American Morning
2 still missing after Hudson River collision
NEW YORK (CNN) – Divers went back into the Hudson River on Monday morning, resuming their search for two victims from a weekend air collision that killed a total of nine.
A small plane and a sightseeing helicopter collided Saturday and plunged into the river, as people on both the New York and New Jersey sides of the river watched in horror.
The wreckage of the chopper was pulled up Sunday. "Almost all of it was intact," National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Debbie Hersman told CNN's "American Morning" Monday.
Seven bodies have been pulled from waters up to 50 feet deep by divers working in near-zero visibility. But two victims from the plane remain missing.
Early Monday, divers said they believe the plane has been located as well. "We are very hopeful they might be able to pull that up today," said Hersman. "Deep water, fast currents - there is a lot of challenges for the divers. We'll have to see what they can accomplish today."
Little Maine town has big heroin problem
When you think of the war on drugs you often think of cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. But coastal Maine?
You may be surprised to hear in a tiny area of New England, heroin has become a massive problem; too big to contain.
"It's very available out here. It's scary," says recovering drug addict Leeanne Lariviere.
Thousands of miles from the drug cartels of Mexico – Kittery, Maine in bucolic New England is a new Mecca for heroin use.
Detective Steve Hamel of the Kittery Police Department has been working narcotics for two decades. He says he's seen it all, but never this.
Lawmaker gets health care death threat
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/10/miller.brad.cnn.art.jpg caption="Rep. Brad Miller says he received a death threat over his support of health care reform."]
Some people in health care town hall meetings are mad as hell. Many are starting shouting matches, pushing to get in the doors.
Tempers and passions over health care reform are getting so heated one lawmaker got a death threat phoned into his office. It happened to Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC). He spoke to John Roberts on CNN’s “American Morning” Monday.
John Roberts: What was this death threat all about?
Brad Miller: It was last Monday. We’d gotten a lot of calls. I don't think that many offices have gotten fewer calls than we have. I think a lot of offices have gotten threats that were as specific and as credible as the one I got. A caller said that if I supported the health care plan, it could cost me my life.
My staff member who took the call was taken aback and asked them to repeat it and he did. And then he said, “Is that a threat?” And he said there are a lot of angry people. So it’s probably equivocal enough that it won't result in criminal prosecution. But you've seen what has happened in the last week or two. And then there's a lot that hasn't been publicized. Week before last, the Longworth building was shut down for hours because of a bomb threat. They have identified that person. That person probably will be criminally prosecuted.
Roberts: You've decided as a result of the rancor we've been seeing at these town hall meetings not to hold any? You’re going to have health care discussions over teleconference?
Miller: No. I have done a few town hall meetings. I think they are kind of an acquired taste. Most people want to have access to their member of Congress to talk about a specific issue and they really think a one-on-one meeting is more access than a town hall meeting and that's what I've done. So we were puzzled when we started getting calls in the last two weeks demanding a town hall meeting. And my staff would say, “Wouldn't you just like to sit and have a private conversation with the congressman, explain your position and ask him about his?” And they didn't want that. They wanted a town hall meeting. And I think we’ve seen why.
PolitiFact Truth-O-Meter: Political scorecard
Editor's Note: PolitiFact.com is a project of the St. Petersburg Times that aims to help you find the truth in politics. Every day, reporters and researchers from the Times examine statements by members of Congress, the president, etc. They research their statements and then rate the accuracy on their Truth-O-Meter.
Paul Krugman claims protests in 2005 weren't as raucous as health care protests
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/10/krugman.paul.gi.art.jpg caption="Dr. Paul Krugman, 2008 Nobel Laureate, speaks at a press conference held by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong on May 22, 2009."]
During the 2005 fight over Social Security, "there were noisy demonstrations — but they were outside the events,” and opponents were “not disruptive — crowds booed lines they didn’t like, but that was about it."
-Paul Krugman on Wednesday, August 5th, 2009 in a blog posting.
Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
Read more: They were raucous in 2005, inside and out
Club for Growth's health care ad campaign is misleading
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/10/club.for.growth.youtube.art.jpg caption="This Club for Growth TV ad posted on YouTube compares the health care reform plan to the system in Britain."]
The health care reform plan would set limits similar to the "socialized" system in Britain, where people are allowed to die if their treatment would cost more than $22,000.
-Club for Growth on Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 in a TV ad
Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
Read more: There's no proposal to put a price on life
Boehner says Democrats' health care plan would lead to taxpayers subsidizing abortions
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/08/10/boehner.john.getty.art.jpg caption="House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) speaks on Capitol Hill on June 17, 2009 in Washington, DC. "]
The Democrat-backed health care reform plan "will require (Americans) to subsidize abortion with their hard-earned tax dollars."
-John Boehner on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 in an op-ed for National Review
Truth-O-Meter says: FALSE
Read more: Amendment would prohibit use of federal funds for abortions
What’s on Tap – Monday August 10, 2009
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Today marks the beginning of a make-or-break month for health care reform in this country, as lawmakers go home for recess and face town halls across the nation. They’re hearing from many people who seem genuinely mad. But today in a USA Today op-ed, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer say the attacks on health insurance reform are “un-American “ and many of those louder protesters are misrepresenting the truth. We’ll talk to one congressman who cancelled meetings in his hometown over a death threat. And the main event – a no-nonsense debate of our own, between Ron Reagan and Larry Elder.
- A dire warning from the Pentagon's top man on the ground in Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal tells the Wall Street Journal the Taliban is winning in Afghanistan, forcing the U.S. to change its strategy. He says that'll mean more U.S. casualties, as the pentagon puts U.S. forces into more heavily-populated areas. We’re live at the Pentagon with the military’s response.
- Where will Superman get changed now?? This morning we're paying tribute to something you rarely see these days: phone booths. They used to be everywhere in New York City. Today, cell phones and wi-fi hot spots are driving pay phones off the market. Richard Roth tracked down the last booths in New York to find out who will be most affected if they disappear. How many do you think are left?
We Listen – Your Comments
Editor's Note: The continued debate surrounding health care town hall meetings and protests generated the most feedback on Friday’s American Morning. Evenly split between the two camps, those in favor of the protests did not believe they were part of an “organized” or “grassroots” effort on behalf of the Republicans. Those opposed to the disruptions adamantly argued that such activities were indeed planned by Republicans opposed to President Obama’s proposed health care plan.
For Protests
- Betty: I like my health care plan. Do not want the President’s plan of limiting senior care. Town hall meetings "organized & paid for". Show the proof.
- Judy: DNC call American Citizens an angry mobs at town hall meetings, they probably watched the game playing during the Energy and Commerce committee meeting last week. They want answers from their representatives, they want representation ( for which they were voted in to do) no voting on party lines and favoring only what their party wants.
- Sharon: I am a democrat. Have been all of my life. I am also against the President's plan for healthcare reform. In fact, I have made a homemade sign and participated in dialogue about it. I have written my congressmen. And yet I am one of many people that is being dismissed as a right-wing nut job, an unruly mob, part of an organized protest group set up by the RNC. Sorry but that just doesn't apply to me. Nor does it apply to most of the protestors that I have met. We are a mix of liberals, conservatives, independents and many others. We are not organized by the RNC. We have a right to free speech in this country and we are exercising it. It's funny how a group of liberals and left-wingers can come out in organized protest (and with pre-printed signs) and they are just "exercising their constitutional rights." But the everyday, average citizen comes out to have their say and we are dismissed as a "vast, right-wing conspiracy" or an "unruly mob." Really? Give me a break.
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