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CNN Saturday Morning News
President Bush Has Fun And Serious Discussions In Pakistan; Anti-American Protests In Pakistan; Bush's Stance On India's Nuclear Program Hypocritical To Some; BlackBerry Settlement Allows Service To Continue; Some Question Jon Stewart As Academy Awards Host; Randy Cunningham Gets Long Sentence For Accepting Bribes; Child Calls 911 But Doesn't Know Address; Debate That Negro League's Legacy Is Being Lost In Merchandising
Aired March 04, 2006 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Anti-American protests are the backdrop for the president's trip to Pakistan. This morning, Mr. Bush travels under extremely heavy security to talk terror and democracy.
It is Saturday, the 4th day of March. Good morning, everyone. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, I'm Tony Harris.
BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Betty Nguyen. We're going to take you live to Pakistan in just a moment, but first, a quick look at some of the other stories making headlines right now.
The deal with an Arab company to manage six U.S. ports will now get even more scrutiny. Following a 30-day Treasury Department-led review, DP World formally filed papers to undergo a more intense 45- day investigation. A dispute over the deal centers on whether the Dubai-based firm would pose a national security threat.
Former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham is facing his first full day in prison. He was sentenced yesterday to more than eight years behind bars for taking upwards of $2 million in bribes. The sentence is related to a criminal conspiracy that involved at least three defense contractors. The sentence is the highest ever for a former member of Congress.
Now to Iraq -- a mortar exploded in a busy market just outside Baghdad early this morning. Seven people were killed, 15 others hurt. Several other bombings also struck the capital city, killing two other people and wounding several others.
HARRIS: A judge has ordered the Bush administration to release the names of detainees at Guantanamo Bay. The order follows a Freedom of Information lawsuit filed by the Associated Press. The Pentagon had claimed that releasing the names would put the detainees or their families in danger.
Coming up, he's been left high and dry, the Kentucky boy who needs a kidney. His dad promised him one, then he left the country. The latest on the search, and what punishment you would give this fugitive dad.
Plus a little Michigan girl knew how to call for help when mommy collapsed. But she just didn't know where to tell rescuers to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are going to be good. You're going to be good ...
JON STEWART, HOST, ACADEMY AWARDS: It's going to be fun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... because you know why? You're funny ...
STEWART: Yes, why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and you're smart and you're quick.
STEWART: Who is better than me?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: People like him.
HARRIS: Nice.
NGUYEN: The spotlight is on Hollywood tomorrow night for the Academy Awards, but will host Jon Stewart shine? He talks to CNN, that's just ahead.
HARRIS: And topping our news this hours, terror and protests -- that's the backdrop for President Bush's visit to Pakistan today. Mr. Bush met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, and he praised the Pakistani leader for standing up for the global war on terrorism.
CNN's Elaine Quijano joins us live from Islamabad. And, Elaine, I know there was a lot of serious talk, but there was also a moment or two where the president picked up a cricket bat?
ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. OK. We'll start with the fun stuff first, Tony. You like the good stuff before the serious stuff, I can see. We'll talk about this. You know, America, of course, has baseball, the national pastime.
Here in Pakistan, it is cricket. President Bush, being a baseball kind of guy, took advantage of the opportunity to be here in Pakistan not just to watch some of the activity that was going on with this cricket practice, but also to take part himself. In fact, we saw him take a few swings. Actually connected a couple of times, as well.
The president though -- obviously, this is part of his effort to reach out to the Pakistani people in a different way, not just talking about his policies but also in a cultural level, as well, trying to show perhaps a different side of not only the president himself but also the American people to show that they can enjoy the same kinds of pastimes, as well.
But also on that front to try and build goodwill, the president did talk about earthquake relief. The United States military, of course, playing an integral role in helping the victims of the earthquake here in Pakistan last October.
So all of that goodwill really a part of his strategy to try and win over the Pakistani people because, of course, you know, Tony, there has been some very strong anti-American sentiments in this part of the world -- Tony.
HARRIS: Elaine -- but you're right. There was serious business as well. Talk to us about the expectations and the pressures on this trip for these two presidents?
QUIJANO: Well, of course, terrorism was the issue that was front and center, and continues to be when you're talking about relations between the United States and Pakistan. Of course, both sides taking pains to say -- particularly the United States, taking pains to say that the relationship is not just based on any one issue, that it's not just a matter of security but, of course, for President Bush there is tremendous pressure.
It's now been more than four years since the 9/11 attacks. Osama bin Laden has still not been caught, and it's believed that he may be hiding here in Pakistan. So in turn there is pressure on Pervez Musharraf himself to perhaps step up the effort to root out terrorists and try to track them down.
What is president got today -- President Bush got today -- was the reassurance that he was looking for from President Musharraf that, in fact, the commitment to fighting terrorism is still strong and as strong as it has been in the past -- Tony.
HARRIS: Hey, Elaine, I got to ask you one more quick question, will Pakistan get a nuclear energy deal like India got Thursday from the U.S.?
QUIJANO: You know, it's not likely. In fact, just a short time ago, the president's top aides, I should say, came out and basically said, look, India is not the same situation as Pakistan.
There are, of course, energy needs in both countries and what the president said today is that the U.S. energy secretary, Sam Bodman, in fact, is going here to come to Pakistan to talk about some of those energy needs.
But there's also a different history here and, in particular, of course, they are talking about A.Q. Khan, someone who is believed to have been responsible for proliferation, the father of the nuclear effort here in Pakistan, and so the United States is approaching Pakistan in a much different way.
But, of course, some would say that the Bush administration has really opened itself up to this kind of criticism, perhaps, opening the door now to other nations, possibly asking for different treatment because now they do have this agreement with India which he'll still have to sell to the U.S. Congress, but that is outside of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and now other countries may be asking well what about us, as well -- Tony. HARRIS: Yes, Elaine Quijano covering the heavy news on this trip and also the lighter side of the trip with the president, as well. Elaine, thank you.
NGUYEN: Covering all the bases.
Well, as we told you, President Bush is in Pakistan this morning wrapping up a three-day visit to South Asia that included a historic agreement in India.
CNN's senior political analyst, Bill Schneider, joins us now from Los Angeles to dissect all of this.
Bill, you know, the first thing I want to ask you is, with all that is going on here at home -- low approval ratings, domestic spying issue, the issue of this port security that's going on and whether this is going to be approved -- India, why now? Is this a way for the president to dodge some of the problems at home?
WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, that's what his critics are certainly saying. He might remember what happened to his father. When his father was in trouble at home in 1992, when the economy was a mess, he seemed to be going all over the world.
And the Democratic National Committee actually sold -- I think they gave out T-shirts that said "The George Bush Anywhere But America Tour" and it listed all the countries that he was visiting.
It does open the president up to criticism for him to take trips overseas when Americans say what about our problems here at home, particularly after the revelation of the videotapes of the pre- Hurricane Katrina preparations. That raised a lot of questions, and Americans said our priorities should be higher in this administration's agenda.
NGUYEN: It sure did raise a lot of questions. And I think when we take a listen to what President Bush said in India, this may raise some more questions. First of all, let's take a look at what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's true that some Americans have lost jobs when their companies moved operations overseas. It's also important to remember that when someone loses a job, it's a incredibly difficult period for the worker and their families. Some people believe the answer to this problem is to wall off our economy from the world through protectionist policies. I strongly disagree.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NGUYEN: Talking about outsourcing to India. This may have many Americans a little upset, wondering when is the president going to start protecting American jobs? SCHNEIDER: That's right. This will open him up even more to criticism. This is -- sounds like and is a defense of outsourcing. People lose the jobs? Well, that's the way it is in a global economy. To many Americans, outsourcing means giving away American jobs to lower paid workers overseas, and they are outraged by that.
In fact, one of the problems the president faces on several fronts, in India as well as on the Dubai ports deal, is the criticism that he's putting commercial interests ahead of even security interests.
On the ports deal it defies common sense to Americans that this is country would allow the management of its ports to be turned over to a company that is owned by an Arab government.
And then in India, he defends outsourcing. He talks about allowing the spread of nuclear materials to India, which is a nuclear power. To many Americans, this just doesn't make sense.
NGUYEN: Yes, let's talk about that nuclear agreement just quickly, because I want to know, what does America have to gain besides mangos when it comes to this nuclear agreement with India?
SCHNEIDER: Well, India is the big counterweight to China in Asia. The United States really does have an interest in encouraging India's development, because as a commercial power, as an economic power, it is a competitor to China. And a lot of Americans are intensely aware of the economic threat if not the military threat posed by China.
So I think there is some reason for the United States to welcome India's commercial development. Its energy needs are very, very serious. A lot of American and world companies want to sell nuclear materials and reactor components to India, so there are some gains.
But on the other hand, it does put the United States in the embarrassing position of appearing to have a double standard. India we'll treat one way, but then we will forbid the spread of nuclear weapons to other countries likes Iran. That's a very difficult position to maintain.
NGUYEN: Well, we also must say that this still has to be approved by Congress. And, quickly, how do you think Congress is going to treat this?
SCHNEIDER: There will be a firestorm and it will include members of the president's own party. A lot of Republicans are very upset by this, because it does put the United States in the difficult position of sounding hypocritical. Iran no, India yes. Well, they are different countries but still it does make the United States look a little bit hypocritical.
NGUYEN: I think you're exactly right. A firestorm is headed the way. All right. Bill Schneider, thank you so much for that.
SCHNEIDER: Sure. HARRIS: Stories across American now. A New York college student is raped and murdered. Today her family and friends will gather in Boston for her funeral. Police say the 24-year-old was attacked after she left a New York bar.
In Georgia, two Camden County sheriff's deputies have been fired for using excessive force against a suspect after a high speed chase. Look as these pictures captured on the dashboard camera. The officers were caught on tape earlier this month kicking and punching the man. No word on whether the deputies or the suspect have hired attorneys or plan to pursue the matter further.
What a sight. Take a look at this. Looks like an entire city block is on fire. This blaze broke out last night, Betty, at a warehouse in Pompano Beach, Florida. The warehouse was full of propane tanks and wooden pallets stacked three stories high and, of course, that fueled the flames. One firefighter received minor injuries.
And take a look at this. Crazy video today. A few people e- mailed few more people and then a few more and there you go.
NGUYEN: And they called two friends who called two friends.
HARRIS: Yes, they all showed up at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square, pillows in hand. And this is what you get, a good, old- fashioned pillow fight.
NGUYEN: Looks like fun.
Well, guess what folks? When it comes down to baseball, what is old is new again. We're going to take a look at some of the memorabilia from the days of Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson. Remember those names?
Well, get out your wallets. It's going to cost you. Some stories can't keep this -- some stores, that is, can't keep this stuff on their shelves. We're going to tell you why right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, HOST, ACADEMY AWARDS: I'm not going to do a monologue. I have written a speech, just about the state of the union, the state of the world that I think is really -- it lays out my legislative agenda.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: Good, good, good. So from Comedy Central to center stage at the Oscars, Jon Stewart's game plan for hosting the Academy Awards. That is coming up.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: And also out west we're getting ready for a vigorous storm system that will produce up to four feet of snow in the higher Sierras. What is the weather going to be like for Southern California for the Oscars? I'll tell you coming up.
Now let's go to the .comdesk and talk to Veronica de La Cruz.
VERONICA DE LA CRUZ, CNN.COM: Thanks, Bonnie. Rain or shine, here's a question. What are users clicking on at CNN.com? I have got the dot-com most popular countdown. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: Hey there, I'm Veronica de la Cruz, at the .comdesk. Here's a countdown of the top ten most popular stories on CNN.com.
Number ten, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the country is doing everything it can in the fight against terrorism.
Number nine, from the best picture nominees to the hosts, the name of the game at this year's Academy Awards is politics.
Number eight, in a major turn around, Wal-Mart has agreed to start stocking the morning after pill known as Plan B.
And number even, BlackBerry users, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Research In Motion, the maker of BlackBerry, has agreed to pay $612.5 million to settle a long-running patent dispute.
Our countdown continues later on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: New video just in to CNN. There you see President Bush, the First Lady Laura Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and you're looking now at Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. The state dinner is underway in Islamabad, Pakistan, right now. And President Musharraf is, of course, hosting the state dinner.
It's been a busy day for President Bush. We he saw him taking part in cricket lessons a little earlier.
NGUYEN: A little cricket.
HARRIS: But certainly before that, some thorny issues were discussed between the two men, certainly the spread of democracy in Pakistan and the efforts to weed out al Qaeda and Taliban influences in Pakistan. So it's been a busy trip. State dinner going on right now, and then the president will hop on Air Force One and head back home.
NGUYEN: Head on back to the U.S. Yes.
Well, if you're heading to Hawaii, this may be the time because the rain hopefully is headed out of there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
HARRIS: Sounds good. Sounds good. OK, thank you, Bonnie.
And talking about BlackBerry, you know there was a deal. It was struck yesterday, wasn't it?
NGUYEN: Yes, a lot of people breathing a sigh of relief, including me, because I love this thing.
HARRIS: Do you really?
NGUYEN: I do. It is a part of me. It's an extension of me. I can't go anywhere without it.
HARRIS: Oh, Betty, stop. Oh just stop.
NGUYEN: I'm in love with it.
HARRIS: So here's the deal. Research In Motion, they agreed to pay hundreds of millions.
NGUYEN: Oh yes.
HARRIS: I forget what the figure is. Do you know what it is?
NGUYEN: $612 million for the settlement.
HARRIS: Six-hundred -- wow. NTP filed suits against Research in Motion in 2001, saying the wireless -- OK, so that's settled.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Bottom line, we can still use the BlackBerrys. It's a thumbs up for them. It cost them some money but, my goodness, to stay connected -- you don't like this though.
HARRIS: Well, because it intrudes in my life. It intrudes upon my life.
NGUYEN: But don't you want to stay connected? In this day and time, you have to stay connect, Tony.
HARRIS: Look, there's the computer, there's the phone, you know, the cellular. That's enough with this -- the PDAs.
NGUYEN: Well, this is all of it in one, so you don't need to carry all of those. Just bring the BlackBerry with you.
HARRIS: It's OK.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: And this way you don't have to fire up the computer just to check the e-mail.
HARRIS: I don't want to check the e-mail. That's what I'm trying to get at here.
NGUYEN: You don't want anyone to contact you whatsoever.
HARRIS: Leave me -- I want to be alone. A little Greta Garbo for your Oscar week.
NGUYEN: Well, you know, if you want to talk to me, just send me an e-mail, would you?
HARRIS: Still to come, so here's the thing. There are some who say the humor of Jon Stewart -- I'm not one of them -- just won't fit at the Oscars.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to be good. You're going to be good.
JON STEWART, HOST, ACADEMY AWARDS: It's going to be fun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because you know why? You're funny ...
STEWART: Yes. Why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and you're smart and you're quick. Yes.
STEWART: Who's better than me?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: OK. You be the judge. The comic's game plan for his stint as Oscar host. That is next.
NGUYEN: Well, speaking of movies, remember the blockbuster hit "Top Gun." Remember that? Well, you won't believe what happened in real life to the man Tom Cruise portrayed on the big screen. You have to stick around though for it. Stay right here, CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Well, Betty, so if somebody made a movie portraying you, you'd want to be there, right?
NGUYEN: Oh, heck, yes.
HARRIS: Front and center, making sure all the details are just right.
NGUYEN: Absolutely.
HARRIS: So did the penguins all decked out in their black and white attire on Friday.
NGUYEN: Their tuxedos.
HARRIS: Well, here's the deal. A group of emperor penguins at Sea World in San Diego got together for a very exclusive screening of the Oscar nominated "March of the Penguins," which is supposed to be a great movie.
NGUYEN: It is a great movie, by the way. HARRIS: And, of course, what is a movie without snacks? Enjoyed a bag of fish corn.
NGUYEN: Fish corn.
HARRIS: Fish corn.
NGUYEN: Yes, that doesn't sound too yummy.
HARRIS: Penguin popcorn.
NGUYEN: I got it.
HARRIS: Just tried to work something in there.
NGUYEN: All right, maybe better next time.
(CROSSTALK)
NGUYEN: Seriously, though, can Jon Stewart really pull off hosting one of the biggest award shows of the year? Will he speak too much of his mind or will he actually mind his manners? I don't think so, but here is CNN's A.J. Hammer with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to be good. You're going to be good.
STEWART: It's going to be fun.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because you know why? You're funny ...
STEWART: Yes. Why not?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: ... and you're smart and you're quick. Yes.
STEWART: Who's better than me?
A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" (voice-over): Is "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart really the right guy to host the Oscars? Will his edgy, irreverent style play with the self-important Hollywood crowd?
BRUCE VILANCH, OSCAR SHOW WRITER: He's an outsider looking in at the system which is always problematic at a show like that because it's the ultimate insider show. Everybody who is there feels like hey, I've made it. I'm at the Oscars. And they like the host to reflect that.
HAMMER: In the past, when outsiders like David Letterman and Chris Rock brought their own comic sensibilities, along the results were mixed.
DAVID KARGER, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: I have a feeling that Jon Stewart is not going to fall on his face like Letterman did when he hosted. I have a feeling that Jon Stewart will be funny and irreverent, but also pretty respectful. I don't think he's going to tell any jokes like Chris Rock did where he kind of put down Jude Law last year during the Oscars.
HAMMER: But more importantly, what about all the folks watching at home? Will he offend them by being too political? It's a concern Stewart doesn't take seriously.
STEWART: I'm not going to do a monologue. I have written a speech just about the state of the union, the state of the world, that I think is really -- it lays out my legislative agenda for this year. And I think the people are really going to dig it. I've got some alternative energy plans are going to surprise some people.
HAMMER: So Stewart has to please the star-filled audience at the Kodak Theater, mine laughs from some very serious Oscar nominated films, and appeal to an estimated national audience of around 40 million. That is a lot of pressure. Or is it?
STEWART: You never want to do badly, but you also never want to paralyze yourself thinking about doing badly. Show business -- you don't get into for the health plan, you get into it for the opportunities and the fun to try different stuff.
HAMMER: A.J. Hammer, CNN, Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: You can watch all the glitz and glamour of the Oscars right here on CNN. Join us tomorrow for a special "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." A.J. Hammer, Brooke Anderson, and Sibila Vargas will be live on that red carpet right before the Oscars.
HARRIS: Nice.
NGUYEN: And you can watch tomorrow evening at 5:30 Eastern on Headline News. And at 6:00, the live coverage moves over to CNN with "HOLLYWOOD'S GOLD RUSH." Boy, a big day on tap.
HARRIS: Hey, is Sibila on that big show tomorrow? She's on there?
NGUYEN: Yes, I just said she was.
HARRIS: I thought you said Brooke Anderson. They're all on it?
NGUYEN: Brooke Anderson, A.J. Hammer and Sibila Vargas.
HARRIS: Good, good, good. I just wanted to make sure.
NGUYEN: Tag teaming it for the Oscars.
HARRIS: OK, you know, it's one of those stories that has our viewers outraged this morning. Up next, new developments in the case of a father who was let out of prison to donate a kidney to his son. Instead, he skipped town. NGUYEN: Plus get your money out, Tony. Items like these are selling like crazy. Memorabilia from the old Negro leagues are right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: And good morning everyone. Now in the news, President Bush wraps up his trip to Pakistan today following a state dinner. Security was tight as Mr. Bush met with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf on a host of issues. The prime focus, the war on terror.
Also President Bush took some time off. Did you see this, for a little fun while in Pakistan. He got some lessons on the game of cricket from a group of students and some Pakistani cricket stars. Mr. Bush took a few swings using a tennis ball instead of the typical hard leather cricket ball. Wonder why they did that.
NGUYEN: They could put the heat on it, that's why.
HARRIS: The players said he was quote, not bad. But not everyone in Pakistan was ready to welcome Mr. Bush. Pakistanis opposed to ties between the two nations clashed with police. The police headed off some of the rallies by detaining protest organizers.
NGUYEN: At least 10 people have been killed in attacks all across Iraq today. Seven of them died when a mortar round exploded at a busy market in a Baghdad suburb. At least 500 people have died in a wave of violence started by last month's bombing of a Shiite mosque.
The Pentagon releases the names detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba. This comes after the Associated Press won a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The Pentagon had argued releasing the information would put the detainees or their families in danger.
The deal with the Arab company to manage six U.S. port will now get even more scrutiny. DP World has formally filed papers asking for a 45-day security investigation. This follows a Treasury Department led review that previously gave the deal a green light. The extra scrutiny will focus on potential national security threats.
Good morning and welcome back, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen.
HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. It's March 4 and you are watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Glad you could be with us. There may be new hope for Dustin Perkins (ph), who needs a life-saving kidney transplant. Police say the boy's criminal dad promised he would be the donor. Instead, he ditched his son and he's been on the run for more than a month now.
But police have a new lead on Byron Perkins and his girlfriend. Perkins disappeared after duping Kentucky prison authorities into releasing him for medical status. A Washington state woman said she spent time with Perkins and his girlfriend earlier this week while vacationing in Mexico. The woman who wants to remain anonymous, says she recognized Perkins while watching a story on CNN at the Phoenix airport. She talked to our Anderson Cooper. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They claim to be married. They'd been married for 12 years. This was their first vacation away. Mr. Perkins said that he had been in a motorcycle accident a couple years ago. Because of that, he had gotten a large settlement. He was living on that, as well as working construction part time.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: And he even talked about his son.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Actually he talked continuously about his son which I think is the most surprising thing for us, for him to actually flee the country when his son was in need, because he was very proud of his son, talked about him continuously, the fact that he wanted to be a Marine and he was very proud of him. Said he was going to grow into be a fine man and he was sure of that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: So here are the pictures again of Perkins and his girlfriend Lee Ann Howard. If you have seen them, take a look here, authorities want you to call this number. You see it there on your screen, 1-877-wanted2. That leads us to our e-mail question of the day. How would you punish the fugitive father? E-mail us at weekend@cnn.com and we will read your responses throughout the morning.
NGUYEN: Well, instead of serving out his eighth term in Congress, Randy "Duke" Cunningham will serve eight years in prison. Before he went to Washington, Cunningham came out of Vietnam a top gun fighter pilot. After going to Washington, Cunningham, seen here going to court, admitted lining his pockets with bribes from defense contractors. Chief national correspondent John King now on Duke's downfall.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN KING, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Randy Cunningham and high risk, have been partners a long time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: His name is Randy Duke Cunningham and he is a legend of air power.
KING: The Vietnam ace whose daring exploits were an inspiration for Maverick in Hollywood's "Top Gun" and from famous war hero, Cunningham parachuted into a seemingly less risky business, politics. Now 16 years after that first campaign, San Diego Congressman Duke Cunningham's exploits are once again the stuff of Hollywood.
REP. RANDY CUNNINGHAM (R), CALIFORNIA: I broke the law. Concealed my conduct and disgraced my office.
KING: His corruption is stunning in its scope and in its sheer audacity, $2.4 million in bribes, at least. Private jets for resort getaways, a California mansion, a Rolls Royce, a lifestyle well beyond his means. Naked avarice is what prosecutors call it. And look at this. Cunningham actually scribbled this bribe menu on his congressional notepad. Want a $16 million contract. The cost is a boat, BT for short, worth $140,000. Add in another 50,000 for each additional million dollars in contracts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What Cunningham did is breath taking.
KING: He was, after all, on the House Appropriations Committee, a leading voice on its defense subcommittee. Able to insert multimillion dollar favors into the Pentagon and other budgets. His Navy days gave him standing on military matters and stories worthy of the big screen.
CUNNINGHAM: I met my wife by singing "You Lost That Loving Feeling" to her at our officer's club.
KING: This is the boat from the bribe menu, "The Dukester," a flashy exhibit of Cunningham's life style. Real estate records like these, the more mundane evidence that would begin his fall from grace.
November, 2003, Cunningham sold his home in Del Mar to a defense contractor for nearly $1.7 million. The contractor lost $700,000 when he resold it. That caught the eye of a Copley News Service reporter and then that caught the eye of the Feds. What they found is eye popping. In his note to the judge, Cunningham wrote, it all started very slowly and innocently, that he's sorry, worried about dying in prison but I will accept your sentence without complaints.
CUNNINGHAM: In my life, I have had great joy and great sorrow. And now I know great shame.
KING: John King, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Our next story is a great example of why you just have to teach your kids the fundamentals early, the home address, the home phone number, because you never know when you may end up in a situation like this. Bill Gallagher from CNN's Detroit affiliate WJBK has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HUNTER BISHOP: My mom is sick.
DISPATCHER: OK.
BILL GALLAGHER, WJBK: The call came to dispatcher Tom Stawsky (ph) on a cell phone that couldn't be traced. He needed more basic information before he could send help. We've compressed the conversation.
DISPATCHER: Do you know what city you're in?
HUNTER: Macomb.
DISPATCHER: OK. What is your address? What's your name? HUNTER: Hunter Bishop.
DISPATCHER: Hunter Bishop. Do you know your telephone number, Hunter?
HUNTER: No.
GALLAGHER: Six-year-old Hunter Bishop was calling from her parent's Macomb Township home.
HUNTER: I'm in first grade.
DISPATCHER: You're in first grade?
HUNTER: Yes.
DISPATCHER: We want to try to get your mom an ambulance.
GALLAGHER: The dispatcher coaxed Hunter to try to get the address from her mother but she was having trouble breathing.
HUNTER: My mom is not talking.
GALLAGHER: Deputy Stawsky came up with an idea in a flash. Hunter may not know numbers but she knows her cars.
DISPATCHER: Does your mom drive a car?
HUNTER: Yes. She drives a Grand Prix.
DISPATCHER: OK, walk with the phone and go to the garage.
HUNTER: Go to the garage?
DISPATCHER: Tell your mom you'll be right back.
GALLAGHER: Then the phone disconnects. But Hunter is soon back on the line.
DISPATCHER: Hello, 911. Hunter, Hunter.
HUNTER: I'm here.
DISPATCHER: Are you there?
HUNTER: Yes, yes, I dropped the phone.
DISPATCHER: Look at your mom's license plate, OK. Do you see it?
HUNTER: Yes.
DISPATCHER: I want you to read me off those letters.
HUNTER: Y-U-A...
DISPATCHER: Very good Hunter. You're doing a great job for me.
GALLAGHER: Within seconds, an address and an ambulance on the way. Tell your mom the ambulance is coming.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was very quick thinking, did a fantastic job with getting the child to listen to him.
GALLAGHER: Hunter's father arrived home just as the ambulance was arriving.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's having a really bad anxiety attack.
GALLAGHER: In this high tech world, parents are urged to teach their kids the fundamentals.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just basic, your phone number, your address.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: That was Bill Gallagher from CNN affiliate WJBK. Six- year-old Hunter did well. Look, under the circumstances and mom is going to be just fine.
NGUYEN: Happy ending.
What are you logging on to online? Your cnn.com top story countdown is coming up after the break.
HARRIS: Plus, time travel can cost you a pretty penny especially if you want to buy some of this memorabilia from the old Negro leagues. We will head to the
We'll head to the ballpark when we come back. First, here's this morning's energy tip.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: You can save money in the long run with an energy efficient mortgage. It allows you to finance the cost of a major renovation and saving you energy like adding solar panels. Basically, because you will have lower utility bills and therefore more cash in the pocket, you qualify for more mortgage money.
Energy-efficient mortgages are available in all 50 states. For more information check out the Department of Housing and Urban Development's Web site at hud.gov. And remember, there's an added benefit to making energy upgrades. When it comes time to sell, an energy efficient home will be that much more marketable. I'm Gerri Willis with your energy tip.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DE LA CRUZ: I'm Veronica de la Cruz at the dot com desk. We continue our countdown of the top 10 most popular stories on cnn.com with number six. The gruesome final hours of a female photographer's life chronicled by one of her murderers, a 16-year-old Wisconsin teen.
Number five, a school in Ohio gets punked by a band sticker. Authorities shut down the school after eyeing a sticker on a bike that read, this bike is a pipe bomb. And number four, former Congressman Randy Duke Cunningham is waking up in prison this morning. He was sentenced Friday to eight years and four months for taking $2.4 million in bribes from at least three defense contractors. Stick around, we'll have the top three stories when CNN SATURDAY MORNING returns.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NGUYEN: All right. Honestly, who really gives a hoot about the movies? It really comes down to the Oscar's red carpet, because many, there are only two questions. What are the stars wearing and how can I get that? Tomorrow on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING," is it healthy, though, trying to keep up with the rich and famous. Join us when the man known as the trend whisper -- it's no joke folks, that's his name -- joins us live 9:00 Eastern right here on "CNN SUNDAY MORNING."
And if you're just getting started with us this morning, here's a quick look at our top stories for you. President Bush is wrapping up his visit to Pakistan. He and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf are having a state dinner at the hour. On this visit Bush and Musharraf have been discussing Pakistan's democratic reforms and the war on terror.
Democrats used their weekly radio address today to criticize the Bush administration over a deal to let an Arab company run six U.S. ports. Meanwhile the company has formally filed papers to undergo a more extensive review. Critics say the deal could threaten national security.
And there isn't going to be any Blackberry jam after all. There is a settlement in a lawsuit that threatened to shut down the popular wireless email device. The amount, more than $612 million. The maker of Blackberry has agreed to pay the money to settle a patent dispute with another company.
HARRIS: The 2006 class of inductees to pro baseball's hall of fame has a definite flavor to it. Seventeen of the 18 selected for enshrinement come from the old Negro leagues. But as pro baseball recognizes the trials, tribulations and triumphs from the game's segregated days, there's debate that the Negro league's legacy is somehow being lost in its merchandising.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS (voice-over): The modern day resurgence of the old Negro leagues goes beyond pro baseball's hall of fame where 17 former Negro league players and contributors will be inducted later this year. You need only look to the present day popularity of the memorabilia.
ANDY HYMAN, DISTANT REPLAYS OWNER: What you've got here is a sweatshirt with the homestead Grays which Josh Gibson played for among many other players, Buck Leonard and tons more.
HARRIS: Andy Hyman owns Distant Replays, an Atlanta sportswear store that specializes in the antiquated threads of the past. Negro league hats, jerseys and shirts are the bread and butter of his business. Hyman says many of his customers come away with a bit more than what they are shopping for.
HYMAN: There definitely are customers that see it and go what is this? And then when you tell them about it, they're like, wow, I never knew that. That's very interesting. They want to learn more.
SKIP MASON, MOOREHOUSE COLLEGE ARCHIVIST: I can understand why they have become a fashion statement now. What I do like about it is that even though they may not fully understand it, it is an opportunity for them to reach back.
HARRIS: Skip Mason is an African-American historian and serves as the archivist for Atlanta's Morehouse College. Mason believes these jerseys can be a catalyst linking a history between the generations, whether they are black or white. But some former Negro leaguers wonder if the history lesson at hand is really being heard.
NORMAN LUMPKIN, FMR. ATLANTA BLACK CRACKER OUTFIELDER: Unfortunately, no, they don't realize the significance behind those uniforms or those jackets. It's just a fad to them.
HARRIS: Eighty-seven-year-old Norman Lumpkin is one of the few remaining Atlanta Black Crackers still live to tell the tales from baseball's segregated days. He's candid when discussing the racial injustices of the past, both on and off the baseball field. But Lumpkin says there is so much more to the black ball of his day than playing up the negatives.
LUMPKIN: There were also benefits in being able to indulge in a sport where you could vent your feelings through action. You could -- you enjoy yourself by accomplishing, by competing. And through that, you had an outlet for a lot of your frustrations.
HARRIS: Skip Mason says those frustrations of the past transcend more than just remembering the Negro leagues for its baseball.
MASON: It is all connected because it is important that as we study and look at African-American history, that we don't become so one dimensional.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NGUYEN: Very nice piece.
HARRIS: Good, wasn't it?
NGUYEN: Many thanks to the person who put it together.
HARRIS: And who was the voice on that? Outstanding.
NGUYEN: All right. We're going to move straight ahead because Starbucks is getting serious about coffee if you didn't already know it. But business is growing on the other end as well in other ways. Find out straight ahead. Drum roll, please, when we count down to the three most popular stories on cnn.com.
HARRIS: Just outrageous conduct this morning.
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DE LA CRUZ: Well the countdown for the 10 most popular stories on cnn.com is in the homestretch. We go now to the West African nation of Cameroon for number three. A court there has sentenced a publisher to prison for defamation after his paper published the names of prominent alleged gays and lesbians.
And number two, after a series of helicopter and jet crashes in the past few months, the Navy is grounding all of its aircraft for half a day next week as they conduct an internal safety review.
And can I get a drum roll, please? Number one, much like McDonald's and Dunkin' Donuts, Starbucks is adding breakfast to its menu.
HARRIS: A good idea.
DE LA CRUZ: You can now grab an egg sandwich complete with peppered bacon or black forest ham for the next time you stop in for your nonfat latte and of course, you can read more online at cnn.com/mostpopular. And great idea. Amen to that, right?
NGUYEN: Oh, I can't wait.
HARRIS: Well, keep it simple, though. Don't get elaborate.
NGUYEN: Have a McStarbucks?
HARRIS: Just keep it simple so I can get in and get out.
NGUYEN: Just one breakfast sandwich with the peppered whatever, all the fancy, black forest ham. I didn't remember any of that at all. I'm not hungry.
HARRIS: Just the dot-com stuff, very nice.
NGUYEN: Thank you Veronica.
HARRIS: We're going to check in now with Bonnie Schneider for a look at weather. Where are you starting Bonnie?
(WEATHER REPORT)
NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Bonnie.
HARRIS: Look at the e-mails here.
NGUYEN: Some great e-mails. Here's the question. What would you do, what should be the punishment for this fugitive father and this goes back to the father who was let out of prison so that he could donate his kidney to his son.
HARRIS: It was the only reason he was let out of prison.
NGUYEN: The only reason and his son is still waiting. He took off. He's on the run. The son doesn't obviously have the kidney at this point. So we have a person from Canada writing in, Grant, who says Perkins, which is the father's name and his girlfriend should be shipped back to Mexico -- that's where they were spotted -- to serve life sentences in a Mexican prison. Call it outsourcing, free trade.
HARRIS: Clever, clever. Mark writes, remove his kidney and replace with the son's kidney, the same for the girlfriend. What a bunch of creeps.
NGUYEN: And faith -- appropriate name -- here's what Faith has to say. I would encourage this young possibly dying son to forgive his father. We all must forgive him his crimes and his current behavior. Very good thoughts from a lot of folks. Many people, though, I would say 99 percent want to punish the father in a very bad way.
HARRIS: Harshly. Is that it? Are we done with e-mails for today?
NGUYEN: I think we're done. We'll have another one for you tomorrow. Stay tuned for that. Are you going to watch the Oscars tomorrow night? I know a lot of you are. And more importantly, are you going to watch to see the stars and what they are wearing, how they look?
HARRIS: Yes and do you wish you could look like that?
NGUYEN: Oh, yes.
HARRIS: Well guess what, you can, for a whole lot less than what the stars are shelling out. That's for sure. We'll talk to "Beauty" magazine editor about how you can find beauty in a bottle. That's in our next hour of CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Stay right where you are.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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