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American Morning
John Kerry in the Limelight Later Today; '90-Second Pop'
Aired September 01, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Beautiful day in New York City, looking south there from high atop the new Time Warner Building there right around Columbus Circle.
Welcome back, everyone. I'm Bill Hemmer.
As our coverage continues throughout the week of this convention, it is a big hall, a lot of stories to cover. Our reporters are on the floor each and every night inside the Garden here. In a moment they're going to join us. And what they are chasing today and what they saw and heard last night too. So stay tuned for that.
In addition, outside of New York City, Senator John Kerry makes an appearance today amid some reports in his party that are calling his campaign unfocused. Are there changes in store and how significant are they? We'll get a report on that in a moment as well.
Also out West, the Kobe Bryant trial continues. Concerns now that some protective jurors have already made up their minds in this case. The judge looking into that. That's the reports we're getting right now. So we'll check into it.
On her own today also, Heidi Collins across town outside of our studios. Good morning, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, this is the first time I've ever sat out here and I'm getting this lovely whiff of the chlorine from the fountain. It's a beautiful day, though, nonetheless, right outside of Time Life studios. Having a good time this morning. But we do want to get you directly to the news, especially the situation -- a major standoff now under way at a school near Russia's border with Chechnya. According to Russian news media reports, at least 15 armed attackers, men and women both, holding more than 100 people hostage. Also an unconfirmed report that some dozen children hid during the seizure and were able to escape. Of course, we have a correspondent on the scene. We're going to get to the very latest in that situation in just a moment.
In a little over an hour, Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in Panama for the inauguration of the new president there. The ceremony for Martin Turijos will take place this morning. Powell plans to also meet with the presidents of the Colombia and Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile here in the U.S., a case once thought of as a major victory in the war on terror may be getting thrown out. Sources tell CNN the Justice Department wants a judge to toss out the charges against a suspected terror cell in Detroit because of prosecution problems. The decision expected to be announced a little bit later today.
And Hollywood travels to Europe. Director Steven Spielberg among the stars kicking off the Venice Film Festival this morning. A whopping 20 American films will be screened there. And that festival will go on until September 11th.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is in the limelight later today, in fact, right around 12 noon Eastern Time, despite the customary gesture of keeping low normally during the opponent's convention. Joe Johns live in Nashville.
Joe, good morning there.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. John Kerry speaking before the veterans of the American Legion. He comes here having lost ground in August hoping to make up some of that ground in September. One of the ways the campaign is doing that is by zeroing in on recent statements by the president, including the question of whether the U. S. can win the war on terror. Kerry talked about that on arrival at Nashville airport last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All they are talking about is the war on terror, which the president yesterday said he doesn't think we can win. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something, we can, we must, and we will win the war on terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Now one of Kerry's biggest problems recently has been those ads by Swift Boat veterans for truth. Of course, one of those ads started airing a new ad here in the Nashville area just recently as well as in Florida. The big problem strategists say is response time. They say the campaign simply did not respond quickly enough. There was, of course, a quick response to this latest ad as well. They've also said they are starting to beef up their entire response operation.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Joe, thanks. Joe Johns there in Nashville. We'll be there live, too, about 11: 40 a.m. Eastern Time. We will carry the address from Senator Kerry live when it happens there.
Back to New York, looking ahead to night three of the Republican Convention. Let's bring in our floor reporters to talk about what they heard last night and what they're picking up so far on today. Kelly Wallace back today, so, too, Dan Lothian and Ron Brownstein. Good morning to all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Morning. HEMMER: The Bush daughters last night, how did it play here in the garden?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It seemed to go -- some of the jokes seemed to fall flat. Looked like a lot of uncomfortable parents and siblings in the family box. My question, as I watched it though, this is New York City. Anything goes. People are kind of hip, edgy. How does it play in Peoria. I'm not sure it's going to go over so well there.
HEMMER: What's cooler than being cool? I think we know the answer right now. Dan, last night you were near Dick Cheney when the second of two protesters, one on Monday and one on Tuesday got very close to Dick Cheney. What happened?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Got within a few feet of the VIP box, held up a sign saying stop the killing in Iraq and then was pulled out of that area and then started shouting stop the killing in Iraq. Also started targeting him and saying, you know, how much money did you make on the war today. So clearly he continues to be a target of protesters. Protesters getting so close to him twice.
HEMMER: Well, the other thing it shows security is not lock solid here. You can exchange a credential and gain access to the hall. But they may stop you when it comes to the search outside. So maybe you can harm people with words but hopefully nothing more than that. Schwarzenegger last night. How did he do?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": It was a terrific speech for Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm not sure how relevant it was to the presidential campaign of 2004. In some ways it was reminiscent, I think, of Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention really introducing him to a national audience in a very effective way but not necessarily -- he didn't really say that much about George W. Bush, didn't make a strong case for the first term or give a sense of what they are going to do for the second.
One of the interesting facts about Arnold Schwarzenegger a long time ago I read a book about the relationship between Hollywood and politics. And he is unique. Usually when actors become politicians, they go out of their way to try to leave that behind and emphasize how serious and sober they now are. And he's very effective at poking fun of himself with his frequent references to his own movies and those are some of the biggest crowd applause lines of the night.
WALLACE: And we know when we were covering him during the recall, I mean, the guy's a rock star. You know, you had thousands and thousands of people coming out. Certainly, the Bush/Cheney campaign is hoping that people watched on television. And the one line, I want to welcome my fellow immigrants. You have a place in the Republican Party. Some Bush people think that's an effective line to try and bring more people into the party.
LOTHIAN: And one thing I thought was interesting, this was the only speech that I can recall so far of this convention where everyone on the floor stood throughout the entire speech. They were all applauding. And here is someone who clearly doesn't line up with the conservative themes of this party, but everyone was cheering for him last night.
BROWNSTEIN: But, you know, like Giuliani and McCain on Monday night, the themes -- he wasn't really there as a moderate. He was there for where he agreed more than where he disagreed with President Bush. And it was a small government, tough on terror message, coming from a different side of the party. But what they chose to emphasize was not, I disagree on gay rights, I disagree on abortion, you are welcome in the party. It was reaffirming him in the mainstream of the Republican party, I think, on the biggest things they care about.
HEMMER: I have 15 seconds here. Dick Cheney is going to say what tonight?
WALLACE: Dick Cheney's going to say, look at what the president has done at times of -- critical times in history. No question about it, though, drawing distinctions with John Kerry, questioning his conviction in the Senate. So look for that tonight.
HEMMER: Dan, is there anything you can say about this word we're getting about changes within the Kerry campaign?
LOTHIAN: Nothing beyond just the fact that they are doing some tweaks, but no major changes that we know of. Clearly the Democratic -- the Democrats are trying to make up for some of the lost ground, perhaps, when we look at the polls at this point.
HEMMER: I'm out of time. I apologize. I'm sorry. They are going to kill me back there at the control room. Thanks. Ron, Dan, Kelly, thanks for your time here.
Later tonight, here's your speakers: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Mitt Romney, the governor of Massachusetts and the Democratic senator of Georgia, Zell Miller, the keynote address later tonight. Primetime, you'll hear from Lynne Cheney, the Vice President Dick Cheney, who will formally accept his party's nomination. Went over the top last night by way of the state of Pennsylvania.
I'm Bill Hemmer live in Madison Square Garden. Heidi Collins across the city here.
COLLINS: I thought you were going to say across the great divide. Thanks.
HEMMER: Hey, Heidi, good morning again. Yes.
COLLINS: All right, Bill, thanks so much. The jury could be taking shape today in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case. Jurors were questioned privately in Eagle, Colorado. The last group goes into court this morning and prosecutors and defense attorneys will start eliminating them now. Chris Lawrence is live in Eagle, Colorado. And, Chris, we're hearing things are actually on track.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. After today the judge expects to move the selection process back into open court. And both sides are already hinting at what they may focus on when that happens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: ... ask the judge to closely examine jurors' answers to one of the questions, specifically, that some jurors have already decided Bryant's innocence based on what they've read in the media or heard from neighbor. The defense expressed concerns about jurors who presume Bryant guilty. Already on three separate occasions, the accuser's name has been accidentally released publicly. Within the last week, a witness list with her name and names and addresses of her friends and family was leaked to a local TV station. Now her supporters say she is scared.
CYNTHIA STONE, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATE: Now this young woman has had even death threats against her, her reputation has been smeared.
LAWRENCE: Victims' rights advocate, Cynthia Stone says the leaks have made a difficult case that much harder.
STONE: This is a case, unfortunately, where the victim is on trial, not the defendant.
LAWRENCE: Bryant is African-American, a married father of one. His accuser, a single white student. Jurors have answered written questions regarding infidelity and interracial relationships. Now they are being questioned privately, asked to explain any racial prejudice they might have or if they have ever been raped. Media attorneys argued to keep the entire jury selection open, but the judge disagreed saying some of the jurors' answers could get too personal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Now, if they can't find for some reason 12 jurors and two alternates from this group of 200, there's a fallback plan. Another 71 people filled out that same questionnaire on Monday. They were assigned to another civil case settled and could be brought in for private questioning if a complete jury can't be seated. Heidi?
COLLINS: A fallback plan probably a good idea. All right. Thank, Chris Lawrence live from Eagle, Colorado this morning.
Chad's been tracking Hurricane Frances all morning long. He's at the CNN center with more on that. I feel like I'm asking you the same question every time, but where is it at now?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, I know, Heidi. But the thing is, we have new viewers like every 30 minutes coming in. So I don't want those folks that are just getting up or just turning the TV on to miss this.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Of course. Chad, thanks so much for that.
And still to come, we are halfway through the workweek. Time for 90-Second Pop." (MUSIC)
It's party time at the garden for Republicans. But we've got the inside scoop on where the real GOP hot spots are. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: This morning, it's a little bit politics and a little bit rock 'n' roll. Sounds like Donny and Marie, doesn't it? Time to meet our 90-second pop panel this morning. B. J. Siegesmund. staff editor for US Weekly, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for New York Magazine and Andy Borowitz, chairman, CEO of borowitzreport. com. Thanks as always, you guys, for being here.
Sarah, I want to start with you. We know that there are some parties going on this week.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, NEW YORK MAGAZINE: Just a couple.
COLLINS: And you guys have been doing this inside scoop all week long so far. What has been the best party so far? What are the best ones yet to come?
BERNARD: Well. . .
COLLINS: And why are we not there right now?
ANDY BOROWITZ, CHAIRMAN, CEO, BOROWITZREPORT. COM: Because we're us. Come on.
BERNARD: We've got work to do. Well, the parties at this convention are very different from the ones in Boston, mostly because of the lack of Hollywood celebrities, which has made them a lot less fun, perhaps I should say. The party last night was actually the one that sort of attracted the most star watchers. It was the creative coalition event, which is actually kind of an entertainment industry nonpartisan group for social and political advocacy. And that was at a club in West Chelsea, believe it or not. There was a Baldwin brother. You had John McCain. You also had actors like Alan Cummings. So that was a real mixture of Republicans.
COLLINS: A Baldwin brother? That's pretty interesting.
BERNARD: Yeah, exactly.
B. J. SIEGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, US WEEKLY: I can't get over the juxtaposition of all these Republicans partying in a town so known for its liberalness, so filled with Democrats.
COLLINS: I thought you were trying to say Republicans can't party.
SIEGESMUND: I went to this awesome party last night hosted by this group called the swift boat veterans for disco. I was just (INAUDIBLE). They are unbelievable. The cowboy was there. BERNARD: But the real incentive for celebrities, actually the ticket this week is to follow the Bush twins around. And that's the most important thing. And on Sunday they actually kicked off their week with a red carpet appearance at Roseland. So they are actually the draw. And Everyone is trying to follow them around. And on Thursday night, there's going to be one last party called the new generation event. And that's going to be hosted by Emma Bloomberg, daughter of Michael Bloomberg, Emily Pataki, daughter of George Pataki, Christie Whitman's kid and also the Bush twins will make their final goodbye to the city.
COLLINS: Very good. All right. Speaking of the Bush twins. B.J., last night they were on, okay, let's listen to just a little chunk. Tell us what you think.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: You know, all those times where you are growing up and your parents embarrassed you? Well, this is payback time on live TV.
BARBARA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: Take this. I know it's hard to believe, but our parents' favorite term of endearment for each other is actually bushy. And we had a hamster, too. Let's just say ours didn't make it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Your thoughts?
SIEGESMUND: Yes, you know what? Some of those jokes kind of fell flat on the audience. But this has really been the coming out week for the Bush girls. Their star has arrived. You know, as Sarah was mentioning, they were greeted at the Roseland event with a red carpet and paparazzi, and, you know, they had the look. They had jeans and high heels. And then last night, you know, they looked so great on the air. And the Republican Party is not known for its young, hot chicks.
BOROWITZ: They are so cool. I mean, you know, instead of those choose or lose T-shirts, they are wearing these T-shirts that say choose your booze, and they are really great. I just think that's so great.
COLLINS: Andy Borowitz, Sarah Bernard and B.J. Siegesmund, thanks, guys. Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Thanks for that. Eleven minutes now before the hour. In a moment here it's become an honor for any athlete, a Wheaties box cover. Who the athlete not present this year, after gold in Athens, too? Andy's at the diner. We'll check in with him right after this. Minding Your Business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Fresh air, Times Square. Again today, 100 years Times Square celebrating this past April. It's been a landmark. The crossroads of the world, they call it here in New York City. Back across to the diner again, here is Jack Cafferty hanging out over there.
Hey, Jack, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Bill. Thank you. Markets are open. A check on how they are shaping up. Ken Lay is whining about apparently not being sent off to prison soon enough, and the Wheaties boxes are out following the Olympics. Andy Serwer is here minding all of our business for us.
ANDY SERWER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Hey, do you think there's real mustard in here, Jack?
CAFFERTY: I don't know.
SERWER: We're going to check it out by the end of the week. I guarantee you we're going to check that out. Check it out right now?
CAFFERTY: Undo the top and take a look inside.
SERWER: I don't even want - you're not really going to do that?
CAFFERTY: Yes. There's real mustard in there.
SERWER: You can squirt it, too. This is the week that wasn't on Wall Street, Jack, very sleepy and slow.
(MARKET REPORT)
SERWER: Let's talk about the Ken Lay story. He has an op-ed piece in the "Washington Post" complaining that the Justice Department is slowing down his trial. Of course, usually people want trials to be delayed. He wants to slow it down and that's because he says that the White House doesn't want to see stories about his trial going on during the Republican Convention.
CAFFERTY: I bet that's not it. I bet he's just anxious to meet all those new friends he's going to make when he goes to that other place.
SERWER: Well, that could well be. And it's interesting, of course, he has the piece in "Washington Post," which some say is a liberal paper, during the Republican Convention and on and on and on. Let's talk about the Wheaties box scenario here.
CAFFERTY: Yes. That's a weird deal, isn't it?
SERWER: Yes. And, you know, after the Olympic games all the athletes want to get themselves on the Wheaties box. Carly Patterson got herself on the Wheaties box. Michael Phelps got himself on the Wheaties box. Justin Gatlin. Who is that one up there? There we go. That's Michael Phelps.
CAFFERTY: Michael Phelps. SERWER: Because he's the swimmer. Okay. There's Justin Gatlin, fastest man in the world from Brooklyn, New York. And who is not on the Wheaties box?
CAFFERTY: I don't understand that.
SERWER: Well, Paul Hamm is not. He doesn't get a Wheaties box. First all-around U. S. men gymnastics champion ever, and he's not on a Wheaties box. Does it have something to do with that controversy? Maybe it does.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's really lame. I mean, after all the controversy is over he got to keep the gold medal. He won the gold medal.
SERWER: Well, what are they going to do, put the South Korean on the box?
CAFFERTY: Yes. And then, so he gets left out of that. It probably pays a few dollars, too.
SERWER: You know what they should do? They should put him on one of the competitors, Corn Flakes.
CAFFERTY: Yes, or Fruit Loops.
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome.
CAFFERTY: Maybe not Fruit Loops.
SERWER: No.
CAFFERTY: We're continuing our special convention segment, which is called voice of the voter. When was the last time you remember 1,000 people being arrested in an American city in a single day. It's been a long time. It happened here in New York yesterday. We talked to some people both local and from out of town on what they think about all these protest demonstrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, that's America, right? We're allowed to state our opinions. And yet I'm glad that we're all so bold enough and confident enough to do something like this in this city. It's a statement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw it on the news last night but we didn't see anything walking around here all over the place yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we watched the news last night and saw where they are going to be today so we're avoiding that area. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, we have the right to say what we want to say and they have a right to say what they want to say. So that's why we live here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm kind of on the opposing side of the protest, but, I mean, I guess everybody has a right to speak what they want.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's what makes our nation great. And it really is. The fact they get to do that, all right. I would hope they could do their protests without any violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAFFERTY: There you go, voice of the voters. Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Jack. Thanks for that.
In a moment, CNN continues to follow the breaking story out of Russia. Hundreds of people, perhaps many children now being held hostage there. A live report next hour. Daryn Kagan has that. We've got another word here from New York right after this on American Morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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Aired September 1, 2004 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Beautiful day in New York City, looking south there from high atop the new Time Warner Building there right around Columbus Circle.
Welcome back, everyone. I'm Bill Hemmer.
As our coverage continues throughout the week of this convention, it is a big hall, a lot of stories to cover. Our reporters are on the floor each and every night inside the Garden here. In a moment they're going to join us. And what they are chasing today and what they saw and heard last night too. So stay tuned for that.
In addition, outside of New York City, Senator John Kerry makes an appearance today amid some reports in his party that are calling his campaign unfocused. Are there changes in store and how significant are they? We'll get a report on that in a moment as well.
Also out West, the Kobe Bryant trial continues. Concerns now that some protective jurors have already made up their minds in this case. The judge looking into that. That's the reports we're getting right now. So we'll check into it.
On her own today also, Heidi Collins across town outside of our studios. Good morning, Heidi.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill, this is the first time I've ever sat out here and I'm getting this lovely whiff of the chlorine from the fountain. It's a beautiful day, though, nonetheless, right outside of Time Life studios. Having a good time this morning. But we do want to get you directly to the news, especially the situation -- a major standoff now under way at a school near Russia's border with Chechnya. According to Russian news media reports, at least 15 armed attackers, men and women both, holding more than 100 people hostage. Also an unconfirmed report that some dozen children hid during the seizure and were able to escape. Of course, we have a correspondent on the scene. We're going to get to the very latest in that situation in just a moment.
In a little over an hour, Secretary of State Colin Powell is due to arrive in Panama for the inauguration of the new president there. The ceremony for Martin Turijos will take place this morning. Powell plans to also meet with the presidents of the Colombia and Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Meanwhile here in the U.S., a case once thought of as a major victory in the war on terror may be getting thrown out. Sources tell CNN the Justice Department wants a judge to toss out the charges against a suspected terror cell in Detroit because of prosecution problems. The decision expected to be announced a little bit later today.
And Hollywood travels to Europe. Director Steven Spielberg among the stars kicking off the Venice Film Festival this morning. A whopping 20 American films will be screened there. And that festival will go on until September 11th.
Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry is in the limelight later today, in fact, right around 12 noon Eastern Time, despite the customary gesture of keeping low normally during the opponent's convention. Joe Johns live in Nashville.
Joe, good morning there.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. John Kerry speaking before the veterans of the American Legion. He comes here having lost ground in August hoping to make up some of that ground in September. One of the ways the campaign is doing that is by zeroing in on recent statements by the president, including the question of whether the U. S. can win the war on terror. Kerry talked about that on arrival at Nashville airport last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All they are talking about is the war on terror, which the president yesterday said he doesn't think we can win. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you something, we can, we must, and we will win the war on terror.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Now one of Kerry's biggest problems recently has been those ads by Swift Boat veterans for truth. Of course, one of those ads started airing a new ad here in the Nashville area just recently as well as in Florida. The big problem strategists say is response time. They say the campaign simply did not respond quickly enough. There was, of course, a quick response to this latest ad as well. They've also said they are starting to beef up their entire response operation.
Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: Joe, thanks. Joe Johns there in Nashville. We'll be there live, too, about 11: 40 a.m. Eastern Time. We will carry the address from Senator Kerry live when it happens there.
Back to New York, looking ahead to night three of the Republican Convention. Let's bring in our floor reporters to talk about what they heard last night and what they're picking up so far on today. Kelly Wallace back today, so, too, Dan Lothian and Ron Brownstein. Good morning to all of you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Morning. HEMMER: The Bush daughters last night, how did it play here in the garden?
KELLY WALLACE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It seemed to go -- some of the jokes seemed to fall flat. Looked like a lot of uncomfortable parents and siblings in the family box. My question, as I watched it though, this is New York City. Anything goes. People are kind of hip, edgy. How does it play in Peoria. I'm not sure it's going to go over so well there.
HEMMER: What's cooler than being cool? I think we know the answer right now. Dan, last night you were near Dick Cheney when the second of two protesters, one on Monday and one on Tuesday got very close to Dick Cheney. What happened?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Got within a few feet of the VIP box, held up a sign saying stop the killing in Iraq and then was pulled out of that area and then started shouting stop the killing in Iraq. Also started targeting him and saying, you know, how much money did you make on the war today. So clearly he continues to be a target of protesters. Protesters getting so close to him twice.
HEMMER: Well, the other thing it shows security is not lock solid here. You can exchange a credential and gain access to the hall. But they may stop you when it comes to the search outside. So maybe you can harm people with words but hopefully nothing more than that. Schwarzenegger last night. How did he do?
RON BROWNSTEIN, "LOS ANGELES TIMES": It was a terrific speech for Arnold Schwarzenegger. I'm not sure how relevant it was to the presidential campaign of 2004. In some ways it was reminiscent, I think, of Barack Obama at the Democratic Convention really introducing him to a national audience in a very effective way but not necessarily -- he didn't really say that much about George W. Bush, didn't make a strong case for the first term or give a sense of what they are going to do for the second.
One of the interesting facts about Arnold Schwarzenegger a long time ago I read a book about the relationship between Hollywood and politics. And he is unique. Usually when actors become politicians, they go out of their way to try to leave that behind and emphasize how serious and sober they now are. And he's very effective at poking fun of himself with his frequent references to his own movies and those are some of the biggest crowd applause lines of the night.
WALLACE: And we know when we were covering him during the recall, I mean, the guy's a rock star. You know, you had thousands and thousands of people coming out. Certainly, the Bush/Cheney campaign is hoping that people watched on television. And the one line, I want to welcome my fellow immigrants. You have a place in the Republican Party. Some Bush people think that's an effective line to try and bring more people into the party.
LOTHIAN: And one thing I thought was interesting, this was the only speech that I can recall so far of this convention where everyone on the floor stood throughout the entire speech. They were all applauding. And here is someone who clearly doesn't line up with the conservative themes of this party, but everyone was cheering for him last night.
BROWNSTEIN: But, you know, like Giuliani and McCain on Monday night, the themes -- he wasn't really there as a moderate. He was there for where he agreed more than where he disagreed with President Bush. And it was a small government, tough on terror message, coming from a different side of the party. But what they chose to emphasize was not, I disagree on gay rights, I disagree on abortion, you are welcome in the party. It was reaffirming him in the mainstream of the Republican party, I think, on the biggest things they care about.
HEMMER: I have 15 seconds here. Dick Cheney is going to say what tonight?
WALLACE: Dick Cheney's going to say, look at what the president has done at times of -- critical times in history. No question about it, though, drawing distinctions with John Kerry, questioning his conviction in the Senate. So look for that tonight.
HEMMER: Dan, is there anything you can say about this word we're getting about changes within the Kerry campaign?
LOTHIAN: Nothing beyond just the fact that they are doing some tweaks, but no major changes that we know of. Clearly the Democratic -- the Democrats are trying to make up for some of the lost ground, perhaps, when we look at the polls at this point.
HEMMER: I'm out of time. I apologize. I'm sorry. They are going to kill me back there at the control room. Thanks. Ron, Dan, Kelly, thanks for your time here.
Later tonight, here's your speakers: Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Mitt Romney, the governor of Massachusetts and the Democratic senator of Georgia, Zell Miller, the keynote address later tonight. Primetime, you'll hear from Lynne Cheney, the Vice President Dick Cheney, who will formally accept his party's nomination. Went over the top last night by way of the state of Pennsylvania.
I'm Bill Hemmer live in Madison Square Garden. Heidi Collins across the city here.
COLLINS: I thought you were going to say across the great divide. Thanks.
HEMMER: Hey, Heidi, good morning again. Yes.
COLLINS: All right, Bill, thanks so much. The jury could be taking shape today in Kobe Bryant's sexual assault case. Jurors were questioned privately in Eagle, Colorado. The last group goes into court this morning and prosecutors and defense attorneys will start eliminating them now. Chris Lawrence is live in Eagle, Colorado. And, Chris, we're hearing things are actually on track.
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Heidi. After today the judge expects to move the selection process back into open court. And both sides are already hinting at what they may focus on when that happens.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: ... ask the judge to closely examine jurors' answers to one of the questions, specifically, that some jurors have already decided Bryant's innocence based on what they've read in the media or heard from neighbor. The defense expressed concerns about jurors who presume Bryant guilty. Already on three separate occasions, the accuser's name has been accidentally released publicly. Within the last week, a witness list with her name and names and addresses of her friends and family was leaked to a local TV station. Now her supporters say she is scared.
CYNTHIA STONE, VICTIMS' RIGHTS ADVOCATE: Now this young woman has had even death threats against her, her reputation has been smeared.
LAWRENCE: Victims' rights advocate, Cynthia Stone says the leaks have made a difficult case that much harder.
STONE: This is a case, unfortunately, where the victim is on trial, not the defendant.
LAWRENCE: Bryant is African-American, a married father of one. His accuser, a single white student. Jurors have answered written questions regarding infidelity and interracial relationships. Now they are being questioned privately, asked to explain any racial prejudice they might have or if they have ever been raped. Media attorneys argued to keep the entire jury selection open, but the judge disagreed saying some of the jurors' answers could get too personal.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAWRENCE: Now, if they can't find for some reason 12 jurors and two alternates from this group of 200, there's a fallback plan. Another 71 people filled out that same questionnaire on Monday. They were assigned to another civil case settled and could be brought in for private questioning if a complete jury can't be seated. Heidi?
COLLINS: A fallback plan probably a good idea. All right. Thank, Chris Lawrence live from Eagle, Colorado this morning.
Chad's been tracking Hurricane Frances all morning long. He's at the CNN center with more on that. I feel like I'm asking you the same question every time, but where is it at now?
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, I know, Heidi. But the thing is, we have new viewers like every 30 minutes coming in. So I don't want those folks that are just getting up or just turning the TV on to miss this.
(WEATHER REPORT)
COLLINS: Of course. Chad, thanks so much for that.
And still to come, we are halfway through the workweek. Time for 90-Second Pop." (MUSIC)
It's party time at the garden for Republicans. But we've got the inside scoop on where the real GOP hot spots are. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COLLINS: This morning, it's a little bit politics and a little bit rock 'n' roll. Sounds like Donny and Marie, doesn't it? Time to meet our 90-second pop panel this morning. B. J. Siegesmund. staff editor for US Weekly, Sarah Bernard, contributing editor for New York Magazine and Andy Borowitz, chairman, CEO of borowitzreport. com. Thanks as always, you guys, for being here.
Sarah, I want to start with you. We know that there are some parties going on this week.
SARAH BERNARD, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, NEW YORK MAGAZINE: Just a couple.
COLLINS: And you guys have been doing this inside scoop all week long so far. What has been the best party so far? What are the best ones yet to come?
BERNARD: Well. . .
COLLINS: And why are we not there right now?
ANDY BOROWITZ, CHAIRMAN, CEO, BOROWITZREPORT. COM: Because we're us. Come on.
BERNARD: We've got work to do. Well, the parties at this convention are very different from the ones in Boston, mostly because of the lack of Hollywood celebrities, which has made them a lot less fun, perhaps I should say. The party last night was actually the one that sort of attracted the most star watchers. It was the creative coalition event, which is actually kind of an entertainment industry nonpartisan group for social and political advocacy. And that was at a club in West Chelsea, believe it or not. There was a Baldwin brother. You had John McCain. You also had actors like Alan Cummings. So that was a real mixture of Republicans.
COLLINS: A Baldwin brother? That's pretty interesting.
BERNARD: Yeah, exactly.
B. J. SIEGESMUND, STAFF EDITOR, US WEEKLY: I can't get over the juxtaposition of all these Republicans partying in a town so known for its liberalness, so filled with Democrats.
COLLINS: I thought you were trying to say Republicans can't party.
SIEGESMUND: I went to this awesome party last night hosted by this group called the swift boat veterans for disco. I was just (INAUDIBLE). They are unbelievable. The cowboy was there. BERNARD: But the real incentive for celebrities, actually the ticket this week is to follow the Bush twins around. And that's the most important thing. And on Sunday they actually kicked off their week with a red carpet appearance at Roseland. So they are actually the draw. And Everyone is trying to follow them around. And on Thursday night, there's going to be one last party called the new generation event. And that's going to be hosted by Emma Bloomberg, daughter of Michael Bloomberg, Emily Pataki, daughter of George Pataki, Christie Whitman's kid and also the Bush twins will make their final goodbye to the city.
COLLINS: Very good. All right. Speaking of the Bush twins. B.J., last night they were on, okay, let's listen to just a little chunk. Tell us what you think.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENNA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: You know, all those times where you are growing up and your parents embarrassed you? Well, this is payback time on live TV.
BARBARA BUSH, DAUGHTER OF GEORGE W. BUSH: Take this. I know it's hard to believe, but our parents' favorite term of endearment for each other is actually bushy. And we had a hamster, too. Let's just say ours didn't make it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Your thoughts?
SIEGESMUND: Yes, you know what? Some of those jokes kind of fell flat on the audience. But this has really been the coming out week for the Bush girls. Their star has arrived. You know, as Sarah was mentioning, they were greeted at the Roseland event with a red carpet and paparazzi, and, you know, they had the look. They had jeans and high heels. And then last night, you know, they looked so great on the air. And the Republican Party is not known for its young, hot chicks.
BOROWITZ: They are so cool. I mean, you know, instead of those choose or lose T-shirts, they are wearing these T-shirts that say choose your booze, and they are really great. I just think that's so great.
COLLINS: Andy Borowitz, Sarah Bernard and B.J. Siegesmund, thanks, guys. Bill, back to you.
HEMMER: All right, Heidi. Thanks for that. Eleven minutes now before the hour. In a moment here it's become an honor for any athlete, a Wheaties box cover. Who the athlete not present this year, after gold in Athens, too? Andy's at the diner. We'll check in with him right after this. Minding Your Business.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HEMMER: Fresh air, Times Square. Again today, 100 years Times Square celebrating this past April. It's been a landmark. The crossroads of the world, they call it here in New York City. Back across to the diner again, here is Jack Cafferty hanging out over there.
Hey, Jack, good morning.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Bill. Thank you. Markets are open. A check on how they are shaping up. Ken Lay is whining about apparently not being sent off to prison soon enough, and the Wheaties boxes are out following the Olympics. Andy Serwer is here minding all of our business for us.
ANDY SERWER, CNN ANCHOR: Yes. Hey, do you think there's real mustard in here, Jack?
CAFFERTY: I don't know.
SERWER: We're going to check it out by the end of the week. I guarantee you we're going to check that out. Check it out right now?
CAFFERTY: Undo the top and take a look inside.
SERWER: I don't even want - you're not really going to do that?
CAFFERTY: Yes. There's real mustard in there.
SERWER: You can squirt it, too. This is the week that wasn't on Wall Street, Jack, very sleepy and slow.
(MARKET REPORT)
SERWER: Let's talk about the Ken Lay story. He has an op-ed piece in the "Washington Post" complaining that the Justice Department is slowing down his trial. Of course, usually people want trials to be delayed. He wants to slow it down and that's because he says that the White House doesn't want to see stories about his trial going on during the Republican Convention.
CAFFERTY: I bet that's not it. I bet he's just anxious to meet all those new friends he's going to make when he goes to that other place.
SERWER: Well, that could well be. And it's interesting, of course, he has the piece in "Washington Post," which some say is a liberal paper, during the Republican Convention and on and on and on. Let's talk about the Wheaties box scenario here.
CAFFERTY: Yes. That's a weird deal, isn't it?
SERWER: Yes. And, you know, after the Olympic games all the athletes want to get themselves on the Wheaties box. Carly Patterson got herself on the Wheaties box. Michael Phelps got himself on the Wheaties box. Justin Gatlin. Who is that one up there? There we go. That's Michael Phelps.
CAFFERTY: Michael Phelps. SERWER: Because he's the swimmer. Okay. There's Justin Gatlin, fastest man in the world from Brooklyn, New York. And who is not on the Wheaties box?
CAFFERTY: I don't understand that.
SERWER: Well, Paul Hamm is not. He doesn't get a Wheaties box. First all-around U. S. men gymnastics champion ever, and he's not on a Wheaties box. Does it have something to do with that controversy? Maybe it does.
CAFFERTY: Well, that's really lame. I mean, after all the controversy is over he got to keep the gold medal. He won the gold medal.
SERWER: Well, what are they going to do, put the South Korean on the box?
CAFFERTY: Yes. And then, so he gets left out of that. It probably pays a few dollars, too.
SERWER: You know what they should do? They should put him on one of the competitors, Corn Flakes.
CAFFERTY: Yes, or Fruit Loops.
SERWER: Yes.
CAFFERTY: All right, thanks.
SERWER: You're welcome.
CAFFERTY: Maybe not Fruit Loops.
SERWER: No.
CAFFERTY: We're continuing our special convention segment, which is called voice of the voter. When was the last time you remember 1,000 people being arrested in an American city in a single day. It's been a long time. It happened here in New York yesterday. We talked to some people both local and from out of town on what they think about all these protest demonstrations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, that's America, right? We're allowed to state our opinions. And yet I'm glad that we're all so bold enough and confident enough to do something like this in this city. It's a statement.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We saw it on the news last night but we didn't see anything walking around here all over the place yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, we watched the news last night and saw where they are going to be today so we're avoiding that area. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now, we have the right to say what we want to say and they have a right to say what they want to say. So that's why we live here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm kind of on the opposing side of the protest, but, I mean, I guess everybody has a right to speak what they want.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's what makes our nation great. And it really is. The fact they get to do that, all right. I would hope they could do their protests without any violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CAFFERTY: There you go, voice of the voters. Back to you, Bill.
HEMMER: All right, Jack. Thanks for that.
In a moment, CNN continues to follow the breaking story out of Russia. Hundreds of people, perhaps many children now being held hostage there. A live report next hour. Daryn Kagan has that. We've got another word here from New York right after this on American Morning.
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