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CNN Live Today

Day After Thanksgiving Shopping; Jose Padilla Charged

Aired November 25, 2005 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: That's what I'm going to do. No, not really. I wouldn't do that to you.
Thank you, ladies. Have a great weekend.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: You, too.

NGUYEN: We have a lot coming up.

Cold temperatures, they didn't stop bargain hungry shoppers this morning. We have live pictures right now from Macy's in New York City. Always a favorite spot on this day after Thanksgiving. And from a Wal-Mart in suburban Atlanta. Customers up bright and early.

Well, not everyone is in the spirit of the season, though. Check this out. Yes, it happened at a store in Florida. Live reports all across the U.S. over the next two hours from Atlanta, New York, Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles, Portland and anywhere else shoppers can be found, and you know they're everywhere. That's ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

But first, let's check out what else is happening in the news.

Cindy Sheehan is back in Texas. The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq is joining other anti-war protesters near President Bush's ranch. She'll take part in dedicating a garden to her son Casey today. Sheehan will lead a rally tomorrow.

If you think a tax incentive is one benefit of buying a hybrid vehicle, listen to this. The U.S. chamber of commerce will suggesting ways to finance rebuilding roadways. The suggestions include billing drivers for miles driven, indexes the federal gas tax for inflation and a hybrid tax. The hybrid tax would ensure that all drivers pay for improvements no matter how much they spend on fuel.

Associated Press is reporting that actor Pat Morita is dead. Morita died at his Los Vegas home yesterday of natural causes. He was 73. Morita made his television breakthrough on "Happy Days" but he is best known for his movie role as Mr. Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" series. You know him. He won an Oscar nomination for the 1984 original.

And soccer legend George Best has also died at the age of 59. The British footballer helped led Manchester United to the European Cup back in 1968. It was the first time a British club won that championship. Best was hospitalized last month. He had spent much of his adult life battling alcoholism. Well, good morning, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen at the CNN Center in Atlanta.

The turkey has been whittled down, the shopping appetite only wetted. You hear that sound. It's the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally one of the busiest shopping days of the year and certainly one of the most important for retailers. CNN's David Mattingly has the unofficial start of the shopping season in suburban Atlanta and CNN Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff is in New York. So let's begin now with David in Roswell, Georgia.

How early did the lines start there?

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, you're not going to believe this. The sales went into effect here at 5:00 this morning and people were actually waiting in line at 3:30 this morning. Well before dawn. Some of them didn't even bother to go to sleep last night. They got in line in parts of the store that were selling electronics. In particular they were after specially advertised sales on a flat screen TV and a portable DVD player and a laptop computer. The people who said that they didn't miss the sleep and they felt like they got a good deal for that reason they say all of the work they put in this morning was well worth it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It seems more energized, actually. It's more exciting. And, believe it or not, part of that is because of those Web sites like deal.com where you were able to see the ads ahead of time so you could map out what you were going to do for the day. So I knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do and where I wanted to stop. So, I was all excited. I couldn't wait.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, it's a holiday tradition. I'm from St. Louis and I come down here every year and spend Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law in Atlanta and we're just nuts. That's what we do. We get up and we don't have our kids this hour of the morning, so we can get up and do all our Christmas shopping without all the small children in tow.

MATTINGLY: Was it worth it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it was.

MATTINGLY: You would have rather had the sleep?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. Absolutely.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MATTINGLY: Well, we detect a very solid strategy that a lot of people were using this morning. They knew what they wanted to find, they came here very early in the day, picked up that item and then rushed off to another store for another sale item. So people taking a lot of time to do their homework this morning.

And as they were leaving the store, there were a lot of very popular toys, Betty, that we want to show you real quick. Some of these right here in this basket. This one the Tumble Time Tigger. Watch what he does. He flips around. He's top's made of rubber, his bottom's made of a spring and now you can actually dance around in your living room.

NGUYEN: So cute.

MATTINGLY: He'll going to have some competition from this Elmo. Elmo not only laughs when you tickle him now, but he also sings and dances.

NGUYEN: And does he shout? I'm seeing it on his shirt that it says "shout."

MATTINGLY: There you go. At the end of it he says, "Elmo has his groove on."

NGUYEN: Oh, no.

MATTINGLY: For the boys, though, something not all that exciting you would think. But in the hands of a young boy, this light saber can do all sorts of things. You but the batteries in it, it's going to have lights on it and sounds on it. Hopefully not as a hit something, but you know how nat goes with little boys.

Now, also, the very popular item this year. You know, you cant get enough of remote controlled cars. Something about boys and remote control cars just really seemed to click.

NGUYEN: Oh, yes.

MATTINGLY: That's going to be a big ticket item this year for a lot of families. So a lot of people getting the jump on it today very early. Again, starting as early as 3:30 this morning. This is a 24- hour Wal-Mart. Luckily those lines were able to start inside the store here. But, again, as you were just seeing, the activity here at the cash register is a little slow right now. All that big rush this morning rushing anywhere else. And probably right now taking about their third or fourth hit of coffee.

NGUYEN: Oh, I'm sure. They'll going to need a nap.

Now I have to ask you, you've been there since early and I know your wife's probably watching. Have you picked up anything? Because you'd better. Here's a hint. Get her something that sparkles.

MATTINGLY: Funny you should mention that because I looked at a survey. It said Wal-Mart is going it be one of the top destinations this year for people who are buying home furnishings, clothing and jewelry.

NGUYEN: Of all things, right.

MATTINGLY: So by the time the day is over, I may have to check in some of that Wal-Mart bling for (INAUDIBLE) presents.

NGUYEN: And a little bling, huh? OK, David, we'll be talking with you shortly. Thanks.

NGUYEN: Well, that is the situation in suburban Atlanta. Now let's go to New York and CNN's Senior Correspondent Allan Chernoff.

Has it just been a mad house there so far, Allan?

ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, it was at 6:00 in the morning when the doors opened and people came stampeding through. We had to watch out that we didn't get run over. As you can see right now, the store very crowded. A lot of these folks, though, they're the late arrivers. They wanted to get a little sleep.

But the people who came early in the morning didn't seem to mind at all waking up early, early in the morning. In fact, we met two women who came from Washington, D.C., left at 12:00 midnight, arrived in New York around 3:30, took the subway up town and then were waiting outside for two hours. People here are enjoying plenty of bargains. Men's shirts 75 percent off on some name brands. Also coats. And people coming from all over the place to find those bargains. We met people from India, from across Europe, Ireland and also from a little down south. We've got a few folks here from Tennessee.

Angie, I understand that you were here pretty early.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, we got here at 6:00 this morning.

CHERNOFF: Why?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because we wanted to get the good bargains.

CHERNOFF: And how did you all do?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We did really good.

CHERNOFF: What was the best deal?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I got a Ralph Lauren coat 50 percent off and a Tommy shirt 65 percent off.

CHERNOFF: And, Lisa, did you score as well?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I did. I bought my daughter some cologne and some makeup for myself. We're having a great time here.

CHERNOFF: Very well. Enjoy your stay in New York.

A lot of people seem to be making this a holiday tradition. Come to New York, see the Thanksgiving Day Parade and then hit Macy's the very next morning.

Betty.

NGUYEN: Well, hopefully their family members weren't watching because now they know what they're getting.

CHERNOFF: That's right.

NGUYEN: All right, Allan, thank you.

Well, the high stakes also fueled some hot temperatures among pre-dawn bargain shoppers. Take a look at this. Come on, guys, is it really worth that? This was the view at a Wal-Mart in Orlando where fights broke out among some of the early birds. Now this one was apparently broken up by security after a scuffle over one of those door opening deals. You know, the deep discounts. Here's what some shoppers said about the frenzied competition.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People fighting, you know, pulling, you know, the box from other people's hands and start fighting. It's crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All of a sudden everybody started pushing and shoving and carrying on. And, I mean, yelling and screaming. We were getting out of there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they were throwing these laptops in the air, 20 feet in the air, and people were collapsing on each other to grab them. It was ridiculous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Just crazy. Many stores opened their doors as early as midnight for those so called Black Friday dealers. Retailers dubbed it that in hopes that a surge of business will push their sales from money losing red into profitable black.

So not only were there scuffles, Jacqui Jeras, a lot of folks were lining up in freezing temperatures to get these sales.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: He was accused of plotting terrorist attacks inside the United States, as well as being trained by al Qaeda. So, when Jose Padilla was indicted by a grand jury this week, why wasn't any of that included? Was it because of what the government didn't want to be heard? A CNN Security Watch is ahead.

Also, Michael Brown, the former head of FEMA, blamed for the agency's failures during Hurricane Katrina. Guess what he's doing now? You'll want to hear this.

And much more on the rush at stores and malls all across the country this morning. We're going to talk about how to survive this frenzied shopping day. How to get those bargains without losing your mind. All that and much more ahead on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Look at this. The governors of Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi and Georgia are in Iraq today to thank U.S. troops for their service. They helped serve Thanksgiving dinner to the troops yesterday in Iraq, Kuwait and Kutter (ph). Today they spoke of the sacrifices those servicemen and women are making.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. JENNIFER GRANHOLM, (D) MICHIGAN: Their purpose for my visit here is really just to just say thank you to our troops who have given up a life at home, giving up a year of their lives in service to their nation, but also to make a stable and free Middle East. And, therefore, world.

GOV. SONNY PERDUE, (R) GEORGIA: I came at this Thanksgiving time to bring a blessing and to say thanks to our troops, but I'm the one that's been blessed. And they thanked us for the support. And I will take that back to the people of Georgia and the people of the United States. I found the morale in our Georgia troops to be extremely high. They understand why they're here and they understand what their mission is. And while they miss their families, as any of us would, they're prepared to stay until their mission is complete.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius also had high praise for the troops from their states.

Well the U.S. death count in Iraq has grown. The military says a soldier was killed in a tank accident near Baghdad yesterday. That soldier was assigned to Task Force Baghdad. The name of the soldier is being withheld until the family is notified. And 2,105 U.S. troops have been killed in Iraq.

The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven members of his regime is set to resume Monday after a five-week break. Defense attorneys backed off from a boycott and would have been staged to protest security concerns. Two defense lawyers were killed within days of the trial's opening. A CNN/"USA Today"/Gallup Poll asked Americans, if Saddam Hussein is found guilty of serious crimes, should he get the death penalty? And 72 percent said yes. The same poll asked if a Saddam Hussein execution would weaken the insurgency. Three quarters of respondents said no.

For three years, Jose Padilla, an American convert to Islam, was held at a Navy brig in South Carolina. He was accused of plotting terrorist attacks inside the U.S. and he was described by the Justice Department as an al Qaeda trained terrorist. However, none of that appeared in a federal indictment unsealed this week in Miami.

CNN's national security correspondent David Ensor explains why.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: One reason they did not charge Jose Padilla with plotting dirty bomb or apartment bombings, law enforcement officials have acknowledged, is that the government is unwilling to allow testimony from senior members of al Qaeda now in the hands of the CIA.

ROSCOE HOWARD, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY: The government wants to bring an indictment that they want to make sure is clean and that they can win. They want to make sure that there are charges that won't present any problems. There could be witness problems. There are classified information problems.

ENSOR: U.S. officials have previously said Abu Subada (ph) and 9/11 master Coledgic Mohamed (ph) were the original sources of the information on Pidilla and the dirty bomb and apartment plots. Since al Qaeda prisoners have reportedly been subjected to harsh interrogation techniques, including one that simulates drowning, Padilla's lawyers would be sure to say their evidence was produced using torture.

DONNA NEWMAN, PADILLA DEFENSE ATTORNEY: God knows what kind of torture they were exposed to and they don't want that to come out in the litigation.

ENSOR: CIA officials refuse all comment, but former officials say tough interrogation techniques used on al Qaeda prisoners have saved American lives and need to be kept secret, not discussed in open court.

JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, FORMER CIA DEPUTY DIRECTOR: I think it's important that we not be highly specific about what it is we will do and not do in dealing with detainees. If we are, that's going to go right into the al Qaeda counter interrogation manual and come right back at us in what is still a war.

ENSOR: Also, while in military hands, Padilla has spoken about the dirty bomb and apartment plots, but he was denied access to a lawyer during that time, so that evidence could not be used in civilian court.

So the government has settled for lesser charges for support of terrorism against Jose Padilla who officials say may be moved into the regular prison system as early as next week.

David Ensor, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And you want to be sure to stay tuned to CNN day and night for the most reliable news about your security.

Shop until you drop or not. We have the tips you need to survive this holiday shopping season when CNN LIVE TODAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) NGUYEN: Well, the Black Friday marathon is under way all across the country and we are canvassing the nation today to watch die-hard shoppers in action. It's a real sport, let me tell you. Right now we're joined by a reporter Carolyn Scofield with Central Florida News 13 in Orlando and she is at a mall in Altamonte Springs, which is a suburb of Orlando.

So how's the traffic there? Has it slowed down just a bit?

CAROLYN SCOFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It has. It's been crazy here throughout the morning. The sales started early here in Altamonte Springs. In fact, some of these shoppers are working on their fifth hour at this point. The sales started about 5:00.

The reason people are crowding this mall. You see this advertisement here for KB Toy Stores. That's one of the big stories here at Altamonte Mall. Advertising the biggest one-day sale ever. That's what's trying to lure customers in this morning. We've seen items already selling out this Christmas season, including the Bratz electric funk crazy pool (ph) Karaoke machine. That's one of the hot items at the KB Toy Stores.

And you can see the crowds are still continuing to fill in here at the Altamonte Mall. If we look right over here, this is where Santa is doing his job this morning, meeting some of the kids. These are some of the people that have been here since very early this morning. Now they're taking a break. Some of those early morning bargains are starting to end at this point. So some people are taking a break to see Santa.

But it's been crowded here all morning. In fact, just down the street, we have a Best Buy store. The lines for that store starting forming last night while many of us were still enjoying our Thanksgiving turkey. It's the diehard shoppers that come out this early in the morning. In fact, a recent survey says that about 28 percent of the Black Friday shoppers actually hit the stores before 7:00 and the mall employees here tell us about 20,000 people came through the doors before daylight to look for those Black Friday bargains.

Betty.

NGUYEN: I tell you what, people get up bright and early. I heard some people were in line yesterday afternoon outside of Dallas. So this is serious business. Big-time savings. Thanks for that update. We appreciate it.

And there is much more on the holiday shopping frenzy in the next 90 minutes here on CNN. But up next, some other stories.

Michael Brown, remember him? The man at the center of FEMA's failures during Hurricane Katrina. Have you heard what he's doing now? You're not going to believe it.

And the spirit of the season alive and well in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans. Look at that. How those who lost everything are giving back to others who helped them out.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, good morning and welcome back. We're coming up on the half hour. I'm Betty Nguyen. Here's what's happening right "Now in the News."

Ready, set, shop. Bargain shoppers charged into stores for what is traditionally one of the busiest retail days of the year. Now some stores unveiled their day after Thanksgiving sales at midnight. Yep. And the frenzy for those pre-dawn sales touched off some scuffles. Look at this. An outburst in an Orlando Wal-Mart. Witnesses said crowds of shoppers were upset over a short supply of some sale items such as laptop computers. Well, that would definitely bust a laptop.

Archbishop of Boston, Sean O'Malley, is calling for an end to prejudice against gays. In a letter to the nearly 300 perishes under his watch, O'Malley says he doesn't want gays to feel like the church discriminates against them despite its opposition to same sex marriage. Next week the Vatican is expected to announce tight new policies excluding gays from the priesthood.

A new report may heat up the debate over global warming and specifically the greenhouse gases created by cars burning fuel and other processes. European researchers say ancient air bubbles trapped in antarctic ice show there is more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere now than at any point during the last 650,000 years. The findings may counter skeptics who say a buildup is simply part of a natural cycle.

And in northern China, health experts are expected in the city of Harbin today to investigate a massive chemical spill there. A 50 mile stretch of poisonous benzene shut down the city's water supply for millions of people but they weren't even told of the contamination until several days after a plant explosion released those toxins.

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