Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Polygamist Leader Set For Sentencing; Democrats Look to Preempt Oval Office Surprises During Holiday

Aired November 20, 2007 - 15:00   ET

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

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: New stem cells without political fights or ethical debates, a medical breakthrough to share with you.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Plus, what is safe and what is not? Is Santa's bag of toys loaded down with lead? What you really need to know before you hit the stores.

PHILLIPS: Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.

LEMON: And I'm Don Lemon.

You are in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Creating cells that mimic the capabilities of embryonic stem cells from ordinary human skin, it is a scientific milestone that even President Bush is praising today. And it could open the door for a whole new era of medicine.

Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here to explain all that -- Elizabeth.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, this controversy has been going on for years and years, doctors saying these embryonic stem cells, they could revolutionize medicine, and then President Bush and others saying hold on, wait a minute. You have got to destroy an embryo to make those. We're not in favor of that. We are not going to give you much funding.

Today's news is that two independent groups of scientists found that they could make stem cells that they say seem to work just as well without killing any embryos. All they did was take some cells off of someone's skin. That's it. So, they say that these appear to do just the same things that embryonic stem cells do. And that is you should be able to take these cells and, by treating them in various ways, turn them into different treatments for various diseases.

LEMON: All right. Well, can patients expect to get the effects of whatever they say this is now? Does it mean anything for people?

COHEN: No. If you showed up at your family doctor tomorrow and said, hey, I would like that new stem cell treatment I have been hearing about, your doctor would look at you blankly.

LEMON: Yes. COHEN: These are not coming to fruition any time soon. It's going to take years and years until these stem cells become a treatment.

The hope, Don, it that it's going to happen more quickly now because some of these ethical issues may be laid to rest, because with the ethical issues, the funding took a nosedive. You can't get medical treatments with not a lot of funding.

LEMON: OK. What about the controversy, though? As we said, it is promising but it does not end that controversy.

COHEN: It does not end it completely. The way one researcher put it is that it is the beginning of the end of the controversy.

Embryonic stem cells still, there is a chance that it is going to turn out that those really are the way to go and that these may not work in certain situations. So, embryonic stem cells still may hold some promise, but these new ones really do seem to maybe not be able to replace them 100 percent, but at least to large extent.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Oh, OK. Thank you, Elizabeth.

COHEN: Thanks.

LEMON: Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs is about to learn his fate. Jeffs is to be sentenced this hour for his conviction on charges of rape as an accomplice and he could get life.

Joining us now from Saint George, Utah, with more, reporter Mike Watkiss of our affiliate KTVK.

Hey, Mike.

MIKE WATKISS, KTVK REPORTER: Yes, right you are, Kyra.

Fifty-one-year-old polygamist leader Warren Steve Jeffs scheduled to make a return appearance to this southern Utah courthouse any moment from now. Mr. Jeffs slated to be sentenced on his two convictions last September.

Let's show you some video. That sentencing hearing scheduled for 1:30 this afternoon here Mountain time, this following Mr. Jeffs' conviction two months ago on two counts of being an accomplice to the rape of a 14-year-old girl.

That young woman, now 21 years of age, named Elissa Wall, telling jurors during Jeffs' September trial how at the age of 14 she was forced by prophet Warren Jeffs into an arranged marriage with her 19- year-old first cousin, a man who she says then raped her.

For his role as an accomplice in the rape, Warren Jeffs could get life in prison, that decision to be made any moment now by when terrorists hearing begins by Judge James Shumate. Of course, a number of bizarre developments in this strange case since the September trial, not the least of which the release of some jailhouse conversations between Warren Jeffs and one of his brothers over the purgatory jail in January, during which Mr. Jeffs renounces his role as a polygamist prophet.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

WARREN JEFFS, POLYGAMIST LEADER: I am hesitating while I'm giving this message as the lord dictates these words to my mind and heart.

I am not the prophet. I never was the prophet, and I have been deceived by the powers of evil.

The Lord told me to say, and I yearn for everyone's forgiveness for my aspiring and selfish way of life, in deceiving the elect, breaking the new and everlasting covenant and being the most wicked man on the face of the Earth in this last dispensation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATKISS: Now, Kyra, as interesting as those tapes may be, an insight into Warren Jeffs' mind, they will really factor not at all in this hearing today, basically decisions the judge has to make.

Defense has asked for a motion -- presented a motion to throw out the verdict. Unlikely the judge will do that. He then will sentence Mr. Jeffs. Mr. Jeffs could be released without any prison time. Again, doubtful that will happen. He's likely to impose the five year to life sentences. But that just means he will be turned over to the Utah Department of Corrections and then the state's parole board will basically make a decision how long Mr. Jeffs will serve again, a decision expected this afternoon.

PHILLIPS: All right. And we will follow up with you. Mike, let us know when that decision comes through.

WATKISS: Thank you, Kyra.

If you are on the go this holiday week, as a lot of people are, beware of what is to come. From L.A. to New York and all too many places in between, snow, rain, and fog are delaying flights at some of the nation's biggest airports. It's happening for a second straight day now. Now a big storm system is expected to brew and it's going to linger. And I'm told by the weather team it could leave a big mess.

This could make things much, much worse for travelers as more planes fill the sky and more cars hit the roads and the highways and the byways.

(WEATHER UPDATE)

PHILLIPS: And here's more. Chicago's O'Hare International is one of the world's busiest airports. And it's expected to be packed through the holidays.

The other part of our travel guru team, CNN's Susan Roesgen, she is at O'Hare.

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Kyra.

There is one word that I didn't hear Jacqui use there. Maybe she did, but I didn't hear it. And that's the word that's even worse than delay. That word is canceled. I just finished talking to the airport spokeswoman here at O'Hare. And she says so far 10 flights have been canceled here.

But there is a more reliable way sometimes to get around, to get where you are going, get there on time. And that's at Union Station in Chicago, not here at O'Hare, but at Union Station, the Amtrak station.

Now, of course, Amtrak is not an option for everybody across the country, but it is an option for many people across the Upper Midwest and especially the East Coast. And one thing that Amtrak points out this week, although they expect far more passengers than usual, a 70 percent increase in travel this week on Amtrak, they say it should be cheaper than a lot of other options.

Every time the price of oil goes up, you pay more for it in gas at the pumps, and the airlines charge you more for that with their fuel surcharge. That's not the case with Amtrak.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARC MAGLIARI, AMTRAK SPOKESMAN: The train is a very efficient mode of transportation. At Amtrak, we use fewer BTUs to move passengers than several other modes of transportation. So, we are more efficient than some other modes. And we also aren't quite as vulnerable to some of these huge swings in gasoline prices because primarily we are diesel or electric.

And the diesel prices are negotiated pretty far in advance. So, whether you are traveling at Thanksgiving or coming up in the December holidays, you buy a ticket now, you know what you are going to pay for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROESGEN: And, Kyra, many people also think it is a more civilized way to travel. It's an easier, more stress-free way to travel. Plus, you get to go on those cool sounding trains like the Hiawatha which runs between Chicago and Milwaukee and the Empire Builder, which runs across the great Western states, back into the Seattle area, and, of course, the city of New Orleans which runs every day from Chicago to New Orleans and back -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, of course you know all the trains because New Orleans is your other home. Your family is in Wisconsin. Have you ever taken the Hiawatha?

(LAUGHTER)

ROESGEN: I have started taking the Hiawatha, as much as I can. I take that trip from Chicago to Milwaukee and back again. And it is a nice, quiet, peaceful ride.

PHILLIPS: Yes, I can imagine.

All right, well, what measures did Amtrak take for security reasons?

ROESGEN: Well, they say that they have beefed up their patrols this week, especially with the greater travel on the trains. They say they have also got bomb-sniffing dogs, just the way airports would have bomb-sniffing dogs that sniff both passengers' luggage and the train cars themselves.

Had a friend who quipped that they are also searching for ham sandwiches. But, you know, they are there for a reason. So, Kyra, they say that it is just as safe to travel on Amtrak as it would be to travel on any airline.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan. Thanks for the update.

And if you are hitting the road or flying the skies, make CNN.com your first destination. You can check out our special report and get an online travel kit with dips on where to go, how best to get there, that and more at CNN.com/holidaytravel.

And we want to know how your trip is going on the road or in the air. Just send us your I-report. Log on to CNN.com and click on I- Report. Send us a picture.

LEMON: Have gavel, won't travel. Democratic lawmakers take turns baby-sitting the Senate over Thanksgiving to preempt any Oval Office surprises.

PHILLIPS: A grieving rap mogul says goodbye to his mother. We are remembering Donda West in the NEWSROOM today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're getting new word just into the CNN NEWSROOM that there has been a helicopter crash just southeast of Baghdad in Iraq. Just getting this information. It's a statement from the Multi- National Force in Iraq.

They are saying that there was a helicopter southeast of Baghdad. Now, according to the Associated Press, the U.S. military says two soldiers were killed and 12 were wounded in that crash of a helicopter near Baghdad. But, again, that word coming from a statement from the Multi-National Force in Iraq, saying that there has been a helicopter southeast of Baghdad.

We are going to continue to follow this developing story to get more about injuries and deaths and try to confirm that. Again, the Associated Press is reporting two soldiers were killed in that.

Meantime, we are working on three other stories and a lot of other stories here in the CNN NEWSROOM, including this one, big crowds, long lines, a second day of weather delays at some of the nation's busiest airports. Now forecasters warn a brewing system could make things even worse for much of the nation.

Transforming common skin cells, so they imitate embryonic stem cells. Researchers say they have figured how to do it, but they warn it is too soon to use the method to treat diseases.

Who is she? We still don't know. Now the FBI is offering a $20,000 reward if anyone can help identify this little girl dubbed Baby Grace. Her body washed up in a storage container last month near Galveston, Texas.

PHILLIPS: Rapper Kanye West is burying his mom today in Oklahoma City. Many questions remain about the cause of the 58-year-old woman's death a day after plastic surgery.

The doctor who performed it, Jan Adams, is speculating about possible causes to "The L.A. Times" now.

Staff writer Scott Glover on the phone with us right now.

Scott, your article got all of our attention this morning, particularly the part where he seemed to go back and forth on information you got from him, and then he made a call back to you. Why don't you tell us what happened and what your impression was of him after you interviewed him?

SCOTT GLOVER, "THE LOS ANGELES TIMES": Sure.

I interviewed Dr. Adams yesterday morning at about 7:00 a.m. in his office on Wilshire Boulevard. And we had kind of a wide-ranging interview talking some about the West case and some about some of his past and some civil judgments against him, et cetera.

And at one point he offered a theory as to a short list of possibilities as to how she may have died. And those included a pulmonary embolism, a health attack, or a drug overdose, specifically painkillers that he had prescribed, Vicodin.

PHILLIPS: And in your article, he even said when you asked him about, you think she may have taken too many painkillers, and he said that's one speculation on my part, yes.

However, the L.A. Coroner's Office, which you point out in your article, had completed the preliminary autopsy report and had not mentioned drugs as playing a role in her death at all. Did you find that interesting?

GLOVER: Well, to my knowledge, the toxicology report has not been completed. So, no, I don't find that surprising.

PHILLIPS: OK. So, that may not even be an issue. That's still a possibility?

GLOVER: Correct, as far as I know, yes.

PHILLIPS: All right. Now the office's initial review, as you report, also found that West died as a result surgery or anesthesia. Does that mean that that possibly could not be the cause either; that's just one more possibility?

GLOVER: You know, I do not know how to reconcile the theories that Dr. Adams has and what the coroner's initial statements were. I think that is going to be something that will come out, you know, with the autopsy when that is complete.

Coroner's officials were not available yesterday to comment on his speculation. And I suspect that they will be, you know, holding that stance until the autopsy is completed and they release the findings.

PHILLIPS: Well, Scott, why did he call you back after several hours had passed since you interviewed him?

GLOVER: Well, actually, initially, I called him back to seek clarification on some information. And then he called me back after that and said that, when he had been talking about Ms. West's case, that it was actually a hypothetical.

And I went back and looked at the transcription that I had made. It was a tape-recorded interview. And it was quite clear that he was actually talking about her.

PHILLIPS: Why did you think he -- why did he do that, Scott? Did you ask him why he was all of a sudden changing what he had said to you before?

GLOVER: My sense is that he had some concern as to whether he should be talking about her case in that manner.

PHILLIPS: Now, you also report that the Medical Board of California has been trying to suspend or revoke his license because of multiple alcohol-related arrests. What did he have to say to you about that?

GLOVER: He talked about each of those incidents. He said that the first one, which occurred in 1994, was just a straight drunk driving incident where he'd had a bit too much to drink and was driving and was guilty.

He explained quite a bit about the two other incidents which occurred in 2003 and 2006, in one case saying that he felt that some medication he was taking may have contributed to him blowing over the limit, in another saying that he was actually arrested because he refused to give a blood test, you know, that he had blown into the Breathalyzer, but he refused to give a blood test, and that technically was what the charge was, and that what he called the -- on the bad advice of his attorney, he pled no contest, and he called that a mistake.

He said that, following the last incident, he checked into a treatment center -- I think it was Hazelden -- and, you know, wanted to be assessed for alcoholism, and was told that he is not alcohol dependent. And that's his position today.

PHILLIPS: Scott Glover with "The L.A. Times" wrote the article. If you didn't see it, Donda West's doctor discusses her death. You can get it on latimes.com.

Scott, thanks for calling in.

GLOVER: You're welcome.

LEMON: Meantime, we have some developing news happening. It's coming from Baltimore, Maryland, a huge backup. Our Jacqui Jeras and Chad Myers on top of it.

Look at that, guys. What's going on?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, this is I-95 southbound into Baltimore. And if you are listening on XM Radio, basically, if you are not in the backup yet, you need to get off and get over -- get off on to a different highway.

This is right at the 695 Beltway north, and this is now 12 miles worth of zero-mile-per-hour traffic. And you will notice the other side, the northbound side, this is the northbound 95, that's not going anywhere either, because they are using the northbound lanes to get the emergency vehicles to this fire. This is video out of WBAL in Baltimore.

Jacqui, you have got more on the location exactly of this, right?

JACQUI JERAS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes.

The latest that we have heard, it is really along I-95 from Emerton Road (ph) extending down to the I-695 Beltway. And the accident itself is close to the beltway. All those lanes are closed. As you can see, that was a car fire with possible injuries that we are hearing as well.

Now, here on Google Earth, I just kind of want to show you the Baltimore area. And where you can see all of these red dots up here. This is where the accident is. So, this is on the north and east side of town. Here's I-95. And this is that whole area that we have, which is backed up at this time.

Now, they are suggesting an alternate route, if you can. There you can see it, Highway 40, AKA Pulaski Highway. They are suggesting that you go around that. And delay times right now are estimated on Pulaski Highway of about 15 minutes. So, that's already starting to jam up and people are trying to take that alternate route.

But, when you are talking about lanes completely shut down, there's no getting around this accident other than that one alternate route. This is certainly going to back things up, and we are getting close to the rush hour time as well.

LEMON: OK. All right. Thank you, guys. I wasn't sure if both of you were finished. But, yes, that is quite a backup. And it looks like quite an horrific accident there, obviously delays, as you said.

Thank you very much for that.

It started as a transit strike. Now it's going far beyond that -- the latest on the French walkout.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: All right, this just in to the CNN NEWSROOM. You are looking at pictures there. This is I-95 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Look at that, the southbound lanes all closed there, traffic backed up for miles. It looks like they are putting some sort of a fire-retardant spray on there. Apparently, I guess, that 18-wheeler, two tractor-trailers in this, caught fire. But, again, it's stopping traffic completely on the southbound side and probably on the northbound side as well, because you can see they have got apparatus on that side as well.

Holiday travel period starting, and, man, not good if you are in the Baltimore, Maryland, area. We will continue to update.

PHILLIPS: Overseas now, French President Nicolas Sarkozy stands his ground. And his plan for sweeping reforms meets a lot of resistance. Civil servants joined transportation workers today in walking off the job. That means schools were closed. Flights were delayed. Trains are not even running.

The transit strike started a week ago over pension reform plans. President Sarkozy says that he won't cave in to the pressure and his reform effort will continue. Talks aimed at ending the strikes are scheduled to begin tomorrow.

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Have gavel, won't travel. Democratic lawmakers take turns baby-sitting the Senate over Thanksgiving to preempt any Oval Office surprises.

LEMON: And, also, we will check back on the roads here to see what's going on in Baltimore. You are looking at pictures from our affiliate WBAL.

This is live, guys, correct?

Yes, live pictures, two tractor-trailers involved in a horrific accident there.

We will update you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We'll tell you which American car just won the "Motor Trend" car of the year award when I return for the closing bell. Go ahead and take a guess.

LEMON: I don't know. Which American car -- say again?

LISOVICZ: Won the "Motor Trend" car of the year award. In fact -- don't guess.

LEMON: You don't want me to guess? I'm not going to guess.

LISOVICZ: Thank you.

LEMON: OK.

LISOVICZ: You'll be surprised.

LEMON: OK. I will.

All right, thank you.

LISOVICZ: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Have gavel, won't travel -- Democratic lawmakers take turns babysitting the Senate over Thanksgiving to preempt any Oval Office surprises.

LEMON: And, also, we'll check back on the roads here to see what's going on in Baltimore. You're looking at pictures from our affiliate WBAL -- this is live, guys, correct?

Yes. Live pictures. Two tractor trailers involved in a horrific accident there. We'll update you when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: And look at this. New video into the CNN NEWSROOM spraying off those 18-wheelers there -- those tractor trailers with fire retardant substance. And, also, it looks like there is an SUV involved. We're not exactly sure of the injuries, but, man, what a mess.

Our Jacqui Jeras and also our Chad Myers following this developing story happening in Baltimore. What do you guys have for us?

MYERS: Well, we see a little bit of traffic now -- one right lane moving northbound. They used the northbound lanes here. This is the I- 95 southbound you're seeing here, right just north of 695, which is the Beltway in Baltimore. And there's the other picture from our affiliate WBAL.

You can begin to see a couple of lanes now beginning to move. And we lost the shot, but that's OK. A couple of lanes moving into the northbound direction, because it was also closed -- backing up almost all the way to downtown Baltimore itself. The backup northbound is growing -- almost 12 miles I just counted, just -- just a minute ago here. But it is looking -- and you see them just kind of hosing this down with some kind of flame retardant. This is going to be a long cleanup and very, very long delays -- Jacqui, I know you're seeing some kind of alternatives here. But people need to get off this highway, because this is going to be closed for a long time.

JERAS: Yes, absolutely. Highway 40 is your best alternative, also known as Pulaski Highway, just off to the east of this area. We've that on Google Earth right now. We'll show you the area right in here that we want you to try and get around. But the delays are starting to get pretty hefty on Pulaski Highway, as well. It's taking at least 50 minutes to get through about that 10 mile or 13 mile stretch to get you in and around the accident.

Now, we've got some great information for you at home. If you guys have travel plans throughout the holidays -- maybe you don't have cable where you're heading to, you can go to Google Map. And then I want you to click on the top of your screen there, where it says "traffic".

And you can see all these little stop lights that begin to show up there?

Click on the stop lights. It will tell you to zoom in. Click on the zoom in area. And you can do this, by the way, for any city across the country. Red obviously means you've got big backups. Yellow is moderate and green is good. So that's a good way inform get around.

Now, if you're flying today or tomorrow, going by the airways, another great source for you to go to is www.fly.faa.gov. And what you can see there is a map of the United States. And you just take note and find your city. Look at all of those orange dots across the Northeastern Corridor. And it will tell you if those are arrival delays, departure delays. And you can also find additional information as to how long those delays may be. And, yes, Don, they have been mighty long today. It's been primarily the Upper Midwest and the Northeast. We had some delays in the Southwest early this morning, but those are looking good -- at least for now -- Don.

LEMON: OK.

At least for now. And just real quick, Jacqui, thank you guys very much.

We want to get you back to that video. We're checking our sources and our affiliates there in Baltimore, Maryland. This is happening, again, on I-95. We don't know about any injuries. But, boy, does this look bad. So we're going to try to get some information for you on this developing story -- Baltimore, Maryland, I-95 southbound, this accident happened. And both sides closed. As Chad and Jacqui just -- Jacqui just mentioned, we'll continue to update you on this story. But, wow! Very sad there -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: A Democratic senator pulls guard duty on Capitol Hill. Virginia Senator Jim Webb came to a nearly deserted Capitol today to bang a gavel a couple of times and then go home.

What's up with that?

Why does the White House feel compelled to issue a statement about it? CNN's Jessica Yellin -- she's the other person there. And she doesn't have a gavel, she's got a microphone. She's going to bring us up to date -- hi, Jess.

YELLIN: Hi, Kyra.

Well, it is a bizarre situation. The Senate is absolutely quiet. There is not an elected official to be found around here. And yet they're still technically open for business. That's because Senator Jim Webb came in this morning. As you said, he gaveled the Senate into session then gaveled it out of session. He was here for all of about 30 seconds. There was not a single other senator on the floor. And it was all done to ensure that President Bush cannot make any recess appointments while most of the senators are away on their Thanksgiving break.

Now, according to Senate rules, the president can get around that confirmation process and appoint people to vacant positions if senators are gone for three consecutive days. All it takes is for one senator to show up and do what Senator Webb did this morning and the president cannot name any controversial people to top positions.

Well, the Democrats think the president has taken advantage of this power and they say they're putting a stop to it this Thanksgiving.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JAMES WEBB (D), VIRGINIA: I have been enormously frustrated over the past six years -- not just when I decided to run for the Senate -- at how this administration has inappropriately pushed the envelope of executive power. So I'm really happy about this. I think that the Congress needs to do more of this to reassert the balance between the legislative and executive branches.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: The White House is not as happy. They point out that there are still 190 nominees still to be confirmed by the Senate. And a White House spokesperson says if the Senate would provide our nominees with fair hearings and votes, then the possibility of recess appointments would never be up for discussion.

Now, in the meantime, another few senators are going to have to put on that their suits and ties or their dresses and come in and gavel it into session while everyone else is on their Thanksgiving break. And everyone has their fingers crossed that the Senate and the White House can work this out before Christmas break rolls around -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Jessica.

I'm sorry you're having to work, too. But it will be an easy day, I promise.

All right. LEMON: And topping the Political Ticker today, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is making a pre-Thanksgiving stop in Des Moines, Iowa. Health care reform was tops on his agenda.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can get everybody in this country insured. My plan is designed to get everybody in this country insured. My estimate is that from the time you would put in place this program, pass the legislation necessary to put in place this program, within four years, every American would be insured.

This is a -- this is a plan that works for all of our citizens, does not cost new money, as we take the money we're already using and help people buy private insurance with it. So it doesn't cost more money. It doesn't expand the role of government. As a matter of fact, it gets government out of handing out free care to the hospitals -- free care dollars. It, instead, relies on private market-based dynamics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Romney has good reason to be thankful about the Hawkeye State now. The latest polls show he still has the Republican lead. But Mike Huckabee is gaining ground, especially among Evangelical voters.

Rudy Giuliani picked up another endorsement in his race for the Republican presidential nomination. The Giuliani campaign says this one is from former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar. With the backing of Edgar and Jim Thompson, another past Illinois governor, Giuliani is in good shape for the Illinois primary. That is set for February 5th -- part of a Super Duper Tuesday there.

Well, there are political heavyweights and then there are world heavyweights. GOP candidate Mike Huckabee must feel pretty good knowing wrestler Ric Flair is going to the mat for him. The Web site, South Carolina Politics Today, says the nature boy is hosting a tailgate party for Huckabee this weekend ahead of the South Carolina- Clemson game in Columbia.

And if you hear cheers coming out of the Barack Obama campaign, just take a look at these numbers and you'll know why. These are the results of a new ABC/"Washington Post" poll that asks Iowa Democrats to name their choice for the upcoming caucuses on January 3rd. Obama leads Hillary Clinton 30 percent to 26 percent. Other recent polls have shown Clinton with a slight lead in Iowa.

And coming up today in "THE SITUATION ROOM," our Wolf Blitzer will have some new poll numbers on the Democratic race in New Hampshire. That's at 4:00 p.m. Eastern, right here on CNN.

If you want the most up to the minute political news available anywhere, cnnpolitics.com is your one stop shop. Get behind-the-scenes details from the best political team on television and see why it is the Internet's premiere destination for political news -- cnnpolitics.com. PHILLIPS: Picking up the pieces of their lives -- survivors of the cyclone face a grim future as relief workers struggle to reach them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More than 3,000 people jailed. Opposition supporters in Pakistan have been set free. Some see it as a sign that President Pervez Musharraf is easing off the harsh measures employed since declaring a state of emergency. But the move didn't quiet the streets in Lahore. You can see the video here. More protesters clashing with police today. And just hours ago Musharraf arrived in Saudi Arabia. He's on a two day visit with Saudi's King Abdullah, while Washington pressures him to lift emergency rule.

LEMON: They survived the storm, one of the most horrific ever in Bangladesh.

Now what?

CNN's Dan Rivers on the grim reality facing them and those trying to help.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Speeding through a labyrinth of rivers and canals, it's taken us four days to get this far south. The logistics of this country are a nightmare. The army, like us, has to rely on boats to reach the many isolated islands.

This is what we find when we land on Chorlata (ph) -- thousands of survivors arriving by the boatload, scrambling ashore, hoping to find food -- some unable to walk through the viscous mud.

Almost every house here has been smashed apart. There's barely a building left standing.

AGM MIR MOSHOUR ALAM, LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL: About 90 to 95 percent houses already damaged -- fully damaged.

RIVERS: This is what he means by fully damaged -- a pile of rubble. This family is so desperate, they're attempting to salvage the soaked stuffing from a mattress.

Agira Begam (ph) says all their livestock was in the house when the cyclone hit. The animals died. "How will we survive?" she asks.

I ask her father-in-law to show me how high the storm surge was.

(on camera): The floodwaters have subsided now and this island is being used as an emergency aid distribution center. But during the height of the storm surge, these people would have been up to their necks in water.

(voice over): The most senior officer in the Bangladesh Army is here checking the aid is getting to those who need it.

(on camera): What do you anticipate the final death toll will be across country?

GEN. MOEEN U. AHMED, HEAD OF BANGLADESH ARMY: More than 4,000 to 5,000, definitely.

RIVERS (voice over): These people are receiving help now, but getting supplies in is not easy. They are vulnerable, desperate and bewildered -- and reliant on the generosity of others to survive the coming months.

Dan Rivers, CNN, Chorlata (ph) Island, Bangladesh.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: It was a four year experiment in forced communism. What the Khmer Rouge lacks in longevity, it more than made up for in brutality. And nearly 30 years after its reign of terror, surviving members of the Khmer Rouge are facing an international war crimes tribunal in Phnom Penh. The first is Kaing Guek Eav, also known as Duch. He ran the notorious S21 Interrogation Center, where an estimated 17,000 people had died and just seven survived. During the regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, millions of Cambodians were forced from their homes into brutal forced labor in the killing fields. Nearly two million of them died.

LEMON: Kids in court -- three young boys accused of raping a girl appear before a judge. We'll update this startling case.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Three young boys accused of raping an 11-year-old girl in suburban Atlanta. A community is shocked and its justice system is grappling with how to handle the case. The 8- and 9-year-old boys appeared yesterday before a judge, who ordered they continue to be held in a detention center. He also issued a gag order in the sensational case, which had already seen the mom of the alleged victim and the dad of one of the suspects talk to the media.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They were telling me -- it was like I didn't know how to react. I was -- I don't know -- I was just shocked. I was really -- because I did not expect it -- this to happen to my daughter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: One of the boy's dads said yesterday any sexual activity was consensual and the girl made up the rape story so she wouldn't get in trouble.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's only 45 inches, 40 pounds, in the third grade. This girl is in the fifth grade. She's 11-years-old -- two foot taller than him.

How can my boy -- with a broken wrist -- be accused of any kind of kidnapping charge?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Actually, the Cobb County district attorney has cleared things up. The boys can't be charged as adults or with felonies. Suspects under 13 are only legally charged with delinquent acts.

LEMON: Now to an horrific murder case out of Pittsburgh. A live- in boyfriend was arraigned yesterday on murder charges in the death of his girlfriend's 10-month-old girl. That's on top of the charges of rape and aggravated assault that were filed earlier. The baby's mom returned from work last week to find her unresponsive, with bruises and an apparent bite mark. Doctors say she had been sexually assaulted. Among Clinton Smith's different stories to police -- he doesn't know what happened, the baby fell and he was playing and squeezed her hard. She died over the weekend from multi-system organ failure.

PHILLIPS: Three grandchildren of a California Congressman have been reported missing. Authorities say that Gary Miller's grandkids were taken by their mother and are not in any immediate danger. The mother doesn't have custody of the boys, an 8-year-old and 6-year-old twins. Miller represents the district east of Los Angeles. His office hasn't commented yet.

LEMON: Let's get straight to the breaking news desk.

T.J. Holmes is working on the details of a developing story for us.

What do you have -- T.J. ?

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, I'm just taking you down to Florida's Alligator Alley. Let's just show you the pictures we have here -- two buses, two commercial buses. They had a bit of a collision there. This is on Alligator Alley. A live picture here. You see some kids there, actually, being treated.

We're told that there were some 83 kids on these buses. We're not exactly sure where the kids were from or where they're exactly traveling to by two buses. You can see the bus there on the left with two of those large, you know, charter buses really. They had some kind of a collision. We're not exactly sure why. But six kids, we understand, have minor injuries.

But, still, a lot of kids on these buses. You can see a few of them being treated. Minor scrapes, minor injuries, we're told. We don't understand anybody had to be taken to the hospital. But you can see picture here. You can't see that it may be a major accident of any kind. No other vehicles that we can tell are involved. But we just wanted to pass along what we were getting.

If we get anymore -- anything any more serious -- but we just at least wanted to pass along what we have at this point -- guys.

LEMON: All right, T.J. .

Thank you very much for that.

HOLMES: Sure.

LEMON: And we'll check back if you get anything else.

The closing bell and a wrap of all the action on Wall Street straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It's time to check in with Mr. Wolf Blitzer.

PHILLIPS: He's standing by in "THE SIT ROOM" to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour -- hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Hi, guys.

Thanks.

Lots coming up, including the Massachusetts governor, Deval Patrick. He may have some longstanding ties to the Clinton White House.

So why is he now endorsing the Clinton's rival, Barack Obama -- Senator Clinton's rival, that is?

I'll ask the governor right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM".

And should you be allowed to carry a handgun in the nation's capital?

The Supreme Court is now set to weigh in on this extensive issue.

And we have all sorts of new developments on our shocking story about a Saudi woman who was sentenced to 200 lashes after being gang raped.

That and a lot more, guys, coming up right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM".

LEMON: All right, Wolf.

Thanks.

We'll be watching.

PHILLIPS: A close call for a Missouri cop. It wasn't a shoot-out or a high speed chase. It was a high speed deer. This kind of close encounter usually doesn't end well for the deer -- or for anyone in the front seat, for that matter.

LEMON: Whoo. PHILLIPS: Yes. The squad car camera shows just how close it came.

LEMON: Oh, deer.

PHILLIPS: Oh, you had to go there.

LEMON: Oh, bud ump bump (ph). Yes, deer.

PHILLIPS: It's actually kind of cool looking, but not fun when it hits you.

LEMON: Yes, that was a little scary.

Have you ever like had to dodge...

PHILLIPS: Oh...

LEMON: Yes, it's really...

PHILLIPS: I've hit it before and it's horrible.

LEMON: Yes?

Is that right?

PHILLIPS: No, I cried. I felt terrible. And I'm not a big animal lover.

LEMON: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So you know that's a big deal.

LEMON: Right.

PHILLIPS: The closing bell is about to ring on Wall Street.

LEMON: That says it all.

Susan Lisovicz standing by with a final look at the trading day.

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don and Kyra, I think that deer has worked for the North Pole with those kind of leaps.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: That was Rudolph.

LISOVICZ: Did it have a red nose on it?

PHILLIPS: Yes.

LISOVICZ: But, listen, hey, I want to tell you another car story, because, Don, I heard that you recently sold your classic Caddie.

Yes?

LEMON: No, not the Caddie.

LISOVICZ: Oh, not the Caddie.

LEMON: The classic Mercedes. I still have the Caddie.

PHILLIPS: He's not going to get rid of the (INAUDIBLE).

Are you kidding me?

LISOVICZ: Oh, you (INAUDIBLE) -- you have too many cars.

Well, listen, the 2008 "Motor Trend" car of the year is the Cadillac CTS.

And let me tell you, Don, we ride -- and, Don, you are always popular with the ladies. This car can not only fit Kyra, it could put Jen...

LEMON: Hey!

LISOVICZ: ...and Angie (ph)...

PHILLIPS: That looks finer than those (INAUDIBLE)...

(LAUGHTER)

LISOVICZ: and you can put me in the trunk. Among its features, 1.6 liter...

LEMON: That's not a (INAUDIBLE).

LISOVICZ: ...V6 or direct injection engine, a six speed automatic. And the best thing -- a 40 gig hard drive satellite radio with pause and play. In other words, it's like a TiVo like little device. So, at some point, you could (INAUDIBLE).

LEMON: And rich Corinthian leather.

LISOVICZ: Hey, that's right.

(STOCK MARKET REPORT)

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