Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
What's Expected to be on Agenda at G-8 Summit; In Baghdad, Two Explosions
Aired June 08, 2004 - 06:00 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: You're looking at a live picture this morning out of Simi Valley, California. It's been like this all night long -- mourners paying their respects to the 40th president. A stream of visitors that has lasted all through the night and is likely to go on for many more hours.
It is Tuesday, June 8.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date right now.
Two suicide car bombs in Iraq overnight. At least one U.S. soldier and 10 Iraqi civilians dead. Dozens of other people were wounded in two blasts. They happened about an hour apart in Mosul and Ba'qubah. We're going to take you live to Baghdad straight ahead.
Going on right now at the Reagan Presidential Library, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, a cross-section of Americans wait hours in line for a brief glimpse of the casket holding Ronald Reagan, America's 40th president.
In money news, there is finally relief at the pump. The government says gas prices declined $0.017 over last week, to an average of $2.03 per gallon. OK, so it's not much relief, but it is the second straight week prices have dropped.
In sports, lightning strikes in Tampa. The Tampa Bay hockey team wins the Stanley Cup -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes!
COSTELLO: With a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
I knew you'd be happy about that.
In culture, the Supreme Court has made it possible for people to try to get back property stolen by the Nazis in World War 2. The ruling allows a California woman to sue the nation of Austria to retrieve $150 million worth of family paintings -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, Carol. Look at this -- firefighters out there in Colorado yesterday trying to battle this blaze, from our affiliate KUSA. That's out of Denver. A few thousand acres there on fire yesterday and it's going to be a windy hot one again today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The G8 summit begins today with a very crowded agenda -- the Middle East, Africa and AIDS all part of the schedule. But the most important discussions may come when leaders of the world's top industrialized nations turn their attention to Iraq.
More now from CNN's Eric Philips in Savannah, Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As host of the 30th annual G8 summit, President Bush set the agenda for this year's meeting. At the top of the list, the global war on terror. Sure to be a centerpiece of that discussion is the war in Iraq and the White House effort to push through a U.N. resolution that will hand over power to a new Iraqi government in three weeks. It also calls for a multinational force to remain in Iraq for security.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The spirit moving forward is very good, that people are working very hard at it and that there's a general sense that this is going in a very positive direction and should reach conclusion very soon.
PHILIPS: Mr. Bush is hoping G8 leaders will endorse his greater Middle East initiative, which stresses democracy, freedom and human rights. Some Arab leaders have stalked at the plan, saying it's the U.S. trying to enforce its own ideas -- an assertion the administration denies.
RICE: This is not the United States and the G8 doing something to the Middle East. This is working with the Middle East. I think the statement will be clear about that from the G8.
PHILIPS: Protesters in nearby Brunswick, Georgia will not likely catch the eye of world leaders, who will be secluded on Sea Island, far removed from demonstrations. Also, far removed from most media, who have set up shop in the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center some 80 miles away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was Eric Philips in Savannah, Georgia this morning.
Just about six hours ago, a suicide car bomb goes off in the northern city of Mosul. Nine Iraqis killed, 25 injured. An hour before that, another car bomber in Ba'qubah kills an American soldier and injures several others.
Let's head live to Baghdad now for more from Harris Whitbeck -- good morning, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
As you said, a couple of incidents to report this morning. Two car bombings so far in Iraq have left several dead and wounded, both in Ba'qubah, which is only about 30 kilometers from Baghdad, and also up in Mosul.
The first blast, in Ba'qubah, occurred outside an American military installation there as Iraqi civilian workers were lining up to enter that facility to go to work. One Iraqi civilian and one U.S. soldier died, and 16 other Iraqis and American soldiers were wounded. An Iraqi police spokesman says it is believed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who was driving a red Mitsubishi sedan, which is a medium sized passenger vehicle.
And in the northern city of Mosul, another vehicle explosion outside city hall there killed at least nine Iraqi civilians and wounded another 25. Witnesses reported seeing three men in a taxi right before that taxi car blew up. And while there are no U.S. military installations near the site of that explosion, U.S. military officials believe that the target was a convoy carrying members of the provincial Governing Council that had passed by the site of that explosion just minutes before -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live in Baghdad this morning.
Italian and Spanish court officials say an alleged mastermind of the March Madrid train bombings has been arrested in Italy. Authorities say Rabie Osman Sayed, known to investigators as Mohamed the Egyptian, is believed to be a key figure behind the attacks that killed 190 people. He and another suspect were arrested in Milan.
Remembering President Reagan now. Take a look at the cover, or the front page of the "New York Times" -- the most touching image, I think, that happened yesterday. You see nr just putting her head on Ronald Reagan's casket at the Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Just a touching moment. And I'm sure there were many tears as people watched that.
Let's head live now to Simi Valley, California. It's very early in the morning. People still filing into the library to get a glimpse of the casket. Of course, all of this will be going on for a couple more hours, until at least 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. People filing by the casket.
The former president's son Michael, who is a radio talk show host, spoke on his program about his father and the outpouring of public support shown his family.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL REAGAN, RONALD REAGAN'S SON: I am the luckiest man on the face of the planet because Ronald Reagan chose me to be in his family. He chose me to be named Reagan and boy, I'll tell you, I just hope for the rest of my life that I'm able to honor that name for which my father gave me.
On the overpasses with the flags and draped from their ladders and all standing on top of their engines, you know, saluting the motorcade as we went underneath the archways to the ridge was just so moving. I mean we -- literally we cried all the way to the Reagan Library yesterday morning. And I just, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for just the prayers that you're giving us. We're going to need them the rest of the week. And I just say thanks.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Lots of honors pouring in for Ronald Reagan. We've been asking you this question all morning long -- should the image of President Reagan replace that of Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill?
There is a push to do that right now. We've been asking your opinions, daybreak@cnn.com. And we'd like to read some of your e- mails right now.
This is from Denver, from Courtney. Courtney from Denver. She says: "If we have to replace the Space Shuttle Columbia, why don't we name it after former President Reagan?"
She is not for replacing Alexander Hamilton with President Reagan.
MYERS: Jack from Manchester, New Hampshire says: "Let's give time a little test. Let's see how historians truly judge him in a few years, maybe just not right now."
COSTELLO: This is from Barry from Rapid City, South Dakota. He says: "We'll all be tempted to put Reagan's likeness everywhere -- renaming this and that school, etc. Money is such a crass thing to place a president on so soon."
MYERS: He's right.
COSTELLO: "I think it's more important to remember him in the outdoors and as an active man. Ronald Reagan National Park in place of Yosemite."
MYERS: Hmmm. OK.
Cathy Taylor (ph) wants to have the Reagan Legacy Fund pay for the change instead of taxpayers.
COSTELLO: That's the organization behind this push.
MYERS: Behind the push, right. So rather than us pay for the changes.
COSTELLO: And what...
MYERS: Because I'm sure that would be a huge...
COSTELLO: Expense. MYERS: ... expense to change all those dies, to change all those stamps, to change all those bills.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
This is from Georgy (ph) from Bridgeport, Connecticut. She says: "Keep Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, where he belongs. No change is warranted. I think the airport and new federal buildings already are good memorials for Ronald Reagan, who, like Hamilton, I also greatly admire. I agree with the wait 50 year commentator. I don't think there may be room on Mount Rushmore, but perhaps another mountain might be available for Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt."
Thanks for all your e-mails this morning.
Keep 'em coming. Daybreak@cnn.com.
And still to come on DAYBREAK, a test drive of sorts. A whole new approach to try before you buy.
Plus, we'll go back to Savannah, where leaders from around the world will arrive over the next several hours. No doubt the U.N.'s resolution for Iraq will come up at those economic talks. I think that's a given.
And remembering the nation's 40th commander-in-chief. A steady stream of mourners throughout the night in Simi Valley. That's a live picture out of California.
MYERS: Right. Three in the morning.
COSTELLO: Yes. We take you live to the Reagan Presidential Library.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, June 8.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The G8 summit gets under way today and though economic issues normally take tops on the agenda, this year there is plenty more to talk about. Iraq, the Middle East conflict and other political questions are expected to dominate much of the discussions.
For more, we head to CNN's Dana Bash.
She is live in Savannah, Georgia this morning -- good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And...
COSTELLO: First off, let's talk about that U.N. resolution, because that will be discussed, I would suppose, at the G8 summit, although it's going to be voted on in New York. BASH: That's right. But it's certainly a very important part of this summit, around the summit, and it's the way the White House definitely wanted to get things started here, because the U.N. resolution is essentially the ultimate fence mending symbol for the U.S. and some of the key allies who will be here, with whom Mr. Bush and the U.S. had some serious strains over the past year and a half because of differences over the Iraq war. And the idea that all these countries will be getting together and voting unanimously, they hope, on a resolution that will essentially give agreement on how Iraq's interim government will look and also the road towards ultimate elections and a permanent government, that is absolutely key.
Now White House officials are really downplaying what kind of real effect this will have on the ground in terms of new troops being added, in terms of new financial aid. But one thing that they recognize this will give to the interim Iraqi government is a sense of credibility inside Iraq and also around the world that, frankly, they concede privately that the U.S. couldn't give them without the U.N. -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, I know that France wanted veto power for Iraq over security forces there and somehow they managed to come to some sort of compromise.
That is a victory for President Bush, isn't it?
BASH: That's right. I mean, you know, we'll have to see to make sure that the vote goes the way that the White House and others think it's going to go. But President Bush had some meetings with Jacques Chirac in Paris over the weekend and the French president's public comments were quite positive, saying that he was happy about the fact that there were -- there was an exchange of letters between Iraq's interim prime minister and the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. secretary general, I should say, about just how much authority Iraq will have over U.S. troops and other foreign troops that are on the ground in Iraq.
There were some questions, as you point out, about how much actual veto power Iraq will have. But we're told by a senior U.N. official that Chirac assured President Bush privately this would pass unanimously, which is what gave the White House some optimism going into this summit.
COSTELLO: Well, there must be something else on the president's agenda today.
Tell us.
BASH: Well, he's got a busy schedule. He is going to meet with four of the leaders who are coming here. He's got a lunch with the Japanese prime minister and then some one-on-one meetings with the chancellor of Germany, with the president of Russia and also with the prime minister of Canada. Three out of four of those, Carol, were Iraq war foes. Three of four of those countries were foes. So that just shows you how important getting this U.N. resolution passed will be just in terms of the tenor and atmospherics here at the summit. COSTELLO: Dana Bash reporting live from Savannah, Georgia this morning.
Thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A U.S. soldier one of 11 people dead in Iraq this morning after suicide car bombs explode in two cities. The first happened about 30 miles north of Baghdad. The other exploded outside of city hall on Mosul.
The lines are still long outside the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. This is a live picture. People have been filing past the casket all night long. This will go on until 9:00 Eastern tonight, when public viewing officially ends.
In money news, Vice President Dick Cheney says he wants recent tax breaks to be made permanent. The vice president says tax relief over the past three years is responsible for the creation of nearly one million jobs.
In sports, Greg Biffle ran away with the Bush Series MBNA 200 at Dover International Speedway. The race had been rescheduled from Saturday because of rain.
In culture, a host of musical heavyweights gathered in New York for the Lincoln Center's annual spring gala. Wynton Marsalis, James Taylor and Bob Dylan were among the performers -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: I'm still reading e-mails coming in from our viewers. They're just so interesting this morning.
MYERS: Yes. Yes, exactly.
COSTELLO: We're talking about Ronald Reagan possibly replacing Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. Daybreak@cnn.com if you want to weigh in.
Time for a little business buzz now, though.
Are you shopping for a new dishwasher? I know that's tops on your mind this morning. One brand lets you test drive its products before closing the deal.
Carrie Lee has more on this story live from the NASDAQ market site.
So you get to test out the dishwasher before you bring it home?
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You can bring your dirty dishes to the Maytag store, Carol, if you're so inclined. Try it, you might buy it, that's the concept behind Maytag's new sales program at some of its stores. "USA Today" reporting potential buyers can do a load of laundry, bake a cake in an oven, even test out a dishwasher to see how quiet it really is.
This is a new concept. Maytag says it's been helping sales. The company plans to open 60 Maytag stores by the end of the year, at 30 to 40 locations. The idea here, that a lot of appliances have become very high end and when you see a row of dishwashers or a line of refrigerators, it can be kind of intimidating and also difficult to figure out how one is different from the other.
So this is Maytag's new concept. They have a appliances sort of in a vignette that looks like an actual kitchen. And they say it's successful. So if you want to test out the products, you can go to Maytag and do so.
COSTELLO: I love that idea.
LEE: Yes. Why not?
COSTELLO: That's so perfect.
LEE: You can test out a car, why not an appliance? They're big ticket items. They can be very expensive. So it sounds like a good idea.
COSTELLO: You could bring your dirty dishes there every day and test them out.
LEE: There you go. There you go.
Quickly, some relief at the pump, at least for now. The government says that the gas prices declined $0.017 over the past week, to an average $2.03 a gallon, the second consecutive week gas prices have come down a little bit. So some relief, at least for now -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, how are you dealing with the higher than normal price at the pumps, even though you heard Carrie say they're going down a little? We're going to hear America's voice, though, on gas prices. That's coming up a little later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time to check some stories making news across America this Tuesday.
Police in Columbus, Ohio believe a serial rapist is now off the streets. Robert Patton, Jr. has been arrested and charged with one count of rape. Police believe Patton is involved in at least nine other attacks over the past 13 years. The DNA evidence that led to his arrest was originally gathered from Patton in 2001, but was not tested for more than two years, for some reason.
Connecticut Governor John Rowland is expected to appeal to the state supreme court in an effort to avoid testifying at his own impeachment hearing. Rowland was originally ordered to appear in front of investigators today, but that order was delayed until Thursday. The governor is being investigated for allegedly accepting gifts from state contractors. Rowland denies doing anything wrong.
Closing arguments expected today in the penalty phase of the Terry Nichols trial. The case should go to the jury tomorrow. The same jury found Nichols guilty of 161 counts of first degree murder. They'll have the option of the death penalty, life in prison without parole or life with the possibility of parole.
Random searches are on tape for Boston's public transit system. The transit police are instituting a random stop and search program for checking bags on subways and commuter trains. The new procedure should be in place by the time the Democratic National Convention comes to town in July.
Want to talk about some new products that are going to be on the market?
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: Did you see this?
MYERS: I did.
COSTELLO: Firefighter brand products. There they are.
MYERS: With 25 percent of the profits going to some firefighter organization across the country. This is going to be a national brand, I guess.
COSTELLO: Yes, and it was created by the Florida Professional Firefighters. And these debuted at the 60th annual convention...
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And so if you see them on the shelves, if you like, buy 'em.
Do we have time to read some of our e-mails? We can do it in the next block. That's the order from our executive producer...
MYERS: Right. Well, I'm glad you got the word, because I just got silence and I was thinking well, no one who's in there is paying attention.
COSTELLO: I always obey orders.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
New presidential poll figures -- who will America vote for in November?
And then a breathtaking view.
MYERS: Hey.
COSTELLO: For those of you who look into the sky and wonder this morning, our own space buff, Miles O'Brien, explains what you will see when the sun comes up this morning.
MYERS: But be very careful.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A never ending flow -- mourners walk single file past the flag draped coffin of President Ronald Reagan. These are live pictures you're looking at.
It is Tuesday, June 8.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date right now.
Another bloody day in Iraq. Suicide car bomb attacks in two Iraqi cities kill at least 11 people, including one American soldier. Dozens are injured. The bombs went off in Ba'qubah and Mosul.
It's about 3:30 in the morning in California and mourners are still filing past Ronald Reagan's flag-draped casket in Simi Valley. The former president's body will lie in repose at the Reagan Library until 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
In money news, Ford Motor Company is falling behind rival G.M. in the race to expand in China, the world's fastest growing auto market. Ford says it plans to crank out 65,000 cars in China this year. That's more than triple its output from last year.
In sports, Dallas Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells has apologized for calling the surprise plays used in practice as Jap plays. Parcells says it was uncalled for and inconsiderate. The phrase is an apparent reference to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
In culture, Sean P. Diddy Combs now wears the title Top Menswear Designer of the Year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America honored his Sean John collection over such veterans as Ralph Lauren -- Chad.
MYERS: I'm trying to look at that collar to see what he's doing with that collar. I think he's got it like turned up like this. COSTELLO: You're just not hip enough, baby.
MYERS: Not now. I can't do that big collar. Yes, see. Now that's pretty sharp.
COSTELLO: Ooh, what about that for the weather?
MYERS: No. People will be turning off in droves.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 8, 2004 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You're looking at a live picture this morning out of Simi Valley, California. It's been like this all night long -- mourners paying their respects to the 40th president. A stream of visitors that has lasted all through the night and is likely to go on for many more hours.
It is Tuesday, June 8.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date right now.
Two suicide car bombs in Iraq overnight. At least one U.S. soldier and 10 Iraqi civilians dead. Dozens of other people were wounded in two blasts. They happened about an hour apart in Mosul and Ba'qubah. We're going to take you live to Baghdad straight ahead.
Going on right now at the Reagan Presidential Library, the rich, the poor, the young, the old, a cross-section of Americans wait hours in line for a brief glimpse of the casket holding Ronald Reagan, America's 40th president.
In money news, there is finally relief at the pump. The government says gas prices declined $0.017 over last week, to an average of $2.03 per gallon. OK, so it's not much relief, but it is the second straight week prices have dropped.
In sports, lightning strikes in Tampa. The Tampa Bay hockey team wins the Stanley Cup -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes!
COSTELLO: With a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames.
I knew you'd be happy about that.
In culture, the Supreme Court has made it possible for people to try to get back property stolen by the Nazis in World War 2. The ruling allows a California woman to sue the nation of Austria to retrieve $150 million worth of family paintings -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And good morning, Carol. Look at this -- firefighters out there in Colorado yesterday trying to battle this blaze, from our affiliate KUSA. That's out of Denver. A few thousand acres there on fire yesterday and it's going to be a windy hot one again today.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: The G8 summit begins today with a very crowded agenda -- the Middle East, Africa and AIDS all part of the schedule. But the most important discussions may come when leaders of the world's top industrialized nations turn their attention to Iraq.
More now from CNN's Eric Philips in Savannah, Georgia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIC PHILIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As host of the 30th annual G8 summit, President Bush set the agenda for this year's meeting. At the top of the list, the global war on terror. Sure to be a centerpiece of that discussion is the war in Iraq and the White House effort to push through a U.N. resolution that will hand over power to a new Iraqi government in three weeks. It also calls for a multinational force to remain in Iraq for security.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: The spirit moving forward is very good, that people are working very hard at it and that there's a general sense that this is going in a very positive direction and should reach conclusion very soon.
PHILIPS: Mr. Bush is hoping G8 leaders will endorse his greater Middle East initiative, which stresses democracy, freedom and human rights. Some Arab leaders have stalked at the plan, saying it's the U.S. trying to enforce its own ideas -- an assertion the administration denies.
RICE: This is not the United States and the G8 doing something to the Middle East. This is working with the Middle East. I think the statement will be clear about that from the G8.
PHILIPS: Protesters in nearby Brunswick, Georgia will not likely catch the eye of world leaders, who will be secluded on Sea Island, far removed from demonstrations. Also, far removed from most media, who have set up shop in the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center some 80 miles away.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was Eric Philips in Savannah, Georgia this morning.
Just about six hours ago, a suicide car bomb goes off in the northern city of Mosul. Nine Iraqis killed, 25 injured. An hour before that, another car bomber in Ba'qubah kills an American soldier and injures several others.
Let's head live to Baghdad now for more from Harris Whitbeck -- good morning, Harris.
HARRIS WHITBECK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
As you said, a couple of incidents to report this morning. Two car bombings so far in Iraq have left several dead and wounded, both in Ba'qubah, which is only about 30 kilometers from Baghdad, and also up in Mosul.
The first blast, in Ba'qubah, occurred outside an American military installation there as Iraqi civilian workers were lining up to enter that facility to go to work. One Iraqi civilian and one U.S. soldier died, and 16 other Iraqis and American soldiers were wounded. An Iraqi police spokesman says it is believed the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who was driving a red Mitsubishi sedan, which is a medium sized passenger vehicle.
And in the northern city of Mosul, another vehicle explosion outside city hall there killed at least nine Iraqi civilians and wounded another 25. Witnesses reported seeing three men in a taxi right before that taxi car blew up. And while there are no U.S. military installations near the site of that explosion, U.S. military officials believe that the target was a convoy carrying members of the provincial Governing Council that had passed by the site of that explosion just minutes before -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Harris Whitbeck live in Baghdad this morning.
Italian and Spanish court officials say an alleged mastermind of the March Madrid train bombings has been arrested in Italy. Authorities say Rabie Osman Sayed, known to investigators as Mohamed the Egyptian, is believed to be a key figure behind the attacks that killed 190 people. He and another suspect were arrested in Milan.
Remembering President Reagan now. Take a look at the cover, or the front page of the "New York Times" -- the most touching image, I think, that happened yesterday. You see nr just putting her head on Ronald Reagan's casket at the Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Just a touching moment. And I'm sure there were many tears as people watched that.
Let's head live now to Simi Valley, California. It's very early in the morning. People still filing into the library to get a glimpse of the casket. Of course, all of this will be going on for a couple more hours, until at least 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. People filing by the casket.
The former president's son Michael, who is a radio talk show host, spoke on his program about his father and the outpouring of public support shown his family.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL REAGAN, RONALD REAGAN'S SON: I am the luckiest man on the face of the planet because Ronald Reagan chose me to be in his family. He chose me to be named Reagan and boy, I'll tell you, I just hope for the rest of my life that I'm able to honor that name for which my father gave me.
On the overpasses with the flags and draped from their ladders and all standing on top of their engines, you know, saluting the motorcade as we went underneath the archways to the ridge was just so moving. I mean we -- literally we cried all the way to the Reagan Library yesterday morning. And I just, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody for just the prayers that you're giving us. We're going to need them the rest of the week. And I just say thanks.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Lots of honors pouring in for Ronald Reagan. We've been asking you this question all morning long -- should the image of President Reagan replace that of Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill?
There is a push to do that right now. We've been asking your opinions, daybreak@cnn.com. And we'd like to read some of your e- mails right now.
This is from Denver, from Courtney. Courtney from Denver. She says: "If we have to replace the Space Shuttle Columbia, why don't we name it after former President Reagan?"
She is not for replacing Alexander Hamilton with President Reagan.
MYERS: Jack from Manchester, New Hampshire says: "Let's give time a little test. Let's see how historians truly judge him in a few years, maybe just not right now."
COSTELLO: This is from Barry from Rapid City, South Dakota. He says: "We'll all be tempted to put Reagan's likeness everywhere -- renaming this and that school, etc. Money is such a crass thing to place a president on so soon."
MYERS: He's right.
COSTELLO: "I think it's more important to remember him in the outdoors and as an active man. Ronald Reagan National Park in place of Yosemite."
MYERS: Hmmm. OK.
Cathy Taylor (ph) wants to have the Reagan Legacy Fund pay for the change instead of taxpayers.
COSTELLO: That's the organization behind this push.
MYERS: Behind the push, right. So rather than us pay for the changes.
COSTELLO: And what...
MYERS: Because I'm sure that would be a huge...
COSTELLO: Expense. MYERS: ... expense to change all those dies, to change all those stamps, to change all those bills.
COSTELLO: Exactly.
This is from Georgy (ph) from Bridgeport, Connecticut. She says: "Keep Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill, where he belongs. No change is warranted. I think the airport and new federal buildings already are good memorials for Ronald Reagan, who, like Hamilton, I also greatly admire. I agree with the wait 50 year commentator. I don't think there may be room on Mount Rushmore, but perhaps another mountain might be available for Ronald Reagan and Franklin D. Roosevelt."
Thanks for all your e-mails this morning.
Keep 'em coming. Daybreak@cnn.com.
And still to come on DAYBREAK, a test drive of sorts. A whole new approach to try before you buy.
Plus, we'll go back to Savannah, where leaders from around the world will arrive over the next several hours. No doubt the U.N.'s resolution for Iraq will come up at those economic talks. I think that's a given.
And remembering the nation's 40th commander-in-chief. A steady stream of mourners throughout the night in Simi Valley. That's a live picture out of California.
MYERS: Right. Three in the morning.
COSTELLO: Yes. We take you live to the Reagan Presidential Library.
This is DAYBREAK for Tuesday, June 8.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: The G8 summit gets under way today and though economic issues normally take tops on the agenda, this year there is plenty more to talk about. Iraq, the Middle East conflict and other political questions are expected to dominate much of the discussions.
For more, we head to CNN's Dana Bash.
She is live in Savannah, Georgia this morning -- good morning, Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
And...
COSTELLO: First off, let's talk about that U.N. resolution, because that will be discussed, I would suppose, at the G8 summit, although it's going to be voted on in New York. BASH: That's right. But it's certainly a very important part of this summit, around the summit, and it's the way the White House definitely wanted to get things started here, because the U.N. resolution is essentially the ultimate fence mending symbol for the U.S. and some of the key allies who will be here, with whom Mr. Bush and the U.S. had some serious strains over the past year and a half because of differences over the Iraq war. And the idea that all these countries will be getting together and voting unanimously, they hope, on a resolution that will essentially give agreement on how Iraq's interim government will look and also the road towards ultimate elections and a permanent government, that is absolutely key.
Now White House officials are really downplaying what kind of real effect this will have on the ground in terms of new troops being added, in terms of new financial aid. But one thing that they recognize this will give to the interim Iraqi government is a sense of credibility inside Iraq and also around the world that, frankly, they concede privately that the U.S. couldn't give them without the U.N. -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Well, I know that France wanted veto power for Iraq over security forces there and somehow they managed to come to some sort of compromise.
That is a victory for President Bush, isn't it?
BASH: That's right. I mean, you know, we'll have to see to make sure that the vote goes the way that the White House and others think it's going to go. But President Bush had some meetings with Jacques Chirac in Paris over the weekend and the French president's public comments were quite positive, saying that he was happy about the fact that there were -- there was an exchange of letters between Iraq's interim prime minister and the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. secretary general, I should say, about just how much authority Iraq will have over U.S. troops and other foreign troops that are on the ground in Iraq.
There were some questions, as you point out, about how much actual veto power Iraq will have. But we're told by a senior U.N. official that Chirac assured President Bush privately this would pass unanimously, which is what gave the White House some optimism going into this summit.
COSTELLO: Well, there must be something else on the president's agenda today.
Tell us.
BASH: Well, he's got a busy schedule. He is going to meet with four of the leaders who are coming here. He's got a lunch with the Japanese prime minister and then some one-on-one meetings with the chancellor of Germany, with the president of Russia and also with the prime minister of Canada. Three out of four of those, Carol, were Iraq war foes. Three of four of those countries were foes. So that just shows you how important getting this U.N. resolution passed will be just in terms of the tenor and atmospherics here at the summit. COSTELLO: Dana Bash reporting live from Savannah, Georgia this morning.
Thank you.
Your news, money, weather and sports.
It is 6:15 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
A U.S. soldier one of 11 people dead in Iraq this morning after suicide car bombs explode in two cities. The first happened about 30 miles north of Baghdad. The other exploded outside of city hall on Mosul.
The lines are still long outside the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. This is a live picture. People have been filing past the casket all night long. This will go on until 9:00 Eastern tonight, when public viewing officially ends.
In money news, Vice President Dick Cheney says he wants recent tax breaks to be made permanent. The vice president says tax relief over the past three years is responsible for the creation of nearly one million jobs.
In sports, Greg Biffle ran away with the Bush Series MBNA 200 at Dover International Speedway. The race had been rescheduled from Saturday because of rain.
In culture, a host of musical heavyweights gathered in New York for the Lincoln Center's annual spring gala. Wynton Marsalis, James Taylor and Bob Dylan were among the performers -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: I'm still reading e-mails coming in from our viewers. They're just so interesting this morning.
MYERS: Yes. Yes, exactly.
COSTELLO: We're talking about Ronald Reagan possibly replacing Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. Daybreak@cnn.com if you want to weigh in.
Time for a little business buzz now, though.
Are you shopping for a new dishwasher? I know that's tops on your mind this morning. One brand lets you test drive its products before closing the deal.
Carrie Lee has more on this story live from the NASDAQ market site.
So you get to test out the dishwasher before you bring it home?
CARRIE LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You can bring your dirty dishes to the Maytag store, Carol, if you're so inclined. Try it, you might buy it, that's the concept behind Maytag's new sales program at some of its stores. "USA Today" reporting potential buyers can do a load of laundry, bake a cake in an oven, even test out a dishwasher to see how quiet it really is.
This is a new concept. Maytag says it's been helping sales. The company plans to open 60 Maytag stores by the end of the year, at 30 to 40 locations. The idea here, that a lot of appliances have become very high end and when you see a row of dishwashers or a line of refrigerators, it can be kind of intimidating and also difficult to figure out how one is different from the other.
So this is Maytag's new concept. They have a appliances sort of in a vignette that looks like an actual kitchen. And they say it's successful. So if you want to test out the products, you can go to Maytag and do so.
COSTELLO: I love that idea.
LEE: Yes. Why not?
COSTELLO: That's so perfect.
LEE: You can test out a car, why not an appliance? They're big ticket items. They can be very expensive. So it sounds like a good idea.
COSTELLO: You could bring your dirty dishes there every day and test them out.
LEE: There you go. There you go.
Quickly, some relief at the pump, at least for now. The government says that the gas prices declined $0.017 over the past week, to an average $2.03 a gallon, the second consecutive week gas prices have come down a little bit. So some relief, at least for now -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Thank you.
Carrie Lee live from the NASDAQ market site.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, how are you dealing with the higher than normal price at the pumps, even though you heard Carrie say they're going down a little? We're going to hear America's voice, though, on gas prices. That's coming up a little later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time to check some stories making news across America this Tuesday.
Police in Columbus, Ohio believe a serial rapist is now off the streets. Robert Patton, Jr. has been arrested and charged with one count of rape. Police believe Patton is involved in at least nine other attacks over the past 13 years. The DNA evidence that led to his arrest was originally gathered from Patton in 2001, but was not tested for more than two years, for some reason.
Connecticut Governor John Rowland is expected to appeal to the state supreme court in an effort to avoid testifying at his own impeachment hearing. Rowland was originally ordered to appear in front of investigators today, but that order was delayed until Thursday. The governor is being investigated for allegedly accepting gifts from state contractors. Rowland denies doing anything wrong.
Closing arguments expected today in the penalty phase of the Terry Nichols trial. The case should go to the jury tomorrow. The same jury found Nichols guilty of 161 counts of first degree murder. They'll have the option of the death penalty, life in prison without parole or life with the possibility of parole.
Random searches are on tape for Boston's public transit system. The transit police are instituting a random stop and search program for checking bags on subways and commuter trains. The new procedure should be in place by the time the Democratic National Convention comes to town in July.
Want to talk about some new products that are going to be on the market?
MYERS: Sure.
COSTELLO: Did you see this?
MYERS: I did.
COSTELLO: Firefighter brand products. There they are.
MYERS: With 25 percent of the profits going to some firefighter organization across the country. This is going to be a national brand, I guess.
COSTELLO: Yes, and it was created by the Florida Professional Firefighters. And these debuted at the 60th annual convention...
MYERS: Yes.
COSTELLO: And so if you see them on the shelves, if you like, buy 'em.
Do we have time to read some of our e-mails? We can do it in the next block. That's the order from our executive producer...
MYERS: Right. Well, I'm glad you got the word, because I just got silence and I was thinking well, no one who's in there is paying attention.
COSTELLO: I always obey orders.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
New presidential poll figures -- who will America vote for in November?
And then a breathtaking view.
MYERS: Hey.
COSTELLO: For those of you who look into the sky and wonder this morning, our own space buff, Miles O'Brien, explains what you will see when the sun comes up this morning.
MYERS: But be very careful.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: A never ending flow -- mourners walk single file past the flag draped coffin of President Ronald Reagan. These are live pictures you're looking at.
It is Tuesday, June 8.
This is DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the CNN global headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
Let me bring you up to date right now.
Another bloody day in Iraq. Suicide car bomb attacks in two Iraqi cities kill at least 11 people, including one American soldier. Dozens are injured. The bombs went off in Ba'qubah and Mosul.
It's about 3:30 in the morning in California and mourners are still filing past Ronald Reagan's flag-draped casket in Simi Valley. The former president's body will lie in repose at the Reagan Library until 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
In money news, Ford Motor Company is falling behind rival G.M. in the race to expand in China, the world's fastest growing auto market. Ford says it plans to crank out 65,000 cars in China this year. That's more than triple its output from last year.
In sports, Dallas Cowboys Coach Bill Parcells has apologized for calling the surprise plays used in practice as Jap plays. Parcells says it was uncalled for and inconsiderate. The phrase is an apparent reference to the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
In culture, Sean P. Diddy Combs now wears the title Top Menswear Designer of the Year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America honored his Sean John collection over such veterans as Ralph Lauren -- Chad.
MYERS: I'm trying to look at that collar to see what he's doing with that collar. I think he's got it like turned up like this. COSTELLO: You're just not hip enough, baby.
MYERS: Not now. I can't do that big collar. Yes, see. Now that's pretty sharp.
COSTELLO: Ooh, what about that for the weather?
MYERS: No. People will be turning off in droves.
(WEATHER REPORT)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
