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CNN Saturday Morning News
Foiled Terror Plot: The Day After; Stewart & Colbert Rally on the National Mall; Will the GOP Gain in Both the House and the Senate?; Trick-or-Vote Campaign Returns; App to Keep Kids Safe on Halloween; Terror Investigation Intensifies; Mushroom Night at the Museum; Is Brett Favre's Streak in Jeopardy?; Time to Earn their Pay
Aired October 30, 2010 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Good Saturday morning.
Synagogues in Chicago and around the country on alert today after two packages bound for Chicago from Yemen were found to contain explosive materials. We just talked to the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. You'll hear from her in just a few minutes.
Plus, they are taking their political satire on the road this weekend. Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Washington, D.C., the National Mall. We are there and a whole lot more expected to be there, as well.
It's 8:00 a.m. here in Atlanta, Georgia, where I sit as well as in Washington, D.C., 7:00 a.m. in Dallas, 5:00 a.m. for you folks out in San Diego wherever you may be. Glad you are right here for this October 30th. I'm T.J. Holmes. Thanks so much.
Need to get you updated on this terror plot, this foiled terror plot. We saw some much about this yesterday and the breaking news. Well, need to give you an update about what you need to be worried about today.
Now, this is the day after now. Security forces found those two explosive packages that were headed for Chicago synagogues. They're now acting out of an abundance of caution and more scrutiny is being given to passengers as well as packages coming out of Yemen.
Also, as far as airline security goes, the passengers who are out there the airports right now are heading there, you can see some tightened security, as well. The investigation continues. It goes from Yemen to the UK to the U.S. It is intensifying.
Just a bit ago, I spoke to the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about this plot. I asked first, was this an ongoing plot and if there were any more packages out there that need to be found.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Well, it's certainly an ongoing investigation. And in addition to the two packages that we had specific information about, we have put in place enhanced protections for cargo and passengers emanating from Yemen and making sure that we identify particularly all packages that are coming from there. We know that, you know, the perpetrators of this and it has the hallmarks of al Qaeda or AQAP. They constantly are trying things to test our system and here what happened is you had great information sharing from the Saudis. We were immediately able to work across the globe as you said to get these packages segregated, being analyzed and continue to be analyzed for what was actually in them and what it could do. And meanwhile, investigative work going on of the perpetrators. And at the same time, we were able under an abundance of caution to enhance protections across the globe for cargo and passengers, particularly anything that has passed through Yemen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And we want to turn to our homeland security correspondent Jeanne Meserve joining us from Washington.
Jeanne, good morning to you. The secretary there said a short time ago and I asked a couple of times, would we have known about this had the Saudis not given us a heads up. What do you make of that? How does this usually go? It seemed like from her, she didn't want to get into too much, but it seemed like maybe this was not on the U.S.'s radar.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN HOMELAND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Well, we knew they were generically concerned about packages coming out of the Gulf, according to sources that Fran Townsend, our national security consultant has talked to. So there was some awareness.
As to specifics, you know, intelligence is a difficult game. Not everybody has the same assets. We don't all have people all the different intelligence agencies don't all have the people in the same places. They don't all have the electronic capabilities. There is always a lot of sharing amongst nations, amongst allies on intelligence matters.
And then, the Saudis have a particularly close eye on Yemen because they're right next door. They share a long border. There is concern about extremism there, particularly because there was an attempt by al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula, which is located in Yemen against the counterterrorism chief of Saudi Arabia. So they keep a very close eye on them.
I think that this is sort of a normal course of business here to have allies trading this kind of information and doesn't necessarily reflect some sort of failure on the part of U.S. intelligence, T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Let's go to what a lot of Americans and airline travelers are concerned about. Yes, this particular threat, we were talking about cargo on cargo planes, not passenger planes, but apparently the homeland security and TSA stepping up security at airports.
What do passengers need to be aware of as they head to the airports today or throughout the weekend and in the future? MESERVE: Well, you know, they're going to mix it up at different airports. They don't want to be predictable. They have different levels of concern about different airports and different locations. So there's not one prescription.
I cannot tell you that at every airport you're going to see the same thing. But the sorts of things that you might see at the airport when you go there are more canine patrols, more armed patrols of personnel. There may be more behavior detection officers. Those are the people sometimes in uniform, sometimes not who keep an eye on a crowd who look for unusual behavior. One thing that the TSA was phasing in this week separate and apart from this plot was new pat down procedures.
If you were selected for random screening or if you set off the metal detector, or if when you go through one of those body imaging machines, they find something unusual and want to check it out, you could be subjected to a much more intense pat down than you have before. They will go up and down your inner thigh, they will even touch your crotch. So be aware that is going to be a little different if you get selected for a pat down.
TSA said when they instituted this, this was before this plot was revealed that a small percentage of passengers would get it. But when you get it, the passengers I talked to said, boy, you know it's something new and different.
HOLMES: And Jeanne, I went through it on Thursday. I was not aware, but I went through it on Thursday. I asked for the pat down instead of going through the body image scanner. And that was before uh I realized they put into these new measures. And Jeanne, you're not kidding. This will wake you up in the morning, if you will. This is going to surprise a lot of people.
MESERVE: And you know, one of the reasons they've instituted this, I believe, is because of the Christmas day bombing which they believe originated from al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula and also involved PETN. This was the underwear bomber, Umar Abdulmutallab - I've been working --
HOLMES: Abdulmutallab, it's OK.
MESERVE: Thank you very much -- the alleged Christmas day bomber who hid his explosives in his underwear. There have been a lot of questions about whether the pat downs the U.S. was doing were sufficient to find something like that. So now they've changed that.
HOLMES: All right. Jeanne, we appreciate it. We know you've been working nonstop on this story, the security story, so we appreciate you so much.
And again, the story we were just talking about there is part of what I want to tell our viewers about, these pat downs. Let's show you this video again, the TSA put this in place, folks, this week. It's not so much a pat down anymore you're going to get, this is more of a rub down you're going to get with a sliding motion. Again, they use this if there's an anomaly or something when you go through the metal detector or they can't figure something out, when take a picture of you with those body image scanners or you refuse those body image scanners. Some will find this invasive.
Again, went through this this week. They will touch your butt and they will absolutely run their hands across your crotch and up your inner thigh. This is going to be alarming and certainly women have some concerns since they have certainly some other sensitive areas that guys don't have. But again, supposed to be stepped up security here.
Also, turned to another story making headlines out in Colorado, a wildfire out there crews are still going after. This is near Boulder, Colorado. At least 144 acres so far been burned, 1,700 people have to leave their homes so far. We were told as of last night this was 5 percent contained. We'll keep an eye on that.
Also, Dish Network and Fox, they have ended a month-long standoff that left millions of customers in the dark. The companies on Friday have announced a new deal now. So that restores access to FX, National Geographic and the Fox-owned regional sports networks for many of those customers. Again, these are Dish Network customers we're talking about.
We turn to some politics now, the president making a big campaign push now three days before the midterm elections. Could cost Democrats at least the control of the House of Representatives. A lot of people are conceding that point that Republicans will take back the House. So the only suspense now is whether or not they're going to be able to take back the Senate.
First stop for the president today, Philly. From there, he's going to be heading to another rally in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Then he'll finish up the day with another rally in Chicago. Of course, you know the place to be for all your political news here, CNN, for the best political coverage.
Meanwhile, we're not sure if this is a political rally or what. But two of America's top comedians, the stars of Comedy Central, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, they're having a huge rally in Washington, D.C. today. CNN's Kate Bolduan in Washington for us. She'll be at that rally today. We're going to be checking in with her live here in just a moment.
Also, our "BALLOT BOWL" is back by popular demand. You're going to hear from the candidates themselves, President Obama, also you'll hear from some of the political news makers out there, the former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, going to hear from them directly as we count down to the midterm election. You can catch "BALLOT BOWL" 1:00 Eastern this afternoon.
Well, a major eruption is sending people running for cover. We're going to get the latest on this impact of this boiling volcano. Pictures are unbelievable. Also, is it today, tomorrow, Monday? Some trick-or-treaters may be a little confused this year. We'll tell you why you may want more candy on hand.
But first, let me leave you with this Halloween-related quiz. What is expected to be the most popular Halloween costume for kids this weekend? Could it be Spiderman, could it be a princess or a pirate? I'm going to tell you what I'm going to be right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Sorry, folks, you're going to have to hear that song all morning long. This is the only time of the year we can use it.
But before the break we asked you, what is expected to be the most popular Halloween costume for kids this weekend? Would you say it's Spiderman? That's always a crowd favorite, a princess, that's always a popular one and a pirate.
Well, the National Retail Federation says 4.3 million are expected to wear a princess costume. Number two would be Spiderman. That's followed by witches, pirates and also a Disney princess. They've got so many Disney princesses out there, I can't keep up with all of them. Also coming up, Bonnie, this is always interesting, we're going to have the top adult costumes. And when I say adult costumes, I mean costumes that adults are going to wear.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: They can get a little racy.
HOLMES: They can.
SCHNEIDER: Let their true feelings come out I think.
HOLMES: And actually speaking of, Bonnie, you've had some true feelings come out over the years.
SCHNEIDER: One year I was Marilyn Monroe and I'll never do that again, too much attention. You don't have your costume yet?
HOLMES: I haven't done it in 10 plus years. I can't remember the last time --
SCHNEIDER: We're going to have to think of a costume; we'll Twitter it.
HOLMES: Let's not.
(WEATHER REPORT)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, no music this time. I just knew we had some Halloween music we were teeing up.
SCHNEIDER: "Monster Mash"? HOLMES: Yes, we'll have to hear it the rest of the morning. CNN I-reporters, it's Halloween time. You're what this year? You were Marilyn Monroe last year.
SCHNEIDER: I think I might be Alice in Wonderland (INAUDIBLE).
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Robin again, from Batman.
HOLMES: All right. So we got that. But our I-reporters out there also putting their creativity on display with their, I guess, jack-o-lanterns there. What's that again?
LEVS: That's cat in the hat.
HOLMES: That's supposed to be Iron Man on the pumpkin. What is that? Anybody?
LEVS: Is that the Hulk?
HOLMES: Supposed to be. I had to be told.
LEVS: That's Cat in the Hat. That's pretty impressive.
HOLMES: OK. Let's move on now to the kids, everybody's going to be knocking on the doors. People don't know which day, actually, a lot of confusion. One town in Tennessee, at least, they did it last night to have Halloween in their town. I'm not sure if this is a town. I don't think it is.
But the trick-or-treaters, they might show up tonight. They might show up tomorrow night, some are even saying Monday because Halloween falls on the Sabbath for Christians and a lot of people say you shouldn't be running around looking like witches and ghosts, goblins and demons on Sunday. You should be at Sunday school, but also it's a school night. So you don't know when they're going to trick-or-treat.
LEVS: Wasn't Halloween often on a school night when we were kids? You just bring your candy to school the next day.
SCHNEIDER: I have to tell you, I was so embarrassed trick or treating. My mom would follow us down the street a couple houses behind, so embarrassing.
HOLMES: She didn't want you to get snatched up Bonnie. You're here today because she was following you.
SCHNEIDER: I'm traumatized from it.
HOLMES: Speaking of these Halloween costumes. Look at this one. You all remember this dress from Lady Gaga. Well, the VMAs this past year, it was the meat dress. Well now, oh, that is disgusting, raw meat, 112 pounds of it. They have found a way, this is particular restaurant in the meat packing district in New York that has actually tried to recreate this dress that she was wearing. We're talking about real meat here sirloin, porterhouse, rib eye, Colby steaks and it'll cost you $100,000 if you want it.
LEVS: Lady Gaga said that her dress was somehow a political statement about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and governmental oppression.
SCHNEIDER: What happens if they -- you wear this, you walk down the street and all the neighborhood dogs come out. It causes an uproar in the whole neighborhood.
HOLMES: And then they'll probably sue whoever made the dress. But $100,000, don't know if they have any takers yet but they thought that was a good idea. It comes with a goody bag. You get something for the $100,000.
LEVS: A goody bag.
HOLMES: All right. What is this, 18 minutes past the hour. We're going to take a quick break here and get ourselves together and figure out Halloween costumes. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Twenty one minutes past the hour now.
No matter what you've been hearing, all the coverage about these midterm elections, the fact remains that generally speaking only four out of 10 of you out there will actually go vote in the midterms. We'll see if that number goes up, but one group of volunteers is trying to bring those numbers up through Halloween.
Josh, is this going to work?
LEVS: Certainly worth the effort, isn't it? We're talking about last time around -- it's a lot of effort. He's right. But here's the idea, it's true, last time we had midterms in this country four years ago, 40 percent of people who could vote took part.
They have different groups out there trying to change that. One of them is called Trick-or-Vote. And when you answer your door tomorrow on Halloween, you'll have a lot of people asking for candy, but you just might have some people who are volunteers for this group not wanting your candy, instead encouraging you to go out and vote. It's entirely a volunteer effort taking place all over the country.
And on their website they introduce you to a couple of their volunteers. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Three-pointer at the buzzer -- can't all be good at basketball. Everybody thinks because of teen wolf we're good at basketball, it's not true.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You'd be surprised at how many companies don't support alternative lifestyles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm on break. (END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: This started in 2004 in Portland, Oregon. And since then it's grown a lot. I spoke with the founder of this group and I asked him, when people get to the door, do people take these volunteers seriously?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFFERSON SMITH, FOUNDER, TRICK OR VOTE: I hope people don't take us seriously. I hope they take democracy seriously, but the intent is obviously to mix a little bit of fun and not just bitterness, not just negativity, not just divisiveness, but a little fun, a little bit of levity and humor into our practice of democracy.
People are really nice. It's the season for electoral engagement. People are getting bombarded by TV ads. And frankly, I think what we have found is that most people find it pretty refreshing that there's somebody just with a positive message, something a little fun, little humorous, and they've really enjoyed it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEVS: And it's totally nonpartisan, in fact, the volunteers are specifically told you're not there to talk about policies or issues or specific candidates. You're just there to encourage people to take part in that vote on Tuesday.
And we're asking you, well, do you think that this kind of effort might help convince you? And do you plan to take part Tuesday? Do you plan to vote, go exercise your right to vote. We're having discussions this morning on Facebook and Twitter. Josh Levs, CNN, go ahead, weigh in and let us know what you think about all this.
Plus, I've got a link for you there, to trick or vote. So T.J., you're right. Who knows if this effort will ultimately make a huge difference. But I'm telling you this, they have enough volunteers to reach out to 200,000 people this time. So it just might make a little bit of difference.
HOLMES: You know, absolutely worth the effort. If they get 10 more people to go out and vote. That's worth it.
LEVS: That's something.
HOLMES: Josh we appreciate you, 24 minutes past the hour in the CNN center. Quick break, we are right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: That did not sound like Michael Jackson, did it? Who was singing that version? Can somebody find that out for me, please? It was what? Kid what? Kid Bops . What is that? Yes, that's a little different. I love my crew. They always throw me off with the music sometimes. It is Halloween weekend, of course. Thousands, thousands of little boys and girls going door-to-door looking for that candy. While it's all fun and games for the kids, parents out there, they want to make sure the kids are safe. One way to do that, of course, they've got an app for that.
Our digital lifestyle expert Mario Armstrong in D.C. for us today. Is it D.C. or are you in Baltimore for us this morning? Where are you right now?
MARIO ARMSTRONG, CNN DIGITAL LIFESTYLE EXPERT: I'm in Baltimore, T.J., long story.
HOLMES: Long story. I heard that story. We won't share it with our viewers. But good to see you this morning.
They got an app for everything. How is an app supposed to help a parent keep a kid safe?
ARMSTRONG: It's trick or treating time. It's Halloween, a lot of parents have their kids go out, the kids want to be alone for the most part or hang out with their friends and go trick-or-treating, so a lot of parents may have worry about that. There's an application, T.J. called Trick or Track, Trick or Track. And it runs on several different phones. I'm going to show you the Android version right here.
And basically, it's an application that allows me to find out exactly the location up to about 15 feet as to where my kid is at any certain time. And, it will automatically send me updates every 15 minutes or every 30 minutes while my kid is out and I can then look at my phone and be able to see a map of where they actually are at any given time.
HOLMES: So you need to download it on both your phone and the kid's cell phone, but can the kid turn it off?
ARMSTRONG: Well, the kid could turn it off, absolutely the kids could turn it off. But if I'm not getting my updates from the kid, then, you know, that signals maybe something else. I need to pick up the phone and call them, as well.
So yes, they do have control. They can turn it off. Although there are some safety features in there that make sure the communication only goes between the two of you. But the kid ultimately can shut the phone off.
HOLMES: Oh, man, you know there are some smart kids out there who are already plotting and planning. I'm going to leave the phone at my friend's house. Parents going to --
ARMSTRONG: Well, you know, if it's in the same -- hey, look, T.J. If it's at the same place for more than the amount of time it's supposed to be, that also should signal something for the parents. I think the parents should set this up at like 15-minute intervals. You might get caught up talking with family or friends or neighbors and not recognize. So I think every 15 minutes, it can help at least you have an idea of what vicinity your child is in.
HOLMES: Sometimes you go trick-or-treating and it's not the best-lit street sometimes. And what if you forgot that this was cool, somebody was putting this together and told me about this particular app. This one was kind of cool.
ARMSTRONG: Yes, so they have all types of apps for these phones. And one is called the illumination app. And this one basically turns your phone into a very bright flashlight. I tried this out in a dark location. And basically, you can see my whole screen is totally white here. But when it's in a dark room, it shows up really, really well.
That's the application right there itself. And it just gives you that ability to be able to light your path. I would say with this particular phone on the iPhone and on the Android, I would say about three feet distance that you could actually see. It's not as powerful as a flashlight, but it's still handy and it's free.
HOLMES: Again, I just want to make sure people know, it's trick- or-track is the name of the other one. Does it cost anything?
ARMSTRONG: That's right, Trick or Track, that's right.
HOLMES: And does it cost anything? Is it a free app?
ARMSTRONG: No, it's free for Halloween.
HOLMES: OK.
ARMSTRONG: If you want to keep that functionality beyond Halloween, it's going to cost you $9.99. But it's free until October 31st.
HOLMES: Mario, appreciate you as always. I know you went through a lot this morning trying to make sure you were on-air with us live.
ARMSTRONG: Yes.
HOLMES: We do appreciate that, buddy. We'll talk to you again soon.
ARMSTRONG: I'm not done yet. One more -- I've got a treat for you real quick for Halloween. Hold on a second, T.J.
HOLMES: Why are you stealing time? My producer said a wrap. Why are you stealing time from us? See we -- we can give him more time for that. Mario -- OK.
ARMSTRONG: I am your father, T.J.
HOLMES: OK, join us every Saturday this time our digital lifestyle expert who usually has his marbles about him a little better than he did this morning.
Mario Armstrong giving you the technology you can use. You can blog and tweet him questions you well.
Quick break here; we are right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 32 minutes past the hour here on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
A terror plot now that spanned three continents has a lot of people here in this country on edge this morning. Give you the update here. But in fact those two suspicious packages were found and were found to have explosives attached to them. Explosive materials attached to them.
These were from two particular packages that left Yemen and were bound for Chicago. They were discovered, though, in London and Dubai. So they never did make it to the U.S.
They reportedly contained a circuit board from a disassembled cell phone. A source close to the investigation telling CNN, that the likely component, explosive component was PETN.
The Homeland Security Secretary telling us earlier this morning, in fact, it does appear that this powerful compound was there. You may not be that familiar with it just when you hear the name, but it's the same component that was found with the Christmas Day underwear bomber who tried to blow up those explosives aboard a plane on Christmas Day last year that was bound for Detroit.
Now, these two suspicious packages that were found allegedly headed for two Chicago-area synagogues. Right now, airport officials are giving extra scrutiny to all packages and passengers from Yemen. U.S. officials believe al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is behind this terror plot.
Again, that substance PETN, that is where you've heard it before, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, he was the man aboard that plane on Christmas Day. I spoke with the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano a little earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JANET NAPOLITANO, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: Very quickly after this plot was uncovered or thwarted was that we were in touch -- or the FBI was in touch with the intended recipients. And we were able to provide information to law enforcement across the United States because we wanted to make sure in an abundance of caution that they were aware of what was going on, they were in touch with their own communities.
And this goes to the whole architecture of homeland security we're creating. It's international, it's national, it's state and local, as well, an intersection with the private sector. Everybody has a role.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: So as we turn to politics now from this story about terror, you all can hear about some kind of an October surprise that will come to change the game when it comes to the elections.
Well, on the minds of people right now more so than anything is the economy and jobs. Let's turn to our CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser live for us this morning from Charleston, West Virginia.
Paul, good morning to you.
Again, the thing that's on the minds of people: the economy and jobs. Can this actually, this terror plot is it really anybody expecting it to -- to sway voters one way or another or really play a role now just three days away from these midterms?
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Well, it could boost the issue in the minds of Americans for sure. Because they saw the headlines yesterday, they can see the headlines all weekend T.J. on the story.
But check out these numbers from a few weeks back. It's the CNN Opinion Research Corporation National Poll and as you said -- look at that, right at the top, the most important issue for Americans when it comes to the vote, the economy, 49 percent. Where is terrorism? It's pretty far down there, three percent. This was a few weeks ago.
So -- maybe that number jumps a little bit. But it's still going to be jobs and the economy and to a lesser degree the deficit. Those are going to be the biggest issues in the election.
But our polling indicates Republicans have a 12-point advantage on the issue. Check out this next poll we have right here. And we have -- the U.S. would move in the right direction on terrorism if -- if the Republicans control Congress? 58 percent say we'll move the right way on terrorism. That number drops down to 46 percent for Democrats.
Republicans traditionally, T.J., have a little bit of an advantage when it comes to the issue of terrorism.
HOLMES: All right. Paul, we'll move away from that issue, back to the actual elections now.
The midterms themselves and some of the races; you're in West Virginia where things got interesting when they weren't expected to be that interesting in some ways.
STEINHAUSER: Oh, most definitely, most definitely. Listen, the Republicans need ten seats to win back the Senate. If they do what they have to do it right here in West Virginia. A Democratic Senate seat in party hands for over 50 years, but Senator Byrd who had the seat since 1959 he died earlier this year.
There's a special election, just a couple days from now, obviously, on Tuesday. John Raese, he's a Republican nominee, he's a businessman here in West Virginia, he's got some big names coming in to help him. He was with John McCain the other day, but today, Sarah Palin and this was a late ad, Sarah Palin will be at a rally right behind me here at this river front park in West Virginia.
She's also going to be joined by Ted Nugent the rock star conservative activist and a very vocal and outspoken critic of President Barack Obama. So they're trying to energize some Republicans out here to vote for John Raese.
The Democratic Governor here, Joe Manchin, a popular, two-term Democratic governor. He's the Democrats' Senate nominee here. He just had Bill Clinton here the other day. This one is going to come down to the wire. Polls suggest it's up for grabs and it could be a real tossup here -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right, and that is why you are there. Paul Steinhauser, from Charleston, West Virginia this morning. We appreciate you as always.
And to our viewers, "BALLOT BOWL" is back by popular demand. You're going to be hearing from the candidates directly from them -- themselves. President Obama, many other politicians, including the former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin. No, she's not on a ballot, but she has played a role in this political season.
We're going to count down to the midterm elections with "The Best Political Team" anywhere; "BALLOT BOWL" 1:00 Eastern only right here on CNN.
Well, it's 38 minutes past the hour.
We have a bit of a Halloween theme going on this morning. Another morning quiz: can you figure this one out? Earlier we told you the princess that is expected to be the most popular Halloween costume for kids. What would be the hottest item for adults? A witch, a vixen, a zombie?
That answer -- is it obvious? Quick break we're right back with the answer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right, 40 minutes past the hour. And before the break we asked, what is expected to be the most popular Halloween costume for adults? Nadia what would you say, witch, vixen, or zombie?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: I would like to say a zombie, but I think it's a witch.
HOLMES: Really? Yes it is. You got it, at the top of the list. Eleven percent of all adults want to dress up as a witch.
WILMINGTON: It's an easy costume.
HOLMES: It's an easy -- very easy. You put on a hat -- you put on some, what? You grab a broom and you do your thing.
Here is the rest of the top five. Now, vampire, those have been hot lately, number two on the list; then a pirate; then a nurse, then a vixen -- what is a vixen necessarily? What is that?
WILMINGTON: I would say a vixen is anybody that looks kind of witchy and vixenish.
HOLMES: Witchy -- witchy and vixenish.
WILMINGTON: You can use your imagination. You just need some slash of a red lipstick, dark hair and you can look like a vixen.
HOLMES: You are our resident vixen right now.
WILMINGTON: Like predatorial vixenish.
HOLMES: You are our vixen, with the dark hair and the red lipstick.
But we have our Nadia Bilchik back with us. You're telling me about a museum here that offers --
BILCHIK: Yes.
HOLMES: -- and I have this right? A -- a mushroom trip? Is that it -- this thing?
BILCHIK: Well, that's what they're trying to recreate.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: Carsten Holler is a fascinating artist and he does these installations.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: He's actually a scientist and an artist. And he's been fascinated by something called Soma, which is a drink that supposedly induces an altered unconscious state.
HOLMES: That sounds fun.
BILCHIK: So in this drink, there are mushrooms, you know the magic mushroom apparently goes into this drink. So by creating this installation --
HOLMES: So what are we seeing here? Explain this, what is stuff we're seeing here?
BILCHIK: You're seeing the installation of the mushrooms.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: Of the mushrooms which are a particular type of mushroom called the fly agaric mushroom. HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: -- that has these qualities that give an individual who takes them in any form an altered state.
But what's exceptional about this exhibition is they have created a bed that is suspended over one of the mushrooms.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: And you can spend the night for just $1,400 a night.
HOLMES: And -- and what do you get out of -- you're in there --
BILCHIK: You get an altered experience. I spoke to the museum curator yesterday. And they said what they are trying to do is a couple or friends, two people, like they take two people at a time, will come into the museum for a night.
They will have a basket of goodies and not the SOMA.
HOLMES: OK. They won't give them that. OK.
BILCHIK: They won't be having any magic mushrooms, but they say they'll have an opportunity to see the museum in this alternative way at night. It's dark, there'll only be a security guard in the corner that they won't see and it's an opportunity to see art in the kind of altered state as if you were having a magic mushroom.
HOLMES: An altered state?
BILCHIK: An altered state.
HOLMES: What does that mean, exactly?
BILCHIK: An altered state is what psychedelic drugs induced where people in great artists like Elvis Haxsy (ph) said you see things in a different way entirely. And this is an opportunity to view art in a different way. Two thirds of the tickets have already been sold.
HOLMES: $1,400 a night?
BILCHIK: $1,400 a night.
HOLMES: And with your mate or whatever, they don't mind with you're -- in your altered state you can do whatever in there if you want?
BILCHIK: Well, the idea is absolutely to enjoy the moment and to see art and to see the mushrooms and have this state as if you had drunk Soma.
HOLMES: OK. Let's go back -- let's go back to the woman in Taiwan who we had her own wedding without the groom.
BILCHIK: Maybe she had some Soma. Is that possible?
HOLMES: Nadia Bilchik, we always enjoy you. Thank you so much. Our resident vixen here.
Quick break, we're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Forty-five minutes past the hour.
We have been talking about the big issue, the economy, health care, national security. Things like that people are considering when they walk into the voting booth. Yes, they'll be fresh on their minds, but there's also some weird, wacky items on the ballot this midterm election season. We're going to be talking about those throughout the morning specifically in our next half hour.
And to help us with that, funny man, comedian Craig Shoemaker, he joins me live from Los Angeles. He has a take on these strange happenings in the political world.
Craig, I know we're going to be talking to you a lot more in the next half hour. But to just kind of tee this thing up, what stands out to you? Has this been an exceptionally weird, strange, or even funny political season?
CRAIG SHOEMAKER, COMEDIAN: I don't know how funny it is, but it's definitely very divisive, not decisive, there is no decision- making. But yes, it's been very divisive. So I think that we should start a tee-hee party and just go laugh. I think that's the solution we need.
HOLMES: Is it more so the issues or some of these characters we have in this political season? Whether it's in Delaware, whether, you know, you just got some strange characters out there.
SHOEMAKER: I think the characters spawned from, you know, the issues. I think we just have -- I don't think there's a lot of thinking going on out there. So I'd like to -- I'd like some more critical thinking to happen before we go to the election booth.
HOLMES: Now how politically active would you say you are?
SHOEMAKER: I'm not active on stage. When I'm performing, I don't do any of it. But I'm very active on social networks and which upsets the people that come to my shows because they say we don't want that -- we don't want those politics coming on to the stage.
HOLMES: Why not. Everybody talks. Every comedian talks about politics and makes fun of politicians on stage. Why do you stay away from it?
SHOEMAKER: I actually -- I don't. I'm very personal on stage, but I usually -- I save that for social networking and now apparently shows like this.
HOLMES: All right. Craig.
SHOEMAKER: So I'm out of the closet now that I'm very politically active.
HOLMES: Well, we are going to get you very politically active in the next half hour. So Craig, we're going to check in with you here in just a few minutes. But again, he's going to be back.
We're going to be looking at really some of the characters and also some of the ballot measures you might not be aware of, including one state that's going to be going to the polls to decide whether or not they want to change the state name officially. That's not a joke, folks.
Also, another state deciding whether or not to make English the official language; also another municipality that's voting to create an extraterrestrial commission; another state voting about felons being able to serve in office. All that stuff coming your way.
And of course, marijuana is on the ballot in California and some other places.
Quick break here. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. 50 minutes past the hour now.
Game three World Series played tonight in Arlington, Texas; going to be the first home World Series game for the Rangers ever. Historic sporting event, but the question is, without the Yankees or the Phillies and other big-name team, is anybody really watching?
Plus, in the NBA, time for the players to earn their money; one of the most star-studded free agency periods we've seen in a long time. Is that going to pay off?
Also, Brett Favre has started every game since 1992. In '92, Aladdin was the year's top-grossing movie; George H. Bush, president; gallon of gas 95 cents; I was in junior high school. Now one of sports enduring streaks though could come to an end this weekend.
Let's bring in our business sports analyst and a friend of our show here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING, Rick Horrow. Rick, good morning to you buddy.
Your prediction, Brett Favre? Put this streak into context, the greatest iron man streak in history?
RICK HORROW, CNN BUSINESS SPORTS ANALYST: Yes, we could talk about how long it took you to get through junior high school; we don't have time for that. OK. So 291 games, may go to 292, we don't know about tomorrow. If he gets through it, it may be the greatest in the history of sports, more than Babe Ruth, more than Cal Ripken, more than a lot of those guys. But here's the issue as you know. His endorsement issues and his sex scandal theoretically being investigated, he makes $7 million a year now hawking lawn mowers. By the way, he hawks also rifles, he hawks jeans, he may now hawk flip-flops and texting Blackberries unless he's careful. And for corporations: smaller, shorter, and easier to terminate contracts. So you have to worry about Brett Favre's longevity in that way as well.
HOLMES: OK. Hate to see this streak end. We still don't know if he's going to play or not. The official judgment has not been made. But man, it's been a heck of a year for Brett Favre. Let's turn to the Texas Rangers here now. Are people watching the World Series right now?
HORROW: They are in Texas. $25 to get in across the street to watch from an office building and they're going for $1,000 apiece. Bottom line is though, around the country, it's the ninth pay-rolled Giants against the 27th pay-rolled Rangers. And the problem is the Mets, the Cubs, the Dodgers, the Angels, the big-time teams didn't even make it. Money can't automatically buy you happiness.
Good side is in the 31 years now of the World Series since this stat was kept 16 new teams make it as World Series champions. Bottom line, the commissioner says we will trade the legacy teams for the surprise teams when one comes out of the pack. That's this year.
HOLMES: Do they really mean that? No matter what. They can talk about parody all day long, but at the end of the day, you need big numbers when your premiere event is on TV.
HORROW: Dreaded Yankees, dreaded Dodgers, dreaded Cubs, you like them, you hate them, but you watch them and that's part of the bottom line. You're absolutely right. Especially getting to some labor issues in baseball, got to make sure that the teams with the big money have the ability plus the teams coming out of the pack as well. Money can't buy happiness, but it sure beats not having it.
HOLMES: Hey, I would argue with you on money buying happiness. We can do a whole new segment on that next weekend.
HORROW: Don't have time.
HOLMES: NBA though, a lot of money in the NBA thrown around in this free agency period. One of the biggest we've seen in some time in history. All right. Is this going to pay off for these teams who throw all this money out on the table?
HORROW: Yes, sir, my friend.
HOLMES: It will.
HORROW: Put into context, $1.7 billion -- yes, free-agent signings, that's more than GDP of 20 countries, eleven $50 million contracts this year versus three last year, the commissioner wants to cut salaries, we'll just have to see what happens longer term, obviously Miami Heat. HOLMES: Is this going to pay off though? I mean the value of the Miami Heat franchise certainly went up a bit. But can this pay off though for these teams in ticket sales or whatever?
HORROW: Yes. Yes, it'll pay off for the Heat immediately on the road, as well. We'll talk about that in another week or so, but the Heat's tickets have already gone up 30 percent, 40 percent, 50 percent, there yesterday, hard to get that ticket. Everybody there taking credit for this new dynasty, including me, I was there taking credit for that new dynasty.
HOLMES: Yes. Of course, you were.
Bonnie Schneider, let me bring you in here. You know, big football, Saturday as always. A lot of major games people have their eye on. Is the weather going to cooperate?
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Absolutely.
HOLMES: It will? OK.
SCHNEIDER: And T.J., you notice that I'm here today instead of our colleague Reynolds Wolf. Gee, I wonder why. Let's take a look.
Auburn versus Ole Miss tonight 6:00. I know that's Reynold's alma mater, I'm sure he's really excited for that. We're looking at nice weather, 69 degrees, lots of sunshine. Missouri versus Nebraska, 67; also plenty of sunshine in Lincoln, Nebraska at the time of the start of the game, 3:30 p.m. We're looking at Arkansas versus Vanderbilt, hey another alum, esteemed alum, T.J. Holmes, Arkansas. All right.
Good weather for that, nice and cool, 58 degrees that's tonight at 7:00.
And Oregon versus USC. Now in Los Angeles, this is where it gets a little tricky. We actually have some wet weather in the forecast unusually speaking. So we could see a little cloud, possibly some rain showers popping up in southern California.
Also Northwestern versus Indiana; that's in Bloomington, Indiana, noon 54 degrees. So great weather for college football -- T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Bonnie, we appreciate you. Rick, as always, we appreciate you, as well, buddy. You enjoy the rest of your day. Enjoy that northwestern game, as well.
Thank you both so much. Quick break here.
HORROW: Bye. Glued to the TV.
HOLMES: Yes.
Getting close to the top of the hour, quick break. We're right back. HOLMES: As we get close to the top of the hour I want to take a look at some of the stories making headlines: heightened security for a pair of Chicago area synagogues after two suspicious packages postmarked for delivery are intercepted in London and the United Arab Emirates. Officials believe that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula which is based in Yemen is responsible for this plot.
Security also being beefed up for the U.S. Marine Corps marathon slated for tomorrow; this comes after a series of shootings targeted military buildings, including several shots fired at the nearby Marine Corps Museum yesterday.
Also, Japanese automaker Nissan recalling more than 2 million vehicles for possible engine problems; affected models were built from 2003 to 2006. The issue is possible engine stalling. Nissan, though, says no accident or injuries have been reported.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIMMY MCMILLAN, N.Y. GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE: What I say all the time. Someone say I'm a one-issue candidate, but it all boils down to one thing, rent, it's too damn high.
CHRISTINE O'DONNELL, DELAWARE SENATORIAL CANDIDATE: I'm not a witch. I'm nothing you've heard. I'm you.
ROSARIO DAWSON, ACTRESS: We've got a lot of things that we need to be putting our focus and attention on and it'd be really great to take it off of joints.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Yes, can you believe all that has to do with politics. Weed, witches, and damn high rent; all of those things playing a part in these critical midterm strange elections. Elections that will, of course, determine who serves in congress.
But voters will also determine if English will be the official language in one state. Also determine if affirmative action will be banned in another state. Also determining if liquor will be exempt from sales tax in another state.
