Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Former President Bush Lays Wreath at 9/11 Site; NASA Commences Mission to Moon; Political Strategists Debate President's Jobs Proposal; Communities in Texas Recovering from Wildfires; New York and Washington D.C. Increase Security in Response to Credible Terror Threat; Some NFL Players Wearing Patriotic Colors to Honor 9/11

Aired September 10, 2011 - 10:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning from the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia. This is your CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes, and we are standing by for one of a number of events that will take place this weekend to remember the victims of 9/11.

This is in Washington, D.C. We're expecting to see President George W. Bush come out and lay a wreath at the Pentagon. He will do this there at a stone. It's essentially the impact point where that plane hit the Pentagon 10 years ago tomorrow. The president not expected to make remarks, not expected -- an audience there for it. But we do have a live picture. We will bring it to you as it happens.

And of course we are keeping an eye on what is happening in New York City. Take a look this morning. A close shot of one of two of the twin reflecting pools. These huge pools are now sitting where the Twin Towers once stood, the footprints of the towers. This is the memorial, 9/11 memorial, the official memorial will open on Monday to the public, but it will be dedicated tomorrow on the ten-year anniversary of the September 11th attacks.

And as the nation gets ready to pause and remember the victims of the 9/11 attacks, they're also being asked to remain vigilant. We have complete coverage this hour as we look ahead to the 10th anniversary. We're watching that ceremony at the Pentagon. We'll get back to you when we see the president step out.

Our Athena Jones is standing by for us in Washington. Of course, there is increased security in Washington. Our Allan Chernoff at Ground Zero with how New Yorkers are reacting to the threat. But again, when we do see the former president come out, we will share that with you.

But Alan, let me start with you. If I have to break in, I apologize, Allan. We're watching this live event take place in Washington right now. But I'll go ahead and start with you. And tell me the mood of the city today, a day before the 10th anniversary?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: T.J., you know, September 11th is a day that really haunts all Americans, but particularly New Yorkers. New York as a result of the terror threat and the fact that the 10th anniversary is upon us is really on high alert. There are police checkpoints throughout Manhattan. Police are very carefully reviewing cars that are moving by, especially vans and trucks. They've been asking drivers to pull over, open up their contents. They take a look inside. They're also wearing radiation detectors. They've been sweeping parking garages, all in search of a potential bomb. That is the believed threat.

That is really what the police are doing. In terms of New Yorkers, they are frankly prepared for all this tight security because we've been living with it for 10 years now. That unfortunately is part of the 9/11 legacy that New Yorkers live with every single day, even if the security is stepped up somewhat right now.

HOLMES: Let's say good morning to Athena Jones. We'll turn to Washington, D.C. now.

Athena, we remind our viewers, there's already going to be stepped up security because of the 9/11 anniversary, but it was stepped up even more, if you can imagine it being done so, because of a potential threat against the U.S. homeland. How do they go about stepping up even more so than they already have?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly there's a lot more officers on the streets. Right now we're here outside the FBI field office. You can see behind me they have a bomb squad truck, their mobile command center. Everyone is on high alert.

All the officials I spoke to with the Capitol Police, secret service, metro transit police and park police all said they're already on it ended alert going into this weekend because they knew this anniversary was coming. They know anniversaries can be a big deal for groups like Al Qaeda and their sympathizers. And so they've been standing at the ready.

So you're seeing on Capitol Hill more canine units, bomb squad units, hazmat units, all those specialty units in full force. They have people in plain clothe, in uniform, on foot, on horseback, on motorcycle. The D.C. police added 200 to 400 officers to these shifts. They're having 12-hour shifts that are overlapping. They're all paying attention. They want the public to pay attention.

But they do believe they're ready. Let's listen to what the police chief had to say at her press conference?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF CATHY LANIER, METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT: In terms of the safety of the city I feel comfortable. We have a very safe environment. I want people to go out and do what they're going to do without this threat being present.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: So, as you heard, both the police chief and the mayor have told people they should go out and do what they would normally do. The park police yesterday said people should come and enjoy the monuments. Just keep your eyes open and stay vigilant, T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Athena, don't go away too quickly. Still keeping an eye on our viewers on what we expect to see at the Pentagon here. President George W. Bush expected to step out and lay a wreath at the 9/11 stone. That is there at the place where the plane crashed into the Pentagon. We know there are 184 people died there. But again, this 9/11 stone is essentially the point of impact.

To our Athena Jones who is still standing by in D.C. People have been told once again to be on high alert, to remain extra vigilant. They kept saying, you see something, say something. Has this resulted in more reports? More calls to police about possible suspicious vehicles?

JONES: Well, that's what we heard from the police chief, Chief Lanier in her press conference yesterday. It's not scientific, but she said they're seeing 20 percent or 30 percent more calls into the departments all around town from people reporting suspicious activity, whether it's a vehicle that looks like it's illegally parked or parked in a strange place.

The mayor called on people to report anything that seems out of the ordinary, illegally parked cars in front of government buildings, that sort of thing, strange odors, vehicles that may seem overloaded.

And the D.C. police chief's office said they want to run down those leads, running those reports down. They're not turning up anything so far which is a good thing. They want people to continue to do that. They want people to continue to be vigilant in this time.

HOLMES: All right, our Athena Jones for us in Washington, D.C., thank you very much. It's six minutes past the hour. Again, standing by expecting to see the president -- former president George W. Bush step out at the Pentagon here in just a moment, expected to take part in a ceremony. This isn't one that has an audience. No remarks are going to be made. We're just expecting the president to step out and lay a wreath at what's called the 9/11 stone. That is the area of the Pentagon where the plane made impact on September 11. It was an area that had to be rebuilt. This is a rectangular stone.

You can't see it in this picture of course. This is where we expect the former president and first lady to come out. Again, not expecting any comment, any speeches, no podium set up. This is just a moment that appears the former president is going to be taken.

We just saw the defense secretary Leon Panetta step out here. I believe that was Admiral Allen stepping out as well. Donald Rumsfeld, former defense secretary, we can see him in line there as well. We're expecting probably to see the former president at any moment.

Again, no remarks expected here, but just a moment for the former president to reflect and for the country to reflect. This is the place where 184 lives were lost on that day. That is when American airlines flight 77 which left D.C. crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37. Here is the former president. I want to just take a moment now. Again, you see the group there, and the former president, George W. Bush, along with his defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who was so visible at the Pentagon immediately after the attacks of September 11th when the plane crashed at 9:37 a.m. there at the Pentagon. Donald Rumsfeld was the one so visible out there, refusing to leave. They were trying to get him to a safe location. He refused. He wanted to be out there helping those who had been injured.

And 184 people killed at the Pentagon. But former president George W. Bush laying a wreath there along with the chairman of the Joint Chief Mike Mullen and also the current defense secretary Leon Panetta. This is at what's called the 9/11 stone. This is the area that had to be rebuilt, the point of impact at the Pentagon.

President Bush is expected to take part in ceremonies throughout the weekend. This is just one in D.C., but the other in New York that so many eyes will be on tomorrow because so many lives were lost there, the former president expected there as well.

This is what many people have been waiting to get an eye on. This has been in the process for literally 10 years. And now 10 years after the 9/11 attacks, that is one of two reflecting pools. This is the official 9/11 memorial which will be dedicated officially tomorrow but will be open to the public starting on September 12th. They wanted to have this ready on the 10-year anniversary, and indeed, they do.

There are two of those. You're seeing one there. These are the footprints of the Twin Towers. This is where they stood at one point. But now you have the reflecting pools there.

Now, I mentioned President Bush will be in New York for the ceremony. President Obama will be there as well. Today, though, he had a message for the world as we come up on the 9/11 anniversary. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: A decade after 9/11, it's clear for all the world to see the terrorists who attacked us that September morning are no match for the character of our people, the resilience of our nation or the endurance of our values. They want to terrorize us, but as Americans we refuse to live in fear.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: And a reminder to you, we will have special coverage of the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. It begins tomorrow 6:00 a.m. Eastern time. "CNN SUNDAY MORNING" will be live from New York at Ground Zero. That will be followed by live coverage of the remembrance of events, 8:00 Eastern. You can join us for 9/11 10 years later. That's right here on CNN.

At 12 minutes past the hour, we'll turn to something we were watching this morning. It's not a manned mission, but still NASA on the way to the moon. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, zero, and liftoff of the Delta Two with Grail, journey to the center of the moon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Delta Two with Grail headed to the moon. We shared this with you live last hour, but we'll give you more about the mission, what scientists hope to learn when they begin to orbit the moon. It's 12 past the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 14 minutes past the hour.

NASA is on the way back to the moon. It's not a manned mission, but a big deal nonetheless. If you missed the launch, take a look. We've got it for you again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Five, four, three, two, one, zero and liftoff of the Delta Two with Grail, journey to the center of the moon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, this thing is carrying twin Grail spacecraft. That's what they are. They're on their way. All morning I have been calling this NASA's mission to the moon. A little more detail is necessary. For that let's talk to our John Zarrella. I chatted with him earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This delta two rocket is going to be carrying twin satellites, each one about the size of a washing machine. They'll take a three-month route to the moon, saving fuel and money that way. When they get there, they're going to go into orbit, literally identical orbits, one behind the other.

As they circle the moon for about three months in that orbit, they'll be going over mountains, going over valleys, going over masses that are hidden beneath the surface of the moon. As they do that, the gravitational tug on those satellites will force them to either move a little closer together or little further apart, as one goes over the mountains and the other one trails behind it.

And by doing this, the data they receive from that they'll be able to map the gravitational field of the moon. And by doing that, they're literally going to get a cat scan of the interior of the moon. Why is that so important? Well, because despite the fact we sent humans to the moon and more than 100 different probes have either orbited or landed on the moon, we do not understand what makes up the interior of the moon. They don't know. This cat scan of the moon should prove to them or help them figure out what the interior of the moon is made of. And that will help them have a better understanding of what the inner planets, the rocky planets of the solar system actually are made of and how they ultimately formed in the early, early eons of the solar system's formation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Thanks to our John Zarrella. And again, it should take just days to get to the moon, but they're deciding to take a slower route to save fuel. It will get there in a few months.

It's 16 minutes past the hour. Let's turn to politics, shall we?

CNN teaming up with the Tea Party Express to host a Republican presidential debate. This is happening on Monday in Tampa. The audience even is going to be able ask questions. Some Tea Party members in Arizona, Ohio, and Virginia, they too will be able to ask questions.

Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser is in Tampa. So the significance of this debate, they had a lot of Republican debates this early on. Is this significant I guess because this is Romney- Perry round two?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: It is going to be Romney-Perry round two. No doubt about that. We saw it play out in California on Wednesday night in the debate in California.

But T.J., it's also significant because, as you were just saying, this is a Tea Party debate. You have a two-and-a-half-year-old Tea Party event. It was extremely influential in the primaries and midterm elections. It was important to the success of the Republicans taking control of the House of Representatives. That has changed the dynamics in Washington and has effects on everybody across the country, you, me, everybody. That's why this debate may be a little different. It is focusing on the Tea Party and its activists.

HOLMES: And of course we know we're going to be hearing about the economy a lot in the debates and on jobs. This is an issue that's going to be around for some time. But also Social Security might get a lot of attention at this debate because of what Perry and the whole back and forth at the last debate.

STEINHAUSER: Exactly. Perry on Wednesday night once again stood by his comments calling Social Security a Ponzi scheme. We saw Perry and mitt Romney, the number one and two guys in the polls right now go at it over Social Security. There's an important reason why. It is a very popular government program.

T.J., our debate is in Florida. A lot of people near retirement age and a lot of people curious and wondering what these candidates will do to make sure that popular government program survives. There's a lot of talk about reform. Social Security for sure, but also, as you said, jobs. That's so important with everybody and the economy overall. But also for Tea Party activists, the budget deficit and government spending, very important issues, T.J.

HOLMES: Paul Steinhauser for us in Tampa, good to see you. We'll see you again. Folks, you don't want to miss it, Monday's Republican debate live from Tampa. You can catch it 8:00 Eastern time right here and only right here on CNN.

We are seeing some of the worst flooding in decades. People in northeast Pennsylvania watching the waters recede, but they're still worried about the damage being left behind. We are live there in two minutes. Stay with me.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: It's 21 minutes past the hour on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

And Northeast Pennsylvania has now seen some of the worst flooding in 40 years. This is still lingering from the tropical storm and depression that's gone and out of here. Look what it left behind. The Susquehanna River began receding yesterday. The damage is extensive.

Our John Zarrella joins me now from Harrisburg. I guess it's great news to hear the river is receding, but --

ZARRELLA: Exactly. The river is about 150, 200 yards from me off to the right here. It's back in its banks. That is certainly good news. The sun is out. This is what's left behind. This is probably the hardest hit neighborhood in the Harrisburg -- in Harrisburg. It's called Shy Poke. As you can see, I'm standing in water that when you gradually goes out, it gets a little above your knees here. That's considerably down from where it was at its height on Wednesday when they were going through torrential rains here, T.J..

Take a look over here. This is all water and mud. How high up did it get up here? Up here, this is where it was at its height. So nearly shoulder height on me, at least five foot of water into these houses. Basements are all flooded out. And they're going to have a heck of a lot of work ahead of them to clean up.

The problem is power is still out. We've seen a few people coming back here to try and assess the damage to their homes and walking away and shaking their heads. It's going to be a very, very long process to get them back in here.

All this standing water, block after block of standing water has got to go down. I don't know if you've can see this, T.J., still pouring out of the storm drain here. The water is still coming up because everything is saturated. Basements are all filled with water here. So quite a bit of work to do in the days ahead to try and clean up what is literally a real mess.

And on top of that, T.J., the water certainly is polluted because they've had a bunch of pumping stations that went off-line along the Susquehanna River. And so this water is really a mess. T.J.? HOLMES: That was about to be my follow up question. We heard a lot of these floodwaters went over some sewage areas, and you don't know what's in that muck. John, we'll check in with you again.

Alexandra, let me bring you in now. Weather for folks in the northeast cooperating for them to get back into their homes and starting the cleanup process?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. And you can see where John is. It's pretty nice. To his point, 10 sewage treatment plants under water.

Here is a look at the flood threat. You can see in Pennsylvania 11 rivers in New York and Pennsylvania have reached record stage. Really it's going to be a very slow go. Weather-wise, really in northern New England from New York north, that's kind of the dividing line, high pressure and control, beautiful conditions.

Right along this I-80, that's where we're seeing rainy conditions from Williamsport west, Cleveland, Detroit, rainy conditions today, high pressure and control, really beautiful in northern New England. Sunny skies from Albany, New York, Boston, temperature in the low to mid 70s, beautiful conditions there, the stubborn area of low pressure from New York south to Virginia that will see clouds and scattered showers. Some of which may be locally heavy today. We'll talk more about the rest of the country and also the wildfire concerns and what the weather is doing to exacerbate that or help that. That's all coming up in a little bit.

HOLMES: All right, Alexandra, always good to have you with us.

Coming up, I want to introduce you to a man who made it his mission to say thank you to the entire country for all the support and love the country gave to New York after the September 11th attacks. And for that he is a CNN hero. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're coming up on the bottom of the hour. And of course, tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of 9/11. And we want to honor now a New Yorker who is determined to build a positive legacy from the aftermath of that day. Since 2004, Jeff Parness has been saying thank you by giving back to communities across the entire country. And for that he is today's CNN Hero.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEFF PARNESS, CNN HERO: September 11th was a very tough time for the fire department. I lost some friends, guys I went to the academy with. Afterwards people came from everywhere to help us out. It was incredible. You knew you weren't alone. The outpouring of kindness and generosity is more powerful than the terror that happened. That really changed me.

I'm Jeff Parness, and I just want to show the world that New Yorkers will never forget what people did for us following 9/11. Every year on the 9/11 anniversary we take volunteers from New York and send them to some part of the country where they had a disaster and help folks rebuild. Rebuilding homes or barns or churches is our way to say thank you. Now more than half our volunteers are not from New York. People from all the small towns that we've helped, they keep showing up to help the next community. From Louisiana, California, Indiana, and Illinois. Every year you see more t-shirts from more locations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After Katrina we jumped on his bandwagon. This whole paying it forward thing is contagious.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This big dysfunctional reunion of all these disaster survivors to do a barn-raising.

PARNESS: It's about using the 9/11 anniversary to celebrate in that volunteer spirit.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We'll see you all next year.

PARNESS People say thank you for doing this and, you want to thank me? Show up on the next one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Jeff's group has also restored an American flag from Ground Zero. It's now known as the national 9/11 flag. To find out more about Jeff's work or make a donation, you can go to CNNheroes.com. Join the conversation at CNN Heroes Facebook and Twitter pages.

Turning back to politics in a moment. And Michele Bachmann, she was one of the first to come out publicly against President Obama's news jobs plan. Some say her criticism wasn't so much about substance as it was about trying to reenergize her own campaign.

Lenny and Maria, our friends are with me next. Lenny, I hope you can match her fiery spirit. She's already spouting off on Twitter after the break at the bottom of the hour. Stay with us

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Just past the bottom of the hour. Welcome back to this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes.

It was just moments ago former president George W. Bush and current defense secretary Leon Panetta took part in a wreath laying ceremony at the Pentagon. He didn't make comments, just paused briefly in front of that wreath.

Also there's no shortage of security concerns on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. A new threat that is deemed credible but not confirmed has prompted a beefed-up security presence in Washington, D.C. and New York. Both cities named as possible targets in this latest threat.

Also, off the coast of Zanzibar, 40 people confirmed dead and 259 rescued after a ferry carrying up to 600 people capsized.

All right, jobs still the number one issue in the world of politics. President Obama went to the capitol to make a plea for his job creation plan. Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann quickly rejected it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I am sending this Congress a plan that you should pass right away. It's called the American Jobs Act. There should be nothing controversial about this piece of legislation. Everything in here is the kind of proposal that's been supported by both Democrats and Republicans, including many who sit here tonight. And everything in this bill will be paid for, everything.

(APPLAUSE)

REP. MICHELE BACHMANN, (R-MN) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Not only should Congress not pass his plan, I say, Mr. President, stop. Your last plan hasn't worked and it's hurting the American economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: It was earlier in the week that Mitt Romney released his own jobs plan, gave his own critique of the president.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: President Obama's strategy is a pay phone strategy, and we're in a smart phone world. And so we're going to have to change -- what he's doing is taking quarters and stuffing them into the pay phone and can't figure out why it's not working. It's not connected anymore, Mr. President.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, to help us make sense of the cell phones and pay phones, let's bring in our friends on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," Democrat strategist Maria Cardona in Washington for us and our Republican strategist Lenny McAllister in Chicago. Good morning to you both. As we always do, let's start. What was the political highlight for you this week, Maria?

MARIA CARDONA, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: The president knocks it out of the park, focuses on jobs, which is what Americans want, calls on Congress to put politics aside. Let's get this thing passed.

HOLMES: What was your highlight this week, Lenny?

LENNY MCALLISTER, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: The headline of the week is, is it live or is it Obama-mex, the speech that keeps coming back more than a bad bowl of chili.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Lenny, for that, I'll start with you, now. The president's speech this week, the debate, is it just about politics? Is it about policy? There were some out there calling the president even irrelevant. People are sitting in the chamber not even paying attention halfway because they thought this was about politics. In your opinion, Lenny, was this a genuine effort by the president to get something done, and does it have a chance?

MCALLISTER: I think it's a genuine effort. Again, this is the speech that everybody is continuously seeing. We need to get jobs, need to get people back to work. We have a lot of construction workers that need to get back to work. We heard this in 2009. We heard this in 2010. We're hearing it in 2011. Guess what? We'll probably hear it January 2012, just in time to kick-off the reelection campaign.

Listen, if he were really going to do this, this would have been a focus at the beginning of the term, not at the end of a tenuous term where he's looking to hopefully look to get re-elected. And he's looking at these poll numbers and he's very, very nervous about what he's seeing.

HOLMES: Maria, doesn't he -- Lenny might follow up on this in a moment. Maria, maybe if the president hasn't focused, he needs some help in Congress to get it passed. Does it sound like so far maybe the other side is willing to work with the president on this thing?

CARDONA: I hope so, T.J. The Republicans understand -- at least the Republican leadership understands that their jobs are on the line, too. Look, the president's poll numbers might have suffered. But look at the poll numbers of the Republicans in Congress, historic disapproval ratings. Why? Because Americans know they have been the ones obstructing this president since day one.

Mitch McConnell is very clear on what the Republican agenda was, to make this term a one-term president. President Obama made it very clear in his speech that his agenda and America's agenda is to put Americans back to work.

If Republicans think everything is fine and nothing needs to be done and they don't need to work with this president, that's on them. But Americans need help now. America's middle class families, working class families, small businesses, all of which will get huge tax cuts, which we know Republicans love, is what they need now. There's nothing in this plan that Republicans should not be able to support. Let's put politics aside.

HOLMES: Lenny, give me 15 seconds. I know you want to respond. Do it quickly for me.

MCALLISTER: This is president Obama's agenda right now. It wasn't his agenda in 2009. It wasn't his agenda in 2010. The stimulus package became full of a whole bunch of fluff that didn't work. In 2010 we were all about Obamacare. To say it's been President Obama's agenda since day one, it's the flavor of the week with the president. Unfortunately people are sick and tired of getting this flavor shoved down their throat. HOLMES: Let me come back to you, Maria. Let me focus in on Michele Bachmann. She was ruled by many kind of irrelevant in the last debate, didn't get a lot of time. When she did speak, she didn't necessarily say things that got her a lot of attention. So what was her response about? Did she have a real plan in response to the president, or was she trying to get the momentum and, frankly, get some attention?

CARDONA: I think she is desperate for momentum and attention because she definitely has peaked, and I think and I know Lenny agrees with me here, she was always just a flash in the pan. Nobody is really taking her seriously, especially now that Perry is in the race.

But I do have to say something about the Obama stimulus plan, the Recovery Act. It actually prevented a great depression. Economists will tell you that. It created and helped save three to four million jobs. Just because Republicans continue to say it's a failure doesn't make it true. Look at the numbers. It helped this economy. That's a fact.

HOLMES: Lenny, I'll let you wrap up.

MCALLISTER: It's a failure by the president's own definition, capping unemployment at eight percent is what he and Vice President Biden said, not the Republicans. So by their own definition that stimulus plan was a failure.

Listen, talking about failures, Congresswoman Bachmann's administration or her process trying to get to the presidential nomination is failing. I told you previously, T.J., she better shoot for number two, because number one is not where she's going to be in 2012.

HOLMES: I'm going to give you credit for that. When she was cold you said she wouldn't be elected. When she was hot, you said she couldn't be elected. Now here we are. You may prove to be right, but still a long way to go.

CARDONA: We agree on that.

HOLMES: A few more debates.

Lenny and Maria, always good to see you guys. We're looking forward to talking to you next weekend as well and maybe throughout the week. Good to talk to you both.

CARDONA: Sounds great, T.J.

MCALLISTER: God bless you all. Thanks, T.J.

HOLMES: All right, 40 minutes past the hour. The debate is coming up on Monday, CNN teaming up with Tea Party Express. That will happen Monday night from Tampa. You can see it right here on CNN.

In Texas right now they need some help. Maybe there's some on the way. President Obama has signed now a federal disaster declaration freeing up federal funds for people affected by a massive wildfire in one particular county. We'll have more on that after the break.

But up first, passport regulations changed significantly after 9/11. Now, 10 years later, passport technology and rules still evolving. Alison Kosik is "On the Go."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISON KOSIK, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Today's passport contains more than stamps from your overseas trip. Embedded within the back cover is a small integrated circuit.

LORI VOELZ, ATLANTA PASSPORT AGENCY: All passports issued since 2007, they contain an electronic chip that contains certain biographical information.

KOSIK: A digital image of your passport photo verifies your picture using facial recognition technology.

VOELZ: It helps detect imposters and prevent the use of your passport if you ever lose it. It's peace of mind.

KOSIK: Older pass ports without the chip can still be used if they haven't expired. Adult passports are valid for 10 years. For minors under the age of 16 it's five years. By 2017, every passport will be electronic. If you need to renew or you're getting your first passport, plan ahead.

VOELZ: Generally it takes four to six weeks to get your passport.

KOSIK: If you're planning to travel internationally, a rush in passport application this is fall could add weeks to your wait.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: We're a quarter to the top of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. And those major wildfires just continue to burn in Texas. Last night the president signed a federal disaster declaration for Texas. This is after some 1,400 homes have been destroyed in Bastrop County. That's where the largest fire is burning. The fire has burned more than 34,000 acres.

Alexandra Steele, I ask our meteorologist every week end the same question. And they give me the same answer, to the question of, is Texas going to get any rain or any relief?

STEELE: Not in the short term and not in the long term.

Speaking of Bastrop County, the trees from the root system are being compromised. Even light winds are blowing over these trees. Then the leaves and the branches are all being used for a new fuel base. It's getting a tough situation even worse and then allowing for the new fires to erupt.

So looking at the big picture, Texas, dry northwesterly winds in the short term, even the longer term commuter models looking at a dry winter.

Here is a look at the big picture. It's dry there. Here in the northeast of course that's where we could use dry conditions. What we're seeing north of New York City, beautiful conditions, sunny skies, comfortable temperatures. It's 81 in Washington, 80 in New York. The heat is on full throttle in Portland, Oregon, 98 degrees today.

And temperatures in the southeast. How about Atlanta, Georgia, T.J., 83 degrees. Since June 1st we've been above 95 finally, as we turn the page to September things cooling down, 83 for a high, much cooler than it's been.

HOLMES: Yes, 83 is cool. You know it's been hot. Alexandra Steele, thank you so much.

And coming up folks, every once in a while, a piece of video and a rant is worth your attention. Up next, you will hear one college football coach go off and explain to you why you need to be a dog. Stick around for that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, 10 minutes to the top of the hour. Talking to my good friend from HLN sports, Ray D'Alessio. And I set this thing up. People are wondering what in the world are you talking about. Explain why they need to be a dog.

RAY D'ALESSIO, HLN SPORTS ANCHOR: I would say in the last couple years we've had great coach's rants. Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, "I'm 40, I'm a man, come after me." Dennis Green when he said the Bears are who we thought they were. David Bennett of Coastal Carolina football, he tops them all. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID BENNETT, COASTAL CAROLINA FOOTBALL COACH: I turned and looked and there's a little kitty cat in our kitchen. I said, what are you doing in here little kitty cat. By that time the cat turns tries to get back out. The screen won't go that way. The cat starts going crazy. I told our players, I tried to let it out the front door, cat is still going crazy in there. I told our players, you need to be more like a dog.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

D'ALESSIO: So obviously he was trying to get the point across to the players, T.J. Just the facial expressions are classic. Obviously his players were playing soft that day, kind of just complete utter chaos, I guess. He was trying to get the point across to them, you guys need to play like dogs and be more vicious. I think that's what he was trying to get across. HOLMES: It's the perfect way to explain it to the players. Be a dog.

D'ALESSIO: Can you imagine being a player watching him?

(LAUGHTER)

Is coach OK? I would be calling for help. I'd be calling 911.

HOLMES: That's what these coaches do, they don't get to see. They do crazy things in the locker room.

D'ALESSIO: Right now we want to thank all you couches who do that, who give us material once in a while. It's awesome. Keep it up.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: Let's switch to the NFL. This is going to be a nice something on Sunday. This is nice.

D'ALESSIO: Of course, tomorrow the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. The regular season continuing for the NFL. It opened up Thursday night with the packers and the saints. But earlier in the week, Lance Briggs, linebacker for the Chicago bears said I don't care what the NFL's policy is as far as uniform, I'm wearing red, white and blue gloves and shoes. If they want to fine me, let them fine me. It will be well worth the fine.

You have to understand the NFL has one of the strictest, and I mean the strictest uniform policies in all of sports. Socks have to be a certain height. You can't have certain markings on your jerseys. Lance Briggs says he's ignoring that. Reggie Wayne did the same of the Indianapolis Colts. He plans on wearing the gloves tomorrow. More players followed suit. The NFL said let's go ahead and loosen our uniform policy and let these guys pay tribute to the victims of 9/11 the way they want to. So that's what they're doing. And also players will be wearing patches on their jerseys tomorrow as well in honor of 9/11.

HOLMES: It's very cool to see the players leading this effort. You see the pink bats in baseball. You see the pink gloves and things in football for breast cancer awareness.

D'ALESSIO: A lot of times the NFL, people call them the NFL the "no one league." Kudos to them for loosening their guidelines here and letting the players express themselves.

HOLMES: Ray D'Alessio, thank you so much. We'll see you again soon.

Speaking of 9/11, a lot of people stopping to honor those lost in those attacks. A lot of people are coming together to remember the victims. I'll tell you about the events that are already taking off today. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: As we get close to the top of the hour, you know there will be a number of special events to honor those killed in the 9/11 attacks certainly tomorrow. Many start today. Next hour in New Jersey they're dedicating a memorial at Liberty State Park. It's called the Empty Sky Memorial. Governor Chris Christie will be there to honor the 746 victims from his state.

Liberty State Park is just across the Hudson River from Ground Zero. Also at 12:30 a dedication for phase one of the permanent 9/11 Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, honoring the heroes aboard flight 93. Later this after Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano will be at St. Patrick's cathedral in New York honoring the firefighters who died at the World Trade Center. And 343 firefighters that died there.

Tomorrow morning starting at 6:00 a.m., "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," a special edition from Ground Zero in New York.

At 8:00 Eastern you can join us as well, that is when we will give you complete coverage of all the remembrance ceremonies in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)