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CNN Live At Daybreak
Yasser Arafat's Health; A Car Bomb Explodes in Southern Baghdad
Aired October 28, 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: 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": A source close to Yasser Arafat tells CNN he was out of bed today and participating in morning prayers. A team of doctors from several countries evaluating the Palestinian leaders condition. Concerns peaked after Arafat reportedly collapsed and briefly lost consciousness at his West Bank compound.
A car bomb explodes this morning in southern Baghdad, killing one American soldier and wounding two others. At least one Iraqi civilian was also killed in the blast.
Waterspouts off of Malibu, take a look at this. The second big storm this month brought rain, snow, and mudslides to California. I- 215 was closed; 17,000 people lost power; water was four feet deep at one intersection in Sun City.
That's an amazing picture.
Wow! The Boston Red Sox have won the first World Series championships since 1918, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games. Manny Ramirez with a 412 batting average for the series, was named Most Valuable Player.
Wow! Look at him. You can see him in the crowd, jumping up and down.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Five days and counting until we vote for president and other local candidates and issues. Five days, that is unless you took advantage of early voting.
What do Grover Cleveland, Andrew Jackson and Al Gore have in common? Well, they all won the popular vote, but lost the presidential election. Cleveland lost in 1888, Jackson in 1824, and Gore, of course, in 2000. But could it happen again? CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look at how the electoral college could, once again, confuse the outcome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Run for the hills, hide the children, and lock up the dogs. The normally tame electoral college is turning ferocious with the specter of tied election looming again. So, John Fortier, who wrote a book on the electoral system, is spending his nights in a cold sweat.
JOHN FORTIER, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: I would lie awake sweating in any election that is likely to be this close, no matter what our system is.
FOREMAN: A tie is unlikely, but if George Bush wins every state he expects to win, and John Kerry does, too, a dozen closely contested states will make the difference. And computer models calculate about three dozen ways their electoral votes can add up to a tie.
FORTIER: One scenario that might be possible is that Kerry wins in Ohio and in New Hampshire; and Bush wins in Wisconsin and New Mexico and all the other states, the same as 2000. Those are possible pick ups.
FOREMAN: If any combination produces a tie in the electoral college, then the election will be decided by the nation's legislators. The House of Representatives would pick the president for the Republican majority, George Bush.
But the Senate would decide on the vice president. And if the Democrats gained a few seats they could give John Edwards that job, another tie.
It is all enough to make some voters squeamish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the electoral college should be abolished. I think it has outlived its usefulness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One person, one vote, will do it.
FOREMAN (on camera): Whoever gets the most is the winner?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's it.
ANNOUNCER (RODEO VIDEO): Thrills there are, and spills.
FOREMAN: The electoral college was designed and refined over many years to address rural concerns, uneven nationwide voter distribution, and much more. And historically, because it magnifies the popular vote, the college has made instantly clear who has won.
ANNOUNCER: A look at the future. Looks good, eh?
FOREMAN: But this time, with talk of states splitting their electoral votes, electors defecting from their voters and lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits, even chad can hardly hang on to see how the college comes through.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The races, the votes, and all the results, CNN special prime-time election night coverage begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern.
We want to get back to the health of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. A source close to him tells CNN he got out of bed this morning for morning prayers. This comes just one day after the 75- year-old leader was described as too weak to walk and unable to keep food down. A team of doctors at Arafat's Ramallah compound is deciding if he needs to be taken to a hospital.
So, let's find out all of the what-ifs about Arafat's condition. For that we turn to Palestinian Cabinet Minister Thanan Ashwari. She joins us live from Ramallah.
Good morning.
THANAN ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Can you tell us what you have heard about Yasser Arafat's condition?
ASHRAWI: Yes, I went in to see him this morning, while he was resting. But I talked to the people who were with him earlier on. And they told me that he did get up, he did carry out his revolutions (ph) and his prayers and he tried to eat.
So, at the insistence of his doctors he ate some cereal, corn flakes and milk, and he kept them down, which is an improvement.
He was alert, though, yes.
COSTELLO: How did he look to you?
ASHRAWI: Well, as I told you, I didn't see him, he was resting. I'll be going back in a couple of minutes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But I was assured by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the people who are with him that he is not as ill as he was yesterday, however, he is still weak and they still don't have a diagnosis, as to the nature of the illness.
They felt initially that it was just flu, intestinal flu, or stomach flu. And now he's had a relapse. He had a relapse a few days ago and people still don't know why. So we are still waiting on the medical verdict.
COSTELLO: We understand that Prime Minister Kuray (ph), called on Prime Minister Sharon earlier today and asked if Yasser Arafat could leave the compound for medical treatment. What can you tell us about that?
ASHRAWI: Well, I was told that nobody has asked the Israelis for anything. There were all sorts of Israeli statements that were volunteered, unilaterally, like everything else. Certainly, I talked to many different people and countries, including the American representatives and if there is any need, of course, the president should have total freedom of movement.
We believe (AUDIO GAP) result of these entirely unhealthy conditions he's living in. Under siege, without fresh air, without sunshine, without real exercise, so it makes him susceptible to picking up any virus or bug that is around.
COSTELLO: Tell our viewers why Mr. Arafat is afraid to leave his compound, event to seek medical treatment.
ASHRAWI: He's not afraid to leave his compound. He's being held prisoner in his compound. First of all, most of it has been shelled and destroyed. He's living whatever remains from the compound. Two, the Israelis said that if he leaves there is not guarantee that he should come back to the compound.
And they will search it and they will arrest people that are there. So he feels responsible. If he leaves the compound then they will arrest the people who are with him. They will search it, take away his papers and such. And they will not allow him to return. This is something that President Arafat does not want to do. He wants to be assured of his own freedom and of the safety of not just himself and his close people but all the ones who are with him in the compound.
COSTELLO: From what we understand, though, the Israeli prime minister has said that Yasser Arafat can leave the compound to seek medical treatment.
ASHRAWI: Yes, well, we've heard that via the news media. His spokespeople are saying there is no guarantee that he should be able to come back. Now we feel that this high-handed manor and attempt at humiliating the president and keeping him under siege and needing permission from the Israelis, something that has contributed to the latest hostilities and distress.
Because of the attitude of the occupation this humiliation is seen by the Palestinian people as a national humiliation. And they think that it is the president's right to be free. He was duly elected by the Palestinian people. He has legitimacy and nobody (AUDIO GAP)
COSTELLO: I believe we have lost the connection with Palestinian Cabinet Minister Thanan Ashwari, but we do thank her for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Again, Yasser Arafat was able to eat breakfast this morning. He joined in morning prayers, but he is still gravely ill. We'll continue to update you on his condition throughout the morning. And also, in the next hour, we will speak to Ranan Giffin (ph), the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior advisor.
In the meantime, click on our Web site for more on Arafat's condition, including a clip of what the chief Palestinian negotiator has to say about his boss. The address, of course, CNN.com.
Millions of new voters have registered to vote, but will they actually show up at the polls on Tuesday? In four minutes, how they might help shape the outcome of this election, which gets us to our e- mail question of the morning. What is motivating so many voters to go to the polls, the early polls? What is going to motivate you? Send us your thoughts at Daybreak@CNN.com . That is Daybreak@CNN.com. And of course, we'll read some of your e-mails later on in the show.
And in seven minutes, awareness while under anesthesia? It is a rare occurrence. But what do you do when the unthinkable becomes reality?
Now here is a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Both Republican and Democratic supporters have each spent millions to register new voters. Democrats scored in key battleground states. For example, in Ohio nearly three quarters of a million people have been registered as new voters. In Florida and Pennsylvania Democratic registration drives have swelled rolls to record levels. But they are wildcards. They allegiances are uncertain.
So the fundamental question remains, will they even bother to vote?
Which brings us to our e-mail question of the day: What is motivating voters to go to the polls? Because you know some states, like Georgia, have early voting. Some people waited four hours in line to vote. That is how many people turned out to vote early.
So there is an enormous interest in this presidential election, in fact, many states are predicting 72 percent voter turn out, which could out do the record turn out in 1992.
I want to read some of your e-mails right now. This is from Sharon, out of Florida.
She says: "The game of politics is a real turn off with all the mudslinging, but I've had enough and my vote may make a difference. When I hear the talk of all the jobs that Bush has lost and economy and such it makes me want to vote now.
President Bush has done an excellent job bringing us out of that and I would never trust the future of my son in Iraq with John Kerry."
This is from Shreveport, Louisiana, from C. Renieri (ph). "More people are turning out to vote due to a nationwide sense of urgency. Americans are realizing en masse that in a democratic society every vote really does count."
This is from Dan in Naples, Florida, "I voted for every Republican presidential candidate since Nixon, but I have to vote for Kerry this time. I'm a teacher who got left behind. This president isn't competent to hold office."
This is from Bill. He says, "I'm going to the polls to get some exercise. I will write in, none of the above. And mark that blank. There are issues I will vote on, but for president, there is no one running I consider competent to be president."
Keep the e-mails coming. Daybreak@CNN.com. For news, money, weather and sports, it is 5:47 Eastern. Here's what is all new this morning.
In the West Bank, a source close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tells CNN his condition has improved this morning. The source says Arafat left his bed to take part in early morning prayers. He's been ill for two weeks.
In money news, it is a bull's eye for the nations capitol, Washington has struck a deal with Target for a store in a Northwest neighborhood. Target expects to break ground in the spring and will open in late 2007. And if you live in Northwest Washington, oh, you know how exciting that really is.
In culture, you remember this image well, I'm sure you do. It is the award-winning poster art of "E.T., The Extraterrestrial". Created for the film in, what year? 1982. Goes up for auction December 10 and is expected to fetch up to $150,000.
Sports, it was a long time in coming but the Boston Red Sox are World Series champions. The Sox beat the Cardinals 3 to nothing, to sweep the Series. It is Boston's first World Series title in 86 years.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you. Now, to health headlines. We have some for you this morning.
A new study finds sleepy interns are committing serious mistakes. And it is because they are forced to work more than 80 hours per week. We are talking about doctors, as in interns. The study suggests the U.S. medical community has been slow to tackle sleep deprivation in its doctors in training.
A federal judge has barred the U.S. military from forcing troops to take anthrax vaccines. The military either has to get informed consent from the troops or get a special order from President Bush to give the shot. It has already been to about a million troops and many who have refused have been punished.
Here's another reason to drink red wine. Spanish scientists have found that red wine may protect against cancer while, white wine may increase the risk. The scientists examined the effects of different types of wine on lung cancer.
For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site, the address, CNN.com/health.
Seems the dreaded curse of the Bambino has been swept away. Coming up, from cursed to first, we'll have more on Boston's very sweet victory.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: Even if you don't know the Red Sox from sweat socks, chances are good this year's World Series had you glued to your TV set. Under a full lunar eclipse, the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game sweep. Tens of thousands stunned Red Sox fans poured through the streets of Boston, almost hesitant to believe that the 86-year-old curse against them has been broken.
The Red Sox last won a World Series in 1918. All that curse talk started when the Red Sox sold the legendary Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. But let's talk about the long comeback with WEEI Sports Announcer Jon Wallach, he's in Boston this morning.
Good morning, Jon.
JON WALLACH, SPORTS ANNOUNCER, WEEI 850 AM, SPORTS RADIO: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So are you still celebrating?
WALLACH: Yes, along with the rest of my Red Sox brethren. None of us have been to sleep yet.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: So, when that little grounder, you know, the last out of the game, how did it feel?
WALLACH: I think I speak for everyone when I say that I don't believe that we all believed that it was actually going to happen until the ballgame was actually over. The Red Sox franchise has lost so many times in some many horrific ways that we all were waiting for the Red Sox to blow it somehow before they actually finished it off and won it.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I'm sure many fans echo that sentiment. So, was there really any such thing as the curse?
WALLACH: I don't think so. I think ultimately when you get right down to it the reason the Red Sox lost a lot of games was because they didn't have enough pitching. Pitching wins ballgames in the majors. Ultimately when they played World Series games they played against teams that were better than them. And that is ultimately whey they lost.
Yes, there is a ball going through Buckner's (ph) legs, but the game was already tied at that point. Even if Buckner makes that play, the Red Sox still have to keep going against the Mets and World Series in 1946, in '75, and '86, they played against teams that had won well over 100 games. And the Red Sox were considered the underdogs going in, to begin with.
COSTELLO: A last thought, before you have to go, this is a quote from a Boston fan. He says, "When you loose, you can always talk about, what-if, what-if. That makes for good intellectual conversation. You don't have that when you win. I'm not sure what we're going to talk about now."
WALLACH: You know, after last night's game I turned to someone next to me and asked her how she felt and she looked at me and said, "You know what? The world has changed. Things will never be the same from now on." And she's right.
Somehow waking up this morning nothing is the same as it was yesterday when we all went to bed. And it is quite amazing.
COSTELLO: It is. Jon Wallach from WEEI. Thanks for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Let's head live to Boston now, because the Boston Red Sox are expected, I think they landed at Logan and they are going to go down to Fenway, maybe in an hour or two. But let's find out from Dina Falco from WFSB. She is live from near Fenway Park.
Describe what is going on down there now.
DINA FALCO, REPORTER, WFSB: It is absolutely crazy. Although the fans are a little bit subdued as they wait for the team bus to arrive, in about an hour. But if you can't believe your eyes and ears, here is the proof, on the cover of the "Boston Herald". "Sox Shock The World", with David Ortiz and Curt Schilling on the cover.
It has been some night. Let's take a look at some of the video that we shot here, around Fenway Park as thousands of fans swarm the streets around here. It was an absolute crazy, crazy scene. They popped the cork on the sweetest of celebrations, a World Series championship for the first time in 86 years.
"Hail to this hollowed ground", they said, Home of the oldest ballpark in the country. And now home to the newest world champions.
And if you take a look, inside Fenway Park, you can see that already they have the new writing on the big screen. It does say, "Welcome home 2004 World Champions".
And we are expecting the team to arrive between 7 and 8 a.m. this morning. Just minutes ago, behind me, the first bus did pull in and we are told that team owner John Henry was on that bus. And you can imagine these fans are going to go crazy when the team comes by here. And we will be waiting for their arrival as well.
COSTELLO: You are not kidding. And you know, we know that the police have had some trouble with massive crowds celebrating. So how are they keeping the staff safe and how will they keep the players safe?
FALCO: Well, I don't think keeping the player safe will be an issue. They do have guardrails up here. And these Sox fans love their players. Although they may want to celebrate, and occasionally throw bottles, they were very tame last night. Police are very happy with the way they controlled the crowd.
I don't think protecting the players will be an issue. I think they are going to want to get as close to them as they can. And they do have guardrails up, so...
COSTELLO: All right, Dina Falco. Congratulations. We're happy for you.
FALCO: Thank you. We're happy to be here.
COSTELLO: I'm sure. We're going to take a short break. We'll be back with much more on DAYBREAK.
(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 28, 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: 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": A source close to Yasser Arafat tells CNN he was out of bed today and participating in morning prayers. A team of doctors from several countries evaluating the Palestinian leaders condition. Concerns peaked after Arafat reportedly collapsed and briefly lost consciousness at his West Bank compound.
A car bomb explodes this morning in southern Baghdad, killing one American soldier and wounding two others. At least one Iraqi civilian was also killed in the blast.
Waterspouts off of Malibu, take a look at this. The second big storm this month brought rain, snow, and mudslides to California. I- 215 was closed; 17,000 people lost power; water was four feet deep at one intersection in Sun City.
That's an amazing picture.
Wow! The Boston Red Sox have won the first World Series championships since 1918, beating the St. Louis Cardinals in four straight games. Manny Ramirez with a 412 batting average for the series, was named Most Valuable Player.
Wow! Look at him. You can see him in the crowd, jumping up and down.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Five days and counting until we vote for president and other local candidates and issues. Five days, that is unless you took advantage of early voting.
What do Grover Cleveland, Andrew Jackson and Al Gore have in common? Well, they all won the popular vote, but lost the presidential election. Cleveland lost in 1888, Jackson in 1824, and Gore, of course, in 2000. But could it happen again? CNN's Tom Foreman takes a look at how the electoral college could, once again, confuse the outcome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Run for the hills, hide the children, and lock up the dogs. The normally tame electoral college is turning ferocious with the specter of tied election looming again. So, John Fortier, who wrote a book on the electoral system, is spending his nights in a cold sweat.
JOHN FORTIER, AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE: I would lie awake sweating in any election that is likely to be this close, no matter what our system is.
FOREMAN: A tie is unlikely, but if George Bush wins every state he expects to win, and John Kerry does, too, a dozen closely contested states will make the difference. And computer models calculate about three dozen ways their electoral votes can add up to a tie.
FORTIER: One scenario that might be possible is that Kerry wins in Ohio and in New Hampshire; and Bush wins in Wisconsin and New Mexico and all the other states, the same as 2000. Those are possible pick ups.
FOREMAN: If any combination produces a tie in the electoral college, then the election will be decided by the nation's legislators. The House of Representatives would pick the president for the Republican majority, George Bush.
But the Senate would decide on the vice president. And if the Democrats gained a few seats they could give John Edwards that job, another tie.
It is all enough to make some voters squeamish.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think the electoral college should be abolished. I think it has outlived its usefulness.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One person, one vote, will do it.
FOREMAN (on camera): Whoever gets the most is the winner?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. That's it.
ANNOUNCER (RODEO VIDEO): Thrills there are, and spills.
FOREMAN: The electoral college was designed and refined over many years to address rural concerns, uneven nationwide voter distribution, and much more. And historically, because it magnifies the popular vote, the college has made instantly clear who has won.
ANNOUNCER: A look at the future. Looks good, eh?
FOREMAN: But this time, with talk of states splitting their electoral votes, electors defecting from their voters and lawsuits, lawsuits, lawsuits, even chad can hardly hang on to see how the college comes through.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: The races, the votes, and all the results, CNN special prime-time election night coverage begins Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern.
We want to get back to the health of the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat. A source close to him tells CNN he got out of bed this morning for morning prayers. This comes just one day after the 75- year-old leader was described as too weak to walk and unable to keep food down. A team of doctors at Arafat's Ramallah compound is deciding if he needs to be taken to a hospital.
So, let's find out all of the what-ifs about Arafat's condition. For that we turn to Palestinian Cabinet Minister Thanan Ashwari. She joins us live from Ramallah.
Good morning.
THANAN ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN CABINET MINISTER: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Can you tell us what you have heard about Yasser Arafat's condition?
ASHRAWI: Yes, I went in to see him this morning, while he was resting. But I talked to the people who were with him earlier on. And they told me that he did get up, he did carry out his revolutions (ph) and his prayers and he tried to eat.
So, at the insistence of his doctors he ate some cereal, corn flakes and milk, and he kept them down, which is an improvement.
He was alert, though, yes.
COSTELLO: How did he look to you?
ASHRAWI: Well, as I told you, I didn't see him, he was resting. I'll be going back in a couple of minutes, (UNINTELLIGIBLE). But I was assured by (UNINTELLIGIBLE) and the people who are with him that he is not as ill as he was yesterday, however, he is still weak and they still don't have a diagnosis, as to the nature of the illness.
They felt initially that it was just flu, intestinal flu, or stomach flu. And now he's had a relapse. He had a relapse a few days ago and people still don't know why. So we are still waiting on the medical verdict.
COSTELLO: We understand that Prime Minister Kuray (ph), called on Prime Minister Sharon earlier today and asked if Yasser Arafat could leave the compound for medical treatment. What can you tell us about that?
ASHRAWI: Well, I was told that nobody has asked the Israelis for anything. There were all sorts of Israeli statements that were volunteered, unilaterally, like everything else. Certainly, I talked to many different people and countries, including the American representatives and if there is any need, of course, the president should have total freedom of movement.
We believe (AUDIO GAP) result of these entirely unhealthy conditions he's living in. Under siege, without fresh air, without sunshine, without real exercise, so it makes him susceptible to picking up any virus or bug that is around.
COSTELLO: Tell our viewers why Mr. Arafat is afraid to leave his compound, event to seek medical treatment.
ASHRAWI: He's not afraid to leave his compound. He's being held prisoner in his compound. First of all, most of it has been shelled and destroyed. He's living whatever remains from the compound. Two, the Israelis said that if he leaves there is not guarantee that he should come back to the compound.
And they will search it and they will arrest people that are there. So he feels responsible. If he leaves the compound then they will arrest the people who are with him. They will search it, take away his papers and such. And they will not allow him to return. This is something that President Arafat does not want to do. He wants to be assured of his own freedom and of the safety of not just himself and his close people but all the ones who are with him in the compound.
COSTELLO: From what we understand, though, the Israeli prime minister has said that Yasser Arafat can leave the compound to seek medical treatment.
ASHRAWI: Yes, well, we've heard that via the news media. His spokespeople are saying there is no guarantee that he should be able to come back. Now we feel that this high-handed manor and attempt at humiliating the president and keeping him under siege and needing permission from the Israelis, something that has contributed to the latest hostilities and distress.
Because of the attitude of the occupation this humiliation is seen by the Palestinian people as a national humiliation. And they think that it is the president's right to be free. He was duly elected by the Palestinian people. He has legitimacy and nobody (AUDIO GAP)
COSTELLO: I believe we have lost the connection with Palestinian Cabinet Minister Thanan Ashwari, but we do thank her for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Again, Yasser Arafat was able to eat breakfast this morning. He joined in morning prayers, but he is still gravely ill. We'll continue to update you on his condition throughout the morning. And also, in the next hour, we will speak to Ranan Giffin (ph), the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's senior advisor.
In the meantime, click on our Web site for more on Arafat's condition, including a clip of what the chief Palestinian negotiator has to say about his boss. The address, of course, CNN.com.
Millions of new voters have registered to vote, but will they actually show up at the polls on Tuesday? In four minutes, how they might help shape the outcome of this election, which gets us to our e- mail question of the morning. What is motivating so many voters to go to the polls, the early polls? What is going to motivate you? Send us your thoughts at Daybreak@CNN.com . That is Daybreak@CNN.com. And of course, we'll read some of your e-mails later on in the show.
And in seven minutes, awareness while under anesthesia? It is a rare occurrence. But what do you do when the unthinkable becomes reality?
Now here is a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Both Republican and Democratic supporters have each spent millions to register new voters. Democrats scored in key battleground states. For example, in Ohio nearly three quarters of a million people have been registered as new voters. In Florida and Pennsylvania Democratic registration drives have swelled rolls to record levels. But they are wildcards. They allegiances are uncertain.
So the fundamental question remains, will they even bother to vote?
Which brings us to our e-mail question of the day: What is motivating voters to go to the polls? Because you know some states, like Georgia, have early voting. Some people waited four hours in line to vote. That is how many people turned out to vote early.
So there is an enormous interest in this presidential election, in fact, many states are predicting 72 percent voter turn out, which could out do the record turn out in 1992.
I want to read some of your e-mails right now. This is from Sharon, out of Florida.
She says: "The game of politics is a real turn off with all the mudslinging, but I've had enough and my vote may make a difference. When I hear the talk of all the jobs that Bush has lost and economy and such it makes me want to vote now.
President Bush has done an excellent job bringing us out of that and I would never trust the future of my son in Iraq with John Kerry."
This is from Shreveport, Louisiana, from C. Renieri (ph). "More people are turning out to vote due to a nationwide sense of urgency. Americans are realizing en masse that in a democratic society every vote really does count."
This is from Dan in Naples, Florida, "I voted for every Republican presidential candidate since Nixon, but I have to vote for Kerry this time. I'm a teacher who got left behind. This president isn't competent to hold office."
This is from Bill. He says, "I'm going to the polls to get some exercise. I will write in, none of the above. And mark that blank. There are issues I will vote on, but for president, there is no one running I consider competent to be president."
Keep the e-mails coming. Daybreak@CNN.com. For news, money, weather and sports, it is 5:47 Eastern. Here's what is all new this morning.
In the West Bank, a source close to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat tells CNN his condition has improved this morning. The source says Arafat left his bed to take part in early morning prayers. He's been ill for two weeks.
In money news, it is a bull's eye for the nations capitol, Washington has struck a deal with Target for a store in a Northwest neighborhood. Target expects to break ground in the spring and will open in late 2007. And if you live in Northwest Washington, oh, you know how exciting that really is.
In culture, you remember this image well, I'm sure you do. It is the award-winning poster art of "E.T., The Extraterrestrial". Created for the film in, what year? 1982. Goes up for auction December 10 and is expected to fetch up to $150,000.
Sports, it was a long time in coming but the Boston Red Sox are World Series champions. The Sox beat the Cardinals 3 to nothing, to sweep the Series. It is Boston's first World Series title in 86 years.
(WEATHER FORECAST)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you. Now, to health headlines. We have some for you this morning.
A new study finds sleepy interns are committing serious mistakes. And it is because they are forced to work more than 80 hours per week. We are talking about doctors, as in interns. The study suggests the U.S. medical community has been slow to tackle sleep deprivation in its doctors in training.
A federal judge has barred the U.S. military from forcing troops to take anthrax vaccines. The military either has to get informed consent from the troops or get a special order from President Bush to give the shot. It has already been to about a million troops and many who have refused have been punished.
Here's another reason to drink red wine. Spanish scientists have found that red wine may protect against cancer while, white wine may increase the risk. The scientists examined the effects of different types of wine on lung cancer.
For more on this or any other health story, head to our Web site, the address, CNN.com/health.
Seems the dreaded curse of the Bambino has been swept away. Coming up, from cursed to first, we'll have more on Boston's very sweet victory.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) COSTELLO: Even if you don't know the Red Sox from sweat socks, chances are good this year's World Series had you glued to your TV set. Under a full lunar eclipse, the Boston Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-game sweep. Tens of thousands stunned Red Sox fans poured through the streets of Boston, almost hesitant to believe that the 86-year-old curse against them has been broken.
The Red Sox last won a World Series in 1918. All that curse talk started when the Red Sox sold the legendary Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. But let's talk about the long comeback with WEEI Sports Announcer Jon Wallach, he's in Boston this morning.
Good morning, Jon.
JON WALLACH, SPORTS ANNOUNCER, WEEI 850 AM, SPORTS RADIO: Good morning.
COSTELLO: So are you still celebrating?
WALLACH: Yes, along with the rest of my Red Sox brethren. None of us have been to sleep yet.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: So, when that little grounder, you know, the last out of the game, how did it feel?
WALLACH: I think I speak for everyone when I say that I don't believe that we all believed that it was actually going to happen until the ballgame was actually over. The Red Sox franchise has lost so many times in some many horrific ways that we all were waiting for the Red Sox to blow it somehow before they actually finished it off and won it.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: I'm sure many fans echo that sentiment. So, was there really any such thing as the curse?
WALLACH: I don't think so. I think ultimately when you get right down to it the reason the Red Sox lost a lot of games was because they didn't have enough pitching. Pitching wins ballgames in the majors. Ultimately when they played World Series games they played against teams that were better than them. And that is ultimately whey they lost.
Yes, there is a ball going through Buckner's (ph) legs, but the game was already tied at that point. Even if Buckner makes that play, the Red Sox still have to keep going against the Mets and World Series in 1946, in '75, and '86, they played against teams that had won well over 100 games. And the Red Sox were considered the underdogs going in, to begin with.
COSTELLO: A last thought, before you have to go, this is a quote from a Boston fan. He says, "When you loose, you can always talk about, what-if, what-if. That makes for good intellectual conversation. You don't have that when you win. I'm not sure what we're going to talk about now."
WALLACH: You know, after last night's game I turned to someone next to me and asked her how she felt and she looked at me and said, "You know what? The world has changed. Things will never be the same from now on." And she's right.
Somehow waking up this morning nothing is the same as it was yesterday when we all went to bed. And it is quite amazing.
COSTELLO: It is. Jon Wallach from WEEI. Thanks for joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Let's head live to Boston now, because the Boston Red Sox are expected, I think they landed at Logan and they are going to go down to Fenway, maybe in an hour or two. But let's find out from Dina Falco from WFSB. She is live from near Fenway Park.
Describe what is going on down there now.
DINA FALCO, REPORTER, WFSB: It is absolutely crazy. Although the fans are a little bit subdued as they wait for the team bus to arrive, in about an hour. But if you can't believe your eyes and ears, here is the proof, on the cover of the "Boston Herald". "Sox Shock The World", with David Ortiz and Curt Schilling on the cover.
It has been some night. Let's take a look at some of the video that we shot here, around Fenway Park as thousands of fans swarm the streets around here. It was an absolute crazy, crazy scene. They popped the cork on the sweetest of celebrations, a World Series championship for the first time in 86 years.
"Hail to this hollowed ground", they said, Home of the oldest ballpark in the country. And now home to the newest world champions.
And if you take a look, inside Fenway Park, you can see that already they have the new writing on the big screen. It does say, "Welcome home 2004 World Champions".
And we are expecting the team to arrive between 7 and 8 a.m. this morning. Just minutes ago, behind me, the first bus did pull in and we are told that team owner John Henry was on that bus. And you can imagine these fans are going to go crazy when the team comes by here. And we will be waiting for their arrival as well.
COSTELLO: You are not kidding. And you know, we know that the police have had some trouble with massive crowds celebrating. So how are they keeping the staff safe and how will they keep the players safe?
FALCO: Well, I don't think keeping the player safe will be an issue. They do have guardrails up here. And these Sox fans love their players. Although they may want to celebrate, and occasionally throw bottles, they were very tame last night. Police are very happy with the way they controlled the crowd.
I don't think protecting the players will be an issue. I think they are going to want to get as close to them as they can. And they do have guardrails up, so...
COSTELLO: All right, Dina Falco. Congratulations. We're happy for you.
FALCO: Thank you. We're happy to be here.
COSTELLO: I'm sure. We're going to take a short break. We'll be back with much more on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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