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CNN Live At Daybreak

Intelligence Reform; 'Hot Topics'; Holiday Bling

Aired November 29, 2004 - 06:32   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.


BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning, and thanks for waking up with us on this Monday. I'm Betty Nguyen. There's a lot going on this morning, so let's check the headlines.
A charter jet crash in Colorado leaves NBC's sports chief Dick Ebersol seriously injured, along with one of his sons. Denver's KUSA- TV reports another son, who is 14, is still missing. That crash killed two people.

Patience is key for many travelers trying to get back home after the Thanksgiving holiday. Weather delays frustrated travelers on the West Coast, the Plains and the East Coast.

A recount starts today in Alabama on a ballot measure that voters narrowly rejected this month. The measure would have erased segregation-era language from the state constitution. Officials don't expect the recount to change the results.

In Texas, jury selection starts today in the first trial stemming from the nation's deadliest human smuggling attempt. Three people are accused in the deaths of 19 immigrants. They were found locked in a trailer last year. The temperature inside that was more than 170 degrees.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: The 14-year-old son of NBC's sports chairman Dick Ebersol is still missing following the crash of a chartered jet plane Sunday at an airport in southwestern Colorado. Ebersol and another of his sons are among three people injured in that crash, and two people aboard were killed when the plane went down on takeoff.

CNN's Sean Callebs is covering this story in Colorado.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is freezing out here. I mean, it is very cold. It's not single digits, but it has to be in the teens. The snow has been blowing all night.

As you said, it's about 185 miles southwest of Denver. That's probably as the crow flies, but getting here is very difficult. You have to do down to Grand Junction, then down another 70 miles. So, it's probably closer to 300 miles as you drive. It is very much off the beaten path.

So, it's very difficult to say if -- it would be very difficult for anybody to survive these conditions, especially after a crash. This certainly has to be a heart-wrenching moment for the Ebersol family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Chuck Distel, an eyewitness to the Ebersol plane crash, will be a guest in the second hour of CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." That comes your way about two hours from now.

Is intelligence reform dead for this session of Congress? Well, some in Washington think it can be revived.

But Elaine Quijano reports from the White House that the hurdles are high and difficult to clear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Democrats and Republicans are sounding the same warning what could happen if Congress doesn't approve intelligence reform legislation soon.

THOMAS KEAN, CHAIRMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: This bill will pass. The question is whether it will pass now or after a second attack.

SEN. BARBARA BOX (D), CALIFORNIA: I agree with the two chairman of the 9/11 Commission. If we don't do this now, we're going to really face the music.

QUIJANO: Even though there are enough votes in the House to pass the legislation now, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert won't allow the bill to come to a vote because of some strong opposition within his own party.

Duncan Hunter, head of the Armed Services Committee, whose son served in Iraq, speaks for Republicans who say the bill doesn't preserve the chain of command needed to keep intelligence flowing quickly to front-line troops.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: When the Department of Defense has to have a satellite over Falluja, for example, because they've got people being shot at on the ground -- they need to know where the enemy is -- you have to be able to control that agency.

QUIJANO: Top military leaders agree, saying the Pentagon, not a new national intelligence director, should keep control of satellite and communications programs.

But other lawmakers say U.S. troops on the battlefield will get what they need.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: Every bill that we have proposed preserves that tactical intelligence.

QUIJANO: Another leading holdout, Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner, wants to bar states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: And until we are able to make sure that driver's licenses are given only to people who are lawfully present in the United States, America is still at greater risk.

QUIJANO: The 9/11 Commission's vice chair says the risk is not passing reforms now.

LEE HAMILTON, VICE CHAIRMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: I know the attention has been on the intelligence and the immigration provisions. They're important provisions, but there are scores, if not hundreds, of provisions here, which strengthen the counterterrorism efforts of the United States.

QUIJANO (on camera): Democrats complain that the president, who has said he will sign the bill, has not put enough pressure on Republican holdouts. And the White House says the president has made it clear he wants the legislation to pass as quickly as possible. And officials say the president will continue working closely with Congress to make that happen.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So, when will the American people see any changes in the nation's intelligence services?

Joining us now from Washington is Vaughn Ververs, editor of "The National Journal's" "Hotline."

Good morning to you.

VAUGHN VERVERS, EDITOR, "THE HOTLINE": Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Lawmakers got a long holiday weekend to think about this. Are they any closer, in your opinion, to coming to a decision on whether they're going to pass this bill?

VERVERS: Well, it certainly seems as though over the weekend the battle lines were drawn even a little deeper with the arguments made by the two House chairmen, who were trying to stop this bill over the weekend. And then on the other side, you've got sort of -- you have Tom Kean and Mr. Hamilton, as you saw in that package, come out.

And this is set up like a classic Washington battle between people, just the good of -- what's perceived to be the good of the nation, the good argument of the 9/11 Commission, sort of the power that they have at this point, and the entrenched power in Washington. And there are a lot of people in this city, especially over at the Pentagon, who do not want to see this bill passed because it would take away a lot of their power and a lot of their money, frankly.

NGUYEN: Vaughn, you mentioned the chairman of the 9/11 Commission and what he had to say. We have a sound bite for him. This is what he said over the weekend about this stalled bill. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEAN: We know there's another attack coming. You and I can't say if it's next week or six months from now when it's coming. So, it's six months when none of these things will happen -- not better security to borders, not more help for local people. Nothing. Nothing. And I don't think we can wait that long, and I think it does, in a sense, risk lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: In a bill so comprehensive, can you just pass it and work out the kinks later? Is there a fear that those kinks won't ever be worked out?

VERVERS: Well, the argument, and especially on the immigration part of what Jim Sensenbrenner was talking about, the argument that proponents of this bill are saying is that let's just pass this as it is now. We can bring that up as a separate issue later. We can debate it all year if we need to, but let's get this bill passed now.

The political calculation for the Republicans has to be, do they want to stop this bill, potentially handing Democrats a big, hefty club to beat them with over the next several months and even going into the next election cycle? Or do they want to sort of try to get this over with now and get some promises to get some of these other things done later?

I think that's the calculation the Republicans are going to have to make, and the White House is going to have to decide whether they're going to really put the capital that the president earned during the election on the line here and to really fight within his own party to get this thing hammered through next week.

NGUYEN: Yes, to see if he has enough capital to save this bill. All right, Vaughn Ververs, editor of "The National Journal's" "Hotline," thank you for your insight this morning.

Well, looking ahead now to some of the big news that we are keeping our eye on this week.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on medical marijuana. Justices will decide if the federal law that bans marijuana possession can be enforced in 10 states.

Tomorrow, arguments begin in the penalty phase of Scott Peterson's double-murder conviction. Jurors, who found Peterson guilty of killing his wife and unborn son, must decide if he should be executed.

Wednesday night, NBC's Tom Brokaw bids farewell to the nightly news. He'll still be with the network. Brokaw says he is signed up to contribute three documentaries a year.

And Thursday, a United Nations panel is expected to recommend that the Security Council be enlarged from 15 to 24 members. It would be the first overhaul of the world body since 1963.

From rare crystal to race cars. Ahead, we'll take you to Rodeo Drive, where there are holiday gift options galore as long as your pockets are deep enough.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We have your news, money, weather and sports. The time right now is 6:44 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol is one of three people hurt in a crash of a private plane in Colorado. The pilot and co-pilot died in that crash.

An Oklahoma City newspaper says Terry Nichols admitted helping gather materials and assemble the bomb that killed 168 people at the federal building nine years ago. He's now serving life without parole. As you remember, Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001 for the crime.

In money, Wal-Mart reports a decline in customer traffic. So, the No. 1 retailer has lowered its November sales forecasts. Instead of a 2 to 4 percent increase this month, Wal-Mart expects less than 1 percent.

In culture, "National Treasure" strikes gold at the box office. The Nicolas Cage adventure was No. 1 for a second weekend. Preliminary estimates show it brought in $33 million.

And in sports, the Raiders come from behind late in the game to beat the Broncos by 1 point on a snowy night in Denver. Kerry Collins threw three five touchdown passes for Oakland, three of them to Jerry Porter. Oh, just look at that!

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: For the people on your Christmas list that you are just dying to impress...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to state that you can go faster, but I guarantee you that it will make you look a lot better on the waves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: ... we've got a $5,000 surfboard and a lot more holiday bling-bling to show you. So stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's time now to check in with Miles and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

S. O'BRIEN: Some of the headlines that we're taking a look at on this "AMERICAN MORNING," that plane crash in Colorado. The head of NBC sports, Dick Ebersol, hurt, at least two others, though, killed. We're going to talk to a man this morning who witnessed the crash. And, of course, Dick Ebersol's son, Teddy, who is 14 years old, is missing at this hour.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, in Alabama, the story is segregation. Voters kept segregation on the books. There's a recount under way. But why some people say it's about money, not necessarily racism. We'll look at both sides of that issue.

S. O'BRIEN: Also, the cheating gene. Could infidelity be genetic? Yet another excuse, right? We're going to talk to Dr. Gupta this morning with that and much, much more. That's all ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING." We'll see you in just a few minutes.

NGUYEN: Genetic, yes, right!

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, right.

NGUYEN: And we're believing that one. OK.

S. O'BRIEN: What else do you got?

M. O'BRIEN: It supposedly only affects women (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NGUYEN: Sticking up for the men there, Miles. All right. Thank you both.

M. O'BRIEN: No, no.

NGUYEN: 'Tis the season to be shopping. And if that's what you do best, world famous Rodeo Drive offers quite a few suggestions just to help you out.

CNN's Miguel Marquez shows us what's hot on the list of holiday bling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Beverly Hills...

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's where the high end meets the higher end. At its heart, Rodeo Drive, with its decadent decorations, crystal chandeliers hanging like street lights, Beverly Hills is retail nirvana.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to head over there and do some damage over there.

MICHAEL ROBINSON, BEVERLY HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Beverly Hills has a reputation for the bling, bling. So we aren't going to run away from that. We're embracing it.

MARQUEZ: The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce is embracing bling with a top-10 gift list.

ROBINSON: You have to find it only in Beverly Hills.

MARQUEZ: On the list, a $5,000 Ferrari surfboard made to order by the Italian sports car manufacturer.

PETER PAYONE, CO-OWNER, DECRET: We don't state that you can go faster, but I guarantee it'll make you look a lot better on the waves.

MARQUEZ: On the list, low-end, high-calories cookies and cream cake filled with an orgy of caramel, marshmallow, chocolate and fudge. On a list high-end, a one-of-a-kind reproduction of a 100-year- old Russian candelabra, 13 feet of Bacara (ph) crystal for $1.6 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In a beautiful entry, it would be magnificent.

MARQUEZ: So exclusive it's not on the list and shown only by appointment: a naturally-pink diamond, 10.3 million carats for two million bucks.

(on camera): If you really want to show your love or just impress somebody a lot, you can always buy them a Ferrari 360 Spider for $245,000.

(voice-over): The 400-horsepower, eight-cylinder engine is for those who need to get from zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds. You can get one at Beverly Hills Classic Cars, of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, welcome to Beverly Hills.

MARQUEZ: To help you find the perfect gift or just the right lunch spots is the latest in shopping overdrive, the holiday concierge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I shall refer all of our fabulous shoppers.

MARQUEZ: She does her referring while rolling down Rodeo Drive on a Segue, which is, of course, for sale.

(on camera): For 4,500 bucks, you can always get a Segue!

ROSEANNE BARR, CELEBRITY: I think this thing that you don't have to move your ass one inch is, like, awesome.

MARQUEZ: So Roseanne Barr wants a Segue, but she wants something else even more.

BARR: Having people that love you and care about you is the best gift at all. And it doesn't cost a dime.

MARQUEZ: Happy holidays and have a great time.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Beverly Hills, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Yes, that may be the best gift, but I do like the car.

Well, up next, how much do those 12 days of Christmas really cost anyway? This is DAYBREAK for Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The Hollywood Christmas parade seemed to be missing something this year. We're talking about star power. Organizers say in bygone years the annual parade attracted Tinseltown's biggest names like Jimmy Stewart and Bob Hope. But organizers say today's stars, well, they'd rather hop on a jet to Miami or ski the slopes.

Well, just who hasn't heard the song "12 Days of Christmas?" Maybe we'll sing?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We could.

NGUYEN: But have you ever wondered how much it actually costs to buy your true love the songs on the -- the items on those songs?

MARCIANO: The drummers drumming, we're going to find out how much that costs. According to a Pittsburgh bank, it's $66,334.

NGUYEN: Yikes! Sixty-six thousand?

MARCIANO: For 12 drummers. What else? Nine ladies dancing, that's going to hit your wallet $4,400.

NGUYEN: All right.

MARCIANO: That's a lot of...

NGUYEN: What kind of ladies are we talking about and dancing where?

MARCIANO: Well, it's obviously a high-end joint, so leave your singles at home and bring at least fives and tens.

NGUYEN: All right, moving right along, on the other hand, maids a milking are at a bargain, just 41 bucks and 20 cents. And three French hens will cost you $45.

MARCIANO: This is from a Pittsburgh bank that does this little thing every year, just again just to make some fun.

NGUYEN: Yes, that's pretty interesting. I never thought of it that way. MARCIANO: Twelve day of Christmas starts on Christmas Day, ends on the epiphany. And after that, that's when Mardi Gras begins. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NGUYEN: Speaking from experience, I guess, huh?

Well, from the CNN center here in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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 November 29, 2004 - 06:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good morning, and thanks for waking up with us on this Monday. I'm Betty Nguyen. There's a lot going on this morning, so let's check the headlines.
A charter jet crash in Colorado leaves NBC's sports chief Dick Ebersol seriously injured, along with one of his sons. Denver's KUSA- TV reports another son, who is 14, is still missing. That crash killed two people.

Patience is key for many travelers trying to get back home after the Thanksgiving holiday. Weather delays frustrated travelers on the West Coast, the Plains and the East Coast.

A recount starts today in Alabama on a ballot measure that voters narrowly rejected this month. The measure would have erased segregation-era language from the state constitution. Officials don't expect the recount to change the results.

In Texas, jury selection starts today in the first trial stemming from the nation's deadliest human smuggling attempt. Three people are accused in the deaths of 19 immigrants. They were found locked in a trailer last year. The temperature inside that was more than 170 degrees.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: The 14-year-old son of NBC's sports chairman Dick Ebersol is still missing following the crash of a chartered jet plane Sunday at an airport in southwestern Colorado. Ebersol and another of his sons are among three people injured in that crash, and two people aboard were killed when the plane went down on takeoff.

CNN's Sean Callebs is covering this story in Colorado.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is freezing out here. I mean, it is very cold. It's not single digits, but it has to be in the teens. The snow has been blowing all night.

As you said, it's about 185 miles southwest of Denver. That's probably as the crow flies, but getting here is very difficult. You have to do down to Grand Junction, then down another 70 miles. So, it's probably closer to 300 miles as you drive. It is very much off the beaten path.

So, it's very difficult to say if -- it would be very difficult for anybody to survive these conditions, especially after a crash. This certainly has to be a heart-wrenching moment for the Ebersol family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Chuck Distel, an eyewitness to the Ebersol plane crash, will be a guest in the second hour of CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING." That comes your way about two hours from now.

Is intelligence reform dead for this session of Congress? Well, some in Washington think it can be revived.

But Elaine Quijano reports from the White House that the hurdles are high and difficult to clear.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Democrats and Republicans are sounding the same warning what could happen if Congress doesn't approve intelligence reform legislation soon.

THOMAS KEAN, CHAIRMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: This bill will pass. The question is whether it will pass now or after a second attack.

SEN. BARBARA BOX (D), CALIFORNIA: I agree with the two chairman of the 9/11 Commission. If we don't do this now, we're going to really face the music.

QUIJANO: Even though there are enough votes in the House to pass the legislation now, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert won't allow the bill to come to a vote because of some strong opposition within his own party.

Duncan Hunter, head of the Armed Services Committee, whose son served in Iraq, speaks for Republicans who say the bill doesn't preserve the chain of command needed to keep intelligence flowing quickly to front-line troops.

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), CALIFORNIA: When the Department of Defense has to have a satellite over Falluja, for example, because they've got people being shot at on the ground -- they need to know where the enemy is -- you have to be able to control that agency.

QUIJANO: Top military leaders agree, saying the Pentagon, not a new national intelligence director, should keep control of satellite and communications programs.

But other lawmakers say U.S. troops on the battlefield will get what they need.

SEN. PAT ROBERTS (R), KANSAS: Every bill that we have proposed preserves that tactical intelligence.

QUIJANO: Another leading holdout, Republican Congressman James Sensenbrenner, wants to bar states from issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. REP. JAMES SENSENBRENNER (R), WISCONSIN: And until we are able to make sure that driver's licenses are given only to people who are lawfully present in the United States, America is still at greater risk.

QUIJANO: The 9/11 Commission's vice chair says the risk is not passing reforms now.

LEE HAMILTON, VICE CHAIRMAN, 9/11 COMMISSION: I know the attention has been on the intelligence and the immigration provisions. They're important provisions, but there are scores, if not hundreds, of provisions here, which strengthen the counterterrorism efforts of the United States.

QUIJANO (on camera): Democrats complain that the president, who has said he will sign the bill, has not put enough pressure on Republican holdouts. And the White House says the president has made it clear he wants the legislation to pass as quickly as possible. And officials say the president will continue working closely with Congress to make that happen.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: So, when will the American people see any changes in the nation's intelligence services?

Joining us now from Washington is Vaughn Ververs, editor of "The National Journal's" "Hotline."

Good morning to you.

VAUGHN VERVERS, EDITOR, "THE HOTLINE": Good morning, Betty.

NGUYEN: Lawmakers got a long holiday weekend to think about this. Are they any closer, in your opinion, to coming to a decision on whether they're going to pass this bill?

VERVERS: Well, it certainly seems as though over the weekend the battle lines were drawn even a little deeper with the arguments made by the two House chairmen, who were trying to stop this bill over the weekend. And then on the other side, you've got sort of -- you have Tom Kean and Mr. Hamilton, as you saw in that package, come out.

And this is set up like a classic Washington battle between people, just the good of -- what's perceived to be the good of the nation, the good argument of the 9/11 Commission, sort of the power that they have at this point, and the entrenched power in Washington. And there are a lot of people in this city, especially over at the Pentagon, who do not want to see this bill passed because it would take away a lot of their power and a lot of their money, frankly.

NGUYEN: Vaughn, you mentioned the chairman of the 9/11 Commission and what he had to say. We have a sound bite for him. This is what he said over the weekend about this stalled bill. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEAN: We know there's another attack coming. You and I can't say if it's next week or six months from now when it's coming. So, it's six months when none of these things will happen -- not better security to borders, not more help for local people. Nothing. Nothing. And I don't think we can wait that long, and I think it does, in a sense, risk lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: In a bill so comprehensive, can you just pass it and work out the kinks later? Is there a fear that those kinks won't ever be worked out?

VERVERS: Well, the argument, and especially on the immigration part of what Jim Sensenbrenner was talking about, the argument that proponents of this bill are saying is that let's just pass this as it is now. We can bring that up as a separate issue later. We can debate it all year if we need to, but let's get this bill passed now.

The political calculation for the Republicans has to be, do they want to stop this bill, potentially handing Democrats a big, hefty club to beat them with over the next several months and even going into the next election cycle? Or do they want to sort of try to get this over with now and get some promises to get some of these other things done later?

I think that's the calculation the Republicans are going to have to make, and the White House is going to have to decide whether they're going to really put the capital that the president earned during the election on the line here and to really fight within his own party to get this thing hammered through next week.

NGUYEN: Yes, to see if he has enough capital to save this bill. All right, Vaughn Ververs, editor of "The National Journal's" "Hotline," thank you for your insight this morning.

Well, looking ahead now to some of the big news that we are keeping our eye on this week.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on medical marijuana. Justices will decide if the federal law that bans marijuana possession can be enforced in 10 states.

Tomorrow, arguments begin in the penalty phase of Scott Peterson's double-murder conviction. Jurors, who found Peterson guilty of killing his wife and unborn son, must decide if he should be executed.

Wednesday night, NBC's Tom Brokaw bids farewell to the nightly news. He'll still be with the network. Brokaw says he is signed up to contribute three documentaries a year.

And Thursday, a United Nations panel is expected to recommend that the Security Council be enlarged from 15 to 24 members. It would be the first overhaul of the world body since 1963.

From rare crystal to race cars. Ahead, we'll take you to Rodeo Drive, where there are holiday gift options galore as long as your pockets are deep enough.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: We have your news, money, weather and sports. The time right now is 6:44 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

NBC sports chairman Dick Ebersol is one of three people hurt in a crash of a private plane in Colorado. The pilot and co-pilot died in that crash.

An Oklahoma City newspaper says Terry Nichols admitted helping gather materials and assemble the bomb that killed 168 people at the federal building nine years ago. He's now serving life without parole. As you remember, Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001 for the crime.

In money, Wal-Mart reports a decline in customer traffic. So, the No. 1 retailer has lowered its November sales forecasts. Instead of a 2 to 4 percent increase this month, Wal-Mart expects less than 1 percent.

In culture, "National Treasure" strikes gold at the box office. The Nicolas Cage adventure was No. 1 for a second weekend. Preliminary estimates show it brought in $33 million.

And in sports, the Raiders come from behind late in the game to beat the Broncos by 1 point on a snowy night in Denver. Kerry Collins threw three five touchdown passes for Oakland, three of them to Jerry Porter. Oh, just look at that!

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: For the people on your Christmas list that you are just dying to impress...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to state that you can go faster, but I guarantee you that it will make you look a lot better on the waves.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: ... we've got a $5,000 surfboard and a lot more holiday bling-bling to show you. So stick around.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: It's time now to check in with Miles and Soledad for a look at what's coming up on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Good morning.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you.

MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning.

S. O'BRIEN: Some of the headlines that we're taking a look at on this "AMERICAN MORNING," that plane crash in Colorado. The head of NBC sports, Dick Ebersol, hurt, at least two others, though, killed. We're going to talk to a man this morning who witnessed the crash. And, of course, Dick Ebersol's son, Teddy, who is 14 years old, is missing at this hour.

M. O'BRIEN: All right, in Alabama, the story is segregation. Voters kept segregation on the books. There's a recount under way. But why some people say it's about money, not necessarily racism. We'll look at both sides of that issue.

S. O'BRIEN: Also, the cheating gene. Could infidelity be genetic? Yet another excuse, right? We're going to talk to Dr. Gupta this morning with that and much, much more. That's all ahead on this "AMERICAN MORNING." We'll see you in just a few minutes.

NGUYEN: Genetic, yes, right!

S. O'BRIEN: Yes, right.

NGUYEN: And we're believing that one. OK.

S. O'BRIEN: What else do you got?

M. O'BRIEN: It supposedly only affects women (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NGUYEN: Sticking up for the men there, Miles. All right. Thank you both.

M. O'BRIEN: No, no.

NGUYEN: 'Tis the season to be shopping. And if that's what you do best, world famous Rodeo Drive offers quite a few suggestions just to help you out.

CNN's Miguel Marquez shows us what's hot on the list of holiday bling.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Beverly Hills...

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's where the high end meets the higher end. At its heart, Rodeo Drive, with its decadent decorations, crystal chandeliers hanging like street lights, Beverly Hills is retail nirvana.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have to head over there and do some damage over there.

MICHAEL ROBINSON, BEVERLY HILLS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Beverly Hills has a reputation for the bling, bling. So we aren't going to run away from that. We're embracing it.

MARQUEZ: The Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce is embracing bling with a top-10 gift list.

ROBINSON: You have to find it only in Beverly Hills.

MARQUEZ: On the list, a $5,000 Ferrari surfboard made to order by the Italian sports car manufacturer.

PETER PAYONE, CO-OWNER, DECRET: We don't state that you can go faster, but I guarantee it'll make you look a lot better on the waves.

MARQUEZ: On the list, low-end, high-calories cookies and cream cake filled with an orgy of caramel, marshmallow, chocolate and fudge. On a list high-end, a one-of-a-kind reproduction of a 100-year- old Russian candelabra, 13 feet of Bacara (ph) crystal for $1.6 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In a beautiful entry, it would be magnificent.

MARQUEZ: So exclusive it's not on the list and shown only by appointment: a naturally-pink diamond, 10.3 million carats for two million bucks.

(on camera): If you really want to show your love or just impress somebody a lot, you can always buy them a Ferrari 360 Spider for $245,000.

(voice-over): The 400-horsepower, eight-cylinder engine is for those who need to get from zero to 60 in 4.6 seconds. You can get one at Beverly Hills Classic Cars, of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, welcome to Beverly Hills.

MARQUEZ: To help you find the perfect gift or just the right lunch spots is the latest in shopping overdrive, the holiday concierge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I shall refer all of our fabulous shoppers.

MARQUEZ: She does her referring while rolling down Rodeo Drive on a Segue, which is, of course, for sale.

(on camera): For 4,500 bucks, you can always get a Segue!

ROSEANNE BARR, CELEBRITY: I think this thing that you don't have to move your ass one inch is, like, awesome.

MARQUEZ: So Roseanne Barr wants a Segue, but she wants something else even more.

BARR: Having people that love you and care about you is the best gift at all. And it doesn't cost a dime.

MARQUEZ: Happy holidays and have a great time.

Miguel Marquez, CNN, Beverly Hills, California.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Yes, that may be the best gift, but I do like the car.

Well, up next, how much do those 12 days of Christmas really cost anyway? This is DAYBREAK for Monday morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The Hollywood Christmas parade seemed to be missing something this year. We're talking about star power. Organizers say in bygone years the annual parade attracted Tinseltown's biggest names like Jimmy Stewart and Bob Hope. But organizers say today's stars, well, they'd rather hop on a jet to Miami or ski the slopes.

Well, just who hasn't heard the song "12 Days of Christmas?" Maybe we'll sing?

ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: We could.

NGUYEN: But have you ever wondered how much it actually costs to buy your true love the songs on the -- the items on those songs?

MARCIANO: The drummers drumming, we're going to find out how much that costs. According to a Pittsburgh bank, it's $66,334.

NGUYEN: Yikes! Sixty-six thousand?

MARCIANO: For 12 drummers. What else? Nine ladies dancing, that's going to hit your wallet $4,400.

NGUYEN: All right.

MARCIANO: That's a lot of...

NGUYEN: What kind of ladies are we talking about and dancing where?

MARCIANO: Well, it's obviously a high-end joint, so leave your singles at home and bring at least fives and tens.

NGUYEN: All right, moving right along, on the other hand, maids a milking are at a bargain, just 41 bucks and 20 cents. And three French hens will cost you $45.

MARCIANO: This is from a Pittsburgh bank that does this little thing every year, just again just to make some fun.

NGUYEN: Yes, that's pretty interesting. I never thought of it that way. MARCIANO: Twelve day of Christmas starts on Christmas Day, ends on the epiphany. And after that, that's when Mardi Gras begins. (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

NGUYEN: Speaking from experience, I guess, huh?

Well, from the CNN center here in Atlanta, I'm Betty Nguyen. "AMERICAN MORNING" starts right now.

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