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CNN Live At Daybreak

Alito's Rulings; Royal Visit; Scooter Mania

Aired November 01, 2005 - 05:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(WEATHER REPORT)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you, Bonnie. Nice forecast.

President Bush's new pick for the Supreme Court is a 15-year veteran of the bench and has ruled in numerous cases. That means Judge Samuel Alito has a paper trail. And both Democrats and Republicans are following it, especially when it comes to the issue of abortion.

More now from CNN's John King.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, no. Alito will not save Roe.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, no. Alito will not save Roe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, no. Alito will not save Roe.

JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Abortion is the first battle line in the nomination fight over Judge Samuel Alito, in part because of his record, in part because of where he would fit in this class photo.

NAN ARON, ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE: He is filling the seat of Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate justice, a justice in favor of women's rights, civil rights. He is not the right one.

KING: Justice O'Connor is the high court's swing vote on abortion, affirmative action and many other contentious issues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now we commit this appointment into your care and keeping.

KING: And in Alito, many conservatives see a chance to realize their long-held goal of shifting the court more reliably to the right.

WENDY LONG, JUDICIAL CONFIRMATION NETWORK: Well, we have no idea how he'll vote in exact abortion cases that will come before the court. But we do know one thing, he will be faithful to the Constitution, and he'll respect the role of people to make laws for themselves, instead of having judges make it up.

KING: In 15 years as a federal judge, Alito has not ruled on a direct challenge to the landmark Roe versus Wade abortion rights case. But he did support a Pennsylvania law requiring women to notify their spouses before an abortion, suggesting he would grant states more powers than O'Connor in restricting abortion access.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: National Organization for Women.

KING: Which is why the National Organization of Women immediately announced its opposition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're urging everybody to write their senators and express how they feel about this nominee that's anti- choice.

KING: Judge Alito has, however, joined rulings overturning state abortion restrictions for failing to meet Supreme Court tests, and declaring an unborn child is not recognized as a person under the law.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, General Meese, you're on with us? Very good.

ED MEESE, FMR. ATTORNEY GENERAL: Yes, I would just say that I think President Bush has made an outstanding decision in nominating Judge Alito...

KING: Many conservatives say Judge Alito had no choice but to follow precedent in those cases. But a former law clerk says anyone expecting an ideologue on social issues, like abortion and gay rights, is likely to be disappointed.

ADAM CIONGOLI, FORMER ALITO LAW CLERK: If they think that this is going to be an opportunity for someone to go in and wholesale change the culture, then they may be looking for somebody else. I mean, Judge Alito is going to be a restrained judge.

KING (on camera): Even if Judge Alito wins Senate confirmation, it won't be in time for next month's arguments on a New Hampshire case involving abortion restrictions. But the issue of whether the states and the federal government can ban late-term abortions is likely to be on the high court docket next year, and could prove the first test of whether an Alito-for-O'Connor swap tilts the court balance in favor of abortion foes.

John King, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: The former U.S. ambassador, Joe Wilson, says he thinks heads should roll at the White House in the CIA leak investigation. And he points the finger at President Bush's trusted adviser, Karl Rove, who escaped indictment but is still being investigated.

Wilson spoke to Wolf Blitzer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE WILSON, FMR. U.S. AMBASSADOR: I think that Karl Rove should be fired. I think that this idea that you can, with impunity, call journalists and leak national security information is repugnant. It is not fitting for a senior White House official. It is below any standard of ethical comportment, even if it is not technically illegal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, is the CIA operative whose cover was blown in 2003. It happened shortly after Wilson publicly challenged the White House justification for going to war in Iraq. Wilson says he does not regret speaking out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WILSON: It is an act of civic duty. It is what citizens across this country do every day in our democracy, you hold your government to account for what your government says and does in the name of the American people. This happened to be an area where I had certain expertise and experience.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Still on the CIA leak saga, Vice President Cheney names a new chief of staff to replace Lewis "Scooter" Libby. He promoted David Addington to the post. He had been the vice president's general counsel, his lawyer, in other words. Libby faces his first court appearance on Thursday, by the way. Of course he was indicted Friday on charges of obstruction of justice, perjury and making false statements in the CIA leak investigation.

The late civil rights leader, Rosa Parks, is being honored today in her adopted city, Detroit, Michigan. Parks made history by being arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama 50 years ago, and that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement.

She made history again by becoming the first women to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey was one of those paying tribute to Parks at a Washington memorial service.

We bring you Oprah's words as we take you "Beyond the Soundbite."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OPRAH WINFREY, TALK SHOW HOST: My father telling me about this colored woman who had refused to give up her seat. And in my child's mind, I thought she must be really big. I thought she must be at least 100 feet tall. I imagined her being stalwart and strong and carrying a shield to hold back the white folks.

And then I grew up and had the esteemed honor of meeting her, and wasn't that a surprise. Here was this petite, almost delicate lady, who was the personification of grace and goodness. And I thanked her then.

I said, thank you, for myself and for every colored girl, every colored boy, who didn't have heroes. You acted without concern for yourself and made life better for us all. We shall not be moved. I marvel at your will. I celebrate your strength to this day. And I am forever grateful, Sister Rosa, for your courage, your conviction. I owe you to succeed. (END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Rosa Parks will be buried tomorrow in Detroit.

In other news "Across America" this morning, a Virginia Beach, Virginia, school bus driver is in trouble. The 24-year-old driver is charged with reckless driving after the bus tipped over in a turn. Fourteen of 23 students on the bus and the driver were treated at a hospital. This was the fifth school bus accident in Virginia Beach since the school year began.

Riders of a Busch Gardens' roller coaster in Tampa, Florida got a little excitement. Well, more than they would have wanted. The coaster stopped in mid-ride, leaving 24 passengers hanging. You see them there. A park spokesman says the ride's computer system detected a problem and halted the ride as a precaution. No one was hurt in the end.

And did you see this on Sunday, you know a fan rushes on the field at the Bengals-Packers game. He takes the ball from the Packers' quarterback Brett Favre. Unbelievable! This guy didn't get far, though. The overzealous fan went before the referee, or make that the judge, on Monday. The 31-year-old, his name is Greg Gaul (ph), he pleaded not guilty to criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and public intoxication. Somehow I think he's going to lose that court battle.

The British are coming, the British are coming, this time without much fanfare and with even less interest from a lot of you. Charles and Camilla hit the States. Richard Quest talks about that coming up. And we're going to read your e-mails this morning on that topic.

And you will never forgive yourself if you walk out that door this morning without finding out how this little panda is doing. You're serious. Look closely now. Watch the panda. I know, it's hypnotizing, isn't it?

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:40 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.

The Asian Bird Flu lights a fire under the Bush administration. The president will announce his strategy in battling a possible flu pandemic, whether it's caused by Bird Flu or some other strain of influenza.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver is being treated for a minor stroke at a Los Angeles hospital. The 84-year-old Shriver is the mother of California First Lady Maria Shriver and the sister of Ted Kennedy. Doctors say they anticipate a short hospital stay.

In money news, gas prices are below $2.50 a gallon for the first time in three months. A government energy survey found, on average, a gallon of unleaded regular gas dropped more than 12 cents last week to $2.48.

In culture, pop culture, I should say, Brad Pitt lends his voice to a special PBS documentary that begins tonight. The six-hour special focuses on global health issues and disease prevention in some of the world's poorest countries.

In sports, the Pittsburgh Steelers kept up their Monday night mastery with a win over the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers used a late field goal to pull out a win 20 to 19. Wow! Pittsburgh has now won their last 11 games on Monday Night Football. Good for them -- Bonnie.

(WEATHER REPORT)

COSTELLO: Bonnie, you know what it's time for now? It's time for our bimonthly panda update from the National Zoo.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Great.

COSTELLO: Little -- I knew you'd think so. This is Tai Shan. He's getting bigger. He now weighs 15.5 pounds and he's about 2.5 feet -- look at the little panda. The cub's mother weighs about 235 pounds. So he has a ways to go. Mother and cub are not yet on display at the zoo. Of course that will come later.

In other panda news, there are only a few days left to vote on the name of San Diego Zoo's panda cub. And they have a Web site as well.

He's doing just fine.

Time to read some e-mail. We're asking a question this morning about you know the Prince and Camilla. They are coming to this country in an effort to make Americans, you know, relate to them better, like them better. They're going to be on a kind of a good will tour, because they are going to stop in New Orleans.

So we're asking you this question since a CNN-"USA Today"-Gallup Poll says 81 percent of you really don't care that they are coming. But we want to know what would make you care?

This is from Greg (ph). He says what would make me care about Charles and Camilla, if they were two people that were about to present me with my $340 million check from winning the lottery, I would care a lot.

This is from Carl (ph). I care a great deal. I'm spending the day raking leaves in my yard and I need help. Can you send them over?

This is from Mike (ph) in Colorado. Our forefathers fought a war about 230 years ago so that we Americans wouldn't have to care about the British Royal Family. For me to care about them, they'd have to do something that I deem noteworthy besides just being a prince and princess, oops, I mean duchess. Julie (ph) in New Jersey, bring money, a lot of money.

Barbara (ph), this is from Barbara, what could they do to make me care, send over Prince William. The only good thing about Charles is when he married Diana and then had Prince William. He's too stuffy and uptight for me to care. William seems more like his mother, normal, caring and compassionate.

This is from Montana (ph) from Bowling Green, Ohio. If the Royal couple were to team up with reality TV producer Mark Burnett and launch a show ala "Bachelorette" meets "Survivor" to determine brides for Princes William and Harry, then I would care. I'd be ashamed to admit it, but I'd tune in every week. And in the spirit of Princess Diana, the competition should have a major community service component.

Wow!

Anyway, when we come back, we're going to talk to Richard Quest about the Royal couple and their efforts to make you like them more. And we'll find out what they are doing in the United States. We'll be back with more on the Royal road trip just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Blimy (ph). In case you didn't know, the Royals are coming to town today. Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla begin their eight-day official visit in New York.

For more on the trip and the Royals, we turn to CNN's Richard Quest. He is in London this morning.

Good morning -- Richard.

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Carol. Stirring music. I shall probably be standing to attention.

COSTELLO: I'm just laughing. That's terrific, but you know, Richard, the music is probably the best part of their trip. According to most of the e-mails we've been receiving this morning, nobody cares.

QUEST: Look, Carol, as long as I can remember, every time the Royal Family goes to the United States there is this Republican small outcry in the United States, yes, that's why we got rid of George III, well that's what we fought the War of Independence for. But it doesn't stop people coming out. It doesn't stop it being the hottest ticket in town. It doesn't stop every social climber from East Coast, West Coast, north and south trying to get in to see them.

I remember back in the visit of Her Majesty the Queen, when Ronald Reagan was president, and I covered that trip. You couldn't get on the Royal Britannia for fawning Americans who wanted to have their say and get close to them.

Now, I will grant you that the visit of two middle-aged Royals is not the same as a visit of Charles and Diana 20 years ago. That had sex. It had glitz. It had glamour. This is more likely to have vitamin pills, agriculture, architecture and organic farming.

But I still put it to you, there will be a large number of social climbers who will want to get close and be part of this visit, especially, and I'll just leave you with this thought, especially since the prince is going to be talking about some very serious issues, like globalization, the environment and organic farming. Those sort of things.

COSTELLO: Well, I hope that most Americans listen. But you know, most American's eyes will be focused on Camilla. According to "The New York Post" this morning, I have it right here, it kind of lists who Camilla is bringing with her. The size of her staff, 40. She's bringing 50 outfits and she is going to spend 8 days here. So she is going to be trying hard to look good for the American people. I feel kind of sorry for her -- Richard.

QUEST: But she -- no, hang on, hang on, hang on, Carol. Look, the poor woman can't win. If she turned up in a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, there'd be the -- there'd be the same people saying she could have made a bit of an effort.

I mean, the one thing we know about Camilla is that lovely phrase that you see again and again, she scrubs up well. And there's no doubt it does take a little bit more effort for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to look as good than it did for the late Princess of Wales, no question about it. But, these are people who are going to the United States, representing the United Kingdom, the U.S.' closest ally. And as such and are going to be talking about serious subjects.

I have to say it's not going to be the most exciting trip in the world, although it will get interesting when they go down to New Orleans and they go to ground zero, as they're -- as they're going to do today. Those will be interesting parts of the trip. But otherwise, no, this isn't going to be tiaras and glitz and glamour.

COSTELLO: Well you know what, we did get a few e-mails from people saying, if they went to New Orleans and they donated a lot of money to help in the cleanup effort, that would go a long way in adding good will and making people like them better.

QUEST: Well why should you not like them? Look, there's a grudge, clearly, in the United States because Charles is seen to have done the wrong thing against the wonderful fairy tale princess. But guess what, Carol, move on. Diana died a decade ago. It's time to move on. He's married the woman that he's loved for 30 years.

I was with them last week in Clarence House. There was one very touching moment. After Charles had spoken to the crowd of journalists that was there, he sort of very diffidently just turned to Camilla. And he sort of put his arm around her diffidently and he said -- he said, and I very much hope the Americans will learn to love and appreciate my darling wife as much as I do. And you know at that point you realize, yes, these are two people heading towards pensionership who love each other. COSTELLO: Wait, I have to wipe the tears away.

Thank you, Richard.

I think we better throw to a break before I say anything else that will get me in trouble.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Indicted former White House staffer Lewis Libby, better known as "Scooter," has said he likes his nickname, that he's not tempted to take himself too seriously with a name like "Scooter."

Another person not likely to take things too seriously is CNN's Jeanne Moos. Here is her take on Scooter in the news.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one thing for a scooter to get a ticket, but to be indicted for perjury?

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Scooter Libby.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Also known as "Scooter" Libby.

MOOS: You'd think with all the coverage, folks would know who Scooter is.

(on camera): Word association. Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Libby.

MOOS (voice-over): And some did, but more didn't.

(on camera): Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Booter.

MOOS: Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scooter?

MOOS: Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Scooter?

MOOS: Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pie.

MOOS (voice-over): That scooter's heyday was back when Scooter Libby was just a boy. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I get where you are going, Scooter indictment.

MOOS (on camera): Scooter?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That SOB in Washington.

MOOS (voice-over): Some call the nickname inappropriate.

(on camera): Too cute for...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For somebody who is so manipulative.

MOOS (voice-over): It's the butt of jokes.

TINA FEY, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE": Making false statements, five years; perjury, five years. Going to jail with the name Scooter, priceless.

MOOS: There are at least two versions explaining the origin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nicknamed Scooter after famed baseball player Phil Rizutto.

MOOS: Wrong. Apparently, though Scooter, himself, mentions the former Yankee shortstop.

LEWIS "SCOOTER" LIBBY, FORMER CHENEY CHIEF OF STAFF: It goes way back to when I was a kid. Some people ask me if, as you did earlier, if it's related to Phil Rizutto. I had the range, but not the arm.

MOOS: Libby told "The New York Times" his dad coined the nickname when Scooter was in his crib.

(on camera): He used to scoot around his crib and his dad...

(voice-over): The one place you won't see the name Scooter is on the novel he published in 1996 entitled, "The Apprentice," no relation to that apprentice.

DONALD TRUMP, "THE APPRENTICE": Robin (ph), you're fired.

MOOS: Besides, Libby wasn't fired, he resigned. His apprentice got pretty good reviews, except for the sex scenes. Scenes that even include bestiality and incest.

As a writer for "The New Yorker" noted, "The brothers of a dead samurai have sex with his daughter. Many things glisten, quiver and are sniffed."

And speaking of fiction, how about the "West Wing?" Its current plot about the White House communications director leaking secret information is eerily close to reality.

MARTIN SHEEN, ACTOR: I have to fire you.

MOOS: And the scenes at the press briefings...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, did any of the White House senior staff know that Toby Ziegler was leaking national security secrets?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's an ongoing investigation.

MOOS: ... are practically indistinguishable from the real thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Some of the same Democrats are saying that the president should fire Karl Rove.

SCOTT MCCLELLAN, WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN: There's an ongoing investigation.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did any senior staff know Toby was lying from that very podium?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A falsehood wittingly or unwittingly was told from this podium.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll dodge your questions now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is such an artful dodge. Whether there is a question of...

MCCLELLAN: No, I disagree with you.

MOOS: And speaking of dodging, when you say the name Scooter Libby, beware.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lewis "Scooter" Libby, I'm just looking to see.

MOOS: Be prepared to scoot.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: David Ensor handled that nicely, didn't he?

The next hour of DAYBREAK begins in one minute.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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