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American Morning
Bloomberg Not Running For President; Hepatitis Scare: Exposed At Clinic; Bernanke Warns on Inflation; Advice for Clinton Ahead of the Primaries
Aired February 28, 2008 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN ANCHOR: He's going to be joining us a little bit later in the hour, John, to talk about just what was going through his head and some of the quick decisions he made that possibly saved his life as he was being dragged. 9
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: He is so fortunate to be alive. Looking at that car speeding through those streets and knowing what could have happened to him, my goodness. It would be interesting to hear from him a little bit later on.
Meantime, an army of officers on the hunt for a gunman who fired several rounds into a crowd at a Los Angeles bus stop. It happened yesterday afternoon near a school. Eight people were injured, three young girls and one woman critically. Investigators are now speaking with the victims. Witnesses are reviewing nearby surveillance tapes for any leads.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. RUBEN DE LA TORRE, LOS ANGELES POLICE: We are searching, and we have video. We have witnesses. So -- well, the videos around here will be sought in terms of the business, see what we find. So, you know, we're actively involved in finding who did this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: Police say there's a lot of gang-related violence in the area. So far, no word on a motive -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Also in California, John, a deadly plane crash overnight happening in a residential neighborhood. It's about 60 miles west of Los Angeles Riverside. All three people onboard killed. No one on the ground was hurt. Witnesses say the small plane was in trouble shortly after taking off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE STANLEY, WITNESS: And I heard the engine fail, and I look up in the sky and it's teeter-tottering, and it's coming straight for the house. And like last second it swiveled out, hit the palm tree and nose-dived. I took off running towards it, then I started realizing the nose blowing up, so I took off running the other way.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: The Riverside fire chief also said that the pilot did a job, a great job of avoiding the houses and preventing anyone else on the ground from being hurt or injured. But, again, tragically, the three people on board were all killed.
ROBERTS: What a shame.
He is out. After months of speculation, he resounded no this time from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Bloomberg put it in writing in this morning's "New York Times." The Democrat turned Republican turned independent said he is not running for president, but he may still be a player in the race.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS (voice-over): He's been saying it for months.
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: I'm not running for president.
I have no plans to announce a candidacy.
I think they're wasting their time. I'm not a candidate.
Look, I'm not a candidate for president.
ROBERTS: So why is Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement drawing so much attention today? Because despite repeated denials, Bloomberg still seem to walk, talk and some say campaign like a candidate.
BLOOMBERG: If you're going to have lower taxes, you can't keep spending money the way we have.
ROBERTS: He crisscrossed the country, funded research and called for change in Washington. But this morning, the speculation ended abruptly. In a "New York Times" op-ed, Bloomberg wrote, "I listen carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not and will not be a candidate for president."
But Bloomberg made it clear that he and his billions aren't done just yet, saying, "The most productive role that I can serve is to push them forward, by using the means at my disposal to promote a real and honest debate."
And in a significant change, included this tease for those still in the hunt, "If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach, I'll join others in helping that candidate win the White House."
And already, there's new speculation about just how much help he'll provide and what he might be offered in return. And already, another non-denial denial.
BLOOMBERG: I don't think anybody is going to ask me to be vice president. (END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTS: Well, at least not yet. Bloomberg had to meet a March 5th deadline. That's next Wednesday to get on the ballot in Texas for the general election. It was the first of several hurdles that he would have faced to an independent run -- Kiran.
CHETRY: And speaking of an independent run, independent presidential hopeful Ralph Nader on the fast track these days after announcing that he is going to run. He is also now ready to name a running mate. Nader is scheduled to reveal his VP selection today at noon Eastern time during a press conference in Washington, D.C.
And one of the most influential superdelegates, Georgia Congressman and civil rights legend John Lewis is switching his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. Lewis says that he is committed to following voters in his Georgia district who went overwhelmingly for Obama in the Georgia primary, even though he backed Clinton in that primary. Obama says he's "deeply honored," and Hillary is trying to stay positive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What I feel is happening is that people are turning toward big questions that they should have the answers in this campaign. You know, who can be the best commander in chief they want in the White House, answering the phone at 3:00 a.m., who would be the best steward of the economy?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Top Clinton supporters are urging other high-profile politicians who may be eying Obama to hold off.
And more on that what Lewis' endorsement means to the campaign from Bill Clinton's former spokesperson, Dee Dee Myers. We're going to speak with her live in a few minutes, 7:20 Eastern time.
Meantime, Republican Mike Huckabee agreeing to take part in a values voter presidential debate. The only thing is he's the only one who has agreed. We haven't heard if the party's presumptive nominee, Senator John McCain, or Congressman Ron Paul will join them. The debate is scheduled for Monday night in San Antonio, Texas.
Speaking of Texas, that state, as well as Ohio will be holding primaries next Tuesday. It's March 4th along with Rhode Island and Vermont. We will also be heading to the polls again March 4th.
Veronica de la Cruz is here with some other stories new this morning.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good morning to you, and good morning to all of you out there.
We begin this morning with some breaking news overseas. A danger terrorist suspect is on the loose. Security forces in Singapore conducting an island-wide search for the leader of an Islamic militant group in that country. He's accused of plotting to crash a plane into an airport. The government says he escaped from a detention center when he asked to use the bathroom.
Possible delays to tell you about this morning along Amtrak's northeast corridor. Cracks have been found in so-called ties holding rails in place. Amtrak says they were caught early and don't pose a risk. But trains may have to slow down from 135 miles per hour to 60, in some cases. Amtrak will spend nearly $24 million this year and next to fix the problem. The manufacturer that made the ties ran into similar cracking problems in New York's metro north railroad in 2006.
The secretary of Agriculture testifies today on the safety of America's food. The hearing comes on the heels of the largest beef recall in U.S. history. More than 143 million pounds of beef were recalled this month after the Humane Society shot disturbing undercover video of a meat packing company in California.
And a quick-thinking 8-year-old boy from Texas may have saved his friend's life. The boys were playing when somehow one of them swallowed a rock.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CORBIN WARREN, CHILD HERO: He was going down the slide, and then I said, are you choking? And then he nodded. So I gave him the Heimlich. After he spitted out that rock, I said, are you OK? And he got a drink and he said, I'm OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Oh, he's so adorable.
DE LA CRUZ: The little hero says he learned the Heimlich, Kiran, from watching his mother teach her girl scout troop. And, Kiran, apparently, he spoke with a local news organization, and this is what he said. He said it's not about living, it's not about dying, it's about living and taking care of people.
CHETRY: What a philosophical 8-year-old.
DE LA CRUZ: Pretty insightful for eight.
CHETRY: Meanwhile, his friend's eating rocks. I mean, in the playground. The kid's 8. Why is he eating rocks?
DE LA CRUZ: But you know, honestly, it's amazing what kids pick up...
CHETRY: It is.
DE LA CRUZ: ... from watching his mom teach girl scouts.
CHETRY: Wonderful. Congratulations to him.
DE LA CRUZ: Doesn't it make you think? CHETRY: Yes.
DE LA CRUZ: With Maya (ph)?
CHETRY: That's right. She watches me like a hawk. You better, you know, keep them on the straight and narrow. Thanks, Veronica.
DE LA CRUZ: Of course.
CHETRY: John?
ROBERTS: Eight minutes after the hour.
A health alert now. Health officials say some 40,000 people may need to be tested for Hepatitis C and other viruses after an outbreak in Las Vegas. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joins us now. How many people have actually been infected there? Do you have any idea?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, the number that have been documented as infected is six now. But there's up to 40,000 people who are going to get a letter in the next couple of weeks saying, hey, you know, we're a little concerned about this. You may need to guest tested. Very interesting. This is sort of one of those medical investigations.
They started to see these clusters of cases, John, and they started to figure out what's going on here. What's the common link and they've found that it was in the endoscopy center specifically. And they found -- what they do is they test the virus. They test the genetic, the genetics of the virus and found that it came from a common source.
ROBERTS: Just for the folks at home who might not be familiar, what's an endoscopy center?
GUPTA: An endoscopy center is basically a center where they perform endoscopy. It is a type of procedure where they actually look in your GI tract and they, you know, like colonoscopy, for example, is a type of procedure that might perform there. As part of that, they actually inject a certain medication to make someone sleepy, and they think that may have been the common source here. They're not exactly sure. But that was --
ROBERTS: So not the endoscope, it was the injection?
GUPTA: That's right.
ROBERTS: So, the thing with Hepatitis C is, and correct me if I'm wrong, but until the disease progresses, you're really kind of asymptomatic, are you?
GUPTA: Yes. That's the thing. It's potentially fatal. It can potentially cause cancer. But the vast majority of people actually are asymptomatic in the beginning and a lot will remain asymptomatic. They may be carriers in effect of this virus but never have any problems themselves, which made this so much harder to sort of pinpoint, because people may develop symptoms, you know, months, if not years down the line. Then you got to sort of trace back and figure out, you know, exactly what happened.
ROBERTS: It's not like Hepatitis A where you get a fever?
GUPTA: More quickly symptoms that's right.
ROBERTS: Right. So what can people do to protect themselves?
GUPTA: Well, you know, it's always interesting with this particular center. What happened here, you know, you mentioned it wasn't the endoscopy. What the center did was that they -- think about it like this. They put a needle into a vial to draw up some anesthesia and they inject that. They take the needle off. They use a different syringe, but they use the same vial. That's supposed to be a one use for anesthesia. You're supposed to use it once, even if you don't use all of the medication, throw it away.
ROBERTS: Throw it away.
GUPTA: Even if you use a brand-new syringe, brand-new needle, injecting into that same vial, that may have been the potential cause here. That's obviously a safety concern. You know, and people obviously -- you know, the patients themselves could do nothing about that. That was something that was of concern within the clinic itself.
ROBERTS: Right. Sanjay, all right. Well, a lot of people are going to be getting a letter that they want to see.
GUPTA: Get tested.
ROBERTS: All right. Thanks, Sanjay.
The Fed warning the U.S. economy is not out of the woods just yet. With oil surging to record levels and home price plunging now, what does it mean for you and your dollar? Our own Lou Dobbs joins us live coming up with more on that.
The experts are saying that Hillary Clinton needs to win big next Tuesday. We're going to talk live with former White House insider Dee Dee Myers about what Clinton must do to stop Barack Obama's momentum. AMERICAN MORNING live from Washington and New York is coming right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN BERNANKE, FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIRMAN: The incoming information since our January meeting continues to suggest sluggish economic activity in the near term.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROBERTS: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on Capitol Hill yesterday, and he's back on the Hill again this morning, warning Congress about the risks of recession and rising inflation at the same time. Our senior business correspondent Ali Velshi is on CNN's Election Express today, finds him in San Antonio, Texas, outside of the Alamo where he's been talking to voters about the economy. And, Ali, I noticed that the cowboy hat is gone.
ALI VELSHI, CNN SENIOR BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I was wondering that you'd ask. You know, given I'm outside of the Alamo, I thought I'd, you know, get something a little more appropriate. I've got the Davy Crockett coonskin cap. Now, as you can see from me wearing this, it's not nearly as becoming.
ROBERTS: So, I've got a question for you now.
VELSHI: Yes.
ROBERTS: I've got a question for you. Wearing that, everyone is going to listen to a thing you have to say about the economy now?
VELSHI: No, no. Which is why it's gone right back in my pocket. That's the problem. Here's the thing.
You know, you spent a lot of time in Texas, John. Folks here are very, very plain spoken. They're very colorful in the way they describe things, and none of it sounds like anything that Ben Bernanke has to say. The problem here is that it's taken Ben Bernanke a long time to come around to the fact that you know what inflation is a concern. Everybody who buys milk and bread and gasoline knows that already. It has the tab and effect on the economy. That's exactly what's happened.
So Ben Bernanke goes before Congress today again, to try to explain what's going on with the economy and what he is going to say about what the Fed might do about it. He's hinted that the Fed can cut rates even further. The problem with cutting rates even further is that it stimulates demand, which is what the point of the whole exercise is.
It makes the economy grow faster because people buy things. Companies spend money. They employ more people, and that creates more demand. But that also can push prices back up again as we've seen them go. We got record prices for wheat in the week, for soybeans, for corn, for oil, things like that.
Right now, oil has pulled back a little off of those highs that we saw of $102.08 yesterday morning. A little under $100 right now. Markets are kind of mixed. Looking like we might have -- we don't know where we're going today because we're waiting for a very key economic number at 8:30 this morning. We're keeping an eye on it. But as far as Texans are concerned, energy and inflation are the concerns, John.
ROBERTS: All right. Ali Velshi for us in San Antonio today outside of the Alamo. Ali, thanks. We'll see you soon. And with the housing market in shambles, new fears over inflation and record-high oil prices, are things that are only going to get worse? Or is the economy ready to rebound? There are some economists who are predicting the doomsday scenario. All of this feeding on itself with the economy crashing. But what does Lou Dobbs think about it all? We'll talk to him live at the bottom of the hour -- Kiran.
CHETRY: Meanwhile, still ahead, 15 goals and 24 seconds. That's what it took for one man to become Canada's newest millionaire. There you see it. Here it is.
It's Darwin Head. He fired off from 144 feet, Rob, I think, 15 shots in 24 seconds during a contest. He's only the second guy that's been able to do this, Vancouver Canucks game. And he's been playing hockey for the past 25 years but he also spent a lot of time practicing. He said when it was up to the last shot, he really didn't think he was going to do it, but he did. And not only did he get a million bucks, he also got a brand-new car out of the thing.
ROB MARCIANO, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Nice work there.
CHETRY: How about it?
MARCIANO: You know, I was kind of teasing earlier in the program, but he was pretty far away even though it was open net.
CHETRY: Yes.
MARCIANO: And looked like he put it right in the center there.
CHETRY: We'll take you out on the ice and see before everything melts away...
MARCIANO: Yes.
CHETRY: ... for the spring and see how many you get in 24 seconds.
MARCIANO: Yes. That will be ratings for you right there.
All right. When you're playing hockey or maybe doing a little skiing up north, we've got some fresh powder on the hills of New England. I don't get to say that too often, but here's a look at some of the snowfall totals across, not only New England but North Carolina as well. Anywhere from a foot to eight inches, and Beech Mountain, North Carolina but places like Jay Peak, Smugglers' Notch in Vermont. You folks got a foot of fresh powder this morning so get out and hit it and catch some tracks.
CHETRY: You just wanted to say Smugglers' Notch?
MARCIANO: Have you ever been?
CHETRY: No.
MARCIANO: It's hard core up there. CHETRY: Right.
MARCIANO: Yes. It's not as romantic as it sounds actually.
Minus two in Albany for a feel-like temperature on this wind chill across the northeast. Very cold today compared to yesterday, and very cold down across the southeast as well. That's really the big weather story. Some light snow expected across the northern tier. Congratulations. I assume the gentleman was Canadian because you don't get those kind of skills hockey-wise unless you're Canadian.
CHETRY: That's right. Nor brave those cold temperatures as he was practicing out in subzero weather.
Well, how about this from snow and ice to a day at the beach. I don't know if you want to go. Hundreds of sharks, apparently lurking just feet from one beach. It's the time of year. We're going to explain what's causing that.
Also, next Tuesday's primaries could decide it for the Democrats. So what does Hillary Clinton need to do to get some big wins and to stop her rival Barack Obama's momentum? We're going to be speaking to Bill Clinton's former spokesperson Dee Dee Myers just ahead.
Also, billionaire Michael Bloomberg making a big political announcement. How it will affect the upcoming election? We're going to talk to our own Lou Dobbs about that and a lot of other issues ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: A father is in jail after police say surveillance cameras caught him breaking into several offices with his young son. Salt Lake City police say he stole cash and medication. Police credit his arrest to tips from neighbor who recognized him in the video.
Well, a daring rescue 40 feet up. Firefighters in Florida helping two people down from their small plane after it crashed and then became lodged in a tree. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries there.
And check out this shot. This is from Palm Beach, Florida. I don't know if I'd want to go swimming in this one. Beachgoers beware. Something lurking in the waters. That's hundreds of sharks. These are black tips and spinners, as they're called, just feet from shore. They're making their annual migration north. They have been posting some warnings that swimmers might want to stay out of the water. But check out that shot, John. I mean, can you imagine. I wouldn't even put a toe in there.
ROBERTS: I thought Florida already had its primary, no?
Well, turning to presidential politics, is the Democratic nomination at a tipping point? Hillary Clinton's struggling campaign is counting heavily on next Tuesday's primaries to turn things around. Dee Dee Myers is a former spokesperson for Bill Clinton. She has contributed to the Clinton campaign, the Hillary Clinton campaign, that is. She is not endorsing anyone yet. And her sister works for the Obama campaign. Most importantly, though, she's also got a new book entitled "Why Women Should Rule the World." And Dee Dee Myers joins us now. Good to see you this morning.
DEE DEE MYERS, FMR. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Good to be here, John,
ROBERTS: You've got conflicts all over the place.
MYERS: Yes, exactly. I'm one walking conflict in the presidential campaign.
ROBERTS: Five days before these critical primaries, what kind of shape is Hillary Clinton in?
MYERS: Well, she's facing another do or die test that she has several points in this campaign. New Hampshire was a do or die test for her. Super Tuesday was a do or die test for her. And now, looking at Texas and Ohio, it's a do or die test. And even her husband, former President Bill Clinton, has said she has to win not one but both of those primaries. And I think a lot of people think not only did she have to win them, but she has to win them by a large enough margin to start making up in delegates, where she's now failing.
ROBERTS: She's got to have a convincing margin?
MYERS: She's got to have a convincing margin. You know, if she wins both, her campaign has going to have to sit down and figure out where do they go from here. If she wins them both by a large margin and makes up some ground in the delegates, I think the argument from going forward is clearer.
ROBERTS: What happened for her? Four months ago, she was inevitable?
MYERS: Right. Well, that was one of the problems. I mean, the inevitable candidacy is always a bit of a dangerous perch because then you become a target. Then I think two things happened. She ran a campaign based on experience and authority, which I think in some ways she had to do because she's a woman. She had to shore up that experience credential in order to be credible as commander in chief. But while she was doing that, I don't think she did it quite successfully. Senator Obama came along and rode the change message too obviously, which has become a movement now. He's not just a candidate. He's a movement and a leader of a movement.
ROBERTS: On the stump yesterday, she was still hammering in on the issues and the idea of experience. Listen to what she said yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D-NY), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What I feel is happening is that people are turning toward big questions that they should have to answer in this campaign. You know, who can be the best commander in chief.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: So she said there and it's difficult to hear, that people are tapping into the big questions now.
MYERS: Right.
ROBERTS: And one of the questions is who's best on national security? Who's best position to be commander in chief?
MYERS: Right.
ROBERTS: She wins on experience hands-down in all of these polls.
MYERS: Right.
ROBERTS: But what is it that Barack Obama is tapping into? And why is it so hard to fight it?
MYERS: Right. I mean, among voters who think experience is the most important credential, she wins overwhelmingly. But there are more voters who think change is the most important dynamic in this race. But one of the things that's been interesting about this campaign is that every time we've come to the point of elimination of a candidate, the electorate has stepped back a little and say, wait a minute. Do we want this process to end? And they've, you know, kind of reassess. I think that's part of what happened in New Hampshire.
It looked like the Democratic primary was going to end after two contests, and the electorate stepped back and said, let's let it go on. I don't -- you know, that's the one hope that Hillary Clinton has is that people are going to step back and say let's let this thing go on.
ROBERTS: We haven't made up our mind yet.
MYERS: Right.
ROBERTS: Let's get to the book.
MYERS: Great.
ROBERTS: The title is "Why Women Should Rule the World."
MYERS: Right.
ROBERTS: What will this country miss if Hillary Clinton does not become president?
MYERS: Well, I think if she were to become president, obviously send a signal not just to the country but to the world and to girls and women, and men and boys all over the world that women can rise to the top levels of government in almost endeavor. And we're seeing more women in those positions. ROBERTS: I mean, what do they bring to those positions?
MYERS: Right. I think --
ROBERTS: In government corporate America?
MYERS: Right. I think the reason that there needs to be an argument is there ought to more women across public life, not in place of men, but alongside men. Because women bring different life experience, sometimes different ways at looking at problems, sometimes different ways of managing. Not always. Every woman is not one way and every man another. But when you bring all those different qualities to the table and you bring all those different points of view, you get a different look at your problems and you get more options and better solutions. So it's not an argument about what's politically correct. It's an argument about what's in our self interest.
ROBERTS: So if she doesn't make it, is there another woman out there in either party who is currently building the same sort of resume that she has now? Who could run in 2012, 2016?
MYERS: Well, I mean, I don't think there's an obvious one, but I hope there's lots of women out there saying, look, Hillary Clinton is the first woman ever to win a presidential primary in our country. So, regardless of how this campaign ends for her, either after Ohio and Texas, during the White House, I don't know the answer. I think she moves the ball further (ph) makes it easier for the next woman.
She's run a credible campaign. She's been, you know -- she's been one of the top two if not the top candidate throughout this race. So I think that's critical. But I do think the bar is still higher for women to establish their bona fides to be taken seriously as presidential contenders. I think Hillary has had a higher bar to clear. I hope that when this is over, the campaigns will look back and have a long national conversation about how can we eliminate some of these kind of hidden obstacles that still hold women back.
ROBERTS: Well, there's going to be some sort of see (ph) change in politics there.
(CROSSTALK)
MYERS: Yes. Exactly.
ROBERTS: Dee Dee Myers.
MYERS: It's been a fascinating race.
ROBERTS: Thanks very much. Good to see you again. The book is called "Why Women Should Rule the World." Dee Dee Myers, good to see you.
New violence overnight in Gaza. Israel launching more air strikes against Hamas. More than a dozen people are dead in fighting on both sides of the border, and our reporter in the mill. We're going to talk with CNN's Ben Wedeman. That's coming up.
And the political world has weighed finally. Michael Bloomberg is making it known whether he's going to make a run for the White House. Will his decision impact the November election? We'll talk our own Lou Dobbs.
And dragged for nearly four blocks, hanging on for dear life. A story that we first brought you yesterday. This morning, hear from the officer who clung to the side of the speeding car. He joins us live in the studio in just a few minutes. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN, ANCHOR: A look this morning across the Detroit River at the city of Detroit where it's cloudy, 10 degrees right now. Going up to a high of 26. All of that arctic air moved in yesterday, after those storms rolled through. And it is chilly, all the way from the Midwest to the deep south. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Thanks very much for being with us. Good to see you this morning, Kiran.
KIRAN CHETRY, CNN, ANCHOR: You, too, John.
Well, a dramatic scene in the Middle East that was caught on camera by a reporter as Israeli troops launching air strikes at a Hamas outpost this morning. It comes hours after a Palestinian rocket attack killed an Israeli student. Our own Ben Wedeman is in southern Israel where he was forced to run for cover in the middle of a live shot just moments ago. Let's take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN, CORRESPONDENT: Qassam rockets coming in. In fact right now, there's a red alert for the possibility of an incoming rocket. So, I'm going to...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Red color. No. You have to go! You have to go.
WEDEMAN: OK. I'm going. OK. So, Adrian, it looks like we've got to clear out of the here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHETRY: Ben is back just, so you know, he went to a shelter as we said for a short time. And he's back now to update us. Is everyone OK, Ben?
WEDEMAN: Yes, as far as we know, everyone's OK. There's just about five Qassam rockets that landed just to the north of here. And those we're not the first rockets by any major to fall on this area today. In fact, we've had rather uncanny bad luck today. Every time it seems we do a live shot, we hear the red alert. And the rockets come in. At the moment, actually, we're waiting for the Israeli president Shimon Peres who is going to be coming to this spot right behind me where yesterday a 47-year-old Israeli student at this university, the Shaipir University was killed by one of the Qassam rockets that landed just behind me. Of course, that came on a day yesterday when there were a variety of Israeli air raids on Gaza. And very intense rocket barrage in response to that. And it appears the rocket barrages are continuing well into today. Kiran.
CHETRY: All right. What started the entire situation? I know you were talking about this attack that had taken place and then Israel was firing back. And now, these rockets are coming. This comes after there had been a period, it seemed, at least, of some relative calm?
WEDEMAN: Well, really, actually, this situation has been going on for years. For more than five years, the rockets have been fired out of Gaza into this area. It's intensified over the last few days. But really it goes up and down, up and down, the whole time. What seems to have sparked this current intensification was an Israeli air strike yesterday on a minivan in Gaza that was carrying five Hamas members. Apparently, according to Israeli Intelligence Services, these were people who had gone outside of Gaza, received training, obviously, military training of some sort and were sent back, and were able to get back to Gaza when the war between Gaza and Egypt fell. Now, after that strike occurred, just a few hours later, within the space of a very short amount of time, less than an hour, more than 20 Qassam rockets, these locally made, manufactured rockets were fired out of Gaza and hit the spot right here.
And since then, it's been pretty reliable, with every hour, every half hour, there have been Qassams coming in. Israel for its part, launching at least ten air raids into Gaza. The death toll there, above 15, at this point. Kiran.
CHETRY: Ben Wedeman for us reporting in southern Israel this morning. Thank you. John.
ROBERTS: Also new this morning, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is pressing Turkey to wrap up its invasion in northern Iraq. During a visit there to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Gates urged the military to make the operation as short as possible before it grows into a larger conflict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERT GATES, U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY: The key is for us to make clear to the government of Turkey, what our interests are. Our concerns about the situation in Iraq. And what is important to serve both the interests of the United States and Turkey.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTS: The cross border assault targeting Kurdish rebels began last week. So far, Turkey says there is no timetable as to when the operation might end. And in response to Gates' comments, the Turkish military officials say that a "short time" is a relative term.
For than two million Iraqi Shiite victims gathered in the city of Karbula. It was part of a religious celebration commemorating the 40th day of mourning for the prophet Mohammed's grandson. Pilgrims were seen beating themselves with their hands as sign of their grief.
Mixed reaction in the campus of Northern Illinois University. The states' governor is asking lawmakers for $40 million in emergency funds to demolish the building where a gunman killed five students and himself. But students say the Cole Hall lecture building stands as a memorial and should be left alone.
And some sad news to report, drummer Buddy Miles who recorded with Jimi Hendrix died Tuesday at his home in Austin, Texas. In addition to Hendrix, Miles recorded with Carlos Santana, David Picket and David Bowie. Miles also recorded new version of "Heard it through the Grapevine" for those famous California raisins commercial back in the 1980s. the cause the death was not announced. Buddy Miles was 60 years old.
CHETRY: Still ahead -- it's a battle for your brain. But so far, no one has been able to beat Alzheimer's. Now, there's word of a major breakthrough in detecting symptoms early. We're paging Dr. Gupta with more on how it works.
Coming up on AMERICAN MORNING, a police officer caught in the middle a high-speed chase. Holds on for dear life. Dragged down the street, as a stolen Corvette races away. The officer joins us live in our studio to talk about this brush with death ahead on AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBERTS: Thirty-nine minutes after the hour. Just into CNN, President Bush is going to be holding a press conference this morning at 10:05 Eastern time. Of course, CNN will carry that for you live. The president will make, as he usually does at these, an opening statement, today he's going to be talking about Congress to pass his emergency plan for AIDS relief. You'll recall that he just got back from a trip from Africa. It's passed through the committee. He needs it now passed from all of Congress, by all of Congress. He'll also call again on the House to pass his FISA reform legislation. That's the warrantless wiretapping. Also, making some statements about the economy today. In particular, on housing relief and what to do with the sub prime mortgage markets. Again, coming up, 10:05 here Eastern time on CNN, the president's press conference. And we'll be carrying that for you live. Kiran.
CHETRY: Well, it was one of our most talked about stories of the day. And you just couldn't take your eyes off the video. It was a Tampa Bay helicopter capturing a high-speed car chase with one officer dangling form the suspect's vehicle. It was shot at night so it was hard to make out. But we're going to show it to you here. This is a Corvette racing through the streets with police officer Keit Truong with half of his body inside that Corvette. The other half outside. And there you see, when the car slowed down in an intersection, he was able to break free. And it is highlighted there with the circle. That is the officer.
Officer Truong joins us now to explain how he survived that terrifying ride. He's also joined by officer David Bradley, his partner who witnessed that drama unfold and tried to help out anyway he could as well. Thanks to both of you for being with us this morning. So, the reason the helicopter has this captured on tape, is because they noticed a suspicious vehicle and called your attention to it. So, when you finally pulled this car over, what happened?
OFFICER KIET TRUONG, TAMPA POLICE: Initially, we came up to the car. The car was already parked when we got there. We come up to the car, and we saw the suspect come towards us. He was being verbally resisting and everything. We asked for his I.D. and he said the I.D. was in the vehicle. So we let him go to the vehicle. He started to look inside the vehicle in the center console. He reaches behind him and taking out his wallet and gives us his I.D. I grabbed the I.D., I gave to my partner. My partner went back to the patrol vehicle to run it. And...
CHETRY: And at that point, you said he tried to restart the car quickly. You were trying to grab the keys and that's when your arm became stuck between the steering column and the suspect?
TRUONG: Yes, I told him several times to step out of the vehicle because he was just acting weird. And the last time, he kept trying to put the key in while talking to me, he missed. I saw that, I went to reach for the keys. And he got it in the ignition, just before I caught the keys. Turned it on, basically put it in gear, and my arm got stuck between the steering wheel and his body when the car was moving. It felt like my arm was hyperextending. So I had to either jump in and or get dragged.
CHETRY: And so what did you do?
TRUONG: I grabbed whatever I could and pulled myself into the vehicle.
CHETRY: So, you were riding halfway in and halfway out through the window of the driver's side?
TRUONG: On the door, I was sitting on his left. Half of me and the other half was outside. I put my foot up on the door so it won't slam shut on me.
CHETRY: Oh, wow. And you were sitting here watching all of this happen to your partner at the time, what was going through your head?
OFFICER DAVID BRADLEY, TAMPA POLICE: At the time, I had went, over to where he was at. And I heard him having the little verbal confrontation with him. And when I got there, it seemed like the car just started to get started up and I reached up and had my taser in my left hand. And I grabbed Keit with my other one. And I was getting ready to utilize my taser and at that time, the car was moving and I saw him kind of grab the key. And I was trying to pull him out and couldn't get him. And the car just took off.
CHETRY: And at that point, you jumped into your own police cruiser and went after that car as well?
BRADLEY: That's correct. CHETRY: How did this guy ever slow down? I mean, how did you manage to break yourself free?
TRUONG: Well, the whole time -- at the beginning he tried to rub me off on a telephone pole and several other vehicles. My right arm was still stuck. I grabbed the steering wheel with my left arm and steered it in the middle of the road. He struck a vehicle on the right-hand side trying to knock me out. It all happening at the same time, I was trying to slam on the brakes with my right foot. I couldn't find it. I don't know, when we got to that intersection, I got my hand free, and I started doing whatever I could, raking his eyes, doing whatever I could and trying to slam, try on hitting the brakes. Somehow, you know, he slowed down. I slammed on the brake and all of a sudden, I felt I flew out of the vehicle.
CHETRY: And it's amazing you have a couple scrapes on your head. You have some on your arms but other than that, you're OK. He could have been killed?
BRADLEY: Exactly.
CHETRY: And it seems like as you said, he was banging up against vehicles. You believe he was trying to kill you?
TRUONG: Yes, if you look at the video, it's pretty obvious. You know, once I flew out of the vehicle, it took me a second to figure out where I was. When I saw him, I knew exactly what was going on. He told me to get in. I got in and we started chasing him again.
CHETRY: Is this going to change the way you guys operate from now on. I mean, are you going to think twice? Does it make you nervous or is it business as usual?
TRUONG: It's risky. That's what all police officers at this risk at anytime, so it's part of the job.
CHETRY: So, this guy's facing a slew of charges, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer. And many, many others, it was stolen, as we said, this car. But we're glad you're OK. And kudos, I know you did everything to try to help your partner as we. Thanks to both of you for being with us, Officer Keit Truong, as well as Officer David Bradley. Thanks.
TRUONG: Thank you.
BRADLEY: Thank you.
CHETRY: John.
ROB So lucky to be alive.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg making his political ambitions know or lack of political ambitions for the higher office at least. Is he planning a run for the White House? Could his decision impact your vote this November? Our own Lou Dobbs coming up right after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHETRY: Well, we talked about the economy and the race for president. Now, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will not run for president as an independent. In today's "New York Times," he lays out why he's not running and also a challenge for those who are in the race to think independently. Our Lou Dobbs is the author of "Independents Day: Awakening the American Spirit" and of course, the host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" joining me from Sussex, New Jersey, this morning. Nice to see you, Lou. Thanks for getting up with us.
LOU DOBBS, HOST, "LOU DOBBS TONIGHT": Good morning.
CHETRY: Your book is all about the independent spirit. What do you make of Michael Bloomberg? First, whether or not he had a shot but now that he says he's not running.
DOBBS: Well, personally, I believe that Michael Bloomberg would have been a very, very vigorous and perhaps very successful candidate for president. He's smart. He's accomplished, and he has got a lot of good ideas that I wish that the country would listen to. He's also got some ideas with which I disagree. But I think he would have been a formidable candidate, particularly against this field.
CHETRY: You know, it's interesting because in the op-ed that he wrote in "The New York Times," he wrote that if "a candidate takes an independent non-partisan approach and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy, I'll join others in helping that candidate with the White House." Do you think there's a candidate out there right now that fits that bill?
DOBBS: Right now, I do not. And I am one of those people that's been calling for an independent candidate to step forward. And Michael Bloomberg is in line, as I with he, on our thinking that independent critical judgment is desperately need right now. The reason we are in the mess that this country's in, and across nearly every aspect of it is because of partisan politics. Two parties that have absolutely betrayed their responsibility to represent American people. They're representing special interests, ethnocentric interests, big business. You name it but every interest but that of the majority is being represented in Washington, D.C. and that's the fundamental issue.
CHETRY: Right.
DOBBS: A democracy must, must rule with a consent of the majority and represents that majority. And that's just not happening in this country right now.
CHETRY: Well, you've certainly had a front seat to what's been going on with the election. Is it even possible for an independent or a third party candidate to win? You take a look at the state-by-state primaries, the superdelegates, their influence, how the electoral votes, how these electoral delegates are handed out, I mean, where is there room for the independents there? When it seems so partisan? DOBBS: Well, there is great room. First of all, the independents are registering at a rate far faster than either Republicans or Democrats in this country. In many states, they represent almost half of the total registrations going into this election in November. An independent, he or she could garner, I am sure, the majority of the vote. And do so with observing honesty, straight talk, and moving an agenda that is for the people into this public debate. We're not seeing that happen right now and that's unfortunate. But it's also not to be unexpected. Because both Republican and Democratic parties are representing corporate America, special interests and not the American people.
CHETRY: You know, people are making more -- making less money, things are cross costing more, everything from gas to groceries. Yet in Congress, they're debating or holding hearings about whether or not a baseball player ten years ago took steroids. Are they doing all they can to address the problems that are facing Americans every single night?
DOBBS: Well, there is a reason that Congress has held an even lower esteem than President Bush than the American people in poll after poll. They are absolutely mindless in their leadership. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, the speaker and the majority leader in the Senate, I mean -- they - I cannot even imagine what they're trying to accomplish. And by the way, you mentioned, Roger Clemens, their split along partisan lines as to whether or not he should even be investigated. Give me break. The people that we're sending to Washington, D.C., either we've lost our minds, the people, or they've lost theirs, or perhaps both. But to continue this madness is a sure path to disaster.
That's why I agree with Michael Bloomberg, amongst others. It's time for critical judgment, independent action, and to cut the nonsense. And what we see instead are these silly kabuki dance debates on national television. And people still don't know where these candidates stand on critically important issues for public education, investing in public infrastructure, whether it is border security, free trade or geopolitical relationships with Russia, with India and China. What will this country do about a dwindling source of commodities whether crude oil or basic minerals. We have to come to terms with a changing world. And that's not happening, not in the national debate, not in the presidential debate and certainly not in this Congress and at 1600 Pennsylvania.
CHETRY: Lou Dobbs, author of "Independents Day" and also the host of "Lou Dobbs Tonight," catch him tonight at 7:00 Eastern time. Thanks for joining us, Lou.
DOBBS: Great to be with you.
CHETRY: John.
ROBERTS: 53 minutes after the hour now. What if you could stop a loved ones decent into dementia? Researchers say there's now a new device that could help doctors detect memory decline and maybe prevent the progression of Alzheimer's. We're paging our Dr. Gupta now, CNN's chief medical correspondent. Here's with us in the studio in Washington. This is a story that I have a lot of personal interest in. My mother has Alzheimer's disease although she didn't develop it until in her 90s. This is to help people very early on, is it not?
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN, CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is, John. You know, it's one of those things that wasn't around for your mother, unfortunately. But it could potentially determine someone's risk, not necessarily diagnosing Alzheimer's but get a sense of someone who is actually at risk for. It is one of the fast-growing diseases in America, as we know. Unfortunately, as it progresses, families are left with too few options.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Scientists say they've developed a way to detect whether you're at risk of getting Alzheimer's or what's known as mild cognitive impairment. Mild cognitive impairment or MCI is a transition stage between when the brain ages normally and when a person develops Alzheimer's disease. More than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, and that number continues to grow.
DR. DAVID WRIGHT, EMORY UNIVERSITY: This is a very significant problem. And the population is aging, it's only going to grow.
GUPTA: Scientists use a device called detect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your right hand will be the yes button and your left hand will be the no button.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
GUPTA: It employs virtual images and sounds in a helmet like this one. A patient's memory and cognitive skills are challenged. And their answers recorded through a controller. Emory University researchers say the test is quick, portable and provides consistent data to track memory loss.
WRIGHT: The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the treatment, the better quality of life and the longer they can live independently.
GUPTA: Although there is no known cure for Alzheimer's, many people can offset the symptoms through brain exercises and medication. Dr. Wright says if you catch and treat MCI early, you can delay symptoms up to three years.
WRIGHT: When you have a family member with Alzheimer's disease, being able for them to be independent, and you can leave and go to work and not worry about them for two months, is important. Much less three years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GUPTA: Now, I think this might actually become available by the fall. The hope is, John, that you know, you get a device like this, a test like this, it becomes part of your annual physical, starting at age 45, before someone should likely develop any dementia. ROBERTS: So, it's looking for the mildest form of cognitive impairment. Could it potentially detect other neurological disorders as well?
GUPTA: Yes, you know we asked that same question. One of the areas we're hearing about potential use is with the military. We talked a lot about traumatic brain injury, for example. One of the hardest things we found, John, is we get stories on that is figuring out a person's baseline was. You have someone comes back after some sort of traumatic brain injury, how much of a difference is this as compared to before. If you can do a quick ten-minute screening test before someone's ever in the field, you can assess them during, while they are in the field and also afterwards, and see if there's a difference.
ROBERTS: One thing we don't need a test for is cognitive impairment as a result of sleep deprivation.
GUPTA: You would be a perfect candidate. I'll bring that in just for you.
ROBERTS: All right. Sanjay is coming back at the top of the hour to talk about a critical new recommendation for parents and their kids. Advisers say all children from 6 months to 18 years of age should get flu shots. We're going to ask why they think it's necessary for everyone's health. And of course, Sanjay's got "the mailbag" coming up next hour as well.
Maybe there's some loose change at the bottom of the pit. The secrets of the housing slump. How some experts are making money? Gerri Willis is on our financial security watch. That's ahead as well.
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