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CNN SUNDAY MORNING

Rumsfeld: U.S. Troops Might Begin Leaving Iraq by January; Two Car Bombs Explode in Baghdad

Aired October 10, 2004 - 07:00   ET

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


DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: From the CNN Center in Atlanta, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. 7:00 a.m. in Miami, 6:00 a.m. in Crawford, Texas, 2:00 p.m. in Baghdad on October 10, as we travel the world telling the time.
Good morning, I'm Drew Griffin.

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Erica Hill in today for Betty Nguyen. Thanks for being with us.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Iraqi security forces could be strong enough by January to permit some U.S. troops to leave Iraq. Rumsfeld made the statement today at an air base in western Iraq, where he's visiting U.S. Marines.

In Baghdad, at least two car bombs exploded this morning. One near police academy and the oil ministry killed 17 people, most of them passers by. The other car bomb apparently exploded prematurely near an empty supermarket. The driver was killed, but officials say there were no other casualties.

No let up in the Israeli military offensive in Gaza. An aircraft launched a missile into the Jabalia refugee camp. Palestinian security forces tell CNN three Palestinians were wounded, one critically.

The FDA is denying it was warned weeks ago about contamination problems at a British plant that made influenza vaccine. Last week, the British government suspended the plant's license, costing the U.S. 48 million doses of vaccine. "The Washington Post" reports the Chiron Corporation, which owns the plant, warned the FDA on September 13 about the contamination problem.

GRIFFIN: Among the issues we're following this hour, battle state Missouri, the second presidential debate took place there Friday night. Now we're going to put a spotlight on Missouri in our weekly look at key toss up states in the presidential election.

Also coming up, got a pair of these tucked away in a drawer somewhere? Well, don't toss them out. You could have the beginnings of a valuable collection. Antiques and collectibles expert Judith Miller is here to reveal some of the latest collecting trends.

And later, wrap your head around the next big thing in fitness, the ancient art of yoga and the modern entrepreneurial spirit aligned in cosmic balance. A report from Los Angeles. Where else?

On the campaign trail, John Kerry is now accusing the Bush administration of knowing about the flu vaccine shortage. Kerry says administration officials knew there would not be enough vaccine this flu season and only pretended to be surprised by last week's announcement.

CNN's Frank Buckley is covering the Kerry campaign, which is in the battleground state of Florida at the moment. Frank, is this for real?

FRANK BUCKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Drew, whether or not it's for real, it's certainly an issue that's come up. And Senator Kerry is doing his best at every opportunity to try to make the point that Senator -- or that President Bush misleads Americans on a number of issues. And this one included.

A spokesman for the Bush-Cheney campaign calls this baseless and hypocritical. But expect this issue and other domestic issues to be the focus of Senator Kerry's campaign in the days ahead.

Last night, he was here in South Florida to attend a town hall meeting. The focus there health care issues. This focus on domestic issues reflects the transition of the campaign into the final phase. And also an attempt by Senator Kerry to try to frame the upcoming presidential debate.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN KERRY (D-MA), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm going to allow people 55 to 64 to buy into Medicare early. We're going to allow small businesses, small businesses are going to get a 50 percent tax credit for the self employed and small business so they can afford to buy health care for their employees.

But we're going to allow everyone in America who wants to buy in, going to buy in, but you can get in, so it gives you broader competition, better choices, to the same health care plan that presidents and vice presidents and senators and congressmen give themselves at your expense.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BUCKLEY: Senator Kerry will be attending church services here in Miami this morning before moving on to another battleground state, this time for debate preparation, the next presidential debate is coming up on Wednesday. And Senator Kerry is going to be repeating a pattern that he started beginning with the first presidential debate, going to a battleground state and prepping for the debate. The first time he went to Wisconsin. Then he went to Colorado. This time, he'll be going to New Mexico, leading up to Wednesday's presidential debate -- Drew?

GRIFFIN: Frank Buckley traveling with the -- Senator Kerry campaign down in Miami today. Thank you, Frank. George Bush home today at his ranch near Crawford, Texas. No public appearances scheduled, but yesterday, Bush barnstormed three Midwestern states, matching Kerry's zinger for zinger.

In Waterloo, Iowa, he referred to Kerry's Senate record.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Much as he tried to obscure it, on issue after issue, my opponent showed why he earned the ranking of the most liberal member of the United States Senate.

(CHEERS)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is deep in the heart of Texas. And she'll have her live report about an hour from now.

Candidates meet for their third and final debate Wednesday near Phoenix. The focus go around is domestic issues. So our e-mail question for you today, why don't you be the questioner. If you had a chance, what question would you ask? E-mail us all morning long, wam@cnn.com. That's weekend a.m. We'll be reading your replies throughout the program.

HILL: The House has adjourned for the election season, but the Senate is still in session. Legislators have completed action on a $447 billion defense spending bill to fund Pentagon projects. And the Senate is considering a bill to give $136 billion in tax breaks to corporations in small businesses. The House already approved it.

But some other business remains unfinished. Among it, disaster relief for hurricane victims and farmers, as well as funding for the Homeland Security Department.

GRIFFIN: Some U.S. soldiers waging a different kind of military campaign, a campaign to preserve their history. And their weapons and pen and paper.

CNN's Alina Cho takes us into the military history detachment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, American soldiers are fighting a war on terror. At home, the 311th military history detachment is documenting it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today is Friday, October 8th, 2004. This is the oral history of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas...

CHO: Colonel Dan Thomas is back from a four month tour in Afghanistan.

COL. DAN THOMAS, U.S. ARMY: When you look at the area, we're kind of in the central area right in here.

CHO: He is eager to tell his history.

THOMAS: Every day is Monday. Every meal is a smorgasbord, as they call it.

CHO: Major Grant Goldsmith is listening. A soldier himself, Goldsmith's only job now is to record combat operations through the eyes of others.

Armed with a camera, tape recorder, pen and paper, Goldsmith asks questions about the climate.

THOMAS: It's very hot, very dry.

CHO: Bumps in the road.

THOMAS: You're out there in the middle of nowhere. Looks like the moon, but it's -- you just do what you have to do.

CHO: And how families cope with having loved ones overseas.

THOMAS: You send a lot of cookies, a lot of food, a lot of goodies, you know. Keeps the morale up.

CHO: The military history detachment was formed during World War II, after September 11th, the global war on terrorism history project was born. Major Goldsmith signed up, interviewing soldiers like Colonel Thomas.

THOMAS: Something unique that you and other individuals have done that not a lot of people have done or will do.

CHO: The information is sent to Washington and becomes part of the military record.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every story is an important story, even if you're hearing the same story for the 15th time, there's a different perspective from a different view of the battle.

CHO: Sergeant Christina Steiner used to collect data for the 311th military detachment.

CHRISTINA STEINER: This flag is from the former World Trade Center site.

CHO: She looked at artifacts, poured through interviews, and wrote a book about the role of Army reservists after 9/11.

Major Goldsmith is continuing that work.

Could be in the history books, some day, huh?

GOLDSMITH: Could be.

CHO: Making sure today's war becomes tomorrow's story. Alina Cho, CNN, Philadelphia.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: Time now to fast forward for a check of which stories will be in the spotlight next week.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court convenes to hear arguments in a case dealing with immigration, deportation, and crimes of violence. The defendant is a Haitian immigrant who pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in an accident that injured two people. The INS considered it a crime of violence and ordered deportation.

On Wednesday, for the third and last time before the elections, President Bush and Senator Kerry will face off in a debate this time at Arizona State University in Tempe. The debate will be moderated by CBS' Bob Schieffer. It's starts at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, but you can watch the debate coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. right here on CNN.

And the next hearing in Michael Jackson's child molestation case is scheduled to take place on Thursday in Santa Maria, California.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: The tiny state of Delaware this morning boasts a big winner in last night's Powerball drawing. That person has not yet come forward, but lottery officials confirm a single ticket was purchased worth $250 million. The winnings numbers 1, 3, 10, 47, 48 and powerball 27.

17 tickets matched five of the six numbers. And they're worth $100 grand each.

HILL: And neither one of us has those tickets. A suspicious fall in Milwaukee. Two electrical towers topple in perfect weather. That story next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

GRIFFIN: And later, are you crazy about antiques and collectibles? If so, we've got the right stuff and the right person for you. Find out how to get the best deals, whether you're buying or selling or collecting or whatever.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Stories making headlines this morning across America, in Wisconsin, utility officials have a mystery on their hands. Two transmission towers, each about eight stories high, collapsed yesterday south of Milwaukee. Officials are calling the incident suspicious. No injuries were reported. The collapse though did cause some temporary power outages.

In sports, the Yankees win and are headed for a showdown with the number one rival. Yes, a Boston-New York rematch in the American League championship series. The Yankees beat Minnesota in four games.

Over at the National League, Houston leads Atlanta two games to one at St. Louis. Also, has a two to one lead over Los Angeles.

This tabby won an award at New York's annual cat show, but it was actually a pair of copycats that stole the limelight. Many cat fanciers came to see two feline clones that appeared at the show. They were produced by a California genetics company.

You think your job is tough? Well, here's what one store clerk had to deal with in Miami. We'll tell you what happened a bit later this hour.

GRIFFIN: Now to our hero series. This week, how one man has made a difference in the lives of thousands of Americans servicemen and women wounded in battle.

CNN's Peter Viles has the story from San Diego.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're sitting right here.

CHRIS CARNEY, CYCLIST: OK.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you're going to do is go up here...

PETER VILES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Chris Carney is getting directions from a local sheriff's deputy. It's the last day of his cross-country bicycle ride to raise money and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it possible to come around?

VILES: Carney is 34, a Long Island bartender, and he never served in the military. But he left home almost two months ago, traveled more than 4,000 miles through 13 states. Today, the final stretch.

Carney is riding with some of those wounded warriors he wants to help. The ride has raised half a million dollars from mostly individual donors to provide backpacks filled with necessities like shaving kits, clothing and CD players for wounded soldiers arriving back in the United States.

CARNEY: We can harness the way everyone feels. We can harness all the thoughts and prayers, and we support the troops in one, you know, specific effort. We can seriously make a difference and seriously help them out.

VILES: As the sun sets on the Pacific Ocean, Carney reaches his goal...

CARNEY: Whoa!

VILES: ... and the celebration begins.

(MUSIC)

VILES: John Melia is the founder of the Wounded Warrior Project. JOHN MELIA, FOUNDER, WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT: Over 7,000 military service members have been wounded in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. And we've been able to help most of the in-patients who've -- who've been in the military hospitals around the country.

MAX TADLOCK, MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART: Bunch of fine young men, dedicated, done a good job.

RYAN KELLY, VETERAN: He's really -- in the eyes of wounded vets, he's one our heroes.

CARNEY: I just rode a bike, and I mean, maybe I'm a guy who had a good idea and who acted on it and put in some hard work. But that's far from being a hero, you know?

I had a good idea and did some hard work and -- for heroes, if anything. VILES: After a week's vacation, Carney plans to go back to tending bar. He says he'll keep working for the Wounded Warrior Project until all the injured soldiers get the help they need, a transition to a normal life.

Peter Viles, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Nice story. We bring you hero stories like this every week on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

HILL: To your grandmother, this might have been just a pretty glass bowl. But to the trained eye, it is actually much, much more.

GRIFFIN: And don't overlook this, Erica. Every day items, they get cast aside. Maybe you don't want to. Stick around. We're going to tell you what you might be wanting to save.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: One thing to keep in mind about collectibles, they weren't considered particularly special in their day. Many were novelties, ended up in the trash. But folks who held on to them, either through luck or foresight today, find they now possess valuable and sometimes rare items. Just about every collectible you can imagine has been catalogued in Judith Miller's newest guide. And there it is. She is here to highlight some of these overlooked treasures.

Certainly thanks for coming in this morning.

JUDITH MILLER, AUTHOR: Thank you.

GRIFFIN: Welcome to Atlanta.

Collectibles aren't considered antiques or they are antiques?

MILLER: No, collectibles really are things of the 20th century mainly. They tend to be small. And they tend to be things that were at the time mass produced.

GRIFFIN: So tell us what we did throw away that now we should be kicking ourselves for?

MILLER: Well, I think one of the things that really appeals to me at the moment is costume jewelry. I mean, this little pin I'm wearing here, this was made by Joseph of Hollywood in the 1940s. It was made initially for the movie stars. So it was this Russian gold -- it was very sort of rough, dark, dull gold. And it didn't reflect the lights.

And you know, they were made in quite large quantities. But now, they're going up in value a lot.

GRIFFIN: And you have a whole book on costume jewelry, I think.

MILLER: We do. And I mean, things like this, this is something I absolutely love, because people regard because these are not precious stones, that they might not be valuable. This was made by a company called Trefari in the 1930s by somebody called Alfred Philippe. And he'd worked for Cartier. So he'd made these in precious stones as well.

But you see, something like this can now fetch, $600, $700.

GRIFFIN: You're kidding.

MILLER: No, and they were -- you know, a lot of people will have these -- costume jewelry is something that a lot of people will have in the back of a drawer. It was -- belonged to mom. It belonged to grandma. So you know, just have a look because a lot of it is now worth quite a lot of money.

GRIFFIN: So a lot of people will be having a look, after seeing this morning. And we were talking earlier. There seems to be in this whole antique realm two kinds of people. People like you who love the antiques, and people like me who wish I had this stuff so I could dump it and get some money.

MILLER: Get some money. Well, I think there are these two people. I think most of us that are really passionate collectors actually love the objects we have, but it's quite nice to know that they're going up in value, too. And I think most people would hate to throw something away that was actually worth quite a lot of money.

GRIFFIN: Tell me what else is hot right now?

MILLER: Well, things like -- interesting things. Like anything to do with fashion. Fashion collectibles are really in, which is vintage clothing, eyewear. That can be really, really -- people are amazed when I tell them that, you know, some spectacles, some sunglasses, particularly from the '40s and '50s, can be worth, you know, $500, $600, $1,000.

GRIFFIN: We were actually showing some of those glasses, right? The Pierre Cardin glasses? MILLER: Yes, Pierre Cardin. French is very in. French, chic glasses from there. And they can be, you know, $700, particularly as they've got a humorous twist. People like things -- collecting -- a lot of collectibles is about personality and humor. People like to wear these. They like -- it's very individual. And this is very hot now, the same as costume jewelry, anything to do with vintage fashion.

GRIFFIN: Now I must ask you, what should people be collecting now that may be valuable in the future? Because it's not necessarily -- like I would never think of collecting costume jewelry.

MILLER: No, but I think anything you look at -- I think you've got to look for quality. I think most people will say that, you know, something with quality -- 20th century glass again is something that's very, very in. You want to look for somebody that's making glass today. I mean, you know, we know about Dale Jahooley (ph). And of course, you'd be very lucky if you picked up a piece of Dale Jahooley (ph) for very little in a garage sale.

But you know, there are modern glassmakers today that are working, but it will become very collectible. Look for something the style that really has quality about it.

GRIFFIN: What's this on the screen we're seeing right here?

MILLER: Oh, this is a wonderful piece. A lot of people in this country will know Murano, which is Italian glass, made in the island Murano, next to Venice. And this was made by a wonderful glass artist called Dean Martens. And this was made about, looking at it, that painterly style about 1949.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

MILLER: And you know, this is $3,000, even could be $4,000. And a lot of people went and bought Murano glass in the '50s. I met a couple in Lexington, Kentucky, who had this wonderful, very, very large Murano glass vase with glass daffodils and leaves that they'd bought. They actually brought it to show me on a motorcycle. It was actually...

GRIFFIN: We're getting the wrap up sign. But I also want to say Christmas nostalgia items.

MILLER: Absolutely.

GRIFFIN: I know a lot of people have those, just because we put them in the box every year.

MILLER: Some of the 19th century German ones can be worth $500, $600.

GRIFFIN: Really?

MILLER: Absolutely. And Halloween.

GRIFFIN: All right. Well, Judith Miller, thank you so much for telling us all about these hidden treasures we may have at home. And good luck with the new book and the tour and everything else you're doing.

MILLER: Thank you very much.

GRIFFIN: Erica?

HILL: Ink problems and calls from the opposition weren't enough to nullify Afghan elections. Christiane Amanpour is standing by in Afghanistan with more on the story when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues.

And a craze across America. Have you tried it yet? Yoga works might be coming to your city soon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Thirty past the hour. Here's what's happening. Back to back suicide car bomb attacks rocked the Iraqi capital of Baghdad this morning, killing at least 17 people plus the bombers who did it. This one apparently targeted in Iraqi police academy.

Minutes earlier, another car bomb exploding at a U.S. military convoy passes near a supermarket in the southern section of Baghdad. The driver killed and an American soldier wounded.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld makes an unannounced visit to Iraq today. He met with U.S. Marines in a western desert -- in the western desert there and warned that insurgents would like turn up the violence even more, leading up to January's election in Baghdad. He told them not to expect any U.S. troops withdrawal before then.

Earthquake activity has increased at Mt. St. Helens. Scientists are reporting quakes with a magnitude of 2.4 occurring about every two minutes. But they say that's not enough to raise the volcano's alert level.

HILL: A storm of controversy built around Afghanistan's first direct democratic election. The head of an international monitoring group says yesterday's vote should stand, even though opposition candidates claim possible fraud.

For more now, we head to Kabul, where CNN's chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour joins us with the latest.

Good afternoon to you, there.

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon from here in Kabul. I know it's morning your time. And a morning for you that has dawned very bright because this was a very successful election. According to the U.S. officials here, and according to the U.N. as well.

The Afghan people really turned out en masse to go to the polls. They were proud to do it. They were happy to do it. They were eager to do they told us. And they really just wanted to vote for peace and security and a peaceful, secure future. Today, the voting -- the ballots that are full of -- the ballot boxes, rather, are being gathered in various places here in Kabul. And they are going to be soon sorted out and the counting will begin.

But that won't be for a while, because it's taking a long time to collect the ballot boxes here to a central location, which is guarded by members of the Afghan army.

Now there is, of course, this controversy over the ink that was meant to be indelible. Hamid Karzai himself, the front runner and the transitional president, said that it should not be null and void, this election, as the opposition have called. And he said that would be an insult to the millions of Afghans who turned out to vote.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HAMID KARZAI, PRESIDENT, AFGHANISTAN: All the candidates must respect the very fact that the Afghan people have come out of their homes and snow and rain and dust and waited for hours to vote. And we should respect the result, whatever that may be.

And allow time for the commission, the joint commission, to study whatever (UNINTELLIGIBLE) that there were.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Well, the joint commission is studying it. And the OSCE, the European group that monitors many, many elections has been here and has also made an announcement on this issue today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BARRY, AMBASSADOR, ELECTION MONITOR: I'm justified because to nullify the results of an election where millions of people have turned out without adequately knowing what the facts are behind that does seem to me to be no the face of it unjustifiable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

AMANPOUR: Well, what he was saying is that to nullify this election as the opposition have called is unjustified in the view of the experts here, who have been organizing this election. However, he did say that the complaints would be addressed, but that they must be addressed within the rule of law and within the process that has been set up and made a warning that this should not resort to any kind of infighting, or worse, to any kind of resort to military settling of scores as has been the case over the last generation here in Afghanistan.

Back to you.

HILL: A story that will continue to keep you busy. Christiane, we appreciate you joining us.

We're going to bring you more on the election controversy coming up in our 9:00 a.m. Eastern hour. Hekmat Karzai is first secretary to the Afghan embassy and because of the current president, Hamid Karzai, he'll join us about 9:30 Eastern time.

GRIFFIN: Now to a big domestic concern. Each week, we've been bringing you reports on some of the hot button issues of the election campaign. And today, we're going to zero in on the economy and jobs. Some say unemployment tells the story.

But as CNN's Bob Franken reports, it's not always so simple.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FRANKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Want to get confused? Listen to the takes on the very same job numbers.

BUSH: Last Friday, the jobs report for August showed we added 144,000 new jobs. That's 1.7 million over the last 12 months.

KERRY: This is the first president of the United States since the Great Depression, since Herbert Hoover, who's presided over the loss of jobs.

FRANKEN: Both are accurate, but does that mean that the economy is in the tank as the Democrats contend? Or has President Bush turned it around, thanks to his tax cut?

BUSH: In order to keep jobs here, in order to make sure people can work, we got to be wise about how we spend your money in Washington. And we must keep your taxes low.

FRANKEN: Making taxes low, says Kerry, for rich people.

KERRY: While he's been doing that, the tax burden of average working people in America has actually gone up.

FRANKEN: Kerry would roll back tax cuts for the wealthy, cut tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas, and cut middle class taxes.

His economic plan would include training for high tech jobs. The Bush plan includes job training, too. His tax policy will involve still undefined changes in the fundamental way it's collected. One of the proposals rattling around, a so-called flat tax. That would be controversial.

So would his recommendation to supplant overtime with more comp time and flex time, part of an ongoing campaign to modify the overtime rules of the wage and hour laws.

As a backdrop, there's the federal budget. A record surplus before the Bush administration took over. That's a record deficit now.

Still another contributor to an overall uncertainty.

MICHAEL MANDEL, ECONOMIST, "BUSINESSWEEK": This is the situation with the economy is middling, it's OK, but there's a lot of fear, which is very different. FRANKEN: A fear from not knowing what must be done for Americans to avoid losing in this economy.

(on camera): Democrats and Republicans each have the same answer, elect them.

Bob Franken, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Next week, our series on election issues outlines the candidates' stands on health care. It's a topic of critical importance to nearly every American.

HILL: Last week, Florida. This Sunday, Missouri. We'll take the pulse of the show me state three weeks before the elections. Representatives from both sides of Missouri's political fence weigh in, just ahead on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Good morning, Miami. If you're seeing a little extra bling on the streets this weekend, there's good reason. Jay Z, Ludakris, Outkast, just a few of the big stars you may see around town. They're for the Source Hip-Hop Awards. The awards show will air next month on BET. We're going to bring you here Miami's forecast in just about 15 minutes.

GRIFFIN: If you go to work and are stressed out, maybe you can go to yoga school and chill out. Yoga's popularity is soaring, and yoga schools are springing up for those who'd rather not try this at home, at least not at first.

Donna Tetreault went to class, where else, in Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONNA TETREAULT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Up dog, down dog. Cat, cow, cobra, fish, and even an eagle. Animal poses are becoming the norm and striking these poses are helping Americans chill out.

VINNIE MORENO, YOGA INSTRUCTOR: That feeling of well being, it's emotional, spiritual, but it's physical. Our bodies open, energy flows, our breath is deeper.

TETREAULT: Vinnie Moreno has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and liked it so much, he became an instructor. And he's not alone. Once an obscure spiritual practice, yoga has now gone mainstream.

According to industry groups 15 million Americans practice yoga last year. And it's expected to double next year.

GEORGE LICHTER, OWNER, YOGA WORKS: The world needs a lot more yoga than there is now. TETREAULT: George Lichter says he and his partner Rob Wrubel are just the pair to do it. They just bought Yoga Works, a well established studio that specializes in teaching yoga students and instructors. Right now, they have 15 studios in L.A. and New York.

LICHTER: It would be nice to say there's a vibrant yoga community in every city in the world, and in some of those cities, we'll be there. In some of those cities, someone else will be doing it. And that's good, too.

TETREAULT: Yoga used to be something that you'd find in a loft. But according to Rob and George, they plan to turn it into a franchise. They say by incorporating the good chi from the studio, they can manifest a good business plan and practice.

ROB WRUBEL, OWNER YOGA WORKS: For us, it's to keep the passion and energy of yoga school, and keep that, and foster that great energy and passion, but at the same time, help what has been challenging for many yoga schools, which is to run the business.

TETREAULT: And if the $27 billion Americans spent last year on yoga lessons, gear and equipment is any indicator, Lichter and Wrubel might be very successful.

MORENO: I think it's so needed at this time with our level of stress and high paced lifestyle, to be able to slow down, to open the body up, to come together as a community. What's wrong with that?

TETREAULT: So far, nothing. And if business continues to boom, there's no telling where poses like these could end up.

Donna Tetreault for CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HILL: You ready for yoga class?

The mood in one swing state three weeks before election day. We're heading to Missouri next on CNN SUNDAY MORNING to learn what people are talking about there.

GRIFFIN: And don't forget our e-mail question. If you would like to ask -- what would you like to ask these guys? In the next debate, the candidates, go ahead. Give us your e-mail right now at wam@cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HILL: Our weekly look at battleground states today is focusing in on the state of Missouri. The show me state brings 11 electoral votes to the party, underscoring its potential make or break status in this election. And it was, of course, the site Friday night of the second presidential debate. That happening in St. Louis.

Our guests this morning are state representatives Marilyn Ruestman, a Republican, and Sharon Sanders Brooks, a Democrat. They join us this morning from Kansas City. Good morning to you both. Thanks for being here.

REP. SHARON SANDERS BROOKS (D), MISSOURI DISTRICT: Good morning.

REP. MARILYN RUESTMAN (R), MISSOURI: Down Good morning. Thanks for having us.

HILL: We're wondering, what are the big issues for folks in the show me state? We're going to start off with you, Representative Ruestman. What are you hearing from your constituents?

RUESTMAN: You know, I really have given this a lot of thought. And I think what my constituents want really is to just keep more money in their own pockets. I think they want less government interference in their lives. I think they want their personal rights to be protected.

They want to send their children to the education of their choice. And they want to have a lot of control, I think, over their own destinies.

HILL: And Representative Sanders Brooks, because you point out, you both represent different areas of the state. Representative Ruestman, yours is a more rural district, whereas Representative Sanders Brooks, you're in a more urban area. Do you find that your constituents are saying some of the same things?

BROOKS: My constituents, we have a very high unemployment rate in Kansas City. And I have a different demographic district. My district is approximately 50 percent single households. And I have a high percentage of single parents working individuals. 50 percent of my district earns an income of under $25,000 a year. So the economy is paramount of concern to them, as well as affordable health care.

HILL: The economy, affordable health care, education, all big issues. We heard from both of you before we went on the air that safety and security, big issues for folks all over the show me state. What do you feel -- Representative Ruestman, how do you feel things are going now in terms of safety and security? And let's say Senator Kerry was elected. Do you see that his plan would work for your state?

RUESTMAN: You know, safety and security is an issue for particularly women when they send their children off to school. It'll continue to be an issue. Missouri is -- has a very good plan in place. We have a director that was named two weeks after September the 11th. I believe that our plan is fine. I think we'll be fine, whatever president is elected.

HILL: And Representative Sanders Brooks, how do you feel about possibly the Kerry plan or if things do stay the same, how are things going with the Bush administration?

BROOKS: In terms of homeland security and the safety, our public health director in the city of Kansas City states due to the budget cuts we were forced to make in the state, he has had to cut back on first responders. So he actually has fewer public health staff than prior to September the 11th. And that is unfortunate.

I think in the Kerry administration, things would be different in terms of allocation for the states.

HILL: Both candidates were, of course, in Missouri in St. Louis at the end of last week. Both candidates speaking to people in your state. What were the messages that you heard? And how did they resonate with your constituents? We'll start off with you this time, Representative Sanders Brooks.

BROOKS: The message that I think my constituents and the individuals of Missouri heard from Senator Kerry was help is on the way. And to be optimistic, but that he understands the plight of the working class in America, as well as the middle class.

I think he also feels that the tax burden should be lifted off of the working poor and the middle class, and that the higher income individuals pay a higher percentage of the taxes.

HILL: Representative Ruestman?

RUESTMAN: Down in the rural area, we're very pleased with the leadership we have. We feel like they're competent. They're on the right track. The -- President Bush stands for the moral family values that we all really cherish.

I spoke last week with a -- last Saturday, in fact, with Eric Couchran, a young man just back from Iraq. He assured me that he was very pleased with his tenure there of 18 months, that he's happy with what we're doing. He believes we should be there. He was with the 203rd battalion.

HILL: If you could, both of you, if you could give -- you could say something to the two candidates that you feel your constituents would want to say to both President Bush and Senator Kerry, what would that be? What is the main thing that they would ask for? We'll start with you, Representative Ruestman?

RUESTMAN: I think that my constituents would ask them to hold firm, stay the course, keep on track, keep his word. They feel that he's on the right track. I think they're -- I believe my constituents are very comfortable with that.

HILL: If they were to address Senator Kerry, what would they have to say?

RUESTMAN: I think they would feel uncomfortable making the kind of changes in the middle of a war that he's expressing. They -- they're very concerned, as you mentioned, about their safety and security. And they feel comfortable with the leadership we have and would not be comfortable changing that at this time.

HILL: Representative Sanders Brooks, the folks in your area?

BROOKS: My constituents would overwhelmingly say the president must go, and that we have not seen compassionate conservatives exemplified by the Republican party in the state of Missouri, when last legislative session, there was a proposal in terms of Medicaid, where approximately 48,000 working parents would have been kicked off of Medicaid.

If a single mother with two children earned over $7,847 a year in the state of Missouri, she would have been unable to receive a reduced cost health insurance in this state. And we know at $5.15, minimum wage, that's $10,000 a year. So she would have been ineligible. And we have not seen compassion in the state of Missouri from this administration.

HILL: It seems the state of Missouri, perhaps a good mirror for the United States. Some differing views. And I think we can understand now why it may be a battleground state.

We wish you both continued success, as you work for your constituents. And we appreciate you joining us this morning.

BROOKS: Thank you.

RUESTMAN: Thank you.

GRIFFIN: You know, some people will do just about anything for a pack of smokes and a nice cold beer, but this man took it to the extreme, until one woman tries to help him break the habit. The scene caught on tape. You won't want to miss this. It's coming up right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: How far will you go for a carton of cigarettes and a 12 pack? For one man's craving, this sale's a steal literally. Behold the tale of the tape. Yesterday in Miami, Florida, there he is, a man enters a gas station's convenience store conveniently tries to run off with some smokes and brew, but hey, not without a fight from the female clerk. The woman rushed the row of robbers, slowing them down, but he got away. He's still at large. But no one was injured seriously. The woman did hurt her wrist. Hey if you're down there, you know that guy, call the cops.

HILL: How about that?

GRIFFIN: Yes.

HILL: Don't mess with her.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: All right, here's our e-mail question. If you could ask them the question, what would it be for the next debate? And you know, we've got some really smart viewers here, including Steve who tells us, this is his question. "Please tell us three things that you do agree with your opponent on." I like that, Steve.

HILL: I like that, too. Good idea. Gary writes in that he's still waiting for either candidate to tackle the question with a capital "Q" here about jobs. "Sure unemployment might not be too high yet, but all my friends who are making $50,000 or more now work at Best Buy to try and feed their families. So what do they plan to do about jobs in America?" Gary asking for some hard facts there on that one.

Keep them coming. We'd love to hear from you. The address again, wan@cnn.com. There's the question. What would you ask at the next debate?

GRIFFIN: And at 8 a.m. the next hour of CNN SUNDAY begins right now.

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


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