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CNN Live Sunday

Shake-a-Leg Program Helps Disabled To Sail; Catholic Conclave Begins Tomorros

Aired April 17, 2005 - 18:00 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 LIN, CNN ANCHOR: New details tonight in the life and tragic death of Sara Lunde. We are live with the latest on the case and who the Florida teen leaned on for support.
Also, covered in a shroud of secrecy, it's the eve of the papal conclave. And we are going to show you what great lengths the Vatican is taking to secure the selection of the next pope.

And he sparked a political renaissance for American African- American candidates. So tonight we're going to examine the Obama effect on American politics.

It is April 17. And you're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

Good evening from CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin. And here's what's happening right now in the news.

A prominent Republican is having doubts about John Bolton who is the president's nominee for U.N. ambassador. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel tells CNN he's troubled by Bolton's combative management style. Hagel says he supports Bolton, but hinted that he could vote against him if more allegations surface.

His car has been found, but a Pennsylvania prosecutor is still missing. Ray Gricar was last heard from on Friday. His car turned up yesterday near Bucknell University. Police searched it and say there are no signs of foul play. But no clues to Gricar's whereabouts.

And a freak wave ends a relaxing cruise returning from the Bahamas. The Norwegian Dawn was hit by a 70-foot wave flooding cabins and slightly injuring four passengers. The ship was returning to New York but was diverted to Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs.

In the meantime, they were two girls growing up in two small towns in Florida and now their families are united by grief and mourning. Just weeks after the murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, police are investigating the killing of 13-year-old Sarah Michelle Lunde. And they say a convicted sex offender has confessed.

Now, let's get details from Sara Dorsey in Ruskin, Florida -- Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Carol, I can tell you for a week people have been speculating about David Onstott's involvement in this case. Today the sheriff said he is a person of interest, a suspect and now a defendant, charged with first degree murder. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY (voice-over): It's happened again in Florida, a child is killed allegedly by a convicted sex offender. Authorities say 13- year-old Sarah Lunde was murdered in her home, allegedly by a man who had once had a relationship with her mother. The sheriff says David Onstott has confessed to the crime.

SHERIFF DAVID GEE, HILLBOROUGH COUNTY: The sheriff's office alleges that on April 10th, 2005 between the hours of midnight and 05:00 a.m., that the defendant David Louis Onstott (ph) arrived at the victim's residence at 2812, 30th St. SE in Ruskin, Florida, looking for the victim's mother Kelly May.

After entering the residence, the victim and defendant became involved in a verbal confrontation. During the confrontation, the defendant put the victim in a choke hold, causing her to become unconscious and eventually causing her death.

DORSEY: Lunde's partially clothed body was found only a half mile from her home in a pond at a fish farm. Searchers came from all over the area, including a man whose story is hauntingly similar. Mark Lunsford's daughter Jessica disappeared from her Florida home. Her body was later found buried. A convicted sex offender is charged with that crime. Lunsford has one thing to say to David Onstott.

MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA LUNSFORDS FATHER: Onstott, the same goes for you. I hope you rot in hell.

DORSEY: This eight-day ordeal came to the ending everyone feared. Sunday morning Lunde's friends gathered in her honor for a memory service at her church.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And though we may not have been able to bring sarah back safely home, we can be certain that she is forever safe with the Lord today.

DORSEY: An autopsy will be performed to determine the official cause of her death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY: And the Hillsborough County Sheriff's command center has just pulled out of this area, a sign that this part of the search and this part of the case has come to an end. David Onstott will appear on a first appearance on those first degree murder charges tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. -- Carol

LIN: Sara, you know more about this little girl than you're actually able to report given all the breaking news. Earlier in the week, she was characterized as a chronic runaway, a girl who may be troubled herself. But you actually -- a very different picture of her has come to light for you. Tell us more about her.

DORSEY: Well, we're told that often she would leave her home, but she didn't just roam the streets. She wasn't just a kid running away from home. She would often go to her pastor here at the church, stay with his family, or go to a friend's house.

She found a lot of comfort in the people here at her church. And of course, today they found comfort in each other after hearing about her tragic news.

LIN: But it sounds like she was trying to get away from something, rather than running to something.

DORSEY: Well, it sounds like things at home just maybe weren't perfect for her. You know, we don't have a lot of details about her home life. Her family has chosen not to speak to the media. But she was at home by herself often according to sources here on the scene. And it just seems like these people offered her a little bit more stability than she was getting at home.

LIN: All right. Clearly a lot of questions also because this man, Onstott, was of some acquaintance to the mother. So it's a question of how he ended up in their lives all of a sudden.

I know there are a lot of questions for this investigation. And you're covering all those bases. Thanks Sara.

In the mean time, We want to move on to yet another big story. All eyes of the Roman Catholic Church are focusing on the Vatican. The conclave is set to begin in less than 17 hours. And several of the cardinals taking part in the highly secretive election process conducted masses at churches around Rome today.

The 115 cardinals who will select the next pope have now moved into their sequestered quarters inside the Vatican. And outside the hallowed halls, oddsmakers are taking bets as people try to guess who will emerge in the papal robes.

The conclave is like no other election in the world. The man whose shoulders will bear the weight of the future of the Roman Catholic Church will need the support of two-thirds of the cardinals to be elected. And when they reach a decision, they'll let the world know by sending plumes of white smoke up this chimney. And there will be the ringing of bells just in case there is any confusion about the color of that smoke. Make no mistake.

Father David O'Connell knows all about the secret world of the conclave. He's president of the Catholic University of America in Washington.

Father O'Connell, it might be difficult to know all there is no know about the conclave given that the process is so secret. What are your expectations for this coming week?

FATHER DAVID O'CONNELL, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: Well, I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I don't really know that much about the conclaves because the cardinals who enter and who leave the conclave once the election is over take a vow not to speak about it or about its contents.

But from what we know procedurally what will happen is tomorrow there will be a mass in the morning at 10:00, a mass that is celebrated for the election of the pope with said prayers for that purpose. And then later in the day, around 4:30 Rome time, the cardinals will proceed to the Sistine Chapel. And they will take a vow in which they promise that they will not reveal anything. And also another vow, in which they say that the person who wins the election will actually take on the responsibilities and serve as pope.

LIN: Father O'Connell, I mean it's interesting that there is so much emphasis on secrecy, and yet the Vatican felt the need to raise the floor of the Sistine Chapel and install CIA you know, anti-spy ware in the floor to make sure that none of the cardinals or anyone else used their cell phones or any other means of communication to leak any information out of this conclave.

O'CONNELL: I think it probably would be unusual that any of the cardinals would even think about doing something like that. I mean, they're aware of the process.

The secrecy, I think we have to understand it in this sense. The idea here is to avoid any semblance of politicking or engineering for this position.

Of course, the cardinals have been together for the last nine days in Rome. And I'm sure there have been many, many conversations about the future of the church and the kind of man that they'll be looking for. But I think the secrecy is a guarantee that there will be no external influences or pressures placed upon the cardinals once they are faced with this enormous responsibility.

LIN: Well isn't that ironic, if not a little hypocritical? I mean, it is a very political position to become the next pope -- I mean, the 256th pope, given the issues that are straight in the face of the Catholic Church, especially for American catholics. I mean, American Catholics are feeling very disaffect about the way the sex abuse scandal was held or the role of women in the church or marriage among priests in church. These are political issues. So, why not have a public dialogue and let people know what is on the table, what is on the minds of these 115 cardinals?

O'CONNELL: Well, I think that we're very much aware that these cardinals have heard a lot of these issues, have discussed them. The Holy Father who has just died has certainly discussed them in some detail. And the discussion will continue. I think people might be putting a little bit too much expectation on one particular set of meetings.

The cardinals are very much aware of what's in the minds and the hearts of the people. And we have to remember that the church doesn't look at these issues simply as political issues. The influence is a spiritual influence that does, in fact, affect the politics that people exercise and engage in. But the primary emphasis is on the pope as a spiritual leader of 1.1 billion Catholics throughout the world who have many of these needs and who service many of these issues.

LIN: So in short father, are you expecting any surprises? O'CONNELL: I think we're all going to be surprised. That's my expectation.

LIN: Good. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave it there. Father O'Connell, we'll be sure to follow up with you as this important week begins. Thank you.

O'CONNELL: Thank you.

LIN: Espionage at the Vatican. Coming up, well, we're going to show you how the Vatican is trying to keep the conclave deliberations secret by staying one step ahead of modern-day spy technology.

In the meantime, back in this country, it's a Texas-sized controversy for Texas Congressmen and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He is under fire for alleged ethics violations and the debate over whether the man known as the Hammer should stay or go is heating up.

CNN's Elaine Quijano live in Washington with more on that -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Carol. That's right. Today, Tom DeLay's difficulties were a topic of discussion on the Sunday talk shows here in Washington. But over the weekend, Mr. DeLay did get some backing from a core group of his supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY, (R-TX) MAJORITY LEADER: Thank you. Thank you so much for that warm welcome. I hope the national media saw that.

QUIJANO (voice-over): In his hometown of Houston, texas, Republican Congressman Tom DeLay got some pumping up if a key element of his base: fellow gun owners at the National Rifle Association's annual convention. In the glare of the media spotlight, DeLay recounted what the NRA's president told him moments before.

DELAY: When a man's in trouble or in a good fight, you want all your friends around them, preferably armed.

QUIJANO: The House majority leader has been under the microscope, in part because of questions about whether lobbyists improperly paid for overseas trips.

While he's denied any legal or ethical violations, two Republicans have cautiously suggested he step down. First, it was Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays and recently a second Republican, Thomas Tancredo of Colorado told ABC News this regarding DeLay.

REP. THOMAS TANCREDO, (R) COLORADO: If he were to temporarily step down, clear this up, I would be willing to vote to elevate him back to the the position he's now in, because I think that's just the best way to handle it for the party and for Tom.

(END VIDEOTAPE) QUIJANO: But Congressman DeLay says he wants to answer questions before the House Ethics Committee. He also has his defenders including the No. 3 Republican in the house, Roy Blunt. As for Democrats meantime, they are refusing to let that House ethics panel organize. They are charging that Republicans have changed the rules in order to shield DeLay -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Elaine Quijano, it's going to be be a contentious week in Congress.

In the meantime, will the allegations topple DeLay or can he survive the political storm? I'm going to be talking about this controversy with CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. He's got a fresh perspective on that. That's coming up a little later this hour.

And Tom DeLay's not the only Republican politician feeling the heat these days. Will Arnold Schwarzenegger have the political muscle get through his current gubernatorial woes? That story still to come.

Plus, finding out if a dangerous dog lives near you and your family. We're going to show you something new about a registry that is gaining popularity, but not everyone is happy about it.

And up next, the casualties of war. A 29-year-old American worker loses her life in Iraq. Her inspirational and heartbreaking story when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: A costly attack for American forces in Iraq. Insurgents fired mortar rounds at a U.S. military camp in Ramadi overnight killing three U.S. soldiers, seven others soldiers were wounded, three seriously.

Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces are intensifying their search for Shias reportedly kidnapped by Sunni insurgents. The Shias had apparently been snatched Saturday from the village of Madeyeen (ph), south of Baghdad. And there are conflicting reports on the number of hostages. Sources tell CNN there are as many as six, other reports, well they number in the dozens.

The hostage taking drew concern during a national assembly meeting today. One member who lives in Madeyeen (ph), the district, called that situation there extremely dangerous. And he urged the assembly to intervene.

In the meantime, condolences are pouring into the family of an American aid worker who has been killed in Iraq. Her name is Marla Ruzicka. The founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict. She died in an apparent insurgent attack on her convoy in Baghdad yesterday. CNN's Jane Arraf has personally known her for the last three years. And she has more on this remarkable woman and all of her contributions that will be long remembered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marla Ruzicka had a knack for making friends and a passion for helping the helpless. She combined the two to found an organization to help civilian victims of war.

I first met her in Afghanistan three years ago. When major combat ended in Iraq, she came here to Baghdad.

MARLA RUZICKA, CAMPAIGN FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: Instead of watching the terrible images and being depressed, one, it is sad. You are always sad. But trying to figure out what can we do? How can we help people?

ARRAF: She could have stayed in California, but she spent the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Jalalabad, she met a woman who made her realize what she needed to do.

RUZICKA: She lost both of her eyes, both of her arms, legs were broken, her whole family was just wiped out. And then when they turned her over and literally blood spilled out of her, she said, what are you going to do to help us? And I thought, well naturally, the U.S. should have a fund to help people that get hurt.

ARRAF: So, she hit the streets working her way through war torn Baghdad to find out where she could get help.

RUZICKA: I'm frustrated. Because I go to the HOC (ph), I go to the CPA and I'm just like, who do I talk to? And nobody knows.

ARRAF: When she wasn't on the street, she was working the phones.

RUZICKA: Hello, Major Doyle (ph). I just wanted to thank you so much yesterday for meeting with us.

ARRAF: She convinced U.S. lawmakers to appropriate money for civilian victims of U.S. military campaigns.

Marla saw more suffering in a day than most people ever do and still kept her sunny disposition. On this trip, we went with her to visit Nazhira Mohammed Brisin (ph) who had lost eight members of her family when a missile hit their car. As the car burned, this child's mother threw her and her baby sister out the window to save them.

Marla told American soldiers the baby would die if she weren't air lifted to a hospital.

RUZICKA: We tried to get her immediate medical help and to save her life and we did, but her body couldn't take the burns.

ARRAF: She set up a project with 150 volunteers to do a survey of civilian victims. They weren't hard to find.

RUZICKA: And we have about 5,000 cases not necessarily of deaths, but where homes were destroyed, where people were very critically injured. and, you know, for me, I try as much as I can go to families and say we're sorry, we're working to try to get you assistance and to kind of help them have some reconciliation and some closure. And to let them know that Americans do care about their well being.

ARRAF: Marla thought about the risks of working in Iraq, but she didn't let them stop her.

RUZICKA: You just have to keep your eyes open and let people know what you're doing and about and people -- I feel that a lot of people really appreciate our campaign so they take a lot of care of myself and other people that work for me.

ARRAF: At 29, Marla had lived more, done more than most people do over a long, long lifetime.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, in the age of high tech listening devices, satellite surveillance and 24-hour news channels, it is very hard to keep almost anything secret nowadays. But that is exactly what the Vatican plans to do tomorrow. Up next, what is being done to keep the public's prying eyes out of the conclave?

And still to come, the political firestorm surrounding Congressman Tom DeLay. Our political analyst Carlos Watson weighs in on the controversy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Secrecy is a top priority at the Vatican right now. As they begin the conclave the rules are strict: no phones, no television, no newspapers. They've even installed jamming devices to guard against eavesdropping.

Our Chris Burns talks with espionage experts about the Vatican security and how others may actually try to breach it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the Vatican, as the leaders of the church prepare to choose a new pontiff, the saints watch over the secrets of the inner sanctum. So do the Vatican police, trying to stay one step ahead of spying technology.

Security experts say the sky's the limit, from monitoring cell phone conversations, to eavsdropping from high above. Look how close satellites can peek.

ANDREA MARGELLETTI, CENTER FOR INTL. STUDIES: Surely many agencies in the world are trying to penetrate inside the Holy See. We have special aircraft, for example spy planes, we have (UNINTELLIGIBLE), or lasers.

BURNS: Lasers that could be pointed at windows at the Sistine Chapel to pick up conversations where the cardinals will cast their votes. Or the windows of the Vatican Santa Marta Hotel where the cardinals are staying.

Vatican experts say the church's security force is expected to sweep the grounds for bugs and other gadgets during the conclave.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a microphone.

BURNS: Private detective Miriam Tomponzi displays some of the classic tricks. The lighter that's a camera. Another that converts into a bug. The pen that's a microphone.

MIRIAM TOMPONZI, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR (through translator): There's absolutely no doubt we could spy on the Vatican and the conclave.

BURNS: But the security for this conclave has been years in the making.

(on camera): Pope John Paul II himself issued counterintelligence orders for conclaves: banning cell phones, recorders, radios, televisions, electronic organizers, to protect the cardinals from, in his words, threats to their independent judgment.

(voice-over): More than that, experts say, a pope spied on for years under Communist regimes in Poland helps better sensitize the Vatican to espionage.

MARGELLETTI: I think that now we have a Holy See much less vulnerable than ever.

BURNS: Less vulnerable to outside spying, perhaps, but experts also say that won't make the Vatican free of internal intrigue as rivals jockey for power in the shadows of the saints.

Chris Burns, CNN, Vatican City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, registries are used to alert people about convicted sex offenders living in their communities. But can a similar program be used to protect people from dangerous dogs? Well, we're going to show you a different kind of registry that's already taken hold in Florida and Virginia.

Also ahead, the political war erupting in California. Why Governor Schwarzenegger is suddenly up against the ropes.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel free from -- and I feel like I can do everything like everyone else.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LIN: How they're finding freedom on the open seas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back. I'm Carol Lin. And here's a quick look at what's happening right now in the news.

A sheriff says a convicted sex offender has confessed to killing a 13-year-old Florida girl. Searchers found Sarah Michelle Lunde's body yesterday in the Tampa Bay area. David Onstott, who once dated the girl's mother, is charged with first degree murder.

And in Providence, Rhode Island, a police detective was questioning a suspect early today when the man allegedly grabbed the detective's gun and then shot and killed him. Detective James Allen had been with the force for 27 years. The suspect escaped briefly but is now in custody.

And top Democrats in Congress accuse Republicans of abusing their power to protect House Majority Leader Tom DeLay from an ethics probe. A political firestorm is raging over DeLay's fund-raising tactics and questions about whether lobbyists and foreign governments paid for some of his overseas trips. Some Republicans argue that Democrats are just manufacturing charges against him.

And California Democrats are using their annual convention this weekend for a series of withering attacks on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The freshman governor is locked in an all-out political war against California's public employee unions. And his popularity is slipping.

Peter Viles has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of the state of California.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He may look relaxed but observers say the governor's in the political fight of his life.

CROWD: Hey, Arnold, take a stand. Don't be a corporate girlie man!

VILES: It's California Governor Schwarzenegger against the unions for teachers, nurses, firefighters and police. And it's getting ugly.

DAN WALTERS, THE SACRAMENTO BEE: It's gutsy, in a way, it's unexpected. It's unusual, it's dramatic. I've described this in my column as the mother of all political wars in California. And I think that's accurate.

VILES: Schwarzenegger wants sweeping changes that the unions oppose, such as merit pay for teachers. He was pushing to take away guaranteed pensions for public workers, but has backed off amid intense criticism like this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wants to privatize our pensions.

CROWD: No!

VILES: A barrage of TV commercials portrays Schwarzenegger as heartless and untrustworthy.

MARTINE KORACH, SCIENCE TEACHER: So how can Governor Schwarzenegger break his promise?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Borrowing $2 billion from the education budget he now says he won't pay back?

VILES: The governor is fighting back with ads of his own.

ALBERTO VACA, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: The fact is that the governor has actually increased the education budget by nearly $3 billion this year.

VILES: And appears to be enjoying the fight.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R) CALIFORNIA: This is just a bumpy road that we're going to go through. Instead of going down straight with the skies down the hill, we're going to go through the slalom course and through the moguls but comfortably and nice. And we're going to do that because that's what I'm in Sacramento for, fighting for the people, not fighting for the unions.

VILES: But opinion polls show the struggle is hurting the governor's popularity. The respected field poll gave him a 54 percent approval rating in February, but a San Jose state poll in March showed only 43 percent approval.

WALTERS: He's spending his popularity. He's spending his political capital. And he just hopes he'll have enough to survive the onslaught. And if he does, he comes out on top, and if he doesn't, he loses. And maybe his political career is over.

VILES: The governor may have another fight on his hands. His wife, Maria Shriver, now says she wants him to retire from politics after one term. The governor has made no such promise.

Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, there are more political fights across the country in Washington. Filibusters are the focus in the Senate. Majority Leader Tom DeLay is under fire in the House. And Congress is looking ahead to the 2006 races. And some surprising faces there.

CNN political analyst Carlos Watson joins me now to talk about everything.

Carlos, let's talk about the whole contentiousness of filibuster, but let me give my layperson's definition of filibuster. Is it a lot of yama, yama by the opposition party until there are enough votes to stop the yammering, right, to get on with business. And there are rules, though, that are being debated now. And the Democrats are accusing Republicans of something called a nuclear option. So what's happening this week?

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So, Carol, as you know, Republicans have a majority in the Senate with 55 votes. But often to get big things done you actually need 60 votes to overcome the potential filibuster. And Republicans are proposing probably the single biggest change in how the Senate has been run in the last 30 years. The last time we had such a big change in how the Senate operates was 1975. Democrats call that a nuclear option and are threatening retaliation of their own.

I think two things are interesting here, Carol, in this fight. One, this fight will come down to a handful of senators, many of them who live up in the northeast. Remember, we talked about some of those critical senators like Lincoln Chafee.

No. 2, I think a lot of the story will ultimately hinge around which judge -- President Bush has nominated several judges which were rejected by Democrat last term. He's brought them back forward again. It will be interesting to see which judge the filibuster fight revolves around. If it's around a Priscilla Owens or a Janice Rodgers Brown, two women. I think their life stories will play a big role. If it's Terence Boyle, a controvertial judicial nominee from North Carolina, it will take a different vector.

So you'll hear a lot not just about a filibuster but the political story of these judicial nominees.

LIN: All right. Give me one facet of a personal store that they might turn the vote?

WATSON: WEll, you know, in the case of Terence Boyle, a lot of the critique for him has come on issues of civil rights. And many people will remember that the filibuster was often used by segregationist southern senators, including people like Strom Thurmond and even now Democrat Robert Byrd to filibuster those things. And they'll say, isn't it ironic that you are trying to change the filibuster rules around someone like Terence Boyle. And they'll point to hoes issues as it relates to him.

LIN: All right. Talking about the talk tonight, last night Tom DeLay, House majority leader, a keynote speaker at the NRA convention. And talk about preaching to the choir. No holds barred. If you did not know that this man was the focus of an ethics -- well, not quite an investigation, but ethics charges that he was taking, you know, illegal -- basically trips paid for by lobbyists and foreign governments. I mean, this was not a man with a care in the world at this dinner.

WATSON: You know, I think another way to think about it is of the last five either presidents or congressional leaders to come under deep challenge, Jim Wright, Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Trent Lott, President Clinton, only one really survived and that was Clinton. Clinton only survived because he proactively and aggressively fought back. And I think Tom DeLay is taking a page from that handbook.

What I find really interesting to date is if you remember, Carol, a couple of months ago when Dan Rather was embroiled in a big controversy and ultimately the folks who in some ways helped bring him down were the blogs, the web logs. And, you know, they brought new information that showed that part of his report was inaccurate.

LIN: Right, the questioning of the national guard service of President Bush.

WATSON: The National Guard service of President Bush. While we have lots of newspapers doing investigation and while the blogs have been talking about this a lot, what's interesting is that they haven't come up with any new information.

You would think that maybe they would have at this point, given the variety of ethics charges and the general clout. And so, in some ways, if we don't hear more the next several weeks, that could be a good sign for Majority Leader DeLay that he's gotten past this first rush of charges. Not that there won't be more, but the fact that we haven't heard from the blogs, I think, is significant.

LIN: Interesting. And I know you're hearing whispers behind the scene that people maybe positioning themselves should the man go down, that there are others willing to step into his shoes quickly.

But yet you're looking forward to 2006. I mean, a lot of the political maneuvering in Washington is garnering some fresh faces. Barack Obama, a breath of fresh air out of the Midwest, and even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, an unexpected candidate for governor of California who actually won, you know, won the ability to carry that office.

WATSON: He did, Carol. In fact, the 2006 elections, which aren't that far away, whether it's for governor, or for senator, I think are going to show us at least three interesting trends we're already starting to see.

One is what I call the Obama effect. And you have a number of African-Americans over the years that thought about running for governor or senator but weren't confident they could raise the money or get the serious media attention they needed. Having seen Barack Obama do well, in a sense almost anagolous to seeing Google go public, now the political fundraisers and others are willing to take a bet on someone like Michael Steele who may run for the Senate in Maryland or Kweisi Mfume who may run on the Democratic side.

And so, when all said and done, you may see another dozen African-Americans run for governor, lieutenant governor, senate in New York, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

So, the Obama effect is one thing you may see in '06. The Schwarzenegger effect, meaning more entertainers and more athletes running for office, is another one you may see. People like Jerry Springer have thought about it, people like Lynn Swan, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is another one, Ron Silver, the actor, has been quietly talking about it.

And last but not least, often an election two years before the presidential election is, in effect, the first presidential primary. George Bush used the 1998 re-election for governor of Texas to really stamp himself as the presidential front-runner. Look for someone like Hillary Clinton to maybe do the same or some surprise candidates like Haley Barbour, the Republican governor of Mississippi.

LIN: All right. 2006 just around the corner. And 2008 will definitely be interesting.

Carlos, thank you so much.

WATSON: Good to see you.

LIN: Well, can you find the key to happiness at your dinner table? After the break, the new food program that its creators claim can alter the way you feel. It has to do with your brain and how it's wired. I'm going to talk to a mother and daughter who are using that right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Should your community put dangerous dogs on an Internet registry the way sexual predators are identified? Well, some communities are using such a database to track dangerous animals before they attack, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea. Kareen Winter reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WINTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anyone can find out if there are convicted sex offenders registered in their community by looking on their county's Web site. But what if you wanted to surf for a different kind of unwanted neighbor? In Spotsylvania County, Virginia a new only database lists dogs deemed dangerous by the county's animal control department. The move prompted by last month's vicious pit bull attack in Virginia that killed 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan and her dog. It happened right in her backyard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was very saddened and appalled and I thought how could this possibly happen in our county?

WINTER: Humane society director Thea Verdak was once attacked by a pit bull itself.

THEA VERDAK, VIRGINIA HUMANE SOCIETY: It growled and opened its mouth. And if I moved, it moved. It was -- my adrenaline was absolutely pumping.

WINTER: She says she loves dogs, but wants to make sure her neighbors feel safe while out on a jog or walking their pets.

Verdak worked with the county to set up the online registry that lists the owner's name, address and dog's description.

(on camera): The county defines a dangerous dog as one that's bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal. The dog must wear a special collar and be muzzled when out in public.

(voice-over): Warning signs are also posted on the owner's property. Tampa, Florida established the first dangerous dog Web site. In Virginia, Fairfax County chairman Gerry Connolly wants his community to get on board.

GERRY CONNOLLY, FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: That the public is entitled to know where dangerous dogs may be in our community so that they can take appropriate planning to avoid them and protect themselves.

WINTER: Animal advocate Maureen Houck raises a breed similar to the pit bull and says the online registry unfairly targets pet owners.

MAUREEN HAUCH, V.P. AMERI. DOG OWNERS ASSON.: To have it out there with their addresses I think just really set them up for some problems with maybe people coming by and harassing them.

WINTER: Proponents say there's no simple solution in finding the balance between privacy and safety. Only more reassurance the public will have this new cybertool to protect themselves.

In Washington, I'm Kareen Winter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And now for some food for the brain, literally. A new health plan claims you can lose weight and get happy when you eat right for your brain type. Now this program claims to have determined how different foods can impact six specific characteristics. So does it work?

Well, Rose and Lizette Seedorf are a mother and daughter using the program. And they join me live from our New York bureau. Look at you two. I can't tell who is mom and should the daughter. Mom, raise your hand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's in the pink.

LIN: Oh, my goodness, you two look great.

Now is this -- Lizette, is this about losing weight?

LIZETTE SEEDORF: It's more about getting healthy than losing weight. I went there because I was fed up. I had tried everything. And I went to him, and he was like, it's not your fault. Everyone seems to think it's a character flaw and it's not. So, it made me feel really comfortable. And it is about being healthy for the rest of my life. I'm getting that with him.

LIN: And what are the results? L. SEEDORF: I've lost weight. I'm eating healthier. I have better eating patterns and generally I feel fabulous. So I'm very happy with it.

LIN: Rose, give me an idea -- this is what I know about it, I mean that there's a theory that our eating habits tend to go back to a man or woman's primal state when we were hunting and gathering and that we were in survival mode.

And there are different brain types, right? Different brain types. Some people are motivation brain types, creativity brain types, some people are all about focus, you know, and that's whether we complete the task of finding what we need to survive. Some people are about happiness, security, intimacy. And the endorphins or serotonins are brain chemicals that we create, right, that drive our hungers. I mean, what is your understanding of how this nutritional program works? And how it's affected you?

ROSE SEEDORF: It's affected me mostly by realizing that we are addicted to food basically. You have to attack that. Diets are really band-aids for our food addiction. Once you conquer your food addiction, you can then be more successful in your weight loss program.

LIN: So, what kind of brain type are you, Rose?

R. SEEDORF: You think it works on a type. It really doesn't. You have to answer a series of questions and then once you answer your series of questions, you can find out and put together a plan for you.

Dr. Packard and Gina do that. They individualize a program for you. There isn't one particular brain type per se for each person. It's a plan that's developed and personalized for each person.

LIN: OK. But I need an answer. What did you find out about yourself?

R. SEEDORF: I found out that what foods trigger different responses in me personally.

LIN: What are they?

R. SEEDORF: Oh, God, I'm probably like most people. I'm a chocoholic and love starches and those things. So, I know now what to eat to prevent my triggers.

LIN: And that, according to my reading of the book, has to do with the need for intimacy. A basic sort of fundamental primal need, to make a connection with others. So it's like how do I achieve some endorphins? And chocolate is one of those sources.

R. SEEDORF: Exactly.

LIN: All right.

Lizette, what about you? What did you find out about yourself? And what do you need to eat in order to achieve your goals?

L. SEEDORF: I'm high creativity. I'm high in -- I am high in intimacy and happiness. And while she craves the chocolates and desserts, I'm terrible, I crave like potato chips and like salty, crunchy foods. So, I learned to veer away from like the animal fats and the really icky carbohydrates. And so...

LIN: By avoiding those things, you avoid those other cravings?

L. SEEDORF: You do. You have to relearn your eating habits. Once you relearn them, you start to feel better. And you stop having the cravings.

So he get us on a regimented plan. He starts you out with a shake that has all the nutrition value. And it actually is really good. I was nervous because it was all soy and berries and stuff. But it is fabulous. And when you go on with that, you implement different foods in. And it really is, it's good.

LIN: All right. All right. You know, I mean, it's easy to be cynical because there are all those eat cabbage on Tuesday, eat bananas on Wednesday.

L. SEEDORF: But it's not like that.

R. SEEDORF: Exactly. It's not a diet.

L. SEEDORF: He never tells you to do that. It is not a fad diet. He really does implement good foods.

He's like, you know what, you are supposed to eat a carbohydrate. It's good for you. It's what your body runs on, but eat a whole grain, don't eat a processed white icky grain.

LIN: All right. Thanks, ladies. The Seedorfs. Almost twins. Thank you very much.

In the meantime, finding freedom off Florida's coast. On land, they may be considered disabled, but thing are different on the open sea. We're goingto tell you about an inspirational Miami-based program up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: An extraordinary program is helping disabled sailors put the wind in their sails. And the waters of Florida's Biscayne Bay are providing a beautiful backdrop. CNN's Suzanne Simons has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE SIMONS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Miami's Biscayne Bay: the breeze, the sea, and a chance to leave disabilities behind for a while.

HARRY HORGAN, SHAKE-A-LEG: This is about life. This is about giving a person the opportunity to believe in themselves and to dream. SIMONS: Harry Morgan is co-founder of Shake a Leg, a sailing program for the disabled.

HORGAN: I broke my back in 1980 and was told you'll never walk again and take your college degree and go get a job.

There was a saying around our house, hey, shake a leg, get up and do something. Don't wait for someone else to do it for you.

SIMONS: So he did. And in 1990 Shake-a-Leg, Miami, set toward his dream of escaping it all, even for a little while. The city liked his idea so much, it footed the bill for the waterfront property.

The community came through, too, helping fund dozens of boats capable of handling any disabled person who wants to sail.

17-year-old Manuela Hoyos came from Colombia three years ago and loved it so much, she became a mentor for the program.

MANUELA HOYOS, MENTOR: I feel free from it. I feel I can do everything like everyone else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up? Are we going out in the boat today?

SIMONS: For Graham Hooper, it is a return to the waters he knows so well.

GRAHAM HOOPER, SAILING ENTHUSIAST: I've grown up on Biscayne Bay with my father taking me out sailing as a kid.

SIMONS: Graham was a professional boat captain before being paralyzed in a car accident.

HOOPER: I pretty much thought my boating career was over.

SIMONS: Shake-a-Leg, Miami, thought otherwise. And is working with Graham to build a fully accessible boat for the handicapped that Graham will captain.

HOOPER: Oh, it doesn't matter what your disability, if you're a paraplegic, quadriplegic, you will able to get on this boat by yourself and then come back without having to deal with any able- bodied people.

HORGAN: And that's what's so wonderful about boating. It is accessible to us all.

MEREDITH BASS, YOUTH PROG. DIR.: The hardest thing in terms of making something accessible is making your mind accessible to it.

HORGAN: So what you have a disability disability? We're learning how to sail today so let's die.

HOOPER: Yes, man, get out there on the water, feel the salt spray in the face. It works every time. SIMONS: Suzanne Simons, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That is all the time we have for this hour. But coming up next on "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS", a profile of country star Gretchen Wilson.

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 April 17, 2005 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: New details tonight in the life and tragic death of Sara Lunde. We are live with the latest on the case and who the Florida teen leaned on for support.
Also, covered in a shroud of secrecy, it's the eve of the papal conclave. And we are going to show you what great lengths the Vatican is taking to secure the selection of the next pope.

And he sparked a political renaissance for American African- American candidates. So tonight we're going to examine the Obama effect on American politics.

It is April 17. And you're watching CNN LIVE SUNDAY.

Good evening from CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta. I'm Carol Lin. And here's what's happening right now in the news.

A prominent Republican is having doubts about John Bolton who is the president's nominee for U.N. ambassador. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel tells CNN he's troubled by Bolton's combative management style. Hagel says he supports Bolton, but hinted that he could vote against him if more allegations surface.

His car has been found, but a Pennsylvania prosecutor is still missing. Ray Gricar was last heard from on Friday. His car turned up yesterday near Bucknell University. Police searched it and say there are no signs of foul play. But no clues to Gricar's whereabouts.

And a freak wave ends a relaxing cruise returning from the Bahamas. The Norwegian Dawn was hit by a 70-foot wave flooding cabins and slightly injuring four passengers. The ship was returning to New York but was diverted to Charleston, South Carolina, for repairs.

In the meantime, they were two girls growing up in two small towns in Florida and now their families are united by grief and mourning. Just weeks after the murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, police are investigating the killing of 13-year-old Sarah Michelle Lunde. And they say a convicted sex offender has confessed.

Now, let's get details from Sara Dorsey in Ruskin, Florida -- Sara.

SARA DORSEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well Carol, I can tell you for a week people have been speculating about David Onstott's involvement in this case. Today the sheriff said he is a person of interest, a suspect and now a defendant, charged with first degree murder. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY (voice-over): It's happened again in Florida, a child is killed allegedly by a convicted sex offender. Authorities say 13- year-old Sarah Lunde was murdered in her home, allegedly by a man who had once had a relationship with her mother. The sheriff says David Onstott has confessed to the crime.

SHERIFF DAVID GEE, HILLBOROUGH COUNTY: The sheriff's office alleges that on April 10th, 2005 between the hours of midnight and 05:00 a.m., that the defendant David Louis Onstott (ph) arrived at the victim's residence at 2812, 30th St. SE in Ruskin, Florida, looking for the victim's mother Kelly May.

After entering the residence, the victim and defendant became involved in a verbal confrontation. During the confrontation, the defendant put the victim in a choke hold, causing her to become unconscious and eventually causing her death.

DORSEY: Lunde's partially clothed body was found only a half mile from her home in a pond at a fish farm. Searchers came from all over the area, including a man whose story is hauntingly similar. Mark Lunsford's daughter Jessica disappeared from her Florida home. Her body was later found buried. A convicted sex offender is charged with that crime. Lunsford has one thing to say to David Onstott.

MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA LUNSFORDS FATHER: Onstott, the same goes for you. I hope you rot in hell.

DORSEY: This eight-day ordeal came to the ending everyone feared. Sunday morning Lunde's friends gathered in her honor for a memory service at her church.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And though we may not have been able to bring sarah back safely home, we can be certain that she is forever safe with the Lord today.

DORSEY: An autopsy will be performed to determine the official cause of her death.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

DORSEY: And the Hillsborough County Sheriff's command center has just pulled out of this area, a sign that this part of the search and this part of the case has come to an end. David Onstott will appear on a first appearance on those first degree murder charges tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. -- Carol

LIN: Sara, you know more about this little girl than you're actually able to report given all the breaking news. Earlier in the week, she was characterized as a chronic runaway, a girl who may be troubled herself. But you actually -- a very different picture of her has come to light for you. Tell us more about her.

DORSEY: Well, we're told that often she would leave her home, but she didn't just roam the streets. She wasn't just a kid running away from home. She would often go to her pastor here at the church, stay with his family, or go to a friend's house.

She found a lot of comfort in the people here at her church. And of course, today they found comfort in each other after hearing about her tragic news.

LIN: But it sounds like she was trying to get away from something, rather than running to something.

DORSEY: Well, it sounds like things at home just maybe weren't perfect for her. You know, we don't have a lot of details about her home life. Her family has chosen not to speak to the media. But she was at home by herself often according to sources here on the scene. And it just seems like these people offered her a little bit more stability than she was getting at home.

LIN: All right. Clearly a lot of questions also because this man, Onstott, was of some acquaintance to the mother. So it's a question of how he ended up in their lives all of a sudden.

I know there are a lot of questions for this investigation. And you're covering all those bases. Thanks Sara.

In the mean time, We want to move on to yet another big story. All eyes of the Roman Catholic Church are focusing on the Vatican. The conclave is set to begin in less than 17 hours. And several of the cardinals taking part in the highly secretive election process conducted masses at churches around Rome today.

The 115 cardinals who will select the next pope have now moved into their sequestered quarters inside the Vatican. And outside the hallowed halls, oddsmakers are taking bets as people try to guess who will emerge in the papal robes.

The conclave is like no other election in the world. The man whose shoulders will bear the weight of the future of the Roman Catholic Church will need the support of two-thirds of the cardinals to be elected. And when they reach a decision, they'll let the world know by sending plumes of white smoke up this chimney. And there will be the ringing of bells just in case there is any confusion about the color of that smoke. Make no mistake.

Father David O'Connell knows all about the secret world of the conclave. He's president of the Catholic University of America in Washington.

Father O'Connell, it might be difficult to know all there is no know about the conclave given that the process is so secret. What are your expectations for this coming week?

FATHER DAVID O'CONNELL, PRESIDENT, CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: Well, I appreciate your vote of confidence, but I don't really know that much about the conclaves because the cardinals who enter and who leave the conclave once the election is over take a vow not to speak about it or about its contents.

But from what we know procedurally what will happen is tomorrow there will be a mass in the morning at 10:00, a mass that is celebrated for the election of the pope with said prayers for that purpose. And then later in the day, around 4:30 Rome time, the cardinals will proceed to the Sistine Chapel. And they will take a vow in which they promise that they will not reveal anything. And also another vow, in which they say that the person who wins the election will actually take on the responsibilities and serve as pope.

LIN: Father O'Connell, I mean it's interesting that there is so much emphasis on secrecy, and yet the Vatican felt the need to raise the floor of the Sistine Chapel and install CIA you know, anti-spy ware in the floor to make sure that none of the cardinals or anyone else used their cell phones or any other means of communication to leak any information out of this conclave.

O'CONNELL: I think it probably would be unusual that any of the cardinals would even think about doing something like that. I mean, they're aware of the process.

The secrecy, I think we have to understand it in this sense. The idea here is to avoid any semblance of politicking or engineering for this position.

Of course, the cardinals have been together for the last nine days in Rome. And I'm sure there have been many, many conversations about the future of the church and the kind of man that they'll be looking for. But I think the secrecy is a guarantee that there will be no external influences or pressures placed upon the cardinals once they are faced with this enormous responsibility.

LIN: Well isn't that ironic, if not a little hypocritical? I mean, it is a very political position to become the next pope -- I mean, the 256th pope, given the issues that are straight in the face of the Catholic Church, especially for American catholics. I mean, American Catholics are feeling very disaffect about the way the sex abuse scandal was held or the role of women in the church or marriage among priests in church. These are political issues. So, why not have a public dialogue and let people know what is on the table, what is on the minds of these 115 cardinals?

O'CONNELL: Well, I think that we're very much aware that these cardinals have heard a lot of these issues, have discussed them. The Holy Father who has just died has certainly discussed them in some detail. And the discussion will continue. I think people might be putting a little bit too much expectation on one particular set of meetings.

The cardinals are very much aware of what's in the minds and the hearts of the people. And we have to remember that the church doesn't look at these issues simply as political issues. The influence is a spiritual influence that does, in fact, affect the politics that people exercise and engage in. But the primary emphasis is on the pope as a spiritual leader of 1.1 billion Catholics throughout the world who have many of these needs and who service many of these issues.

LIN: So in short father, are you expecting any surprises? O'CONNELL: I think we're all going to be surprised. That's my expectation.

LIN: Good. I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave it there. Father O'Connell, we'll be sure to follow up with you as this important week begins. Thank you.

O'CONNELL: Thank you.

LIN: Espionage at the Vatican. Coming up, well, we're going to show you how the Vatican is trying to keep the conclave deliberations secret by staying one step ahead of modern-day spy technology.

In the meantime, back in this country, it's a Texas-sized controversy for Texas Congressmen and House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. He is under fire for alleged ethics violations and the debate over whether the man known as the Hammer should stay or go is heating up.

CNN's Elaine Quijano live in Washington with more on that -- Elaine.

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Carol. That's right. Today, Tom DeLay's difficulties were a topic of discussion on the Sunday talk shows here in Washington. But over the weekend, Mr. DeLay did get some backing from a core group of his supporters.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. TOM DELAY, (R-TX) MAJORITY LEADER: Thank you. Thank you so much for that warm welcome. I hope the national media saw that.

QUIJANO (voice-over): In his hometown of Houston, texas, Republican Congressman Tom DeLay got some pumping up if a key element of his base: fellow gun owners at the National Rifle Association's annual convention. In the glare of the media spotlight, DeLay recounted what the NRA's president told him moments before.

DELAY: When a man's in trouble or in a good fight, you want all your friends around them, preferably armed.

QUIJANO: The House majority leader has been under the microscope, in part because of questions about whether lobbyists improperly paid for overseas trips.

While he's denied any legal or ethical violations, two Republicans have cautiously suggested he step down. First, it was Connecticut Congressman Christopher Shays and recently a second Republican, Thomas Tancredo of Colorado told ABC News this regarding DeLay.

REP. THOMAS TANCREDO, (R) COLORADO: If he were to temporarily step down, clear this up, I would be willing to vote to elevate him back to the the position he's now in, because I think that's just the best way to handle it for the party and for Tom.

(END VIDEOTAPE) QUIJANO: But Congressman DeLay says he wants to answer questions before the House Ethics Committee. He also has his defenders including the No. 3 Republican in the house, Roy Blunt. As for Democrats meantime, they are refusing to let that House ethics panel organize. They are charging that Republicans have changed the rules in order to shield DeLay -- Carol.

LIN: All right, Elaine Quijano, it's going to be be a contentious week in Congress.

In the meantime, will the allegations topple DeLay or can he survive the political storm? I'm going to be talking about this controversy with CNN political analyst Carlos Watson. He's got a fresh perspective on that. That's coming up a little later this hour.

And Tom DeLay's not the only Republican politician feeling the heat these days. Will Arnold Schwarzenegger have the political muscle get through his current gubernatorial woes? That story still to come.

Plus, finding out if a dangerous dog lives near you and your family. We're going to show you something new about a registry that is gaining popularity, but not everyone is happy about it.

And up next, the casualties of war. A 29-year-old American worker loses her life in Iraq. Her inspirational and heartbreaking story when CNN LIVE SUNDAY continues right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: A costly attack for American forces in Iraq. Insurgents fired mortar rounds at a U.S. military camp in Ramadi overnight killing three U.S. soldiers, seven others soldiers were wounded, three seriously.

Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces are intensifying their search for Shias reportedly kidnapped by Sunni insurgents. The Shias had apparently been snatched Saturday from the village of Madeyeen (ph), south of Baghdad. And there are conflicting reports on the number of hostages. Sources tell CNN there are as many as six, other reports, well they number in the dozens.

The hostage taking drew concern during a national assembly meeting today. One member who lives in Madeyeen (ph), the district, called that situation there extremely dangerous. And he urged the assembly to intervene.

In the meantime, condolences are pouring into the family of an American aid worker who has been killed in Iraq. Her name is Marla Ruzicka. The founder of Campaign for Innocent Victims of Conflict. She died in an apparent insurgent attack on her convoy in Baghdad yesterday. CNN's Jane Arraf has personally known her for the last three years. And she has more on this remarkable woman and all of her contributions that will be long remembered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JANE ARRAF, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marla Ruzicka had a knack for making friends and a passion for helping the helpless. She combined the two to found an organization to help civilian victims of war.

I first met her in Afghanistan three years ago. When major combat ended in Iraq, she came here to Baghdad.

MARLA RUZICKA, CAMPAIGN FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS OF CONFLICT: Instead of watching the terrible images and being depressed, one, it is sad. You are always sad. But trying to figure out what can we do? How can we help people?

ARRAF: She could have stayed in California, but she spent the time in Iraq and Afghanistan. In Jalalabad, she met a woman who made her realize what she needed to do.

RUZICKA: She lost both of her eyes, both of her arms, legs were broken, her whole family was just wiped out. And then when they turned her over and literally blood spilled out of her, she said, what are you going to do to help us? And I thought, well naturally, the U.S. should have a fund to help people that get hurt.

ARRAF: So, she hit the streets working her way through war torn Baghdad to find out where she could get help.

RUZICKA: I'm frustrated. Because I go to the HOC (ph), I go to the CPA and I'm just like, who do I talk to? And nobody knows.

ARRAF: When she wasn't on the street, she was working the phones.

RUZICKA: Hello, Major Doyle (ph). I just wanted to thank you so much yesterday for meeting with us.

ARRAF: She convinced U.S. lawmakers to appropriate money for civilian victims of U.S. military campaigns.

Marla saw more suffering in a day than most people ever do and still kept her sunny disposition. On this trip, we went with her to visit Nazhira Mohammed Brisin (ph) who had lost eight members of her family when a missile hit their car. As the car burned, this child's mother threw her and her baby sister out the window to save them.

Marla told American soldiers the baby would die if she weren't air lifted to a hospital.

RUZICKA: We tried to get her immediate medical help and to save her life and we did, but her body couldn't take the burns.

ARRAF: She set up a project with 150 volunteers to do a survey of civilian victims. They weren't hard to find.

RUZICKA: And we have about 5,000 cases not necessarily of deaths, but where homes were destroyed, where people were very critically injured. and, you know, for me, I try as much as I can go to families and say we're sorry, we're working to try to get you assistance and to kind of help them have some reconciliation and some closure. And to let them know that Americans do care about their well being.

ARRAF: Marla thought about the risks of working in Iraq, but she didn't let them stop her.

RUZICKA: You just have to keep your eyes open and let people know what you're doing and about and people -- I feel that a lot of people really appreciate our campaign so they take a lot of care of myself and other people that work for me.

ARRAF: At 29, Marla had lived more, done more than most people do over a long, long lifetime.

Jane Arraf, CNN, Baghdad.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, in the age of high tech listening devices, satellite surveillance and 24-hour news channels, it is very hard to keep almost anything secret nowadays. But that is exactly what the Vatican plans to do tomorrow. Up next, what is being done to keep the public's prying eyes out of the conclave?

And still to come, the political firestorm surrounding Congressman Tom DeLay. Our political analyst Carlos Watson weighs in on the controversy.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Secrecy is a top priority at the Vatican right now. As they begin the conclave the rules are strict: no phones, no television, no newspapers. They've even installed jamming devices to guard against eavesdropping.

Our Chris Burns talks with espionage experts about the Vatican security and how others may actually try to breach it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: At the Vatican, as the leaders of the church prepare to choose a new pontiff, the saints watch over the secrets of the inner sanctum. So do the Vatican police, trying to stay one step ahead of spying technology.

Security experts say the sky's the limit, from monitoring cell phone conversations, to eavsdropping from high above. Look how close satellites can peek.

ANDREA MARGELLETTI, CENTER FOR INTL. STUDIES: Surely many agencies in the world are trying to penetrate inside the Holy See. We have special aircraft, for example spy planes, we have (UNINTELLIGIBLE), or lasers.

BURNS: Lasers that could be pointed at windows at the Sistine Chapel to pick up conversations where the cardinals will cast their votes. Or the windows of the Vatican Santa Marta Hotel where the cardinals are staying.

Vatican experts say the church's security force is expected to sweep the grounds for bugs and other gadgets during the conclave.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is a microphone.

BURNS: Private detective Miriam Tomponzi displays some of the classic tricks. The lighter that's a camera. Another that converts into a bug. The pen that's a microphone.

MIRIAM TOMPONZI, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR (through translator): There's absolutely no doubt we could spy on the Vatican and the conclave.

BURNS: But the security for this conclave has been years in the making.

(on camera): Pope John Paul II himself issued counterintelligence orders for conclaves: banning cell phones, recorders, radios, televisions, electronic organizers, to protect the cardinals from, in his words, threats to their independent judgment.

(voice-over): More than that, experts say, a pope spied on for years under Communist regimes in Poland helps better sensitize the Vatican to espionage.

MARGELLETTI: I think that now we have a Holy See much less vulnerable than ever.

BURNS: Less vulnerable to outside spying, perhaps, but experts also say that won't make the Vatican free of internal intrigue as rivals jockey for power in the shadows of the saints.

Chris Burns, CNN, Vatican City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, registries are used to alert people about convicted sex offenders living in their communities. But can a similar program be used to protect people from dangerous dogs? Well, we're going to show you a different kind of registry that's already taken hold in Florida and Virginia.

Also ahead, the political war erupting in California. Why Governor Schwarzenegger is suddenly up against the ropes.

Plus this...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel free from -- and I feel like I can do everything like everyone else.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LIN: How they're finding freedom on the open seas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Welcome back. I'm Carol Lin. And here's a quick look at what's happening right now in the news.

A sheriff says a convicted sex offender has confessed to killing a 13-year-old Florida girl. Searchers found Sarah Michelle Lunde's body yesterday in the Tampa Bay area. David Onstott, who once dated the girl's mother, is charged with first degree murder.

And in Providence, Rhode Island, a police detective was questioning a suspect early today when the man allegedly grabbed the detective's gun and then shot and killed him. Detective James Allen had been with the force for 27 years. The suspect escaped briefly but is now in custody.

And top Democrats in Congress accuse Republicans of abusing their power to protect House Majority Leader Tom DeLay from an ethics probe. A political firestorm is raging over DeLay's fund-raising tactics and questions about whether lobbyists and foreign governments paid for some of his overseas trips. Some Republicans argue that Democrats are just manufacturing charges against him.

And California Democrats are using their annual convention this weekend for a series of withering attacks on Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The freshman governor is locked in an all-out political war against California's public employee unions. And his popularity is slipping.

Peter Viles has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Arnold Schwarzenegger, governor of the state of California.

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He may look relaxed but observers say the governor's in the political fight of his life.

CROWD: Hey, Arnold, take a stand. Don't be a corporate girlie man!

VILES: It's California Governor Schwarzenegger against the unions for teachers, nurses, firefighters and police. And it's getting ugly.

DAN WALTERS, THE SACRAMENTO BEE: It's gutsy, in a way, it's unexpected. It's unusual, it's dramatic. I've described this in my column as the mother of all political wars in California. And I think that's accurate.

VILES: Schwarzenegger wants sweeping changes that the unions oppose, such as merit pay for teachers. He was pushing to take away guaranteed pensions for public workers, but has backed off amid intense criticism like this.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wants to privatize our pensions.

CROWD: No!

VILES: A barrage of TV commercials portrays Schwarzenegger as heartless and untrustworthy.

MARTINE KORACH, SCIENCE TEACHER: So how can Governor Schwarzenegger break his promise?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Borrowing $2 billion from the education budget he now says he won't pay back?

VILES: The governor is fighting back with ads of his own.

ALBERTO VACA, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: The fact is that the governor has actually increased the education budget by nearly $3 billion this year.

VILES: And appears to be enjoying the fight.

GOV. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER (R) CALIFORNIA: This is just a bumpy road that we're going to go through. Instead of going down straight with the skies down the hill, we're going to go through the slalom course and through the moguls but comfortably and nice. And we're going to do that because that's what I'm in Sacramento for, fighting for the people, not fighting for the unions.

VILES: But opinion polls show the struggle is hurting the governor's popularity. The respected field poll gave him a 54 percent approval rating in February, but a San Jose state poll in March showed only 43 percent approval.

WALTERS: He's spending his popularity. He's spending his political capital. And he just hopes he'll have enough to survive the onslaught. And if he does, he comes out on top, and if he doesn't, he loses. And maybe his political career is over.

VILES: The governor may have another fight on his hands. His wife, Maria Shriver, now says she wants him to retire from politics after one term. The governor has made no such promise.

Peter Viles for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: Well, there are more political fights across the country in Washington. Filibusters are the focus in the Senate. Majority Leader Tom DeLay is under fire in the House. And Congress is looking ahead to the 2006 races. And some surprising faces there.

CNN political analyst Carlos Watson joins me now to talk about everything.

Carlos, let's talk about the whole contentiousness of filibuster, but let me give my layperson's definition of filibuster. Is it a lot of yama, yama by the opposition party until there are enough votes to stop the yammering, right, to get on with business. And there are rules, though, that are being debated now. And the Democrats are accusing Republicans of something called a nuclear option. So what's happening this week?

CARLOS WATSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: So, Carol, as you know, Republicans have a majority in the Senate with 55 votes. But often to get big things done you actually need 60 votes to overcome the potential filibuster. And Republicans are proposing probably the single biggest change in how the Senate has been run in the last 30 years. The last time we had such a big change in how the Senate operates was 1975. Democrats call that a nuclear option and are threatening retaliation of their own.

I think two things are interesting here, Carol, in this fight. One, this fight will come down to a handful of senators, many of them who live up in the northeast. Remember, we talked about some of those critical senators like Lincoln Chafee.

No. 2, I think a lot of the story will ultimately hinge around which judge -- President Bush has nominated several judges which were rejected by Democrat last term. He's brought them back forward again. It will be interesting to see which judge the filibuster fight revolves around. If it's around a Priscilla Owens or a Janice Rodgers Brown, two women. I think their life stories will play a big role. If it's Terence Boyle, a controvertial judicial nominee from North Carolina, it will take a different vector.

So you'll hear a lot not just about a filibuster but the political story of these judicial nominees.

LIN: All right. Give me one facet of a personal store that they might turn the vote?

WATSON: WEll, you know, in the case of Terence Boyle, a lot of the critique for him has come on issues of civil rights. And many people will remember that the filibuster was often used by segregationist southern senators, including people like Strom Thurmond and even now Democrat Robert Byrd to filibuster those things. And they'll say, isn't it ironic that you are trying to change the filibuster rules around someone like Terence Boyle. And they'll point to hoes issues as it relates to him.

LIN: All right. Talking about the talk tonight, last night Tom DeLay, House majority leader, a keynote speaker at the NRA convention. And talk about preaching to the choir. No holds barred. If you did not know that this man was the focus of an ethics -- well, not quite an investigation, but ethics charges that he was taking, you know, illegal -- basically trips paid for by lobbyists and foreign governments. I mean, this was not a man with a care in the world at this dinner.

WATSON: You know, I think another way to think about it is of the last five either presidents or congressional leaders to come under deep challenge, Jim Wright, Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston, Trent Lott, President Clinton, only one really survived and that was Clinton. Clinton only survived because he proactively and aggressively fought back. And I think Tom DeLay is taking a page from that handbook.

What I find really interesting to date is if you remember, Carol, a couple of months ago when Dan Rather was embroiled in a big controversy and ultimately the folks who in some ways helped bring him down were the blogs, the web logs. And, you know, they brought new information that showed that part of his report was inaccurate.

LIN: Right, the questioning of the national guard service of President Bush.

WATSON: The National Guard service of President Bush. While we have lots of newspapers doing investigation and while the blogs have been talking about this a lot, what's interesting is that they haven't come up with any new information.

You would think that maybe they would have at this point, given the variety of ethics charges and the general clout. And so, in some ways, if we don't hear more the next several weeks, that could be a good sign for Majority Leader DeLay that he's gotten past this first rush of charges. Not that there won't be more, but the fact that we haven't heard from the blogs, I think, is significant.

LIN: Interesting. And I know you're hearing whispers behind the scene that people maybe positioning themselves should the man go down, that there are others willing to step into his shoes quickly.

But yet you're looking forward to 2006. I mean, a lot of the political maneuvering in Washington is garnering some fresh faces. Barack Obama, a breath of fresh air out of the Midwest, and even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, an unexpected candidate for governor of California who actually won, you know, won the ability to carry that office.

WATSON: He did, Carol. In fact, the 2006 elections, which aren't that far away, whether it's for governor, or for senator, I think are going to show us at least three interesting trends we're already starting to see.

One is what I call the Obama effect. And you have a number of African-Americans over the years that thought about running for governor or senator but weren't confident they could raise the money or get the serious media attention they needed. Having seen Barack Obama do well, in a sense almost anagolous to seeing Google go public, now the political fundraisers and others are willing to take a bet on someone like Michael Steele who may run for the Senate in Maryland or Kweisi Mfume who may run on the Democratic side.

And so, when all said and done, you may see another dozen African-Americans run for governor, lieutenant governor, senate in New York, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.

So, the Obama effect is one thing you may see in '06. The Schwarzenegger effect, meaning more entertainers and more athletes running for office, is another one you may see. People like Jerry Springer have thought about it, people like Lynn Swan, the former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver is another one, Ron Silver, the actor, has been quietly talking about it.

And last but not least, often an election two years before the presidential election is, in effect, the first presidential primary. George Bush used the 1998 re-election for governor of Texas to really stamp himself as the presidential front-runner. Look for someone like Hillary Clinton to maybe do the same or some surprise candidates like Haley Barbour, the Republican governor of Mississippi.

LIN: All right. 2006 just around the corner. And 2008 will definitely be interesting.

Carlos, thank you so much.

WATSON: Good to see you.

LIN: Well, can you find the key to happiness at your dinner table? After the break, the new food program that its creators claim can alter the way you feel. It has to do with your brain and how it's wired. I'm going to talk to a mother and daughter who are using that right now.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Should your community put dangerous dogs on an Internet registry the way sexual predators are identified? Well, some communities are using such a database to track dangerous animals before they attack, but not everyone thinks it's a good idea. Kareen Winter reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WINTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Anyone can find out if there are convicted sex offenders registered in their community by looking on their county's Web site. But what if you wanted to surf for a different kind of unwanted neighbor? In Spotsylvania County, Virginia a new only database lists dogs deemed dangerous by the county's animal control department. The move prompted by last month's vicious pit bull attack in Virginia that killed 82-year-old Dorothy Sullivan and her dog. It happened right in her backyard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was very saddened and appalled and I thought how could this possibly happen in our county?

WINTER: Humane society director Thea Verdak was once attacked by a pit bull itself.

THEA VERDAK, VIRGINIA HUMANE SOCIETY: It growled and opened its mouth. And if I moved, it moved. It was -- my adrenaline was absolutely pumping.

WINTER: She says she loves dogs, but wants to make sure her neighbors feel safe while out on a jog or walking their pets.

Verdak worked with the county to set up the online registry that lists the owner's name, address and dog's description.

(on camera): The county defines a dangerous dog as one that's bitten, attacked or inflicted injury on a person or companion animal. The dog must wear a special collar and be muzzled when out in public.

(voice-over): Warning signs are also posted on the owner's property. Tampa, Florida established the first dangerous dog Web site. In Virginia, Fairfax County chairman Gerry Connolly wants his community to get on board.

GERRY CONNOLLY, FAIRFAX COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: That the public is entitled to know where dangerous dogs may be in our community so that they can take appropriate planning to avoid them and protect themselves.

WINTER: Animal advocate Maureen Houck raises a breed similar to the pit bull and says the online registry unfairly targets pet owners.

MAUREEN HAUCH, V.P. AMERI. DOG OWNERS ASSON.: To have it out there with their addresses I think just really set them up for some problems with maybe people coming by and harassing them.

WINTER: Proponents say there's no simple solution in finding the balance between privacy and safety. Only more reassurance the public will have this new cybertool to protect themselves.

In Washington, I'm Kareen Winter.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: And now for some food for the brain, literally. A new health plan claims you can lose weight and get happy when you eat right for your brain type. Now this program claims to have determined how different foods can impact six specific characteristics. So does it work?

Well, Rose and Lizette Seedorf are a mother and daughter using the program. And they join me live from our New York bureau. Look at you two. I can't tell who is mom and should the daughter. Mom, raise your hand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's in the pink.

LIN: Oh, my goodness, you two look great.

Now is this -- Lizette, is this about losing weight?

LIZETTE SEEDORF: It's more about getting healthy than losing weight. I went there because I was fed up. I had tried everything. And I went to him, and he was like, it's not your fault. Everyone seems to think it's a character flaw and it's not. So, it made me feel really comfortable. And it is about being healthy for the rest of my life. I'm getting that with him.

LIN: And what are the results? L. SEEDORF: I've lost weight. I'm eating healthier. I have better eating patterns and generally I feel fabulous. So I'm very happy with it.

LIN: Rose, give me an idea -- this is what I know about it, I mean that there's a theory that our eating habits tend to go back to a man or woman's primal state when we were hunting and gathering and that we were in survival mode.

And there are different brain types, right? Different brain types. Some people are motivation brain types, creativity brain types, some people are all about focus, you know, and that's whether we complete the task of finding what we need to survive. Some people are about happiness, security, intimacy. And the endorphins or serotonins are brain chemicals that we create, right, that drive our hungers. I mean, what is your understanding of how this nutritional program works? And how it's affected you?

ROSE SEEDORF: It's affected me mostly by realizing that we are addicted to food basically. You have to attack that. Diets are really band-aids for our food addiction. Once you conquer your food addiction, you can then be more successful in your weight loss program.

LIN: So, what kind of brain type are you, Rose?

R. SEEDORF: You think it works on a type. It really doesn't. You have to answer a series of questions and then once you answer your series of questions, you can find out and put together a plan for you.

Dr. Packard and Gina do that. They individualize a program for you. There isn't one particular brain type per se for each person. It's a plan that's developed and personalized for each person.

LIN: OK. But I need an answer. What did you find out about yourself?

R. SEEDORF: I found out that what foods trigger different responses in me personally.

LIN: What are they?

R. SEEDORF: Oh, God, I'm probably like most people. I'm a chocoholic and love starches and those things. So, I know now what to eat to prevent my triggers.

LIN: And that, according to my reading of the book, has to do with the need for intimacy. A basic sort of fundamental primal need, to make a connection with others. So it's like how do I achieve some endorphins? And chocolate is one of those sources.

R. SEEDORF: Exactly.

LIN: All right.

Lizette, what about you? What did you find out about yourself? And what do you need to eat in order to achieve your goals?

L. SEEDORF: I'm high creativity. I'm high in -- I am high in intimacy and happiness. And while she craves the chocolates and desserts, I'm terrible, I crave like potato chips and like salty, crunchy foods. So, I learned to veer away from like the animal fats and the really icky carbohydrates. And so...

LIN: By avoiding those things, you avoid those other cravings?

L. SEEDORF: You do. You have to relearn your eating habits. Once you relearn them, you start to feel better. And you stop having the cravings.

So he get us on a regimented plan. He starts you out with a shake that has all the nutrition value. And it actually is really good. I was nervous because it was all soy and berries and stuff. But it is fabulous. And when you go on with that, you implement different foods in. And it really is, it's good.

LIN: All right. All right. You know, I mean, it's easy to be cynical because there are all those eat cabbage on Tuesday, eat bananas on Wednesday.

L. SEEDORF: But it's not like that.

R. SEEDORF: Exactly. It's not a diet.

L. SEEDORF: He never tells you to do that. It is not a fad diet. He really does implement good foods.

He's like, you know what, you are supposed to eat a carbohydrate. It's good for you. It's what your body runs on, but eat a whole grain, don't eat a processed white icky grain.

LIN: All right. Thanks, ladies. The Seedorfs. Almost twins. Thank you very much.

In the meantime, finding freedom off Florida's coast. On land, they may be considered disabled, but thing are different on the open sea. We're goingto tell you about an inspirational Miami-based program up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: An extraordinary program is helping disabled sailors put the wind in their sails. And the waters of Florida's Biscayne Bay are providing a beautiful backdrop. CNN's Suzanne Simons has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE SIMONS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Miami's Biscayne Bay: the breeze, the sea, and a chance to leave disabilities behind for a while.

HARRY HORGAN, SHAKE-A-LEG: This is about life. This is about giving a person the opportunity to believe in themselves and to dream. SIMONS: Harry Morgan is co-founder of Shake a Leg, a sailing program for the disabled.

HORGAN: I broke my back in 1980 and was told you'll never walk again and take your college degree and go get a job.

There was a saying around our house, hey, shake a leg, get up and do something. Don't wait for someone else to do it for you.

SIMONS: So he did. And in 1990 Shake-a-Leg, Miami, set toward his dream of escaping it all, even for a little while. The city liked his idea so much, it footed the bill for the waterfront property.

The community came through, too, helping fund dozens of boats capable of handling any disabled person who wants to sail.

17-year-old Manuela Hoyos came from Colombia three years ago and loved it so much, she became a mentor for the program.

MANUELA HOYOS, MENTOR: I feel free from it. I feel I can do everything like everyone else.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's up? Are we going out in the boat today?

SIMONS: For Graham Hooper, it is a return to the waters he knows so well.

GRAHAM HOOPER, SAILING ENTHUSIAST: I've grown up on Biscayne Bay with my father taking me out sailing as a kid.

SIMONS: Graham was a professional boat captain before being paralyzed in a car accident.

HOOPER: I pretty much thought my boating career was over.

SIMONS: Shake-a-Leg, Miami, thought otherwise. And is working with Graham to build a fully accessible boat for the handicapped that Graham will captain.

HOOPER: Oh, it doesn't matter what your disability, if you're a paraplegic, quadriplegic, you will able to get on this boat by yourself and then come back without having to deal with any able- bodied people.

HORGAN: And that's what's so wonderful about boating. It is accessible to us all.

MEREDITH BASS, YOUTH PROG. DIR.: The hardest thing in terms of making something accessible is making your mind accessible to it.

HORGAN: So what you have a disability disability? We're learning how to sail today so let's die.

HOOPER: Yes, man, get out there on the water, feel the salt spray in the face. It works every time. SIMONS: Suzanne Simons, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LIN: That is all the time we have for this hour. But coming up next on "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS", a profile of country star Gretchen Wilson.

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