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American Morning

Cowardice Charge Dropped Against U.S. Soldier; Political Gossip

Aired July 16, 2004 - 07:30   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.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, rumors have been running wild in Washington about Dick Cheney's spot on the Republican ticket this fall, so much so that the White House had to come out again yesterday and say the vice president is not going anywhere. So, how much power does this political gossip actually have? We're going to talk about that with a gossip columnist, Lloyd Grove, from the "New York Daily News."
COLLINS: And also a little later, "90-Second Pop." Our panel is talking about a nationwide search, yes, for the next Partridge family.

COOPER: Oh, do we need another Partridge family?

COLLINS: Well, I think so, clearly.

COOPER: All right, somebody thinks that.

Well, the Army has dropped its case against a soldier who was charged with cowardice in Iraq. A Navy doctor determined that an anti-malaria drug could have led to the condition suffered by Sergeant Georg-Andreas Pogany.

Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon now, where there is still some question about that drug given to U.S. forces -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Plenty of questions, Anderson, about this drug.

Now, Sergeant Pogany had reported that he was having panic attacks after a situation in Iraq several months ago, where he was serving. He then began to be treated for combat stress, but found himself facing a charge of cowardice. So, he was shipped home.

Now, Navy doctors believe that he was suffering from something called autotoxicity. This is an inner ear balance issue causing dizziness. And they believe it is tied to the use of the anti-malaria drug, Lariam, a very controversial drug.

Now, Lariam does have the listed side effects of dizziness, hallucinations, that sort of thing. But those are all short-term effects. The question now is whether there are new medical long-term side effects of this very controversial drug, because, of course, thousands of soldiers in Iraq are taking it. So, they are looking very closely at this case. But the charge of cowardice, indeed, has been dropped -- Anderson.

COOPER: Well, are there other troops in the same position?

STARR: Indeed there are. The Navy now has identified 10 troops serving in Iraq that have taken the drug Lariam that are reporting these symptoms of autotoxicity, this inner ear balance issue. And, in fact, the Pentagon and the Centers for Disease Control are looking at it. They want to know if there are new, not previously diagnosed, long-term side effects from this drug.

Again, an issue of great concern if there are long-term side effects, because so many troops are taking this drug in Iraq. They rely on it. It's the key anti-malaria drug that they need -- Anderson.

COOPER: Yes, a drug that's been around for quite awhile. I took it many years ago. All right, Barbara Starr, thanks very much -- Heidi

COLLINS: The vice president says he will stay on the ticket, and the White House and Dick Cheney himself, as we say, are making that perfectly clear, despite rumors to the contrary on the front page of yesterday's "New York Times." Cheney's feature has been the suspect of Washington whispers for quite some time.

So, how they suddenly make it to page one? Lloyd Grove, gossip columnist for the "New York Daily News," is joining us now to talk about the power political rumor.

So, you take issue with this. You say, if this is on the front page it should be fact?

LLOYD GROVE, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" GOSSIP COLUMNIST: Well, I think so. This is the first time I've, in my memory, that "The New York Times" has just printed rank rumor. And these are not even from Republican sources. They are prominent Democrats who pretend to know what's going on in the mind President Bush.

COLLINS: Let's go ahead and remind everybody what that headline looked like yesterday. It said, "Hear the rumor on Cheney? Capital buzzes, denials aside."

And as we said, Cheney came out himself, because there has been so much speculation about this, and said just this. Let's listen in for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's made it very clear that he wants me to run again. The way I got here in the first place was he persuaded me four years ago that I was the man he wanted in that post.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Well, you heard it there. Where do these rumors come from? GROVE: Well, the "Times" says prominent Democrats. I mean, rumors are part of the political process. The October surprise, for instance, is a staple of American democracy. There's a rumor out there that Osama bin Laden has already been captured, and that President Bush is just waiting for the proper moment to reveal this fact. I don't believe it. It's just a rumor. But rumors do have an impact on the political process.

COLLINS: How so? I mean, how damaging can they really be?

GROVE: Well, I don't know if it will affect the result, but here you have the Bush campaign spending a lot of time and energy on beating back a rumor that's been on the front page of "The New York Times."

I might add that Cheney and "The New York Times" have been butting heads for the past several months. Cheney called a "Times" headline about the 9/11 Commission findings outrageous. The "Times" struck back at Cheney. And so, there's a bit of a tango going on between these two.

COLLINS: Well, you were a lead gossip columnist for "The Washington Post" for years. How many times and how often did that happen when political operatives would call you and say, hey, guess what?

GROVE: About every five seconds.

COLLINS: Really?

GROVE: Sure. I mean, rumors -- and it happens still at "The Daily News." I mean, I got a call this winter about John Kerry. There was a rumor that he was using Botox. I put that rumor in my gossip column. It wasn't on the cover of "The Daily News." And that's where I think these rumors belong.

COLLINS: Well, let me ask you about this now, before we let you go. We have heard about Hillary Clinton for some time, you know, a couple of days ago, in fact, that she wasn't speaking at the Democratic National Convention. Now today, we're learning that she is, and that John Kerry went ahead and invited her, due to a huge lobbying on her part -- I mean, on supporters' part, obviously. So now she has agreed to speak. Is this from John Kerry?

GROVE: The invitation to Hillary to speak? I'm sure it's sincere in the sense that he realized that it was probably politically too much pain to not to have her there in the Democratic Party.

COLLINS: What about all of the talk about overshadowing him?

GROVE: Oh, he's the nominee. He's not going to be overshadowed. He'll be fine.

COLLINS: All right. We certainly appreciate your time this morning. Lloyd Grove from the "New York Daily News," thanks so much.

GROVE: My pleasure.

COLLINS: Anderson.

COOPER: Scott Peterson's own words may or may not come back to haunt him. The judge in Peterson's murder trial has decided that three TV interviews that Peterson gave can be shown to the jury. But how much of those interviews will be shown has not been ruled on.

Now, during the interviews, Peterson lies apparently about what he told police about his affair with Amber Frey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR-TV REPORTER: And then even after Laci went missing you continued to romance this girl?

SCOTT PETERSON, ACCUSED OF MURDER: No.

GOMEZ: She claims you called her on the 24th and told her that...

PETERSON: I informed Amber about Laci's disappearance and the fact that I was married.

GOMEZ: On the 24th, December 24?

PETERSON: No, not on the 24th. I believe it was probably the -- it was a few days after.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Prosecutors claim the affair was a murder motive. Next hour, Gloria Gomez of KOVR-TV, who conducted that interview that you just saw, will be with us. We'll talk about it -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." It seems one airline has turned into a matchmaking service.

COOPER: Yikes!

Also ahead, you've seen the running of the bulls before, but this is something a little bit different.

COLLINS: And "90-Second Pop." HBO goes looking for a hit to replace "Sex and the City" and pins its hopes on, yes, that man, Mark Wahlberg. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER BREAK)

COOPER: Let's check in with Toure and the "Question of the Day" about Martha Stewart.

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": We got some poems. COOPER: Poems of the day. Really?

TOURE: And we got some decent ones, too.

Larry from Bergenfield, New Jersey says: "Martha Stewart, me thinks you blew it." Nice and short.

COLLINS: It's short and simple.

TOURE: Jamie from New York City, a friend of all of ours: "Why the fuss and preparation? Martha Stewart's sentencing celebration. July 17, make a notation. Will it be a time of elation?"

Emerson from Redwood City, California: "Had an itch to get rich. Now the ditch. Life's a...

COLLINS: Something like that.

TOURE: And you know the rest. And he actually left out the rest. It's not me. So that's his poem.

COLLINS: Oh, OK, just dot, dot, dot.

COOPER: It's sort of a haiku.

TOURE: Sort of. And Andy is going to bring us a haiku about Martha in the next hour.

COOPER: Oh, really?

TOURE: So I'm excited about that.

COLLINS: Andy wrote this?

TOURE: Yes.

COOPER: Excellent.

TOURE: "Martha Stewart" -- wait. This is from Quentin from Baton Rouge: "Martha Stewart, it amazes me so that you can make such nice curtains. But jail you must go. Our prayers go to you, and that you know is certain. But make the incarcerated proud, so maybe one day you'll sell pinstriped curtains."

COLLINS: Ooh. Ouch!

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the rhyme, but you know?

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: Maybe we should have a rating system.

TOURE: OK. Well, maybe Rose from Norwalk, Connecticut, who is Martha's former neighbor then. Maybe hers is the best" "Roses are red, violets are blue. Lying to the feds is bad for you."

COLLINS: Now that was profound.

TOURE: There you go.

COLLINS: Yes.

TOURE: She's keeping it real.

COLLINS: All right, Toure, we're going to get some more of those.

TOURE: Yes, we are.

COOPER: What is it? AM@CNN.com?

TOURE: AM@CNN.com.

COOPER: Right.

TOURE: More poems.

COOPER: Or haikus.

TOURE: Or whatever you got.

COLLINS: Right. We'll take it.

COOPER: And, you know, poems don't have to rhyme.

TOURE: That's right.

COLLINS: This is true.

COOPER: As I remember from sixth grade.

TOURE: That's right.

COOPER: OK, let's move on.

COLLINS: Lets. All right, still to come this morning, Andy Serwer's poem and he will also be "Minding Your Business." But today he's mixing in a little romance. He'll tell you how one airline is helping people make love connections.

COOPER: Oh, where is Chuck Woolery?

COLLINS: Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It's 45 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan.

Hey -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, we're going to begin in Iraq. That is where the U.S. is trying to identify a decapitated body that's been found in the Tigris River. There is speculation it may be one of the Bulgarian hostages, who are being held by insurgents. And according to messages posted on Islamic militant Web sites, the terror network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is claiming responsibility for the killing of a provincial governor in Iraq earlier this week -- excuse me. That attack is still under investigation.

All classified work has come to a stop at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The facility is one of the country's top nuclear weapons research labs. Last week, the lab discovered that two items containing classified information were missing. Officials are now conducting an inventory of sensitive data which is expected to take several days.

To the campaign trail now, where President Bush will speak today at a conference on human trafficking in Tampa. Then he flies to the battleground state of West Virginia for a rally.

As for Democrat John Kerry, he is addressing the American Federation of Teachers in Washington today. The Kerry/Edwards campaign has approved the date for three presidential and one vice presidential debate. The schedule still needs the OK from the Republicans.

Some good news about America's children. A new federal report is showing improvements in children's health and education. It also finds that young people are less likely to be involved in violent crimes and less likely to become teenage parents. But a warning as well. The report shows child poverty has risen for the first time in a decade.

To sports. Tour de France, as if climbing 100 miles of mountains and valleys isn't hard enough, yesterday -- look at this -- riders had to share the road with a herd of cattle. Somewhere down there is five-time champ Lance Armstrong (AUDIO GAP) cows and darkness. Lance Armstrong is 9 minutes and 35 seconds behind the race leader. Today, though, they head to the Pyrenees. That is where Armstrong has always been strong.

You know, Anderson, all they had to say to those cows, please move out of the way.

COOPER: Oh, I knew you were going to say that. I kind of sensed it.

KAGAN: Sorry.

COOPER: I don't know why.

KAGAN: I couldn't help myself.

COOPER: All right, Daryn, thanks very much.

The CEO of a major airline is taking off literally. Andy Serwer, thankfully, is "Minding Your Business" this morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Oh, you're welcome, Anderson. Can I do my Martha Stewart haiku?

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Sure.

SERWER: There's a little trick to these haikus. Ready? Light a crew wash cloth. Bacanovic told you so. Danbury coming.

COOPER: Wow!

COLLINS: Was that five, seven, five?

SERWER: Five, seven, five. You count those syllables up.

COLLINS: Danbury coming.

SERWER: Five, seven, five.

COLLINS: Bacanovic told you so.

SERWER: Told you so.

COLLINS: Oh.

SERWER: Yes, OK. Thank you. All right. Yes.

Anyway, let's talk about Southwest Airlines. First of all, a lot of people are finding love partners on Southwest Airlines. You know how they have open seating? Apparently there's a story out today about how people meet in line and they sort of cozy up next to each other and sit down. They fall in love get married. An interesting feature story.

COLLINS: Wow!

SERWER: The real story at Southwest Airlines, though, is unexpectedly Jim Parker, the CEO, resigned yesterday. And he's going to be replaced by the CFO, a guy named Gary Kelly. The real power behind everything at Southwest Airlines, though, is Herb Kelleher, who is one of the most colorful and charismatic CEOs this nation has ever known. He is the guy who calls the shots there.

I spent some time with Kelleher (AUDIO GAP) smokes Marlboro cigarettes.

COOPER: Really?

SERWER: He drank me under the table at 1:00 in the morning.

And then one night I was in his office. He had a bunch of candy bars there, right? And I was eying them. He said, "Would you like a candy bar?" I said, 'Yes.' And he goes, "Yes, I keep them there because I drink a lot."

It's just that you don't get CEOs and shareholders who say things like that.

COOPER: You know, the reason that the CEO gave for resigning was sort of interesting. He was like -- I forgot the word he used. But it was like it's exhausting or it's...

SERWER: It's draining.

COLLINS: It's taxing.

COOPER: It's draining, yes.

SERWER: I think he said it's draining. And what's going on with Jim Parker is that he's doing these negotiations with the unions, and they have been very taxing and very, very difficult. It has been overshadowed by Herb Kelleher. Jim Parker is kind of a subdued guy. Gary Kelly is kind of more of a Southwest guy. He's kind of more of a fun guy who, you know, likes to engage with employees and is kind of upbeat.

COLLINS: They love him.

SERWER: They're very -- they do. And they are very smart people. And, you know, it's a little bit unexpected. But Herb Kelleher is the guy behind the scenes. That's the guy always to watch at that company.

COOPER: Candy bars are still there.

SERWER: Yes, they are.

COOPER: Thanks very much.

SERWER: OK.

COOPER: Still to come, the Friday edition of "90-Second Pop." Have you ever thought the life of the Partridge family was the life for you? Well, Keith Partridge himself, David Cassidy would like to extend an invitation. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: So many truly important things to talk about in "90- Second Pop" on this Friday.

Joining us this morning, Sarah Bernard from "New York" magazine, Josh Elliott of "Sports Illustrated," and Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly." Let's get right to it.

Jessica, you have seen, I think, the first episode of the new Mark Wahlberg HBO show, "Entourage."

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Yes.

COOPER: Can it fill the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of "Sex and the City?"

SHAW: Well, I don't know about that, but it is really, really good. Mark Wahlberg is not in it. He has like a little tiny cameo.

COOPER: He's like the executive producer.

SHAW: He is the producer and the creator. But it's about this child star and his hangers-on in Hollywood.

JOSH ELLIOTT, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": This is a guy's "Sex and the City." I had a conversation with some male friends of mine. It's a great idea. This is a wonderful idea. This could absolutely be a guy "Sex and the City."

COOPER: Well, it's sort of based on what happened Wahlberg. Apparently a lot of his friends sort of came with him from the old neighborhood.

SHAW: Yes.

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I think it's kind of amazing that they're going to try this again, because remember that show "Action" with Jay Mohr, which was really, I thought, great?

SHAW: Yes.

BERNARD: But really inside Hollywood and people were sort of thinking there was not going to be an audience for that thing. But then, obviously, since Mark Wahlberg was behind it, they are going to give it another shot.

SHAW: I think this show is so much better than that one.

BERNARD: It's funnier.

SHAW: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) if you used a bad word.

ELLIOTT: Exactly.

COOPER: And there's only going to be eight episodes?

SHAW: Yes.

COOPER: OK. So a very limited run.

SHAW: Well, you know, it's very clever.

COOPER: Who knows? Who knows? "Entourage" 2 and 3. Right.

SHAW: You know, there's a lot of, like, pool parties and there's a lot of drama with women and there's also...

COOPER: That's what you all do out in L.A., those pool parties.

SHAW: Oh, yes.

BERNARD: There is one scene, isn't there, where this is what your entourage does. They play golf on the roof of his mansion.

COOPER: There you go.

BERNARD: And they try to hit -- instead of holes, they try to hit Pierce Brosnan's house.

COOPER: That's what happens over Hemmer's house every day.

BERNARD: Yes, they keep pelting on his roof.

COOPER: Let's move on. VH1 -- I couldn't believe this -- is holding auditions for a new Partridge family across the country. Do we need another Partridge family?

BERNARD: Do we need a new Partridge Family? I don't know.

SHAW: Do you want to be Danny?

BERNARD: Yes.

ELLIOTT: Danny...

BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you look like Danny.

COOPER: Why would you...

BERNARD: I don't even know -- that's the wrong show for Anderson.

COOPER: So, guys.

BERNARD: I know. This is kind of unbelievable. What VH1 is doing is they're casting a new family, but they're using the auditions as the show. So then after that, maybe part two will be the family performing. But they said they are actually looking for people who resemble the original cast. So all of the awkward red-headed 14-year- olds...

COOPER: Everybody grow out your hair. Get ready.

BERNARD: Yes, exactly. But...

SHAW: How about the bus? Is the bus going to be recast?

BERNARD: I don't think that's going to work anymore. It's just way too G-rated. They're going to have to have some tricked-out trailer with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and everything else.

ELLIOTT: I don't see this. I don't feel it. I want to feel it. Look, reality TV is my thing. But this one, I don't see it swimming.

COOPER: OK, very briefly. Italian police apparently arrested 23 mobsters trying to shake down the crew of "Ocean's 12," which is the sequel to "Ocean's 11."

ELLIOTT: OK. The bottom line is, first of all, this is cool. OK? This just makes this movie even cooler.

COOPER: Do you think it's true? I think it's one of those publicity stunts.

BERNARD: Yes.

ELLIOTT: It's almost like hoax, I'm guessing. Two things. In Sicily, understand, the mob in Sicily is not Tony Soprano at all rolling in their Escalades. It's like the fishermen in the village, who like everybody -- it's like joining the mob or there Mafia there is like, you know, being in the YMCA.

COOPER: It's going to be good for the movie, though.

BERNARD: I think it's got some people right there.

ELLIOTT: Of course.

(CROSSTALK)

SHAW: Yes, exactly. Maybe they just wanted to be actors, you know?

ELLIOTT: They were autograph hounds, you know.

COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. It's a little abbreviated "90-Second Pop" edition this time around.

SHAW: It's 30-second pop.

COOPER: It's 30 seconds. Jessica Shaw, thanks very much. Sarah Bernard and Josh Elliott, thanks very much -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Next hour this AMERICAN MORNING, more on today's sentencing of Martha Stewart. We'll talk to one of her former advisers and lawyers. He will tell us why Stewart's celebrity status may be both hurting and helping her case. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

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 July 16, 2004 - 07:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Also, rumors have been running wild in Washington about Dick Cheney's spot on the Republican ticket this fall, so much so that the White House had to come out again yesterday and say the vice president is not going anywhere. So, how much power does this political gossip actually have? We're going to talk about that with a gossip columnist, Lloyd Grove, from the "New York Daily News."
COLLINS: And also a little later, "90-Second Pop." Our panel is talking about a nationwide search, yes, for the next Partridge family.

COOPER: Oh, do we need another Partridge family?

COLLINS: Well, I think so, clearly.

COOPER: All right, somebody thinks that.

Well, the Army has dropped its case against a soldier who was charged with cowardice in Iraq. A Navy doctor determined that an anti-malaria drug could have led to the condition suffered by Sergeant Georg-Andreas Pogany.

Barbara Starr is live at the Pentagon now, where there is still some question about that drug given to U.S. forces -- Barbara.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Plenty of questions, Anderson, about this drug.

Now, Sergeant Pogany had reported that he was having panic attacks after a situation in Iraq several months ago, where he was serving. He then began to be treated for combat stress, but found himself facing a charge of cowardice. So, he was shipped home.

Now, Navy doctors believe that he was suffering from something called autotoxicity. This is an inner ear balance issue causing dizziness. And they believe it is tied to the use of the anti-malaria drug, Lariam, a very controversial drug.

Now, Lariam does have the listed side effects of dizziness, hallucinations, that sort of thing. But those are all short-term effects. The question now is whether there are new medical long-term side effects of this very controversial drug, because, of course, thousands of soldiers in Iraq are taking it. So, they are looking very closely at this case. But the charge of cowardice, indeed, has been dropped -- Anderson.

COOPER: Well, are there other troops in the same position?

STARR: Indeed there are. The Navy now has identified 10 troops serving in Iraq that have taken the drug Lariam that are reporting these symptoms of autotoxicity, this inner ear balance issue. And, in fact, the Pentagon and the Centers for Disease Control are looking at it. They want to know if there are new, not previously diagnosed, long-term side effects from this drug.

Again, an issue of great concern if there are long-term side effects, because so many troops are taking this drug in Iraq. They rely on it. It's the key anti-malaria drug that they need -- Anderson.

COOPER: Yes, a drug that's been around for quite awhile. I took it many years ago. All right, Barbara Starr, thanks very much -- Heidi

COLLINS: The vice president says he will stay on the ticket, and the White House and Dick Cheney himself, as we say, are making that perfectly clear, despite rumors to the contrary on the front page of yesterday's "New York Times." Cheney's feature has been the suspect of Washington whispers for quite some time.

So, how they suddenly make it to page one? Lloyd Grove, gossip columnist for the "New York Daily News," is joining us now to talk about the power political rumor.

So, you take issue with this. You say, if this is on the front page it should be fact?

LLOYD GROVE, "NEW YORK DAILY NEWS" GOSSIP COLUMNIST: Well, I think so. This is the first time I've, in my memory, that "The New York Times" has just printed rank rumor. And these are not even from Republican sources. They are prominent Democrats who pretend to know what's going on in the mind President Bush.

COLLINS: Let's go ahead and remind everybody what that headline looked like yesterday. It said, "Hear the rumor on Cheney? Capital buzzes, denials aside."

And as we said, Cheney came out himself, because there has been so much speculation about this, and said just this. Let's listen in for just a moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: He's made it very clear that he wants me to run again. The way I got here in the first place was he persuaded me four years ago that I was the man he wanted in that post.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Well, you heard it there. Where do these rumors come from? GROVE: Well, the "Times" says prominent Democrats. I mean, rumors are part of the political process. The October surprise, for instance, is a staple of American democracy. There's a rumor out there that Osama bin Laden has already been captured, and that President Bush is just waiting for the proper moment to reveal this fact. I don't believe it. It's just a rumor. But rumors do have an impact on the political process.

COLLINS: How so? I mean, how damaging can they really be?

GROVE: Well, I don't know if it will affect the result, but here you have the Bush campaign spending a lot of time and energy on beating back a rumor that's been on the front page of "The New York Times."

I might add that Cheney and "The New York Times" have been butting heads for the past several months. Cheney called a "Times" headline about the 9/11 Commission findings outrageous. The "Times" struck back at Cheney. And so, there's a bit of a tango going on between these two.

COLLINS: Well, you were a lead gossip columnist for "The Washington Post" for years. How many times and how often did that happen when political operatives would call you and say, hey, guess what?

GROVE: About every five seconds.

COLLINS: Really?

GROVE: Sure. I mean, rumors -- and it happens still at "The Daily News." I mean, I got a call this winter about John Kerry. There was a rumor that he was using Botox. I put that rumor in my gossip column. It wasn't on the cover of "The Daily News." And that's where I think these rumors belong.

COLLINS: Well, let me ask you about this now, before we let you go. We have heard about Hillary Clinton for some time, you know, a couple of days ago, in fact, that she wasn't speaking at the Democratic National Convention. Now today, we're learning that she is, and that John Kerry went ahead and invited her, due to a huge lobbying on her part -- I mean, on supporters' part, obviously. So now she has agreed to speak. Is this from John Kerry?

GROVE: The invitation to Hillary to speak? I'm sure it's sincere in the sense that he realized that it was probably politically too much pain to not to have her there in the Democratic Party.

COLLINS: What about all of the talk about overshadowing him?

GROVE: Oh, he's the nominee. He's not going to be overshadowed. He'll be fine.

COLLINS: All right. We certainly appreciate your time this morning. Lloyd Grove from the "New York Daily News," thanks so much.

GROVE: My pleasure.

COLLINS: Anderson.

COOPER: Scott Peterson's own words may or may not come back to haunt him. The judge in Peterson's murder trial has decided that three TV interviews that Peterson gave can be shown to the jury. But how much of those interviews will be shown has not been ruled on.

Now, during the interviews, Peterson lies apparently about what he told police about his affair with Amber Frey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA GOMEZ, KOVR-TV REPORTER: And then even after Laci went missing you continued to romance this girl?

SCOTT PETERSON, ACCUSED OF MURDER: No.

GOMEZ: She claims you called her on the 24th and told her that...

PETERSON: I informed Amber about Laci's disappearance and the fact that I was married.

GOMEZ: On the 24th, December 24?

PETERSON: No, not on the 24th. I believe it was probably the -- it was a few days after.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COOPER: Prosecutors claim the affair was a murder motive. Next hour, Gloria Gomez of KOVR-TV, who conducted that interview that you just saw, will be with us. We'll talk about it -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Still to come this morning, Andy Serwer is "Minding Your Business." It seems one airline has turned into a matchmaking service.

COOPER: Yikes!

Also ahead, you've seen the running of the bulls before, but this is something a little bit different.

COLLINS: And "90-Second Pop." HBO goes looking for a hit to replace "Sex and the City" and pins its hopes on, yes, that man, Mark Wahlberg. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER BREAK)

COOPER: Let's check in with Toure and the "Question of the Day" about Martha Stewart.

TOURE, "ROLLING STONE": We got some poems. COOPER: Poems of the day. Really?

TOURE: And we got some decent ones, too.

Larry from Bergenfield, New Jersey says: "Martha Stewart, me thinks you blew it." Nice and short.

COLLINS: It's short and simple.

TOURE: Jamie from New York City, a friend of all of ours: "Why the fuss and preparation? Martha Stewart's sentencing celebration. July 17, make a notation. Will it be a time of elation?"

Emerson from Redwood City, California: "Had an itch to get rich. Now the ditch. Life's a...

COLLINS: Something like that.

TOURE: And you know the rest. And he actually left out the rest. It's not me. So that's his poem.

COLLINS: Oh, OK, just dot, dot, dot.

COOPER: It's sort of a haiku.

TOURE: Sort of. And Andy is going to bring us a haiku about Martha in the next hour.

COOPER: Oh, really?

TOURE: So I'm excited about that.

COLLINS: Andy wrote this?

TOURE: Yes.

COOPER: Excellent.

TOURE: "Martha Stewart" -- wait. This is from Quentin from Baton Rouge: "Martha Stewart, it amazes me so that you can make such nice curtains. But jail you must go. Our prayers go to you, and that you know is certain. But make the incarcerated proud, so maybe one day you'll sell pinstriped curtains."

COLLINS: Ooh. Ouch!

COOPER: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) for the rhyme, but you know?

(CROSSTALK)

COLLINS: Maybe we should have a rating system.

TOURE: OK. Well, maybe Rose from Norwalk, Connecticut, who is Martha's former neighbor then. Maybe hers is the best" "Roses are red, violets are blue. Lying to the feds is bad for you."

COLLINS: Now that was profound.

TOURE: There you go.

COLLINS: Yes.

TOURE: She's keeping it real.

COLLINS: All right, Toure, we're going to get some more of those.

TOURE: Yes, we are.

COOPER: What is it? AM@CNN.com?

TOURE: AM@CNN.com.

COOPER: Right.

TOURE: More poems.

COOPER: Or haikus.

TOURE: Or whatever you got.

COLLINS: Right. We'll take it.

COOPER: And, you know, poems don't have to rhyme.

TOURE: That's right.

COLLINS: This is true.

COOPER: As I remember from sixth grade.

TOURE: That's right.

COOPER: OK, let's move on.

COLLINS: Lets. All right, still to come this morning, Andy Serwer's poem and he will also be "Minding Your Business." But today he's mixing in a little romance. He'll tell you how one airline is helping people make love connections.

COOPER: Oh, where is Chuck Woolery?

COLLINS: Stay with us here on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: It's 45 minutes past the hour now. Time for a look at some of today's other news with Daryn Kagan.

Hey -- Daryn.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Heidi, we're going to begin in Iraq. That is where the U.S. is trying to identify a decapitated body that's been found in the Tigris River. There is speculation it may be one of the Bulgarian hostages, who are being held by insurgents. And according to messages posted on Islamic militant Web sites, the terror network of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is claiming responsibility for the killing of a provincial governor in Iraq earlier this week -- excuse me. That attack is still under investigation.

All classified work has come to a stop at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico. The facility is one of the country's top nuclear weapons research labs. Last week, the lab discovered that two items containing classified information were missing. Officials are now conducting an inventory of sensitive data which is expected to take several days.

To the campaign trail now, where President Bush will speak today at a conference on human trafficking in Tampa. Then he flies to the battleground state of West Virginia for a rally.

As for Democrat John Kerry, he is addressing the American Federation of Teachers in Washington today. The Kerry/Edwards campaign has approved the date for three presidential and one vice presidential debate. The schedule still needs the OK from the Republicans.

Some good news about America's children. A new federal report is showing improvements in children's health and education. It also finds that young people are less likely to be involved in violent crimes and less likely to become teenage parents. But a warning as well. The report shows child poverty has risen for the first time in a decade.

To sports. Tour de France, as if climbing 100 miles of mountains and valleys isn't hard enough, yesterday -- look at this -- riders had to share the road with a herd of cattle. Somewhere down there is five-time champ Lance Armstrong (AUDIO GAP) cows and darkness. Lance Armstrong is 9 minutes and 35 seconds behind the race leader. Today, though, they head to the Pyrenees. That is where Armstrong has always been strong.

You know, Anderson, all they had to say to those cows, please move out of the way.

COOPER: Oh, I knew you were going to say that. I kind of sensed it.

KAGAN: Sorry.

COOPER: I don't know why.

KAGAN: I couldn't help myself.

COOPER: All right, Daryn, thanks very much.

The CEO of a major airline is taking off literally. Andy Serwer, thankfully, is "Minding Your Business" this morning.

ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Oh, you're welcome, Anderson. Can I do my Martha Stewart haiku?

(CROSSTALK)

COOPER: Sure.

SERWER: There's a little trick to these haikus. Ready? Light a crew wash cloth. Bacanovic told you so. Danbury coming.

COOPER: Wow!

COLLINS: Was that five, seven, five?

SERWER: Five, seven, five. You count those syllables up.

COLLINS: Danbury coming.

SERWER: Five, seven, five.

COLLINS: Bacanovic told you so.

SERWER: Told you so.

COLLINS: Oh.

SERWER: Yes, OK. Thank you. All right. Yes.

Anyway, let's talk about Southwest Airlines. First of all, a lot of people are finding love partners on Southwest Airlines. You know how they have open seating? Apparently there's a story out today about how people meet in line and they sort of cozy up next to each other and sit down. They fall in love get married. An interesting feature story.

COLLINS: Wow!

SERWER: The real story at Southwest Airlines, though, is unexpectedly Jim Parker, the CEO, resigned yesterday. And he's going to be replaced by the CFO, a guy named Gary Kelly. The real power behind everything at Southwest Airlines, though, is Herb Kelleher, who is one of the most colorful and charismatic CEOs this nation has ever known. He is the guy who calls the shots there.

I spent some time with Kelleher (AUDIO GAP) smokes Marlboro cigarettes.

COOPER: Really?

SERWER: He drank me under the table at 1:00 in the morning.

And then one night I was in his office. He had a bunch of candy bars there, right? And I was eying them. He said, "Would you like a candy bar?" I said, 'Yes.' And he goes, "Yes, I keep them there because I drink a lot."

It's just that you don't get CEOs and shareholders who say things like that.

COOPER: You know, the reason that the CEO gave for resigning was sort of interesting. He was like -- I forgot the word he used. But it was like it's exhausting or it's...

SERWER: It's draining.

COLLINS: It's taxing.

COOPER: It's draining, yes.

SERWER: I think he said it's draining. And what's going on with Jim Parker is that he's doing these negotiations with the unions, and they have been very taxing and very, very difficult. It has been overshadowed by Herb Kelleher. Jim Parker is kind of a subdued guy. Gary Kelly is kind of more of a Southwest guy. He's kind of more of a fun guy who, you know, likes to engage with employees and is kind of upbeat.

COLLINS: They love him.

SERWER: They're very -- they do. And they are very smart people. And, you know, it's a little bit unexpected. But Herb Kelleher is the guy behind the scenes. That's the guy always to watch at that company.

COOPER: Candy bars are still there.

SERWER: Yes, they are.

COOPER: Thanks very much.

SERWER: OK.

COOPER: Still to come, the Friday edition of "90-Second Pop." Have you ever thought the life of the Partridge family was the life for you? Well, Keith Partridge himself, David Cassidy would like to extend an invitation. That's ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COOPER: So many truly important things to talk about in "90- Second Pop" on this Friday.

Joining us this morning, Sarah Bernard from "New York" magazine, Josh Elliott of "Sports Illustrated," and Jessica Shaw from "Entertainment Weekly." Let's get right to it.

Jessica, you have seen, I think, the first episode of the new Mark Wahlberg HBO show, "Entourage."

JESSICA SHAW, "ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY": Yes.

COOPER: Can it fill the (UNINTELLIGIBLE) of "Sex and the City?"

SHAW: Well, I don't know about that, but it is really, really good. Mark Wahlberg is not in it. He has like a little tiny cameo.

COOPER: He's like the executive producer.

SHAW: He is the producer and the creator. But it's about this child star and his hangers-on in Hollywood.

JOSH ELLIOTT, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": This is a guy's "Sex and the City." I had a conversation with some male friends of mine. It's a great idea. This is a wonderful idea. This could absolutely be a guy "Sex and the City."

COOPER: Well, it's sort of based on what happened Wahlberg. Apparently a lot of his friends sort of came with him from the old neighborhood.

SHAW: Yes.

SARAH BERNARD, "NEW YORK" MAGAZINE: I think it's kind of amazing that they're going to try this again, because remember that show "Action" with Jay Mohr, which was really, I thought, great?

SHAW: Yes.

BERNARD: But really inside Hollywood and people were sort of thinking there was not going to be an audience for that thing. But then, obviously, since Mark Wahlberg was behind it, they are going to give it another shot.

SHAW: I think this show is so much better than that one.

BERNARD: It's funnier.

SHAW: And (UNINTELLIGIBLE) if you used a bad word.

ELLIOTT: Exactly.

COOPER: And there's only going to be eight episodes?

SHAW: Yes.

COOPER: OK. So a very limited run.

SHAW: Well, you know, it's very clever.

COOPER: Who knows? Who knows? "Entourage" 2 and 3. Right.

SHAW: You know, there's a lot of, like, pool parties and there's a lot of drama with women and there's also...

COOPER: That's what you all do out in L.A., those pool parties.

SHAW: Oh, yes.

BERNARD: There is one scene, isn't there, where this is what your entourage does. They play golf on the roof of his mansion.

COOPER: There you go.

BERNARD: And they try to hit -- instead of holes, they try to hit Pierce Brosnan's house.

COOPER: That's what happens over Hemmer's house every day.

BERNARD: Yes, they keep pelting on his roof.

COOPER: Let's move on. VH1 -- I couldn't believe this -- is holding auditions for a new Partridge family across the country. Do we need another Partridge family?

BERNARD: Do we need a new Partridge Family? I don't know.

SHAW: Do you want to be Danny?

BERNARD: Yes.

ELLIOTT: Danny...

BERNARD: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) you look like Danny.

COOPER: Why would you...

BERNARD: I don't even know -- that's the wrong show for Anderson.

COOPER: So, guys.

BERNARD: I know. This is kind of unbelievable. What VH1 is doing is they're casting a new family, but they're using the auditions as the show. So then after that, maybe part two will be the family performing. But they said they are actually looking for people who resemble the original cast. So all of the awkward red-headed 14-year- olds...

COOPER: Everybody grow out your hair. Get ready.

BERNARD: Yes, exactly. But...

SHAW: How about the bus? Is the bus going to be recast?

BERNARD: I don't think that's going to work anymore. It's just way too G-rated. They're going to have to have some tricked-out trailer with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and everything else.

ELLIOTT: I don't see this. I don't feel it. I want to feel it. Look, reality TV is my thing. But this one, I don't see it swimming.

COOPER: OK, very briefly. Italian police apparently arrested 23 mobsters trying to shake down the crew of "Ocean's 12," which is the sequel to "Ocean's 11."

ELLIOTT: OK. The bottom line is, first of all, this is cool. OK? This just makes this movie even cooler.

COOPER: Do you think it's true? I think it's one of those publicity stunts.

BERNARD: Yes.

ELLIOTT: It's almost like hoax, I'm guessing. Two things. In Sicily, understand, the mob in Sicily is not Tony Soprano at all rolling in their Escalades. It's like the fishermen in the village, who like everybody -- it's like joining the mob or there Mafia there is like, you know, being in the YMCA.

COOPER: It's going to be good for the movie, though.

BERNARD: I think it's got some people right there.

ELLIOTT: Of course.

(CROSSTALK)

SHAW: Yes, exactly. Maybe they just wanted to be actors, you know?

ELLIOTT: They were autograph hounds, you know.

COOPER: We're going to have to leave it there. It's a little abbreviated "90-Second Pop" edition this time around.

SHAW: It's 30-second pop.

COOPER: It's 30 seconds. Jessica Shaw, thanks very much. Sarah Bernard and Josh Elliott, thanks very much -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Next hour this AMERICAN MORNING, more on today's sentencing of Martha Stewart. We'll talk to one of her former advisers and lawyers. He will tell us why Stewart's celebrity status may be both hurting and helping her case. Stay with us on AMERICAN MORNING.

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