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Jeb Bush Prepares to Run for Office; Perspectives of New Bush versus Clinton Race; Top Money Stories of 2014; Anniversary of Christmas Truce

Aired December 25, 2014 - 13:30   ET

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

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, surprise, surprise - Sony actually wound up leaving the welcome mat out for hackers. It turns out through leaked documents, we learned that Sony employees actually kept lists of passwords for the company on spreadsheets on their computers, also they kept phone -- Social Security numbers of people, other information of people and celebrities kind of lying around in files that were unencrypted. This is -- Sony was at least, we can assume that it was a place that didn't have much network security. The thinking is that will change. But it's kind of stunning when you see cyber-security experts say you know what, Sony isn't alone. There are a lot of companies that are just one click away or one misplaced password from being hacked. A lot of companies don't put network security ahead as a priority, maybe in this case after hearing what Sony went through, companies will go ahead and step up. But it really makes you wonder, because Sony's hack came after Home Depot and Target. So this may not be the last of hacks on big companies that we hear about, Brianna.

KEILAR: Yeah, I think we'll be seeing that change at a lot of corporations. All right Alison Kosik, thank you so much.

KOSIK: Sure, you got it.

KEILAR: And turning now to other news. Former president George H.W. Bush is spending Christmas in a Houston hospital after experiencing shortness of breath on Tuesday night. A spokesman says the 90-year- old's prognosis remains very positive. He is staying, though, at least through the night as a precaution. Two years ago Bush was hospitalized for bronchitis and a persistent cough and it got pretty bad that this time his aide says it's different.

Well, it could be another sign that Jeb Bush is likely to run for president in 2016. Bush is resigning from the board of the tenant health care corporation. The former Florida governor announced last week that he's exploring a possible White House run. He also announced plans to release thousands of e-mails from his time in office and some major newspapers have already gotten their hands on those e-mails and they shed some light on Bush's political priorities.

Joining me now to talk about Jeb Bush and the 2016 presidential race, we have "Time" magazine political reporter Zeke Miller and Rebecca Berg, political correspondent for "The Washington Examiner." So, I guess first of all, the big question is how likely is it that Jeb Bush runs for president in 2016 and it kind of seems like it's gotten a lot more likely just in the last couple of weeks?

REBECCA BERG, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON EXAMINER: As you mentioned he resigned from the board of tenant. He has also resigned from the board of Barclays and as you said himself, he's actively exploring the idea. But you can look back to 2010 when he was - well, 2008 when he was thinking of running for Senate in Florida, and for a long time, there it also looked like he might consider running. He was taking all the steps, talking to all the right people and then didn't end up running in the end. This time, though, it does look a little more likely.

KEILAR: Yeah, and that's - you know, you talk to people and they say there are a lot of people who take all of these steps like Rebecca just mentioned to run and then they decide not to.

ZEKE MILLER, TIME.COM: But at the same time this is a Bush, he comes from a political family. He knows exactly what he's doing when he said I'm actively considering. There's only one way to consider running for president, that's actively. He's sending a signal to the party's donors, to the party's, you know, operatives, keep your powder dry, I very well might do this. And he's been sending those signals privately as well. By doing it publicly that is a - sort of a really strong indication of where he's leaning on this and things have definitely changed for the Bush brand since 2008 since 2010, since 2012. He can definitely springboard now on to the White House if he decided to do that.

KEILAR: The money is so important, sort of saying hey, hey, donors, hey donors, put your money to the side, wait on me, don't necessarily jump in for some of these other guys. And there's so many other possible Republicans.

MILLER: We can get to 15 around this table if we wanted to easily.

BERG: And much less another potentially from Florida with Marco Rubio and many of the party's biggest donors are from Florida.

MILLER: And he's also - and he has the Texas roots. You're competing against Ted Cruz and Rick Perry potentially as well.

KEILAR: Yeah.

MILLER: So, he's -- he's competition in both Texas and in Florida.

KEILAR: Yeah, I mean he's throwing maybe some elbows, we could say. OK, so let's talk about these e-mails. This is pretty fascinating stuff. I mean it's not -- maybe not a bombshell, but I would argue it's almost as important when you're trying to get a sense of who Jeb Bush is, he's someone if he does run is going to have to reintroduce himself. A lot of people don't necessarily know him. They know his brother, they know his father. So "The Washington Post" reports on sort of the personal touch that he uses and some pretty casual language like awesome and chill out. "The New York Times" looks at what the e-mails reveal about his political agenda, smaller government, education reform. Do you think this reveals anything about a presidential campaign that we might see?

BERG: Well, it does reveal as you said a lot about his personality and people think that they know Jeb Bush because of his last name, but he's really quite different than his brother and then his father. So these e-mails do shed some light on what he is like, that he is relaxed, that he is very hands on and it is consistent with what we've heard about his personality. He has been known if he reads a book he finds interesting, to contact the author himself and ask questions or offer his reaction. So, he is very much a man who will take these steps on his own and not rely so much on aides to do that for him.

MILLER: The bigger question there, though, is, you know, he's been out of politics for a number of years already. He hasn't run for office in more than - in about a decade. How does he adapt to sort of the modern political environment. That's a very different question. I mean he was - he said in a local TV interview he was digital before digital is cool.

Which is fine ...

BERG: But that was the long time ago.

MILLER: That was the long time ago. That was - there was e-mail. You know, we're talking about things like Twitter and Facebook and the modern news cycle, he released his book on immigration last year, last February and that had a very rocky rollout, he seemed a little unprepared for the modern news cycle where, you know, where cable news is sort of faster than it's ever been, Twitter, Facebook, all these different ways of communicating he wasn't really ready for it at that time with that book. The question is, you know, certainly he's had a lot of time to think about it if he's going to run for president he needs to sort of show that he can handle it.

KEILAR: The way - a new way of communicating that also kind of whips the news cycle into double or triple speed.

MILLER: It's one thing to be the first on e-mail, it's another thing to sort of be able to adapt to, you know, all the way through.

KEILAR: Very good point. OK, so Hillary Clinton, if she decides to run, I'm assuming -- I'm covering Hillary Clinton so I'm assuming -- obviously assuming she's running, we could see another Bush/Clinton matchup and you talk to people, I'm sure you've noticed this when you've been traveling around the country talking to voters, and they -- they're kind of like, oh, you know, more of the same. And yet at the same time it seems like they might actually be pretty comfortable with the idea of this dynastic race, right?

BERG: Because they hear the names Bush and Clinton and they feel like they know what they're getting. It's almost like a presidential race where you have an incumbent running for president. They usually have an advantage because people are familiar with the incumbent, it's not this unknown quantity. And so, there is an element of comfort that comes with that. But at the same time there's a lot of baggage that comes with these names. It's like - the Clintons and all of the parts of Bill Clinton's presidency that Rand Paul has already dredging up trying to remind voters of some of the more unsavory memories, associated with Bill Clinton.

KEILAR: Yes. He will bring up Monica Lewinsky at any turn that he can, right?

(LAUGHTER)

BERG: Exactly.

KEILAR: He will.

BERG: Exactly. And the same goes for the Bushes, the Bush presidency, George W., is much more recent and so people are very easily -- they very easily remember his presidency and will associate that with Jeb.

KEILAR: Do you think that there is any - if you did have Hillary Clinton facing off against Jeb Bush does that inoculate either of these candidates against some of the baggage, do you think, or no?

MILLER: Maybe I mean in the sense that, you know, there's a lot of history on both sides. The question will be for both of them, how can they distinguish themselves from, you know -- in Hillary Clinton's case from her significant other, in Jeb Bush's case from his brother and his father and which of those legacies does he really want to grip on to? But both of their names have sort of been rehabilitated, you know. You look at how the Clintons left the White House, yes, the economy was doing very well, but at the same time there was a scandal of Monica and the other sort of the whitewater scandals and the name has been - certainly been rehabilitated for a number of years now.

And plus losing 2008 has sort of given her a new - now second wind in 2016. But for the Bushes I mean even the past couple of years we've seen sort of -- the name was toxic in 2008. Jeb Bush couldn't run for president in 2012. He would have lost. But now he has a chance. I mean the question is how do they use their names, the last name, to -- what are the best qualities they take and which do they leave behind?

KEILAR: All right. And we have so much more to talk about. I could talk to you guys for hours. Luckily I think we are going to have you both back tomorrow and we will be looking ahead to a new year, a new Congress, obviously a lot of political fights ahead and the presidential campaign gearing up. So, I look forward to seeing both of you. Zeke Miller and Rebecca Berg. Thanks, guys.

MILLER: Thanks.

KEILAR: And still to come, we have great news for Wall Street and for Main Street. Your money's top ten stories of the year next.

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KEILAR: An early Christmas present rained down on a Hong Kong street. Check out this amazing video of people grabbing cash in the middle of traffic. A cash transport van's rear door apparently malfunctioned and dropped about 15 million Hong Kong dollars, that's worth about $2 million in U.S. dollars. Hong Kong officials warn the people who took the cash would be charged if they didn't fess up. So far 29 people have voluntarily handed over about a third of the money. Just a third.

The Dow surging past the 18,000 milestone is a great holiday present for investors, but the market strong showing was not the top money story of 2014. Our Richard Quest and Christine Romans tell you what was in their top ten countdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here's number ten, pressure from protesters. Fast food workers take to the streets in cities across America. Demanding higher pay and better rights. It's working. Four states have voted to raise the minimum wage in 2014. And in the heart of Hong Kong's financial district, pro-democracy activists shut down schools, banks and businesses. That sent the Hang Sang stock index down nearly six percent in only one week.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Number 9, U.S. companies turn in their passports for new headquarters overseas and a lower tax bill. The Treasury Department and President Obama fight back.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It's not fair. It's not right. We don't want to see this trend grow.

ROMANS: The administration issues new rules to stop these so-called inversions to stem the flood of U.S. companies cashing in on the tax loophole. The new regulation slowed some deals already in the works, but real tax reform is likely needed to close the loophole.

QUEST: Number eight, IPOs and mergers, they're back. The king of 2014 is China's Alibaba, going public on the New York Stock Exchange and becoming the largest public offering in U.S. history. Nearly 300 other companies went public in 2014 and mergers and acquisitions came back roaring. The two biggest deals for U.S. consumers, AT&T's agreement to buy DirecTV and Comcast merging with Time Warner cable.

ROMANS: Number seven, the taper is terminated. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen closes the fire hose that pumped billion into the economy through a bond buying program. That Fed stimulus lasted six years with the final measures tapered down in 2014. The Fed says the labor and housing markets have improved, risks of inflation have diminished. The big question now, when will the Fed start raising interest rates.

QUEST: Number six. Apple gets its umph back. A new line of products including record breaking sales of the iPhone 6, new iPads, the Apple watch and Apple pen, they all refresh the company's product line. Its stock price hits a record high in 2014 and Apple's chief exec Tim Cook becomes the first openly gay CEO of a Fortune 500 company. He wrote in an op-ed "I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me."

ROMANS: Number five, jobs are back. The labor market hit two milestones in 2014, first the economy gained back all the jobs it lost during the recession. 8.7 million jobs. It took four long years to do it. Second, 2014 marks the best year in job creation since 1999, averaging about 240,000 jobs each month. The jobless rate now below six percent.

QUEST: Number four, this is the age of the hack. An exclusive CNN money report finds more than half of American adults has their personal details hacked in 2014. Mostly through retailers including Home Depot, Michaels, Neiman Marcus and Target. Celebrities became victims as hackers exposed private nude photos. And the year ends with a giant hack in Hollywood. Sony Pictures is infiltrated. Movie screeners and embarrassing corporate e-mails, they all hit the web.

ROMANS: Number three, an auto safety crisis. GM recalls 30 million vehicles in 2014, the largest issue, faulty ignition switches.

MARY BARRA, GM CEO: I am deeply sorry.

ROMANS: GM is compensating victims as it tries to revamp its reputation. Another crisis later in the year, Japanese parts maker Takata ignores calls for a nationwide recall following several incidents of exploding airbags. Initially 1 million cars are recalled by five automakers. Federal regulators say that's not enough.

Two words tell this story. Record high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average racked up more than 30 of them in 2014. It's even more for the S&P 500. A brief pullback in October couldn't stop the bull run. The market has now gone more than 1,100 days without a pullback of more than 10 percent. Investors will be looking for one of those in 2015.

QUEST: And number one, the top money story of the year, oil's dramatic drop. After holding steady for the first half of the year, global concerns pressure the oil market and prices plunge. They drop more than 40 percent from June. In turn that hits oil-dependent economies like Russia especially hard. Russia cited oil prices as the main reason it slipped into recession. Gas prices follow. It gives consumers a break ahead of the holiday shopping season. The national average for a gallon of gas falls a full dollar from the year. And in some areas of the U.S. gas prices drop below $2.00 a gallon.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: And don't miss CNN's top ten of 2014 special with Brooke Baldwin, that airs this Sunday evening at 6:30 Eastern.

100 years ago this was the day that foes became friends, at least for a little while. Just ahead, an inspirational story about the Christmas truce during World War I.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi. My name is Staff Sergeant Mary Tosciba (ph). I'm with the 13th ESE, I'm stationed at Camp Arafjan (ph) Kuwait. I would like to say a shout out to my family in Fort Hood, Steven Key and Gelyco and Glen (INAUDIBLE) Russell. Merry Christmas and happy New Year.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, this is Staff First Class Webb with the 3-11 ESEG 6, just wanted to give a shoutout to all of my fellow members here at the 3-11. This will be my last Christmas with you guys. It's been an honor, it's been a pleasure, I'm going to miss each and every one of you. Give a shout out to my section the G-6, to family programs, to Miss Jennings, to everyone who has helped me along the way. Give a shoutout to my family also, all the way in Jacksonville Florida. I love you guys and miss you guys. Merry Christmas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi. I'm (INAUDIBLE) Michael Thomas out here in airbase, Qatar. I want to give a shout-out to my family, my mom and dad, my brothers and sisters out in Richardson, Texas. Miss you guys. Love you. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: And thank you to those serving on this Christmas holiday. Well, this has become a defining moment in history during a war which lost a generation. 100 years ago today during the First World War, German and British soldiers laid down their weapons and they emerged from the trenches to play a game. It became known as the Christmas truce. Max foster looks back at this poignant moment of peace.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A British officer's scrapbook. Photos that tell of an extraordinary tale in the great war.

We found our enemies to be Saxons, I write - with my very rusty German and chatted with some of them. None of them seemed to have any personal animosity against England and also they would be fully glad when the war was over.

Fraternizing between foes that according to dozens of soldiers letters published in newspapers 100 years ago, took place along several German and British frontlines at Christmas in 1914.

That trenches were ablaze of Christmas trees and where we go for hours with the traditional Christmas songs of the fatherland.

Tomorrow is Christmas. If you don't fight, we won't.

And the answer came back. All right. Cigars, cigarettes and chocolates were freely exchanged between friend and foe.

Higher up the line, you would scarcely believe it, but they were kicking a football about between the trenches.

While proof of an actual football match is sketchy, the truce is a moment in the four-year great war that continues to capture the imagination. In this centennial year, football teams across the U.K. have replicated the image of opposing sides standing together. Memorials have been unveiled.

(APPLAUSE)

FOSTER: And British supermarket chains Sansbury (ph) has dramatized the truce in an ad campaign. There are evocative tributes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Happy Christmas.

FOSTER: However, Alan Wakefield who has written about Christmas during the great war says the truce wasn't so much a sentimental act rather a necessary one.

ALAN WAKEFIELD, HEAD OF PHOTO ARCHIVE, IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the winter of 1914, the weather conditions were really bad and the trenches were actually collapsing and flooding and in the lead up to Christmas, some units have actually been repairing their trench lines by having to get onto the battlefield to do the repair work and the Germans were doing the same and nobody was firing at each other. So, the lead up to Christmas, there was this sort of semi-truce going on already where people were just trying to make their lives move comfortable.

FOSTER: The Fraternizing was frowned upon by both British and German commanders. Some even considered it an act of treason. Images like these would not be repeated.

WAKEFIELD: It's a remarkable event and it's an event that could really only have happened that early in the war. By 1915, there's a lot more hatred, there's a lot more propaganda that poison gas have been used. Has bombed London, the (INAUDIBLE), lots of civilian casualties. So the animosity has grown.

FOSTER: Amid so much horror, it's possibly not surprising that we choose to magnify the humanity of one rare moment. Max Foster, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KEILAR: In the U.K., Queen Elizabeth II marked the holiday as she has for more than a half century with a Christmas broadcast. And she emphasized the importance of reconciliation and reflected on the Christmas truce.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

QUEEN ELIZABETH II: Sometimes it seems that reconciliation stands little chance in the face of war and discord. But as the Christmas truce a century ago reminds us, peace and goodwill have lasting power in the hearts of men and women.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KEILAR: Thousands of well-wishers turned out for a glimpse of the royal family attending church with a traditional Christmas day service. Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge were on hand. Little Prince George stayed at home, though. And in Vatican City, the pope delivered his traditional Christmas blessing. Pope Francis talked about the state of the world today. He denounced what he called the "brutal persecution of people in Iraq and Syria" and the pope also used his message to bring attention to displaced children and adults around the Middle East.

KEILAR: That's it for me. For our international viewers, "Heroes" and all-star tribute is next and for our viewers in North America, "Newsroom" with Pamela Brown starts after a quick break.

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