Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Deadly Bombs Explode in Turkey, Iraq; Will Clinton Craze Last?; Kerry May Be Nearing V.P. Decision; Health Officials Warn of New Illness; NFL Players Back Astroturf Competitor
Aired June 24, 2004 - 08:30 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: First, want update this breaking news out of Turkey. Wire reports now reporting a huge explosion heard in a residential area of Istanbul. Several casualties reported. Reuters saying at this point two dead, seven injured.
All this following a bomb that detonated near an upscale hotel in Ankara, the capital city, that wounded two. That explosion happened hours earlier, the latest one just happening in the last several minutes.
The word we have is that a bus nearing the university there at Istanbul was the target. So more on that when we get it.
In the meantime, though, in Iraq, near simultaneous attacks in that country. The numbers there are devastating. More than 70 dead, we're told, and hundreds more injured.
The attacks by insurgents occurring in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Mosul, Baghdad.
In Ramadi, a multiple rocket-propelled grenade hit a central police station there. In a spate of bombings in Mosul and the north, one U.S. soldier among those killed.
Much more on this when we get it out of Baghdad, as well.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Lots of violence to report on this morning. Bill, thanks.
Also this morning, former President Bill Clinton. He is about to add the title of best-selling author to his resume, now that his memoir is establishing some record setting sales figures.
But will the huge sales, large crowds and all the buzz last? Why not?
Here to talk about that is national correspondent Kelly Wallace.
Good morning. No reason to think it's going to taper off any time soon, is it?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not any time soon, but book and media experts are divided. Some think that the excitement about the book and its author will just continue for months and months. But others think it soon could become yesterday's news. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've only been waiting for 19 hours.
WALLACE (voice-over): It was another day of lines more than four city blocks long for the latest publishing sensation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How's your hand doing?
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATS: My hand's all right, but my shoulder's a little out of joint.
WALLACE: President Clinton's "My Life" sold more than 400,000 copies Tuesday, breaking the first day nonfiction record set by his wife, Hillary. But that's not even close to the five million copies sold on day one for the most recent Harry Potter novel.
Still, Clinton fans say his book will keep flying off the shelves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has this appeal and, you know, every new town he hits they will get the fever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, how long is the excitement going to last? A long time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eventually, I think it will die down.
WALLACE: Paul Levinson, a professor of media studies at Fordham University, gives the Clinton buzz until July 4. Then he says it will be overshadowed by events like the handover in Iraq and John Kerry's search for a V.P.
PAUL LEVINSON, PROFESSOR, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: I think, had it been a less crowded time in our world history and less crucial events going on, the book would last much longer as a best seller.
WALLACE: But one publishing expert predicts continued success, unless readers decide it's not worth the $35.
CHARLOTTE ABBOTT, "PUBLISHERS WEEKLY": I think the one thing that could hurt the book is if readers find it an unsatisfying experience. And right now there's no indication that anyone has any kind of hesitancy like that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Because even with some bad reviews, people are still rushing out to get this book: 1.5 million copies initially printed. The publishers now printed another 700,000 copies because of demand.
O'BRIEN: They're clearly going to stay right into those reprintings.
What's the reaction from the Kerry campaign? Because all this focus on President Clinton really cannot be helping, especially if it last beyond July 4, like some people predict.
WALLACE: Well, the sense is that, especially as we get closer to the convention and during the convention, the former president won't be doing any book signings during the convention in Boston.
And you know, we've been asking Kerry advisers about this. They say, look, people love Bill Clinton. So if he can go to places where he's popular, talk about the Democratic Party, talk about John Kerry, they think that's a win. They don't think he will be overshadowing the presumptive Democratic nominee.
O'BRIEN: Kelly Wallace, thanks. Nice to see you in person. Appreciate that. Thank you.
Now the programming note. You can catch Bill Clinton's first live (AUDIO GAP) phone calls. That's at 9 p.m. Eastern Time -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, Senator John Kerry back on the campaign trail today, this after a detour that brought him back to Washington. That unscheduled visit fueled speculation that the presumptive Democratic nominee may have finalized his search for a running mate.
Senator Kerry meeting briefly on Capitol Hill with one of the leading candidates, Senator John Edwards.
Bill Schneider, our leading political analyst, is here to analyze this.
Good morning, Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Some people suggest Senator Kerry has been strangely quiet about this, but is this not standard operating procedure when this process happens?
SCHNEIDER: Well, these days -- Senator Kerry went through it four years ago when he was on the list for Al Gore's running mate, and he knows that the more public the process, the more humiliating it is. The more you feed public and fuel public speculation.
He wants to keep this as private as possible so that he hurts as few feelings as possible. Because inevitably, one person is going to be honored and a lot of people are going to have their feelings hurt. And he needs all of their support to win this election.
HEMMER: Back to the Kerry-Edwards ticket. A lot of buzz about this. Is he the smart choice, Bill, in your estimation?
SCHNEIDER: Well, he would be a smart choice because he's kind of precertified.
He ran a good, strong, tough but positive campaign in the primaries. He's a southerner, and a lot of southern Democrats are worried that a Massachusetts liberal like John Kerry just won't sell in the south, particularly his fellow senators who have a lot of Senate seats that are up in the South.
Democrats were giving up their Senate seats, a lot of tight contests. They think they have a shot in some of those seats, but they need a guy like John Edwards from the South to give the ticket some appeal outside of the northern areas, where Democrats are already strong.
HEMMER: Conventional wisdom says, and you know this, don't take a guy who wants your job. And John Edwards wants to be president, right?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they all want to be president. John Kennedy chose Lyndon Johnson, who was competing with him for the job. Ronald Reagan chose George Bush.
Look, there really are ten reasons why you pick a running mate. Reason No. 1, pick someone who will help you win. The other nine reasons don't matter.
HEMMER: Indeed, you're right, quite possibly, about that. And we've heard it time and time again.
What about the Nader effect? How does that factor in here, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the Nader effect, Ralph Nader has actually said he would like to see Edwards on the ticket. Edwards is a trial lawyer. He's a spokesman for a lot of the trial lawyers' interests, which of course, are very close to those of Ralph Nader, who's taken on American corporate interests all his life.
So there could be a calculation. You put Edwards on the ticket with Kerry, and maybe that will put a little bit more pressure on Nader eventually to drop out of the race, though there's no indication he'll ever do that. It may be a point to help persuade him that maybe Kerry is a good guy and he should drop out of his way.
HEMMER: Ultimately, Bill, is there one concern that is chief among all the others for John Kerry's consideration?
SCHNEIDER: Well, obviously, not getting into trouble, not getting anyone who's going to create a controversy, the way Dan Quayle did. Although, remember, Dan Quayle did not prevent the first George Bush from getting elected.
In the end, I'll tell you something, people don't vote for vice president. I mean, they haven't really made a difference in a long time. Michael Dukakis made a smart choice. He picked Lloyd Bentsen; didn't make a bit of difference.
I think -- it's clear people do not vote for vice president, because after all, Dan Quayle got elected, and most people thought he was never qualified.
HEMMER: Gives us something to talk about, does it not?
SCHNEIDER: It does. HEMMER: All the time. Thank you, Bill. Bill Schneider, down in D.C.
O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, health officials are on the lookout for a mosquito-born virus that could be deadlier than the West Nile Virus. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to stop by to talk about that.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, how much does the government know about you when you fly? Some privacy groups think it may be a bit too much.
Well get to that, as well, when we continue on our Thursday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: First videotape now out of Istanbul, Turkey. And we'll take a look at them on our screen for you now.
Reports we're getting, at least two dead and seven wounded on a bus that was near the university in Istanbul. This follows the attack earlier in Ankara.
Don't have those pictures. Let's pause in a moment here. We'll get back to this in a moment. Now, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Let's get right to our medical story this morning. U.S. health officials keeping a close watch on a mosquito- born disease. It's called Rift Valley Fever. It's similar to the West Nile Virus. And there's concern about it, too, spreading here to the U.S.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center with details for this on this, this morning.
Sanjay, good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
You know, before the West Nile Virus actually showed up here in 1999, no one really thought it could. And we learned some valuable lessons, U.S. health officials did, regarding the West Nile Virus.
Now they're keeping an eye on something called Rift Valley Fever. This is something that's been around for some time in Africa. It's caused about 1,500 cases since 1998, about 190 deaths.
Very similar in some ways to West Nile Virus, not here in the United States at this point, but a couple of things to know about it.
It's transmitted from biting animals, and then the mosquitoes then bite human beings. So the mosquitoes bite an animal, then bite the human beings. As you can see there, there's all sorts of different animals -- cattle, sheep, goats -- that could potentially be hosts of this particular virus. In the West Nile case you remember that it was primarily birds.
It's a little bit more lethal than West Nile Virus, about one percent lethal. One percent of people who get this Rift Valley Fever will die. West Nile Virus was lower than that.
But most people will have just mild symptoms. Three to five days of flu-like illness with fever. Most people are going to recover without any sort of -- even knowing that they had the infection.
In very rare cases, one to three percent, you get encephalitis, hemorrhagic fevers, like that. One percent of the people will die.
Bottom line, the CDC and U.S. Health officials keeping a close eye on this. It is not here in the United States at this time. It is unclear how it would get to the United States, if it were to actually show up here.
But, nonetheless, CDC a little bit concerned about it at this time, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Do they put any numbers on the chances of it spreading to the United States? Any there any early indications that, in fact, it could be on its way here?
GUPTA: There really aren't. And it's sort of one of those interesting medical mysteries. It was, unclear, really how West Nile got here from across a huge ocean.
Was it mosquitoes in ships, for example? Was it stagnant water that had mosquito larva that actually was brought over in a plane or a boat or something like that? Or was it the host birds actually flying over?
No one really knows for sure, but they do know that in New York, actually, where you are, it ended up here about five years ago.
So that's the concern. We live in a very global society now. Lots of movement, potentially bringing viruses as well as people, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Sanjay Gupta for us this morning. Sanjay, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: As promised, the videotape out of Istanbul, Turkey. This is what we understand at this point. A bus exploded en route to a university there in a mostly residential area.
Associated Press is saying at least two dead, seven injured. Those numbers may change. We will watch that story as it progresses.
Next week, in fact, on Monday of next week, Istanbul hosts a NATO summit. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, U.S. President George Bush, also traveling for that summit at the beginning of next week.
This story out of Istanbul following by a few hours of a bomb that happened in Ankara, the capital city, several hours ago, just outside the Hilton hotel. That is the scheduled residence for George Bush when he arrives before attending that summit next week.
So as the news continues to trickle in from Turkey, we'll get it to you as fast as we can.
Break here. Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Coming up on 47 minutes past the hour now. Time to take a look at some of the other stories making headlines today with Daryn Kagan.
Hey, Daryn. Good morning again.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Soledad, good morning.
We have a developing story out of Turkey. A blast going off in Istanbul. That is the site of next week's NATO summit. At least seven people were injured after an explosion on a bus as it approached Istanbul University. There are reports of at least two deaths.
Earlier a small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara, injuring at least two people, including a police officer there. President Bush reportedly staying at that exact hotel when he arrives in Ankara this weekend ahead of the NATO summit.
Saudi Arabia offering terrorists 30 days to turn themselves in. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah appearing on national television yesterday, urging Saudis involved in terrorism to give themselves up or face government action. Saudi forces say the announcement is meant, in part too, reach young al Qaeda members. As many as 35,000 members of the network are estimated to be in the Saudi kingdom.
Here in the U.S., the defense in the Scott Peterson case planning to cross-examine a police detective today. The case resuming today in California, but with a new juror on the panel. Juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, was dismissed yesterday, the move coming after he was seen on videotape speaking with Laci Peterson's brother.
And the government being criticized for knowing too much about some airline passengers. According to the Transportation Security Administration, four airlines and two more reservation systems than previously revealed had handed over personal information about its passengers. The information was used to test a computerized system for background checks.
Privacy advocates are calling for a congressional investigation. They had information, everything from credit cards, to your address to your name, even what you might have ordered on the plane, which could reveal your ethnicity or even your religion.
Back to you.
HEMMER: That ain't going to fly. Thank you, Daryn.
Artificial turf on Wall Street? Andy Serwer explains now, "Minding Your Business," back with us.
Good to see you, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, they have artificial numbers on Wall Street, so why not? No, this is slightly different.
You may remember earlier this year we told you about Astroturf and the parent company having all sorts of financial problems. One reason why: a company called FieldTurf has been stepping in the breach, really gaining a lot of market share. But it's a very interesting company. Want to tell you about it.
They've been putting these fake grass fields all over the country. That was Seattle Seahawks, Louisville Cardinals there, as well.
This company is out of Montreal. They're looking to go public probably sometime over the next year, and here's the really interesting rub. Investors in the company include a bevy, a gaggle, a pride of former NFL quarterbacks. Get this: Troy Aikman is invested; Randall Cunningham is invested; Warren Moon is invested; Bernie Kosar is invested. They've even got a little spot for Bubby Brister. OK?
I mean, I've never heard...
HEMMER: Pittsburgh Steelers.
SERWER: I've never heard of a situation where all these quarterbacks have sort of gotten in.
O'BRIEN: Are they connected with the company or do they just love the product?
SERWER: They were able to invest in the company early on. So obviously, the company went to them and said, "Look, you want to put some money in? We'll be able to let you guys..."
HEMMER: And how about the best testers of the quality of the product, too.
SERWER: Well, it's interesting you say that, because a lot of beef about Astroturf is all the injuries that came from playing on that surface.
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: This surface is supposed to be better. It lets the player pivot the foot. That was the whole thing.
HEMMER: It gives a little bit. SERWER: Right. But obviously, you know, you get those guys' names out there, and you go downtown on Wall Street. And of course, those people love to see those sports guys come down and shill that IPO, which will probably be what's going to happen.
HEMMER: That will be included.
Big day yesterday in the markets. We were soaring; why were the bulls running?
SERWER: Well, we had sort of a natural bounce back after a couple down days. That was what's really going on. This morning, though, things look a little bit weaker. Got some nice stuff happening yesterday. Today not as good, though.
Durable goods orders -- those are things that last over three years like washing machines -- kind of flat. Worst than expected on Wall Street.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, for love or maybe it's for money. What does it take to get a man to walk down the aisle? Toure takes a look at that.
Straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Time to check in with Toure and the "Question of the Day."
TOURE, GUEST COMMENTATOR: Man, I was looking at some e-mails. The haters are out in force, saying that I look sloppy, my shirt is untucked. I'm unflappable, people. The hate just flows right off my back.
HEMMER: Times is hard.
TOURE: Times is hard, man.
O'BRIEN: On the boulevard.
TOURE: Kids, all right, we're going to keep it going.
Survey of 1,000 men by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, reasons for getting married. Right time to settle down, want to have children, pressure from the partner.
Our question, "Aside from love, why do it?" Why jump the broom? Why get married at all?
We got a poet writing in from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rob says, "Love is a state of irrational bliss, a temporary insanity which can only be cured by marriage." Wait a minute. What is that? This is just the wrong thing.
Joel from Connecticut, "Why get married? Because my father-in- law is a cop; I had to."
HEMMER: Amen. Yes, your honor.
TOURE: That's about right. Donna from Jacksonville, Florida, says, "What I do want to know is whether Toure's bride to be will have two names or just be Mrs. Toure?"
O'BRIEN: I was asking that same question.
TOURE: She's taking my name.
O'BRIEN: Which is?
HEMMER: Toure Toure.
O'BRIEN: We're going to know soon.
HEMMER: You'll know when I have kids. But you know, she's going to keep it personal, not professional.
O'BRIEN: So she'll take your last name but not tell anybody what her last name is.
TOURE: Basically.
HEMMER: We're going to get it out of you.
O'BRIEN: That's so weird, I got to tell you.
HEMMER: When you go jump that broom, we'll get it out of you.
TOURE: You have to be a really good reporter.
HEMMER: Why are you getting married, by the way? What's your reason? Where do you check in on that percentage?
TOURE: Well...
O'BRIEN: Yes, Toure.
HEMMER: Be wary. She's watching; you better be good.
TOURE: I like the Warren Beatty answer. That's always good for me.
O'BRIEN: It goes back to sex for Toure.
Watch where it gets you, baby. I'm telling you.
HEMMER: Where's Jack?
Thanks, Toure. See you next time.
TOURE: Thank you.
HEMMER: In a moment here, how do you defend a deposed dictator on charges of war crimes? After the break, we'll talk to Saddam Hussein's lawyer, in the U.S. for media interviews. His thoughts in a moment after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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 24, 2004 - 08:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: First, want update this breaking news out of Turkey. Wire reports now reporting a huge explosion heard in a residential area of Istanbul. Several casualties reported. Reuters saying at this point two dead, seven injured.
All this following a bomb that detonated near an upscale hotel in Ankara, the capital city, that wounded two. That explosion happened hours earlier, the latest one just happening in the last several minutes.
The word we have is that a bus nearing the university there at Istanbul was the target. So more on that when we get it.
In the meantime, though, in Iraq, near simultaneous attacks in that country. The numbers there are devastating. More than 70 dead, we're told, and hundreds more injured.
The attacks by insurgents occurring in Ramadi, Fallujah, Baqubah, Mosul, Baghdad.
In Ramadi, a multiple rocket-propelled grenade hit a central police station there. In a spate of bombings in Mosul and the north, one U.S. soldier among those killed.
Much more on this when we get it out of Baghdad, as well.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Lots of violence to report on this morning. Bill, thanks.
Also this morning, former President Bill Clinton. He is about to add the title of best-selling author to his resume, now that his memoir is establishing some record setting sales figures.
But will the huge sales, large crowds and all the buzz last? Why not?
Here to talk about that is national correspondent Kelly Wallace.
Good morning. No reason to think it's going to taper off any time soon, is it?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Not any time soon, but book and media experts are divided. Some think that the excitement about the book and its author will just continue for months and months. But others think it soon could become yesterday's news. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've only been waiting for 19 hours.
WALLACE (voice-over): It was another day of lines more than four city blocks long for the latest publishing sensation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How's your hand doing?
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATS: My hand's all right, but my shoulder's a little out of joint.
WALLACE: President Clinton's "My Life" sold more than 400,000 copies Tuesday, breaking the first day nonfiction record set by his wife, Hillary. But that's not even close to the five million copies sold on day one for the most recent Harry Potter novel.
Still, Clinton fans say his book will keep flying off the shelves.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He has this appeal and, you know, every new town he hits they will get the fever.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, how long is the excitement going to last? A long time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Eventually, I think it will die down.
WALLACE: Paul Levinson, a professor of media studies at Fordham University, gives the Clinton buzz until July 4. Then he says it will be overshadowed by events like the handover in Iraq and John Kerry's search for a V.P.
PAUL LEVINSON, PROFESSOR, FORDHAM UNIVERSITY: I think, had it been a less crowded time in our world history and less crucial events going on, the book would last much longer as a best seller.
WALLACE: But one publishing expert predicts continued success, unless readers decide it's not worth the $35.
CHARLOTTE ABBOTT, "PUBLISHERS WEEKLY": I think the one thing that could hurt the book is if readers find it an unsatisfying experience. And right now there's no indication that anyone has any kind of hesitancy like that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WALLACE: Because even with some bad reviews, people are still rushing out to get this book: 1.5 million copies initially printed. The publishers now printed another 700,000 copies because of demand.
O'BRIEN: They're clearly going to stay right into those reprintings.
What's the reaction from the Kerry campaign? Because all this focus on President Clinton really cannot be helping, especially if it last beyond July 4, like some people predict.
WALLACE: Well, the sense is that, especially as we get closer to the convention and during the convention, the former president won't be doing any book signings during the convention in Boston.
And you know, we've been asking Kerry advisers about this. They say, look, people love Bill Clinton. So if he can go to places where he's popular, talk about the Democratic Party, talk about John Kerry, they think that's a win. They don't think he will be overshadowing the presumptive Democratic nominee.
O'BRIEN: Kelly Wallace, thanks. Nice to see you in person. Appreciate that. Thank you.
Now the programming note. You can catch Bill Clinton's first live (AUDIO GAP) phone calls. That's at 9 p.m. Eastern Time -- Bill.
HEMMER: Soledad, Senator John Kerry back on the campaign trail today, this after a detour that brought him back to Washington. That unscheduled visit fueled speculation that the presumptive Democratic nominee may have finalized his search for a running mate.
Senator Kerry meeting briefly on Capitol Hill with one of the leading candidates, Senator John Edwards.
Bill Schneider, our leading political analyst, is here to analyze this.
Good morning, Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Good morning, Bill.
HEMMER: Some people suggest Senator Kerry has been strangely quiet about this, but is this not standard operating procedure when this process happens?
SCHNEIDER: Well, these days -- Senator Kerry went through it four years ago when he was on the list for Al Gore's running mate, and he knows that the more public the process, the more humiliating it is. The more you feed public and fuel public speculation.
He wants to keep this as private as possible so that he hurts as few feelings as possible. Because inevitably, one person is going to be honored and a lot of people are going to have their feelings hurt. And he needs all of their support to win this election.
HEMMER: Back to the Kerry-Edwards ticket. A lot of buzz about this. Is he the smart choice, Bill, in your estimation?
SCHNEIDER: Well, he would be a smart choice because he's kind of precertified.
He ran a good, strong, tough but positive campaign in the primaries. He's a southerner, and a lot of southern Democrats are worried that a Massachusetts liberal like John Kerry just won't sell in the south, particularly his fellow senators who have a lot of Senate seats that are up in the South.
Democrats were giving up their Senate seats, a lot of tight contests. They think they have a shot in some of those seats, but they need a guy like John Edwards from the South to give the ticket some appeal outside of the northern areas, where Democrats are already strong.
HEMMER: Conventional wisdom says, and you know this, don't take a guy who wants your job. And John Edwards wants to be president, right?
SCHNEIDER: Well, they all want to be president. John Kennedy chose Lyndon Johnson, who was competing with him for the job. Ronald Reagan chose George Bush.
Look, there really are ten reasons why you pick a running mate. Reason No. 1, pick someone who will help you win. The other nine reasons don't matter.
HEMMER: Indeed, you're right, quite possibly, about that. And we've heard it time and time again.
What about the Nader effect? How does that factor in here, Bill?
SCHNEIDER: Well, the Nader effect, Ralph Nader has actually said he would like to see Edwards on the ticket. Edwards is a trial lawyer. He's a spokesman for a lot of the trial lawyers' interests, which of course, are very close to those of Ralph Nader, who's taken on American corporate interests all his life.
So there could be a calculation. You put Edwards on the ticket with Kerry, and maybe that will put a little bit more pressure on Nader eventually to drop out of the race, though there's no indication he'll ever do that. It may be a point to help persuade him that maybe Kerry is a good guy and he should drop out of his way.
HEMMER: Ultimately, Bill, is there one concern that is chief among all the others for John Kerry's consideration?
SCHNEIDER: Well, obviously, not getting into trouble, not getting anyone who's going to create a controversy, the way Dan Quayle did. Although, remember, Dan Quayle did not prevent the first George Bush from getting elected.
In the end, I'll tell you something, people don't vote for vice president. I mean, they haven't really made a difference in a long time. Michael Dukakis made a smart choice. He picked Lloyd Bentsen; didn't make a bit of difference.
I think -- it's clear people do not vote for vice president, because after all, Dan Quayle got elected, and most people thought he was never qualified.
HEMMER: Gives us something to talk about, does it not?
SCHNEIDER: It does. HEMMER: All the time. Thank you, Bill. Bill Schneider, down in D.C.
O'BRIEN: Still to come on AMERICAN MORNING, health officials are on the lookout for a mosquito-born virus that could be deadlier than the West Nile Virus. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is going to stop by to talk about that.
HEMMER: Also in a moment, how much does the government know about you when you fly? Some privacy groups think it may be a bit too much.
Well get to that, as well, when we continue on our Thursday edition of AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: First videotape now out of Istanbul, Turkey. And we'll take a look at them on our screen for you now.
Reports we're getting, at least two dead and seven wounded on a bus that was near the university in Istanbul. This follows the attack earlier in Ankara.
Don't have those pictures. Let's pause in a moment here. We'll get back to this in a moment. Now, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: All right. Let's get right to our medical story this morning. U.S. health officials keeping a close watch on a mosquito- born disease. It's called Rift Valley Fever. It's similar to the West Nile Virus. And there's concern about it, too, spreading here to the U.S.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta is at the CNN Center with details for this on this, this morning.
Sanjay, good morning.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Soledad.
You know, before the West Nile Virus actually showed up here in 1999, no one really thought it could. And we learned some valuable lessons, U.S. health officials did, regarding the West Nile Virus.
Now they're keeping an eye on something called Rift Valley Fever. This is something that's been around for some time in Africa. It's caused about 1,500 cases since 1998, about 190 deaths.
Very similar in some ways to West Nile Virus, not here in the United States at this point, but a couple of things to know about it.
It's transmitted from biting animals, and then the mosquitoes then bite human beings. So the mosquitoes bite an animal, then bite the human beings. As you can see there, there's all sorts of different animals -- cattle, sheep, goats -- that could potentially be hosts of this particular virus. In the West Nile case you remember that it was primarily birds.
It's a little bit more lethal than West Nile Virus, about one percent lethal. One percent of people who get this Rift Valley Fever will die. West Nile Virus was lower than that.
But most people will have just mild symptoms. Three to five days of flu-like illness with fever. Most people are going to recover without any sort of -- even knowing that they had the infection.
In very rare cases, one to three percent, you get encephalitis, hemorrhagic fevers, like that. One percent of the people will die.
Bottom line, the CDC and U.S. Health officials keeping a close eye on this. It is not here in the United States at this time. It is unclear how it would get to the United States, if it were to actually show up here.
But, nonetheless, CDC a little bit concerned about it at this time, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Do they put any numbers on the chances of it spreading to the United States? Any there any early indications that, in fact, it could be on its way here?
GUPTA: There really aren't. And it's sort of one of those interesting medical mysteries. It was, unclear, really how West Nile got here from across a huge ocean.
Was it mosquitoes in ships, for example? Was it stagnant water that had mosquito larva that actually was brought over in a plane or a boat or something like that? Or was it the host birds actually flying over?
No one really knows for sure, but they do know that in New York, actually, where you are, it ended up here about five years ago.
So that's the concern. We live in a very global society now. Lots of movement, potentially bringing viruses as well as people, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Sanjay Gupta for us this morning. Sanjay, thanks -- Bill.
HEMMER: As promised, the videotape out of Istanbul, Turkey. This is what we understand at this point. A bus exploded en route to a university there in a mostly residential area.
Associated Press is saying at least two dead, seven injured. Those numbers may change. We will watch that story as it progresses.
Next week, in fact, on Monday of next week, Istanbul hosts a NATO summit. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, U.S. President George Bush, also traveling for that summit at the beginning of next week.
This story out of Istanbul following by a few hours of a bomb that happened in Ankara, the capital city, several hours ago, just outside the Hilton hotel. That is the scheduled residence for George Bush when he arrives before attending that summit next week.
So as the news continues to trickle in from Turkey, we'll get it to you as fast as we can.
Break here. Back in a moment on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Coming up on 47 minutes past the hour now. Time to take a look at some of the other stories making headlines today with Daryn Kagan.
Hey, Daryn. Good morning again.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Soledad, good morning.
We have a developing story out of Turkey. A blast going off in Istanbul. That is the site of next week's NATO summit. At least seven people were injured after an explosion on a bus as it approached Istanbul University. There are reports of at least two deaths.
Earlier a small bomb went off near a hotel in Ankara, injuring at least two people, including a police officer there. President Bush reportedly staying at that exact hotel when he arrives in Ankara this weekend ahead of the NATO summit.
Saudi Arabia offering terrorists 30 days to turn themselves in. Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah appearing on national television yesterday, urging Saudis involved in terrorism to give themselves up or face government action. Saudi forces say the announcement is meant, in part too, reach young al Qaeda members. As many as 35,000 members of the network are estimated to be in the Saudi kingdom.
Here in the U.S., the defense in the Scott Peterson case planning to cross-examine a police detective today. The case resuming today in California, but with a new juror on the panel. Juror No. 5, Justin Falconer, was dismissed yesterday, the move coming after he was seen on videotape speaking with Laci Peterson's brother.
And the government being criticized for knowing too much about some airline passengers. According to the Transportation Security Administration, four airlines and two more reservation systems than previously revealed had handed over personal information about its passengers. The information was used to test a computerized system for background checks.
Privacy advocates are calling for a congressional investigation. They had information, everything from credit cards, to your address to your name, even what you might have ordered on the plane, which could reveal your ethnicity or even your religion.
Back to you.
HEMMER: That ain't going to fly. Thank you, Daryn.
Artificial turf on Wall Street? Andy Serwer explains now, "Minding Your Business," back with us.
Good to see you, Drew.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Well, they have artificial numbers on Wall Street, so why not? No, this is slightly different.
You may remember earlier this year we told you about Astroturf and the parent company having all sorts of financial problems. One reason why: a company called FieldTurf has been stepping in the breach, really gaining a lot of market share. But it's a very interesting company. Want to tell you about it.
They've been putting these fake grass fields all over the country. That was Seattle Seahawks, Louisville Cardinals there, as well.
This company is out of Montreal. They're looking to go public probably sometime over the next year, and here's the really interesting rub. Investors in the company include a bevy, a gaggle, a pride of former NFL quarterbacks. Get this: Troy Aikman is invested; Randall Cunningham is invested; Warren Moon is invested; Bernie Kosar is invested. They've even got a little spot for Bubby Brister. OK?
I mean, I've never heard...
HEMMER: Pittsburgh Steelers.
SERWER: I've never heard of a situation where all these quarterbacks have sort of gotten in.
O'BRIEN: Are they connected with the company or do they just love the product?
SERWER: They were able to invest in the company early on. So obviously, the company went to them and said, "Look, you want to put some money in? We'll be able to let you guys..."
HEMMER: And how about the best testers of the quality of the product, too.
SERWER: Well, it's interesting you say that, because a lot of beef about Astroturf is all the injuries that came from playing on that surface.
HEMMER: Yes.
SERWER: This surface is supposed to be better. It lets the player pivot the foot. That was the whole thing.
HEMMER: It gives a little bit. SERWER: Right. But obviously, you know, you get those guys' names out there, and you go downtown on Wall Street. And of course, those people love to see those sports guys come down and shill that IPO, which will probably be what's going to happen.
HEMMER: That will be included.
Big day yesterday in the markets. We were soaring; why were the bulls running?
SERWER: Well, we had sort of a natural bounce back after a couple down days. That was what's really going on. This morning, though, things look a little bit weaker. Got some nice stuff happening yesterday. Today not as good, though.
Durable goods orders -- those are things that last over three years like washing machines -- kind of flat. Worst than expected on Wall Street.
O'BRIEN: Andy, thank you.
SERWER: You're welcome.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, for love or maybe it's for money. What does it take to get a man to walk down the aisle? Toure takes a look at that.
Straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Time to check in with Toure and the "Question of the Day."
TOURE, GUEST COMMENTATOR: Man, I was looking at some e-mails. The haters are out in force, saying that I look sloppy, my shirt is untucked. I'm unflappable, people. The hate just flows right off my back.
HEMMER: Times is hard.
TOURE: Times is hard, man.
O'BRIEN: On the boulevard.
TOURE: Kids, all right, we're going to keep it going.
Survey of 1,000 men by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University, reasons for getting married. Right time to settle down, want to have children, pressure from the partner.
Our question, "Aside from love, why do it?" Why jump the broom? Why get married at all?
We got a poet writing in from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Rob says, "Love is a state of irrational bliss, a temporary insanity which can only be cured by marriage." Wait a minute. What is that? This is just the wrong thing.
Joel from Connecticut, "Why get married? Because my father-in- law is a cop; I had to."
HEMMER: Amen. Yes, your honor.
TOURE: That's about right. Donna from Jacksonville, Florida, says, "What I do want to know is whether Toure's bride to be will have two names or just be Mrs. Toure?"
O'BRIEN: I was asking that same question.
TOURE: She's taking my name.
O'BRIEN: Which is?
HEMMER: Toure Toure.
O'BRIEN: We're going to know soon.
HEMMER: You'll know when I have kids. But you know, she's going to keep it personal, not professional.
O'BRIEN: So she'll take your last name but not tell anybody what her last name is.
TOURE: Basically.
HEMMER: We're going to get it out of you.
O'BRIEN: That's so weird, I got to tell you.
HEMMER: When you go jump that broom, we'll get it out of you.
TOURE: You have to be a really good reporter.
HEMMER: Why are you getting married, by the way? What's your reason? Where do you check in on that percentage?
TOURE: Well...
O'BRIEN: Yes, Toure.
HEMMER: Be wary. She's watching; you better be good.
TOURE: I like the Warren Beatty answer. That's always good for me.
O'BRIEN: It goes back to sex for Toure.
Watch where it gets you, baby. I'm telling you.
HEMMER: Where's Jack?
Thanks, Toure. See you next time.
TOURE: Thank you.
HEMMER: In a moment here, how do you defend a deposed dictator on charges of war crimes? After the break, we'll talk to Saddam Hussein's lawyer, in the U.S. for media interviews. His thoughts in a moment after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
