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Michael Vick Sidelined; No Indictment in Post-Katrina Deaths in New Orleans; Terror Sleeper Cells in the United States?
Aired July 24, 2007 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty-three months after Hurricane Katrina, the storm clouds part for Anna Pou.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: No indictment, no prosecution of the doctor accused of killing four desperately ill patients in the most desperate of circumstances.
Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don lemon.
A live report from New Orleans straight ahead right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: Arrested in the aftermath of Katrina, absolved in a dramatic rebuff to prosecutors. It's a developing story now. A grand jury in New Orleans refusing to indict a doctor accused of killing four seriously ill patients.
CNN Gulf Coast correspondent Susan Roesgen joins us now live from New Orleans -- Susan.
SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: You know, Kyra, this was one of the most shocking cases to come out after Hurricane Katrina, Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses accused of intentionally killing at least four patients at a flooded New Orleans hospital.
Now, this hospital had no power. That means no air-conditioning, no life-support machines, no toilets, no running water, a really dire situation, for days. And the question was, did Dr. Anna Pou give some of the patients something to ease their misery or did she actually kill them?
Now, earlier this month, the two nurses who had been under investigation were dropped from the grand jury investigation. And that left just Dr. Anna Pou. And, today, the grand jury announced that it simply did not find enough evidence to actually charge her with murder, no indictments. So, this basically ends the legal case against her, although the families of the alleged victims, Kyra, could still sue her.
And the state attorney general, who initially accused her and the two nurses, his office said today that he still believes that it was murder -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, did Dr. Pou say anything yet about today's grand jury decision?
ROESGEN: You know, she's actually going to have a press conference in a couple of hours. So, it will be very interesting to see what she says. She has a lot of supporters here in New Orleans who simply never believed she was possible of doing that. But she's been silent for months on this case. So it will be very intriguing to hear what she has to say.
PHILLIPS: And she's accused of killing these seriously ill patients with a lethal combination of drugs. Was there ever a lethal combination of drugs found in the bodies of those four patients?
ROESGEN: You know, nothing definitive, Kyra. The coroner here in or Orleans Parish had said that the bodies were so badly decomposed and that these were such seriously ill patients, that they already had some serious drugs in their systems, and so it was impossible, he said, for anyone to determine whether or not they had been given something that actually killed them. Others said, yes, they had been given a lethal cocktail. But, again, today the grand jury said they simply did not find enough evidence.
PHILLIPS: Have you had a chance to talk with any of the family members of these alleged victims?
ROESGEN: You know, not yet. I talked to one of the families about a year ago when these accusations came out and the doctor was first arrested. And they were furious. They definitely believed that Dr. Pou and the nurses had killed their loved one.
But whether they really believe that the grand jury was accurate in its assessment today or not, we still don't know. But we will put in a call to them and find out what they have to say later as well.
PHILLIPS: All right, Susan Roesgen, thanks so much.
LEMON: A big push from President Bush today to convince skeptics the war in Iraq is vital to American security. Facing Congress that's largely jumped ship and weak public approval, the president invoked a memory of pre-Iraq terrorist targets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iraq is not the reason that the terrorists are at war with us. We were not in Iraq when the terrorists bombed the World Trade Center in 1993. We were not in Iraq when they attacked our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. We were not in Iraq when they attacked the USS Cole in 2000. And we were not in Iraq on September the 11th, 2001.
Our action to remove Saddam Hussein did not start the terrorist violence. An America withdrawal from Iraq would not end it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: A new report suggests no quick end to the U.S. military presence in Iraq. "The New York Times" cites a classified plan that sees a big role for U.S. troops through the summer of 2009. The "Times" front-page story says -- quote -- "The classified plan calls for restoring security in local areas including Baghdad by the summer of 2008. Sustainable security is to be established on a nationwide basis by the summer of 2009, according to American officials familiar with the document."
CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre joins us now.
So, is that a reasonable time frame is the question, Jamie?
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Don, CNN reported on this plan back in May. Back then it was called the joint -- campaign redesign plan, instead of the joint campaign plan.
But the essential elements are the same. It's based on the idea of negotiating local agreements and then trying to have those spread across the country. It presumes that the surge will go until the spring of next year. And it doesn't really foresee any really substantial reductions beyond that until 2009.
Whether it's a realistic time frame really depends on how much progress is made in those areas. This is a broad overview of the sort of the way the strategy has evolved to try to bring about peace in Iraq. It doesn't proscribe any specific timetables. So, it has some broad goals, but it doesn't have specific benchmarks such as we will see in the September report.
LEMON: OK, so, Jamie, so what can be accomplished in Iraq in two years? I mean, does the Pentagon take into account all the political talk about pulling troops out of Iraq?
MCINTYRE: Well, again, this plan is based on a somewhat optimistic scenario, that the surge produces the results it's supposed to produce and that they're gradually able to provide more security and that the Iraqi government steps up. It's a somewhat optimistic scenario.
But it doesn't stop at two years. Nobody is suggesting that U.S. troops would be out of Iraq in two years. In fact, what's commonly cited at the Pentagon is what's called the Korea model. That is, a substantial number of U.S. troops, a number that hasn't really been determined yet, would remain in Iraq for quite some time to try to provide a force for stability, just as U.S. troops have remained in South Korea now for more than 50 years since the armistice in South Korea.
LEMON: CNN senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre -- thank you, Jamie.
PHILLIPS: Swamped, soaked and stranded. More than a million people are still trapped by floods in western England. Most have electricity again, but almost 350,000 are running out of drinking water. Red Cross workers and British troops are hand-delivering bottled water and other supplies. Three deaths have been reported, twins born prematurely and an older man whose body was found in a flooded basement.
Queen Elizabeth has sent a message of sympathy to flood victims and the government is promising more money to help them recover.
In this country, summer storms slammed the Arizona desert, quickly flooding roads and stranding more than a few motorists. This woman was plucked to safety from the roof of her car. There it is right there. Her husband managed to swim to dry land.
(WEATHER UPDATE)
LEMON: Arrested and jailed in Mississippi. Less than two weeks later, Lee Smith (ph) was dead. The autopsy blamed natural causes. But Smith's family calls it murder. Our Kathleen Koch investigates next in the CNN NEWSROOM.
PHILLIPS: A star quarterback sidelined by serious allegations. The NFL weighs in on the Michael Vick case coming up.
And actress Lindsay Lohan arrested again on DUI charges. More strange details and new updates -- coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Three twelve Eastern time. Here are three of the stories we're working on in the CNN NEWSROOM.
The Senate Judiciary Committee grilled Alberto Gonzales today on the U.S. attorney firings. Ranking Republican Arlen Specter suggested the attorney general appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the controversy.
It still ain't much, but it is a raise for those making minimum wage. The federal hourly minimum went up 70 cents today to $5.85, the first hike in 10 years.
Another arrest for fresh-out-of rehab Lindsay Lohan, the actress charged with DUI, cocaine possession, and driving on a suspended license. Incidentally, she's now fresh back into rehab as well.
LEMON: An exclusive story about shocking allegations of prisoner abuse at a Mississippi county jail.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATHLEEN KOCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Lashun Smith raced to the jail, demanding answers about her son. Instead, she says she got lies.
LASHUN SMITH, MOTHER: When I got there, no, they kept denying it, denying it, denying it.
KOCH: Finally, the warden came in and delivered the awful news. Her son was dead.
The county autopsy found that Lee Smith (ph) died of natural causes, a -- quote -- massive recent pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in the lung. But the young man had never before had health problems. Then, as if in confirmation of their suspicions, Smith's grandmother had a disturbing dream.
LUCY WILLIAMS, GRANDMOTHER: He said: Momma, I was murdered. They killed me.
And it just ran chills all through my -- my body. I just woke up instantly.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: And our Kathleen Koch joins us now live from Washington with details on this story.
Kathleen, how did you find out about this story?
KOCH: Well, Don, this is a family that I had met shortly after Hurricane Katrina. Their home was destroyed by the hurricane. But then they reached out to me in April with even worse news. They told me that this was their only grandson, Lee Demond Smith (ph), that he had been taken to the local jail, under suspicion of shooting someone.
And, while they were investigating it, while he was being held there, just 13 days later, he turned up dead. And they were so distressed and just simply very, very suspicion. It was the inmates in the jail who called out to tell them that Lee was dead. The jail denied it for hours and hours. And also there were these stories that were circulating around the county about inmates being beaten by guards in the jail.
So, the family reached out to me when they had gotten a second autopsy. And, Don, we're going to, in our special series tonight, reveal the results of that autopsy. And it will certainly show that the family had reason to be suspicious.
LEMON: And you said there were stories about town about this particular jail. And I'm sure knowing you, Kathleen, you probably investigated the jail and the record there. What did you find out?
KOCH: Very, very troubling. At least four inmates have died in this jail since 2002 of unnatural circumstances. One of them, in February of 2006, was actually beaten to death in front of the booking room cameras by the jailers. There are four jailers who are going to trial in August for his murder.
But, since then, four more jailers have pleaded guilty to abusing other inmates. And we got an exclusive interview with one of them, who said the jail was short-staffed, that from day one when he was entered there, that he was taught to beat inmates. He said the supervisors, the captains, everyone condoned it. They encouraged it. That was how you kept order.
And he said they were also taught to falsify their reports so that they could over up the abuse. And, Don, it's important to note that this is just a jail. It's not a prison. It's not packed with murderers and rapists. These are people who maybe have not paid their parking tickets. They are brought in on public drunkenness.
And we interviewed two victims of alleged abuse. They say they were beaten, they were tortured. One of them, again, was only brought in for public drunkenness, both of them there for one night only, and they were nearly killed.
LEMON: Unbelievable. Fascinating stuff in just the little bit you have shown us here. Thank you very much for that, Kathleen Koch.
KOCH: You bet.
LEMON: And of course watch complete details of this exclusive investigation into alleged inmate abuses at the Harrison County Jail. It's going to be on "A.C. 360" tonight. That show begins at 10:00 p.m. Eastern right here on CNN.
PHILLIPS: A star quarterback dogged by serious allegations told to stay away from training camp. The NFL weighs in on the Michael Vick case -- coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BUSINESS REPORT)
LEMON: Who would you be if you didn't have a document, a driver's license, Social Security card, or some other form of I.D. to prove it? Well, it's more than a philosophical question. In America, your I.D. is your ticket to opportunity and just about everything else. And illegal immigrants, well, they're shut out, but not in New Haven, Connecticut, not anyone.
CNN's Alina Cho is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FATIMA, RESIDENT OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: It's a horrible feeling when you don't have any document that you can prove that you are who you're saying that you are.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fatima, a Mexican, has been living and working in New Haven, Connecticut for the past three years. She plans on heading to city hall today to pick up an unusual offering -- an identification card.
The new cards will provide the necessary I.D. for Fatima to open a checking account and use New Haven's libraries, beaches and parks.
FATIMA: With this card, I'm going to be part of this society.
CHO: White other cities are cracking down on illegal immigrants, New Haven is the first in the nation to validate its estimated 15,000 undocumented people.
JOHN DESTEFANO JR., MAYOR OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT: New Haven didn't want to and couldn't afford to wait until the federal government acted. CHO: But many in the community, as well as the country, are upset about New Haven's new measure.
DUSTIN GOLD, SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT IMMIGRATION REFORM: I mean the federal government does have a policy. They don't enforce the policy, which does not give a municipal politician the right to bend and work the rules.
CHO: Last month, federal immigration agents arrested 32 immigrants in the New Haven area. The mayor says the raid was retaliation for the new I.D. program.
DESTEFANO: Too much coincidence for me.
CHO: CNN contacted Immigration Customs Enforcement. They told us: We won't discuss specifics of investigation activity. Actions are planned carefully off of law enforcement leads and intelligence.
Fatima was not deterred from applying for the card.
FATIMA: It was a struggle of many years and then we saw that it was possible. Si se puede. It's our reality. Si se puede. Yes, we can.
CHO: Alina Cho, CNN, New Haven, Connecticut.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Now, here's a possibility that could keep you up at night: terrorist sleeper cells right here in the U.S. Intel officials talk about it -- coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.
Al Qaeda sympathizers in the U.S.? U.S. intelligence officials say they are on the alert.
CNN's Kelli Arena looks into concerns over sleeper cells and jihadi wannabes.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: Terror in America, you have heard the warnings. Al Qaeda's on the rise and setting its sights on the United States. Well, today, the U.S. general in charge of homeland security tells the Associated Press -- quote -- "I believe there are cells in the U.S., in the United States, or at least people who aspire to create cells in the United States."
CNN's Kelli Arena looks at the latest intel on terror group sympathizers who are already here. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Right here in the United States, there are individuals with ties to senior al Qaeda leaders. It's a pretty sobering statement. made by the country's senior intelligence official.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "MEET THE PRESS")
MIKE MCCONNELL, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: There have been some that have been sympathetic to al Qaeda's cause.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARENA: McConnell, and just about every other senior U.S. official, says there aren't known sleeper agents waiting to attack, but there are still potentially dangerous individuals out there.
JOE BILLY, ASSISTANT FBI DIRECTOR: What we do have to do is to be very sure of the persons that do potentially pose a risk that we know as much as we can about where they're going in their mind, with plans to either join a cause, to bring others into the fold, or to just simply talk about it.
ARENA: Joe Billy is the FBI's top counterterrorism official. He will not say exactly how many people the bureau is watching. What he will say is that the number could grow, and there were some trends that concern him.
For starters, radical Internet sites are increasing, especially those in English that spread messages of hate against the United States. Another is a small number of young American Muslims growing up with a negative view of the U.S.
BILLY: I think what will continue to be the concern will be those few individuals that -- that drift. And we've seen drifting both here in the U.S. as well as around the world.
ARENA: But extremism has not taken root here as it has in Europe. Many officials say it's largely because the Muslim community here is hell bent on keeping it away.
DANIEL BENJAMIN, BROOKINGS INSTITUTION: So far we haven't really seen much in the way of jihadist sentiment in the United States, at least in an organized way.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ARENA: That could be why the latest intelligence update shows that Al Qaeda is increasing its chances to get operatives from elsewhere into the United States.
Kelli Arena, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEO TAPE) KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, he can throw a football a mile, twist and turn like a jackrabbit and stop on a dime. But the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons won't even be on the sidelines when the team opens training camp on Thursday. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ordered Michael Vick to stay away because of allegations he ran a dog fighting outfit.
CNN's Rusty Dornin was at the Falcons camp this morning.
And earlier I asked her when Vick last met with the commissioner.
RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Roger Goodell, the commissioner, did meet with Vick in April and asked him straight out, when these allegations first surfaced, did you have anything to do with this? And reportedly Vick denied it.
Well, from the -- according to the indictment, Vick, in April, was involved in the deaths of eight dogs. So I'm sure Goodell also might be taking his own interview with Vick into consideration.
But the interesting thing is they're asking the Falcons not to do anything, not to take any kind of disciplinary action until their review is over.
But the Falcons are holding a press conference this afternoon, so it's going to be sort of interesting to hear what they have to say.
PHILLIPS: And you've been up there at the training camp.
What has the reaction been, can you give us a feel, players, just fans, people driving by?
I know that a lot of people were honking, saying, "Let him play. Let him play."
DORNIN: Right. Right. Well, it's very quiet there right now, of course, because they're just setting up the camp, which is scheduled to begin on Thursday. Of course, Vick is going to be facing his arraignment there.
But just while we were doing live shots out there, you had people going by honking their horns, that sort of thing, you know, saying, "Let him play." Compared to yesterday, you had the PETA protesters out there, who are saying, you know, take him out. He shouldn't be playing. This is horrible.
And, of course, that is something that's entering into it, as well. There's a lot of pressure going on towards the NFL, towards the Falcons from PETA and from the Humane Society saying this is unacceptable behavior if he's guilty of this, something needs to be done.
PHILLIPS: In addition to that, you were saying, too, you've seen a lot of letters to the editors right at the local papers thinking that they -- it's sort of like an -- there's a -- reminiscent of O.J. DORNIN: That, you know, there are some, it goes both ways. Again, there are some people saying let him play, let him play. And there are others saying that this is very racist, going after him is racist. And they compare it to sort of the O.J. Case, that they're not letting him have his day in court. Let him have his day in court and then let the jury decide.
PHILLIPS: Well, the Falcons' owner and coach expected to weigh in around the top of the hour.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Mud, tree limbs and, well, boulders everywhere. Here's a closer look at a monumental cleanup facing dozens of families in Central Colorado. At least 31 homes were damaged or destroyed when a weekend mudslide tore through their town. No one was hurt. Everyone had to be evacuated in nearby Buena Vista. But with the power back on and the roads cleared, many are heading back home.
PHILLIPS: Never before seen or done, putting the you in inclusive. More from the CNN/YouTube presidential debate, including the question that wrapped up a first of its kind evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All year long CNN is shining the spotlight on some very special people. Today, we introduce you to a 14-year-old girl who is trying to save Americans billions of gallons of gas.
Her name is Savannah Walters and she is today's CNN Hero.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
SAVANNAH WALTERS: Yes.
I'm worried about the future, because I don't want to live in a yucky world where there is no clean water to drink and no clean air to breathe. If we drill in the acc refuge, we're going to hurt lots of animals and people, and it's just not fair.
I'm Savannah Walters and I'm teaching people to pump up their tires to save the Arctic Refuge.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was on a photo assignment in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and ever since then I've been involved in environmental activism. One evening the phone rang and this little girl said, "I'm Savannah Rose Walters and I'm nine-years-old and my mom said I could call you.
WALTERS: He is the one who told me that Americans waste millions of gallons of gas a day by driving on under inflated tires. And I said, well, why don't they just pump them up?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, why don't you ask them to?
And so she did.
WALTERS: I got permission to go and put tire gauges, flyers and balloons on everybody's car in the local train station, explaining to people how they could pump up and check their tires.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My first reaction, was why didn't I think of that?
And I think that was only the beginning of her education of me.
WALTERS: Do you know how to check your tires?
What you want to do is look for the PSI, and that's pound per square inch. And if you pump up your tires, your tires are going to last a lot longer.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, good to know.
WALTERS: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thirty-three?
WALTERS: That's about right.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, hot doggie.
WALTERS: OK. You can keep the tire gauge.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So I need to check this once a week?
WALTERS: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK.
Thank you very much.
WALTERS: All right, thank you very much.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Savannah Rose is doing what she's doing because she wants to do it and she understands that she needs to do it for things to get better.
WALTERS: It's just about protecting the planet and wanting to live in a clean world.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: For more information on how to properly inflate your tires or if you'd like to learn more about Savannah Walters' organization, you'll find all the information you need at CNN.com/heroes.
PHILLIPS: It was kind of like an exercise at summer camp. The last question on last night's CNN/YouTube debate drew responses that were serious, funny, dry and even a little irritated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) QUESTION: My name is Jason Koop, and I am from Colorado Springs, Colorado. And my question is for all of the candidates, and it is intended to lighten up the mood a little bit.
I would like for each of you to look at the candidate to your left and tell the audience one thing you like and one thing you dislike about that particular candidate. And remember, be honest.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Senator Gravel?
MIKE GRAVEL (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I turn to my left and I like Chris Dodd. I knew his dad, I served with his dad.
I do have a difference of opinion with respect to where the money's coming from.
I've advocated, people, follow the money if you want to find out what's going to happen after any one of these individuals are elected. Follow the money, because it's politics as usual is what you're seeing.
COOPER: Senator Dodd?
SEN. CHRIS DODD (D), CONNECTICUT: I like John Edwards. I love his wife Elizabeth and his family, and I think we've had enough of negative in politics. I have nothing negative to say about the gentleman.
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: You're not going to answer the question. All right. Senator Edwards?
JOHN EDWARDS, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I admire what Senator Clinton has done for America, what her husband did for America.
I'm not sure about that coat.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Senator Clinton?
SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON (D), NEW YORK: Yes, John, it's a good thing we're ending soon.
(LAUGHTER)
You know, I think that Chris Dodd has it absolutely right. I mean, I admire and like very much Barack, as I do with all of the candidates here. And I think that what you've seen tonight is how ready the Democrats are to lead.
We are ready to lead the change that America so desperately needs.
(APPLAUSE) COOPER: All right. I'll take that as you're not going to answer.
Senator Obama?
SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), ILLINOIS: I actually like Hillary's jacket. I don't know what's wrong with it. And I like the fact that Bill Richardson has devoted his life to public service, because that, I think, is the highest of callings.
(APPLAUSE)
I don't like the fact that he either likes the Yankees or the Red Sox, but doesn't apparently like the White Sox. And we're having a tough time this year.
COOPER: Governor Richardson?
GOV. BILL RICHARDSON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You know, let me just say, I love all of the candidates here. In fact, I think they would all do great in the White House as my vice president.
(LAUGHTER)
Let me say something about Joe Biden.
(APPLAUSE)
Joe Biden -- you know, the only negative thing about Joe. We disagree on Iraq very strongly, on Darfur. But this man has devoted his whole life to public service. He's been a distinguished chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He's had great contributions in civil rights, in issues relating to gun control, in Supreme Court nominees. He will make an excellent secretary of state for me.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Senator Biden?
SEN. JOSEPH BIDEN (D-DW), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't like a damn thing about him. I -- no, I'm only kidding. Only kidding.
(LAUGHTER)
Dennis and I have been friends for 25 years. I think this is a ridiculous exercise.
(LAUGHTER)
Dennis, the thing I like best about you is your wife.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: Congressman Kucinich, talk about Senator Gravel.
REP. DENNIS KUCINICH (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Wait a minute. He talked about my wife.
COOPER: Well...
(LAUGHTER)
KUCINICH: You notice what CNN did. They didn't put anybody to the left of me. Think about it.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I'm not sure it would be possible to find anybody.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
KUCINICH: And you know what? And you know -- and I'm glad I get a chance to debate you to my left, because there's no one more mainstream on the war and on health care and on trade than I am, Anderson.
Now, about Senator Gravel: Didn't he show great courage during the Vietnam War, when he exposed what was going on with the Pentagon Papers. Really courageous American. I'm proud that he's up here.
Thank you, Senator Gravel.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's not too late for you to comment on the candidates' performance. Be a pundit for us and tell us what you thought of last night's debate. Just go to CNN.com/ireport and give us your two cents and see what everyone is saying.
The Republicans get their chance to answer your questions in another CNN/YouTube debate. That's September 17th only on CNN.
LEMON: And, Kyra, speaking of Republicans, there's been a shake- up in the Republican presidential hopefuls campaign. We're talking about Fred Thompson here.
CNN has just learned, -- as a matter of fact this is from our John King -- that top adviser to Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson on Wednesday submitted his resignation for the organization. His name is Tom Collamore and he joined Thompson's effort after being recruited away from his post at Altria, the parent company of brands like Kraft Foods and Philip Morris and what have you.
But according to sources that tell CNN that Collamore became frustrated with Thompson's wife, who is said to be running his campaign, his wife, Jerri. It said she is running the operation and the source said Collamore was not happy about that. They apparently butted heads. So, again, a top adviser to Republican presidential hopeful Fred Thompson has resigned. We're going to have details on this coming up throughout the evening on CNN. And make sure you stay tuned for "THE SITUATION ROOM".
PHILLIPS: We're going to take a look at the big board. The market right now have taken a dive this hour as we approach the closing bell. The Dow Industrials down 233 points.
What's behind the numbers?
We'll talk with Susan Lisovicz in just a minute.
LEMON: And get this, less than two weeks -- two weeks out of rehab and under arrest for alleged DUI again. Harvey Levin of TMZ weighed in on that a little bit earlier. We're going to talk about it in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, well, there it is -- another famous face posing for police and not the paparazzi. That's Lindsay Lohan. She had her latest mug shot snapped this morning in Santa Monica, California. She's charged with cocaine possession and DUI. And just last week, she was booked in Beverly Hills for a previous DUI charge.
Two weeks ago, she left a rehab center sporting an ankle monitor on her ankle to keep her honest. So, so much for that.
Where is it now or where is she now?
I asked TMZ.com's manager editor, Harvey Levin, earlier. And here's the Lohan lowdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
HARVEY LEVIN, TMZ.COM MANAGING EDITOR: We're told she's back in rehab. But she is not back at the facility she went into last month, at Promises rehab facility. She is not there. We don't know where she is. We know she's not at Promises.
LEMON: OK. So, Harvey, we saw that thing, you know, the photo earlier. It had her with the bracelet on, the ankle bracelet, that SCRAM thing that we talked about. Now, this had showed that she had been sober until yesterday.
Is that so?
Because we've been getting reports, we've been seeing TMZ.com that she had been drinking in other places even before yesterday.
LEVIN: Well, I don't know how reliable SCRAM is in this case, because we called one of the honchos at SCRAM early, early this morning as we were putting stories up and he hadn't even know that she had been arrested, much less drinking. So I'm not sure what that was connected to. But there was certainly a problem this morning, at least from all the information we have.
LEMON:
Harvey, she just turned 21.
How does -- at 21 years old -- 18, 19, 20 -- this has been -- this has been happening for quite a while with Lindsay Lohan.
How does one become -- have an addiction problem at that young age, I mean, to this degree of severity?
LEVIN: Well, there are lots of people who have addictions. It's not -- just because you're not of legal age doesn't mean that you're not hitting the bottle or using drugs. It happens to hundreds of thousands, if not millions of kids in this country. So that's no surprise.
In her case, she is just -- honestly, she has hardly had a fighting chance. She had a nightmare upbringing with two parents who were at war -- the father going in and out of jail, having their own rehab problems or substance abuse issues.
LEMON: Yes.
LEVIN: So, you know, this is something that she has been dealing with for an awfully long time and, frankly, it's not a huge surprise to me.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
LEMON: And TMZ.com is now reporting that Lindsay Lohan will miss her scheduled appearance on "The Tonight Show" tonight. Rob Schneider reportedly will step in for her. Lohan's new movie, "I Know Who Killed Me," comes out on Friday.
And we have this programming note for you. Larry King will speak to Lindsay Lohan's estranged father tonight; plus actor and rehab veteran Daniel Baldwin; and more. That's tonight, 9:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.
PHILLIPS: It looks like we've got a tornado warning in Florida, just as we're coming up on the top of the hour.
What did you find -- Chad?
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, the closing bell and a wrap of all the action on Wall Street, straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was wanting to ask all the nominees whether they would send their kids to public school or private school.
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: The question is public school or private school. We know, Senator Clinton, you sent your daughter to private school.
Senator Edwards, Obama and Biden also send your kids to private school.
Is that correct?
CLINTON: No.
COOPER: No?
CLINTON: No, it's not correct.
COOPER: OK.
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
EDWARDS: I've had four children, and all of them have gone to public school. I've got two kids...
(APPLAUSE)
... Who are actually here with me in Charleston tonight, two kids, Emma Claire and Jack, just finished the third grade in public school in North Carolina, and Jack just finished the first grade in public school in North Carolina.
COOPER: Senator Clinton?
CLINTON: And Chelsea went to public schools, kindergarten through eighth grade, until we moved to Washington. And then I was advised, and it was, unfortunately, good advice, that if she were to go to a public school, the press would never leave her alone, because it's a public school.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the CNN/YouTube debate wasn't exactly "Saturday Night Live" but it wasn't all gravitas all the time either. There were some lighter moments on the mix.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The mainstream media seems awfully interested in old Al Gore these days.
QUESTION: Is he losing weight? What's it say in his book? Is he still worried about all the ice?
QUESTION: They interpret all these as signs that he may or may not run. They really want to know if Al Gore's going to run again.
QUESTION: Yes. Well, what we want to know is does that hurt you- all's feelings?
(APPLAUSE)
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Anderson...
COOPER: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the people of Tennessee just had their feelings hurt.
COOPER: Well...
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This here is a two-part question.
(SINGING): Pay taxes on my clothes and food, pay taxes on my place, pay taxes on my moisturizer, I pay taxes on my weights. I pay taxes on my land. Every year, y'all make me pay. I pay tax on this guitar so I can sing for you today.
My taxes put some kids in college I can't afford to send myself. Now, tell me, if you were elected president, what would you do to help?
Also, I got a parking ticket last week. Could one of y'all pardon me?
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: my question is for Hillary Clinton.
With Bush, Clinton, and Bush again serving as the last three presidents, how would electing you, a Clinton, constitute the type of change in Washington so many people in the heartland are yearning for, and what your campaign has been talking about?
Good luck and whoever becomes the nominee, I'll be pulling for you.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Go Democrats!
(APPLAUSE)
COOPER: The question is for Senator Clinton.
CLINTON: Well, I think it is a problem that Bush was elected in 2000.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like for each of you to look at the candidate to your left and tell the audience one thing you like and one thing you dislike about that particular candidate.
EDWARDS: I admire what Senator Clinton has done for America, what her husband did for America.
I'm not sure about that coat.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARDSON: You know, let me just say, I love all of the candidates here. In fact, I think they would all do great in the White House as my vice president.
(LAUGHTER)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KUCINICH: You notice what CNN did. They didn't put anybody to the left of me. Think about it.
(LAUGHTER)
COOPER: I'm not sure it would be possible to find anybody.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the Republicans get their chance to answer your questions in another CNN/YouTube debate. That's September 17th, only on CNN.
I know it was a tough day on Wall Street. Things, well, they got much worse in the past hour. LEMON: Susan Lisovicz is standing by with a final look at the trading day.
It really got worse this past hour.
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
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