one of president's advisers is resigning for signing this controversial petition back in 2004. HOLMES: Yes. Our Mary Snow tells us what it has to do now with the 9/11 conspiracy theories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Van Jones may not be a well-known administration figure as an adviser for green jobs, but he's been pressed into the forefront over questions surrounding this 2004 petition he signed on the 911Truth.org Web site, demanding, quote, "A call for immediate inquiry into evidence that suggests high- level government officials may have deliberately allowed the September 11th attacks to occur." Van Jones is listed as "Signer 46."
Asked why his name was on it, an administration source tells CNN that Jones did not carefully review the language in the petition. And in a statement, Jones said, "I do not agree with this statement and it certainly does not reflect my views now or ever."
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked about Jones' name appearing on the petition, responding, "It's not something the president agrees with," and that Jones continues to work in the administration."
Jones has also gained attention for comments he made before his White House job -- including this one, now on YouTube, when he was talking about Republicans.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are Republicans are able to push things through when they had less than 60 senators but somehow we can't?
VAN JONES, FMR. PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER: Well, the answer to that is they are (BLEEP)holes.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was afraid that that was the answer.
JONES: That's a technical political science term.
(LAUGHTER)
JONES: And Barack Obama is not an (BLEEP).
SNOW: In 2005, he was quoted in "The East Bay Express," saying, "By August, I was a communist." When explaining about his radicalization following the acquittals in the police beating case of Rodney King in 1992, Jones said, "If I have offended anyone with statements I made in the past, I apologize."
The green jobs guru has come under scrutiny by conservatives, notably, FOX TV host Glenn Beck. Defenders of Jones say Beck targeted him because Jones was formerly with a group now working to get advertisers to boycott Beck's show. The boycott came after the FOX host called President Obama a racist.
Before this, Jones was primarily known for his environmental work. Back in May, in comments on the "San Francisco Chronicle's" Web site, Jones even won the praise of former eBay CEO, Meg Whitman, now a Republican candidate for governor in California.
MEG WHITMAN, FORMER EBAY CEO: I am a big fan of him. He's done a marvelous job.
SNOW: Whitman now says she didn't know Jones well and is distancing himself, saying, it's clear he holds views she entirely rejects.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: And on Tuesday, the president plans to address students, but that's creating controversy as well, as you know. A lot of people are not so up on what he's going to be doing. A lot of people think he's sending out some materials, I guess, that was more so the issue, sending out some lesson plans suggesting what the kids should do to go along with his speech.
So, what do you think about the president sending out those lesson plans before he speaks. Turn on that computer this morning, go to our blog, CNN.com/TJ, and send us those comments. We are getting a ton already. You also know how to find us on Facebook and Twitter. We'll be sharing some more of those this morning.
BALDWIN: Well, that speech, not necessarily the only fallout the president is dealing with this morning. He expects to get a report this week on Afghanistan which will likely make this case as to whether or not they should send additional troops to Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal presented it in yesterday. He toured the scene of a disputed air strike in which 90 people, some civilians, some Taliban militants, were possibly -- were killed by NATO missiles.
CNN's Atia Abawi joins us live this morning in Kabul.
And, Atia, what an amazing opportunity. I know you've been shadowing General Stanley McChrystal, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and he talks about this new approach. What is it?
ATIA ABAWI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, General McChrystal has been given an assignment as has the U.S. ambassador, Karl Eikenberry, to combine civilian and military efforts. And just a couple of days ago, we had a chance to actually go see the progress that was made and what needs to be done with the two gentlemen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ABAWI (voice-over): The mountains of Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan, a mirage of serenity in a ferocious land. The Taliban have staked their claim here time and time again.
But now, the American military and civilians are trying a new approach to rid the area of insurgents. These men were hand-picked by President Barack Obama to turn things around in a war that many think is lost. GEN. STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL, U.S. COMMANDER IN AFGHANISTAN: Some people say that we're starting over in Afghanistan, and I don't agree with that. In my view, you never start over anyway. You are always building upon the history of the past.
ABAWI: After eight years of weapons and warfare, it's evident that a new approach is needed. A support for the war among Afghans and Americans wanes.
KARL EIKENBERRY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN: This has to be an integrated civilian and military effort for us to succeed. The military has a very important role, helping to develop security in Afghanistan, helping to train the army and the police. But it's not enough on its own.
ABAWI: Here, the U.S. ambassador and NATO's top commander in Afghanistan take a look at a bridge built by a provincial reconstruction team -- a small step in a big battle.
(on camera): The commander of the Afghan national police told me that this bridge that the PRT built has helped security because their police officers can go from one signed of the land to the other side of the land, and stop the militants that come through the boarder right there over the mountains.
(voice-over): Kunar Province shares a long and porous border with Pakistan, through which the militant are easily able to slip in and out.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ABAWI: As you can see, these gentlemen have a very big task ahead of them, what they are trying to do is gain support from the Afghan people as well as the American public. Fifty-seven percent of Americans are tired of the war in Afghanistan, thinking that not enough progress has been made after eight years, and after that NATO air strike just a couple of days ago, their task and their mission just got harder -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: Atia, I know you were talking to us yesterday about this NATO air strike. Ninety people killed. This morning, we're reporting about this insurgent attack leaving one U.S. service member dead.
When you're out and about, are you talking at all to U.S. troops? And what's the sense among them about the mission?
ABAWI: Well, when you talk to the U.S. troops here in Afghanistan, whether they be the army, the marine, they know why they're here. When I've talked to different -- this is a different soldier, this is a different. They've gone through two wars, many of them -- many various deployments. And they say they want to be here right now, this is where the war on terror, in their minds, started and they want to complete that mission, and they want to make America safe. And at the same time, when you go out and talk to the Afghans, they want a safe nation as well. When we were in Kunar Province with both the ambassador and the general, we spoke to Afghans out there. And in an area that we were staying at, we had an Afghan national police officer tell me that just 10 kilometers away was an area where the Taliban had control and he said, right now, his government can't handle the Taliban -- Brooke?
BALDWIN: Atia Abawi, doing such an impressive job for us in Kabul, Afghanistan -- Atia, thank you.
HOLMES: Well, the White House says victory in Afghanistan will take time. Meanwhile, fraud allegations over last month's presidential election continue to mount. Complaints, up to 2,000 now. Also, U.S. casualties are climbing as well. At least 738 American forces have died in that region since 2001.
We want to bring in former Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt. He joins us now from D.C.
General Kimmitt, we certainly appreciate you being here, sir. Let -- I want to start first with the government. The election we saw there just a few weeks back. We still don't have the results. But starting with that, how important is it? Or how much will it complicate the U.S. mission there if this election is not seen as legitimate by the people of Afghanistan.
BRIGADIER GEN. MARK KIMMITT, U.S. ARMY (RET.): Well, it is important for the election to be seen as legitimate by the people of Afghanistan. And all indications are that it was generally a free and fair election. The most important thing that we will see is whether the people accept the new government. And all indications are that they will.
HOLMES: That they will.
All right. Let's go back a little bit now. And if we say in 2001, that the Taliban with its strength level with that a 10, let's just do a scale of one to 10 here. If its strength level right before the 9/11 attacks was a 10, over the past eight years now, where was that strength at its lowest point, and tell me today where is their strength on that scale of one to 10?
KIMMITT: Well, strength may not be the right word as much as influence. Clearly, they had 100 percent -- they had a 10 in 2001. They controlled the country. They were cutting the arms off of people that disagreed with them. They were killing people who violated their slightest rules.
Things seemed to get better over the next couple of years. The amount of influence that the Taliban have now, I don't think anybody can really answer that, but it has certainly more influence now than it was the past couple of years. And that's what General McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry are trying to deal with.
HOLMES: So, that's an interesting one you put there. It sounds like influence get almost be just as or may be even more important than strength. You need -- they have an influence over the Afghan people, and as long as they have influence there, that means the U.S. military, the NATO forces are losing a bit of influence.
KIMMITT: Well, it's clearly a struggle for that influence and for the people on the ground. That's one of the basic tenets of counterinsurgency. Do the people fall under the influence and the intimidation of the Taliban, or are they going to throw their hats in with an essentially elected government.
HOLMES: We heard General McChrystal in a piece our reporter did right before you came on with us here, talking about it didn't really start over. A lot of people would phrase it that way, that there was a new beginning that was needed.
From what you have seen, since General McChrystal got in place, and also, since the Obama administration got in place, is it clear that there is somewhat of a starting over here?
KIMMITT: Well, I would, again, like what General McChrystal said, it isn't a starting over, it's a continuation. These types of campaigns ebb and flow over time. It is certainly the case with new leadership on the ground, new leadership in the White House, more of a focus on Afghanistan than on Iraq that there is going to be a fresh look, a new look. But starting over, that is certainly not the case.
HOLMES: How much does public sentiment and should public sentiment -- we know it's going down a little bit for support for what's happening in Afghanistan -- but should that ever, as a military guy, and you know -- and you deal with a lot of politicians who are making more policy and even political decisions, yes -- but how much does that ever really come into play when you're making military decisions -- decisions out there? If you don't have the support of American people on something, can that influence and should it influence what's actually happening on the ground?
KIMMITT: Well, quite frankly, political will, public will, public support, is absolutely essential. It's not simply about troops. It's not simply about stuff. It's not simply about civilians. That's one component. We call that the capabilities.
But none of those capabilities are of any value if you don't have public support and domestic will. Will and capabilities, you must have both of those when you fight a protracting military campaign. And it is important for everyone up to and including the president not only to ensure that our troops have enough, but that the American people are behind the effort as well.
HOLMES: All right. Again, Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt -- sir, we appreciate you taking the time out. I know it's a busy -- a holiday weekend. A lot of people are taking some time off. But we appreciate you giving us some of your time on this holiday weekend. Enjoy the rest of it. General Kimmitt, you take care.
KIMMITT: Thank you very much. HOLMES: And starting tomorrow, "AC 360" special report, Anderson Cooper takes you inside "Afghanistan: Live From the Battle Zone." That's starting Monday night, 10:00 Eastern Time.
BALDWIN: Well, many of you might be hitting the roads today and tomorrow. Well, it's a holiday. But if you're in San Francisco, hang on a second. If you're headed to Oakland or Berkeley, a little bit of a problem. The Bay Bridge is closed. They have been doing some work on it.
Now, they found a significant crack. They're working on it right. They were saying, hey, it may be open by Tuesday, now they are saying not so fast.
So, you're going to take some of those other bridges to get to where you want to go.
HOLMES: Yes. So, again, the key here, they really are racing the clock. They need to have this open by Tuesday morning when people are going back to work. Quarter million vehicles cross this bridge every single day. So, if all of those folks need to find another way into and out of San Francisco, we have a situation as they would say in the Bay Area. We're keeping an eye on work out there this morning.
Also, a lot of rumors about H1N1. Josh is looking through some of those rumors, getting you some true answers here.
Good morning to you, again, Josh.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, guys, again.
Yes, you know, there's a debate going on right now at our blog and over here at Facebook. A lot of people are asking whether if you eat well and exercise, if that will do a lot to equip you to fight off the virus if you get. Well, a doctor who is getting the vaccine is about to bring some advice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
BALDWIN: Did you have a nice summer? Because it's almost over.
HOLMES: It's over tomorrow, right?
BALDWIN: Tomorrow, I think. Is it officially or unofficially?
HOLMES: Yes.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Unofficially.
BALDWIN: Unofficially, Bonnie Schneider?
SCHNEIDER: Yes, it is. Kind of like that feeling. (INAUDIBLE) back to school, you know, summer is over, but...
HOLMES: When is the official end?
SCHNEIDER: The official will be later in September when we start the official start of fall, around September 21st.
HOLMES: OK.
SCHNEIDER: But it's still summer. You know, you can still get out there and enjoy the weather, right?
BALDWIN: I love the fall, though. That's my favorite season.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's a nice one, too.
All right. We're going to tell you what's going on weather-wise, for those of you that are enjoying the last hurrah of the summer season.
We are looking at some pretty good conditions across a good portion of the U.S. This is a look at the beach forecast and what we're looking at here are some very pleasant conditions along the Jersey shore. We'll see temperatures about 74 degrees.
And if you're traveling to the south, though, just to let you know, we are expecting some changes out there. Look for scattered showers and thunderstorms in Daytona Beach, down through South Florida, in and around Miami. You've already have rain there now, and also some showers popping up on the beaches in the Carolinas. So, keep that in mind.
Taking a look at the national forecast today -- some stormy conditions across the good portion of the gulf coast. Cooler weather for the northwest. A little bit of rain heading into Chicago. But as we kind of preview ahead to tomorrow, what we can expect is a high of 78 in Chicago, with cool temperatures at night in the 50s.
And temperature of 83 in Los Angeles. So, that's a little bit better for the firefighters there. At least it's not in the 90s.
But it is going to be in the 90s in Texas. There, though, it feels like summer, T.J. and Brooke. We're getting up to 93 tomorrow in Dallas and 91 in Houston.
BALDWIN: Hot, hot, hot.
SCHNEIDER: Yes, definitely.
HOLMES: All right. We appreciate it. Thanks so much, Bonnie. We'll see you again here shortly.
SCHNEIDER: Sure.
BALDWIN: Coming up: An inspirational story for you. A former meth addict on a clean and healthy second chance. But will help from God -- he got help from God -- but will it work for others? We'll find out.
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BALDWIN: All right. Checking out some of the morning's top stories here.
At least three people were killed today in a ferry accident in the Philippines. Philippines Coast Guard officials say that ferry there capsized as it was sailing from Mindanao to Manila. At least 270 people were rescued and crews are still there, searching the scene. A total of 964 people were on board that ferry.
HOLMES: And one of President Obama's advisers is stepping down. His name is Van Jones. He is stepping down for a number of controversial and questionable decisions and things he said. One of those being signing a petition in 2004 that suggested the government let the 9/11 attacks happened.
Jones was the president's adviser on green jobs. An administration source says Jones did not read that petition read carefully. Jones has apologized but he also gave a statement accusing opponents of the president's health care reform plan of smearing him.
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HOLMES: Everybody has been hearing about H1N1. Everybody wants to protect themselves from it. We're hearing about a vaccine now. But is that vaccine even safe? That's one of the questions a lot of people have been asking.
BALDWIN: Yes. And we were talking yesterday, maybe two vaccines. I'm confused.
Josh Levs, help me out here.
LEVS: Yes, I guess confusing, doesn't it?
BALDWIN: Yes.
LEVS: And this is what a lot of our viewers are asking is. As you guys know, we've been getting all these questions in here to the newsroom blog. Safe is the most common term that keeps popping up about this vaccine. We've also got them coming in on Facebook.
So, we turned -- yesterday, in our 4:00 hour, we were joined by a whole hour by a doctor who is actually getting the vaccine. And I started out asking him what you want to know, is it truly safe?
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DR. WILLIAM SHAFFNER, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER: It is going to be a safe vaccine. Remember, each year we make a brand new influenza vaccine that's subject to test. Last year, we gave 90 million doses. It must be our safest vaccine.
This one is being made exactly the same way. As I said before, we're not cutting a single corner. By the time it's released, we will have all of the information we need about its effectiveness and its safety.
LEVS: This is from Robert Staten, who wrote, "You know what? Best thing you can do for prevention, work out and do your best to stay healthy and then you don't worry about any kind of flu."
Now, we all know it's not that simple. But how big a part of the picture here is exercising, eating healthy, getting enough sleep -- all of the basics health?
SHAFFNER: Well, I tried to do all that, and I had probably to get to work out later on this afternoon. But that's not sufficient. That's why I volunteered for the vaccine trial because it's so important that we have the vaccine in addition to all of those other things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And what you heard was actually just the other, most popular question. And you saw Fredricka Whitfield and me there. We were getting so many questions from viewers, saying, "Hey, I think if I had my orange juice and I take good care of myself, I'd be OK." The doctor is saying, "Look, you got to focus also on getting the vaccine."
Let me show how you can send in your questions right here. We have it going on the blog, CNN.com/Josh, also, Facebook and Twitter, JoshLevsCNN.
Plus, you're going to get a lot more a few minutes from now from Sanjay, because he's going to the nation's health secretary to get some answers on the real threats of H1N1 flu. Could the answer to the nation's health care issue be found in Cleveland? Also, discover why many experts are saying, yes. It's all coming up at 7:30, which is, what, six minutes away, right after this newscast, guys.
Plus, keep in mind, CNN.com/H1N1 always packed with all of the latest from all of us right here.
BALDWIN: Josh, we should mention that coming up in the next hour of CNN SUNDAY MORNING, the first case of H1N1 virus coming from New York.
HOLMES: Yes. We're going to hear from the nurse who first sounded the alarm about the outbreak.
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HOLMES: All right. Brooke and I are going to back at the top of the hour with more live news for CNN SUNDAY MORNING, as we continue.
But, first, we're going to hand this thing over to Dr. Sanjay Gupta for "HOUSE CALL" right now.
