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CNN LIVE SATURDAY

2 Car Bombs Kills 2 U.S. Soldiers In Iraq; Mudslides In North Carolina Kill 20

Aired September 18, 2004 - 18:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN LIVE SATURDAY is just ahead, but first, a quick look at what's happening right now in the news. Insurgents in Iraq threaten to kill two Americans and a British hostage who were abducted from their home in Baghdad Thursday. This was the video aired on Al Jazerra today.
And two car bombs killed two U.S. soldiers on the road to Baghdad airport. Eleven other American servicemen were injured.

Flooding from what's left of Hurricane Ivan killed four people in Macon County, North Carolina. As many as 30 homes were swept away. Ivan is now blamed for 25 deaths in five southeastern states.

Good evening, I'm Carol Lin, and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Ahead this hour, I'll talk with the head of FEMA about recovery and repair efforts around the eastern U.S., hard hit by Ivan.

Also, President Bush and Senator Kerry target a key group that could hold the key to the election. What each candidate is doing to attract the 38 million strong sportsman vote.

But first, let me show you the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. Every massive storm produces grim statistics and here is just a snapshot of what we know so far: 25 people have been -- have died -- have been killed in connection with Ivan, a 1.5 million people are still without power, and early estimates place the damage from Hurricane Ivan between $2 billion and $10 billion. Now, parts of Florida and Alabama look like a war zone three days after the storm hit. Dazed residents are facing the reality of living without air conditioning and standing in line for bare necessities. Farther north, flooding is still a big problem. Rains from the remnants of the hurricane turned parts of North Carolina into a soggy mess. CNN's Brian Todd is in Franklin, one of the hardest hit areas in North Carolina -- Brian.

BRIAD TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, normally this place is known as a vacation spot, but right now the people who are flocking here are members of rescue and recovery teams.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD (voice-over): In a serene community tucked in a narrow valley of the southern Appalachians, a calamity that has shaken even seasoned emergency officials.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Part of these homes don't even look like homes anymore. It looks like you have just swept the whole thing down and piled it up in a pile somewhere.

TODD (on camera): A massive mudslide Thursday night destroyed more than 20 homes, wiping away much of the tiny village of Peekes Creek. People who lived through this are telling absolute horror stories about what happened that night. What you're looking at is a foundation of a house that had stood here for about 30 years. Here is where the house stands now. Underneath that tree is the family car.

(voice-over): The home belongs to Marilyn Jones. She and her husband got out just in time.

MARILYN JONES, LOST HOME: Terrible, absolutely terrible. It was like a -- the debris was just coming through the air and then it sounded like a freight train coming through. And we were able to run through the house and jump out the back door before our house started sliding.

TODD: Some houses escaped that fate by mere inches. Residents had no advanced warning of mudslides. And we asked a survivor if they blame the authorities.

WAYNE HAIRE, PEEKES CREEK RESIDENT: They had no warning. They had no way of knowing it was going to get that mudslide up there and all that was coming down. There was no way they could have known it.

TODD: As rescue crews picked through the debris and searched for the missing, an ominous prediction, a top emergency official tells us the overall recovery effort could take several months.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TODD: And right now there are about 300 rescue and recovery worker at the scene. They are from four different municipalities in North Carolina. Also, members of the National Guard are up there. They're working day and night -- Carol.

LIN: Brian, obviously it's going to take quite some time to really know whether the death toll is going to rise, how many people total will be affected. What do you know right now?

TODD: Well, the most striking thing now is that they can't even account for the missing. We've been pressing them on this all day. They can't even give us an approximation of the missing. We don't know if that means that something is more ominous information is coming, maybe some people left to stay with relatives. They're just not telling us even an approximate number of the people missing.

LIN: So many communities just so hard hit and so suddenly by Hurricane Ivan. Thank you very much, Brian Todd, reporting live from Franklin.

So FEMA is now responding to the devastation from three consecutive hurricanes, Charley, Frances, and Ivan. Some FEMA workers took their video cameras into the heart of Ivan's devastation. FEMA director Michael Brown joins me now from Birmingham, Alabama. Michael, it was a brilliant idea for some of the workers to actually capture some of these pictures that were just stunning. And as I talked to you, I'm hoping we'll be able to show some of it. Give me an idea as you look take a look at the scope of the number of states now, as far north as Ohio -- parts of Ohio and Pennsylvania being drenched and flooded by Ivan. How big a disaster area are you dealing with?

MICHAEL BROWN, DIRECTOR, FEMA: Well, we're dealing with disasters, as you just described, all the way from Louisiana, all along the Gulf Coast up into the Appalachians, Ohio, West Virginia. There are floods in Pennsylvania right now. It's just a vivid reminder of just how powerful Mother Nature is. This is as big as any terrorist event and obviously we're dealing with people whose lives are affected in all of those areas.

LIN: When we see these pictures, a lot of people want to know what is it like for someone who has actually been in the heart of it there. What is it like for you to be there, look at the damage, talk to people?

BROWN: Well, I'll tell you, Carol, I really have two reactions: one, it just breaks my heart when I have to go into some of the neighborhoods and I meet the people at the checkpoint where they can't go in because it's just too dangerous. And they ask me if I saw their house and I have to tell them that there is no house there to see, that everything is destroyed and just the heartache that you see in their eyes. At the same time, you see the people begin to rebuild in other places and it's just that spirit of the FEMA people and all the emergency workers who are determined to do everything they can to help these people. I always remind my team that we're the face of the entire country in these response efforts and so we have a huge obligation to do the absolute best we can to help them.

LIN: And them, that -- you're talking about hundreds of thousands of people who are going to need your help. President Bush signed off on $2 billion in disaster assistance and that was before Ivan. What are you looking at in terms of the total cost of this disaster?

BROWN: Carol, we don't know yet. And what we're going to do is the president has assured me, I talked to him yesterday, that he is going to go back to Congress. He's asking for additional funds. Congress is working on that now. So I don't worry about the financial resources. We'll be able to take care of individuals financially. What I need individuals to do is to think about if you're living in Oregon, or you're sitting back at home in Colorado or something, to write a check out to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army or your local church, you know, and ask your church to designate some of those monies to the hurricane victims.

LIN: How much private assistance do you think the government is going to need?

BROWN: Well, what we really need now is just the Salvation Army and the Red Cross to continue doing what they're doing and that is feeding people at comfort stations and things, while we do all of the heavy lifting right now. We're doing the rescue work. We'll start rebuilding these communities. We'll get things in like meals ready to eat, but you know people get tired of eating meals ready to eat and sometimes they want a...

LIN: Right.

BROWN: ...hot lunch and that's what's really good about the charitable organizations.

LIN: Right. Yes, these folks, they're not in the Army. A lot of them are just retirees trying to get by.

BROWN: And that's exactly right.

LIN: Let's hope that hot meal at least that you can provide while you search for the missing and the dead continues. Thank you very much, Michael Brown.

BROWN: Thank you.

LIN: Well, parts of Florida got a one-two punch, the hurricane and then the floods and the tornadoes that followed. CNN's Chris Lawrence is in Pensacola, Florida.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS LAWRENCE (voice-over): More than two days after Hurricane Ivan hit land; some people in Pensacola are getting their first close- up view of the storm's power.

TOM DIONNE, BOAT DESTROYED BY IVAN: The tide must have come up so high that it pushed the docks over the piers.

LAWRENCE: Tom Dionne can't believe how easily the water tossed around huge concrete blocks and 40 foot boats, including his own, probably damage beyond repair.

DIONNE: It's only money. That's the way you got to think of it. But it hurts, man. It hurts bad.

LAWRENCE: It's the kind of frustration felt across the panhandle. Hundreds of thousands of people still don't have power in Florida. And across the Gulf Coast and beyond, insurance companies estimate Ivan caused between $2 billion and $10 billion in damage.

(on camera): To put it in perspective, Hurricanes Charley and Frances caused about $11 billion in damage combined.

(voice-over): Some small businesses will have to rebuild from the ground up. And after crews clear debris from the roads, some families have come home to a complete wipeout.

VIRGINIA TYSON, HOME DESTROYED BY IVAN: You can't even find like one piece of furniture. There isn't a couch. There isn't a chair, nothing that's in tact at all. LAWRENCE: It's people like that who Gary McMahan volunteered to help, bringing free food, water and gasoline to give away.

GARY MCMAHAN, DONATING FOOD AND WATER: I do not want money. God will bless me anyway.

LAWRENCE: But for every good Samaritan, there's someone trying to take advantage of a bad situation. Like the 15 people police have arrested in this county for looting.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Pensacola, Florida.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: More people died in Florida's hurricane hit than any other state. Two died in Panama City Beach when tornadoes swept through. The mayor of Panama City Beach, Lee Sullivan, is on the telephone now.

Mr. Mayor, at last count, I think, some eight panhandle counties were still without power. What is the latest situation that you have now?

LEE SULLIVAN, MAYOR, PANAMA CITY BEACH: It is -- candidly, it is difficult, but everyone works as diligently as possible. But the devastation has been so widespread and so serious that you get major transmission feeders. So the restoration of power is just an enormous challenge and it is going to take some period of time to do that. And that just exacerbates the other problems that people are trying to deal with.

You know, a lot of people don't think that a bag of ice is a big deal until they haven't had anything cold to drink for about four or five days and they don't have any air conditioning. So those small things can get to be enormous things and small kindnesses get to be things that keep yourself alive. And we get some of that. I mean we are blessed to live in this country and to have people that will give of themselves, but we got spanked. The people west of us just got beat badly.

LIN: Search and air rescue operations still going on. I understand some areas were so isolated around Panama City Beach; there was no other way to actually look at the devastation. Any results, anybody still missing?

SULLIVAN: As you have reported earlier, there are some people that we don't know whether they're OK or they're not OK. We just can't account for them. They might have gone. No one knows that they left. So that is going to go on to a large degree for the next week until people are accounted for. I don't think we will know until that happens. But we are -- you know, we're going to deal with fuel shortages and other staples and essentials, primarily because of the devastation to the west of us and the I-10 corridor. And they're just -- you know, one of our major fuel suppliers is without power. So there are a number of things that ripple down past the immediacy of just, you know, hey lady, at the end of the day you got to step back and thank the good lord for what you got and then you got to step up and help those that have been hurt in this thing. And Florida has just been hit bam, bam, bam.

LIN: You bet. Three hurricanes in a row. Lee Sullivan, the nation is watching. Your town looks like a war zone right now. The story will continue. Lee Sullivan, mayor of Panama City Beach, thank you.

SULLIVAN: Thank you.

LIN: In the meantime, we've got another war, a different kind of war to cover chaos and violence. It is another deadly day in Iraq with two explosions and two Americans held hostage. There are new fears insurgents are taking more control.

Plus, the debate over duty. More records are released from President Bush's time in the National Guard. But will they help quell the questions about his service?

And the Emmy's are just one night away. Who's going to win? Who's going to lose? Later, the strange trend on television. Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Insurgents in Iraq are threatening to kill three western hostages. Video of the two Americans and one Brit aired today on Al Jazerra. The men were abducted from their home in Baghdad on Thursday. And one of the American hostages is from suburban Atlanta. CNN's Denise Belgrave has more details. She joins me now by telephone -- Denise.

DENISE BELGRAVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol. We're here in a quiet suburb in Atlanta in front of the home of Jack Hensley. He's one of the two Americans that was kidnapped in Baghdad on Thursday. Hensley's captors are threatening to kill their hostages in 48 hours if the U.S. doesn't release all Iraqi women in its custody. Hensley's wife has been joined by other family members as they await word on his fate. The street has been cordoned off by local police and media presence has grown exponentially in the last two hours.

Earlier today, I spoke with one of the neighbors who was really very upset and she said she just couldn't talk about it -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Denise, I know this is a developing story. We're going to leave you to cover it. Thank you very much. We're going to keep you posted on the hostage situation.

In the meantime, obviously Iraqis working to bring peace to their own nation are under fire now. This week, insurgents targeted Iraqi law enforcers. More on that and the kidnappings in Baghdad. Here's CNN's senior international correspondent Walt Rodgers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): The kidnappers threatened to kill these two Americans and one British engineer by Monday unless the Americans release all female Iraqi prisoners now in custody here. All three men were blindfolded, a gun was pointed at one's head.

The Arab television network Al Jazerra was the first to broadcast the demands of Tawad (ph) and Jihad, a shadowy group believed affiliated with the alleged terrorist mastermind Abu Musab Zarqawi. This is the house from which the two Americans and one British subject were kidnapped Thursday. Their Iraqi guard did not show up that night, clearing the way for the kidnapping.

Also, this weekend, a string of car and roadside bombs in the northern city of Kirkuk. The Iraq National Guard headquarters was the target of a suicide car bomber. The car at high speed bore down on the guards, shooting at the driver but not before he detonated a powerful explosion killing 19 Iraqis there and sending more than 60 others to the hospital. Security institutions like the Iraqi police and National Guard have been the principal targets of the insurgents this past week.

A roadside bomb detonated in Baghdad's Karada neighborhood, killing one person. The apparent target there, cars thought to belong to westerners still in Iraq.

A convoy of U.S. soldiers on the road to Baghdad's airport was also the target of a car bomb. Three soldiers were reported injured in that.

Walter Rodgers, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: In a completely different story, a couple of hours ago, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution threatening sanctions against Sudan. The U.N. wants Sudan to stop militias accused of killing thousands in the Darfur region. CNN's senior U.N. correspondent Richard Roth has more details.

Richard, frankly, it sounds like the U.N. simply agreed to continue the discussion about sanctions, but did not lay down the sort of Damocles.

RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol. It's an open question really whether this resolution will do anything to stop the atrocities going on in Darfur in Sudan. The Security Council, a couple of hours ago, agreed to a resolution. Eleven in favor for this resolution, pushed by Washington. Four countries abstaining, China, Russia, Algeria, and Pakistan. This resolution sends the Commission of Inquiry there to determine, perhaps, whether there's a genocide and it threatened sanctions, perhaps eventually, on government leaders and the oil industry. The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Danforth, at one time, was a special adviser to the president on Sudan.

JOHN DANFORTH, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO U.N.: You said that Darfur is the catastrophe that the council should address on an urgent basis. He underscored the importance of the expanded mission of the African Union, which he asked us to support by this resolution and logistically. He asked that the international community fulfill its commitments to humanitarian assistance for the people of Darfur.

ROTH: U.S. officials and the U.N. say it is the world's worst humanitarian disaster going on now. Fifty thousand people killed, more than a million made home homeless, two million people affected. Yet, many countries on the Security Council, Carol, say they show no indications of being in favor eventually of sanctions on the government of Sudan. They say Sudan is doing enough to show signs of cooperation. Back to you.

LIN: Richard, it's such a huge humanitarian crisis. That's obvious. What are the political pressures that are preventing these countries from signing on to sanctions?

ROTH: Well, there are many countries on the Security Council that don't want sanctions against them eventually. So they don't like agreeing to it on another member country of the U.N. Also, the U.S. failure to get Iraq right post war makes a lot of countries skittish about going into another nation such as Sudan, perhaps with a large amount of troops.

LIN: All right, Richard Roth, quickly, are they going to be taking this up again? I mean where do they go from here?

ROTH: The next report in 30 days. Secretary General Annan has his special adviser on genocide in Sudan right now. Don't look for sanctions of the next few months.

LIN: Time is of the essence. The rainy season has already begun there. Thanks very much, Richard Roth, live at the United Nations.

Well, other news now from the around the world.

Russian police say they have prevented a car bomb attack in Moscow last night. The Interfax News Agency reports a vehicle laid within explosives was stopped on a main road leading directly to the Kremlin.

No deal in Northern Ireland talks. Three days of intensive negotiations aimed at reviving power sharing in Northern Ireland have ended without an agreement. Still the prime ministers of Britain and Ireland say they are optimistic.

And in Tel Aviv, Madonna's holy retreat stirs up a brawl. Israeli police say they detained two of the pop star's bodyguards after a fight with photographs outside her hotel. Two photographers and a policeman were injured. Madonna, who's studying Karbala, a mystical interpretation of Judaism, is in Israel for the Jewish new year.

Europe's riding high at the Ryder Cup. Will the defending champs repeat or can the Americans use their home turf advantage? We're going to take you there next.

Plus, a big hit reaps a giant reward. That's a hint. Barry Bonds hammers his way into history, joining two of the greatest sluggers of all time. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The shift is on for Bonds. Bonds hits one to left center field. He hits it well. Let's go back. It is out of here! Number 700 for Barry Bonds!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIN: There you go. That was the moment made in history. Barry Bonds joins the elite company of Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. He hit his 700th home run last night. Aaron is the all time homer king at 755. And Babe Ruth is next at 714. Barry Bonds called his accomplishment unbelievable. By the way, his team, the Giants won the game 4-1 over San Diego.

Now, golf is not typically a team sport. But every two years the best pro golfers in the U.S. and Europe team up against each other. Our Larry Smith is keeping score of all of the matches in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan -- Larry.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, a better showing today for the United States. But still it's the Europeans who beat the Americans for the second straight day and extend their lead to six points. That is a Saturday advantage, which in the past has guaranteed victory in Ryder Cup history.

Let's start with the morning session, the four ball competition. Tiger Woods and Chris Riley teaming up and they were outstanding in their match, dominant, unstoppable. They beat Daron Clarke and Ian Polter four and three. Riley hit four birdies, all four won holes for this duo. Now, the Americans threaten to sweep the morning round but settled for two wins and then a half point in a third.

Now, the momentum and prodding from a rocket of the American crowd didn't carry over however. Daron Clarke and Lee Westwood, the European duo, set the stage in the foursomes competition as they (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Chris Demarco and Jay Haas, five and four. The Europeans won three of four afternoon matches, only the duo of Phil Mickelson and David Toms, both of whom sat out the morning round, prevented the sweep.

So the Europeans are up now 11 to five. Now, the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history took place in 1999 in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Americans came back from four points down. So what it comes down to is this: 12 singles matches on Sunday. The Americans need to win a minimum of nine matches and tie a tenth. This is at a minimum. If they don't do that, then the Europeans go home with the cup for two more years. Let's go back to you.

LIN: All right, thanks, Larry.

Well, you've heard of soccer moms, NASCAR dads, and now both parties are going after the gun toting, fly fishing sportsmen. Plus, will "The Sopranos" break their losing streak? And will it be a fond farewell for "Sex and The City?" All eyes are on the Emmy's and we've got your preview.

And later, fun at the festival. We're going to take you live to the Monterey Jazz Festival where world class performers and listeners are gathering by the thousands.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back. Here is a quick look at what's happening right now in the news. A suicide bomber targets an Iraqi National Guard building in Kirkuk, killing 19 people and wounding about 70. Among the casualties were several guardsmen and recruits.

Making do without electricity -- nearly 1.4 million customers in seven states remain in the dark because of Hurricane Ivan and its remnants. The majority of those are in the Florida panhandle, Alabama and North Carolina.

Detainees transferred from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon says 35 detainees were turned over to Pakistan. Most of them will remain in custody in Pakistan. About 550 detainees remain at Guantanamo Bay.

Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is campaigning in New England this weekend. He's attending a fundraiser in Boston at this hour. The Navy's inspector general has rapped up a review of Kerry's Vietnam War service record and that could end some of the flap over his medals. He concludes that Kerry's medals were properly awarded. The group, Judicial Watch, had called upon the secretary of the Navy to revoke the medals. Inspector general Ronald Roach says there's no need for that or for a full scale probe.

Now, to the flap over President Bush's military record. New documents released by the Pentagon include a 1968 letter from the president's father, then a Congressman. It was in response to a commander's letter complimenting the younger Bush's efforts at an air training base. Democrats say the letter is proof of preferential treatment. The White House says the documents prove the president fulfilled his Air National Guard obligations.

Well, President Bush is spending the weekend off the campaign trail in Maine. Both he and John Kerry are setting their sights on men who like the great outdoors, preferably armed with a shotgun or fishing rod. You might call it the field and stream vote. Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is in Kennebunkport, Maine -- Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, the two candidates are being grilled on policies regarding gun control, mining and the environment from a very powerful group that could determine this year's election.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MALVEAUX (voice-over): President Bush with his big catch. Senator John Kerry pursuing his. Both men on the hunt to capture the ultimate prize. And this coveted voting bloc may call it.

SID EVANS, "FIELD & STREAM" MAGAZINE: This is 38 million Americans who happen to hunt and fish.

MALVEAUX: They are the sportsmen vote and to reach them, both candidates will lay out their plans in "Field & Stream" magazine's October issue.

EVANS: We put Bush and Kerry on the cover because there is a lot at stake for sportsmen in terms of environmental issues and in terms of gun rights.

MALVEAUX: And the candidates know it.

JOHN KERRY, DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I support the Second Amendment. I am a gun owner. I am a hunter. I've been a hunter since I was a kid.

MALVEAUX: Last fall, Kerry went on a very public bird hunt. He has said repeatedly that he supports gun rights.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Just remember, it's the birds that's supposed to suffer not the hunter.

MALVEAUX: Mr. Bush has hosted sportsmen groups at the White House and at his Crawford ranch.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By golly, he's a dandy, John.

JOHN FORT, HUNTER: What's a deer, a white tail deer? I killed it with my bow.

MALVEAUX: For hunter, John Fort, the most important campaign issue is...

FORT: I would say definitely, you know, being able to keep our guns.

MALVEAUX: Among sportsmen, Mr. Bush scores well on that one, but he faces criticism over his environmental record. Kerry is widely seen as environment friendly but is shunned for his support of gun control. Walter Johnson, who specializes in mounting and displaying prized kill, is skeptical of a leader who gives government a big role.

WALTER JOHNSON, TAXIDERMIST: If you haven't got common sense enough to know that the law abiding citizen with a firearm, is not your problem, you ain't got common sense enough to work out my tax base problems either.

MALVEAUX: American voters have historically embraced sportsmen presidents. Teddy Roosevelt, the bear hunter. Jimmy Carter, the fly fisher, and even Bill Clinton, the occasional duck shooter. BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We're all still hunting and nobody's lost their gun. And we did the right thing to ban the assault weapon.

MALVEAUX: Hunting and fishing is a $100 billion plus yearly business. And those sportsmen engaged in it could tip the balance in this hotly contested presidential race.

EVANS: I think they've always been stronger with the Republicans. But I think the fact that John Kerry has been reaching out to this group makes it a more complicated issue than it has been in the past.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: Now many Democrats believe that their party's anti-gun rhetoric cost them in part the election back in 2000. They are very much aware of their need, they say, to moderate their stand -- Carol.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Suzanne Malveaux in Kennebunkport.

Well, it looks like Ralph Nader will be on the ballot in Florida. Florida's Supreme Court ruled that the Reform Party candidate's name be listed. Democrats try to block the move with a legal challenge. Many Democrats say he cost Al Gore Florida and the election in 2000. Democrats are still trying to keep him off the ballots in other key battleground states.

Well, will it be another super sweep for HBO at this year's Emmy's? Or are there a few surprises in store? Up next, Tom O'Neil and a live preview from L.A.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Things are heating up here at annual -- 56th Annual Emmy Awards. We'll give you all the scoop coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Gather your snacks and your friends tomorrow night. It's the 56th annual primetime Emmy Awards. CNN entertainment reporter Sibila Vargas is at the Shrine Auditorium with a preview.

Hi there, Sibila.

VARGAS: Hi, how are you? I'm doing -- things are kind of hot right now. It's really hot now and it's not just because it's heating up, but it's really hot out here. But you know what, it is so much fun. This is television's biggest day, the day that they all get their honors for just being the best actor and actresses. You got all these people behind me that are working hard to make this place look really good. You got media. And just in 24 hours, this place is going to be jam packed and swarming with celebrities. The red carpet has been rolled out. And a lot of those celebrities are going to be people from shows that have departed like "Friends", "Frasier" and "Sex and The City." The ladies of "Sex and The City" are all up this year for -- they've all been nominated. Kristen Davis is the one who had not been nominated, so finally, the Academy decided to give them a nod and such a wonderful way to say good-bye to this show. Sarah Jessica Parker is also up for an award. This is her sixth time in a row. That's a lot of times to be nominated, not get the win. She's up for her role as Carrie Bradshaw. And this is the last chance. This is her last chance to do it. But you know things are looking pretty good because the insiders say that she's got this one.

Another show that said good-bye is "Friends." People -- I mean as we know, it was an advertising bonanza. "Friends" did phenomenally well in the ratings in its last episode. And Jennifer Aniston is up for the award as well as Matt LeBlanc. Interestingly though, the show itself did not get nominated and a lot of people had some problems with that and some insiders didn't expect that to happen because it does get a lot of nominations. But, you know what, Jennifer Aniston has been nominated, Matt LeBlanc, and that's a really good way to go out. And they also had, I think, let's see, "Friends" had seven nominations. So definitely, the show did get some recognition.

Another show that said good-bye was "Frasier." Kelsey Grammer and the whole gang said good-bye and it was sort of bittersweet. He's actually been nominated -- Kelsey Grammer had 16 nominations between "Cheers" and "Frasier." So apparently, the Academy really recognizes and really likes this guy. A lot of people are saying he may take this award. And he's gotten three wins for "Frasier."

But the one thing that I think might be the sentimental highlight of this evening is the posthumous nomination that they gave John Ritter. John Ritter made an indelible mark in this industry in the comedy category just as an actor. And they decided to recognize him, which is really something special and spectacular. And I think that however the Emmy decides to recognize this man, it's just going to be certainly a sentimental and a bittersweet way to say good-bye to this guy and a really nice tribute -- Carol.

LIN: Yes, that's going to be a neat moment, Sibila. Hey, there's a miniseries out this past year called "Angels in America."

VARGAS: Oh, yes.

LIN: It's about AIDS and death, but a lot of buzz about it. What are you hearing about in terms of it getting an award?

VARGAS: It got 21 nominations. That is the most nominations. And second to that was "Sopranos." But HBO did phenomenally did well. And this show, this miniseries definitely put it on the map. You're talking about -- you got Al Pacino as part of the cast, as well as Emma Thompson and Meryl Streep, Mary Louise Parker, great phenomenal actors. So that definitely helped this miniseries do so well. And it's a wonderful subject. It's about the AIDS epidemic and two people that go through having AIDS and what happens in their life. So it's a very touching subject and it really left an indelible mark on a lot of people apparently.

LIN: You bet. All right, we'll see who the winners and losers are tomorrow night. Thanks, Sibila.

In fact, coming up, we're also going hear from Tom O'Neil. You know him from www.goldderby.com, the author of a book about movies. But we're going to talk TV with Tom coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: So who is really Emmy worthy this year? Tom O'Neil wrote a book about movie awards and he's the host of goldderby.com.

Tom, I bet you're really excited about tomorrow's night's awards.

TOM O'NEIL, AUTHOR, "MOVIE AWARDS": I am because we're going to see a lot of glamorous new winners.

LIN: Yes. Are you looking for some fresh faces?

O'NEIL: Yes, fresh in terms of at least people who haven't won before. I think we're finally going to see Sarah Jessica Parker take home the gold. This woman who has won four Golden Globes has lost the Emmy five times. And the reason she has lost is this award works very different from the Oscar, the Tony and the Grammy. It's not a popularity contest. You pick a sample episode as an example of your best work from the last TV season and you are judged by about only 70 or 80 of your peers. Sarah finally got it right this year with her submission.

LIN: Interesting. We're going to throw up a couple of graphics also that show, you know, kind of an interesting compilation for the nominees for Best Drama as well as Best Comedy. And we noticed a trend. You take a look at Best Drama, "West Wing," "Sopranos" among them. You take a look at best comedy series, "Sex and The City." These are shows that are canceled. I mean they're gone, you know. And then you talk about Sarah Jessica Parker, John Ritter, Kelsey Grammer, what is the trendline here?

O'NEIL: Well, the trend this year is that so many of them said good-bye. But strangely "Frasier" and "Friends" weren't nominated for Best Series and "Sex and The City" was. And here's what's interesting, I think "Sex and The City" is going to be the -- one of the big stories tomorrow night. For example, I think we're going to Kim Cattrall win too. It might win Best Comedy Series, a big might. Only two shows in the past 30 years of Emmy history have won a best program award, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Barney Miller." In general, gone is forgotten in Hollywood. So I think that probably bodes well for "Everybody Loves Raymond".

LIN: You know I was talking with Sibila Vargas about "Angels in America." What do you make about; I mean such a serious and compelling miniseries, captivating the nation's attention, especially during this time of war?

O'NEIL: Yes, it's probably one of those milestone moments in TV history that could become a milestone at the Emmys. It picked up four awards at the Creative Arts banquet last week. It just needs five more tomorrow night in order to tie the record set by "Ruth" in 1977 for the most one by a miniseries, which is nine. I think it's going to do it.

LIN: Wow! Now, is there a category for reality TV?

O'NEIL: Yes. Last week -- there are several actually. Last week, those queer eyes looking for the straight guy guys, they actually won the off air equivalent. And tomorrow night we're going to see the competitive category, which pits "Survivor" against "The Apprentice," against "American Idol" and "The Amazing Race." "The Amazing Race" won last year and probably the front-runner again simply because it's such an adrenaline rush, you know.

LIN: How do you -- yes, how do you judge reality TV? I mean there's no scripts, you know. I mean the cast of characters, it's kind of like they're just a whole bunch of people from all different walks of life.

O'NEIL: I know. It all comes down to what episode they give these Emmy judges. And for a complete list of those, go to goldderby.com. And all the major races, we tell you what -- you know Anthony Lapallia submitted against James Gandolfini and how Gandolfini screwed up for Best Actor as he did. In fact, I think one of the big stories tomorrow night might be the fact that everybody on "The Sopranos" wins in the top category except Tony Soprano.

LIN: Really? Oh! Why do you think that is? He whacked himself. He really did. Tony soprano, James Gandolfini, handed in a terrible episode, one called "Where's Johnny" where he kind of deals with his Uncle Junior's Alzheimer's. It's not flashy. There's nothing there. But Anthony Lapallia, "Without a Trace," handed in a brilliant episode where he recalls his mother's suicide. And it's such powerful television. I think he's a slam dunk to win.

LIN: Give me one more surprise. One more, Tom. What are you looking for?

O'NEIL: Oh, I want to see Kim Cattrall win for "Sex and The City" because you know that gossip about Kim Cattrall and Sarah Jessica Parker hating each other. Now, imagine these two divas backstage armed with awards with points on them. I was just inside the Shrine Auditorium, they -- to see how they were seated because this is such a big gossip point here in Los Angeles. We have nothing better to do out here than to worry about these dueling divas. But I see that they have seated them side by side, but with an aisle in between them.

LIN: Oh, nice camera shot. I'll be looking for that one. Thanks very much, Tom. You have a great time tomorrow night.

O'NEIL: Sure will. Thanks, Carol.

LIN: Well, for a complete list of the Emmy nominations and profiles of the nominees in case you don't go to Tom's Web site, be sure to log onto CNN.com/entertainment.

Well, they're getting all jazzed up in California this weekend and we've got your preview coming up. MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Maria Hinojosa at the Monterey Jazz Festival where we're going to have a conversation with Clint Eastwood, the jazz (UNINTELLIGIBLE) coming p. Now on stage, the great blues legend, Buddy Guy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, it's not unusual when we have all the news and now I have all that jazz. Five hundred musicians are jamming at the 47th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, the oldest, continuously operated jazz festival in the world, and our Maria Hinojosa, once again, on assignment there -- Maria.

HINOJOSA: It's a rough life, Carol.

LIN: Yes, it is.

HINOJOSA: But somebody's got to do it, and you know -- and if you love jazz like I do it's a great place to be. Earlier today, a wonderfully interesting conversation with jazz pianist legend Mary Ann McPartland and Clint Eastwood, the jazz (UNINTELLIGIBLE). I asked him what he'd like to see this country doing about jazz.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLINT EASTWOOD, ACTOR/DIRECTOR/JAZZ ENTHUSIAST: Well, I'd love to see it returning to great popularity, of course, mainstream popularity, maybe like it was in the '40s. But that's too much to ask for because music has sort of disintegrated quite a bit since that era. But there still is hope out there. It still is America's music. It's still the only -- one of the only art forms that America can lay claim to from the very beginning.

HINOJOSA: So Marion, you've been playing for more than 60 years. The year 2004, what inspires you now about jazz?

MARION MCPARTLND, JAZZ PIANIST: I've always listened to jazz. I'm from England and I think the English have sadly maligned because they love jazz over there. So I think they appreciate jazz more in Europe than they do over here as a matter of fact.

HINOJOSA: You're going to play a song for us. What's the name and why do you want to play it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I thought I'd like to play one of Clint's songs because it's so beautiful and it's from the movie, "The Bridges of Madison County" and he's got such a delicate way of writing beautiful songs.

EASTWOOD: There's only seven notes and five sharps and flats. You must take liberties to keep it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it's the right notes. You know it could be very square if you did it another way. I guess I should play it instead of talking about it, right?

(MUSIC)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Very nice. Thanks, Maria Hinojosa out there in jazz land.

That's all the time we have for this hour. Coming up next, "THE CAPITAL GANG" and then at 8:00 Eastern on "CNN PRESENTS," nuclear terror three years after 9/11. Has the threat of nuclear terrorism grown worse? And at 9:00, "LARRY KING," see Martha Stewart's last interview before her decision to start her prison sentence. And I'll be back at 10:00 Eastern when we're going get a first look at a naval base in Pensacola, Florida badly damaged by Ivan.

But right now, Mark Shields is with us to tell us what the Gang has -- Mark.

MARK SHIELDS, CO-HOST, "THE CAPITAL GANG": Hey, Carol, thank you. House Majority Leader -- whip, excuse me, maybe leader soon -- Roy Blunt joins the Gang to look at presidential campaign issues, the war in Iraq, CBS and bush military records, Vice President Cheney and Halliburton and gun control. All that and much more, Carol, right here next on CNN.

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