Eye on Iran; Senator Hospitalized
HARRIS: Iran's president, opinionated and outspoken, to be sure, but today it is the Iranian people who are expressing their views, casting ballots in elections that could have major implications for hardline rule in that country. Let's go live now to Tehran and CNN's Middle East correspondent Aneesh Raman. Hello, Aneesh.</s>ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, good morning. We're standing at one of the main polling stations here in Iran. We're well over eight hours into the election and they're still streaming in. I'm going to give you a sense of the scene here. It is a mosque, as many polling stations are. It is segregated, as all polling stations are. To my left, the men are casting their ballots. And we're going to turn over to the right where the women are casting theirs. As you mentioned, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's hardline president, not on the ballot, but by many this is seen as a referendum on both him and his policies over the past year. He was elected as a president that was going to bring about economic reform. That is what he had promised. Instead, since he has taken office, he has brought about increased defiance against the west. In the past week we've seen a holocaust conference that has drawn anger from capitals around the world. He has also risen Iran's status of regional power. What does that come at the expense of? Critics say domestic reform. Specifically economic improvement. So will we see dramatic change? Unlikely, especially when it comes to the U.S. What we could see is a subtle change in domestic policy. Iranians I've spoken to in line are desperate for economic reform and they're hoping to send some message to the government to make that happen. Tony.</s>HARRIS: Well, Aneesh, we would like to think that the outcome of these elections might have some impact on Iran-U.S. relations, but what's your best bit of analysis for us?</s>RAMAN: Well, we're not at a fork in the road for Iran. You do have reformists here that would pursue an alternate path, perhaps of engagement with the U.S. They're largely absent from this election. In part because they've been marginalized over the past few years. Also, many of their candidates have been disqualified. So instead it's a battle among conservatives. The hardliners that are backed by Iran's president and the more traditional conservatives who could pursue, perhaps down the road -- we're talking about a long term plan here -- engagement with the U.S. for the sake of economic reform. That's not at all a given. And it does seem like when it comes to the U.S., nothing really is going to change. But this is the one thing that could happen. If the hardliners win big in these elections -- and we're seeing huge turnout -- Iran's president will claim this as a mandate, as referendum of sorts that validate what's he's done over the past year or so and it will increase his confidence and in doing so increase his defiance and his policies of defiance against the west. Tony.</s>HARRIS: CNN's Aneesh Raman for us in Tehran. Aneesh, we appreciate it. Thank you.</s>COLLINS: One thing Republicans and Democrats agree on today, they are hoping Senator Tim Johnson can rally after bleeding of the brain. Our Dana Bash is on Capitol Hill now. And, Dana, can you give us the very latest on the senator's condition?</s>DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Heidi, you know, it's nice to be able to report good news. And so far we've really heard nothing but a good news coming from Senator Johnson's office since his brain surgery about 36 hours ago. He is still in critical condition, but his wife, Barbara Johnson, released a statement late yesterday saying that they were encouraged and optimistic because for a few reasons. First of all, he was responding to her voice and her touch, following her directions and even reached out and touched her hand. Now the capital physician says so far no additional surgery has been needed. But this is not necessarily -- what they are saying is that there certainly are a couple of days left of really critical time to monitor the senator's condition. And he is certainly not out of the woods yet. It is very unclear what his prognosis is, short term and long term, how long it will take or to what extent he will recover. Heidi.</s>COLLINS: Well, as you talk about that good news for Senator Johnson, is there now less worry, if you will, Dana, about the loss of power for Democrats in the Senate?</s>BASH: You know, as we have gotten a better word, if you will, from George Washington University Hospital, where Senator Johnson is right now, the questions swirling about whether Democrats are going to lose their very slim majority certainly has subsided. But the Democratic leader does -- he was asked about it yesterday -- Harry Reid. He insists that there is absolutely no chance the Democrats are going to lose power. And when you take a step back and really look at the rules governing this whole question, the fact of the matter is, a sitting senator cannot be removed from office unless he dies or he resigns. There is ample precedent for senators who have been quite ill and have been out for months, even several years, while keeping their seat. So that is sort of the current state of play when it comes to that. But what this has done, Heidi, is reminded both parties that the Democrats' new majority, when they take over in January, will be very, very slim. As I mentioned, just one vote. And there is already some talk -- although I should mention Republicans are not going there at all, they're not talking about this issue very much at all -- but there is some talk about the Republicans wanting, as they organize, to make sure that if something does happen, if a Democratic senator does have to leave for whatever reason, their seat, that they can -- Republicans can take control if that happens. Heidi.</s>COLLINS: All right. Understood. Dana Bash live from Capitol Hill. Thanks for the update.</s>HARRIS: Let's get you to Chad Myers now in the Weather Center for us this morning. And, Chad, your team gave us a bit of a heads up that you've come across some pretty cool I-Reports. Did we just lose your mike? Chad, we've got to change your mike. I think we just lost your mike. When you get the battery changed out, we'll come back and we'll take a look at those -- he's yelling behind me here. All right, let's take a live picture now at the White House. The medal of freedom ceremony is underway there right now, as you see, President George Bush entering the room with the first lady, Laura Bush. A wonderful ceremony there right now to honor distinguished service to this country. The award was reinstated by President Kennedy in 1963. We are going to listen in to some of the ceremony. Let's do that right now.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you all for coming. Welcome, Mr. Vice President, members of my cabinet. Laura and I are pleased you could join us on this special occasion. We're delighted to welcome our distinguished honorees, as well as their families and friends to the White House. Thanks for coming. The presidential medal of freedom is our nation's highest civil honor. The medal recognizes high achievement in public service, science, the arts, education, athletics and other fields. Today we honor 10 exceptional individuals who have gained great admiration and respect throughout our country. Norman Y. Mineta personifies the terms public servant and patriot. He served as an Army intelligence officer, the mayor of San Jose, California, 10-term U.S. congressman, and a cabinet member under presidents of both parties. He was my secretary of transportation. No secretary of transportation ever served longer or confronted greater challenges than Norm Mineta. On September the 11th, 2001, he led the effort to bring thousands of commercial and private aircraft swiftly and safely to the ground. Norm was calm and he was decisive in a moment of emergency. He showed those same qualities in the months and years afterwards, ably transforming his department to face the dangers of a new era. Norm Mineta's whole life has been an extraordinary journey. At the age of 10, he was sent with his mom and dad to an internment camp for Japanese-Americans. Such wrongful treatment could have left a person bitter, but not Norm Mineta. Instead, he has given his country a lifetime of service and he's given his fellow citizens an example of leadership, devotion to duty, and personal character. Mr. Secretary, you're a good friend and a great man and our country honors you. With us today is Warren O'Neil, who will accept the medal of freedom on behalf of his brother, John Jordan Buck O'Neil. Buck O'Neil passed away in October after a baseball career spanning more than seven decades. He joined the Negro league in 1938 as a first baseman for the Kansas City Monarchs. Buck O'Neil won two batting titles and played on nine championship teams. And as a manager, guided the Monarchs to four league titles. After finishing his playing career, Buck O'Neil joined the Chicago Cubs as a scout and later as the first African- American coach in the major leagues. He never did slow down. For the rest of his life, he was active in baseball. Not just from the stands or the dugout. July of this year, he took a turn at bat in a minor league all-star game in Kansas City. They wisely pitched around him. He drew a walk at the age of 94 years old. Buck O'Neil is also remembered as one of the game's best historians and ambassadors. He was a driving force behind the Negro league's baseball museum. He was proud to have been its chairman. But he once said, "it never should have been a Negro league. It shouldn't have been." Buck O'Neil lived long enough to see the game of baseball in America change for the better. He's one of the people we can thank for that. Buck O'Neil was a legend and he was a beautiful human being and we honor the memory of Buck O'Neil. One day in 1961, Ruth Colvin of Syracuse, New York, read a disturbing statistic in the morning newspaper. She learned that more than 11,000 people in her hometown could not read. Ruth wondered why isn't somebody doing something about it. Ruth decided that she would do something. Working out of her basement, she formed a network of citizens willing to donate their time as reading tutors. Before long, that network reached beyond Syracuse and beyond New York and it had a name -- Literacy Volunteers of America. Over the years, the volunteers have helped hundreds of thousands of adults learn the reading and language skills they need to build a better life. Ruth rightly says, "the ability to read and write is critical to personal freedom and the maintenance of a democratic society." Ruth's good influence has continued to grow. She travels the world promoting literacy with her husband and best friend, Bob. She started literacy campaigns on multiple continents. Ruth has also made many dear friends, including another great crusader for literacy, my mother. Ruth's children, Terry and Lindy, know what I know, that you better listen to your mother. Ruth has said, "I am and always have been a volunteer." More than that, Ruth Colvin is a person of intelligence and vision and heart and she has earned the gratitude of many and the admiration of us all. Congratulations.</s>COLLINS: President Bush giving out the first three presidential medals of freedom. We heard about former Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, John Buck O'Neil, the first African-American coach, and Ruth Johnson Colvin of Literacy Volunteers of America. There are several other people to be honoring today. This is quite a remarkable day for them and their families as the highest civilian honor that the president gives. Tony.</s>HARRIS: Waiting to hear the tribute to B.B. King, of course, and Norman Francis. I'm really looking forward to that. The president of Xavier University. A big comeback for Xavier after Hurricane Katrina. More of the service perhaps a little bit later we will dip in and give you a little bit more of the flavor of the medal of freedom ceremony right now at the White House. We will take a break and we will come back with more of the day's news. You are in the NEWSROOM.