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American Morning
Utah Miners Underground One Week; Karl Rove Stepping Down; Church Shootings: What Led to Rampage?
Aired August 13, 2007 - 07:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD STICKLER, MINE SAFETY & HEALTH ADMIN.: But our attitude is that we always have to have hope. And that's the position we're taking, is that we're hoping and we're praying. And it would be a terrible mistake to ever give up hope until you know for sure. So that's the only choice we have is to press ahead with hope and, you know, in time, we will know the answer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now, over the weekend, they dropped a camera into that first eight-and-five-eighths-inch hole. The problem was, it's supposed to be able to see about a hundred feet, but because of the intense darkness down there, the light was being absorbed so quickly they could only see 15 feet. They pulled the camera up. They're trying to figure out ways now to get some more light down inside that cavity so that they can see a little further out and hopefully spot some signs that the miners are in there -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN ANCHOR: John, it certainly is encouraging to keep hearing these messages of hope, but are there any experts on the ground that are talking about the -- even the possibility of them still being alive at this point?
ZARRELLA: Well, no one is coming right out and saying, gee, are they dead or are they alive? The bottom line is that as each day goes on -- and they have not heard anything, they didn't hear anything with the microphones, they didn't see anything, the miners didn't respond when they tried to contact them by banging on the steel. And with all of those things that have happened, it becomes less and less likely, and with the time that it's taking to dig them out in the main tunnel, which is going extremely slowly, it becomes more and more difficult to believe that as every day goes by that they are still alive. But as you heard Mr. Stickler say, the only thing they can go on is hope that somehow they're in a safe part of the mine -- Rob.
MARCIANO: We'll certainly hold on to that.
John Zarrella, live for us in central Utah.
Thanks, John.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: And we're also following the latest developments this morning about the president's most trusted adviser, Karl Rove, calling it quits at the end of the month. CNN's White House correspondent, Suzanne Malveaux, joins us now.
And Suzanne, what are you hearing from the White House this morning?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kiran, I got a chance, actually, to e-mail, exchange e-mail with Karl Rove this morning about the situation. August 31st is his last day. He turned in his letter of resignation on Friday. And I asked him, what does he say to those who say he's being run out of town? His response -- and I'm quoting here -- it says -- he says that "That sounds like the rooster claiming to have called up the sun."
Clearly, he still has his sense of wit, sarcasm, if you will, to what is happening here. But he also believes that this is the right time to leave.
A senior administration official saying that his family has struggled about this for some time, when would be the appropriate time? The chief of staff, Josh Bolton, recently sat down, told his staff, senior aides, if you're planning to stay after Labor Day, that you're going to stay for the duration of the administration, so now is the time to make some decisions.
Obviously, Karl Rove decided that this was the time. The White House responding this morning, saying here, "Obviously it's a big loss to us. He's a great colleague, a good friend and a brilliant mind. He'll be greatly missed, but we know he wouldn't be going if he wasn't sure this was the right time to be giving more time to his family, his wife Darby and their son. He will continue to be one of the president's greatest friends."
And Kiran, as you know, there is a lot that is going on with Karl Rove. He is at the center of much of a controversy, as well as the accomplishments of this White House.
Some people are looking at this saying, look, perhaps the timing, in part, is due to the fact that there are a lot of investigations, a lot of questions coming his way, that he is a target. He may still remain to be a target. But clearly, there's -- as one White House official put it this morning, he is not replaceable, and they're not even sure they're going to be looking for a replacement -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Yes. And that's one of the questions this morning, about whether or not he avoids the scrutiny by leaving. I mean, doesn't it make him slightly more vulnerable? He loses executive privilege.
MALVEAUX: Well, he does lose executive privilege, and it's going to be a battle to see whether or not he actually will be called forward. There are other advisers and senior administration officials who have since left the White House who have had to deal with that, so we'll see how that plays awe out.
It's also important to note, too, that when they talk about he had floated this idea about a year ago with the president, whether or not he was going to be leaving, well, think about what has happened since then. You have on the domestic side, domestic policy.
Social Security reform died. Immigration reform died. The focus of the CIA leak investigation, not charged with anything, but certainly a cloud that was over him, hanging over him during that time.
So there is a lot of controversy around Karl Rove. A lot of people, his critics, have been calling for his resignation a long time ago. This is something that is voluntary, but clearly there were some in the White House who thought at the very least during that time he had become a distraction -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Suzanne Malveaux exchanging communications this morning, e-mails with Karl Rove, and bringing us that new information.
Thank you.
Well, the Republican race for president is down a man this morning. Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin governor, out of the race after a disappointing finish in the Iowa Straw Poll over the weekend.
Coming up, we're going to talk to someone who had a very heartening showing in that Straw Poll. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee finishing second place.
We're going to talk to him about it coming up.
Police in Missouri this morning have a man in custody accused of gunning down three people inside of a church. It happened in Neosho, in the southwest corner of Missouri. Police say that the gunman stormed the church, then ordered children to get out and then opened fire on everyone who was left.
Sean Callebs is live in Neosho this morning.
Do we know any new details this morning about this shooter, Sean?
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we really don't. The police have been very tightlipped.
The police chief here in the city was talking a bit last night. We do -- from the information we have from the police, we do know that the suspect is apparently related to at least one of the victims.
And this is an interesting town, because there is a large Micronesian population here in the hundreds. And what authorities are telling us is the gunman is from one of the Pacific islands. And the church service that was going on in the afternoon is -- this church is reserved for a couple of hours on Sunday for people from Micronesia to hold their service here.
What happened? The gunman apparently just stormed in, ordered all of the kids out, and then began firing. And police describe simply chaos after that.
Apparently, some of the individuals who were shot were able to get out. We do know that at least two had to undergo surgery last night. And from the information we did get from the police chief, it appears that the gunman specifically targeted victims.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF DAVE MCCRACKEN, NEOSHO POLICE: We have two -- two of the worshipers and an assistant pastor were killed. Approximately five other people were wounded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CALLEBS: There's been a very significant police presence here at this church throughout the evening, and we do know, Kiran, that authorities are scheduled to hold a news conference in just a few hours, hopefully bring us up to speed on what has been going on. And there could actually be an arraignment here today as well.
CHETRY: The community I'm sure in shock. The last place you expect something like that to happen.
Sean Callebs live for us this morning.
Thank you.
MARCIANO: Other headlines new this morning.
An urgent decision for NASA this morning, whether to send astronauts out on a spacewalk to fix a gouge in the space shuttle Endeavor.
NASA says a chunk of insulating foam tore a deep hole in the shuttle's protective tiles during liftoff last week. Astronauts have never performed this kind of repair job in space before.
Divers pulled another body from the Mississippi River Sunday, 11 days after the I-35 bridge collapse. Nine people are now confirmed dead, four others still remain missing. Workers have removed a school bus off the bridge. It was carrying 52 children from a field trip to a water park. All of those children did get out OK.
Well, gas prices are on the way down. Checking the CNN gas gauge.
The price of self-serve -- there's the bell -- rang in at $2.78 a gallon. It's down more than 10 cents in the past two weeks. That's down from $3.06 a month ago and gas from $3.01 a year ago -- Kiran.
CHETRY: All right, Rob. Thanks so much.
Time now to check in with our AMERICAN MORNING team of correspondents for other stories new this morning.
Stocks could be poised for a rebound after a pretty volatile week on Wall Street last week.
Ali Velshi is here following that for us. Good morning, Ali.
ALI VELSHI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kiran.
As we can tell you every morning, we kind of have some indications about where stocks are going to open today in the last several weeks. That doesn't mean that's where they're going to close. But right now we've had a positive night in Asia.
Stocks are trading up in Europe, which indicates a very strongly positive open for the Dow this morning. So you might be able to take a break and not get into your trading account as soon as you get to work. But take a look at where things went last week.
Despite all of that volatility and all of those massive climbs and drops, we ended up above water on most of the markets. The Dow was actually up, the Nasdaq was up, the S&P 500 was up. In fact, all of those major markets are, indeed, up for the entire year.
So if you had a diversified portfolio investment, you're actually not behind. You're just not up as much as you were a month ago.
We're going to keep a close eye on where stocks are going right now. The underlying cause of all this volatility, this credit concern, these issues about subprime mortgages and people who can't pay them, that's still there. So, it's not going away. But for now, we're looking at a positive open on markets across North America in about an hour and a half -- Kiran.
CHETRY: We'll take it.
Ali Velshi, thanks so much.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: Kiran, a hoax over food in China tops our "Quick Hits" now.
A reporter is going to jail for a year. He admits to making a phony undercover TV report that said a popular meat dumpling snack is really filled with cardboard and caustic (ph) soda.
And another bizarre twist over recalled products in China. A state-run newspaper says the CEO of a Chinese toy manufacturer has killed himself. The report claims he was upset after nearly a million of his company's toys were recalled in the U.S. because of excessive amounts of lead.
And a second place surprise in Iowa. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee takes the number two spot in the presidential Straw Poll. We're going to talk to him live about the big boost next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Well, today it's Fidel Castro 81st birthday, which means a huge party along Havana's Malecon. Last night, fireworks were set off in preparation for today's celebration. Castro hasn't been seen publicly since he underwent intestinal surgery back in July of last year.
And they are separated by the world's most heavily-armed border, but today hundreds of North and South Koreans were reunited with their families for the first time in decades via video hookup. The two nations are just a few weeks away from holding their second summit in a half a century.
CHETRY: Well, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the Iowa Straw Poll over the weekend. Really not a big surprise there. His win was expected. But none of the three frontrunners even showed up.
Romney, though, got more than 4,500 of the 14,000-some votes cast. What was surprising, though, the second place finisher, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, coming in second.
He joins me now from Little Rock, Arkansas, this morning.
Governor Huckabee, good morning. Great to see you.
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, it's good to be with you, Kiran.
It was a great weekend for us. And in many ways we felt like it was a true victory in light of the resources we had and the fact that we had more people vote for us than we even bought tickets.
CHETRY: Right, because for people who don't know how it works, you have to buy a $35 ticket to get in, and a lot of times the campaigns pay for that. But you reportedly spent about $150,000 on the Straw Poll. That was half of what Sam Brownback spent. And the Romney campaign, they didn't give us exact numbers, but it seems like they spent several million.
Do you think that Mitt Romney bought his first place victory here?
HUCKABEE: Well, I'm not going to say that he bought it. I'm just going to say that we certainly showed that it was message, not money, that drove people to us.
And by the way, it really was about $90,000. The $150,000 includes everything we did over the past eight weeks in Iowa, down to paper clips in the office. So, really, our total expenses were very minimal compared to most candidates. But I think it was because people were driven to the fact that there is a choice.
I think people are listening. And when people say we're dissatisfied with the field, that may be at the top of the field. But now they're beginning to realize there's another candidate out there, and they don't have to keep waiting on Fred Thompson to get in the race. CHETRY: You know, and it is great. And you did really well in Iowa. The problem is, is that on the national stage, you are still relatively unknown. Our polling shows you're getting about 3 percent.
HUCKABEE: Sure.
CHETRY: So, how do you parlay that victory in Iowa into national momentum?
HUCKABEE: You know, we've been at this campaign now, and it's always been an inch at a time. But it's better to start at the bottom and begin working your way up than it is to start at the top and start slipping behind.
We have good organizations in New Hampshire and South Carolina. And I know, you know, I'm relatively unknown to the national scene. That's one of the reasons, frankly, that it's encouraging knowing that we haven't yet been one of those Republicans rejected by the national voters because they don't know me. But when they get to know me, we're confident that they're going to do exactly what the people of Iowa did, and that is, even without being necessarily given a whole closet full of T-shirts, they're going to join in and become part of our movement.
CHETRY: You know, there was some big news, of course, out of the White House this morning with the word that Karl Rove is going to be calling it quits as the White House adviser at the end of this month, actually.
Do you think that's a good thing or bad thing for the country?
HUCKABEE: Well, I don't know that it makes a lot of difference for the country. It may be a tough thing for President Bush because he's relied on Karl. And I know from having been in the governor's office 10 and a half years, you have close people around you that have been with you a long time, and it's really difficult when they're not with you, because you depend upon them for their advice, their counsel, for their candor. And probably no one was closer to President Bush than Karl Rove.
And I think it's going to be good for Karl. He'll get to get way from some of the stress. The challenge will be for the president to be able to find someone that he can confide in and who can talk to him very openly.
CHETRY: Right. Governor -- well, governor, if he's looking back to jump in the fray, would you welcome him on to your campaign?
HUCKABEE: You know, I would welcome anybody to my campaign at this point, Kiran.
CHETRY: Karl Rove?
HUCKABEE: I would welcome Democrats, Independents, anybody who would want to help me, because we know we have got a long hill to climb. So Karl is one of the most brilliant political strategists, you know, of the century. And so you never would turn away from anybody's counsel or advice.
CHETRY: All right. Maybe he is listening this morning.
Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign, come on board, Karl Rove.
Hey, it was great talking to you, Governor.
HUCKABEE: Thank you, Kiran.
CHETRY: And congrats on your second place win in Iowa.
HUCKABEE: Thank you so much.
MARCIANO: Raw politics now. And it's the Democrats' turn to fight for Iowa bragging rights.
CNN's Tom Foreman reports right now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!
All eyes are on Iowa. The Republicans have been furiously plowing through the Hawkeye State, but now the raw politics crystal ball says, watch out for the Democrats.
(voice over): The Dams are hitting the state fair, circling like kids on a carousel in advance of their upcoming debate in Iowa. The Republicans were trying to act like it was all good fun ahead of their Straw Poll.
HUCKABEE: Have a cool day wherever you are.
FOREMAN: But it is becoming crunch time for a lot of second-tier candidates in terms of money and the polls. We'll see who can stomach the ride.
Speaking of folks not in the race, Republican Fred Thompson will visit Iowa this week for the first time, still not running. Maybe he just wants some sweet corn.
Watch your wallet! Every campaign has an eye on the markets right now. The financial upheavals around the home mortgage business are making everyone nervous. Bet on it -- the candidates will be talking about the economy this week.
At first, it was Ted Kennedy singing on a Spanish language radio show.
SEN. TED KENNEDY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: (SINGING IN SPANISH).
FOREMAN: Now the Obama-rama -- same show, different song.
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: (SINGING IN SPANISH).
(on camera): Roughly translated, it means beautiful and beloved Mexico. Even more roughly translated, it means, I'll give you a shoulder rub if you'll just vote for me.
We'll have raw politics tonight on "AC 360".
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: And all the day's political news is available any time day or night at cnn.com/ticker.
CHETRY: Well, lucky number 13 for Tiger Woods. Your "Quick Hits" now.
Tiger picked up his 13th career major title yesterday at the PGA championship in Tulsa. It was Tiger's second straight PGA victory and fourth overall.
Plus, a major upset in the tennis world. Top-ranked Roger Federer was defeated at this weekend's Rogers Cup. He lost to Novak Djokovic. The two have faced off five times and this is the first time that Federer has lost.
Coming up, the colorful career of Merv Griffin. Looking back on the life of the TV visionary behind "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune".
That's coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: That's a tune that will forever be in our minds. I'll never forget it.
Well, we have a quiz for you this morning. Who composed the final "Jeopardy" music?
MARCIANO: Ooh, I don't know. Well, here's a hint.
It's the same guy who created "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune". And he's also a talk show icon, Merv Griffin. And he died over the weekend at age 82, and we're going to miss him.
A very talented dude, no doubt about that. I got to meet him when he opened a casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, several -- many years ago. And he was just a gentleman, larger-than-life character. We're sad to see him go.
But Lola Ogunnaike has had an even grander -- or greater chance to talk with Merv before he died, a sit-down interview.
Good morning, Lola.
LOLA OGUNNAIKE, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
How are you guys? MARCIANO: Excellent.
CHETRY: He had his hand in everything -- writing music, behind the scenes, creator of these shows, and also a very, very smart investor.
OGUNNAIKE: He was a true media mogul, as successful in front of the camera as he was behind the camera. And one of the great things that he did, we talked about the song, the jingle song. He told me that he wrote that song in less than 30 seconds, and it made him a fortune.
I asked him how much. And he said, "You don't even want to know." And I said, "No, tell me, how much?" He said he made $60 million to $70 million off of that song.
CHETRY: Off the jingle?
MARCIANO: Off that jingle?
OGUNNAIKE: Off of that jingle, a song that took him 30 seconds to come up with.
MARCIANO: Well, not only was he talented, but he obviously knew how to...
(CROSSTALK)
OGUNNAIKE: And it's actually only 14 seconds. He just doubled it to make it 30 seconds.
MARCIANO: Well, a colorful character, very talented, and a host. Obviously, he has talked with and dealt with a lot of celebrities.
Tell us, you know, a couple of them -- Orson Welles, Bette Davis.
Tell us what it was like to talk about that.
OGUNNAIKE: One of the great anecdotes that he shared with me is, you know, some of the guests would be a little stiff back stage, and one of the things that they would do is get them liquored up. One day, Bette Davis came in there, she was really boring, and the producer pulled him aside and said, "Give her a shot." And she took a shot, and the next thing you know she is talking and talking and talking and talking.
He also talked to be about Orson Welles. And Orson Welles was his most interesting interview.
And he said that Orson -- you know, they had a deal that he would never ask him really hard-hitting questions, not of the gossipy stuff at all. He'd always, you know, keep it above the board.
One day, Orson comes up to him at night, right before he went on stage, and said, "You know what? Ask me whatever you want. Go there, feel free." The next thing you know, within a few hours, Orson Welles died. So that was his last interview.
CHETRY: Oh, that's fascinating.
MARCIANO: Oh, you're kidding? Wow.
CHETRY: What did he tell you about what he thought of these shows like "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune"?
OGUNNAIKE: Well, the interesting thing about "Wheel of Fortune," another easy thing. He was sitting on a plane with his wife watching her play hangman -- eureka! And let's make it "Wheel of Fortune". Decades later, it's still on. Still got Vanna and Pat Sajak out there.
CHETRY: Hangman with money.
OGUNNAIKE: Hangman was a lot of money.
CHETRY: Now, he also had a frank conversation -- or you did with Merv Griffin about the rumors that had swirled for years about his sexuality. What did he tell you about that?
OGUNNAIKE: Well, you know, he was married, he was divorced, and he was dating Zsa Zsa Gabor. There had been rumors swirling about his sexuality. One of his ex-employees sued him for palimony. The case was thrown out of court.
But, you know, I said, "Merv, this stuff is out there. Talk to me about it." And he was very frank.
He said, "I'm a quarter-sexual." And I said, "What does a quarter sexual mean?" He said, "I will do anything with anyone for a quarter."
(LAUGHTER)
OGUNNAIKE: So he just had that really devilish personality. He had such a devilish streak. And that's one of the things I found really intriguing about him. He could poke fun at himself.
We talked about death and he got serious for a moment. And he said, "You know, when you get to a certain age you know it's inevitable and you just have to wait your turn." And I said, "Well, what would your tombstone read?" And he says, "I will not be back after these messages."
CHETRY: Very cute.
MARCIANO: Nice.
CHETRY: He had prostate cancer.
OGUNNAIKE: Prostate cancer, yes. He beat it once, but it came back. But he lived such a full life. And, you know, his fans and his friends just adored him. And I totally understand why.
MARCIANO: We're all going to miss him.
Thanks for your insight, Lola.
OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.
CHETRY: Well, here's a look at some of the other stories coming up that you can't miss.
Something new on AMERICAN MORNING. It's our ballot box politics. This will be your first run at this.
MARCIANO: Yes. I'm excited.
CHETRY: You'll have a blast. We have a lot of hot topics, hot political topics. We put them all in a box, pick them out, and we talk to the experts about them.
MARCIANO: Kind of run-and-gun. I like it.
Stay tuned to see what we pick. You know, we're going to have our political panel weight in. That's coming up next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: Good looking day here in New York City. A little haze over Central Park. A live shot from our Time Warner Center tower cam, high atop Time Warner tower -- building, whatever you want to call it.
A hazy, hot and humid day, with temperatures getting into the upper 80s.
Good morning, everybody. It's Monday, August 13th. I'm Rob Marciano, in for John Roberts.
CHETRY: Good to have you with us.
I'm Kiran Chetry.
You know, you picked a good week to come here. Last week it was crazy. We had so much rain. Many of the subways were flood you out.
MARCIANO: I remember that.
CHETRY: As well as our own building, because of like two to three inches in a very short period of time.
MARCIANO: I enjoy the subway so I don't want them flooded so thanks for clearing that up this week.
CHETRY: Ride all you want this week. You should be fine.
One thing you do have to worry about, if you are homebuyer. If you have a credit score lower than 620, have you to prepare to pay a higher rate on your mortgage. Ali Velshi will explain this for us. He's "Minding Your Business", right now.
First of all, how do you check your credit score?
ALI VELSHI, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Your credit score can be checked online. You can go to MyFICO.com. But there are many places you can check your credit score. It is something that a lot people don't do. We've been encouraged to do it because of credit identity theft.
This is a different reason to do it. First of all, you get a break probably, at least this morning, from tumbling markets. It looks like futures are set to open well, so if you have the time you have been looking at your portfolio, your 401(k) try and look into your credit score only for this reason. If it's above 620 you're probably OK, if it's below 620 you probably will be in trouble.
You want to be doing is to do whatever you have to do to raise your credit score meaning don't miss payments, or close accounts that are there. And make sure there are no errors on your credit report. If you miss a mortgage payment, if you are 30 days late on your mortgage payment other payments affect you badly, too.
But if you're late on a mortgage payment it could send that credit score tumbling, which could cause your mortgage lender to impose penalties, to add extra money to the interest that you pay it could cause your interest rate to go up. And you want to make sure you're not part of what we call the subprime crises. If you're not there, try to make sure you're not there. That is the aim right now.
MARCIANO: An easy way to remember that credit score, above -- kind of like your SATs, above 700 is good.
VELSHI: You're in good shape, that's right. Below 620, start looking at it.
MARCIANO: My SATs --
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Even if you're 680, or 700 --
CHETRY: We hope Rob was above --
VELSHI: That conversation just went too fast! Hang on a second. Your credit score doesn't have to be as high as your SAT.
MARCIANO: I think fast -- break it down. Break it down, half and half.
(CROSS TALK)
VELSHI: He just got me to admit that! There is your credit scores. Your SATs, that will be another segment.
CHETRY: Exactly. Ali, thank you.
MARCIANO: Thanks, Ali. It was close!
VELSHI: That was close!
MARCIANO: Let's set to 650.
CHETRY: Let's see.
It's time for Monday edition of "Political Hot Topics". We call it our ballot jackpot and we put one hot topic on each ballot, we've stuffed them in the box, and then we draw them out and we let our guests weight in. I guess it should be time to bring the box over here.
MARCIANO: I guess so. Thanks for leading me through this, I'm new to this whole game.
We bring in some experts, let's talk to them. Joining us now are Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter and Republican strategists Terry Holt; they join us both from Washington, D.C.
Terry, let's first start off with the news about Karl Rove. How does President Bush go on without him?
TERRY HOLT, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, the president has some very gifted people down there. Ed Gillespie, the former RNC chairman, joined the team earlier this summer. Tony Snow is one of the most gifted and talented press secretaries I think of our time.
I think we should be congratulating Karl Rove for a long successful run. This is a guy who elected the president twice, who is known as the most brilliant political activists of our time. He's been there forever, so let's give him a break and take a vacation finally.
CHETRY: All right, Terry.
Stephanie, do you share the same sentiments about Karl Rove this morning?
STEPHANIE CUTTER, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: I think that he is a clearly brilliant mind. I think what went wrong he tried to run the White House and the federal government like a campaign. And I think that's the results that we're living through right now.
He absolutely deserves a break. He's absolutely worked very hard and had two very successful presidential campaigns, but is actually a good thing for the American people that he is getting out of the White House.
CHETRY: We're going to let Rob go for it. Go ahead and grab it in our jackpot.
MARCIANO: Are you guys nervous? This means we can ask you just about anything?
HOLT: I was frisked for my talking points this morning so I have no idea what I'm going to say here. MARCIANO: We put the heat on you first then, Terry. The question is: Thompson out. Who is next?
CHETRY: Tommy Thompson.
MARCIANO: Yeah, Tommy Thompson was one of those guys who was a real innovator in the '90s, and part of the GOP revolution. So he should get a tip of the hat today, too. But I think that with time for this field to narrow a little bit. I was surprised by Mike Huckabee's performance. I think he has the kind of image and message that maybe would surprise people if they got a little bit more focused on him.
I've looked for a few of these guys to really seriously consider it so that we could focus on who the real winnable candidates are in this race.
CHETRY: Speaking of winnable candidates. I grabbed, Could Clinton hurt Dems. And I wan to ask you about this, Stephanie. A big AP article over the weekend, 40 interviews they did with top Democrats talking about her highly unfavorable ratings and saying maybe some of that would rub off negatively on congressional candidates. What do you think?
CUTTER: I think what is interesting about that article not a lot of people on record. Not a lot of people willing to go on record saying that type of thing.
CHETRY: Right, because they don't want to hear back from the Clinton campaign.
CUTTER: Well, for many different reasons. The true test of whether something is accurate is whether people will go on record. I think when Hillary Clinton says she is the most famous person, that people don't really know. I think a lot of accuracy to that. If you look at the trends the last several months she has been campaigning her favorability is going up as she does the hand-to-hand campaigning in Iowa, in New Hampshire and other states across the country.
In fact there was a poll out last week, the Q Poll (ph), that showed her the only Democrat beating Giuliani in three of the top primary states. There's a lot of people that feel very strongly about the Clintons and a lot of that strength comes from very positive feelings as well.
HOLT: The only thing harder than getting well-known is changing a well-known person's image. And I think Hillary Clinton has to meet almost everybody in America before anyone fundamentally changes how they think about her. And I think that she is going to go into this election with some of the highest negatives that we've ever seen in the national politician.
CUTTER: I would say to that is that this country is already so polarized thanks to your friend Karl Rove.
HOLT: Oh! CUTTER: There is a good portion of people that won't vote for her but there is a whole new segment of people that are going to come out and vote for her, including women. She is currently the strongest candidate in history in terms of pulling for women.
CHETRY: OK, we have other jackpot topics.
CUTTER: And you and I know that women do go out and vote.
CHETRY: We've done Hillary for a while now.
MARCIANO: Terry, we give you a chance to talk about one of your guys. This is fixed because I pulled out one card, and Kiran is like, no, let's talk about where is Fred? Where is Fred Thompson? What is the story on him?
HOLT: Fred Thompson, is one of those people, again, a lot of people heard his name but not his speech. He has the benefit of being sort of the candidate off to the side but I think it's time to fish, or cut bait. Get in the race. Let's see what you can do. And see where it goes. Because at this point, I think it's time, getting in here toward Labor Day and the last six months, before the big elections, get in the race, let's see what you got.
CHETRY: All right. One Thompson out, and possibly one Thompson in. We're out of time. I just have to say, we didn't get this one, but very cute on the part of the producers. I "heart" Huckabee.
MARCIANO: Well, done.
CHETRY: A second place showing for the former Arkansas governor. But hey, we'll have to save that for another day. Democratic strategist Stephanie Cutter and Republican strategist Terry Holt, thanks for playing.
CUTTER: Thank you.
HOLT: Thank you.
MARCIANO: Thank you guys.
Well, divers pulled another body from the Mississippi river on Sunday; 11 days after the I-35W bridge collapse. Nine people are now are confirmed dead, four others are still missing. Workers have removed the school bus off the bridge you may remember it was carrying 52 children from a field trip to a water park. All of them got out OK.
And the family of a mother and child killed in the collapse remembered their lives this weekend. In a cruel twist, they had left a place where their lives were in great danger, only to find themselves on the I-35W bridge collapse. Here is Jeff Flock.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They came to America from their native war-torn Somalia, to escape this very scene. Funeral in the wake of inexplicable and senseless tragedy.
IMAN HAMADY EL-SAWAF, MASJID AL-IKHLAS: Sometimes we think we're away from death. We think we've escaped death but, all of a sudden, we find death in front of us. Not to die in Somalia, and not to die somewhere else, but to die in United States of America, in Minnesota and that tragedy of the collapse of the bridge.
FLOCK: Traveling across the W-35 bridge, Sadiya (ph) Sahal, and her daughter, Hannah, strapped into the back seat. Sadiya (ph) was also five months pregnant.
"We believe in destiny," her father tells me. "We must accept. It's part of a test for everyone." He explains that Sadiya's (ph) husband is too distraught to watch the burial of his wife and daughter.
(On camera): Is there any part of you, Sir, that wishes you did not come to America?
AHMED SAHAL, VICTIM'S FATHER (through translator): I believe part of our tradition and believe system that we have, this will happen wherever I would go, if it was or if it were part of my faith and destiny created by God.
FLOCK: About a 100 men gathered for a traditional Muslim funeral. Women kept at a distance as is custom.
(on camera): Back in Somalia, she wouldn't even have been driving a car.
EL-SAWAF: Never, never, never. But here, you see her driving the car by herself, being totally independent.
FLOCK (voice over): The imams who knew her tell us Sadiya (ph) was also training to be a nurse. She taught at the Islamic Center and volunteered to helped Muslim women integrate into U.S. culture. The last anyone heard from her was shortly before the bridge gave way.
EL-SAWAF: Around 5:15, she made a call at home to just tell them know that she got trapped in the traffic, it was heavy traffic, she was over the bridge, and might be able to make it as soon as she can. But, of course, she couldn't.
FLOCK: But in a way, Sadiya (ph) Sahal did make it, managing to make a life in her new adoptive home.
EL-SAWAF: She's a role model. She left a legacy behind her. We're so proud of her.
FLOCK: I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, Burnsville (ph), Minnesota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARCIANO: Nine of the people injured in the collapse are still in the hospital but the last of the critically injured has been upgraded to serious condition. CHETRY: A protest right now at Heathrow Airport, topping your "Quick Hits". Protesters arriving a day early to begin manning the climate change camp, this morning. It's located within sight of planes taking off. Activists say Heathrow's planned expansion will further damage the environment around the airport.
Bangladesh facing a medical crisis two weeks of monsoon rains, devastating floods; more than 400 people died so far, and 10s of 1,000s are being people are being treated for water-borne diseases.
Still ahead on AMERICAN MORNING the Peace Corps is looking for a few new men and women, reaching out to the baby boomers. We're going to explain coming up.
Also history taking shape one vote at a time this morning. A major step out of the shadows for the victims of a brutal civil war. We'll show you next on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MARCIANO: We're getting new developments in the church shooting that happened in Neosho, Missouri, that left three people dead and five injured. Sean Callebs is live in Neosho this morning.
Sean, what are we hearing now?
SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We had a chance to speak with the high-ranking law enforcement official just a short while ago. And he said the suspect apparently burst into this church, basically, saying, "Liars, liars, you're all liars!" Then at one point was holding one individual at gunpoint, and told the congregation, does anybody want to trade his or her life for his life? When no one came forward, the law enforcement authority said, then, the suspect pulled the trigger and killed the one individual.
He said, in terms of the injuries the other five people who were shot, did received, he said some were very significant. We do know that apparently two are in surgery at this hour. Also -- I'm sorry, were in surgery earlier.
We also know that the incident that authorities have been talking about that involved this suspect on a Saturday night, was an alleged assault on a 14-year-old girl; where the 14-year-old named the shooting suspect as the suspect in that assault case.
But right now, the law enforcement individual tells us that this suspect in custody in the Newton County jail is extremely tight- lipped, basically clamped up and providing simply no information for investigators.
One final note, Rob. The crime scene investigation that had been going on since yesterday afternoon was just about ready to wrap up. We're told it should be done sometime this morning -- Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. Definitely some new developments there. Sean, thanks for monitoring that and we will check back with you throughout the day. Sean Callebs live for us in Neosho, Missouri.
CHETRY: They are counting ballots today in Sierra Leone's first presidential elections since U.N. Peacekeepers withdrew two years ago. CNN's Betty Nguyen reports from the capital Freetown.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Preliminary results in this historic election are still coming in from the different provinces across Sierra Leone. But our sources on the ground tell us in the race for president:
(Voice over): The opposition party appears to be giving the ruling party some stiff competition. Final results won't come in for several more days, but a runoff is expected. One thing we do know is voter turnout was high. There were long lines of people waiting in the rain just to vote, including amputees, who had their limbs hacked off by rebels during this country's bloody civil war.
Despite some confusion and minor skirmishes at a few polling sites there are no reports of violence. This is important because the election is a key test to this country's stability. Five years ago, having just emerged from civil war, U.N. Peacekeepers oversaw that election, but this time around Sierra Leone is in full control. And so far, observers say this election has been peaceful, fair and credible.
In Freetown, Sierra Leone, Betty Nguyen, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHETRY: Amazing progress for that country for sure. It's 46 minutes past the hour. Time now to head over to Bonnie Schneider, she has been tracking extreme weather for us.
We have Hurricane Flossie, in the Pacific, moving toward Hawaii. Is it going to make a direct hit?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It looks like it will skirt the island to the south, but it's still too early to say whether or not the storm makes a direct hit on the Island of Hawaii.
We'll be watching it very closely. Right now, the maximum winds now 135 miles per hour.
As we look towards the Atlantic we're also tracking the potential for tropical developments. Look at this. This strong wave off the African coastline is getting more organized, and it's likely to become a tropical depression as early as today. And maybe even a tropical storm in the days ahead. The reason we're concerned with this is because most of our computer models are pretty uniform.
This is what we call the "Spaghetti map", you have all the different lines showing you where the computer models are taking this tropical wave as it develops across the Atlantic. All the way from the Dominican Republic to north of Venezuela, but still pretty tightly packed. So we will be watching this in the days to come. These computer models take this storm five days out and eventually develop it as a tropical storm. The next name on the list is Dean, if you're keeping track.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: CNN "Newsroom" is minutes away. T.J. Holmes is at the CNN Center, in Atlanta with a look at what's ahead.
Good morning, T.J.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR, CNN NEWSROOM: Good morning, kind sir!
On the "Newsroom" rundown this morning, the departure of key White House advisor Karl Rove! What does that mean for the president? We will hear from the president live this morning.
Also, the man accused in a deadly church shooting in court this morning. We'll have that news conference live as well from Missouri coming your way at 11:30 Eastern time.
Also, a big gash in the shuttle's heat-sensitive belly. The NASA deciding today whether a space walk is needed for those repairs. The newsroom, all of those stories and a whole lot more coming up when we get started at the top of the hour, here on CNN.
Rob, all your's, sir.
MARCIANO: All right, T.J., thanks very much.
We're getting some news now out of South Korea. Kiran, you have the latest on ?
CHETRY: Yes, according to some of the wire reports this morning, including Reuters, among other things, they are reporting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan freed two South Korea hostages. This is a picture of the 22 hostages that were taken a month or so ago. They came there as part of a church mission.
Apparently two of them -- women were handed over to the Red Crescent, this is according to witnesses, and witnesses report seeing two of these female South Korean hostages being transported, getting into a Red Crescent vehicle.
Again, these are some of the reports, preliminary reports that are coming out of Afghanistan. It is indeed a significant development, if it's true. There have been a lot of back and forth, the Taliban demanding the release of Taliban prisoners in exchange for these hostages' freedom.
Lots has been going on behind the scenes. Again, we are getting reports this morning of the possibility, at least according to Reuters, among other wire services, that at least two South Korea hostages, women have been freed and turned over to a relief organization. We will follow the latest developments and bring them to you as soon as we get them. Meanwhile, still ahead, the Peace Corps trying something new, nearly 50 years after President Kennedy inspired young people to join. Wait until you hear who they're recruiting today. What you can do for your country, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING.
They say it's the toughest job you'll ever love, the Peace Corps; 46 years ago, President John Kennedy started the volunteer corps of trained men and women to help other countries. The volunteers were young; they were idealistic, and plentiful.
In fact, here's a shot of my mom who served in the Peace Corps in Nepal, back in the '70s.
Now the Peace Corps is looking for whole new group of volunteers, baby boomers to heed the call, yet again. Why the new recruiting drive? Joining me now is the director of the Peace Corps Ron Tschetter, as well as one of the new volunteers, Beryl Cheal.
Thank you so much for being with us, both of you.
RON TSCHETTER, DIRECTOR, PEACE CORPS: Well, you're welcome. It's a pleasure to be here.
CHETRY: So, we're talking about this push to get the baby boomers, or those over 50 into the Peace Corps. Why?
TSCHETTER: If we think about who they are, they have been in business, education, whatever profession they've chosen for 30 to 35 years. And they're nearing retirement and entering or nearing retirement, and they have a real service mentality. Market research tells us that. Plus, they bring 30 years of skill.
CHETRY: Beryl, you're one of them. You joined the Peace Corps at the age of 69. What was the experience like for you?
BERYL CHEAL, PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER: It was great. Hard sometimes. But, overall, it was really wonderful. Really life changing, even at that age.
CHETRY: What made you decide this is what you wanted to do?
CHEAL: Well, it's kind of like that was the culture in my family, that you helped people. And it didn't matter where or who, but you just did that. So it came naturally to me that I wanted to go to the Peace Corps.
CHETRY: You actually received a presidential award for your 4,000 plus hours of service. And you're getting ready to head back to Africa?
CHEAL: To Africa in November, yes.
CHETRY: Congratulations.
So, your average age of a Peace Corps volunteer is still 27 years old, but you have this 50 plus group expanded that by 5 percent so far?
TSCHETTER: Yes. Well, today, 5 percent of our volunteers are over the age of 50. And I think that should be larger. And I think probably in the next couple of years I'd like to take that to at least 10 percent and maybe even a little more than that. Because they bring such a rich history, and experience to the peace corps experience. It really will impact what we do aboard.
CHETRY: Interesting. My mother went over to Nepal and actually met her husband. And so she talks about the Peace Corps not only as having a huge impact on her career and her goals, but also her love life, and her future.
TSCHETTER: Well, yes. And there's many stories like that. Kiran, your mother -- your father, was a Peace Corps staff member I believe in Nepal at the time.
CHETRY: Right.
TSCHETTER: Those kind of unions do take place, and still do, this day and age. Many ways life-changing experience, no question about that.
CHETRY: It really is. Thanks for telling us more and joining us to talk more about this push to get the 50 plus. And congratulations to you, Beryl. I hope you have a blast. And have a really great experience in Africa. Beryl Cheal, as well as Ron Tschetter, the Peace Corps director.
Thanks to both of you for being with us today.
TSCHETTER: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be here.
CHEAL: Thank you.
MARCIANO: Here's a quick look at what CNN "Newsroom" is working on at the top of the hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (voice over): See these stories in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Top presidential adviser Karl Rove leaving the White House.
Also a suspected church shooter expected in a Missouri courtroom today. Three people killed in the melee.
And search crews in Utah drilling a third hole today, hoping to find six trapped miners.
Hurricane Flossie expected to side-swipe Hawaii mid week. "Newsroom" at the top of the hour on CNN. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, that is going to do it for us. Thanks so much for joining us on AMERICAN MORNING.
Did we scare you? Or are you going to come back tomorrow?
MARCIANO: No. I'll come back tomorrow. If I don't, I won't get paid. SO, I'm definitely going to come back tomorrow. Thanks for having me.
CNN "Newsroom" with T.J. Holmes starts right now.
HOLMES: All right, thanks guys. And now you are in CNN NEWSROOM. I am T.J. Holmes sitting right now for Tony and Heidi.
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