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American Morning: Wake Up Call

Greek Prime Minister to Resign; Report Due on Iran's Nuclear Program; NASA Worried about Moon Tourists; Penn State Coach Jerry Sandusky Was Arrested; Andy Rooney Died at the Age of 92

Aired November 07, 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: New developments in the child sex abuse case against former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. We now know two school officials tied to the case will turn themselves into the police today.

Iran on the brink of nuclear capability. A new report due out this week shows Iran may soon have what it takes to build a nuclear weapon.

And the thought of private spaceships loaded with tourists landing on the moon is making some NASA scientists very nervous -- so nervous they're coming up with rules to make sure the moon is treated like a national park.

Good morning to you. Happy Monday. It's November 7th.

This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. I'm Carol Costello, joining you live from New York this morning.

World leaders and investors will be carefully watching developments today in Greece. Prime Minister George Papandreou is meeting with the leader of the main opposition party after agreeing to step down. On the table, who will be the next prime minister after both sides agree to form a unity government?

The new government is expected to approve a $178 billion bailout package aimed at preventing Greece from defaulting on its massive debt.

CNN's Diana Magnay explains how it went down.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a day of intense political wrangling in Athens as the leaders of the two main parties fought tooth and nail over the formation of a new government. Finally, they came together in a late night meeting with the president. The reporters were waiting outside. After one and a half hour, a written statement delivered through the bars of the palace gate, a statement that a new government will be formed to tide the country through to elections. Totally, a government committed to implementing the terms of the 26th of October bailout agreement, with a new prime minister at the helm.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: At the heart of the Greek crisis is the fear that a Greek debt default would drag down larger European economies, especially those of Italy and Spain. That concern will mostly likely be on the minds of Eurozone finance ministers meeting in Brussels today. They'll be talking about the latest developments in Greece and trying to find ways to boost the E.U. bailout fund.

Here's how the markets reacted in Asia, the Nikkei, Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong's Hang Seng all closed down. And it's not any better on Wall Street. Futures for the Dow, S&P 500 and NASDAQ also down.

Later this morning, jurors will return for day two of deliberations in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. They must decide whether Dr. Conrad Murray is guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's 2009 death from an overdose of Propofol. In an exclusive interview with "In Session" on CNN sister network, TruTV, Jackson's former dermatologist says the pop star was totally addicted to Propofol.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ARNOLD KLEIN, MICHAEL JACKSON'S DERMATOLOGIST: I knew he had a dependency on Propofol. He felt he couldn't sleep without it. When he was in Hawaii, I and myself and my nurse sleep to the floor of his room to prevent the plastic surgeon there to give him Propofol. I knew this problem existed.

I did my best to prevent it. Whenever I could, I prevented it. But I'm only one man. I have to support my own life and take care of myself. I knew the problem existed. We had long discussions about it, trust me on this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You can watch the whole interview with Dr. Arnold Klein on "In Session." That starts at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

The weekend brought more arrests and even prompted a change among "Occupy" protesters. In Atlanta, police arrested a lone woman draped in an American flag at the city's downtown Woodruff Park. That was a far cry from Saturday when police arrested 19 demonstrators. Police say they moved in after protesters refused to leave the park after closing time.

In New York, women-only tent has been set up in the Zuccotti Park after several incidents of sexual harassment. Last week, police arrested a man on charges of sexually abusing a teenager.

At the White House on Sunday, thousands of protesters with a different cause. Their message to President Obama: reject a proposed oil pipeline that will run from Canada, all the way to Texas. Supporters argue the project would create needed jobs and help ease America's dependence on foreign oil. Critics say a spill from the pipeline could create an environmental disaster on par with the Gulf oil spill. The president initially said a final decision would be made in the State Department but recently, he's indicated he might give the yea or nay.

The question on the minds of a lot of people in Oklahoma this morning: is the shaking finally over? The central part of the state had dozens of aftershocks yesterday following Saturday's 5.6 magnitude quake, the strongest in nearly 60 years.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ED MURRAY, KWTV REPORTER: Another earthquake has just hit. I still hear a few lights rattling here in our studio. And we will -- we still have -- if you can see our duratran, I don't know if you see it behind us, it's still shaking, here in Oklahoma City.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The duratran is steady this morning. The quake was centered near the town of Sparks. It was felt as far away was Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Texas and Tennessee. So far, no reports of major injuries. But some roads and buildings did suffer some damage.

To Atlanta now and Rob Marciano. Happy Monday.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hey, I tell you what, folks in Oklahoma have had quite a year, you know? Record snow storm, record cold, tornadoes and now earthquakes. I'm sure they'd be glad --

COSTELLO: What's next?

MARCIANO: -- to see 2012 coming around.

Good morning, Carol. Hey, listen, some thunderstorms actually -- the threat for severe weather does exist today throughout much of central Oklahoma and Texas -- and parts of Dallas as well. There's the weather map, the decent storm that's kind of winding up and Dallas will see severe thunderstorms pop up in the afternoon. And that may be enough to cause delays up over an hour. St. Louis, Kansas City, more of a generic rain. And the snow behind the system in Denver once again may cause some delays and some low clouds in San Francisco if you're traveling that way.

And this storm is kind of give us some action for the next couple of days. So, stormy week ahead with moisture being tapped from the Gulf of Mexico and we'll start it off across north Texas today and through Oklahoma and we'll spread the red area, and the danger spots into parts of Louisiana, Arkansas and through the mid-South as we go through tomorrow.

The threat for a tornado today is on the strong side. And three to five inches of snow expected across parts of Colorado. Seasons are a changing. That means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

This video is coming to you from our affiliates in South Bend, Indiana, where just outside of South Bend, near Notre Dame, this turkey in Granger, Indiana, is causing quite a stir. Apparently, it's been around for a couple of weeks, Carol, popping up at a construction site nearby. The workers call it either Kenny or Tommy, depending on who you talk to. And lately, it's causing traffic problems, expecting and chasing in some cases, some of the cars as they go through town.

COSTELLO: It knows, Rob, that Thanksgiving is approaching. It's angry about that.

MARCIANO: Yes, certainly. I could totally understand.

COSTELLO: Me, too. Thank you, Rob.

MARCIANO: See you, Carol.

COSTELLO: Appreciate it.

MARCIANO: You bet.

COSTELLO: Who better to spoof Kim Kardashian's divorce from Kris Humphries than the cast of "Saturday Night Live." Here's your punch line this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It seems I got divorced.

ANNOUNCER: The fairy tale divorce.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Can you believe I'm old enough to have a daughter who's getting divorced? Now, you can't, because my surgeries worked.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When I heard my Kim was getting married, I was so happy, my face was like. But when I heard she was getting divorced, it broke my heart. My face was like.

ANNOUNCER: Be there for the magical moment when Kim and Kris reach a fair, financial settlement.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Marriages are hard. And it turns out Kris was only half the man I wanted him to be. By that I mean he was only half black. But things are looking up for me. I'm single and there's an NBA lockout.

(EDND VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That was really funny. I don't even watch the show and I got that. That's how funny it was.

Still ahead, NASA is worried about space tourists. They've already come up with some rules before any spaceship heads to the moon. We'll have all the details for you ahead.

But, first, our "Quote of the Day." This is the quote: "You can't take a congressman to lunch for $25, but you can take him to a fund-raising lunch and not only buy him that steak but give him $25,000 extra and call it a fund-raiser," end quote. Who said that? We'll tell you.

It's eight minutes past.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is 10 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

Now, back to our "Quote of the Day." This is the quote, "You can't take a congressman to lunch for $25, but you can take him to a fund-raising lunch and not only buy him that steak but give him $25,000 extra and call it a fund-raiser," end quote.

That came from Washington, D.C. lobbyist Jack Abramoff, or should I say, former lobbyist. He served three-and-a-half years in prison for conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion before his release last December. Abramoff was on CBS "60 Minutes" last night, saying techniques used by some lobbyists are, quote, "evil and terrible." He went on to say ethics reform policies put in place after his conviction are not working and the system is flawed and needs to be fixed.

The thought of private space ships loaded with tourists landing on the moon is making some NASA scientists very nervous, so nervous they're working to lay down serious rules.

Let's head to Hong Kong and Kristie Lu Stout to talk more about this?

Really?

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: I know. Yes, really. Talk about planning in advance, Carol. Space tourists may one day soon descend upon the Apollo mission landing sites. So, NASA is laying out a few ground rules. It is calling for a 1,200-acre no- fly zone around the first Apollo 11 landing site and the last Apollo 17 one.

But why the rush? Why now? Well, teams are competing for the Google Lunar X Prize and they want answers. They're out to land a robot on the moon and they've been asking NASA these lunar guidelines. The guidelines are not designed to just keep out the visitors but also to let certain researchers in.

This is interesting. NASA is very keen to see how artifacts degrade on the moon. So, Carol, we should expect to see space archaeologists join all those anticipated tourists on the trips to the moon.

Back to you.

COSTELLO: I'm just curious. I can't believe an entity would have jurisdiction over the moon.

STOUT: That's right. There is no jurisdiction over the moon. It is a gray legal area. And NASA responds to that question by saying it makes these guidelines available for all of its international space partners.

COSTELLO: Interesting stuff.

Let's talk about Steve Jobs and the lost interview because it's coming to a theater near you very soon.

STOUT: That's right. Steve Jobs' lost interview, a 70-minute feature that repurposes a copy of the full interview with the Apple co-founder from 1995.

And here is a short clip. Let's listen in.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE JOBS, APPLE CO-FOUNDER: I was so blinded by the first thing they showed me which was the graphical user interface. I thought it was the best thing I've ever seen in my life. Now, remember, it was very flawed. What we saw was incomplete. They'd done a bunch of things wrong. But we didn't know that at the time. Still though, the germ of the idea was there and they had done it very well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STOUT: There, Steve Jobs is describing the moment when he discovered the graphical user interface or gooey. It was during a visit to Xerox PARC. And it was a concept he later applied to the Apple Lisa and the Macintosh.

Now, the director of this film, Paul Sen, he discovered the lost interview in his garage in London last month after Steve Jobs passed away. Now, fewer than 10 minutes from the original interview made it into the PBS special that aired back in the mid-'90s called "Triumph of the Nerds." And those of you watching from Silicon Valley, you'll be able to see this movie. Again, it's called "Steve Jobs' Lost Interview" and it will play a two-night run at the landmark theaters in Palo Alto -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Interesting. Kristie Lu Stout, reporting from Hong Kong -- thank you.

Just who will it be for the Republicans in 2012? After a rollercoaster race so far, can any of the candidates beat Mitt Romney?

We'll talk about it in our Political Ticker. That's coming our way, next.

It's 14 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: It is 15 minutes past the hour.

Herman Cain probably wishes the sexual allegations against him would just go away. So, who benefits while he tries to fight off repeated questions from reporters? Comedian Jimmy Kimmel thinks he has this one figured out.

Here's your punch line:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hi, fellow Americans. Mitt Romney here. As you know, for the last three months, I've been talking all kinds of (EXPLETIVE DELETED) about how we need to kick out the Mexicans and repeal Obamacare, all to try just to win your votes.

Well, guess what? That was all a big bottle of A1 crapola. The truth is, I'm a pro-choice moderate from Massachusetts who passed a big old government health care plan and I know global warming is real. Don't like it? Too bad, because you're going to vote for me anyway, I'm all you got left. Game over, baby, I win. Oh, and in case you didn't hear, I'm a Mormon.

Mitt Romney, he's all you've got. Paid for by anyone but Obama.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Ouch.

Oh, let's head to Washington, D.C. and check in with Tim Farley.

TIM FARLEY, SIRIUS POTUS HOST: It's all you got, Carol.

COSTELLO: I know. Sadly there's truth to that fake ad.

FARLEY: Yes. As we sit here now a year minus a day from the election in 2012, you have to think about the state of affairs and you see the Republican and this new "Washington Post"/ABC News poll which indicates, yes, Mitt Romney is probably the top choice but not by much, and he'd be the second choice, and yes, they could probably vote for him if they had to. And most of the Republicans, or at least 33 percent, believe he is the most electable.

But, you know, so much can happen between now and the first contest, which is the Iowa caucuses. I was listening to Alex Castellanos say yesterday, you know, America has never seen $20 million worth of flip-flop ads in a shorter period of time. We're about to see that.

So, we'll see how it plays. Right now, though, as we're looking at the field, we know President Obama is it for the Democrats. Even there, there's a lot of tepid response. This is just -- tepidity, is that a word, Carol? I mean, I've seen a lot of that, both on Republican and Democratic side.

COSTELLO: It's just kind of sad that many voters feel that they have to vote for the least common denominator again.

FARLEY: Yes, it's -- just try to find something that's close. People do philosophically believe in a lot of the candidates, it's just that they haven't been convinced yet. No one has made the final sale.

For Mitt Romney, what's problematic about this is the fact that he's been after this for a few years.

Herman Cain, I -- as we have discussed several times I've not considered to be a real threat to win the nomination. Even if he wins Iowa and some people said, wow, he could win Iowa. Yes, but that doesn't mean much, really, because it's just the first of many contests. This is a long slug. This is something that takes time.

And we could be over relatively quickly if we get somebody like Mitt Romney winning three out of the first four. But if it's not Mitt, it's still going to be a long-time coming.

And you know what? The biggest thing is, events you could never predict that can happen between now and then. Somebody could flame out for something that you just can't even see right now, couldn't even think of. So, that's what we'll be watching for.

COSTELLO: I think we all realize that now.

FARLEY: Yes.

COSTELLO: Let's talk a little bit about Herman Cain. He's refusing to answer any more questions on the subject of the sexual harassment allegations, but he's going to appear on Jimmy Kimmel tonight. And you have to believe that Kimmel will at least joke with Cain about these allegations?

FARLEY: Well, sure. I mean, the thing that Herman Cain, when he was -- had his debate with Newt Gingrich on Saturday night, afterwards he met with reporters others and said, look, we are getting back on message.

Is there any place less likely to get you back on message than sitting in a chair next to Jimmy Kimmel? I mean, Jimmy Kimmel's message is, let's have some fun and skewer whoever is sitting next to me. I don't know that Herman Cain is going to be talking 9-9-9 unless Jimmy Kimmel wants to bring up something other that what Herman Cain intends, and maybe he'll start talking about Chilean models and things like that.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: Now, that would be interesting.

Thanks so much. Tim Farley, host of "Morning Briefing" on Sirius POTUS Radio.

A new report expected today on Iran's nuclear program. But will it prove the Mideast nation is working towards building nuclear weapons? We'll have some answers for you, ahead.

But, first, unemployment is about 9 percent and millions of Americans are out of work. Day is Job Action Day -- a day designed for workers to put their career and job in the forefront, make plans and take action steps. It was created in 2008 as a way to empower workers and job seekers. How empower do you feel about it this morning?

Twenty minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Twenty-three minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL.

Here are three things to put on your radar today:

At 1:00 Eastern, we're expecting to hear more details about the case against former Penn State University football coach Jerry Sandusky. He's charged with child sex abuse. The district attorney on the case is said to hold a news conference.

We're watching for a verdict in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. This will be day two of jury deliberations.

And the NBA is giving the players union until Wednesday to accept a deal over a new collective bargaining agreement. We'll be on the lookout for any new developments.

Several Western diplomats say a report due out today from the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency will prove that Iran is indeed trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Let's head round the world now, head to London with Zain Verjee.

Tell us more, Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Well, this is a really important is an interesting IAEA report from the world's nuclear watchdog. According to these Western diplomats, and this is a really big deal here, it's what's different from the other reports, it's much more explicit in what it says about Iran trying to pursue a nuclear weapons program.

Iran has always said that it's pursuing a program simply for peaceful purposes to generate electricity. But what these Western diplomats have told CNN, Carol, is that they look at the data and say that there's more data that shows that Iran wants to build nuclear components, a nuclear warhead. And they have more specific information. So, we're likely to see more details when they roll out that report.

The U.S. has been pretty concerned about this and they're monitoring the situation very closely, including increasing, they want more sanctions on Iran and they really want to try and isolate the country as much as they can, in tandem with other countries around the world.

One other thing that they're watching, Carol, is Israel. Because there have been reports that Israel may do a unilateral strike on Iran. And they're concerned about that and watching that, too. Carol?

Let's turn the corner and talk about Cuba, because travel restrictions have been eased for travel to Cuba. So, how many cities are we talking that will provide flights to Cuba?

VERJEE: We're talking about just a few airports in the U.S. that are going to fly their aircraft to Havana. It's actually a partnership between Delta and Marazul Travel. And, essentially, the U.S. government needs to authorize the passengers that get on board those planes and travel to Cuba.

So, people who have very close relatives there, for example, business people, students, other researchers and analysts that want to go to Cuba. So, it's not as easy as all that just to buy a ticket and head off to Cuba, there are a few extra steps to be taken. But it's definitely a sign of the practical transition of easing travel restrictions to Cuba from the U.S.

COSTELLO: Zain Verjee, live in London for us this morning -- thank you.

Penn State rocked by a sex scandal. A former coach is accused of sexually abusing young boys but he's not the only one facing charges.

And a Texas death row inmate is set to die this week. He says DNA testing, though, will prove his innocence. But will his wishes be granted?

Twenty-six minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you. It is Monday November 7th. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. I'm Carol Costello joining you live from New York this morning. It is 30 minutes past the hour.

Later today, a Pennsylvania district attorney holds a news conference on the case of former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky. He's accused of sexually abusing young boys who participated in a youth charity he founded. Also, two current Penn State officials have stepped down in connection with the investigation.

Our Greg Black has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GREG BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Former Penn State assistant football Coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested over the weekend accused of abusing eight boys from 1994 to 2009. Head coach Joe Paterno says he was told in 2002 about an alleged inappropriate incident involving Sandusky in a Penn State locker room shower. Paterno alerted the school's athletic director. That athletic director and another school official stepped down Sunday night.

Washington Post columnist Mike Wise says, if Sandusky is convicted, Paterno should go.

MIKE WISE, COLUMNIST, WASHINGTON POST: Joe Paterno, if this is true, should step down from the university. It is a responsibility as a person not a football coach's to protect a child.

BLACK: What do Penn State fans say?

One says he doesn't see Paterno leaving.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They think about Joe Paterno and he's not involved in it, not implicated or anything. I think it will be a big nonevent. It's just one bad apple.

BLACK: Sandusky's attorney says the allegations have been tough on his client who says he's innocent.

JOSEPH AMENDOLA, JERRY SANDUSKY'S ATTORNEY: Jerry's very, very depressed the knowledge, regardless of whether he eventually proves his guilt or innocence that people are going to think he did this stuff.

BLACK: I'm Greg Black, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: Coach Joe Paterno has led the Penn State Football program for more than four decades. And he did release a statement on this scandal. It reads, "I understand that people are upset and angry, but let's be fair and let the legal process unfold. In the meantime, I would ask all Penn Staters to continue to trust in what that name represents, continue to pursue their lives every day with high ideals and not let these events shake their beliefs nor who they are."

We'll have much more of this case on "AMERICAN MORNING."

Smoking Joe Frazier is seriously ill with liver cancer. That word from his business manager who says the former heavyweight champ now in hospice. Frazier retired with a record of 32-4-1. He fought against the greats including George Foreman and of course Muhammad Ali. He actually beat Ali in the 1971 fight of the century at Madison Square Garden.

Voters in Mississippi will vote on a state constitutional amendment tomorrow. They could change abortion laws and affect availability of some forms of birth control. Initiative 26 would define life as beginning at fertilization. Besides making abortion virtually illegal, it would make in vitro fertilization treatments more difficult. The measure would likely wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Texas death row inmate Henry Skinner is set to die Wednesday for the 1993 murders of his girlfriend and her two adult sons. He says DNA tests would prove his innocence. Officials say that forensic evidence and witness statement proved he did indeed do the crimes. Skinner's attorney says his client couldn't have pulled off the murders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROB OWEN, HENRY SKINNER'S ATTORNEY: He had consumed tremendous quantities of alcohol and codeine on the night of the crime. And a witness who saw him about 90 minutes before the murders took place said he was essentially comatose, dead to the world. They couldn't rouse him from the sofa. So, on top of that Mister Skinner had a hand injury at the time that would have made it impossible for him to inflict the strangulation injuries that twilight above he suffered.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Last year, the Supreme Court stopped Skinner's execution so he could press for DNA testing. That request was denied. He's now laying his hopes on the Texas court of criminal appeals.

Still ahead, it's game on. Retailers are promising to be much more aggressive this holiday season. We'll have all the details in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thirty five minutes past the hour in our money headlines, get ready, we're hearing the holiday TV sales push is going to be strong in the coming weeks.

Let's check in with Christine Romans.

Christine, I was in Macy's here in New York and it's all decked out for Christmas like Christmas trees. It's only November 7th.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're earlier than ever. But I'm telling you right now, no matter what they try to do to entice you to buy for Christmas, wait because there are going to be amazing sales on television. And you'll be able to get big TVs for the price of maybe a smaller version last year or you are going to see discounts of up to 40 percent.

OK. Consumers are going tore bigger. They want big TVs, they want thin, they want light. And they're willing to upgrade even if they bought a TV in the last couple of years. And they're expecting more. They're budget conscious. They want their money to go farther. They'll shop around. And the retailers know it and they're expecting huge discounts up until the holidays and closer to the holidays.

And you know one retail analyst that I know likes to always say if you want to buy a television, there's no reason to buy it unless it's Christmas or super bowl. Those are when the best sales are, both of them around the corner, boys and girls. So, keep your money in your pocket right now and watch the retailers fight for your attention because they're going to.

COSTELLO: And I was going to do my Christmas shopping early this year. But you've given me another use not to.

(LAUGHTER)

COSTELLO: This past Saturday was bank transfer day, a big movement urging people to close their accounts at big banks and transfer them to credit unions and smaller banks. So, what was the response?

ROMANS: The early evidence that it was pretty good. There were some credit unions around the country that usually are closed on Saturday. They try to stay opened for a couple of hours so that they could be there. Be on hand to take anybody's transfers.

They started as the Facebook movement, I believe. And it really turned into something big. I mean before this whole thing. Before the whole Bank of America debit card debacle. We could say there were about eight percent of insured deposits in this country were in the hands of credit unions.

We'll know in coming weeks how much that has grown but I'm sure. I have no doubt. I do not have to go out on a limb to say it's in double digits now. Because so many people are fed up with the fees at their banks and they're walking with their money. They really are. There was one credit union industry association that estimated that since all this fee stuff started a few you know a couple months ago, maybe 650,000 people have switched. We don't know the numbers yet for sure.

COSTELLO: Wow.

ROMANS: But -- look, Carol, I mean people are really angry and they know they have the power of their own purse and they're using it.

COSTELLO: Good for them. Christine Romans, thanks so much. See you in a bit.

ROMANS: You're welcome.

COSTELLO: It was a tough week for Herman Cain. Will this one be any easier and how has the allegations against him? I mean how has that affected the polls? We have new polls coming up in our political ticker.

But first, a special get smart question for you this morning. We paid tribute to the legendary TV personality Andy Rooney who died on Friday at the age of 92.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANY ROONEY, FORMER COMMENTATOR, "60 MINUTES": Funny thing is, over the years, our opinion of how our hair looks best changes. I used to think I looked best with long side burns. Why in the world would I have ever thought that? I didn't realize I looked so funny back then or I probably would have never gone on television at all.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: But he did go on TV and what a career he had. Rooney used his dry wit and unique style to close CBS' "60 Minutes" for 33 years. His rants earned him the nickname "grouch in chief."

So, today's get smart question, how many essays did Andy Rooney perform on "60 minutes"? Was 478, 876 or 1,097? The answer comes your way in two minutes. Its 39 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Its 41 minutes past the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE- UP CALL. Now, back to your get smart question of the day. CBS' Andy Rooney died on Friday after presenting essays on "60 minutes" for 33 years.

So how many essays did he give during his career? Was it 478, 876 or 1,097?

The answer is "c," 1,097. Rooney announced on the October 2nd broadcast that he would no longer appear regularly. He delivered his last commentary. And as I said it was his 1,097th.

Time now for our political ticker with our Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser, he's in Washington this morning. Good morning, Paul.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR (vie telephone): Good morning, Carol.

COSTELLO: Herman Cain, he's coming off a tough week. He got a little testy with reporters again over the weekend. So - and actually he's refusing to answer questions. So, will that finally put an end to this saga?

STEINHAUSER: It might but Carol, still a lot of unanswered questions. I think until all the questions get answered and we know that no other people will come out and give us new revelations then, no, this is not over.

And as you mentioned, he did get a little testy. It was in a debate, just him and Newt Gingrich, who's kind of love fest down there in Texas, a tea party debate. And after it was over he took questions from the media. The organizers and the aides -- his aides tried to keep the questions away from sexual harassment. But it didn't end up that way. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you all just listen, if you all just listen for 30 seconds, I will explain this one time. What I'm saying is this. We are getting back on message --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Mister Cain.

CAIN: End of story. Back on message. Read all of the other accounts, read all of the other accounts, everything has been answer in a story. We're getting back on message. OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STEINHAUSER: Well, Herman Cain would like to get it back on you know back on message and end the story. We'll see if that happens. He actually got a friendly media event tonight for a Jimmy Kimmel show out in California, Carol.

COSTELLO: And you don't think the sexual allegations will come up on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

STEINHAUSER: I'm not going to guarantee they will or they won't. How's that?

COSTELLO: OK. Probably a smart man. You are a political animal, aren't you?

There are some new polls have come out over the weekend. What are they showing about Herman Cain?

STEINHAUSER: Yes. But remember the allegation fit about a week ago. This poll was conducted during the week, Monday through Thursday, "Washington Post" and ABC.

Take a look at the numbers. Look at the horse race numbers, battle for the GOP nomination, and there you go. Herman Cain and former governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney basically tied where they were for first place, top of the heat in the battle for the nomination.

So, if you look at that, you say nothing's changed, really, right, because the allegations have heard. Go to the next board as well. And you can see right here, nearly seven in ten Republican voters, these are Republicans, Carol. They say that you know these allegations, this story line is not affecting about how they feel about Herman Cain and their possible vote for them.

But I guess the problem is those 23 percent who say, yes, this is an issue. Carol.

COSTELLO: Paul Steinhauser, many thanks.

The Greek prime minister is preparing to resign on the condition that the new unity government agrees to a multi-billion dollar EU bailout. But will that come volatile world market?

But first, on the save history, do you remember where you were during this shocking announcement from NBA star Magic Johnson?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EARVIN "MAGIC" JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Because of HIV virus that I have attained, I will have to retire from the Lakers today.

(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: That news conference was 20 years ago today. Johnson revealed he would be leaving the NBA. At 6'8" he revolutionized the point guard position and left the game as a five-time NBA champion and 12-time all-star. Since that announcement magic has raised millions for aids research and currently works as an NBA TV analyst. Its 45 minutes past the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning to you. It is Monday, November 7th. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. I'm Carol Costello, joining you live this morning from New York.

Its 48 minutes past the hour.

The Greek prime minister is preparing to resign on the condition that a new unity government agrees to a multibillion dollar EU bailout.

Let's head round the world with Jim Boulden, he's in Athens, Greece with morning. Good morning, Jim.

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. Yes, it was quite a weekend, really, a lot of toeing and fro'ing from the presidential palace as the leaders of the major parties sure to hash up this deal.

What we do know is that Mister Papandreou, born in Minnesota, believe it or not, the prime minister will be stepping down. We just don't know who will replace him. It could be a Harvard professor named Mister Papademos who used to be at European Central Bank. So, a lot of American connections here.

The bottom line is whoever runs this caretaker government for the next few weeks has to convince the Greek public that they have to have another round of tough austerity that cuts to the pensions, job cuts, and that's, of course, taking less pay if they do keep their job.

The economy is in recession but Europe says you have to do this to cut your budget deficit or we won't give you the money, that's what the markets have been worried. If Greece didn't take the money, it will go bankrupt. And remember what happened when Lehman brothers went bankrupt in 2008? That's why we saw the markets last week so worried about what's happening here in Athens. Carol?

COSTELLO: So ugly. Let's talk about Italy because the political future of Italy's Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, now hangs in the balance. So, what can we expect - what can we expect next?

BOULDEN: You know it's these Mediterranean countries and the periphery of Europe that seems to be causing all these issues. Italy, of course, is a much, much bigger economy and (inaudible). Mister Silvio Berlusconi hangs on by a thread. He's been prime minister for a very long time. He keeps coming and going.

And what the markets are worried about, you look at what's called the Greek -- sorry, look at the Italian debt market and the interest rate is very high for Italy to be able to settle its debt. So, the markets fair is very worried and Mister Berlusconi won't be able to push through austerity packages in that country. It has a very, very high budget deficit as well.

So, that's where the story now changes. That's why European markets are down this morning. In fact, the markets here in Greece are a bit higher. So, Rome becomes the center of attention in the center of this euro storm, Carol.

COSTELLO: Thanks very much. We appreciate it, Jim.

Later this p morning, jurors return for day two of deliberations in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. They must decide if Mister Conrad Murray is guilty of voluntary manslaughter and Jackson's 2009 death from an overdose of propofol. In an exclusive interview with "In Session" on CNN's sister network TruTV; Jackson's former dermatologist says the pop star was totally addicted to propofol.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ARNOLD KLEIN, MICHAEL JACKSON'S DERMATOLOGIST: I knew he had a dependency on propofol. He felt he couldn't sleep without it. When he was in Hawaii, Michael and myself and my nurse slept in his room (inaudible). I know this problem existed and I did my best (inaudible). Whenever I could I prevented it but I'm only one man and I have to support my own life and take care of myself. I knew the problem existed. We had long discussions about it, trust me on this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: You can catch the entire interview with Doctor Arnold Klein on "In Session," that starts at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

The head of Connecticut light and power has a message for its customers, "we're sorry." The utility had set a deadline of midnight Sunday, to get 99 percent of its customers back on line after that freak snow storm a week ago.

Well, the utility didn't make it. Instead, some 95 to 96 percent have power leaving some 80,000 people are still in the dark.

Let's head to Atlanta now and Rob Marciano. It's a good thing it hasn't been like frigidly cold in Connecticut.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. But it has been chilly in spots. You know Connecticut has a lot of trees. It's a tiny, tiny state but it's got a lot of trees. And certainly when you get a storm like this, trees will come down, that's exactly what happened right on the heels of Irene.

So, this has been mind-boggling for the residents there, especially in the northern part of the state. The good news today as Carol mentioned a quiet weather. A little chilly this morning, but it will see temperatures rebound in the afternoon. Here's a look at the weather map, west of the Mississippi we're looking at a bit of a mess. Some energy coming out of the Rockies and that is going to stir up the storms across parts of the plains, including Texas. Severe whether threat there and snow potentially on the backside of this, could see several inches of it.

So, if you are travelling today, Dallas will see severe thunderstorms, especially in the afternoon. So, we could see delays of over an hour there. Rain in Saint Louis, in Kansas City, the snow in Denver expected and low clouds across San Francisco.

Here's amount of snow that we expect to see. Mostly cross east of the continental divide as this thing moves off towards the plains and eventually towards the mid-south. Tornados are possibility with this damn storm prediction center giving it a 10 percent shot of this happening in this shaded area or a little smaller shaded area than this, just north of Dallas.

Nonetheless, a dangerous situation potentially shaping up for the plains. We will keep you posted as they were long. Note the heat in Dallas, 77, so, that's one of the equations. And we'll see the moisture begins in from the Gulf of Mexico as well, 62 degrees expected for a high temperature in New York City and 64 degrees expected in Washington.

Having a bit of a Monday morning brain lapse here. Roll the video. It will remind me of what I'm supposed to talk about next. Oh, yes, sun spots. There's a big one that's beginning to rotate towards the earth. We mentioned this last week, Carol. And this sun spot is seven or eight times the size of earth. As the sun rotates and that spot gets -- basically lined up with earth, there's a potential of seeing solar flares and Cymes that could interact with the earth's atmosphere. And potentially some x-flares -- we typically get m-class flares, the midrange. But this thing is so strong scientists are thinking that x-class flares may be thrown our way in the next few days. So, we'll be watching for that, not only with northern lights but potentially interacting with satellites that orbit the earth.

COSTELLO: Awesome.

MARCIANO: Stunning images as well coming out of the higher-end telescopes looking at the sun.

COSTELLO: Can wait. Rob Marciano, thank you.

MARCIANO: All right. Thanks Carol.

COSTELLO: The snuggie, you remember the snuggie? It was one of those wacky inventions but sure was a moneymaker. Still ahead, we think we may have spotted the next snuggie. We're live at the NASDAQ market side with that story, next.

But first, let's take a look at the word of the day, it's "war- texting." Find out what it means and why you need to know after break. Six minutes until the top of the hour. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Its two minutes until the top of the hour. This is your A.M. WAKE-UP CALL. now back to our word of the day. It's war- texting. You can do a lot more things with your cell phone these days, including things with your car. So, according to wire.com, war- texting means hacking into the software that lets drivers start a car or unlock its doors with a cell phone. Now you know. And don't try that at home.

Let's head to the NASDAQ market site and check in with Carter Evans. How are the numbers looking this morning?

CARTER EVANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, we have the uncertainty in Greece and that's holding the numbers back so far this morning. We get a reading on consumer credit today. That one is also important. So, we are going to hear from a couple important companies. Priceline, a big one here and yoo-hoo.com, you may have heard of this company. It is the Chinese version of You Tube.

But in the meantime, let's go ahead and check out futures. We turn and look, it so good right now. Dow is down 125. NASDAQ down 23 and a quarter, S&P 500 down about 14 points right now.

COSTELLO: OK. What's making headlines on CNNmoney.com?

EVANS: Well, you know what, this is just one of my favorite stories of the week, the snuggie was so, so popular. And I got to tell you, Carol, I made fun of it when it first came out on TV, then my wife bought one. We now have snuggies, even our dog has snuggies. That product was so successful.

So, could this be the next snuggie? It's a one C (ph) for adults. They're called forever lacies (ph).

(LAUGHTER)

EVANS: Do you see it?

COSTELLO: Does it have a flop at the back?

EVANS: Yes, it does. I don't know if you see the C in there but there's a little flap right in the back there.

(LAUGHTER)

EVANS: And you know, you and I laugh right now, and this picture looks really funny, but I can think of about five people who would like to try like this right now.

(CROSSTALK)

COSTELLO: Ali Velshi wants one.

EVANS: Yes, and it's marketed by the same company behind the success of the Snuggie so, who knows?

COSTELLO: My personal favorite is Pajama Jeans.

EVANS: Pajama Jeans. Are those like mom jeans?

COSTELLO: No! They're just kind of unattractive jeans that fit like leggings that you're supposed to wear and look fashionable.

EVANS: Well, maybe you can get me a pair for Christmas.

COSTELLO: That would be so attractive! Carter Evans, thanks so much. AMERICAN MORNING starts right now.