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American Morning
'Gimme a Minute'; Kerry's V.P. Choice; 'Paging Dr. Gupta'; Report Criticizes Popular Alzheimer's Drug
Aired June 25, 2004 - 08:29 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: All right-y, 8:30 here in Manhattan. Good morning, everyone. It's Friday, that means give me a minute. The panel's getting ready to curse, or at least talk about it anyway.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We don't curse.
HEMMER: There's this report out that the vice president, Dick Cheney, had some words with Senator Patrick Leahy on Capitol Hill yesterday. We'll get to that and see what it all means and how seriously we all should be paying attention to it in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, Sanjay is going to tell us about a new controversial study that comes out on Alzheimer's disease. In fact, it is so controversial that some doctor's out there going out of their way to make sure that their patients actually don't pay any to it. He's going to clarify some of the things in this sort of strange study.
HEMMER: Also, President Bush heading off to Ireland, in fact this hour, for a summit with leaders of the European Union. Ahead of that summit, President Bush gave an interview with Irish television, at times a bit tense over there, and at times also talking about Saddam Hussein, Iraq and America's role in the war now there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He was a brutal dictator who posed a threat, such a threat that the United Nations voted unanimously to say, Mr. Saddam Hussein...
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Indeed, Mr. President...
BUSH: Let me finish.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: ... but you didn't find the weapons of mass destruction.
BUSH: May I finish? He said -- the United Nations said, disarm or face serious consequences. That's what the United Nations said. And guess what? He didn't disarm. He didn't disclose his arms. And therefore, he faced serious consequences. But we have found the capacity for him to make a weapon. See, he had the capacity to make weapons. He was dangerous. And no one can argue that the world is better off with Saddam Hussein -- if Saddam Hussein were in power.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But, Mr. President, the world is a more dangerous place today. I don't know whether you can see that or not.
BUSH: Why do you say that?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: There are terrorist bombings every single day. It's now a daily event. It wasn't like that two years ago.
BUSH: What was it like September 11, 2001? It was -- there was a relative calm...
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But your response to Iraq...
BUSH: Let me finish, please. You ask the questions, and I'll answer them, if you don't mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: President Bush taking off this hour. Thousands of police and troops on hand in Ireland to control expected demonstrations while the president is there. After that he goes on to Turkey for that NATO summit late on this weekend -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Guess what. It's Friday. That means time for your helping of "Give Me a Minute," the segment where we ask a panel of experts to chow down on the week's big stories. It's feed time, so to speak, so let's go right to Washington, D.C. where we find Jonah Goldberg, he's the editor of the National Review Online.
Hey, Jonah, good morning, nice to see you.
JONAH GOLDBERG, EDITOR, NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Nice to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much. In New York, former Clinton White House aide Lisa Caputo joins us.
Hi, Lisa.
LISA CAPUTO, FMR. CLINTON WHITE HOUSE AIDE: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And with us here, Andy Borowitz from "The New Yorker."
Nice to see you, Andy. Thanks for being with us.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE NEW YORKER": Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Let's get right to it. Jonah, we're going to start with you this morning. There's this new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll conducted, and it seems as if President Bush and Senator John Kerry sort of tied neck-and-neck among likely voters if you look at it for the choice for president. It has been truly a tough week for the administration, though, when you consider all of the violence, things like that. So why do you think Senator Kerry not getting a bigger boost when President Bush is actually dropping in some of the polls?
GOLDBERG: I think three quick reasons. One, most Americans aren't paying that much attention. Two, this election, as everyone says, is a referendum on George Bush. And three, not very many people actually like John Kerry. So it's very hard to get his numbers up, because a lot of people don't like either candidate.
O'BRIEN: All right. Lisa what do you think? Do you expect that because, as, if Jonah says, nobody likes John Kerry, those numbers are not going to improve? Or do you expect we will see them improve?
CAPUTO: Well, I think what you're seeing, Soledad, is people are really questioning the president. They're wondering whether or not they like George Bush. And I think John Kerry is playing this so smart. Right now he is focused on his vice presidential choice, he's gearing up for the convention and he's getting ready for the general election. It's early. Why start taking the punches now and pulling punches now?
O'BRIEN: Andy, do you think it's smart, as Lisa says, to sort of fly under the radar?
BOROWITZ: I don't know. I think Kerry may have a charisma problem, because a new poll shows him losing to a pine 2X4.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: And that would be a bad thing.
BOROWITZ: That's a bad thing.
O'BRIEN: Let's move on to the next question. Lisa, we'll start with you on this one. You talked a little bit about the focus on the vice presidential choice. We saw earlier in the week Senator Kerry and John Edwards meeting. Do you think, if you had to guess, he's going to be the one?
CAPUTO: Oh, gosh. I am the worst person as guessing these things.
O'BRIEN: Do it anyway.
CAPUTO: Well, conventional wisdom these days in a lot of circles, among the press, among Democrats, has the race going down to Edwards versus Gephardt. So I'll put my money somewhere between the two of them, but I wouldn't want to pick one.
O'BRIEN: That's hardly a guess, Lisa. Come on, now.
CAPUTO: Edwards, I'll go with Edwards.
O'BRIEN: All right. That's my girl. Jonah, some people will say, if you make your choice in advance of the convention, you could actually give the campaign a big boost. Think that's true? And do you think that Kerry should do that?
GOLDBERG: I think it depends on the candidate. I don't think that Dick Gephardt adds a lot of personality to that ticket. It's sort of like handing an anvil to Wile E. Coyote when's off the side of a cliff. John Edwards would add some zest to the campaign, but it really depends on the personality.
O'BRIEN: He just called Dick Gephardt an anvil, I believe, Andy, and the bell is there, but give me a quick answer to that?
BOROWITZ: I think Dick Gephardt's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. I just think he's awesome. I think you go for him.
O'BRIEN: All right. We have got to talk about this story about the "F" word. I was thinking a lot about this because my parents watch this show. And so we have got to be a little tasteful here. Some people say -- several people say that the vice president used the "F" word when he had an exchange with Senator Patrick Leahy. What's the import of this, do you think? Jonah, let's start with you.
GOLDBERG: I don't think it's that big. Cheney probably shouldn't have done it. But if dropping the "F" bomb on Pat Leahy is a disqualification for public office, we'd lose half the people in this government.
O'BRIEN: Now, now, now, we didn't say disqualification. We just said, how big of a deal is it?
GOLDBERG: I understand.
O'BRIEN: Lisa, what do you think? I mean, it is not only inappropriate, many people say, but I think it's also against the rules to do that in the chambers.
CAPUTO: Indeed, on the Senate floor there are rules. No use of profanity. I think it's really undignified and, quite frankly, falls on the heels of the president making a derogatory remark against Adam Clymer from "The New York Times," if you'll remember. Maybe both of these guys need their mouths washed out with soap.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Andy, what do you think, because I know you would never curse.
BOROWITZ: Yes, it's true, we're on TV, so I really want to watch my language. But what I think Dick Cheney did was really messed up.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Undercovered story of the week. Lisa, we'll start with you.
CAPUTO: I think the undercovered story is what role is Ralph Nader playing, political analyst or candidate? It seems he's very interested in giving John Kerry advice on who he should pick as his running mater. And I would say also he, it appears, is going to be a big factor in the Keystone State, which is now a real tossup, a battleground between Kerry and Bush, and Nader could play a real factor there.
O'BRIEN: Jonah, what do you think?
GOLDBERG: I sort of -- less underreported an under-outraged. Yesterday Al Gore called people from the Bush campaign who sent e-mail to reporters brown shirts, at the same time the Democratic front groups are hiring felons and real thugs, like the brown shirts were, to go door-to-door arousing support for their candidate. I thought the irony was pretty rich.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Andy, what do you think?
BOROWITZ: Well, Bill Clinton's a book fell off a bookstore shelf yesterday, killing three people and injuring four others.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I can't believe that didn't make news anywhere, Andy?
BOROWITZ: That's amazing.
O'BRIEN: Shocking, really. You guys, as always, thanks so much, certainly appreciate it. Jonah and Lisa and Andy joining us. And have a great weekend, we'll see you back here next week -- Bill.
HEMMER: Do you think Andy is getting through 1000 pages? I doubt it.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Cliff Notes.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Yes. In a moment here, researchers question how useful a popular Alzheimer's drug can be for patients. Sanjay talks about that in a moment, we'll get to that.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, a familiar name to beer drinkers. One Senate candidate comes under fire for what he says about the drinking age. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business."
HEMMER: Also, you might remember this brutal hit on the ice. Todd Bertuzzi now finding out whether or not he'll have to answer for it in court. Back in a moment, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Four-and-a-half million Americans sufferer from Alzheimer's. There's a new British study out there getting a lot of attention and fueling this debate about the benefits of a leading drug to treat Alzheimer's. And Sanjay checks in on that. Dr. Gupta is at the CNN Center.
Good morning, what do we need to know.
DR. SANJY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes, this study is getting a lot of attention. The bottom line is this, I'll tell you that first. The medications for Alzheimer's, the disease, that exist today, aren't great but they're the best we've got. "Lancet", the British medical journal that you're talking about, put out a new study actually looking at one of the most popular Alzheimer's drugs, Aricept, and comparing it to a common sugar pill. The results, they say, disappointing.
Specifically, they're looking at how well the drug works long- term in patients who have mild cases of Alzheimer's disease. They agree that while there might be small improvements in overall cognitive function, ability to think a little bit more clearly, they're saying that people who took the drug deteriorated at the same rate as people who did not. They ended up in nursing homes at the same rate as people who did not. And they suggest that taking the drug to improve one's health may not work as well as previously thought.
But, again, bottom line, Bill, this is not a cure. No one has ever said it's a cure. It's a very personal decision, as whether or not this drug offers some small improvements in your life. And if it does, the question for a lot of patients, should they keep taking it? -- Bill.
HEMMER: So that's the advice you're giving then? Don't stop, despite the study, right?
GUPTA: Well, I think, you know, studies are what they are. This study was done on 565 people. This study is a little bit different from some of the other studies that have been out there, although this is admittedly a well-done study. It comes down to a very personal decision, I think, for a patient, his family and the doctor.
The best advice that I read, talking to a lot of Alzheimer's experts over the years about this, is that if the medication is working and you can afford to take it, it's not cheap, about $120 a month, it's probably okay to continue taking it. The side effects are relatively minimal.
But if you're expecting that you're going to have a dramatic improvement. If you're expecting that it's going to change the quality of your life dramatically because of this drug, or keep you out of a nursing home, those expectations might be a little bit high and you might be disappointed in the long-run. We need better options. That's sort of the bottom line as well, Bill.
HEMMER: Indeed. I think that is right, the bottom line. Thank you, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the violence is on the uptick in Iraq. Now comes word the Pentagon has a plan, if the situation gets worse, and some observers say that plan is long overdue. We'll explain, just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-five minutes past the hour, to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center for other stories this hour. Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, good morning to you. Our headlines begin in Iraq where a roadside bomb has killed a police officer in Baghdad today. And fighting in Fallujah has left at least seven Iraqis dead. The clashes come one day after insurgent strikes throughout Iraq in which nearly 100 people were killed. Officials warning of intense violence leading up to the handover of power in just five days.
Meanwhile, more U.S. troops could be heading to Iraq. CNN has learned that the military may send as many as 15,000 additional troops if the violence in Iraq continues. But General George Casey, who will soon take over coalition forces, says so far says Central Command has not made that request.
British servicemen returning to their base in southern Iraq. The British ministry of defense announcing that the crew members returned to Basra after being detained in Iran for three days. They were held after their boats crossed into Iranian waters.
Let's turn to sports for just a minute. Todd Bertuzzi facing charges now stemming from a hockey incident back in March. You might remember this video. Vancouver authorities charged Bertuzzi with assault, that for this attack on Colorado's Steve Moore. That hit came during a March 8 game, and it left Moore hospitalized with serious injuries. A court date for Bertuzzi has been set for July 9. Bertuzzi's NHL suspension remains in place as well.
And a darting stunt that follows in the family tire tracks. Evel Knievel's son, Captain Robbie Knievel, successfully clearing at least 20 police cars, well, let's just sit here and watch it here, 20 police cars on his motorcycle. It was part of a promotion event at a New Jersey car dealership. Robbie Knievel himself has completed 250 jumps in 33 years of daredevil riding. Bill, we're filing the story under the "Don't Try This At Home" file.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Correct. Good advice.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: Do you know the cars he was jumping?
KAGAN: The police cars?
HEMMER: It's Crown Vics, right? Those are the big ones. They use those as taxis in New Jersey. They're huge.
KAGAN: Good for him. Don't try it at home.
HEMMER: Psyched them out a little bit. That's right. Thank you, Daryn. Bring back your bowl and spoon. Some of your breakfast favorites getting healthier, Andy Serwer says, "Minding Your Business" back with us now.
What's getting healthier?
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE": Well, first of all, this is a food and beverage segment. I want to be clear here. I'm sorry. We're letting you down. But you don't want stuff that's less sweet, and that's what we're talking about, a couple favorite breakfast cereals going less sweet.
These are General Mills products including Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs. They're going to be using Splenda. And they're going to be 75 percent less sweet. You know why they're making them less sweet, you guys? Because they couldn't make them anymore sweet. Some of this stuff is not allowed in my house because it's just not -- you know, it's very, very sweet.
Anyway, let's move on here. Onto Campbell's Soup. Campbell's Soup also making healthier fare, low-carb soup, yuck, and also vegetarian soups. Well, OK, that's good, too. V-8 Splash is going to be -- have less sugar in it as well. And here is some not so nice news out of this company. Laying off 400 people. Now how about this? You have the misfortune of working in Camden, which is not a great place, and then you get laid off. That's going to be a tough day down there for the people at Campbell's Soup.
O'BRIEN: You're just dissing everybody today.
SERWER: I really am. I'm not being friendly to these food companies. And then we have some beer to talk about.
HEMMER: Yes, what's happening here? This is Pete Coors, right?
SERWER: Yes, Pete Coors has got himself in a lot of hot water here. Of course, he is a Republican hopeful candidate for the Senate in Colorado, coming out and suggesting that the drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18. Now he says...
O'BRIEN: Not a lot of candidates saying that kind of thing.
SERWER: Well, you know, it's kind of -- it's actually, there are some legitimate reasons for arguing that. He's saying, first of all...
HEMMER: Such as.
SERWER: Well, he's saying that they're drinking anyway, and we're criminalizing young people. Also these people can vote, why can't they drink? They can serve in the armed forces. Why can't they drink? Those are legitimate. But if you're a brewery magnate running for public office, I don't think this is necessarily going to be something you want to come out and be for, because it makes it very easy...
O'BRIEN: Make it 15 if they're drinking Coors.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: Yes, right, makes it easy for people to criticize.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that seems a little odd.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. Oh, by the way, Deep Purple was your last guess. You like them? Sly and the Family Stone was before that.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: Yes, I changed my mind again. And I'm thinking it's either Credence Clearwater Revival or Foghat.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: Foghat was a monster band, "Slow ride, take it easy."
HEMMER: Sure was. Break out the 8-track.
SERWER: Oh yes, great stuff.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: OK. You're welcome.
HEMMER: The debate continues in a moment, Toure is back with us again today. Is it U2, the Stones, or as Soledad suggests, Motown.
O'BRIEN: Oh yes. I love them.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I'm just kidding, oh please.
HEMMER: Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back with Toure. "Question of the Day," Jack is out, Toure is in. Stirring the pot.
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": "Question of the Day": "What's the greatest band of all-time?" Most of the e-mailers are agreeing with me. U2 is coming in No. 1, the Beatles are coming in No. 2. Zeppelin is coming in 3. Velvet Underground has not been mentioned this morning yet.
HEMMER: Can we verify that by the way? Can we verify whether they're agreeing with you or not? Just take your word?
TOURE: Oh yes, yes, yes. Go downstairs and verify, baby.
O'BRIEN: I think that -- yes, they know...
TOURE: This is CNN, only the truth on CNN.
HEMMER: The most trusted name in news, baby.
TOURE: So let's have some answers. Tom Richmond (ph) from Virginia. Great poem from Tom: "The world is full of" -- this doesn't actually have anything to do with rock 'n' roll, but he took the other side, the extra credit, and we love him for it.
O'BRIEN: But you did say people could write in about anything.
TOURE: Right. Because it's Friday and we're here to serve.
O'BRIEN: It's "free-for-all Friday."
TOURE: So: "The world is full of misery, our nation's gone to pot and yet we dwell on rocker bands while politicians plot to undermine our civil rights and twist the truth in turn. Perhaps we'll be like Nero's Rome and rock while justice burns."
Good one. In the morning too, right after the coffee, real poetry?
Harriet from Aurora, Missouri: "Eagles "'Take It to the Limit.' Daryn's mind is right, they are the best rockers, I'm 61 and like my rock light."
O'BRIEN: All right. I like that, Harriet.
KAGAN: You go, Harriet.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: There she is.
Bill says: "When the votes are cast and the lyrics are read the only band still playing is the Grateful Dead.
And B.J. from New York, New York, better known at B.J. Sigesmund: "Tell Hemmer and Soledad I've changed my vote from U2, which was correct, to Fleetwood Mac, the greatest music and the greatest drama."
HEMMER: He's probably right, yes.
TOURE: And we had to do extracurricular work to figure out what Soledad's really listening to. So we went into the office...
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Are you seeing that? She's got John Tesh.
O'BRIEN: I don't know how I get these.
TOURE: Hootie and the Blowfish, autographed. We're not sure if she actually purchased them. O'BRIEN: I love Darius Rucker, so let's not -- put that away. Number one. And John Tesh, for some reason, his people every year send me all of his Christmas albums. And they're quite lovely. So I think that's very sweet. Yes.
HEMMER: I'm thinking eBay for Hootie.
TOURE: ... was a little scratched up. I think she has listened to it more than once.
O'BRIEN: I love Christmas music. You know, I'm the kind of person, I embrace everything.
HEMMER: Apparently.
O'BRIEN: Don't you make fun of me. I'll be back here on Monday.
TOURE: I won't anyway.
O'BRIEN: Oh really?
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Getting too late to fix that.
TOURE: There's nothing to lose.
O'BRIEN: All right, Toure. Thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Scott Peterson's defense team may have scored some points yesterday. A detective admits to leaving out key information in his police report. We'll look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired June 25, 2004 - 08:29 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: All right-y, 8:30 here in Manhattan. Good morning, everyone. It's Friday, that means give me a minute. The panel's getting ready to curse, or at least talk about it anyway.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: We don't curse.
HEMMER: There's this report out that the vice president, Dick Cheney, had some words with Senator Patrick Leahy on Capitol Hill yesterday. We'll get to that and see what it all means and how seriously we all should be paying attention to it in a moment here.
O'BRIEN: Also this morning, Sanjay is going to tell us about a new controversial study that comes out on Alzheimer's disease. In fact, it is so controversial that some doctor's out there going out of their way to make sure that their patients actually don't pay any to it. He's going to clarify some of the things in this sort of strange study.
HEMMER: Also, President Bush heading off to Ireland, in fact this hour, for a summit with leaders of the European Union. Ahead of that summit, President Bush gave an interview with Irish television, at times a bit tense over there, and at times also talking about Saddam Hussein, Iraq and America's role in the war now there.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He was a brutal dictator who posed a threat, such a threat that the United Nations voted unanimously to say, Mr. Saddam Hussein...
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Indeed, Mr. President...
BUSH: Let me finish.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: ... but you didn't find the weapons of mass destruction.
BUSH: May I finish? He said -- the United Nations said, disarm or face serious consequences. That's what the United Nations said. And guess what? He didn't disarm. He didn't disclose his arms. And therefore, he faced serious consequences. But we have found the capacity for him to make a weapon. See, he had the capacity to make weapons. He was dangerous. And no one can argue that the world is better off with Saddam Hussein -- if Saddam Hussein were in power.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But, Mr. President, the world is a more dangerous place today. I don't know whether you can see that or not.
BUSH: Why do you say that?
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: There are terrorist bombings every single day. It's now a daily event. It wasn't like that two years ago.
BUSH: What was it like September 11, 2001? It was -- there was a relative calm...
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: But your response to Iraq...
BUSH: Let me finish, please. You ask the questions, and I'll answer them, if you don't mind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HEMMER: President Bush taking off this hour. Thousands of police and troops on hand in Ireland to control expected demonstrations while the president is there. After that he goes on to Turkey for that NATO summit late on this weekend -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Guess what. It's Friday. That means time for your helping of "Give Me a Minute," the segment where we ask a panel of experts to chow down on the week's big stories. It's feed time, so to speak, so let's go right to Washington, D.C. where we find Jonah Goldberg, he's the editor of the National Review Online.
Hey, Jonah, good morning, nice to see you.
JONAH GOLDBERG, EDITOR, NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE: Nice to see you.
O'BRIEN: Thank you very much. In New York, former Clinton White House aide Lisa Caputo joins us.
Hi, Lisa.
LISA CAPUTO, FMR. CLINTON WHITE HOUSE AIDE: Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: And with us here, Andy Borowitz from "The New Yorker."
Nice to see you, Andy. Thanks for being with us.
ANDY BOROWITZ, "THE NEW YORKER": Good morning, Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Good morning. Let's get right to it. Jonah, we're going to start with you this morning. There's this new CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll conducted, and it seems as if President Bush and Senator John Kerry sort of tied neck-and-neck among likely voters if you look at it for the choice for president. It has been truly a tough week for the administration, though, when you consider all of the violence, things like that. So why do you think Senator Kerry not getting a bigger boost when President Bush is actually dropping in some of the polls?
GOLDBERG: I think three quick reasons. One, most Americans aren't paying that much attention. Two, this election, as everyone says, is a referendum on George Bush. And three, not very many people actually like John Kerry. So it's very hard to get his numbers up, because a lot of people don't like either candidate.
O'BRIEN: All right. Lisa what do you think? Do you expect that because, as, if Jonah says, nobody likes John Kerry, those numbers are not going to improve? Or do you expect we will see them improve?
CAPUTO: Well, I think what you're seeing, Soledad, is people are really questioning the president. They're wondering whether or not they like George Bush. And I think John Kerry is playing this so smart. Right now he is focused on his vice presidential choice, he's gearing up for the convention and he's getting ready for the general election. It's early. Why start taking the punches now and pulling punches now?
O'BRIEN: Andy, do you think it's smart, as Lisa says, to sort of fly under the radar?
BOROWITZ: I don't know. I think Kerry may have a charisma problem, because a new poll shows him losing to a pine 2X4.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: And that would be a bad thing.
BOROWITZ: That's a bad thing.
O'BRIEN: Let's move on to the next question. Lisa, we'll start with you on this one. You talked a little bit about the focus on the vice presidential choice. We saw earlier in the week Senator Kerry and John Edwards meeting. Do you think, if you had to guess, he's going to be the one?
CAPUTO: Oh, gosh. I am the worst person as guessing these things.
O'BRIEN: Do it anyway.
CAPUTO: Well, conventional wisdom these days in a lot of circles, among the press, among Democrats, has the race going down to Edwards versus Gephardt. So I'll put my money somewhere between the two of them, but I wouldn't want to pick one.
O'BRIEN: That's hardly a guess, Lisa. Come on, now.
CAPUTO: Edwards, I'll go with Edwards.
O'BRIEN: All right. That's my girl. Jonah, some people will say, if you make your choice in advance of the convention, you could actually give the campaign a big boost. Think that's true? And do you think that Kerry should do that?
GOLDBERG: I think it depends on the candidate. I don't think that Dick Gephardt adds a lot of personality to that ticket. It's sort of like handing an anvil to Wile E. Coyote when's off the side of a cliff. John Edwards would add some zest to the campaign, but it really depends on the personality.
O'BRIEN: He just called Dick Gephardt an anvil, I believe, Andy, and the bell is there, but give me a quick answer to that?
BOROWITZ: I think Dick Gephardt's milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. I just think he's awesome. I think you go for him.
O'BRIEN: All right. We have got to talk about this story about the "F" word. I was thinking a lot about this because my parents watch this show. And so we have got to be a little tasteful here. Some people say -- several people say that the vice president used the "F" word when he had an exchange with Senator Patrick Leahy. What's the import of this, do you think? Jonah, let's start with you.
GOLDBERG: I don't think it's that big. Cheney probably shouldn't have done it. But if dropping the "F" bomb on Pat Leahy is a disqualification for public office, we'd lose half the people in this government.
O'BRIEN: Now, now, now, we didn't say disqualification. We just said, how big of a deal is it?
GOLDBERG: I understand.
O'BRIEN: Lisa, what do you think? I mean, it is not only inappropriate, many people say, but I think it's also against the rules to do that in the chambers.
CAPUTO: Indeed, on the Senate floor there are rules. No use of profanity. I think it's really undignified and, quite frankly, falls on the heels of the president making a derogatory remark against Adam Clymer from "The New York Times," if you'll remember. Maybe both of these guys need their mouths washed out with soap.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Andy, what do you think, because I know you would never curse.
BOROWITZ: Yes, it's true, we're on TV, so I really want to watch my language. But what I think Dick Cheney did was really messed up.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Undercovered story of the week. Lisa, we'll start with you.
CAPUTO: I think the undercovered story is what role is Ralph Nader playing, political analyst or candidate? It seems he's very interested in giving John Kerry advice on who he should pick as his running mater. And I would say also he, it appears, is going to be a big factor in the Keystone State, which is now a real tossup, a battleground between Kerry and Bush, and Nader could play a real factor there.
O'BRIEN: Jonah, what do you think?
GOLDBERG: I sort of -- less underreported an under-outraged. Yesterday Al Gore called people from the Bush campaign who sent e-mail to reporters brown shirts, at the same time the Democratic front groups are hiring felons and real thugs, like the brown shirts were, to go door-to-door arousing support for their candidate. I thought the irony was pretty rich.
O'BRIEN: Interesting. Andy, what do you think?
BOROWITZ: Well, Bill Clinton's a book fell off a bookstore shelf yesterday, killing three people and injuring four others.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I can't believe that didn't make news anywhere, Andy?
BOROWITZ: That's amazing.
O'BRIEN: Shocking, really. You guys, as always, thanks so much, certainly appreciate it. Jonah and Lisa and Andy joining us. And have a great weekend, we'll see you back here next week -- Bill.
HEMMER: Do you think Andy is getting through 1000 pages? I doubt it.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Cliff Notes.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Yes. In a moment here, researchers question how useful a popular Alzheimer's drug can be for patients. Sanjay talks about that in a moment, we'll get to that.
O'BRIEN: Also ahead this morning, a familiar name to beer drinkers. One Senate candidate comes under fire for what he says about the drinking age. Andy Serwer's "Minding Your Business."
HEMMER: Also, you might remember this brutal hit on the ice. Todd Bertuzzi now finding out whether or not he'll have to answer for it in court. Back in a moment, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Welcome back, everyone. Four-and-a-half million Americans sufferer from Alzheimer's. There's a new British study out there getting a lot of attention and fueling this debate about the benefits of a leading drug to treat Alzheimer's. And Sanjay checks in on that. Dr. Gupta is at the CNN Center.
Good morning, what do we need to know.
DR. SANJY GUPTA, CNN SR. MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Yes, this study is getting a lot of attention. The bottom line is this, I'll tell you that first. The medications for Alzheimer's, the disease, that exist today, aren't great but they're the best we've got. "Lancet", the British medical journal that you're talking about, put out a new study actually looking at one of the most popular Alzheimer's drugs, Aricept, and comparing it to a common sugar pill. The results, they say, disappointing.
Specifically, they're looking at how well the drug works long- term in patients who have mild cases of Alzheimer's disease. They agree that while there might be small improvements in overall cognitive function, ability to think a little bit more clearly, they're saying that people who took the drug deteriorated at the same rate as people who did not. They ended up in nursing homes at the same rate as people who did not. And they suggest that taking the drug to improve one's health may not work as well as previously thought.
But, again, bottom line, Bill, this is not a cure. No one has ever said it's a cure. It's a very personal decision, as whether or not this drug offers some small improvements in your life. And if it does, the question for a lot of patients, should they keep taking it? -- Bill.
HEMMER: So that's the advice you're giving then? Don't stop, despite the study, right?
GUPTA: Well, I think, you know, studies are what they are. This study was done on 565 people. This study is a little bit different from some of the other studies that have been out there, although this is admittedly a well-done study. It comes down to a very personal decision, I think, for a patient, his family and the doctor.
The best advice that I read, talking to a lot of Alzheimer's experts over the years about this, is that if the medication is working and you can afford to take it, it's not cheap, about $120 a month, it's probably okay to continue taking it. The side effects are relatively minimal.
But if you're expecting that you're going to have a dramatic improvement. If you're expecting that it's going to change the quality of your life dramatically because of this drug, or keep you out of a nursing home, those expectations might be a little bit high and you might be disappointed in the long-run. We need better options. That's sort of the bottom line as well, Bill.
HEMMER: Indeed. I think that is right, the bottom line. Thank you, Sanjay.
GUPTA: Thank you.
HEMMER: Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, the violence is on the uptick in Iraq. Now comes word the Pentagon has a plan, if the situation gets worse, and some observers say that plan is long overdue. We'll explain, just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Forty-five minutes past the hour, to Daryn Kagan at the CNN Center for other stories this hour. Good morning, Daryn.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Bill, good morning to you. Our headlines begin in Iraq where a roadside bomb has killed a police officer in Baghdad today. And fighting in Fallujah has left at least seven Iraqis dead. The clashes come one day after insurgent strikes throughout Iraq in which nearly 100 people were killed. Officials warning of intense violence leading up to the handover of power in just five days.
Meanwhile, more U.S. troops could be heading to Iraq. CNN has learned that the military may send as many as 15,000 additional troops if the violence in Iraq continues. But General George Casey, who will soon take over coalition forces, says so far says Central Command has not made that request.
British servicemen returning to their base in southern Iraq. The British ministry of defense announcing that the crew members returned to Basra after being detained in Iran for three days. They were held after their boats crossed into Iranian waters.
Let's turn to sports for just a minute. Todd Bertuzzi facing charges now stemming from a hockey incident back in March. You might remember this video. Vancouver authorities charged Bertuzzi with assault, that for this attack on Colorado's Steve Moore. That hit came during a March 8 game, and it left Moore hospitalized with serious injuries. A court date for Bertuzzi has been set for July 9. Bertuzzi's NHL suspension remains in place as well.
And a darting stunt that follows in the family tire tracks. Evel Knievel's son, Captain Robbie Knievel, successfully clearing at least 20 police cars, well, let's just sit here and watch it here, 20 police cars on his motorcycle. It was part of a promotion event at a New Jersey car dealership. Robbie Knievel himself has completed 250 jumps in 33 years of daredevil riding. Bill, we're filing the story under the "Don't Try This At Home" file.
(LAUGHTER)
HEMMER: Correct. Good advice.
KAGAN: Yes.
HEMMER: Do you know the cars he was jumping?
KAGAN: The police cars?
HEMMER: It's Crown Vics, right? Those are the big ones. They use those as taxis in New Jersey. They're huge.
KAGAN: Good for him. Don't try it at home.
HEMMER: Psyched them out a little bit. That's right. Thank you, Daryn. Bring back your bowl and spoon. Some of your breakfast favorites getting healthier, Andy Serwer says, "Minding Your Business" back with us now.
What's getting healthier?
ANDY SERWER, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, "FORTUNE": Well, first of all, this is a food and beverage segment. I want to be clear here. I'm sorry. We're letting you down. But you don't want stuff that's less sweet, and that's what we're talking about, a couple favorite breakfast cereals going less sweet.
These are General Mills products including Trix, Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs. They're going to be using Splenda. And they're going to be 75 percent less sweet. You know why they're making them less sweet, you guys? Because they couldn't make them anymore sweet. Some of this stuff is not allowed in my house because it's just not -- you know, it's very, very sweet.
Anyway, let's move on here. Onto Campbell's Soup. Campbell's Soup also making healthier fare, low-carb soup, yuck, and also vegetarian soups. Well, OK, that's good, too. V-8 Splash is going to be -- have less sugar in it as well. And here is some not so nice news out of this company. Laying off 400 people. Now how about this? You have the misfortune of working in Camden, which is not a great place, and then you get laid off. That's going to be a tough day down there for the people at Campbell's Soup.
O'BRIEN: You're just dissing everybody today.
SERWER: I really am. I'm not being friendly to these food companies. And then we have some beer to talk about.
HEMMER: Yes, what's happening here? This is Pete Coors, right?
SERWER: Yes, Pete Coors has got himself in a lot of hot water here. Of course, he is a Republican hopeful candidate for the Senate in Colorado, coming out and suggesting that the drinking age be lowered from 21 to 18. Now he says...
O'BRIEN: Not a lot of candidates saying that kind of thing.
SERWER: Well, you know, it's kind of -- it's actually, there are some legitimate reasons for arguing that. He's saying, first of all...
HEMMER: Such as.
SERWER: Well, he's saying that they're drinking anyway, and we're criminalizing young people. Also these people can vote, why can't they drink? They can serve in the armed forces. Why can't they drink? Those are legitimate. But if you're a brewery magnate running for public office, I don't think this is necessarily going to be something you want to come out and be for, because it makes it very easy...
O'BRIEN: Make it 15 if they're drinking Coors.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: Yes, right, makes it easy for people to criticize.
O'BRIEN: Yes, that seems a little odd.
SERWER: Yes.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy. Oh, by the way, Deep Purple was your last guess. You like them? Sly and the Family Stone was before that.
(CROSSTALK)
SERWER: Yes, I changed my mind again. And I'm thinking it's either Credence Clearwater Revival or Foghat.
(LAUGHTER)
SERWER: Foghat was a monster band, "Slow ride, take it easy."
HEMMER: Sure was. Break out the 8-track.
SERWER: Oh yes, great stuff.
HEMMER: Thank you, Andy.
SERWER: OK. You're welcome.
HEMMER: The debate continues in a moment, Toure is back with us again today. Is it U2, the Stones, or as Soledad suggests, Motown.
O'BRIEN: Oh yes. I love them.
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: I'm just kidding, oh please.
HEMMER: Back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Back with Toure. "Question of the Day," Jack is out, Toure is in. Stirring the pot.
TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": "Question of the Day": "What's the greatest band of all-time?" Most of the e-mailers are agreeing with me. U2 is coming in No. 1, the Beatles are coming in No. 2. Zeppelin is coming in 3. Velvet Underground has not been mentioned this morning yet.
HEMMER: Can we verify that by the way? Can we verify whether they're agreeing with you or not? Just take your word?
TOURE: Oh yes, yes, yes. Go downstairs and verify, baby.
O'BRIEN: I think that -- yes, they know...
TOURE: This is CNN, only the truth on CNN.
HEMMER: The most trusted name in news, baby.
TOURE: So let's have some answers. Tom Richmond (ph) from Virginia. Great poem from Tom: "The world is full of" -- this doesn't actually have anything to do with rock 'n' roll, but he took the other side, the extra credit, and we love him for it.
O'BRIEN: But you did say people could write in about anything.
TOURE: Right. Because it's Friday and we're here to serve.
O'BRIEN: It's "free-for-all Friday."
TOURE: So: "The world is full of misery, our nation's gone to pot and yet we dwell on rocker bands while politicians plot to undermine our civil rights and twist the truth in turn. Perhaps we'll be like Nero's Rome and rock while justice burns."
Good one. In the morning too, right after the coffee, real poetry?
Harriet from Aurora, Missouri: "Eagles "'Take It to the Limit.' Daryn's mind is right, they are the best rockers, I'm 61 and like my rock light."
O'BRIEN: All right. I like that, Harriet.
KAGAN: You go, Harriet.
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: There she is.
Bill says: "When the votes are cast and the lyrics are read the only band still playing is the Grateful Dead.
And B.J. from New York, New York, better known at B.J. Sigesmund: "Tell Hemmer and Soledad I've changed my vote from U2, which was correct, to Fleetwood Mac, the greatest music and the greatest drama."
HEMMER: He's probably right, yes.
TOURE: And we had to do extracurricular work to figure out what Soledad's really listening to. So we went into the office...
(LAUGHTER)
TOURE: Are you seeing that? She's got John Tesh.
O'BRIEN: I don't know how I get these.
TOURE: Hootie and the Blowfish, autographed. We're not sure if she actually purchased them. O'BRIEN: I love Darius Rucker, so let's not -- put that away. Number one. And John Tesh, for some reason, his people every year send me all of his Christmas albums. And they're quite lovely. So I think that's very sweet. Yes.
HEMMER: I'm thinking eBay for Hootie.
TOURE: ... was a little scratched up. I think she has listened to it more than once.
O'BRIEN: I love Christmas music. You know, I'm the kind of person, I embrace everything.
HEMMER: Apparently.
O'BRIEN: Don't you make fun of me. I'll be back here on Monday.
TOURE: I won't anyway.
O'BRIEN: Oh really?
(LAUGHTER)
O'BRIEN: Getting too late to fix that.
TOURE: There's nothing to lose.
O'BRIEN: All right, Toure. Thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come this morning, Scott Peterson's defense team may have scored some points yesterday. A detective admits to leaving out key information in his police report. We'll look at that ahead on AMERICAN MORNING. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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