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Senators Hold Congratulatory Press Conference in Preparation to Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'; Michael Vick Wants to Own A Dog; More Legal Troubles for Kwame Kilpatrick; Preview of 'Downfall: The Tiger Woods Story'; Preview of 'A Soldier's Story'; Top Over-Reported Stories of the Year; Gold Vending Machines; Justice Department Sues BP

Aired December 18, 2010 - 12:00   ET

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

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Welcome to CNN NEWSROOM. We're watching historic developments today on this Saturday for this nation's military. The Senate just voted on cloture bill which will move forward the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal. That means, basically, we are just one step -- two steps if you count the president's signature, away from allowing gay servicemen and women from serving in the armed services regardless of had they tell someone they're gay or not.

Let's go to CNN's congressional correspondent, Brianna Keilar. She's on Capitol Hill.

And Brianna, this is historic even though it is somewhat procedural.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and I don't want that to get lost either, Drew, because we say this is procedural vote and it really matters, thought, because the vote threshold here is 60 votes and when we're going to see the vote either tomorrow or on Monday that would actually repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the Senate will only need a majority of 51 votes. So, this is it, even though with this vote you're not going to actually see the actual repeal. This completely paves the way for it.

What happened here, we saw all Democrats present voting for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," essentially through this procedural vote. And there were six Republicans who joined them. I'm actually keeping list of them. I know we're trying to pull up some pictures of them.

Senator Susan Collins, we knew that she was going to vote for it, of Maine, as well as Olympia Snowe of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Scott Brown of Massachusetts. Those four had publically committed to supporting this. But, we also saw Mark Kirk from Illinois, who took the Senate seat that President Obama held, just took that very recently, he voted for it, as well as George Voinovich of Ohio.

So, how does this all shake out? Again, we're going to be seeing that final vote and Senator Lugar, there, you saw a graphic of him, he didn't vote for this. So, that's actually a mistake, right there. We're seeing the final passage vote either tomorrow or on Monday. It doesn't mean that this completely goes into effect, though, Drew, because the military has to go through a process that could take a couple months. It doesn't mean that servicemen and women in the military can go ahead and serve as openly gay members of the military starting say, tomorrow or Monday. It's not going to work like that. There's going to be a review process before this is implemented.

GRIFFIN: Well, we'll be getting reaction, hopefully, from military and our military correspondents, as well. But I think it's fair to say, Brianna, that I don't think anybody is going to get kicked out of the military within the next couple of weeks, that's for sure.

You mentioned that all the Democrats present voted for this. I was expecting Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia to vote no. Was he not there?

KEILAR: Yeah, he wasn't there. And we're actually trying to figure out exactly what happened, where he was. There was a Dream Act vote, a vote on illegal immigration measure, right before this. He also didn't vote there. So, we're not exactly sure why he wasn't present. The reason we expected that he would vote against this is because this is a bill that's kind of run the gauntlet or this measure has run the gauntlet. It was attached to a larger defense bill, a defense authorization bill last week that was one of a few controversial attachments to it and he voted against it because of this, because he is against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

GRIFFIN: Brianna thanks. We're going to be looking for reaction from you as we move forward on our reporting on this. But right now, we want to move to the White House. President Obama has been holding off on heading to Hawaii for his Christmas vacation. He's been waiting to see really what action the Senate will take on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the Dream Act. CNN's Kate Bolduan is live at the White House.

The president really waiting for a political gift from the Senate and I think he might have just got one -- Kate.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Drew. Well, I'm sure the president is not unhappy about seeing this cloture move forward on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy where I'm waiting for a comment, any kind of paper statement or anything, we'll be getting from the White House, but I assure you, if we do get reaction from the White House it will be that of applauding they were moving forward with the potential of repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This is something President Obama has long fought for, vowed and promised that he would do. Back from the campaign, that was one of his campaign promises that he would repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.

As you mentioned, the president, he actually shouldn't be in Washington. He's supposed to be heading out for a family vacation for the holiday, but he is in town and the White House tells us that he will stay in town as long as Congress is in session.

So, just as Congress' schedule is a little influx, so are the president's vacation plans, so it seems.

We have learned from the White House official that the president today did sign that continuing resolution, this is a short-term spending bill that the Senate passed in a late night vote last night. It's a short-term spending bill to keep funded, that is through Tuesday. So, the president did that today. But, to today's business, the business at hand, President Obama he wants to see his top priorities through. As mentioned, that includes repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." You can be assured the White House has all eyes on that, moving forward, but also ratification of the new START Treaty. That is something the president is also pushing for to happen before Congress leaves for the holiday. And that's something he discussed in his weekly radio and internet address. Listen here.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: We've taken time to get this right. The START Treaty has now been under review for over seven months. It's gone through 18 hearings, nearly 1,000 questions have been asked and answered. Several Republican senators have come out in support of ratification. Meanwhile, further delay comes at a cost. Every minute we drag our feet is a minute that we have no inspectors on the ground at those Russian nuclear sites.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOLDUAN: As a quick reminder, new START, as it is called, is the new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia. This, in essence, basically, would in effect when ratified resume inspections of nuclear arsenals in both countries as well as limit the number of warheads for both countries. Many people call this very important to our national security as well as a very important element of President Obama's foreign policy.

But again, all of this happens when the president is not even supposed to be here and Congress isn't really even supposed to be here, at this point. so, much going on in Capitol Hill, as well as at the White House and I assure you, Drew, we're looking for reaction on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" vote. And I'll bring it to you as soon as we have it.

GRIFFIN: Kate, thanks, we'll be looking forward to that. Obviously, a big day there, the president getting at least a political win before the Christmas break.

Reynolds, if they get a Christmas break. It looked a little cold on the White House lawn there and I can't imagine he's happy about staying there instead of going to Hawaii.

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Imagine, yeah, a little bit of a difference between what they're having on the East Coast and what you're experiencing in Hawaii, especially what they're seeing in parts of the West Coast. My goodness, gracious, winter is coming on with a vengeance.

(WEATHER REPORT)

All right, Drew, back to you.

GRIFFIN: All right, thanks a lot, Reynolds, appreciate that. Well, forget gold at a jewelry store, even a pawn shop. We're going to show you where you can pick up the next bar of gold from a vending machine.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Other news taking place today, going cross country, first a generous thank you from this man to the state of California. Dennis Ferguson says he had to collect unemployment benefits when he lived in California 46 years ago. He used that money to pay rent and learn computer programming. But with the state now in financial trouble, get this, he figured it was time to pay back. He sent California a check for $10,000, because he says it seemed like a nice round number. Wow.

In the icy Midwest, getting around no picnic. Ouch. Just ask these people in Pike County, Indiana. Slipping and falling on these icy sidewalks. Kids having a ball, they're literally skating down the streets. Is that guy wearing shorts? In their shoes.

Belle Chasse, Louisiana, this is a cute one. Three little boys got an early Christmas present. That Santa came to visit school. Well, guess who that was? Yep, dad. Home from the war, just in time for the holidays. And take a look, we're going to hang on here and you see the big old hug when they finally realize who it is. Very, very cute.

A lot of stories had us talking this year. Time.com out with a list of those topics you thought the media made way too much of in 2010.

Josh, I could tell you exactly what we made too much of, but let me hear what the Time.com folks think.

JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a chance to be self- effacing, right. I mean, the folks at Time.com, they're our partners and they have put together what they are calling the "Top Over- Reported Stories of the Year." Some might enterprise you.

Look at this one. I'd forgotten about this. At No. 5, they're calling it "Gordon Brown's Bigotgate." This is when, as you may recall, there was an election going on, British prime minister made a comment about a voter saying '"bigoted woman" and it was caught on mike and people said he didn't realize he was on mike. Everyone was talking about it. Anyway, they say way too much was made of that.

Look at the next one, what they're calling "The Mortalizing of Barack Obama." What they are saying is a lot of people have super high expectations of him, some thought he would bring in the post partisan era. There was a lot of lamenting in the media that he didn't bring on the impossible, didn't bring on this post-partisan era. So they're saying the mortalizing of this president was overblown.

Next Christine O'Donnell. A lot of people agree, it got too much attention, and of course they're saying "Bewitched by Christine O'Donnell," a reference to her one-time comment many, many years ago on Bill Maher's show about having dabbled in witchcraft. They're just saying that her Senate race in Delaware got a heck of a lot of attention while there were other races going on, as well.

No. 2, Chelsea Clinton's wedding. Remember that? Well, back in July you weren't hearing about much else for several days, back then.

And the No. 1 most over-reported story, according to Time.com, and you all can agree or disagree, being Sarah Palin. They say the story of Sarah Palin and what she's doing with her life, building this media empire that has been getting too much attention over the last year. So, Drew, that's what they are saying for the most over-reported stories of the year.

GRIFFIN: This is Time saying this.

LEVS: This is Time.com saying this. And they're partners of us at CNN.com. But they put together on the other side that you might be interested in. and I'll bang through these, the most underreported stories of the year.

Let's take a quick look at these. Iran's internal power struggle, they say was underreported, not enough attention going to the struggle. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has to hold onto his power, there.

A health care fraud. There was some reporting not long ago, just a couple months ago about $2.5 billion in fraud that the Justice Department announced they had found in the health care system.

Let's take a look at a few more. Mass rape in the Congo. They say a good example of a story not getting enough attention. The U.N. has called it the rape capital of the world. Millions of people have died in a civil war there lasting more than a decade.

Jihadists taking Somalia, at No. 2. They're saying that this is a major center now for terrorism and for terror concerns, worldwide.

And the No. 1 most underreported story according to Time.com, again you can agree or disagree, is the outcome in Iraq. They're saying this is really left up in the air. We don't know what will be happening and they say that the media and Americans have shown a decreased appetite where things will stand. You know what, I'm at FaceBook and Twitter and I'm going to go post these things now. And go ahead, weigh in. I'm at Josh Lev, CNN. Let us know what you think.

What do you think, Drew?

GRIFFIN: You know, underreported, four of the five are just extremely difficult places for journalists to work. You know, that's Congo, Somalia, Iraq to some extent, and Iran.

LEVS: And to be fair, we've talked about those, but they are saying, in general, in the media, there hasn't been enough. And it's interesting. It's interesting.

GRIFFIN: Interesting as always, Josh. We'll look for you later in the show. Lots of people investing in gold, you know, Josh, these days. Potential investors in south Florida, though, are getting started because it's as easy as going to a vending machine. Here's Tory Dunnan from our CNN affiliate WPBF.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TORY DUNNAN, WPBF REPORTER (voice-over): Looking for the 100 grand candy bar, you might just get something in a similar shape that may be worth a grand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think over a vending machine like a Coke or say candy bar, maybe, or gum, but gold? It's unbelievable.

DUNNAN: Instead of a liquid drink in an aluminum can, how about a solid gold bar? The Gold to Go ATM machine is the first of its kind in the U.S., right here in south Florida.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Boca Raton, is Wall Street south. You come home with a chocolate is gone, you come home with the flowers, two days later they are out, out of order. You come home with gold, it will last for the next 5,000 years and gives much more point (INAUDIBLE).

DUNNAN (on camera): These gold ATMs are in three continents, now and this is actually the 20th machine, but in order to make sure that the consumer gets the right market value of gold, the machine resets itself every 10 minutes.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the easiest way. You cut out the middleman.

DUNNAN (voice-over): Right now the cap is set at two ounces, the price value of just less than three grand. And if you don't like it, return it within 10 days.

STEVE TUNNICLIFF, SHOPPER: Random idea, I never even imagined I would see this. But, yeah, great. I'm not sure how it's useful, but I'm intrigued.

DUNNAN: If you're used to getting chocolate that melts, remember the only bar you'll get won't melt in your mouth or your hands.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: All right, a California mom suing McDonald's over Happy Meals. That's in our legal briefs and that is in just two minutes.

(CROSSTALK)

GRIFFIN: Time for our "Legal Briefs," you know, it's just a matter of time, the Justice Department filed suit this week against BP and eight other companies. It blames them for that April 20 explosion and fire at a Gulf Coast oil rig that led to what we're told is the worst oil disaster in U.S. history. Time to bring in our legal guys, two of the most contentious, battlesome, fun loving attorneys that we've ever had on this show civil rights attorney Avery Friedman in Cleveland, criminal defense attorney Richard Herman in Las Vegas.

Guys, the first question is will the government win its lawsuit against BP? But, my question is how much is BP just going to settle for because this isn't going to trial, is it?

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTY: Well, I think, Drew, you've got a situation where the first answer to the first question is, yes. But, the government is seeking civil fines. This is not a criminal prosecution. And if you take the number of barrels of oil, that's about five million, multiply it times the prime, which is $4,300, that's over $2 billion per defendant, among the defendants, Drew, include a subsidiary of Lloyd's of London the insurance company.

So, whether or not BP wants to settle really isn't going to be controlled by them, it will be controlled by the Department of Justice. Look, you're right. There's no jolt. The suit should have filed. I hope the government doesn't settle the case and it does go to trial.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTY: Hey, Drew. They're going to have to settle the case to keep the company alive, because basically the damages could absolutely annihilate BP. They won't be buying gold at vending machines; no one is going to buy BP stock. I mean, it's going to go down the toilet, really.

And in addition to the civil case, Avery, there is also a parallel criminal investigation ongoing against BP, which if indictments are brought, the measure of damages go through the universe against BP. So they are going to have to come up with some sort of global resolution. The statute of limitations was ticking. The government had a file this bare bones against them, but this drawn out for years. But, in the end, in order to save BP, there will be a global resolution.

GRIFFIN: Well, I don't know, guys, BP has got more money than most countries on earth. They've got tons of cash. And I think that's what we're talking about here, just how much money can...

FRIEDMAN: I agree with you, that's right.

GRIFFIN: All right, well, we'll see what happens. Five federal investigations underway, right now, against BP and we'll see if anybody has filed criminal charges when they get done with this. No. 2 issue, guys. Health care, is it or is it not constitutional to require people in the United States of America to get health care -- Avery.

FRIEDMAN: Yeah, look, I love this case. I love the issue. Henry Hudson one of the federal judges in Virginia, ruled that it was not -- how we have three decisions, two to one, we have about 17 more to go. The case is clearly destined to the U.S. Supreme Court under the commerce clause in the Constitution under the necessary and proper clause. Let me tell you something, this is going to wind up in the U.S. Supreme Court and the answer to that is I think the Supreme Court will probably uphold the constitutionality of this new health care law.

GRIFFIN: Richard, do you agree with that?

HERMAN: I'm not sure how the Supreme Court's going to come down on it, but Avery's right, it is going to the Supreme Court. Two federal judges in the same jurisdiction made analysis and came up with completely divergent opinions. The question, Drew, is really to what extent can Congress demand the citizens, compel them to do something like purchase health care. And if they are allowed to do that, how far will it go? Can they compel you to eat certain foods? Can they compel you to do certain things? That's the fear.

FRIEDMAN: No.

HERMAN: So, it's going to end up with the Supreme Court.

GRIFFIN: Avery, you're shaking your head, but people are already talking in Washington about trying to get us to eat certain foods and not.

FRIEDMAN: Yeah, I've heard that kind of rhetoric. It has nothing to do with the case. The fact is...

HERMAN: Rhetoric?

FRIEDMAN: Since the 1940s, the Supreme Court has held that you can regulate insurance. The issue of the individual mandate, I think, is merely philosophical extremism. Ultimately it's going to get to the Supreme Court, as Richard said, and it's going to be upheld as constitutional.

GRIFFIN: All right, well let's talk about food, Richard, because this is a case that really ticks me off and I know it ticks you off, too. This is this McDonald's Happy Meal case. The mom basically says I'm suing McDonald's because my kid's fat and my kid's fat because they like Happy Meals. Basically, isn't that the case?

HERMAN: Yeah, I mean, she has this little chubbster running around who loves McDonald's, and I'm going to take a guess, the kid loves French fries at McDonald's. but also the kid loves the toys that McDonald's gives. So, instead of the kid crying because she says, no, we can't go. What does she do? She can't control her kid, she sues McDonald's. It's absolutely ridiculous, Drew. I line up with you, it's ridiculous.

GRIFFIN: Avery, you're shaking your head? I can't believe you're on the side of this woman?

FRIEDMAN: I think Richard and you, too Drew, are so heartless. I mean, you don't understand little kids.

GRIFFIN: Heartless. You don't understand little kids just because little fatty can't control himself my kid's not going to get his toy?

FRIEDMAN: Here's a bulletin, guys, not every little kid that goes to McDonald's is chubby.

GRIFFIN: That's right.

FRIEDMAN: Well, that's right. And it doesn't matter. It matters on how a parent parents. The argument that in this case -- in fact, there's an internal document that McDonald's has that says 53 percent of the time the kids bug the parents. Well, you know what, start being a mom and dad, do the right thing. I'm not sure the case is going anywhere, but I like the idea. I think it's the right thing to do. Let's see what happens?

GRIFFIN: Richard, do you get that? He agreed with us and then said let the case go forward?

HERMAN: Yeah.

FRIEDMAN: I didn't say the case is not meritorious, come on.

HERMAN: It's not meritorious. It's frivolous.

GRIFFIN: Hey, you two lawyers I've got to go look up meritorious and frivolous now. Come on, dumb it down, here.

HERMAN: It's a stupid case. The woman can't control her kid. Just say no. What's wrong with that?

FRIEDMAN: That's a legal analyses. A stupid case, come one.

GRIFFIN: All right, talk about stupid, this is a tease. I don't want either one of you guys to say anything, but coming up with these two guys, Michael Vick. You know him? He's the dogfighting -- recovering dogfighter in the NFLs. He told somebody he wants a dog. We're going to talk about it with our two lawyers a little later in the show. Thanks, guys. We'll see you in just a little bit.

Hey, this weekend T.J. Holmes investigating the scandal surrounding golf champ, Tiger Woods. He talks exclusively to one of Wood's alleged mistresses, her name is Veronica Daniels. We'll have a preview, right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: We want to take you back to the Senate, Harry Reid talking about the vote on cloture. Let's listen in.

(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), MAJORITY LEADER: If you want to discriminate, it has no place in America. It has no place in the Armed Forces. It said that we don't care who you love, as long as you love your country.

Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the right thing to do and if that were the only argument that would be enough, but it's more than that. Repealing this policy will make our military stronger.

Some have said this is not the time to repeal this policy, and they are right. It should have been done yesterday.

Now, some are saying because we're repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" they are going to retaliate by voting against the new START Treaty. Now, focus on that just for a minute, folks. They are going to vote against this international treaty dealing with nuclear weapons because they had to vote on The DREAM Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Now, that's real statesmanship. They are saying because we're making our military stronger by outlying discrimination, they want to make America weaker by making it easier for terrorists to get nuclear weapons.

The only thing these votes have to do with each other is they both strengthen Americans. We either want a military to reflect the justice it fights for, or you don't. It's as simple as that. You either want a military to reflect the justice of our great country or you don't.

We're constantly working to help our great nation live up to its promise. We're always moving toward a more perfect union. Today, we move one step closer to that more perfect union.

We're going to hear now from Joe Lieberman, who has been terrific in this regard.

I also have to acknowledge, even though he may not speak is Chairman Carl Levin. Carl Levin's advocacy as chairman of the Armed Services Committee, is the reason we had "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in the Armed Services bill, the Armed Services Authorization bill. Everyone knows, had he not done that we would not be here today.

Joe Lieberman, I appreciate very much that his advocacy, helping us bring those few Republicans in. I appreciate those few Republicans. We could not have done it without them. They are brave in doing so with the pressure that they have received and will receive.

We're going to hear from the Joe Salamines (ph), and the president of the Human Rights Campaign, Aubrey Sarvis (ph).

By the way, as I mentioned to some people earlier today, he has great Nevada connections, he worked for a long, long time for Senator Howard Kenner (ph) of Nevada. Aubrey is the executive director of the Service Members Legal Defense Fund.

And then we are going to hear from Mike Alme (ph) who is a discharged Air Force major -- Joe.

SEN. JOE LIEBERMAN (I), CONNECTICUT: Thanks very much, Harry.

Your words were right on target. I don't actually have much to add except to thank you, for your leadership. Without your commitment to get "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repealed, this wouldn't have happened today. You worked with us. When you realized we had the votes, I'm not going to let the opponents of repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" run out the clock on us, this is too important. You filed cloture, you brought it to a vote. The result was there after the vote today.

I also want to join you in thanking my chairman on the Armed Services Committee Carl Levin for his leadership, principle leadership throughout this. My colleagues - I almost said Mo. Mo is here, really, your dad is here in spirit. I remember talking to him about this in 1976. And he was right there, on the right side.

Senator Mike Udall, Senator Christian Hillebrandt (ph) who stood with me throughout. I want to thank the six Republicans who bucked what seemed like a party position, but it shouldn't be a party position. Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is the right thing to do, whether you're a liberal, conservative, Democrat or Republican. It's consistent with the best American values. So I want to thank Senator Susan Collins, and Olympia Snowe, Lisa Murkowski, Scott Brown.

And people ask me, you keep saying we might have a few we don't know about. Mark Kirk and George Voinovich came through today.

Finally, to thank Joe and the Human Rights Campaign, and Aubrey in the Service Members Legal Defense Fund.

Part of why this passed is because gay and lesbian Americans in this era of our history have really organized to utilize their First Amendment rights to petition our government. They very effectively made the case for the injustice of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" here in Washington but really throughout the country, speaking to senators where they live, about why this law should be changed.

As a result, for all of us in the Senate, this is one of those days when we really feel privileged to be here because we righted a wrong. It took too long, but remember, Doctor King said moral arc of the universe may bend slowly, but it always bends towards justice. Today, we've done justice--Joe.

GRIFFIN: Senator Lieberman wrapping up what is a Democratic kind of congratulatory news conference on the Hill, congratulating each other for getting past this cloture vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." They needed 60 votes they got 63, six were crossover Republicans. And Senator Lieberman said, what happens next? Now they just have a straight up or down vote on repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A little bit of breaking news here. We're told that will happen today, today during our 3:00 hour, we will go live to the Senate floor and show you the senators supposedly going to vote up or down on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." A historic Saturday for the U.S. military here at CNN. And across the nation, of course, as they vote on allowing gay servicemen and service women to openly serve this country in the armed forces.

We'll continue to follow this and we'll be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Let's get back to our discussion with this week's most intriguing legal stories with two of the most intriguing lawyers I could find. Civil rights attorney Avery Friedman in Cleveland, criminal defense attorney Richard Herman in Las Vegas.

Gentlemen, we're going to listen to this. This the time of year when people talk about things they would like to have. When NFL quarterback Michael Vick talked about something he would love to have, this is what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL VICK, NFL QUARTERBACK: I would love to have another dog in the future. You know, I think it would be a big step for me in the rehabilitation process. I think just to have a pet in my household and show people that I genuinely care. (END VIDEO CLIP)

GRIFFIN: Ladies and gentlemen, hide your pets. This is the same Michael Vick who spent 18 months in prison for his role in a dog fighting ring, and other disgusting thing he did to dogs.

Richard, is he even allowed to have a dog?

HERMAN: Well, you know, part of his sentence for one more year, he cannot have a dog. So the only dog he can hang out with during the next year is Snoop D-O-double G. But I assure you, Drew, in one year we will be covering Michael Vick -- who right now is the number one vote getter in the NFL, for the pro bowl for any position, number one, and loved by Philadelphia -- we will be covering his story with his new dog. We'll be discussing how he's holding his new dog on TV. One more year he'll have a dog.

GRIFFIN: That is -- I'm 100 percent with you. It's a double standard. As long as he wins, he can do whatever he wants, Avery.

FRIEDMAN: Yes, yes, that's right. You know, Bernie Madoff apologized, too. Maybe we should start letting him do some of our personal investments.

HERMAN: A little different.

FRIEDMAN: The reality is that this order actually ends in 2012. So here in 2010 we have a long way to go. I don't know who is giving Michael Vick advice in terms of timing. I think it might have been LeBron James.

The truth is, it's a moot issue, because the federal judge ordered he was not allowed to have a pet. He can buy a snoopy doll or something like that. There's no way he deserves, or should get a dog. You're right, he's a great athlete. It has nothing to do with the issue here. I hope we don't cover that, but I have a hunch he will.

GRIFFIN: Avery, I mean, you guys, as an attorney, would you guys advise him to just shut up about dogs, right?

FRIEDMAN: Yes, that's what I say. Sounds like LeBron James advice. Keep quiet, comply with the order, listen what the federal judge has to say. 2012 is early enough for you to get your little pet.

HERMAN: Avery, LeBron is out of Cleveland, so forget about him now.

But listen, Drew, he's going to have a dog in one more year.

You didn't get him either, Richard.

The president of the Humane Society says he should have a dog. Come on, it doesn't get better than that.

GRIFFIN: Because the guy wants to put him in a public service announcement.

FRIEDMAN: Does it trump the federal district judge? No, it does not trump the federal judge.

GRIFFIN: It got a lot of people talking. Hold on, guys. Kwame Kilpatrick, Detroit mayor, former, right? What is going on with this guy? He's in more trouble than he even realizes. Isn't that right, Avery?

FRIEDMAN: Kwame Kilpatrick is going to wind up in the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Hall of Fame. He's living proof that you get used to power and then you start doing things overtly. That's the difficulty here. It's almost like something out of "Goodfellas." Take it back. Be smart. Don't be so overt. That's what will bury Kwame Kilpatrick.

Actually, according to the allegations in the 38-page complaint filed by the U.S. attorney, this actually was going on before he was a mayor, when he served in the legislature. Now his Father Bernard is a defendant. Again, entitled to the presumption of innocence, but the evidence frankly is overwhelming. This guy is in a huge big bowl of trouble.

GRIFFIN: Well, Richard, what is the trouble? Basically he's charged, I guess, with running a political corruption ring for profit.

HERMAN: The Kwamster, while sitting in prison now, and counting his days down, just got hit with a 38-count RICO indictment. RICO is used for criminal enterprises, usually against organized crime figures.

But here they are alleging that the corruption and the enterprise was the Kwame enterprise, where he was bid rigging, he was rigging contracts. He was getting bribes and kickbacks and tax evasion. They have gone after him 38 count RICO indictment. Drew, this is overwhelming. What's happening? All his close aides, all the people who were around him are running to the government to cut deals. They are all ratting on him. This guy is really in very bad shape.

GRIFFIN: Boy, if you live in Detroit, you have to shake your head. You just deserve so much better. There's no city that needs more political guidance and morally upstanding politicians.

FRIEDMAN: Hey, look, but the voters made the decision, Drew, the voters made the decision to put Kwame in. So you get what you vote for, I suppose.

HERMAN: They didn't know, they didn't know how bad he was.

GRIFFIN: All right, guys. As always, it's been a pleasure. It's been too long since I've been with you guys. Enjoyed it all.

FRIEDMAN: It has been.

GRIFFIN: See you down the road.

HERMAN: All the best.

GRIFFIN: Take care.

HERMAN: An historic day in the Senate today, Drew, an historic day.

GRIFFIN: Absolutely. We're following it at 3:00 o'clock, guys, be watching. It is going to go up o down at 3:00 o'clock. All right. A little later a rare look at soldier's lives from home to the battlefield. A preview of a soldier's story, many soldiers' stories, actually, all coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Just one year ago Tiger Woods' carefully crafted image came crashing down. This weekend, in a special report, our own T.J. Holmes examines Woods' career and talks exclusively to one of those mistresses, Veronica Daniels. Daniels gives viewers rare insights into the life of the world's first billion-dollar athlete.

Here is a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TIGER WOODS, PROFESSIONAL GOLFER: This has been a very successful year, even though it was a very painful year as well.

VERONICA DANIELS, TIGER WOODS' MISTRESS: I don't think he really is sorry. I think he's sorry he got caught.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Former porn actress Veronica Daniels was one of the women who came forward with claims of a relationship.

DANIELS: OK. I was so madly in love I couldn't walk away. We would text every day throughout the day.

HOLMES: How often would you see him after that initial meeting?

DANIELS: A few times a month. He would either come to Vegas or have me come out to wherever he was playing.

HOLMES: Did you feel like you had a boyfriend?

DANIELS: Yes, I did. I stopped seeing other people, I got out of the adult business because it was something that really bothered him.

HOLMES: Why were you making these types of sacrifices and changes in your life for him. Did you ever ask him to make any kind of changes for you?

DANIELS: The only thing I told him was just please be honest with me. You tell me I'm your only other woman, in your life, besides your wife, just don't break my trust and don't hurt my feelings.

HOLMES: And when Tiger Woods came forward and admitted cheating on his wife, Daniels learned she wasn't the only one.

DANIELS: I was like, I knew it. I knew it. I was like and he bold- faced lied to me. He not only lied to me through text messages, he lied to my face. (END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: We did reach out to Tiger Woods management company. There's been no response at all to Veronica Daniels claims. "DOWNFALL: THE TIGER WOODS SCANDAL," airs tonight Saturday night 10:00 p.m. Eastern and Sunday at 10:30 right here on CNN.

Reynolds Wolf checking the weather.

Reynolds, I always look at the glass half full. I'm telling you I checked out ski resorts in the Sierra, and they are getting dumped.

REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, yes, it is kind of a full glass, isn't it? That's a lot of snow.

GRIFFIN: A bucket full of snow, it's gorgeous.

WOLF: I'll tell you what, some places by the time we get into Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday could see up to 10 feet of snowfall. All of it, as Drew mentioned, it's out to the West. It's very easy to see, everything you happen to notice here is a blue or green color. That's rainfall. The white, and there is plenty of it in the High Sierra. That is all snow. Snow coupled with wind, some topping 70 miles an hour. Could give you whiteout conditions especially in spots right in this area, right near Truckee and the Tahoe area. That could be difficult for drivers. No question about it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WOLF: Drew, back to you.

GRIFFIN: Reynolds, big day in news. We'll be right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: That scene played out all day today. Emotional day for soldiers heading home for the holidays; hugs, cheers. tears. Numerous airports this is happening at, thousands of servicemen and women are on a short break. This touching reunion was at Atlanta's airport where thousands of troops are expected to pass through this weekend.

CNN is giving a rare look at soldier's lives. We're giving this special coverage called "A SOLDIER'S STORY." It documents a rare opportunity to following these troop from home front to battle front. You can catch the special tonight and tomorrow 8:00 Eastern Time. CNN's Jason Carroll reports. Here he is with a preview.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In the fading light of a cold December evening, barely one full year ago, the president of the United States boards Marine One, then Air Force One for a trip to West Point, New York.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.

CARROLL: The 33-minute speech he's about to deliver will affect the lives of every cadet in Eisenhower Hall.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As commander in chief, I have determined to send an additional 30,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

CARROLL: Along with every man and woman serving, or about to serve, in the United States military.

For more than a year, CNN has followed three of these soldiers. Together they tell the story of how the president's decision to expand the war in Afghanistan effects the people most directly in harm's way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One, two, three, come on, you've got it.

CARROLL: LaTrisha Rose joins the Army leaving behind a two-year-old daughter, a husband wondering how he can do it alone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here we go. We're almost done.

CARROLL: Sergeant Randy Shorter, is a husband and father of two. Just 32 years old, he's already a veteran of two combat tours. Now he's about to return to Afghanistan, to an area the military calls Hell on Earth.

Then there's 18-year-old Will McLane, who weeks from tonight may find himself carrying out the president's mission into the very heart of Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Again "A SOLDIER'S STORY" airs tonight and Sunday night, 8:00 Eastern. CNN's Jason Carroll following the lives of three people from different walks of life, beginning with the moment they pack their bags to each chapter to becoming U.S. soldiers.

Ahead in the NEWSROOM, we're expecting an historic vote today at 3:00 p.m. The Senate could actually repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." That's after they won a procedural vote that basically clears the hurdle for historic day for the U.S. military.

Right now, though, "YOUR $$$$$" is starting right here on CNN.