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American Morning
The Fight For Iraq; Active Duty Opposition; America Votes 2006; Rush Vs. Michael
Aired October 25, 2006 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Once you've done a nip, tuck and a little liposuction, what's next? Well, how about an eye lash transplant? Plastic surgeons say it's the latest. Hair follicles are taken from the back of the scalp and one by one stitched into the eyelids. Ouch! What price, this vanity? Three grand an eye. We suggest you buy a matching set.
And after all that surgery, if you have any money left for those pesky kids, consider this, tuition is on the rise, up 6.3 percent to about $5,800 at public colleges, nearly 6 percent to $22,000 and change at private schools.
For more on these stories, log on to our website, cnn.com. The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING begins right now.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning and welcome back, everybody. It is Wednesday, October 25th. I'm Soledad O'Brien.
M. O'BRIEN: And I'm Miles O'Brien.
Lots happening this morning. Let's get right to our news wall.
Top story. U.S. officials considering sends more American troops to Baghdad as that sectarian violence there rages in Iraq.
S. O'BRIEN: Also happening. An aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert will testify before the House Ethics Committee today investigating the Mark Foley scandal.
M. O'BRIEN: New Jersey could become the second state to allow same-sex couples the right to marry. The state supreme court expected to release its decision today.
S. O'BRIEN: Interest rates expected to stay the same, at least for now. The Federal Reserve is expected to announce its decision this afternoon.
First check of the weather this hour. Chad Myers watching a snowstorm in Colorado. I can't decide if that's good news or bad news. I guess the skiers are happy.
M. O'BRIEN: We've had a lot of snow early on this year, from Buffalo to Colorado.
S. O'BRIEN: Bad weather. It's only October.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, what's up with that?
(WEATHER REPORT)
M. O'BRIEN: In Iraq, the talk of stay the course is now replaced by word of timetables and milestones. Iraqi leaders agreeing to specific benchmarks, hoping to stabilize the country. The hope, Iraqi security forces can take the reins from U.S. forces in a year or perhaps a year and a half. We have reports now from CNN's Arwa Damon in Baghdad and Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon. Let's begin with Arwa.
Arwa, hello.
ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
That's right. We did hear that timeline being set by General George Casey yesterday, whereby which he said that Iraqi security forces could take over security in the next 12 to 18 months. But we have heard these sorts of goals being set for the Iraqi security forces in the past, goals that they have not been able to achieve.
We have also seen a trend whereby which in a certain area U.S. forces are either drawn down or the areas handed over to the Iraqi security forces, security crumbles, the Americans have to come back in. When you speak with MTT (ph) team leaders, those are the military transition team leaders here on the ground working with the Iraqi security forces, they say that they fear that this process of handing over may be happening too fast. They say that they feel that they're under immense political pressure to speed up the process of handing over to the Iraqis, but that the Iraqi forces are not fully ready or capable.
There are so many factors really that go into training the Iraqi security forces. And it's not just training. It's also building up a trust between them and the local population. Training the Iraqi security forces, Miles, really is just one piece of this very complex puzzle of securing this country.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, and the big concern is how trustworthy are those Iraqi security forces. We've seen a lot of evidence that imbedded in (AUDIO GAP).
DAMON: And that's what the Iraqi government is trying to do right now, along with the help of the U.S. military. There are stories where the Iraqi security forces, both the police and the Iraqi army, have been infiltrated by militias and/or insurgent groups. The question of weeding those out is a very significant one.
We've seen the ministry of interior taking steps towards trying to root those individuals out of the police force. And added to that, Miles, is the reality that there are insurgent groups operating out there, either with or without the help of Iraqi security forces. But they are out there dressed in police and army uniforms and they are out looking like Iraq security forces, basically acting as death squads or kidnapping people who then are disappearing. It really is a very complicated problem.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Arwa Damon in Baghdad, thank you very much.
The big question for those of us here at home and for a lot of families this morning, when are the U.S. troops coming home. CNN's Kathleen Koch is at the Pentagon with more.
Hello, Kathleen.
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Miles.
And, obviously, some perhaps discouraging news yesterday from the Pentagon on that point. The top U.S. commander in Iraq, General George Casey, saying that the deployment of more troops in Baghdad right now is not out of the question. And Casey also predicted that it could take another 12 to 18 months before Iraqi security forces, Iraqi troops, are fully capable, fully ready to take over security of the country.
Now reporters here at the Pentagon yesterday pointed out they have heard similar predictions in the past earlier in the conflict. They have not materialized. Still at a press conference here at the Pentagon yesterday, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reinforced that new timetable.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. PETER PACE, CHAIRMAN, JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Yes, I think it's fair to say that we view the current status of both Iraqi and U.S. forces on a continuing basis. So for General Casey to stay 12 to 18 months today is a very logical thing for him to say.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOCH: Pace said that while the focus would continue to be on drawing down U.S. troops in Iraq, that he, as well, would not hesitate to ask for more U.S. forces there if he believes that they're necessary.
Now when it comes to whether or not the U.S. is winning the war in Iraq, Pace was very hesitant, would not give a yes or no answer. Though he did insist, Miles, that progress is being made there.
Back to you.
M. O'BRIEN: Kathleen Koch at the Pentagon, thank you very much.
As military and political leaders re-evaluate strategy in Iraq, there's new opposition from an unexpected source.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN, (voice over): Calls to end the war in Iraq are nothing new. But now those calls are coming from a surprising source.
SGT. LIAM MADDEN, U.S. MARINE CORPS: I adamantly oppose the war in Iraq. I don't feel American people, Iraqi civilians or American service members benefit from it.
M. O'BRIEN: Marine Sergeant Liam Madden is home from a seven month tour of duty in Iraq. He's still on active duty and he's one of 118 active duty service members speaking out against the war.
BRIG. GEN. DAVID GRANGE, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: For active duty members, I think it's very unusual. The 30 years I served in the military, I don't recall that ever happening.
M. O'BRIEN: Military rule prohibit active duty soldiers from lobbying in uniform or denouncing elected officials.
GARY SOLIS, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER: If they were to insult the president personally or the secretary of defense personally, yes, they could face charges, particularly, most clearly, if they were officers.
M. O'BRIEN: They say they're shielded by whistleblower protection laws that give soldiers freedom to file complaints with members of Congress. Senators in both parties are denouncing the protest. But the White House is downplaying the opposition.
TONY SNOW, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It's not unusual for soldiers in a time of war to have some misgivings.
MADDEN: There's some important issues that people need to raise. And this is one of very close to my heart.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Now, for its part, the Pentagon issued the following statement in response. "Members of the armed forces are free to communicate with Congress in a lawful manner that doesn't violate the UCMJ (Uniform Code of Military Justice). Members of the armed forces who choose to speak to the press in their private capacity may do so, but must not do so in uniform, and must make clear that they do not speak on behalf of their military unit, service, or the Department of Defense, unless they are authorized to do so."
Sorry about all that gobbley guck, folks.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: We know basically what they're saying.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, you got the just.
S. O'BRIEN: Thirteen days till Election Day, but on the campaigner and chief schedule, an Oval Office meeting with the president of the Dominican Republic. Why isn't President Bush hitting the campaign trail? CNN's Elaine Quijano is live for us at the White House.
Good morning, Elaine.
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Soledad. You're right, less than two weeks to go. Publicly, President Bush's aides are insisting that the campaigner in chief is not shying away from hitting the stump aggressively. They say that he is hitting the campaign trail fairly hard and that he'll continue to do so.
Now yesterday we saw the president out in Florida as his aides back here at the White House were trying to court conservative radio audiences. But White House Spokesman Tony Fratto insisted that the president is not focusing on the possibility that Republicans may lose control of Congress coming up here. He said the White House is confident about the outcome of the midterm elections saying, "we're still in the game, and if you're in the game, you're in it to win."
But, of course, this election is coming at a time when President Bush has seen his approval ratings continue to hover in the 30s. Way down, of course, in large part by Iraq. Republicans are certainly nervous about the effect that the Iraq War will have on their re- election prospects. Mr. Bush is finding himself having to walk that fine line between defending his Iraq policy, trying to remain resolute, while at the same time, as we've been reporting over the last couple of days, also trying to send the message that his administration is remaining flexible when it comes to the tactics in Iraq.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Elaine Quijano for us at the White House this morning.
Thank you, Elaine.
Illegal immigration is the focus of a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll. It comes out this morning. It shows that most Americans want stronger border controls. They're just less certain about a fence to keep illegals out. More than two-thirds, 67 percent, say the number of illegal immigrants in the U.S. should be decreased. Fifty-three percent, though, say they're opposed to building that 700- mile-long fence along the U.S./Mexico border. Fifty-eight percent of those polled say they're in favor of large fines for employers who hire illegal immigrants.
All this week, the best political team on TV is taking a look at American's "Broken Government." Tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, Lou Dobbs reports on "Broken Borders."
Some of the other stories we're following for you this morning.
Rush Limbaugh is accusing Michael J. Fox of faking symptoms of Parkinson's in a new political ad. We'll show you the ad plagued by the controversy there.
And the "L.A. Times" building evacuated after a mysterious envelop of white powder is discovered. We'll tell you how that story ends.
Back in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Some of today's top stories.
The search goes on for a U.S. soldier believed kidnapped in Iraq.
And House Speaker Dennis Hastert quizzed by the Ethics Committee on his handling of the Mark Foley scandal. A top aide of Hastert's will be questioned a little later today.
Heading out the door? Chad Myers has a word for you. In some places you've got snow falling on your head.
Hello, Chad.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: In America this morning.
In California, the newsroom is back in operation at the "Los Angeles Times." Police evacuated the paper last night. An employee found an envelope full of white powder inside the envelope. Now hazmat teams have tested the powder. It turns out it was harmless. Apparently something you use to make chewing gum.
In New York, at the World Trade Center site, more bone fragments have been found. Workers searched underground areas that apparently had been missed during the initial cleanup. Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city's cleanup was done quickly out of respect for families. But now some of those families are very angry.
In New Mexico, another possible security breach at the Los Alamos nuclear weapons lab. Police found classified documents during a search of a drug suspects home. Officers alerted the FBI who traced the papers back to a woman who's reported to be a contract employee at Los Alamos. In Massachusetts, a company has been ordered to end its participation in inspections in the big dig tunnel collapse. Turns out that the consulting firm was actually being investigated for its role in the collapse. In July, you'll remember a ceiling panel crushed a car and killed one woman. This happened in Boston.
In Tennessee, a fire chief and three volunteer firefighters are now in jail on arson charges. All four of them are being held for allegedly starting a series of fires over the past two years in Tiptonville, which is just north of Memphis. The judge set bail for the fire chief at $100,000, $25,000 a piece for the other three.
And in Missouri, St. Louis pitcher Chris Carpenter held Detroit to only three hits. Good defense by the Cardinals help them beat the Tigers 5-0. The Cards now lead the World Series to games to one and game four is tonight in St. Louis.
M. O'BRIEN: With so much at stake in the upcoming election, it's no surprise the political debate has turned nasty. But the exchange between the actor Michael J. Fox, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, and Rush Limbaugh seems to stand out. Could it be a new low? CNN's Tom Foreman with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): In Missouri's furious (ph) Senate battle, Democrat Claire McCaskill has picked up a famous ally to try to help her knock off Republican incumbent Jim Talent.
MICHAEL J. FOX, ACTOR: They say all politics is local, but that's not always the case.
FOREMAN: Actor Michael J. Fox is now quite visibly suffering from Parkinson's disease and he is campaigning for a number of Democrats who support stem cell research, aimed at finding a cure for Parkinson's and other disorders.
FOX: Unfortunately, Senator Jim Talent opposes expanding stem cell research. Senator Talent even wanted to criminalize the science that gives us a chance for hope.
FOREMAN: But now radio host Rush Limbaugh is accusing the ailing actor of faking it.
RUSH LIMBAUGH, RADIO HOST: He is moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act. This is the only time I have ever seen Michael J. Fox portray any of the symptoms of the disease he has.
FOREMAN: Fox has undeniably appeared steadier at other times. The shaking caused by Parkinson's is that way. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. It's just as undeniable that the disease effectively ended his once ascended career. But Limbaugh is hearing none of it.
LIMBAUGH: This is really shameless, folks. This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting. One of the two.
FOREMAN: Church groups and others who oppose stem cell research are conducting their own campaigns in Missouri where a ballot initiative to support the research is also under consideration.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Embryonic stem cell research will require millions of eggs and women will pay a terrible price.
FOREMAN: But even some conservatives are backing away from Limbaugh's attack.
RAMESH PONNURU, SENIOR EDITOR, NATIONAL REVIEW: Well, I don't think Republicans are going to be hurt because one talk show host, however influential, said something foolish, although it wasn't helpful.
FOREMAN: Fox, at least publicly, is acting like it's all clean fun.
FOX: It's as ironic, given some things that have been said in the last couple days, that my pills are working really well right now. FOREMAN: But, without question, this dirty campaign season just got dirtier.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Now later on his program, Limbaugh backpedaled a little bit. He says he will apologize to Michael J. Fox if he is wrong in characterizing his behavior as an act.
S. O'BRIEN: Yes. That apology might be coming.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes, I think so.
S. O'BRIEN: A lot of experts say that that's very standard for, you know, Parkinson's -- the course of the disease, frankly.
M. O'BRIEN: Well, you know, he has a hearing difficulty, Rush Limbaugh. Imagine if somebody were making fun of hearing impaired at his expense one way or another. That would hurt as well.
S. O'BRIEN: I doubt he'd be shocked, actually.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes. All right.
S. O'BRIEN: We'll see.
Some of the stories we're following for you this morning.
A clash between U.S. forces and a Shiite militia leaves four Iraqi civilians dead in Baghdad.
And the government introduces new rules to let public schools teach boys and girls separately.
That's ahead. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
S. O'BRIEN: Welcome back, everybody. Some of the stories we're following for you this morning.
A news photographer who was kidnapped in Gaza is now a free man. Palestinian gunmen released the Associated Press photographer yesterday.
And the Feds considered unlikely to raise interest rates today above their current 5.25 percent.
Some reassuring for parents who have got reservations about taking their kids to get flu shots. The largest ever study of side effects from flu shots finds that the vaccine is safe for babies and toddlers. The study also says that kids who get vaccinated are less likely to develop ear and respiratory infections. The Centers for Disease Control recommends flu shots for every child in the United States who's under five years old.
Most Americans are used to sending their kids to co-ed public schools. That could change soon, though. The feds are introducing new rules that will ease restrictions on single sex public schools. Education Secretary Margaret Spelling says research shows that some students do learn better in a boys-only or girls-only environment. And she says the government's committed to giving families more choices in how they educate their children.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: Another corporate executive heading to prison. Such a long list. Andy Serwer, you must have a rogues gallery in your office keeping track of all these guys.
ANDY SERWER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Or a score card at least, Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: That too, yes.
SERWER: We'll tell you about that. Former chief financial officer of Comverse Technology, that's a software company, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and fraud charges. This in that company's stock option scandal. David Kreinberg faces 15 years in jail. Sentencing will be in February.
At large, though, still, is the CEO of this company, one Kobi Alexander. A colorful figure who took a lot of money, fled to Israel, then moved on to Namibia where he transferred tens of millions of dollars and apparently bought himself a $500,000 home. He was detained by authorities then and now there is an extradition process underway apparently. So that should be interesting if and when he comes back to the United States.
M. O'BRIEN: And is there an extradition treaty with Namibia?
SERWER: That's being worked out.
M. O'BRIEN: Ah, yes.
SERWER: Very unclear. And you can imagine he's lobbying against such treaty.
M. O'BRIEN: You would think Kobi would be smart enough to move to a country that didn't have a treaty. I wonder. It should be interesting to see how this one unfolds.
SERWER: That might be part of the move to Namibia.
M. O'BRIEN: Maybe so.
SERWER: Exactly.
Switching over to Wall Street this morning, Miles. One stock that's poised to head much higher this morning, Amazon.com. It reported earnings that were slightly lower, but that's because it had spent money on technology, but not as much as Wall Street hoped it would, so the stock is moving up. Revenues were up briskly, up 24 percent.
And here's just an indication of just how big Amazon is. The company says it expects to do about $4 billion of sales in the fourth quarter. The holiday quarter.
M. O'BRIEN: In the quarter? One quarter?
SERWER: Yes. That's the big holiday move for them.
M. O'BRIEN: Wow! That's some revenue.
SERWER: Mitigating that news, however. Some bad news possibly here for Amazon this morning. IBM is suing Amazon for patent infringement. Get this. IBM is claiming that Amazon built its entire online business through patents of IBM's that it didn't properly compensate big blue for.
M. O'BRIEN: So, wait a minute, this time the patent troll is big blue.
SERWER: Right.
M. O'BRIEN: Very interesting.
SERWER: Yes, it is. And, you know, IBM holds more patents than any other company. And I wouldn't exactly say they're a patent troll in this case, but, you know, they're looking for a little coin to flow back their way. And, you know, it's very interesting to hear them claim that Amazon's entire business is based on their technology that they weren't compensated for. Not just a little piece. Because usually that's sort of the case, that it's just a part. But this is the whole kit and kaboodle.
S. O'BRIEN: If they win, if Amazon loses and IBM wins, I'll tell you, IP attorneys will be working like crazy in this field. Because think of all the companies where really you could not have done the deal right the first time around.
M. O'BRIEN: Yes.
SERWER: Right. Right. It could be huge implications to this one.
S. O'BRIEN: The whole business is built on it. That would be big. Big, big, big.
SERWER: Yes.
M. O'BRIEN: It still hurts they gave that little dos thing to Bill Gates.
SERWER: I think they're still made about that.
M. O'BRIEN: Still mad about that one.
All right, thank you, Andy. SERWER: You're welcome.
M. O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're following for you right now on the program.
U.S. troops step up their search for an American soldier missing in Iraq.
Plus, a new poll on border security shows most Americans opposed building a fence along the U.S./Mexican border.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Welcome back to the program. I'm Miles O'Brien.
S. O'BRIEN: And I'm Soledad O'Brien.
Let's get right to the news wall for some of the stories that we're following for you this morning.
M. O'BRIEN: U.S. forces clashed with the Shiite militia in Baghdad today, leaving at least four Iraqis dead, 20 wounded. This as the top U.S. commander in Iraq says Iraqi forces could take control of their country's security in the next 12 to 18 months.
S. O'BRIEN: An aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert is going to testify before the House Ethics Committee today in the probe into the Mark Foley e-mail scandal.
M. O'BRIEN: Interest rates expected to stay the same, or at least for now. The Federal Reserve should announce its decision this afternoon.
Bottom of the hour, let's get a check of the forecast.
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: In the news, a missing American soldier has not been found, despite a massive search. They're searching Baghdad neighborhoods house to house. The soldier is an Iraqi-American and he disappeared on Monday. The Army has been told that he was kidnapped by masked men while he was on an unauthorized visit to his family members in Baghdad. There is no word on any ransom demand.
A news photographer who was kidnapped in Gaza is free this morning. Palestinian gunmen released Emilio Morenatti late yesterday; he was dropped off at the Palestinian president's office. The 37-year- old said he was tired, but he was uninjured. Morenatti works for the Associated Press. He was snatched while leaving his apartment yesterday morning. Still unclear who exactly kidnapped him.
M. O'BRIEN: Paul is now a tropical storm moving through Mexico, downgraded from a hurricane yesterday. The storm still stirring up a lot of trouble. The streets of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico flooded, schools closed. Paul blamed for killing an American tourist, apparently swept out to sea by high surf.
Opponents and supporters of gay marriage watching the clock in New Jersey right now; 3:00 this afternoon, local time, the New Jersey supreme court will decide whether to legalize same sex marriage. Justices will post their decision on the court's website. Right now Massachusetts, the only state where same sex weddings are legal -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Immigration is an important issue in the midterm elections, just 13 days away now. And it's the focus of a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll that is out this morning. Our Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider is live in San Antonio, Texas, breaking down some numbers for us.
Good morning to you, Bill.
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST, AMERICAN MORNING: Good morning, Soledad.
You know on the problem of illegal immigration, Americans agree on the generalities, but they disagree on many of the particulars.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER (voice over): Illegal immigration is really two issues, one is border security. Americans generally favor stronger border controls, in a new CNN poll, taken by the Opinion Research Corporation.
Put more agents on the border with Mexico? Nearly three quarters of Americans say, yes. Impose fines of tens of thousands of dollars on employers who hire illegal workers? 58 percent says yes. Congress has approved building a 700-mile-long fence on the boarder. Although they have not funded the project. Does the public favor a fence? They're sitting on the fence. Democrats are critical.
SEN. TED KENNEDY, (D-MA): Voting for fences may be good politics for some, but it's bad policy for America. It's a feel-good vote that will do more harm than good.
SCHNEIDER: Republicans, including President Bush, tend to support it.
NEWT GINGRICH, (R) FMR. HOUSE SPEAKER: I think building a fence along the border, doing whatever it takes to control the border is an important step. It's not the entire process.
SCHNEIDER: There is a second issue.
GINGRICH: We clearly are going to need a guest worker program in an appropriate kind of way. We're clearly going to need to think through what you do with people who are already here.
SCHNEIDER: Generally the public agrees with President Bush.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is a rational middle ground between banning an automatic path to citizenship for every illegal immigrant and a program of mass deportation.
SCHNEIDER: The public is divided over where to draw that line. Half say they'd like to remove all or most illegal aliens. Nearly half say they'd like all or most to remain in the U.S. given that division, it's not surprising that neither party has a decisive advantage on the issue. And 45 percent say Democrats in Congress would handle illegal immigration better; 43 percent say Republicans would do a better job.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCHNEIDER: There is agreement on one big point, something has to be done about this problem -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Let me ask you a question then. To what degree is this issue, immigration, going to factor into the midterm elections in 13 days?
SCHNEIDER: In many parts of the country, even parts that are distant from the border, it is a very important issue. But as we just saw, the party differences are not so great. Republicans will criticize Democrats for being soft towards illegal immigrants, but a lot of Democrats have moved quickly to show they, too, are committed to border security, and to argue that the Republican Congress and the Republican president have not done much about the problem -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Interesting. Bill Schneider for us this morning. Thanks, Bill.
Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: The Republicans call it being realistic. The Democrats call it desperate fear-mongering. The GOP wants to warn America about what life would like under a Democratic Congress. But the Dems are already fighting back. Our Senior National Correspondent John King with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The president of the United States.
JOHN KING, CNN SR. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING (voice over): Think twice. That's the closing message of a Bush White House that warns electing Democrats would be risky and costly.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The voters out there need to ask the question, which political party will support the brave men and women who wear our uniform when they do their job of protecting America?
DICK CHENEY, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If the Democrats take control, American families could face an immense tax increase and the economy would sustain a major hit.
KING: Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, of course, says team Bush has it all wrong. He promises Democrats would be more careful with taxpayers' money, among other things.
HOWARD DEAN, CHAIRMAN, DEMOCRATIC NAT'L. CMTE: We'll raise the minimum wage. The down payment to America's working families. Second, we want real ethics legislation that will clean up the Republican culture of corruption.
KING: Democrats also talk of raising taxes on wealthy Americans, closing corporate tax loopholes, using the tax code and other incentives to expand healthcare access and pushing to expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research.
One critical fact often gets lost in all the rhetoric: Mr. Bush will be president for two more years.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If the Democrats win the Congress, they will have a seat at the table, and a voice on policy, but the president still has the veto pen.
KING: If the Democrats manage to take both the House and Senate, Mr. Bush will face the same choice Bill Clinton faced when Republicans seized congressional power 12 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It forces a real reappraisal. It's hard to know whether this president, in two years, will have the stomach for that kind of reappraisal.
KING: Winning just one chamber would give Democrats less leverage over the White House. It would still give them a major policy platform, as well as the chance to follow through on calls for much more aggressive oversight of the Bush White House. Lawmakers who talked of impeaching the president are investigating no-bid contracts to companies like Halliburton, would have subpoenas in a Democratic House. The Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has already warned of the line between watchdog and witch hunt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Revenge is a bad idea and the public doesn't like it. Oversight is not only a good idea it is what the public is demanding.
KING: Without a doubt, a Democratic House would demand Mr. Bush bring the troops home from Iraq. They conceded the president doesn't have to listen.
DEAN: We're not going to be able to change the policy overnight. That's going to require a new president.
KING: John King, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: All this week, the best political team on television is looking at America's "Broken Government". Tonight at 7:00 Eastern, Lou Dobbs reports on our "Broken Borders". I hope they didn't break the drum on that. And stay tuned, after the "Broken Borders" report, then at 8:00, "CNN Presents: Immigrant Nation".
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're following for you this morning. The top U.S. commander in Iraq says Iraqi forces could take over security in 12 to 18 months. We'll take a look at whether that prediction is realistic, just ahead.
And driving after school, believe it or not, it's almost as risky as driving at night on the weekends, if you're a teenager. We'll have the surprising results of a new study straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
M. O'BRIEN: Some of the top stories we're following for you: More human remains discovered at ground zero in New York. Dozens of bones possibly belonging to 9/11 victims found in recent weeks.
And a top aide to House Speaker Dennis Hastert to talk to the Ethics Committee today about his boss' handling of the Mark Foley page scandal.
Heading out the door? Let's get a quick check of the "Traveler's Forecast".
(WEATHER REPORT)
S. O'BRIEN: Any parent knows that teenaged drivers aren't always the safest or smartest on the road, and parents know that crash proofing your kid is much easier said than done. Now a new study from AAA raises a new red flag about young drivers. AMERICAN MORNING's Dan Lothian has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No cars. Now you can commit your turn.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING (voice over): Sixteen-year-old Ryan Holmes, on the road in a Boston suburb, learning the skills to get his driver's license.
RYAN HOLMES, STUDENT DRIVER: I feel pretty confident, but I know I have a lot to learn.
LOTHIAN: For teens, it's the fast lane to independence. But now a word of caution from AAA, commuting home from school between 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. may be just as harmful to your 16 or 17-year-old's health as cruising during high-risk weekend hours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Parents aren't paying much attention to driving after school and providing rules or guidance about that time of the week.
LOTHIAN (on camera): Triple A says that between 2002 and 2005 the young drivers were involved in 1100 fatal crashes during weekday periods, almost as many as weekends, a little more than 1200.
ILYA TVERSKOY, DRIVING INSTRUCTOR: That's why they come out with the seatbelts, right?
LOTHIAN: Driving instructor Ilya Tverskoy says many teens, after spending all day in the classroom, are ready to let off some steam, want to chat on their cell phones and sometimes end up in a car packed with friends.
TVERSKOY: They're on the road, again, uncontrolled. They have the music. They're out of school. Obviously the attention on the road is not going to be where it's supposed to be.
LOTHIAN: Distractions, peer pressure and inexperience, a deadly combination, especially during peak rush hours.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Straight ahead.
LOTHIAN: Ryan says he understands the risk.
HOLMES: I think that there will be more pressure, but I think it's the driver's responsibility to keep that pressure -- to be aware of that pressure, and make sure he's not affected by it directly.
LOTHIAN: Experts say parents can help by removing some of the distractions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No cell phones. No teen passengers with a teen driver during the first three months of their driving; and no more than one teen passenger during the rest of their first year.
LOTHIAN: For Ryan, the rules from his parents are very clear.
HOLMES: And I think they definitely instill in me that I should be responsible as a driver and a passenger in the car.
LOTHIAN: A teen driving to stay safe behind the wheel, 24/7. Dan Lothian, CNN, Boston.
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S. O'BRIEN: Here's what Triple AAA is recommending, 50 hours of supervised driving for 16 and 17-year-olds.
M. O'BRIEN: That means the parent has to drive with the teen all that time?
S. O'BRIEN: Right.
M. O'BRIEN: It's the end of their relationship, basically, is what that is.
S. O'BRIEN: Who cares if it saves their life?
M. O'BRIEN: I think maybe driver's licenses should be dispensed about the age of 25. What do you think of that, kids? You in favor of that?
S. O'BRIEN: My kids live in Manhattan. They don't drive. M. O'BRIEN: That's a good idea. Take a cab.
S. O'BRIEN: They learn to flag taxis.
M. O'BRIEN: All right. Some of the stories we're following for you today. Just 13 days until the midterm elections, we're going to look at some races that have turned down right nasty.
Plus the killer convicted in a series of killings in Florida set to be executed tonight. More on that, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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S. O'BRIEN: A look at the day's top stories. Four civilians have been killed in Iraq. They died during an early morning fight between Shiite militia and Iraqi and American troops.
Tropical Storm Paul is making a mess of Mexico near Cabo San Lucas. The storm is also blamed for stirring up high surf that killed an American tourist there -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: In Florida, an execution slated tonight for a serial killer who brought panic and terror to the University of Florida campus in the early days of the '90s. Families of the victims will be there to bear witness. But for one family it is a tragedy compounded by, yet, another murder, and another date with the executioner. Susan Candiotti reports.
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SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING (on camera): Why does it help you to put together these scrapbooks?
ADA LARSON, MOTHER OF VICTIM: It seems like I always have to have a project that involves Sonya.
CANDIOTTI: Ada Larson takes comfort in remembering a daughter frozen in time.
A. LARSON: I have her picture at 18, and she'll be forever 18 for me.
CANDIOTTI: Had she lived, Sonya Larson would be 34 today. Her mother still wears her daughter's high school ring.
A. LARSON: It just warms my heart. It's just a little symbol of Sonya.
CANDIOTTI: The University of Florida freshman was the first of drifter Danny Rolling's five victims. Ada Larson will watch Dan Rolling's execution by lethal injection.
A. LARSON: It will be very humanely done, in contrast to the way he killed our loved ones.
CANDIOTTI: Larson was in court the day Rolling pleaded guilty.
(on camera): I've often wondered what you thought when he said, quote, "There's much I'd like to say, your honor --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DANNY ROLLING, CONVICTED MURDER, ON DEATH ROW: ...if only I could bend back the hands on that ageless clock and change the past, but alas, I am not the keeper of time.
A. LARSON: He was trying to make a name for himself. He wants to be a poet or something or philosopher. He's just an idiot, that's all.
CANDIOTTI: Can you ever forgive him?
LARSON: What I think about that is the people that need to forgive him are unavailable. They are dead.
CANDIOTTI: Ada Larson's heartache goes well beyond her daughter's murder. Since then, her husband died of cancer and her son Jim lost his wife Karla, murdered in a carjacking. Her killer also sits on Florida's death row. Jim Larson is now raising their daughter Jessica alone. He'll be with his mother to see his sister's killer put to death.
(on camera): And then will you say, we have one more to go?
JIM LARSON, BROTHER OF VICTIM: Yeah, well, that's the shame of that. We still have something else to do. But, you know, we'll take care of that in time.
CANDIOTTI: But first comes Rolling. Ada Larson knows what she'll say to her daughter when the execution is over.
A. LARSON: I'll talk to her and say it's done, honey. He got what he deserved, and I'll see you soon.
CANDIOTTI: Susan Candiotti, CNN, Orlando.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
M. O'BRIEN: Officials are expecting large crowds outside the prison where Rolling is slated to die, possibly the largest since the execution of fellow Florida serial killer Ted Bundy back in '89 -- Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN: Ahead this morning, is it realistic to think that Iraqi forces can actually take over Iraq's security in the next a year and a half? We'll take a closer look, straight ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
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S. O'BRIEN: Some of the stories we're following for you this morning: U.S. troops conducting raids all over Baghdad this morning, and they're looking for a U.S. soldier they believe has been kidnapped.
The New Jersey supreme court is going to decide today whether to legalize same-sex marriage. Right now it's legal only in the state of Massachusetts -- Miles.
M. O'BRIEN: A billionaire investor gets his wish. When you're a billionaire, I guess, you always get your wish. Don't you, Andy Serwer? Carl Icahn, a name from the past, a blast from the past!
ANDY SERWER, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: I wouldn't know about that billionaire question, by the way.
M. O'BRIEN: Neither would I. I guess.
SERWER: This just crossing the tape minutes ago.
Carl Icahn, billionaire financier, has just become the chairman of ImClone, you remember that trouble biotech company, which is the center of the Martha Stewart scandal. And Mr. Icahn is kind of an excitable guy. So this should be another interesting chapter for ImClone.
M. O'BRIEN: He's kind of an icon, you could say.
SERWER: He is.
M. O'BRIEN: In more ways than one.
SERWER: That's true.
Moving on to other business news, this is something that hits home for most American families. And not surprising news either. The price of college tuition going up, up and away. New numbers out from the College Board, which is a non-profit which tracks this kind of stuff, says that tuition at public university soared by 35 percent when adjusted for inflation. And that is bad news for our pocketbooks.
Let's take a look here and see if we can track it for you. Now, you can see here, four-year private up to $22,000, four-year public, up to $5,800. That's just tuition. When you add room and board, Miles, you get to $30,000. If you're going to send Paul to Pomona, or Harry to Harvard. And then for your public, you get up to $12,000 at, say, the University of Texas, state universities in California in particular. Those universities used to be bargains in state, but they've had to raise tuition a great deal there.
M. O'BRIEN: Why do tuition costs consistently outpace inflation so much? What's going on there?
SERWER: You know, it's hard to fathom. The operating costs are up and there's been real inflation in terms of professor salaries. They used to be sort of paid very modest amount. They're still underpaid, some would say, but there's been a race to attract the best professors. And we're talking six figures salaries now. Athletic department costs, up, up, up. Another story I want to get to quickly, Miles, involves "Maxim", that racy men's magazine, with the saucy photographs. They're getting into the restaurant business.
M. O'BRIEN: Saucy.
SERWER: That's why we're using the word "saucy".
M. O'BRIEN: We ought to put them on TV if they're so saucy. Shall we? Do we have some?
SERWER: Well, I'm not sure.
M. O'BRIEN: OK. There we go. That's saucy.
SERWER: There we go. Gee, how did we know this is going to happen?
This is sort of a "move over Hooters" story. They're going to be getting into the restaurants and steak business. They're going to be opening up 15 of these restaurants starting next spring. They say, now, it's not going to be like Hooters. We're not going to have scantily clad waitresses. But still, it's sort of a similar idea.
M. O'BRIEN: Will it be a family restaurant -- like Hooters?
SERWER: Oh, they're all family restaurants.
M. O'BRIEN: Of course.
SERWER: Right? They serve food and families eat food.
M. O'BRIEN: There you go.
What's you got next.
SERWER: Next, we're going to be talking about -- remember that Cocaine drink?
M. O'BRIEN: How could we forget the Cocaine drink?
SERWER: Yes, well, 7-Eleven has kind of taken issue with the Cocaine, the drink.
M. O'BRIEN: Once again, the free ride of publicity continues for Cocaine.
SERWER: This time it's not such good news.
M. O'BRIEN: Not such good news. All right.
Soledad.
S. O'BRIEN (voice over): Here's a look now at stories that CNN correspondents around the world are covering today. ROBIN OAKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING: I'm Robin Oakley reporting from London where Tony Blair faces his weekly prime minister's question time with is Labour Party at its lowest level in opinion polls for 20 years.
He's under pressure to name a timetable for British troops to come out of Iraq, but insists they'll stay until the job is done. With the U.S. looking ready for a shift in policy, his Labour lawmakers are nervous Mr. Blair could be left high and dry. And the opposition Liberal Democrats are pressing for a debate, with a vote, on whether to bring the troops home.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT, AMERICAN MORNING I'm Matthew Chance in Moscow. It's billed as a live question-and-answer session in which the Russian President Vladimir Putin faces cross-examination by the Russian public. Critics say it's a staged exercise in pretend democracy. The session is being broadcast live on Russian television and radio and it's expected to last several hours.
For all the short comings, it is one of the channels through which the Kremlin communicates its policies and views directly to the Russian people. A special Kremlin web site has received nearly 2 million questions before the session began. Topics ranging from high inflation to the North Korean nuclear crisis. There are also many personal complaints from ordinary Russians who hope their president will be able to help.
S. O'BRIEN: For more on these, or any of our top stories log onto our web site at CNN.com. The next hour of AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.
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