Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Saturday Morning News

Mayoral Runoff Election Held in New Orleans Today; Assassination Attempt against Gaza's Chief Intelligence Officer; Iraq's Parliament Approves a Cabinet; The Business of Baseball

Aired May 20, 2006 - 07:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning everyone. Now with the news. This is it, New Orleans. Polls are opening this very minute in a city devastated by Hurricane Katrina. It's a big day Betty. We are watching today's too close to call race between incumbent Ray Nagin and Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. CNN's Sean Callebs is in New Orleans. His live report is one minute away.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: Waiting for that. Also, take a listen to this. A blast in Gaza leaves a Palestinian intelligence chief seriously wounded. Security officials call it an assassination attempt. Now a bodyguard was killed and at least nine people injured. This explosion comes at a time of growing tension between the Hamas government and Palestinian security forces loyal to moderate president Mahmoud Abbas.

HARRIS: A historic day in Iraq. About an hour ago, Iraq's parliament approved the new cabinet. The move paves the way for the formation of a national unity government. It will Iraq's first constitutional government since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

NGUYEN: Meanwhile, the violence continues in Iraq. A bombing in a Shiite section of Baghdad today killed 19 people and wounded 58 others. A suicide car bomber killed at least five in an attack on a police station near Iraq's western border, and police found 19 bodies. The people apparently kidnapped and tortured in Baghdad in a town 40 miles to the south.

HARRIS: More American casualties in Afghanistan. A gun battle killed one U.S. soldier and wounded six others. The military says coalition soldiers were patrolling with Afghan troops in central Uruzgan when militants attacked them. The six wounded troops are in stable condition.

NGUYEN: The safety of the air marshals, that is something that is being called into question. Because they're supposed to look and act like other passengers, right? Well as congressional reports say some regulations make it tough for them to do their jobs. Among the problems, a strict dress code that the report says actually draws attention to the marshals.

Good morning, everybody, from the CNN center right here in Atlanta, it is SATURDAY MORNING. Hey there, Tony.

HARRIS: What's happening, Betty?

NGUYEN: It's a good morning. Got a lot to tell you about. 7:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, 6:00 a.m. in New Orleans. A big day in New Orleans as voters are deciding who is going to lead the city's comeback following Hurricane Katrina. It is a close race and you know we're going to be watching it. I'm Betty Nguyen.

HARRIS: And I'm Tony Harris. Too close to call, right? The last polls, polls are really tight. Thank you for being with us this morning. And the job goes to -- well, that's the question right now in New Orleans. Who will lead the damaged city out of the ruins? Ray Nagin or Mitch Landrieu? Polls are just opening. Our Sean Callebs joins us from the University of New Orleans where he will be watching this important vote all day. Sean, good morning.

SEAN CALLEBS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Tony. Indeed, exactly right. It's expected to be a very close race between incumbent Mayor Ray Nagin and the state's democratic Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu. These two are in a runoff. There, of course, were 22 candidates just last month.

It is an important race, not just for this city, but really for all over the country. Billions of dollars of tax money is going to be flowing into this area over the next four years. So the voters today deciding who is going to guide this city as they continue or begin the rebuilding process.

A lot of very crucial items have been discussed, a lot on the table. How will they rebuild? There's some 80 percent of the city was under water, many of those neighborhoods are still in horrible disrepair. The candidates are both democratic and they are together on many issues. So what makes them stand apart? I had the chance to talk with Landrieu yesterday and he said it's going to come down to leadership, who is going to be able to give the people in this city hope.

Now, so many people were displaced after the storm that many people are being bussed in today. Also some 24,000 have already voted through fax or through absentee ballots. And it's breaking down along racial lines like this, about 66 percent African-American, about 31 percent white, three percent listed as other.

That is really pretty much the racial makeup of the city. And that's important, Tony, because this election has been challenged by some civil rights leaders saying that it's simply excluding a number of the voters from the democratic process -- Tony.

HARRIS: Hey Sean, quick question. What's expected in terms of voter turnout?

CALLEBS: Well it is expected to be high given the number of people who are here. Now, remember, New Orleans had about 600,000 people before the storm. About 200,000 now. There is tremendous interest in this race. And here's why. It's about the only thing the voters really control. The Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the rebuilding of the levees, the only thing keeping the waters out of this bowl of a city. The federal government is going to be sending money here. So the voters can control who is going to sort of craft the plan that puts this city back on track in terms of rebuilding.

HARRIS: Sean Callebs live for us this morning and throughout the day from New Orleans. Sean we appreciate it. Thank you.

Well this is a huge day in New Orleans. Throughout this morning we'll be talking with people who have a special stake in this election. The residents who can't get returned. A live discussion right here on CNN. It happens during our newscasts at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. eastern.

NGUYEN: Also in our 10:00 eastern hour, we're going to talk with New Orleans councilman at large, Oliver Thomas. He joins us at 10:15 to be exact. The new mayor will have to work with city council to rebuild New Orleans. We'll hear what he has to say about it.

And we want you to stay right here on CNN today as New Orleans writes the next chapter in its history. It's a big day. Will Ray Nagin hold onto his office or will Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu take over. You want to stay with CNN for complete coverage throughout the day, with final results as they come in.

That's the aftermath. An explosion in Gaza today seriously wounds the Palestinian intelligence chief. That blast occurred at intelligence headquarters in Gaza City. Now it comes amid rising tensions between Hamas and Fatah factions. CNN's John Vause with the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: According to Palestinian security officials, the blast was an assassination attempt on the head of the General Intelligence Service, Sariq Abu Rajab. He suffered moderate to serious injuries. Witnesses say Rajab and his bodyguards were in an elevator.

There was an explosion as it approached the second floor of the heavily guarded four story intelligence headquarters in Gaza City. Rajab was rushed to Gaza's main Shifa hospital where security forces closed off the operating theater and jeeps blocked the entrance to the hospital.

Shortly after the blast, isolated clashes broke out between members of the newly formed Hamas militia and the regular Palestinian security forces loyal to the Palestinian authority president Mahmoud Abbas. Rajab is a member of the Gaza's Fatah political faction. He's seen as a power broker in Gaza and a key ally of Abbas. Members of Fatah are accusing Hamas of carrying out this assassination attempt. Hamas officials though say they were not involved.

They suggested the blast may have been caused by a bodyguard accidentally dropping a grenade in the elevator. The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered an investigation. He's also calling for calm, but that's likely to do little to ease the escalating tensions in the Gaza strip. John Vause, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARRIS: A historic day in Iraq. Just a short time ago, Iraq's parliament approved a new cabinet. The U.S. hopes the new unity government will pave the way for American troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq. The vote comes under a backdrop of more deadly bombings. CNN's Ryan Chilcote joins us from Baghdad. Ryan, it's tough to underestimate this. This is a significant day for Baghdad, for the country of Iraq, isn't it?

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is, indeed. A very dramatic day here at the convention center in Baghdad. The Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki appearing before the country's parliament, and as expected, unveiling his government.

Iraq's first permanent government -- its first government to serve a full four -- that is expected to serve a full four-year term since the fall of Saddam Hussein. He listed off each one of the candidates that he would like to run the government's 37 ministries, the parliament then voted on each one of those ministers, approving all of them.

It was not, however, without problem. They were unable to come to an agreement on who should run the country's interior ministry, that's who controls the police, and who should run the defense ministry, that's who controls the military on a permanent basis.

So the prime minister decided that he will fulfill the job of the nation's top law enforcement official, if you will, as he will be the acting interior minister for the time being on a temporary basis until everyone can agree to who should fulfill that role further down the road.

The same thing for the job of defense minister, a Sunni official has been appointed to run it. And on a temporary basis until all of the politicians, all the various religious and ethnic groups can decide who should run that ministry for the next four years.

It was not without scandal either Tony. One of the secular politicians basically asking the prime minister to postpone the vote on his government today, saying that it was unconstitutional to do it today. That the government should take a couple more days to really think about things and make it more inclusive. He, however, was disregarded.

The parliament said that they were going to go ahead with the vote and vote on the government. It was at that point that this secular politician led his party of about 15 delegates out of the courthouse, out of the parliament, I should say, storming out and saying that this was a really disgraceful day for Iraq -- Tony.

HARRIS: Well Ryan, let's try to put a pretty fine point on this. This is the day that the Bush administration has been pointing to. Is there any conversation there in the convention center as to when American troops might, in fact, begin to leave country?

CHILCOTE: There's no conversation about that, Tony. The reality of the situation here on the ground is that there is hope that that may be able to happen tomorrow -- rather, next year. That the number of U.S. and coalition forces could be drawn down. But there are some very serious issues that need to be addressed before that, and the prime minister focused on them in his speech, saying that really the biggest problem in the country right now is the growing security problems, if anything.

In particular, the sectarian strife that we've seen in Iraq since a Shiite mosque was bombed in Samarra in February. He says, absolutely imperative that this government addresses that issue. And we have seen even today, even this morning, more evidence of the violence that this government is going to have to address.

A roadside bomb going off right here in Baghdad on a day of unprecedented security. There are checkpoints throughout this city. Still even with that, a roadside bomb going off, killing 19 Iraqis, wounding more than three times that number. All of that taking place in a Shiite neighborhood known as Sadr City.

And it is going to be received by everyone here -- perceived by everyone here as a sectarian attack, one perhaps carried out by Sunnis to kill Shiites because of their religious sect, the religious sect that they belong to. So all of the focus right now is on stopping the security crisis that exists in the country right now as opposed to of course looking forward to the day that U.S. troops and coalition troops might be able to go home -- Tony.

HARRIS: Ryan Chilcote for us in Baghdad. Ryan we appreciate it. Thank you.

NGUYEN: Want to hit you now with some stories across America. This isn't your ordinary TV commercial being filmed in Los Angeles today. Look at that. Oh, no, the city is the setting for a public service ad to discourage suicide bombings in Iraq. The commercial simulates an attack in a Middle Eastern country and will air on Iraqi TV. Now it's going to feature 200 actors and lots of simulated explosions.

Well a hike ends with a helicopter rescue in Utah. 18 high school students ran into problems on their way down from Mt. Ogden yesterday. Several suffered minor injuries and it was getting so late that group leaders decided to call for help. At least two helicopters were sent in to carry the student to safety.

A real life nature show in South Carolina. A neighborhood there -- look at that bear. Well OK, here's how it plays out. The drama started when someone spotted a black bear near downtown Greenville yesterday. OK that's a problem. Wildlife officers arrived to find the bear in a tree, which is what you were seeing right there. Well, get this. They had to use four tranquilizer darts to subdue the poor little bear. He was eventually captured. Here's the good news. And released in the foothills of a neighboring county. So the bear is OK.

HARRIS: So did the bear fall out of the tree?

NGUYEN: Like the other one that fell on the trampoline?

HARRIS: Splat!

NGUYEN: Hopefully that wasn't the case. I know that video just keeps playing over and over in your mind.

HARRIS: We ended that video before that moment, that question could be answered.

NGUYEN: Whether the bear fell or not.

HARRIS: Yes.

NGUYEN: The good news, let's just stick with the good news, shall we, the bear is OK, back in the woods.

HARRIS: OK.

The movie buzz this weekend is all about "The Da Vinci Code." Many Catholics have denounced it as blasphemy.

NGUYEN: Yes, film critics haven't been too kind either. But the real test will be word of mouth of course. And here's what some people have been saying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's fiction, and I don't think fiction's ever going to rock my faith.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I feel it's very objectively presented. And it was just a wonderful adventure story, really, in the end. You know, it kept you on the edge of your seat. Very interesting.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a great, great movie. The critics are crazy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you know, it was what it was. I didn't think it was -- it didn't blow me away, but it was pretty good.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: All right. I saw it yesterday.

HARRIS: You did?

NGUYEN: Yes. It didn't blow me away, but I thought it was pretty good. And here's why it didn't blow me away. Because the critics said it was so bad so I didn't expect much out of this movie. I went to watch it. It's a murder mystery. That's what it is.

HARRIS: OK, here's my take on it. It is based on a book. There have only been a couple of adaptations from book to film that have really worked. Well the one that pops in my mind immediately is "The Godfather." Where the movie may have actually been better than the book.

NGUYEN: You think so?

HARRIS: Oh, yes. I loved the movie. So I don't know. I mean the critics kind of killed it for me because they almost universally panned it.

NGUYEN: They hated it.

HARRIS: So I don't have a vested interest as I would if I had read the book. So I'm --

NGUYEN: You're going to wait for DVD.

HARRIS: I'm probably going to wait for DVD. There you go.

NGUYEN: Well a lot of people may. But you know it's an interesting story, it's a good one. It kept me riveted.

HARRIS: Oh, come on!

NGUYEN: The ending is -- I'm not going to blow it for you. But just go see the movie.

HARRIS: You weren't riveted. Ron Howard is paying you a stipend, what are you talking about? You weren't riveted.

NGUYEN: No. In the middle portion of it I was really kind of getting into it, trying to figure out what happened, what was going on. That's all I'm going to say because I don't want to blow it for those who haven't seen it yet.

HARRIS: Yes. Still ahead we'll have more on the film throughout the morning, including the perspective of a Jesuit priest who read the book and now has seen the movie. He'll join is in our 10:00 hour.

It started with phone records but now other companies can report your activities to the government, all without your knowledge. Prying eyes are looking deeper into your records. The full details in about 30 minutes.

NGUYEN: Yes, we're going to get to the bottom of that.

Plus, do you have cash in your trash? I hope not. But here's the thing. You probably do. Before you start digging through the garbage can, find out how thieves are using slick schemes to rob banks of your information.

HARRIS: Look at this. Look at this. Ready? Guess who's here?

NGUYEN: Where is it? Where is it?

HARRIS: Guess who's here?

NGUYEN: Rob Marciano.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: Hey it started with phone records, but that is going to be just the beginning of the list. Can car dealers, travel agents, even real estate agents get your information to the government too? Coming up, new rules that really are going to surprise you.

HARRIS: Plus, well, let me ask you, Betty, do you know which of the four major sports cost you more for a ticket? A, hockey, B, baseball, C, football, or D, basketball?

NGUYEN: You know what I guessed it right. I'm not going to tell you what it is.

HARRIS: You did?

NGUYEN: I actually guessed this one right.

HARRIS: Whisper to me.

NGUYEN: I'll tell you in the break.

HARRIS: Oh OK.

NGUYEN: But we're going to tell you the answer next when the sports professor Dr. Rick Horrow ...

HARRIS: That's what we're talking about.

NGUYEN: Oh, can you send that my way. He's going to take us beyond the game. I'll take that. See you soon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARRIS: So before the break we asked you which one of the four major sports has the most expensive average ticket: hockey, baseball, football, basketball. The correct answer, C, football. Betty says she got it right. I'm not believing it, averaging $59 a ticket. For extra credit, take a look at the cheapest ticket in sports. That would be baseball, $22 a ticket.

OK, so baseball is the cheapest ticket in town when it comes to the four major sports. For more, let's turn to the author of "When the Game is on the Line", sports business analyst Rick Horrow who joins us from West Palm Beach, Florida.

OK Rick together let's go beyond the game here. Let's take a look at the cost of taking a family of four to a major sporting event. Football, $330. Man! Basketball, $267 for a family of four. NHL, to go see a hockey game, $247. And the cheapest outing, baseball, $171 for a family of four. A lot of bones there. How is it, Rick, that baseball has kept the price the lowest and what is the league doing to make the game affordable? Good morning, sir.

RICK HORROW, CNN SPORTS BUSINESS ANALYST: Good morning, sir. Hey, I just want to say hi to Rob, too. This is the 29 plus two is the average baseball ticket. But this is also a reminder that the three of us have to tee it up on a golf course again.

I'm getting kind of low I've got to replenish my cash. Remind him so we can do that. But it's also a reminder about baseball. It is the cheapest ticket, even though there are over 80 games. The problem is baseball's increased their average price about 6 percent this year two-thirds of the teams increased it.

So how do they keep it low? Its new revenues. First they sold the Washington Nationals for $450 million. It's a one shot deal so they distribute that among the teams. Then you have the internet, mlb.com may sell for up to $3 billion if it becomes a public company.

You also have entertainment. They signed a 50/50 deal with Signatures Network which has Cold Play, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen and others to combine sports and entertainment. You also have radio rights, XM and local radio. The Red Sox, $20 million. The more of these coming in, the less pressure on the season ticket holder to increase prices.

HARRIS: You know what, let's stay with baseball for a moment. As long as Barry Bonds chases this home run record, steroids will be in the news. How is the league dealing with the whole Bonds issue?

HORROW: Well nobody wants to stay on Barry Bonds until he hits that next home run, everybody's going to then after he chases Aaron. The bottom line is Commissioner Selig thought he was home free, had a good drug testing policy, then we have the book. 250 separate articles and interviews in the last three weeks alone about Barry Bonds.

Point at George Mitchell to head an independent investigation. A lot of the player's association people say he's going too far. The media saying he's not going far enough. If a new labor agreement isn't done by the end of this year, they may even have to rescind the collective bargaining as it relates to drugs. So that's an issue.

The bottom line is baseball sold 80 percent of their corporate inventory this year before the season started, and is averaging about 30,000 people at the park. Things are going well, but the Bonds situation has put a crimp in it a little bit.

HARRIS: You know, very quickly here, Katie do I have time for a foul ball? No foul ball or fair ball? No time. All right Rick, I'll send your note up to Rob Marciano. Go ahead and make that loan now you'll need it.

HORROW: Yes, yes, we're talking about golf, we're talking about the other stuff. You know, Betty's talking about getting the NFL prices right. We have no time for fair ball/foul ball. That's not right.

HARRIS: It's outrageous!

HORROW: That's not fair. HARRIS: Write a note.

HORROW: We'll talk next week. All right I'll see you guys, we'll talk next week.

HARRIS: OK Rick, appreciate it. Thanks.

NGUYEN: Well see, that's your foul ball right there. You're out of time. Cut the mikes.

All right, decision time for voters in New Orleans. The future of their city is at stake in today's mayoral runoff election but some voters aren't happy with either candidate. We're going to tell you why in about five minutes.

HARRIS: Plus, how to rob a bank. Some thieves are making it as easy as one, two, three. Still ahead, an inside look at an elaborate credit card scheme that may have grabbed your information.

(WEATHER REPORT)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com