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CNN Live Saturday
Interview with MPAA President Dan Glickman; Congressional Republicans Attempt To Pass Legislation To Save Terri Schiavo
Aired March 19, 2005 - 14:00 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.
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN ANCHOR: It is 2:00 p.m. on the East coast, 11:00 a.m. in the west.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Rudi Bakhtier, in CNN's global headquarters here in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, holding on to hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER, MOTHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: Please, please, please save my little girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: One mother's plea to politicians, and a husband's last wish for his wife.
Plus, it's been two years since the world watched in wonder as the war in Iraq began. What has changed since then?
And a showdown with nature. These two women are risking their lives to chase a storm, and call it just another day on the job. We're going to take you behind the scenes. Those stories coming up in a moment, but first let's take a look at the headlines "Now in the News."
Terri Schiavo's parents are holding out hope that the courts or Congress will step in to save their daughter. The brain-damaged woman's feeding tube was removed more than 24 hours ago. Michael Schiavo said his wife wanted to die if she became incapacitated. We're going to take you live to Clearwater in just a moment.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting U.S. troops in South Korea today. She is urging North Korea to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear program. Rice's visit coincides with war games involving thousands of American and South Korean troops. The North calls the exercise a rehearsal for an invasion.
And in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, three Iraqi police officers were killed today when a bomb exploded during a funeral procession there. Today marks two years since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news. There are new developments this hour in Washington where Congress may have worked out a plan to save the life of Terri Schiavo. More on these new developments from CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas.
Dana, what can you tell us?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Rudi.
Well, they certainly are close, they say, on Capitol Hill, to working out how to deal with this legislatively, whether or not they will end up saving her life. That is definitely an open question. But let me tell you where things stand right now.
As we all know, as we've been reporting, Congressional Republicans who are determined to keep Terri Schiavo alive, they've hit a brick wall in terms of the court, so now they're back to trying to do this legislatively. They are racing against the clock.
House leadership aides and Republican leadership aides, Senate leadership aides, are telling us that they definitely feel a lot of pressure right now in order to get something passed through Congress, something perhaps they weren't willing to do last week, in order to get a bill to the president's desk.
And what they're working on right now is legislation that will allow this case to be taken from state court and put into federal court by Terri Schiavo's parents.
Now, if you can just take a step back a little bit, the issue late last week was that the House Republicans passed a bill that was much more broad. This could have applied to perhaps anybody who was in a situation that Terri Schiavo and her parents and her husband are in right now. The Senate passed a bill that was very narrow, just to this case, because they say they didn't want to set precedent, and essentially both houses, the House and Senate, left town for a Congressional recess. That is when Congressional Republicans issued subpoenas and tried to deal with this through the courts.
So, now that that has hit a brick wall, as I mentioned, they are back to square one. Republican leaders are behind closed doors at the Capitol as we speak, trying to work out the final details of the language and a Senate Democratic aide tells us that they are OK with passing this by voice vote, if there is an agreement, as soon as today perhaps. Certainly this weekend, getting it through Congress with essentially a voice vote without them all coming back and getting something to the president's desk.
Rudi, what's important to note, though, is that at this point there will not be language that will specifically order anybody to put the feeding tube back in. Right now, what they're simply talking about is getting this into the federal court. Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: All right. Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas, with some very interesting new developments. Thank you. Now, earlier today, Terri Schiavo's mother made an impassioned plea to President Bush and other lawmakers to help save the life of her daughter. Protesters have gathered at Schiavo's Clearwater, Florida, hospice. Three men were arrested after trying to break into the facility.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is there live.
Bob, what can you tell us?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we'll deal with the three men in just a moment, but to add credence to Dana Bash reporting, the news conference that was supposed to occur right now, with Mary Schindler, who is the mother of Terri Schiavo, has been moved back from this hour, two hours later.
The reason we're told is because of the action that is going on in Congress, and the possibility that there will be some sort of agreement on legislation, that then could presented. So, things are in a state of flux here as far as that is concerned. Meanwhile, the pressure is being kept on the politicians. Mary Schindler, as you saw live on CNN, applied tremendous pressure right before she went in to visit her daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER: I am begging Governor Bush and the politicians in Tallahassee, President Bush, politicians in Washington, please, please, please save my little girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And so this has become a political battle, sharing the agony of a family that has split so much. Terri Schiavo's husband, of course, is the one who ordered, when he was able to, that the feeding tube be removed.
As for the arrests, there have actually been four now, one just a moment ago. But a group of three this morning including a former special operations military figure, Beau Grites (ph), was arrested when he refused to leave the property line that the police had set up. He said he wanted to go in carrying an American flag and provide water for Terri Schiavo. Charged with trespassing, as with the fourth person, two others with Grites (ph).
This goes on as inside the hospice in back of me, we're told it's a very peaceful setting, as Terri Schiavo, according to just about everybody, is totally unaware of what is going on in the political realm to try and at least keep her life going for a bit longer.
BAKHTIAR: An emotional day over there for everyone involved in the Schiavo case.
Thank you, Bob Franken in Florida.
Make sure you stay with us for a live debate on this Schiavo case. Our guest attorneys, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman will be exploring the legal aspects of this extremely passionate issue. That's coming up within the next 30 minutes.
But first, a Florida family is devastated. Just a few yards from their own home, searchers uncovered the body of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford before dawn. Police say a convicted child molester confessed to killing the girl. She had been missing for three weeks. Jessica's father was heart broken as he talked with reporters today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK LUNSFORD: I just want to say to everybody, to my community, to everyone that's seen Jesse's picture, that everyone heard me say time after time, that she would be home. She's home now, and it's over. And now we have a new struggle. And I need more people to support now the efforts that we try to make to change things. I love everybody for helping, for supporting, for even talking about it. But Jesse's home now. And she's right here with me. And she knows -- she knows it all.
And all the parents out there, I know everybody does, but do it more often. Make sure you get that hug and kiss every day before you leave that house. I did. I got mine. You just make sure you get yours. And remember, love your children this much and no one or nothing will come between you and them. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: And let's bring in CNN's Sara Dorsey outside the Lunsford home in Homosassa Springs, Florida.
Very emotional day there, Sara.
DORSEY: Very much so, Rudi.
Just minutes ago, we saw Mark Lunsford, Jessica's dad, he was leading a motorcycle ride with 300 to 400 riders behind him, all in memorial of his daughter. We have community members coming up to the home. They're handing officers flowers, stuffed animals, stuff like that to give to the family members.
It has been three weeks of searching. The entire community was involved in this, and Jessica's body was found just across the street from her home, right behind the house that John Couey was sharing with family members. Now, Couey confessed yesterday to killing Jessica and burying her home near the back stairs of that house he was living in. He is currently in Georgia under a suicide watch and will be returned to Florida in the coming days to face criminal charges.
Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, the man leading at this investigation for three weeks, had some very choice words for Couey today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTRY, FLORIDA: This guy is not a quality person by any means. And, you know, he is also, my knowledge, a crackhead. And I don't think we're actually ever going to be able to get a valid timeline about him. He's truly a piece of trash.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: Three people are charged with obstructing justice in this case. The sheriff said Couey told all three of them that the police were looking for him, and none of them bothered to tell law enforcement -- Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: Sara, how is the community reacting to finding Jessica's body?
DORSEY: There's been an outpouring from the community here. Last night, when the news came in that the search had been stepped up and they were now looking specifically for her body, we had people out here with candles doing a vigil.
At the corner of the street that Jessica's family lives on, there's a memorial with stuffed animals, signs, those -- many from people who didn't really know Jessica. Those who did are bringing flowers and stuffed animals to the police here where the police line is set up, and then the police are taking that in to the family. So, they're really, really showing support for these folks.
BAKHTIAR: Such a tragic ending to these three weeks.
Where does the investigation go from here, sara?
DORSEY: Well, Couey will have to be brought back to the Citrus County sheriff's office. They're putting together an investiga -- or putting together their case, and they say it's a very good case at this point. Also, Jessica's body, of course, will have to go through an autopsy. So it's going to be quite a process. But Mr. Couey will be charged, we are told, with murder.
BAKHTIAR: All right.
Sara Dorsey in Florida, outside the Lunsford home. Thank you.
And a Queen's man is jailed today, charged with raping seven neighborhood children. People say 48-year-old Michael Flory victimized the five girls and two boys in his home and his van. The children are between the ages of 7 and 11. Investigators say some of the kids were assaulted during visits with Flory's own school-age children. Police say the rapes took place the first 11 days of this month.
And we have this bit of breaking news to tell you about out of Doha, Qatar. An explosion was heard Saturyda night near a British school just outside the capital of Qatar. Witnesses said that the police have sealed off the Fairic-Caleb area. It's a residential area, three miles north of Doha where this British school has been located. Again, an explosion was heard Saturday night near this British school just outside the capital in Qatar. We're going to get more information about this and bring it to you as we get it.
Moving on now, two years of war, and the hard lessons learned in Iraq. Some U.S. soldiers are on their second tour of duty. What have they learned from the past?
And he's a free man. Robert Blake has waited a long time to hear those words. Our weekly legal roundtable is going to break down his case for us.
Plus, nature's beast. There it is. The risk of chasing such a powerful force. It's all in a day's work for two women, coming up straight ahead on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Two years ago today, the bombs started falling on Baghdad as the U.S.-led coalition launched the war in Iraq. And while Iraq is still on the road to democracy, attacks by insurgents continue, and American troops still play a major role in that country.
To Baghdad now and CNN's Aneesh Raman. Aneesh?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN IRAQ CORRESPONDENT: Rudi, good afternoon.
I spent the day with members of the third I.D. in the first A.D. in Ta Ji, a city north of Baghdad. These are some of the guys that were there in the immediate aftermath of that first wave, and are now back here on their second tour.
You really get a sense from talking with them, they're of two minds. On one hand they are a bit burnt out. They had somewhere between six to eight months back in the U.S., the first month is vacation and then they had to start training to return. Also, they've come back to a country that has sustained violence, in many ways similar to when they left. Also some of the projects that they really put their effort into creating have essentially stalled. But on the same -- on the other hand, these are people that have seen this conflict from its beginning, from its inception. And while no weapons of mass destruction have been found, they really feel that this is now what President Bush is saying, a critical step toward democracy in the Middle East. And they feel that they need to see this through. One person I spoke to, Major Clark Taylor, he really spoke to the fact that this job needs to get done by them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. CLARKE TAYLOR, U.S. ARMY: I have no problem coming back this time. I have no problem coming back if I've got to come back again, because, if we don't finish this now, our children are going to have to do it 20 years from now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMAN: Now, Rudi, he was one a few who actually fought in the first Gulf War as well. He was telling an anecdote that at that time, someone was telling him he would be back in Iraq 20 years later. So it's that reason that he hopes the children don't have to fight what they leave unfinished.
But for them, this anniversary not really something that they commemorate or recognize. There's simply too much work to be done, Rudi.
BAKHTIAR: All right. Aneesh, in Baghdad, thank you.
From the Far East to western Europe, tens of thousands of people are marking the second anniversary of the war in Iraq by taking to the streets in protest, as Aneesh just was telling us. This was the scene in Tokyo earlier today. Reports say nearly 5,000 people took part in the demonstrations there. The anti-war rally in Britain's capital was much bigger. Organizers say 100,000 protesters marched through the streets of London. Police put the number at 45,000.
President Bush is marking the anniversary by defending the invasion in Iraq. In his weekly radio address, he thanked American troops for serving in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: To all the brave members of our armed forces who have taken part in this historic mission, and to your families, I express the heartfelt thanks of the American people. I know that nothing can end the pain of the families who have lost loved ones in this struggle but they can know their sacrifice is added to America's security and the of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: He said because the U.S.-led coalition acted, Iraq's government is no longer a threat to the world or its own people.
For hundreds of American families, the war in Iraq has led to the ultimate sacrifice, the loss of a loved one. And today, those fallen soldiers are being remembered. Some words now from the wife of one of the American troops who lost his life in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STACEY SAMMIS, WIDOW OF CAPT. BENJAMIN SAMMIS: I remember, I sat on the couch and I stared up at this big lieutenant colonel with these big blue eyes, and he was just -- tears coming out of his eyes. And they were reading me all of this military, technical terms, and I just stopped the captain for a second and I said, did the bad guys get him? And they said, yes. And that was all I needed to know.
He had a heart that was so big. He just loved everyone. He was very intelligent. And he had big dreams for his life. Big dreams. He wanted to be a dad. He wanted to be the best officer he could be. He was funny as anything. He could do voices from "Shrek" and the Klumps from "The Nutty Professor." So he was always there with a laugh, a big smile.
Every time I cry, like now, he would just say, Stacey, just smile, just smile for me. He was always there to pick me up. I miss everything about him. I miss making dinner together. I miss waking up next to him. I miss the e-mails. I miss the future that we will never have, the children we'll never have. He used to say all the time -- we'd go for walks -- and he'd say, you know, we're going to be 80 years old in our matching sweat suits, sitting out here, feeding the pigeons. And that sounded great to me. So I miss that.
I was definitely the center of his world, and he was the center of our world, and we were a great team. He used to call us Team Sammis. He was my best friend. I could just come up to him and put my head in the crook of his neck and he would just give me a big bear hug and just hold me so tight. So, maybe that's what I miss the most, just being able to be held and protected, because I just felt so safe in his spot. He would just hold me so tight. I just knew nothing bad would happen if he were with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Now, some stories making news across America at this hour.
Former Connecticut governor John Rowland is headed to prison on April 1st. He's been sentenced to a year and day on corruption charges. Prosecutors say he steered state business contracts to companies that gave him cash and gifts.
Updating the alleged kidnapping plot against David Letterman's family: the fiancee of the accused said he's the victim of a personal vendetta by a former friend after a fight at work. Kelly Frank was arrested after police were told that he wanted to kidnap Letterman's young son and nanny and then hold them for $5 million ransom. Frank worked at Letterman's ranch in most.
And, they're on the hunt for house thieves in Smith County, Texas. The owners of an empty brick three-bedroom suddenly discovered it was gone. Police saw the men taking down the house brick by brick but thought nothing of it because of construction nearby.
Upset! The NCAA top seeds have got to be shaking in their sneakers today. Two shockers: knocking out a pair of college hoops heavyweights, Bucknell stuns Kansas 64-63. It's the Bison's first NCAA tournament win in their 110-year history. Chris McNaughton hitting a hook shot with ten seconds to go. That handed the victory to the 14th-seeded Bisons.
And Vermont made orange crush out of Syracuse. The cats beating up on them, 60-57 in overtime. Syracuse, 2003 national champs, hoped for a second trip to the final four in three years. For Vermont's coach, the win delays his retirement at least two more days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM BRENNAN, VERMONT HEAD COACH: I'm not surprised. I normally sound like a wise guy here. I'm really not. When we got to overtime, I figured it was time for me to pack the trunk for me. But -- I was worried about that -- but then we came right out again and did what we had to do. And these great, great seniors, I told you guys yesterday, synergy and karma and stars being aligned, there was a lot to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Up next for Vermont, fifth-seeded Michigan state on Sunday.
Well, he's broke, but he's free. Robert Blake's murder case is behind him. After hearing the words, not guilty. we're going to talk with our legal analysts straight ahead.
And, they call themselves the twister sisters. These women actually run toward tornados instead of away from them. Their daring efforts ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: And here's what's making news right now for you. Police in Florida have found the body of Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year- old who disappeared more than three weeks ago. Police say John Couey a convicted sex offender has confessed to kidnapping and killing the young girl. Couey is in custody in Georgia where he's under a suicide watch.
Today marks the second anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. And as the country moves toward democracy, insurgents are still on the attack there. In northern Iraq today, three Iraqi police officers were killed when a bomb exploded during a funeral procession in Kirkuk.
And in Lebanon, police are searching for clues in a car bombing that injured several people. The blast ripping through a mostly Christian neighborhood in Beirut. It is the second car bombing in Beirut in five weeks.
And three high-profile legal cases are unfolding in the California courts. And a fourth in Florida. Scott Peterson goes to death row in San Quentin prison. It overlooks the bay where prosecutors say he dumped the body of his pregnant wife Laci after killing her on Christmas Eve.
The Michael Jackson trial wrapped up the week with allegations that his accuser may have stolen $300 from the wallet of comedian George Lopez. The judge will now allow questions about that in court. Lopez was helping the boy's family as he struggled with cancer.
Actor Robert Blake is a free man, celebrating the jury's verdict of not guilty in the killing of his wife. Bonny Bakley was found shot to death in a car outside a restaurant where the couple had just had dinner. The evidence was circumstantial in that case. In the words of the jury foreman they could not "put the gun in his hand."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BLAKE, ACTOR: I'm going to get a job. I'm broke. Right now I couldn't buy spats for a hummingbird. What did Johnny Carson from (INAUDIBLE) say? You're innocent until proven broke. I'm going to go out and do a little cowboying. You know what that? No you don't know what that is. Cowboying is when you get in a motor home or a van or something like that, and you just let the air blow in your hair.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BAKHTIAR: The mother of Terri Schiavo is pleading with public officials to intervene. Doctors disconnected the feeding tube of the brain-damaged woman more than 24 hours ago. Her husband and her parents have feuded for years over her wishes and about whether she can ever improve.
So as you see, it's been quite a week in the courtrooms all over America. For more on the Blake and Schiavo cases, let's turn to our legal experts Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney, joining us now from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: How are you?
BAKHTIAR: Hello. Thank you for joining us.
And Avery Friedman is a civil rights lawyer and law professor. He's with me here at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Avery it is good have you with us.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: It is nice to be with you Rudi.
BAKHTIAR: Let's start with the Schiavo case. And let's start with you since you're a constitutional law professor. Lets talk about this, should the government be allowed to step into the Schiavo case?
FRIEDMAN: Well, you know, the interesting thing is, and the government has stepped into the case. This matter has gone through all the courts of Florida. It has actually gone to the U.S. Supreme Court on a somewhat related issue. Now an effort is being made to get Congress to jump into a strictly state's rights kind of case.
So from a constitutional law perspective, even though, Rudi, this is a very emotional case, the reality is that this is no place for the Congress, since 1803 that law has been clear. So the bottom line is, even if Congress enacts legislation, and no one has talked about this yet it's likely to be held unconstitutional. Congress cannot intervene in this case.
BAKHTIAR: Richard do you agree with Avery?
HERMAN: I'm going to pass out because actually I do agree with Avery.
BAKHTIAR: That's a first for us here.
HERMAN: I know the Atlanta studio will kill my mic if I tell you how I really feel about what Congress did here. But I must tell you, the issue really boils down to, how will we as a society agree to terminate someone's life when their wishes are that they do not want to stay alive if it is by an artificial means. That's really the issue at this point.
BAKHTIAR: So, Avery, tell us, how is Congress going to go about doing this? And what is going on with the subpoenas? And your thoughts on all of that? FRIEDMAN: Well, it's incomprehensible. This is the first time in American constitutional history that some members of Congress, some members of Congress, have decided to take an individual case and try to pass legislation to protect that person. As I say, even if the House and the Senate are successful, there is no way a federal court is ever going to approve congressional action to get involved in this case.
So while there is great hope on the part of the family, Rudi, the reality is, that this is a personal matter. It is a state's rights matter. It is something that Congress cannot and should not be involved in.
BAKHTIAR: So, Richard, what can the family do here?
HERMAN: Well, look, the family's reached out to the president of the United States. And he's made his views known. But at this point, I really agree with Avery, they really overstepped their bounds, this congressional committee. And frankly, I don't think anything is going to prevent the inevitable for Terri Schiavo. We can look prospectively into the future, but I think all avenues are closed for this poor woman.
BAKHTIAR: This has happened before, where they have removed the feeding tube but then put it back in.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BAKHTIAR: This time around, what do you think is going to happen?
FRIEDMAN: There's no possible way. All the processes, Rudi, have been exhausted. Everything that the family is challenging has exercised everything possible.
HERMAN: Rudi, two state trials in Florida, an appeal to the Appellate Division, an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, and then to the United States Supreme Court. And everybody has confirmed the trial judge's decision, that this was Terri's wishes. Not only did her husband testify but her own best friend testified and others testified.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
HERMAN: It's a fact-finding -- it's a determination that's been upheld. And this is how we view her wishes.
FRIEDMAN: And it is not a constitutional issue, that's the important thing...
HERMAN: Right.
FRIEDMAN: To understand -- Congress wants to make it that, even if they pass it, there's no way a federal court would ever approve it.
BAKHTIAR: All right, we're going to see where that one goes. Let's talk about the Blake trial. Were either of you surprised, blown away, as many attorneys have come out saying, by the results of what happened the other night?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think there were a lot of surprises. Why? Because Robert Blake had a motive, he had an opportunity. And the question was, could the prosecution connect the dots. The big issue here was, they couldn't find the weapon. It was at a place where Robert Blake ordinarily had dinner.
The argument, a wonderful argument by defense lawyers, and I don't defend these kind of cases, but I will have to say the defense lawyer made an excellent argument saying, look it, if he really wanted to kill his wife, he wouldn't have done it this way.
And you know the witnesses that the prosecutor brought in had absolutely no credibility. They had drug problems, credibility problems.
BAKHTIAR: Those were the guys who came in and said that Robert Blake was trying to hire me...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BAKHTIAR: To kill his wife.
FRIEDMAN: The stuntmen.
HERMAN: And Rudi, that's why it was shocking. When a defendant is on trial, and it's proven he solicited six people to try to kill his wife, I mean, that's pretty overwhelming evidence and it all came in. Except that the jury rejected it. They deemed these people psychos. There was no gun residue on his hand to tie him to that gun, as Avery said. Since they couldn't tie Robert Blake to that gun, the witnesses were not believable.
And frankly, the prosecutor's summation which I did watch was one of the most boring, ridiculous summations I've ever seen. Even the prosecutor bashed Bonny Bakley. You can't do that you just can't do that.
FRIEDMAN: Well in all fairness, Rudi, despite the problem with the prosecutor's arguments, he couldn't connect the dots. I mean Bonny Bakley was an unsympathetic victim. Robert Blake was -- this is sort of the anti-Scott Peterson case. You have someone appealing, a victim who wasn't. And then where you have the very elusive concept of beyond a reasonable doubt, Rudi, this was a case where Robert Blake walked out of that courtroom a free man.
BAKHTIAR: So the prosecution, could they have done it better?
FRIEDMAN: I don't know if they could have done it better. Don't forget that in July of this year, Robert Blake isn't out of the woods yet. He's facing a civil suit by the Bakley family for wrongful death. So this case isn't over. BAKHTIAR: OK, so let's talk about a jury requesting some read- backs of certain witnesses. You all remember that. What did that suggest? Richard, I'm going to start with you.
HERMAN: Frankly, Rudi, I think the jury was a little bored and they wanted to humor themselves. I don't think they believed at the credibility of every one of these witnesses was destroyed on cross- examination. They have checkered pasts. None of them could be believed. They came across as lunatics basically. You can't win a conviction based on no reasonable doubt by putting these types of witnesses on the stand. Just not going to fly. Plus, you had Beretta on trial, a movie star. And some of these jurors may have been star- struck with him.
FRIEDMAN: I don't buy that part of it. I don't care if you had Elizabeth Taylor on. The fact is the prosecution had the duty to meet standards beyond a reasonable doubt. And absent bringing in Fred the cockatoo in, it wouldn't have made any difference. The fact is, that Robert Blake, who did not testify, sat back, he had the right to remain silent, let the prosecutor do his thing, and they couldn't make the case.
BAKHTIAR: All right, we're going to have to leave it at that, gentlemen. Richard Herman criminal defense attorney and Avery Friedman civil rights attorney and law professor. Thank you both, always good to have you with us.
HERMAN: Hey Rudi, I know Avery will join me in extending our sincere condolences to the Lunsford family. What a tragedy.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
BAKHTIAR: A huge tragedy, I think everyone feels that. Everyone feels that. Thank you both gentlemen.
HERMAN: Thank you.
BAKHTIAR: And coming up, if you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one DVD you would want to pick to watch? The Motion Picture Association of America is the president, that is, tells us his choice ahead.
And a powerful force of nature. Two women chased tornadoes for a living. Just why do they do it? We will let you know. But first, on this weekend's edition of "Tips from the Top" the noteworthy success of Chris Botti."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's performed with Sting, and Frank Sinatra, and now jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is seeing something few instrumental musicians do, chart topping success. Oprah's mention of Botti's latest CD sent sales soaring, but he says its dedication that equals success.
CHRIS BOTTI, MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER: If you look at creative people over the course of time, the fact that they had daydreamed, the fact that they had dedication, that's what made them successful. And the diligent aspect of playing this instrument every single day, no matter where I am in the world, has led to this crescendo in my life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And success for him isn't only measured by the charts.
BOTTI: To be able to walk out on stage and perform live for people and have them get a babysitter and come to the show, that's really the ultimate level of success.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Tips from the top" is brought to you by Fidelity Investments. Smart move.
BAKHTIAR: This just in to CNN. The Senate will be reconvening today at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the Terri Schiavo case. Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, you remember, was removed yesterday. Earlier today, her mother made an impassioned plea to the president and as well as other lawmakers to help save her daughter's life. So at 5:00 p.m. Eastern today, the Senate will reconvene. And of course, we'll bring you what comes out of that later on in the day.
Moving on to some other news now. Spring has come and spring means tornado season. Storm watchers counted 1,500 twisters in 2004. Two women chase tornadoes for a living. And their story is told in the "Tornado Hunters," a documentary airing now on National Geographic channel that is. CNN's Heidi Collins now with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For the twister sisters, this is just another day on the job. For the past four years, Peggy Willenberg and Melanie Metz, not actually sisters, leave their families behind and team up to track down tornadoes. Driving across the country in their tricked-out truck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The shape is looking fairly nice.
COLLINS: Two among dozens who get their thrills forecasting, then finding the perfect storm. Documenting the destruction, then selling the footage to the media. But why would two seemingly reasonable women risk their lives chasing tornadoes?
MELANIE METZ, STORM CHASER: Just a sense of fascination, and a little bit of fear, and combined, it makes it a very exhilarating experience to watch this powerful force.
COLLINS: Especially exhilarating when it all works out just right. And they see the storm from the very start.
PEGGY WILLENBERG, STORM CHASER: This tornado formed right in front of us. If you want to call that the birth of a tornado, however, now we are about 30 seconds into it, and let's watch what happens. Became a very large, powerful tornado. COLLINS: That power was most apparent for the twister sisters in 2004. They were tracking a tornado in Nebraska that took out an entire town. Flattening farmhouses, totaling trucks, leaving a 52-mile path of destruction in its wake. That day the twister sisters helped save three lives.
WILLENBERG: It was nothing recognizable as a house. But yet we knew there were three people under that pile of debris. So that was our goal, to get those people out of there before the house blew up.
COLLINS: There are an average of 800 tornadoes in the United States every season, resulting in around 80 deaths. But these intrepid hunters say despite the destruction, they are still astonished every time they see a twister's terrible beauty.
WILLENBERG: It's the geometry, the perfection, how much has to happen to create this just brief moment of perfection. And it's just a power -- something that you can't put your hands around. It's awesome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: Coming up, the glitz and glam of the Academy Awards. A big shot in the movie business shares his first experience at the Oscars, straight ahead on the "Novak Zone."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Welcome back everyone. He's gone from the cornfields of Kansas to Congress, and cabinet secretary. Now Dan Glickman is a big shot in the movie business and joins CNN's Robert Novak in this week's edition of the "Novak Zone."
ROBERT NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to the "Novak Zone." We're at the theater of the Motion Picture Association of America in Washington, D.C with the new head of the association, Dan Glickman. It's always tough to follow a legend, whether it's Vince Lombardi or Johnny Carson or Jack Valenty. Jack Valenty was the head of the Motion Picture Association for so many years. Is it tough to follow in his footsteps?
DAN GLICKMAN, MPAA PRESIDENT: Yes, I mean Jack is an amazing man. He's still around, by the way. So he's still helping me quite a bit. I've learned a lot from him. He's given me one piece of advice, which is being who I am, not try to be him or anybody else. But I still know that he's got a lot of value and a lot of help to give me. And I call on him all the time.
NOVAK: When you attended the Academy Award ceremonies and Hollywood recently, the Oscar ceremonies, that was the first time you were ever there. What was your impression of the event?
GLICKMAN: I got a real kick out of it. I pinched myself, here I was a secretary of agriculture, Congressman from Kansas and now I am head of the Motion Picture Association and so I thought to myself, pretty good gig here you know having this job and I was also lucky because I have a son in the business as well. But, you know, I think this is one of the great industries of America.
We've got a positive balance of payment surplus with every single country in the world we do business with. Produce hundreds of thousands of jobs. And it is a great business and people love the movies. What else could you ask for in life?
NOVAK: Mr. Glickman, one of the most powerful movies that I ever saw, and I'm not a movie critic, but it was powerful was "The Passion of the Christ." It was not even selected as a nominee for an Oscar. Is that a sign of an anti-religious bias or a liberal bias in the academy?
GLICKMAN: I don't think so. I actually saw the movie and I enjoyed the movie. I don't know exactly how the academy decides which movies to nominate. This year, there were some excellent movies nominated. And I think there are a lot of things that go into that decision. "The Passion" was nominated for a couple of awards, I believe, although not best picture. But, you know, that's the great thing about the movies; we produce all different types of movies that appeal to all different types of people.
NOVAK: As you commented, Mr. Glickman, you were a member of Congress from Kansas, or a distinguished member, secretary of agriculture and a Democrat. Is it tough to be the -- one of the principal lobbyists in Washington when the entire government now is controlled by the Republicans?
GLICKMAN: Well, there's no question I've learned I've had a lot of bridge building to do. But, you know, most people in my business, most members of Congress are interested in helping folks keep their jobs, producing jobs, worried about economic interests, making sure that our products can have access to the overseas markets. In our case, protecting our products from being pirated.
So the ideological differences that often get talked about in the media are far less important than the economic interests that our industry faces. No, I don't find it a problem at all.
NOVAK: What about the partisan differences? Are your days as a partisan Democrat over do you think?
GLICKMAN: Well let put it to you like this, I've been writing a lot of checks to Republicans lately. This is something that was new for me. My hand was shaking a bit at the beginning but now it's starting to be a little more comfortable. I can't get rid of what I am, nor would anybody want me to be that. I was a long-time Democrat. But this business is nonpartisan. The economics of the movie industry are powerful. We produce hundreds of thousands of jobs. This is an important industry for America.
NOVAK: Another movie that did not get a nomination was Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911." What did you think of that movie? Was that a documentary? Was it a propaganda film? Was it a political advertisement? What did you think?
GLICKMAN: I think it was in the eye of the beholder. Depended on your political perspective when you went in to see it. I saw that movie. I see most movies, actually. I see between 50 and 100 movies a year. I love the movies a lot; you know I thought it was an interesting movie. It was made by a provocateur is what was. I took it for what ever it was, the guy had a point of view, and I didn't think it was a great movie. I thought it was interesting, but it wasn't my candidate to be best picture I can tell you that.
NOVAK: Mr. Glickman, what do you feel your principal task is in this new job? What is your goal? What is the imperative facing you?
GLICKMAN: I think it's to be spokesman for one of the most successful industries in the world. When you think about what America is known for around the world, it's often by the movies. I remember when Governor Schwarzenegger spoke at the Republican convention; he said his first statement was, "I learned about America as a young boy in Austria when I went to the movies." So my job is try to articulate the economic needs of the motion picture industry to the countries as a whole but specifically to the Congress.
NOVAK: Are you happy with the quality of the movies that are coming out today? I mean, the family movies that you can take the kids to the movie theater and see?
GLICKMAN: If you go to the "Incredibles" or you go to "Shrek 2," or "Spider-man 2," those are phenomenal movies they're very popular. Not only the kids like them, but their parents like them as well. So yes I think there -- and not just those, because those are -- I pointed out some of the animated movies. But there are some excellent outstanding family oriented movies coming out.
NOVAK: And now, the big question for Dan Glickman, head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Mr. Glickman, you're on a desert island. You have one DVD, it's the only one you can have, and you have to see that movie for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?
GLICKMAN: Well I would tell you anything my son has produced I would pick. Because my son is a producer in Los Angeles. But if I didn't have that choice I'd probably pick the "Godfather." I mean it's the movie I've probably seen more than any other movie there is. It's a movie that has intrigue, and love, and a lot of ethnic issues. And it's a movie about the origin of this country as a whole. And I liked it. It's one of those movies I could see a thousand times. So if I were on a desert island, I guess I would.
NOVAK: Terrific. Thank you Dan Glickman.
GLICKMAN: Thanks Bob.
NOVAK: And thank you for being in the "Novak Zone."
BAKHTIAR: For more of Bob Novak, tune in to the "Capital Gang" tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
And this just in to CNN. House majority leader Tom Delay will be holding a news conference on the Terri Schiavo case in just 15 minutes and when he does, CNN will be bringing that to you live. We'll also have more news right after this break.
(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 March 19, 2005 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RUDI BAKHTIAR, CNN ANCHOR: It is 2:00 p.m. on the East coast, 11:00 a.m. in the west.
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm Rudi Bakhtier, in CNN's global headquarters here in Atlanta.
Ahead this hour, holding on to hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER, MOTHER OF TERRI SCHIAVO: Please, please, please save my little girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: One mother's plea to politicians, and a husband's last wish for his wife.
Plus, it's been two years since the world watched in wonder as the war in Iraq began. What has changed since then?
And a showdown with nature. These two women are risking their lives to chase a storm, and call it just another day on the job. We're going to take you behind the scenes. Those stories coming up in a moment, but first let's take a look at the headlines "Now in the News."
Terri Schiavo's parents are holding out hope that the courts or Congress will step in to save their daughter. The brain-damaged woman's feeding tube was removed more than 24 hours ago. Michael Schiavo said his wife wanted to die if she became incapacitated. We're going to take you live to Clearwater in just a moment.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting U.S. troops in South Korea today. She is urging North Korea to return to six-nation talks on its nuclear program. Rice's visit coincides with war games involving thousands of American and South Korean troops. The North calls the exercise a rehearsal for an invasion.
And in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk, three Iraqi police officers were killed today when a bomb exploded during a funeral procession there. Today marks two years since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news. There are new developments this hour in Washington where Congress may have worked out a plan to save the life of Terri Schiavo. More on these new developments from CNN White House correspondent Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas.
Dana, what can you tell us?
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Rudi.
Well, they certainly are close, they say, on Capitol Hill, to working out how to deal with this legislatively, whether or not they will end up saving her life. That is definitely an open question. But let me tell you where things stand right now.
As we all know, as we've been reporting, Congressional Republicans who are determined to keep Terri Schiavo alive, they've hit a brick wall in terms of the court, so now they're back to trying to do this legislatively. They are racing against the clock.
House leadership aides and Republican leadership aides, Senate leadership aides, are telling us that they definitely feel a lot of pressure right now in order to get something passed through Congress, something perhaps they weren't willing to do last week, in order to get a bill to the president's desk.
And what they're working on right now is legislation that will allow this case to be taken from state court and put into federal court by Terri Schiavo's parents.
Now, if you can just take a step back a little bit, the issue late last week was that the House Republicans passed a bill that was much more broad. This could have applied to perhaps anybody who was in a situation that Terri Schiavo and her parents and her husband are in right now. The Senate passed a bill that was very narrow, just to this case, because they say they didn't want to set precedent, and essentially both houses, the House and Senate, left town for a Congressional recess. That is when Congressional Republicans issued subpoenas and tried to deal with this through the courts.
So, now that that has hit a brick wall, as I mentioned, they are back to square one. Republican leaders are behind closed doors at the Capitol as we speak, trying to work out the final details of the language and a Senate Democratic aide tells us that they are OK with passing this by voice vote, if there is an agreement, as soon as today perhaps. Certainly this weekend, getting it through Congress with essentially a voice vote without them all coming back and getting something to the president's desk.
Rudi, what's important to note, though, is that at this point there will not be language that will specifically order anybody to put the feeding tube back in. Right now, what they're simply talking about is getting this into the federal court. Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: All right. Dana Bash in Crawford, Texas, with some very interesting new developments. Thank you. Now, earlier today, Terri Schiavo's mother made an impassioned plea to President Bush and other lawmakers to help save the life of her daughter. Protesters have gathered at Schiavo's Clearwater, Florida, hospice. Three men were arrested after trying to break into the facility.
CNN national correspondent Bob Franken is there live.
Bob, what can you tell us?
BOB FRANKEN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we'll deal with the three men in just a moment, but to add credence to Dana Bash reporting, the news conference that was supposed to occur right now, with Mary Schindler, who is the mother of Terri Schiavo, has been moved back from this hour, two hours later.
The reason we're told is because of the action that is going on in Congress, and the possibility that there will be some sort of agreement on legislation, that then could presented. So, things are in a state of flux here as far as that is concerned. Meanwhile, the pressure is being kept on the politicians. Mary Schindler, as you saw live on CNN, applied tremendous pressure right before she went in to visit her daughter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY SCHINDLER: I am begging Governor Bush and the politicians in Tallahassee, President Bush, politicians in Washington, please, please, please save my little girl.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FRANKEN: And so this has become a political battle, sharing the agony of a family that has split so much. Terri Schiavo's husband, of course, is the one who ordered, when he was able to, that the feeding tube be removed.
As for the arrests, there have actually been four now, one just a moment ago. But a group of three this morning including a former special operations military figure, Beau Grites (ph), was arrested when he refused to leave the property line that the police had set up. He said he wanted to go in carrying an American flag and provide water for Terri Schiavo. Charged with trespassing, as with the fourth person, two others with Grites (ph).
This goes on as inside the hospice in back of me, we're told it's a very peaceful setting, as Terri Schiavo, according to just about everybody, is totally unaware of what is going on in the political realm to try and at least keep her life going for a bit longer.
BAKHTIAR: An emotional day over there for everyone involved in the Schiavo case.
Thank you, Bob Franken in Florida.
Make sure you stay with us for a live debate on this Schiavo case. Our guest attorneys, Avery Friedman and Richard Herman will be exploring the legal aspects of this extremely passionate issue. That's coming up within the next 30 minutes.
But first, a Florida family is devastated. Just a few yards from their own home, searchers uncovered the body of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford before dawn. Police say a convicted child molester confessed to killing the girl. She had been missing for three weeks. Jessica's father was heart broken as he talked with reporters today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK LUNSFORD: I just want to say to everybody, to my community, to everyone that's seen Jesse's picture, that everyone heard me say time after time, that she would be home. She's home now, and it's over. And now we have a new struggle. And I need more people to support now the efforts that we try to make to change things. I love everybody for helping, for supporting, for even talking about it. But Jesse's home now. And she's right here with me. And she knows -- she knows it all.
And all the parents out there, I know everybody does, but do it more often. Make sure you get that hug and kiss every day before you leave that house. I did. I got mine. You just make sure you get yours. And remember, love your children this much and no one or nothing will come between you and them. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: And let's bring in CNN's Sara Dorsey outside the Lunsford home in Homosassa Springs, Florida.
Very emotional day there, Sara.
DORSEY: Very much so, Rudi.
Just minutes ago, we saw Mark Lunsford, Jessica's dad, he was leading a motorcycle ride with 300 to 400 riders behind him, all in memorial of his daughter. We have community members coming up to the home. They're handing officers flowers, stuffed animals, stuff like that to give to the family members.
It has been three weeks of searching. The entire community was involved in this, and Jessica's body was found just across the street from her home, right behind the house that John Couey was sharing with family members. Now, Couey confessed yesterday to killing Jessica and burying her home near the back stairs of that house he was living in. He is currently in Georgia under a suicide watch and will be returned to Florida in the coming days to face criminal charges.
Sheriff Jeff Dawsy, the man leading at this investigation for three weeks, had some very choice words for Couey today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTRY, FLORIDA: This guy is not a quality person by any means. And, you know, he is also, my knowledge, a crackhead. And I don't think we're actually ever going to be able to get a valid timeline about him. He's truly a piece of trash.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DORSEY: Three people are charged with obstructing justice in this case. The sheriff said Couey told all three of them that the police were looking for him, and none of them bothered to tell law enforcement -- Rudi?
BAKHTIAR: Sara, how is the community reacting to finding Jessica's body?
DORSEY: There's been an outpouring from the community here. Last night, when the news came in that the search had been stepped up and they were now looking specifically for her body, we had people out here with candles doing a vigil.
At the corner of the street that Jessica's family lives on, there's a memorial with stuffed animals, signs, those -- many from people who didn't really know Jessica. Those who did are bringing flowers and stuffed animals to the police here where the police line is set up, and then the police are taking that in to the family. So, they're really, really showing support for these folks.
BAKHTIAR: Such a tragic ending to these three weeks.
Where does the investigation go from here, sara?
DORSEY: Well, Couey will have to be brought back to the Citrus County sheriff's office. They're putting together an investiga -- or putting together their case, and they say it's a very good case at this point. Also, Jessica's body, of course, will have to go through an autopsy. So it's going to be quite a process. But Mr. Couey will be charged, we are told, with murder.
BAKHTIAR: All right.
Sara Dorsey in Florida, outside the Lunsford home. Thank you.
And a Queen's man is jailed today, charged with raping seven neighborhood children. People say 48-year-old Michael Flory victimized the five girls and two boys in his home and his van. The children are between the ages of 7 and 11. Investigators say some of the kids were assaulted during visits with Flory's own school-age children. Police say the rapes took place the first 11 days of this month.
And we have this bit of breaking news to tell you about out of Doha, Qatar. An explosion was heard Saturyda night near a British school just outside the capital of Qatar. Witnesses said that the police have sealed off the Fairic-Caleb area. It's a residential area, three miles north of Doha where this British school has been located. Again, an explosion was heard Saturday night near this British school just outside the capital in Qatar. We're going to get more information about this and bring it to you as we get it.
Moving on now, two years of war, and the hard lessons learned in Iraq. Some U.S. soldiers are on their second tour of duty. What have they learned from the past?
And he's a free man. Robert Blake has waited a long time to hear those words. Our weekly legal roundtable is going to break down his case for us.
Plus, nature's beast. There it is. The risk of chasing such a powerful force. It's all in a day's work for two women, coming up straight ahead on CNN.
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BAKHTIAR: Two years ago today, the bombs started falling on Baghdad as the U.S.-led coalition launched the war in Iraq. And while Iraq is still on the road to democracy, attacks by insurgents continue, and American troops still play a major role in that country.
To Baghdad now and CNN's Aneesh Raman. Aneesh?
ANEESH RAMAN, CNN IRAQ CORRESPONDENT: Rudi, good afternoon.
I spent the day with members of the third I.D. in the first A.D. in Ta Ji, a city north of Baghdad. These are some of the guys that were there in the immediate aftermath of that first wave, and are now back here on their second tour.
You really get a sense from talking with them, they're of two minds. On one hand they are a bit burnt out. They had somewhere between six to eight months back in the U.S., the first month is vacation and then they had to start training to return. Also, they've come back to a country that has sustained violence, in many ways similar to when they left. Also some of the projects that they really put their effort into creating have essentially stalled. But on the same -- on the other hand, these are people that have seen this conflict from its beginning, from its inception. And while no weapons of mass destruction have been found, they really feel that this is now what President Bush is saying, a critical step toward democracy in the Middle East. And they feel that they need to see this through. One person I spoke to, Major Clark Taylor, he really spoke to the fact that this job needs to get done by them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. CLARKE TAYLOR, U.S. ARMY: I have no problem coming back this time. I have no problem coming back if I've got to come back again, because, if we don't finish this now, our children are going to have to do it 20 years from now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAMAN: Now, Rudi, he was one a few who actually fought in the first Gulf War as well. He was telling an anecdote that at that time, someone was telling him he would be back in Iraq 20 years later. So it's that reason that he hopes the children don't have to fight what they leave unfinished.
But for them, this anniversary not really something that they commemorate or recognize. There's simply too much work to be done, Rudi.
BAKHTIAR: All right. Aneesh, in Baghdad, thank you.
From the Far East to western Europe, tens of thousands of people are marking the second anniversary of the war in Iraq by taking to the streets in protest, as Aneesh just was telling us. This was the scene in Tokyo earlier today. Reports say nearly 5,000 people took part in the demonstrations there. The anti-war rally in Britain's capital was much bigger. Organizers say 100,000 protesters marched through the streets of London. Police put the number at 45,000.
President Bush is marking the anniversary by defending the invasion in Iraq. In his weekly radio address, he thanked American troops for serving in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: To all the brave members of our armed forces who have taken part in this historic mission, and to your families, I express the heartfelt thanks of the American people. I know that nothing can end the pain of the families who have lost loved ones in this struggle but they can know their sacrifice is added to America's security and the of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: He said because the U.S.-led coalition acted, Iraq's government is no longer a threat to the world or its own people.
For hundreds of American families, the war in Iraq has led to the ultimate sacrifice, the loss of a loved one. And today, those fallen soldiers are being remembered. Some words now from the wife of one of the American troops who lost his life in Iraq.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STACEY SAMMIS, WIDOW OF CAPT. BENJAMIN SAMMIS: I remember, I sat on the couch and I stared up at this big lieutenant colonel with these big blue eyes, and he was just -- tears coming out of his eyes. And they were reading me all of this military, technical terms, and I just stopped the captain for a second and I said, did the bad guys get him? And they said, yes. And that was all I needed to know.
He had a heart that was so big. He just loved everyone. He was very intelligent. And he had big dreams for his life. Big dreams. He wanted to be a dad. He wanted to be the best officer he could be. He was funny as anything. He could do voices from "Shrek" and the Klumps from "The Nutty Professor." So he was always there with a laugh, a big smile.
Every time I cry, like now, he would just say, Stacey, just smile, just smile for me. He was always there to pick me up. I miss everything about him. I miss making dinner together. I miss waking up next to him. I miss the e-mails. I miss the future that we will never have, the children we'll never have. He used to say all the time -- we'd go for walks -- and he'd say, you know, we're going to be 80 years old in our matching sweat suits, sitting out here, feeding the pigeons. And that sounded great to me. So I miss that.
I was definitely the center of his world, and he was the center of our world, and we were a great team. He used to call us Team Sammis. He was my best friend. I could just come up to him and put my head in the crook of his neck and he would just give me a big bear hug and just hold me so tight. So, maybe that's what I miss the most, just being able to be held and protected, because I just felt so safe in his spot. He would just hold me so tight. I just knew nothing bad would happen if he were with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: Now, some stories making news across America at this hour.
Former Connecticut governor John Rowland is headed to prison on April 1st. He's been sentenced to a year and day on corruption charges. Prosecutors say he steered state business contracts to companies that gave him cash and gifts.
Updating the alleged kidnapping plot against David Letterman's family: the fiancee of the accused said he's the victim of a personal vendetta by a former friend after a fight at work. Kelly Frank was arrested after police were told that he wanted to kidnap Letterman's young son and nanny and then hold them for $5 million ransom. Frank worked at Letterman's ranch in most.
And, they're on the hunt for house thieves in Smith County, Texas. The owners of an empty brick three-bedroom suddenly discovered it was gone. Police saw the men taking down the house brick by brick but thought nothing of it because of construction nearby.
Upset! The NCAA top seeds have got to be shaking in their sneakers today. Two shockers: knocking out a pair of college hoops heavyweights, Bucknell stuns Kansas 64-63. It's the Bison's first NCAA tournament win in their 110-year history. Chris McNaughton hitting a hook shot with ten seconds to go. That handed the victory to the 14th-seeded Bisons.
And Vermont made orange crush out of Syracuse. The cats beating up on them, 60-57 in overtime. Syracuse, 2003 national champs, hoped for a second trip to the final four in three years. For Vermont's coach, the win delays his retirement at least two more days.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM BRENNAN, VERMONT HEAD COACH: I'm not surprised. I normally sound like a wise guy here. I'm really not. When we got to overtime, I figured it was time for me to pack the trunk for me. But -- I was worried about that -- but then we came right out again and did what we had to do. And these great, great seniors, I told you guys yesterday, synergy and karma and stars being aligned, there was a lot to it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BAKHTIAR: Up next for Vermont, fifth-seeded Michigan state on Sunday.
Well, he's broke, but he's free. Robert Blake's murder case is behind him. After hearing the words, not guilty. we're going to talk with our legal analysts straight ahead.
And, they call themselves the twister sisters. These women actually run toward tornados instead of away from them. Their daring efforts ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BAKHTIAR: And here's what's making news right now for you. Police in Florida have found the body of Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year- old who disappeared more than three weeks ago. Police say John Couey a convicted sex offender has confessed to kidnapping and killing the young girl. Couey is in custody in Georgia where he's under a suicide watch.
Today marks the second anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. And as the country moves toward democracy, insurgents are still on the attack there. In northern Iraq today, three Iraqi police officers were killed when a bomb exploded during a funeral procession in Kirkuk.
And in Lebanon, police are searching for clues in a car bombing that injured several people. The blast ripping through a mostly Christian neighborhood in Beirut. It is the second car bombing in Beirut in five weeks.
And three high-profile legal cases are unfolding in the California courts. And a fourth in Florida. Scott Peterson goes to death row in San Quentin prison. It overlooks the bay where prosecutors say he dumped the body of his pregnant wife Laci after killing her on Christmas Eve.
The Michael Jackson trial wrapped up the week with allegations that his accuser may have stolen $300 from the wallet of comedian George Lopez. The judge will now allow questions about that in court. Lopez was helping the boy's family as he struggled with cancer.
Actor Robert Blake is a free man, celebrating the jury's verdict of not guilty in the killing of his wife. Bonny Bakley was found shot to death in a car outside a restaurant where the couple had just had dinner. The evidence was circumstantial in that case. In the words of the jury foreman they could not "put the gun in his hand."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT BLAKE, ACTOR: I'm going to get a job. I'm broke. Right now I couldn't buy spats for a hummingbird. What did Johnny Carson from (INAUDIBLE) say? You're innocent until proven broke. I'm going to go out and do a little cowboying. You know what that? No you don't know what that is. Cowboying is when you get in a motor home or a van or something like that, and you just let the air blow in your hair.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BAKHTIAR: The mother of Terri Schiavo is pleading with public officials to intervene. Doctors disconnected the feeding tube of the brain-damaged woman more than 24 hours ago. Her husband and her parents have feuded for years over her wishes and about whether she can ever improve.
So as you see, it's been quite a week in the courtrooms all over America. For more on the Blake and Schiavo cases, let's turn to our legal experts Richard Herman is a New York criminal defense attorney, joining us now from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: How are you?
BAKHTIAR: Hello. Thank you for joining us.
And Avery Friedman is a civil rights lawyer and law professor. He's with me here at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Avery it is good have you with us.
AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: It is nice to be with you Rudi.
BAKHTIAR: Let's start with the Schiavo case. And let's start with you since you're a constitutional law professor. Lets talk about this, should the government be allowed to step into the Schiavo case?
FRIEDMAN: Well, you know, the interesting thing is, and the government has stepped into the case. This matter has gone through all the courts of Florida. It has actually gone to the U.S. Supreme Court on a somewhat related issue. Now an effort is being made to get Congress to jump into a strictly state's rights kind of case.
So from a constitutional law perspective, even though, Rudi, this is a very emotional case, the reality is that this is no place for the Congress, since 1803 that law has been clear. So the bottom line is, even if Congress enacts legislation, and no one has talked about this yet it's likely to be held unconstitutional. Congress cannot intervene in this case.
BAKHTIAR: Richard do you agree with Avery?
HERMAN: I'm going to pass out because actually I do agree with Avery.
BAKHTIAR: That's a first for us here.
HERMAN: I know the Atlanta studio will kill my mic if I tell you how I really feel about what Congress did here. But I must tell you, the issue really boils down to, how will we as a society agree to terminate someone's life when their wishes are that they do not want to stay alive if it is by an artificial means. That's really the issue at this point.
BAKHTIAR: So, Avery, tell us, how is Congress going to go about doing this? And what is going on with the subpoenas? And your thoughts on all of that? FRIEDMAN: Well, it's incomprehensible. This is the first time in American constitutional history that some members of Congress, some members of Congress, have decided to take an individual case and try to pass legislation to protect that person. As I say, even if the House and the Senate are successful, there is no way a federal court is ever going to approve congressional action to get involved in this case.
So while there is great hope on the part of the family, Rudi, the reality is, that this is a personal matter. It is a state's rights matter. It is something that Congress cannot and should not be involved in.
BAKHTIAR: So, Richard, what can the family do here?
HERMAN: Well, look, the family's reached out to the president of the United States. And he's made his views known. But at this point, I really agree with Avery, they really overstepped their bounds, this congressional committee. And frankly, I don't think anything is going to prevent the inevitable for Terri Schiavo. We can look prospectively into the future, but I think all avenues are closed for this poor woman.
BAKHTIAR: This has happened before, where they have removed the feeding tube but then put it back in.
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BAKHTIAR: This time around, what do you think is going to happen?
FRIEDMAN: There's no possible way. All the processes, Rudi, have been exhausted. Everything that the family is challenging has exercised everything possible.
HERMAN: Rudi, two state trials in Florida, an appeal to the Appellate Division, an appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, and then to the United States Supreme Court. And everybody has confirmed the trial judge's decision, that this was Terri's wishes. Not only did her husband testify but her own best friend testified and others testified.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
HERMAN: It's a fact-finding -- it's a determination that's been upheld. And this is how we view her wishes.
FRIEDMAN: And it is not a constitutional issue, that's the important thing...
HERMAN: Right.
FRIEDMAN: To understand -- Congress wants to make it that, even if they pass it, there's no way a federal court would ever approve it.
BAKHTIAR: All right, we're going to see where that one goes. Let's talk about the Blake trial. Were either of you surprised, blown away, as many attorneys have come out saying, by the results of what happened the other night?
FRIEDMAN: Well, I think there were a lot of surprises. Why? Because Robert Blake had a motive, he had an opportunity. And the question was, could the prosecution connect the dots. The big issue here was, they couldn't find the weapon. It was at a place where Robert Blake ordinarily had dinner.
The argument, a wonderful argument by defense lawyers, and I don't defend these kind of cases, but I will have to say the defense lawyer made an excellent argument saying, look it, if he really wanted to kill his wife, he wouldn't have done it this way.
And you know the witnesses that the prosecutor brought in had absolutely no credibility. They had drug problems, credibility problems.
BAKHTIAR: Those were the guys who came in and said that Robert Blake was trying to hire me...
FRIEDMAN: Right.
BAKHTIAR: To kill his wife.
FRIEDMAN: The stuntmen.
HERMAN: And Rudi, that's why it was shocking. When a defendant is on trial, and it's proven he solicited six people to try to kill his wife, I mean, that's pretty overwhelming evidence and it all came in. Except that the jury rejected it. They deemed these people psychos. There was no gun residue on his hand to tie him to that gun, as Avery said. Since they couldn't tie Robert Blake to that gun, the witnesses were not believable.
And frankly, the prosecutor's summation which I did watch was one of the most boring, ridiculous summations I've ever seen. Even the prosecutor bashed Bonny Bakley. You can't do that you just can't do that.
FRIEDMAN: Well in all fairness, Rudi, despite the problem with the prosecutor's arguments, he couldn't connect the dots. I mean Bonny Bakley was an unsympathetic victim. Robert Blake was -- this is sort of the anti-Scott Peterson case. You have someone appealing, a victim who wasn't. And then where you have the very elusive concept of beyond a reasonable doubt, Rudi, this was a case where Robert Blake walked out of that courtroom a free man.
BAKHTIAR: So the prosecution, could they have done it better?
FRIEDMAN: I don't know if they could have done it better. Don't forget that in July of this year, Robert Blake isn't out of the woods yet. He's facing a civil suit by the Bakley family for wrongful death. So this case isn't over. BAKHTIAR: OK, so let's talk about a jury requesting some read- backs of certain witnesses. You all remember that. What did that suggest? Richard, I'm going to start with you.
HERMAN: Frankly, Rudi, I think the jury was a little bored and they wanted to humor themselves. I don't think they believed at the credibility of every one of these witnesses was destroyed on cross- examination. They have checkered pasts. None of them could be believed. They came across as lunatics basically. You can't win a conviction based on no reasonable doubt by putting these types of witnesses on the stand. Just not going to fly. Plus, you had Beretta on trial, a movie star. And some of these jurors may have been star- struck with him.
FRIEDMAN: I don't buy that part of it. I don't care if you had Elizabeth Taylor on. The fact is the prosecution had the duty to meet standards beyond a reasonable doubt. And absent bringing in Fred the cockatoo in, it wouldn't have made any difference. The fact is, that Robert Blake, who did not testify, sat back, he had the right to remain silent, let the prosecutor do his thing, and they couldn't make the case.
BAKHTIAR: All right, we're going to have to leave it at that, gentlemen. Richard Herman criminal defense attorney and Avery Friedman civil rights attorney and law professor. Thank you both, always good to have you with us.
HERMAN: Hey Rudi, I know Avery will join me in extending our sincere condolences to the Lunsford family. What a tragedy.
FRIEDMAN: That's right.
BAKHTIAR: A huge tragedy, I think everyone feels that. Everyone feels that. Thank you both gentlemen.
HERMAN: Thank you.
BAKHTIAR: And coming up, if you were stranded on a desert island, what is the one DVD you would want to pick to watch? The Motion Picture Association of America is the president, that is, tells us his choice ahead.
And a powerful force of nature. Two women chased tornadoes for a living. Just why do they do it? We will let you know. But first, on this weekend's edition of "Tips from the Top" the noteworthy success of Chris Botti."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's performed with Sting, and Frank Sinatra, and now jazz trumpeter Chris Botti is seeing something few instrumental musicians do, chart topping success. Oprah's mention of Botti's latest CD sent sales soaring, but he says its dedication that equals success.
CHRIS BOTTI, MUSICIAN, SONGWRITER: If you look at creative people over the course of time, the fact that they had daydreamed, the fact that they had dedication, that's what made them successful. And the diligent aspect of playing this instrument every single day, no matter where I am in the world, has led to this crescendo in my life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And success for him isn't only measured by the charts.
BOTTI: To be able to walk out on stage and perform live for people and have them get a babysitter and come to the show, that's really the ultimate level of success.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "Tips from the top" is brought to you by Fidelity Investments. Smart move.
BAKHTIAR: This just in to CNN. The Senate will be reconvening today at 5:00 p.m. to discuss the Terri Schiavo case. Terri Schiavo's feeding tube, you remember, was removed yesterday. Earlier today, her mother made an impassioned plea to the president and as well as other lawmakers to help save her daughter's life. So at 5:00 p.m. Eastern today, the Senate will reconvene. And of course, we'll bring you what comes out of that later on in the day.
Moving on to some other news now. Spring has come and spring means tornado season. Storm watchers counted 1,500 twisters in 2004. Two women chase tornadoes for a living. And their story is told in the "Tornado Hunters," a documentary airing now on National Geographic channel that is. CNN's Heidi Collins now with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): For the twister sisters, this is just another day on the job. For the past four years, Peggy Willenberg and Melanie Metz, not actually sisters, leave their families behind and team up to track down tornadoes. Driving across the country in their tricked-out truck.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The shape is looking fairly nice.
COLLINS: Two among dozens who get their thrills forecasting, then finding the perfect storm. Documenting the destruction, then selling the footage to the media. But why would two seemingly reasonable women risk their lives chasing tornadoes?
MELANIE METZ, STORM CHASER: Just a sense of fascination, and a little bit of fear, and combined, it makes it a very exhilarating experience to watch this powerful force.
COLLINS: Especially exhilarating when it all works out just right. And they see the storm from the very start.
PEGGY WILLENBERG, STORM CHASER: This tornado formed right in front of us. If you want to call that the birth of a tornado, however, now we are about 30 seconds into it, and let's watch what happens. Became a very large, powerful tornado. COLLINS: That power was most apparent for the twister sisters in 2004. They were tracking a tornado in Nebraska that took out an entire town. Flattening farmhouses, totaling trucks, leaving a 52-mile path of destruction in its wake. That day the twister sisters helped save three lives.
WILLENBERG: It was nothing recognizable as a house. But yet we knew there were three people under that pile of debris. So that was our goal, to get those people out of there before the house blew up.
COLLINS: There are an average of 800 tornadoes in the United States every season, resulting in around 80 deaths. But these intrepid hunters say despite the destruction, they are still astonished every time they see a twister's terrible beauty.
WILLENBERG: It's the geometry, the perfection, how much has to happen to create this just brief moment of perfection. And it's just a power -- something that you can't put your hands around. It's awesome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BAKHTIAR: Coming up, the glitz and glam of the Academy Awards. A big shot in the movie business shares his first experience at the Oscars, straight ahead on the "Novak Zone."
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BAKHTIAR: Welcome back everyone. He's gone from the cornfields of Kansas to Congress, and cabinet secretary. Now Dan Glickman is a big shot in the movie business and joins CNN's Robert Novak in this week's edition of the "Novak Zone."
ROBERT NOVAK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Welcome to the "Novak Zone." We're at the theater of the Motion Picture Association of America in Washington, D.C with the new head of the association, Dan Glickman. It's always tough to follow a legend, whether it's Vince Lombardi or Johnny Carson or Jack Valenty. Jack Valenty was the head of the Motion Picture Association for so many years. Is it tough to follow in his footsteps?
DAN GLICKMAN, MPAA PRESIDENT: Yes, I mean Jack is an amazing man. He's still around, by the way. So he's still helping me quite a bit. I've learned a lot from him. He's given me one piece of advice, which is being who I am, not try to be him or anybody else. But I still know that he's got a lot of value and a lot of help to give me. And I call on him all the time.
NOVAK: When you attended the Academy Award ceremonies and Hollywood recently, the Oscar ceremonies, that was the first time you were ever there. What was your impression of the event?
GLICKMAN: I got a real kick out of it. I pinched myself, here I was a secretary of agriculture, Congressman from Kansas and now I am head of the Motion Picture Association and so I thought to myself, pretty good gig here you know having this job and I was also lucky because I have a son in the business as well. But, you know, I think this is one of the great industries of America.
We've got a positive balance of payment surplus with every single country in the world we do business with. Produce hundreds of thousands of jobs. And it is a great business and people love the movies. What else could you ask for in life?
NOVAK: Mr. Glickman, one of the most powerful movies that I ever saw, and I'm not a movie critic, but it was powerful was "The Passion of the Christ." It was not even selected as a nominee for an Oscar. Is that a sign of an anti-religious bias or a liberal bias in the academy?
GLICKMAN: I don't think so. I actually saw the movie and I enjoyed the movie. I don't know exactly how the academy decides which movies to nominate. This year, there were some excellent movies nominated. And I think there are a lot of things that go into that decision. "The Passion" was nominated for a couple of awards, I believe, although not best picture. But, you know, that's the great thing about the movies; we produce all different types of movies that appeal to all different types of people.
NOVAK: As you commented, Mr. Glickman, you were a member of Congress from Kansas, or a distinguished member, secretary of agriculture and a Democrat. Is it tough to be the -- one of the principal lobbyists in Washington when the entire government now is controlled by the Republicans?
GLICKMAN: Well, there's no question I've learned I've had a lot of bridge building to do. But, you know, most people in my business, most members of Congress are interested in helping folks keep their jobs, producing jobs, worried about economic interests, making sure that our products can have access to the overseas markets. In our case, protecting our products from being pirated.
So the ideological differences that often get talked about in the media are far less important than the economic interests that our industry faces. No, I don't find it a problem at all.
NOVAK: What about the partisan differences? Are your days as a partisan Democrat over do you think?
GLICKMAN: Well let put it to you like this, I've been writing a lot of checks to Republicans lately. This is something that was new for me. My hand was shaking a bit at the beginning but now it's starting to be a little more comfortable. I can't get rid of what I am, nor would anybody want me to be that. I was a long-time Democrat. But this business is nonpartisan. The economics of the movie industry are powerful. We produce hundreds of thousands of jobs. This is an important industry for America.
NOVAK: Another movie that did not get a nomination was Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 911." What did you think of that movie? Was that a documentary? Was it a propaganda film? Was it a political advertisement? What did you think?
GLICKMAN: I think it was in the eye of the beholder. Depended on your political perspective when you went in to see it. I saw that movie. I see most movies, actually. I see between 50 and 100 movies a year. I love the movies a lot; you know I thought it was an interesting movie. It was made by a provocateur is what was. I took it for what ever it was, the guy had a point of view, and I didn't think it was a great movie. I thought it was interesting, but it wasn't my candidate to be best picture I can tell you that.
NOVAK: Mr. Glickman, what do you feel your principal task is in this new job? What is your goal? What is the imperative facing you?
GLICKMAN: I think it's to be spokesman for one of the most successful industries in the world. When you think about what America is known for around the world, it's often by the movies. I remember when Governor Schwarzenegger spoke at the Republican convention; he said his first statement was, "I learned about America as a young boy in Austria when I went to the movies." So my job is try to articulate the economic needs of the motion picture industry to the countries as a whole but specifically to the Congress.
NOVAK: Are you happy with the quality of the movies that are coming out today? I mean, the family movies that you can take the kids to the movie theater and see?
GLICKMAN: If you go to the "Incredibles" or you go to "Shrek 2," or "Spider-man 2," those are phenomenal movies they're very popular. Not only the kids like them, but their parents like them as well. So yes I think there -- and not just those, because those are -- I pointed out some of the animated movies. But there are some excellent outstanding family oriented movies coming out.
NOVAK: And now, the big question for Dan Glickman, head of the Motion Picture Association of America. Mr. Glickman, you're on a desert island. You have one DVD, it's the only one you can have, and you have to see that movie for the rest of your life, which one would you pick?
GLICKMAN: Well I would tell you anything my son has produced I would pick. Because my son is a producer in Los Angeles. But if I didn't have that choice I'd probably pick the "Godfather." I mean it's the movie I've probably seen more than any other movie there is. It's a movie that has intrigue, and love, and a lot of ethnic issues. And it's a movie about the origin of this country as a whole. And I liked it. It's one of those movies I could see a thousand times. So if I were on a desert island, I guess I would.
NOVAK: Terrific. Thank you Dan Glickman.
GLICKMAN: Thanks Bob.
NOVAK: And thank you for being in the "Novak Zone."
BAKHTIAR: For more of Bob Novak, tune in to the "Capital Gang" tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
And this just in to CNN. House majority leader Tom Delay will be holding a news conference on the Terri Schiavo case in just 15 minutes and when he does, CNN will be bringing that to you live. We'll also have more news right after this break.
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