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CNN Live At Daybreak

Prescription: Politics; Complex Mission; Getting a Shot

Aired October 20, 2004 - 05:30   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

The FAA will be going over the wreckage of a fiery plane crash that's left eight people dead. Happened late last night in northeastern Missouri, not far from the Iowa state line. We're told two passengers somehow managed to survive this crash. Five others are missing. We're not sure what happened, but we just got this piece of sound in. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG CALDWELL, CORPORATION AIRLINES, PRES., CEO: On behalf of the men and women of Corporate Airlines, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in the accident tonight involving our Flight 5966. And to extend our best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for those injured in the accident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Of course let the president from Corporate Airlines with runs in conjunction with American Airlines. Now there were thunderstorms in the area at the time of the crash. It's not known yet if that was a factor.

Care International today suspended its relief work in Iraq. That after insurgents kidnapped Margaret Hassan, the woman who runs the agency's Iraqi operations. No word this morning on her fate.

And it's been a rough 24 hours for several southern states. Powerful storms, laced with tornadoes, destroyed homes in Alabama, Missouri and Arkansas. At least four people are dead, one in Tennessee and three in southeastern Missouri.

And, Chad, hopefully the weather is calmed down this morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We talked about those fatalities yesterday, those three in Cooter, Missouri. Yes, exactly, that entire area has slid to the east and there was severe weather all across Mississippi, Alabama and northern Florida yesterday, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you -- Chad. MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: John Kerry starts his day with a speech about the war on terror. He will deliver that in Waterloo, Iowa later this morning. And then he'll head to two battleground states that have seen some heavy presidential campaigning. Of course those states would be Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Bush is heading to the upper Midwest this morning. Topping his agenda, economic issues. His first stop after leaving Washington, a rally in Mason City, Iowa. Bush has two more events after that, one in Rochester, Minnesota, the other in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

With only 13 days left until the election, we have decided to focus on a single issue each day this week. And this morning on DAYBREAK it is prescription politics, the how-to of health care.

Here's CNN's Aaron Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world.

AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president's current program includes the Medicare Reform Bill passed last year that already provides a tax credit for drug expenses and privately- issued drug discount cards that have had mixed success and will also create a drug benefit and tax- sheltered health savings accounts in 2006.

There's also a program to encourage price competition between brand-name and generic drugs, an increase in the number of federally- funded health care centers in poor communities and rule changes that make it easier for states to cover more low-income citizens.

In the second term, the president says, he would push for the formation of voluntary associations of individuals and small businesses to buy health insurance at lower cost.

There would be liability reform to limit the amount patients could win in malpractice lawsuits, tax credits for long-term care and high deductible health insurance, tax deductions for low-income families who buy health insurance and a program to enable coverage for low-income children by a combination of government and faith-based organizations.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Health care is not a privilege for the wealthy and the connected and the elected. It is a right for all Americans.

BROWN: For his part, John Kerry says he would allow the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada, overhaul Medicare to provide increased coverage, including some prescription drugs, and use government buying power to negotiate lower drug prices. He would create a federal fund to reimburse employers for the cost of catastrophic health insurance, which would thereby reduce most insurance premiums.

Kerry also says he would open the health care system used by members of Congress to all Americans with tax credits for low-income purchases, that he would create a bill of rights for patients in conflict with their HMOs, restrict some malpractice lawsuits, but not impose a cap on damages. And finally, expand federal and state insurance programs, so that all children and 95 percent of all Americans would be covered.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK this side (ph) a look at the issues picks up tomorrow as we focus on education. We'll also tackle the economy and energy in the days ahead.

It is a busy day in Iraq, including more action in Fallujah. Here is the latest in our "Situation Report."

U.S. warplanes launched strikes in the rebel-held city of Fallujah this morning. The airstrike demolished a house, which residents say was empty. American forces are pounding the city in an effort to wipe out insurgents.

Care International is now suspending operations in Iraq after gunmen kidnapped the woman who runs the humanitarian agency there. Margaret Hassan is a British-Iraqi. Her husband says the kidnappers have made no demands.

A pretrial hearing begins today for Sergeant Javal Davis. He's one of the soldiers charged with abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the court-martial should be held in the United States.

When the U.S. launched this war in Iraq, the Bush administration said it would be welcomed as liberators. When that didn't happen, the military set out to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis. Now even that is not a goal anymore.

Our Jane Arraf reports on the new and revised complex mission of U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A year and a half after the end of the war there are few Americans talking about winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis. Now they're just trying to earn their trust. Soldiers still throw candy to children, even from helicopters, and they value friendly waves from townspeople.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now somebody sees someone throwing rocks at us. They usually try to drop two bags of toys or candy. They won't do it the next time. ARRAF: But the U.S. military's mission here is more complex than anyone bargained for in an environment more hostile than anyone expected. Increasingly, they're aiming at more tangible goals.

LT. COL. STEVE BULLMORE, U.S. ARMY: Can we have trust and confidence in each other Iraqis and us and us and Iraqis? I would think that that's far easier than being of the same heart and of the same mind.

ARRAF: Walid Farid Abdul Salam, Chief of Police in Diyala in the Sunni Triangle, says trust between military commanders here and the police has built slowly. Now, he says, that has to trickle down to the level of ordinary Iraqis.

WALID FARID ABDUL SALAM, DIYALA CHIEF OF POLICE (through translator): We need time to convince our people of the intentions of the Americans, the intentions behind their presence and efforts for Iraq.

ARRAF: After the war, Iraqis expected peace and prosperity in this oil rich country. Most have neither and they blame the United States.

"The Americans have brought us nothing concrete, only words," Ixner (ph) tells us, reeling off a list of complaints.

American psychological operations teams still broadcast their messages in towns and cities, but many of those messages are asking for help in defeating the insurgency.

To build the trust they need, savvy military leaders devote a lot of time to talking with local leaders. At the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade, they use lessons they learned in the ethnic cauldron of Kosovo, primarily patience.

COL. DANA PITTARD, U.S. ARMY: What we learned there is for meetings success is, is that you wait everybody out. You listen to everybody's issues.

ARRAF: Success, he says, won't be making Iraqis like the American presence here. They probably won't ever do that. It will be to gain their confidence and cooperation in building a new Iraq.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baquba, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Let's take a look at some other stories making news around the world in our "Global Minute."

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, swore in its new president today. He's a retired general, and he's got to make good on election promises to tackle rising Islamic militancy, battle corruption and fix the economy.

Japan is being battered by a typhoon today. Japanese media report two people have been killed, seven others are missing. It's the biggest typhoon to hit Japan in more than a decade.

Pakistani security forces have come up empty after searching a mountainous region bordering Afghanistan. U.S. authorities have long said they believed Osama bin Laden was in this rugged tribal region, but there has been no evidence. The Pakistanis now think he has left the area.

In Afghanistan's presidential election, Hamid Karzai appears to be very close to victory, unless investigators find fraud. That's according to a top election advisor. He says the interim president has won more than 63 percent of the votes, with 37 percent of the votes counted.

So come on, tell the truth, how many of your cars had a proper name? You named that snappy Mustang Charlie (ph) or maybe you called your Dodge Charger The General Lee. What was your car's name -- Chad?

MYERS: You know I don't think I ever named cars.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: No. I had one named Kitty (ph). It was a Cougar.

COSTELLO: A Cougar named Kitty.

MYERS: Kitty.

COSTELLO: I had a Yugo and I named it Baby.

MYERS: Sorry.

COSTELLO: No. Me too.

In three minutes, we're going to take a look at some of the best cars with personality from TV Land. And that leads us to our e-mail "Question of the Day," what's your favorite TV show car? Your favorite TV show car, was it the Batmobile? We'll read some of your responses a little later. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Boston does what no other major league baseball team has ever done, but boy, did it get ugly in New York. Riot police were called out on the field. We'll explain at 48 minutes past the hour.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We're loving your e-mails this morning. They're making us laugh. It is time to talk cars, TV cars that is. TV Land says it's looking for the top 10 TV cars of all time. One of the most recognizable has to be the Batmobile. Although it was souped-up for the movies, the original TV version was still something special.

Also under consideration, the Kitt car. This is just for you Chad. There's Kitt. You know the one that made David Hasselhoff famous before "Baywatch."

MYERS: Yes. Watched that show all the time.

COSTELLO: Before the -- no, it was after "The Young and the Restless." You know he was on "The Young and the Restless?"

MYERS: You know I...

COSTELLO: He was Snapper.

MYERS: ... missed that episode.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: Anyway, we've been asking you what your favorite TV cars would be and we've gotten a lot of e-mails in, very funny.

MYERS: Yes, I got one here from Rick (ph). Less than two weeks from the election, all kinds of problems going out there and you want to know about cars. By the way, the "Beverly Hillbillies" jalopy.

COSTELLO: That's why we love our viewers.

This is from Rob (ph). He says it just has to be the Munster's hot rod, Herman's car. And that would be second place to the Batmobile.

MYERS: Heratio (ph) likes the Simpson's pink car. It's so ugly it makes him laugh every time Homer has to drive it.

COSTELLO: See, here's somebody who remembers the powerful Mach 5. This is from Jerry...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... from Wisconsin. Go speed racer. His vote for the best TV car is the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, just because it had the grooviest paint job.

MYERS: Got a lot of answers here for the Munster's Coach. Remember that thing with the little place for...

COSTELLO: Yes. This is from John (ph) from Ontario, I believe.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: He remembers the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's van as being the coolest vehicle. Everyone on the block had one.

MYERS: Everybody likes Magnum's car, the Ferrari. Columbo's ugly French convertible. Remember the old -- was it a Citron or a Peugeot and then James Garner's Firebird. No replies yet about the Thunderbird from Dan Dana in "Vegas."

COSTELLO: Who would have thought that (ph)?

MYERS: I mean come on, wake up, guys.

COSTELLO: Come on, people, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Your news, money, weather and sports now. It is 5:47 Eastern.

Are we going to a break? We're going to a break right now. No we're not. We're going to do these headlines. So let's get serious for just a bit.

At least eight people are dead this morning, five missing, two survivors, and that is the latest casualty count following the fiery Corporate Airlines plane crash in northern Missouri. We hope to bring you a live news conference on this accident at 6:30 a.m. Eastern.

Scott Peterson's defense attorneys will question a police investigator again today about items found near Laci Peterson's remains. The defense has already established that police failed to test fabric near the body.

In money news, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.7 percent increase in benefits. That's about $25 for benefits eligible Americans, but many of you won't see that money. You can blame it on higher Medicare premiums.

In culture, now you too can smell like New York City. Yes.

MYERS: Oh my!

COSTELLO: A new fragrance line has 21 varieties of New York smells. The latest is Wall Street which makers say does not smell like money. It smells like Wall Street.

(LAUGHTER)

In sports, the Astros and the Cardinals will take the field tonight for game six of the National League Championship. The Astros won the last three straight in the series to take a three games to two lead.

MYERS: But back to St. Louis they go.

COSTELLO: This has been a great baseball playoff season.

MYERS: It really has. I mean even if you're not a baseball fan, this has really been a great series or a couple of good series.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Stay here, Chad, we're going to talk about the series between the Yankees and the Red Sox. It's turned out to be truly a fall classic.

MYERS: It has.

COSTELLO: Game six certainly lived up to all the hype. The biggest moment for the Red Sox came earlier this time. The top of the fourth, second baseman Mark Bellhorn sent that home run into the stands. I believe that was a three run shot. The homer gave the Sox a four-zip lead.

But controversy in the eighth inning, here it is. The Yankees are down 4-2. ARod hits a grounder with a man on base. Watch. Watch this. Pitcher goes over to tag him and he apparently, allegedly, knocks the ball out of the pitcher's glove. That allowed Derek Jeter to score on the play. But the umps called Rodriguez for interference and the run did not count.

And the Yankees fans got mad. They tossed trash on the field after the ARod play. You can see the riot police had to be called out for the ninth inning. The players were taken off the field, Chad. An ugly ending to a thrilling game. Unbelievable. We're going to have much more on game six...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... and a look ahead to game seven coming up in our DAYBREAK scorecard with Chris Cotter. That comes your way in about 40 minutes from now.

MYERS: Tonight is going to be quite a night.

COSTELLO: Can't wait.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Many Americans at high risk for the flu are having a hard time finding a vaccine, but it seems there's plenty to go around Capitol Hill. "The Washington Post" reports that flu shots are free and readily available to members of Congress and their staffs. Health officials say 2.5 million doses will be available in January, but that may be a little too late for many patients who don't live on Capitol Hill.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In New York, a 94-year-old woman desperately searches for a flu shot. Nelly Anderson called two recommended doctors and contacted the Health Department.

NELLY ANDERSON, 94 YEARS OLD: Every one of them was out of flu shots.

COHEN: She tried her own doctor.

ANDERSON: He was on the phone quite upset and said, you won't believe it, the first time in my life I can't help my patients. He did not get any.

COHEN: Despite her age and a bad hip, she's willing to wait in line. But a neighbor tried that.

ANDERSON: She waited three and a half hours. And she came back and said, don't even try it.

COHEN: This drama is being played out across the country, with lines from Georgia to California. In New Jersey, one town is holding a lottery to see who will get flu shots.

RAYMOND MCCARTHY, MAYOR OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY: When you have thousands, 8,000 senior citizens that we have in the township, and you only have 300 shots, you got to give them out.

COHEN: The federal government is negotiating to buy 1.5 million doses from Canada. Already, some Americans are crossing the border on their own. Americans, like Anna Smith, who says she needs the shot because cancer treatment has weakened her immune treatment.

ANNA SMITH, CANCER PATIENT: I can't get one in my own country.

COHEN: The top U.S. health officials said Tuesday that 2.6 million additional doses will be available in January.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We need all of us to take a deep breath. We've successfully worked through vaccine supply problems in the past. And we're doing so this time as well.

COHEN: But a look at the numbers shows the newly-found vaccine won't even come close to making up for the shortage. The government had planned to have about 100 million flu shots this year, but now predicts just 58 million will be available. Plus, January is well after the flu season has begun. So, it's not clear how useful the additional shots will be.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

We'll have more on the growing flu vaccine frenzy in the next hour of DAYBREAK. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired October 20, 2004 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the CNN Global Headquarters in Atlanta, I'm Carol Costello.
"Now in the News."

The FAA will be going over the wreckage of a fiery plane crash that's left eight people dead. Happened late last night in northeastern Missouri, not far from the Iowa state line. We're told two passengers somehow managed to survive this crash. Five others are missing. We're not sure what happened, but we just got this piece of sound in. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DOUG CALDWELL, CORPORATION AIRLINES, PRES., CEO: On behalf of the men and women of Corporate Airlines, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families of those killed in the accident tonight involving our Flight 5966. And to extend our best wishes for a complete and speedy recovery for those injured in the accident.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Of course let the president from Corporate Airlines with runs in conjunction with American Airlines. Now there were thunderstorms in the area at the time of the crash. It's not known yet if that was a factor.

Care International today suspended its relief work in Iraq. That after insurgents kidnapped Margaret Hassan, the woman who runs the agency's Iraqi operations. No word this morning on her fate.

And it's been a rough 24 hours for several southern states. Powerful storms, laced with tornadoes, destroyed homes in Alabama, Missouri and Arkansas. At least four people are dead, one in Tennessee and three in southeastern Missouri.

And, Chad, hopefully the weather is calmed down this morning.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We talked about those fatalities yesterday, those three in Cooter, Missouri. Yes, exactly, that entire area has slid to the east and there was severe weather all across Mississippi, Alabama and northern Florida yesterday, Carol.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you -- Chad. MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: John Kerry starts his day with a speech about the war on terror. He will deliver that in Waterloo, Iowa later this morning. And then he'll head to two battleground states that have seen some heavy presidential campaigning. Of course those states would be Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Bush is heading to the upper Midwest this morning. Topping his agenda, economic issues. His first stop after leaving Washington, a rally in Mason City, Iowa. Bush has two more events after that, one in Rochester, Minnesota, the other in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

With only 13 days left until the election, we have decided to focus on a single issue each day this week. And this morning on DAYBREAK it is prescription politics, the how-to of health care.

Here's CNN's Aaron Brown.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world.

AARON BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The president's current program includes the Medicare Reform Bill passed last year that already provides a tax credit for drug expenses and privately- issued drug discount cards that have had mixed success and will also create a drug benefit and tax- sheltered health savings accounts in 2006.

There's also a program to encourage price competition between brand-name and generic drugs, an increase in the number of federally- funded health care centers in poor communities and rule changes that make it easier for states to cover more low-income citizens.

In the second term, the president says, he would push for the formation of voluntary associations of individuals and small businesses to buy health insurance at lower cost.

There would be liability reform to limit the amount patients could win in malpractice lawsuits, tax credits for long-term care and high deductible health insurance, tax deductions for low-income families who buy health insurance and a program to enable coverage for low-income children by a combination of government and faith-based organizations.

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Health care is not a privilege for the wealthy and the connected and the elected. It is a right for all Americans.

BROWN: For his part, John Kerry says he would allow the importation of cheaper drugs from Canada, overhaul Medicare to provide increased coverage, including some prescription drugs, and use government buying power to negotiate lower drug prices. He would create a federal fund to reimburse employers for the cost of catastrophic health insurance, which would thereby reduce most insurance premiums.

Kerry also says he would open the health care system used by members of Congress to all Americans with tax credits for low-income purchases, that he would create a bill of rights for patients in conflict with their HMOs, restrict some malpractice lawsuits, but not impose a cap on damages. And finally, expand federal and state insurance programs, so that all children and 95 percent of all Americans would be covered.

Aaron Brown, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: DAYBREAK this side (ph) a look at the issues picks up tomorrow as we focus on education. We'll also tackle the economy and energy in the days ahead.

It is a busy day in Iraq, including more action in Fallujah. Here is the latest in our "Situation Report."

U.S. warplanes launched strikes in the rebel-held city of Fallujah this morning. The airstrike demolished a house, which residents say was empty. American forces are pounding the city in an effort to wipe out insurgents.

Care International is now suspending operations in Iraq after gunmen kidnapped the woman who runs the humanitarian agency there. Margaret Hassan is a British-Iraqi. Her husband says the kidnappers have made no demands.

A pretrial hearing begins today for Sergeant Javal Davis. He's one of the soldiers charged with abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Defense attorneys are expected to argue that the court-martial should be held in the United States.

When the U.S. launched this war in Iraq, the Bush administration said it would be welcomed as liberators. When that didn't happen, the military set out to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis. Now even that is not a goal anymore.

Our Jane Arraf reports on the new and revised complex mission of U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): A year and a half after the end of the war there are few Americans talking about winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis. Now they're just trying to earn their trust. Soldiers still throw candy to children, even from helicopters, and they value friendly waves from townspeople.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right now somebody sees someone throwing rocks at us. They usually try to drop two bags of toys or candy. They won't do it the next time. ARRAF: But the U.S. military's mission here is more complex than anyone bargained for in an environment more hostile than anyone expected. Increasingly, they're aiming at more tangible goals.

LT. COL. STEVE BULLMORE, U.S. ARMY: Can we have trust and confidence in each other Iraqis and us and us and Iraqis? I would think that that's far easier than being of the same heart and of the same mind.

ARRAF: Walid Farid Abdul Salam, Chief of Police in Diyala in the Sunni Triangle, says trust between military commanders here and the police has built slowly. Now, he says, that has to trickle down to the level of ordinary Iraqis.

WALID FARID ABDUL SALAM, DIYALA CHIEF OF POLICE (through translator): We need time to convince our people of the intentions of the Americans, the intentions behind their presence and efforts for Iraq.

ARRAF: After the war, Iraqis expected peace and prosperity in this oil rich country. Most have neither and they blame the United States.

"The Americans have brought us nothing concrete, only words," Ixner (ph) tells us, reeling off a list of complaints.

American psychological operations teams still broadcast their messages in towns and cities, but many of those messages are asking for help in defeating the insurgency.

To build the trust they need, savvy military leaders devote a lot of time to talking with local leaders. At the 1st Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade, they use lessons they learned in the ethnic cauldron of Kosovo, primarily patience.

COL. DANA PITTARD, U.S. ARMY: What we learned there is for meetings success is, is that you wait everybody out. You listen to everybody's issues.

ARRAF: Success, he says, won't be making Iraqis like the American presence here. They probably won't ever do that. It will be to gain their confidence and cooperation in building a new Iraq.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baquba, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Let's take a look at some other stories making news around the world in our "Global Minute."

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim nation, swore in its new president today. He's a retired general, and he's got to make good on election promises to tackle rising Islamic militancy, battle corruption and fix the economy.

Japan is being battered by a typhoon today. Japanese media report two people have been killed, seven others are missing. It's the biggest typhoon to hit Japan in more than a decade.

Pakistani security forces have come up empty after searching a mountainous region bordering Afghanistan. U.S. authorities have long said they believed Osama bin Laden was in this rugged tribal region, but there has been no evidence. The Pakistanis now think he has left the area.

In Afghanistan's presidential election, Hamid Karzai appears to be very close to victory, unless investigators find fraud. That's according to a top election advisor. He says the interim president has won more than 63 percent of the votes, with 37 percent of the votes counted.

So come on, tell the truth, how many of your cars had a proper name? You named that snappy Mustang Charlie (ph) or maybe you called your Dodge Charger The General Lee. What was your car's name -- Chad?

MYERS: You know I don't think I ever named cars.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: No. I had one named Kitty (ph). It was a Cougar.

COSTELLO: A Cougar named Kitty.

MYERS: Kitty.

COSTELLO: I had a Yugo and I named it Baby.

MYERS: Sorry.

COSTELLO: No. Me too.

In three minutes, we're going to take a look at some of the best cars with personality from TV Land. And that leads us to our e-mail "Question of the Day," what's your favorite TV show car? Your favorite TV show car, was it the Batmobile? We'll read some of your responses a little later. That's DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Boston does what no other major league baseball team has ever done, but boy, did it get ugly in New York. Riot police were called out on the field. We'll explain at 48 minutes past the hour.

But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Wednesday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: We're loving your e-mails this morning. They're making us laugh. It is time to talk cars, TV cars that is. TV Land says it's looking for the top 10 TV cars of all time. One of the most recognizable has to be the Batmobile. Although it was souped-up for the movies, the original TV version was still something special.

Also under consideration, the Kitt car. This is just for you Chad. There's Kitt. You know the one that made David Hasselhoff famous before "Baywatch."

MYERS: Yes. Watched that show all the time.

COSTELLO: Before the -- no, it was after "The Young and the Restless." You know he was on "The Young and the Restless?"

MYERS: You know I...

COSTELLO: He was Snapper.

MYERS: ... missed that episode.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: Anyway, we've been asking you what your favorite TV cars would be and we've gotten a lot of e-mails in, very funny.

MYERS: Yes, I got one here from Rick (ph). Less than two weeks from the election, all kinds of problems going out there and you want to know about cars. By the way, the "Beverly Hillbillies" jalopy.

COSTELLO: That's why we love our viewers.

This is from Rob (ph). He says it just has to be the Munster's hot rod, Herman's car. And that would be second place to the Batmobile.

MYERS: Heratio (ph) likes the Simpson's pink car. It's so ugly it makes him laugh every time Homer has to drive it.

COSTELLO: See, here's somebody who remembers the powerful Mach 5. This is from Jerry...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... from Wisconsin. Go speed racer. His vote for the best TV car is the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, just because it had the grooviest paint job.

MYERS: Got a lot of answers here for the Munster's Coach. Remember that thing with the little place for...

COSTELLO: Yes. This is from John (ph) from Ontario, I believe.

MYERS: Right.

COSTELLO: He remembers the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle's van as being the coolest vehicle. Everyone on the block had one.

MYERS: Everybody likes Magnum's car, the Ferrari. Columbo's ugly French convertible. Remember the old -- was it a Citron or a Peugeot and then James Garner's Firebird. No replies yet about the Thunderbird from Dan Dana in "Vegas."

COSTELLO: Who would have thought that (ph)?

MYERS: I mean come on, wake up, guys.

COSTELLO: Come on, people, DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

Your news, money, weather and sports now. It is 5:47 Eastern.

Are we going to a break? We're going to a break right now. No we're not. We're going to do these headlines. So let's get serious for just a bit.

At least eight people are dead this morning, five missing, two survivors, and that is the latest casualty count following the fiery Corporate Airlines plane crash in northern Missouri. We hope to bring you a live news conference on this accident at 6:30 a.m. Eastern.

Scott Peterson's defense attorneys will question a police investigator again today about items found near Laci Peterson's remains. The defense has already established that police failed to test fabric near the body.

In money news, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.7 percent increase in benefits. That's about $25 for benefits eligible Americans, but many of you won't see that money. You can blame it on higher Medicare premiums.

In culture, now you too can smell like New York City. Yes.

MYERS: Oh my!

COSTELLO: A new fragrance line has 21 varieties of New York smells. The latest is Wall Street which makers say does not smell like money. It smells like Wall Street.

(LAUGHTER)

In sports, the Astros and the Cardinals will take the field tonight for game six of the National League Championship. The Astros won the last three straight in the series to take a three games to two lead.

MYERS: But back to St. Louis they go.

COSTELLO: This has been a great baseball playoff season.

MYERS: It really has. I mean even if you're not a baseball fan, this has really been a great series or a couple of good series.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Stay here, Chad, we're going to talk about the series between the Yankees and the Red Sox. It's turned out to be truly a fall classic.

MYERS: It has.

COSTELLO: Game six certainly lived up to all the hype. The biggest moment for the Red Sox came earlier this time. The top of the fourth, second baseman Mark Bellhorn sent that home run into the stands. I believe that was a three run shot. The homer gave the Sox a four-zip lead.

But controversy in the eighth inning, here it is. The Yankees are down 4-2. ARod hits a grounder with a man on base. Watch. Watch this. Pitcher goes over to tag him and he apparently, allegedly, knocks the ball out of the pitcher's glove. That allowed Derek Jeter to score on the play. But the umps called Rodriguez for interference and the run did not count.

And the Yankees fans got mad. They tossed trash on the field after the ARod play. You can see the riot police had to be called out for the ninth inning. The players were taken off the field, Chad. An ugly ending to a thrilling game. Unbelievable. We're going to have much more on game six...

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: ... and a look ahead to game seven coming up in our DAYBREAK scorecard with Chris Cotter. That comes your way in about 40 minutes from now.

MYERS: Tonight is going to be quite a night.

COSTELLO: Can't wait.

We'll be right back.

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COSTELLO: Many Americans at high risk for the flu are having a hard time finding a vaccine, but it seems there's plenty to go around Capitol Hill. "The Washington Post" reports that flu shots are free and readily available to members of Congress and their staffs. Health officials say 2.5 million doses will be available in January, but that may be a little too late for many patients who don't live on Capitol Hill.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has more for you.

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ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In New York, a 94-year-old woman desperately searches for a flu shot. Nelly Anderson called two recommended doctors and contacted the Health Department.

NELLY ANDERSON, 94 YEARS OLD: Every one of them was out of flu shots.

COHEN: She tried her own doctor.

ANDERSON: He was on the phone quite upset and said, you won't believe it, the first time in my life I can't help my patients. He did not get any.

COHEN: Despite her age and a bad hip, she's willing to wait in line. But a neighbor tried that.

ANDERSON: She waited three and a half hours. And she came back and said, don't even try it.

COHEN: This drama is being played out across the country, with lines from Georgia to California. In New Jersey, one town is holding a lottery to see who will get flu shots.

RAYMOND MCCARTHY, MAYOR OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY: When you have thousands, 8,000 senior citizens that we have in the township, and you only have 300 shots, you got to give them out.

COHEN: The federal government is negotiating to buy 1.5 million doses from Canada. Already, some Americans are crossing the border on their own. Americans, like Anna Smith, who says she needs the shot because cancer treatment has weakened her immune treatment.

ANNA SMITH, CANCER PATIENT: I can't get one in my own country.

COHEN: The top U.S. health officials said Tuesday that 2.6 million additional doses will be available in January.

TOMMY THOMPSON, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: We need all of us to take a deep breath. We've successfully worked through vaccine supply problems in the past. And we're doing so this time as well.

COHEN: But a look at the numbers shows the newly-found vaccine won't even come close to making up for the shortage. The government had planned to have about 100 million flu shots this year, but now predicts just 58 million will be available. Plus, January is well after the flu season has begun. So, it's not clear how useful the additional shots will be.

Elizabeth Cohen, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site. The address, CNN.com/health.

We'll have more on the growing flu vaccine frenzy in the next hour of DAYBREAK. We'll be right back.

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