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CNN Sunday Morning

BP Faces Sunday Deadline; Search for Survivors in Arkansas Continues; USA's World Cup Upset; Change of Heart in Kandahar

Aired June 13, 2010 - 08:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, there, everybody. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING for this June 13th.

Glad you could be here. I'm T.J. Holmes.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Suzanne Malveaux.

It's 8:00 a.m. in Atlanta, 7:00 a.m. in Langley, Arkansas.

Thanks for starting your day with us.

I want you to take a look at this big box. It washed ashore in Panama City Beach, Florida. It is a seven-foot tall mystery container, has BP markings on it, but it's still not clear if it's from the Deepwater Horizon rig. We're going to go live to the Gulf.

HOLMES: Also, you know there are 100 senators working in D.C., but one of the most important people on the Senate floor is that guy. And no, he's not a senator.

A behind-the-scenes look at this guy, a very important role he plays in the Senate and he is going to be our focus of our "Faces of Faith" this morning. Stick around for that conversation.

But, first, let's give you a look at some stories that are making headlines today.

A massive blaze to show you -- look at that -- fueled by thousands of gallons of gasoline. It shut down Interstate 40 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Authorities believe a lightning strike may have sparked this fire at the Colonial Pipeline Company. It's been raging since about 1:00 in the morning, expected to burn more throughout the morning.

The pilots of Spirit Airlines -- day two now of a strike. It leads to some domino effects in flight cancellations, stranding thousands of people who are holding Spirit Airlines tickets. The pilots are demanding better pay from the discount carrier.

Also, have you noticed the World Cup? It's going on right now. United States scored, kind of, sort of. You see the shot, but oh -- Mr. Robert Green there, who's the goalkeeper for the British team, just let it get by. You see that again. Now, this is considered an upset, even though it was a one-one tie, because England was heavily favored to win this game. Now, fumble seen around the world, is what it's being called. He couldn't keep it from going on.

Of course, the U.S. is looking ahead to its next match, possibly, now, get out of that group, and who knows, maybe -- just maybe -- the U.S. has a shot to win this thing, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Hoping.

Another top story: BP is being told by the Coast Guard to come up with a plan to step up efforts to that oil spill in the Gulf by the end of today. Now, Coast Guard Rear Admiral James Watson sent a letter Friday saying, quoting here, "BP must identify in the next 48 hours additional leak containment capacity that could be operationalized and expedited to avoid the continued discharge of oil."

A BP official responded, saying, "We have seen the letter. We're reviewing it. We will be responding to him regarding containment plans and will work directly with the Coast Guard to keep the public informed of any changes to the process."

Now, the letter was released yesterday and it comes as the oil reaches more Gulf Coast beaches. Scientists are estimating now between 40 million and 100 million gallons of oil have flowed into the Gulf since the April 20th oil rig explosion that killed 11 workers and triggered this big disaster.

BP's chief operating officer says that BP will add more containment capability, but determining how much oil is coming out is difficult.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG SUTTLES COO, BP: This is the question everyone wants to know the answer to, which is, what's the rate? And, of course, we've had lots of people estimate that now. And I think that what you've seen is it's very difficult to estimate because every time an estimate comes out, it changes again.

I think over the next couple of days, we'll be adding another 5,000 to 10,000 barrels a day of containment. That will give us a very important data point about, you know, does this now capture the vast majority of the flow, or does it go beyond there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And, of course, Gulf Coast residents have been seeing now for the past couple of weeks more and more oil start to show up on the beaches and other places. In particular, they've been seeing tar balls show up on the beaches.

But look at this -- nobody was expecting this to show up. What you're looking at here is a seven-foot-tall stainless steel box. It's labeled BP and was oozing oil when it was found yesterday morning near Panama City, Florida. It's been, since, taken away for now. Since right now, it's unclear if it's from the owned -- the downed oil rig, the Deepwater Horizon.

CNN's Reynolds Wolf has been following the latest discovery -- I guess we could call this, Reynolds. He's there for us in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.

Reynolds, what do people making of this? What should we make of this big box?

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, it's more of the same. I mean, it's just -- instead of just being that oil that's coming up on the shoreline, say, in parts of extreme southern Louisiana or on parts of the Alabama or even, say, the Florida Panhandle -- I mean, this is something that has the stamp on it. I mean, it says BP. I mean, it's kind of the calling card, so to speak, and it's an insulting thing for people. They've certainly had a rough time, very frustrating for them.

And you know what's interesting, T.J., is, as this oil has been rising up from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, the frustration has also begun to rise. No question about it. I mean, it goes higher each and every day. We're lucky to actually go behind the scenes in Hancock County, Mississippi, to a community meeting to hear people vent their frustration.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. BP. Your report?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think everybody in here knows that another $25 million was granted to the state of Mississippi.

WOLF (voice-over): In Hancock County, Mississippi, a bit of good news from BP, but the thanks didn't last long at this emergency management meeting.

LILI STAHLER, ALDERWOMAN, WAVELAND, MISS.: I greatly appreciate the commitment everybody has here. I also am sensing a great deal of frustration.

STEVE SEYMOUR, HANCOCK CO. SUPERVISOR: I guess this is a statement to BP. You all need to -- you all need to get somebody and tell them to get productive.

WOLF: It took repeated requests, but finally, the joint command has assigned a local representative to Hancock County.

COMMANDER PETE KILLNER, U.S. COAST GUARD: We're basically here to help you folks with regard to trying to get some communication going between here and the incident command post, and I commit to your local post in providing any service I can in doing that. I can't make promises with regard to the stuff I can't deliver, but I got a 110 percent commitment to help you folks, you know, in getting communication going an we'll do a better job in that. WOLF: The oil may not be here yet, but neither are the requested supplies.

BRIAN "HOOTIE" ADAM, DIR., HANCOCK CO. EMERGENCY MGMT.: They're not planning ahead. So, you know, unfortunately, that's the -- that's the way they operate. And -- but we're going to continue to ask until they give. That's all we can do.

WOLF (on camera): How close is this oil getting to shore? We've heard a lot of different numbers.

JESSE FINERAN, HAZMAT, HANCOCK CO.: We can smell it, we can taste it. But they're telling us it's not here.

MAYOR LES FILLINGAME, BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS.: It move very quickly, and to me, nobody's immune from having this on top us.

WOLF (voice-over): The first potential impact from oil was found this week on Hancock County shore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the area where the bird was.

WOLF: Jesse Fineran showed us a picture of this distressed pelican he found in Bay St. Louis. There's little doubt in his mind it's covered in oil. But official results are still pending.

ADAM: Is it oil? We think it is. But has it been confirmed? No.

WOLF: Local leaders are growing frustrated, waiting for answers.

WENDY MCDONALD, COUNCILWOMAN, BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS.: We've got an oily bird already. We've got the pre-fall stuff that they saw in Grand Isle that's in that Ziploc bag going around. How much more evidence do we need that it is time to do something?

PAM SAN FILLIPPO, BAY ST. LOUIS, MISS. FIRE DEPT.: People can deploy all the boom that you can deploy, but if it's not going to -- obviously, looking at Louisiana, we've seen that the boom did practically nothing there.

WOLF (on camera): A lot of frustrated people in this room.

ADAM: It's getting a little close for everybody's comfort, so, you know, everybody's getting a little bit weary. I wouldn't say antsy, but weary.

WOLF (voice-over): Those weary officials walk the shoreline daily, on heightened alert.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where you're looking on this sand how it doesn't stick, look how it sticks when you walk into this. You can see the levels of coloration under it.

WOLF: They hope answers and supplies come sooner than oil.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WOLF: You know, T.J., maybe passion and frustration are the two big emotions that people are feeling in a place like this. I can tell you that people in Hancock County, Mississippi, are among the finest Americans you'll ever meet. They love their community. There's no question they're very passionate about it.

The frustration comes when they're doing their very best to try to defend it, but how can you defend against something like this that -- there are so many unknowns, there are so many things that are beyond their control.

You know, we talked last hour about hurricanes. You know, hurricane is obviously a devastating effect on an area. This place caught the brunt of Katrina, they know full well.

But at least when you have a hurricane, you know it's coming. You can put those shutters up. You can take some precautionary measures.

But for something like this, it's so that it's just beyond their reach of control. And there's no question of -- there's a little bit of that sense of that frustration, that passion, even some helplessness all rolled up into one.

HOLMES: And, you know, Reynolds, the guy in that piece summed it up, we can see it, we can smell it, we can taste it, but they're telling us it's not here. That is really a way and how so many people feel about how they're getting treated by BP and others down in the Gulf Coast.

Reynolds, we appreciate you, as always. Talk to you again soon, buddy.

MALVEAUX: People have been asking what President Obama is doing. Well, he is going out for another visit to the Gulf Coast.

Here's a look at his schedule. On Monday and Tuesday, he's going to make his fourth visit to the coast since the oil began gushing in April. He'll be in Gulfport, Mississippi, Pensacola, Florida, and Theodore, Alabama, just south of Mobile.

On Wednesday, he meets with the chairman of BP's board of directors. Later Wednesday, he'll address the American Nurses Association.

And on Thursday and Friday, he has meetings at the White House. And when he has meetings at the White House, we always assume that that's going to be some -- a day where he'll put something on the schedule that we don't know about, and who knows if he's going to be addressing this again.

HOLMES: You know, more than likely, the president's going to be talking about this quite a bit. He has initially got some -- as you know, some criticism for how the government was handling, how the president was handling, but he's heading back to the Gulf. But what can a president do, as powerful as he is, he can't jump down there and put a cap on it.

MALVEAUX: And as one -- as one of the family members of those who were killed told me this week, he said, you know, it's not his job to go down there and clean pelicans. What can this guy do? So, it's a tough position.

HOLMES: All right. Of course, we won't at all, at any point here on CNN, be too far away from that story now on day 55 with the oil disaster.

Another disaster took place in Arkansas we're keeping an eye on as well. We now know there are 18 victims -- 18 victims now -- who have been killed by that flash flood that happened in Arkansas, western part of Arkansas. This is in the Ouachita National Forest.

Flash flooding came in. A lot of people were sleep at this campground. They weren't able to get out.

At least 18 killed, 15 identified. Among the dead, six children, including a child as young as 2 years old.

The Arkansas governor, Mike Beebe, promising all resources will go towards the victims and their families.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. MIKE BEEBE (D), ARKANSAS: As the water's gone down, we were able to find more vehicles, which actually allows us to trace the license numbers to try to match up with either people that we know have been rescued or that we know have been confirmed dead, or that may be in that gray area of folks that we're still worried about, that are unaccounted for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And our Catherine Callaway is live for us this morning in the western part of Arkansas. And you told us, just a little bit ago, there's going to be a lot of activity there as the day gets started and the search gets going.

How do they even go about this monumental task now covering so much area, and quite frankly, they don't -- they're not even sure how many people they're looking for?

CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. It's organized chaos here. Just people have really started pulling in here the last hour and a half. And we are at the command post, as you mentioned, it was a little corner gas station/post office that's been turned into this command post.

They're looking for five people that are confirmed campers that are missing. There are also some 20 people that they believe may be also among some of those lost in the flood. They are finding people that they believe are missing by looking at license plates of vehicles that were washed away in the flood, trying to determine if they're among the victims, if they are among some of the people that were able to get out of the area, so they don't really know how many people are missing, except for those five confirmed missing camper -- a big task ahead of everyone today here on this third day, with state officials and local officials.

We have with us Budd Dunson. He is with Howard County Emergency Management Agency. And he's in charge, as you can see, with all of his papers here, trying to organize this monumental effort of searching along this river. It's going to be some 25 miles they've been looking at.

And, Mr. Dunson, what are you concentrating on today? I understand you've brought in some specialty teams?

BUDD DUNSON, HOWARD COUNTY EMA: We brought in some specialty teams. We're bringing in some extra canines today. We're bringing what we designated the Northwest Arkansas Task Force One (ph), which is Washington and Franklin counties. We're bringing in some special equipment today.

CALLAWAY: Land movers, those type of things, to help get through that thick --

DUNSON: To help get through some debris piles.

CALLAWAY: All right. And I know that you're still considering this very much a search and rescue.

DUNSON: It's going to be a search and rescue effort to us until everyone's accounted for.

CALLAWAY: All right. Thank you. And we appreciate you taking the time. I know -- he's had about 30 people walk up to him asking for directions, on what they need to be doing in this search.

It's such a hot day, too. What they're going to be working with out there are very difficult condition. But these people have come from far and wide, as far as Virginia, to help in this search, T.J. And we should tell you, at 10:00 this morning, Central Time, some of the family members of some of the victims and missing are gathering at a church that they've been staying at for a special prayer service.

HOLMES: All right. Catherine, thank you so much. And again, it is a search and rescue. Still hold on to the hope that maybe someone is out there, and just needing some help. Catherine, we appreciate you so much.

MALVEAUX: Well, could the government release an additional $50 billion in stimulus aid? We've got the details ahead.

But first --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We should have won the game and we were robbed by a poor goalkeeper. So, we should have won the game.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was exciting!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was fantastic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right. The score was a one-one tie. So why is everyone still saying that the USA won its opening match -- we'll explain. World Cup fever.

It's quarter past the hour here on the CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Well, you probably saw it. We're all having time to catch our breath, just a little bit, after that tie -- calling it a tie, of course, between the U.S. and England in the World Cup. The game ended one-all.

But for the heavily favored England, it seems like a loss. And to some of us definitely a win.

I want to bring in our Pedro Pinto live in Johannesburg.

You know, they were calling us ragamuffins before. They were talking about us badly. And now, this tie had a lot of people very excited -- Americans very excited about the possibility of moving forward. What does a tie mean for any of these teams hoping to win the World Cup?

PEDRO PINTO, CNN INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ANCHOR: Susan, hello and welcome to a windy and dusty Johannesburg.

And now that the dust has settled on that England/United States game, let's try to break it down. What does it all mean? That's the question that you asked. That's what we'll try to answer.

It does mean that the United States have the credentials to make it far in this competition. It also means that they have what it takes to hang with the best.

England, one of the favorites to win this World Cup and the United States were neck and neck with them. Yes, everybody's talking about that goalkeeping mistake, and it did influence the result, but take nothing away from Bob Bradley's team. They were valiant. They were brave. They were organized and they gave England a really hard time.

You know, the goalkeeper for England called Robert Green, I was working on a little bit of an alliteration for you. And this is what I have. Green goalkeeping gaffe gifts goal. That's what I'm going with and that's what England has really don't want to consider.

If you're an England fan, you don't want to hear that name, Robert Green this morning. If you're an American fan, you're celebrating this because it proves that you can hang with the best in this competition, Suzanne. MALVEAUX: -- ask you to say that twice, that might be a little bit of a tongue twister there. But what are the big games that are on tap for today? What can we look forward to?

PINTO: Well, there's a game going on right now here in South Africa, it's Slovenia versus Algeria, and it's important for the American fans, because these are the other two teams that are in their group. The United States is facing Slovenia on Friday, that's their second game, and right now it's nil-nil, or a 0-0 tie if you like at halftime.

So, these two teams are not really favored to go through. England and the United States are expected to make it to the round of 16, or the knockout stages. So if you're an American fan, maybe you can check out this other game that's going on right now. I know it's early over there in the States with, but you can get a sneak peak at your rivals.

I really expect the United States to do well at this World Cup. They like South Africa. They did really well here last year, in the Confederations Cup, when they beat Spain. They nearly beat Brazil as well and everything is going for Bob Bradley's team after that first result. They need to build on that momentum for that second game on Friday.

There are other two games, just a quick mention for you, Suzanne. Germany is facing Australia, and Ghana, one of the six African nations, is taking on Serbia. That's what's on tap for later on Sunday.

A lot of excitement, a lot of atmosphere here on the ground, and the party atmosphere will continue to build as Africa continues to enjoy this historic moment of hosting the World Cup for the first time ever.

MALVEAUX: All right, Pedro. We'll be following you throughout the day -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Suzanne. A lot of people wonder -- who are these guys? We just don't, in this country, not a big soccer country. But a lot of these guys are pretty big international stars.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And especially tying England now. There are all these people around the world who know our soccer players, but we don't know them.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: I know you're going to talk about Tim Howard. But he is one of those guys we're talking about who actually is a huge star on the international stage. People here, he could walk down the street and have no idea who he is.

LEVS: And they really wouldn't. And I'm going to show you a shot of him in a second, just celebrating, because he had some really impressive saves yesterday. And we'll just back (INAUDIBLE) I'm going to tell you where you can see a lot more of them. Pretty much the hero, a lot of people are very excited about right now, Clint Dempsey, right?

HOLMES: The hero.

LEVS: Listen to him. He is shooting down -- he's shooting down the excitement.

HOLMES: It was great, but it was given. Come on!

LEVS: Hey, it's still his.

Landon Donovan, this is an interesting one because when I was talking to Pedro yesterday, our Pedro Pinto, who this came from, he said he thinks he's the best player on the team.

So, interesting.

You know, let me back over to one more, Carlos Bocanegra.

And I'm going to show you how you can learn about all these guys. We have so many interactive set up for you with our World Cup coverage, CNN.com/sports, first of all. And this right here is a shot of Tim Howard. They have some really impressive shots here about just all the action yesterday.

And they are updating this every day, and this is because our partners for sports coverage are "Sports Illustrated" with their fantastic split second photography that they capture all day long. This is one of the many interactives we have.

We also have this whole section set up, CNN.com/WorldCup. It is so extensive that we even have a video about the various types of shoes that have been used in soccer over all the years. It's amazing.

And we're doing this unusual thing that I think is really impressive through iReport.com. Take a look at this video. We've invited people all over the world to send in videos of themselves kicking the soccer ball around and our iReport folks have turned it into one continuous video of the world playing soccer together. I like this, kind of like the world coming together and, obviously, most people can't be there at the World Cup. But this way, you can have a little fun with yourself.

All right. Let me show where I've linked everything absolutely everything for you. It's all at our blog now, at CNN.com/Josh. Also at my Facebook and Twitter pages, JoshLevsCNN. Go there, check it out, have some fun with it, and send us your favorite links.

And you know what? I'm going to stick with hero for the day even if it was on an error, all right? Come on.

MALVEAUX: Right.

HOLMES: And again, I'm going to make sure it clear. I'm so happy, excited to see the U.S. win. And like one of the guys, commentators, said --

LEVS: You just said win. See that?

HOLMES: -- you can't score, if you don't shot. He took the shot, he opened himself up. So, it's all part of the game.

MALVEAUX: We're taking this as a win.

(LAUGHTER)

MALVEAUX: Well, there are new developments from Afghanistan this morning. President Hamid Karzai and the top U.S. commander, General Stanley McChrystal, met 300 tribal leaders in Kandahar today. The two hope to get support for an upcoming operation in the region once a Taliban stronghold. Karzai called the meeting successful, but McChrystal is warning that the process could take a while to complete.

Our Nic Robertson is traveling within McChrystal and they just landed from a helicopter tour this morning. And we're going to talk to Nic right after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Well, winning the hearts and minds of the people, such a critical time and such a critical part of the war against terror right now.

This morning, we've got news about an operation targeting the Taliban in the Kandahar Province. That is pretty much a spiritual home base for the Taliban.

And CNN senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is on with us now in Kabul.

Nic, this was an important -- important meeting today between big leaders, including President Karzai and also General McChrystal, going down to Kandahar.

First of all, can you explain and remind our viewers just how critical Kandahar is to this whole effort in Afghanistan?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, Kandahar is really the heart of the Taliban and it's one of the most unstable provinces at the moment. And General McChrystal has made that a place that he wants to take control of, the Afghan forces and Afghan leadership, and make it safe and secure, because until he can convince and the government here can convince those people in Kandahar that they can deliver security, there is very little chance of bringing stability across the whole country and -- or totally, as well, bringing the Taliban to their knees, such that they will negotiate and come to a point of piece.

And General McChrystal took President Karzai and a lot of President Karzai's staff down to Kandahar today to meet with all those tribal leaders to try to make that happen. HOLMES: Well, Nic, how did they do? You said they need to convince the local people there. How did they do? This effort's been going on.

But today, another significant effort -- how did they do? Did they win anymore hearts and minds, or is that skepticism still there from the locals?

ROBERTSON: Well, the big thing that happened the last time they did this, about two months ago, President Karzai told the people down there that he wouldn't mount this operation, this critical, important operation until they were (INAUDIBLE). Well, this time he came in with a different message.

He said, "I need your help to do this. You're the people who live here, I know what you need, I know your problems, but I need your help. Put your hands up, those who want to help me." And, you know, a lot of hands raised in the air.

And I asked him afterwards, and he said, "To me, that's a green light."

General McChrystal feels the same thing. He is under a huge amount of pressure because unless operations begin soon, and around the Kandahar, securing Kandahar, then the chances of General McChrystal having a lot to show at the end of the year come that big review, when everyone looks and says, OK, what are we going to do about Afghanistan going through the next presidential election.

Unless these operations get going soon, the chances of having great results are minimal. President Karzai thinks he's got the green light. General McChrystal feels that they can push ahead.

But I do have to tell you: a lot of the people we talked to expressed concern. They said, we've heard all this from President Karzai before. He's never delivered before.

But this really does give the opportunity for the operations to begin and it's going to be slow, General McChrystal says, (INAUDIBLE), the center of Kandahar, first, a lot of Afghans, and on the outside, a lot of U.S. forces. It's been dangerous until now and General McChrystal warns that there will be a lot more casualties during this operation -- T.J.

HOLMES: Like you say, I think they may -- this may mean now possibly a green light to move ahead with operations in that strategically critical point of Kandahar.

Nic Robertson, we appreciate you hopping on the line with us this morning with the update. Thanks so much.

Well, as we've been reporting here, a lot of people want to help down on the Gulf Coast and a lot of people think they have options, they think it help stop the oil and clean up the oil that's been gushing in the Gulf. Do you think you have an idea?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. MATTHEW SISSON, U.S. COAST GUARD: What we're doing is saying, whether you're a schoolchild or you're a Kevin Costner, we'll take a look at your input.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So apparently, the public felt BP wasn't responding to their ideas, so the Coast Guard stepping in now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: The question is how do you clean up the Gulf? Well, CNN has been showcasing some of those ideas, your ideas. The Coast Guard also is getting some ideas, a lot of them, in fact, more than 400.

Our CNN's Barbara Starr, she met with the Coast Guard official responsible for figuring out which of those ideas actually might work.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (on camera): You are Mr. 1-800-Oil-Ideas guy.

SISSON: Well, there are lots of people with a lot of ideas.

STARR (voice-over): Captain Matthew Sisson is in charge of reviewing all the ideas the public is giving the Coast Guard on the oil spill and figuring out if the ideas can work.

(on camera): James Cameron, the filmmaker of "Avatar"; Kevin Costner, the actor, testifying before Congress; schoolchildren coming up with ideas. It seems unprecedented.

SISSON: It is unprecedented. And what we're doing is saying whether you're a schoolchild or you're a Kevin Costner, we'll take a look at your input.

STARR (voice-over): The Coast Guard wants the public, industry, scientists, anybody and everybody to send in their best ideas. They promise a quick response. One reason, there's been a growing feeling BP is not listening.

(on camera): What is the Coast Guard's feeling? Is BP being responsive to the public's ideas?

SISSON: The -- the public that we have responsibility for has given us complaints that they have not been responded to in a timely manner. If there's a way to better deploy booms, is there a better material that can be used for oil on the surface or just below it, is there a way to protect the marshes without damaging them? That's what we're looking for.

STARR (voice-over): If you have an idea, log on to www.fbo.gov and then click here to submit your plan. It'll come to this situation room.

Already, some 400 ideas have been received. We showed Sisson some of the ideas CNN has been getting. These men say they have a product that can pick up oil.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not any oil left behind on the water or the sand.

SISSON: How it would be deployed, the amount of product that would be necessary, where it could be deployed that wouldn't damage the marsh grasses, et cetera, that's -- those are all questions and challenges to be answered.

STARR: Sisson now spends much of his time away from his Connecticut headquarters and on scene in the Gulf.

SISSON: I consider New Orleans my home. The Gulf is the most wonderful place in the world to me and I have never seen it like this.

STARR (on camera): Coast Guard officials say there may not be a magic solution for the oil spill, but they want to hear every idea the public has.

Barbara Starr, CNN, New London, Connecticut.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right. As we know, our U.S. senators, under a lot of pressure up there to get things done on behalf of their constituents, on behalf of this country. So who do they turn to when they're having a tough day? Maybe they need some counsel?

Well, they turn to this man we're about to show you. There he is, Barry Black, he's the senate chaplain. We're going to be talking to him live. He is the focus of this morning's "Faces of Faith" and he's coming up in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Checking top stories. This massive blaze fueled by thousands of gallons of gasoline has shut down Interstate 40, I-40, in Greensboro, North Carolina. Authorities think a lightning strike may have sparked the blaze at the Colonial Pipeline Company. It's been raging since 1:00 in the morning and is expected to burn throughout the morning.

In Utah, hundreds of barrels of oil spewed from a Chevron pipeline into a Salt Lake City creek. Crews capped the leak and are creating dams to contain the spill.

HOLMES: Well, it's been happening for more than 200 years now. The Senate has opened every session with a prayer. Nowadays, the Senate chaplain's role as a spiritual adviser has grown into an official position. Chaplain Barry Black has been leading the Senate in prayer since 2003, but he has been doing a whole lot more than that. And Chaplain Barry Black, pleased to have him with us on this Sunday morning. Sir, thank for being here. A lot of people may think of you taking care of the senate and the senators, there's 100 of them, however you actually counsel a much bigger group than -- than that.

BARRY BLACK, U.S. SENATE CHAPLAIN: Yes, I do. There are approximately 7,000 other people who are on the senate side of Capitol Hill and I consider myself their pastor as well. So I am the pastor for a congregation of approximately 7,000 people.

HOLMES: Now, what does that entail? Can those 7,000 essentially come to you and you are often counseling them versus what a lot of people are used to, or just a -- maybe a pastor standing in front of his congregation on a Sunday morning.

BLACK: Well, you're absolutely right. They can come to me with any question that they may have, they can come to me with interpersonal relationship issues, with marriage challenges. I'm involved in marriage enrichment training and marriage counseling and vocational counseling.

I do leadership seminars, so I pastor them. And whatever they need, I'm available to attempt to provide.

HOLMES: Well, that certainly sounds like a role of a traditional, if you will, pastor. But, of course, you're -- you have a certainly a nontraditional role in -- in where you do it which is at the Senate. How much of that counsel, how much do senators, certainly now getting to specifics but -- any specific senators -- but how often do you get questions about actual legislation, with them trying to make up their minds and maybe they have some kind of a moral question about what vote they might be making?

BLACK: Well, I don't think there is ever a major vote where I don't talk to a number of senators regarding the ethical dimensions of the issues that they are debating. I mean, there's always the ethical issue of what is the right decision to make.

I also am involved with the senators in a bible study. And so from time to time, we will -- we will discuss some of the issues in that bible study. So there are many, many opportunities, formally and informally, to talk to them about the ethical dimensions of the issues they're debating in the chamber.

HOLMES: Well, as the chaplain there, and a lot of people watching from afar, watching from news -- watching the news, watching CNN, and watching what they see is kind of really an ugly tone back and forth sometimes between a lot of the senators, you actually know them on a much more personal level.

What do you think when you see, maybe from the floor of the senate, but also on TV -- when you might see a debate playing out that really goes contrary to what you may know of a lot of these men and women. BLACK: Well, the nature of the legislative process is adversarial. So I have the opportunity of seeing a kinder, gentler Senate behind the scenes. I see 30 to 35 senators coming together each week at a prayer breakfast, for instance, from both sides of the aisle. I see senators from both sides of the aisle each week at a bible study. And they are interacting with each other in a very congenial way.

So the nature of the legislative process involves usually the colliding of two stories, and it's not always pretty. So fortunately, there is a kinder and gentler aspect behind the scenes.

HOLMES: Well, maybe we need to all get up there and see that kinder and gentler aspect to them.

But Chaplain Barry Black, really what -- it's good to get some insight into what you do up there. Oftentimes, people just see you certainly opening the Senate every day with a prayer, but a lot more goes into it and we appreciate you sharing it with us today. So you enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

BLACK: And you do the same.

HOLMES: All right -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: T.J., as someone who covers Washington politics, it isn't pretty; believe me it is not pretty.

Well, a graduating from college, you may be aware, is hard enough, but how about driving 300 miles round-trip just to attend class?

HOLMES: Well, my class was across the street. I still didn't get to class that often, but, hey. This guy, you're seeing him there, he is the person we think you should know today. Something we do every Saturday and Sunday morning here, just take one person we think could maybe give you a little inspiration today.

It's a quarter to the top of the hour. We'll be right back with "A Person You Should Know".

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HOLMES: You ok? You had a little cough there.

MALVEAUX: Yes. Before, you had a little cough, now I get it.

HOLMES: Now you've got an issue.

Right now, while we get ourselves together, we serve as we always say, as the warm-up act for the big show at the top hour, Candy Crowley and "STATE OF THE UNION". Good morning to you, Candy.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Good morning. How are you all? MALVEAUX: Candy, how are you doing? Obviously you've got a lot on your plate here, and I know the President has really been pushing the governors and the governors are pushing back about the whole BP oil spill and the big mess. Who are you speaking with this morning?

CROWLEY: The governor of Alabama, Bob Reilly, who, in fact, just this weekend, oil started washing up on some of their most traveled, most enjoyed beaches. They've had to close them. A double red flag they say, meaning you cannot go in the water.

So what we've been so focused on Louisiana, and rightly so, because it really got the brunt sort of the first wave of that oil, is now creeping over into other places, in Alabama. So we'll talk to him.

As you know, the President's going down there this week again, Suzanne, so the question is, what do the governors want from him? What does he want from the governors and are they getting it?

HOLMES: Candy, you said he's going back. There was a lot of criticism on the first, the second trip. But now, I believe this is going to be the fourth he's making.

How is that drumbeat that we have been talking about for several weeks, of criticism of how he's handling this? Where is that criticism now?

CROWLEY: I have to tell you it was amazing to me to wake up this morning and see a "New York Times" editorial criticizing the President and the way he's handled this. Not so much he didn't go down on time, or he's not emoting, just the idea that he hasn't shown a lot of leadership; that this sort of cerebral approach sometimes comes across as indecision. That he has not covered himself in glory in the way he's handled this whole thing.

So that's kind of -- that's friendly fire there. So it continues. Certainly, long-term damage to the President politically, it's really tough to say it's reached that point right now, because it really hasn't.

But he certainly is getting a lot of criticism both from the right and the left. And I think part of what he does to try to quiet that down, trying to get tough on BP, as Suzanne knows. Again, there's a big meeting at the White House, his first with BP officials.

So there certainly is an ongoing effort by the White House to try to see the President as seizing control of this, and we'll see if he can quiet down some of that criticism, but so far, he's still getting a lot of incoming.

MALVEAUX: And Candy, obviously, we're going to keep a close eye on that throughout the week, see if he changes some minds there in that trip.

Tell us a little bit about some of the other races of the Democrats. You're going to be talking to Representative Clyburn, I understand, about some issues and things that are pretty sticky down there. Tell us a little bit about that?

CROWLEY: Yes. He has a Democratic nominee who won in South Carolina in the primary for the U.S. Senate. The problem was, no one had ever heard of him. He is an unemployed ex-Military guy. There are questions.

Congressman Clyburn has said, "I think he's a Republican plant." This gentleman, Mr. Greene, has, in fact, beat out a very seasoned politician in the state and there are big questions, at least from the Democratic side, about how he got there and Clyburn has called for an investigation.

Obviously, the would-be senator has been out there saying, listen, the Democratic establishment ought to get behind me. I won this. I'm certainly not a Republican plant. So we want to ask him a little bit about that, but we also want to ask about some of the pending issues in Congress, including the President's recent request that there be some emergency money for states, which are about to do some layoffs of teachers and policemen and firemen.

So the economy remains a big story, oil remains a big story, and always politics.

HOLMES: As always because it's "STATE OF THE UNION". And that's Candy Crowley.

Candy, we're going to see you here shortly. Again, Candy coming up in just ten minutes; top of the hour 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 a.m. Pacific, right here on CNN.

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HOLMES: We would like to say congratulations this morning to Steve Pitts of La Belle, Florida. Who is he? Well, he's a recent college graduate, a law school graduate. That is a big deal in itself to get out of law school, but this is how badly he wanted it.

He drove 294 miles every day round trip every single day from his home in La Belle, Florida to Florida International University in Miami.

Not only that. He had special challenges along the way. His wife is disabled, after a fall. She has been in a wheelchair ever since for the past several years.

Also his dad moved in with him, who has Alzheimer's. Mother as well who has had several strokes.

He's been juggling all that while going to law school round trip, 294 miles for the past several years. His wife calls him, understandably, superman.

He's going to be taking the Florida bar exam next month. We certainly wish him well. Steve Pitts is somebody we thought you should know about. And we are committed here every single Saturday and Sunday morning to bring you the story of just somebody we think you should know.

MALVEAUX: An amazing story. An amazing guy, really.

We're going to have more on the weather coming up after this quick break with Jacqui Jeras.

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MALVEAUX: It's going to be a stormy Sunday for many in the United States. We'll see if travel, how travel works out for a lot of us who maybe need to travel later today.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. It's going to be slow going. And we're worried about some of the highways, too, for people, you know, on the road as opposed to the airways because we've got a lot of flash-flooding issues too.

We'll show you that here on the magic wall where we have clusters of showers and thunderstorms, which have been moving across Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Iowa all morning long and heavy downpours expected with this. Kansas City has lucked out the last couple of hours, but that's not going to last much longer as this line inches towards your neighborhood. We've also had heavy downpours in parts of Topeka and Wichita as well.

Flash flood watches and warnings remain in effect with 1 to 3 inches of rain on top of already saturated ground. So we do expect some collection of water on the roadways, especially the northeast looking at some spotty showers there, but nothing major expected.

And we're keeping our eye on the tropics today. We've got a little area of disturbed weather in the middle of the Atlantic, heading towards the Caribbean, but we think the chances of development are pretty minimal with some strong winds ahead of the storm -- Suzanne and T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Jacqui --

MALVEAUX: All right. Thanks, Jacqui.

HOLMES: Jacqui, we appreciate it. Look, quick break, Candy Crowley coming up soon. Stay here.

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MALVEAUX: "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley starts right now.