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CNN Live At Daybreak
Escalating Bitter Legal Battle Over Terri Schiavo; A Deadly Explosion in Nation's Third Largest Oil Refinery
Aired March 24, 2005 - 05:00 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: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, life, death, politics and the escalating bitter legal battle over Terri Schiavo.
Plus, a deadly explosion in the nation's third largest oil refinery. The search for victims is not over yet.
And a violent clash of wills. Supporters versus opponents of a government, with riot police in the middle.
It is Thursday, March 24.
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 question this hour in the Terri Schiavo case, will the Supreme Court hear arguments in the case? While back in Florida, a state court judge is expected to rule by noon on expanded arguments aimed at restoring her feeding tube.
At St. Peter's Church in Rome, Holy Thursday mass. It marks the washing of disciples' feet by Jesus. Pope John Paul II isn't there. He's also expected to miss tomorrow's Good Friday mass.
At least 14 are dead after an explosion and fire at a B.P. oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. More than 100 people are injured. The refinery produces 3 percent of the U.S. petroleum supply.
A memorial service is planned Saturday for Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl abducted from her home. A convicted sex offender under arrest. He has been denied bond.
And Ashley Smith, the woman held hostage by the man suspected in the Atlanta courthouse shooting, is getting a reward for his capture. Smith will receive $62,500 for helping police nab Brian Nichols.
Chad Myers is still under the weather.
Rob Marciano is in this morning -- good morning, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Carol.
Weather, speaking, speaking of weather.
COSTELLO: Yes?
MARCIANO: Bad transition here at 5:00. I'm going to get better as the day rolls along.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents have appealed again to the U.S. Supreme Court to order their daughter's feeding tube reinserted. It is the sixth time the case has been presented to the Supreme Court, which has consistently refused to hear it.
Bill Mears is our producer here at CNN.
He's at the Supreme Court this morning -- good morning.
Bring us up to date.
BILL MEARS, CNN PRODUCER: Good morning.
The latest, Carol, is that we're in a holding pattern. We're waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on this emergency appeal from the parents of Terri Schiavo.
Bob and Mary Schindler want the justices to order that her nourishment be restored immediately. The legal brief they filed overnight says Terri is "dying of starvation and dehydration." It also goes on at length over what is called "a miraculous event" claimed by Terri's father, that when he visited his daughter last weekend, she tried to mouth the words "I want to live."
This latest and perhaps final appeal was prompted by a Congressional bill signed by the president this past weekend. It allows the federal courts to intervene in this case. Terri's parents say that was a clear sign that Congress and the White House want that feeding tube put back in immediately.
It's unclear when we're going to get a ruling, but the matter is still under review and I think we're going to get something within the next few hours.
COSTELLO: I would suspect, because that's how it's been running the past few days.
Is there any chance at all, as far as what you know about past history with the Supreme Court, that the Supreme Court in this case will choose to hear it?
MEARS: Most legal experts I've talked to say it's unlikely that the court is going to intervene. What makes it different is the fact that both Congress and the White House have endorsed a bill here that says that the federal courts should intervene and intervene right now. So that may carry some weight with the justices in this case.
COSTELLO: Bill Mears, our producer, at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.
We'll check back with him a little later on DAYBREAK.
As you know, President Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, have played roles in this life and death dilemma.
Our senior White House correspondent, John King, has that from the president's ranch near Crawford, Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Late morning, Waco, Texas -- President Bush making clear if the federal courts don't intervene to save Terri Schiavo, he sees no way he can do more.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll watch the courts make its decisions. But we've looked at all options from the executive branch perspective.
KING: Oh, and by the way...
G. BUSH: I have not discussed the next steps with the brother of -- with my brother, who is the governor of Florida.
KING: Two and a half hours later, Tallahassee, Florida, Governor Jeb Bush saying he now believes he has the executive authority to at least temporarily restore Schiavo's feeding tube.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: We're exhausting all executive options.
KING: The role of the brothers Bush is a remarkable subplot to the legal and political battle over Schiavo and the broader debates over the right to life and the right to die.
KEITH APPEL, CONSERVATIVE STRATEGIST: The Congress, the president, the legislature, the governor in Florida, have all bent over backwards. They've all gone to remarkable lengths, certainly unprecedented lengths in my lifetime and in the lifetimes of most people, to try to save the life of this one woman.
KING: For years, this was Jeb Bush's fight in the Florida legislature and in the state courts. President Bush stepped in when it appeared his brother's options at the state levels were exhausted, supporting and then rushing back from Texas to sign extraordinary legislation shifting the Schiavo fight to the federal courts.
Very different in political style, the president acknowledges he tends to be blunt. His brother is more soft-spoken. President Bush is a devout Christian. His brother, the governor, a convert to Catholicism. Both outspoken in their support for what they call a culture of life -- opposition to abortion and cloning, strict limits on stem cell research. And now, extraordinary executive efforts in the Schiavo case that win praise from social conservatives, but run contrary to majority opinion in the United States, and, critics say, contrary to years of legal precedent. KATHRYN TUCKER, LEGAL ANALYST: But it has been an act that is such a gross overreaching of the bounds of federal authority.
KING (on camera): Two brothers, one the chief executive of Florida, the other the chief executive of the United States. Their considerable powers perhaps not enough to win a fight they insist is motivated by deep moral beliefs, not, as some critics say, by politics.
John King, CNN, Crawford, Texas.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Today we have decided to keep our e-mail question open-ended. In general, we want to know what your thoughts are on the Schiavo case, the controversy, all of the legal fields, whatever you want to talk about. Let us know what you think this morning. It's been a long road for the Schindlers and for Michael Schiavo, and for Terri Schiavo, in a hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida. We want to know what you think this morning. Was it all worth it? Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
The U.S. Army expects a slump in recruiting to continue. The Army already missed its recruiting goal for February by 27 percent. Army Secretary Francis Harvey is forecasting that all three elements of the service, active, Guard and Reserve, will fall short of their targets for March and April. Despite that, Harvey says he sees no chance of a military draft.
The Bush administration's intense drive to overhaul Social Security got a potential boost. The program's trustees say in 12 years Social Security will pay out more than it takes in. Also, according to those trustees, Social Security will run out of money in 2041. Social Security's six trustees include four senior Bush administration officials and two private citizens. And one of them supports private accounts within Social Security.
More "News Across America" for you now.
Officials say there is no danger of contamination even after 126,000 gallons of oil ended up in southern California's drinking water supply. A landslide apparently ruptured an oil pipeline, causing the large spill. The oil ran into a reservoir near Los Angeles that provides drinking water for several cities.
Police say a reported hostage taking in New Brunswick, New Jersey may have been a hoax. You know the story. A girl calls 911, says she's handcuffed to a bed, she's been raped. The SWAT team shows up but it all ends peacefully after a six hour stand-off. Police say the details of the incident are still unclear. The three teenagers who were in the house are apparently siblings and could still face charges for this apparent hoax.
One house in Tucson, Arizona quite literally has gone to pot. Police showed off nearly seven tons of marijuana they found inside the home. Agents say it's likely that no one lived in the house, since it was filled floor to ceiling with bales of marijuana. The drugs have a street value of about $20 million.
This is the winning design that may be at the center of an AIDS memorial in San Francisco. The seven acre site in Golden Gate Park is the first federally recognized AIDS memorial in the country. The so- called living memorial design was chosen out of more than 200 entries. But $2 million still have to be raised to build it.
Here's what we're working on for you on DAYBREAK.
Violent protests in a former Soviet republic. In the next segment of DAYBREAK, we'll get the very latest from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, at 16 minutes past.
And then we're going to Nigeria for a contest to find the biggest fish in a very crowded pond. That's at 24 minutes past.
And there's a new gadget to add to your collection. The newest Sony PlayStation does more than just play games. We'll show you the tricks at 45 minutes after.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Terri Schiavo's parents are hoping for some relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Anthony Kennedy will decide if the entire court will get involved in the parents' latest effort to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted.
Bobby Fischer, you know, the chess player, says he's looking forward to his new life as an Icelandic citizen. But the grizzled 62- year-old could still face deportation to the United States. Fischer was released from a Japanese detention center after eight months in custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: How does it feel to be free?
QUESTION: Bobby (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
QUESTION: Do you think you...
BOBBY FISCHER: I'm not free until I get out of Japan. In this country, there's no law and order here. This is a -- let me just say something. This was not an arrest, this was a kidnapping. It was all cooked up between Bush and Koizumi. They are war criminals. They should both be hung.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Bobby Fischer. Yes, that is the chess player.
In money news, Target's Club Wed is the number one choice for brides and grooms. That's according to a survey by a retail research company. The survey also found that the average wedding guest spends $129 on a gift and the most popular gifts are bed linens and bath towels.
In culture, Whitney Houston is back in rehab. It was a year ago this month that the singer checked into a rehabilitation center for five days. In the past, Houston has admitted to using alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.
In sports, NASCAR has reversed course and decided to lift the two race suspensions for jimmy Johnson's crew chief. Instead, the team's failed post-race inspection will cost Chad Knaus 90 days probation. Johnson is the current points leader of the Nextel Cup Series.
To the Forecast Center and Rob Marciano.
MARCIANO: Carol, did I see you in the stands last weekend at the big race here in Atlanta?
COSTELLO: I wish I would have been there.
MARCIANO: It looked like fun. It was a good ending, that's for sure.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
A massive demonstration in Kyrgyzstan's capital has turned violent. Anti-government protesters have massed at the capital building and are calling for the country's president to step down.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote joins us from Moscow this morning with more on this escalating situation.
What's going on -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very chaotic, very fluid situation in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, one of the 15 parts of the Soviet Union that became an independent country when the Soviet Union fell apart.
Now, what is going on right now is that opposition demonstrators in the capital of this country have seized a government building, the seat of government, if you will. The most recent information we have is that they've even hung a flag from the second floor of that building to declare that they are now in control of it.
What we don't know is where the president is. The last we heard, he was on his way for some emergency talks with some European negotiators in Bishkek, in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Nor do we know what the military or the police in that capital plan on doing now that they have lost this building, the seat of power, to the opposition protesters.
Now, Kyrgyzstan is -- because it's located in Central Asia, is a very important place to U.S. -- the U.S. military in particular, to the United States in general, both for the stability that the United States would like to see in that country and also because we have a military base there. It's called Manas. And we do have U.S. servicemen and servicewomen at that base.
It is where much of the traffic both in and out of Afghanistan, much of the military traffic ferries through on their way to that country to support multinational forces. So far, we're not hearing about any problems outside of that base, but that is something that, of course, they're going to be very concerned about in Washington, D.C. right now. They're also going to be very concerned about returning some kind of normalcy to the situation in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live from Moscow this morning.
Thank you.
We are going around the globe just ahead on DAYBREAK.
You don't want to be the big fish in this river. You're going to see it in a second. There it is. We'll take you to northern Nigeria for a contest to snag the one that got away.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, March 24.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: In northern Nigeria, fishing is a way of life, a sport and a matter of pride. And every year, thousands of fishermen gather for the ultimate test of skill.
Our Lagos bureau chief, Jeff Koinange, has the tale of the one that did not get away.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A police line of defense stands between an army of eager fishermen and a much sought after prize. Now in its 71st year, the annual Argungu Fishing Festival in northern Nigeria pits thousands of prospective fishermen and the chance to display their bare-handed skills in bagging the big fish. It's an event that draws the crowds in their thousands, from presidents, to past presidents, and from religious leaders to foreign dignitaries, including the president of neighboring Niger, all keen to be a part of an event that's stood the test of time.
In keeping with tradition, a musket is fired signaling the start of the event. A 100-meter dash as the competitors rush headlong into a muddy river in the pursuit of Nile perch and catfish. They carry the archaic tackles used by their ancestors -- giant butterfly nets and equally giant gourds, used for both flotation and as vessels to store their catches.
(on camera): Now, the basic principle behind this competition is pretty straightforward. You rush in, you cast your net, you look for the biggest fish and the biggest fish wins. Oh, there's one more thing. The water in the river Argungu, at its deepest point, about seven to eight feet.
(voice-over): There is no shortage of cheerleaders. These drummers are urging the fishermen not to give up. And the competitors, who come from as far away as Mali and Niger, are not about to. Thousands of bobbing heads dip into the muddy waters while other contestants just float about on their giant calabashes. And lifeguards patrol the river in canoes, just in case someone needs help.
In the suddenly frothing waters of the Argungu, it's a picture of chaos and confusion as thousands of nets are tossed and tangled in a desperate attempt to beat the clock and claim the ultimate prize. A half an hour later, a local villager lands what he hopes will be the catch of the day. But it's still early in the contest. Many of these fishermen will end up disappointed. Small fry like this won't cut it in the Argungu Fishing Festival.
Exactly an hour after the starting gun and it's all over. The prize catches are tagged and laid out for all to see. And then, the moment of truth. A whopping 165-pound Nile perch caught by local hero Timothy Olu (ph). So large, two men struggle to hold it up.
Nigeria's president says the Argungu Fishing Festival should rival any major competition around the world and wants to turn it into a tourist attraction. This couple, all the way from New York City, agrees.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's something I've wanted to see for many years. It does not disappoint.
KOINANGE: To the winner, the spoils, with this shiny trophy and $1,000 in cash, Olu walks away, or, rather, drives away, in this brand new minibus, which is now also his. But perhaps most importantly, he carries off bragging rights as Nigeria's number one fisherman.
As for the Argungu River, it returns to its serene status, a no go zone for fishermen, at least until the same time next year.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Kebbi State in northern Nigeria.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was a good fish tale, wasn't it, Rob?
MARCIANO: Yes, it was. I was, you know, I was waiting -- two minutes into that piece and finally I got to see a fish. I didn't think they were going to pull anything out of that river. COSTELLO: Well, it was a...
MARCIANO: It was impressive.
COSTELLO: I want to say it was a bit -- but you know what I want to say, but I can't say it.
MARCIANO: It's good eating.
COSTELLO: Yes.
"Late Night Laughs" now.
It's "Late Night Laughs" time.
MARCIANO: Oh, let's -- let me guess. What was in the news yesterday?
COSTELLO: Barry Bonds.
MARCIANO: Oh, Barry Bonds. OK. Yes.
COSTELLO: Jon Stewart poking fun at Barry Bonds.
MARCIANO: Oh, this should be good.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, because, man, I have my own things to say about Barry Bonds.
But here's Jon Stewart's take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)
JON STEWART, HOST: Yesterday he held an impromptu press conference to take some accountability and put the blame for his troubles, you know, where it belonged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: You guys wanted to hurt me bad enough, you finally got there.
QUESTION: When you say you guys, who do you mean?
BONDS: You, you, you, you, you, you, the media, everybody. You finally got there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: I am sorry. I don't know what to say. I do, I do take responsibility. I do remember, this was years ago when I saw Barry Bonds for the first time. And I remember saying to him, you're skinny and very weak. You might want to do a little whump-whump and roarrrr.
So I do take responsibility for, you know, convincing him to do steroids for a long, long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: That was a good take. What do you have to say about old Barry Bonds? You know, you don't get upset very easily, Carol. But, you know, I saw a little, you know, disgust in your...
COSTELLO: Oh, he's just so -- he is just so arrogant.
MARCIANO: Well, he's just -- he's planned this. He just doesn't want to play this season, because he's all beef. He's one of the few players still beefed up. He's obviously still on the juice. And he's going to have surgery, he's going to have injuries and then he's going to retire and he's going to have the record intact without ever being tested.
COSTELLO: I'm telling you. I mean why wouldn't reporters ask him those questions? He's involved with BALCO. We all know what BALCO is accused of, right?
MARCIANO: Right.
COSTELLO: I mean it would be remiss of reporters not to ask him about steroids. And if he would just come out and say definitively like, you know what? I've never taken a steroid in my whole life, that's it. But he isn't saying that.
MARCIANO: Yes. And he just...
COSTELLO: He isn't saying that and we're not supposed to ask him?
MARCIANO: You know, my friends in the sports community have told me, he's just a flat out jerk to the media. So...
COSTELLO: Yes.
MARCIANO: ... you know, he isn't...
COSTELLO: It's not like he talks to the media very much either. It's like...
MARCIANO: Anyway, good luck to him.
COSTELLO: Pardon? I didn't hear you.
MARCIANO: Good luck to Barry Bonds.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, good luck to Barry.
MARCIANO: Best of luck.
See you.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener" now. Gator wranglers were able to capture two of the reptiles that were putting a scare into some Florida residents. These are pictures of them capturing the larger of the two gators. Look at that thing. This gator is said to have eaten someone's cat and the head wrangler says it may have been eying a neighborhood poodle, as well.
A 10-year-old Vermont boy is the proud owner of some seriously stinky feet. Noah Nielsen won a nationwide smelly sneaker contest. For his foul feet, he won a $500 savings bond and a year's supply of Odor Eaters. Noah says his secret to success is not wearing socks ever.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
We will see how the traumatic events can affect your memory even years later.
Plus, there's a whole new game in town, and this one fits into your pocket. We'll introduce you to the PSP.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired March 24, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Straight ahead on DAYBREAK, life, death, politics and the escalating bitter legal battle over Terri Schiavo.
Plus, a deadly explosion in the nation's third largest oil refinery. The search for victims is not over yet.
And a violent clash of wills. Supporters versus opponents of a government, with riot police in the middle.
It is Thursday, March 24.
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 question this hour in the Terri Schiavo case, will the Supreme Court hear arguments in the case? While back in Florida, a state court judge is expected to rule by noon on expanded arguments aimed at restoring her feeding tube.
At St. Peter's Church in Rome, Holy Thursday mass. It marks the washing of disciples' feet by Jesus. Pope John Paul II isn't there. He's also expected to miss tomorrow's Good Friday mass.
At least 14 are dead after an explosion and fire at a B.P. oil refinery in Texas City, Texas. More than 100 people are injured. The refinery produces 3 percent of the U.S. petroleum supply.
A memorial service is planned Saturday for Jessica Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl abducted from her home. A convicted sex offender under arrest. He has been denied bond.
And Ashley Smith, the woman held hostage by the man suspected in the Atlanta courthouse shooting, is getting a reward for his capture. Smith will receive $62,500 for helping police nab Brian Nichols.
Chad Myers is still under the weather.
Rob Marciano is in this morning -- good morning, Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Carol.
Weather, speaking, speaking of weather.
COSTELLO: Yes?
MARCIANO: Bad transition here at 5:00. I'm going to get better as the day rolls along.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Terri Schiavo's parents have appealed again to the U.S. Supreme Court to order their daughter's feeding tube reinserted. It is the sixth time the case has been presented to the Supreme Court, which has consistently refused to hear it.
Bill Mears is our producer here at CNN.
He's at the Supreme Court this morning -- good morning.
Bring us up to date.
BILL MEARS, CNN PRODUCER: Good morning.
The latest, Carol, is that we're in a holding pattern. We're waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on this emergency appeal from the parents of Terri Schiavo.
Bob and Mary Schindler want the justices to order that her nourishment be restored immediately. The legal brief they filed overnight says Terri is "dying of starvation and dehydration." It also goes on at length over what is called "a miraculous event" claimed by Terri's father, that when he visited his daughter last weekend, she tried to mouth the words "I want to live."
This latest and perhaps final appeal was prompted by a Congressional bill signed by the president this past weekend. It allows the federal courts to intervene in this case. Terri's parents say that was a clear sign that Congress and the White House want that feeding tube put back in immediately.
It's unclear when we're going to get a ruling, but the matter is still under review and I think we're going to get something within the next few hours.
COSTELLO: I would suspect, because that's how it's been running the past few days.
Is there any chance at all, as far as what you know about past history with the Supreme Court, that the Supreme Court in this case will choose to hear it?
MEARS: Most legal experts I've talked to say it's unlikely that the court is going to intervene. What makes it different is the fact that both Congress and the White House have endorsed a bill here that says that the federal courts should intervene and intervene right now. So that may carry some weight with the justices in this case.
COSTELLO: Bill Mears, our producer, at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.
We'll check back with him a little later on DAYBREAK.
As you know, President Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush, the governor of Florida, have played roles in this life and death dilemma.
Our senior White House correspondent, John King, has that from the president's ranch near Crawford, Texas.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Late morning, Waco, Texas -- President Bush making clear if the federal courts don't intervene to save Terri Schiavo, he sees no way he can do more.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We'll watch the courts make its decisions. But we've looked at all options from the executive branch perspective.
KING: Oh, and by the way...
G. BUSH: I have not discussed the next steps with the brother of -- with my brother, who is the governor of Florida.
KING: Two and a half hours later, Tallahassee, Florida, Governor Jeb Bush saying he now believes he has the executive authority to at least temporarily restore Schiavo's feeding tube.
GOV. JEB BUSH (R), FLORIDA: We're exhausting all executive options.
KING: The role of the brothers Bush is a remarkable subplot to the legal and political battle over Schiavo and the broader debates over the right to life and the right to die.
KEITH APPEL, CONSERVATIVE STRATEGIST: The Congress, the president, the legislature, the governor in Florida, have all bent over backwards. They've all gone to remarkable lengths, certainly unprecedented lengths in my lifetime and in the lifetimes of most people, to try to save the life of this one woman.
KING: For years, this was Jeb Bush's fight in the Florida legislature and in the state courts. President Bush stepped in when it appeared his brother's options at the state levels were exhausted, supporting and then rushing back from Texas to sign extraordinary legislation shifting the Schiavo fight to the federal courts.
Very different in political style, the president acknowledges he tends to be blunt. His brother is more soft-spoken. President Bush is a devout Christian. His brother, the governor, a convert to Catholicism. Both outspoken in their support for what they call a culture of life -- opposition to abortion and cloning, strict limits on stem cell research. And now, extraordinary executive efforts in the Schiavo case that win praise from social conservatives, but run contrary to majority opinion in the United States, and, critics say, contrary to years of legal precedent. KATHRYN TUCKER, LEGAL ANALYST: But it has been an act that is such a gross overreaching of the bounds of federal authority.
KING (on camera): Two brothers, one the chief executive of Florida, the other the chief executive of the United States. Their considerable powers perhaps not enough to win a fight they insist is motivated by deep moral beliefs, not, as some critics say, by politics.
John King, CNN, Crawford, Texas.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: Today we have decided to keep our e-mail question open-ended. In general, we want to know what your thoughts are on the Schiavo case, the controversy, all of the legal fields, whatever you want to talk about. Let us know what you think this morning. It's been a long road for the Schindlers and for Michael Schiavo, and for Terri Schiavo, in a hospice in Pinellas Park, Florida. We want to know what you think this morning. Was it all worth it? Daybreak@cnn.com. That's daybreak@cnn.com.
The U.S. Army expects a slump in recruiting to continue. The Army already missed its recruiting goal for February by 27 percent. Army Secretary Francis Harvey is forecasting that all three elements of the service, active, Guard and Reserve, will fall short of their targets for March and April. Despite that, Harvey says he sees no chance of a military draft.
The Bush administration's intense drive to overhaul Social Security got a potential boost. The program's trustees say in 12 years Social Security will pay out more than it takes in. Also, according to those trustees, Social Security will run out of money in 2041. Social Security's six trustees include four senior Bush administration officials and two private citizens. And one of them supports private accounts within Social Security.
More "News Across America" for you now.
Officials say there is no danger of contamination even after 126,000 gallons of oil ended up in southern California's drinking water supply. A landslide apparently ruptured an oil pipeline, causing the large spill. The oil ran into a reservoir near Los Angeles that provides drinking water for several cities.
Police say a reported hostage taking in New Brunswick, New Jersey may have been a hoax. You know the story. A girl calls 911, says she's handcuffed to a bed, she's been raped. The SWAT team shows up but it all ends peacefully after a six hour stand-off. Police say the details of the incident are still unclear. The three teenagers who were in the house are apparently siblings and could still face charges for this apparent hoax.
One house in Tucson, Arizona quite literally has gone to pot. Police showed off nearly seven tons of marijuana they found inside the home. Agents say it's likely that no one lived in the house, since it was filled floor to ceiling with bales of marijuana. The drugs have a street value of about $20 million.
This is the winning design that may be at the center of an AIDS memorial in San Francisco. The seven acre site in Golden Gate Park is the first federally recognized AIDS memorial in the country. The so- called living memorial design was chosen out of more than 200 entries. But $2 million still have to be raised to build it.
Here's what we're working on for you on DAYBREAK.
Violent protests in a former Soviet republic. In the next segment of DAYBREAK, we'll get the very latest from the capital of Kyrgyzstan, at 16 minutes past.
And then we're going to Nigeria for a contest to find the biggest fish in a very crowded pond. That's at 24 minutes past.
And there's a new gadget to add to your collection. The newest Sony PlayStation does more than just play games. We'll show you the tricks at 45 minutes after.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Thursday morning.
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(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports.
It's 5:13 Eastern.
Here's what's all new this morning.
Terri Schiavo's parents are hoping for some relief from the U.S. Supreme Court. Justice Anthony Kennedy will decide if the entire court will get involved in the parents' latest effort to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted.
Bobby Fischer, you know, the chess player, says he's looking forward to his new life as an Icelandic citizen. But the grizzled 62- year-old could still face deportation to the United States. Fischer was released from a Japanese detention center after eight months in custody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: How does it feel to be free?
QUESTION: Bobby (UNINTELLIGIBLE)...
QUESTION: Do you think you...
BOBBY FISCHER: I'm not free until I get out of Japan. In this country, there's no law and order here. This is a -- let me just say something. This was not an arrest, this was a kidnapping. It was all cooked up between Bush and Koizumi. They are war criminals. They should both be hung.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Bobby Fischer. Yes, that is the chess player.
In money news, Target's Club Wed is the number one choice for brides and grooms. That's according to a survey by a retail research company. The survey also found that the average wedding guest spends $129 on a gift and the most popular gifts are bed linens and bath towels.
In culture, Whitney Houston is back in rehab. It was a year ago this month that the singer checked into a rehabilitation center for five days. In the past, Houston has admitted to using alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs.
In sports, NASCAR has reversed course and decided to lift the two race suspensions for jimmy Johnson's crew chief. Instead, the team's failed post-race inspection will cost Chad Knaus 90 days probation. Johnson is the current points leader of the Nextel Cup Series.
To the Forecast Center and Rob Marciano.
MARCIANO: Carol, did I see you in the stands last weekend at the big race here in Atlanta?
COSTELLO: I wish I would have been there.
MARCIANO: It looked like fun. It was a good ending, that's for sure.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Those are the latest headlines for you this morning.
A massive demonstration in Kyrgyzstan's capital has turned violent. Anti-government protesters have massed at the capital building and are calling for the country's president to step down.
CNN's Ryan Chilcote joins us from Moscow this morning with more on this escalating situation.
What's going on -- Ryan?
RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very chaotic, very fluid situation in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, one of the 15 parts of the Soviet Union that became an independent country when the Soviet Union fell apart.
Now, what is going on right now is that opposition demonstrators in the capital of this country have seized a government building, the seat of government, if you will. The most recent information we have is that they've even hung a flag from the second floor of that building to declare that they are now in control of it.
What we don't know is where the president is. The last we heard, he was on his way for some emergency talks with some European negotiators in Bishkek, in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Nor do we know what the military or the police in that capital plan on doing now that they have lost this building, the seat of power, to the opposition protesters.
Now, Kyrgyzstan is -- because it's located in Central Asia, is a very important place to U.S. -- the U.S. military in particular, to the United States in general, both for the stability that the United States would like to see in that country and also because we have a military base there. It's called Manas. And we do have U.S. servicemen and servicewomen at that base.
It is where much of the traffic both in and out of Afghanistan, much of the military traffic ferries through on their way to that country to support multinational forces. So far, we're not hearing about any problems outside of that base, but that is something that, of course, they're going to be very concerned about in Washington, D.C. right now. They're also going to be very concerned about returning some kind of normalcy to the situation in the capital of Kyrgyzstan.
COSTELLO: Ryan Chilcote live from Moscow this morning.
Thank you.
We are going around the globe just ahead on DAYBREAK.
You don't want to be the big fish in this river. You're going to see it in a second. There it is. We'll take you to northern Nigeria for a contest to snag the one that got away.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday, March 24.
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COSTELLO: In northern Nigeria, fishing is a way of life, a sport and a matter of pride. And every year, thousands of fishermen gather for the ultimate test of skill.
Our Lagos bureau chief, Jeff Koinange, has the tale of the one that did not get away.
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JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A police line of defense stands between an army of eager fishermen and a much sought after prize. Now in its 71st year, the annual Argungu Fishing Festival in northern Nigeria pits thousands of prospective fishermen and the chance to display their bare-handed skills in bagging the big fish. It's an event that draws the crowds in their thousands, from presidents, to past presidents, and from religious leaders to foreign dignitaries, including the president of neighboring Niger, all keen to be a part of an event that's stood the test of time.
In keeping with tradition, a musket is fired signaling the start of the event. A 100-meter dash as the competitors rush headlong into a muddy river in the pursuit of Nile perch and catfish. They carry the archaic tackles used by their ancestors -- giant butterfly nets and equally giant gourds, used for both flotation and as vessels to store their catches.
(on camera): Now, the basic principle behind this competition is pretty straightforward. You rush in, you cast your net, you look for the biggest fish and the biggest fish wins. Oh, there's one more thing. The water in the river Argungu, at its deepest point, about seven to eight feet.
(voice-over): There is no shortage of cheerleaders. These drummers are urging the fishermen not to give up. And the competitors, who come from as far away as Mali and Niger, are not about to. Thousands of bobbing heads dip into the muddy waters while other contestants just float about on their giant calabashes. And lifeguards patrol the river in canoes, just in case someone needs help.
In the suddenly frothing waters of the Argungu, it's a picture of chaos and confusion as thousands of nets are tossed and tangled in a desperate attempt to beat the clock and claim the ultimate prize. A half an hour later, a local villager lands what he hopes will be the catch of the day. But it's still early in the contest. Many of these fishermen will end up disappointed. Small fry like this won't cut it in the Argungu Fishing Festival.
Exactly an hour after the starting gun and it's all over. The prize catches are tagged and laid out for all to see. And then, the moment of truth. A whopping 165-pound Nile perch caught by local hero Timothy Olu (ph). So large, two men struggle to hold it up.
Nigeria's president says the Argungu Fishing Festival should rival any major competition around the world and wants to turn it into a tourist attraction. This couple, all the way from New York City, agrees.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's something I've wanted to see for many years. It does not disappoint.
KOINANGE: To the winner, the spoils, with this shiny trophy and $1,000 in cash, Olu walks away, or, rather, drives away, in this brand new minibus, which is now also his. But perhaps most importantly, he carries off bragging rights as Nigeria's number one fisherman.
As for the Argungu River, it returns to its serene status, a no go zone for fishermen, at least until the same time next year.
Jeff Koinange, CNN, Kebbi State in northern Nigeria.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COSTELLO: That was a good fish tale, wasn't it, Rob?
MARCIANO: Yes, it was. I was, you know, I was waiting -- two minutes into that piece and finally I got to see a fish. I didn't think they were going to pull anything out of that river. COSTELLO: Well, it was a...
MARCIANO: It was impressive.
COSTELLO: I want to say it was a bit -- but you know what I want to say, but I can't say it.
MARCIANO: It's good eating.
COSTELLO: Yes.
"Late Night Laughs" now.
It's "Late Night Laughs" time.
MARCIANO: Oh, let's -- let me guess. What was in the news yesterday?
COSTELLO: Barry Bonds.
MARCIANO: Oh, Barry Bonds. OK. Yes.
COSTELLO: Jon Stewart poking fun at Barry Bonds.
MARCIANO: Oh, this should be good.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, because, man, I have my own things to say about Barry Bonds.
But here's Jon Stewart's take.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART, COURTESY COMEDY CENTRAL)
JON STEWART, HOST: Yesterday he held an impromptu press conference to take some accountability and put the blame for his troubles, you know, where it belonged.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARRY BONDS, SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS: You guys wanted to hurt me bad enough, you finally got there.
QUESTION: When you say you guys, who do you mean?
BONDS: You, you, you, you, you, you, the media, everybody. You finally got there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: I am sorry. I don't know what to say. I do, I do take responsibility. I do remember, this was years ago when I saw Barry Bonds for the first time. And I remember saying to him, you're skinny and very weak. You might want to do a little whump-whump and roarrrr.
So I do take responsibility for, you know, convincing him to do steroids for a long, long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIANO: That was a good take. What do you have to say about old Barry Bonds? You know, you don't get upset very easily, Carol. But, you know, I saw a little, you know, disgust in your...
COSTELLO: Oh, he's just so -- he is just so arrogant.
MARCIANO: Well, he's just -- he's planned this. He just doesn't want to play this season, because he's all beef. He's one of the few players still beefed up. He's obviously still on the juice. And he's going to have surgery, he's going to have injuries and then he's going to retire and he's going to have the record intact without ever being tested.
COSTELLO: I'm telling you. I mean why wouldn't reporters ask him those questions? He's involved with BALCO. We all know what BALCO is accused of, right?
MARCIANO: Right.
COSTELLO: I mean it would be remiss of reporters not to ask him about steroids. And if he would just come out and say definitively like, you know what? I've never taken a steroid in my whole life, that's it. But he isn't saying that.
MARCIANO: Yes. And he just...
COSTELLO: He isn't saying that and we're not supposed to ask him?
MARCIANO: You know, my friends in the sports community have told me, he's just a flat out jerk to the media. So...
COSTELLO: Yes.
MARCIANO: ... you know, he isn't...
COSTELLO: It's not like he talks to the media very much either. It's like...
MARCIANO: Anyway, good luck to him.
COSTELLO: Pardon? I didn't hear you.
MARCIANO: Good luck to Barry Bonds.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes, good luck to Barry.
MARCIANO: Best of luck.
See you.
COSTELLO: Time for our DAYBREAK "Eye-Opener" now. Gator wranglers were able to capture two of the reptiles that were putting a scare into some Florida residents. These are pictures of them capturing the larger of the two gators. Look at that thing. This gator is said to have eaten someone's cat and the head wrangler says it may have been eying a neighborhood poodle, as well.
A 10-year-old Vermont boy is the proud owner of some seriously stinky feet. Noah Nielsen won a nationwide smelly sneaker contest. For his foul feet, he won a $500 savings bond and a year's supply of Odor Eaters. Noah says his secret to success is not wearing socks ever.
Here's what's all new in the next half hour of DAYBREAK.
We will see how the traumatic events can affect your memory even years later.
Plus, there's a whole new game in town, and this one fits into your pocket. We'll introduce you to the PSP.
You are watching DAYBREAK for Thursday.
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