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Over 100 Feared Dead in Spanish Runway Disaster; Obama Nears Running Mate Announcement

Aired August 20, 2008 - 15:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, filling in the blanks. We could find out any minute now -- or not -- whom Barack Obama wants for a running mate. All we know for sure is that only Obama knows for sure.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: And this disaster in Madrid -- an airliner crashes and burns before it can get off the ground. Dozens are dead. And we are -- have a live report for you.

PHILLIPS: Did Florida underestimate Fay? It's not that big. It's not that strong, but it's not in a hurry either. And that means big-time flooding.

Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

OK. We are following a developing story this hour involving the health of Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Doctors in Cleveland say she is in critical condition after suffering an aneurysm overnight.

At a hospital news conference last hour, the chief of staff at Huron Hospital described the congresswoman as having very limited brain function. He said the aneurysm occurred in what he called an inaccessible part of her brain.

And CNN will stay on this story and bring you the very latest on Tubbs Jones' condition as we learn about it.

PHILLIPS: Well, they're the best-kept secrets of the presidential campaign, and for now, anyway, Barack Obama's and John McCain's choice of running mates.

The Democratic V.P. candidate is scheduled to speak at the convention one week from tonight. McCain has more time to make his decision. His options apparently run the gamut from a former presidential rival to a senator who once ran for president as a Democrat.

Now, as for Obama, speculation swirls around Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and a pair of fellow senators, Evan Bayh and Joe Biden. Biden, for his part, insists that says he doesn't know whether he will be asked to join the ticket.

This is what he said. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D), DELAWARE: I promise you, I don't know anything. I have no idea. I have spoken to no one.

(CROSSTALK)

QUESTION: You gave us a scare earlier. You said, "It's not me."

QUESTION: Have you spoken with the campaign at all?

BIDEN: I have not spoken -- I have not spoken with anyone.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And McCain's former rival Mitt Romney gets a lot of attention as a potential V.P. But so do Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty and former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge.

Now, earlier today, CNN did confirm that Senator Joe Lieberman will give a speech at the Republican Convention. He's also been mentioned as a McCain running mate. Lieberman's support for the Iraq war helped cost him the Democratic nomination for his Senate seat in 2006. He got reelected by running as an independent and now strongly supports McCain.

Now, as for the horse race, the latest CNN national poll of polls shows Obama's lead has faded. He now leads McCain by a single point, according to an average of five nationwide surveys.

Yesterday's poll of polls showed Obama up by three points. He led by eight in mid-July.

Now, CNN produced a pretty fascinating in-depth look at the two White House hopefuls. Don't miss, "Revealed: John McCain." That's tonight at 8:00 Eastern. And "Revealed: Barack Obama" at 9:30.

You can preview clips from tonight's specials and learn even more about the candidates at CNN.com/revealed.

LEMON: All right, let's talk Some weather now. Water woes in Oklahoma. Around two dozens counties are under flash flood watches and more drenching rain is expected. Parts of the state got almost nine inches over a 24-hour period. That's a lot of rain.

And that sent water into streets and into homes as well, after heavy rain on Monday and yesterday. Firefighters had to request people trapped inside of their homes.

Let's go to Oregon now, not a great time to be outdoors. Visitors and residents alike had to bundle up against high winds and rain that hit parts of the state, including the Pacific Coast. The winds are also blamed for several wildfires there.

In the Philippines, Typhoon Nuri has unleashed flooding and deadly landslides in the country's northern provinces. These scenes from the capital, Manila -- three young brothers and an elderly woman are dead in all of this. The storm is compounding monsoons that were already hitting the region. It is expected to get even stronger as it moves toward Hong Kong and other parts of southeastern China.

PHILLIPS: Well, a tragic airline incident today in Spain. A passenger jet, 172 people on board, taking off for the Canary Islands, never made it off the ground.

Something caused it to skid off the runway, catch fire, and we hear that more than 140 people may have died. The numbers aren't yet clear.

So, let's get straight to Madrid and our bureau chief Al Goodman.

Al, have you been able to confirm it indeed was an engine fire? And do you have any updated numbers for us?

OK. I apologize. We just lost our connection to Al Goodman there. We will try to get him back on the phone. But once again we're trying to confirm how many survivors did -- or were able to be taken out of that aircraft once it caught fire there on the runway. As soon as we get contact with Al again, we will bring you the latest on that investigation.

LEMON: Yes, that's right. We're following several developing stories here today in the CNN NEWSROOM, including that story that Kyra mentioned, also, the weather.

We are going to get to our Chad Myers in just a little bit to find out what's going on with all of this flooding and what's left over from what has become now Tropical Storm Fay. our Chad Myers is getting the latest information for us. And he is joining us in the Weather Center in just a little bit. Chad Myers standing by in the Weather Center to talk about Fay and to talk about that.

The last we heard, Fay was just sort of sitting there in some areas and providing lots of rain, and also the flooding not good. They needed the water in some areas. But they were able to get the water, but able to get way too much flooding.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

LEMON: We're following developing news all day long in the CNN NEWSROOM.

You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: School swatting -- new accusations in the national debate over paddling in public schools. Do you know how many states still allow it?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More now on that airline disaster we have told you about in Spain. A passenger jet, 172 people on board, taking off for the Canary Islands, well, it never made it off the ground. Something caused it to skid off the runway. It caught fire. And now the government says at least 149 people are dead.

Let's get straight to Madrid.

Our bureau chief, Al Goodman, with more information.

Al, have you been able to confirm if indeed it was an engine fire? Can you hear me OK, Al?

AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID BUREAU CHIEF: Hello?

PHILLIPS: Al Goodman, it's Kyra. Can you hear me?

GOODMAN: Yes, I can, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. You're live, my friend.

Have you been able to figure out if indeed it was an engine fire that caused that plane to never get off the runway?

GOODMAN: Again, that's what is being reported, but the company, the airline company has held a news conference expressing condolences, saying that the airplane did pass its annual checkup last January, that it's been flying for -- it's a 15-year-old craft. It has been flying for nine of those years, the last nine years, for Spanair.

Now, our partner station is reporting that the pilot seemed to sense there might have been something wrong before he pulled away from the terminal and asked for a further checkup, but then decided it was OK and went on.

This is the report, that there was an engine fire. The interior minister telling us that the leading hypothesis here is an accident, not a terror attack. The development minister from the government saying there are 26 people injured. Our partner station is reporting now that two babies survived this crash and are in hospital, that from a reporter from our affiliate who is outside one of the hospitals.

But the report of 90 dead being cited to the interior ministry by some sources, there's (AUDIO GAP) here, Kyra, because there were 172 people aboard the plane, 26 survivors, only 90 reported dead at this time. So, that figure could rise if that all pans out -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Oh, wow. It tugs at your heartstrings when you hear about the two babies.

We reported earlier possibly 26 survivors. What do you think about that number, Al?

GOODMAN: That is a hard number that we now have confirmed.

The development minister, one of the two cabinet ministers who came to the airport, held a brief statement -- gave a brief briefing to reporters and used that number we're told by the interior ministry. So, at this point, we have also heard, in terms of the scene, I am at the airport, close to one of the terminals right now. Previously, when we talked just a short while ago, I was up on a hill overlooking the crash site. There were many vehicles there. Investigators still there. It's still daylight here. It's a clear, sunny day, as dusk is now approaching.

But down at the destination airport in the Grand Canary -- in the Canary Islands, one of our colleagues, a reporter from our affiliate, says there are 300 family members down there and friends waiting for news. The company has said it will not release the names of the deceased until the next of kin obviously have been notified -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Real quickly, do we know if there were any Americans on that flight?

GOODMAN: We do not know. We have unconfirmed reports there might have been an English woman, based on a rescue worker. It was a co-share flight with the German airliner Lufthansa. And Germans prefer the Canary Island. They like to go there for vacation. So, we don't know the other nationalities. But that may be another nationality aboard -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Al. We will stay on top of the story. Al Goodman, appreciate it.

Well, it appears that Russian troops have begun to pull back from Georgia, but not fast enough for American officials watching the cross-border tension. Russia's president moved his timeline again for a withdrawal, saying that now Friday is when his troops will be out of Georgia, although there has been little movement to support that. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says that she takes the Russian president's word with a grain of salt.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The Russian president is beginning to sound like a broken record. First, his troops were going to be out on Monday. Then his troops were going to be out on Wednesday. Now his troops are going to be on Friday.

I'm beginning to wonder if the Russian president is ever going to keep his word or can he keep his word or what is going on there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Meanwhile, a contingent of U.S. senators is in Georgia today, including Joe Lieberman, who says that he would like to see the U.S. provide defensive military equipment to Georgia.

LEMON: Nine days ahead of the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush is getting another look at the Gulf Coast. He is visiting New Orleans and speaking at a complex where the Louisiana National Guard was stationed before the storm.

Later, Mr. Bush heads to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, also devastated by Katrina. Since the hurricane struck, the president has visited the region 11 times.

PHILLIPS: Discipline or abuse? A human rights group is fighting to stop corporal punishment in schools. The group charges the practice not only blocks learning; it discriminates.

Here's CNN's Ed Lavandera.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a sixth grade math class, Joe Cancellare says he was flicking rubber bands at a classmate when the teacher sent him to the principal's office. Cancellare says he then got two swats. That's what kids at his school call getting paddled, the most common form of corporal punishment.

JOE CANCELLARE, STUDENT: Of course I felt like really strange, like having this guy, like, hit me, you know. I felt really uncomfortable, of course.

LAVANDERA: That angered Joe's mother, Andrea, who said she had earlier written a letter to the school expressing her vehement opposition to corporal punishment and demanding that her son be exempted from the practice.

ANDREA CANCELLARE, STUDENT'S MOTHER: It's like the quick and dirty way of dealing with discipline problems. I agree. I think it's the lazy way of dealing with kids who might be under challenged and bored in class.

LAVANDERA: But supporters say corporal punishment should be one of several disciplinary actions available to school administrators. Alpine's superintendent Jose Cervantes argues it's like a coach who makes an athlete run laps for being late.

JOSE CERVANTES, ALPINE, TEXAS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT: It works on some and it doesn't work on others. And if you're one of the individuals that it does work on, yes, it will become a deterrent.

LAVANDERA: Joe Cancellare's story is part of a corporal punishment report by the human rights watch. They're fighting to ban the punishment. The group says about 220,000 public school students receive corporal punishment in the United States each year.

ALICE FARMER, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: This dries out the interest in learning. It makes students reluctant to go back to school. It makes them trust their teachers and principals much less.

LAVANDERA: The report says African-American students are disproportionately targeted. Making up 35 percent of all students paddled in the year surveyed. By contrast, blacks make up 17 percent of the overall student population.

The study also found that many student see minor bruising from the paddling. Joe Cancellare wasn't bruised by the swats he got, but he says it stung for nearly an hour.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now, Human Rights Watch says that 21 states still allow corporal punishment in schools. It's banned in more than 100 countries.

LEMON: New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, spells out the winds of change in the Big Apple's alternative energy plan.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, we want to tell you about an unusual situation at Chicago's O'Hare Airport yesterday.

American Airlines affiliate American Eagle briefly grounded nine of its planes. It feared some outside temperature probes were damaged by a TSA inspector who apparently touched or stepped on the probes during a security check -- 40 flights were delayed while mechanics checked things out. They found nothing wrong. And the planes were returned to service. The TSA says it will retrain inspectors to prevent any repeats of that.

Chicago may be the Windy City, but the Big Apple is setting its sights on wind power. Last night, at an energy conference, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced his city is looking into wind turbines, along with solar and geothermal energy programs, with the hopes of leading the country in clean and renewable energy. Their goal, generating 10 percent of the city's electrical needs in 10 years.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Time now to check in Barack Obama. It is part of our campaign for you to hear the candidates in their own words. The Democrat talked about the economy just a little while ago in Virginia.

Here's what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: One of his top economic advisers a while back, he called you whiners.

He said we're a nation of whiners. We're just going through a mental recession, he said, and if -- if people would just basically stop complaining and get their minds right, then everything would be OK.

Well, I guess he hasn't talked to a work -- a laid-off worker, who's 50 -- 53 years old and has gone back and gone back to school, got retraining, and is still having trouble finding a job that pays even two-thirds of what he was making at the old plant. There's nothing mental about that.

(APPLAUSE)

And I don't see people whining, by the way. The American people don't whine. People work hard. And they don't complain. They'll put up with a lot. What they want is just a chance. They want a fair shot.

People in America -- they love to work. They take pride in work. They don't want it to be easy. They know it's going to be hard. They just want a fair shot. That's what we've got to fight for.

Now, what that means, though, is that we've got to recognize that we can't do things the same way we've been doing them over the last eight years.

John McCain has provided honorable service to our country. But when it comes to his economic policies, he is promising and proposing the same things we've been doing for the last eight years.

Now, just give you an example -- his tax policies. John McCain wants to continue the policies in which companies that ship jobs overseas are still getting tax breaks from the United States government.

You've got companies like Exxon Mobil that have made record profits, that have been able to park $56 billion worth of profits offshore, not pay taxes on them, and not create jobs here in the United States of America.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, stay with us. In about 20 minutes, we are going to hear what John McCain has to say about health care.

LEMON: Speculation is high and time is -- well, it's running out -- the latest on the finalists for the number-two slots, as we continue our coverage of the race for the White House.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live here at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

PHILLIPS: And I'm Kyra Phillips. You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM, 3:28 Eastern time. Here are some of the stories we're working on for you right now.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Warsaw, Poland, today signing a ballistic missile defense deal. The Polish government is letting the Pentagon put a missile interceptor base in the country. It's a move that has infuriated nearby Russia.

And a fiery plane crash in Spain. The jet swerved off the runway at Madrid's airport today. Local officials tell our sister network CNN+ only 26 of 172 people aboard survived that crash -- or that fire, rather.

And Tropical Storm Fay has stalled over Florida's Central Atlantic Coast. It's just dumping the rain now. Up to 30 inches are forecast for some areas. Thousands of homes are believed to be flooded. And sewage backups are making things miserable in at least three towns.

LEMON: All right. Well, time is running out. And we expect to hear Barack Obama's choice of running mate any time now. The campaign says it will announce his pick via text message and also e-mail.

And speculation still centers on Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and a pair of fellow senators, Evan Bayh and Joe Biden.

With more now to talk about Obama's potential number twos, that is our Suzanne Malveaux.

Hello, Suzanne.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don.

LEMON: OK. We're talking about this, all this speculation. Who is it going to be? Who is it going to be? Is there really a defined role for a vice president? What is the true role of a vice president?

MALVEAUX: Well, according to Barack Obama, he's very clear about who he wants. And he makes it clear he doesn't want somebody who is like a Dick Cheney, somebody who he believes has had too much power. He says he doesn't want someone who is not considered a part of the executive branch. A sort of fourth branch of government. He takes a swipe at him saying that he doesn't want someone in charge of his energy policy and that the buck stops with him. But he wants somebody he can trust. He also says as well that he wants somebody who doesn't seek the presidency. That may give you a pretty good hint when a lot of people talk about the possibility of Hillary Clinton. But who are we looking at here?

We heard from Senator Joe Biden yesterday who said, I'm not the guy, I'm not your guy and kind of stepped back away and said, I haven't talked to anybody. Those who I've talked to close to the process say that is very likely that Barack Obama and his team have not actually told which one is going to get the job at this point.

Someone else, Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is also being discussed. He as you know was a big Hillary Clinton supporter and would be helpful when it comes to white women and blue collar voters. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine. We're going to see them campaigning and a meeting with Barack Obama in Virginia. But he is somebody who potentially could bring those swing southern states to a Democrat for the first time in more than four decades. So take a look at that popular figure.

And then finally Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius. She shares the same kind of Kansas roots as Barack Obama. Mixed feelings about whether or not, however, she would attract female voters. That there is some sense that Hillary Clinton supporters may think, if you're going for a woman, you should go for Hillary Clinton.

Don?

LEMON: When you're talking about which role they should serve, it really sort of depends on the personality not only of the person leading the country, whether they're more dominant or not and the personal they might pick as well when you were talking about picking different people. And Barack Obama saying, you know what? I want someone who is -- who can do things. But I want to be hands on myself.

OK. Let's talk about tonight. Your special. Very interesting. You're doing a documentary. I can't wait to see this. Can you fill our viewers in on what you uncovered tonight and what you're doing?

MALVEAUX: Sure, the special is fascinating in the sense that we really had access to Barack Obama, to his wife, Michelle, to Maia, his sister, close friends and family. We uncover some context and things that we learn about him, the significance of his mother, who really was the center of his life and kind of the travel, the back and forth, some instability when he was a young child. What it meant to him to really try to seek his father, who abandoned him when he was two years old when they reunited when he was 10. What he was trying to learn from his father, that sense of loss and abandonment and coming to terms with who he was as a young man, is his racial identity, growing up with white grandparents and being raised in a predominantly white community in Hawaii and then essentially coming to terms with something that he wanted to be a part of that was bigger than himself. Too late for the civil rights movement. He got involved with the anti-Apartheid movement and eventually learned to become a part of the system. To learn who you meet. That politics is a lot more than policy. It was about people and it was about those relationships. We see that come out of his experience in Chicago and going on from the State Senate and finally on to where he is now. So it really is kind of a fascinating look at how he goes through that journey and where he ends up and how he gets to where he is today.

LEMON: Very interesting. I can't wait to see that tonight. Suzanne Malveaux joining us with a documentary on Barack Obama. Suzanne, thanks for taking time out for us.

MALVEAUX: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Let's move on and talk about two straight days of deadly bombings outside the capital of Algeria. The latest this morning. Two car bombs that detonated 15 minutes apart southeast of Algiers. One outside a military hospital and the other next to a hotel. More than 50 people died over both days. There has been no claim of responsibility and Algerian officials aren't blaming a specific group. But extremists linked to al Qaeda have a history of deadly violence in Algeria.

PHILLIPS: The Petraeus era in Iraq is ending. The leader of all coalition forces there is moving up and out of Iraq to take a new position as head of U.S. Center Command. CNN's Arwa Damon is in Baghdad and had a chance to sit down with the general talking about his legacy in Iraq. He leaves behind a lot of success but also a lot of challenges, Arwa.

ARWA DAMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kyra, he almost certainly does. He said he's going to be leaving Iraq as he has on previous tours with many mixed emotions. Proud of what has been accomplished but the realization that many challenges do still lie ahead. And he's also been able to learn a lot of very crucial lessons during his time here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. DAVID PETRAEUS, CENTCOM: We've certainly made our share of mistakes here. Along the way, there were different issues that arose, that as you look back, you say, gosh, Iraq didn't need that army. It sure didn't need it unemployed and feeling disrespected for a few weeks. There are a number of those ...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: If there is anything Petraeus says Iraq has taught him, is that the countries defies any predictions one would like to make about it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PETRAEUS: I think there was recognition fairly early on that we would remain engaged in Iraq in a variety of capacities for quite sometime. But I wouldn't have predicted we would be engaged at this scale.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DAMON: Petraeus is largely credited for the successes we're seeing right now. He was one of the main architects of the surge strategy, which also combined with the insurgents, some former insurgents switching sides, taking up arms backed by the U.S. to protect their own neighborhoods and with the Shia militias pretty much calling a cease fire and deciding to disarm. Those factors are contributing to the stability that we're seeing right now. But General Petraeus says his greatest fear as he leaves Iraq is that these gains might not be sustainable. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: And that is going to be a huge challenge for Ray Odierno who is going to step in there and step into his shoes. As you and I both know Petraeus has become a bit of a rock star. He's gotten along well with Iraqis and the Iraqi government and even deal with some of those that are less popular and some of the insurgents and those that fought against the troops, now working with troops, the Sons of Iraq. Do you think Odierno can live up to what Petraeus has done?

DAMON: Well, the most certainly are big shows to fill. But remember, General Odierno did serve here as Petraeus' second in command and has been able to learn from the man himself and he also has a very long history of dealing with Iraq here in the initial stages and coming back for the other tour there under General Petraeus. He does have a lot of knowledge. Although people we speak to do say that the two men have remarkably different personalities. But General Odierno is very aware of the challenges that lie ahead and very well equipped to handle the jobs that lie ahead. He is already very familiar with the main players because of his past tours.

PHILLIPS: Arwa Damon live from Baghdad. Arwa, thanks.

LEMON: He survived two tours in Iraq but couldn't survive working in a federal prison. Our Kelli Arena looks at the danger behind bars.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: When Alaska Senator Ted Stevens goes to court next month on corruption charges will be in Washington. The 84-year-old Stevens had wanted his legal battle moved to his home state. Today a federal judge said no. The longest-serving GOP senator is accused of lying about hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations and gifts he received from an oil services contractor. Stevens' lawyers argued that the witnesses are in Alaska and being home is critical in his re- election campaign. This is -- the trial is due in September 24th.

PHILLIPS: In California, two inmates are accused of killing a federal prison guard who survived a war zone. CNN justice correspondent Kelli Arena has more in the third part of her series, "Behind Bars."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLI ARENA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Twenty-two-year-old Jose Rivera survived two tours in Iraq. But after returning home, this high security federal prison proved too dangerous.

LEE RIVERA, MOTHER: (Inaudible) That it was not safe for him to work there.

ARENA: Rivera was killed by two inmates using a home-made weapon.

RIVERA: It was two against one, you know. And nobody helped him.

ARENA: Not only was Rivera working alone, but he was unarmed. That's standard operating procedure in a federal prison.

MICHAEL MUKASEY, ATTORNEY GENERAL: That's the first time in a dozen years that a guard has been killed. I want it to be the last time.

ARENA: Any policy changes will come too late for Rivera and the prison guard union.

BRYAN LOWRY, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES: Only because of this tragic and unfortunate loss of Officer Rivera has the agency entertained at least trying to provide some equipment that may prevent seriously bodily injury or loss of life of staff.

ARENA: We asked the Bureau of Prisons for an on camera interview but it refused. It is promising corrections officers stab-resistant vests, more staff, and a change in the way inmates are moved through prisons. But the union says what officers really need are weapons. Just like those who work in state prisons. JAMES WALKER, CALIFORNIA PRISON WARDEN: The politics is too unpredictable. You never know if they're going to turn on you or not.

ARENA: Here at California State Prison Sacramento, officers wear protective vests. They're equipped with pepper spray and a baton and backed up 24/7 by armed guards.

LT. D. RIOS, CALIF. CORRECTIONS OFFICER: There are times when we come up a situation where we have to protect another inmate or protect ourselves.

ARENA: The Feds insist that good communication with inmate is the best security. Many of the corrections officers we spoke to say that's just crazy and describe some of the horrors they've seen.

"DAVE", FEDERAL CORRECTIONS OFFICER: For the mere joy of it he decided to cut this guy's throat and cut this guy's eyeballs out, just because he wanted to hear a scream.

ARENA: The Prisons Bureau is not ruling out change. Without it, Rivera's mother says there will certainly be another death.

RIVERA: I don't want another mother or anyone else to go through the tragedy we went through.

ARENA: Kelli Arena, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Well, he's out of prison but still far from home or even finding one. British glam rocker Gary Glitter, now infamous after serving a three-year jail service in Vietnam for child molestation. But where he'll end up is anybody's guess. He has been denied entry to Thailand and to Hong Kong and refuses to return to his native Britain. He spend last night in Bangkok's airport while Thai customs agent put the kibosh on him staying there.

The 64-year-old is best known for his crowd pleasing sports anthem, "Rock 'n' Roll Part II."

PHILLIPS: A founding member of the Dave Matthews Band has died. Saxophonist Leroi Moore passed away yesterday in a Los Angeles hospital. He had suffered economics complications from an all-terrain vehicle in June. Moore had classical training but said jazz was his main musical influence. Matthews credited Moore with arranging many of the band's songs. Leroy Moore died at 46.

LEMON: It may be the ultimate excuse for being late to work. Monkey business at the subway station. Can you imagine?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A while ago we brought you some of what Barack Obama had to say about the economy. Now let's hear from John McCain. He's in New Mexico today where the subject turned to health care.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is a health care crisis in America. We would be -- we're not for the energy crisis, we would be talking a lot more about health care issues. We have to reform health care in America. We have to make insurance available and affordable for all Americans. I do not believe that that means a government-run health care system is the most efficient or what we need.

We need to have policies that encourage home health care as opposed to institutionalized care and treat people on an outcome basis that don't pay for every test or procedure or every procedure with a doctor but treat them for a period of time and pay that provider. Give -- there's a program now for senior citizens that is not as wide as I'd like to see. Where it's called Cash and Counseling. Where seniors are given money every month and then they're able to decide how they want to pay for their own health care. It's remarkable the savings that have been realized.

But in cases like your husband where they're basically uninsurables, quote "uninsurables", people with chronic diseases and such, as the terrible affliction that befell your husband, and I know he appreciated your love and care, but we should have what we call government-approved plans so that we pool federal and state money together and establish wide risk pools so that there is affordable and available health insurance for people like you and your husband. We cannot leave uninsurables or chronic disease victims without the access to care.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And a quick program reminder. CNN has produced a fascinating in-depth look at the two White House hopefuls. Don't miss "Revealed: John McCain" tonight at 8:00 Eastern and "Revealed: Barack Obama" at 9:30. You can preview clips from tonight's specials and learn even more about the candidates at cnn.com/revealed.

LEMON: How about this. Ahoy, Fido. Some canines find the way to beat the heat in the dog days of summer.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Lots of people in Tokyo were late to work today. They all had the same excuse. It was the monkey. Yes, I said monkey. And not a pet monkey either. The curious little guy sat on top of an electric sign inside one of Tokyo's busiest subway stations sending commuters and police into a tizzy. Where did it come from? Don't know. Monkeys live wild in the Japanese mountains, but that's a long way from Tokyo. The Japanese media went bananas and every news program today of course had reports about the underground monkeyshines.

LEMON: From monkeys to - I guess you can say this next story is going to the dogs. Who let the dogs on? A couple of canines graduate from stowaways to star attraction and they do it quite swimmingly. Check out this tail wager from Todd Dunn of our CNN affiliate WKRN. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TODD DUNN, WKRN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jeff Heathcock runs the Red River Valley Canoe Rental in Adams, Tennessee.

JEFF HEATHCOCK, RED RIVER VALLEY CANOE RENTAL: I can't think of a better way to spend my day.

DUNN: Jeff is not alone in his love for the river. Several local dogs have learned they can catch a bus ride to the riverbank.

HEATHCOCK: They were waiting by the road. Normally our bus drives see them so they open the door. There's a tassle (ph) full of them. They jump in the boat and then they greet everybody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, they do it all the time. They ride the bus up to the farm and when they get to the farm, they'll pick out somebody that they like and they'll float down the river, ride a while, swim a while, eat a few good groceries, you know. Whatever they can beg.

Yeah. Pretty cool.

DUNN: Denise Lussier doesn't mind giving a ride to the dogs.

DENISE LUSSIER, ON THE RIVER: Last time I came they told me about the dogs. And then there he was following us. He was just chasing us down the road in the bus. They had told me that they'd come. And he always rides with him.

DUNN: But once on the water a dog called Roscoe catches a ride on the canoe.

LUSSIER: He just jumped in. Turned around and he was there.

HEATHCOCK: They're just free entities. I don't claim ownership of anything. I want them to feel like they're having their own life.

DUNN: Heathcock says the dogs just found their way to the farm and he feeds them, but they do pull their weight.

HEATHCOCK: You know, they earn their keep. They keep the coyote out of the field and the raccoons out of the garden. They do their purpose. They earn their food.

DUNN: And they know how to relax and have a good time on the water.

(on camera): And that's their life. It's a good life. It's a river dog's life. On the Red River, Todd Dunn, News 2.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Wet dog in the summer. Boy, nothing like that. OK. That was Todd Dunn reporting from CNN affiliate WKRN in Nashville.

PHILLIPS: Time now to try to make a transition into Wolf Blitzer.

LEMON: He's standing by to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour on the SIT ROOM. Wolf?

BLITZER: All right, guys. Thanks very much. We're going to be hearing in THE SITUATION ROOM from a current and a former secretary of state, Madeleine Albright, one on one right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. And then Condoleezza Rice. Hours after she signed an agreement with Poland that has infuriated Russia. And John McCain and Barack Obama, only one point apart right now in our CNN poll of polls. So why is this race so close? What could each candidate do to try to pull ahead?

Plus, it's an interesting thought. Windfalls in New York City. Will it happen, though? The Mayor Michael Bloomberg's newest idea. All of that and more coming up right here in THE SITUATION ROOM. Back to you guys.

LEMON: All right, Wolf.

PHILLIPS: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: That means Stephanie Elam is standing by with a final look at the trading day. Stephanie, what do you have for us? Welcome back.

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don and Kyra. Did you know that even fake people can get makeovers? I don't know if you heard about this but Clue ...

LEMON: Fake people?

ELAM: Fake people. Clue is getting a little bit of a redo. You know the old board game, right? You guys played it, right.

LEMON: But fake people have been getting makeovers forever. Oh.

ELAM: I don't mean those kind of fake people, smart man. Anyway, Hasbro is making permanent changes to Clue, the board game that was created in 1949. Miss Scarlet, for example, is now Kassandra Scarlet. That is Kassandra with a K. She's the tabloid's favorite actress. Mr. Green, that's now Jacob Green and he's actually in fact black. And Colonel Mustard, that's Jack Mustard and he's a former football hero. The weapons were updated, too. While the candle stick, knife and rope remain, the lead pipe is gone. There's also poison, a dumbbell and a trophy to help you kill off somebody.

LEMON: They turned what's his name into a black man?

ELAM: Green. Mr. Green. Mr. Green is black.

PHILLIPS: I like the old-school game. Something doesn't feel right about this.

ELAM: I think a lot of people feel that way. There's even new rooms in this game. There's a theater and a spa where things can happen. And to even top this off, there's an extra deck of cards that can get rid of players and each of the characters now has a special power to help them find clues.

LEMON: You can vote somebody out of a house, right?

ELAM: Exactly. And they're gone. So it's kind of changing it a lot. Hasbro is hoping this actually will make Clue more attractive to the younger set, but I have to say there's something cool about saying "Miss Scarlet." That's the way I used to say. I like that game the way it was.

LEMON: How did you say it?

ELAM: Miss Scarlet.

LEMON: I don't know nothing about birthing no babies.

PHILLIPS: She's got the head twist, too. Did you notice that?

ELAM: The other thing, too, about Mr. Green. He is just connected, but nobody knows what he does which reminds me of Tommy from "Martin" if you used to watch that show. Nobody knew what he did, but he just went to work anywhere. So anyway, it's a little bit of an interesting one there.

LEMON: We digress. What's happening on Wall Street?

ELAM: One thing that hasn't changed, Mr. Body is still dead. There's one thing on Clue.

PHILLIPS: Stephanie is obsessed.

ELAM: It's a little sad. But the markets, they have changed to being more positive than we saw last time I talked to you. We've had a little bit of a late-stage rally here. That's helped us out. I guess I could say that that's one thing that's changed here as well. The Dow is up 71 points at 11,418. NASDAQ up five at 2.389. Don and Kyra, back to you in Atlanta with the news.

LEMON: All right. Thank you, Stephanie.

PHILLIPS: Let's send to now to Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM.