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Three Baghdad Bombings Set Off; President-elect Obama Preps for Transition; Largest Fiscal Package Ever Announced for Beijing; Ohio Suffers from Loss of Jobs

Aired November 10, 2008 - 10:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN ANCHOR: It is Monday, November 10th. Hello, everybody. I'm Betty Nguyen in for Heidi Collins, and you are in the CNN NEWSROOM.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR DAVID RAIZK, WILMINGTON, OHIO: We are part of the largest (INAUDIBLE), not only in our county, in our city but in the five surrounding counties and there are air park employees in 45 of Ohio's 88 counties.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: That's an illustration of heartbreak in the homeland. An Ohio town just reels as the area's largest employer announces devastating news. Thousands of jobs disappearing. We are talking about DHL Express. It's shutting down its domestic air and ground operations right here in the U.S. And CNN's Christine Romans, part of the CNN's money team, she joins us now from New York.

Christine when we hear about these cuts, what does that translate into when we're talking jobs?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It translates to an awful lot of jobs. The company is saying that's 9,500 jobs that will be eliminated. They've already announced 5,400 so far this year. You know it's a challenging economy in the United States. And it's in a challenging business to be in. Analysts point out this is a company that has three to four percent of the market share, in the domestic you know just the inter-U.S. business. And so now them pulling back could be something that could help UPS and Fed-Ex. But it certainly doesn't help some of these towns where there are so many workers there.

These are folks who work in the warehouse. These are people who work as drivers. These are people who work in the business of this and this is very - let's be very clear. This is the U.S. Express business. This is the domestic air and ground delivery service. This is a company that still has some transportation logistics exposure in the United States and some businesses here. And also doing international, international package deliveries. So the U.S. business because of the struggling economy, this company is exiting.

NGUYEN: Did this come as a surprise or did you see this coming? Was there economic news that kind of did a forecast where this was something that was on the horizon?

ROMANS: The company has been - well just like almost all companies are examining their cost structure. They're examining you know what businesses they're in. Are they core to their operations? This company has had trouble. It's owned by the German post office. So it's a company that the German Company bought DHL and bought Airborne Express. And it's had trouble turning a profit. And then of course now we hit the hard time in the economy, and it's just determined that as they say, they're making these choices to prepare the company for the economic challenges ahead. We know that there have been an awful lot of jobs lost just in the past three months.

So the more jobs lost really isn't a surprise in this kind of industry as well in sending packages of consumers are pulling back and companies are pulling back. You're sending far fewer packages and sending far fewer things within the United States. But we know over the past three months, there have been 200,000 manufacturing jobs lost. 111,000 or so retail jobs lost. 100,000 construction jobs lost. Over the past three months, we've seen a real deterioration in the labor market and stories like DHL in closing it's domestic, it's U.S. express business. Unfortunately, that's something labor economists say we're going to see more of.

NGUYEN: All right. Christine Romans joining us live. Thank you, Christine.

So let's check out the big board now and see how the numbers are playing out today. It was in positive territory a little bit earlier. Looking at right now still staying there. The Dow up 125 points at this hour. And speaking of the market, China has acted, and world markets, they have reacted. So let's begin in Beijing, China unveils a massive stimulus package to jump start the nation's slowing economy. Markets surged in Europe and Asia. And Japan's Nikkei closed up 5.8 percent. China's Shanghai composites soared 7.3 percent.

President-elect Barack Obama and future first lady Michelle Obama head for Washington today. They'll be visiting their new home at the invitation of President Bush. CNN's Elaine Quijano is on hand for this honored tradition.

So when are the Obamas expected to arrive there?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well it will be 2:00 Eastern time. And just to set the stage a little bit. It will be a greeting. The Bushes will meet the Obamas at the south portico of the White House. Pardon the sound of marine one in the background as President Bush prepares to depart for a closed press event visiting wounded warriors at Bethesda Medical Center. But the top priority certainly for President-elect Obama during the meeting today will be the economy. Of course, other issues on the agenda as well including national security and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now after that greeting that I mentioned at the south portico of the White House, the two men, the president and the president-elect will walk down the colonnade and sit down for talks in the Oval Office. As they are meeting there, it will be a special delicate time because as this financial crisis in particular continues, there's going to be a delicate balance over the next few weeks between decision making and consultation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D), PRESIDENT-ELECT: I've spoken to President Bush. I appreciate his commitment to ensuring that his economic policy team keeps us fully informed as developments unfold. And I'm also thankful for his invitation to the White House. Immediately after I become president. I'm going to confront this economic crisis head on by taking all necessary steps to ease the credit crisis, help hard working families, and restore growth and prosperity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Also today Laura Bush and Michelle Obama will get to meet, and they will take a tour of the residence as their spouses are conferring in the Oval Office. Now, as for the daughters, Malia and Sasha. We understand from the White House they will not be table to attend. But certainly officials here are saying Betty that they look forward to welcoming them here to the White House soon.

NGUYEN: And how can you not be excited? I mean if you're going to upgrade your home, you can't get any better than the White House, especially for little ones. There's a lot of fun items located in that big house behind you.

QUIJANO: Absolutely. You know, they do have the theater. They've got the pool. They've got tennis courts, not to mention the great grounds on the south lawn. So certainly a great place to be. As we know from President-elect Obama himself, adding a puppy. They'll have a lot of space to train and have that puppy run. So it will be a fun visit when they actually get to come. But for today's meeting it will just be the incoming and the outgoing first couple -- Betty.

NGUYEN: All right. Elaine Quijano joining us live from the White House. Thank you, Elaine.

Well, President-elect Obama says he will hit the ground running just as soon as he takes the oath of office.

Ahead, his ambitious agenda.

Let's get you this news now. In a Baghdad neighborhood three bomb attacks within minutes. The Iraqi government says at least 30 people are dead. But the U.S. says the death toll is much lower. So let's get the latest now. Live now to CNN's senior Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre.

We're hearing conflicting numbers, what do you have on your end?

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SENIOR PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, they still haven't sort it out. But one of the things that's clear is that if anyone thought that peace had broken out in Iraq, these three bombings today in the Baghdad neighborhood clearly show that's not the case. The casualty figures range anywhere from eight to 30 people dead in three separate suicide attacks in Baghdad.

Interestingly right now, the Pentagon, a Marine major general who is in charge of the Anbar province of the west is briefing about how reporters here about how he's really not seeing much problems in his area. But here right next door in Baghdad, the violence continues. This was in a sort of mixed Sunni-Shiite neighborhood that was patrolled by Iraqi police. You know what this shows is that U.S. commanders are going to be very cautious about continuing U.S. troop drawdowns because the level of violence is still up.

Even though the number of U.S. troops being killed is down, the number of Iraqis and Iraqi civilians who are being killed continues to be quite high. That's going to make U.S. commanders quite cautious as a new commander in chief takes over with the stated plan to try to get all the combat forces out of Iraq in 16 months.

NGUYEN: Jamie, on a (INAUDIBLE) now, let's find out if you heard any word about the future of Defense Secretary Gates?

MCINTURE: It's really interesting I mean, it's all the talk at the Pentagon whether or not Defense Secretary Gates might be asked by President-elect Obama to stay on for some period of time as sort of a stabilizing transition force. And interestingly, although Gates had said the circumstances in which he would stay are inconceivable, but becoming more conceivable as each day goes by.

He himself left the door open by saying he would never say never. He is anxious though to retire and get to his home in the Pacific Northwest. But nobody here at the Pentagon is knocking down the idea that he might agree to stay on for some period of time if he's asked. Again, there's been no request at this point.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's Jamie McIntyre, as always, we do appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, school building collapse. Haitians angry about the pace of the rescue operation. They are taking matters into their own hands, literally. We have a live update on the search.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, the search and rescue operation continues. Now three days after a school building collapsed in Haiti. Our David Mattingly joins us now live from the town of Petionville.

And it seems like some of the family members just can't wait to find their loved ones, in fact, they're digging in.

DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty, the patience is growing thin here. Operations are going very slowly. But we've been assured by the people here at the scene that there is still very much a search and rescue operation. There are still parts of this collapsed building that they have not been able to get access to. Search and rescue teams are drilling holes, punching holes in different parts of the building. Sending in small video cameras to look around just as they have been for the past couple of days. For about 48 hours now there's been no sign of life. At this point there's nothing new to report regarding that. There's a new death toll up by the Haitian government, up to 89 at this point.

What we're seeing right now is that rescue teams are trying to move away some of the rubble and trying to push away an entire collapsed wall, hoping there might have been a space underneath the wall that someone might have been hiding in. But at this point no good news to report.

Yesterday we went into the hospital to talk to the children who were caught inside and survived this disaster. They managed to survive with broken ribs, broken arms, broken legs, head injuries, and all of them came out with terrible stories of being able to be free themselves or having helped to be free that having to leave behind sometimes siblings buried in the rubble and classmates. This is a terrible tragedy for the families involved and for this community.

There have been thousands of people on the hill side watching every single day. And yesterday for a time, when the international rescue workers took a break and stop to have a meeting, Haitian fireman and Haitian volunteers jumped in to form a bucket brigade to start moving debris out of here with shovels and by hand. But alter they had to be moved back by police because this is just not a safe area and they don't want more people hurt in this rescue operation. Betty.

NGUYEN: You can understand the desperation no doubt on the part of the families who just to get the work done, to find their family members underneath that rubble. Let me ask you this, what about the construction of that building and the man who owned that building?

MATTINGLY: The man who owned that building was taken into custody by Haitian police. He's still in custody today. We're still waiting to find out what kind of charges might be pending against him. But he was being held in jail by the Haitian police. And what we're seeing right now is that Haitian officials believe that this building clearly was not built properly, was not done with the proper oversight, and they're looking into making sure things like this don't happen again. But they feel there are buildings like this possibly all over Haiti because the government can't keep track of all these construction sites. But they will be looking very closely at this and criminal charges may follow.

NGUYEN: All right. CNN's David Mattingly joining us from Petionville, Haiti. Thank you for that.

Well homes in ruin. Newly planted fields just destroyed. A million plus people still out of their homes. And you're looking at video from Cuba in the hours after Hurricane Paloma slammed into it, this area was just beginning to rebuild after Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

And for dozens of families along the Texas coast, recovery has to wait. They are still searching for relatives missing since Hurricane Ike crashed ashore two months ago. Volunteers are helping look for the 59 people unaccounted for. They say they will not give up until everyone is found.

Let's get you the latest on the weather outside. We are heading into snow season it appears, Reynolds.

(WEATHER REPORT)

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Reynolds.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You bet.

NGUYEN: Cholesterol lowering pills for people with good cholesterol levels. Well researchers say the pills could do.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. Listen to this. A new study says using cholesterol-lowering pills, popularly known as statins, reduces risk for heart disease, even for people with healthy cholesterol levels. CNN medical correspondent Judy Fortin joins us now.

All right. Break it down for us. What are these researchers find?

JUDY FORTIN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well so many of us could be affected by this Betty. That's why it's important to pay attention just because you have good cholesterol numbers, you may think you're in the clear for getting heart disease but according to this new study, millions of Americans who have very good cholesterol numbers may still consider taking cholesterol lowering drugs or statins.

Researchers study nearly 18,000 people in 26 countries, including almost 7,000 women and nearly 5,000 minorities. None would be treated with statins under the current guidelines but they did have high levels of a marker for inflammation called high sensitivity C reactor protein or HSCRP, which can contribute to coronary heart disease.

Now the participants were given either the statin Crestor or placebo and the results have been described by cardiologists not involved in the study as unprecedented. And they might change medical guidelines. The overall risk of coronary heart disease was nearly cut in half. Bad cholesterol levels dropped 50 percent. HSCRP levels decreased 37 percent. And overall deaths dropped 20 percent. Now, it's important to note the study was funded by Crestor's maker, Astra Zeneca but some outstanding findings for some of these recipients.

NGUYEN: OK. Millions of people already taking these statins. But for the rest of us who aren't, should we all be on it?

FORTIN: And that's the big question a lot of people are asking, but the short answer is no. Currently guidelines studies suggest people with high levels of bad cholesterol take statins. However, this study suggests those with high levels of inflammation should take them too. Men in the study were over the age of 50, women over the age 60 but anybody at immediate risk for heart disease, someone say who has a 20 or 10 to 20 percent chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years may want to ask their doctor if they should have the HSCRP tested. And that's through a simple blood test.

Now there's something you can do right now to figure out your risk of heart disease from clogged arteries. That's but going on line to a calculator. Do a search for the Framingham score. Then enter your age, your gender, your cholesterol, blood pressure. Hopefully, you know these numbers and whether or not you smoke and it will tell you what your risks might be. I did it this morning. I was happy to learn less than one percent.

NGUYEN: Yey.

FORTIN: It's hard to know though how many people might fall into the category. But one doctor that we spoke with suggested it could adds up to 10 million people up to the rolls of statin takers. That's a lot of people and a lot of money for the drug maker.

NGUYEN: Yes, it is. And it could be a lot of side effects though depending on what they are. Are there a number of them?

FORTIN: Well and that's why you need to talk to your doctor. Because this might not be right for you. Now we spoke with the head of the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute and they told us that statins have been shown to be well tolerated by millions of people who are already taking them. However, as with any drug there can be side effects. And in this study, doctors did report and they found that a higher incidence of diabetes occurred in the Crestor group, now that's something that's been reported with other statins too. So we should point that out.

NGUYEN: Well it's definitely good information.

FORTIN: It is.

NGUYEN: Thank you. We do appreciate it.

On this bit of news for you today, U.S. forces in Afghanistan in a fight to save lives. CNN's Barbara Starr joins the troops on their medical mission.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: About two-thirds of the people are women and children.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): We are riding with Task Force Phoenix, not into combat but on a mission of help, to offer medical aid in a remote village. Security is paramount, insurgents have been here on a campaign of intimidation. U.S. and Afghan troops hope the medicine and aid will help convince the village to reject insurgents and support the Afghan government.

The U.S. soldiers have put the Afghan troops in charge. All of this is part of the strategy now. Make Afghans trust in their government. But the U.S. soldiers tell us the reality in these villages is much grimmer than Washington realizes.

This man and his grandsons wait patiently as the soldiers set up a health clinic. Today Task Force Phoenix will do what it can.

This village does have a medical clinic which is behind me. Unfortunately, they had no medicines.

(on camera): After the village elder gives the OK, the women begin to appear. They keep to themselves. This lady tells us she's in pain. She wants to say thank you for the medicine. As always in war, it is the children who tug at the soldiers' hearts. Some of them just need more food.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The child looks healthy, but is very underweight. And it sounds like he has some feeding problems.

STARR (voice-over): Outside we find Lt. Steven (inaudible) with 11-year-old Esmatula (ph) who wants to see the dock. His father is dead. He does not tell us where his mother is.

Well it seems like he has a fracture of the forearm and also the elbow.

STARR: Esmatula tells the soldiers he fell down. Lieutenant Perpurio (ph) believes the boy was likely beaten.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you see a little boy like this in pain and who has come to soldiers for help - oh, it breaks your heart.

STARR: The troops here say providing medical care to these Afghans is some of the most important work that they do. But as one young soldier told me, they also worry they're just treading water and they're looking to the new president-elect to provide clear strategies, a clear goals and to weigh ahead.

Barbara Starr, CNN, Noah, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well thousands of job losses at a shipping company plus bankruptcy for another well-known business. How is Wall Street handling the news?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Let's talk about issue number one, the economy. More bad news making the headlines this hour. Troubled shipper DHL Express is shutting down domestic operations within the U.S. A staggering 9,500 jobs are being eliminated. And remember our taxpayer bailout of Fannie Mae, well bad times keep getting worse for the mortgage giant. This morning we learned it lost $29 billion last quarter. And it's bankruptcy for Circuit City, the nation's second largest electronic chain. It is the latest retailer doomed by the sour economy.

A stimulus package aimed at jump starting a sluggish economy. No, it's not the latest news from Washington. It's the latest product made in China.

CNN's John Vause is in Beijing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This the largest fiscal stimulus package ever announced by Beijing. It's percentage of GDP, a similar package in the United States would be worth more than $2 trillion. It's an indication of just how severe the economic slowdown has been in China in recent months.

Last quarter the economy grew here at 9 percent, the slowest rate in five years. And there are predictions that this quarter, it may be just 6 percent. The breakoff point for China's economy is around 8 percent. That's the break even mark. China needs its economy to grow at 8 percent to create jobs, not just for school leaders and university graduates. But also to create better paying jobs for workers who are moving from the countryside to the city.

This money will be spent mostly on infrastructure projects. Better roads, schools, as well as airports, improving the national power grid. There will also be social spending as well on public health, housing, as well as education.

And the reason why it is so big, essentially because China can. It has almost $2 trillion in foreign exchange reserves. The government is for the most part now in surplus. Although the package will remain with a fair amount of deficit spending for the next year to come.

There is a downside to all of this though, inflation. But, it appears that the concerns over inflation have now taken a backseat to trying to keep the economic growth ticking over.

John Vause, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

NGUYEN: OK. Checking out his new office, just a few hours from now. President-elect Barack Obama will step foot in the Oval Office for the first time. President Bush has invited him for a private chat. Meantime, First Lady Laura Bush will be taking future First Lady Michelle Obama on a tour of the White House.

Well, he is not asking for anyone's tears. Just some help for the homeless. This is a story that you cannot miss. It is a dying boy's final wish.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: She was known for her sultry voice and messages of hope and freedom. Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid, has died. Mama Africa, as she was affectionately called, passed away from a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy, yesterday. She was 76 years old. Well, this next story seems unreal. In Arizona, an 8-year-old is accused of killing his dad and another man with a hunting rifle. Police say he shot them multiple times at this house, in the quiet city of St. John's, Arizona. The boy is now charged as a minor with two counts of premeditated murder. He' is due in court today, the same day of his dad's funeral. Meanwhile, the community is struggling to cope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think we'll ever know why and it baffles the community. But we'll all pull together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just very -- very good religious people, OK?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: The 8-year-old has been ordered to undergo psychological testing.

Well, the convicted felon being questioned in the horrific triple murders of Jennifer Hudson's family could soon be back on the street. William Balfour, you see him right there, the estranged husband of Hudson's sister is currently being held on a parole violation. But the board may decide against revoking his parole at a hearing scheduled for later today. Police have not charged Balfour with the murders. But they do consider him a person of interest.

He was found guilty in the Atlanta courthouse shootings and now jurors must decide if Brian Nichols should live or die. The sentencing phase of the case is expected to begin today. Nichols was convicted Friday, of 54 counts in the fatal shootings of a judge, a court reporter and an deputy as well as an FBI agent.

OK. So, imagine a nuclear power plant the size of a hot tub. Now imagine one in your own backyard. CNNMoney.com's Poppy Harlow has the Energy Fix from New York.

What are you talking about, Poppy?

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: It's hard to picture isn't it, Betty?

NGUYEN: Yes!

HARLOW: It sounds like science fiction. But there's a company. It's called Hyperion Power Generation. It says its mini nuclear plants are very real. You see one there. Compared to a person it's relatively small. It will be buried deep beneath the earth. And Hyperion says these modules, which aren't much bigger than just a person, will be strong enough to power some 20,000 homes.

Now the plants are designed for industrial projects or for small remote communities. And they're set to be built pretty much like a battery, meaning there are no moving parts that can be broken down. Hyperion has licensed this technology that was discovered by the U.S. government in the Los Alamos facility, Betty, that actually developed the first nuclear weapon. But, a very different cause here, it's power generation.

NGUYEN: OK. So, let me get this straight. Nuclear power plants will be put in peoples' backyards.

That could be dangerous, right?

HARLOW: We do. We all think of Chernobyl, or Three-Mile Island. It sounds dangerous. The company, though, says it is not dangerous. The first ones are going to go out to developing countries not right in your backyard. But eventually that could be the case if this is proven successful.

It says these are really similar to the modules used to train people to work at large nuclear plants. The mini plants are designed never to be open. If they were open, Hyperion says the fuel inside is not weapons-grade. That is key.

Now, the company also claims it's impossible for one of these to melt down and says they're shipped back to the company every time they need to be refueled. So, they're not refueled on site. Also Hyperion plans to begin shipping 4,000 of these in just 10 years.

And think about it. You can't ship a large nuclear plant. This is really, really unique. Nuclear plants generally take more than 10 years to build. These smaller ones will be built much more quickly. The big advantages of nuclear energy.

You heard John McCain on the campaign trail touting nuclear energy. Is there is no emissions of greenhouse gases. They're very reliable. The cost for these is about $25 million each. But, that breaks down to about $0.06 or $0.08 in kilowatts. So, that is really considered pretty cheap.

The question though, Betty, a big, big question. How will the public react? If they don't want them then it won't be successful. But, we'll see. It's an interesting idea.

NGUYEN: It is. I just hope that they're built to withstand rowdy backyard barbecue parties, you know? Get a little crazy out there and you have this sitting behind you.

All right, Poppy. Thank you.

HARLOW: You're welcome.

NGUYEN: So sure, he is president-elect. But he is still a dad. And we are just getting these pictures in. Yes, that is Barack Obama taking his daughters to school. Dad, getting a little one-on-one time with the girls before they go to class.

Now, later as you know, he is heading to the White House for a tour with President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. So there he is, Barack Obama, taking his daughters to school. Things will definitely change as they move into the White House.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WOLF: That's the story, Debbie. Did I say Debbie?

NGUYEN: Wow.

WOLF: I think I did.

NGUYEN: Yes, you did.

(CROSSTALK)

WOLF: Let's send it back to you. My bad.

NGUYEN: All right. Thank you, Chad.

WOLF: Yes, exactly.

NGUYEN: Well Americans respond to Barack Obama's message of, yes, we can, and so do dozens of teenagers in his hometown. Their hopes and dreams in the CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well during the campaign he promised change. And President-elect Obama says he will deliver once he's sworn in. But some on Capitol Hill worry about doing too much too soon.

CNN's Jim Acosta has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Buckle up. Barack Obama's new team is dropping hints it will move fast on what would be a historically massive agenda with plans to take on the economy, health care, energy, and education. Those issues all linked, says Obama's transition co-chair John Podesta.

JOHN PODESTA, OBAMA TRANSITION TEAM CO-CHAIR: So these are all core, if you will, economic questions. And they need to be tackled together. And I think he'll have a program and a strategy to move aggressively across all those fronts.

ACOSTA: Nearly the same message is coming from Obama's chief allies in the Congress.

REP. JAMES CLYBURN (D), MAJORITY WHIP: We are in crisis mode. They've got educational crises, we have got health care crises, we've got financial crises, we've got consumer protection problems. These things must be managed.

ACOSTA: That has some in Washington sounding a familiar alarm bell. Overreach.

DAVID BROOKS, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": You're going to tell me you're going to solve an incredibly difficult economic crisis at the same time you're going to raise -- reorganizing 14 percent of the American economy health care? I think that would be a gigantic overreach.

ACOSTA: But one Democratic leader, the No. 2 in the House, Steny Hoyer, is downplaying expectations, saying, "Obviously, we're not going to do health care in the first month or two."

Democrats have seen this movie before. Bill Clinton got elected on pocketbook issues, only to get mired in a noneconomic controversy over gays in the military. Republicans say they're determined to stop Democrats from overplaying their hand this time.

REP. ERIC CANTOR (R), VIRGINIA: There is going to be, I think, a willingness to try and get things done. But at the end of the day I think you will see a Republican Party in Congress serving as a check and a balance against Mr. Obama's power and Speaker Pelosi's power.

ACOSTA (on camera): Obama's new team features top insiders from the Clinton administration who remember the perils of overreach well. But there's a phrase buzzing around Washington, the big bang, referring to Obama transition teams to move aggressively on what could be big changes for the country.

Jim Acosta, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Barack Obama, change you can believe in? Well, it is much more than a campaign slogan to some African-American teens in Chicago. They watched Obama's rise and say he's now charting their future.

The story from CNN's Don Lemon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The morning after the election. The music blares at Urban Prep Academy on the Chicago's South Side. But no one pays attention until -- an Obama rap song comes on. 450 boys go crazy.

(OBAMA RAP SONG)

LEMON: Elation on their faces as they break into a victory dance. And just listen to the enthusiasm as they recite their daily school creed.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: (INAUDIBLE)

We choose to live honestly (INAUDIBLE).

LEMON (on camera): When you guys said that creed, did it mean something different? Did you say it with more force and more --

(CROSSTALK) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We said it louder and with more enthusiasm.

LEMON: They're calling you little Obamas. What do you think of that, little Obama? Are you a little Obama?

MARLON MARSHALL, URBAN PREP ACADEMY STUDENT: I mean, me personally, I think we are little Obamas because -- just like he made change, we are making change. We are going to an all-boy's school and we're trying to get to the places that he's been. And that's to college.

LEMON (voice-over): College is now attainable for 57 percent of the students here. In 2006 when the school opened, only 4 percent could even read at grade level. Founder Tim King says much of it can be attributed to Barack Obama.

TIM KING, URBAN PREP ACADEMY FOUNDER: The whole time, from the point when he went down to watch him announce that he was running all the way through to him winning last night, there's just been an incredible amount of enthusiasm and energy.

LEMON: And according to King, in many ways, these students are now becoming the teachers, literally writing their own future.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: History in the making.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Free at last.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is the beginning.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A dream fulfilled.

LEMON: Believe it.

UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: We believe in ourselves, we believe in each other, we believe in Urban Prep. We believe.

LEMON: Don Lemon, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well online brokers are selling tickets to the presidential inauguration. The problem is the tickets are supposed to be free, and they aren't even available yet. Officials say the brokers are trying to get a hold of the free tickets congressional staffers get and make a huge profit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOWARD GANTMAN, JOINT CONG. CMTE. INAUGURAL CEREMONIES: There are no tickets available now. The tickets will be distributed less than a week before the event. We are going to be alerting all members of Congress that it is against the Code of Ethics for staff, or for members, to sell these tickets to the public. (END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Howard Gantman says there's no guarantee that the brokers will end up with as many tickets as they sell. But look at these prices on there. So that means some people could end up with a hotel room with a refund. The ticket prices, $2,000 and higher. I've seen it as high as $20,000 in some of our reports.

A reminder, they're free, folks. Don't pay for them.

So he's not asking for anyone's tears, just some help for the homeless. A dying boy's final wish. And it is a story that you will not forget.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Veteran's Day, a day to honor and to remember. So be sure to join Heidi Collins for CNN NEWSROOM live from the deck of the Intrepid. You are going to hear some amazing stories from wounded vets and families of fallen soldiers. Thousands of vets will be gathered aboard the Intrepid tomorrow, and our coverage begins at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

Now to this story, really remarkable. A boy named Brenden, he's one that you will not forget. Because he says he has just days to live, but he wants to use what little time that he has left to help others.

Reporter Elisa Jaffe of affiliate KOMO has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ELISA JAFFE, KOMO REPORTER: Brenden Foster is only 11 years old, but his time to die has come.

BRENDEN FOSTER, DYING OF LEUKEMIA: I should be gone in a week or so.

JAFFE: Brenden was the kid who ran the fastest, climbed the highest, and dreamed of becoming a Marine photographer. Leukemia killed all that, but not his dying wish to help others.

WENDY FOSTER, BRENDEN'S MOTHER: He's always thought about the better of others, wanting to help others. He's never complained about having to go through this, ever.

JAFFE: In the last days of his life, it's this homeless camp that captured Brenden's heart.

B. FOSTER: Well, I was getting back from one of my clinic appointments, and I saw this big thing in the middle, full of homeless people. And then I thought I should just get them something.

JAFFE: Brenden is too ill to leave his bed and feed the homeless. He walked into an emergency room last December and hasn't walked since. But the group is gathering and making sandwiches to carry out Brenden's wish.

JENNIFER MORRISON, VOLUNTEER: We're making 200 sandwiches, half ham and cheese and half peanut butter and jelly. He said he didn't want to do just all peanut butter and jelly because what if somebody was allergic to peanut butter.

B. FOSTER: They're probably starving. So give them a chance.

JAFFE: Brenden is now surrounded by love, and urges all of us to follow our dreams.

B. FOSTER: Mine already came true.

JAFFE: He has relapsed for the last time. There is no more chemo, no more transfusions, just comfort medications.

W. FOSTER: It's devastating. But I find great peace in knowing we've had our time together and that we will see each other again.

JAFFE: His next wish, become an angel who accomplishes even more in heaven than he did on earth.

B. FOSTER: I had a great time. And until it's time -- my time has come, I'm just going to keep having a good time.

JAFFE: Don't cry for Brenden. He doesn't want leukemia to get any more tears.

Elisa Jaffe, KOMO 4 News.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: What a remarkable little boy there.

I'm Betty Nguyen. Join us again tomorrow morning starting at 9:00 a.m. Eastern.

For now CNN NEWSROOM continues with T.J. Holmes.