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CNN Live At Daybreak
Fight For Iraq: Abuse, Assassination; America's Voice; Today's Talker
Aired May 18, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We are just one day away from the first legal proceeding in the prison abuse scandal and one day after a suicide bombing in Baghdad that killed the president of Iraq's Governing Council.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and Harris Whitbeck for a preview.
Good morning.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
A memorial service for Izzedine Salim, the president of the Iraqi Governing Council who was killed during a suicide car bombing yesterday, was held today inside the green zone in Baghdad. That memorial service was attended by U.S. Administrator Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi Governing Council.
Bremer said at the service that the killing of Salim will not undermine U.S. efforts to transfer power to Iraq on June 30.
COSTELLO: I thought we were going to hear from Mr. Bremer, but apparently not.
Harris Whitbeck, are you still there?
WHITBECK: Yes, I am.
COSTELLO: Yes, you are.
WHITBECK: I guess we didn't hear from him.
Now, the other big preparations under way in Baghdad are for the military court proceedings, which are to begin tomorrow, Carol. Three U.S. soldiers will be arraigned on charges of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. Those soldiers are Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick who is charged with assault, maltreating of prisoners, conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, dereliction of duty and wrongfully committing an indecent act by watching detainees commit a sexual act. Sergeant Javal Davis will also be arraigned on similar charges, as will Specialist Charles Graner.
Now, according to sworn statements, Graner ordered prisoners to be stripped. He punched one of them unconscious, and then posed for pictures, standing in front of nude detainees.
Now, another court proceeding, a special court-martial that Specialist Jeremy Sivits will be charged tomorrow with conspiracy, dereliction of duty, cruelty and maltreatment.
A lot of interest here in the Iraqi capital on these proceedings, but people CNN spoke to on the streets of Baghdad today didn't show much confidence in that the military court proceedings would actually result in justice being brought to those responsible for prisoner abuse.
Now, the U.S. military and U.S. civilian officials in Baghdad are very interested in that these court proceedings be broadcast to as many people as possible. There will be facilities for the press, and these proceedings will be translated live and simultaneously into Arabic -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning.
Families of those Army Reserves that Harris mentioned, 322 Military Police Company, will hold a prayer vigil in Cumberland, Maryland, tonight. That company is at the center of the prison abuse scandal.
And here is more on the latest out of Iraq this morning.
U.S. troops killed nine fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Karbala today. Ten others were wounded.
Elsewhere, four coalition soldiers and at least 50 Iraqis were reportedly killed in heavy fighting around southern Iraq. Three of the coalition troops were American.
U.S. officials are conducting more tests on a device that exploded over the weekend at Baghdad Airport to see if it contained sarin gas. Military authorities say the artillery round was the kind Saddam Hussein's regime said it no longer had after the first Gulf War.
So, having said all of that, we have some new numbers to show you this morning courtesy of our friends at Gallup.
Let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey and Gallup Poll editor- in-chief Frank Newport.
Good morning -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.
We've been studying carefully Americans' reactions to Iraq, and it's ambivalent to some degree. Now, our CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll asking was it worth it to go to war, down below a majority, 44 percent. But a lot of polls say do you favor the basic decision to begin with to go to war, and that's still a majority. In other words, it looks like to me as I studied the data Americans still may support the basic idea to begin with, they don't like what's happened since.
Here is one example of that ambivalent I thought summarizes it. This is the CNN/"TIME" poll that was released late last week and over the weekend. The question was: Has the military campaign been a success? And look at the ambivalence here: 19 successful, 26 unsuccessful, which is up some. But in between, you've got 52 percent, and that's kind of that gray zone where Americans are still trying to figure out all in all what's happening over there in Iraq.
And every day, as we've just seen, Carol, as new news comes in, these attitudes may change almost on a daily basis -- Carol.
COSTELLO: How about the attitudes towards same-sex marriage in light of what's happening now in Massachusetts?
NEWPORT: Boy, that's certainly gotten the headlines. We still have a situation where the average American, about 42 percent only, support legalized gay marriage. In other words, what's happening in Massachusetts is in opposition to what the majority of Americans believe.
But there are big age differences here. I thought you'd be interested. If you're a young American, 58 percent favor same-sex marriage. See that? And then as you get older, it's a straight linear relationship to all the way where you're 65 and older, only 23 percent support it. So, this is a very age-related issue, as well as, of course, being a liberal-conservative issue as well.
We've seen a little increase in support for civil unions as a result of the emphasis on gay marriage, which we thought was interesting. It's gone from 44 percent support now up to 49. These are civil unions, not marriage.
But, I think, Carol, interestingly, the emphasis on legalized gay marriage has made a lot of Americans say, well, maybe I don't support that, but I do support this idea of legal civil unions.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, so it is Pope John II's birthday today. So, who do you have on the most admired people list?
NEWPORT: Indeed. This is the 18th of May, the 84th birthday of the pope. He is extremely well admired. Every year we ask Americans who is the living man anywhere in the world you most admire. Since 1948, the pope has been on that list the third most times of anybody we've asked about. Bill Graham heads the list, then Ronald Reagan, but there it is: 26 straight years -- or not straight years, but 26 years in general Pope John Paul II has been on our list of most admired people among Americans anywhere in the world -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Frank Newport live from Princeton, New Jersey, thanks, as always.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, who is to blame? We're talking gas prices. And as you might guess, voices from the left and the right have a lot to say about the soaring cost of a fill-up.
And hear what one farmer wants to do with his record-sized egg. Take a look at that thing. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 6:39 Eastern Time. Time for a little business buzz.
Saying "fill 'er up" can empty your wallet, but do I really need to even tell you that?
Carrie Lee has the numbers for us live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
What, we're over $2 a gallon now?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: You knew this day was going to come, Carol. We've been talking about rising gas prices for weeks now. The average climbing above the $2 mark for a gallon of regular gasoline nationwide. That's up 20 cents from a month ago and up nearly 52 cents from this time a year ago. Gas prices have been rising because of elevated oil prices, which make up nearly half the cost of gasoline.
Yesterday, the price for crude oil trading in New York finished at $41.50 a barrel. That's a new record, in part because of worries about terrorism and uncertainty about oil producer, Iraq.
Now, CNN actually asked the U.S. Department of Energy if the agency planned to tap into what's called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if oil prices continued to climb. And basically the response was that the president believes this reserve should be used only for protection against oil supply disruption and not to manipulate price.
Of course, part of the concern, Carol, for gasoline are the oil constraints, that we won't have enough supply to meet demand. Those big SUVs, though, aren't helping. Interesting, because there's a story on the CNN "Money" Web site saying, though, that we'd have to see gasoline prices rise some more for a longer period of time across the nation before people give up those gas-guzzling vehicles. So...
COSTELLO: But I have to say, SUV sales down 15 percent, so maybe it's starting.
LEE: That's true, down 15 percent in April, but still up about 8 percent so far this year. So, we're starting to see maybe a little bit of a chink, but we're going to have to see some prolonged elevated prices for us to really see a difference in these sales. That's what experts are saying anyway.
COSTELLO: We love our SUVs.
LEE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
So, our hot "Talker" today, of course, is gas prices. Will they continue to rise, or will they dip right before the November election, as some Democrats charge?
With us as usual on Tuesday, syndicated conservative libertarian talk master Neal Boortz, and liberal talker Mike Malloy.
Welcome to both of you, gentlemen.
NEAL BOORTZ, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Hey, Carol.
MIKE MALLOY, LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: How are you doing?
COSTELLO: Before we begin, I'd like to show you a picture out of Florida, because we thought this was funny. This is at a gas station in South Daytona, Florida, "arm, leg, first born." People are becoming really upset about gas prices.
So, in the spirit of full disclosure, Neal, what kind of car do you drive?
BOORTZ: Me?
COSTELLO: Yes.
BOORTZ: I walk to work.
COSTELLO: Oh, come on!
BOORTZ: No. A Mercedes.
COSTELLO: A Mercedes!
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: Does it get good gas mileage?
BOORTZ: It gets excellent gas mileage. I'm averaging 23-24 miles to the gallon.
COSTELLO: Very nice.
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: How about you, Mike?
MALLOY: I thought Neal was the Hummer type. I drive a PT Cruiser.
COSTELLO: Oh, a PT Cruiser!
BOORTZ: Hey, wait, wait a minute!
MALLOY: Yes.
BOORTZ: What was that big pickup truck I saw you pull into the parking lot in?
MALLOY: That was my car was in the shop, and that was two weeks ago, Neal, before gas prices topped out over $2.
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: That was his wife's car, Neal.
BOORTZ: OK.
MALLOY: Yes, right.
BOORTZ: It's the family's car.
COSTELLO: That's right. So, Mike, let's start with you. Who do you blame for high gas prices?
MALLOY: I can remember during the 2000 campaign, Carol, when George -- this is back when gas was $28 a barrel -- I'm sorry, oil was $28 a barrel. And I remember George Bush in the campaign saying that he would contact his friends in the Middle East if he were elected president and get the price down. I believe the term he used was he would jawbone the price down.
Now, yesterday I believe it was Spencer Abraham who said -- the head of the Energy Department, said we're not going to go to the OPEC nations begging for a price reduction.
So, once again, as far as I'm concerned, it's a lack of leadership in the White House.
COSTELLO: Neal, do you agree?
BOORTZ: OK, first of all, let's put this into perspective. It's not a record. In 1974, we were paying, adjusted for inflation, more than we are paying now. The only true way to measure the price of gasoline is how much does it cost you to drive a mile in your car?
COSTELLO: Neal, are you avoiding the question?
BOORTZ: No! This is how much -- we need to -- nobody else in the media will do it. We need to put perspective into this. It costs less per mile to drive a car right now than it did in the early 1970s.
Now, who's to blame? We haven't built a refinery in this country since 1976. Our refining capacity is down by half. The environmental movement won't let us get up there in Anwar (ph) and develop some of the reserves we need around here. There is a terrorism tax, if you will, of $4 to $5 per barrel on the price of crude oil right now. And I'm sure Mike understands that in the year 2000 when Bush was talking about jawboning the oil nations, we still had two very tall buildings standing in New York that aren't there anymore. Things change, situations change.
MALLOY: Yes, but, Neal, you know, at some point, you folks on the right are going to have to stop blaming every single problem that George Bush has created on the attacks on this country September 11.
As far as refining capacity is concerned, that's a function of the oil companies. They know -- or historically they know that these price spikes are not something they can count on. The prices of oil go up, the refining companies -- the oil companies say, OK, let's build new refineries. When they have done that in the past, then when the prices fall again, they're left with a capital investment from which they cannot get their money back.
BOORTZ: I understand that, Mike.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about...
BOORTZ: Also, the environmental movement won't let you build any new refineries now.
MALLOY: No.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about that. In light of all of what both of you have said, why not open up the oil reserves and get some oil coming out of there, get the gas pumping and get the prices down...
(CROSSTALK)
BOORTZ: Carol, they are for emergencies. I mean, just because we had some Democratic presidents do that in the past in order to curry favor with the electorate doesn't mean you do it again. It is for an emergency. It is to take care of a total disruption in the oil supply.
Look, demand is going up. People are driving. Even these SUVs we love to demonize get better gas mileage than the average automobile did 20 years ago.
MALLOY: Well, the...
BOORTZ: So, the demand is going up, the emergency is not here. People need to quit whining. If they don't like the gas price, cut back on their driving.
MALLOY: Well, you know, Neal may be closer to the truth there than he realizes. We are dealing...
COSTELLO: Mike.
MALLOY: Well, let me finish, and, you know, you might not say, "Mike." We are dealing with fossil fuels. We should not be dealing with fossil fuels. We have reached a point on the planet where the reserves are not there. The country that still maintains reserves is Saudi Arabia. Their oil is a high sulfur oil that a lot of countries are not using.
What we need to do is turn to the environmentalists that Neal loves to demonize and look for a way out of this. At some point, this century, this century, Neal, we're going to run out of oil globally. What do we do then?
COSTELLO: Oh! And on that note, we have to stop our debate for this morning. Mike Malloy, Neal Boortz.
BOORTZ: OK.
COSTELLO: Thank you for joining us. And, of course, both of you...
MALLOY: Thanks, Carol.
BOORTZ: Good-bye.
COSTELLO: ... we'll be back next Tuesday.
Let's head live to New York now to check in with Bill and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
And you guys have a full plate this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, well, that's a healthy discussion, Carol.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Good morning.
HEMMER: It's something to wake you up at 6:45 in the morning.
COSTELLO: It was spirited, wasn't it?
HEMMER: Yes, big time. We are a day away from that court- martial proceeding with Specialist Sivits in Baghdad. We'll get to Harris Whitbeck for the latest on what's happening and what we can anticipate tomorrow and whether or not there are going to be any surprises there. We'll check it out this morning.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we're talking about the 9/11 hearings in New York City. We're going to hear from the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean. Also, the vice chairman, Lee Hamilton, talking to us this morning as well.
HEMMER: Also, it is that time of the year. Lot more families going to the beach, and already this week we report at least four deaths as the result of people getting caught up in the rip current tides. We'll talk to some very young girls today, ages 9, 10 and 11. They got caught up. They were saved. We'll talk to the guy who helped pitch in there and what you need to know this summer going to the beach with your family.
O'BRIEN: Yes, all that's ahead this morning. Plus, we're talking about the low-carb craze. There is a bunch of new studies now about the low-car craze, and, of course, we're going to talk about that. Sanjay Gupta has a report on that this morning.
COSTELLO: We'll look forward to it all.
O'BRIEN: That's what we've got for you.
COSTELLO: Only that? I'm just kidding.
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Bill and Soledad, many thanks. We'll see you in about 10 minutes.
HEMMER: See you later.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:48 Eastern Time. Here's what's all new this morning.
Israeli rocket attacks kill at least 13 Palestinians in the Raffa (ph) refugee camp on the border with Egypt. Later, hundreds of Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled in.
The independent commission looking into the September 11 attacks opens a hearing in New York City today. It will look into whether were missteps and problems that led to deaths that could have been avoided.
In money news, Lucent Technologies agrees to pay a $25 million fine for not cooperating with government investigators in a securities fraud investigation. It is the largest penalty ever imposed by the SEC against a company for failing to cooperate.
In sports, Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe says he is retiring after 14 years in the NFL. A CBS spokeswoman says Sharpe will replace Deion Sanders on the "NFL Today" pre-game show.
In culture, Don Hewitt, the creator of "60 Minutes," is being honored tonight in a farewell tribute. Hewitt, who is 81 years old, has spent 50 years in the field of broadcast journalism.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. We'll be right back with more DAYBREAK after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.
Some chatting time about the Olympics, the summer Olympic games of 2012.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: 2012 seems like an eternity away.
COSTELLO: Doesn't it?
MARCIANO: What are they trying to decide where it's going to be.
COSTELLO: They are trying to decide where it's going to be. And, of course, New York is in the running. Nine cities selected right now, and the International Olympic Committee will narrow that list to either four or six. They say New York is sure to make the cut. We won't know the final decision until July of 2005.
MARCIANO: Well, what do you think? I mean, what will be your guess? Rio would be fun.
COSTELLO: You know, Madrid would be beautiful.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Paris.
MARCIANO: But they had it Barcelona not too long ago.
COSTELLO: Yes, of course, I'm hoping for New York, because that would be awesome.
MARCIANO: Because then it would be an easy pitch to send Carol Costello up there to cover it.
COSTELLO: Wouldn't that be great?
MARCIANO: It would be a much cheaper expense (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: It would, but, you know, some of the problems with New York being chosen now is the image America has in the world.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it's affecting the decision of the International Olympic Committee. So, it will be interesting to see what happens.
MARCIANO: Have they gotten their act straightened out? Or are they still taking a little bit on the side?
COSTELLO: No comment.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: Oh, I don't know. Hopefully, they've gotten their act together.
MARCIANO: We have a new mug today. What happened -- I don't even have a DAYBREAK mug, and now we don't even have one to give away.
COSTELLO: I think someone took the DAYBREAK mug, but we have plenty more. Don't worry.
MARCIANO: OK, good.
COSTELLO: They're coming in to us. It is time to reveal the winner of the DAYBREAK coffee mug quiz. On Monday, we asked: As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education" decision, what Topeka school did Linda Brown attend? The answer is Monroe Elementary. We also asked this: How many Clio advertising award categories are there? The answer is 10 categories.
And the winner is Nan Day from Huber-Heights, Ohio. That's up near Cleveland. Congratulations, Nan.
MARCIANO: From your home state.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MARCIANO: Hey, here's the questions for today's coffee quiz. How many times has Pope John Paul II appeared in the top 10 on Gallup's most admired men list? And the second question is, what television show is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its first season with the release of a DVD set on Tuesday?
We'll name the winner tomorrow.
COSTELLO: That's right. Daybreak@CNN.com. Daybreak@CNN.com. Keep your answers flying in.
Rob will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And as we've been telling you, Pope John Paul will get a pie for his birthday baked by the nuns.
MARCIANO: No kidding.
COSTELLO: No kidding. Candles...
MARCIANO: I wonder if George Steinbrenner (ph) is going to bake Reggie Jackson maybe a little pie or cake for his birthday.
COSTELLO: I'm sure.
MARCIANO: Mr. October.
COSTELLO: You know how emotional and sensitive Mr. Steinbrenner (ph) is.
MARCIANO: They're still close, kind of.
COSTELLO: I bet.
Time for our "Lighting Round." It may look like it came from an ostrich, but take a look. A chicken laid this egg. This happened in the Ukraine. This egg weighs a half a pound. We don't know what happened to the chicken. Can you imagine that poor chicken?
MARCIANO: Or how big the chicken was.
COSTELLO: It's just not fair to be a female anything. When the farmer who owns the chicken was asked what he was going to do with this big egg, he said, "I'm going to fry it. What am I supposed to do? Sit and look at it?"
MARCIANO: Sure. That could be the equivalent of a five-egg omelet, I suppose.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
MARCIANO: They just showed the rooster. I don't know if he had anything to do with it.
COSTELLO: I'm sure he did, but it wasn't painful. Most of us look forward to retiring while we're still in double digits, but this teacher in Mexico is still imparting wisdom to her students. She's 101 years old. She's been teaching for 86 years. Congratulations to her. What patience she must have.
MARCIANO: No doubt about it. That's great. Congratulations.
COSTELLO: Yes.
"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now. You make it a great day.
MARCIANO: See you later.
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Aired May 18, 2004 - 06:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We are just one day away from the first legal proceeding in the prison abuse scandal and one day after a suicide bombing in Baghdad that killed the president of Iraq's Governing Council.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and Harris Whitbeck for a preview.
Good morning.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
A memorial service for Izzedine Salim, the president of the Iraqi Governing Council who was killed during a suicide car bombing yesterday, was held today inside the green zone in Baghdad. That memorial service was attended by U.S. Administrator Paul Bremer and members of the Iraqi Governing Council.
Bremer said at the service that the killing of Salim will not undermine U.S. efforts to transfer power to Iraq on June 30.
COSTELLO: I thought we were going to hear from Mr. Bremer, but apparently not.
Harris Whitbeck, are you still there?
WHITBECK: Yes, I am.
COSTELLO: Yes, you are.
WHITBECK: I guess we didn't hear from him.
Now, the other big preparations under way in Baghdad are for the military court proceedings, which are to begin tomorrow, Carol. Three U.S. soldiers will be arraigned on charges of prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. Those soldiers are Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick who is charged with assault, maltreating of prisoners, conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, dereliction of duty and wrongfully committing an indecent act by watching detainees commit a sexual act. Sergeant Javal Davis will also be arraigned on similar charges, as will Specialist Charles Graner.
Now, according to sworn statements, Graner ordered prisoners to be stripped. He punched one of them unconscious, and then posed for pictures, standing in front of nude detainees.
Now, another court proceeding, a special court-martial that Specialist Jeremy Sivits will be charged tomorrow with conspiracy, dereliction of duty, cruelty and maltreatment.
A lot of interest here in the Iraqi capital on these proceedings, but people CNN spoke to on the streets of Baghdad today didn't show much confidence in that the military court proceedings would actually result in justice being brought to those responsible for prisoner abuse.
Now, the U.S. military and U.S. civilian officials in Baghdad are very interested in that these court proceedings be broadcast to as many people as possible. There will be facilities for the press, and these proceedings will be translated live and simultaneously into Arabic -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live from Baghdad this morning.
Families of those Army Reserves that Harris mentioned, 322 Military Police Company, will hold a prayer vigil in Cumberland, Maryland, tonight. That company is at the center of the prison abuse scandal.
And here is more on the latest out of Iraq this morning.
U.S. troops killed nine fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Karbala today. Ten others were wounded.
Elsewhere, four coalition soldiers and at least 50 Iraqis were reportedly killed in heavy fighting around southern Iraq. Three of the coalition troops were American.
U.S. officials are conducting more tests on a device that exploded over the weekend at Baghdad Airport to see if it contained sarin gas. Military authorities say the artillery round was the kind Saddam Hussein's regime said it no longer had after the first Gulf War.
So, having said all of that, we have some new numbers to show you this morning courtesy of our friends at Gallup.
Let's head live to Princeton, New Jersey and Gallup Poll editor- in-chief Frank Newport.
Good morning -- Frank.
FRANK NEWPORT, GALLUP POLL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.
We've been studying carefully Americans' reactions to Iraq, and it's ambivalent to some degree. Now, our CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll asking was it worth it to go to war, down below a majority, 44 percent. But a lot of polls say do you favor the basic decision to begin with to go to war, and that's still a majority. In other words, it looks like to me as I studied the data Americans still may support the basic idea to begin with, they don't like what's happened since.
Here is one example of that ambivalent I thought summarizes it. This is the CNN/"TIME" poll that was released late last week and over the weekend. The question was: Has the military campaign been a success? And look at the ambivalence here: 19 successful, 26 unsuccessful, which is up some. But in between, you've got 52 percent, and that's kind of that gray zone where Americans are still trying to figure out all in all what's happening over there in Iraq.
And every day, as we've just seen, Carol, as new news comes in, these attitudes may change almost on a daily basis -- Carol.
COSTELLO: How about the attitudes towards same-sex marriage in light of what's happening now in Massachusetts?
NEWPORT: Boy, that's certainly gotten the headlines. We still have a situation where the average American, about 42 percent only, support legalized gay marriage. In other words, what's happening in Massachusetts is in opposition to what the majority of Americans believe.
But there are big age differences here. I thought you'd be interested. If you're a young American, 58 percent favor same-sex marriage. See that? And then as you get older, it's a straight linear relationship to all the way where you're 65 and older, only 23 percent support it. So, this is a very age-related issue, as well as, of course, being a liberal-conservative issue as well.
We've seen a little increase in support for civil unions as a result of the emphasis on gay marriage, which we thought was interesting. It's gone from 44 percent support now up to 49. These are civil unions, not marriage.
But, I think, Carol, interestingly, the emphasis on legalized gay marriage has made a lot of Americans say, well, maybe I don't support that, but I do support this idea of legal civil unions.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, so it is Pope John II's birthday today. So, who do you have on the most admired people list?
NEWPORT: Indeed. This is the 18th of May, the 84th birthday of the pope. He is extremely well admired. Every year we ask Americans who is the living man anywhere in the world you most admire. Since 1948, the pope has been on that list the third most times of anybody we've asked about. Bill Graham heads the list, then Ronald Reagan, but there it is: 26 straight years -- or not straight years, but 26 years in general Pope John Paul II has been on our list of most admired people among Americans anywhere in the world -- Carol.
COSTELLO: All right, Frank Newport live from Princeton, New Jersey, thanks, as always.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, who is to blame? We're talking gas prices. And as you might guess, voices from the left and the right have a lot to say about the soaring cost of a fill-up.
And hear what one farmer wants to do with his record-sized egg. Take a look at that thing. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 6:39 Eastern Time. Time for a little business buzz.
Saying "fill 'er up" can empty your wallet, but do I really need to even tell you that?
Carrie Lee has the numbers for us live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
What, we're over $2 a gallon now?
CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS: You knew this day was going to come, Carol. We've been talking about rising gas prices for weeks now. The average climbing above the $2 mark for a gallon of regular gasoline nationwide. That's up 20 cents from a month ago and up nearly 52 cents from this time a year ago. Gas prices have been rising because of elevated oil prices, which make up nearly half the cost of gasoline.
Yesterday, the price for crude oil trading in New York finished at $41.50 a barrel. That's a new record, in part because of worries about terrorism and uncertainty about oil producer, Iraq.
Now, CNN actually asked the U.S. Department of Energy if the agency planned to tap into what's called the Strategic Petroleum Reserve if oil prices continued to climb. And basically the response was that the president believes this reserve should be used only for protection against oil supply disruption and not to manipulate price.
Of course, part of the concern, Carol, for gasoline are the oil constraints, that we won't have enough supply to meet demand. Those big SUVs, though, aren't helping. Interesting, because there's a story on the CNN "Money" Web site saying, though, that we'd have to see gasoline prices rise some more for a longer period of time across the nation before people give up those gas-guzzling vehicles. So...
COSTELLO: But I have to say, SUV sales down 15 percent, so maybe it's starting.
LEE: That's true, down 15 percent in April, but still up about 8 percent so far this year. So, we're starting to see maybe a little bit of a chink, but we're going to have to see some prolonged elevated prices for us to really see a difference in these sales. That's what experts are saying anyway.
COSTELLO: We love our SUVs.
LEE: Yes.
COSTELLO: Carrie Lee live from the Nasdaq Marketsite.
So, our hot "Talker" today, of course, is gas prices. Will they continue to rise, or will they dip right before the November election, as some Democrats charge?
With us as usual on Tuesday, syndicated conservative libertarian talk master Neal Boortz, and liberal talker Mike Malloy.
Welcome to both of you, gentlemen.
NEAL BOORTZ, CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: Hey, Carol.
MIKE MALLOY, LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE TALK SHOW HOST: How are you doing?
COSTELLO: Before we begin, I'd like to show you a picture out of Florida, because we thought this was funny. This is at a gas station in South Daytona, Florida, "arm, leg, first born." People are becoming really upset about gas prices.
So, in the spirit of full disclosure, Neal, what kind of car do you drive?
BOORTZ: Me?
COSTELLO: Yes.
BOORTZ: I walk to work.
COSTELLO: Oh, come on!
BOORTZ: No. A Mercedes.
COSTELLO: A Mercedes!
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: Does it get good gas mileage?
BOORTZ: It gets excellent gas mileage. I'm averaging 23-24 miles to the gallon.
COSTELLO: Very nice.
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: How about you, Mike?
MALLOY: I thought Neal was the Hummer type. I drive a PT Cruiser.
COSTELLO: Oh, a PT Cruiser!
BOORTZ: Hey, wait, wait a minute!
MALLOY: Yes.
BOORTZ: What was that big pickup truck I saw you pull into the parking lot in?
MALLOY: That was my car was in the shop, and that was two weeks ago, Neal, before gas prices topped out over $2.
BOORTZ: Yes.
COSTELLO: That was his wife's car, Neal.
BOORTZ: OK.
MALLOY: Yes, right.
BOORTZ: It's the family's car.
COSTELLO: That's right. So, Mike, let's start with you. Who do you blame for high gas prices?
MALLOY: I can remember during the 2000 campaign, Carol, when George -- this is back when gas was $28 a barrel -- I'm sorry, oil was $28 a barrel. And I remember George Bush in the campaign saying that he would contact his friends in the Middle East if he were elected president and get the price down. I believe the term he used was he would jawbone the price down.
Now, yesterday I believe it was Spencer Abraham who said -- the head of the Energy Department, said we're not going to go to the OPEC nations begging for a price reduction.
So, once again, as far as I'm concerned, it's a lack of leadership in the White House.
COSTELLO: Neal, do you agree?
BOORTZ: OK, first of all, let's put this into perspective. It's not a record. In 1974, we were paying, adjusted for inflation, more than we are paying now. The only true way to measure the price of gasoline is how much does it cost you to drive a mile in your car?
COSTELLO: Neal, are you avoiding the question?
BOORTZ: No! This is how much -- we need to -- nobody else in the media will do it. We need to put perspective into this. It costs less per mile to drive a car right now than it did in the early 1970s.
Now, who's to blame? We haven't built a refinery in this country since 1976. Our refining capacity is down by half. The environmental movement won't let us get up there in Anwar (ph) and develop some of the reserves we need around here. There is a terrorism tax, if you will, of $4 to $5 per barrel on the price of crude oil right now. And I'm sure Mike understands that in the year 2000 when Bush was talking about jawboning the oil nations, we still had two very tall buildings standing in New York that aren't there anymore. Things change, situations change.
MALLOY: Yes, but, Neal, you know, at some point, you folks on the right are going to have to stop blaming every single problem that George Bush has created on the attacks on this country September 11.
As far as refining capacity is concerned, that's a function of the oil companies. They know -- or historically they know that these price spikes are not something they can count on. The prices of oil go up, the refining companies -- the oil companies say, OK, let's build new refineries. When they have done that in the past, then when the prices fall again, they're left with a capital investment from which they cannot get their money back.
BOORTZ: I understand that, Mike.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about...
BOORTZ: Also, the environmental movement won't let you build any new refineries now.
MALLOY: No.
COSTELLO: Well, let's talk about that. In light of all of what both of you have said, why not open up the oil reserves and get some oil coming out of there, get the gas pumping and get the prices down...
(CROSSTALK)
BOORTZ: Carol, they are for emergencies. I mean, just because we had some Democratic presidents do that in the past in order to curry favor with the electorate doesn't mean you do it again. It is for an emergency. It is to take care of a total disruption in the oil supply.
Look, demand is going up. People are driving. Even these SUVs we love to demonize get better gas mileage than the average automobile did 20 years ago.
MALLOY: Well, the...
BOORTZ: So, the demand is going up, the emergency is not here. People need to quit whining. If they don't like the gas price, cut back on their driving.
MALLOY: Well, you know, Neal may be closer to the truth there than he realizes. We are dealing...
COSTELLO: Mike.
MALLOY: Well, let me finish, and, you know, you might not say, "Mike." We are dealing with fossil fuels. We should not be dealing with fossil fuels. We have reached a point on the planet where the reserves are not there. The country that still maintains reserves is Saudi Arabia. Their oil is a high sulfur oil that a lot of countries are not using.
What we need to do is turn to the environmentalists that Neal loves to demonize and look for a way out of this. At some point, this century, this century, Neal, we're going to run out of oil globally. What do we do then?
COSTELLO: Oh! And on that note, we have to stop our debate for this morning. Mike Malloy, Neal Boortz.
BOORTZ: OK.
COSTELLO: Thank you for joining us. And, of course, both of you...
MALLOY: Thanks, Carol.
BOORTZ: Good-bye.
COSTELLO: ... we'll be back next Tuesday.
Let's head live to New York now to check in with Bill and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."
And you guys have a full plate this morning.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, well, that's a healthy discussion, Carol.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, Carol. Good morning.
HEMMER: It's something to wake you up at 6:45 in the morning.
COSTELLO: It was spirited, wasn't it?
HEMMER: Yes, big time. We are a day away from that court- martial proceeding with Specialist Sivits in Baghdad. We'll get to Harris Whitbeck for the latest on what's happening and what we can anticipate tomorrow and whether or not there are going to be any surprises there. We'll check it out this morning.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, we're talking about the 9/11 hearings in New York City. We're going to hear from the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean. Also, the vice chairman, Lee Hamilton, talking to us this morning as well.
HEMMER: Also, it is that time of the year. Lot more families going to the beach, and already this week we report at least four deaths as the result of people getting caught up in the rip current tides. We'll talk to some very young girls today, ages 9, 10 and 11. They got caught up. They were saved. We'll talk to the guy who helped pitch in there and what you need to know this summer going to the beach with your family.
O'BRIEN: Yes, all that's ahead this morning. Plus, we're talking about the low-carb craze. There is a bunch of new studies now about the low-car craze, and, of course, we're going to talk about that. Sanjay Gupta has a report on that this morning.
COSTELLO: We'll look forward to it all.
O'BRIEN: That's what we've got for you.
COSTELLO: Only that? I'm just kidding.
O'BRIEN: Oh, yes.
COSTELLO: Bill and Soledad, many thanks. We'll see you in about 10 minutes.
HEMMER: See you later.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 6:48 Eastern Time. Here's what's all new this morning.
Israeli rocket attacks kill at least 13 Palestinians in the Raffa (ph) refugee camp on the border with Egypt. Later, hundreds of Israeli tanks and bulldozers rolled in.
The independent commission looking into the September 11 attacks opens a hearing in New York City today. It will look into whether were missteps and problems that led to deaths that could have been avoided.
In money news, Lucent Technologies agrees to pay a $25 million fine for not cooperating with government investigators in a securities fraud investigation. It is the largest penalty ever imposed by the SEC against a company for failing to cooperate.
In sports, Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe says he is retiring after 14 years in the NFL. A CBS spokeswoman says Sharpe will replace Deion Sanders on the "NFL Today" pre-game show.
In culture, Don Hewitt, the creator of "60 Minutes," is being honored tonight in a farewell tribute. Hewitt, who is 81 years old, has spent 50 years in the field of broadcast journalism.
(WEATHER BREAK)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines. We'll be right back with more DAYBREAK after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Welcome back to DAYBREAK.
Some chatting time about the Olympics, the summer Olympic games of 2012.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: 2012 seems like an eternity away.
COSTELLO: Doesn't it?
MARCIANO: What are they trying to decide where it's going to be.
COSTELLO: They are trying to decide where it's going to be. And, of course, New York is in the running. Nine cities selected right now, and the International Olympic Committee will narrow that list to either four or six. They say New York is sure to make the cut. We won't know the final decision until July of 2005.
MARCIANO: Well, what do you think? I mean, what will be your guess? Rio would be fun.
COSTELLO: You know, Madrid would be beautiful.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: Paris.
MARCIANO: But they had it Barcelona not too long ago.
COSTELLO: Yes, of course, I'm hoping for New York, because that would be awesome.
MARCIANO: Because then it would be an easy pitch to send Carol Costello up there to cover it.
COSTELLO: Wouldn't that be great?
MARCIANO: It would be a much cheaper expense (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
COSTELLO: It would, but, you know, some of the problems with New York being chosen now is the image America has in the world.
MARCIANO: Yes.
COSTELLO: And it's affecting the decision of the International Olympic Committee. So, it will be interesting to see what happens.
MARCIANO: Have they gotten their act straightened out? Or are they still taking a little bit on the side?
COSTELLO: No comment.
MARCIANO: OK.
COSTELLO: Oh, I don't know. Hopefully, they've gotten their act together.
MARCIANO: We have a new mug today. What happened -- I don't even have a DAYBREAK mug, and now we don't even have one to give away.
COSTELLO: I think someone took the DAYBREAK mug, but we have plenty more. Don't worry.
MARCIANO: OK, good.
COSTELLO: They're coming in to us. It is time to reveal the winner of the DAYBREAK coffee mug quiz. On Monday, we asked: As we mark the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education" decision, what Topeka school did Linda Brown attend? The answer is Monroe Elementary. We also asked this: How many Clio advertising award categories are there? The answer is 10 categories.
And the winner is Nan Day from Huber-Heights, Ohio. That's up near Cleveland. Congratulations, Nan.
MARCIANO: From your home state.
COSTELLO: Yes.
MARCIANO: Hey, here's the questions for today's coffee quiz. How many times has Pope John Paul II appeared in the top 10 on Gallup's most admired men list? And the second question is, what television show is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its first season with the release of a DVD set on Tuesday?
We'll name the winner tomorrow.
COSTELLO: That's right. Daybreak@CNN.com. Daybreak@CNN.com. Keep your answers flying in.
Rob will join me for "The Lightning Round" coming up, but first the latest headlines for you.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: And as we've been telling you, Pope John Paul will get a pie for his birthday baked by the nuns.
MARCIANO: No kidding.
COSTELLO: No kidding. Candles...
MARCIANO: I wonder if George Steinbrenner (ph) is going to bake Reggie Jackson maybe a little pie or cake for his birthday.
COSTELLO: I'm sure.
MARCIANO: Mr. October.
COSTELLO: You know how emotional and sensitive Mr. Steinbrenner (ph) is.
MARCIANO: They're still close, kind of.
COSTELLO: I bet.
Time for our "Lighting Round." It may look like it came from an ostrich, but take a look. A chicken laid this egg. This happened in the Ukraine. This egg weighs a half a pound. We don't know what happened to the chicken. Can you imagine that poor chicken?
MARCIANO: Or how big the chicken was.
COSTELLO: It's just not fair to be a female anything. When the farmer who owns the chicken was asked what he was going to do with this big egg, he said, "I'm going to fry it. What am I supposed to do? Sit and look at it?"
MARCIANO: Sure. That could be the equivalent of a five-egg omelet, I suppose.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
MARCIANO: They just showed the rooster. I don't know if he had anything to do with it.
COSTELLO: I'm sure he did, but it wasn't painful. Most of us look forward to retiring while we're still in double digits, but this teacher in Mexico is still imparting wisdom to her students. She's 101 years old. She's been teaching for 86 years. Congratulations to her. What patience she must have.
MARCIANO: No doubt about it. That's great. Congratulations.
COSTELLO: Yes.
"AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now. You make it a great day.
MARCIANO: See you later.
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