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World Powers Argue over Syria; Clinton, Trump Debate Tonight; Golf Legend Arnold Palmer Dies. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 26, 2016 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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[02:00:32] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. This is CNN NEWSROOM.
Syrian government forces backed by Russia have, once again, bombed the city of Aleppo. Activists say the air strikes Sunday killed at least 85 people. At the same time, world powers argued over how to stop the violence of united Security Council meeting. Russia said bringing peace is almost impossible. And there's a lot of finger pointing. Russia and Syria blame the U.S. for the collapse of the ceasefire after a coalition air strike killed Syrian troops last week. The U.S. accuses Russia of barbarism in Syria.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAMANTHA POWER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: Instead of pursuing peace, Russia and Assad make war. Instead of helping get life saving aid to civilians, Russia and Assad are bombing the humanitarian convoys, hospitals and first responders. We're trying desperately to keep people alive. Russia will argue today, no doubt, that these attacks are meant to fight terrorism and that the people killed in the offensive were terrorists and ISIS sympathizers. This is absurd.
VITALY CHURKIN, RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS (through translation): Perhaps we should stop accusing people who are coming from politicians who say they have the best interests of the Syrian people in their minds. They want negotiations, then they should go back to the foreign capitals where they disagreed with this earlier.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Aaron David Miller joins us now from Washington Skype. He's vice president for new initiatives and a distinguished scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center.
Thank you, sir, for being with us.
AARON DAVID MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR NEW INITIATIVES & DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR, WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER: Pleasure. CHURCH: The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. is accusing Russia and Syria of barbarism for the bombing of Aleppo and they believe it amounts to a war crime. What's your response to those criticisms?
MILLER: They're not only fair, but they're probably tragically and stunningly accurate. Problem is rhetoric alone is not going to change the balance of power on the ground. I've been around negotiations on the Israeli, Lebanese ceasefire for much of my life. The negotiations succeed and can be sub stained when parties share same sense of urgency when there's a balance of interest in this case, the Russians, the Syrian regime Hezbollah has more influence than the United States. As a consequence, it seems to me Mr. Putin is not in a hurry. I think the latest is to strength Assad's position, if possible, taking the areas of Aleppo not yet under the regime's control and creating essential Syria, Aleppo and the coast and, essentially, then, perhaps, negotiating. Right now, the United States fundamental tally altered its policies in the last three or four months in the Obama administration really doesn't have the assets or the influence, or the will, frankly, to change the correlation of forces on the battlefield.
CHURCH: OK. Well, so how can that all be achieved.
MILLER: I think the United States and the international community, so to speak, has three options, number one, they can introduce new cards, which is to actually create leverage on the ground by taking military action, directly against the Syrian regime and constraining the Russians. They could pull the plug on this village, political process, because that's what it is. It offers the Russians or has in the past offered them a great deal of cover to pursue their interest and allows Mr. Putin to keep one foot on the battlefield and one foot in the corridors, diplomatic corridors of Geneva and New York or alternative they can continue the fiction at an essence that there is a way out of this problem diplomatically and continue to preserve the option that at some point the Russians may need an exit strategy and a way out. These are very cruel and unforgiving options for the United States and they are, clearly, this is a moral humanitarian strategic disaster, not just for the United States and for the international community, but first and foremost for the Syrian people.
[02:05:31] CHURCH: And this is the problem, isn't it, because we've seen the U.N. Security Council meet in the wake of this crowd and air offensive but words exchanged, but nothing achieved. Is the U.N. just a toothless tiger here? It's not willing to capture the option.
MILLER: The U.N., as you know, is as strong the consensus among its five permanent members. In this case, even if you could get the French and the Chinese and the Americans aligned, you still have a situation in which the Russians have a veto. And even if they didn't have a veto, the real question is whether or not the international community -- or let's be clear, let's just talk about the United States -- has the will and the skill in order to compete on the ground.
CHURCH: Aaron David Miller, thank you so much for talking with us. Appreciate it.
MILLER: It's a pleasure.
CHURCH: At least eight people are dead and 25 wounded after three bombings in Baghdad on Sunday. These photos show workers cleaning up after the deadliest attack. Authorities say it was a suicide bombing that killed at least six people. A police source says the bomber attacked Shiite pilgrims who were preparing for the holy month. ISIS claimed responsibility for the blast.
Well, the U.S. presidential election is moving into the home stretch with the first of three debates for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Tens of millions of voters are expected to tune in Monday to watch their show down. Clinton comes to the stage as a debate veteran prepared to talk policy. Trump is a newcomer who shoots from the hip.
Jonathan Mann explains the challenges ahead for both candidates.
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JONATHAN MANN, CNN ANCHOR, POLITICAL MANN: It is going to be the most important 90 minutes of the campaign. That's about 100 million people are expected to watch. And because interest tends to a little after the first debate. This may be the biggest audience. It is a lot that we're looking forward to. But that's still ahead.
Let's talk about what we saw on Sunday it's telling. Sunday was a good day for Donald Trump. He received Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at Trump Tower. That's the head of government at Israel going to see Donald Trump, not the other way around. What that meeting offered Trump was an opportunity to show himself meeting with a world leader, as if one leader to another leader, he's ready to do business. Donald Trump demonstrated that he can, without mishap, take on the role of the Oval Office, of the commander-in-chief. Hillary Clinton ended up meeting with Netanyahu, as well. But all that did is that she's capable of doing what Trump is capable of doing. Vice versa, Trump can do what Clinton can do. He's a reasonable alternative.
That's a crucial message coming into the debate, which is now really not that far away. He wants to use the opportunity to show that he is a real alternative. He wants to reassure a lot of nervous Americans that he's not just a billionaire who is going to bulldoze his way around the planet. So this is a really important opportunity for him to show calm, to show competence, to show that he doesn't need a teleprompter to tone him down. In fact, one of his advisers, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, said he's not preparing that much because he doesn't need to.
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RUDY GIULIANI, (R), FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: It depends on how much confidence you have in yourself. That's what we want. We want a president who has confidence in himself or herself. If you've got to over prepare, you have to over prepare, I mean, but if you have confidence in yourself, I mean go with what got you there.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MANN: Hillary Clinton's job is to make sure Americans are not confident in Trump. She's got to hope that he does something, once again, that show he's, as she would say, a loose candidate. She has to do that to Trump. And she has to do something for herself.
Her biggest liability is that she doesn't seem sincere, honest. She has got to use 90 minutes to project authenticity, transparency, honesty, likability. One night is not a lot of time to do it in.
The impact that this debate will have, we're not sure. But here is one thing to keep in mind, we're talking about 90 crucial minutes that may boil down to one moment, one gaffe, one encounter that will define the experience for 100 million Americans and a lot of people watching from around the world. It's going to be something to see.
Back to you.
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[02:10:23] CHURCH: Jonathan Mann with that report.
And Scott Lucas is a professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham in England. He joins me now.
Thank you so much for being with us.
So this is, of course, the debate to watch. Everyone wondering how Clinton and Trump will go in their first head to head debate. What do they each made to do to come out on top here.
SCOTT LUCAS, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND: Well, I think with Trump you're seeing the biggest most -- probably unprecedented gamble in political history. That is he will continue this aggressive often divisive style confrontational to the point of calling her crooked Hillary and hoping it works. All says it wouldn't. Trump has got this far and I don't expect him to stop now. For Hillary, I think it's straightforward. She is often severed weaknesses that she has not engaged. She doesn't connect with voters. She has a strong policy on Trump and she is experienced. She has to somehow get across that she connects, she feels what Americans feel, the way that her husband built it when he was president.
CHURCH: And many analysts and observers are talking about the existence of a double standard when it comes to these two presidential candidates, why does that double standard exist and why is so little expected of Trump and so much more of expected of Clinton, here?
LUCAS: I think it's because of the nature of media today. I don't just mean CNN, I mean social media. It's throw out a statement, it doesn't matter whether it's true or false, it doesn't matter whether it's confrontational or calmer. As long as the media chased that message, then Trump gets the headlines, 24 hours later, if he wants to share he does. As long as the media, it's hard for Clinton to pull this debate back on the ground up Hillary Clinton, education, sensible approach to immigration. CHURCH: What should we be watching for when we tune in and what
could, perhaps, win it or lose it for, perhaps each of them?
LUCAS: We'll know what we getting from Trump. Therefore we watch for two things, first is watch for how Clinton reacts, does she try to go straight back at Trump. Does she try to confront him, which has its own risk that this turns into a shouting match, does she present calm, dealing with the unpredictable. How will voters react to that? Will they finally instead of giving the Trump the running, say, look, we need to look at Clinton being the president and treat her as the reliable option instead of Trump and to be honest with you, I don't know which way voters will go on that question.
CHURCH: And how surprised are you that this presidential race is so close at this juncture and could this first debate allow one of them to pull out in front?
LUCAS: Rosemary, I'll be honest with you, I'm amazed. I have no way I can comprehend that Donald Trump, with his approach and his lack of policy can even be close to Hillary Clinton. I think that something prospect or weakness as a candidate. This is the biggest debate since Kennedy/Nixon since 1960. It could be the defining moment if Clinton gets across the line and says she has the confidence. If Trump can prove his gamble works, we're in the middle of unchartered waters in U.S. 21st century presidential history.
CHURCH: It is going to be fascinating to watch this debate and then, of course, to see the out come and the way the audience responds.
Scott Lucas, thank you so much for your analysis. We appreciate it.
LUCAS: Thank you.
[02:14:29] CHURCH: Well, the best political team on television will be working around the clock as the candidates step into the ring at Hofstra University. And you can catch it all Monday right here on CNN.
Well, the world is remembering golf great, Arnold Palmer, who has died at age 87. We will hear from some of his fans and fellow golfers. That is coming up in just a moment.
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CHURCH: Tributes are pouring in for golf legend Arnold Palmer who has died at the age of 87. He won more than 90 golf turnovers. He's known as the King. He was credited with Golf to the Masses, making the sport popular outside of country clubs. The golfers, young and old, are praising Palmer at the FedEx Cup here in Atlanta.
Rory McIlroy spoke to CNN about Palmer's legacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RORY MCILROY, PRO GOLFER: I think Arnold meant a lot to a lot of people, golfers, first and foremost. If it wasn't for Arnold Palmer I don't think the PGA tournament would be what it is today, paying for the obscene amount of money that we pay for. He brought the game to the masses. Even though he wasn't the most successful golfer of all time, he's definitely the one that will leave the lasting legacy. I think of all sports over the past century, I'm not sure if anyone is going to leave a legacy quite like Arnold Palmer. He meant a lot to a lot of people. He did a lot for the community, a lot for charity, the children's hospital up in Orlando. I was lucky enough to have, you know, to get some -- to spend some time with him. He was a wonderful man with great stories and, as I say, great charisma, and had a lot of time for anyone that he met in his life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[02:20:29] CHURCH: And U.S. President Barack Obama tweeted, "Here is to the King, who was as extraordinary on the links as he was generous to others. Thanks for the memories, Arnold." Tiger Woods took to Twitter saying, "Thanks, Arnold, friendship, counsel, and a lot of laughs. Your philanthropy and humility are part of legend." Greg Norman said, "A legend was lost today. Rest in peace." Former U.S. President George W. Bush also praised Palmer, saying "For all who loved the game of golf and love to see it played, there's never been a sight quite like Arnold Palmer walking down the fair way toward the 18th green."
Joining me now to talk more about the passing of Arnold Palmer is Rick Burton. He is the chairman of the East Lake Golf Club here in Atlanta, Georgia.
Thank you, sir, for being here with us. I'm so sorry for your loss of a great friend.
And you have known Arnold Palmer for 40 years both, personally and professionally.
RICK BURTON, CHAIRMAN, EAST LAKE GOLF CLUB (voice-over): Yes.
CHURCH: He's considered one of golf's greatest ambassadors. Talk to us about the man you knew.
BURTON: Well, the man that I knew was, I guess, he's one of the finest gentleman I've ever met, and in the office or otherwise, and very special man and, obviously, he was called the King for a reason. He always -- he always wanted you to feel good when he talked to you. He always wanted to make sure that you were on the same level as he was. He wanted to make you feel important. He would get you -- give you his undivided attention when he was talking with you. One of the reasons he was so popular he would walk down a fair way and he would look at people and look at them straight in the eyes so all those people said, gosh, Arnold Palmer was looking at me. He was looking straight at me. And, you know, that meant a lot to people.
I first met him, I guess, I was a golf professional in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was having to qualify for the U.S. Open there at my club. And this was in 1976. And he came a couple of days early to play a practice round and he just happened -- wanted to know if I wanted to play with him, which was thrill of my life since he was my hero and since I started playing golf. But we had a very nice round and I actually won $10 from him which I had him sign. I still have the $10 bill.
CHURCH: Wow.
BURTON: He still didn't believe he was beaten. It was a great experience for me.
CHURCH: What an incredible man. Of course, at the age of 87, what legacy has Arnold Palmer left behind?
BURTON: Well, I think that it's more than his legacy transcends golf. I think he's one of the few athletes that if you go anywhere in the world and say Arnold Palmer, they know what you're talking about. They know who you're talking about because that's the impact he's had on the world like me and my golf or sports, in the world with his generosity, great smile, with the way he meets and greets people.
CHURCH: And, of course, Mr. Palmer was known, as you mentioned, as much for his philanthropy as his 90-tournament wins worldwide. How important was his charitable work to him. And how extensive was his Philanthropy.
BURTON: I can start back with what I know originally is when -- this would have been in the early 80s. He was the national spokesman for the March of Dimes. And I happened to have a daughter who has cerebral palsy. She was the poster child for the March of Dimes. He would always make sure that, again, it's him making the other person feel good. He would also make sure to bring up to my daughter or family over there, Rick is a great friend of mine and I can't say we were great friends, you know, I didn't call him every day. But our paths crossed quite a bit in the last 40 years. But that's one of the things that he did, I think, was very -- also the Arnold Palmer children's hospital in Orlando is done worlds of good for premature babies and helping the families out. It's a very generous man. He was probably more generous than anybody knows. He'll be very missed.
Last time I saw him was at Augusta, and he did not look -- he looked frail there, but he still had his sense of humor. He told me that he was riding in a cart with his wife and kid, and I stopped to talk to him and he poked me in the belly and said you're getting a little fat there, aren't you? I said, no, I didn't think so. The next day, he came up to me and said, boy, my wife read the riot act to me. He said, I didn't hurt your feelings, did you? I said, heck, no. Even if he had of, I would not have told him.
CHURCH: That's a great story.
BURTON: That's the kind of guy he was. He was great.
CHURCH: Thank you so much, Rick Burton, for talking with us.
BURTON: All right. Thank you.
CHURCH: We'll take a short break here. But still to come, there's escalating tension. What the U.S. and South Korea are doing to send a message to the north.
Plus, we are just hours away from the first U.S. presidential debate, and history shows the smallest mistake can make or break a campaign. A look at the biggest first debate mishaps, that's still to come. Stay with us.
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[02:30:02] CHURCH: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you on the main stories we've been following this hour.
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CHURCH: The U.S. and South Korea are sending a message to the north after last week's flight of U.S. B1B bombers along the demilitarized zone. Both countries' navies put on a show of force in the Sea of Japan, or East Sea. Earlier this month, North Korea conducted its fifth nuclear test.
For more on this, Paula Hancocks joins us now from Seoul in South Korea.
Paula, what is the significance of this new show of force from the U.S. and South Korea, and how is North Korea responding to it?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they haven't responded to the navy show of force at this point, but they have responded to two previous shows of force that we've seen over the past few weeks from B1B bombers that flew in from Guam and flew closer to the DMZ, the demilitarized zone, between North and South Korea than they ever had before, according to one U.S. military source.
But what we're seeing today is the two countries' navies in the -- the waters just off the east coast of the peninsula. We understand there are missile-guided destroyers from the U.S. side. There are submarines involved, helicopters. It's a very large drill we're being told. And interestingly enough, that submarines are part of it. Certainly, over the recent year we've seen this, North Korea really trying to test its submarine-launched ballistic missiles. The last was back in August of this year and it flew around 500 kilometers. It was claimed as a great success. This is something that U.S. and South Korea are concerned about.
But it's really just a chance, a fair chance, since September 9th, that fifth nuclear test by North Korea for Washington and Seoul to show they're standing side by side and they won't be threatened by Pyongyang -- Rosemary?
CHURCH: Paula, still waiting for reaction from North Korea to this latest show of force. What is the likely next step here from North Korea in the wake of its fifth nuclear test, and just how uneasy is South Korea, where things stand right now?
HANCOCKS: Pyongyang has been fairly vocal. At the end of last week, for example, they said it was the United States fault, that they were pushing the peninsula to the brink of war because of the previous flyovers and shows of force. We heard from the South Korea defense minister telling lawmakers last Wednesday that they effectively have an assassination plan in place for the North Korean leader if they got to the point where they felt by the north's nuclear weapons. And the North responded to that, saying that they would reduce Seoul to a sea of ashes. They also said that wiped Guam off the face of the earth. That's where these B1B bombers flew from, to carry out this flyover. They've been vocal in the past few days because of what they've seen in the United States and South Korea. But from South Korea's point of view, they believe North Korea is technically ready to carry out their sixth nuclear test. At this point, they say all that's lacking is the political will.
CHURCH: Very worrisome.
Paula Hancocks joining us from Seoul in South Korea. It's 3:35 in the afternoon. Thanks to you.
China says it was conducting a routine drill, but Japan scrambled a fighter jet in response. Chinese state media said more than 40 aircraft flew over the western Pacific Sunday near Okinawa. Bombers and fighters also conducted a patrol in the country's self-declared air defense identification zone over the East China Sea. It's the biggest aerial exercise since an international tribunal struck down Beijing's claim to most of the disputed South China Sea in July.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will square off in their first presidential debate Monday night, and as we've seen in the past, a candidate can stumble in the first debate and never recover.
Chief political correspondent, Dana Bash, reports on that.
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[02:35:39] JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think it can be.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kennedy versus Nixon --
RICHARD NIXON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senator Kennedy --
BASH: -- exactly 56 years ago --
NIXON: The things that Senator Kennedy --
BASH: -- the first televised presidential debate in American history, and an historic lesson in what to do --
KENNEDY: Which point of view and which party do we want to lead the United States?
UNIDENTIFIED DEBATE MODERATOR: Mr. Nixon, would you like to comment on that statement?
NIXON: I have no comment.
BASH: Richard Nixon was shifty eyed and sweaty, coming across as a nervous wreck next to calm, cool John Kennedy. It was a turning point for JFK's campaign.
UNIDENTIFIED DEBATE MODERATOR: Mr. Ford, would you like to respond?
BASH: In 1976, President Gerald Ford agreed to the debate since the Nixon debacle and made his own epic mistake that helped cost him the election to Jimmy Carter.
GERALD FORD, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.
BASH: That was flat wrong and immediately diminished his stature.
Over the years, the candidates understood the impact of TV debate, but it still didn't go as planned.
Some first debates were the beginning to the end of the campaign, especially when a moment fed into pre-existing doubts. In 2000, Vice President Al Gore repeated let out sighs as George W. Bush was speaking. Many watching thought Gore came across as rude and dismissive.
In 1988, Mike Dukakis made it through his first debate. But his second go at it was a disaster.
UNIDENTIFIED DEBATE MODERATOR: Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer.
MICHAEL DUKAKIS, (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, I don't, Bernard. And I think you know that I opposed the death penalty during all of my life. I don't see any evidence that it's a deterrent and --
BASH: Dukakis' antiseptic policy response, instead of a human one, was a campaign and political-career ending.
UNIDENTIFIED DEBATE MODERATOR: We have a question right here.
BASH: And who can forget President H.W. Bush caught on camera looking at his watch in 1992, coming across as disengaged and out of touch, precisely how Bill Clinton had been trying to paint him.
Not all debate debacles killed a campaign. Just last cycle, Barack Obama choked big time in his first face-off with Mitt Romney.
(CROSSTALK)
BASH: Obama was able to redeem himself in later debates.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There you go again.
BASH: Ronald Reagan's first debate performance in his bid was also a flop.
REAGAN: -- in balance. I hope that --
BASH: Reagan rebounded with debate number two with a prepared line delivered perfectly.
REAGAN: I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: The city of Charlotte, North Carolina, is no longer under curfew. Violent protests over the fatal police shooting of Keith Scott prompted those measures earlier this week. Demonstrations have been peaceful the last few days. But the public is still showing its frustration after police video after Scott's death failed to answer some critical questions about the incident. The new footage shows officers commanding Scott to drop his gun. But the video does not clearly show Scott was holding anything when he was shot four times.
Five decades of war could finally be over. We look at the deal that would end the longest armed conflict in Latin America.
And two years have past and there are still no answers. An update on Mexico's missing students. That's ahead.
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[02:42:38] CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Colombia's president is expected to sign a peace deal with FARC rebels Monday. It would end the longest armed conflict in Latin America. The rebels voted unanimously Friday to approve the deal.
Rafael Romo has details now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICAN CORRESPONDENT: The signing of the agreement here at the convention center puts Colombia one step closer to ending a 52-year-old war with the gorilla group. It will be a moment generations of Colombian's have been waiting for, a signature that means Latin America's oldest insurgency will put down its weapons.
Under the 297-page agreement that Revolutionary Unforces of Colombia, also known as FARC, will stop being a gorilla group and become a far- left political party with representatives in the Colombian Congress.
In announcing the signature, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said it had been the most important announcement he had made in his career when he told Colombians that the agreement was actually happening.
The peace agreement also calls for the demobilization of 7,000 members of the Marxist gorilla groups who will have to leave the jungle and come into the cities. According to the president's office, as many as 2,500 people are expected to attend the signing ceremony to be held hear on Monday. Among them, there will be presidents from 15 countries. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, also U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to attend as well as foreign secretaries from 27 countries.
Now, the agreement still has to be ratified by Colombian voters. There will be a referendum on October 2nd.
I had an opportunity to talk to protesters who are in opposition of the agreement and say that a gorilla group that kidnapped and murdered fellow Colombians should not be forgiven. But the reality is that they'll say that those in favor of the agreement are expected to prevail.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Colombia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[02:44:49] CHURCH: It has now been two years since nearly four dozen students disappeared in Mexico, but their fate remains a mystery and they are conflicted theories about what happened. Here is a timeline of the events.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Families searching for answers there.
We turn now to the weather and Taiwan is bracing for a typhoon.
Our Meteorologist Karen MaGinnis is at the World Weather Center and joins us now.
So, Karen, Taiwan just can't get a break. How bad is this typhoon likely to be?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We're looking at a very impressive system that is hedging towards his vicinity, but as we look through the next 24-36 hours this will increase to the equivalent of a category 3 hurricane. It will be typhoon intensity. But we've seen three previous systems move across or very near Taiwan. We go back to the beginning of July. Had winds across southern Taiwan and it says -- in excess of 240 kilometers per hour we did see just in the past few weeks across southern Taiwan. A glancing blow, but impacting Taiwan over, yet, the last couple of weeks before it made its way in the vicinity of Japan. And, now, it's edging towards Taiwan and may take it another 24-36 hours want to give you some idea it had some higher wind gusts up and if it moves slower that's going to be problematic. But the deadline is expected to be right about Tuesday midday but perhaps during the midday or early afternoon time for Taiwan. And then as it moves across the Taiwan Strait. It looks like somewhere between Shanghai and Hong Kong we could see another land fall of this very powerful system and may be a little bit weaker once it moves over Taiwan and loses some of that energy. But in some areas across Taiwan you could see as much as 500 millimeters. Let's go back to the wall and tell you about what we anticipate. In addition to the heavy rain fall, we could see mudslide and landslides, power outages are going to be a big problem here as well. But primarily it will be the mud and landslides that will be mostly problematic. This is a broad system and across south central sections of Taiwan, that's where you'll see the highest wind and then from there, as I mentioned, along the central coast of China going in towards Wednesday.
Back to you.
CHURCH: Karen, thanks so much. We'll talk again next hour. Appreciate it.
Well, history shows presidential candidates can become their own worst enemy. Up next, a look at the most memorable debate history has to offer. We'll be back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(WEATHER REPORT)
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[02:53:24] CHURCH: We are just hours away from the anticipated 90 minutes of U.S. presidential election, and many are wondering what kind of theatrical comments they'll have to offer.
Let's look back on some of the most memorable TV moments from past debates, from zingers to gaffes. Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Don't we tend to watch debates hoping to see a train wreck? Instead, we're left with memorable moments.
Sarah Palin winking.
SARAH PALIN, (R), FORMER ALASKA GOVERNOR & FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: How long have I been at this, five weeks?
MOOS: Ronald Reagan demanding the sound system not be turned off.
RONALD REAGAN, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am paying for this microphone.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: A line he picked up --
SPENCER TRACY, ACTOR: Don't you shut me off. I'm paying for this broadcast.
MOOS: -- from Spencer Tracy in the movie "State of the Union."
TV magnifies everything. The sweat glistening on Nixon's chin that he had to wipe off to Al Gore's exaggerated --
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: -- That's what a governor gets to do.
MOOS: -- exasperated sigh.
BUSH: There's differences.
MOOS: -- resuscitated by "SNL."
UNIDENTIFIED COMEDIAN: Rome came to life and gladiator --
MOOS (on camera): What was I going to say? Oh, yeah, there were some unforgettable, forgetful moments.
RICK PERRY, (R), FORMER TEXAS GOVERNOR & FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Commerce, education and the -- what's the third one there. Let's see.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS (voice-over): Rick Perry's oops moment.
PERRY: Oops.
MOOS: And Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's brain freeze.
JAN BREWER, (R), ARIZONA GOVERNOR: -- that we could possibly do.
[02:55:01] MOOS: And this was just her opening statement.
(on camera): You know what a televised debate isn't the time for?
(voice-over): Checking the time, as president George Bush did.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How has the national debt --
MOOS: Debates are a time for memorable zingers.
SEN. LLOYD BENTSEN, FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy.
(CHEERING)
MOOS: And one-liners, for instance, from a relatively unknown candidate for vice president.
ADM. JAMES STOCKDALE, (I), FORMER VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Who am I? Why am I here?
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS (on camera): And whatever you do, candidates, don't invade your opponent's personal space.
(voice-over): As Hillary's Senate rival once did.
(CROSSTALK)
HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, we'll shake, we'll shake on --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no, I want your signature.
MOOS: Or when Al Gore crept up on George Bush.
BUSH: But can he get things done? And I believe I can.
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: There's nothing like debatable behavior to liven up a debate.
BUSH: There's differences.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You're likable enough, Hillary.
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN --
TINA FEY, COMEDIAN: Are we not doing the talent portion?
(LAUGHTER)
MOOS: -- New York.
(MUSIC)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Some great moments in history there.
And that wraps up this hour of CNN NEWSROOM. I'll be back after the break with another hour of news from all around the world.
Thanks for watching CNN the world's news leader. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:00:10] CHURCH: Diplomats argue as more bombs fall. The U.N. fails to reach a solution --
