American Morning
Congressman came under fire in Somalia
There are new developments today in the waters off of the coast of Somalia. Another U.S. ship, the Liberty Sun, was attacked by pirates. This time, the pirates were unsuccessful.
Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ) is the first American member of the government to visit the country in a decade. His plane came under attack as he left Mogadishu earlier this week. Congressman Payne joined Kiran Chetry on CNN’s American Morning on Wednesday.
Kiran Chetry: You witnessed firsthand what a dangerous place and region this is. Why did you go?
Rep. Donald Payne: I've been dealing with that area for the last 20 years. And I had worked during the past two or three years trying to help them form a new government. They had a government I met with three or four times in Nairobi. They were meeting outside of Somalia, called a transitional federal government. They were not strong enough to maintain themselves. There was another group called the I.C.U., the Islamic Courts Union now called the Alliance that then took over a bit. It’s a complicated story but the U.S. suggested that Ethiopia intrude to bring peace, although Ethiopia is hostile to Somalia so that was really the wrong peacekeepers.
Chetry: You said this trip was largely successful. What about being fired on? What happened?
Payne: Well I think there’s certainly a group, the al Shabab, who may be the closest link to al Qaeda. They do not want to see this government work. That's what it's all about. I think the fact that I went there, that there were no problems during the day. We went around to the various places, met with women's groups, the prime minister, the cabinet people. I believe this was desperation. They don't want to see this new two-month government succeed. I assured President Sheikh Sharif that we would want to engage. They have a plan that they feel they can deal with piracy on the ground, on the land, rather than in the sea, which makes it very difficult. So they will be coming up with a plan in a couple of weeks and will submit it to our government and myself.
What's on Tap – Wednesday April 15th, 2009
- Breaking News: Pirates attack another U.S.-flagged cargo ship off Somalia. They fired rocket propelled grenades this time, but didn’t get on board. A sailor e-mailed home during the bombardment. The U.S.S. Bainbridge came to the rescue, amazingly, with Captain Rich Phillips of the rescued Alabama still on board.
- Your Taxes: The Real Deal: It’s April 15th and anti-tax demonstrators are organizing “tea parties” across the country to protest bank bailouts and government spending. Also today we’re looking at why taxes go up. Don’t blame the “tax man.” The IRS only takes-takes-takes. It’s Congress that writes the laws that make up 16,000 pages of tax code in this country… and some of the people who WRITE IT can’t even seem to follow it. We thought you'd like to know who pays what.
- Drug Nation: With the president heading to Mexico tomorrow, we’re taking a serious look at how America’s demand for drugs is funding a bloody, ruthless war south of the border. Today, how they get in. Drugs on one side of the border, dealers with deep pockets and addicted Americans on the other and people will die so they get paid. We'll also ask Congressman Ron Paul why we should legalize pot.
- Glimmers of Hope: President Obama again takes an optimistic tone as he talks about where we stand financially. He wants to go from an era of “borrow and spend to save and invest.”
- Is that realistic? Do you agree with him? Let us know at 877-MY-AM-FIX.
- And – Bromance: The new buzzword. We all have the arm-around-the-guy-guy friend. Now he’s cool?? Thanks Hollywood!
We Listen!
Here’s your daily recap of the best feedback we got from YOU today. Continue the conversation below. And remember, keep it brief, and keep it clean. Thanks!
On Tuesday, AM viewers voiced their enthusiastic approval of marijuana legalization. The few dissenters lobbied fervently against such change:
- David: The best thing would be to legalize pot. It takes it out of the hands of the drug lords that deal the harmful drugs like Heroin, Cocaine and meth. Plus it can be taxed and that is fair. Nobody has EVER overdosed on pot! Anyone that disagrees with this is ignorant of the issue. You statement that pot is a big part of the Mexican drug trade is untrue. Most is grown in the USA or B.C. now.
- Berotte813: I am truly angry that anchors would even mentioned to legalized drugs. Legalizing would be chaos. If Kiran Chetry for example is under the drug influence, do you think she would be able to deliver the news properly? She propably would hallucinate about the camera man being a bear or a snake. In short, people with influence of drugs are fatal for the society. People at work would be like zombies, talking, walking, flying, and killing people is just going to be normal. NO!! is my answer.
What’s your take on the argument in favor of drug legalization? Is it the best way to solve our deficit issues and get farmers working again? Do you believe that law enforcement officials want to keep drugs illegal to provide “job security” for themselves? Are you in agreement with the second viewer above who worries that people will be come “zombies”?
The segment on the supposed rift between President Obama and Vice-President Biden was angriy received by viewers:
- Sharon: Unbelievable. You manufactured a whole segment on the vice president of the United States based on an SNL skit and a comment/lie made by right wing buffoon Karl Rove. The News You Can Trust. Riiigghhttttttt. No wonder your ratings are in the toilet.
- Nels: What was the point of your segment that there is a rift between Biden and Obama? There was not even close to being any evidence presented of it. You might as well instead have included a segment of Joe Biden robbing a bank. You would have had as much evidence. And how could you include a segment of Karl Rove accusing Biden of being a liar without including a disclaimer of Karl Rove's own problems of telling the truth. You do recall that he had to go to a grand jury 5 times to get his story straight, dont you? How do you expect us to take CNN seriously when you put out rumours as facts?
How did you feel about the segment regarding the “rift” between President Obama and VP Biden? Do you believe such an issue exists or are you in agreement with the viewers above that the problem is “manufactured” by the media or right wing conservatives?
Lastly, the segment on other countries’ tax structures was blasted by the audience:
- Jay: Come on Am Morning You guys can do better than this can't you? Most of the countries that you listed that pay higher taxes provide a lot more services or better said, The people from those countries get more for their buck than We do. From the World class Free Colleges to health care, vacations, pensions, retirement All kind of services for their buck. And note that these countries are healther, smarter, and more productive, than Americans are. I mean, tell the whole store if you are going to tell the story, or is that too much truth reporting for CNN?
Do you feel Americans pay too much in taxes for the services we receive? Is the tax stucture in our country unfair? Would you be willing to pay substantially more in taxes if you could be certain of receiving such services as free college and health care?
Insatiable demand – Americans want their pot!
Happy Tuesday. All this week on American Morning, we're breaking down America's drug addiction and how it's helping fuel the violence spilling over the border.
This morning we looked at the 8.5 billion dollar business of marijuana.
In her report this morning, Jeanne Meserve dug deeper into the issue and found marijuana is the cash cow for cartels with revenue eclipsing cocaine, heroin and meth combined. Watch the story
But how do you stop the supply when there's such a massive demand? Opinions are mixed. There's a small but vocal lobby to legalize marijuana, tax it, and cut out the cartels by bringing the dealing and regulation to Main Street.
Others say it has to start with education about the dangers of drug use, tougher enforcement and targeting of the actual cartel king pins. That's where enhancing our relationship with Mexico comes in.
Here's a look at the debate this morning with Juan Hernandez, who once advised former Mexican President Vicente Fox. He also wrote "The New American Pioneers". We were also joined by Bob Strang, a former special agent with the DEA. Watch the debate
We also got some great comments from our viewers following us on Twitter and calling into the show hotline.
Our amFIX poll asked, do you think the United States should legalize drugs? Here are the results so far:
- No way – 8%
- Yes, all drugs – 48%
- Only marijuana – 44%
Remember, this is not a scientific poll.
Don't miss tomorrow when we bring on Congressman Ron Paul in our 7am ET hour. He's a fierce advocate for personal liberties. Paul says we should legalize drugs and that personal freedom means we are also free to make bad choices. Do you agree? Please weigh in as always.
See you in the morning,
Kiran
The big business of marijuana
From CNN's Jeanne Meserve
And all this week we're breaking down America's drug addiction and examining how it's helping fuel the violence spilling over the border.
Today we're looking at the 8.5 billion dollar business being made off marijuana. How do you stop the supply when there's such a massive demand?
What do you think? Is marijuana a victimless drug or is it fueling the violence in Mexico?
Biden puppy haunts breeder
From CNN's Melissa Morgenweck
There was no need to ring a doorbell when we pulled up to the Wolf Den kennel in Chester county Pennsylvania. At least a dozen German Shepherds announced our arrival.
Linda Brown greeted us and introduced us to the pack including her favorite, 13 year old Hans. Most of the dogs in this section had once been breeders. Now she keeps them as her personal pets.
They are just one grouping of the approximately 80 adult dogs that she says live on her property. “German Shepherds look into the mirror of your soul. They are intelligent and protective and your animals for life.”
Brown told us that she had been up since 4am helping deliver a litter of puppies. “They like to give birth in the middle of the night when it’s quiet and still.”
As we toured the property Brown recalled the day last December when Vice President Biden came to pick out a dog. “He picked the puppies up and literally kissed them all over. And when he did finally select his puppy he just wouldn’t let him go.”
But Brown says she has paid a big price for the publicity. Soon after the visit she claims she received death threats from animal-rights groups. Dog wardens from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture also made multiple visits to inspect her kennels. (The state told one of our producers that inspections typically take place twice a year.)
Brown was cited for poor record keeping, dirty housekeeping and mistreating her dogs. Last month she was cleared of all citations. “It hurts the depth of your soul that they would even have the nerve to call me and tell me that I’m inhumane with my dogs. My dogs are treated better than most children are treated.”
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