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American Morning
What Americans Think: Get Out of Iraq or Wait for Report?; New White House Briefing Room; California Pet Fight
Aired July 11, 2007 - 07:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): When will it end? A new effort today to shore up support for the war. And a new bid to bring the troops home.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: The American people are outraged. They're demanding a change of policy in Iraq.
LEE HAMILTON, CO-CHAIRMAN, IRAQ STUDY GROUP: I do not favor that we cut and run.
ROBERTS: Plus, a new idea for America's planned exit from Iraq on this AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: And good morning. Welcome back. Thanks for joining us.
It's Wednesday, the 11th of July. I'm John Roberts, along with Kiran Chetry.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you this morning.
(NEWSBREAK)
ROBERTS: Meantime, the Senate votes this morning on a plan to withdrawal troops from Iraq within 120 days and be out of there by next April. The president, though, is standing his ground. He has issued a fresh veto threat.
We turn now to John Dickerson. He's our CNN political analyst and chief political correspondent for slate.com. He is in Washington.
So, John, we have a lot of Republicans, 10 of them now, who are at odds with the president. Stephen Hadley going up there to Capitol Hill today.
Is the White House running scared?
JOHN DICKERSON, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, SLATE.COM: Well, yes, they are. Although, when you look at that number of 10, it looks like the White House is making some progress in terms of getting senators who will -- Republican senators who will not vote for that 120-day number for an actual timeline to withdrawal troops. So, they may have put a finger in the dam here, but the problem is, of course, this will come up with even greater force in September. ROBERTS: And what the Democrats are talking about would seem to be add odds with public opinion, at least according to a new "USA Today"-Gallup poll. It showed 55 percent of Americans think that Congress should wait until General Petraeus rings in on the 15th of September about the progress or lack of it in Iraq before Congress makes any kind of a move.
So, what are the Democrats standing on here and pushing this forward this week?
DICKERSON: Well, they're standing on two things. One, that same poll has another number that's a little confusing, which is that seven in 10 Americans think the troops should be out by April, which is essentially one of the amendments being discussed today. So there is a little bit of a contradiction there.
What the Democrats are standing on, of course, also is that their supporters, their party is very interested in doing something, pushing the president in some way. It's been very frustrating for a lot of Democrats, that their leaders who they believe were elected and given power in this last election, haven't really been able to do much with respect to pushing the president on this issue.
ROBERTS: John, Democrat or Republican, is there any faith left there on Capitol Hill that this Iraqi government can do anything, or is there a growing sense of, what are we throwing American lives into the breach for here?
DICKERSON: You've put your finger on it. That's the big problem.
Even though the administration talks about military successes -- John McCain came back from a visit to Iraq and said things are getting a little bit better, but not with the Iraqi government. And it's a question of what is going to get them to move, and do they have the capacity to move? And it seems nobody has any faith in that.
ROBERTS: A lot more debate coming up on that today on Capitol Hill.
John Dickerson, thanks very much.
New this morning, prosecutors in London decided to retry two terror suspects after a jury failed to reach a verdict yesterday. The jury convicted four other men, all charged with plotting to bomb London's transportation system. That was back on July 21st of 2005.
A candid warning from Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff, a gut feeling he has about the risk of a terror attack. Chertoff told the editorial board of the "Chicago Tribune" that al Qaeda and other terror groups are preparing to strike.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: We're entering a period this summer of increased risk. We've seen a lot more public statements from al Qaeda. These things give me a -- kind of a gut feeling that we are in a period of -- not that I have a specific threat, you know, that I have in mind right now, but that we are entering a period of increased vulnerability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Chertoff says that there is no specific intelligence about a planned attack, but he is urging Americans to remain vigilant.
New weather threats for firefighters battling wildfires in at least seven western states today. Triple-digit temperatures, lightning storms and strong winds expected. There's also concern in California about rain. It will help put some of those fires out, but could also cause flooding and mudslides.
And America's former surgeon general says he was hushed up by the White House. Dr. Richard Carmona told a House hearing on Tuesday the Bush administration routinely interfered on hot-button issues like stem cell research and sex education.
On CNN's "ANDERSON COOPER 360" last night, Carmona claimed that politics were put before science.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. RICHARD CARMONA, FMR. SURGEON GENERAL: It's the most marginalization we've seen pushed on a surgeon general in the history of this nation. And that's not my opinion. That's coming collectively from my predecessors who watched my tenure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Carmona served as surgeon general from 2002 until 2006. Former special assistant to President Bush, Ron Christie, told AMERICAN MORNING in our last hour that he never heard Carmona complain and that this may be a case of sour grapes since Carmona was not reappointed.
Five minutes after the hour. We're expecting within the next 60 seconds to have a ceremony at the new briefing room at the White House.
There it is, a live picture of it. President Bush will come out and dedicate the new James Brady Briefing Room. It was designated as such by President Clinton back toward the end of his term. James Brady, of course, Ronald Reagan's press secretary who was shot during that shooting at the Washington Hilton hotel back in the early 1980s.
This has been a long renovation. It's been going on since last year. The White House press corps was kicked out of that to the White House Convention Center over on Jackson Place, just across the street.
And while it's still built over the swimming pool, certainly the room looks tremendously different than it did. There is Steve Scully, who's the president of the White House Correspondents' Association. Let's listen in here.
STEVE SCULLY, PRESIDENT, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION: Good morning.
The president, of course, will officially reopen this facility, the Brady Briefing Room. And on behalf of the White House press corps, I'm able to offer something that those of us in the media rarely give this president or any president -- a thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
SCULLY: Let me extend that also -- let me extend that to Mrs. Bush for her efforts in this project, and to Tony Snow, White House press secretary.
Now, whoever said nostalgia isn't what it used to be must have been thinking of the old briefing room. All of us here knew what the conditions were like, the working conditions day in and day out. And unless you saw it in person, you had no idea just how rundown this place had become.
So, three years ago, the Correspondents' Association and this White House embarked on a total 21st century renovation project with this promise: if we moved out during the renovation work, we would move back in. And so, today, that promise is realized.
Now, a little history about this room.
You like that?
We still stand above a swimming pool used by six presidents, from Roosevelt to Nixon. Each of whom undoubtedly was tempted, from time to time, to drown some of our predecessors in the White House press corps.
Now, Mr. President, you may be feeling that way right about now as well, but back in 1969, President Nixon had thought about moving us across the street.
(LAUGHTER)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Change tactics.
SCULLY: Like I was saying, back in 1969, President Nixon planned to move us across the street to the old executive office building, and that might have happened were it not for the perseverance of Merriman Smith and Helen Thomas of UPI. They were among the reporters who fought to keep us here in this location.
They argued that in order for us to do our job, we needed to be here, just a few feet from the Oval Office, and even closer to the White House press secretary. And nowhere else is there a working press office this close to the head of state.
Now, when he served in the White House, Thomas Jefferson often had a few choice words about the press. He once remarked that the most accurate part of newspapers could be found in the advertisements. Yet, three years before his death, he remarked to a fellow Virginian -- John Tyler -- he said, "The only security we have is in a free press."
Now, our third president understood that our Constitution works and our democracy is preserved only when a free and open press hold elected officials accountable.
And so this brand new facility, Mr. President, allows us to do just that. A year after moving out, we are moving back, and we're ready with our questions.
And so please welcome our distinguished neighbors from down the hall, Press Secretary Tony Snow, Mrs. Bush, Mr. President.
Mr. President, thank you.
BUSH: Thank you very much. Thanks.
I like a good short introduction.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: Yes. After all, it is your room. Yes.
Welcome back to the West Wing. We missed you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
BUSH: Sort of.
I can already tell this place has improved. The last time I was in here to hold a press conference I broke out into a sweat, not because of your questions but because of the climate.
The air-conditioner seems to work well. I hope the facility is -- suits your needs. I really do.
The relationship between the president and the press is a unique relationship, and it's a necessary relationship. I enjoy it. I hope you do.
As I say, sometimes you don't like the decisions I make, and sometimes I don't like the way you write about the decisions. But nevertheless, it's a really important part of our process. And the fact that you were working in the substandard conditions just wasn't right. It really wasn't.
And so my White House worked with Steve and Ann (ph), worked with Mark Smith (ph) to get it right. And I think it's going to benefit future presidents and future White House press corps to be working in, you know, modern conditions. Conditions where, you know, a fellow like me would feel comfortable coming in here and answering few questions without losing 20 pounds.
It gets really hot in here. As a matter of fact, I can't imagine how Snow could handle it on a regular basis.
But now it's modern. And it's going to enable you to do a better job. And I'm glad that's the case.
I want to thank Peter Dougherty (ph). Where is he?
Yes. Peter, thanks for working hard here. You get a lot of credit for making sure this thing works.
And one of these days, Laura and I are looking forward to coming and actually see what it's like working here. I've never toured -- I've never even been able to get beyond the podium, if you know what I mean.
As a matter of fact, I've always felt comfortable behind the podium in front of you, kind of as a shield. But I would like a tour.
Yes, well, it's not exactly bullet-proof. Some of your bullets are able to -- verbal bullets are able to penetrate. But you've been around a long time, so you know what it's like to query presidents. You've been -- you're kind of an older fellow.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
BUSH: Right.
Bradley (ph), so thanks for the birthday greeting, too. I appreciate that thoughtful gesture.
But anyway, we're glad to join you for this ribbon cutting, and we thank you very much for working with Hagan (ph) and the bunch to make sure this deal works. And it's going to. And it's going to make your life better and, frankly, it's going to make the lives of future presidents better as well.
And so it's a good contribution that you all have left behind. And I'm -- we're glad to have been a part of it.
And so...
QUESTION: I was going to ask you a question.
BUSH: Yes, I do think you're going to answer me a question. Well, maybe some other time.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
BUSH: Do you see what I'm saying?
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: Wait a minute. Let's do this. Let me cut the ribbon and -- let me cut the ribbon.
Are you going to cut it with me, Steve?
SCULLY: I'm going to help you.
BUSH: Good.
And then why don't you all yell simultaneously?
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: Like really loudly. And that way you might get noticed.
QUESTION: (INAUDIBLE)
BUSH: No, I will. I'll, like, listen, internalize, play like I'm going to answer the question, and then smile at you and just say, "Gosh, thanks. Thanks for such a solid, sound question."
OK. Here we go. Ready? I'm going to cut the ribbon and then -- and then you yell. I cogitate and then smile and wave.
Ready? Are you going to come, Laura?
OK. Here we go.
(APPLAUSE)
CHETRY: There it is. The ribbon is cut.
ROBERTS: There you go. The president cuts the ribbon on the new White House James Brady Briefing Room, a year in the making.
The most surprising part of it is that he actually invited the press back. Because the rumors were early on -- because I was there at the time -- that when it was closed for renovation, they thought what a great opportunity to finally get the press out of the White House, figured that by the time they had it renovated, they would have said, oh, sorry, you know, we put some offices in there.
CHETRY: Yes.
ROBERTS: But it's nice to see everybody is invited back. And what a sort of regal setting that is, as well.
CHETRY: It looks really nice. They say the big things that you'll notice is an auditorium where they have a whole multimedia -- outfitted for multimedia in the new day and age. Probably Bluetooth, some wireless stuff. And they say all the cords that you used to see wrapped around are tucked nicely away.
ROBERTS: For now.
CHETRY: They also made, by the way, the seats one inch wider. He was joking around that it was for the ever-expanding press corps.
ROBERTS: Well, you know what's interesting, too, about that place is the comment we heard the most from people who would come in on tours is "Oh, my god, it's so much smaller than it looks on TV," because it is. It's tiny.
CHETRY: Yes. The only thing bigger is this set, and this entire studio is way bigger than it looks on TV.
ROBERTS: About four times the size.
CHETRY: As Larry King said, you could have a bowling alley in here if you wanted to.
In the meantime, Senator John McCain parting ways with some key campaign advisers. Will the shakeup give him another chance to connect with voters?
Is it a reinvigoration? We're going to talk about it coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: A major cat and dog fight will reach a frenzy today in California. Passion on both sides.
The question: Should pet owners be forced to spay or neuter their animals? Well, the battle is pitting two TV stars against one another.
AMERICAN MORNING'S Chris Lawrence is live in Sacramento with more on this.
Hi, Chris.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kiran.
You know, this very controversial bill has already passed the state assembly, and it comes up for vote in the Senate here in just a few hours. It has pet lovers by the thousands coming down on both sides of the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE (voice over): Every year about half a million dogs and cats are put to death in California. Now a proposed law would make it mandatory for owners to get their pets fixed or get fined $500.
BOB BARKER, ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: There are just too many cats and dogs being born.
LAWRENCE: On one side, animal rights activist Bob Barker, who supports the bill. On the other, the actor who played Lassie's owner on the original TV series. He says anything that restricts the gene pool at an earlier age could diminish valuable dogs in the breeding population.
JON PROVOST, ACTOR: Lassies have since the 1940s had a certain look bred into them by the Weatherwax family. And that's what we're trying to preserve. I mean, there's no other Collie that looks like Lassie. LAWRENCE: Critics say public education and programs that pay to spay and neuter are already working in places like Los Angeles, which euthanizes 18,000 animals a year, down from 60,000 10 years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no immediate crisis. The state is showing good progress.
LAWRENCE: The bill is based on a local ordinance enacted 12 years ago in Santa Cruz. Supporters say it's reduced the number of animals going to the shelters by 60 percent. And if the state bill passes, California will save millions of dollars on euthanizing all those unwanted pets.
REBECCA SPINA, SUPPORTS BILL: Obviously, we have much better places where the money could go and less cruelty to the animals. So it would be very nice.
LAWRENCE: Mary Ellen Richards says she chose to get her dogs fixed.
MARY ELLEN RICHARDS, OPPOSES BILL: I don't agree with the government having to come in and say you have to do this.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Well, there are exemptions for rescue and guide dogs. And breeders can pay for a special permit to stay in business. But getting pet lovers, much less politicians, to agree won't be a walk in the park -- Kiran.
CHETRY: You're right, Chris. And there's certainly a lot of really valid points on both sides. In fact, coming up a little later we are going to be having a debate with people on both sides. One of them lobbying for pet owner rights and another also lobbying for the humane societies and just how overcrowded they've been and how much money that also costs.
So we're going to talk about that a little later.
Chris, thank you.
ROBERTS: Are the wheels coming off of the Straight Talk Express? Four of John McCain's campaign aides have resigned, including his top two advisers. Can the once presumed Republican front-runner be the comeback kid?
Todd Harris was spokesman for McCain's 2000 presidential campaign and he joins us now from Washington.
Todd, our colleague John Dickerson wrote in his piece in "Slate" today, quoting a campaign staffer, that the campaign is imploding.
How do you see it?
TODD HARRIS, MCCAIN CAMPAIGN SPOKESMAN, 2000: Well, I think there are two things that unmistakably have happened. Number one, you cannot overstate what a significant development this is on the campaign. You cannot overstate how close and personal some of these relationships have been between the staff who have now left and the senator himself. You cannot overstate how big and how significant a change in direction for the campaign that this signals.
But secondly, John, I think it's also important to point out that this is going to give Senator McCain some breathing room. This is going to buy him a little bit of time, and he's going to get a couple of months to show whether he can turn his campaign around or not. And if he can, the media loves nothing more than writing about the comeback kid, and John McCain will be right back on top again.
ROBERTS: Right. But Todd, this is all about money, and when potential donors look at him shaking up his campaign yet again and seeing people like John Weaver, who was basically his Karl Rove, leaving the campaign, does it make those donors skittish?
HARRIS: Well, of course it does. And that's why the next couple of months are not going to be easy for the campaign by any stretch of the imagination.
But let me tell you this. This is July of 2007. Four years ago at this time, Wes Clark was the front-runner in the Democrat primary. Eight years ago at this time, we would be talking right now about the presidential candidacies of Elizabeth Dole and Dan Quayle.
This is so early in the process that for anyone to write off someone as great a leader as John McCain, it would simply be premature. And frankly, be a little foolish for anyone to write him off.
ROBERTS: And certainly, as we saw in 2003 with John Kerry, you can shake up your campaign staff like that and come back and become the nominee. But McCain's got some other problems. The base isn't very happy with him, particularly after this immigration reform debacle.
HARRIS: There is no question that big chunks of the base were extremely upset with Senator McCain because of immigration. There are other people who are upset with him because of his position regarding the war.
But the one thing that has always been, I think, Senator McCain's most powerful message has been his ability to look the American people straight in the eye and say, you know what? You may not always agree with what I'm going to tell you, but I'm always going to tell you the truth and I'm always going to do what I think is right for this country.
And so whether it's Iraq, whether it's immigration or campaign finance reform, Senator McCain's ability to be a straight talker and to be a reformer has always been his number one asset. And I think you're going to see the campaign going back to that -- those basic roots and those basic foundations.
ROBERTS: Well, he's certainly a fighter. We'll see if he can fight his way back from this one.
Todd Harris, thanks. Good to see you.
HARRIS: Thank you, John.
ROBERTS: And we're back in just a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE": You can see the four states that border Springfield -- Ohio, Nevada, Maine and Kentucky.
ROBERTS: There are 14 Springfields in the United States. So which one will host the "Simpsons Movie" premiere?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE": Five unthinkable options.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "THE SIMPSONS MOVIE": I was elected to lead, not to read.
ROBERTS: Find out next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: And the winner is? Springfield. But which Springfield?
Well, here is the winning video. Springfield, Vermont, won the title of the official home of "The Simpsons". This was a serious competition. A lot of cities taking part.
They won, and they will now host the premiere of the new "Simpsons Movie."
And joining us now, Bob Forguites. He's the town manager of Springfield, Vermont.
And there you are. Welcome to -- established 1961, population 9,300.
You were the smallest town, Bob, but you guys won big. Congrats.
BOB FORGUITES, TOWN MANAGER, SPRINGFIELD, VERMONT: Thank you very much. And welcome to Springfield, Vermont, the newly selected home of "The Simpsons".
CHETRY: All right. So what did you think when you guys found out you won?
FORGUITES: Well, we were all quite surprised, because we were a late entry in the contest and didn't know if we had that much of a chance. But Patty Chafee (ph), who is a senior VP of the Chamber of Commerce, contacted FOX. They got us in. Everybody has worked hard, they've had fun doing it. And, you know, some of us -- some of us compare it with the story "The Little Engine That Could". "I think I can, I think I can." Well, Springfield thought, we think we can, we think we can, and yesterday we heard it. And so now, we knew we could, we knew we could.
CHETRY: All right. Well, let's see a little bit of the video, because apparently you guys had a very creative entry video. It was done by a 17-year-old resident in your town. And you've actually had -- who is the guy that was playing Homer?
FORGUITES: Kevin (ph) from Barry (ph), I believe -- yes.
CHETRY: There he is chasing his big pink doughnut.
FORGUITES: Yes, right. He's a TV person from Burlington.
CHETRY: Well, it was pretty funny. A pretty creative video there.
FORGUITES: Yes. Yes.
CHETRY: And the other interesting thing, there are some similarities for people that follow the cartoon show for all of these years. You have a bowling alley, a pub, a prison and a nuclear power plant just down the road.
FORGUITES: Right.
CHETRY: It seems like you guys were a shoo-in.
FORGUITES: Right. Well, we didn't know that we were a shoo-in, but, you know, we were hoping. We could see some similarities, and we tried to take advantage of that. And it's a small town, a small state. Everybody contacted everybody else. And we ended up getting about 700 more votes than Springfield, Illinois.
CHETRY: Right. You edged out Springfield, Illinois, yes, by just under about a thousand votes.
FORGUITES: Right.
CHETRY: Now, you've got one problem on your hands. You have a town theater that only holds about a hundred people, and you guys are hosting this big premiere. So what are you going to do?
FORGUITES: Well, I guess -- I've been calling it about a hundred yesterday. I guess it's a little bit more than that, but that's an issue.
The chamber line was busy all afternoon from people all that wanted to be able to get in and see it. I don't know just how we're going to handle that yet.
CHETRY: All right. Well, good luck and enjoy your win. A very exciting honor for Springfield, Vermont. And Bob Forguites, the town manager.
Thanks so much.
FORGUITES: Town manager, right. Thanks. Thank you for coming.
CHETRY: All right. Well, we'll be back in a moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY (voice over): Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, forcing owners to have their pets fixed?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's the responsibility of the owner, and they should be able to make that choice. The government should not mandate that.
CHETRY: Should the government have the power to make owners spay or neuter their pets? Even Bob Barker is weighing in.
That's next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: Ah, a beautiful shot as the sun comes up over Denver, Colorado. Right now it's 60 degrees and partly cloudy. It's going to be a high of 86 today and they could be looking at some isolated thunderstorms, possibly even some severe ones in the afternoon today. About a chance of 30 percent. But right now you wouldn't know it.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Not a cloud in the sky.
CHETRY: It's beautiful.
And it's Wednesday, July 11th. Welcome back. I'm Kiran Chetry, along with John Roberts.
ROBERTS: Good morning to you and thanks for joining us.
We begin this morning with the fight against Alzheimer's disease. Four and a half million Americans suffer from it and now the FDA has approved the first skin patch for Alzheimer's treatment. Our Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now from Atlanta with more details.
What is this patch do? Who can benefit most from it, Sanjay?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it's interesting. It's actually a reformulation of an existing medication. The medication already exists. The problem was that people sometimes got terrible side effects from taking it in pill form. They got nausea. They got vomiting. Or sometimes they just had trouble swallowing and couldn't take a pill.
So the idea was to reformulate it as a patch. It's the same medication. It's in a different form. It basically increases the amount of a certain neurotransmitter in the brain that has been linked to try and slow down some of the symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer's dementia, improving memory.
There are about three medications out there already, John, for the purposes of trying to curb some of the symptoms of Alzheimer's. This is the first one to be formulated as a patch. The FDA just approved it. It should be available in pharmacies pretty soon.
John.
ROBERTS: We all know, of course, Sanjay, that the early detection of Alzheimer's disease is key to treatment. What's new on that front?
GUPTA: You know, there's so many interesting things here. People are, obviously, spending a lot of time researching Alzheimer's and the early prevention. For example, there has been a significant study, a fairly well-designed study, looking at smell in Alzheimer's. Finding that people who have a harder time smelling things like cinnamon or lemon, for example, may be more likely to develop Alzheimer's. That an area of fertile research.
There's also just the sort of memory tests. There's one called a mild cognitive impairment test, which basically is a computer test that asks you to memorize list of words and then repeat them back.
The gold standard has been something known as a mini mental status exam. It's been around for quite sometime. We've got some examples of basically what that test entails. One of the classic questions, remember and repeat a few minutes later the names of three common objects. I would say to you, John, flower, button, pen. And then 10 minutes later ask you to remember those things.
ROBERTS: Sanjay, that is totally not fair.
GUPTA: Always tougher for morning anchors for sure.
Other questions, for example, you know, just for someone who's concerned about dementia. Stating the year, the season, the day of the week and the date fairly quickly. I might ask you, John, to count backwards from 100 by 7. So 100, 93, 96. Or spell a word backwards, such a spell world backwards, d-l-r-o-w. And just get a sense of your overall level of cognition.
But you're absolutely right. Sort of trying to detect some of these things early is key. Start the medications earlier and possibly thwart some of the symptoms later on down the road possibly.
ROBERTS: All right. So your tests are unfair, Dr. Gupta, but thanks.
GUPTA: I have no doubt, John.
ROBERTS: And don't forget, every Thursday we open Dr. Gupta's mailbag for your questions about the medical stories we cover. Go to cnn.com/american morning and e-mail Sanjay your question. CHETRY: Well, pet lovers are lining up for and against a new law that's being voted on today in California. It would force pet owners to spay or neuter their animals or pay a $500 fine. Judie Mancuso of the California Healthy Pets Coalition is back the bill. She joins us now from Sacramento.
Thanks for being here.
JUDIE MANCUSO, CALIFORNIA HEALTHY PETS COALITION: Hi. Thank you.
CHETRY: Also, Kelley Moran is from Petpac, which is lobbying against it.
Good morning to both of you.
KELLEY MORAN, CALIFORNIA STATE CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, PETPAC: Good morning, Kiran.
CHETRY: First let me just get, quickly, Judy, why do you think this bill is so important?
MANCUSO: It's important because we bring in over 800,000 dogs and cats into our shelters every year and we, ultimately, kill over half of those animals. It's a toll on our shelter workers. Per capita, we're number one for dog bites. And the taxpayer burden. The burden to the animals. It's multifaceted.
CHETRY: Kelley, you believe that it's a question, in some ways, of pet owner rights and the right to make your own decision about whether or not your animal needs to be spade or neutered. What about her point? That there are so many euthanized every year in California?
MORAN: Well, Kiran, those of us that own pets here in California love our pets. And those of us that are opposed to the bill are pet owners in California. This bill is so convoluted, Kiran, that even Lassie had to come to the capital yesterday to lobby against this bill. You know, we call this bill the pet extinction act for those of us that oppose the bill. And the fact is, is that if this bill passes, the Lassie family will become extinct in California. The national treasure, Lassie, would have to be sterilized if this bill passed.
CHETRY: Judie, are there exceptions? I understand that this bill has been reworked in some ways allowing for certain exceptions if people want to breed their animals but they're not commercial breeders?
MORAN: That's correct. This is not a breeding ban. And if Kelley would either read the language or be honest about what it does, this absolutely is not a breeding ban. And there are several common sense exemptions. And Lassie would still be Lassie and wagging her tail. So that's pretty extreme.
CHETRY: Well, some have said, why not just encourage a voluntary program. That voluntary programs have worked in places like Los Angeles. And, practically speaking, how would you enforce this law, Judie?
MANCUSO: Well, we've done that. We have education outreach. We've been trying that for decades now. And we're still at these numbers. The enforcement would be a part of animal control's normal day. They go out on complaints and that they would just build this right into their day. Also, voluntary compliance. It would be passive enforcement. And through the licensing program. And it's tried and true. There are city and county ordinances that have worked. Rhode Island passed a state law.
CHETRY: All right. Well, let me ask -- let me let Kelley get in here as well. You say it's really an unfunded mandate because they're not putting money behind it.
MORAN: Absolutely they're not. It's going to cost cities and counties a tremendous amount of money. The few cities that do have mandatory spay/neuter in the country have seen their budgets skyrocket. We're not opposed to spay/neuter. We think spay/neuter is a good idea. The problem is, is that mandatory spay/neuter is a bad idea. It doesn't work as intended. And Judie knows, as that police canines, dogs for the blind, disabled and hearing-impaired are not exempt under this bill. And that's why the California Veterinary Medical Association does not support this bill.
CHETRY: All right. Well, the debate will certainly go on today in Sacramento.
MANCUSO: And those are incorrect statements. I have to say that that's not true. The CVMA is neutral. There's a lot of support. And we have exemptions for guide dogs, police dogs. And again, this is more about (INAUDIBLE).
MORAN: Every police canine association in the country opposes this bill.
MANCUSO: That's not true.
MORAN: The hearing, the -- it is. You go to petpac.net . . .
MANCUSO: Kelley, you have to stop spreading this information. It doesn't help anybody.
MORAN: Go to petpac.net.
Judie, everybody -- what you want to say . . .
MANCUSO: Go to petpacnonsense.com and you can see our rebuttal to all these craziest things that Kelley's putting out there.
MORAN: Everybody that's opposed -- everybody that's opposed to this bill doesn't know what they're talking about, right, Judie? Unfortunately, what you're going to see here today is we are going to kill . . .
MANCUSO: Well, if you read it, it would help, Kelley.
MORAN: We are going to kill this bill today.
MANCUSO: You're not killing it. We're going through the legislation process.
MORAN: Because this is a bad bill. This is a bad bill.
CHETRY: All right. Well, clearly, there's a lot of . . .
MORAN: Well, we'll see you at 8:00.
MANCUSO: (INAUDIBLE).
CHETRY: Feelings on both sides. We're going to have to see how it goes. But we will continue to follow this story. I want to thank Judie Mancuso, as well as Kelley Moran, for both of your points of view this morning.
MANCUSO: Thank you very much.
ROBERTS: Coming up now to 41 minutes after the hour. An explosion in Mexico tops your "Quick Hits" now. It shut down three fuel pipelines. The fourth incident in a week. Exports, though, were not affected.
And could the iPhone already be outdated? You just paid $600 for it. An analyst with J.P. Morgan says a patent filing suggests that Apple is working on an iPhone nano. A smaller and cheaper version, kind of like the iPod, that would cost $300 or less.
Well, it flopped on the silver screen. A complete disaster. So why would "Xanadu" make it on the great white way? We'll have that next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well, "Xanadu," the movie, probably should have been called Xana -- get your foot up here. It probably should have been called Xanadon't because it flopped on the big screen, yet last night "Xanadu" made its Broadway premiere. So why would anyone want to bring this back? That's what we asked our Lola Ogunnaike to find out.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what, the songs are great and people thought it was worth it. Wait, you didn't do this one.
ROBERTS: Oh, yes, sorry.
OGUNNAIKE: So lace this one up while we go to the package.
ROBERTS: All right.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OGUNNAIKE, (voice over): What does Xanadu mean exactly? OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN, SINGER/ACTRESS: I think it's kind of the heaven -- like the perfect place.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, "XANADU": To Xanadu.
NEWTON-JOHN, "XANADU": To dreams.
OGUNNAIKE: When you heard they were remaking "Xanadu," what went through your mind?
NEWTON-JOHN: I thought it was a funny idea. A great idea.
DOUGLAS CARTER BEANE, "XANADU" BOOK: The movie itself, like the numbers were kind of fun to watch, but it just looks like such a mess.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I own the movie and I've watched it about 100 times and it's still so bad that it's good.
BEANE: the idea of an ancient, Grecian muse, which is all of creativity for all time, coming down to earth and helping an artist create a roller disco is, you know, irresistible.
ROBERT AHRENS, "XANADU" PRODUCER: Here's a chance to take something and hopefully turn it into what it might have been.
KERRY BUTLER, "XANADU" ACTRESS: People have said that to me before, are you, you know, worried about you being compared to Olivia Newton-John? And I think the thing that's freed me from that is that the script is so different than the movie. I sort of imitate her style.
And certainly I will sport an Australian accent.
OGUNNAIKE: Now had you watched the film before at all?
BUTLER: I watched it. I'm a huge Olivia Newton-John fan.
AHRENS: But there's parts of that movie, you know, we'd all like someone to drop down from heaven that we could fall in love with and it would solve all of our problems.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Wow. People are clapping. That's a switch.
Hey, what happened to the original male lead?
OGUNNAIKE: The original male lead actually fractured his leg in three places. Another girl on the set broke her ankle. Everyone's in roller skates, so it's the only show on Broadway where "break a leg" is a taboo phrase.
ROBERTS: They're really taking that part of it seriously.
OGUNNAIKE: Absolutely. ROBERTS: So we saw people clapping. And as I pointed out, that's unusual because the movie was such a stinker. What are the reviews like? What are people saying?
OGUNNAIKE: Well, you know, OK, "The Times" loved it. "The New York Daily News" loved it. "The New York Post" said it was a bomb. Just as much of a bomb as the original. But you know what, it doesn't even matter, John. There were people out there who've already seen it 20 times. At $40 a pop, you do the math. That's over a grand or almost a grand, I'm sorry. I was an English major. Almost a grand. And they love it. One guy told me that this is his version of Prozac. When he's feeling sad, he goes and sees this and it's a pick-me-up.
ROBERTS: Wow. Because anybody's life would look good compared to that production, right? No, I'm kidding.
OGUNNAIKE: Olivia Newton-John was there. You saw me with her. And she taught me actually how to control myself on the skates.
ROBERTS: Let's see it. Come on.
OGUNNAIKE: She broke her back. I didn't last night, but I might today on set. So, push me out.
ROBERTS: Now, don't blame me because I tightened them.
OGUNNAIKE: OK. Xanadu. Oh, turn.
ROBERTS: All right. You go . . .
OGUNNAIKE: Work it, girl!
ROBERTS: You go, girl! Thanks, Lola.
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
CHETRY: And CNN "Newsroom" just minutes away. Tony Harris is at the CNN Center with a look at what's ahead.
See how much fun we have up here in New York? You've got to come visit, Tony.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: I'd like to see that all across the Bronx.
Good morning, Kiran.
Your security on the "Newsroom" rundown this morning. The president's pointman on homeland security says it is only a gut feeling. Michael Chertoff suggesting a possible al Qaeda attack this summer.
First, a U.S. senator linked to the alleged D.C. madam. Now a one-time brothel owner claims David Vitter visited her girls down in New Orleans. A suspect gets his grove on. Atlanta area police arrest the dancing burglar. Heidi is with me in the "Newsroom" as we keep you up-to-date on any breaking news throughout the morning. "Newsroom," top of the hour right here on CNN.
Kiran, back to you.
CHETRY: All right, Tony, thanks so much.
HARRIS: Certainly.
CHETRY: Well, this dog was so cute, we just have to look at it one more time. This is the puppy that wears his heart on his back. A Chihuahua born in Japan has a near perfect heart shape. You can see it right there for yourself. The shop owner says that out of a thousand puppies she's bred, this is the first time she has seen a perfect heart-shaped marking like that, so she's not going to selling him. She's named him Heartkin.
ROBERTS: Cute little guy. You're a fan of little dogs, aren't you?
CHETRY: If you want to know what to get me for Christmas, John . . .
ROBERTS: A dog with a heart on his back.
CHETRY: I know, my husband would kill me.
Stay with us. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Well, 2008 is shaping up as the election for crushes. Remember the YouTube video about Barack Obama? Well, wait until you see who's longing, or at least pretending to long, for Hillary Clinton. CNN's Jeannie Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNIE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Obama girl . . .
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I've got a crush on Obama.
MOOS: Meet "Hot for Hill."
TARYN SOUTHERN, MUSIC VIDEO CREATOR: I have a crush on a girl named Hill, but she's not with me she's with this guy named Bill
MOOS: Oh, he won't mind.
SOUTHERN: Hillary, I think I need you.
MOOS: Actress Taryn Southern was inspired by the "I've Got A Crush On Obama" video.
SOUTHERN: Thought it was brilliant.
MOOS: So the former "American Idol" contestant did a parody of the parody.
SOUTHERN: I could be your maid or your White House aide or the soldier who marches in your first parade.
I would vote for Hillary.
MOOS: But we're not sure this is the best way to help her get elected.
SOUTHERN: H-i-l-l-a-r-y. I know you're not gay, but I'm hoping for (INAUDIBLE).
MOOS: We opted for a bi-coastal connection.
The whole angle of a girl writing about a crush on a girl, is it safe to assume you're acting?
SOUTHERN: I am actually straight.
The USA would be a better place if everyone could just get a taste of you.
SOUTHERN: When I was writing this video, I knew that the comedy would come from the fact it's a girl singing about how she has a crush on a girl. That's what made the parody different from the "Obama Girl" video.
You're into border security. Let's break this border between you and me.
MOOS: It's hard to keep up. Not too long ago, a Condoleezza Rice video was big.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Condelicious
MOOS: A Condi imitator raps on subjects ranging from Iraq to her Condelicious shoes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love my shoes so much. I gave them names like they were children.
MOOS: From Condi's shoes, to Hillary's skin.
SOUTHERN: Hillary, you've got great skin
MOOS: The (INAUDIBLE) seem to get under the skin of some, though most who commented online seemed amused.
She may be "Hot for Hill," but Hillary wasn't hot to comment. The campaign had nothing to say about the video. They never returned our calls.
There was competition between "Hillary Girl" and "Obama Girl." While "Obama Girl" featured booty shorts, "Hot for Hill" focused on pant suits.
SOUTHERN: I like your hair, the pant suits you wear, and the shape of your derriere
I do like her pant suits.
MOOS: Derriere was just a nice rhyme.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Well.
ROBERTS: Well, this campaign certainly is different than any one we've ever seen before, isn't it?
CHETRY: Welcome to 2008. Welcome to the age of the Internet. And how funny. An "American Idol" contestant. Now she has an even bigger career possibly into politics.
ROBERTS: A very cute piece.
CHETRY: Well, here's a quick look at what the CNN "Newsroom" is working on for the top of the hour.
HARRIS: See these stories in the CNN "Newsroom."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL CHERTOFF, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: I have a gut feeling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The Homeland Security secretary suggesting an increased risk of a summertime terror strike.
Democratic senators trying again today to force a troop drawn down in Iraq.
Charges expected today in a height from 2003. A pizza deliveryman claimed he was forced to wear a collar bomb and rob a bank.
"Newsroom" just minutes away at the top of the hour on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Two minutes now to the top of the hour.
Talk about your emerging markets here.
CHETRY: The toilet paper trade!
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I didn't even know this existed until this morning. The away from home toilet paper industry, which is everywhere you go away from home, is worth a billion dollars in the United States, according to Kimberly-Clark. And apparently Americans use twice as much toilet paper as Europeans do.
So Kimberly-Clark is coming out with a machine -- I think we've got it here, a picture of it -- that is going to dispense toilet paper automatically. You know, you waive your hand in front of it. And it is going to dispense 20 percent less - the equivalent of five sheets. Because internal research and focus groups have told Kimberly-Clark that -- my toilet paper's blowing away. Thank you. Have told Kimberly-Clark, the average person needs 20 inches or five sheets per pull versus the much more . . .
CHETRY: I can see this going down the wrong road, though. What if this thing got stuck, like often times . . .
VELSHI: There's a manual override.
CHETRY: Oh, OK.
VELSHI: They're not very expensive. I think it's $35 for the plastic model and $55 for the steel model.
CHETRY: You notice, she's always thinking!
VELSHI: Always thinking. No, this is not a good place to get stuck! This is not a good place where you want to run out of toilet paper.
ROBERTS: Now one would think Kimberly-Clark is trying to sell toilet paper, they would give you more sheets rather than fewer.
VELSHI: Yes. But I think that there's some sense that if they come out with this machine, they'll sell a lot of the machines, which will then be loaded with Kimberly-Clark toilet paper.
The other thing is, this is the CNN special toilet paper. You know . . .
CHETRY: You can see right through it.
VELSHI: Maybe Kimberly-Clark will sell you special toilet paper that's a little bit better than this. I mean you need about five pulls of this. This stuff, seriously, you really can see right through it.
ROBERTS: Guaranteed not to clog.
VELSHI: But as you said, the last untapped market, toilets.
CHETRY: How about that?
ROBERTS: Ali, thanks very much.
And thank you so much for joining us on this AMERICAN MORNING. We'll see you again tomorrow. CHETRY: That's right. In the meantime, CNN "Newsroom" with Tony Harris and Heidi Collins begins right now.
HARRIS: And good morning, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Heidi Collins. Good morning. Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live on July 11th. Here's what's on the rundown.
Forced to wear a bomb and rob a bank. This man's claim in 2003. Today, charges expected in the bizarre heist.
HARRIS: And Democrats leading a new blitz to force a troop draw down in Iraq.
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