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CNN Live At Daybreak
The Ailing Pontiff; Did Bush Overcome Any of His Differences With European Allies?
Aired February 25, 2005 - 06:00 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: The ailing pontiff -- we're expecting an announcement live this hour on DAYBREAK.
Did Bush overcome any of his differences with European allies? A look at the president's trip through Europe.
And will the Oscars be rocked forever? The anticipation builds over the Academy Awards host.
And he writes the songs. A little Barry Manilow for you this morning as the Vegas strip welcomes its newest headliner.
It is Friday, February 25.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the Italian News Agency is reporting this morning that Pope John Paul is off his respirator and breathing on his own. It comes a day after doctors performed a tracheotomy. In the meantime, Catholics throughout the world are lighting candles and praying for their leader's recovery.
The support of an openly gay church leader is threatening again to split Episcopalians. At a meeting in Northern Ireland, members of U.S. and Canadian church groups were asked to leave a major church body.
A man angry over a child support dispute opens fire at a Tyler, Texas courthouse. He kills his ex-wife and a bystander and wounds four others. The gunman was eventually killed by police.
And coming through, it is a snowy morning in the Northeast. These are pictures from Connecticut. Residents across the Northeast are waking up to a winter storm warning. But it seems like the snow has stopped here in New York City -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It certainly has, Carol. It stopped a couple of hours ago. Still snowing, though, across parts of the Mass. Turnpike into Boston and Providence, even into the Cape Cod area. But that snow is about to end there, as well, and move quickly out to the ocean. (WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Carol, you were recently in Vegas, weren't you?
COSTELLO: I was.
MYERS: Talking to...
COSTELLO: And I was talking to Barry Manilow. And we're going to get you that report in a little bit. And he has a special message for you, as well.
MYERS: I can't wait.
COSTELLO: I'm sure.
Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Well, a bit of good news this morning. We are getting reports that Pope John Paul II is off the respirator and he is breathing on his own. A hospital update on the pope's condition is now expected just about 30 minutes from now, and we'll take you live to Rome for that.
More now on the pope, his illness and its implications from CNN's Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher.
And, actually, she's in Rome this morning -- good morning, Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Should we read anything into the fact that this update on the pope's condition was to come at 6:00, now it's coming at 6:30?
GALLAGHER: No, Carol. This is par for the course here at the Vatican. Times are never that precise. We have to go by when they are ready. Of course, doctors had to let enough time go by for the pope to get off the anesthesia, to have a few hours of rest, to ascertain exactly what is his state of help at the moment. They, then, talked to the papal spokesman, Navarro-Valls, who has to write up the official statement from the Vatican and he will deliver that momentarily -- Carol.
COSTELLO: If the pope has to keep that tracheotomy in, which would mean he probably cannot speak, many are wondering how effective he could be in the role he plays in the Catholic Church.
GALLAGHER: Well, that's one of the things we're waiting to see in the next few days because, of course, a tracheotomy can be temporary. So it can be taken out. And we understand that the voice can come back to its full capacity. Of course, the voice for the pope at this stage is one of his last instruments of communication, so it will be vital that he is able to get some sense of speaking back.
But that remains to be seen, Carol. That's a big open question at the moment.
COSTELLO: What are people saying in Rome this morning? Because the pope was making a good recovery, at least according to the Vatican. And now he winds up back in the hospital.
GALLAGHER: Yes, it was a big surprise to everybody, because, of course, we saw him in the intervening two weeks from when he last checked out of the hospital, and he seemed quite good. His voice was very strong. So it was a real surprise that he had this relapse of the flu.
However, medical experts say that that's not such a strange thing in a man of his age and his condition. Then the tracheotomy came and so there was a state of alarm, but now that's much calmer this morning, especially after the Italian wires reporting, as you say, that he's breathing on his own.
COSTELLO: Delia Gallagher live in Rome this morning.
Thank you.
As Delia said, the pope is 84-years-old. And he has a number of chronic health problems. So his return to the hospital really is not all that surprising.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with more on the pontiff's health history.
But let's start first with this idea that he is off the respirator. That is good news.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Of course, that's good news. The respirator is a machine that basically breathes for you, makes your chest rise and fall. So it's good news that he is no longer on that.
However, he still has the tracheotomy in place, as far as we know. And that's an incision that's made at the base of the neck just a bit above the collarbone and then allows the air to go in and out.
You can see here, we have an animation that shows, it's put in there. It goes right to the windpipe so that the air can go directly to the windpipe so that if there's any inflammation or obstruction, this basically goes around it so that air can go directly in.
COSTELLO: Well, let me ask you this question before you go on. Everybody's worried that he has pneumonia.
That he's been taken off the respirator, does that mean positive things, that he may not have pneumonia?
COHEN: It means positive things. I mean it's a good thing when someone comes off of a respirator. It means that they are able to breathe without the help of a respirator.
COSTELLO: Right. COHEN: It doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have pneumonia. The big concern about the flu with elderly people is are they going to get some kind of a bacterial infection, are they going to get pneumonia? And that's really, some people say it's not the flu that really hurts someone who's old, it's the pneumonia that follows the flu that can really do the damage.
So it doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have pneumonia, but they haven't told us if he does. So there's all sorts of questions. Another question is how advanced is the Parkinson's? When people really have bad Parkinson's, it impedes their ability to control their muscles, such as the muscles that regulate breathing. So is that part of what's going on? You sort of have to do a lot of guessing.
COSTELLO: Yes.
And because the pope has many health ailments and has had many health ailments in the past, that makes it more difficult, perhaps, for him to fight this.
COHEN: That's right. He has had many health ailments. I mean you can begin, you know, go way back to when he was shot and had to recover from that. Or, for example, in 1996, he was hospitalized to remove an inflamed appendix. And then in -- he also had to cancel a general audience due to intestinal problems and the fever also that year. In 1995, he had to cut his Christmas mass short due to fever and nausea and the flu. In 1994, he fell and broke his leg and had to have hip replacement surgery. In '93, a dislocated right shoulder, also another surgery. In '92, a benign tumor removed on that colon.
So -- and then in '81, that was when he was shot and he had to spend 20 days in the hospital and have surgeries. And then in '81, he had an infection due to injuries that were sustained in that assassination attempt and then he had an operation that year.
So...
COSTELLO: Wow!
COHEN: He's had a -- it is wow! It is a long list of things that he has survived and done well on.
COSTELLO: OK, we'll see what happens. Hopefully that update on his condition will come out at 6:30 Eastern.
COHEN: That's right.
COSTELLO: We're hoping so.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
In other news across America now, Jerry Falwell's son says his father could be released from the hospital as early as this weekend. The elder Falwell entered a Lynchburg, Virginia hospital on Sunday with pneumonia. His son says the reverend has had a rough time but is recovering.
The Golden Gate Bridge may be getting a special suicide fence. Officials that run the bridge voted to develop a funding plan for a barrier to be built along the edges of that famous structure. An average of 20 people jump off the bridge every year, including four already this year.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann says he is considering a run for governor. The Hall of Famer has already formed a campaign committee for a possible run as a Republican next year. Swann is currently chairman of the president's Council On Physical Fitness, which was the same position held by Arnold Schwarzenegger under the first President Bush.
Back to our top story now.
We are awaiting word of that live update from the Vatican on the condition of Pope John Paul II. And, of course, we'll take you live when that happens.
And the president is back on American soil. We'll see if he accomplished all the goals he set out for this week.
And later, feel like you know more about the host than the nominees? We'll tell you why when our look at the Oscars continues this morning.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, a big week for the president comes to an end. Was the worldwide trip worth it?
And here's some Oscar trivia. This year's best picture nominees sold fewer tickets combined than last year's big winner, "The Lord of the Rings." Now, the question is will the big flicks pay off on the small screen Sunday night?
DAYBREAK back in a minute.
COSTELLO: President Bush got in late last night from his trip to Europe. It was widely described as a fence mending visit with European leaders to heal rifts caused by the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Well, what did the president's trip achieve?
Stan Crock is the chief diplomatic correspondent for "Business Week" magazine.
He joins us live from our Washington bureau.
Good morning, Stan.
STAN CROCK, "BUSINESS WEEK": Good morning. COSTELLO: Well, let's start in order. Let's start with France, because he sat down with Jacques Chirac, had lunch with him and from that event everybody remembers this sound bite.
Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Now, President Bush, if, indeed, relations have improved, if, indeed, they are better between France and the United States, are they good enough as yet for that to warrant an invitation to President Chirac to go to the United States and even to your ranch?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm looking for a good cowboy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It seemed like a sincere, warm moment.
CROCK: I think there has been definitely a change in style, if not necessarily a change in substance. I think the administration is learning to be -- to disagree without being disagreeable. And that has significance but it doesn't alter the fact that fundamental differences do remain between the way the Europeans views the world and certain specific issues and the way the United States does.
COSTELLO: But, Stan, now the Iraqi elections have gone off, and they seemingly went very well, might Europe now be thinking maybe George Bush was right?
CROCK: Not necessarily. There were no weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi people still face violence every day. The U.S. troops do, the Iraqi troops do.
The question really was whether it had to be done when it was in the way it was. There was no imminent threat.
The United States, on the other hand, would argue that Saddam Hussein is gone and there has been an election. Both sides believe that they were right.
COSTELLO: Let's take a look at Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder with Bush, because, you know, for many months, the two men did not even speak. Yet here they were talking. They held a joint news conference.
Your assessment of President Bush's conversations with Gerhardt Schroeder?
CROCK: They went very well. The relationship with the Germans actually has improved fairly rapidly. And it was not just this visit, but for the last couple of years. The Germans have made a very concerted effort not to be in the same position as France was vis-a- vis the United States. COSTELLO: Let's take a look at the president's time in Slovakia because a very dramatic moment where these thousands of people in the audience listening as President Bush spoke of democracy in Slovakia and now this spreading democracy across the Middle East, at least that's what he hopes to achieve.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Thank you, all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Stan?
CROCK: Yes?
COSTELLO: I just wondered your assessment of this event.
CROCK: OK. I thought we were going to hear a little bit of what the president was saying.
It was a very successful event. The administration is very good at managing expectations. And there had been a lot of expectation that there would be a very tense meeting with President Putin of Russia. And it was not as tense as people had believed, which suggested that they bettered expectations.
Nevertheless, the meeting with Putin did highlight some of the tensions between some of the policy goals that the administration has. In that instance, it was the spread of democracy and this concern that there's backsliding in Russia versus the fight on terrorism. And that's some of the same tension that exists with Iran policy and how we differ from the Europeans. Regime change may be at odds with reducing nuclear weapons programs, because the more we talk about regime change and the spread of democracy, the less incentive the Iranians and the North Koreans have for getting rid of the nuclear programs.
COSTELLO: So, in essence, what happened during this trip is no minds were changed, but there are perhaps warmer relationships between the leaders of these countries and President Bush?
CROCK: The atmosphere definitely has improved.
COSTELLO: Stan Croft, the chief diplomatic correspondent for "Business Week" magazine, joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Thank you.
CROCK: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:17 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning. The pope's condition may be improving. Reports out of Rome say the 84-year-old pontiff no longer needs a respirator to help him breathe. An official update on the pope is expected in just about 15 minutes.
The Discovery crew is getting ready for their return to space. But Commander Eileen Collins says more testing is needed on the in- flight techniques they'll use if there is another problem like Columbia. The Discovery mission is scheduled to blast off in mid-May.
In money, no Big Apple Wal-Mart any time soon. New York developers have scrapped plans to build the city's first Wal-Mart. They were swamped by opposition from labor unions, small businesses and residents.
In culture, noted director Quentin Tarantino is taking a turn on the small screen. Tarantino has signed on to direct the season finale of the CBS drama "CSI." Producers say Tarantino also came up with the story line for the May 19 episode.
In sports, Tiger Woods easily won the first round contest of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Woods joins other top seeds like V.J. Singh and Phil Mickelson in the second round -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines this morning.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, see who's making a beautiful comeback at the Academy Awards this Sunday.
And we're not trying to make you feel your years, but it's been 33 years since Barry Manilow played Carnegie Hall with Bette Midler. Now he calls himself the perfect hit for another stage.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Between a rock and a hard place -- that's where Academy Awards producers might find themselves on Sunday night. Comedian Chris Rock has been making waves and headlines since the announcement that he would be the host for the 77th annual awards show. But is it much ado about nothing?
CNN's A.J. Hammer of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on Headline Prime joins me now -- thanks for coming in.
A.J. HAMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure.
COSTELLO: So let's start with a controversial statement, shall we? Apparently Chris Rock said this some time ago. He said: "Come on," -- the Oscars -- "it's a fashion show. No one performs. It's not like a music show. What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one." HAMMER: Right. Well, you know, as we spoke to Gil Cates, who's the producer of the Oscars, who is responsible for Chris Rock being there. And as Chris said, Gil said Chris is just being Chris. And he's making jokes, because that's what he does. Yes, he's a little more controversial. Yes, people aren't accustomed to him playing to a mainstream audience. But I think they know exactly what they're getting themselves into.
COSTELLO: Yes, but Chris Rock was sort of digging himself out a little bit on the Jay Leno show.
HAMMER: Sure.
COSTELLO: Let's listen to that.
HAMMER: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
CHRIS ROCK, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: I was quoted in the magazine as saying only gay people watch the Oscars.
JAY LENO, HOST: Right.
ROCK: I did not say that. I said only gay people watch the Tonys.
LENO: Oh, that's good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So what was that? Was that a mea culpa, sort of, or...
HAMMER: Well, I don't think it was quite that. You know, as you mentioned a little earlier, this has been one of the lowest grossing years for the best picture nominees. The interest level is already low. The Oscar tune out has been happening year after year and the audience has been eroding.
So I think, you know, I think they're enjoying this publicity. I mean the combined gross of the best picture nominees is less than $100 million. It's been like 20 years since that was the case.
COSTELLO: And I think it's not just because the host has been less than entertaining, but, you know, the stars, they dress in these perfect outfits now.
HAMMER: Right.
COSTELLO: And some say that people actually miss the horrible outfits, because there really isn't anything interesting to see.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, and, that and they're saying that Chris Rock is not one of them, you know? So he shouldn't be allowed to show up and do this award. There are still a lot of older members of the Academy who think this is a bad idea. And, you know, the audience has been a predominantly older audience. That's true. But, you know, they had to try something.
They've been asking Chris to do this for years. Why he chose this year is still sort of uncertain.
COSTELLO: He probably needed the money. No, I'm just kidding.
HAMMER: I doubt that.
COSTELLO: You did a poll on your show for people.
HAMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: What did they say about Chris Rock hosting the Oscars?
HAMMER: Well, every naught on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" we do a hot button issue. We do a viewer poll. And I was a little surprised that it was sort of down the middle. It was running neck and neck all night where 55 percent of the viewers who voted said -- and obviously it's very unscientific -- but they said yes, Chris Rock is the right choice. Forty-five percent said no. So the split wasn't -- the margins weren't as wide as I thought.
Do we have one second for a quick note from...
COSTELLO: Sure.
HAMMER: ... one of our viewers, Keisha (ph) in Washington, D.C. believes that Chris Rock is an excellent person to host the Oscars because he reaches a diverse audience and that he's politically astute, appealing to all, young and old viewers.
And somebody else questioned why did nobody question the antics of Billy Crystal when he did the segment where he was nude?
I don't remember him being nude.
And somebody said he's inappropriate for the Oscars for three reasons -- one, because he doesn't appreciate how talented these actors are; two, he should remain unbiased and, you know, he's walking around saying well, Jamie Foxx should win, I'm hosting the Oscars, Jamie Foxx should win; and he's going to be insulting the viewers.
I think people are underestimating the fact that he can work clean.
COSTELLO: Well, and it's sort of refreshing because, you know, they're Hollywood movie stars. They ain't all that.
HAMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: You know?
HAMMER: Yes, and I don't think this is going to hurt tune in at all. The question is will it keep the audience? That remains to be seen. Do they ever keep the audience until the end of the 10-hour prediction?
COSTELLO: Well, we'll see after this weekend.
A.J. Hammer, thank you for joining us.
HAMMER: Sure.
COSTELLO: CNN will be live at the Kodak Theater in the heart of Hollywood for the 77th Academy Awards. Join Sibila Vargas and Karyn Bryant Sunday night for an Oscar preview, "Hollywood's Gold Rush." That airs Sunday night at 7:00 Eastern.
The latest on the pope's condition a day after emergency surgery to help him breathe better. We'll have a live report from Rome straight ahead.
And he writes the songs that make the whole world sing. My interview with entertainer Barry Manilow later on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You are looking at a live picture of the Vatican. Any moment now, we're expecting a statement on the pope's condition.
It is Friday, February 25.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqis in Basra could learn their fate this morning. One pleaded guilty, two others were found guilty. All could face up to two years behind bars. CNN will let you know when the decision is handed down.
A lawyer for Terri Schiavo's parents say Florida's social services is seeking a 60-day stay in removing her feeding tube. The department wants to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect of the brain damaged woman.
Kobe Bryant is scheduled to face questions under oath today. Lawyers for the woman who had accused him of rape will get their first chance to question him in a civil lawsuit. Bryant says the two had consensual sex.
And there are questions this morning involving an FDA panel. Ten of the 32 panel advisers who voted to allow the sales of painkillers Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx reportedly had industry ties. The "New York Times" reports the 10 had consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers.
To the forecast center now -- good morning, Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
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Aired February 25, 2005 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The ailing pontiff -- we're expecting an announcement live this hour on DAYBREAK.
Did Bush overcome any of his differences with European allies? A look at the president's trip through Europe.
And will the Oscars be rocked forever? The anticipation builds over the Academy Awards host.
And he writes the songs. A little Barry Manilow for you this morning as the Vegas strip welcomes its newest headliner.
It is Friday, February 25.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, the Italian News Agency is reporting this morning that Pope John Paul is off his respirator and breathing on his own. It comes a day after doctors performed a tracheotomy. In the meantime, Catholics throughout the world are lighting candles and praying for their leader's recovery.
The support of an openly gay church leader is threatening again to split Episcopalians. At a meeting in Northern Ireland, members of U.S. and Canadian church groups were asked to leave a major church body.
A man angry over a child support dispute opens fire at a Tyler, Texas courthouse. He kills his ex-wife and a bystander and wounds four others. The gunman was eventually killed by police.
And coming through, it is a snowy morning in the Northeast. These are pictures from Connecticut. Residents across the Northeast are waking up to a winter storm warning. But it seems like the snow has stopped here in New York City -- Chad.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It certainly has, Carol. It stopped a couple of hours ago. Still snowing, though, across parts of the Mass. Turnpike into Boston and Providence, even into the Cape Cod area. But that snow is about to end there, as well, and move quickly out to the ocean. (WEATHER REPORT)
MYERS: Carol, you were recently in Vegas, weren't you?
COSTELLO: I was.
MYERS: Talking to...
COSTELLO: And I was talking to Barry Manilow. And we're going to get you that report in a little bit. And he has a special message for you, as well.
MYERS: I can't wait.
COSTELLO: I'm sure.
Thank you, Chad.
MYERS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: Well, a bit of good news this morning. We are getting reports that Pope John Paul II is off the respirator and he is breathing on his own. A hospital update on the pope's condition is now expected just about 30 minutes from now, and we'll take you live to Rome for that.
More now on the pope, his illness and its implications from CNN's Vatican analyst Delia Gallagher.
And, actually, she's in Rome this morning -- good morning, Delia.
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: Should we read anything into the fact that this update on the pope's condition was to come at 6:00, now it's coming at 6:30?
GALLAGHER: No, Carol. This is par for the course here at the Vatican. Times are never that precise. We have to go by when they are ready. Of course, doctors had to let enough time go by for the pope to get off the anesthesia, to have a few hours of rest, to ascertain exactly what is his state of help at the moment. They, then, talked to the papal spokesman, Navarro-Valls, who has to write up the official statement from the Vatican and he will deliver that momentarily -- Carol.
COSTELLO: If the pope has to keep that tracheotomy in, which would mean he probably cannot speak, many are wondering how effective he could be in the role he plays in the Catholic Church.
GALLAGHER: Well, that's one of the things we're waiting to see in the next few days because, of course, a tracheotomy can be temporary. So it can be taken out. And we understand that the voice can come back to its full capacity. Of course, the voice for the pope at this stage is one of his last instruments of communication, so it will be vital that he is able to get some sense of speaking back.
But that remains to be seen, Carol. That's a big open question at the moment.
COSTELLO: What are people saying in Rome this morning? Because the pope was making a good recovery, at least according to the Vatican. And now he winds up back in the hospital.
GALLAGHER: Yes, it was a big surprise to everybody, because, of course, we saw him in the intervening two weeks from when he last checked out of the hospital, and he seemed quite good. His voice was very strong. So it was a real surprise that he had this relapse of the flu.
However, medical experts say that that's not such a strange thing in a man of his age and his condition. Then the tracheotomy came and so there was a state of alarm, but now that's much calmer this morning, especially after the Italian wires reporting, as you say, that he's breathing on his own.
COSTELLO: Delia Gallagher live in Rome this morning.
Thank you.
As Delia said, the pope is 84-years-old. And he has a number of chronic health problems. So his return to the hospital really is not all that surprising.
CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with more on the pontiff's health history.
But let's start first with this idea that he is off the respirator. That is good news.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. Of course, that's good news. The respirator is a machine that basically breathes for you, makes your chest rise and fall. So it's good news that he is no longer on that.
However, he still has the tracheotomy in place, as far as we know. And that's an incision that's made at the base of the neck just a bit above the collarbone and then allows the air to go in and out.
You can see here, we have an animation that shows, it's put in there. It goes right to the windpipe so that the air can go directly to the windpipe so that if there's any inflammation or obstruction, this basically goes around it so that air can go directly in.
COSTELLO: Well, let me ask you this question before you go on. Everybody's worried that he has pneumonia.
That he's been taken off the respirator, does that mean positive things, that he may not have pneumonia?
COHEN: It means positive things. I mean it's a good thing when someone comes off of a respirator. It means that they are able to breathe without the help of a respirator.
COSTELLO: Right. COHEN: It doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have pneumonia. The big concern about the flu with elderly people is are they going to get some kind of a bacterial infection, are they going to get pneumonia? And that's really, some people say it's not the flu that really hurts someone who's old, it's the pneumonia that follows the flu that can really do the damage.
So it doesn't necessarily mean that he doesn't have pneumonia, but they haven't told us if he does. So there's all sorts of questions. Another question is how advanced is the Parkinson's? When people really have bad Parkinson's, it impedes their ability to control their muscles, such as the muscles that regulate breathing. So is that part of what's going on? You sort of have to do a lot of guessing.
COSTELLO: Yes.
And because the pope has many health ailments and has had many health ailments in the past, that makes it more difficult, perhaps, for him to fight this.
COHEN: That's right. He has had many health ailments. I mean you can begin, you know, go way back to when he was shot and had to recover from that. Or, for example, in 1996, he was hospitalized to remove an inflamed appendix. And then in -- he also had to cancel a general audience due to intestinal problems and the fever also that year. In 1995, he had to cut his Christmas mass short due to fever and nausea and the flu. In 1994, he fell and broke his leg and had to have hip replacement surgery. In '93, a dislocated right shoulder, also another surgery. In '92, a benign tumor removed on that colon.
So -- and then in '81, that was when he was shot and he had to spend 20 days in the hospital and have surgeries. And then in '81, he had an infection due to injuries that were sustained in that assassination attempt and then he had an operation that year.
So...
COSTELLO: Wow!
COHEN: He's had a -- it is wow! It is a long list of things that he has survived and done well on.
COSTELLO: OK, we'll see what happens. Hopefully that update on his condition will come out at 6:30 Eastern.
COHEN: That's right.
COSTELLO: We're hoping so.
Thank you, Elizabeth.
In other news across America now, Jerry Falwell's son says his father could be released from the hospital as early as this weekend. The elder Falwell entered a Lynchburg, Virginia hospital on Sunday with pneumonia. His son says the reverend has had a rough time but is recovering.
The Golden Gate Bridge may be getting a special suicide fence. Officials that run the bridge voted to develop a funding plan for a barrier to be built along the edges of that famous structure. An average of 20 people jump off the bridge every year, including four already this year.
Former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann says he is considering a run for governor. The Hall of Famer has already formed a campaign committee for a possible run as a Republican next year. Swann is currently chairman of the president's Council On Physical Fitness, which was the same position held by Arnold Schwarzenegger under the first President Bush.
Back to our top story now.
We are awaiting word of that live update from the Vatican on the condition of Pope John Paul II. And, of course, we'll take you live when that happens.
And the president is back on American soil. We'll see if he accomplished all the goals he set out for this week.
And later, feel like you know more about the host than the nominees? We'll tell you why when our look at the Oscars continues this morning.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Friday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Still to come on DAYBREAK, a big week for the president comes to an end. Was the worldwide trip worth it?
And here's some Oscar trivia. This year's best picture nominees sold fewer tickets combined than last year's big winner, "The Lord of the Rings." Now, the question is will the big flicks pay off on the small screen Sunday night?
DAYBREAK back in a minute.
COSTELLO: President Bush got in late last night from his trip to Europe. It was widely described as a fence mending visit with European leaders to heal rifts caused by the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Well, what did the president's trip achieve?
Stan Crock is the chief diplomatic correspondent for "Business Week" magazine.
He joins us live from our Washington bureau.
Good morning, Stan.
STAN CROCK, "BUSINESS WEEK": Good morning. COSTELLO: Well, let's start in order. Let's start with France, because he sat down with Jacques Chirac, had lunch with him and from that event everybody remembers this sound bite.
Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Now, President Bush, if, indeed, relations have improved, if, indeed, they are better between France and the United States, are they good enough as yet for that to warrant an invitation to President Chirac to go to the United States and even to your ranch?
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I'm looking for a good cowboy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It seemed like a sincere, warm moment.
CROCK: I think there has been definitely a change in style, if not necessarily a change in substance. I think the administration is learning to be -- to disagree without being disagreeable. And that has significance but it doesn't alter the fact that fundamental differences do remain between the way the Europeans views the world and certain specific issues and the way the United States does.
COSTELLO: But, Stan, now the Iraqi elections have gone off, and they seemingly went very well, might Europe now be thinking maybe George Bush was right?
CROCK: Not necessarily. There were no weapons of mass destruction. The Iraqi people still face violence every day. The U.S. troops do, the Iraqi troops do.
The question really was whether it had to be done when it was in the way it was. There was no imminent threat.
The United States, on the other hand, would argue that Saddam Hussein is gone and there has been an election. Both sides believe that they were right.
COSTELLO: Let's take a look at Chancellor Gerhardt Schroeder with Bush, because, you know, for many months, the two men did not even speak. Yet here they were talking. They held a joint news conference.
Your assessment of President Bush's conversations with Gerhardt Schroeder?
CROCK: They went very well. The relationship with the Germans actually has improved fairly rapidly. And it was not just this visit, but for the last couple of years. The Germans have made a very concerted effort not to be in the same position as France was vis-a- vis the United States. COSTELLO: Let's take a look at the president's time in Slovakia because a very dramatic moment where these thousands of people in the audience listening as President Bush spoke of democracy in Slovakia and now this spreading democracy across the Middle East, at least that's what he hopes to achieve.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUSH: Thank you, all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Stan?
CROCK: Yes?
COSTELLO: I just wondered your assessment of this event.
CROCK: OK. I thought we were going to hear a little bit of what the president was saying.
It was a very successful event. The administration is very good at managing expectations. And there had been a lot of expectation that there would be a very tense meeting with President Putin of Russia. And it was not as tense as people had believed, which suggested that they bettered expectations.
Nevertheless, the meeting with Putin did highlight some of the tensions between some of the policy goals that the administration has. In that instance, it was the spread of democracy and this concern that there's backsliding in Russia versus the fight on terrorism. And that's some of the same tension that exists with Iran policy and how we differ from the Europeans. Regime change may be at odds with reducing nuclear weapons programs, because the more we talk about regime change and the spread of democracy, the less incentive the Iranians and the North Koreans have for getting rid of the nuclear programs.
COSTELLO: So, in essence, what happened during this trip is no minds were changed, but there are perhaps warmer relationships between the leaders of these countries and President Bush?
CROCK: The atmosphere definitely has improved.
COSTELLO: Stan Croft, the chief diplomatic correspondent for "Business Week" magazine, joining DAYBREAK this morning.
Thank you.
CROCK: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 6:17 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning. The pope's condition may be improving. Reports out of Rome say the 84-year-old pontiff no longer needs a respirator to help him breathe. An official update on the pope is expected in just about 15 minutes.
The Discovery crew is getting ready for their return to space. But Commander Eileen Collins says more testing is needed on the in- flight techniques they'll use if there is another problem like Columbia. The Discovery mission is scheduled to blast off in mid-May.
In money, no Big Apple Wal-Mart any time soon. New York developers have scrapped plans to build the city's first Wal-Mart. They were swamped by opposition from labor unions, small businesses and residents.
In culture, noted director Quentin Tarantino is taking a turn on the small screen. Tarantino has signed on to direct the season finale of the CBS drama "CSI." Producers say Tarantino also came up with the story line for the May 19 episode.
In sports, Tiger Woods easily won the first round contest of the Accenture Match Play Championship. Woods joins other top seeds like V.J. Singh and Phil Mickelson in the second round -- Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines this morning.
Coming up on DAYBREAK, see who's making a beautiful comeback at the Academy Awards this Sunday.
And we're not trying to make you feel your years, but it's been 33 years since Barry Manilow played Carnegie Hall with Bette Midler. Now he calls himself the perfect hit for another stage.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Between a rock and a hard place -- that's where Academy Awards producers might find themselves on Sunday night. Comedian Chris Rock has been making waves and headlines since the announcement that he would be the host for the 77th annual awards show. But is it much ado about nothing?
CNN's A.J. Hammer of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" on Headline Prime joins me now -- thanks for coming in.
A.J. HAMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure.
COSTELLO: So let's start with a controversial statement, shall we? Apparently Chris Rock said this some time ago. He said: "Come on," -- the Oscars -- "it's a fashion show. No one performs. It's not like a music show. What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one." HAMMER: Right. Well, you know, as we spoke to Gil Cates, who's the producer of the Oscars, who is responsible for Chris Rock being there. And as Chris said, Gil said Chris is just being Chris. And he's making jokes, because that's what he does. Yes, he's a little more controversial. Yes, people aren't accustomed to him playing to a mainstream audience. But I think they know exactly what they're getting themselves into.
COSTELLO: Yes, but Chris Rock was sort of digging himself out a little bit on the Jay Leno show.
HAMMER: Sure.
COSTELLO: Let's listen to that.
HAMMER: OK.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO," COURTESY NBC)
CHRIS ROCK, COMEDIAN/ACTOR: I was quoted in the magazine as saying only gay people watch the Oscars.
JAY LENO, HOST: Right.
ROCK: I did not say that. I said only gay people watch the Tonys.
LENO: Oh, that's good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So what was that? Was that a mea culpa, sort of, or...
HAMMER: Well, I don't think it was quite that. You know, as you mentioned a little earlier, this has been one of the lowest grossing years for the best picture nominees. The interest level is already low. The Oscar tune out has been happening year after year and the audience has been eroding.
So I think, you know, I think they're enjoying this publicity. I mean the combined gross of the best picture nominees is less than $100 million. It's been like 20 years since that was the case.
COSTELLO: And I think it's not just because the host has been less than entertaining, but, you know, the stars, they dress in these perfect outfits now.
HAMMER: Right.
COSTELLO: And some say that people actually miss the horrible outfits, because there really isn't anything interesting to see.
HAMMER: Yes. I mean, and, that and they're saying that Chris Rock is not one of them, you know? So he shouldn't be allowed to show up and do this award. There are still a lot of older members of the Academy who think this is a bad idea. And, you know, the audience has been a predominantly older audience. That's true. But, you know, they had to try something.
They've been asking Chris to do this for years. Why he chose this year is still sort of uncertain.
COSTELLO: He probably needed the money. No, I'm just kidding.
HAMMER: I doubt that.
COSTELLO: You did a poll on your show for people.
HAMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: What did they say about Chris Rock hosting the Oscars?
HAMMER: Well, every naught on "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" we do a hot button issue. We do a viewer poll. And I was a little surprised that it was sort of down the middle. It was running neck and neck all night where 55 percent of the viewers who voted said -- and obviously it's very unscientific -- but they said yes, Chris Rock is the right choice. Forty-five percent said no. So the split wasn't -- the margins weren't as wide as I thought.
Do we have one second for a quick note from...
COSTELLO: Sure.
HAMMER: ... one of our viewers, Keisha (ph) in Washington, D.C. believes that Chris Rock is an excellent person to host the Oscars because he reaches a diverse audience and that he's politically astute, appealing to all, young and old viewers.
And somebody else questioned why did nobody question the antics of Billy Crystal when he did the segment where he was nude?
I don't remember him being nude.
And somebody said he's inappropriate for the Oscars for three reasons -- one, because he doesn't appreciate how talented these actors are; two, he should remain unbiased and, you know, he's walking around saying well, Jamie Foxx should win, I'm hosting the Oscars, Jamie Foxx should win; and he's going to be insulting the viewers.
I think people are underestimating the fact that he can work clean.
COSTELLO: Well, and it's sort of refreshing because, you know, they're Hollywood movie stars. They ain't all that.
HAMMER: Yes.
COSTELLO: You know?
HAMMER: Yes, and I don't think this is going to hurt tune in at all. The question is will it keep the audience? That remains to be seen. Do they ever keep the audience until the end of the 10-hour prediction?
COSTELLO: Well, we'll see after this weekend.
A.J. Hammer, thank you for joining us.
HAMMER: Sure.
COSTELLO: CNN will be live at the Kodak Theater in the heart of Hollywood for the 77th Academy Awards. Join Sibila Vargas and Karyn Bryant Sunday night for an Oscar preview, "Hollywood's Gold Rush." That airs Sunday night at 7:00 Eastern.
The latest on the pope's condition a day after emergency surgery to help him breathe better. We'll have a live report from Rome straight ahead.
And he writes the songs that make the whole world sing. My interview with entertainer Barry Manilow later on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: You are looking at a live picture of the Vatican. Any moment now, we're expecting a statement on the pope's condition.
It is Friday, February 25.
You are watching DAYBREAK.
And good morning to you.
From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
Now in the news, three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqis in Basra could learn their fate this morning. One pleaded guilty, two others were found guilty. All could face up to two years behind bars. CNN will let you know when the decision is handed down.
A lawyer for Terri Schiavo's parents say Florida's social services is seeking a 60-day stay in removing her feeding tube. The department wants to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect of the brain damaged woman.
Kobe Bryant is scheduled to face questions under oath today. Lawyers for the woman who had accused him of rape will get their first chance to question him in a civil lawsuit. Bryant says the two had consensual sex.
And there are questions this morning involving an FDA panel. Ten of the 32 panel advisers who voted to allow the sales of painkillers Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx reportedly had industry ties. The "New York Times" reports the 10 had consulted in recent years for the drugs' makers.
To the forecast center now -- good morning, Chad.
MYERS: Good morning, Carol.
(WEATHER REPORT)
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