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Granite State Blitz; Supreme Court Takes on Lethal Injection; Bipartisan Forum in Oklahoma

Aired January 07, 2008 - 14:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The eve of the New Hampshire primaries, end of the road for one more candidate. Republican Duncan Hunter plans a major announcement this hour. You'll see it live in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Rock the Vote 2008. It's not the same old song. We're going to see what's got younger voters so fired up about this year's races.

We're also watching a hearing this hour in Georgia for the man accused of kidnapping a young hiker whose whereabouts are still a mystery.

Hello, everyone. I'm Kyra Phillips, at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. And you're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

A new announcement and new emotion on the campaign trail. It's the latest out of New Hampshire, which is gearing up for the nation's first presidential primary. Voting starts in one town at midnight. Everywhere else a few hours later. We're getting new video of an emotional Hillary Clinton, and we're awaiting a major announcement from Republican Duncan Hunter.

As always, the best political team on TV is bringing it all to you. We're also bringing you the latest poll numbers from the Granite State. They are raising hopes for some presidential hopefuls, dimming them for others.

Let's crunch the numbers with our senior political analyst, Bill Schneider.

Bill, what is happening in the Democratic race in New Hampshire?

WILLIAM SCHNEIDER, CNN SR. POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, it looks like there is a bounce coming out of the Iowa caucus victory for Barack Obama, who in our latest poll taken over the weekend is running ten points ahead of Hillary Clinton. Obama, Clinton, 29, as you can see.

Just in the last couple of days, Obama has picked up six points at the expense of both Hillary Clinton and John. Edwards. Obama's lead, as I indicated, has now hit double digits, going...

PHILLIPS: Bill, I apologize. Stay with me. We've got to go quickly to New Hampshire. Duncan Hunter making that announcement. We believe he is possibly stepping out of the race.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

REP. DUNCAN HUNTER (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: ... person running Democrat or Republican, who has actually chaired a major security committee. And I could have provided lots of good information in the ABC and Fox debates when they talked about the nuclear weapons development in places like Iran and the Pakistan strip situation with respect to Afghanistan. And, of course, the troop rotations that are taking place in Iraq.

I was not there to give my position and take my part in that debate. Some knucklehead executive in ABC closed me out. And similarly, Fox News decided not to allow me to take place in the Fox News debate on Sunday. And, you know, in the interim between making that initial decision and the debates, something took place. It was called the Wyoming caucuses. And in the Wyoming caucus I won a delegate.

In fact, I now have an officially declared delegate. And as I understand the rules, that means that guys like John McCain, who have zero delegates, and Giuliani, who have zero delegates, were allowed to these two debates, but a guy who actually had some points on the scoreboard -- that was myself -- was not allowed to attend the debates because some knucklehead, arrogant executive in the corporate media world of ABC and Fox News, in some third or fourth story glass office, decided that I was -- my campaign was over, and the lights were going to be shut out on my campaign.

So, against that backdrop, ABC and Fox have been asking us when I'm going to quit. So, here's my answer -- I'm not going to quit.

(APPLAUSE)

HUNTER: I'm going to continue.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, that was the complete opposite of what I think everybody else was expecting.

I think the feeling was that Duncan Hunter was going to make this major announcement that he was going to drop out of the presidential race, but indeed he's not. Holding back -- not holding back, ripping apart executives at ABC News and Fox News, saying that those individuals made the decision not to let him participate in the debates, therefore, trying to push him out of the presidential race or having any standing there.

Bill Schneider, you and I were talking polls. This is probably a little bit more exciting for us to talk about right now.

What's your take on the fact that he's slamming these executives and saying he's not going to back out? He's staying in the race.

SCHNEIDER: Well, my immediate response, perhaps emotional, is good for him. Let him stay in the race, let the voters decide.

You know, it's always difficult when you have these debates because the people who sponsor the debates, whether it's the network or an organization, want to include everyone who's viable. They don't want a crowded stage full of candidates who are just fringe candidates.

And you know, on the New Hampshire ballot, sometimes there are hundreds and hundreds of candidates. All you can do -- all you need to do is pay $1,000, you'll get your name on the ballot.

On the other hand, you know, the executives say you have to show us you're viable to be included, but their argument is, well, if you don't include me in the debate, I can't become viable. So it's kind of circular reasoning here. Nevertheless, he's going to stay in. He's going to leave it up to the voters. And I say that's the way it should be.

PHILLIPS: And, Bill, if you've got the money, you can stay in, right?

SCHNEIDER: Yes.

PHILLIPS: I mean, that's all it takes.

SCHNEIDER: That's right. He has the money and he has an issue.

You know, since Tom Tancredo got out of the race, he's one of the leading Republican spokespersons for the -- on the issue of illegal immigration. They all have something to say about it, but he claims that he's got a record on illegal immigration, he represents a San Diego congressional district near the Mexican border. And if there's going to be a protest vote on illegal immigration, it could go to him. Let the voters decide.

PHILLIPS: All right. Bill Schneider, thanks so much.

Duncan Hunter staying in the presidential race. The California congressman mincing no words there about how he feels about ABC News and Fox News for not letting him participate in the debates there. So, he's sticking it out. We're going to follow it.

And remember, CNN.com is the place to check out if you want even more from the candidates. Watch the final speeches before the New Hampshire primary. Campaign events and rallies streaming all day and all night right here on cnn.com.

And a top official of the Bush administration says there's no simple fix to the mortgage crisis. In a speech today, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson says the government is working on multiple fronts to try to stem the wave of foreclosures.

Paulson's comments came as President Bush prepared to speak in Chicago on the overall state of the economy. The mortgage crisis, the high price of oil and a recent spike in unemployment all triggering fears of recession and prompting calls from some quarters for a government stimulus package.

The man charged with kidnapping a Georgia hiker who is still missing is due in court this hour. Gary Michael Hilton is also being investigated in the disappearance of an elderly couple in the North Carolina mountains last year.

Hilton is charged with kidnapping with intent to cause bodily injury in the disappearance of 24-year-old Meredith Emerson on New Year's Day in north Georgia. In the North Carolina case, authorities have released this video showing a man trying to use the couple's ATM card shortly after they disappeared in October. The woman's body was found, but her 80-year-old husband is still missing.

The search for Emerson, meanwhile, has turned into a recovery operation. Bloody clothes similar to those she was wearing turned up on Friday. Authorities believe that she is dead.

Lethal injection was meant to be a humane form of capital punishment, but two inmates in Kentucky are challenging that before the highest court in the land. In Washington with more, CNN justice correspondent, Kelli Arena.

Kelli, the court heard arguments today, right, about the lethal injection. So what's the bottom line?

KELLI ARENA, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, critics argued that if it's not done properly, lethal injection can cause extreme pain, which violates the Eighth Amendment, which bars cruel and inhumane punishment. So lawyers for those Kentucky death row inmates argued two things.

They said, one, there aren't enough protocols in place to make sure that this is done properly. And then instead of the three drugs that are currently used, it may be better to just use one drug where you be sure that there wouldn't be any pain -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: So what did the government say to that, Kelli?

ARENA: Well, Kentucky officials say that they do have protocols and training, monthly training in place, to make sure that those executions are not painful. And on the issue of whether they should use one drug or three drugs, the government says, look, using one drug hasn't been done before. It may not result in certain death. It also argues that it may take longer for someone to die, which they say wouldn't be a very dignified process.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, from what you heard from the justices, what do you think?

ARENA: You know, Kyra, this is really a hard one. The more conservative justices seem to suggest that they would uphold Kentucky's procedure, but the more liberal justices seemed very concerned about this so-called three-drug cocktail, and some of them even suggested, which is everyone's worst nightmare, sending this case back to trial court to discuss whether there are any viable alternatives.

So, we should be hearing from the high court by late June. What everyone wants is clear guidance, Kyra. Not sure we're going to get it, though.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll track it. Thanks, Kelli.

ARENA: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: The USS Hopper and two other Navy ships confronted by Iranian boats in the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. military tells CNN five Iranian boats swarmed the Navy ships yesterday. One Iranian boat believed to have warned a U.S. ship to expect an explosion.

The Pentagon describes the event as a significant confrontation. The Iranians say it was just a small run-in. The Pentagon is getting briefed this hour from Bahrain. We're going to let you know what they say about this incident in the Gulf. And when it comes to politics, can't we just all get along? New York's mayor is working toward it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: More information now on those two F-18s that have crashed in the Persian Gulf. This is what we are finding out now. It was a midair collision. It was a one-seater and a two-seater. Those two F-18s somehow came together, causing that midair collision.

All three of the crew were able to eject. They are OK. Obviously, millions of dollars down the tubes with those jets. The investigation already starting into what happened. As you can imagine, not a good day for the commanding officers there on the USS Truman out in the Persian Gulf. We'll follow up for more details and let you know as we get them.

Now back to politics. While Democrats and Republicans duke it out in New Hampshire, some other Americans are looking past all the partisanship. They're meeting in the middle of the country to find some middle ground, some purple amid all the red and the blue. Jim Acosta is at the bipartisan forum in Norman, Oklahoma.

Jim, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he's there, and you've got to wonder, you know, is this where a third party is born?

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. You know, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was here today, he was asked the question that he's always asked wherever he goes, and he gave the same response, "I am not a candidate." And eventually at some point, we're all going to just start to have to taking him for his word, because he keeps saying it and we in the media and the rest of the public seems to not believe him. But he seems very serious in making that steadfast announcement (ph).

But he was just one of about 15 or 16 participants here. Your elder statesmen from Republican and -- both Democratic and Republican parties here talking about how to end the hyper-partisanship in Washington.

And they basically went on for about an hour here at a news conference after some behind-closed-door meetings to talk about issues that faced the country, whether they be the economy, national defense, education, health care. What all of these participants were saying today is that while there are various ideas as to how to solve all these problems, what is really needed is a better process, a cleaner process in Washington, D.C., because as many participants here put it, that atmosphere right now is just poisoned with partisanship.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg was, of course, one of those participants today, and he said it is time to start electing people based on something else besides one-upmanship.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK CITY: What we talked about was that America is being held back, and that our people and our country are being hurt by current government policies. And it isn't that we should be discussing whether it is bipartisan or nonpartisan. What we want is people to be selected for government based on competency.

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: And after the meeting -- after the meeting was over, we talked to Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, who has also been mentioned as a possible Independent presidential candidate, or perhaps a vice presidential candidate, running mate for Michael Bloomberg. He also said that is not what this meeting was about, this was about finding bipartisanship in Washington.

But he did say look for all of us to hold another one of these meetings later on, perhaps this winter or into the spring. And as former senator Gary Hart, former presidential Gary Hart mentioned to us, also after this meeting, much of this is going to ride on what the two candidates look like after Super Tuesday.

If you have two people who are on opposite extremes, then perhaps that does open up the middle for some sort of Independent presidential candidate. But all of the participants here were saying, we're getting way ahead of ourselves here -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Jim Acosta, we'll keep talking. Thanks.

And for more on politics de jour and the New Hampshire primary, you can go to cnnpolitics.com. It's your one-stop shop for all things political.

The best news possible for the families of six missing snowmobilers in Colorado. We'll have the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BUSINESS REPORT)

PHILLIPS: Young voters seem to be coming out of the woodwork this time around. We're going to look at what's got them so stoked in 2008.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Well, as you know, presidential hopefuls stumping for votes in New Hampshire. That's the big state right now. Number of live events happening across that state. John McCain, this is his event in Concord, New Hampshire. As you know, he's leading in New Hampshire in the polls right now. They know exactly how to bring out all the cute kids, too. That's the way to do it, right? Kids and puppies. Anyway, we're going to dip in as soon that starts. But we're monitoring that along with all the other live events that are happening across the state. John McCain's event, right there, about under way.

Well, heard enough about the New Hampshire primaries already? So have many New Hampshire voters? CNN's Richard Roth got an earful.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New Hampshire cleared the way for presidential candidates rushing from Iowa. But which direction will the state go? You can certainly see the forest for the trees here, but no matter the results so far, this picture postcard state doesn't mind bucking the system. They call themselves Yankies, armed with a state motto from the Revolutionary War days with the British, "Live free or die."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live free or die, that explains it all.

ROTH: What does it mean?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It means I'll live free or die.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They are not looking for big government, they are looking to be in charge of their own lives. Live free or die trying.

ROTH: One example, New Hampshire is the only state out of 50 to not require drivers to wear seat belts. That doesn't stop citizens from taking the politicians out for a test drive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We people here are people that have been independent thinking. And, you know, we kind of pick the candidates apart a little bit.

ROTH: In this small state, it seems everybody has a chance to meet, in person, someone who might be president one day. But the thrill is gone, says this man, wearing shorts in zero-degree weather.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, this whole political process, this year, is so long and started so early, that I'm already sick of it.

ROTH: Don't worry, these men are not angry voters. Just shooting pellets and relaxing at the Horse Pond hunt and fish, and observing change in New Hampshire.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the slogan is -- yes, it's outdated. Live free or die really doesn't mean live free or die, I don't think. I think it's just, let's do things our way and hopefully everybody else will go along with us.

ROTH: It seems there are fewer hunters despite a state full of deer and moose.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a declining thing because our youngsters now would rather play games on the TV.

ROTH: Even a night out here for entertainment is unique.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Pick it up.

ROTH: Candle pin bowling. New Hampshire is one of the few states to roll 'em.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a competition, just like anything else. You strive to succeed here. You want to do your best.

ROTH: A raffle might be a simpler way of picking a president these days.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm tired right now of being bombarded with commercials and telephone calls and I'm really tired of that.

ROTH: Forty-five percent of New Hampshire voters are Independent. If there is one issue everyone can agree on, it's insisting New Hampshire holds the first primary in the nation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's always been the first. It should stay the first. There's no reason it shouldn't.

ROTH: Residents say people here just like to do things the old- fashion way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was born and raised in New Hampshire. I love it.

ROTH (on-camera): New Hampshire's, "Live free or die," motto boasts of letting people do whatever they want. New Hampshire's status as a state which can make or break presidential candidates, though, is under some threat by national political parties which want to broaden the process. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, record numbers of voters are expected to turn out in warmer climate, honoring one of America's best political traditions.

Richard Roth, CNN, Manchester, New Hampshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Well last week's Iowa caucuses had political analysts and reporters asking this question, where did all the young people come from? There was a big turn-out of younger voters. And what really seems to be the x-factor is the internet. This is the first presidential election of the YouTube era. Barack Obama was one of the Web site's first political stars.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Because I got a crush on Obama, 2008. Obama, baby you're the best candidate

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: So is that what younger, net-savvy voters respond to? Or did they prefer stuff like this, from Mitt Romney's MySpace page?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MITT ROMNEY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hello, I'm Mitt Romney. Welcome to my page on MySpace. I'd like to here from you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, here to talk about the youth movement among the electorate, Matt Appenfeller is a volunteer with Rock the Vote and Jehmu Greene, she's the former Rock the Vote president and current Democratic strategist.

First of all, let me just get both of your reactions to Iowa. Jehmu, were you surprised with all the young voters that turned out? I mean, the next day, a number of the candidates were referring to all the young voters and even trying to change their speeches to target young voters?

JEHMU GREENE, FORMER ROCK THE VOTE PRESIDENT: I wasn't surprised. And I know that the hundreds of youth organizers around the country weren't surprised because we have seen this trend starting in 2004, where there was a significant increase in young voter turn- out, and then repeated, again, in the 2006 mid term elections, where we had 2 million more young people voting in those mid term elections than in 2002. And so, when Barack Obama saw this trend, and decided to make young people his primary target, and including them in his grassroots operations, reaching out to them, identifying them, pulling them out to the caucuses, there's no surprise.

There's lots of young people who have a crush on Obama. And it's also clear that the other candidates, like you said, have now recognized that this is a powerful voting bloc. And the naysayers are going to have to go away this time. Everyone wants to say that the young people aren't going to be engaged, but when you talk to them, when you identify to them, when you talk to them about your issues, then you will see how they turn out in these record numbers. So that's what Obama gets.

PHILLIPS: And, Matt, why are they coming out? What is it? Is it the war, because so many young men and women are going over there and getting killed and it's upsetting them? Or is it something else?

MATT APPENFELLER, ROCK THE VOTE VOLUNTEER: You know what, when I get together with my friends usually the top three issues that we talk about are the economy, the war, foreign policy in general and you know, just how we're seen by the rest of the world. And so I think the war definitely had a lot to do it. But also, a lot of us are going to be entering the workforce pretty soon, so we're concerned about the jobs and the job opportunities that we're going to have. And that's really on a lot of our minds right now, that's something that I think is huge. And if the candidates talk about that, if the candidates talk about the issues that the young people like myself and my friends care about, then they're going to get us to come out and vote.

PHILLIPS: Well Jehmu said that Obama is doing a good job. Who do you think is doing a good job at really resonating with the youth?

APPENFELLER: Sure, well 57 percent of Democratic caucus-goers who are between the ages of 17 and 29, voted for Barack Obama. So I think he's doing a good job. And 40 percent of the Republicans of that same -- of the Republican caucus-goers of that same demographic, voted for Mike Huckabee. So as you can see, those two candidates are doing a good job of reaching out to the young people and speaking to their issues and I think that they definitely saw the return.

PHILLIPS: And Jehmu, what are you seeing from a promotion, advertising sort of reaching-out standpoint that's different from, say, 2004, with Rock the Vote with all the musicians coming forward and the hip videos and hip ads? Because there's so much more now. There's MySpace, there's YouTube, there are candidates making their own videos. It's totally different.

GREENE: There's Facebook and all of the other social networking sites. But I really think the big difference in this cycle is the fact that you have a candidate who is engaging this generation. You know, you can have all of the activity around registering voters, celebrities, organizing them online, but if you don't have a candidate whose message connects with this generation, then it's not going to as impactful. And so, Barack actually targeting young people and setting up an unprecedented field operation, that's what did it for them.

And I think, as we saw, Senator Clinton, get off the plane in New Hampshire and say that young voters are her campaign now and she's going to correct those mistakes. And talking about results over rhetoric, that shows that now all of the candidates are understanding the importance of young voters.

PHILLIPS: And just want to mention real quickly, two live events going on right now. John Edwards speaking in Bedford, New Hampshire, at a house party. Edwards, right now, running a distant third in recent polling there. His wife Elizabeth actually at the mic right now. Obama still leading the pack. Hillary in second, John Edwards in third. There's that house in New Hampshire, Bedford.

And also, John McCain, he's holding one in Concord, New Hampshire, right now. He'll be stepping up to the mic soon. So, we are monitoring both of those.

Matt, let me ask you, do you think the momentum, what we saw in Iowa, will continue over right there into New Hampshire?

APPENFELLER: Absolutely. Nationwide we are one of the most engaged and active demographics and we will come out in New Hampshire the same way.

PHILLIPS: And why is that? Why is it such an engaged demographic right now?

APPENFELLER: You know what, I think we realize that we have a stake in the future. I think that what's coming up in the next election is really going to have a big impact on how our lives are going to be in the next couple of years. And we have a little bit of ownership in our society and the way that we practice that, the way we exercise that is by coming out to vote.

PHILLIPS: Jehmu Greene, Matt Appenfeller, appreciate it both of you guys. We'll be tracking it with you both.

APPENFELLER: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And for more on the New Hampshire primary, go to cnn.com/politics. It's your one-stop shop for all things political.

The assassination of Benazir Bhutto, we're going to tell you whom Pakistan's president is now blaming.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Dangerous maneuvers in the Persian Gulf. Just about two hours ago two F-18s conducting routine nighttime maneuvers from the U.S.S. Harry Truman crashed. We were told it was a midair collision. A total of three pilots involved, all ejected safely and were rescued. Early indications point to a collision since the planes crashed at the same time. The U.S. military says no hostile action is suspected.

And an encouraging turn in Kenya today with a U.S. envoy working to calm post-election violence. Kenya's president invited the country's opposition leader to talk this Friday. Earlier, the opposition canceled nationwide rallies in an apparent effort to head off further chaos. The government now says the eruption of violence has claimed almost 500 lives.

It appears to have slowed since Saturday, but reports of death still are coming in from the countryside. In an interview with CNN, U.S. envoy Jendayi E. Frazer, cautioned that Kenya's problems run far deeper than the disputed election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRAZER: I think Kenya's going to be a long future of instability. If, in fact, they don't address the fundamental questions. And so, getting the politicians to dialogue is not just about the past election, it's about the future of this country. And owning up to the real crisis that we are all seeing the evidence of over the past week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Frazer also says that the vote count in Kenya's election was rigged, but she declines to blame either the president's party or the opposition.

It's her own fault, so says Pervez Musharraf about the death of Benazir Bhutto. The Pakistani president says that Bhutto put herself in danger by standing through the hatch of her armored land cruiser after a campaign rally. Musharraf is still deflecting claims of negligence or outright complicity in Bhutto's killing, December 27th. He spoke last night on "60 Minutes".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF, PAKISTANI PRESIDENT: Why did she stand outside the car?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why did she stand up in the hatch?

MUSHARRAF: Entirely. Who is to blame?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Who is to blame?

MUSHARRAF: Only she.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So Benazir Bhutto, in your words, should have -- should bear some responsibility for what took place, for her own death.

MUSHARRAF: For standing up outside the car, I think it's she to blame alone. Nobody else. Responsibility is hers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Now, in Pakistan, British detectives held a second meeting today with the police official leading the Bhutto investigation. Bhutto's supporters are calling for a U.N. probe.

After a six month delay, Charles Taylor goes on trial for war crimes. This time, the former Liberian strong man was in court and quiet. He boycotted the opening session last summer, calling his trial at the Hague a charade. Taylor had pleaded not guilty to charges that he fueled a bloody civil war that tore apart Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone.

The prosecution's first witness testified that rebels, backed by Taylor, terrorized entire towns to seize control of diamond fields, and bought weapons with so-called "blood diamonds".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CARRIE SHANNON, VICTIM: I grabbed my handgun and I proceeded right to the back. Because as soon as I saw a shadow, I was going to go ahead and start shooting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: That a girl. You might react the same way if this happened at your house. We're going to show you more security cam video that will send chills up your spine. KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I'm Kareen Wynter in Hollywood. Britney Spears needs help, but is a TV therapist the man for the job? We'll be tackling that issue coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, good news for a Texas homeowner; her security cameras work really well. The bad news is the creepy images that they captured. Our reporter, Monika Diaz, a CNN affiliate WFAA, has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHANNON: On the front door. On the back door. On the side of the house, and then my very back garage.

MONIKA DIAZ, WFAA CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Cameras keeping an eye on every corner of this house on Bentwood Street in Glenn Heights.

SHANNON: That's it.

DIAZ: Carrie Shannon in tears as she watches the video her security system recorded.

SHANNON: They had to go put their gloves on now.

DIAZ: She was home alone as four young men tried to kick in her door at 4:35, Sunday morning.

SHANNON: I immediately jumped up.

DIAZ: She got out of bed, called police with her cell phone with one hand. And in the other?

SHANNON: I grabbed my handgun, and I proceeded right to the back. Because as soon as I saw a shadow, I was going to go ahead and start shooting.

DIAZ: After several kicks, the men gave up and took off.

SHANNON: I just want to be safe here in my own home. That's all I want.

DIAZ: Signs of the attempted home invasion are everywhere. The fence door's lock is broken and the cameras didn't miss a beat. It even caught one of the men cutting the phone line. Shannon gave the video to the cops, and she hopes it leads to justice.

SHANNON: I hope you go to jail. Because you need to leave people alone.

DIAZ: Shannon believes this incident may be connected to another burglary that happened almost three weeks ago. In that case, four men stormed into her house through the front door. She is tired of living in fear. SHANNON: It's just a hard-working woman trying to live, trying to support her son, trying to support herself. I'm just trying to live a better life.

DIAZ: But don't let the tears fool you. She has already invested in more protection.

SHANNON: I'm not scared to use it.

DIAZ: Just in case they come back.

SHANNON: So when they hit this door, this is what I'm going to hit them with.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Anyone who messes with Shannon could be taking his life into his own hands. Texas law says that she doesn't need a permit to buy or carry a rifle or shotgun. Nor does she need a license. Restrictions do exist for people convicted of certain crimes, and Texans do need permits to carry handguns.

The man awaiting trial in the Atlanta courthouse shootings allegedly aiming for another great escape. The FBI is investigating security breaches and reports of inside help given to -- you remember him? Brian Nichols.

The Associated Press says it obtained documents about an escape plot involving Nichols' penpal girlfriend, a paralegal and at least two sheriff's deputies. Most of the details come from the girlfriend. She says Nichols asked her to buy tools that could cut through cinder block, and that she recruited a deputy who helped Nichols with cell phone access.

After three weeks on the lam, word that one of those two escaped New Jersey inmates may surrender. According to the Reverend Al Sharpton's office, people in touch with Otis Blunt have contacted them to seek help with Blunt's safe handover.

New Jersey police say they hope it can be arranged. They called Sharpton's office this morning to talk about it. Blunt and inmate Jose Espinoza made a Shawshank-style escape from the Union County New Jersey Jail just last month.

And something new from you from our friends at cnn.com and TruTv. We've teamed up to bring you the best crime and justice coverage available anywhere. Click on and check it out at cnn.com/crime.

This hurts, just looking at it. A flexible 7-year-old's split decision to skate into the record books.

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PHILLIPS: Last week we saw the troubling video showing Britney Spears being taken to a hospital. Entertainment correspondent, Kareen Wynter, joins us now with what happened to Britney over the weekend. Kareen, what can you tell us?

WYNTER: It just continues and continues and continues, Kyra. This is the story where the truth is definitely stranger than fiction. Although sometimes here it can be tough to tell the difference. Now, as you probably remember, Britney Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center last Thursday after police were forced to intervene in the custody dispute between her and ex-husband Kevin Federline.

While Spears was in the hospital on Friday, a judge awarded Federline sole custody of the couple's two children. Now, get this. Saturday morning Spears was released from the hospital and as she was getting ready to leave, well she had a surprise visitor. None other than Dr. Phil, folks.

Dr. Phil McGraw released a statement over the weekend saying that at the request of her parents, he visited with Britney for more than an hour, and he is convinced that, "She is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention." He also said that he would have a show focusing on Britney that would air Tuesday.

Now, since that statement came out, there's been a lot of backlash as you can imagine against the TV therapist for appearing to take advantage of the situation. And just a few hours ago, the Dr. Phil show released a statement, saying because the Spears' situation is too intense at this time and out of consideration to the family, I've made the decision not to move forward with the taping.

As for Britney's current condition, it appears that she's taken off with, get this, and, folks we're not making it up, a member of the paparazzi that she's apparently dating. Kyra, I'm at a loss for words.

PHILLIPS: Oh, boy. This story just gets more twisted and more salacious. All right, let's talk about the other big story in Hollywood, the Golden Globes.

WYNTER: It's such a hot topic. The strike by the Writers Guild of America is drastically impacting the Golden Globe awards show, we all know that. But the show, which is scheduled to be broadcast on January 13th by NBC, was unable to convince any actors to cross the writers' picket line and appear to collect their awards.

So, what happens here? Well, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is force behind the Globes and according to several sources they're trying to work out a compromise to save the awards. Not with the WGA, they tried that already and it didn't work, so they are reportedly asking NBC to allow them to hold the awards and not broadcast them.

So, there's a chance that will happen, or else the party could be totally canceled and the Globes could be awarded some other way. Kyra, am I hearing this right? Like, by mail. How is that going to work? It's not as exciting.

PHILLIPS: No, not at all. Well the actors have really stepped up in supporting the strike, haven't they?

WYNTER: They really have. They're making their mark and showing their stance here, but either way, it appears a final decision will be made by NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press, so we'll look out for that for today.

And also we want to talk a little bit about late-night TV. Another area that's hurting here is since the WGA is picketing shows like the Tonight Show, and most actors are unwilling to cross the picket line, we;; host Jay Leno is having to resort to unusual bookings.

Talk about creativity here. On Thursday, he'll have Jimmy Kimmel of "Jimmy Kimmel Live" as his guest. Of course, Kimmel Live is on ABC at the same time the "Tonight Show" is on NBC. So, to make things even, Leno will be Kimmel's guest at the same time. Desperate times, Kyra, calling for desperate measures even if you have to work with the competition here.

Let's talk a little bit about "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT." What will we have in store? A little bit more about Britney, her meltdown, was with Britney Spears let out of the hospital too soon? Is she in danger and was it wrong for Dr. Phil to try to intervene here? The latest developments on TV's most provocative entertainment news show, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and 11:00 Pacific -- Kyra?

PHILLIPS: All right, Kareen, good to see you. Well, does this sound familiar? Just listen.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't right now. I'm too tired. It makes me smell bad. I got a case of the Mondays. I got a case of the Tuesdays.

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PHILLIPS: How many excuses do you have for not getting in shape? This intense and inspiring man won't listen to any of them. We're going to tell you why you should listen to him though, in the CNN NEWSROOM.

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PHILLIPS: No helmet, no pads, no clearance, no problem. This 7- year-old Indian boy hopes to roll into the record books. In the unique sport of limbo skating. Have you ever heard of that? He's doing some hardcore training, too, for an attempt to slide under 100 cars. No exact date set yet, but he hopes to go flat-out in the next few months.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM starts right now. The nation's first presidential primary is closer than you think. Folks in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire vote a midnight, nine hours from now. You're going to hear what makes this place so special.

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