What will President Obama do if he fails to get lawmakers' approval for strikes in Syria? Could it could harm the President's agenda in foreign affairs? Then, what's the fate of California's Environmental Quality Act? And Matthew Cordle posted an online video, confessing to killing a man while driving drunk. Are public confessions good for society? Then, Governor Jerry Brown has announced a deal to relieve the state's prison population, and does anyone care about Samsung's new smartwatch? Lastly, we're talking with Author Jeffrey A. Hall on the five flirting styles. What makes a good flirt?
What could Syrian retaliation look like to the US?
In an exclusive interview with CBS News’ Charlie Rose, Syria’s President Bashar Assad denied that his regime used chemical weapons and issued a warning that the U.S. should “expect everything” in response to any strike on Syria.
The White House is pushing Congress this week to approve punitive military strikes against the Middle Eastern nation, in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack in which more than 1400 civilians were killed. Assad said repeatedly that the U.S. doesn’t have "a single shred" of evidence that his military was behind the attack.
If the U.S. does strike, what would retaliation by Syria look like?
Guests:
Sean Sullivan, Political Reporter, Washington Post
Stephen Biddle, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, The George Washington University; Adjunct Senior Fellow for Defense Policy, Council on Foreign Relations
What's the fate of California's landmark Environmental Quality Act?
Sacramento lawmakers have shown overwhelming support for a bill that would alter the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), but last-minute amendments highlight how contentious negotiations have been.
Senate bill 731 would speed up certain construction projects, relying on regional environmental reviews rather than requiring new studies.
Advocates say it would also provide "a more predictable regulatory process for renewable energy and infill development [overall]." Business groups say unions have been using the litigious power of CEQA for ulterior reasons - to ensure unionized workers get first dibs of approved development work.
The major proponent of SB 731 is California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg. On Friday, he added new amendments in hopes of winning over business groups and to sustain momentum of the bill. It awaits another vote in the Assembly, then the Senate, then Governor Jerry Brown's signature.
Exactly which business groups are opposed to the new bill and why? How much does it include oil & gas interests? Why are union and environmental groups united in support?
Guests:
David Pettit, Senior Attorney, Natural Resources Defense Council and director of NRDC's Southern California Air Program
Jennifer Hernandez, Attorney with Holland & Knight law firm; Hernandez specializes in CEQA on behalf of developers; she co-chairs Holland & Knight’s National Environmental Team and leads the West Coast Land Use and Environment Practice Group for the San Francisco firm
Is there any public benefit to posting a video confessing to a crime online? (Poll)
“My name is Matthew Cordle, and on June 22, 2013, I hit and killed Vincent Canzani. This video will act as my confession.”
A powerful line from Cordle’s video confession that went viral last week after being posted on Sept. 3 on the website Becauseisaidiwould.com, a website that asks its users to actually fulfill their promises.
At the time the 22-year-old had not been charged with a crime, but was a suspect in the deadly crash. The video itself is well produced and begins with Cordle’s face blurred as he tells his story about drinking heavily with a friend then driving and losing control of the vehicle.
Cordle reached out to Alex Sheen of Becauseisaidiwould.com Facebook page with the idea to create this confession video. It was produced and posted before Cordle admitted anything to police.
In the video, Cordle says he wants the video to serve as a warning for others.
"Matthew's ultimate goal was to raise awareness to what are irresponsible actions," said Sheen on AirTalk. "Have a beer or two, the line blurs. Are two OK? Are three OK? That's what we're doing across the country, and it's a serious issue. He's reformed my behavior and I'm hoping that this video does the same for others."
While some people see this as a testament to Cordle’s integrity and character, others are not so sure it's entirely genuine. Some might argue that Cordle is just hoping to get off on a lighter sentence or to gain a level of fame from the widely distributed video.
However, Jack Marshall of the ethics training firm ProEthics disagrees with the criticism.
"I think it is always superb from an ethical standpoint when someone who knows they committed a crime and knows they did something wrong goes to the justice system and admits that straight out," said Marshall on AirTalk. "Very many altruistic acts are self-serving, all ethical acts do make you feel good about yourself...you don't cancel out the benefit of an ethical act by saying it makes you feel better."
For now, the video has not kept Cordle out of trouble. Cordle was indicted Monday for aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony. His arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, and he faces up to more than eight years in prison.
Weigh In:
What are the implications of posting a confession video online? Is this good for society? Is Cordle seeking a lighter sentence by gaining public sympathy? Will others learn from his mistake, or is he seeking notoriety?
Guests:
Alex Sheen, founder of Becauseisaidiwould.com, produced Matthew Cordle’s confession video
Jack Marshall, president of ProEthics, an ethics training firm based outside Washington DC, former prosecutor
Prison overcrowding relief deal unveiled
Gov. Jerry Brown and the four legislative leaders have announced a deal on relieving the state's prison population, agreeing to ask a panel of federal judges to extend the end-of-the-year deadline on releasing thousands of inmates.
The deal hinges on the state's ability to persuade three federal judges to give California time to let rehabilitation programs work rather than spending $315 million to lease cells in private prisons and available county jails.
Guest:
Ben Adler, Capital Bureau Chief at Capital Public Radio in Sacramento
The smartwatch race is on, but does anyone care?
Samsung has just announced the release of a brand new smartwatch. The Samsung Galaxy Gear can take photos and answer phone calls. One caveat though, the device must be used along and only works with a few Samsung products. The gadget goes on sale in October and costs around $300.
Smartwatches from Sony and Qualcomm are already out in the market. And it’s no secret that Apple’s next big product is going to be a smartwatch. As the consumer electronics war goes from smartphones to wearable devices, would consumers follow? Do you have any interest in buying, or wearing, a smartwatch?
Guests:
Cliff Edwards, reporter who covers consumer electronics for Bloomberg News and Bloomberg Businessweek
Shane Walker, an analyst at IHS, an information and analytics firm. IHS has just released a report on the viability of the smartwatch market.
Which of 'The Five Flirting Styles' do you use?
There is no right or wrong way to flirt, but according to author Jeffrey Hall there are five different styles.
In his new book, "The Five Flirting Styles: Use the Science of Flirting to Attract the Love You Really Want ," he examines five key styles: polite, playful, sincere, and traditional. Take the quiz here to see which one you are.
Based on his research Hall found that most people are a mixture of styles, but usually have a dominate one. For example, the polite flirts advances are usually “respectful and hands-off.” Hall recommends polite flirts to be more direct to better convey interest. In his book, Hall explains where each type can be most effective, how to use your style to navigate the world of online dating, and what you can improve on.
Do you consider yourself a good flirt? What styles work for you?
Guest:
Dr. Jeffrey A. Hall, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at The University of Kansas. Author of "The Five Flirting Styles: Use the Science of Flirting to Attract the Love You Really Want"