Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Storms Slam Carolinas; Rahm Emanuel Leaving White House; Nearby Planet May Be Able to Harbor Life; The New Band of Brothers; "The Social Network

Aired October 01, 2010 - 07:59   ET

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

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. And thanks for joining us on "The Most News on the Morning" on this Friday, October 1st. I'm John Roberts who wish we could say thank God it's great Friday but --

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Yes.

ROBERTS: It's not a great Friday.

ROMANS: It's not great.

ROBERTS: Nothing to be thankful for today.

ROMANS: No, not for a very big swath of the East Coast. I'm Christine Romans in for Kiran Chetry this Friday.

Lots to talk about this morning. Let's get right to it.

Extreme weather causing catastrophic flooding in the Carolinas. Five people are dead. Homes and businesses submerged and this enormous system is still kicking around this morning. Flood watches, warnings now in effect as far north as Maine.

ROBERTS: Boy, I bet they wish that was turning into snow there in Vermont this morning.

Rahmbo out. Sources tell CNN that Rahm Emanuel will step down as White House chief of staff today. He is eyeing a bid for mayor of Chicago. With the threat of a GOP takeover in the midterm elections, what about the timing?

We'll ask Candy Crowley and former Bush chief of staff Andy Card.

ROMANS: Can't wait for that.

And does the planet earth have a twin? Astronomers say they've discovered a planet that's more like earth than anything else we've seen with the potential to support life.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVEN VOGT, UNIVERSITY OF CAROLINA, SANTA CRUZ: This planet doesn't have days and nights. It -- wherever you are on this planet, the sun is the same position, or the stars are in the same position all the time. So, it keeps one side facing towards the star and the other side is in perpetual nighttime.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: And no one is going to be going there anytime soon. The new planet is about -- newfound planet, I should say, is about 120 trillion miles from here.

ROBERTS: Twenty light years away.

We begin this morning with breaking rain causing unprecedented pain for people in the Carolinas. Dangerous storm system is now moving north, drenching communities up and down the East Coast. Flood warnings and watches now are in effect from Virginia, all the way north into Maine. Ten inches of rain could fall in some places today.

ROMANS: Airports throughout the Northeast grinding to a halt. Many flights to New York's Kennedy International have been delayed by five hours. Millions of Americans are affected by extreme weather this morning. Homes, businesses are underwater. And, frankly, there's no fast way to get help.

ROBERTS: CNN has this story covered like no other network can. Our Rob Marciano is tracking the storm second by second. He'll be joining us in just a moment from the extreme weather center.

ROMANS: First to Carolina Beach, North Carolina, where kayaks not cars are the only way to get from street to street. And more now from Amanda Lamb of CNN affiliate WRAL.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA LAMB, WRAL-TV CORRESPONDENT: Now that the sun has come up, we are starting to see the effects of the flooding here in Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The roads are completely washed out in this downtown area. They've had an epic amount of rain in the past few days. More than 20 inches, that's breaking records. Back in 1999, after Hurricane Floyd, they had 19 inches.

There's a lake back here that was designed to hold about six inches of rainwater. Of course, it couldn't hold the 20-plus inches. That water has now spilled over its banks and come into the downtown area. There are a lot of roads flooded out in this area and close by counties.

They brought in pumps right down the street, five pumps to try to get the water out. They're pumping it out at a rate of about 13 million gallons a day, but it looks like it's going to take a while before this town is dry again.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: All right. Obviously, it will take a while when you look at the pictures there. Rob Marciano is tracking it all. He's in the extreme weather center in Atlanta this morning. And storm now is moving quickly but certainly wasn't up until now.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: No, it wasn't. It's such a wide swath of real estate. So many people in the eastern corridor are affected by this.

Let's go over some of the numbers. Since 8:00 Tuesday morning, New York, where it's still raining, 2.9 inches. That pales in comparison to Allentown, Pennsylvania. They got crushed, seven inches. Six inches in Baltimore. But Norfolk, really the last -- yesterday, just cell after cell dumping all this rain on the Hampton Roads area and even some tornado warnings, nothing verified but certainly some wind damage and in Wilmington, it's about 16 inches.

You saw from the live shot over four or five days, record amounts, over 20 inches in many spots.

Here's where the rain is now, as far as the Northeast is concerned, a lot of it. And it's moving finally a little bit more quickly off towards the east. Off towards Long Island, southwestern Connecticut and through eastern New England.

But this is what it looked like across four states yesterday, that really just got hammered with this. Of course, North Carolina with the epic amounts of rain that we've mentioned, flooding there. South Carolina saw some wind damage, as well. Pennsylvania and Maryland also got it, off the coast.

That's the deal with this storm. Inland areas got more rain than some coastal areas, and those are the end results there as far as the pictures are concerned. And in some cases, we still have a lot of these rivers that are either flooding or expected to flood as they crest here in the next six to 12 hours. We don't expect long-term flooding from this particular event, but certainly, all that rain coming in in a hurry, some short-term flooding there.

As far as what we expect to see over the next six to 12 hours, well, one to three inches. I think, most of this will be east of the Hudson, although the next couple of hours will be wet in New York City and Upstate New York, and then we'll start to see things dry out just a little bit as we get through tomorrow.

You mentioned the airport delays. Here's what we're looking at right now. Philadelphia has a ground stop until 8:45. I think that will be released. And then ground -- well, there was a ground stop at LaGuardia. But, now, the average ground delay there, over three hours already and I think especially in the morning. And, of course, there's a ripple effect in the afternoon. Especially in the morning, you'll have your biggest problems across in New York and Philly.

Speaking of New York, let's take a live shot. Let's look out the window there, and see what it looks like because it has been an awfully wet morning, maybe not quite as heavy a rain right now as it was a couple of hours ago, but Columbus Circle is certainly looking a little bit damp this morning. It will be a slow go not only across New York but across all the surrounding suburbs as folks try to get up and out to work on this Friday.

As we mentioned, the weekend doesn't look too terribly shabby. So, let's get through it. We're almost there.

ROBERTS: That's a good thing. We can deal with a bad Friday as long as we're going to get sunshine on the weekend, right?

MARCIANO: Yes, sir.

ROBERTS: Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: All right, guys.

ROBERTS: If you're in the middle of the extreme weather action this morning, take a picture, record some video and check in with us online. We want to show the world your iReport. Shot it and send it to iReport.com. But do remember, when you're taking the pictures, just stay safe out there.

ROMANS: That's right.

All right. New Jersey prosecutors may bring more charges against a pair of Rutgers University students. Right now, they're accused of invading the privacy of another Rutgers student, 18-year-old Tyler Clementi. He committed suicide, jumping off the George Washington Bridge after his sexual encounter with another man was streamed online. New Jersey's governor says the case should be considered a hate crime.

Bullies are a persuasive problem, both in and out of school. Watch AMERICAN MORNING all next week for our special reports on bully- proofing the classroom and your kids.

ROBERTS: It's coming up now to six minutes after the hour.

And also new this morning: NATO trucks torched in Pakistan. A crucial supply line for U.S. troops has been cut off. Police in southern Pakistan say militants torched 25 fuel supply trucks that were headed for Afghanistan. Pakistan, angry over the deaths of three of the soldiers, had closed the border crossing there.

ROMANS: China marking 61 years of communism by going to the moon. State media says China launched its second lunar probe just a little over an hour ago. Chinese media says the country's aiming to put a man on the moon around 2020.

ROBERTS: So, we don't want to go back to the moon but the Chinese find value in doing it. Hmm!

Well, NASA laying off 1,200 workers today. Maybe because we have decided not go back to the moon. Many of the departing workers have been with the shuttle program since its beginning in the early 1980s. The pink slips come despite Congress passing a $19 billion budget for the space agency, which allows for one additional shuttle trip to the International Space Station. That will take place next June.

ROMANS: Staying in the realm of space. You know, in a galaxy far, far away, scientists have discovered a new planet. Can it sustain life? We're going to talk to a Philadelphia astronomer, Derrick Pitts, coming up a little later in the program.

ROBERTS: And for you purists out there, that was just literary metaphor. We know it's not in another galaxy. OK? Don't e-mail us this morning.

ROMANS: It's TV.

ROBERTS: Yes, it's TV.

President Obama is set to lose his chief of staff today. What now for the second chapter of the Obama presidency? Up next: Andy Card, former White House chief of staff, and our own chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley. What to watch for as Rahm Emanuel departs for Chicago.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: We're at 10 minutes after the hour now. We're back with the Most Politics in the Morning.

With the midterm elections now just 32 days away, Democrats are telling the White House to get out there and get tough but they're also about to lose a little bit of muscle. Sources are telling us today that today will be Rahm Emanuel's last day at White House chief of staff.

Joining us now to talk more about this and where the White House goes from here: former White House chief of staff in the Bush administration, Andy Card; and live in Washington, our CNN chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley, host, of course, of "STATE OF THE UNION."

So, Andy, let's start with you. As the former chief of staff, is this a big loss for the White House? Does the Obama administration need a Rahmbo character to really get things done in Washington these days?

ANDY CARD, FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH: Look, I don't agree with the philosophy, the policy or the politics of Rahm Emanuel or the president, but he did a very good job for the president. His job was to help the president get the president's agenda through Congress and he did it. So, I think he will be missed. But that doesn't mean he's irreplaceable. He can be replaced.

And Pete Rouse sounds like a very able guy. I know Pete from his days on Capitol Hill. But it will be a very different --

ROBERTS: And his policies you agree with, right?

CARD: No. And he knows that.

(LAUGHTER) ROBERTS: Candy, tell us a little bit about Pete Rouse, because I think, personality-wise, he couldn't be, you know, further from Rahm Emanuel. But what about policy-wise, is there really going to be a difference here?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: No, because the president sets the policy. So, you have that.

I mean, what is interesting to me -- and yes, personality-wise, they're very different. Rahm as you know can be quite aggressive. He is a hardball player, and basically so is Pete Rouse by all accounts. But he is temperament, is a little calmer, a little more laid-back and he just doesn't have that kind of Rahmbo, as you put it earlier. So, there's that.

But I think what's interesting is that Rouse is an expert on the Senate and the Senate has been where the president has run into more trouble than the House. Now, part of that is the way the House works and the way the Senate works and they got the numbers in the House.

But the Rahm is the big expert on the House side. So, he worked the House a lot. He got House members to do a lot of things that they later regretted because he couldn't get the Senate to do the same thing. So, I find it interesting --

ROBERTS: Yes.

CROWLEY: -- that now there's an expert on the Senate.

ROBERTS: Personalities completely different. Best of my knowledge, Andy, Pete Rouse has never sent a dead fish to any opponent of his.

CARD: Pete is very highly respected. He is a partisan and he is philosophically very different from me. But he's respected and he does know the Senate.

Candy's very insightful in describing the difference. And so, I think that it's --

ROBERTS: She is.

CARD: -- a relatively safe choice for President Obama right now. I'm not sure that it was an inspired choice, but I think it's a safe choice. And the job of the chief of staff is to help the president do his job. That's it.

ROBERTS: And I wanted to ask you about this: How important is the choice of chief of staff to the White House's success? I know that back in your day, of course, you were indispensable. But, you know --

CARD: No. I was very dispensable.

ROBERTS: Can you change chiefs of staff and keep going along? Or is the chief of staff and who he is, or she, really important to the White House -- CARD: Well, the chief of staff gives personality to the White House. The president gives personality to the executive branch and our nation. But the chief of staff gives personality to the White House.

So, Pete Rouse's personality is so different from Rahm Emanuel, I do think the White House will change. I'm sure the public will recognize the change, but I think the demeanor of behavior inside the White House will probably change. I don't think as many four-letter words used.

ROBERTS: And that probably with the wife as a minister as a good thing for you if you had been in the White House.

There's something else I want to talk about, and, Candy, this is interesting. I mean, the likelihood of it is probably very close to zero. But you look at this new Gallup Poll that's out there shows that 37 percent of Democrats would support Hillary Clinton in a matchup against Barack Obama in 2012, 52 percent would support him. And when you look at conservatives, too, she comes out on top, 48 percent of conservatives in the Democratic Party say they support her compared to 41 percent for the president. I mean, these things are interesting to take a look at.

But do you think it would ever happen?

CROWLEY: No. I don't think it will ever happen. Listen, the last time we talked to Hillary Clinton about, you know, whether she'd stay for a second term for heaven's sake as secretary or state or how long she was willing to stay, she said, look, at some point, I'm going to want to retire. So, I wouldn't look for her to run in 2012 or for that matter, 2016.

But I think what this -- I think what this poll does tell us a couple of interesting things. First of all, there's still a reservoir of support for Hillary Clinton. Remember, she almost won the Democratic nomination. So, there are still a lot of people out there and I know you talk to them every day saying I'd just wish she'd won. So, there's that.

But when you look at the conservative Democrats, I think what you're seeing is a lot of what you're seeing with the independents, and that is he's gone too far. So, I think that accounts for a lot of what you're seeing.

ROBERTS: Andy, we remembered what happened in 1980, when Senator Ted Kennedy launched a challenge against Jimmy Carter and divided the Democratic Party terribly. We were still talking about it in 2008. Would it be incredibly bad form for her to challenge him two years from now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't think that she would. It wouldn't surprise me if she became the vice presidential nominee and the vice president became the secretary of state.

That would shake things up, but I also think that President Obama may be inviting a Democratic primary challenger with his performance as president. I don't think that it will be Hillary Clinton, though.

ROBERTS: Who do you think it might be?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know, maybe Mayor Bloomberg. Maybe he'll say I'm going to jump in.

ROBERTS: He's running as an independent though?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not sure because it's very hard for an independent to win the presidency and Mayor Bloomberg would want to have a chance to win the presidency, not just be a spoiler.

ROBERTS: All right. Candy, what do you have coming up on "STATE OF THE UNION" this Sunday?

CROWLEY: Well, we're going to talk a little about what you are and as you say, we're, what? Almost, by that time, we will be a month away so a lot of talk about politics with some of those who are moving some of the campaigns.

And then we'll have a roundtable to kind of discuss where we see things going, not just on the campaign trail, but what happens and after that as far as legislation is concerned.

ROBERTS: All right. Candy, greet catch up with you. And, Andy, good to see you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Great to see you, John. Good to see you, Candy.

CROWLEY: Thank you. Nice to see you, Andy.

ROBERTS: And again, be sure to catch Candy on "STATE OF THE UNION" this Sunday morning 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN. Christine?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, so we're all concerned about the economy, but something happened in September that hasn't happen often a lot of times, Wall Street enjoyed its best September in 71 years.

If you had your eyes closed and the 401k statement in the top drawer, you'll see that something good happened in September. "Minding your Business" will tell you why next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning. It's 19 minutes after the top of the hour, time for "Minding your Business" on Wall Street.

A September surge despite the Dow slipping 47 points yesterday, the market posted its strongest percentage gain for any September since 1939. The Dow jumped 733 points this month -- last month. That's a 7.7 percent gain. The S&P 500 also posted its best September gain in 71 years.

ROBERTS: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke has a message for teachers. You can help prevent the next financial crisis. Speaking to educators in Washington yesterday, Bernanke stressed the importance of teaching financial literacy saying students need to understand that not only for themselves, but for the country, saving and budgeting is really, really important.

ROMANS: No mention of whether investment bankers who concoct interesting financial engineering need to go back and get more financial --

ROBERTS: Well, you know, maybe you can change an entire generation.

ROMANS: Maybe you can.

You'll have to pay more for stamps in January, regulators rejected a request from the Postal Service, John, to raise the price for a first class stamp by another 2 cents to 46 cents.

The board said the agency failed to show the recession was the reason for its troubles and that's what's required for a hike that exceeds the rate of inflation.

ROBERTS: There's a change of command at BP. American Bob Dudley takes over as CEO today. He replaces Tony Hayward who was criticized for the oil giant's response to the Gulf oil spill. Hayward is going to remain on the BP board though until December.

ROMANS: And Heidi Klum is hanging up her halo after 13 years as a Victoria's Secret angel. The supermodel has decided to retire from her iconic role to focus on other ventures including her clothing line and project runway.

Klum said in a statement, quote, "All good things have to come to an end." She started as a model. She is a full pledged business woman now.

ROBERTS: Yes, she's doing really well for herself. Towns across North Carolina have been flooded by heavy rains. Roads are now crumbling away making theme impassable. Take a look that there.

Up next, Norman Bryson from the Onslow County Office of Emergency Management to tell us how they're coping with the situation there. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Coming up to the half hour now, your top stories. Flooded roads, washed out bridges, millions of people affected by a monster storm that's still heading up the East Coast this morning.

There are flood warnings in effect from the Carolinas all the way through to New England this morning. Five people died in North Carolina where some areas have gotten close to two feet of rain this past week.

ROMANS: Sources telling CNN that today will be Rahm Emanuel's last day as White House chief of staff, his eyeing a run for Chicago mayor. Senior Adviser Peter Rouse who has been with President Obama since he first became a senator is expected to take the top spot.

ROBERTS: Choking off supplies for coalition forces in Afghanistan. Police in southern Pakistan say militants torched 25 fuel supply trucks that were headed to Afghanistan.

The convoy held up after the Pakistan government shut down the gate that separates the two countries over the deaths of three soldiers. Pakistan claims that they were killed in Pakistani territory during a fight between NATO troops and militants.

ROMANS: Extreme weather taking an extreme toll on the Carolinas this morning, especially North Carolina where they have had more rain than they have ever seen in some areas.

ROBERTS: Along the coast at the town of Swansboro, some residents were completely cut off from the rest of Onslow County with no way to get in or get out on flooded roads.

On the phone right now is Norman Bryson. He's the deputy director of the Office of Emergency Management. He joins us from Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Good to talk to you this morning, Norman, what is the situation there in Swansboro?

NORMAN BRYSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT (via telephone): Well, here in Swansboro last night, we had quite a bit of flooding in and around the areas. The good news is a lot of water is starting to recede and getting back into the area.

We are finding quite a bit of roads that have underwashed and roads were crumbling. Right now, we're getting teams out to take a look at that so we can try to make it safe for people traveling in and out of the area.

ROMANS: Norman, you say you have eight water rescues so far. How have those gone?

BRYSON: Actually, it's been very good. So far, we have not had any deaths in the county. We have had as you said -- we have done eight water rescues. Sometimes just taken us quite a bit of time to be able to get in and around the county just because the other roads were being flooded, but overall doing fairly good with that.

ROBERTS: Yes, I mean, your fortunate to have not have any fatalities. We saw in other parts of North Carolina five people died.

ROMANS: In Washington County, yes.

ROBERTS: You had traffic accidents. Car hits the puddle, starts to hydroplane and dives right off of the road. Have you got everybody out of harm's way at this point or other people who may still be in their homes and not able to get out?

BRYSON: That's why we're waiting for the sunlight to come up and be able to see. We do feel that we probably will plan other issues as the morning goes on.

We are getting our people out to start doing assessments in and around the area. There were some areas that we couldn't get into because the waters were too high and this morning, we're hoping to be able to get in there and see what's going on with those.

ROMANS: What's your advice, Norman, for the people who are watching right now, who were up and down the East Coast with all these floodwaters? I mean, from the emergency management perspective, are you cautioning people about driving if they don't have to?

BRYSON: Yes, absolutely. We have done media releases informing people that if you do not have to get out, by all means, do not. Also, if you have to get out, look. Take extra time. Give plenty of space between you and the next person. There may be a sink hole. There could be a washout or anything that you may come across in the roadway.

ROBERTS: Yes and reminder to people to slow down when they're driving, too because if you hit those puddles and suddenly you are on water skis instead of in a car. Norman Bryson, thanks for joining us this morning. Appreciate the update.

BRYSON: Thank you.

ROBERTS: All right. CNN I-Reporters are checking in this morning helping us to bring you a better perspective on all of the extreme weather.

Gritty49 sending us these pictures of Carolina Beach, North Carolina. He's vacationing there from Buffalo, New York. Bad time to vacation. Says, he's a little bit frightened by the floodwaters. (Inaudible) a blizzard that good old buffalo blizzard any day over these floodwaters.

ROMANS: We want to show the world your I-Report. You can shoot it, send it to ireport.com. Remember, stay safe out there.

Meanwhile, a new planet, is this a breakthrough in the search for life, a planet that could be like earth? How close is it? We'll break it down with Philadelphia astronomer Derrick Pitts that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back to the Most News in the Morning.

Is there life on other planets? Scientists may be one step closer to an answer following the discovery of a planet much like earth. Astronomers are calling the discovery a "goldilocks planet," not too cold, not too hot, maybe just right to have water and sustain life, and just 120 trillion miles away.

Joining us now from Philadelphia, Derrick Pitts, chief astronomer at the Franklin Institute Science Museum. Maybe just right, and to use another metaphor, you say it gets one step closer to the Holy Grail, which is?

DERRICK PITTS, CHIEF ASTRONOMER, FRANKLIN INSTITUTE SCIENCE MUSEUM: The Holy Grail is finding life somewhere else out there in the universe.

ROMANS: How possible is it? What do we know about the planet and could the conditions be ripe for life?

PITTS: So Christine, let's do this first. First thing we have to say is probably of finding life somewhere else seems high with the number of stars and planets throughout the universe. What we see in this particular planet, though, is we finally found a place that is closer to earth in its size and its composition than any of the other places we found, and we even figure that there's a band of habitability on this planet where we can find water in a liquid state. And that's very important.

ROMANS: So the front side of the planet permanently faces its star. And so one side is warm, one side is probably cold. You think the middle line is where you would find life adapted to that zone?

PITTS: Right. So this is the issue about this. When we look at the planets and we talk about one being too hot and one being too cool and this one being in the goldilocks position, this means it's a plant that happens to be in a zone where water exists as a liquid.

And since we base our investigations for life around the universe on the possibilities of liquid water given that that's how life developed on this planet, then we look at this planet and one little habitable zone, that area between the light side and the dark side where there could be liquid water.

And that then at least raises the possibility of an environment where life might be -- might develop. But we don't know if there's anything there yet.

ROMANS: Explain to me. I'm not an astronomer. To this is very far away, but I'm told it's pretty close actually. Where this plan net relation to earth?

PITTS: Well, it's in the constellation Libra and easily visible in the evening sky, and it's 20 light years away. As you said 120 trillion miles.

But let's put some scale on that. There are stars in the evening sky, fairly bright stars, one of which is 25 light years away, and then another one adjacent to that that's 1,500 light years. But the most distant object visible with the human eye is about 300 million light years away. So when you look at it that way, the 20 doesn't seem so far at all.

ROMANS: This follows a story popular with our viewers earlier this week where you had a former U.S. Air Force giving a speech or talking in Washington about what they think are UFOs. And then you have this new -- this newfound planet. What is our fascination about finding other life? What do the two stories together mean to you if anything at all?

PITTS: Well, that's a great question, Christine. Here's how I see this. I see this as two prongs of the human interest in finding out whether or not there's life someplace else. I think we want to know philosophically speaking, because I think we are an inner desire to find out, to learn, to determine whether we are alone in this enormous universe.

So when we look at these other planets, you know, hunt for these other planets looking for the possibility of life, that's us sort of going out to look to see.

Then when we look at the idea of UFOs coming to the planet, I think that's also part of our desire in that we think maybe they're coming here to find us, too. So it's all wrapped around, I believe, this idea of are we alone or not?

ROMANS: Do you think we're alone? Just -- I'm just going to go out on a limb and say what about the UFOs? Do you think there's intelligent life out there trying to find out more about us?

PITTS: If you look at the probability aspect of the number of stars and planets, it makes sense there would be some other life out there some place. And it would be arrogant of us to think that we are the only life in this entire universe.

But the question of whether or not they have been here can only be answered really if we can come up with what we'd have to call extraordinary proof. It was Carl Sagan that said extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.

And so a claim like this, while it is enticing and tantalizing and so incredible to think about, we need real concrete proof of their existence in order to go with that.

ROMANS: All right, Derrick Pitts, as soon as we get some more proof, we'll have you back to talk about it.

PITTS: Please. I can't wait to see it.

ROMANS: Me, too. Thanks so much. John?

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: That's kind of a noncommittal answer to your question, don't you think?

ROMANS: I think it's a scientific hedge, yes.

(LAUGHTER)

ROBERTS: Rain lashing the northeast, major flooding and airport delays in the major cities in the northeast. Rob Marciano tracking it all for us coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: There's a rainy-looking New York City this morning where it's rainy right now, 64 degrees. We're expecting the rain to probably lighten up as the morning progresses, as that storm moves the way out. We've probably seen the worst of it in New York. The lingering effects will sort of trickle down for a few hours yet to come.

ROMANS: I want my basement to stay dry.

(WEATHER BREAK)

ROBERTS: Well, a new hotel on the Vegas strip is becoming the worst kind of hot spot. The Vedera Sleep Curve glass facade has become something of a parabolic reflector. And when the sun's rays hit it, it focuses them and directs them right on the pool area where it's been melting plastic cups and bags.

One guest said he was sitting in a lounge chair and he could smell his hair burning. The hotel's putting a special film on the windows that should block about 70 percent of the reflection and they're also getting -- here's a real high-tech solution -- bigger umbrellas down on the pool area to deal with the hot spots.

(LAUGHTER)

What architect didn't figure that out. It looks like the solar reflectors. It's 5,000 degrees.

ROMANS: It's the love of unintended consequences.

How about this one? After the Cincinnati Reds won the National League central division this week, champagne flowed and the team owner passed out victory cigars in the clubhouse. Right?

But some of those watching at home though, at the celebrations violated the State of Ohio's ban on smoking indoors they called Cincinnati Health Department to complain. Now the team is being investigated for health code violations.

JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Hey. You know? A ban is a ban is a ban.

And one of the highlights from the Indians-Tigers game in Cleveland didn't happen on the field, it happened in the stands. Check this out. Watch it. Boom. Fly ball. Out into the second deck and the man with the baby looking at the rebound and watch this. Watch what happens. The baby in the left arm and one hands it. Yes. Pretty good balancing act there.

ROMANS: Oh he's right on the rail, too.

ROBERTS: Yes and I like the guy that fell over the seats the other day. Look at this -- he just bounces up behind him. The baby in one hand and one hands it with the other.

ROMANS: That's cool.

ROBERTS: Not bad. ROMANS: Remember the guy who -- that his little girl that caught the fly ball. He caught the fly ball gave it to his little girl and she threw it -- threw it away and how cute that was. Remember that one? That was another great dad and kid video at the game.

All right, fierce gun battles, explosions, raids; a daily danger for soldiers in Afghanistan. How do our troops deal with the stress and the daily prospect of death?

Jason Carroll shows us the -- the special bond between soldiers, a real life "Band of Brothers". Jason brings us that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Welcome back to The Most News in the Morning. This week's "CNN Hero or Heroes": the troops of the 101st Airborne in Afghanistan.

ROBERTS: And have been following one of them, Army First Class Sergeant Randy Shorter and our soldier stories series. They are the next generation of "Band of Brothers".

Jason Carroll was with them and joins us now with the next chapter. Good morning.

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, they're all heroes, aren't they?

ROBERTS: Oh yes, absolutely.

CARROLL: In many, many ways. They are a dedicated way -- they are dedicated in a way that few can really appreciate unless they, too, have been in the same situation. They are truly a "Band of Brothers".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARROLL (on camera): Much has been said about the closeness that in the bonds that exist between you guys. Where do you think the bond between you guys comes from?

SGT. CHARON RICHARDSON, U.S. ARMY: You know, you bleed with them and you sweat with them. They just become your brothers. My problems are their problems. Their problems are my problems. You know we share that amongst each other. And you can't get no tighter than that. It's like a brother.

SGT. FIRST CLASS RANDY SHORTER, U.S. ARMY: You've got to fight for one another. This is about fighting to the man to your left; it's about fighting to the man in your right. That's what it's all about.

CARROLL: How about the rest of you guys?

SGT. FRANK WHARTON, U.S. ARMY: Yes I agree with that.

I don't have any brothers. So these are actually, like, a lot of them feel like they are my -- like blood brothers. CARROLL: I wonder if you get to the point where as much as you guys love each other do you get to the point sometimes where you just want to throttle someone?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what the cave is for.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That is what the cave is for whenever you feel like you want to ring their neck, you just go hide in your cave and calm yourself down.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

CARROLL: You know, you've got to be -- you've got this bond but sometimes people can become so close, you know, they can't see -- they lose perspective, so to speak.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just like a brother. I could be so mad at my brother I just want to hurt him but then five minutes later it's like, what's up, man?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Best friends again.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you're best friends again.

STAFF SGT. ANTHONY COOK, U.S. ARMY: After you've been with these guys so long, everybody knows how we are truly deep down inside and we cannot let the moment get to us.

We're going to get mad at times. We are going to get frustrated but at the end of the day we know, hey, and we're here -- I'm still here. You're still here. We're going to make it.

CARROLL: When I started this assignment I -- I thought to myself, one of the questions I always had is how you guys deal with death, because that's a very real part of what you do.

RICHARDSON: My first deployment I lost someone. I lost a platoon sergeant and I've lost a friend of mine. Yes we all had that whole mentality that you want to go out there and you want to hurt somebody. We want to tear somebody up. You know?

But our buddies to left and right is what kept us sane and kept us still in the fight, still focused on the mission at hand because they become your mom, they become your father, they become your brother, they become your sister. That's what -- they become your family.

So they -- that's who you lean on. So whenever you are hurting, that's who -- that's who I'm going to lean on.

SHORTER: I know if it was to happen to me, I wouldn't want everybody to be sad. I play the music. You know? And have some food. And just kind of get together.

RICHARDSON: I want to party. CARROLL: Oh. You want to party.

RICHARDSON: I want to party and I want them to sit me up in the corner just chilling. Sit me up just -- and just smiling.

CARROLL: And it's got to be difficult for you guys when you go home and you have these types of experiences and then you try to talk to people about it.

SHORTER: But it's our responsibility. It is our responsibility to go back home and put it in words and ways for them to understand. I think we are making a difference and that's what you want your life to be. You want to make a difference in life. By us doing this, we're making a difference.

PVT. TERENCE LEE ARMSTRONG, U.S. ARMY: I just hope that the American people actually keep us in their thoughts and prayers. And not forget about us and not forget that we're over here.

RICHARDSON: Regardless of whether you agree or disagree, we are Americans. Keep us in your prayers regardless. You know? Keep us in your heart.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

Well, since the U.S. has been at war for nine years, it is easy to get fatigue on the home front and the war front. Sergeant Shorter and his platoon represent the thousands upon thousands of men and women who are out there every day leaning on each other each day to see this through until the very end.

You know what's odd? After you spend so much time with these guys -- I was talking to Sergeant Shorter's wife just yesterday and I realize that you miss them. I can see how that bond sort of develops over time especially when you consider they're on deployment for a year.

ROBERTS: They have such terrific attitudes, particularly when you consider the gravity of the situation they face over there. They know that --

CARROLL: Absolutely.

ROBERTS: Each and every one of them knows -- and you can't think about it this way -- but they all know in the back of their mind that the day facing them could be their last day.

CARROLL: It's very real to them. It's extremely real to them on a daily basis. That's why you need that humor. You need to be able to lean on the person, as you heard, on your left and on your right at all times.

ROMANS: All right. Jason Carroll. Thanks, Jason. Great series.

ROBERTS: Well, who's the CNN hero of the year for 2010? Top ten finalists have been announced. So you decide. Go to CNNheroes.com to vote online for the one who inspires you the most. All ten will be honored on Thanksgiving night at "CNN HEROES: AN ALL STAR TRIBUTE" hosted, of course, by our own Anderson Cooper. But only one of these top ten is going to be named the Hero of the Year.

ROMANS: It is about five minutes to the -- five minutes to the top of the hour. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: So the new movie "The Social Network" comes out today. It's all about Facebook and the allegations that the idea was stolen from these two guys, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss. We had them on earlier today and we want to point out to you, they're going to be blogging for us this morning about their story.

ROMANS: Identical twins who had an idea for a Harvard-wide network. They hired Mark Zuckerberg to do, you know, the nuts and bolts of it. And they say he stole the idea right in front of them. It's a big part of the movie. And they're interesting guys. They look exactly alike. Usually twins by the time they're 29 they don't look -- I mean, exactly alike.

ROBERTS: Yes. One will be maybe a little heavier than the other. Do their hair differently, whatever. These guys you could not tell them apart -- could not. They're identical twins, obviously. But still, literally no difference between the two because they do a lot of crew so they're both in terrific shape. They're trying to make the 2012 Olympics in the rowing team and have an awful lot going for them as well.'

I mean it's sickening how much they've got going for them; MBAs from Oxford; a huge settlement of Facebook, yes, not to mention the fact they're just unbelievably handsome fellows.

ROMANS: Yes. If they were better looking it would be better for them. That's their only drawback.

ROBERTS: Yes. It's a shame you know. I'd be happy to go through life looking like this.

ROMANS: They're going to be blogging for us. The movie's getting good reviews, as well. So that's pretty cool.

Continue the conversation on today's stories. You can go to our blog at CNN.com/amfix.

ROBERTS: That will wrap it up for us. We'll see you back here bright and early again on Monday morning.

The news continues on CNN with Kyra Phillips in the "CNN NEWSROOM." Handsome fellows, yes?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR, "CNN NEWSROOM": Yes, very handsome. Are they single?

ROMANS: Oh, we didn't ask that question, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes. Hello.