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American Morning
Knox Awaits Verdict in Murder Appeal; Will Christie Run?; "Occupy Wall Street"; Turbulence on Two Flights Injures 18; Panetta Warns of Israeli Isolation; Rick Perry's "N" Word Controversy; Murray Trial Resumes This Morning; Supreme Court Opens New Term; Till 2013 Do Us Part?; Knox's Fate In Jury's Hands; Greece Approves Preliminary Budget
Aired October 03, 2011 - 05:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, I'm Ali Velshi. Right now, Amanda Knox is waiting anxiously to see if her murder conviction will are overturned. Earlier this morning, she pleaded her case directly to the jury. Now they are deliberating. We're expecting a verdict today. We'll go live to Italy straight ahead.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Carol Costello. It looks like Chris Christie had a change of heart. The New Jersey governor after months of denials, now reportedly reconsidering a run for president, but there's one thing his team needs to figure out first on this AMERICAN MORNING.
VELSHI: Good morning. It is Monday, October 3rd. Christine's off today. Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. You know, I'm here the whole morning. I was going to listen to whatever you were going to say anyway.
But whatever you said about Chris Christie has really got my attention. There's one thing his team has to consider first. I'm very, very excited about that. You know, renewed talk that he's going to get into the race.
COSTELLO: I know, but it's really late in the game and there's that money issue. Of course, they say he has big Republican backers, but --
VELSHI: I think he's got people telling all the time. Don't worry. You run. We'll take care of the money.
COSTELLO: I think what he has to worry more about is he has some rather moderate views on social issues that conservatives may not be hip to.
VELSHI: We'll be talking a lot about that this morning. But something else we're talking a lot about. First, Amanda Knox's final hope for freedom. Right now, the American student is waiting to see if her murder conviction will be overturned.
She made her case to the jury earlier this morning. Now, it is an agonizing waiting game for her. Here's part of what a tearful Knox told the court, quote, "the accusations are completely unjust and without any foundation. I am paying for my life with a crime I didn't commit."
Paula Newton has covered this case for years. She joins us live from Perugia, Italy. Paula, what else did Knox have to say to the jurors this morning?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, she got up and she could barely speak, Ali. She was really choking back the tears. They asked, do you want to take a seat? She said, no. She said OK.
And she made a tearful plea, but maintained her composure each time underscoring each time, I did not kill, I did not rape, I did not steal, I was not there, I was innocent and she delivered the speech in fluent Italian.
But really, much more emotional than I've ever seen her and she has been emotional before, but this was different. And Ali, she threw away the script. Normally she would try and read even in Italian from a piece of paper.
This time if she had notes, she barely referred to them and you could tell this was something that came straight from the heart. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AMANDA KNOX, CONVICTED OF MEREDITH KERCHER'S MURDER (through translator): I am not what I say I am perversity, violence. I respect life and people, and I haven't done the things that they are suggesting that I've done. I haven't murdered. I haven't raped. I haven't stolen. I wasn't there. I wasn't present in that crime.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: She continually is saying that, look, I refuse to pay for my life for something I did not do, and very interesting, Ali, she repeated again that, look, Meredith Kercher was my friend. I miss her, but I did not kill her.
VELSHI: That's an interesting point because there was discussion that the two did not have a very good relationship. What are we waiting for, Paula? What happens now?
She and her boyfriend have gone back to their respective prison cells and are waiting to be called back at some point and we're thinking that likely the jury will have a decision within the next few hours?
NEWTON: Well, Amanda Knox returned to the prison behind me about 45 minutes ago. She has a long wait ahead of her, Ali. I mean, we expect the judge that he expects to be back around 2:00 in afternoon. We've learned that that's Italian court time that could slip. That's 8:00 local.
That is a long day for the young woman behind me. The problem as well, Ali, it isn't a straight, what, we uphold the verdict or are knocking down the verdict. There are other options. Some of them are reduced sentences.
At this point, she has to be thinking what is the best I can hope for? She has said what she really wants is to get on a plane and go home tomorrow. Ali --
VELSHI: Paula, we'll stay on top of the story with you. Thanks so much. Paula Newton for us in Perugia. And as Paula says it's a different case than what we're used to seeing here in the United States, Carol.
COSTELLO: Are different, the appeals process in Italy is far different than here in the United States. There are several options available to the jury up to and including a complete acquittal.
So let's bring in CNN legal contributor, Paul Callan, to talk about that and the possible outcome Knox faces this morning. I cannot imagine being in that prison cell having to wait eight hours for this jury, this judge, to make a decision.
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it's pure torture, but on the other hand, it's a short wait for Amanda Knox who's been serving almost four years in prison for a crime she says she did not commit.
American college student, you know, go over that junior year abroad, the most exciting thing in the world and then a month later you're locked up for murder. This has been a tragic case for the Knox family and Amanda Knox.
COSTELLO: So tell us about the makeup of this jury?
CALLAN: Well, it's very interesting, Carol. It's very different from the United States. First of all, we're calling it a jury. This is really an appeal of the original case.
In the United States, of course, you have a jury trial and then judges review the trial to see if it was a fair trial. They don't rehear the trial. In Italy, you get an initial trial. She was convicted at that trial, and then the case goes up on appeal, but there are six lay people.
They're not trained lawyers. They're just selected-like jurors, and then there are two judges who sit on the appellate jury and they rehear the case. Now, they don't have to hear all of the evidence.
They can select the evidence they wish to hear. So it's a shorter procedure than the initial trial, but it's really like a second trial, and they have reheard pretty much the entire case, the important parts of the case.
COSTELLO: well, the most important aspect of the case, and Amanda Knox' attorney came out after the proceedings and talk about this, the DNA evidence. It's just not there.
CALLAN: Well, and let me tell you why the DNA evidence is so important. There is no piece of physical evidence that really linked Amanda Knox and her boyfriend Sollecito to the murder scene, the scene of carnage except for one thing. She said she was having dinner with her boyfriend at his apartment on night of the murder.
There is a knife that was in the sink that presumably she used to chop up tomatoes up or help cook. Her DNA is on the handle of the knife. There is a microscopic piece of DNA, so say the prosecutors, on the blade that they say is Meredith Kercher's blood.
Now, DNA experts have looked at this from the United States and Italian court-appointed DNA experts say, nonsense. That piece of DNA is too small to be subject to a legitimate analysis. If that goes out, nothing physically links them to the crime that's really definitive so a really important piece of evidence.
COSTELLO: So if this jury and this judge do not uphold her appeal, she can appeal to a higher Italian court, but let's say that that higher Italian court says the sentence remains. Can the president of the United States intervene after that point?
CALLAN: Well, he could appeal, of course, to the prime minister in Italy. I suppose, but you know, that's not something that normally happens between a western -- two western countries, Italy and the United States.
I think what you're going to see here is, if there's an acquittal, of course, she goes home. If she goes to the Italian Supreme Court, it's probably going to be sustained, and, you know, I think today is the big day in the Amanda Knox case. This is going to dictate what her future will be. Not the president of the United States.
COSTELLO: Is there any sense of which way it will go? I mean, can you get any sense at all?
CALLAN: This is the sense I get. Lawyers who have been watching the case very closely, American lawyers and to a certain extent Italian lawyers, think there's very little or no case against this American student.
On the other hand, there is a small number of people who think that Italian honor may be at stake. That Italian justice may be subject to ridicule if this case is reversed and she is released.
So the Knox supporters are very worried that the judges and the jurors on this case are going to say, we're going to uphold that verdict because we don't want Italy to look bad to the world's press. So what a terrible tension-filled day for the Knox family and those watching this trial.
COSTELLO: And again, we probably won't find out anything until 2:00 p.m. Eastern this afternoon. Amanda Knox has a long wait. Paul Callan, thank you very much. We appreciate it as always, Ali. VELSHI: Carol, thank you. To politics now, it looks like as you and I were talking about New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has had a change of heart and is seriously considering a run for the White House.
Now this is according to the "New York Times," Christie's advisers are trying to determine whether there's enough time to set up operations in Iowa and New Hampshire, two very important early states and be able to mount an effective campaign.
If Christie does decide to jump in, fellow Republican John McCain is offering up a little advice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: If Governor Christie decides to run, I wish him luck. I think that there is a bit of a caution. The swimming pool looks a lot better until you jump right in. The water may not be quite as warm as you think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: The water may not be quite as warm as you think. McCain went on to say, if Christie enters the race, he'll be a serious disadvantage because of his late start with fundraising and campaign organizing.
We're going to speak to John McCain later on this morning and of course, part of the enticement for Christie are all of these donors who haven't yet gotten into the race, saying, we've got money for you.
OK, the arrest of hundreds of protesters from New York Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend has done little to stop the Wall Street protesters. The movement, "Occupy Wall Street," is now entering its third week.
Organizers so to speak say the demonstrations are growing and they're becoming more organized. Alison Kosik joins us now live. She's been following this carefully. To put it into context, Alison, this remains a grouping of people without a particularly clear strategy and without a clearly aligned set of goals.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: But, you know what's changed from the time I was out there talking to them on the street last week to now is they're really, really growing in numbers, and getting that media attention that they've really craved.
That media attention is really more for the arrest that happened over weekend more so than their message maybe because there isn't one message. As for what happened over the weekend, you see that, hundreds of protesters marching on the Brooklyn Bridge essentially shutting it down over the weekend for a few hours. Hundreds were either arrested or ticketed for walking on the roadway.
And guess what, after that, they went right back to the park that's near Wall Street. They held up their myriad of signs against everything from corporate greed to high gas prices to wanting a four- day workweek, and that's star power.
That continues. We saw Susan Sarandon out there last week. Media mogul Russell Simmons was out there and this weekend Alec Baldwin was tweeting his advice to kind of lending his encouraging messages, sending pictures.
So, you know, so we've got people jumping on the bandwagon here. You know, what they've yet to do. They've yet to actually have a sit-in on Wall Street. You know why?
Because there are barricades around the perimeter of the New York Stock Exchange. I know when I go there to work every day, I can't really get close. You have to go through sort of this maze of barricades.
VELSHI: Is there anything that stopped happening because of their protests?
KOSIK: Only just convenience. It's inconvenient walking around. One really bizarre thing that happened over the weekend, Susan Candiotti was out there reporting on "Occupy Wall Street" over the weekend. Can we go to this? All of a sudden, take a look. This dog -- what happened to peace, love and understanding?
VELSHI: Tossing a dog?
KOSIK: I don't get it. I don't get their message.
COSTELLO: It was the international dog tossing group.
KOSIK: What was up with that?
VELSHI: The dog's OK?
KOSIK: The dog is all right. Thank goodness.
VELSHI: It's interesting as Russell Simmons went in there and said had advice on getting their message straight. This is an issue. I'm going to get a lot of tweets about this, because I do every team I talk about this. My criticism is not of anything they're talking about. It is, it is a very haphazard unclear state of messages. They're mad about Wall Street.
KOSIK: They're passionate about what they want. I think what you're seeing, these celebrities coming out. They're trying to give them focus. They're trying to help.
COSTELLO: What they're trying to do is get these protesters to adopt like Michael Moore was out there. He has his own agenda. He wants them to adopt his agenda so really these celebrities are going to down there to use these protesters for their own purposes.
VELSHI: At the moment they're malleable because they don't have one message. It's not a bad idea. All right, well, they're got a great Twitter campaign.
KOSIK: They do and they're tweeting me a lot. Keep them coming. It's OK.
VELSHI: All right, Alison, thank you for covering that for us.
COSTELLO: Also new this morning, severe turbulence blamed for nearly two dozen injuries in two separate flights both landing in Boston. Seven people were hurt aboard a Jet Blue flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boston.
The other involved, a Lufthansa plane en route from Munich, from Charlotte, North Carolina. Turbulence forced the flight to be diverted to Boston. Eleven people on board that plane were injured.
VELSHI: That's a lot of turbulence to divert planes and to actually have those kinds of injuries.
COSTELLO: Scary.
VELSHI: That's quite something in the air. OK, ahead on AMERICAN MORNING, between a rock and a hard place. We're digging deeper on a new controversy surrounding Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry. How long has this guy been in the race, a lot of controversy?
COSTELLO: Plus, U.S. born al Qaeda leader Anwar Al-Awlaki was killed on Friday, but there are some who are troubled that an American citizen was taken out by his own government without a trial. What do you think? It's our "Talk Back" question this morning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Seventeen minutes past the hour. Good morning to you.
Weather permitting, the daring top down inspection of the Washington Monument will resume this morning. (INAUDIBLE) winds brought the operation to a halt this weekend. One rappelling worker was blown 30 feet away from the tower. A team of engineers is assessing the damage to the monument's exterior after, of course, that 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit back in August.
VELSHI: All right. Rob Marciano is in the Extreme Weather Center for us this morning. Good morning, Rob. What have you got for us other than the fact that it's cold and rainy here in New York?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes. And unsettled and will continue to be that way again today.
VELSHI: Yes.
MARCIANO: Good morning, again, guys. You know, we have a weather pattern last week that was stuck in a rut. We got kicked out by a storm out of Canada and now that storm that kicked the last storm out is stuck and spinning and is cut off as well. So the unsettled weather will continue. We're getting some showers around the D.C. and Baltimore area at this time and we'll probably see a couple more pop up throughout the day today across parts of the northeast including Boston and New York.
Farther down south, that same storm is bringing in cold air to Nashville; 42 degrees and frost advisories are up; 45 degrees right now in - in Atlanta. But the storm system out west is creating some problems in the Northwest and also in the Sierra Nevadas. Look at that, our first indications for seeing significant snowfall. Could see over a foot in spots, over 7,000 feet.
This is what it will look like across parts of Pennsylvania and the Appalachians over the weekend. Some snow. There you go. Multiple spots reporting, you know, not a tremendous amount. I mean, they didn't need to get the plows out, but still, you know, considering it's the first week of October, to get even some of it stick to the ground, that's a pretty big deal. These aren't - it's not exactly high elevation areas, but not low elevations, and snow.
So here we go, guys. Buckle up your winter boots, because it's coming.
COSTELLO: Yes. I think you're going to have to wear Boston's winter outfit, because, you know, the Tigers -
VELSHI: Oh.
COSTELLO: -- they won. Rob Marciano, Yankee-loving fan.
MARCIANO: Yes. And you - I think your Tiger - your Lions won as well.
COSTELLO: I know.
MARCIANO: So I think you're winning is done for week. OK?
VELSHI: (INAUDIBLE) Lions or Tigers. But, yes, the Tigers. I think this is far from over yet.
COSTELLO: What? I know, but --
VELSHI: Rob, make yourself available for Friday because Carol and I may not be speaking on Friday morning.
MARCIANO: Yes, I think.
COSTELLO: (INAUDIBLE).
MARCIANO: Game three tonight, guys.
COSTELLO: Orlando and (INAUDIBLE).
MARCIANO: Yes. Rematch tonight. Hopefully they'll play the whole nine innings.
COSTELLO: I hope so.
VELSHI: Rob, good to see you, my friend.
MARCIANO: Yes.
VELSHI: All right.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is delivering a blunt message to Israel, repair relations with your neighbors or risk isolation. In his first visit to the region as Defense Chief, Leon Panetta will also press Israeli and Palestinian leaders to restart peace talks.
And before Panetta left for Israel, he spoke exclusively to CNN's newest anchor Erin Burnett and he defended that strike that took out U.S. born al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEON PANETTA, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: This individual was clearly a terrorist and, yes, he was a citizen, but if you're a terrorist, you're a terrorist, and that means that we have the ability to go after those who would threaten to attack the United States and kill Americans. There's no question that the authority and the ability to go after a terrorist is there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELSHI: You can see the rest of Erin Burnett's exclusive interview with Leon Panetta tonight when her new show "OUT FRONT" premieres at 7:00 P.M. Eastern Time.
COSTELLO: Now it's time for your chance to "Talk back" on the big question this morning. The question for you, should the United States have targeted Anwar al-Awlaki despite his American citizenship?
President Obama is two for two. First he got Osama Bin Laden, now Anwar al-Awlaki, arguably our most wanted terrorists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: A role he took the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans. He repeatedly called on individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Another American al Qaeda collaborator was also killed in that raid. What a relief, right? Not for everybody.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RON PAUL (R), TEXAS: If the American people accept this blindly and casually, we now have an accepted practice of the president assassinating people who he thinks are bad guys. I think it's sad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Yes. They were bad guys, really bad guys. Still, some say that's no excuse for basically murder.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which one accused Obama of morphing into Bush says, the targeted killing program violates both the U.S. and international law. It is a mistake to invest the president, any president, with the unreviewable power to kill any American whom he deems to present a threat to country.
Although former Vice President Dick Cheney would certainly disagree. He not only praised the Obama administration for targeting al-Awlaki, but says President Obama should apologize for his veiled criticism of the Bush administration's enhanced interrogations. Cheney added, sometimes you've got to do what you've got to do.
So the "Talk Back" question today, should the United States have targeted Anwar al-Awlaki despite his American citizenship? Facebook.com/AmericanMorning, Facebook.com/AmericanMorning. I'll read your responses later this hour.
VELSHI: OK. Coming up next, Week Two of the Conrad Murray Trial is set to get underway in just a few hours. Why Michael Jackson's former doctor might be facing an uphill battle.
COSTELLO: And wait until you hear how Andy Rooney (INAUDIBLE) the final time last night on "60 Minutes." He's certainly not grateful.
It's 22 minutes past the hour. You're watching AMERICAN MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Twenty-six minutes after the hour. Welcome back. "Minding Your Business" this morning.
This week, it's all about Europe and about jobs here in the United States. European markets are down this morning after the Greek government announced over the weekend that it will miss its deficit target. Now, this news is raising concerns that the next EU bailout of Greece may be in jeopardy and that Greece will have to default on its debt.
Two more warnings about the growth of the global economy also weighing on market this morning. An IMF official announce this morning in Tokyo that further slowdown in the U.S. economy is hurting global growth as a whole. Also, the ratings agency Fitch, downgraded the growth forecast for all of the world's most powerful economies.
These warnings and the news out of Greece are pushing U.S. stock futures down. Right now, the futures for the Dow, NASDAQ and S&P 500 all trading lower ahead of the opening bell. This week, we'll get a fresh reading on the growth and the labor market when the government releases its big jobs report for September. That happens on Friday morning while we're on the air.
Also this week, investors will be watching Fed Chief Ben Bernanke's testimony about America's economic outlook in front of Congress. He'll testify tomorrow morning in front of the Joint Economic Committee.
A stock to watch today, Eastman Kodak, it's up in pre-market trading after taking a nosedive on Friday. The stock sank more than 50 percent, down to 78 cents a share after rumor started swirling that the company could be preparing to file for bankruptcy. Kodak denies those rumors.
And gas prices just keep dropping. The national average for a gallon of gas is down $3.42 a gallon that's according to AAA. People are cutting back on spending in general and the gas relatively high - it's making a mark on demand. Plus, oil prices are down under $80 a barrel for the first time since last year.
AMERICAN MORNING will be right back after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It is 30 minutes past the hour. Good morning to you.
Time for this morning's top stories.
Right now, a jury in Italy is delivering the fate of Amanda Knox. The American student is appealing her murder conviction and she stood before the jury this morning to proclaim her innocence. A verdict expected late today.
VELSHI: Some scary moments for hundreds of passengers onboard two planes hit that were hit by severe turbulence. Seven people were injured on a JetBlue flight en route from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Boston. Turbulence forced a Lufthansa flight from Charlotte to Munich to be diverted also to Boston. Eleven people were hurt on that flight.
COSTELLO: And a change of heart for Chris Christie. After months of denial, "The New York Times" is reporting the New Jersey governor's advisers are scrambling to assist whether there's enough time to set up operations in Iowa and New Hampshire and mount an effective campaign for president.
VELSHI: Texas Governor Rick Perry must be pining for the good old days when they took the race by storm and quickly became the GOP's "it" candidate. In a rocky road lately with campaign missteps and debate stumbles. Now, Perry is at the center of a controversy over the name of a Texas hunting camp once leased by him and his family that contained the N-word.
According to the "Washington Post," a rock at the camp entrance was painted with the word in big letters. The campaign spokesman says Perry's father painted over the rock soon after they began using the property in 1980s. But "The Post" says visitors claimed the name was still visible much later.
Joining us from Washington and talk about that and other campaign headlines are CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser.
Paul, tell us where this whole controversy stands now.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I'll tell you, Ali, what struck me immediately yesterday morning was how quickly the Perry campaign wanted to react to this moments after I reached out to them after reading the story in "The Washington Post," they tame out with a response very quickly, especially for Sunday morning.
Part of that said this, "A number of claims made in the story are incorrect, inconsistent and anonymous, including the implication that Rick Perry brought groups to the lease when the word on the rock was still visible. One consistent fact in the story is that the word on a rock was painted over and obscured many years ago."
A little later yesterday morning, Ali, Herman Cain, African American, of course, also running for president, former Godfather's Pizza CEO, he was on the Sunday talk showed. He was asked about it. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My reaction is, that is very insensitive. There are some words that do not basically inspire the kind of negativity like that particular word. And since Governor Perry has been going there for years to hunt, I think that it shows a lack of sensitivity for a long time of not taking that word off of that rock and renaming that place. It's just basically a case of insensitivity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Another sign, how much should they be worried about this, Ali, moments after Cain was on the Sunday talk shows, the Perry campaign came out with another statement, saying they agreed with him that the word was insensitive. But again, they have pointed out that it had been painted over years ago.
I guess the big sign now is will other campaigns, the Romney campaigns and some of other Republican presidential campaigns speak out on this issue and attack Rick Perry. We'll see -- Ali.
VELSHI: Let me ask you the question on Carol's mind right now. What does this mean for -- I'm just kidding with you.
What does it mean for Chris Christie? We've heard talk he is having a change of heart. Maybe all of this cajoling and convincing is getting to him. Is Chris Christie seriously thinking about jumping into this presidential race?
STEINHAUSER: He's definitely thinking about it now a lot more now than he was probably a few weeks ago. Remember, this latest round started after Rick Perry stumbled in that most recent presidential debate, maybe intensifying now this weekend after the story broke out. As you mentioned, Ali, his advisers right now and these advisers to Chris Christie worked with the Giuliani campaign in the last election cycle, they're trying to figure, is there enough time if the governor decides he wants to run, is there enough time to raise the money, start up a campaign, especially in Iowa, New Hampshire and other early states, which now it seems will be moving up a month.
So, Chris Christie, if he wants to jump in, has one less month to get ready. The clock is definitely ticking for him. He needs a decision very soon, Ali.
VELSHI: All right. Paul, thanks very much. Good morning to you. We'll talk to you a little later on -- Paul Steinhauser.
COSTELLIO: Week two of testimony begins later this morning in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray. And it sure looks like the defense faces an uphill battle, because Michael Jackson's doctor took quite a beating from prosecution witnesses in week one.
Ted Rowlands is in Los Angeles with a glance back and a look ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Week two of the Conrad Murray trial will likely be picking up right where week one left off. You remember, on Friday, we heard from paramedics that reported to Michael Jackson's house after the 911 call was made and the paramedics told the jury that when they arrived Michael Jackson was cold to the touch and that never throughout their resuscitation process did they ever feel a pulse or see one on the heart monitor.
But, of course, the most damning evidence against Murray from those paramedics was that they asked him what drugs were in Jackson's body, and Murray never mentioned Propofol. We started to hear from one of the emergency room doctors at UCLA on Friday, will extend that testimony early next week and the doctors will tell much the same story as the paramedics, that they, too, asked Murray what was in Jackson's body and again, no mention of Propofol at all.
We'll also likely start to hear from detectives that were assigned to the case, they will determine or detail to the jury their investigation throughout this. They've been sitting in the courtroom throughout the week. Jurors are starting to get to know them, because they've been referred to a couple of times by attorneys. Well, now, they'll really get to know them because they'll be on the stand for quite some time.
And then later in the week, we may hear from two of Dr. Murray's girl friends. One of the girlfriends lives here in the Los Angeles area. That was the apartment that Dr. Murray was sending the Propofol to throughout this. We'll hear from her likely.
And then we will hear from the other girlfriend in Houston, Texas. This was the woman Dr. Murray was on the phone with when he realized that Michael Jackson was in trouble.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Ted Rowlands reporting.
Dr. Murray has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter. If he is convicted, he faces up to four years behind bars and the loss of his medical license.
VELSHI: It's the end of an era at CBS News. Andy Rooney, the network's curmudgeon in chief offering his final remarks on "60 Minutes" last night. The 92-year-old writer and commentator has been with CBS since 1949. He's worked on the crew of "60 Minutes" for 33 years.
Here's how he signed off.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY ROONEY, COMMENTATOR: This is a moment I've dreaded. I wish I could do this forever. I can't, though.
But I'm not retiring. Writers don't retire, and I'll always be a writer. A lot of you have sent me wonderful letters and said good things to me when you meet me in the street. I wasn't always gracious about it. It's hard to accept being liked.
I don't say this often, but thank you. Although if you do see me in a restaurant, please, just let me eat my dinner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: It's hard being liked. That's what he said.
COSTELLO: It is. Yes.
VELSHI: That was his 1,097 and final essay on "60 Minutes."
COSTELLO: He cemented curmudgeon status by that goodbye.
VELSHI: Absolutely. Just let me eat.
COSTELLO: Just ahead on AMERICAN MORNING: Their pencils are sharpened. Their notebooks are ready. It is the first day of the new term for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Some crucial decisions ahead, including one that will be central to the next election.
VELSHI: You want to get married, but not so sweet on that whole commitment issue? Well, we're going to take you to where you may want to move.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELSHI: Welcome back. It is the first Monday in October. That is time for the Supreme Court justices to get become to work.
COSTELLO: Absolutely. Six of the nine justices attended the so-called Red Mass in Washington on Sunday. The service traditionally precedes the opening of the new court term.
CNN's Athena Jones has more on some of the major cases on the docket.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESONDENT: Hi, Ali and Carol.
It's shaping up to be a busy term for the Supreme Court with decisions expected on several big and politically important issues.
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JONES (voice-over): Today kicks off a new term for the Supreme Court. And health care tops the lists of big issues the nine justices could take on.
The Obama administration has asked the nation's highest court to rule on the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The health care overhaul signed into law last year.
Lawsuits brought by 28 states and dozens of individuals and groups have challenged the federal government's right to require people to purchase health insurance, the key provision in the law. Analysts say the court will almost certainly address this hot button issue this term, with a decision coming just months before the presidential election.
TOM GOLDSTEIN, SCOTUSBLOG.COM FOUNDER: The law itself is obviously really important whether you like it or not. It has tremendous consequences for President Obama's re-election, because it's a signature achievement.
CARRIE SEVERINO, CHIEF COUNSEL, JUDICIAL CRISIS NETWORK: The politics of health care aside, this is a central issue. This could change the way the government and the people interact going forward in our country.
JONES: Among cases already on the court's docket, an electronic surveillance case that asks whether police can attach a GPS tracker to a suspect's car without a warrant. The central question: do motorists have any right to privacy on public roads? Another about whether prisoners can subject people arrested even for minor offenses to suspicionless strip searches.
And the case about whether the Federal Communications Commissions indecency rules violate broadcast networks free speech rights.
GOLDSTEIN: It seems inevitable this term they're going it have to decide what the free speech rights of broadcasters are to put profanity and some nudity on the air.
JONES: Other charged issues that could come up include immigration, gay marriage, affirmative action and abortion.
GOLDSTEIN: The Supreme Court term so far is shaping up to be pretty interesting, but it could become absolutely explosive and enthralling. It could be the most interesting in a century.
JONES: Now, there's one more important point I want to reiterate here and that's that the Supreme Court only takes on about one out of every 10 cases its petitioned to review, and the justices haven't decide fundamental they're going to tackle this health care overhaul.
Still, nearly every legal analyst you speak with thinks the court is going to have to weigh into this debate. So, it's going to be an interesting term here.
Back to you, Ali and Carol.
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VELSHI: Thanks, Athena.
New this morning, California Governor Jerry Brown signing a bill that prevents local governments in his state from trying to ban male circumcision. Gosh, did I read that right?
COSTELLO: I knew were you a little nervous about this story.
VELSHI: Right. But I'll carry on, I'll march ahead.
Backers of a circumstance come sigs ban collected 8,000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot in San Francisco. They argue that circumcision is an unnecessary surgery that can lead to health and sexual problems later in life -- Carol.
COSTELLO,: Till death do us part, or, you can take the shorter deal. Mexico City may now let residents pick how long they want to be married. Lawmakers are considering legislation that would allow newlyweds to apply for a temporary marriage license. It would allow couples to decide the length of their own marriage. There is a two- year minimum, however.
VELSHI: There's a gentleman is on the floor who remain nameless seems very encouraged by this whole thing. He's nodding his head, giving it the thumbs up.
COSTELLO: Why get married at all?
VELSHI: From a financial point of view, if you do the math, if you see how many marriages end in divorce, save yourself in trouble, if you just for (ph) divorce.
COSTELLO: That's called illogical.
VELSHI: Yes, though, I'm not advocating it. I don't like the idea at all.
COSTELLO: Because your wife is watching.
VELSHI: I would never advocate such a thing. I think that they should be longer than lifelong, if that were possible.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: Carol.
COSTELLO: It's 45 minutes past the hour. We're still awaiting a verdict in the Amanda Knox appeal in Italy. Deliberations underway right now. When the verdict comes down, of course, we'll bring it to you live.
VELSHI: Plus, our "Talk Back" question of the morning, does it matter that Anwar al Awlaki who was killed Friday was an American citizen? Your thoughts ahead. It is 46 minutes after the hour.
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VELSHI: Good morning. Eight past the hour. Here's what you need to know to start your day this morning.
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VELSHI (voice-over): Amanda Knox' fate is in the hands of an Italian jury at this hour. The U.S. student is appealing her murder conviction and spoke directly to the jury this morning insisting that she is innocent. A verdict is expected today.
A Massachusetts man accused of planning attacks on the Pentagon and the U.S. capitol will be in court later today. Authorities say 26-year-old Rezwan Ferdaus planned to attack the targets using remote controlled model aircraft filled with C-4 explosives.
Thirty thousand government layoffs reportedly looming in Greece. Greece approved a preliminary budget for 2012, but it misses key deficit targets for this year and next. Greece may be forced to make major cuts to government services. The government blames the shortfall on the deepening recession in that country.
The protest against Wall Street entering the third week now. Over the weekend, 700 people were arrested for blocking traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge.
Chris Christie is reportedly considering a bid for the presidency, reconsidering it, according to the "New York Times." The New Jersey governor's advisers are scrambling to determine whether there is enough time to set up operations in the early primary states of Ohio -- I'm sorry -- of Iowa and New Hampshire.
And for the first time in nearly 15 years, Tiger Woods is not among the top 50 golfers in the world. When the rankings come out this morning, Tiger is expected to be number 51. He returns to action this week after a two-month layoff.
(END VIDEOTAPE) VELSHI (on-camera): That's the news you need to start your day. AMERICAN MORNING is back right after this.
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COSTELLO: Ten minutes until the top of the hour. Good morning to you.
President Obama may have done a double take when he learned that former vice president, Dick Cheney, praised his decision to kill the radical American-born cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen.
VELSHI: But as CNNs Candy Crowley tells us Cheney still believes the president owes his predecessor an apology.
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CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): No weekend qualms about a U.S. drone strike into Yemen that killed a top al Qaeda operative who was also an American. Thumbs up from the former vicepresident.
DICK CHENEY, FMR. VICE PRESIDENT: I think president ought to have that authority to order that kind of strike even when it involves an American citizen when there's clear evidence that he's part of al Qaeda, planning and cooperating, supporting attacks against the United States.
CROWLEY: OK by the former head of the CIA.
MICHAEL HAYDEN, FMR. CIA DIRECTOR: We're a nation at war and as a belligerent, have a right to kill or catch your enemy combatants trumps the fact that one or another of those combatants might have U.S. personhood wrapped around them.
CROWLEY: And the former ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee is in, too, but she wants the Obama administration to be transparent about his legal justification for killing an American without due process.
JANE HARMAN, CEO, WILSON CENTER: I believe there is a good case. Imminent threat beyond our ability to arrest him. The authorization to use military force against al Qaeda, he was complicit with al Qaeda. I think the Justice Department should release that memo.
CROWLEY: In fact, two Americans were killed in the U.S. attack. The target, Anwar al-Awlaki, a master recruiter linked to several plots against the U.S., including the Fort Hood shootings and Samir Khan, an al Qaeda propagandist. Despite his approval of the U.S. strikes, something eats at Dick Cheney. Something President Obama said in Cairo in 2009 about the U.S. reaction to the 9/11 attacks.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The fear and anger that it provoked was understandable, but in some cases, it led us to act contrary to our traditions and our ideals. We are taking concrete actions to change course. I have unequivocally prohibited the use of torture by the United States.
CROWLEY: Cheney says now that the Obama administration trying to protect the country approved that killing of an American citizen, the president should rethink his suggestion that the Bush administration's tactics were un-American.
CHENEY: They, in effect, said that we had walked away from our ideals of taking policy contrary to ideals when we had enhanced interrogation techniques. They're clearly moved in the direction of taking robust action when they feel it's justified.
CROWLEY: You'd like an apology it sounds like.
CHENEY: You know I would. I think that'll be enough for me, but I think for the Bush administration.
CROWLEY: Still, the larger picture is worth noting again. Asked if the Obama administration is waging a successful war against terror, Cheney says, yes.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
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COSTELLO: And that brings us to our "Talk Back" question of the morning. We ask you this question, should the United States have targeted Anwar al-Awlaki despite his American citizenship?
This from Andy, "There are no rules in love and war. Love for country and war against those inciting or participating in terrorism against America. The U.S. was right to act in defense of its people."
This from Phillip, "A terrorist is a terrorist. Nationality doesn't come into play."
This from Thomas, "The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki was unconstitutional and should never have happened. The president should have requested an emergency trial. If al-Awlaki failed to appear in court, the trial should have continued, and if the jury found him guilty, that would have given President Obama the power to order the assassination."
And this from Robert, "Either we're war or we're not, seems clear they're at war with us and are willing to, in fact, and they desire to kill Americans. It was clearly documented that he was strategizing to kill Americans, and therefore, he is fair game."
Keep the comments coming. Facebook.com/americanmorning. I'll read more of your thoughts later on on AMERICACAN MORNING.
VELSHI: So, now, I'd like to talk about bears.
COSTELLO: Oh, geez.
(LAUGHTER)
VELSHI: There's just no other way to make that transition.
COSTELLO: You're right.
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VELSHI (voice-over): All right. An uninvited guest for breakfast. Check this out. A black bear cub climbed up on to a couple's deck in Pennsylvania. The cub spent about an hour there raiding the bird feeder. Mean bear. Once the food was gone, the bear, apparently, is still in no particular rush to leave.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When it came on the porch, however, we thought, how is this bear going to get off the porch, because he didn't like the idea of jumping.
VELSHI: The couple eventually called the police. They were able to scare the bear back into the woods.
COSTELLO (voice-over): At least he didn't eat the bird. But, I guess, bears don't eat birds.
VELSHI: Yes. They want the feed more than the birds.
COSTELLO: They're vegetarians.
(LAUGHTER)
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COSTELLO (on-camera): Just ahead, reports that a plane is waiting for her if the jury let's her off the hook. We are awaiting the Amanda Knox verdict in early -- in Italy, rather.
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