Purported Tape From al Zarqawi, Bush Addresses Nation on Pocketbook Issues
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we'll go ahead and get started. Let's take a look at what's happening now in the news. A very bloody day in Baghdad, nine car bombs and two roadside bombs exploded over a three-hour period. At least 24 people were kid, another 98 wounded. Two of the bombs went off within 50 yards and several minutes of each other. The targets were mainly Iraqi soldiers and police. CNN has learned the launch of the space shuttle Discovery has been delayed again. NASA officials have a news conference for the bottom of the hour. The delay is being blamed on security concerns. The space agency now hopes to launch Discovery in July. Late last night, the Senate gave final congressional approval to the 2006 budget. The resolution passed by five votes in the Senate and just three in the House. It includes $2.6 trillion in that budget, tax cuts and a plan to reduce the growth of Medicaid spending. And former Senator Zell Miller was in the hospital overnight. Miller became ill while giving a speech in north Georgia. He was kept in the hospital for observation and released two hours ago. Miller's wife said that he has had flu-like symptoms for a couple of days. The 73-year-old left the Senate in January. Good morning. Thanks for joining me on this Friday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. We begin in Iraq, where 11 different bombs erupt in an exceptionally violent day. Amid those explosions a single voice may be nearly as loud. Earlier this morning, an audiotape purported to be the voice of terrorist leader Musab al Zarqawi was posted on the Internet. CNN's Ryan Chilcote is in Baghdad with details. Ryan, hello.</s>RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Daryn, we'll start with that audiotape purportedly from Abu Musab al Zarqawi. It appeared on two different Internet sites. We can't independently verify its authenticity. but several people that watch these kind of messages say they believe it's authentic. In that tape the speaker makes a reference to March, suggesting that the tape was recorded in March. And in that tape the speaker basically appeals to insurgents here in Iraq, calling on them to continue their attacks on both Iraqi and U.S. forces here. And there have been plenty of those. We'll tell but some of them in Baghdad today. starting in eastern Baghdad, a double bombing there, one car bomb going off. A Reuters' crew rushing to the scene, getting footage as a second bomb went off. Thankfully the Reuters' crew was OK. However, one Iraqi civilian was killed in that attack. Eight Iraqi policemen wounded. All in all, 11 bombs went off in Baghdad before noon today. All of them targeting Iraq's security forces, Iraqi police telling us all in all, at least 23 people killed in those attacks and about 100 wounded. The U.S. military has come out with a statement since then saying that really, this is a desperate attempt among the insurgents, among the terrorists to try and discredit Iraq's new government. Of course, what we're seeing today, these attacks on Iraqi security forces really are actually a longstanding tactic from the insurgents to try and intimidate people, to intimidate Iraqis from signing up to join Iraqi security forces. There again, the U.S. military saying the insurgents have been unsuccessful. They say recruiting is up -- Daryn.</s>KAGAN: Ryan Chilcote, live from Baghdad. Thank you. The issues of Iraq and terrorism were among President Bush's topics of last night's prime time news conference. Mr. Bush says progress is being made in Iraq. But maintained his refusal to set a date for withdrawing U.S. troops. And he says progress is being made in the war on terror.</s>GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our strategy is to stay on the offense, is to keep the pressure on these people. It's to cut off their money and share intelligence and to find them where they hide. And we are making good progress. The al Qaeda network that attacked the United States has been severely diminished.</s>KAGAN: The president's two main points topped his domestic agenda, reforming Social Security and reining in the soaring cost of gasoline. Our White House Suzanne Malveaux takes a closer look.</s>SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Bush focusing on pocketbook issues, gas prices and Social Security. At one point, endorsing a plan for Social Security change.</s>BUSH: So I propose a Social Security system in the future where benefits for low income worker will grow faster than benefits for people who are better off.</s>MALVEAUX: The rare prime time press conference comes after the president spent the last two months crisscrossing the country to sell his plan, to allow younger retirees to invest a portion of their Social Security payroll taxes into private investment accounts. But polls have shown Americans are growing increasingly resistant to the idea. And Mr. Bush's approval rating is at an all-time low. But still, the president refused to back down on the issue of private accounts.</s>BUSH: I feel strongly that there needs to be voluntary personal savings accounts on part of the Social Security system.</s>MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush also wanted to convince Americans he, too, was concerned about soaring gas prices, even if there was little he could do about it.</s>BUSH: Listen, the energy bill is certainly no quick fix. You can't wave a magic wand. I wish I could.</s>MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush also addressed foreign policy issues, such as the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, the volatility of Iraq, and Russian's intent to sell short-range missiles to Syria.</s>BUSH: We're working closely with the Russians on the issue of vehicle-mounted weaponry to Syria. We didn't appreciate that, but we made ourselves clear.</s>MALVEAUX: The president addressed the controversy surrounding his choice for U.S. ambassador to the U.N..</s>BUSH: John Bolton is a blunt guy. Sometimes people say I'm a little too blunt. John Bolton can get the job done at the United Nations.</s>MALVEAUX (on camera): As for President Bush's Social Security reform plan, moderate Republicans are embracing it. But as long as it includes carving out private accounts, Democrats say it say non- starter. The Democratic leadership released a statement saying, and I'm quoting here, "All the president did was confirm that he will pay for his risky privatization scheme by cutting the benefits of middle class seniors." Today, President Bush travels to Northern Virginia to continue to sell his plan. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, the White House.</s>KAGAN: The White House is largely shrugging off Democratic concerns and also firing back. Earlier on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING," we spoke to Dan Bartlett, the president's counselor.</s>DAN BARTLETT, WHITE HOUSE COUNSELOR: The last time that Social Security has been debate for major reforms was about 23 years ago. And in the meantime, it's been demogogued as a political issue by politicians here in Washington. And now we see the very same pattern taking place. And where the Democratic Party has chosen not to put ideas before it, but to just complain about ideas that are being offered by President Bush and other people. But President Bush believes that the American people understand that Social Security, with the path it is on, is not sustainable. The younger Americans who have now just discounted Social Security as something that's going to be there when they retire, is something that we can't ignore as politicians and elected leaders here in Washington.</s>KAGAN: Senior political analyst Bill Schneider joins me now with his analytical eye on the presidential news conference. Did you bring both analytical eyes, Bill?</s>BILL SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, yes. The president said -- you heard him just a minute ago used the clever formulation. He said, "I propose to a Social Security system where benefits for low income workers will grow faster than benefits for people who are better off." Now, that sounds reasonable. It says rich people will not see as fast a growth and maybe they'll pay for part of this. The question is, who's the better off? Well, under the president's proposal, most average workers, middle income workers would see a reduction in their expected benefits, about 20 percent. So it would be the vast majority of Americans who would see what's being portrayed as a cut in their expected Social Security benefits, that they can expect from the system right now. The idea would be that only the lowest income wage earners would be protected because their benefits would grow by a different formula. So it's a cut.</s>KAGAN: It's also a change in President Bush's stance. So isn't that kind of the message to Capitol Hill, I'm trying to work with you here to get something changed?</s>SCHNEIDER: Yes it, is. And that's the one thing you can say the president did accomplish. He stepped up to the plate. He said look, this is going to be difficult, painful, controversial. Here's the proposal I have for making Social Security solvent. It's going to be very controversial. A lot of people do not like it. It is a cut. But it puts Congress kind of on the spot because now he can say to them, as you just heard Dan Bartlett say, what are you going to come up with? Let's talk about this. So he did step up to the plate.</s>KAGAN: Let's talk about judicial nominees. Bill Frist, was there a message in that news conference last night from the president to the Senate majority leader?</s>SCHNEIDER: Absolutely. The president distanced himself from the Senate majority leader who was associated with a political broadcast last weekend that accused Democrats and others who opposed the president's judicial nominations of being against Americans of religion. The president said no, he didn't endorse that view. He said I think people who oppose my nominees don't like the judicial philosophy of the people I nominated. He clearly did not want to endorse the statement of that his opponents on those judges -- the opponents of those judges are against Americans of faith.</s>KAGAN: Bill, interesting side story that developed last night was the relationship between the White House and the television networks. First, the time of its news conference was moved to accommodate prime time schedules. And then not everybody stayed with it.</s>SCHNEIDER: That's right. It's sweeps week. It's the beginning of sweeps week. The networks initially said if he's going to start this thing at 8:30, we're not going to carry it. Or at least we're not going to carry all of it because we're not going to cut into two hours of programming. So at the very end of the president's news conference, NBC CBS and FOX, all broke away from the last three or four minutes. ABC covered it in its entirety. I should mention that ABC has the lowest ratings on this particular night, the other networks have more at stake. The president even made mention of this when he said at the end of his news conference, "I don't want to cut into some of the TV shows that may be airing, for the sake of the economy." And a network executive told "The Washington Post", he took tens of millions of dollars out of the economy tonight.</s>KAGAN: Oh, how nice. Well, you know, in one way, I could see how the White House say we can't win here. First the president is criticized that he doesn't give enough news conferences. And now he has upped the number of conferences he give, so it's not as big of a deal and the networks don't respond.</s>SCHNEIDER: Yes, that's right. The networks are always very reluctant to turn over their precious air time. And they want to know, is the president going to make news? And of course his Social Security statement was the biggest news. But it's a risk for the president to do that. He risks alienating a lot of fans of these shows. And some have been writing to Web sites saying how dare the president break into the "O.C,," my favorite show. If he's trying to pump up his poll numbers that's an outrageous thing to do. So it's a risk for the president to even do this.</s>KAGAN: And here's the thing. There's no risk actually involved. Just ditch the networks. We always have full coverage here on</s>CNN. SCHNEIDER: Absolutely.</s>KAGAN: People can tune in to us and we'll give them what they need.</s>SCHNEIDER: That's right.</s>KAGAN: Bill Schneider, thank you. Good to see up.</s>SCHNEIDER: OK.</s>KAGAN: So, getting back to the president. Who would actually benefit under President Bush's new Social Security plan? Not sure how you measure up? Stick around, we're going to crunch some numbers for you. And she's 80 years old but don't let that fool you, how she managed to carry her neighbor out of a burning building. And later, the search for a Georgia missing bride-to-be continues. The woman's family plans to speak just about two hours from now. CNN will carry that live. We'll get the latest on the investigation a little later in the news cast.</s>KAGAN: Let's head west. Heavy rain have closed roads and caused rivers to rise in northern Utah. The area has had a month of soaking rains plus the snow runoff. Right now, a mudslide is threatening four homes. Southern Utah is on alert for flooding over the next few days. Floods there in January caused an estimated $200 million in damage. Chad Myers is with us this morning, taking a look at the west.</s>KAGAN: So are you doing a job that you really, really love, like Chad loves weather? Still to come, meet people who are getting paid for their passion. We'll take a look at how you can do the same thing. Plus, things aren't going as scheduled on the launch pad. A look at what's going on with the space shuttle Discovery when CNN LIVE TODAY continues.</s>KAGAN: Talking passion now. A calling that perhaps is not your career, many experienced professionals are making radical changes all to follow their dreams. CNN's Gerri Willis takes a look at that.</s>GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR (on camera): That looks like fun.</s>WILLIS (voice-over): What if you can get paid to do this the rest of your life. (on camera): I want to put my fingers in there.</s>JOAN COUKOS, OWNER, CHOCOLAT MODERNE: I just want to jump in.</s>WILLIS (voice-over): That's exactly what Joan Coukos did some four years ago when she left a successful career as a commercial banker to pursue her full time love, chocolate. Coukos dipped into the chocolate business at first, learning the ropes and the recipes. Her banking colleagues thought she was crazy.</s>COUKOS: I would notice at the end of some of our meetings that they'd have very worried looks on their faces.</s>WILLIS: Pushing the cynics aside, she used her savings to start Chocolat Moderne, investing her money into culinary trainings and supplies for her workshop. (on camera): You took money that most people think of the nest egg and really gambled it.</s>COUKOS: Yes.</s>WILLIS: Has it worked for you?</s>COUKOS: Yes, it's really. I think I've made -- I have been more successful than I thought I would be.</s>WILLIS (voice-over): Chocolate, she believes is both a passion and profession she can follow into a successful retirement.</s>COUKOS: There will always be something new and exciting to do.</s>WILLIS: Passion, say the experts, is exactly what it later life workers are looking for. Well, that, and of course, the money. Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners, authors of the book "Don't Retire, Rewire!" say the two are a natural match.</s>JERI SEDLAR, CO-AUTHOR, "DON'T RETIRE, REWIRE!": Start with any interest that you might have. Or if you ever found yourself saying, "one of these day's, I'll..." Or, "if I had the time I'd..." Because it's an interest of yours and you don't know up front where it might lead you. But that can work in conjunction with your skills you're your competencies.</s>WILLIS: Billy Schlosser moved from technology consulting into producing music videos for children. He brought his whole family on board. Making the move required some careful financial planning to get their business started, including refinancing their mortgage. It looks like their $40,000 investment is about to pay off.</s>BILLY SCHLOSSER, PRODUCER, MUSIC VIDEOS: There's always going to be a new 5-year-old every year who would like to listen to this music. And it can be used in any number of ways. So we look at it as building our retirement portfolio while we're doing this.</s>LISA MICHAELS, FOUNDER, LAUGHING PIZZA: It sounds corny but really comes from the heart. So when you're looking for that thing, you don't have to look very far. It's almost better if you just do the thing that you absolutely love.</s>COUKOS: Give these a wack.</s>WILLIS (on camera): Wow! Look at those. (voice-over): Like Coukos, who developed a taste for her chocolate business.</s>COUKOS: I was never someone who really thought about oh, I can't wait until I'm 59, or 60 or 62, so I can like retire and sit on a golf course or something. I mean I just never...</s>WILLIS (on camera): You have to do what you love.</s>COUKOS: Yes! I have to do what you love. And I love to work and I love to work at something that's challenging and creative.</s>KAGAN: We invite to you join Gerri Willis tomorrow morning and become a home detective before that next "OPEN HOUSE." Sellers often try to hide all sorts of problems. Before you buy, we have a few tips you can't afford to miss. That's on CNN's "</s>OPEN HOUSE" 9: 30 a.m. Eastern, 6:30 Pacific right here on CNN. Let's go ahead and take a look at other stories making news "Coast to Coast." The last time we saw this man and his buddy, they were celebrating an amazing find. But police in Massachusetts say their buried treasure story was a hoax. Authorities say the old bank notes and bills were not dug up from one of the men's backyards. Police say the loot was actually taken from a home the men were hired to repair. In Minnesota, the owner of some Siberian tigers goes to court today, while the woman who helps take care of the animals lied in a hospital bed. Police say the woman was attacked by four of the tigers while she was cleaning out their pens. The owner, Grant Oley, managed to pull her to safety, but she suffered severe leg and neck injuries. She is expected to recover. Oley faces zoning and other charges. An 80-year-old woman in Rhode Island will get an award for heroism from the fire department. She saved her 67-year-old neighbor from a fire in her apartment. The rescuer carried her friend down two flights of stairs on her back. The heroin says she has been an auxiliary firefighter about 40 years ago. Good for her. Is there trouble on the ground at NASA? We are standing by for a live new conference. We'll bring it to you live when CNN LIVE TODAY rolls on.</s>KAGAN: Coming up on the half hour, good morning once again. I'm Daryn Kagan. Let's take a look what's happening now in the news. Eleven different explosions have rocked Iraq, all in a three-hour period. Nine car bombs and two roadside blasts erupted a day after the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly chose a new cabinet. The bombs targeted Iraqi security forces and civilians. At least 24 people were killed and 98 wounded. A tape purported to be the voice of Abu Musab al Zarqawi is claiming responsibility for many attacks. CNN cannot yet confirm the authenticity of the tape. The voice also vowed that such attacks will continue, and warns that attacks on U.S. troops will come as well. The recording also includes a message for President Bush.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We pledge to God, oh you, Bush the dog that you will not have tranquility. Nor will you ever be content and happy as long as we have blood flowing in our veins and beating hearts. We, God willing, are coming.</s>KAGAN: That message was carried on two Islamic Web sites. The child molestation trial of Michael Jackson resumes next hour. Prosecutors are saying they'll call three new witnesses. Those three unidentified people will testify without the jurors present so the judge can determine whether they can appear before the jurors. Jackson's ex-wife testified in the last two days. And court observers say the prosecution witness probably actually helped the singer's defense. And a scary moment at a Philadelphia school. Officials say a third grader brought her mother's diabetes blood testing needle to school and stuck 19 students. One later tested positive for HIV on a preliminary test. Experts suggest the preliminary result may be a false positive. The student who brought the needle has been suspended. Right now, President Bush is taking -- actually talking to an audience in Falls Church, Virginia. A live picture there for you from Virginia. He's talking about reforming Social Security. Mr. Bush is speaking before a group of mostly younger technology TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com