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American Morning
Home From War; Hunt for Osama bin Laden; Navigating Chicago
Aired October 20, 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.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING on the road in Chicago..
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning and welcome back from here in Union Station, where we set up camp today. Of course, we are on the move constantly here.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That we are.
O'BRIEN: The first day we were along the banks of the Chicago River, and then yesterday we were at the campus of Loyola University, where they were wonderful hosts right along the Magnificent Mile.
This is what it looks like. Of course, we have to set up -- we, being our fabulous crew.
HEMMER: Yes...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I don't help at all. Set up and break down every single day. And you're looking at some time-lapse pictures of our stage being set up, and then you will see...
HEMMER: Up goes the tent in the event of rain. We got no rain. We've got plenty of wind, though.
O'BRIEN: You'll notice there are no walls.
HEMMER: Yes, that water tower location is such a great part of Chicago's history going back to the Great Fire of 1871. It stands so much for many people in Chicago as a symbol of their own strength for how the city of broad shoulders and the city of big shoulders has been able to stay strong for so many decades, and really centuries for that matter too, and with such great pride, too.
We're at Union Station. Is this a great place or what?
O'BRIEN: Where we set up and we'll break down again after today.
HEMMER: I love those older train stations, yes.
O'BRIEN: And then take it to our next location tomorrow.
HEMMER: We've got a few museum stops along the way, too. We're in the Great Hall, and we will show you a bit later just how great it is, too, and why. Also in a moment here, two soldiers just back from Iraq, in fact, three weeks ago, back here in Chicago, from the Chicago area, their perspective on security in that country, troop morale, and adjusting to home life as well, after more than a year in Baghdad.
O'BRIEN: Also, it is the time of year here when the sailboats come in from Lake Michigan for another winter, and the drawbridge operators really have their work cut out for them. We're going to talk this morning about what it takes to keep the city moving from inside their control room. I mean, look at that. It's really an amazing shot when all of those bridges go up simultaneously...
HEMMER: Yes. We look forward to that.
O'BRIEN: ... to let the sailboats go through.
HEMMER: Heidi has got that story a bit later. But for now, she has the headlines, too.
Heidi, good morning. Where are you, by the way? You're outside, I know that, but where?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I am outside. And do you hear behind me? We are looking right over this shoulder, I think you can see the train going by. It's kind of more like the subway system. Those trains do not go to Union Station where you guys are. It's more of a subway system that you might be familiar with from, of course, New York. We'll talk more about that.
Right now, though, I'm at Millennium Park, and we have several different beautiful sculptures and cultural-type things to tell you about a little bit later on. We will get to it then. But for now, the news this morning.
The race for the White House swings through the Midwest today. President Bush is set to rally with supporters in Mason City, Iowa. And he'll discuss economic issues at an event in Minnesota this afternoon. Senator John Kerry also starts the day in Iowa. The senator will give a major speech on national security in Waterloo. He then heads to Pennsylvania.
Congress is trying to put together a final version of an intelligence reform bill. Negotiators are meeting for first time today. The Senate wants a powerful national intelligence director similar to the plan recommended by the 9/11 Commission. The House wants more provisions for homeland security. And President Bush says he wants to sign a unified version of the bill as soon as possible.
An Army Reservist has reportedly pleaded guilty in connection with abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. According to the Associated Press, Staff Sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederick faced a court-martial in Buckingham, Virginia just a short time ago. He admitted to five charges, including conspiracy and maltreatment of detainees. He is expected to be sentenced tomorrow.
And Martha Stewart's team filing an appeal. Stewart's attorneys claim her Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness was violated during her trial. The defense team was unable to cross-examine her former stockbroker because he never took the witness stand. But a damaging audiotape with his interview was played.
I'm going to send it back over to Union Station now once again and Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks.
The war in Iraq hits home here in Chicago. Many of its sons and daughters have gone off to serve in Iraq, facing danger and death so many miles from home. This morning, we are proud to welcome two members recently back from Iraq. Lieutenant Colonel Norm Grady and Reservist Colonel Jill Morgenthaler just returning to their homes here in Chicago, what, three weeks ago and six weeks ago, respectively, right?
COL. JILL MORGENTHALER, U.S. ARMY RESERVES: F: Three weeks ago.
LT. COL. NORM GRADY, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: Yes.
HEMMER: Welcome home.
GRADY: Thank you.
HEMMER: And thank you for your service as well. I know you were a spokesperson for the Army when you were in Baghdad for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. And just about 30 minutes ago, there is a report that Ivan "Chip" Frederick has pleaded guilty to five counts related to that scandal. Your reaction to what you're hearing now half a world away.
MORGENTHALER: I think he's doing the right thing. Abu Ghraib was a terrible thing that happened. It kind of took the attention away from all of the good things we're been doing over in Iraq.
HEMMER: When you come back to Chicago, how many folks ask you about that? And what are their questions, Colonel?
MORGENTHALER: Well, just yesterday I was having a debate in my civilian job...
HEMMER: Imagine that.
MORGENTHALER: ... about Abu Ghraib, yes. Most people are very horrified that it happened and embarrassed. And...
HEMMER: How do you explain it to them?
MORGENTHALER: I explain it as seven individuals without leadership who got away with some terrible things.
HEMMER: Colonel, good morning.
GRADY: Good morning.
HEMMER: You were doing similar work in Chicago before you went to Iraq, doing similar work back here.
GRADY: Yes.
HEMMER: How would you compare the two? A world of difference, I'd imagine.
GRADY: Well, it was a world of difference, but it was amazing. We were working on the reconstruction program in the southern third of the country down in Basra, Iraq. And while I had a lot of government employees to go with us, it was amazing in that they adapted so well to being in such a difficult environment 10,000 miles away from home, away from their families and friends. And they adapted quickly to working seven days a week, 12-13 hours a day, in hardship conditions, 120-degree heat and all of the difficulties in trying to do a construction mission in an unsecure environment.
HEMMER: What did you learn about the Iraqi people through all of that?
GRADY: It amazed me to the degree to which they were willing to work to make their country a better place. They want to have the ability to be able to go to work every day, to do their jobs. And we saw it based on the folks who worked with the Corps of Engineers down in the southern district.
HEMMER: Well, you know, some have wondered whether or not the American people are giving the Iraqi people enough credit for their own amount of pride and history and how much they want to rebuild their country. I don't know if you echo these same concerns or not, but overall as we look at the Iraqi picture, how does the U.S. win and Iraq win and declare a victory?
MORGENTHALER: We need to make it through their elections. They need to be able to vote, because they are embracing their freedoms. And a lot of people are standing up, and they are risking their lives to make this happen. I worked with the Iraqi military women, and one woman was just shot the other day eight times. She survived. She is not leaving the Army. She wants this to work. And it's that kind of individual heroism that will make it work.
HEMMER: We are 13 days away from an election in this country. When you hear about the arguments on the campaign trail about what's happening in Iraq, I guess in general, how do you respond when you hear the charges of Senator Kerry and the claims of President Bush?
GRADY: What I tell folks in my talks around the Chicago area about my experiences in Iraq and how it relates is we have to see what the Iraqi people can determine. If the Iraqi people can develop a government that will allow them to be able to gain confidence with the Iraqi people, then that frees up the ability to do the reconstruction mission, and we can continue to be successful. If the Iraqi people can't get to that part, then it will be very difficult for the Americans to do enough to help them. So the real lynchpin in this whole process is the upcoming Iraqi elections.
HEMMER: Welcome home. GRADY: Thank you very much.
HEMMER: I've got to think it's good to be back, right?
GRADY: It is wonderful.
HEMMER: Thank you for your service, Colonel.
GRADY: Thank you.
HEMMER: Great to see you and great to meet you as well.
MORGENTHALER: Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you also. Good luck -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Pakistani forces today said they haven't found any sign that Osama bin Laden is hiding in the mountains along the Pakistani- Afghanistan borders. U.S. authorities believe he is there, but after three years of searching, they have little to show.
Barbara Starr is live for us at the Pentagon this morning.
Hey, Barbara, good morning. Nice to see you.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, you know, the hunt for Osama bin Laden has been front and center in the presidential campaign, but now the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and the top U.S. diplomat are both saying Osama bin Laden may not be that important anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice over): The general, who nine months ago predicted getting Osama bin Laden by the end of this year, is more cautious these days.
LT. GEN. DAVID BARNO, COMBINED FORCES CMD. AFGHANISTAN: Well, I think the first thing I'd tell you I have retired my crystal bar.
STARR: David Barno, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, directs what he calls the 24/7 hunt for bin Laden. Intelligence indicates he is hiding across the border in Pakistan, protected by local tribes. Whether President Bush is doing enough to hunt bin Laden, now a heated campaign issue.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He took his eye off the ball off of Osama bin Laden.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of course, we're going to find Osama bin Laden.
STARR: Even as the hunt goes on, from a strict military point of view, the world's most-wanted man is nowadays less relevant. BARNO: I don't see any indications that he is in day-to-day command and control, as it were, of the al Qaeda organization or the other terrorist groups that work with him.
STARR: The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan also downplays bin Laden's capabilities.
ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN: And the role of a particular person, Osama bin Laden, is one issue. It's largely symbolic. The larger problem is the problem of these global terror networks.
STARR: For the U.S. military, there is still an emotional reason to get bin Laden.
BARNO: We have nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks who we owe that to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: But the experts say if bin Laden is ever located inside Pakistan, he may be so well-entrenched now it will be very difficult to send in U.S. forces, grab him and get him out of the country -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning. Barbara, thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING, they keep the Chicago River moving, the city's bridge tenders. We've got an up- close look at their up-and-down job.
HEMMER: And it's impressive, too. Also in a moment, some of the most annoying music ever. One man's mission to bring you the worst of all. Here's a sample now as we go to break here live in Chicago at Union Station.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Our Chicago visit will next take us to the Field Museum alongside Lake Michigan. We're going to meet Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex ever discovered. We'll take a look at the multimillion-dollar O'Hare expansion project. And actor Jim Belushi, a Chicago native, will stop by to make sure that we've hit all of the city's hot spots. And we're doing pretty well on that actually. We're trying. All that and much, much more tomorrow in the Windy City.
HEMMER: It's a big town, but we're doing our best...
O'BRIEN: We're doing all right.
HEMMER: ... to get around.
We want to get to Heidi Collins again, who has a very interesting story right along the Chicago River.
Heidi -- good morning.
COLLINS: Good morning once again, guys. You know, in fact, on Monday you may remember our first location here in Chicago was along the banks of the Chicago River, just a beautiful bank-side shot there. The waterway, though, splits the same downtown area known as The Loop in these parts. It splits it right in two. The river is spanned by two dozen drawbridges, and the people who tend those crossings find themselves pretty busy this time of year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) let me know when you're in place. 10-4, let's go.
COLLINS: It's that time of year again in Chicago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've Michigan Avenue going in the air. Michigan Avenue going in the air. Nineteen sailboats inbound, one out.
COLLINS: For several weeks each spring and fall, Jessie Jones (ph) and other bridge tenders, as they're called, lift and lower the two dozen movable bridges that run over the Chicago River and through the heart of the city. In the spring, the boats come out for a season of fun, and in the fall the party is over and the boats head home for the cold winter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The season isn't over until November 15. And even after November 15, you'll still have some stragglers. We had a boat run in December. Some people take a chance and try to stay out there as long as they can. They just hate to see the summer go.
COLLINS: And it's not always smooth sailing.
(on camera): We were just watching the water taxies. One came this way, one came this way, and then you've got 19 other boats.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
COLLINS: Does it get pretty dicey?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does.
COLLINS: It does?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does at times. They are supposed to watch out for one another, do the operation and make sure everything goes along safely as possible without any injuries or anyone getting hurt.
COLLINS (voice over): No accidents, and he's been doing this for 20 years.
(on camera): Why do you do this job?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love it. I've just got a thing for bridges.
COLLINS (voice over): Then it's a good thing he's in Chicago, a city with more movable bridges than any other in the world. Many of them fasfule (ph). That's French for teeter-totter. Most were built in the early part of the 20th century for commercial traffic, but now they're raised and lower for the tall masts of these beautiful sailboats.
(on camera): Think you'll ever get a boat of your own?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a dream of mine.
COLLINS: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I would love that.
COLLINS: Have you ever seen a boat that you said, ah-ha, that's for me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I've seen quite a few.
COLLINS: They're beautiful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are. And it's a beautiful thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: In fact, Jessie (ph) says he has never loved any other job that he has had as much as he loves this is one right here that he's doing. You know, the Chicago River system, 156 miles long with some 52,000 boats passing through every year.
And, Soledad, I think part of the reason why he loves that job so much is because the people are so nice. They wave up to him. They thank him for opening those bridges. But on the day we were, not a lot of waving going on. The coldest day on that day in the history of Chicago, and those people were out on the water.
O'BRIEN: All right, Heidi, thanks. That was a beautiful piece. Thank you.
COLLINS: Thanks.
O'BRIEN: Well, you know, Chicago is known for its great music. So who knew that we would come to Chicago where jazz and blues really are king? And here is some of what I think is fair to say of the worst music ever recorded in the history of mankind.
Well, our next guest has a knack for finding it. He, of course, is Jim Nayder. He's the host of "The Annoying Music Show," which is repelling listeners coast to coast on NPR, National Public Radio. He's a Chicago native, and he joins us to share some of his, shall we say, distinctive music with us this morning. We're going to give it a political spin, of course...
JIM NAYDER, HOST, "THE ANNOYING MUSIC SHOW": Of course. O'BRIEN: ... because we're knee deep in politics.
(CROSSTALK)
NAYDER: Chicago is like today's Florida. I mean, the old days we had a huge impact. Some say this little fellow...
O'BRIEN: Mayor Daley.
NAYDER: ... Mayor Daley, said the city of big shoulders meant when we went to work, we left the debating to others. And that's our first song.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk a little bit about the debate. Actually this song is based on the first debate.
NAYDER: Yes. Instead of marching campaign tunes, now what folks are doing are taking the politicians' excerpts, remixing them and putting them to music. So right after the first debate this was at our doorstep.
O'BRIEN: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But again, I repeat to my fellow citizens, it's hard work. That's the plan for victory, and that is the best way. What I said was it's hard work and I made that very clear. It is hard work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: It almost sounds like a little bit of rap.
NAYDER: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about the history of political songs. You don't hear as many of them now certainly as you did historically.
NAYDER: Right, because, as I said, every second counts. They want to get their candidates best excerpt out, so they'll edit it, they'll put some Dick Dale (ph) music to it, which we heard from the first one, which was edited by Sam Sadler (ph), by the way. I want to give him credit. And people think it's new, but it was done 42 years ago.
Here's a remix from 1962.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Ask not, ask not, ask not you're your country can do for you.
for you. Ask not, ask not, ask not. Ask not what your country can do for you. JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ask what you can do for your country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Who would have thought they would put to the waltz music? Now I know in honor of our visit to Chicago, we've brought ...
NAYDER: And that's the PT 109 Swift Boat Singers for Truth, by the way.
O'BRIEN: Kidding. Let's talk a little bit about some of the Chicago locals who you think are among the worst singers.
NAYDER: Well, when you come to Chicago, everyone asks for, unfortunately, Piranha Man from Pakistan.
O'BRIEN: Who is Piranha Man?
NAYDER: He has a record label. He's got a CD, and he also sells cars. But for "The Annoying Music Show" we're happy that he has a record label.
O'BRIEN: OK.
NAYDER: And this song actually is in tribute to you to remind you, we're so glad you are back, but you can't let the seduction of the 2:00 a.m. of getting up in the morning keep you away from those lovely new boys. So please listen to these words.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I am going to be like you, dad. You know I'm going to be like you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: "The Cat in the Cradle?"
NAYDER: Yes, I think.
O'BRIEN: I wasn't sure. And he has his own record label.
NAYDER: Well, actually a musical genius in Chicago, Bruce Killman (ph), formed a record label just for Piranha Man, and no one else seems excited about it, but we certainly were.
O'BRIEN: I know you brought one in honor of me from Piranha Man. So I'm very touched. Will you play it a little bit?
NAYDER: I wouldn't. If you forgot how morning sickness feels like, you're going to remember right now, but give it a shot.
O'BRIEN: This song doesn't sound so bad. NAYDER: Not bad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Having my baby. What a lovely way of saying how much you love me. Having my baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Oh, man! You know what? I think it's pretty bad. Jim Nayder of NPR's "The Annoying Music Show," nice to have you. Thanks for having us in your fine city.
NAYDER: Soledad...
O'BRIEN: And thanks for ruining our morning with your awful music. We certainly appreciate it.
NAYDER: To bring the show to Chicago just for me, it's spectacular. Thank you so much.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
HEMMER: I think I'm off the hook, by the way. I thought it was bad when I sang.
NAYDER: We've got you on tape.
HEMMER: Yes, you do.
NAYDER: So wait for the holidays.
HEMMER: Nice to see you.
NAYDER: Nice to see you.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, Coca-Cola is finding out whether or not its latest product has the formula for success. Andy is back with us in a moment here "Minding Your Business" as we roll on. On a Wednesday morning, we're live in Chicago on the road after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Any time you can get a skyline reflection like that, at sunrise, what a great town. Welcome back, everybody. We're live in Chicago again, Union Station today. I went to dinner with Andy and Jack. And Jack had...
O'BRIEN: Well, thanks for inviting me, by the way. That was really good of you guys.
HEMMER: We offered. You chose to stay in your room. Jack had this baked potato, by the way, that you could feed that Tyrannosaurus Rex, by the way. It was enormous. I mean, Jack's saving it for a week. Good morning, guys. How are you?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How are you doing? That potato was the size of an official NFL football, and it was a twice-baked deal with all of that cheese and stuff. What was that joint, Gibson's (ph)?
HEMMER: Gibson's (ph), yes, a great steakhouse.
CAFFERTY: You know what? The food was terrific, but they had a testy little blonde girl running the front door that I didn't care for at all. Gave us nothing but grief when we got there about we didn't have enough people and you can't sit down yet and yadda-yadda-yadda. But the food was terrific.
HEMMER: Excellent.
CAFFERTY: And the woman who waited on us was excellent. It's just that testy little blonde girl in the front that I didn't like.
O'BRIEN: Maybe she had had a bad day.
CAFFERTY: I wish I remembered her name. I'd share it with you, but I can't remember it. Anyway, the markets are getting -- Andy invented a new word, the markets are getting "Spitzered" as in New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.
CAFFERTY: And it's not good for investors, especially in the insurance companies.
SERWER: Yes, that's right, Jack. The Spitzeritis would be another way to put it. Despite some good news for blue chips like IBM and Motorola, that means they were up a little bit, and falling oil prices, markets swooned a little bit yesterday. You can see here the Dow was down 58 points.
Taking the brunt of the beatings were insurance stocks, Jack, including health care stocks, like Wellpoint (ph), Cigna and Aetna. Those in particular got hit. And futures are down this morning as well.
Another story that is kind of interesting this morning, Jack, in "The Wall Street Journal" has to do with Coke. Remember new Coke? Well, it looks like Coca-Cola Company might have another one with that C2 drink that they rolled out.
CAFFERTY: That sounds like a plastic explosive.
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: I mean, you don't name a soda pop C2.
SERWER: C2 is the low-carb drink they rolled out last summer, and with a $50 million ad campaign, "you can't always get what you want" by the Rolling Stones.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: And it looks like the sales are really falling flat, down 60 percent since this summer. And, you know, maybe this low-carb thing isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I mean, who is going to drink a low-carb soda, I guess is the question, right?
CAFFERTY: Yes. Andy was actually singing you don't always get what you want.
SERWER (singing): You can't always get what you want. OK.
CAFFERTY: There's a rule. Remember the rule.
SERWER: No singing by me.
CAFFERTY: Serwer is prohibited from singing on AMERICAN MORNING...
SERWER: It's getting (UNINTELLIGIBLE) up here.
CAFFERTY: ... by the fiat of the king or something.
SERWER: All right.
CAFFERTY: All right. The market may -- we've got earnings. Earnings aren't bad. Is the market going to do anything today?
SERWER: The futures are down.
CAFFERTY: They're down. All right, thanks, Andy.
The curse of the Bambino and the curse of the billy goat, the Red Sox forced a game seven in the American League championship series. They have not won a World Series since 1918. In 1919, they traded away Babe Ruth, and some people believe that that's it. They'll never win, again the curse of Babe Ruth.
Here in Chicago, the Cubs have the curse of the billy goat. They haven't won since 1908. The billy goat that was kicked out of the ballpark in 1945, I am told, actually had a ticket. And they came and made the Mr. Seanis (ph) and his goat leave. And so the Cubs have the curse of the billy goat.
So the question is: Do you believe in curses? The answers from our viewers are as follows:
Dan in Pottstown, PA: "People in Chicago and Boston need to get over this curse thing. Their teams choke on the thought of a curse. It's in the players' and fans' heads. Philadelphia thinks they're cursed too. Whenever your team chokes, it's a cheap way to find the blame."
Mike in Loveland, Colorado, writes: "You know the old saying, the best defense is a good offense. Maybe the Chicago Cubs coaches and players should eat a slice of goat cheese pizza before the game."
James in Glenview: "I can't speak to the Red Sox, but clearly the curse here in Chicago is the Cubs fan who keep filling the stadium while the team historically loses, not the owners who keep filling their pockets."
And finally Dave in Springfield, Illinois: "Are we cursed? Of course. Every fall, we cry "Curses foiled again." And BoSox fans, never forget, our Cub curse is worse. You calamity began in 1918; ours began in 1908."
AM@CNN.com. Back upstairs to Bill and Soledad.
HEMMER: Good deal. Thank you, Jack, for that.
In a moment here, 13 days and counting now to election decision day 2004. The race is so tight now. Did a political maneuver backfire on one of the candidates? A look at that, Kamber and May, top of the hour back in Chicago after this.
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Aired October 20, 2004 - 07:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING on the road in Chicago..
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning and welcome back from here in Union Station, where we set up camp today. Of course, we are on the move constantly here.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: That we are.
O'BRIEN: The first day we were along the banks of the Chicago River, and then yesterday we were at the campus of Loyola University, where they were wonderful hosts right along the Magnificent Mile.
This is what it looks like. Of course, we have to set up -- we, being our fabulous crew.
HEMMER: Yes...
(CROSSTALK)
O'BRIEN: I don't help at all. Set up and break down every single day. And you're looking at some time-lapse pictures of our stage being set up, and then you will see...
HEMMER: Up goes the tent in the event of rain. We got no rain. We've got plenty of wind, though.
O'BRIEN: You'll notice there are no walls.
HEMMER: Yes, that water tower location is such a great part of Chicago's history going back to the Great Fire of 1871. It stands so much for many people in Chicago as a symbol of their own strength for how the city of broad shoulders and the city of big shoulders has been able to stay strong for so many decades, and really centuries for that matter too, and with such great pride, too.
We're at Union Station. Is this a great place or what?
O'BRIEN: Where we set up and we'll break down again after today.
HEMMER: I love those older train stations, yes.
O'BRIEN: And then take it to our next location tomorrow.
HEMMER: We've got a few museum stops along the way, too. We're in the Great Hall, and we will show you a bit later just how great it is, too, and why. Also in a moment here, two soldiers just back from Iraq, in fact, three weeks ago, back here in Chicago, from the Chicago area, their perspective on security in that country, troop morale, and adjusting to home life as well, after more than a year in Baghdad.
O'BRIEN: Also, it is the time of year here when the sailboats come in from Lake Michigan for another winter, and the drawbridge operators really have their work cut out for them. We're going to talk this morning about what it takes to keep the city moving from inside their control room. I mean, look at that. It's really an amazing shot when all of those bridges go up simultaneously...
HEMMER: Yes. We look forward to that.
O'BRIEN: ... to let the sailboats go through.
HEMMER: Heidi has got that story a bit later. But for now, she has the headlines, too.
Heidi, good morning. Where are you, by the way? You're outside, I know that, but where?
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: I am outside. And do you hear behind me? We are looking right over this shoulder, I think you can see the train going by. It's kind of more like the subway system. Those trains do not go to Union Station where you guys are. It's more of a subway system that you might be familiar with from, of course, New York. We'll talk more about that.
Right now, though, I'm at Millennium Park, and we have several different beautiful sculptures and cultural-type things to tell you about a little bit later on. We will get to it then. But for now, the news this morning.
The race for the White House swings through the Midwest today. President Bush is set to rally with supporters in Mason City, Iowa. And he'll discuss economic issues at an event in Minnesota this afternoon. Senator John Kerry also starts the day in Iowa. The senator will give a major speech on national security in Waterloo. He then heads to Pennsylvania.
Congress is trying to put together a final version of an intelligence reform bill. Negotiators are meeting for first time today. The Senate wants a powerful national intelligence director similar to the plan recommended by the 9/11 Commission. The House wants more provisions for homeland security. And President Bush says he wants to sign a unified version of the bill as soon as possible.
An Army Reservist has reportedly pleaded guilty in connection with abuse at Abu Ghraib prison. According to the Associated Press, Staff Sergeant Ivan "Chip" Frederick faced a court-martial in Buckingham, Virginia just a short time ago. He admitted to five charges, including conspiracy and maltreatment of detainees. He is expected to be sentenced tomorrow.
And Martha Stewart's team filing an appeal. Stewart's attorneys claim her Sixth Amendment right to confront a witness was violated during her trial. The defense team was unable to cross-examine her former stockbroker because he never took the witness stand. But a damaging audiotape with his interview was played.
I'm going to send it back over to Union Station now once again and Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi, thanks.
The war in Iraq hits home here in Chicago. Many of its sons and daughters have gone off to serve in Iraq, facing danger and death so many miles from home. This morning, we are proud to welcome two members recently back from Iraq. Lieutenant Colonel Norm Grady and Reservist Colonel Jill Morgenthaler just returning to their homes here in Chicago, what, three weeks ago and six weeks ago, respectively, right?
COL. JILL MORGENTHALER, U.S. ARMY RESERVES: F: Three weeks ago.
LT. COL. NORM GRADY, U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS: Yes.
HEMMER: Welcome home.
GRADY: Thank you.
HEMMER: And thank you for your service as well. I know you were a spokesperson for the Army when you were in Baghdad for the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. And just about 30 minutes ago, there is a report that Ivan "Chip" Frederick has pleaded guilty to five counts related to that scandal. Your reaction to what you're hearing now half a world away.
MORGENTHALER: I think he's doing the right thing. Abu Ghraib was a terrible thing that happened. It kind of took the attention away from all of the good things we're been doing over in Iraq.
HEMMER: When you come back to Chicago, how many folks ask you about that? And what are their questions, Colonel?
MORGENTHALER: Well, just yesterday I was having a debate in my civilian job...
HEMMER: Imagine that.
MORGENTHALER: ... about Abu Ghraib, yes. Most people are very horrified that it happened and embarrassed. And...
HEMMER: How do you explain it to them?
MORGENTHALER: I explain it as seven individuals without leadership who got away with some terrible things.
HEMMER: Colonel, good morning.
GRADY: Good morning.
HEMMER: You were doing similar work in Chicago before you went to Iraq, doing similar work back here.
GRADY: Yes.
HEMMER: How would you compare the two? A world of difference, I'd imagine.
GRADY: Well, it was a world of difference, but it was amazing. We were working on the reconstruction program in the southern third of the country down in Basra, Iraq. And while I had a lot of government employees to go with us, it was amazing in that they adapted so well to being in such a difficult environment 10,000 miles away from home, away from their families and friends. And they adapted quickly to working seven days a week, 12-13 hours a day, in hardship conditions, 120-degree heat and all of the difficulties in trying to do a construction mission in an unsecure environment.
HEMMER: What did you learn about the Iraqi people through all of that?
GRADY: It amazed me to the degree to which they were willing to work to make their country a better place. They want to have the ability to be able to go to work every day, to do their jobs. And we saw it based on the folks who worked with the Corps of Engineers down in the southern district.
HEMMER: Well, you know, some have wondered whether or not the American people are giving the Iraqi people enough credit for their own amount of pride and history and how much they want to rebuild their country. I don't know if you echo these same concerns or not, but overall as we look at the Iraqi picture, how does the U.S. win and Iraq win and declare a victory?
MORGENTHALER: We need to make it through their elections. They need to be able to vote, because they are embracing their freedoms. And a lot of people are standing up, and they are risking their lives to make this happen. I worked with the Iraqi military women, and one woman was just shot the other day eight times. She survived. She is not leaving the Army. She wants this to work. And it's that kind of individual heroism that will make it work.
HEMMER: We are 13 days away from an election in this country. When you hear about the arguments on the campaign trail about what's happening in Iraq, I guess in general, how do you respond when you hear the charges of Senator Kerry and the claims of President Bush?
GRADY: What I tell folks in my talks around the Chicago area about my experiences in Iraq and how it relates is we have to see what the Iraqi people can determine. If the Iraqi people can develop a government that will allow them to be able to gain confidence with the Iraqi people, then that frees up the ability to do the reconstruction mission, and we can continue to be successful. If the Iraqi people can't get to that part, then it will be very difficult for the Americans to do enough to help them. So the real lynchpin in this whole process is the upcoming Iraqi elections.
HEMMER: Welcome home. GRADY: Thank you very much.
HEMMER: I've got to think it's good to be back, right?
GRADY: It is wonderful.
HEMMER: Thank you for your service, Colonel.
GRADY: Thank you.
HEMMER: Great to see you and great to meet you as well.
MORGENTHALER: Thank you.
HEMMER: Thank you also. Good luck -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Pakistani forces today said they haven't found any sign that Osama bin Laden is hiding in the mountains along the Pakistani- Afghanistan borders. U.S. authorities believe he is there, but after three years of searching, they have little to show.
Barbara Starr is live for us at the Pentagon this morning.
Hey, Barbara, good morning. Nice to see you.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad.
Well, indeed, you know, the hunt for Osama bin Laden has been front and center in the presidential campaign, but now the top U.S. general in Afghanistan and the top U.S. diplomat are both saying Osama bin Laden may not be that important anymore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STARR (voice over): The general, who nine months ago predicted getting Osama bin Laden by the end of this year, is more cautious these days.
LT. GEN. DAVID BARNO, COMBINED FORCES CMD. AFGHANISTAN: Well, I think the first thing I'd tell you I have retired my crystal bar.
STARR: David Barno, the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, directs what he calls the 24/7 hunt for bin Laden. Intelligence indicates he is hiding across the border in Pakistan, protected by local tribes. Whether President Bush is doing enough to hunt bin Laden, now a heated campaign issue.
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: He took his eye off the ball off of Osama bin Laden.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Of course, we're going to find Osama bin Laden.
STARR: Even as the hunt goes on, from a strict military point of view, the world's most-wanted man is nowadays less relevant. BARNO: I don't see any indications that he is in day-to-day command and control, as it were, of the al Qaeda organization or the other terrorist groups that work with him.
STARR: The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan also downplays bin Laden's capabilities.
ZALMAY KHALILZAD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN: And the role of a particular person, Osama bin Laden, is one issue. It's largely symbolic. The larger problem is the problem of these global terror networks.
STARR: For the U.S. military, there is still an emotional reason to get bin Laden.
BARNO: We have nearly 3,000 victims of the 9/11 attacks who we owe that to.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STARR: But the experts say if bin Laden is ever located inside Pakistan, he may be so well-entrenched now it will be very difficult to send in U.S. forces, grab him and get him out of the country -- Soledad.
O'BRIEN: Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for us this morning. Barbara, thanks.
(WEATHER REPORT)
O'BRIEN: Still to come on this AMERICAN MORNING, they keep the Chicago River moving, the city's bridge tenders. We've got an up- close look at their up-and-down job.
HEMMER: And it's impressive, too. Also in a moment, some of the most annoying music ever. One man's mission to bring you the worst of all. Here's a sample now as we go to break here live in Chicago at Union Station.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
O'BRIEN: Our Chicago visit will next take us to the Field Museum alongside Lake Michigan. We're going to meet Sue, the largest and most complete T-Rex ever discovered. We'll take a look at the multimillion-dollar O'Hare expansion project. And actor Jim Belushi, a Chicago native, will stop by to make sure that we've hit all of the city's hot spots. And we're doing pretty well on that actually. We're trying. All that and much, much more tomorrow in the Windy City.
HEMMER: It's a big town, but we're doing our best...
O'BRIEN: We're doing all right.
HEMMER: ... to get around.
We want to get to Heidi Collins again, who has a very interesting story right along the Chicago River.
Heidi -- good morning.
COLLINS: Good morning once again, guys. You know, in fact, on Monday you may remember our first location here in Chicago was along the banks of the Chicago River, just a beautiful bank-side shot there. The waterway, though, splits the same downtown area known as The Loop in these parts. It splits it right in two. The river is spanned by two dozen drawbridges, and the people who tend those crossings find themselves pretty busy this time of year.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (UNINTELLIGIBLE) let me know when you're in place. 10-4, let's go.
COLLINS: It's that time of year again in Chicago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've Michigan Avenue going in the air. Michigan Avenue going in the air. Nineteen sailboats inbound, one out.
COLLINS: For several weeks each spring and fall, Jessie Jones (ph) and other bridge tenders, as they're called, lift and lower the two dozen movable bridges that run over the Chicago River and through the heart of the city. In the spring, the boats come out for a season of fun, and in the fall the party is over and the boats head home for the cold winter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The season isn't over until November 15. And even after November 15, you'll still have some stragglers. We had a boat run in December. Some people take a chance and try to stay out there as long as they can. They just hate to see the summer go.
COLLINS: And it's not always smooth sailing.
(on camera): We were just watching the water taxies. One came this way, one came this way, and then you've got 19 other boats.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
COLLINS: Does it get pretty dicey?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does.
COLLINS: It does?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It does at times. They are supposed to watch out for one another, do the operation and make sure everything goes along safely as possible without any injuries or anyone getting hurt.
COLLINS (voice over): No accidents, and he's been doing this for 20 years.
(on camera): Why do you do this job?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love it. I've just got a thing for bridges.
COLLINS (voice over): Then it's a good thing he's in Chicago, a city with more movable bridges than any other in the world. Many of them fasfule (ph). That's French for teeter-totter. Most were built in the early part of the 20th century for commercial traffic, but now they're raised and lower for the tall masts of these beautiful sailboats.
(on camera): Think you'll ever get a boat of your own?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's a dream of mine.
COLLINS: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I would love that.
COLLINS: Have you ever seen a boat that you said, ah-ha, that's for me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I've seen quite a few.
COLLINS: They're beautiful.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They are. And it's a beautiful thing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: In fact, Jessie (ph) says he has never loved any other job that he has had as much as he loves this is one right here that he's doing. You know, the Chicago River system, 156 miles long with some 52,000 boats passing through every year.
And, Soledad, I think part of the reason why he loves that job so much is because the people are so nice. They wave up to him. They thank him for opening those bridges. But on the day we were, not a lot of waving going on. The coldest day on that day in the history of Chicago, and those people were out on the water.
O'BRIEN: All right, Heidi, thanks. That was a beautiful piece. Thank you.
COLLINS: Thanks.
O'BRIEN: Well, you know, Chicago is known for its great music. So who knew that we would come to Chicago where jazz and blues really are king? And here is some of what I think is fair to say of the worst music ever recorded in the history of mankind.
Well, our next guest has a knack for finding it. He, of course, is Jim Nayder. He's the host of "The Annoying Music Show," which is repelling listeners coast to coast on NPR, National Public Radio. He's a Chicago native, and he joins us to share some of his, shall we say, distinctive music with us this morning. We're going to give it a political spin, of course...
JIM NAYDER, HOST, "THE ANNOYING MUSIC SHOW": Of course. O'BRIEN: ... because we're knee deep in politics.
(CROSSTALK)
NAYDER: Chicago is like today's Florida. I mean, the old days we had a huge impact. Some say this little fellow...
O'BRIEN: Mayor Daley.
NAYDER: ... Mayor Daley, said the city of big shoulders meant when we went to work, we left the debating to others. And that's our first song.
O'BRIEN: Let's talk a little bit about the debate. Actually this song is based on the first debate.
NAYDER: Yes. Instead of marching campaign tunes, now what folks are doing are taking the politicians' excerpts, remixing them and putting them to music. So right after the first debate this was at our doorstep.
O'BRIEN: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: But again, I repeat to my fellow citizens, it's hard work. That's the plan for victory, and that is the best way. What I said was it's hard work and I made that very clear. It is hard work.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: It almost sounds like a little bit of rap.
NAYDER: Yes, it is.
O'BRIEN: Tell me a little bit about the history of political songs. You don't hear as many of them now certainly as you did historically.
NAYDER: Right, because, as I said, every second counts. They want to get their candidates best excerpt out, so they'll edit it, they'll put some Dick Dale (ph) music to it, which we heard from the first one, which was edited by Sam Sadler (ph), by the way. I want to give him credit. And people think it's new, but it was done 42 years ago.
Here's a remix from 1962.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Ask not, ask not, ask not you're your country can do for you.
for you. Ask not, ask not, ask not. Ask not what your country can do for you. JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Ask what you can do for your country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Who would have thought they would put to the waltz music? Now I know in honor of our visit to Chicago, we've brought ...
NAYDER: And that's the PT 109 Swift Boat Singers for Truth, by the way.
O'BRIEN: Kidding. Let's talk a little bit about some of the Chicago locals who you think are among the worst singers.
NAYDER: Well, when you come to Chicago, everyone asks for, unfortunately, Piranha Man from Pakistan.
O'BRIEN: Who is Piranha Man?
NAYDER: He has a record label. He's got a CD, and he also sells cars. But for "The Annoying Music Show" we're happy that he has a record label.
O'BRIEN: OK.
NAYDER: And this song actually is in tribute to you to remind you, we're so glad you are back, but you can't let the seduction of the 2:00 a.m. of getting up in the morning keep you away from those lovely new boys. So please listen to these words.
O'BRIEN: All right, let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): I am going to be like you, dad. You know I'm going to be like you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: "The Cat in the Cradle?"
NAYDER: Yes, I think.
O'BRIEN: I wasn't sure. And he has his own record label.
NAYDER: Well, actually a musical genius in Chicago, Bruce Killman (ph), formed a record label just for Piranha Man, and no one else seems excited about it, but we certainly were.
O'BRIEN: I know you brought one in honor of me from Piranha Man. So I'm very touched. Will you play it a little bit?
NAYDER: I wouldn't. If you forgot how morning sickness feels like, you're going to remember right now, but give it a shot.
O'BRIEN: This song doesn't sound so bad. NAYDER: Not bad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (singing): Having my baby. What a lovely way of saying how much you love me. Having my baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
O'BRIEN: Oh, man! You know what? I think it's pretty bad. Jim Nayder of NPR's "The Annoying Music Show," nice to have you. Thanks for having us in your fine city.
NAYDER: Soledad...
O'BRIEN: And thanks for ruining our morning with your awful music. We certainly appreciate it.
NAYDER: To bring the show to Chicago just for me, it's spectacular. Thank you so much.
O'BRIEN: Thanks.
HEMMER: I think I'm off the hook, by the way. I thought it was bad when I sang.
NAYDER: We've got you on tape.
HEMMER: Yes, you do.
NAYDER: So wait for the holidays.
HEMMER: Nice to see you.
NAYDER: Nice to see you.
HEMMER: Let's get a break here. In a moment, Coca-Cola is finding out whether or not its latest product has the formula for success. Andy is back with us in a moment here "Minding Your Business" as we roll on. On a Wednesday morning, we're live in Chicago on the road after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Any time you can get a skyline reflection like that, at sunrise, what a great town. Welcome back, everybody. We're live in Chicago again, Union Station today. I went to dinner with Andy and Jack. And Jack had...
O'BRIEN: Well, thanks for inviting me, by the way. That was really good of you guys.
HEMMER: We offered. You chose to stay in your room. Jack had this baked potato, by the way, that you could feed that Tyrannosaurus Rex, by the way. It was enormous. I mean, Jack's saving it for a week. Good morning, guys. How are you?
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: How are you doing? That potato was the size of an official NFL football, and it was a twice-baked deal with all of that cheese and stuff. What was that joint, Gibson's (ph)?
HEMMER: Gibson's (ph), yes, a great steakhouse.
CAFFERTY: You know what? The food was terrific, but they had a testy little blonde girl running the front door that I didn't care for at all. Gave us nothing but grief when we got there about we didn't have enough people and you can't sit down yet and yadda-yadda-yadda. But the food was terrific.
HEMMER: Excellent.
CAFFERTY: And the woman who waited on us was excellent. It's just that testy little blonde girl in the front that I didn't like.
O'BRIEN: Maybe she had had a bad day.
CAFFERTY: I wish I remembered her name. I'd share it with you, but I can't remember it. Anyway, the markets are getting -- Andy invented a new word, the markets are getting "Spitzered" as in New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
ANDY SERWER, "FORTUNE" MAGAZINE: Yes.
CAFFERTY: And it's not good for investors, especially in the insurance companies.
SERWER: Yes, that's right, Jack. The Spitzeritis would be another way to put it. Despite some good news for blue chips like IBM and Motorola, that means they were up a little bit, and falling oil prices, markets swooned a little bit yesterday. You can see here the Dow was down 58 points.
Taking the brunt of the beatings were insurance stocks, Jack, including health care stocks, like Wellpoint (ph), Cigna and Aetna. Those in particular got hit. And futures are down this morning as well.
Another story that is kind of interesting this morning, Jack, in "The Wall Street Journal" has to do with Coke. Remember new Coke? Well, it looks like Coca-Cola Company might have another one with that C2 drink that they rolled out.
CAFFERTY: That sounds like a plastic explosive.
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: I mean, you don't name a soda pop C2.
SERWER: C2 is the low-carb drink they rolled out last summer, and with a $50 million ad campaign, "you can't always get what you want" by the Rolling Stones.
CAFFERTY: Yes.
SERWER: And it looks like the sales are really falling flat, down 60 percent since this summer. And, you know, maybe this low-carb thing isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I mean, who is going to drink a low-carb soda, I guess is the question, right?
CAFFERTY: Yes. Andy was actually singing you don't always get what you want.
SERWER (singing): You can't always get what you want. OK.
CAFFERTY: There's a rule. Remember the rule.
SERWER: No singing by me.
CAFFERTY: Serwer is prohibited from singing on AMERICAN MORNING...
SERWER: It's getting (UNINTELLIGIBLE) up here.
CAFFERTY: ... by the fiat of the king or something.
SERWER: All right.
CAFFERTY: All right. The market may -- we've got earnings. Earnings aren't bad. Is the market going to do anything today?
SERWER: The futures are down.
CAFFERTY: They're down. All right, thanks, Andy.
The curse of the Bambino and the curse of the billy goat, the Red Sox forced a game seven in the American League championship series. They have not won a World Series since 1918. In 1919, they traded away Babe Ruth, and some people believe that that's it. They'll never win, again the curse of Babe Ruth.
Here in Chicago, the Cubs have the curse of the billy goat. They haven't won since 1908. The billy goat that was kicked out of the ballpark in 1945, I am told, actually had a ticket. And they came and made the Mr. Seanis (ph) and his goat leave. And so the Cubs have the curse of the billy goat.
So the question is: Do you believe in curses? The answers from our viewers are as follows:
Dan in Pottstown, PA: "People in Chicago and Boston need to get over this curse thing. Their teams choke on the thought of a curse. It's in the players' and fans' heads. Philadelphia thinks they're cursed too. Whenever your team chokes, it's a cheap way to find the blame."
Mike in Loveland, Colorado, writes: "You know the old saying, the best defense is a good offense. Maybe the Chicago Cubs coaches and players should eat a slice of goat cheese pizza before the game."
James in Glenview: "I can't speak to the Red Sox, but clearly the curse here in Chicago is the Cubs fan who keep filling the stadium while the team historically loses, not the owners who keep filling their pockets."
And finally Dave in Springfield, Illinois: "Are we cursed? Of course. Every fall, we cry "Curses foiled again." And BoSox fans, never forget, our Cub curse is worse. You calamity began in 1918; ours began in 1908."
AM@CNN.com. Back upstairs to Bill and Soledad.
HEMMER: Good deal. Thank you, Jack, for that.
In a moment here, 13 days and counting now to election decision day 2004. The race is so tight now. Did a political maneuver backfire on one of the candidates? A look at that, Kamber and May, top of the hour back in Chicago after this.
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