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CNN Live At Daybreak
Tough Times; Shooting Rampage; Cancer Awareness
Aired October 31, 2005 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It is Monday, October 31. We are expecting a Halloween announcement from President Bush. He's trying again to fill that Supreme Court seat. And this time he's trying not to scare off his fellow conservatives.
Also, a place of honor for Rosa Parks. She changed the nation. Now the nation says thank you.
And how about a bit of the macabre on your Monday morning? We'll show you Halloween isn't just trick or treating and candy corn.
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. We'll have more on the president's next Supreme Court choice in just a minute.
Also ahead, she survived breast cancer, but she's still fighting. Rocker Melissa Etheridge talks about her battle against the disease and her confidence that scientists will find a cure.
But first, "Now in the News."
We're keeping a close eye on the White House this morning. Senior administration sources tell CNN that President Bush plans to name his new Supreme Court nominee today. Former nominee Harriet Miers backed down after conservatives questioned her credentials.
Nearly a half-million Philadelphia commuters have to find another way to get to work this morning. Thousands of city transit workers went on strike just after midnight, bringing buses, trolleys and subways to a halt.
The U.S. and Japan close to resolving a tense trade dispute. Japan is expected to ease its band on U.S. beef imports. It was imposed over mad cow disease fears. But this morning a Japanese government panel says U.S. beef is safe.
Hurricane Beta now a tropical depression. But forecasters say it could regain strength as it moves over the Pacific today. Beta made landfall on Nicaragua's east coast Sunday morning as a Category 2 hurricane, packing 105-mile-an-hour winds. No reports of deaths or serious injuries.
Let's head to the forecast center for more, though.
Good morning, Jacqui Jeras. JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Good morning, Carol Costello. Hey, JJ and CC.
COSTELLO: Loving that.
JERAS: It just occurred to me.
COSTELLO: It's Monday.
JERAS: I know it is. Well, holiday, long weekend for some.
COSTELLO: Yes, Happy Halloween.
JERAS: Happy Halloween. I see you're in the spirit with the black today. I've got the orange.
COSTELLO: This is actually brown.
JERAS: Is it brown?
COSTELLO: Yes.
JERAS: I've got a bad monitor. Oh, well. What do you do? It looks like you're in the holiday spirit. Just go with it.
All right.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui.
Well, you can't turn on the news these days without hearing it. President Bush is having a tough second term. It appears his approval rating has not taken too hard a hit from the CIA leak scandal. But that rating was nothing to brag about to begin with.
According to the latest CNN "USA-Today"-Gallup poll, 41 percent of those responding approve of the president's job performance. Fifty-six percent disapprove. But those numbers could be just the beginning of the president's problems.
When the poll asked if he can manage the government effectively, more than half the respondents, 56 percent, said no. Forty-three percent said yes.
So, what does the president do now? For one thing, there could be big changes in store for his inner circle. And those changes could get under way very soon.
CNN White House Correspondent Dana Bash has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A wave, a smile, and a hope he can finally start digging out from under the slew of political problems that threw his presidency into crisis. The Bush clean-up campaign is expected to start Monday by announcing a new nominee for the Supreme Court to replace the embattled Harriet Miers.
Aides hope to calm conservatives with a pick that has a clear judicial record, unlike Miers.
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: I think, unfortunately, we're at a time in our nation's history where you have to have a demonstrated track record of a particular judicial philosophy that says that judges should not legislate from the bench. In other words, a traditional judicial philosophy.
BASH: Among those on the short list, appellate judges like known conservative Samuel Alito. Michael Luttig, another long time rank and file GOP favorite, as well as Priscilla Owen, and Alice Batchelder also considered by Mr. Bush before.
The White House hopes that do over debate about the Supreme Court, plus what aides call a back to basics focus on issues from the bird flu to the budget will help heal their political wounds.
But for rehabilitation, many allies are now going public with a long growing belief it's time to shake up a tired insular Bush staff.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: It's been five years now. Change is always good.
SEN. TRENT LOTT (R), MISSISSIPPI: I do think that new blood quite often helps change the dynamics.
KEN DUBERSTEIN, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: All second term presidents need some fresh blood, some new ideas.
BASH: One Bush adviser tells CNN the president is clearly disappointed in top staff for political debacles from hurricane recovery to the Miers nomination.
And senior aides say Mr. Bush will likely make changes, replacing the chief of staff and others as soon as the end of the year. One top official saying the president does not want to do anything that looks "brash or part of a PR effort."
Some outside advisers are already floating trade rep. Rob Portman to replace Andy Card. Deputy chief of staff Karl Rove escaped indictment for now, but sources say he did talk to reporters about a CIA operative. And some call the president's top political aide a liability.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MINORITY LEADER: He's still around. He should be let go.
BASH (on camera): So far, Mr. Bush has given only one short statement praising former Cheney Chief of Staff Scooter Libby and expressing sadness for his indictment. Some on both sides of the aisle, however, say Mr. Bush should give a public statement saying what lessons he's learned from the leaks investigation.
A senior Bush official says that's not going to happen until the legal process is wrapped up.
Dana Bash, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And as you heard Dana mentioned, we are awaiting word on who President Bush's new Supreme Court nominee will be. He wants to leave behind the backlash sparked by his nomination of Harriet Miers.
Now that Miers is out, what kind of person would you like to see in her place? Do you want someone who is an experienced judge?
According to the latest CNN "USA-Today"-Gallup poll -- we have a lot of poll numbers for you this morning -- anyway, most of those responding that's either essential or a good idea. But people seem split on having a woman as the next Supreme Court justice. Half say it doesn't matter, while nearly half say it is essential or a good idea.
The White House wants to move on with its domestic agenda, but the CIA leak scandal is not going away anytime soon. "TIME" magazine reporter Matthew Cooper is talking about his role in the Scooter Libby case in an exclusive report.
He writes about a brief phone call he had with Libby, who was then the vice president's chief of staff in July, 2003. In fact, he still is. Cooper said the conversation included both on and off-the- record statements, including a quote from Libby distancing Vice President Cheney from Ambassador Joe Wilson's fact-finding trip from Africa.
Cooper says, "I was surprised last week that the Libby indictment even mentioned me. But apparently his recollection of the conversation differed from mine in a way that led the prosecutor to think he was lying. As for me, I still have no idea of Libby or anyone else has committed a crime. I only know that if there is a Libby trial, I'll testify truthfully and completely, as I did before the grand jury."
And former ambassador Joe Wilson, the man at the center of the CIA leak scandal will be a guest on a special edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM." And that will air at 7:00 p.m. Eastern here on CNN.
Los Angeles police have a mystery on their hands this morning. They're trying to figure out why a 19-year-old man dressed up in a dark cape and mask went on a shooting rampage in his neighborhood. When it was all over, three people were dead, including the masked man.
More now from CNN's Kareen Wynter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) KAREEN WYNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donning a black cape and helmet, Orange County investigators say the alleged gunman, 19-year-old William Freund, left his house Saturday morning, not on a Halloween hunt; instead, a deadly mission -- a shooting spree that would rock this upscale suburban Southern California neighborhood.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was just scary, because this has never happened so close to home before.
WYNTER: Armed with a shotgun, officials say Freund drove about 70 yards to a neighbor's house and killed 22-year-old Christina Smith and her 45-year-old father. Both were shot in the upper torso, the bodies found on the staircase and in the family room.
Christina's brother heard the gunshots and escaped through the backdoor.
Investigators say the shooting continued. Freund shot through a neighbor's window, and came face to face with another neighbor.
JIM AMORMINO, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: The suspect then pointed the shotgun at him, attempted to fire that gun at that potential victim. However, the shotgun misfired. Then, the suspect apparently went home and then shot himself to death.
WYNTER: Neighbors described Freund as a loner. And just what triggered the shooting rampage has investigators baffled.
ERIN GIUDICE, ORANGE CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT: There doesn't seem to be any relationship with the victims. There's been no dispute. He doesn't have a record, not that we know of at this time.
WYNTER (on camera): Investigators say autopsy results on Freund and the victims offered no additional insight as to the teen's motive for the shootings. Toxicology tests were conducted on Freund, but according to sheriff officials, the results won't be available for another several weeks.
Kareen Wynter, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Coming up on DAYBREAK, familiar faces working to prevent an all-too-familiar disease affecting so many women.
Plus, abandoned and left to fend themselves. An Atlanta veterinarian and the Atlanta Braves team up to help pets in trouble.
And you know what today is. Yes, it's Halloween. We will take you on a Halloween tour.
But first, here's a look at what else is making news this Monday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: International markets strongly higher this morning. Take a look at that.
Tokyo's Nikkei up 259 points. The London FTSE adding 68. The German DAX higher by 71 points.
In futures trading, let's take a price of oil, shall we? It is down 52 cents at $60.70 a barrel.
Your news, money, weather and sports. It's 5:13 Eastern. Here's what's all new this morning.
CNN has learned that President Bush will announce his next nominee for the Supreme Court today. Senior administration officials say the president was finalizing his choice over the weekend with his chief counsel, Harriet Miers. As you know, Miers withdrew her nomination last week.
Prince Charles is coming to the United States, and he's bringing along his wife. It will be the first official overseas trip for the couple since they were married in April. The eight-day visit begins in New York tomorrow, before heading off to Washington and then to San Francisco.
In money news, it seems to make sense that a horror movie took the top spot at the box office over the weekend. "Saw II" took in just over $30 million. The sequel easily outdid its predecessor, "Saw I," which opened last Halloween.
In culture, pretty soon you may be able to take Elvis for a ride, but only if you live in Tennessee. The state says it will approve an official Elvis license plate if enough orders come in. One thousand people have to order the plate before it will go into production.
In sports, the New Orleans Saints played their first game in Louisiana and they lost. The Miami Dolphins beat the Saints 21-6 in front of more than 61,000 fans.
To the forecast center now and Jacqui.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COSTELLO: Oh, don't go away, because we have to talk about our e-mail "Question of the Day." And you know I love talking about football.
JERAS: Yes, you do.
COSTELLO: Yes. We're going to talk about the New Orleans Saints because during yesterday's game with the Dolphins, the NFL commissioner, Paul Tagliabue, promised to do whatever possible to keep the Saints from moving out of New Orleans permanently.
He met with the governor of Louisiana, and he met with the Saints' owner, Tom Benson, because as you know, rumors have been flying fast and furious about Benson moving the team to San Antonio or maybe Los Angeles.
And you know why, Jacqui?
JERAS: Well, there are not a lot of people there to support the team, right? Not a lot of people to go and watch the games and buy tickets.
COSTELLO: Exactly. And who knows how many people will actually move back to the city anytime soon. I mean, Mayor Nagin says, what, there might be 250,000 people in a year or two? But it won't go up to the level of, what, 450,000 in New Orleans for quite some time?
JERAS: I think he's predicting, what is it, three to six years it should be back to where they started out at?
COSTELLO: Yes. You've got to wonder, do you keep your team in the city of New Orleans when nobody's going to buy a ticket, you can't make any money? And the Superdome has so many ugly memories associated with it right now.
JERAS: Absolutely. They're playing at LSU right now, too. And LSU says that they can use their stadium next year. So maybe that would guarantee that they'd be there for two years possibly.
What do you think? We want to know. That brings us to our DAYBREAK e-mail "Question of the Day." Should the Saints stay in New Orleans?
Let us know what you think. DAYBREAK@CNN.com. Send us your e- mails and we'll read them on the air later on this morning.
COSTELLO: Oh, we're eager to hear from you.
Still to come this morning on DAYBREAK, beating breast cancer with a little help from some high-profile friends. We'll tell you about celebrity efforts to raise awareness and money.
You're watching DAYBREAK for a Monday.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: She helped spark the civil rights movement by refusing to move to the back of the bus. Now Rosa Parks is being remembered as a true pioneer who helped transform the nation. She's the first woman to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. And the motorcade that carried her coffin included a city bus draped in black.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We give thanks for the life and legacy of Rosa Parks. We thank you that her courageous spirit ignited a movement that aroused our national conscience.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh gracious god, we do thank you that on this 30th day of October, 2005, that we can gather in this historic rotunda and see laying in repose and in dignity the life of a great woman who almost 50 years ago sat down on a segregated bus in Montgomery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As your free children, we say to Mrs. Rosa Parks, ride on. Ride on in the direction of endless hope.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well some might say she sleepeth. But we know in our hearts she liveth, because it's people like her that will bless unborn generations to rise up and to keep the march moving.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Entertainment headlines for you this morning.
Beatles fans can expect to hear some new stories in an upcoming biography. Paul McCartney and the late George Harrison helped with the book, which took eight years and 650 interviews to piece together. "The Beatles: The Biography" hits store shelves tomorrow.
The Jerry Garcia Amphitheater was christened in San Francisco with a special concert over the weekend. This is where Garcia began his career, right in that neighborhood. Some of the late musicians friends, including Wavy Gravy and members of Jefferson Starship were on hand to dedicate the arena in Garcia's hometown.
And for you Grateful Dead fans, or Dead heads, there's also a Jerry Garcia movie in the works.
The surprise hit show "Dancing With the Stars" is coming back. ABC says the show will have an eight-week run on Thursday nights starting in January. It replaces "Alias," which goes on hiatus. Its star, Jennifer Garner, is on maternity leave.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And even though the month ends today, many celebrities are working hard to keep their message of hope, and they want to remain active with that help all year round.
CNN's Brooke Anderson has more for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MELISSA ETHERIDGE, SINGER: It takes about a year to really come back to, you know, where I was.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Melissa Etheridge: rock star, mom and breast cancer survivor. She tells "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" she's now fully recovered after a year-long battle.
ETHERIDGE: This is the hard rock breast cancer pin.
ANDERSON: And she's making sure she continues the fight against breast cancer by raising money for the Susan Love Research Foundation.
ETHERIDGE: I love them so much because they are working to prevent breast cancer. They're not looking for a drug that's going to cure it that they're going to sell; they're looking for how to stop it. ANDERSON: She's just one of many celebrities speaking up during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. "Desperate Housewives" Felicity Huffman and Marcia Cross pitched in...
MARCIA CROSS, ACTRESS: All net proceeds benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation's women's cancer research fund.
ANDERSON: ... teaming up with QVC to sell brand-name shoes on sale with proceeds going to cancer research.
HILARY SWANK, ACTRESS: I've been so lucky in my life and so blessed in so many ways.
ANDERSON: And Oscar award-winning actress Hilary Swank was just one of many celebrities to team up with Saks Fifth Avenue for their "Key to the Cure" campaign.
SWANK: I feel it's really important to give back and to be able to support things that are important to you. And curing cancer is a huge, huge, important thing to me.
ANDERSON: The "Key to the Cure" campaign is featuring these shirts, designed by Diane Von Furstenberg, on sale now in Saks Fifth Avenue stores around the country. Proceeds benefit the Women's Cancer Research Fund.
SHOWBIZ TONIGHT was right there at Saks for an exclusive breast cancer benefit, hosted by actress Helen Hunt.
HELEN HUNT, ACTRESS: It's been through my family and the family of almost everyone I care about. I bet you if you ask every person in this room if some woman in their life has been touched by cancer, the answer would be yes.
ANDERSON: The statistics are staggering. The National Cancer Institute says that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. This year, they predict more than 40,000 women will die of breast cancer. That means about 110 women will die each day, five every hour.
Patricia Clarkson, star of HBO's "Six Feet Under," told SHOWBIZ TONIGHT that research is key.
PATRICIA CLARKSON, ACTRESS: There've been great advances in breast cancer, in the fight against it, but it's still a long way to go.
ANDERSON: But the organization Melissa Etheridge is working with, the Susan Love Research Foundation, says they'll end breast cancer in 10 years.
ETHERIDGE: I know that it's possible that cancer in 10 years will be a completely different diagnosis and outcome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was CNN's Brooke Anderson reporting.
Doctors agree that early detection is a key part in the fight against breast cancer. So please, see your doctor to see what you can do to stay healthy.
Here's what's all new in the next half-hour of DAYBREAK.
It's Halloween, and parties are happening all around the world. We'll take you on a trip.
That's next on DAYBREAK.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: From the Time Warner Center in New York, this is DAYBREAK with Carol Costello.
COSTELLO: And good morning to you. Thank you for waking up with us. Welcome to the second half-hour of DAYBREAK.
Coming up in the next 30 minutes, we've heard the numbers and we feel the loss. More than 2,000 U.S. troops killed in Iraq. But now we're getting a look at some of the civilian casualties, and that number is staggering.
Also, who looks out for homeless pets? We'll introduce you to a project that aims to bring animals and humans together.
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