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Elizabeth Edwards' Legacy of Strength; Pres. Obama Slammed Over Tax Deal; Falcon 9 Rocket Launch Aborted; Wall Street Reacts to President's Tax Deal Proposal; Remembering John Lennon; Students Take Digital Detox Challenge
Aired December 08, 2010 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: I think Kiran hit it. How many times do we hear, Atlanta, we have a problem. New York, we have a problem.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: It ain't Houston, folks. Thanks, guys.
9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out West. Here's some of the stories that had us talking this morning.
It's about 30 degrees in D.C. right now but some Democrats are steaming over the president's deal with Republicans on tax cuts. The VP goes to the Hill today to try and sell Dems on the plan -- or Dems.
(LAUGHTER)
PHILLIPS: We're talking about a new video from the Taliban showing Private Bowe Bergdahl. Remember him? He vanished from the combat outpost in Afghanistan about 18 months ago. This is the first video of him we've seen since April but it's not clear exactly when it was taken.
And as we just heard on "AMERICAN MORNING," live pictures right now. It will be one small step for cash today. The first commercial spaceship heads for orbit. This is only a test by the way. No astronauts on this flight. We're following the live pictures. Our John Zarrella is there.
Well, we start this morning by saying good-bye to Elizabeth Edwards. She died at the age of 61 after a long fight with breast cancer.
Yes, she was a political spouse, the wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, but over the years she has become so much more to so many people.
Elizabeth Edwards was an every woman, a self-described anti- Barbie. A woman whose very private pain played out in the spotlight. She endured the loss of a child in a car accident, a cheating husband, a cancer diagnosis, a six-year fight and through it all it seemed like she was fighting for more than herself and her family.
She was an author, an activist, a lawyer. She became a warrior for resilience. She wrote, "Resilience is accepting your new reality even if it's less good than the one you had before. You can fight it. You can do nothing but scream about what you've lost or you can accept that and try to put together something that's good."
Trademark, earnestness and strength. The same traits she showed in her last interview with Nate Berkus in September.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATE BERKUS, "THE NATE BERKUS SHOW": It seems that you have really found the beauty throughout the journey.
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, JOHN EDWARDS' WIFE: Yes. There's certainly parts that weren't all beautiful.
BERKUS: Sure, sure.
EDWARDS: You know, there are parts that were really just -- you know, primarily pain. But in the end you reach for the things that are going to give you comfort. The beautiful things. You know, your children, the people that you love and care about. And also try to surround yourself with the things that make you feel better.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Our chief political correspondent Candy Crowley knew Elizabeth Edwards well.
And, you know, Candy, it seems like every woman who felt a breast or a lump in their breast related to Elizabeth Edwards. Every woman who's been cheated on or lost a child -- I mean the scope of her reach was pretty amazing.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It was. What's interesting to me is that she -- I think when you called her every woman, in a lot of ways she really was because there were so many parts of her life that were so relatable.
But also on the campaign trail; she was so good with people in a way that even her husband who was quite good, but there was something a little standoffish about him, as well.
She loved talking to people, hearing their stories, particularly obviously she knew what the loss of a child was like. She knew certainly in the last election about battling cancer. People totally related to her.
I think one of the other things is that just underlying all of that determination was -- it was one tough woman. She was incredibly smart. A lot of people when she was a practicing lawyer in North Carolina before her husband went into politics thought she was every bit as good as he was and he was known as a quite brilliant trial room lawyer.
So she had a lot to her. She was complex like everybody is. There were some people on the campaign that didn't always appreciate her, thought she was a control freak, thought that she was sort of the shadow campaign manager. They didn't like being second guessed, that kind of thing.
But in the end she was just a survivor and I think when the American people see someone that survives so much, it is a lesson for them. An object lesson for them and I think that's why so many people seem to like her. It wasn't just one simple thing like she fought for health care or she was a great political wife or she was a smart lawyer. It was the totality of her life I think that people related to.
PHILLIPS: And you actually got some personal anecdotes, don't you?
CROWLEY: Well, you know, she's -- a couple of them. One is she knew policy inside and out. And I once wrote a dot-com article and I went home and I was walking in the door, the phone was ringing and I looked and it was Elizabeth Edwards. And she was calling from home to take issue with a sentence in the story.
I wish -- I'm going to have to go back and see what the story was because we spent 45 minutes talking about it. I just thought, wow, don't you have to go take care of the kids or something? I mean it -- it was just one of those -- but she was just -- you know, she wanted to be heard. She wanted to, you know, point out explicitly what was right.
And not in a -- we weren't having an argument. It was just -- it was a conversation about, you know, what this word meant or that word meant. So she was -- you know, down to the last detail, she was into that campaign.
And I think the other thing is the last time I saw her, I had spoken with her since. But the last time I saw her was at a -- when she came in to talk on somebody's show and we both happened to be in the makeup room at the same time and she was talking and I said, you know what? I just have to be along with all the other women.
I did go in and get a mammogram because of you. And she said, that's great. That's the thing I love most to hear. So she was aware that she had made a difference. And that's really what -- you do make a difference in your children's lives because you're a mom but to make a larger difference I think was important to her.
PHILLIPS: It's interesting. As you describe Elizabeth Edwards, I think of you, Candy Crowley. Couldn't have a better person to talk about her at the top of the hour.
Candy, thanks a lot.
CROWLEY: Thanks.
PHILLIPS: Well, President Obama trying to rein in a revolt on the left. Liberal Democrats fighting mad over the deal that he made on tax cuts. But the president says he had to compromise, saying that the GOP was holding middle class tax cuts hostage but liberal Democrats say he just caves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK: I don't think that the president should count on Democratic votes to get this deal passed. It's -- I think there are a lot of people who are concerned that it wasn't a very good deal and that more needs to get done.
SEN. SHERROD BROWN (D), OHIO: Where was this fighting spirit of standing up for the middle class, of living up to campaign promises, of working for senior citizens to make sure that Medicare and Social Security aren't cut?
I -- it's just like the White House made this deal far too quickly.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, let's get to our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux.
You know, Suzanne, Vice President Biden, as we mentioned, on the Hill again today. How do he and the president dig themselves out of this hole with Democrats?
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: You know, bottom line here, Kyra, is that the president, the vice president, even David Axelrod this morning earlier on CNN -- all of them essentially telling Democrats they are going to have to get over this and move on.
Now they do have some control when it comes to legislation. But they're really very few Democrats who are going to push against this so hard that you're not actually going to get some sort of deal in this package that has come forward because nobody wants to be responsible for tax hikes for -- across the board for everybody.
And so what the president essentially did yesterday was he pretty much cried foul and said, look, there are a couple of things you go to know here. He's trying to convince the American people they had very little choice when it comes to negotiating with the Republicans.
He got a 13-month extension on unemployment benefits. That was the cost here, the price here was to allow everybody to have these tax cuts. As much as he did not want to do this and kind of held his nose at the whole thing.
The other thing that he's trying to do is convince Democrats he does have a spine. That was one of the things he said yesterday when he was saying look at the long term, the long run, as opposed to the short term and the short run. This is the new political reality here. You've got to give a little to get something.
David Axelrod earlier today also is trying to do what -- something the White House, the president was doing yesterday, which is appeal to Democrats and say, look, you know what? We share the same philosophy. We are getting the big picture items done.
Here's how he put it this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR ADVISER TO THE PRESIDENT: So what we need to do is focus on what's good for the country, what's good for the American people. And move forward. Compromise by its very nature involves things that neither side like.
We don't like the tax -- extending even temporarily the tax cuts for the wealthy. More generous treatment of wealthy estates.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, Kyra, that's what we're going to hear from the vice president when he goes up on Capitol Hill, talking to the Democrats there. That's what we're going to hear from the president in the days to come and these public events that he's having is, look, you know, pay attention to what has been accomplished here.
We're talking about health care reform that was monumental legislation. We're talking about an economic stimulus package, regulations for financial institutions, things that Democrats wanted. They said they were going to fight for, that the president, when he was a candidate, said he was going to fight for, that have actually happened but there are going to be some setbacks and that's just the nature of compromise -- Kyra?
PHILLIPS: Got it. Thanks, Suzanne.
The path for citizenship for hundreds of thousands of young illegal immigrants hinges on the Dream Act and both Houses of Congress expected to vote on it early as today. That bill would give some illegal immigrants brought to the country as children a way to get legal status by going to college or joining the military.
All right. Well, if you live in the eastern half of the country, you better get used to this cold snap. It could last until Christmas apparently. You've already seen heavy snowfall in the Buffalo area. We've talked a lot about that. And more lake-effect snow is hitting there this morning.
The chill has reached deep into Florida as well where farmers are still concerned about those citrus crops. So far no reports of serious hits to the industry but farmers simply can't afford a repeat of last winter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN ALGER, ALGER FARMS: Last year we lost about 70 percent of our crops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can't afford another last year.
HIGINIO ROBLES, FARMER: Hopefully we won't get it. Like I said before. Because last year was devastating for all of us here. Not just me.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: You and I were just saying, Rob, our strawberries, our oranges.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: How about what we love.
MARCIANO: Yes, look so good. But you know what? So far no widespread damage so that's good.
PHILLIPS: That's good news.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: Yes, you know, it's reason to celebrate.
PHILLIPS: It's fun for the kids, it's a nightmare to have to go to work.
MARCIANO: Exactly. This time of year, it gets you in the mood. But by January and February, it certainly gets -- it gets a little old.
Back to you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob. All right.
Let's take you out to Kennedy Space Center. We've got some live pictures here. We thought that we were going to turn a page in the history books. But it's been scrubbed. Unfortunately.
We're talking about something that we thought we were going to witness in the U.S. space program. This SpaceX, one of several companies vying for a NASA contract.
John Zarrella is -- we're going to get ready, I guess, within the next month or two, right, to see the final launch of Discovery. So what's the deal? Is it weather that shut this down?
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, no. We don't know exactly what it is, Kyra. But they had some sort of an anomaly either in the launch vehicle, their Falcon 9 rocket, or in the Dragon spacecraft on top of that.
It's unclear what it was but there was about three minutes to go before launch and they went ahead and put it on hold. Now they're not done for the day. When they launched their fist Falcon rocket back in June in their first test flight, they actually had a similar thing happen.
They had to stop the countdown and then they went back and re- pressurized and did all kinds of things and they managed to get off the ground that same day. They have until 12:30 this afternoon Eastern Time to do that.
So there's still a possibility depending on what they figure out went wrong here that they could go ahead and still attempt to lift off today. If they do and when they do, they plan to make history. They're going to orbit that dragon spacecraft, two orbits around the earth, splash down in the Pacific Ocean.
It'll be about a three and a half hour total flight time mission and this would be the first time in history that a commercial company has ever reentered a vehicle into the atmosphere if it's successful.
Up until now, Kyra, as you're well aware, there have only been half a dozen nations in the world that have been able to pull this off. So it really would be a page turner, And ultimately SpaceX and Orbital Sciences are planning to take cargo to the International Space Station and SpaceX hopes that eventually they will be the ones ferrying astronauts to the International Space Station.
Because the shuttle program, as you mentioned, you know, it's coming an end next year. Two shuttle flights on the books. One may be added sometime next summer. But after that, that's the end of the shuttle program. And these rockets here are going to be about the only way to get to the space station other than to fly with the Russians which is what NASA is going to have to do until this is ready to carry humans so still a chance.
We might see a launch this morning. Depending on what they figure out went wrong here. They've recycled the countdown clock here at 13 minutes and holding, so we'll be here watching it -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: OK. And we'll be waiting for word from you, John Zarrella. Appreciate it.
ZARRELLA: Yes.
PHILLIPS: Well, Arlington National Cemetery, where the dead just can't catch a break. We've been following the disgrace at this sacred place for months. Looks like there's a couple new chapters in the story. One's about a criminal probe. The other's about lawmakers trying to make sure Arlington never botches another gravesite again.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Today's Talker is the story that we've been pushing for months now, because veterans and their families deserve so much better. Talking about the problems at Arlington National Cemetery.
Just in case your memory needs a little refresher, one of the most hallowed grounds in this country has been badly mismanaged. A Senate panel found that several thousand graves might be mismarked, unmarked, or that remains might be in the wrong plots. Also, we've actually seen urns and headstones just dumped into creek beds, even piles.
We talked to one man over the summer who learned that his father's headstone was resting in the water when he saw a picture of it in the newspaper. And we talked to a father so determined to make sure his son was buried in the right place that he had the body exhumed and he actually checked the remains himself.
At least two top administrators have lost their jobs because of all of this, and last week a criminal investigation opened up after eight sets of remains ended up in one grave. The Senate has passed a bill to get the problems fixed and ensure that they never happen again. Senator Chris Coons of Delaware is here to talk about this. He and Claire McCaskill have been two very powerful advocates to get things done there. And Senator, it's great to see you and talk about this today.
I'll get to the Arlington National Cemetery bill in just a second, but the newest development here is this Army investigator. Can you tell me exactly what they're looking for in this probe?
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D), DELAWARE: Well, Kyra, I can't go into the details of the criminal investigation. But, obviously, troubling previous reports that there was mismarking, that there were multiple bodies or remains in one grave, that there was a mismanagement of Arlington National Cemetery has now moved to another level, because there is an active criminal probe that's been opened by the Army.
Senator McCaskill's leadership on this has been tremendous. The particular piece of legislation we're talking about was passed by the Senate on unanimous consent on Saturday. I was proud to join a number of Republican and Democratic senators as a co-sponsor. I'm a member of the Homeland Security Committee, which is responsible for general oversight of government operations like this.
The report that we're asking for, that we're really, frankly, demanding from the GAO and Secretary of the Army, would allow us to know in detail whether every single grave at Arlington National Cemetery is appropriately marked, tracked, occupied, so that family, no American family should go through again the tragedy, the heartbreak that you described of a father who insisted on knowing whether his son's remains were actually appropriately buried in the right place.
PHILLIPS: Now, it's just a --
COONS: We are going to get to the bottom of this and make sure there's a proper accounting.
PHILLIPS: That's what we want to hear. It's been just astounding to hear about the carelessness and the lack of detail at a place that's all about our men and women in the military. This is a place you would think would be the last area that would be disorganized.
COONS: That's right.
PHILLIPS: When you think about how detail-oriented the military is. Now, Senator, this criminal investigation, the one that the Army is taking on. This is the fourth investigation into this. We know how bad it is. It's not like there have been any new revelations lately. It's a horrible situation, so what's going to make this investigation so different from the others that have already taken place?
COONS: Well, Kyra, as I said, I can't talk about the details of the criminal investigation. What I can talk to you is that the Senate and, in particular, the Homeland Security Committee and Senator McCaskill and I and the others who are co-sponsors, are focused on holding the folks accountable who are responsible for the mismanagement of Arlington National Cemetery.
PHILLIPS: OK, well, Senator --
COONS: Dating back to the Civil War, there's nearly 300,000 veterans' graves at Arlington. This is sacred ground, as you said, and it's critical that we get a good, rapid, and proper accounting. And we are going to consider changing management oversight and responsibility for Arlington National Cemetery. We will be considering whether it should move to the Department of Veterans Affairs and to a new oversight structure.
PHILLIPS: OK. And that should be interesting because, obviously, the Office of Veterans Affairs have had its own issues within the medical side of things at the hospitals. But already there have been people that have been fired over this.
COONS: That's right.
PHILLIPS: And now, Katherine Condon has been appointed to do things differently. So, what is it you're expecting from her from this point on, and -- what are you telling her to do, starting right now, even before this National Cemetery bill gets through?
COONS: We're expecting transparency, accountability, responsiveness of both, obviously, to Congress and to the American people. And we're expecting action and response. So, it's my hope that with increased action and focus by members of the Senate and the House on this, we will get the transparency and accountability for the management of Arlington National Cemetery that our veterans and our nation expects.
It is my hope that the House will also pass this bill and send it on for the president's signature before the end of this lame duck session.
PHILLIPS: Well, we're counting on this through you and obviously Senator McCaskill, and so is every member of our military. Senator Chris Coons, appreciate your time today.
COONS: Thank you, Kyra. Thanks for a chance to be on.
PHILLIPS: You bet.
Elizabeth Edwards in her own words. In September, she gave talk show host Nate Berkus an inside look of her Chapel Hill home where Tuesday, she passed away surrounded by family and friends. We'll let you listen to her last public interview.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PHILLIPS: Elizabeth Edwards. We've been talking about her life and her legacy throughout the morning and, in September, she spoke with interior decorator Nate Berkus on his show. It was Edwards' last public interview, and it gave us a pretty poignant look at why so many people were touched by her and her life. And it showed us just how human she was.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH EDWARDS, WIFE OF FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN EDWARDS: This is my bedroom. And it's a great place to wake up, because I have a wonderful view.
NATE BERKUS, HOST, "THE NATE BERKUS SHOW": It's such a happy room.
EDWARDS: It is a happy room.
BERKUS: It's a really happy room.
EDWARDS: Yes.
BERKUS: Are there moments for you where you can't get out of bed?
EDWARDS: Sure.
BERKUS: Are there days where you're in this room and --
EDWARDS: Sure. There are days when -- everybody who's probably either been through what I've been through what I've been through in my marriage or been through what I've been through with disease, or lost somebody they care about, have days when they just pull the covers right back up over their heads.
BERKUS: Sure.
EDWARDS: And stay put.
BERKUS: Yes.
EDWARDS: In some ways, it's nice for me to have cancer, because when the kids -- if I'm feeling like that, the kids'll come in here and just assume that I'm feeling bad because of the chemo, even if that's really not quite the reason that I'm feeling bad. So, it gives them a -- I guess, if cancer can be a safe place to go --
BERKUS: Sure.
EDWARDS: Emotionally, I think in some ways, it might be for them.
BERKUS: I think everybody's had those days where they cannot get out of bed, and then, all of a sudden --
EDWARDS: You're important in somebody's life. BERKUS: Yes. Somebody's got a request. There's a Lego piece that doesn't fit, its' time to move on.
EDWARDS: They seem like meaningless moments, and they're the things that remind you of why you're important.
I also think that some people who are moms and some people denigrate the job. "You don't have a real job, you're a mom." And then you have a moment like that, and you think, "I have the best job."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, in the courtroom, on the campaign trails, she was a formidable force. She was a fighter, especially for her children. And as Elizabeth told Berkus, she knew her children needed her. Her words, pretty haunting.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BERKUS: You've talked about eight years.
EDWARDS: Yes, eight years. Jack's 10. And so, if I could get Jack to 18, then I could see what kind of man he would be. And then, Emma Claire would be two years older, and by that time, maybe my daughter, who's -- Cate, who's 28, will have gotten married and will have given me a grandchild, because it's one of life's experiences that I really hope to have, to be able to hold that child. And maybe that'll happen, maybe it won't. But that's her choice. But she knows what my opinion is.
BERKUS: She knows. I think the request has gone out loud and clear.
EDWARDS: That's right. Like so many mothers. "Please give me a grandchild."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Nate Berkus has tweeted this. "My heart breaks for the family and friends of Elizabeth Edwards. We have been lost a hero."
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
PHILLIPS: It's 9:30 on the East Coast now, 6:30 out west. Let's go ahead and check the stories that we're talking about this morning.
The first attempt to launch the first commercial spaceship into space was aborted at the last minute just before 9:00. But NASA does plan to try again, about 10:42 we're told. The Falcon 9 rocket will take off from Cape Canaveral Air Force station in Florida and will orbit the earth as part of a test flight.
Amtrak just restored service after temporarily shut down its rail service between Baltimore and Philadelphia this morning. There's reports of power problems now. Service crews are continuing to repair the damages to the overhead wire system.
Joints chief chair Admiral Mike Mullen scolds China, for what he calls asset (ph) approval of North Korea's actions. North Korea fired more artillery today but the shells landed on the North's side. Mullen in Seoul to meet with Korean defense minister criticized China, saying despite its enormous influence over North Korea, China appears unwilling to help ease tensions.
Democrats are venting their frustrations with the president. Some say the president caved on taxes and they're not happy about it. Hear how the president's senior adviser is defending the move.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: President Obama taking a real beating this morning from the left. His own party criticizing the deal he cut to extend tax cuts. The president says the compromise means real money for real people. The president's senior advisor David Axelrod, of course, is defending the deal. He spoke to our John Roberts this morning.
That brings us to our AM Extra.
So John, Axelrod wasn't mincing his words.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR, "AMERICAN MORNING": No. And neither are Democrats, either, who are opposed to the tax cut. For example, Anthony Weiner, Congressman out of New York, saying that the White House is not very good at making deals, not very good at crafting compromises. But Gary Ackerman of New York, was probably the one who had the strongest statement, at least that we heard out of closed doors when he said, the American people got something out of this, they got screwed.
So I said to David Axelrod this morning, the president's senior advisor, with all this talk of extending tax cuts and renewing the unemployment insurance benefits and the two percent -- two point reduction in the payroll tax, are people getting screwed or are they getting something?
Here's what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT: I say the people who are going to get screwed as Congressman Ackerman says are the American people if we don't act to prevent their taxes from going up on January 1st. The typical family in this country would see a $3,000 tax increase on January 1st.
Unemployment insurance would end and two million people would see their lifeline cut, people who desperately seeking work right now. And the economy would take a huge hit for that. It was interesting to see economists across the board from left to right say that this package would - would create additional significant economic growth. Some revising their estimates up by a full percentage point in terms of our economic growth, millions of jobs. All of that would be lost. (END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, it's cable. I guess you can say you're getting screwed.
So how much does it cost and how are we going to pay for it?
ROBERTS: Over a couple of years the cost is $900 billion.
How are we going to pay for it? Probably the same way that we've been paying for everything else, and that is issuing Treasury bonds and selling them to people across the country and selling them to foreign governments like China, as well.
Now, there is, according -- as David Axelrod said, to many economists a stimulative effect here. But $900 billion over two years requires an awful lot of tax revenue to offset it. Will there will be enough tax revenue as a result of any sort of stimulus that's created as a result of this package to offset that? Even David Axelrod says, we haven't -- I'm not going to make that calculation. I'm not a math whiz, I haven't done the math. So, we'll leave it to others to determine whether or not that actually could offset the cost.
But $900 billion, almost a trillion dollars, over two years? Many people would probably say, it's unlikely.
PHILLIPS: A lot of money. Thanks, John.
No cell phones, no computers, no iPods or anything else with a screen. Tough sell. But some high school students are actually taking the digital detox challenge.
But first, remembering John Lennon. On this date, 1980, the former Beatle shot to death by Mark David Chapman just outside his New York apartment building there at the Dakota. He lived there with his wife Yoko Ono. She still lives there. Thirty years later, the world celebrating his life and remembering Lennon as a visionary artist whose songs inspired millions of people.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC)
PHILLIPS: John Lennon and the Beatles. The names and songs are iconic. Today marks the 30th anniversary of the singer/songwriter's death. And all over the world people are celebrating his life.
CNN's Richard Roth just outside the Dakota where Lennon was shot and killed back in 1980 -- Richard.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're looking at the Imagine circle here in Strawberry Fields, named, of course, after the Beatles' song "Strawberry Fields Forever."
And as you mentioned, we're very much in the shadow of the Dakota Apartments, where 30 years ago John Lennon was murdered by Mark David Chapman. Lennon would have been 70 today. New Yorkers, people from around the world come to here to Strawberry Fields to remember John Lennon. You have a lot of photographers here, of course. This area will be very crowded later on as people come here in a vigil, which is held every year but especially on an anniversary such as the 30th year.
There was one person here in the crowd with me who was here 30 years ago. Lou Gatanas.
Lou, tell me what happened. Where were you 30 years ago? And then what did you do?
LOU GATANAS, LENNON MOURNER: I was home and someone called me and let me know what happened and I couldn't believe it. I broke down and started crying and I just left the house and got on a subway and found myself over here amongst the other mourners.
ROTH: What happened here 30 years ago and how vividly do you remember it?
GATANAS: Well, I mean, it was just like tons of people everywhere and everybody was crying and candles and pictures and all kinds of stuff and it deeply affected me. I mean, it's been with me my entire life. I was a kid and now I'm old and still feel exactly is the same. It doesn't go away.
ROTH: So are you quite emotional looking here, earlier standing here in the circle. What are you thinking about at that moment?
GATANAS: Well, I'm thinking about everything that transpired in my life in the past 30 years and what John meant to me and to the rest of the world. He's the reason I play and write music and, you know, it's really tough when your hero dies on you, you know?
ROTH: Lou, thank you. Thank you very much.
That's of course captured some the emotions here in Strawberry Fields.
Back to you, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Richard Roth, thanks so much.
And for so many, the death of John Lennon will forever be a landmark in time. Nearly everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news. We want the hear your stories. Share them with us on my blog, CNN.com/kyra. We'll try to read some of them coming up in the 10:00 a.m. hour.
A statue of John Lennon is a hot attraction in Cuba. That's where we begin our Morning Passport. The lifelike bronze statue in the center of Havana in John Lennon Park. We're told about 150,000 tourists from all over the world actually visit the statue every year.
One problem they have though is keeping that infamous round- rimmed glasses on him. Ever since thieves took the original pair, a couple of guards stand watch and hang on to the spectacles until visitors want to take a picture.
And in Canada, digital detox, tough sell but some 100 students at a Toronto high school agreed to unplug for a week. No iPods, cell phones, computers, TVs. Some kids actually started writing letters believe it or not instead of sending e-mails.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's quite liberating just to -- just to live in -- in the moment and not think about people who aren't with you at the time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you give up all electronics with a screen for a week?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Probably not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's even using books instead of their -- their hand-held devices for research, I love it, it's great.
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PHILLIPS: How about a thank you note too? It's hard to find those nowadays.
The detox campaign was sponsored by a magazine that's actually designed to help people bring balance to their lives and stop wasting so much time in front of the screen or on those devices.
And still in Canada, this video is a hit on YouTube. Baby ducks and mama, too, no match for high winds, over and over again, they get swept off their feet. They go tumbling all over the place. Eventually they did gain their composure and get on their way.
Well, more than a month after Election Day, we finally have a decision in the Minnesota governor's race but that fight for a senate seat in Alaska still goes on.
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JAY LENO, NBC HOST, "THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO": He tried to put a good face on it today, but boy, he looked testy at that -- at that press conference. Do you see him? He's trying to make the best of it but he looked mad. Take a look. Take a look.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And to my Republican friends, I would suggest -- I -- I think this is a good agreement because I know that they're swallowing some things that they don't like, as well. And I'm looking forward to seeing them on the field of competition over the next two years. Thanks very much, everybody.
LENO: I think -- he looked -- he looked mad. I'm just saying.
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PHILLIPS: Well, Americans are speaking out about what should be done with the Bush tax cuts. Our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser at the CNNPolitics.com desk; I -- I don't think you can top that one, Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: You know, Kyra, I was watching that news conference yesterday. I guess I missed that moment when he took the microphone and threw it. But -- I don't know. Jay Leno obviously caught it, and I'm glad he did.
All right, but let's talk -- let's talk about what you just asked about. So what do Americans think?
We know what the Democrats say. We know what the President says. We know what the Republicans say. What about Americans? Check these numbers out; this is a brand new poll that's out this morning from Bloomberg. It's a national survey and it indicates what most other polls have indicated over the last two months, that the majority of Americans do not want those tax cuts to be -- or is extended for the wealthy.
You could see right there, 19 percent at the very top, 19 percent say, yes, permanent tax cut extension for all Americans including the wealthy; 16 percent say, permanent extension for middle class but only -- but only a temporary extension for wealthy; 34 percent say, yes, continue them for the middle class, nothing for the wealthy, and then at the bottom, 27 percent 1 and 4 will say let those tax cuts expire.
Interesting new poll, and again, it's kind of in line with what most others have shown.
Kyra, here we are five weeks and one day since Election Day, we may finally -- finally get closure in Minnesota where you've got the gubernatorial battle that was too close to call after election night. They went to a recount. It's between Senator Mark Dayton, the former Senator Mark Dayton the Democrat and State Senator Tom Emmer, the Republican nominee.
Well, what we think today is going to happen is that the canvassing board there is going to certify that Dayton is the winner. He's up by about 10,000 votes, and reports up in Minnesota say that Emmer will concede. So that will bring to an end, we believe, the saga in Minnesota -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, what about the saga in Alaska?
STEINHAUSER: It continues, and this now will be if Emmer does concede today this will be the final election. Everything else is done. But in Alaska, you've got that senate battle up there. You've got Joe Miller, he's the Republican nominee, remember he ousted Lisa Murkowski in the primary.
Well, she went on to run as a write-in candidate, she's up by about 10,000 votes now after they counted all the write-ins and everything else. There's a state court hearing today. What Miller is trying to do is throw out the results and get another recount. He says that the way they counted the votes was not correct that they should have gone by the letter of the law and just counted the correct spelling. She is up by about 10,000 votes. Stay tuned in Alaska.
PHILLIPS: All right, we will. Thanks Paul.
We have another political update in just about an hour. You can also go to our Web site 24/7 at CNNPolitics.com.
All right, we're following live developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Why don't we start with Rob Marciano -- Rob.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning again Kyra. We are looking at record cold temperatures across the Deep South. Again, more snow across the Great Lakes, and another reinforcing shot of cold air expected to come next week. The forecast coming up at the top of the hour.
CARTER EVANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And I'm Carter Evans at the New York Stock Exchange. The number one concern for many Americans is jobs. So how about this for a headline? The hiring outlook for the beginning of next year is the best it's been in two years. Kyra and I are going to talk about this, coming up in the next hour. Back to you.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm John Zarrella at Cape Canaveral where we are awaiting history to be made, the rocket company SpaceX, attempting to launch its Falcon 9 and Dragon Spacecraft. I'll have that story coming up next hour.
PHILLIPS: John, even if it doesn't happen, it just sounds cool. Thanks guys.
And maybe Elmo will succeed where mom and dad sometimes fail. Oh, yes, the ticklish red Muppet joining me live trying to get all you kids to eat your fruits and vegetables, and see how the healthy stuff that even cookie monster is considering eating now. That's next hour.
And yes, we're also are going to be talking with a stalk of broccoli. This will be a network exclusive.
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PHILLIPS: Please tell me you didn't pick that, Jamal.
JAMAL ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I did not.
PHILLIPS: Tell me you did not pick that music. Cedric is so setting you up right now.
ANDERSON: I'm going to see Cedric later on.
PHILLIPS: I bet you are.
ANDERSON: If I'm not mistaken, that's the music from "What's Happening", right?
PHILLIPS: Is that right, Cedric. Is that "What's Happening"? Should we do the "What's Happening?"
ANDERSON: What's happening? You know the rest of the day, I'm rocking to the beat.
PHILLIPS: My favorite still though is, you know, Sanford and Son. They won't bring that back
ANDERSON: That was quite close to Sanford and Son, Kyra. Maybe that's tomorrow.
PHILLIPS: There you go. I'll bring it all back.
All right. Let's talk about something that's much more fun. These crazy -- these basketball stunts in the pool in Mission Viejo, California.
ANDERSON: Yes. Yes.
PHILLIPS: Well, nutty, huh? It's gone viral.
ANDERSON: It is absolutely crazy. These guys are very, very talented. They do these basketball stunts -- you're watching this from right here. These guys are jumping off of a balcony, doing back flips off the balcony, then they're throwing it to each other. There is a guy on the ground who looks kind of familiar, Kyra -- it's amazing --
PHILLIPS: Should we be promoting this now that I think about it? Every parent is going to be saying, thanks a lot, Kyra and Jamal.
ANDERSON: Here's how we are going to save ourselves. Folks at home, do not try this please. We are not advocating or endorsing that you do this unless you have unbelievable ability or you have camera tricks going for you because this is crazy right here.
PHILLIPS: Yes, that's nuts. I would freak if I saw my kids do that. Nice pool, by the way. What a setup there.
ANDERSON: Very nice pool. Very nice pool.
PHILLIPS: All right. Why don't we stay in southern California and talk a little more traditional basketball, shall we say?
ANDERSON: Right. The Los Angeles Lakers last night -- last week these guys were mired in the longest losing streak for the Lakers in past 3 and 1/2 years. Friday they get over the losing streak, last night the Los Angeles Lakers played the Wizards.
And here's the beautiful thing about it, Pau Gasol, Kobe Bryant, all of the Laker stars were in last night and playing well. You have Nick Young for the Washington Wizards, a guy who played at the University of Southern California.
PHILLIPS: My alma mater, thank you very much.
ANDERSON: Yes. Phil Jackson said every time this guy is in the Staples Center, we can't stop him. Remember 30 points last night -- a career high. Six three-pointers for Nick Young but the Washington Wizards couldn't do it. The Lakers did it again. Pau Gasol very, very close to a triple/double over 20 points last night.
John Wahl, you see him here in the highlight clip for the Wizards, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers getting it done. Again, it wasn't a great game but one of four games that the Lakers led from beginning to end the whole time and a big victory for them. It was something that they needed to do.
PHILLIPS: Well, does Derek Jeter consider $51 million a great victory?
ANDERSON: I would think so.
PHILLIPS: Lord have mercy.
ANDERSON: You know, it was an interesting situation, Kyra, particularly with the New York Yankees. Brian Cashman from the Yankees said, hey -- from our point of view, Derek Jeter is a Yankee. He's emblematic of what this franchise is all about.
He's been the leader and the team captain for this team, but his numbers were down. So Jeter's position was that he never wanted to see this happen. We're going to get a chance to hear Jeter right to talk about how angry he was with these negotiations.
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DEREK JETER, NEW YORK YANKEE: The thing that probably bothered me the most was how public this became. This was a negotiations; the negotiations were supposed to be private. So it was an uncomfortable position I felt that I was in. It was not an enjoyable experience because throughout the years I have prided myself on keeping things out of the papers and out of the media, and this turned into a big public thing. So that was something I was not happy about, and I let my feelings be known.
PHILLIPS: You can relate to that. You had issues with your contract negotiations with the Falcons.
ANDERSON: Right, I did. In 1999, I held out from the Atlanta Falcons, in the prime of my career. The biggest difference between me and Jeter, I was in the prime of my career. Jeter is 36 years old. But the thing that's very difficult in these situations, we were just coming off the Super Bowl, I was one of the most popular players for the Falcons. Team captain, as well, as Derek Jeter is now. And he means so much to the Yankees but from the business side of it, the Yankees are saying his numbers were down, and they are down.
But again, the team captain, all of the championship rings. And for most people, Derek Jeter is the Yankees. Jeter didn't want to talk to any other team but there was no other franchise, Kyra, that wanted to match the offer. So it was kind of a tough situation for the Yankees. They ended up getting it done. Not the 10-year, $189 million deal.
PHILLIPS: OK, I'm being sarcastic. We're in a bad economy. OK, even in a bad economy, I'm sorry. $51 million, come on.
ANDERSON: There's no question about it. What happens here, Kyra, though, from an athlete's perspective -- that's what a lot of people say. How can you guys? These organizations make a ton of money of what we do on the field from jersey sales, ticket sales, how well you play. And again, Jeter is a guy who won championships with the Yankees. He's a team captain and he means so much to the organization.
So, I get it. I get it on both side.
PHILLIPS: Got to cater to those egos, Jamal Anderson.
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PHILLIPS: Come on. Play the "Sanford and Son."
ANDERSON: You got to get what you're due. You got to get what you're due.
PHILLIPS: I got what's due right here. Jamal Anderson, see you later.
ANDERSON: Kyra, I just want to be like you when I grow up, big desk, big money.
PHILLIPS: Yes, 51 million!
