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Who Killed Sean Taylor?; Body Disposed Of?; Giuliani's Risky Strategy
Aired November 28, 2007 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everybody.
I'm Heidi Collins.
Watch events come into the NEWSROOM live today, November 28th.
Here's what's on the rundown.
Fans show their love for number 21. The killing of NFL player Sean Taylor -- this hour, inside the investigation with a "Miami Herald" reporter.
HARRIS: You ask and the Republicans answer. Tonight's CNN/YouTube debate, we talk to a viewer about her video questions.
COLLINS: Four sets of twins in just 24 hours.
The doctor delivers -- in the NEWSROOM.
HARRIS: At the top this hour, Sean Taylor, a star on the football field, an unsolved case for homicide investigators. This morning a memorial is springing up at the Miami high school where Taylor first gained fame. It comes one day after he died from a gunshot wound.
His death stunned fans and teammates. The Washington Redskins will hold a prayer service today before practice. Fans have laid flowers and mementos outside.
Taylor's father, a police chief in Florida, says the family is coming to terms with the loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEDRO TAYLOR, SEAN TAYLOR'S FATHER: God is always in control. We have no control of life or death. It is in the power of him, and we thank him for all 24 years of having Sean here. I know it sounds short, but that is his will and it was done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Taylor's father says his family has been touched by the outpouring of support and of love.
Police are hoping the public will help break the case. So where are police in this investigation?
Evan Benn is covering that part of the story. He is a reporter for "The Miami Herald."
Evan, good to see you. Thanks for your time this morning.
Let's cover some of the bases here. Was the shooting related in any way to a break-in that occurred, what, eight days earlier?
EVAN BENN, "MIAMI HERALD": Right, about eight days before. Police are trying to figure that out. That is something they are looking at closely today.
HARRIS: And are they -- what are they saying at this point? That they just don't know?
BENN: Right. I mean, they are trying to piece things together.
You know, yesterday, police had to switch gears in their investigation from a home invasion burglary to a homicide. So right now the crime lab is expediting all of the evidence-processing. Police are talking to Sean Taylor's friends and acquaintances trying to find leads, and they are asking the public for help.
HARRIS: Any evidence from any of those interviews that suggest that Taylor may have known his assailant?
BENN: No, nothing is known. Unfortunately, he passed away before police had a chance to talk with him.
His girlfriend, who was in the house at the time, didn't see anything. She was sleeping, and when Sean Taylor and she woke up and heard a noise, he told her to stay under the covers with their baby while he went out to investigate.
HARRIS: And we've got a picture here of the girlfriend.
Who is Ryan Hill, another picture we will put up here. And how significant is he to any of this?
BENN: Well, in 2005, there was an incident between Ryan Hill and Sean Taylor, where Taylor thought that Hill stole two of his ATVs. Taylor then confronted him and there was a scuffle. And as a result, Taylor was charged with some things. The felony charges were dropped, but then Hill followed up with a lawsuit against Taylor, which was still pending at the time of his death.
HARRIS: That picture, I should mention, comes from our affiliate in Miami, WFOR. And we appreciate their help in helping us tell this story.
Do you know whether or not Ryan Hill has been interviewed by police? BENN: WFOR, our news partner, they talked to him yesterday, and he said that he's not a suspect and he hasn't been talked to by police. Police have told us that they are going back to all of the players from that 2005 case and talk to them just to see what they might know.
HARRIS: Got you. Now I'm going to ask you some questions, and I'm sure we don't know any of these answers, but I just want to get it out there.
Was robbery involved? Was this -- if not robbery, was this some kind of personal vendetta? Is that at least an area that police are investigating here?
BENN: Well, Taylor's family friend and attorney, Richard Sharpstein, said that as far as he knows, nothing was taken from the home. So right now, police are just looking at the homicide aspect of it.
HARRIS: Got you. Was the home, to your knowledge, equipped with an alarm system?
BENN: Apparently it was, and the alarm system was turned off or disabled Monday night when the break-in happened.
HARRIS: OK. Because there is some reporting in your paper today that the phone lines weren't working in the home. Any evidence that they were actually cut?
BENN: No. No evidence they were cut. Those were the initial reports, and then yesterday it came out that the phone lines might have been not working but also not cut.
HARRIS: The girlfriend in this case, to what extent has she been questioned?
BENN: I know she's talked with investigators. She and Sean Taylor were together for about seven years. I think they were high school sweethearts.
She has been cooperative. Yesterday, she showed up at Taylor's family home with their baby dressed in all black, but she didn't have anything to say.
HARRIS: OK.
Evan Benn with "The Miami Herald."
Evan, thanks for your time this morning.
BENN: Thank you.
COLLINS: Disturbing development in a missing mom case. Stacy Peterson has been missing from her Illinois home for a month. Her husband maintains she left him for someone else, but police have named Drew Peterson as a suspect in her disappearance. Now a report in today's "Chicago Tribune" says a relative allegedly helped Peterson dispose of his wife's body. The papers talked to a source close to that investigation, and the relative reportedly told a friend he helped carry a large sealed container from the Peterson's bedroom into Drew Peterson's SUV.
The relative allegedly told the friend the container was warm to the touch. The Tribune reports the relative has not been charged and is being treated as a suspect.
CNN affiliate WGN spoke with Drew Peterson right after The Tribune broke the story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DREW PETERSON, SUSPECT: I have no idea what anybody is talking about like that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Warm to the touch?
PETERSON: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He says he believes that he helped you dispose of your wife's body. Can you at least respond to that?
PETERSON: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not at all?
PETERSON: No response. Talk to my lawyer. I have got nothing to say about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No truth to it whatsoever?
PETERSON: Non. Nobody helped me with anything such as that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On October 28th? Where were you on October 28th? This gentlemen says he helped you carry a container out of your home.
PETERSON: You have to talk to my attorney.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Our Keith Oppenheim has been following this story. He is on the phone right now.
Keith, tell us what you've learned.
KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are some stunning details that are emerging from both Chicago major papers, "The Chicago Tribune" and "The Chicago Sun-Times." We're working on confirming this.
But just to add some details to what you said, Heidi. "The Chicago Tribune" is reporting on October 28th, which is the day before Stacy Peterson was officially reported missing, that this relative helped Peterson remove a large four-foot plastic container from the upstairs of Peterson's home which was described as weighing about 120 pounds. And the report says that the container or barrel was taken into Peterson's SUV and then Peterson dropped the relative off.
Two days later, The Tribune reports, the relative was treated at the hospital for a suicide attempt. Now, The Sun-Times is identifying the relative as a brother-in-law, but has also reported that prosecutors have not called this brother-in-law as a witness before a grand jury because he has memory lapses about loading this barrel into Peterson's SUV.
Peterson's attorney, Joel Brodsky (ph), has responded to these reports. He calls them rumors and he says there's no container and there's no barrel.
Another tidbit in The Tribune I should mention, Heidi, is "The Chicago Tribune" is reporting that Bolingbrook police would say that Drew Peterson's scheduled day off -- or he called in sick, rather, on October 28th, which is the day before Stacy Peterson was officially reported missing.
So we're working on this.
Back to you.
COLLINS: Yes. Boy, it sounds like there is a lot of developments here, and clearly still coming out this morning. So we will check back with you, Keith, should you learn any more.
Thanks so much.
Keith Oppenheim reporting by telephone today.
HARRIS: Overseas now. Pakistan's leader steps down as army chief one day before his swearing in as a civilian president. General Pervez Musharraf giving one final salute to his troops who were handing over the ceremonial baton to his successor. The opposition had demanded the change and is still calling for an end to the state of emergency in Pakistan that began earlier this month. The opposition sees it as a move to stop free and fair elections.
President Bush trying to cement the road to peace in the Middle East. He is hosting Israeli and Palestinian leaders at the White House today. It is a follow-up of yesterday's breakthrough in which Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to restart peace talks. The White House says today's ceremony will officially inaugurate the first direct negotiations in seven years.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now is the time to show Palestinians that their dream of a free and independent state can be achieved at the table of peace and that the terror and violence preached by Palestinian extremists is the greatest obstacle to a Palestinian state.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Well, the Israelis and Palestinians will start working on their differences next month in Jerusalem.
COLLINS: You asked, and tonight they answer. Republican presidential candidates taking your questions in the party's first CNN/YouTube debate. The stakes are high, especially for Rudy Giuliani.
The story now from Dana Bash.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The Villages, Florida's largest retirement community where golf carts dominate the streets and many transplants from New York have an affinity for a certain mayor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The best choice right now to me and a lot of people here will be Giuliani. He's strong. I think he can help us.
BASH: Giuliani is trailing in other early primaries states but dominating here, where Republicans appear more tolerant of his stance on social issues like abortion rights. In a new CNN/Opinion Research poll, only 19 percent of Florida Republicans say abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I believe that Florida is going to determine the Republican nominee for President.
BASH: Giuliani long ago singled out Florida as his firewall. He trails in the first key nominating contests -- Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and is banking on a big win here on January 29th to reset the race and propel him into a crowded Super Tuesday and includes mega-states from New York to California.
Giuliani's Florida chairman concedes it's risky.
BILL MCCOLLUM, GIULIANI FLORIDA PARTY CHAIRMAN: If he doesn't win in Florida, the prospects for his being the nominee for the Republican Party are much less.
BASH: All the more dicey because in the new poll, only three in 10 say they definitely made up their minds, and early wins usually ignite momentum.
PROF. DARRYL PAULSON, UNIV. OF SOUTH FLORIDA: Over the last 20, 25 years, Florida has sort of reaffirmed the pattern of Iowa and New Hampshire. In that respect, it could be a problem for Giuliani.
BASH: Giuliani thinks this time is different. Florida's vote is earlier and his pitch is crime-fighting 9/11 mayor (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was there day and night. He was always there and got everything going.
BASH: Especially with those former New Yorkers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Vote for Rudy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Former New Yorkers in golf carts, you've got to love that.
Dana Bash is live now from the debate location, St. Petersburg, Florida.
Dana, another interesting thing that came up in this poll is the issue of electability. It seems like, of course, we are always talking about that.
What is the issue now?
BASH: Well, particularly for the state of Florida, according to this poll, you're right, it really was interesting. Six in 10 Florida Republicans, Heidi, said they think that Rudy Giuliani has the best shot of winning the White House next November, but what might be even more interesting is that when you look at what would happen if Democrats actually elect or nominate Hillary Clinton as their nominee, it might not be the case, because it also shows that Florida voters, by a margin of nine points, if it were a Rudy/Hillary match-up, Hillary would win.
So that is sort of quite interesting. But maybe if you look beyond that and look at the national debate, you're hearing a lot more from people like Mitt Romney the name "Hillary Clinton," and, you know, just even the past several days, Heidi, he has been a lot more aggressive in trying to say that a Giuliani administration would be not that different from a Hillary Clinton administration, trying to kind of gin up the Republican base and warn them about this. But it is one of the main reasons why Rudy Giuliani thinks that he has a pretty good case here in Florida and in those big states, because he is convinced that he can appeal to the sort of broader electorate, who -- many of whom might not want Hillary Clinton in the White House either.
COLLINS: So, what do you think? Fireworks tonight?
BASH: You know, it is hard to imagine that we won't see fireworks. They are -- these candidates are champing at the bit.
It has been so much more aggressive over the past three or four days just kind of at a distance going at each other on every single issue, especially between Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. But, you know, the others are at it, too, no question about it.
So, it's going to be different. They are going to get questions of course from real people via YouTube, but, you know, they are ready to take whatever question they get and turn towards one another and try to kind of, you know, interact on this particular -- on any particular issue, so I can't imagine we're not going to see fireworks already.
COLLINS: All right. Live from St. Petersburg, Florida, Dana Bash.
Thank you so much, Dana.
And be sure to watch tonight. It's 8:00 Eastern. That is when your voice will be heard. The Republican/YouTube debate only on CNN, your home for politics.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: It sounds like a scene from one of your favorite TV dramas. A crime scene investigation goes high tech in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Welcome back, everyone, to the CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Tony Harris.
A Thanksgiving baby boom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know that I delivered ever two sets of twins in one day. Certainly never three. And never four.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And the doctor blames the holiday turkey! That story coming up for you later in the NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Well, we want to tell you a little bit more about some of those gadgets and gizmos that you may have seen on those "CSI" dramas. They're pretty interesting. And now new technology could actually help real-life crime scene investigators solve cases faster, and that is some good news.
Our own chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, is here now with more on this and showing us some of these new tools.
Very cool.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is really interesting. You know, autopsies can take hours or even days.
COLLINS: Sure.
GUPTA: We talk a lot about that as we cover some of these stories. The goal has been to try to get it done faster.
So in certain situations, non-homicide, but, for example, accidental traumas, the idea that maybe you just CAT scan the entire body and get the information you need from the CAT scan, as opposed to conducting a real autopsy, how accurate was it? Let me give you an example.
This is a brain you're looking at. These are the two eyeballs up here, this is the nose up here.
The question was, this area in here, this black area, that's all air within the brain cavity that shouldn't be there. And this area right here is actually some blood that suggests that there was actually brain trauma, some sort of blunt force that may have caused this person's death. And such was the situation here.
It's very good for looking up things like ballistics, like if there's bullets inside the body. You can find those on CAT scans.
Not as good, for example, for looking at things like homicides, where you have stabbings, how much of a force was there? Gunshots, is there gun powder on the skin, for example? But in certain situations like this, it could actually be a very good tool.
They actually looked at 20 different autopsies and compared it to 20 different full-body CAT scans, and found that the results were very good, very accurate, in terms of determining cause of death.
COLLINS: Wow. And always...
GUPTA: And it just takes minutes, too.
COLLINS: Yes, exactly. When you're trying to solve some type of crime, and also for the family, to get them more answers faster, it has got to be a good thing.
GUPTA: That's right.
COLLINS: Now, what about -- I understand there's more tools, too, for mass casualties, mass deaths, that can help.
GUPTA: Yes. I mean, that's obviously a morbid thing to talk about, but this idea that, for example, a plane crash or something, where you have to identify lots of people all at once. Dental records -- the old-fashioned dental records is still the best way to do it, despite all the modern advancements we've made.
The problem is sometimes you might be able to see here, Heidi, you may have old dental records and new dental records, and it's hard to compare the two, compare one to the other. This is 290 pixels, for example. This is 254.
It's hard to tell. Is it the same person or not?
There's a new software that just came out from this radiology society as well that actually immediately converts so that both of them are almost the same pixelation, 290 here, 291.
COLLINS: Right.
GUPTA: You can make a very quick determination that, in fact, this is the same person. You may not have been able to tell here. Put it through a quick program, it just takes a few minutes. You can tell with pretty good accuracy just one pixelation off that it's the same person.
COLLINS: Sure.
So, are medical examiners actually using any of this technology now, or is it going to take a while to get it implemented?
GUPTA: Well, the CAT scan has been around for a long time.
COLLINS: Sure.
GUPTA: The question is, are they as good as doing an actual autopsy? Some people already do this. Some hospitals already do this as sort of a stop-gap measure to do the CAT scan, in addition to the autopsy. But I think it's going to become more commonly widespread, especially those dental records. It's so fast and it's so helpful, especially in mass casualty situations.
COLLINS: Wow. Wow. Fascinating, isn't it?
GUPTA: I love this stuff.
COLLINS: And this is relatively new area for you because I know you have your certification now. Tell us again. What is it?
GUPTA: It's a CME, certified medical examiner. And this idea of being able to identify bodies and identify cause of death, it's at the heart of this field, obviously.
COLLINS: Right.
GUPTA: So, interesting gadgets, interesting new techniques like this are always very interesting for us.
COLLINS: Yes, absolutely.
All right. CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Thank you.
GUPTA: Thanks, Heidi.
COLLINS: Tony.
HARRIS: Well, here's a question for you. Did roid rage contribute to the killing of 17 Iraqi civilians?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN BURKE, LEAD COUNSEL: What we've learned is that there is fairly widespread steroid use among the personnel that they call shooters, the people that go out on the vehicles with guns.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Details of a lawsuit filed against Blackwater guards. The story in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Contractors roid rage? A lawsuit alleges Blackwater guards accused of killing Iraqi civilians took steroids.
CNN's Jamie McIntyre reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Lawyers for some victims of the September 16th shootings allege that Blackwater guards were regular steroid users and suggest that could have been a factor in the incident by magnifying the guards' anger and making them more prone to overreact.
BURKE: What we've learned is that there is fairly widespread steroid use among the personnel that they call shooters, the people that go out on the vehicles with guns.
MCINTYRE: A lawsuit just filed in federal court in Washington spells outline the charge -- "Blackwater knew that 25 percent or more of its shooters were ingesting steroids or other judgment-altering substances, yet failed to take effective steps to stop the drug use."
Contacted by CNN, a company spokesperson said, "All Blackwater personnel are drug tested during the screening process, before ever working for the company, and are subject to random testing, which is performed quarterly. Steroids and performance enhancement drugs both illegal and prescribed are absolutely in violation of our policy. If anyone were known to be using illegal drugs they would be fired immediately."
BURKE: It's not enough to just fire a few people after the fact. They've got to be looking into this.
MCINTYRE: The lawyers say they have sources with inside knowledge who confirm the company turned a blind eye to steroid use, and that by putting employees under oath, they will be able to build a convincing case. The lawsuit asks for significant, but unspecified, punitive damages on behalf of seven victims or their families, including Mohassen Mossem Kodem (ph), a doctor whose son, a second- year medical student, was shot to death just before she, herself, was gunned down as she cradled her dead son's body calling for help.
(on camera): A tendency toward violence is a well-documented side-effect of steroid use. It even has a slang name, "roid rage." But what no one is saying is whether any of the Blackwater employees were tested for steroids after the incident or whether it's even part of the FBI investigation.
Jamie McIntyre, CNN, the Pentagon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: A Washington Redskins legend shares his personal relationship with Sean Taylor. Joe Theismann, coming up right here in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
Live in the CNN NEWSROOM, Heidi Collins and Tony Harris.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: You are in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Heidi Collins.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning, everyone, I'm Tony Harris.
Let's get you to the New York Stock Exchange right now. The opening bell sounding just moments ago. So, let's get the business day started. The Dow rebounding yesterday picking up 215 points. That is regaining most of the ground lost on Monday. So, what happens today? I don't know! You don't know! That is why you watch. What is fast becoming the best reality show, I say it all the time, on television, watch the numbers fluctuate. I mean, the stakes are real here. We are following the markets throughout the day with Susan Lisovicz right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: Another story we continue to follow. Sean Taylor, a star on the football field, an unsolved case for homicide investigators. This morning, a memorial is springing up at the Miami High School where Taylor first gained fame. It comes one day after he died from a gunshot wound. His death stunned fans and teammates. The Washington Redskins will hold a prayer service today before they hold practice. Fans have laid flowers and mementos outside. Taylor's father, a police chief in Florida, says the family is coming to terms with the loss.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEDRO TAYLOR, SEAN TAYLOR'S FATHER: God is always in control. We have no control of life or death. It is in the power of Him and we thank Him for all 24 years of having Sean here. I know it sounds short, but that is His will and it was done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Our next guest got to know Sean Taylor this year in training camp. Joe Theismann former Redskins quarterback. He helped Taylor with his on the field performance and was impressed by his dedication. Joe, thanks for being with us. I know this is a tough time for you as well. Tell us a little bit more about the nature of your relationship with Sean Taylor.
JOE THEISMANN, FORMER REDSKINS QUARTERBACK: Well, Heidi, it really started when he joined the Redskins. And I think a lot of people really misunderstood who Sean Taylor was. They read the litany of things that he had gotten into in an early part of his life and everybody look at him and said, well, this guy here, he is just a Miami kid, he's cocky and doesn't share his time. And that was the sort of the impression I think a lot of people had of Sean and a lot of the reason why I wanted to speak out today is because that is not who Sean Taylor was. I cite an incident this year in training camp when I was having a visit with Jason Campbell, their young quarterback, talking about the quarterback position and Sean tapped me on the shoulder and he said would you be willing to talk to defensive backs? I said certainly, I would love to. And this was on a Monday. Thursday afternoon of that same week, Joe Gibbs had cut practice short and I was really showed up at the park around 2:00 and I didn't know that practice had been cut short. I saw Sean at his locker. He was getting ready to leave. And I said I was hoping we would have a chance maybe to sit and visit but, hey look, its training camp.
I know what it's like. Why don't you just go on home and spend time with your family. He basically said, hey listen, you took the time to come here and I want to take the time to sit and visit with you. And Heidi, for an hour and a half, we sat and studied different quarterbacks in the leagues and what to look at from a safety position and how we as quarterbacks try and work safeties. He took meticulous notes and we visited and talked about coming out. As a matter of fact, I hoped to have him out to the house next week to spend some time.
His little one wanted to see the horses and have some dinner. My wife was going to cook one of her favorite meals chicken that he loved. And it's such a tragedy to have someone so young taken from us. But I really want people to understand this is a great kid, a very private individual who trusted very few people.
COLLINS: You know, I think you mentioned something that we've been trying to at least explain a little bit more and that is that, it's easy to forget how young a lot of people are when they come into professional ball, whether be football or basketball or otherwise. I mean, he was 24 years old. Talk a little bit, if you would, about the pressures of this type of lifestyle and the age.
THEISMANN: First of all, I think, when you come into the league out of college, you're ill equipped from a maturity standpoint to really handle professional football. You come into a man's world. You're a boy coming in to a man's world. Physiologically, psychologically, physically, you all have to grow. And Sean at the age of 24 had grown into that feeling of leadership. He was the first one at practice. He was the first one in meetings. He understood and loved the game. He had a passion and a love for the game of football that you could see on the field, but because of his guarded nature, very few people ever got to really know who this young man really was. And it's a process. It's really a three or four year process to adjust to the league and to life.
COLLINS: How is the team going to get back on track? You know this team very, very well. Sunday is going to be really tough.
THEISMANN: It will be tough, but it also will be very therapeutic. I think, one of the things about a football team or any team or organization as close as a team is you lean on one another. I'm sure Joe Gibbs is faced with the challenge today, as he will, the rest of this week. What do you say to your football team? And each player has to really look at themselves and say, you know what, I have to be better than I thought I could be, because that's what Sean would want.
They can dedicate this season and this game in particular, but the rest of this season to this young man's memory because that's how you honor him. Having something like this happen during the season is almost better than in the off-season because you do have the family of the team to lean on to talk about.
COLLINS: Yes. You may be very right about that. And obviously, still so many more questions about everything that happened.
THEISMANN: Right.
COLLINS: Hopefully once those questions are answered, it will help in the recovery of all this as well. We appreciate your time, former Washington Redskins quarterback, Joe Thiesmann. Thank you, Joe.
THEISMANN: Thank you, Heidi.
HARRIS: A big move for key U.S. ally on the war on terror. Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf stepping down as military chief. One day, before he is to be sworn in as a civilian president. Live to CNN's Karl Penhaul in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad. And Karl, I'm curious, what does taking off the military uniform really mean?
KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, for President Musharraf, it could really mean that he slowly loses the political power that he has had, because that political power has largely rested on the fact that he was head of the army rather than him, having built up a grassroots civilian political party. He doesn't have that. So, what we could see over the next month or two months, those former exile politicians, the moderate, Nawaz Shariff and Benazir Bhutto rising up in power as President Musharraf's power declines somewhat.
But what nobody is predicting is that this will mean that the army's role in politics is over. The army has since independence from Britain in 1947 has been very strong here and really there is no sign that they are about to back out of politics, Tony.
HARRIS: And Karl, does it mean anything for the state of emergency?
PENHAUL: There is no word on state of emergency and when that may be lifted. But what it certainly does have something to say, this transfer of power from one military chief to another is what is going to be the way forward on the war on terror. Obviously, this is what the International Community looks to Pakistan for. And right now, General Musharraf's replacement, General Kiani is not only having to face those Islamic militants waiting across the border into Afghanistan and attacking U.S. troops, but he is also facing those Islamic militants who is staging homegrown rebellions in parts of Pakistan and also staging suicide bombings.
So, he is going to have to be on guard about that. A lot of the military strategists say that it's not just a military strategy that's needed but also strategy to help development in those poor areas which act as a sit bed for these Islamic militants, Tony.
HARRIS: Karl Penhaul in Pakistan's capital Islamabad. Karl, appreciate it, thank you.
COLLINS: I want to head to Rob Marciano now and talk a little bit more about the weather, particularly, Rob, the Midwest cold.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Young voters getting in on the CNN/YouTube Debate. A high school student and the questions she wants Republicans to answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Young voters, man, that's a lot. Young voters and would-be voters getting in on the CNN/YouTube Debate. So, what is on their minds? Here is one of their questions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm representing my AP government class from Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And this question is for Senator McCain. It has been reported the veterans constitute 1 in 4 homeless people in the United States. As a veteran yourself, as well as the candidate for the next president of United States, what would you do to make sure our men and women in uniform do not end up on the streets?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: The writer and producer responsible for that submission is Rebecca Durr, known as Becca Doer in her friends and family. She is with us from Pittsburgh. Hey, and next to her there is Annie Ulizio.
Annie, is that close to the way you pronounce your last name?
ANNIE ULIZIO, ASKED YOUTUBE DEBATE QUESTION: Yes, Ulizio.
HARRIS: You saw her asking that question posed to Senator McCain. Becca, let's start with you. You've been watching the debates. I understand, you feel you know where the candidates stand on the issues that are important to you. And then a natural follow-up to that one.
REBECCA DURR, SUBMITTED YOUTUBE DEBATE QUESTION: Well, I feel that it's important for the public to be able to ask the questions that they want to ask to the candidates and to clear up issues that are on their minds. So, the questions that we asked were important to us and we did want to hear the answers.
HARRIS: Look at you there all strong and poised. Very nice. OK. So, outside of the question about veterans and homelessness, what else? I'm just curious. What else are young people of your age interested in? DURR: Well, we posed a question to the candidates about no child left behind. And as a high school student, we are being endlessly tested to meet the requirements that give our school funding and so, I mean, the question does -- it's very important, too.
HARRIS: Got you. So, Annie, let me asked you a question. You ask the question about veterans and homelessness. You know what? Sometimes -- a little secret here. We frame questions based on the answers to similar questions. Do you have a sense of what the answer to that question might be from the candidates?
ULIZIO: Actually, yes. I actually looked up some policies that Senator McCain has on the issue. He has been working on legislation to make sure that when they come back from Iraq, they will have the jobs, they will have the money that they need to get back into, you know, civilian life without any trouble.
HARRIS: Would you like to see that same question asked of all the candidates? And maybe see if there is some difference between the candidates.
ULIZIO: I would, yes. I mean, Senator McCain probably has the very strong policy on it just because he is a veteran himself. It would be interesting to see what the other candidates have to say about it.
HARRIS: And let's get to another question here. This is a question for Ron Paul.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm currently a senior at Fox Chapel Area High School in Pittsburgh. This is a question for fellow Pittsburgher Ron Paul. As a working 17-year-old, I currently have to pay taxes on my wages but yet I'm still a distant franchise and forced to give the government, which I have no say in, money to programs that I cannot vote on. If elected president, would you allow me to vote?
HARRIS: And Becca, if I could, let me ask this of you. Do you have a sense of how Pittsburgh's Ron Paul might answer that question?
DURR: Well, I think it's kind of hard to say yes, I will lower the voting age.
HARRIS: Yes.
DURR: And so, in that sense, the question is a little bit far- fetched but I think it's a really important issue to bring up. And it will be interesting to see just what his stance on that problem was in our society.
HARRIS: Give me your general sense of where we are in this process. Do you like generally what you're hearing from the Democrats from, from the Republicans? Do you like what you're getting from the debates so far? DURR: I mean, yes. I have actually learned a lot from the debates, probably where I pick up the most information about the candidates. And I like the candidates answers and, you know, they tend to dance around the questions sometimes, but they do get down to it sometimes and I do like what I'm hearing from the candidates.
HARRIS: And Annie, one last question for you. Has the Internet participation, CNN/YouTube Debate, has it made the debate process more interesting and more compelling for you?
ULIZIO: Definitely. I think it's really a way for kids that can't vote yet to get involved, you know, because people are on the Internet a lot, you know, people hear about the YouTube Debate and it's just a great way to understand where the candidates are coming from on different policies, so people can really be comfortable with what they're voting for in November and really know what they are doing.
HARRIS: Boy, so smart and so poised, both of you. How great is that? I don't think we mind turning over the future to you guys. Great to have you both on the program this morning.
DURR: Thank you very much.
ULIZIO: Thank you very much, Mr. Harris.
HARRIS: Mr. Harris? Oh, my goodness. What, am I 90? All right, thank you, ladies. It was again -- Mr. Harris. Be sure to watch tonight at 8:00 eastern when your voice will be heard. The Republican YouTube Debate only on CNN, your home for politics.
COLLINS: Reporters puts pedal to the metal to drive home a point.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, hit a speed of 60 miles per hour. And don't brake.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Smart cars stops on a dime. But will it save dumb drivers?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: People hit by cars. It happens all the time in big cities. But what if a car could put a stop to it? CNN's Kim Law (ph) checks out the latest test.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KIM LAW (ph), CNN CORRESPONDENT: On the packed maze of Manhattan, to the sleepy suburbs of Rhode Island, to the tangled streets of Tokyo, when its car versus pedestrian, the pedestrian almost always loses. Here we go. What you're seeing us drive is a car engineers hope will give pedestrians a fighting chance. So hit a speed of 60 miles per hour. And don't brake.
As we pick up speed on the Toyota test course, this special sensor detects I'm about to blow through a red light and picking up a signal emitted from the lights and it breaks on its own. It's not just red lights. Engineers are conceptualizing cars that can even detect a pedestrian as about to run out in front of you. Or another car is about to side-swipe you.
So the idea is to create a car where it's nearly impossible to have any sort of pedestrian accident. Honda already is marketing cars in Japan equipped with night vision and hoods that reduce the extent of head injury if there is an accident and Toyota hopes to have its concepts for sale in three years.
The goals says Toyota engineer Hiroyuki Kanemitsu is to warn drivers before they get into an accident. Not to become dependent on the safety devices. That's where a New York City pedestrian group believes this technology could actually cause more accidents.
PAUL WHITE, TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES: These kinds of devices send drivers the message, OK drive however you wish. This technology will make you and your family and people on the street safe and that's just not true.
LAW: How much technology can do to save lives? No engineer could say for sure. But they say there is one certainty. As long as drivers and pedestrians share the streets, accidents are inevitable. Kim Law (ph), CNN, Susono, Japan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Pretty cool. A Thanksgiving baby boom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't know that I delivered ever two sets of twins in one day. Certainly never three and never four.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: I think he would remember. And the doctor is blaming the holiday turkey in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: A thanksgiving baby boom in La Crosse, Wisconsin. A doctor delivers four sets of twins in 24 hours and he says it's all in the turkey. Shelby Cloke of affiliate WXOW explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AARON SMITH: This is the first time I've held him, so it's almost like its real now.
SHELBY CLOKE, AFFILIATE WXOW: Carissa(ph) and Aaron Smith are the proud new parents of twin baby boys. Aiden and his slightly older brother Avery.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We came in and gave birth on the 24th of November, were in room 4.
CLOKE: The Smith twins are also the fourth set of twins delivered in just 16 hours at the Gunderson-Lutheran Medical Center.
DR. KEN MERKITCH, DELIVERED 4 SETS OF TWINS: I don't know that I delivered ever two sets of twins in one day. Certainly never three and never four.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I told him, you're famous and you don't even know it.
CLOKE: The baby boom all started around 11:30 Friday morning with the Davis twin.
MERKITCH: We've had one set of twins delivered and the second set are in labor.
CLOKE: Marissa and (INAUDIBLE) were delivered about nine hours later. Followed by the Mock twins around 1:00 a.m. Saturday.
MERKITCH: The nurse has goes somebody just called and guess what she has, and I said, lets me guess, twins? And she goes, you're right.
CLOKE: And lucky set number four was Avery and Aiden (ph) Smith.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We wanted the boy so bad. I think we wanted it so bad that's probably why we have two. Double the trouble.
CLOKE: But doctors have their own theory.
MERKITCH: There is something in turkey that is stimulating labor, especially in twins, and that was the cause. We can prove it.
CLOKE: While they may never know the timing behind the twins.
MERKITCH: Full moon was around then.
CLOKE: The parents say the timing couldn't have been better.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unbelievable. I mean, it really was.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLLINS: Good morning, everybody, I'm Heidi Collins.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Stay informed all day in the CNN NEWSROOM. Here's what's on the rundown. Number 21, Sean Taylor football fans mourn the rising star in the NFL. Police want your help in the murder investigation.
COLLINS: It's tonight, the CNN YouTube Debate. Live this hour. Republican and Democratic strategists draw battle lines. HARRIS: A knob could have killed her. A bullet blows a hole at a girl's pillow. She is lucky to be alive today, Wednesday, November 28th, you're in the CNN NEWSROOM.
COLLINS: From Miami to Washington, grief and questions today over the shooting death of NFL start Sean Taylor. Redskins' teammate and fans plan memorials.
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