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Granite State Up for Grabs; President Bush Holds Press Conference
Aired January 08, 2008 - 13:59 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live at the CNN world headquarters in Atlanta.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Kyra Phillips.
You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
LEMON: And of course, our breaking news this afternoon, Indiana. Look at the flooding happening there.
We're looking at the Tipeecanoe River. That's according to our Chad Myers, who joined us last hour and gave us all the information we needed to know about this. He said the rain has stopped, but that doesn't mean that the concerns about flooding over.
Also, there's video we have in from Wisconsin and Illinois on those tornadoes that went through. I mean, it just flattened homes there. Really tore through there.
(WEATHER REPORT)
LEMON: Full-scale federal aid from -- this is Fernley, Nevada. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will accept nothing less for this flooded community. Nevada's senior senator got a bird's eye view of the damage late yesterday and said he'll also seek funding to reinforce the Truckee Canal.
State emergency officials estimate 290 homes were damaged by floodwaters when the levee broke. That happened over the weekend. FEMA is still assessing the damage there.
PHILLIPS: A heavy turnout is reported so far across New Hampshire. Many voters waited in line in the dark before the polls opened.
CNN's Tom Foreman joins us now from a polling place in Manchester -- Tom.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I've got to tell you, Kyra, it's reminding me an awful lot of Iowa last week in that there are just a lot, a lot, a lot of people going to the polls. We drove through downtown a short while ago, and it looked like, you know, there was some street festival under way.
There were so many people on the streets, not just political operatives, not just reporters, but plenty of those, but an awful lot of citizens moving around. And that's going to certainly have an effect on this campaign. We just don't know what yet.
PHILLIPS: Tom, sorry about that. I was having a hard time hearing part of what you said.
I'm looking at the time there -- five hours, 56 minutes, 30 seconds, before the polls close.
LEMON: And counting.
PHILLIPS: And counting.
FOREMAN: Yes, well...
PHILLIPS: And we had a chance to talk to the governor there. And it was sort of hard to get a straight answer from him. I was trying to talk to him about the McCain influence. You know, he did well there, he's doing well again, but there's this whole independent factor that could change the whole dynamic.
Meanwhile, the state has been called very much a blue state with this new influx of baby boomers.
FOREMAN: Yes, well -- well, there's been a huge change that's been happening here since the last election. Lots and lots of people have been coming to the state. Many, many of them calling themselves Independent, so much so that some Democratic officials, for example, have said, you know, they don't really like the fact that they feel in some way that maybe their primary is being hijacked by all these new arrivals.
But the fact is there are a lot of Independent voters here. Nobody really knows how many are going to show up to the polls.
We do know this -- that there's been a little bit of concern at some balloting locations that they'll even have enough ballots. Generally, the secretary of state's office says they think they will have enough, but they have made a few special deliveries of extra ballots, particularly in areas where there's a lot of Democratic voting, to make sure that they will have enough.
Again, he said he didn't think they were going to run short, but they wanted to make sure they two have enough so that they wouldn't run short and there would be no complaint about that. But just like people lined up this morning, I think that you're going to see people voting right up until the end here, because there's an awful lot of enthusiasm here. And, again, the big question is, where is that enthusiasm going to land?
PHILLIPS: All right. Tom Foreman, appreciate it.
We'll be watching all the enthusiasm. Definitely a lot in that state today.
The New Hampshire primary live from the CNN Election Center. Stay with us for a full night of updates and results as they happen from the best political team on television. Our special coverage begins at 8:00 Eastern.
And right now you can be a part of the best political team on television. If you're in New Hampshire, we want to know what it's like on the streets, in the cafes and the voting booths. Send your video or pictures to cnnpolitics.com. We'll feature some of your I- Reports in our special election coverage tonight.
LEMON: An autopsy scheduled today on the body of Meredith Emerson. The 24-year-old Georgia woman missing since New Year's Day on a hike in the mountains was found dead last night. Police say Gary Michael Hilton directed them to the body.
So far, Hilton has been charged with kidnapping with intent to cause bodily injury. Authorities are also looking for possible links between Hilton and three other deaths and disappearances around the region.
Miami police are asking the city to be on the lookout for a white Ford Taurus. That's in connection with the shooting death of one of their own.
Off-duty detective James Walker, who was found just after midnight in his bullet-riddled unmarked squad car, Walker suffered multiple gunshot wounds but is believed to have returned fire. Police say the Taurus they are looking for has bullets holes in it and possibly other damage as well. They've been questioning three people, including one found wounded near the crime scene -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, the victim of the Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo will be laid to rest this afternoon. A funeral mass was held last night in San Jose for 17-year-old Carlos Sousa, Jr. Hundreds of people were there to pay respects.
The two brothers who survived the attack won't face criminal charges. Police say that there's no evidence that the pair taunted the tiger before it escaped.
LEMON: New Jersey was the last northern state to formerly abolish slavery. Now it's the first to formally apologize.
The state legislature has approved a resolution expressing "profound regret" -- again, that's a quote, "profound regret" for New Jersey's role in slavery. The Garden State had one of the largest slave populations in the region. Some critics have called the resolution meaningless. Its sponsor objects, saying, "Making a stand for society is never a waste of time."
(WEATHER REPORT)
PHILLIPS: Well, the late Benazir Bhutto's son, he knows what he's doing after college, keeping the family name alive in Pakistani politics. But for now, how about a little privacy that he can study?
LEMON: Plus, we know Oprah won't be voting for, but are other women giving Hillary Clinton the cold voting shoulder?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: 2:11 Eastern Time. A couple of stories we're working on for you right here today in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Less than six hours of voting left in New Hampshire. Democrats, Republicans and especially Independents are out in force for the nation's first presidential primary. Some polling places ran low on ballots because of high voter turnout.
Utter destruction in southern Wisconsin and several other States as more than three dozen reported tornadoes raked the nation's midsection last night. And it's not over yet. Another apparent twister killed a person in central Arkansas. That happened just yesterday.
A funeral this afternoon for 17-year-old Carlos Sousa, Jr., the victim of that Christmas Day tiger rampage at the San Francisco Zoo. Meantime, police won't charge two brothers who survived the attack, saying there's no evidence they taunted the big cat.
And we're waiting for the President right now, another story we're following. There he is walking out. He's going to hold a press conference in the Rose Garden to talk about his trip to the Middle East and also, we're being told, Kyra, to possibly talk about Iraq reconstruction.
Here's the President of the United States, of course, flanked with leaders there. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice one of them. Of course, playing a big role in all of this.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I had a series of good meetings today to discuss the situation in Iraq, including a video teleconference this morning with General Petraeus, Ambassador Crocker, and members of the national security team.
I also spoke by video with Prime Minister Maliki to discuss the return of the Iraqi parliament, that -- it was clear from my discussions that there's great hope in Iraq, that the Iraqis are beginning to see political progress that is matching the dramatic security gains for the past year. There's still work to be done, but it was a very hopeful conversation.
Today, I just had a good discussion with some of our bravest citizens, members of our nation's provincial reconstruction teams and their brigade commanders in Iraq, three of whom are with me today, along with the secretary and deputy secretary.
Thank you all for coming.
And the others were by (INAUDIBLE), by video from Baghdad. I, first of all, thanked them for the progress they've helped make possible during the past year, and the important work that they're doing in the communities all across Iraq.
Provincial reconstruction teams, or called PRTs, are a central part of the new strategy in Iraq that I announced a year ago. The strategy was built around three key elements.
First, was the surge of additional troops into Iraq, with a new mission to protect the Iraqi people from terrorist insurgents and illegal militias.
Second, was the surge of operations that began in June once the troops were in place, with new offenses across the country to drive the terrorists and militias out of their strongholds.
And third, was a surge of provincial reconstruction teams. It was a civilian surge which deployed across Iraq to ensure that military progress was quickly followed up with real improvements in the daily lives of the Iraqi citizens.
Over the past year, we've doubled the number of PRTs in Iraq. There are now 24 of these teams serving in all 18 Iraqi provinces. Many are embedded with military units and work closely with our troops to support their operations.
Their mission is to help strengthen moderate leaders at the local, municipal, and provincial level, are providing assistance to help create jobs, deliver basic services and build up local economies. The teams are helping provincial governments spend their money more effectively. Across the country these teams are helping to bring Iraqis together, so that reconciliation can happen from the ground up.
The leaders I met today updated me on important work they're doing and the progress they have made. For example, our PRT leaders in Baghdad report they have now mentored district councils and public work departments in several neighborhoods, provided funding for generators to help build up local markets, and support a micro grant program to help small businesses reopen across their district, in the city.
Our PRT leaders in Kirkuk report that they helped broker a settlement that brought Sunnis back into the provincial council after a yearlong boycott. They also helped the provincial governments successfully execute the budget, assisted local enterprises with small business loans, and helped establish a major crimes court in the province -- in the province that is providing citizens with equal justice under the law.
Our PRT leaders in Najaf, which happens to be one of Shia Islam's holiest's cities, report that they are working with Iraqis to build a modern airport that will allow Shia Muslims from around the world to travel to the city on the pilgrimage. These PRT leaders briefed us on the changes they're seeing on the ground in Iraq.
As they live and work among the Iraqi people they see the progress that is taking place firsthand. Here's what they tell me.
Violence across the country continues to decrease. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have stepped forward to join concerned local citizens' groups that are fighting al Qaeda and other extremists. And as the security improves, life is returning to normal in communities across Iraq, with children back in school, and shops reopening and markets bustling with commerce.
Improvements on the ground in Iraq are allowing some U.S. forces to return home. The strategy is called Return on Success. It has now begun.
I don't think most Americans know this, but one Army brigade and one Marine expeditionary unit have come home and will not be replaced. In the coming months, four additional brigades and two Marine battalions will follow suit. As we withdraw these forces, we will continue to pursue al Qaeda and other extremists in Iraq.
Our enemies in Iraq have suffered blows in recent months, but they are -- they're still dangerous. They're not yet defeated.
As we saw yesterday, when terrorists killed -- when terrorists killed the leader of a concerned local citizens' group, the enemy remains capable of horrific violence. We're not going to allow these terrorists to find respite anywhere in Iraq. And we're not going to allow them to regain the strongholds that they've lost.
PRT leaders have gotten to know the Iraqi people. They understand the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in freedom and peace. That's what they know.
You know why? Because the citizens tell them just that. They're helping give ordinary Iraqis confidence by rejecting the extremists and reconciling with one another so they can claim their place in a free Iraq and build a better life for their families.
The men and women of our PRTs are serving on the front lines on the war on terror. These are courageous souls. They could be doing a lot of other things, but they chose to go to the front line where they can make a difference in world peace.
And I can't thank you enough for the -- for the vital work you've done and for helping 2007, particularly the end of 2007, become incredibly successful, beyond anybody's expectations. And we believe in 2008 we're going to see continued progress.
These people are helping improve the lives of citizens they never met before. And in so doing, they're making this country more secure, and they're helping lay down a foundation for peace. And I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
And I thank your families as well for the sacrifices they have made. We are so honored to have such courageous citizens such as yourself.
And I'll answer a couple of questions.
QUESTION: Mr. President, what do you make of the incident in the Strait of Hormuz with Iran on Sunday? Do you think they were trying the to provoke a fight with the U.S.?
BUSH: Well, Mark (ph), we viewed it as a provocative act. It is a dangerous situation, and they should not have done it. Pure and simple.
QUESTION: What do you think they were up to?
BUSH: I don't know what I think what their thinking was, but I'm telling you what I think it was. I think it was a provocative act.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE) there in Bahrain?
BUSH: Our message is thanks for serving the United States of America. We're proud of you. And my message today to the Iranians is they shouldn't have done what they did.
Roger (ph)?
QUESTION: Yes, Mr. President, the index of people buying used homes fell more than expected in a report that came out today. And Secretary Paulson says that the housing really has not yet reached bottom.
Does that nudge you further toward some sort of economic stimulus package?
BUSH: Well, you know, I'm optimistic about the economy. I'm optimistic, as I've seen this economy, you know, go through periods of uncertainty.
I mean, in the seven years that I've been the president, we've had a recession, corporate scandals, a 9/11 attack, major national disasters, two wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. All that created was uncertainty, each one of those incidents, and we've been able to come through it because we've been resilient.
And as I said yesterday and a couple of days earlier than that, I am -- I like the fundamentals, they look strong. But there are new signals that could cause concern. And one of the signals is the fact that the housing market is soft. And it's going to take a while to work through the downturn.
The number you just reflected is an indication of softness. And so what can you do about it?
Well, one thing we can do about it is to help people who are creditworthy stay in their homes. And that's why Secretary Paulson and Secretary Jackson have put together what's called a Hope Now Project, all aiming to get lenders and borrowers and, you know, investors and counselors together to help people find out how to renegotiate a loan and then get it done.
As I told the people yesterday in Chicago, in the old days, you'd walk in and borrow your -- borrow the money to buy a home, and then if you got in a bind, you'd go back to the loan officer. Well, what happens in these days is, you go borrow the money and all of a sudden that loan is sold somewhere else and you're not sure who to negotiate with. And so, it's a much more complex world for many homeowners, and we're helping them as best as we possibly can find out how to renegotiate the homes so they can stay in. Secondly, the Congress needs to pass the Federal Housing Administration Reform Act so that we can get more people better refinancing to stay in their home. There's some practical things that can be done.
And so I'm -- we're watching very carefully. And we're listening to different ideas about, you know, what may or may not need to happen. And it's a -- we'll work through this.
We'll work through this period of time. And the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and -- at any rate, yes?
QUESTION: Thoughts about a tax cut?
BUSH: Pardon me?
QUESTION: Thoughts about a tax cut?
BUSH: Well, I can tell you something about taxes. Congress doesn't need to raise taxes, for starters. I know a bunch of them up there that would like to. They'd like to get a little bit more money out of people's pocket, but in times of uncertainty, you don't need to be raising taxes.
Secondly, in times of uncertainty, it seems like Congress ought to be sending a message that we're not going to raise your taxes in the next three years by making the tax cuts permanent. And beyond that, we'll look at all different options.
Listen, thank you. I am looking forward to going on the trip. I hope people are coming.
Does any of you get to come with me?
Here's what we're going to do. We're going to go over and stress three things.
The first theme is that it's important to lay out a vision in order for there to be a Palestinian state once roadmap obligations are met. What has to happen in order for there to be a peaceful settlement of a longstanding dispute is there to be outlines of a state clearly defined so that at some point in time the Palestinians who agree that Israel ought to be -- exist, and agree that the state ought to live side by side with Israel in peace, have something to be for. They need to have a vision that's clearly defined that competes with the terrorists and the killers who murder the innocent people to stop the advance of democracy.
Secondly, I intend to work with our Arab friends and allies on -- on this very issue and remind them about, one, the strategy and, two, the obligations they have to help this vision become a reality.
And thirdly, remind our friends and allies that the United States is committed to security in the region. One of the problems we have is that the intelligence report on Iran sent a mixed signal. And I'm going to remind them what I said in that press conference when I sat there and answered some of your questions -- Iran was a threat, Iran is a threat, and Iran will continue to be a threat if they are allowed to learn how to enrich uranium.
And so I'm looking forward to, you know, making it clear that the United States of America sees clearly the threats of this world, and we intend to work with our friends and allies to make the -- that part of the world more secure.
Thank you all very much. See you when I get back.
LEMON: The president of the United States summing up, really, what he talked about at the end there. Said he had three goals in mind when he visits the Middle East, starting tomorrow -- lay out a vision for a Palestinian state to live side by side with Israel, he said. He wants to work with Arab friends and allies over there, and he says he wants to remind Arab friends and allies and their allies that the U.S. is committed to security in that region.
Of course, the president addressing the Iran standoff yesterday with U.S. -- with the U.S. Navy in the Strait of Hormuz. And also talking about the housing and mortgage crisis in the country as well.
Just to give you an idea of where he -- the president's going, concentrating on the Middle East, he heads to the region today hoping to get a peace deal going. Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt are on the itinerary here. And the president lands tomorrow Tel Aviv.
And, of course, CNN will have extensive coverage on that.
But the president laying out his plan for the Middle East visit there in the Rose Garden just moments ago -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, there's lots of party chairmen in college, but none like this one. The late Benazir Bhutto's son with a weight on his shoulders few, if any, could bear at 19 years old.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is having to grow up in a hurry. When Benazir Bhutto was assassinated two weeks ago, her son quickly went from 19-year-old, an Oxford student, to the head of one of Pakistan's most powerful political parties. Talking with reporters, of course, comes with the territory, and here's CNN's Nic Robertson from London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Flanked by party officials, Benazir Bhutto's son, Bilawal, gained little away before his first full press conference since taking over as leader of his mother's party. The 19-year-old Oxford University student looked nervous facing so many cameras. Aides say he had plenty of coaching. It showed, as he faced tough questions about how he, at 19, with little political experience, could lead one of Pakistan's most powerful parties. He said, he has the party's support.
BILAWAL BHUTTO ZARDARI, PAKISTAN PEOPLE'S PARTY CHAIRMAN: Well, it wasn't handed on like some piece of family furniture. They've asked me to do it, and I did. Everybody -- they represent -- they represented the whole federation, all four provinces and as aken schmear (ph) and they asked me to do this.
QUESTION: Would this had been wiser just to wait until you know a little more?
ZARDARI: It was a moment of crisis. Pakistan was burning. We needed to show a united front immediately to quell the violence.
ROBERTSON: So many journalists came to hear what he had to say. Most had to stand. But the young Bhutto Zardari's advisers cautioned this was not to launch his political career, but to protect him until he's ready. Right now, his father is leading the party.
SIMON WALKER, BHUTTO FAMILY FRIEND: It's extremely important that he is able to continue his studies as normally as possible, and not be besieged by requests for interviews, photographs, and public comment.
ROBERTSON: Bhutto Zardari said that he intends to follow his mother into politics, slowly at first. His priority now, to follow her academically.
ZARDARI: She completed four years at Harvard and four at Oxford, and there is no doubt that one of the many characteristics which people admired was her broad education.
ROBERTSON: The press conference lasted about 15 minutes. Bhutto Zardari answering more than a dozen questions, criticizing President Musharraf and U.S. support for the Pakistani leader. He also called for a U.N. investigation into his mother's death. Like his mother, he said he wanted a good relationship with the media.
ZARDARI: I should like to continue her good relationship but in moderation, not only for my own sake, but also for the sake of my fellow students and the college. I am perfectly prepared to schedule press conferences such as this, but when I am at Oxford, I hope that I can be left alone.
ROBERTSON (on camera): Bilawal Bhutto Zardari hopes this is the last time he has to face so many cameras for several years, unless he's given time to complete his studies in peace, he says, he won't be able to become a well-rounded politician.
Nic Robertson, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Nic.
And we want to show you some dramatic video the Department of Defense -- they just released it. What you're seeing, look at that, it's an aerial view of an F-16 blowing up a building in Iraq. Now, military officials say the building was an al Qaeda safe house and that people inside had taken shots at coalition forces. The air attack also took out a building reportedly filled with materials used to make improvised explosive devices or IEDs as they're called, and a truck that could have been used to transport them.
PHILLIPS: The female factor, is it hurting Senator Hillary Clinton in her bid for her party's nomination in Iowa? Many younger women voters snubbed Clinton for her Democratic rival, Senator Barack Obama.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't women want a female president?
PROF. ELIZABETH OSSOFF, ST. ANSELM COLLEGE: I think that there are some people out there who still think that that's not the right role for women. And I think some of those people are women.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Ooh, senior political correspondent Candy Crowley joining us now from Manchester, New Hampshire. Not the right role for women. It just sounds like we're going back in time here.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SR. POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It does, I mean -- and what you cited at the beginning is even a worst picture for Hillary Clinton. It's not just that younger women went for Barack Obama in Iowa, which they did, and Hillary Clinton did better among married women, 60 and older. It's that if you look at all the women, Barack Obama won the woman's vote in Iowa.
So, there is definitely something out there. Part of it may be -- and I've talked to a lot of people about this, and they say, is it that it is a woman or is it that it is this woman, that they consider Hillary Clinton divisive, despite all of her efforts to say, listen, I've reached across the aisle and here's what I've done on a bipartisanship basis. So, I think it's a little unclear.
I also think, when talking to younger women as opposed to older women, that they don't really view the glass ceiling in quite the same way as those of us who sort of grew up on that. They were born and raised as you can do anything, you can go anywhere. You can become whatever you want to be. So, they look at it slightly differently, I think, maybe less historically than older women do.
PHILLIPS: Breaking the glass ceiling. You're reminding me of the discussions in college, Candy. That's what we were talking about. All right ...
CROWLEY: Really (ph)? PHILLIPS: Yes, it's kind of frightening. It's not just the women, though, that have been snubbing Hillary, also the men. Let's take a listen to this heckler.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Some people think you bring about change by demanding it. And some people think you bring about change by ...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
H. CLINTON: Can we turn the lights on? It's awfully dark here for everybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
H. CLINTON: Oh, the remnants of sexism, alive and well tonight.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And if you couldn't hear the heckler, he was screaming iron my shirts, iron my shirts. I don't know, Candy, I probably would have walked over and decked him right between the eyeballs.
CROWLEY: You know, this -- obviously, she hit that just right when she responded to it. These look like two kids looking for attention basically. But it does bring up the fact that no matter how you look at it and how you parse the figures and how many people you talked about, there is an element out there that isn't ready for a female to be president. And that has -- has been true in some cases among men.
But, again, when you talk to men, they say, you know, it is this specific woman, not women in general. So, it's hard to separate. And it may just be an excuse.
PHILLIPS: All right.
CROWLEY: But I do think that there are huge differences on the campaign trail, between a woman campaigning and a man campaigning.
PHILLIPS: Well, and some would say, and some have said, it's not just Hillary that's running for president. It's the Clinton plural ticket, meaning it's Hillary and Bill. You see them out there, he's out there supporting her.
We were looking across the Internet in the blogs, too, and there's even T-shirts that are now being printed. This one that said "Do Not Resuscitate" and it's got a picture of Hillary and Bill together, you know, I mean it's getting brutal out there.
But we are starting to see Bill step forward and really have his wife's back. Let's take a listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war in every year, enumerating the years and never got asked one time -- not once -- well, how could you say that, when you said in 2004, you didn't know how you would have voted on the resolution?
You said in 2004 there was no difference between you and George Bush on the war, and you took that speech you're now running on off your Web site in 2004, and there's no difference in your voting record and Hillary's ever since. Give me a break.
(APPLAUSE)
B. CLINTON: This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, sounds like he's running for president.
CROWLEY: Absolutely it does. It reminds me that Bill Clinton, when he was running in '92 told voters, listen, if you are with me now, I will be with you 'til the last dog dies. Let me tell you, he will be with her until the last dog dies. I mean, they will come out of here, if they lose, really swinging hard at Obama.
The question is, on the whole topic, does Bill Clinton coming out and being so front and center, a, remind people of the '90s and perhaps they don't want to go back there, and, b, look like he's kind of overpowering her, which is not the image that you want out there.
PHILLIPS: Candy Crowley, always great to talk to you.
Well, right now, you can be a part of the best political team on television. If you're in New Hampshire, we want to know what it's like on the streets and the cafes and the voting booths. Send us your video, your pictures to CNNpolitics.com. We'll feature some of your i-Reports in our special election coverage tonight.
LEMON: And I tell you what, we'd love to have some i-Reports from some of these areas we're talking about -- we're about to talk about with Chad Myers. He got some new warnings, tornadoes, especially Missouri, they don't need this right now.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, no. Southeastern Missouri, really we're talking about the boot heel, that's a brand new warning. And then, a continuation of this storm that has been moving north of Forest City. It's up right now exactly on top of Parken (ph) and it does have rotation with it.
Here's a live shot from our affiliate in Memphis. Now, you're not going to see the rotation. You're not going to see any kind of tornado with this. But what you will notice if you sit there and watch long enough how quickly the clouds are moving from left to right. Below the crawl down there, that would be the Mississippi River. You're looking into Arkansas. That is 50 miles per hour.
So, when you see a storm moving that quickly, you have very little time to get out of the way, and certainly no time to be chasing these things, just because you have a car and a weather radio, doesn't make you a storm chaser. You stay out of the way of storms that are moving at 40 or 50 miles per hour. That is too fast for you to get out of the way of it.
Let's go back to the maps here. Here's Memphis right here behind me here, this storm is well to the west and north of Memphis. This one is not going to hit Memphis, but there are more storms south of here, and then that storm is still going to move on up to the northeast at 50 and then the one here in the boot heel, not that far really from about Caruthers, I would say probably -- I'd say another 30 minutes or so this thing is still going to be on the ground.
We're just going to watch the rotation. Right now, it's not on the ground that we know of, but it's just indicated by doppler.
LEMON: Hey Chad, just real quick ...
MYERS: Yes, Don?
LEMON: ...it seems like a lot of tornado activity this time of the year. Am I correct with that?
MYERS: Well, sure. But when you get to 60, 65 degrees, and today in Atlanta, it's going to be 70, it's always -- that's the heat and that's the energy that you're going to use to make tornadoes. No matter what month it is.
LEMON: All right. Chad Myers, thank you, sir.
MYERS: You bet.
PHILLIPS: Two Republican rivals bump into each other at a New Hampshire polling place. Smiles, hand makes as Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee meet face to face.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It's time now to see what's topping our political ticker today. Every four years, two tiny Hamlets in New Hampshire, well, they make national headlines. By tradition, voters in Dixville Notch and Hart's locations gathered at midnight to cast the first votes in the state's primary.
On the Democratic side, combined results show Barack Obama with 16 votes, Hillary Clinton and John Edwards with three and Bill Richardson with one. Among Republicans, John McCain got ten votes, Mike Huckabee, five, Ron Paul, four, Mitt Romney, three and Rudy Giuliani, one.
And a chance encounter we want to tell you about, between two Republican presidential rivals. Rudy Giuliani and Mike Huckabee came face to face this morning at a polling place in Manchester, New Hampshire. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: May I have your vote today?
RUDY GIULIANI (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't think either one of us is voting today.
HUCKABEE: Same-day registration, I understand. Good luck, Rudy.
GIULIANI: Good to see you again.
HUCKABEE: Great to see you. Thank you.
GIULIANI: Good luck.
HUCKABEE: Are we blocking your way? Is that the deal now?
GIULIANI: You're going and...
HUCKABEE: Hey you know what? We can bang on your car. That would be a photo. I have enjoyed, and we'll see you along the way.
(CROSSTALK)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Very cordial, like they knew the cameras were there, can you believe it? South Carolina's Republican primary is January 19th. Its Democratic primary, one week later than that.
Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell, is out with some praise for Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama. He says he's pleased with how Obama has done so far in the nominative process. Powell, a Republican, tells Tavis Smiley on PBS, that he's taking joy in Obama's success.
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COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I'm terribly excited and impressed and I'm happy for Barack Obama. I know him. I've met with him a couple of times. And I think that this is such an important event for America, for the American people. We can show to the rest of the world that it's possible to have a Kenyan father, to be a black man, to have gone to school in Indonesia, come back, gotten your education in this great country, and now you can put yourself forward for national office.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: That interview from Tavis Smiley on PBS. In the interview Powell says, " This argument about him not being black enough, that's just absolute nonsense." And that is a quote. New Hampshire, does it make or break a candidate's bid for Republican or Democratic nomination? A little history lesson for you. The last three Democrats to win the New Hampshire primary went on to win their party's nomination. Senator John Kerry, four years ago, Al Gore in 2000 and the incumbent president, Bill Clinton, in 1996. Clinton lost, to Paul Tsongas four years later, but went on to capture the Democrat nomination.
On the Republican side, less success for recent winners. President Bush, the incumbent, won the primary four years ago. But in 2000, Senator John McCain won the primary but lost the nomination to George Bush. And in 1996, Pat Buchanan won the primary, but Bob Dole went on to win the nomination.
And for more on the New Hampshire primary, go to cnnpolitics.com, it is your one-stop shop for all things political.
PHILLIPS: No word from her husband for four days.
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JOAN CHRISTY, MISSING HIKER'S WIFE: Anyone who knows Dean, loves Dean. And especially -- he's my very best friend. We've been married -- oh, excuse me. We've been married 20 years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: The snowy search goes on for a missing California hiker.
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COLLINS: California search teams now combing the snow-covered San Bernardino mountains for a 62-year-old man who went for a hike on Friday. His wife says that he knows how to survive and she's counting on it. More from reporter, Greg Mills, from our affiliate KCAL.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GREG MILLS, KCAL REPORTER: Searchers on the ground and in the air have not spotted the missing hiker. He's 62-year-old Dean Christy of North Hollywood. He went for a walk here Friday, just as the first of three winter storms hit. He became disoriented, called 9-1-1, said that he had walked about three miles and was able to describe his surroundings.
CPL. BRYAN LANE, SAN BERNARDINO SHERIFF'S DEPT.: Unfortunately there's a lot of forest out there. A lot of area. There's many places that fit that description.
MILLS: The Christys love this area. They just bought a second home here in Green Valley Lake. They are both retired school teachers who taught in Glendale.
J. CHRISTY: Anyone who knows Dean loves Dean and, especially -- he's my very best friend. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How long have you been married?
J. CHRISTY: We've been married -- oh, excuse me, we've been married 20 years.
MILLS: Her husband is dressed for these conditions. He's taught wilderness survival courses. So even though he's been lost for four days, nobody has lost hope.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, more volunteers have joined that search for Dean Christy, and San Bernardino County has just sent up two helicopters to see if the pilots can spot anything.
LEMON: An autopsy scheduled today on the body of Meredith Emerson. The 24-year-old Georgia woman, missing since a New Year's day hike in the mountains, was found dead last night. Police say Gary Michael Hilton directed them to the body. So far, Hilton's been charged with kidnapping, with intent to cause bodily injury. Authorities are also looking for possible links between Hilton and three other deaths and disappearances around the region.
PHILLIPS: Cleaning up from Midwest tornadoes? That's right, tornadoes in January.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's amazing, I can't believe nobody got hurt. If you'd see the devastation in there, it's unreal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Recovery from disaster. Straight ahead in the CNN newsroom.
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Brooke Anderson in Hollywood.
One of Hollywood's biggest parties has been replaced by a short series of announcements. I'm going to tell you why, next, in the NEWSROOM.
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LEMON: I don't think my crow phone was open. That was Steve Brusque, he lost a bet. He had to wear an LSU T-shirt because his Ohio Buckeyes just could not stand up to it. Smile, Steve Brusque. What happened to your Buckeyes, dude? That's our political guru.
All right, let's move on now. Applause in the NEWSROOM. The Golden Globe Awards have lost their sparkle thanks to the Hollywood writers' strike. CNN's entertainment correspondent Brooke Anderson is here to tell us why the globes are not so glamorous this year. We're having a good time.
ANDERSON: Yes, we are. And I want to say one quick thing, go SEC.
LEMON: Hey, I hope Steve's listening to that. You know what, though? This is very concerning, because usually the Golden Globes, they are kind of a precursor to the Oscars. Sometimes -- usually people win a Golden Globe, then they may win an Oscar or be nominated for an car.
ANDERSON: Possibly, because the Oscar voters typically watch the Golden Globe ceremonies, watch those acceptance speeches and then they make their votes and their nominations, but that may not be the case this year. Because you can forget the party. This weekend's Golden Globes ceremony has been reduced to a short series of announcements.
No red carpet. No glitzy show this year. Now the decision by the Hollywood Foreign Press and NBC to scrap the traditional ceremony comes after actors showing solidarity with the writers vowed not to cross a picket line to attend the show. The winners will now be announced over the course of one hour on Sunday evening, telecast by the news division of NBC.
That division of the network is not on strike, because it's covered under a different contract than the entertainment division of NBC. NBC tells us no other electronic media will be allowed inside the announcement. Print reporters can attend, though. Actors including George Clooney, a former Globe winner nominated again this year, are adamant they will not show up for a picketed award show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
QUESTION: Will you cross the picket line to go to the Globes?
GEORGE CLOONEY, GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINEE: No. Of course, I belong to six unions. I wouldn't cross the picket line.
QUESTION: What if there are parties? What about going to the parties after if there is no ceremony?
CLOONEY: It's funny thing, all the questions -- and I understand them, are easily answered by saying, I'd never -- I would never cross the picket line.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And just to give you a sense of the impact of this cancellation. According to a local business group, this will cost the city of L.A. upwards of $80 million. Not to mention NBC reportedly typically makes $15 million to $20 million in ad revenues from this show. Don, that could dramatically be reduced.
LEMON: My goodness. OK.
ANDERSON: It's a mess.
LEMON: Yes, it is a mess. What does this mean, though, for the rest of the award season? As I said, this is usually the precursor to the Oscars. ANDERSON: Leads up to the Oscars, late February, you're right. Before then though, we'll have the Screen Actors Guild Awards show. That will go without a hitch due a waiver from the Writers Guild. The Independent Spirit Awards also received a waiver. The Grammys, in early February are in negotiations with the Guild at this time.
And, you know, if some sort of agreement isn't reached for the Academy Awards, that ceremony could face the same fate as the Golden Globes. Imagine that. Speaking of the Oscars, the host of this year's ceremony, Jon Stewart returned to television last night with a new show for the first time since the strike began.
Stewart's "The Daily Show" returned to Comedy Central, along with "The Colbert Report." The two shows of course, will not have any writers while the strike continues. Stewart spent much of last night's show discussing the strike, and despite some last-minute negotiations, neither show was able to get a waiver from the Writers Guild.
So, Don, it is very contentious, and unfortunately seems no resolution in sight. No widespread resolution at least.
LEMON: Yes, and it's interesting because both of them, as is Conan, they were writers before ...
ANDERSON: Members of the Guild, in fact.
LEMON: And they're writers on the show. So it's a little bit of a weird situation there.
ANDERSON: Right.
LEMON: OK, enough of this strike talk. Let's talk about good news. A little happier news. There's a big-name celebrity who has some baby news. We're not talking about you, are you?
ANDERSON: Oh, well first of all, I'm not a celebrity, number one. Secondly, no news to report on this end. You'll be one of the first to know, Don, though.
LEMON: OK. Thank you.
ANDERSON: I'll tell you that. But, yes, the stork will pay a visit to Nicole Kidman and her husband country star Keith Urban. They're expecting their first child together, although Kidman has two adopted children from her first marriage to Tom Cruise. Their publicist tells us, they are thrilled.
All right, coming up tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, tears for Spears. From Britney's meltdown, to her kid sister getting pregnant, to her mother's grief, should we be feeling sorry for the Spears family? A heated debate on TV's most provocative entertainment news show SHOWBIZ TONIGHT 11:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific. We hope to see you then -- Don?
LEMON: You know I love you, right? ANDERSON: Right back at you.
LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Brooke.
PHILLIPS: Well, who needs -- who needs a hotel, rather, when you can crash at Ikea? New Yorker takes advantage of some Swedish hospitality.
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PHILLIPS: Five hours and counting until the polls close in New Hampshire.
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