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American Morning: Wake Up Call
Obama Begins 10-Day Vacation; Battle for Libya; Police: Teen Wanted to Outdo Columbine; Workers Could Lose Medical Benefits; BART Website Hacked Again
Aired August 18, 2011 - 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: Good morning to you. It is time to get out of bed.
It's Thursday, August 18th. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
I'm Carol Costello, joining you live from New York this morning.
Let's get right to it, shall we?
President Obama's 10-day vaca starts today. He's going to Martha's Vineyard. Forecast there today: sunny with a high of 79. It sure beats a gloomy with a low of 26.
Check out the president's latest poll numbers. Gallup finds that only 26 percent of Americans approve of his handling of the economy. That could make relaxing on the beach a bit tougher.
Obama will be working on his new jobs proposal while on vacation. Of course, Jobs were the theme of the Midwest bus tour he just wrapped up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When folks tell you that we've got a choice between jobs now or dealing with our debt crisis, they're wrong. They're wrong. We can't afford to just do one or the other, we got to do both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: President will roll out the entire job growth proposal early next month in a speech. CNN has learned he will probably be a combo platter of tax cuts, investments in infrastructure and long-term health for the unemployed.
So, what will Governor Rick Perry say today? You know you're dying to find out. He's not backing down about his treason comments about Fed Chair Ben Bernanke. In fact, he says the Fed should be audited.
And these comments went (INAUDIBLE) to the man he tried to get elected president back in 1988, Al Gore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I think we're seeing it almost weekly or even daily, scientists who are coming forward and questioning the original idea that manmade global warming is what is causing the climate to change. Yes, our climates change. They've been changing for ever since the earth was formed. But I do not buy into that a group of scientists who have, in some cases, found to be manipulating this information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: He's talking about those scientists in the U.K. who were accused of tinkering with climate data. They were cleared of wrongdoing.
Perry's rival, Mitt Romney says he believes in global warming science.
Perry and Michele Bachmann will both be in South Carolina on Friday.
Let's talk about the teenager who allegedly wanted to outdo the Columbine killers. Investigators are trying to figure out where he got bomb-making materials and if he had access to guns. Tampa police say 17-year-old Jared Cano planned to set off pipe bombs on the first day of classes next week. The school kicked him out last year.
Police got a tip. And they arrested him on Tuesday. They talked about what they found at his house.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF JANE CASTOR, TAMPA POLICE DEPARTMENT: Goes minute by minute, what he intended to do, starting at 5:00 a.m. in the morning, and then going through the day, where he intended to put these destructive devices and, you know, particular layouts of the school drawn, that type of information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And have you heard about the controversy at the University of Miami? A former booster, former because he's now in prison for running a huge Ponzi scheme -- well, he says he spent millions of dollars on Miami players over an eight-year stretch. Cash, jewelry, dinners, nightclubs and yes, call girls.
Nevin Shapiro also claims several coaches knew what was going on.
The NCAA is investigating. The university says it's cooperating. The school's head coach may address this scandal at a news conference later this morning. We'll keep you posted.
The Justice Department is looking at Standard & Poor's and its practice of giving high ratings to bad mortgages so they'd look less risky and bring in more money. Investigators want to know if in the years leading up to the financial crisis, business managers big-footed analysts who wanted to give the mortgage bonds lower ratings.
"The New York Times" is reporting the story. The paper also says the probe started before S&P downgraded the nation's credit rating.
Now to see how the world's money is doing this morning, let's head to Kristie Lu Stout. She's in Hong Kong.
Good morning. How does it look?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hey there, Carol.
Well, not too good. Worries about global growth are dragging down the markets. European stocks markets are falling from a two-week high. All the major markets there are in retreat, after two Federal Reserve officials said that the central bank should not act to protect equity investors.
Now, here in Asia, markets closed the day until the red. In Japan, because of the strength of the yen and a big drop in exports, the Nikkei closed down 1.25 percent. So, Carol, not a great day for global markets.
COSTELLO: Bummer!
Let's talk about China. Vice President Joe Biden is on this mission to say, hey, everybody's cool here in the United States economically, kind of, as far as --
STOUT: That's basically it. That's basically it in American vernacular, right? Everything's cool.
This is a visit about building trust after that damaging debt debate in Washington. Now, again and again, Beijing, which need I remind you, is America's biggest foreign creditor. Beijing has appealed to the U.S. to protect the dollar.
Joe Biden, he just held talks today with Xi Jinping. Now, you got to remember that name. Mr. Xi is the man widely expected to become China's next president.
And then, on Friday, Biden will meet with the current president of China, Hu Jintao.
But China has a bigger worry than U.S. debt. Now, the official China daily out on Thursday, it said that arms sales were the biggest source of disagreement between the two countries -- namely arms sales to Taiwan.
Carol, back to you.
COSTELLO: Interesting. OK, I'm going to remember the name, Mr. Xi. Thank you very much, Kristie Lu Stout.
OK. Now, something to make you laugh. Comedian Jon Stewart says the media's focus jumps from one candidate to the next pretty fast, Michele Bachmann, then Rick Perry -- now someone who is not even in the race.
So, is the media treating candidates like toys?
Here's your punch line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: Squirrel!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you think this is the field or do you think we're waiting for Paul Ryan?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are we going to see other people like a Paul Ryan?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Somebody who could maybe appeal to moderate voters, I don't know, Paul Ryan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's also, you know, very young at 41. But he has ideas.
STEWART: Why is that? It's never enough for the media. They're like children -- mom, can I get a Paul Ryan? I just got you a Rick Perry! And you already broke your Michele Bachmann!
Oh, and before I get you anything else, where the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) is your Ron Paul?
And don't tell me he's no fun to play with.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
COSTELLO: I want Chris Christie.
For your next vacation, how about a trip to space? A space hotel is in the works and we have the pictures that are out of this world.
But, first, it's time for the quote of the morning and it's a fiery one. This is the quote, "We're supportive of the president but we're getting tired, y'all, we're getting tired. Our people are hurting."
I will tell you who said that in 90 seconds.
It's seven minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Nine minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE- UP CALL.
So, let's get back to that quote, shall we? The quote is, "We are supportive of the president but we're getting tired, y'all, we're getting tired. Our people are hurting."
Who said that? Congresswoman Maxine Waters, during a Congressional Black Caucus tour.
Listen to how amped up she got at a town hall in Detroit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. MAXINE WATERS (D), CALIFORNIA: The Congressional Black Caucus loves the president, too.
We're supportive of the president but we're getting tired, y'all. We're getting tired.
We want to give him every opportunity but our people are hurting. Unemployment is unconscionable.
We don't know what the strategy is. We don't know why on this trip that he's in the United States now, he's not in any black communities. We don't know that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: It's because the unemployment rate amongst African- Americans is in the double digits. They're suffering a lot and they want to know where are the jobs -- just, of course, like the rest of America.
Well, we need answers to something. Let's head to Atlanta and check in with Rob Marciano. Give us a few answers to make us feel better about anything.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I tell you what? I'm reading this new report I'm going to share with you in just a second that has more questions than answers. So, we're all going to be a little bit verklempt and scratch at our heads here in a second.
If you're traveling, though, Carol, we do have some travel delays that we'll expect to see later on this afternoon because of some pop-up thunderstorms that are typical of this time of year.
Let's take a look at the boards, New York metros, you see some thunderstorms. We got a couple that are rolling through Philadelphia right now. So be aware of that this morning.
D.C., we'll see them in the afternoon, as will Atlanta and Miami as well. There's your little batch of thunderstorms. It's about to move through the Philadelphia area. Gusty winds and some heavy rain, but it will last all of about 20 to 30 minutes.
So I'm guessing by 6:30 or 7:00, it should be done.
It's preceding a front that will be moving across the western Great Lakes and into the East Coast later on today -- 84 degrees expected in New York City and 90 degrees expected in Atlanta.
New report, Carol, this is what I'm talking about. Scientists now, they tested a rock that was taken back from Apollo 16 and they did fancy radioactive isotoping type of tests to it and figured out that the moon is likely 200,000 -- 200 million, excuse me, years younger than we first thought -- or formed 200 million years before we first thought -- so 4.36 billion years old, as opposed to about 4.1 billion.
COSTELLO: So, the moon is not an old man, it's a whippersnapper.
MARCIANO: I said that wrong. It is older. It's 200 million years older. Which, you know, is does look a little long in the two. So, I would agree with them on that.
COSTELLO: OK. So, I'll revise that. So, the moon is not a whippersnapper but a really old person.
MARCIANO: Yes. But wiser. You know, the old man in the moon should be old and wise, when you look up to it at night with many questions, I'm sure.
COSTELLO: I'll do that tonight. Thank you, Rob Marciano.
MARCIANO: OK, Carol.
COSTELLO: MGM wants to blow up a laying hotel before it even opens. A Las Vegas paper reporting that 27-story Harmon Tower has huge design flaws. One worry, it could collapse in a major earthquake.
MGM says the problems cannot be fixed, but the general contractor disagrees. So, as it goes, the issue is tied up in court.
Now, if you're really looking to get it away from a one of a kind vacation, a space hotel is in the works. And this is what it will look like. It would house up to seven people and include luxuries like precooked gourmet meals and sealed showers.
It will cost you, though. The cost is 165 grand per night. A Russian company is behind the project. It could be ready to go in 2016.
Here's a question for you. Are you mad? Are you ticked? Are you bitter?
Well, we've got something for you when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Fourteen minutes past the hour.
Another day CNN put together some sound of Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann repeating some of her catch phrases. And she's not the only one.
Here's your punch line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
CONAN O'BRIEN, COMEDIAN: CNN put together a tape that shows Bachmann never answers questions directly and she repeats things over and over again. Take a look at this.
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-MN), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I've been at the tip of the spear.
I've been at the tip of the spear.
I've been at the tip of the spear.
We took the biggest punch to the gut this week.
We got a punch to the gut in the United States.
We saw a punch to the gut.
We're job creators.
I'm a job creator.
I get job creation.
We're job creators.
O'BRIEN: Unbelievable. I mean, you listen to that and she sounds just like a parrot, same thing over and over and over again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Conan, you should talk. Could you please roll that tape that I made?
O'BRIEN: We got a great show.
A great show tonight.
We got a great show.
Hey, we got a great show!
Wow, thank you. We have a great show.
We have a great show for you tonight.
We got a great show tonight.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've got a great show for you tonight.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
COSTELLO: We do it, too. It's like breaking news. We'll bring you the latest -- blah, blah, blah.
So, Michele Bachmann is not alone.
Time now, though, for your Political Ticker with Tim Farley, host of "The Morning Briefing" Sirius POTUS live from Washington.
Welcome.
TIM FARLEY, SIRIUS XM POTUS: Welcome. Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
You know, it's interesting you mention that. It sounds like -- is it branding or controlling the message? Because --
COSTELLO: I think it's both.
FARLEY: -- you've covered these things before, Carol. Yes, you've got this -- there's a big push on -- right now, there's an interesting story in "Politico" about some pushback on Michele Bachmann specifically because evidently some of her handlers have been a little bit overzealous in protecting her, and you kind of wonder if it's legitimate concerns over safety or whether or not it is indeed, they're trying to control the message a little bit.
COSTELLO: Oh, it's funny you should mention that because -- you know, I happen to have something for our audience to set up this beautiful segment we're about to do.
Bachmann security, you talked about it. You know, are the guards too rough with reporters? As you said, "Politico" is reporting at least five hostile encounters, and that includes one with CNN's Don Lemon. Listen as Don describes what happened to him last week in Iowa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Reporters started asking her questions and I asked her very respectful questions about her performance last night, where does she think she's going to end up on the straw poll? Two of her staff members, two blonde women that you see there in the video, the one in the white dress, the one in the black dress, started elbowing me and pushing me through the crowd. And her husband, Marcus, did the same thing. He pushed me, elbowed me into a golf cart where I hit my head.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, Don told "Politico" in an e-mail that the Bachmann campaign actually e mailed him and apologized. He said it came from Ed Rollins who runs Michele Bachmann's campaign. Rollins supposedly said -- he acknowledged the problem. He promises to correct. Apology accepted. That was from Don, actually.
But Bachmann then turned around. Her spokesman turned around and retracted the apology in a later interview with "Politico" saying Rollins was actually apologizing if Don was offended, but stands by the security team's actions.
So, what do you make of this?
FARLEY: I just know this is going to be more and more of a problem. People are getting angry around the country and reporters are trying to do their jobs.
On the other hand, as you well know, there are people who are trying to get that for want of a better expression, that macaca moment. They're looking for candidates to make mistakes. And some of them are professional stalkers. And I don't mean stalkers in the sense that they want to harm somebody, but rather that they want to harm someone's reputation.
So what we got is this balance here of journalists who are just trying to feed the big machine back at headquarters where you have to give them the tape and you got to get them, get the new cut, if you will. And also, some people who were out there trying to make a candidate look bad.
On the other hand, you have candidates who want to be out there talking to people and they're also trying to control exactly what the message is.
So, I do believe this year we're probably going to se more and more of this, especially in the case of a very polarizing character like Michele Bachmann. Although it's interesting, Carol, because Sarah Palin walked around at the Iowa state fair and didn't have nearly the same amount of protection.
So, I'm not sure how this is going to play out. But it seems like we're on the edge of the potential for something a little bit more violent.
COSTELLO: We're in for a long, strange campaign, I think. Tim Farley --
FARLEY: You could be right about that.
COSTELLO: I'm sure I am.
Tim Farley, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
If you're the one to hold -- if you're one to hold a grudge, you may be making yourself sick. New research says that persistent bitterness can lead to anger and hostility and damage the immune system and organ function.
So, doctors orders: take a deep breath, forgive, chill and don't forget to smile.
Did you know it's the National Day of Bad Poetry? So, break out those poorly timed haiku. Recent a couple that doesn't quite rhyme.
But if you're celebrating bad poetry day at work, one piece of advice, no poems with the word "Nantucket."
It's 19 past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Twenty-two minutes past the hour.
Rebel forces in Libya are closing in on the capital city of Tripoli.
So, let's head round the world with Max Foster live in London.
I just can't believe Moammar Gadhafi is still hanging in there.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, because it could be months, we're told by the experts, even though what's happening around Tripoli right now. It's all really about Zawiya right now, which is a city to the west of Tripoli.
And as we understand, we haven't gotten anyone there, but reports -- all the reports suggesting that rebels are taking control of Zawiya. That's crucial because if they take control of Zawiya, it will leave Tripoli landlocked because NATO controls the water above Tripoli as well.
So, that would be a crucial development. But also, even more important in a way is that there's an oil refinery in the same area which the Gadhafi forces are completely dependent on. And we're getting reports now that there's gunfire around that.
So, if the rebels can get control of Zawiya, and the oil refinery, it does make Gadhafi's position very, very difficult. He's stuck, effectively, Carol, in Tripoli.
COSTELLO: We'll see what happens.
Let's talk about Japan. It's been about, what, five months since the earthquake and tsunami. And the national police say thousands of people are turning in things like wallets and safes and valuables. That's pretty amazing.
FOSTER: Yes, so much about the Japanese culture, isn't it? You've had all sorts of wallets, bits of cash.
The Japanese are famous for storing cash at home. They're great savers. And lots of wallets have been washing up on the shore, for example but they're not being stolen. They've been handed into the police -- and literally tens of millions of dollars worth of cash handing into the police. They're struggling somewhat to actually store all the cash, would you believe.
The other thing that's interesting as well, because Japan keeps its cash. Lots of safe have also been washing up on the shore. And the police are trying to get into those, workouts who they belong to and get the cash back to the family if the families survived.
But a very interesting story. It says so much about Japan and how it's coped so stoically with this disaster several months ago, as you say, Carol.
COSTELLO: Yes, pretty awesome people in Japan.
Max Foster, many thanks -- live in London this morning.
Military and police operations against protesters have ended in Syria. That's the claim Syria's president made during a conversation with the United Nations secretary general. In the meantime, more pictures from Syria hit YouTube.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
COSTELLO: This was what it looked like Monday in Homs, Syria. Explosions are heard followed by heavy gunfire. It came during what appeared to be a peaceful protest.
CNN, however, cannot confirm the authenticity of this YouTube video.
Thousands of supporters are expected to greet India's anti- corruption crusader as he prepares to leave jail today. Anna Hazare was arrested Tuesday before he was to begin a hunger strike, calling for tougher corruption laws. He refused to leave jail until he was assured he could continue his hunger strike on the outside. And this morning, he has accepted a proposal that will allow him to fast for two weeks.
If the stock market roller coaster is making you feel queasy, here are some words of wisdom from financial guru Suze Orman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZE ORMAN, FINANCIAL GURU: It will be until 2015 until we even feel like we have hope again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes, that made me feel better. Anywho, she's also got advice on how to make the most of your money in the meantime. We'll get to that later.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Time is flying by this morning. Good morning to you.
It's Thursday, August 19th. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.
I'm Carol Costello, joining you live from New York. It's just about 30 minutes past the hour.
President Obama is off the bus and will soon be chilling out on Martha's Vineyard. But no doubt jobs are still on his mind. That's what he talked about and heard about all through his three-day bus trip near the Midwest. While the "J" word was front and center, the "R" word wasn't far behind.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: I don't think we're in danger of another recession. But we are in danger of not having a recovery that's fast enough to deal with what is a genuine unemployment crisis for a whole lot of folks out there. And that's why we need to be doing more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: OK. So, part of doing more, a big speech on jobs coming up after Labor Day. It's part of the big push on the economy. CNN's chief White House correspondent, Jessica Yellin, fills us in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: My sources say there'll be proposals in three main categories, targeted tax cuts, another big one for the White House is new infrastructure investment, and a long-term help for the unemployed. I should point out this is all being worked out right now. It will continue to be hatched out over the president's vacation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: And that vacation begins later today when the president and his family head to Martha's Vineyard.
In this sluggish economy, a lot of people are asking, what should they do with their money? Here's financial guru, Suze Orman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUZE ORMAN, FINANCIAL GURU: If you can find good, high yielding 4.5 percent, 5 percent, 6 percent dividend paying stocks or exchange credit funds where the dividend is safe, there's good economics behind the company, up, down, eventually, you'll be ahead of the game. You want to look for what it gives you more than for what your money is doing in itself.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: In other news this morning, a Tampa teenager who police say wanted to outdo the columbine killers in jail this morning. Police say 17-year-old Jared Cano planned to set off explosives and kill dozens of students on the first day of classes at Freedom High School. Investigators say they found explosives and materials and a manifesto at his home. Cano was a student at the school until he was expelled last year.
Verizon is telling striking workers to put down the picket signs or lose their medical benefits. Forty-five thousand employees walked off the job a few weeks ago. If they don't return to work by the end of this month, they'll have to pay out of pocket through COBRA. A union spokeswoman says it's a scare tactic. Verizon says the loss of benefits provision is spelled out in their 2008 labor contract.
OK. Time now for a little laugh. Republican presidential candidate, Rick Perry, causes Stephen Colbert to sing. Here's your punch line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHEN COLBERT, HOST, THE COLBERT REPORT: I toast Governor Perry's calls and regulation with a champagne flute of lead paint.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
COLBERT: Semi-gloss?
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: I tell you, the more I drink of this, the more sense a President Perry makes.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: I think he likes me back. Exhibit A, the governor of Texas announced his candidacy in Charleston, South Carolina, right around the corner from my childhood home.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: Obviously, trying to get my attention. He might as well have stood on my driveway with a boom box over his head.
(LAUGHTER)
COLBERT: (SINGING) in your eyes like the heat your eyes I am complete. You're eyes, I see the doors to 2,000 churches your eyes.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: That was so bad it was good. There is a report out this morning that federal investigators have their eyes on Standard & Poor's, not for the downgrade, but for the financial crisis. You remember that, don't you? Christine Romans has details for us right after this break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty-four minutes past the hour. For morning money news, let's go to Christine Romans. She's live here, one floor up, on the Time Warner Center. Hey, let's talk about the S&P, because it's making headlines again, but for very different reasons.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, we know that federal officials are investigating just about every angle of the subprime mortgage debacle, and "The New York Times" this morning out the story saying that S&P is in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice investigation.
No comment from the DOJ, of course, and from the company at this point, but S&P and the other ratings agencies, of course, rated those mortgage bonds that were packaged together and sold to investors and rated them sterling AAA. Great. No risk here. When, of course, we know in the end, they were junk, if you will. They were really worthless. So, that's what we're hearing about this morning is whether this S&P investigation with the other credit rating agencies is moving forward.
And I will point out that many people who've been watching this say that there's likely been probes or investigations or, at least, a request for information for some time well before the U.S. was downgraded, but you recall, Carol, when the U.S. was downgraded, many people say, and why do we trust the ratings agencies again? Because they did such a great job rating the subprime mortgage sector? So, point taken there, right?
COSTELLO: Yes. So, it's not any form of retaliation, because that's what many people think.
ROMANS: No.
COSTELLO: Because as you said, this investigation has been going on for quite some time.
ROMANS: Most likely it has. I mean, the whole industry is still being looked at to see if there's any way that, you know, maybe investors -- investors and the rest of us, quite frankly, can get some justice for what was a terrible period in American history. Quick point, futures down this morning, Carol. We're watching futures. They're still kind of weak. So, looks like -- I mean, if things hold for the next four hours, you'll have a lower open.
COSTELLO: La, la, la, la.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Thanks, Christine.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
COSTELLO: If one of former booster says is true, Miami Hurricane players received cash, jewelry, free nights out on the town, even free prostitutes. We'll talk about the scandal brewing in just a few minutes.
And before we go, it's time to "Get Smart." President Obama and the first family head off to Martha's Vineyard this afternoon for a 10-day vacation. He's about two and a half years into his presidency, and he's taken 61 days off, so far. So, which of the following had the fewest days off at this point in their presidency? A. George W. Bush, B. Bill Clinton, or C. Ronald Reagan. You have two minutes to think about it. It's 37 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 39 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. Before the break, we asked you this probing question. Which of the following had the fewest days off at this point in their presidency? Was it George W. bush, Bill Clinton or Ronald Reagan? The answer is Bill Clinton. He'd only taken 28 days off in his first two-and-a-half years in office. That's according to a CBS radio reporter who, for some reason, tracks presidential vacation time.
George W. Bush had 180 days off and Ronald Reagan took 112. To be fair, presidential vacations aren't like yours and mine. They're still in contact with Washington, and of course, they're on-call for emergencies.
Now, for our "Political Ticker," let's bring in our senior political editor, Mark Preston. He joins us live by phone from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Good morning, Mark.
VOICE OF MARK PRESTON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL EDITOR: Hey, good morning, Carol.
COSTELLO: OK. So, you're there to cover the Republican presidential candidate, Rick Perry. What's on his agenda today, because everyone will be tuned in, because you never know what he's going to say?
PRESTON: Yes. You never know what he's going to say, and he seems to be making news every day now, Carol, but he's up here in Portsmouth. This morning, he is going to do a meet and greet in a diner, heads up to Dover a little bit later, does the same thing, and then, he's going to meet some workers at a home builder up in Pembroke, and the whole idea is, of course, that he's talking about the number one issue in the country, and that's the economy, the economy, the economy.
I got to tell you, this retail politicking that you see up here in New Hampshire is pretty amazing. These presidential candidates walk into these diners. The diners don't know they're coming, and they just sit down and start talking to them. So, it's, really, a unique experience for these candidates to actually hear from people like you and me.
COSTELLO: Interesting.
PRESTON: You know what else, Carol, is that he's also very critical of President Obama, and in fact, yesterday, listen to what he had to say about his record compared to President Obama's record.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: President said I needed to watch what I say. I just want to respond back, if I may. Mr. President, actions speak louder than words. My actions as governor are helping create jobs in this country. And the president's actions are killing jobs in this country. It's time to get America working again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PRESTON: And here you have, Carol, the Texas governor, Rick Perry, criticizing President Obama for his economic policies. Also, I should note, Rick Perry would not back down from his criticism of Ben Bernanke, the fed chairman -- Carol.
COSTELLO: No. He liked up the ante. We're going to talk a lot about that on "American Morning." Mark Preston, thanks so much. Let you get back to work.
Let's head to Florida now and talk about the head football coach at the University of Miami. He will hold a news conference later this morning, and we're going to be all ears. He just might address a possible scandal involving players, prostitutes and a Ponzi schemer. CNNs David Mattingly has more for us. David's on the phone. So, what's going on here? This is really ugly.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on the phone): That's right, Carol. And everyone in the University of Miami is talking about Nevin Shapiro. He's a former University of Miami booster. He's now serving 20 years in federal prison for a Ponzi scheme. And he talked to Yahoo! Sports, talked about from the years 2002 to 2010. He claims that he broke NCAA rules for his interactions with 72 student athletes at the University of Miami, most of them football players.
This involving about a dozen current players. He says he gave them gifts like TVs, jewelry, watches, clothing, suits, trips to clubs, trips to strip joints, and it gets worse here, Carol. He says he also paid for prostitutes, sex parties, and on one occasion, even an abortion for a stripper that had been impregnated by a Miami player. So, naturally, the details coming out with what he claims that he did with these players, just rocking this campus.
The NCAA says that they've been aware of these allegations. They've been investigating them now for five months. And the University of Miami president, Donna Shalala, put out a word and statement saying that they will vigorously pursue the truth wherever that path may lead. And if these allegations do prove to be true, then this man who is already behind bars for a crime that he committed with a Ponzi scheme is making sure that this school he, apparently, loves so much and gave so much money to, including the players, could be vulnerable to some very stiff penalties of their own.
COSTELLO: Yes. It could mean the end of their program for a while, too. David Mattingly, you're going to be on "America Morning" with more. Thank you so much.
So, was Piers Morgan being rude or was Christine "I'm not a Witch" O'Donnell being weird? You make the call. She walks out during an interview, and that's always fun to watch. You'll see the drama after a break.
Plus, the FBI's looking into a death threat against comedienne, David Letterman. The threat on a jihadist Web site calls for Letterman's tongue to be cut off.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Good morning. It's Thursday, August 19th. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. I'm Carol Costello joining you live from New York. It is 47 minutes past the hour.
David Letterman, a terror target? A jihadist Web site says it wants the comedian's mouth shut forever all because of a joke. Let's go around the world with Max Foster live from London. This is pretty scary, actually.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) to verify the message, but the FBI is taking it seriously. It is investigating. And it all follows some comments David Letterman made about someone called Ilyas Kashmiri. He's a member of al Qaeda in Pakistan. He was killed by a drone attack, according to his jihadist group.
And then, we got this response on a website calling for him to be killed and his tongue to be cut off. Let's listen to David Letterman and the words that he made on his program which caused all off this outrage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, HOST, THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN: Anyway, they picked a successor to Osama Bin Laden and his name was Ilyas Kashmiri. Well, guess what? He was blown up by an American drone. Yes.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: There you are. It brings a laugh in America, but in parts of Pakistan, not so pleased about it, but the FBI is investigating. No words yet, carol, From Letterman's publicist on this. No words from Letterman, but it's worrying, I'm sure.
COSTELLO: I'm sure it is. It's just like -- when I heard that, I thought to myself, that's it? That's just a strange world. Max Foster, many thanks, live from London.
President Obama's ten-day vaca starts today. He's going to Martha's Vineyard. Forecast there today, sunny with a high of 79. Sure beats gloomy with a low of 26. The latest Gallup Poll finds that only 26 percent of Americans approve of President Obama's handling of the economy. That could make relaxing at the beach a bit tougher. President Obama will be working on his new jobs proposal while he's on Martha's Vineyard. Of course, jobs with a theme of his Midwest bus tour that just wrapped up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: When folks tell you that we've got a choice between jobs now or dealing with our debt crisis, they're wrong. They're wrong. We can't afford to just do one or the other. We've got to do both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The president will roll out his job growth proposal just after Labor Day. CNN has learned it will probably be a combo platter of tax cuts, investments in infrastructure, and long-term help for the unemployed.
So, was Piers Morgan being rude or was former Senate candidate, Christine O'Donnell just being a little weird? Morgan was talking to her about her new book, and he asked her about her views on gay marriage. Oh, the drama.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PIERS MORGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Why are you being so weird about this?
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL, FORMER DELAWARE SENATE CANDIDATE: I'm not being weird about this, Piers. I'm not running for office. I'm not promoting a legislative agenda. I'm promoting the policies that I lay out in the book that are mostly fiscal, that are mostly constitutional. That's why I agreed to come on your show.
That's what I want to talk about. I'm not being weird. You're being a little rude. Don't you think, as a host, if I say this is what I want to talk about, that's what we should address?
MORGAN: Not really, no. You're a politician.
O'DONNELL: Yes. OK, I'm being pulled away. You know, we turned down another interview for this.
MORGAN: Where are you going? You're leaving?
O'DONNELL: Well, I was supposed to be --
COSTELLO (voice-over): Oh, yes. She's leaving. She was going, going, gone. Morgan invited her back tonight, and Christine O'Donnell tweeted a response. She said, "Piers, thanks for the invite. Schedule is already packed. Maybe another night. No hard feelings, you cheeky bugger." Can you say bugger on television?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: A Tampa teenager who police say wanted to outdo the columbine killers is in jail this morning. Police say 17-year-old Jared Cano planned to set off explosives and kill dozens of students on the first day of classed at Freedom High School. The investigators say they found explosives and a manifesto at his home. Cano was a student at the school until he was expelled last year.
One of the Web site for San Francisco's rapid transit system, BART, has been hacked again. It seems home addresses and other information about BART police officers were posted. It's since been taken down. Another site also hacked on Sunday. The group, Anonymous, took credit for another hacking. It's not clear yet who's behind the latest one.
Now, let's head live to Atlanta to Rob Marciano. Any flight delays to speak of?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Not yet, but we'll see some -- by the way, I think, you can say cheeky bugger on TV. It's a term of endearment, I think, across the pond.
COSTELLO: Bugger is? MARCIANO: I'm told. Hey, by the way, I messed up the moon thing. You were right. It's (INAUDIBLE). It's 200 million years younger than we first anticipated, and it's way too early.
Everybody, up and down (ph), have a little bit more coffee than I have. Let's talk about flight delays. We have a few that we expect this afternoon. A couple of thunderstorms right now actually moving through Philadelphia. So, if you have an early morning flight there, there may be a ground delay or a quick ground stop, but it's going to move through relatively quickly. New York metros, as well, as some thunderstorms expected in the afternoon with the anticipation of a front that's moving through.
But here's that little squall line, preceding the front about to move across the Delaware into Philadelphia. It shouldn't, again, last too long. They'd be out of there by about seven o'clock this morning. There is your front pushing across the Great Lakes, hot and humid conditions continue across the Deep South.
And we're watching this developing system south of Jamaica, and it's heading towards Central America, likely, will continue to do so, although, it may very well become our next tropical storm before it makes landfall across parts of Mexico and likely south of Texas. Texas needs the rain as everybody knows. As a matter of fact, the numbers that we're putting on them now is a loss from agriculture, a loss of agriculture, $5.2 billion.
A lot of farmers there with raising cattle refuse to, you know, going to some higher commodity crops. They're just losing money hand over fist. As a matter of fact, NOAA yesterday reported, Carol, that there's been nine separate billion dollar weather-related events this year alone. So, Mother Nature has not, not been kind to us at all.
COSTELLO: No, absolutely not. Thank you, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right. You bet.
COSTELLO: Let's take a look at the word of the day now. It would be supercookie. And no, you can't eat it. Find out what it means and why you need to know what it means right after this break. It's 53 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Fifty-seven minutes past hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. The word of the day, supercookie. It is the newest form of web tracking, and it's almost impossible for you to detect. You already know what a cookie is, that small file that websites install to track users online activity, but the "Wall Street Journal" is reporting that major websites like Hulu are now installing these supercookies which can recreate a user profile even after the regular cookie is deleted. That's a bomber (ph).
So, let's laugh now, shall we? This one coming from our own Anderson Cooper, and he's ridiculous segment. He was talking about the French actor, Gerard Depardieu, who recently urinated on a flight. I just can't say that any -- anyway, forgive me for that, but here's your punch line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Gerard Depardieu created his own little jet stream or as the French would say wee-wee. I would have guess he flies in continental. His little solo flight to urination -- stop laughing. It's Golden Globe winning tinkle. An actual thespian, actually thes peein'. He is probably used to being, you know, pampered. I'd go as far as to say he depends on it. He hasn't commented on this incident.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I know you got it, but --
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: All right. Sorry.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: He was giggling. And I was afraid to say urination on the air? Let's move along, shall we?
Let's go to Carter Evans for a look at your money this morning. He joins us live from the NASDAQ market site here in New York. Hi.
CARTER EVANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Sure, let's go to Carter right now. Absolutely. What a great lead-in.
All right. Let's talk about what's going on today before we talk about what probably could happen. We're going to get a report on consumer prices. That's a read on inflation at the consumer level. See, if we're paying more for stuff. We're going to get a report on existing home sales today, also those weekly unemployment numbers.
We're going to hear from Sears, Dollar Tree, JM Smucker, HP and the Gap. OK. Now, for the numbers. These are the futures on the CNNMoney.com pre-market page. The Dow currently down 209 points, the NASDAQ 48, the S&P 500 down about 25 today. Carol, looks like we're going to follow European markets lower today. The FTSE in London down two percent. The DAX in Germany currently down 3.4 percent. Back to you.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you, I think, Carter Evans. We appreciate it as always. "AMERICAN MORNING" continues right now.
