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CNN Live At Daybreak

Senate Showdown; U.S. Port Security; RV Timeshares; Harry Potter Date

Aired May 23, 2005 - 05:30   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: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is set to meet with President Bush today at the White House. Karzai says he wants justice after published reports of alleged abuses involving two Afghan detainees who died in U.S. custody.

No protest today for First Lady Laura Bush, but she says she's not surprised by the angry Jewish and Muslim demonstrations at two of Jerusalem's holiest sites on Sunday. The first lady had to be whisked away. Today she is in Egypt.

Another assassination in Iraq today, this time an aide to Iraq's prime minister was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. His driver also killed. It's the latest in a string of attacks.

And do you want a Trump degree? This morning Donald Trump will announce Trump University. That's right, Trump U. It's described as a business education company focused on lifelong learning programs for services for business professionals.

Morning -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. I'd go to that university.

COSTELLO: Come on.

MYERS: Come on.

COSTELLO: OK.

MYERS: It's like going to the college of hair design. He could go to that while I go to his university.

COSTELLO: I think Donald really needed to go to that.

MYERS: I know.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT) Back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: The clock is ticking toward a Senate showdown over the rules for judicial filibusters. Republican leaders plan to call for a vote tomorrow that would change Senate rules and do away with the stalling tactic used by the minority.

More now from CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After days of heated debate last week on Justice Priscilla Owen, President Bush's nominee for the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Senate could vote on Tuesday whether to do away with the judicial filibuster. The tactic, a Senate tradition more than 200 years old, keeps nominations in limbo by allowing senators to debate indefinitely.

Leaders on both sides say they have the support to win.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: We'll go through the night Monday night to make sure everyone has an opportunity to express themselves. And then Tuesday morning, we'll have that vote.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), MINORITY LEADER: I feel very comfortable we're going to have the votes. It's an issue that is so important to this country.

QUIJANO: Democrats call any move to wipe out judicial filibusters the nuclear option because of its politically explosive nature. They want to continue using filibusters to block judicial nominations and say if Republicans follow through, Democrats will slow Senate business to a crawl. But moderates from both parties are trying to hammer out a compromise with a crucial face-to-face meeting set for Monday.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: I think as we get close to that moment of truth, when Senator Frist says he's going to push that nuclear button, we centrists are going to come together and find common agreement.

QUIJANO: As for President Bush, the White House says he does not want to interfere in Senate procedures, although the president himself recently said it's the Senate's duty to give his nominees an up or down vote.

(on camera): But the situation is delicate for President Bush. At a time when he is looking to get ambitious legislation passed on Social Security and other issues, an explosion on the filibuster fight would only make it harder to get his agenda pushed through Congress.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: "Newsweek" magazine says it's putting in place new policies for using anonymous sources. This, after the magazine retracted a story that's been blamed for deadly protests in Afghanistan.

In an article earlier this month, "Newsweek" took back a report that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay flushed a copy of the Koran down the toilet to get inmates to talk. It cited only a knowledgeable U.S. government source.

In today's edition of the magazines, "Newsweek" execs say the magazine will raise standards for anonymous sourcing and will stop using the phrase "sources said" when attributing information.

Pat Tillman's parents say the Army has tarnished their dead son's memory. As you might remember, Tillman was a pro football player turned Army Ranger. He was killed in Afghanistan last year, mistakenly shot to death by his own troops.

Now Tillman's parents say the Army lied in its investigation of their son's death. They tell the "Washington Post" that military officials made up a heroic tale about how their son died to spark a patriotic response across the United States. Tillman's mother calls it disgusting. A military spokesman says the Army made early mistakes in reporting the circumstances of Tillman's death.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, why cargo ships from seven countries are no longer allowed to dock in U.S. ports. Details in a CNN "Security Watch" after a break.

And in about 20 minutes, we'll try a little journalistic magic to see what's inside the new Harry Potter book.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Beginning today, the Coast Guard will not allow ships arriving from seven countries to enter the United States. Officials say the countries just don't have adequate port security. Makes you wonder, just how reliable is U.S. port security?

CNN's Casey Wian takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On September 11, 2002, ABC News reported it smuggled 15 pounds of depleted uranium from Istanbul, Turkey to New York on a cargo ship. A year later, the network reported it concealed a similar shipment of non-weapons-grade uranium from Jakarta, Indonesia to Los Angeles. The incidents exposed flaws in the nation's port security and prompted lawmakers to demand an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The inspector general's report is very troubling. We can see that we are not as well prepared as we needed to be to prevent a nuclear bomb or a nuclear device from being shipped into our country. But frankly, it's unexcusable three years after 9/11 that we still have not installed enough radiation portal detectors.

WIAN: Turner (ph) and other congressional Democrats blame the Bush administration for a shortage of port security funding, including money for radiation detectors at every U.S. port.

Senator Kerry also blamed President Bush, saying 95 percent of shipping containers entering the United States are not inspected. That's technically true. However, every container's manifest is inspected and those deemed high risk are opened and checked.

The inspector general's report says improvements have been made, including more sensitive radiation detection equipment and better search procedures and training.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The good news is that there is a layered system in place to protect our ports. But of course the overall system is only as good as each layer, and so we are intensively conducting inspections and audits to test each layer.

WIAN: Customs and border protection inspectors and the Coast Guard are inspecting more cargo and boarding more ships than ever. Ports have also tightened security procedures, but resources are stretched thin. The Bush administration requested $46 million for port security grants in this fiscal year's budget. Congress more than tripled that to $150 million.

(on camera): But the American Association of Port Authorities requested $400 million and said that's actually a fraction of what's really needed. And that doesn't even include the billion dollars a year the Coast Guard says it needs to upgrade its fleet and add manpower.

Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Police in Florida calling it a miracle. They found an abducted 8-year-old girl alive at a landfill buried in a recycling container under a pile of rocks. A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets with President Bush in just under four-and-a-half hours. The White House meeting follows deadly anti-American protests and insurgent violence in Afghanistan. In money news, did they cook the books? "The Wall Street Journal" says a grand jury is looking into former top executives at the American International Group, or AIG. The focus, alleged accounting misconduct at the New York-based insurance giant.

In culture, have you seen it? Probably not. The Belgium film, "The Child," has won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival in France. It's about a young petty crook who's facing fatherhood.

In sports, the Yankees come out on top in the battle of the Big Apple. The Yanks beat the Mets 5-3. They scored four runs off the Mets bullpen in the last two innings. And the Mets had their problems, Chad, with errors in the field.

MYERS: Hey, Pedro had a great game, though. He just threw a one-hitter out of -- after seven innings and then all of a sudden the bullpen just couldn't even handle anything.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, for some travelers, summer brings the call of the open road. But traveling in style isn't cheap. We'll show you one way RV lovers are stretching their travel dollars.

And a reminder, today's e-mail question, should Medicaid pay for Viagra?

We'll be right back. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: So for your next family vacation you'd like to be behind the wheel of one of those king-sized RVs, blazing a trail on the open road. But the chariot's prohibitive price tag may keep you on the coach. The solution: fractional ownership. Say what?

Well CNN's Ken Dolan has more on the timeshare plan on wheels.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUY BLEHL, FRACTIONAL RV OWNER: This is easy to drive. It's like driving a car, just a little longer.

KEN DOLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guy and Sally Blehl have always wanted to travel across country in a luxury RV, but never had the money to invest in their dream vehicle, until now. Well, a piece of their dream vehicle.

G. BLEHL: My investment was $35,000, which got me a 1/8 ownership in this coach, which allows me five weeks a year use for three years. DOLAN: Which works out at $2,300 a week. The Blehl's are tapping into a new trend called fractional ownership. You can own a piece of luxury for a fraction of the price. They agree which weeks are theirs when they sign up and pay a monthly maintenance fee of $200.

G. BLEHL: You don't have the headaches of cleaning it, washing it, doing anything. You don't even have to do the wash. You don't have to do the towels. You just call them up. They pick it up. They take care of everything for you. And the next time you see it, it's like brand new all over again.

DOLAN: When the RV is sold, the proceeds are divided among the owners.

The concept of fractional ownership is well known in areas such as private jets and real estate. But recently, the boundaries have expanded. DyerFractionalRegistry.com is one of the few Web sites cashing in on the trend.

DAN DYER, DYERFRACTIONALREGISTRY.COM: Condominiums, vacation homes, yachts, both power and sail, recreational vehicles. We have an advertiser for an exotic cars, fractional shares, and we even have an explosive detector.

DOLAN: Fractional ownership may not be for everybody. Vacation timeshares have earned a patchy reputation. But for the Blehl's, sharing has helped open up a whole new world.

SALLY BLEHL, FRACTIONAL RV OWNER: This is our first date.

G. BLEHL: I would recommend fractional ownership to anyone. Different than flying to a resort and everybody takes off their own way. Here, you bond with the person, because you're with them the majority of the time and you're experiencing the same things, the same sights, you're meeting the same people. It's a totally different experience, more rewarding.

DOLAN: Ken Dolan, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MYERS: And still not asking for directions.

COSTELLO: That is my dream, though, Chad, to drive across the country in an RV, working at odd jobs along the way, living carefree. But then again, gas prices are too high, so it probably wouldn't work out at this juncture.

MYERS: Right, just push it along.

COSTELLO: Yes.

Time for our "Web Clicks" this morning. We're always interested in what you're clicking on to on CNN.com. So let's go to the most popular stories this morning. This is kind of interesting, American soldiers helping an Iraqi family resettle in North Dakota. Actually, it's quite a great story.

MYERS: It is an amazing story. A number of soldiers in Iraq were working with a young man in Iraq, an Iraqi. He was killed because he was working with the Americans. Those American soldiers felt responsible for that death, and they took over, basically, his family and brought them all to the United States with help of a whole bunch of senators, congressmen and a whole bunch of other help. They are now landed in North Dakota.

COSTELLO: Mother and her seven children. They're kind of in a culture shock state right now, but they're doing OK.

The second most...

MYERS: "Star Wars" making money.

COSTELLO: The second most clicked on story is about "Star Wars." In four days, this film made $154 million -- Chad.

MYERS: Wow!

COSTELLO: Did you see it?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: I thought you, of all people, would go.

MYERS: I have a baby. No, I'll see it on DVD when it comes out.

COSTELLO: Actually, it probably will come out soon on DVD so they can make even more money.

MYERS: You bet, probably.

COSTELLO: It made $145 million overseas -- Chad.

MYERS: You know the first "Star Wars" made $1.5 million in its first weekend, $1.5 million.

COSTELLO: Well, and that was a lot for that time.

MYERS: I know, but this is 100 times more.

COSTELLO: Well it's crazy.

For a check at what most people are looking at on our Web site, just head to CNN.com/mostpopular and you can check it out for yourself.

Time to read some e-mail. We're asking this question this morning, should Medicaid pay for Viagra?

MYERS: And if you go to the most popular on CNN.com, this is one of the most popular clicked on stories, Carol.

Senators trying to stop this. They're saying, wait a minute, we're paying for Viagra for Phase 3. I mean the highest level of sex offenders, not level 1 and level 2, we're talking about level 3 sex offenders, rape, violent rape, also into rape of children, and we're still giving -- Medicaid is still paying for Viagra pills. So that question was coming up today, should we really be paying for Viagra at all?

COSTELLO: Well that's because it's a health issue and that's why Medicaid is paying for Viagra. And this is for all men who have that problem.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: It's a health issue, so you give them Viagra. But go on.

MYERS: Well Bill (ph) in Montreal thinks that we actually should be asking a little bit more of the reason why. If indeed there is a proven therapeutic consequence to being given this drug, then maybe it should be given as the result will be positive and the incidents of sex offenders re-offending will be diminished. But if there's no clear positive therapeutic results, then it has to be stopped.

From Shannon (ph), she says no way sex offenders should be given Viagra under Medicaid. My mother is 82 years old, she's been denied by Medicaid to get Nexium for her acid reflux. Thanks for giving me heartburn just thinking about this one on Monday, she says.

And Wayne (ph) in Kentucky, the answer is easy, don't give them Medicaid. We are taxpayers here. We're providing them with free healthcare. We have honest citizens out there that aren't getting any healthcare whatsoever.

COSTELLO: Thank you for your e-mails this morning. Always interesting.

Coming up all new in the next hour of DAYBREAK, two Florida teenagers will go to court for getting into a fight with their school bus driver. You've seen these pictures. You're going to see more of this security tape that's raising some eyebrows.

Also, the lure of hip-hop, we'll talk with an author who explores why it's gaining popularity with teens from all walks of life.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You know, Chad, I think we should bring back the DAYBREAK dance, don't you?

MYERS: I don't dance really well.

COSTELLO: Come on, do the DAYBREAK dance.

MYERS: No, that would look like "Caddyshack" when that little furry animal, that little rodent.

COSTELLO: I think that would entertain people out there.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Anyway, your entertainment news now.

School kids all across the country are waiting for this summer's release of the new Harry Potter book. There's no doubt it will be full of adventure and excitement, just like the previous best selling novels.

But as CNN's A.J. Hammer found out, getting a hint about the story line is no easy task.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

A.J. HAMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've gone straight to the top to uncover the secrets of the next Harry Potter book. Here at the publishing company's own book store, we tracked down the publisher of installment No. 6, "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince." The magic trick we try to perform is to get even a hint of what's in the story.

(on camera): Have you read the book?

BARBARA MARCUS, SCHOLASTIC: And it has a -- I'm not at liberty to tell.

HAMMER: You're not at liberty to tell me if you've read the book?

MARCUS: No, we're not at liberty to tell.

HAMMER: Well security pretty tight around here.

(voice-over): The editor wasn't much help either.

(on camera): Does anyone die in the next Harry Potter book?

ARTHUR LEVINE, EDITOR: I can't tell you that.

HAMMER: OK, I can see where this is going to go.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: Do Ron and Hermione actually get together finally? There's been sort of this, you know, a little tension between them. Are they...

LEVINE: You know it's interesting that you should ask that because I can't tell you that.

HAMMER: OK. Well, here's one for sure you can tell me. Who's the new minister of magic?

LEVINE: I can't tell you that.

HAMMER (voice-over): There are some facts out there. The sixth book in the series releases July 16 worldwide, and preorders for the book have already put it at the top of BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com's best seller lists.

It has been two years since the fifth book, which has sold more than 16 million copies in this country alone. And just like the last time, bookstores are planning parties and events to handle the crowds.

MARCUS: Last time, booksellers sold five million books over the first weekend. We, right now, have 10.8 million copies that are going to be coming off the press and being sent to book stores, because we know that there are millions and millions of families and children waiting to read the next Harry Potter.

HAMMER: But as for what's in that book.

LEVINE: Well, I can tell you that there is a new character named McLeggen (ph).

HAMMER (on camera): We got a little something.

LEVINE: You got a little something, something.

HAMMER: McLeggen. And McLeggen is?

LEVINE: McLeggen. I'm not going to tell you that.

HAMMER (voice-over): In this case, fans of the story will just have to read all about it.

A.J. Hammer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You can get more entertainment news every night on "ShowBiz Tonight." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Headline News.

And the next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That girl was put there to die. There's no uncertain terms that girl was put there to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Left to die, but found alive. Florida police turn a tragic tale into a miraculous recovery.

Also, Afghanistan's top man is in America and he is speaking his mind. We'll tell you what he has to say about the United States.

And from the hood to the suburbs and beyond, hip-hop is on a roll. So why do your kids like it?

It's Monday, May 23. 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."

A much calmer day for First Lady Laura Bush, she arrived in Cairo, Egypt this morning, a day after getting heckled by protesters in Israel. Mrs. Bush says the protests aren't surprising in a region where emotions run high.

An assassination in Baghdad this morning, gunmen killed an aide to the Iraqi prime minister in a drive-by shooting, along with the man's driver. It's the latest in a series of attacks targeting Iraqi political officials.

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 May 23, 2005 - 05:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning to you, welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK. From the Time Warner Center in New York, I'm Carol Costello, along with Chad Myers.
"Now in the News."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is set to meet with President Bush today at the White House. Karzai says he wants justice after published reports of alleged abuses involving two Afghan detainees who died in U.S. custody.

No protest today for First Lady Laura Bush, but she says she's not surprised by the angry Jewish and Muslim demonstrations at two of Jerusalem's holiest sites on Sunday. The first lady had to be whisked away. Today she is in Egypt.

Another assassination in Iraq today, this time an aide to Iraq's prime minister was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. His driver also killed. It's the latest in a string of attacks.

And do you want a Trump degree? This morning Donald Trump will announce Trump University. That's right, Trump U. It's described as a business education company focused on lifelong learning programs for services for business professionals.

Morning -- Chad.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol. I'd go to that university.

COSTELLO: Come on.

MYERS: Come on.

COSTELLO: OK.

MYERS: It's like going to the college of hair design. He could go to that while I go to his university.

COSTELLO: I think Donald really needed to go to that.

MYERS: I know.

Good morning, everybody.

(WEATHER REPORT) Back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, thank you -- Chad.

MYERS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: The clock is ticking toward a Senate showdown over the rules for judicial filibusters. Republican leaders plan to call for a vote tomorrow that would change Senate rules and do away with the stalling tactic used by the minority.

More now from CNN's Elaine Quijano.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After days of heated debate last week on Justice Priscilla Owen, President Bush's nominee for the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Senate could vote on Tuesday whether to do away with the judicial filibuster. The tactic, a Senate tradition more than 200 years old, keeps nominations in limbo by allowing senators to debate indefinitely.

Leaders on both sides say they have the support to win.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), KENTUCKY: We'll go through the night Monday night to make sure everyone has an opportunity to express themselves. And then Tuesday morning, we'll have that vote.

SEN. HARRY REID (D), MINORITY LEADER: I feel very comfortable we're going to have the votes. It's an issue that is so important to this country.

QUIJANO: Democrats call any move to wipe out judicial filibusters the nuclear option because of its politically explosive nature. They want to continue using filibusters to block judicial nominations and say if Republicans follow through, Democrats will slow Senate business to a crawl. But moderates from both parties are trying to hammer out a compromise with a crucial face-to-face meeting set for Monday.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (D), CONNECTICUT: I think as we get close to that moment of truth, when Senator Frist says he's going to push that nuclear button, we centrists are going to come together and find common agreement.

QUIJANO: As for President Bush, the White House says he does not want to interfere in Senate procedures, although the president himself recently said it's the Senate's duty to give his nominees an up or down vote.

(on camera): But the situation is delicate for President Bush. At a time when he is looking to get ambitious legislation passed on Social Security and other issues, an explosion on the filibuster fight would only make it harder to get his agenda pushed through Congress.

Elaine Quijano, CNN, the White House. (END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: "Newsweek" magazine says it's putting in place new policies for using anonymous sources. This, after the magazine retracted a story that's been blamed for deadly protests in Afghanistan.

In an article earlier this month, "Newsweek" took back a report that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay flushed a copy of the Koran down the toilet to get inmates to talk. It cited only a knowledgeable U.S. government source.

In today's edition of the magazines, "Newsweek" execs say the magazine will raise standards for anonymous sourcing and will stop using the phrase "sources said" when attributing information.

Pat Tillman's parents say the Army has tarnished their dead son's memory. As you might remember, Tillman was a pro football player turned Army Ranger. He was killed in Afghanistan last year, mistakenly shot to death by his own troops.

Now Tillman's parents say the Army lied in its investigation of their son's death. They tell the "Washington Post" that military officials made up a heroic tale about how their son died to spark a patriotic response across the United States. Tillman's mother calls it disgusting. A military spokesman says the Army made early mistakes in reporting the circumstances of Tillman's death.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, why cargo ships from seven countries are no longer allowed to dock in U.S. ports. Details in a CNN "Security Watch" after a break.

And in about 20 minutes, we'll try a little journalistic magic to see what's inside the new Harry Potter book.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Beginning today, the Coast Guard will not allow ships arriving from seven countries to enter the United States. Officials say the countries just don't have adequate port security. Makes you wonder, just how reliable is U.S. port security?

CNN's Casey Wian takes a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On September 11, 2002, ABC News reported it smuggled 15 pounds of depleted uranium from Istanbul, Turkey to New York on a cargo ship. A year later, the network reported it concealed a similar shipment of non-weapons-grade uranium from Jakarta, Indonesia to Los Angeles. The incidents exposed flaws in the nation's port security and prompted lawmakers to demand an investigation by the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The inspector general's report is very troubling. We can see that we are not as well prepared as we needed to be to prevent a nuclear bomb or a nuclear device from being shipped into our country. But frankly, it's unexcusable three years after 9/11 that we still have not installed enough radiation portal detectors.

WIAN: Turner (ph) and other congressional Democrats blame the Bush administration for a shortage of port security funding, including money for radiation detectors at every U.S. port.

Senator Kerry also blamed President Bush, saying 95 percent of shipping containers entering the United States are not inspected. That's technically true. However, every container's manifest is inspected and those deemed high risk are opened and checked.

The inspector general's report says improvements have been made, including more sensitive radiation detection equipment and better search procedures and training.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The good news is that there is a layered system in place to protect our ports. But of course the overall system is only as good as each layer, and so we are intensively conducting inspections and audits to test each layer.

WIAN: Customs and border protection inspectors and the Coast Guard are inspecting more cargo and boarding more ships than ever. Ports have also tightened security procedures, but resources are stretched thin. The Bush administration requested $46 million for port security grants in this fiscal year's budget. Congress more than tripled that to $150 million.

(on camera): But the American Association of Port Authorities requested $400 million and said that's actually a fraction of what's really needed. And that doesn't even include the billion dollars a year the Coast Guard says it needs to upgrade its fleet and add manpower.

Casey Wian, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:41 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

Police in Florida calling it a miracle. They found an abducted 8-year-old girl alive at a landfill buried in a recycling container under a pile of rocks. A 17-year-old suspect has been arrested.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai meets with President Bush in just under four-and-a-half hours. The White House meeting follows deadly anti-American protests and insurgent violence in Afghanistan. In money news, did they cook the books? "The Wall Street Journal" says a grand jury is looking into former top executives at the American International Group, or AIG. The focus, alleged accounting misconduct at the New York-based insurance giant.

In culture, have you seen it? Probably not. The Belgium film, "The Child," has won top honors at the Cannes Film Festival in France. It's about a young petty crook who's facing fatherhood.

In sports, the Yankees come out on top in the battle of the Big Apple. The Yanks beat the Mets 5-3. They scored four runs off the Mets bullpen in the last two innings. And the Mets had their problems, Chad, with errors in the field.

MYERS: Hey, Pedro had a great game, though. He just threw a one-hitter out of -- after seven innings and then all of a sudden the bullpen just couldn't even handle anything.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Thank you, Chad.

That's a look at the latest headlines this morning.

Still to come on DAYBREAK, for some travelers, summer brings the call of the open road. But traveling in style isn't cheap. We'll show you one way RV lovers are stretching their travel dollars.

And a reminder, today's e-mail question, should Medicaid pay for Viagra?

We'll be right back. DAYBREAK@CNN.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: So for your next family vacation you'd like to be behind the wheel of one of those king-sized RVs, blazing a trail on the open road. But the chariot's prohibitive price tag may keep you on the coach. The solution: fractional ownership. Say what?

Well CNN's Ken Dolan has more on the timeshare plan on wheels.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GUY BLEHL, FRACTIONAL RV OWNER: This is easy to drive. It's like driving a car, just a little longer.

KEN DOLAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Guy and Sally Blehl have always wanted to travel across country in a luxury RV, but never had the money to invest in their dream vehicle, until now. Well, a piece of their dream vehicle.

G. BLEHL: My investment was $35,000, which got me a 1/8 ownership in this coach, which allows me five weeks a year use for three years. DOLAN: Which works out at $2,300 a week. The Blehl's are tapping into a new trend called fractional ownership. You can own a piece of luxury for a fraction of the price. They agree which weeks are theirs when they sign up and pay a monthly maintenance fee of $200.

G. BLEHL: You don't have the headaches of cleaning it, washing it, doing anything. You don't even have to do the wash. You don't have to do the towels. You just call them up. They pick it up. They take care of everything for you. And the next time you see it, it's like brand new all over again.

DOLAN: When the RV is sold, the proceeds are divided among the owners.

The concept of fractional ownership is well known in areas such as private jets and real estate. But recently, the boundaries have expanded. DyerFractionalRegistry.com is one of the few Web sites cashing in on the trend.

DAN DYER, DYERFRACTIONALREGISTRY.COM: Condominiums, vacation homes, yachts, both power and sail, recreational vehicles. We have an advertiser for an exotic cars, fractional shares, and we even have an explosive detector.

DOLAN: Fractional ownership may not be for everybody. Vacation timeshares have earned a patchy reputation. But for the Blehl's, sharing has helped open up a whole new world.

SALLY BLEHL, FRACTIONAL RV OWNER: This is our first date.

G. BLEHL: I would recommend fractional ownership to anyone. Different than flying to a resort and everybody takes off their own way. Here, you bond with the person, because you're with them the majority of the time and you're experiencing the same things, the same sights, you're meeting the same people. It's a totally different experience, more rewarding.

DOLAN: Ken Dolan, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MYERS: And still not asking for directions.

COSTELLO: That is my dream, though, Chad, to drive across the country in an RV, working at odd jobs along the way, living carefree. But then again, gas prices are too high, so it probably wouldn't work out at this juncture.

MYERS: Right, just push it along.

COSTELLO: Yes.

Time for our "Web Clicks" this morning. We're always interested in what you're clicking on to on CNN.com. So let's go to the most popular stories this morning. This is kind of interesting, American soldiers helping an Iraqi family resettle in North Dakota. Actually, it's quite a great story.

MYERS: It is an amazing story. A number of soldiers in Iraq were working with a young man in Iraq, an Iraqi. He was killed because he was working with the Americans. Those American soldiers felt responsible for that death, and they took over, basically, his family and brought them all to the United States with help of a whole bunch of senators, congressmen and a whole bunch of other help. They are now landed in North Dakota.

COSTELLO: Mother and her seven children. They're kind of in a culture shock state right now, but they're doing OK.

The second most...

MYERS: "Star Wars" making money.

COSTELLO: The second most clicked on story is about "Star Wars." In four days, this film made $154 million -- Chad.

MYERS: Wow!

COSTELLO: Did you see it?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: Really?

MYERS: No.

COSTELLO: I thought you, of all people, would go.

MYERS: I have a baby. No, I'll see it on DVD when it comes out.

COSTELLO: Actually, it probably will come out soon on DVD so they can make even more money.

MYERS: You bet, probably.

COSTELLO: It made $145 million overseas -- Chad.

MYERS: You know the first "Star Wars" made $1.5 million in its first weekend, $1.5 million.

COSTELLO: Well, and that was a lot for that time.

MYERS: I know, but this is 100 times more.

COSTELLO: Well it's crazy.

For a check at what most people are looking at on our Web site, just head to CNN.com/mostpopular and you can check it out for yourself.

Time to read some e-mail. We're asking this question this morning, should Medicaid pay for Viagra?

MYERS: And if you go to the most popular on CNN.com, this is one of the most popular clicked on stories, Carol.

Senators trying to stop this. They're saying, wait a minute, we're paying for Viagra for Phase 3. I mean the highest level of sex offenders, not level 1 and level 2, we're talking about level 3 sex offenders, rape, violent rape, also into rape of children, and we're still giving -- Medicaid is still paying for Viagra pills. So that question was coming up today, should we really be paying for Viagra at all?

COSTELLO: Well that's because it's a health issue and that's why Medicaid is paying for Viagra. And this is for all men who have that problem.

MYERS: Correct.

COSTELLO: It's a health issue, so you give them Viagra. But go on.

MYERS: Well Bill (ph) in Montreal thinks that we actually should be asking a little bit more of the reason why. If indeed there is a proven therapeutic consequence to being given this drug, then maybe it should be given as the result will be positive and the incidents of sex offenders re-offending will be diminished. But if there's no clear positive therapeutic results, then it has to be stopped.

From Shannon (ph), she says no way sex offenders should be given Viagra under Medicaid. My mother is 82 years old, she's been denied by Medicaid to get Nexium for her acid reflux. Thanks for giving me heartburn just thinking about this one on Monday, she says.

And Wayne (ph) in Kentucky, the answer is easy, don't give them Medicaid. We are taxpayers here. We're providing them with free healthcare. We have honest citizens out there that aren't getting any healthcare whatsoever.

COSTELLO: Thank you for your e-mails this morning. Always interesting.

Coming up all new in the next hour of DAYBREAK, two Florida teenagers will go to court for getting into a fight with their school bus driver. You've seen these pictures. You're going to see more of this security tape that's raising some eyebrows.

Also, the lure of hip-hop, we'll talk with an author who explores why it's gaining popularity with teens from all walks of life.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: You know, Chad, I think we should bring back the DAYBREAK dance, don't you?

MYERS: I don't dance really well.

COSTELLO: Come on, do the DAYBREAK dance.

MYERS: No, that would look like "Caddyshack" when that little furry animal, that little rodent.

COSTELLO: I think that would entertain people out there.

MYERS: Yes.

COSTELLO: Anyway, your entertainment news now.

School kids all across the country are waiting for this summer's release of the new Harry Potter book. There's no doubt it will be full of adventure and excitement, just like the previous best selling novels.

But as CNN's A.J. Hammer found out, getting a hint about the story line is no easy task.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

A.J. HAMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We've gone straight to the top to uncover the secrets of the next Harry Potter book. Here at the publishing company's own book store, we tracked down the publisher of installment No. 6, "Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince." The magic trick we try to perform is to get even a hint of what's in the story.

(on camera): Have you read the book?

BARBARA MARCUS, SCHOLASTIC: And it has a -- I'm not at liberty to tell.

HAMMER: You're not at liberty to tell me if you've read the book?

MARCUS: No, we're not at liberty to tell.

HAMMER: Well security pretty tight around here.

(voice-over): The editor wasn't much help either.

(on camera): Does anyone die in the next Harry Potter book?

ARTHUR LEVINE, EDITOR: I can't tell you that.

HAMMER: OK, I can see where this is going to go.

(LAUGHTER)

HAMMER: Do Ron and Hermione actually get together finally? There's been sort of this, you know, a little tension between them. Are they...

LEVINE: You know it's interesting that you should ask that because I can't tell you that.

HAMMER: OK. Well, here's one for sure you can tell me. Who's the new minister of magic?

LEVINE: I can't tell you that.

HAMMER (voice-over): There are some facts out there. The sixth book in the series releases July 16 worldwide, and preorders for the book have already put it at the top of BarnesandNoble.com and Amazon.com's best seller lists.

It has been two years since the fifth book, which has sold more than 16 million copies in this country alone. And just like the last time, bookstores are planning parties and events to handle the crowds.

MARCUS: Last time, booksellers sold five million books over the first weekend. We, right now, have 10.8 million copies that are going to be coming off the press and being sent to book stores, because we know that there are millions and millions of families and children waiting to read the next Harry Potter.

HAMMER: But as for what's in that book.

LEVINE: Well, I can tell you that there is a new character named McLeggen (ph).

HAMMER (on camera): We got a little something.

LEVINE: You got a little something, something.

HAMMER: McLeggen. And McLeggen is?

LEVINE: McLeggen. I'm not going to tell you that.

HAMMER (voice-over): In this case, fans of the story will just have to read all about it.

A.J. Hammer, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: You can get more entertainment news every night on "ShowBiz Tonight." That's at 7:00 p.m. Eastern on Headline News.

And the next hour of DAYBREAK starts right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That girl was put there to die. There's no uncertain terms that girl was put there to die.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Left to die, but found alive. Florida police turn a tragic tale into a miraculous recovery.

Also, Afghanistan's top man is in America and he is speaking his mind. We'll tell you what he has to say about the United States.

And from the hood to the suburbs and beyond, hip-hop is on a roll. So why do your kids like it?

It's Monday, May 23. 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."

A much calmer day for First Lady Laura Bush, she arrived in Cairo, Egypt this morning, a day after getting heckled by protesters in Israel. Mrs. Bush says the protests aren't surprising in a region where emotions run high.

An assassination in Baghdad this morning, gunmen killed an aide to the Iraqi prime minister in a drive-by shooting, along with the man's driver. It's the latest in a series of attacks targeting Iraqi political officials.

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