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START Treaty Debate; South Korea Drills to Resume; Accidental Heroines Reflect; Dazer Laser Helps Cops; NFL Super Bowl Prospects; Farmer Leaves Millions to Town
Aired December 19, 2010 - 18:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: On the verge of war and unstable Korea. Thousands of American troops are at the ready. The United Nations is holding an emergency meeting right now in New York. We're live at the U.N. and in North Korea.
An American tourist killed on vacation in Israel. Some think it's terror. Investigators are looking into it and so is CNN.
Two women, two separate and dangerous situations -- both jump in, risking their lives to help others. They do it when so many others don't. Why we help? Coming up.
But we start with new developments from the Senate's lame duck session that has kicked into overtime. The health care bill to help 9/11 first responders was thought to be all but dead. But right now, we're learning that there is new hope for it. New York two senators, Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, claim they've got the votes to pass the 9/11 bill before the end of this week. They say some Republicans are now onboard now that the bill is cut down by more than $1 billion, to $6.2 billion over two years. And they found a different way to fund it.
Senator Schumer is very optimistic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The clock is winding down. But we believe we're on the verge of an 11th hour breakthrough. This has been a long process. It's like running a marathon.
We've had a lot of ups and a lot of downs. But now, the finish line is in sight. It's not a done deal. There may be, yet, unforeseen hurdles. But barring a setback, we believe we're on the path to victory by the end of this week.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: The House would have to pass a new version of the bill. And the Senate has another matter to get to first. And it's a very big matter and a controversial one, as well -- a new nuclear arms reduction deal with Russia, known as the START Treaty.
Senate Republicans want to delay a vote until after the new Congress is seated in January. But Democrats want to vote now. And they say they have the votes to pass it.
Our Kate Bolduan is standing by at the White House for us.
Hello, Kate. So, getting START ratified this year is a major priority for the president. What are the chances that this will happen?
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's a very good question, Don. Absolutely. It is something that many people are asking at this point.
President Obama calls the new START Treaty an urgent national priority. And getting Congress to sign off on it is the final, big priority for this president in this lame duck session. That said, the Senate's top Republican, Senator Mitch McConnell, he came out today for the first time, voicing his opposition to the agreement. And that was on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" with Candy Crowley.
Listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: I've decided I cannot support the treaty. I think the verification provisions are inadequate. And I do worry about the missile implications of it.
The McCain amendment yesterday regarding missile defense was defeated. And I know the administration actually sent a letter up yesterday indicating they're committed to missile defense. But an equally important question is: how do the Russians view missile defense? And how do our European allies view missile defense?
And I'm concerned about it. I think if they had taken more time with this, rushing it right before Christmas, it strikes me as trying to jam us. I think, if they had taken more time -- I know the members of the foreign relations committee spent a lot of time to this, but the rest of us haven't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: And while McConnell's opposition is not entirely surprising, it is important, because Democrats need Republican support to get the two-thirds majority to ratify the treaty. This is a treaty that President Obama and Russian President Medvedev signed in April. And, in essence, what the treaty will do is resume mutual inspections of nuclear arsenals for both countries, as well as limit the number of warheads for both countries.
And this is important because the U.S. and Russia are the two largest nuclear powers in the world. And this treaty is a key foreign policy measure for this White House. And so, the White House is fighting back, fighting back against Republican criticism, saying that Congress has had plenty of time to debate and consider this treaty, and that they need to move ahead.
Listen here to Vice President Joe Biden from today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSEPH BIDEN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There's been 18 hearings; 1,000 questions we've answered. And -- but on others, they just simply are against any arms control agreement. That's the category that, when I say any, they're simply against this arms control -- Senator DeMint is four-square against it. It wouldn't matter what it said.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Still, Vice President Biden and key lawmakers on both sides of the aisle believe they have enough votes to ratify this treaty. But the big question remains: when will this treaty come up for a vote? When will ratification come up for a vote? That remains unclear tonight, Don.
LEMON: Kate Bolduan at the White House -- Kate, thank you very much.
Also on the Senate's agenda is keeping the federal government from shutting down. The government is operating on a short-term funding bill that runs out on Tuesday. But, now, there's a Senate deal to extend it through March. That's according to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" today as you just saw earlier.
This is all because Congress has failed to pass a budget for the rest of the fiscal year. Senate Democrats are still riding high on the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" right now. Eight Republicans crossed party lines yesterday to help pass the bill that will allow gays to serve openly in the military. But it was clear from the Sunday talk shows that some senators are just never going to see eye- to-eye on this issue.
Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
SEN. JOHN KERRY (D), MASSACHUSETTS: Our citizens will no longer have to lie and live a lie on a daily basis, or be denied the opportunity to serve their country. Gay people have served the United States with distinction. They've won awards. They've given their lives, all through our history.
SEN. JOHN KYL (R), ARIZONA: I, frankly, have to follow the lead of people like the commandant of the Marine Corps, like John McCain, who says that when it comes especially to the small units who do the fighting on the ground, the U.S. Marine Corps, the Army combat troops, who according to the survey taken by the poll, were 60 percent opposed to this, it could disrupt cohesion and, as the commandant said, cost lives. That means a lot to me.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
LEMON: President Obama is set to sign the repeal this week.
It is now Monday morning on the North Korean Peninsula. But this is no ordinary day. Peace hangs by a thread here. South Korea, on the verge of holding military exercises off the North Korean coast, which North Korea warns are designed to, quote, "ignite war."
Why should Americans care? Because there are nearly 30,000 American troops in South Korea. More than 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. Any outbreak of hostilities puts them in harm's way.
CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has this reaction from the Defense Department.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. military, indeed, the entire Obama administration, trying to ratchet down tensions on the Korean Peninsula. But as long as South Korea remains committed to conducting live fire exercises and the North continues to say it will respond militarily, anxieties remain high.
The Pentagon is maintaining around-the-clock communications with South Korea, trying to stay on top of the situation and ready to weigh in the hopefully unlikely event hostilities break out. But that effort is really aimed at trying to keep South Korea and, indeed, both sides from escalating any action to keep any military hostilities from occurring.
Several U.S. military analysts say the problem is it's just so hard to read North Korea's intentions at this point. The regime there is focused on staying in power and retaining absolute control. The hope is that the North Korean government doesn't see military action as their means to do that.
Barbara Starr, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Barbara, thank you very much.
South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island is a military outpost just a few miles from North Korea. The North hit it last month with a barrage of deadly artillery. South Korean residents have already begun evacuating in case North Korea strikes again.
And CNN's Kyung Lah was there as residents (INAUDIBLE) by ferry to the mainland.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Carrying what they can, Yeonpyeong villagers head to what they believe is the last ferry off the island. Flanked by armed, military personnel, evacuees boarded, carrying children, and helping the elderly.
"I'm leaving because they said the drills are tomorrow," says 66-year- old Kim Ok Jin. She does not want to leave.
"Of course, I'm angry," she tells me. "But that's not going to change anything."
(on camera): The residents who are evacuating Yeonpyeong Island on this ferry hasn't left just once. This is the second time that they're evacuating. The difference now, at least they have warning.
(voice-over): Nearly a month ago, there was none, before North Korean artillery shells landed in a stunning attack on the village, killing two civilians and two South Korean marines.
The village today, silence, few signs of life ,except for military trucks patrolling and waiting.
Not everyone is leaving. Song Young Ok hasn't been told to stop selling ferry tickets off the island or when the military drills will be. She'll stay behind, she says. For her and several dozen others still here, these bunkers are where the military says she can find cover. Song wonders why it has to be this way.
"North Korea says they will retaliate even more strongly. Going ahead with the drills, knowing this is pretty much picking a fight with them."
As the ferry steams to the Korean Peninsula, these elderly neighbors reflect on their divided homeland and the cost of a war that never truly ended.
"It's OK," says 83-year-old Lee Chung Neyo, on the damage to her community and the pain of evacuating. "The soldiers need to them, right?"
The ferry now back, the islanders on the mainland, family awaits. "Take care," says Lee. "Take care."
Kyung Lah, CNN, Incheon, South Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: As we told you, this military exercise is set to get underway between North and South Korea, really has people up in arm there and frightened because they believe this is designed to, quote, "start a war."
Let's go now to the U.N., and CNN's Richard Roth who is standing by at an emergency meeting there.
So, Richard, can the Security Council keep up like this -- keep this from happening?
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SR. UNITED NATIONS CORRESPONDENT: I doubt it, if it was to happen. But the Security Council is still huddled, for hours now, behind closed doors.
What's of interest is that right now, there's a private meeting going on with the diplomat from the North and the South of Korea, in a room together, with the full Security Council. It's not a public one. Normally, these would be held public. But I think countries didn't want this to be seen at the moment while there's still division in the Security Council.
Russia and China are really intent on not making a statement that's condemnatory of North Korea. The U.S. and other countries feel there should be a statement that points the finger at Pyongyang for the escalating of tensions and doesn't just balance and equivocate between the North and the South.
The Security Council, Don, weeks ago, was never able to resolve differences and even condemn the shelling of that island we just saw reports about. So, the divisions remain inside the Security Council. They're working on a press statement, which is the lowest form of diplomatic action, really, which can take place here. It's not even official record.
But Russia was intent on calling the meeting. They wanted action. We're going to have to see. They've been doing at it since shortly after 11:00 in the morning. And the discussions are continuing right now, Don.
LEMON: So, Russia and China share boarders with North Korea. What do they want the Security Council to do again here, Richard?
ROTH: They're more intent on having a statement urging calm, you know, diffusing of tensions. Something that they think would get the attention of both sides. But, as we know, North Korea, especially, has not heeded Security Council warnings, sanctions and statements before.
LEMON: So, Richard, who's in charge in North Korea? Is it Kim Jong- Il? Is it his son? Is it the military?
ROTH: Well, that's always an interesting dinner table conversation. Certainly, most of the analysis is focused on the son, who has been appointed as the next star, that a lot of this is to buttress his claims to power and to, as the leader fades from -- because of age and illness, to give him some strength, in which the military might follow him, to show aggression, to show that the North is still going to be the tough guy, some would say the erratic tough guy there. And a lot of analysts think that's what's really going on here.
But, now, South Korea is upset they didn't respond to the shelling. They didn't respond militarily to the sinking of a South Korean vessel, with dozens of sailors lost. That's why they say, and Wolf Blitzer has reported from there, the tinderbox environment exists now, perhaps more than we've had in recent years.
LEMON: Richard Roth, watching that emergency meeting at the United Nations, we'll be checking back with him. Thank you, Richard.
A winter storm is really slamming the West Coast. Some mountain areas would get up to 10 feet. That's right. I say 10 feet of snow -- while others are battling ice and severe floods. We'll find out how long this will last.
And I'm online. And you are online, too. So, check out my social media accounts. And let's connect. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: It's almost winter -- almost winter. And the weather is supposed to be bad, right? Not this bad.
Well, you haven't seen anything like this in a long time. A massive winter storm has paralyzed parts of Europe. Thousands of passengers are stranded at airports, like London's Heathrow. Workers there are scrambling to remove about 30 tons of snow from each of the airport's 200 gates. Wow!
Back here in this country, as we say, back here at home, monster storms are slamming the entire West Coast. They could get dumped with up to 10 feet. I can't believe I'm saying that -- 10 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. And as you can see, it was so slow-going there on Interstate 80 in California that people just had to sort of hunker down and be patient.
And that's not the only problem. Howling winds are punching the storms ashore. And wind gusts up to 50, 60, even 70 miles per hour are being clocked in some areas. High winds toppled trees and power lines. And the damage was so widespread that the road crews there in Washington state ran out of "road closed" signs.
Not even winter, as I said, almost winter. Those Pacific coast storms could bring torrential rains to lower elevations. It's not a laughing matter. But we can't believe it.
Let's just go to Karen Maginnis right now. I can't believe I'm reading this and I'm going -- it's unbelievable -- 10 feet of snow, Karen, in the Sierra?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: There are revised forecasts now saying 12 feet above 7,000 feet in the Sierra Nevada.
LEMON: Wow.
MAGINNIS: Already, Mammoth Lakes, 108 inches of snowfall.
Why is all of this happening? Well, we've got an area of low pressure that's just off the Pacific Northwest. So, there you got that core of cold air and moisture. Then, there's the pineapple express. You probably heard this mentioned a couple of times over the weekend. That's as deep subtropical moisture that's moving in from the Central Pacific. So, we've got tons, tons, tons of moisture that just kind of streaming in. Now, I want to point out one thing.
Right around this Bay area, there are two-hour delays at the international airport in San Francisco. But there's a little bit of dry air right now. Don't count on that to last very long, lower elevations, heavy rainfall. Los Angeles has seen just about three inches of rain.
For the Sierra Nevada, as I mentioned, Don, about above 7,000 feet. This is where we're looking at six to 12 inches of snowfall. But not just there, into the Cascades, and over in the Wasatch and the Uinta Mountains, lesser amounts here. So, it's going to be a little more enjoyable than people who have to go up I-5 or Interstate 80.
I think we got some pictures out of Kingvale. This is along Interstate 80. And they're enjoying the skiing. But you can only do this so far.
When the wind is gusty at some of the summit points, the winds have been gusting up to around 70 miles per hour. Now, some of the highest peaks I have seen have been just about 50 miles an hour when you get up to some of the elevations. But for the most part, this is a wind and rain-driven snow. Higher peaks, we're looking at heavy amounts of snowfall that are expected.
Here we go: Mammoth Lakes, 108 inches; 12 inches at Three Rivers; 53 at Alpine Meadows in California. Well, this gives you a very clear illustration of this pineapple express, just kind of ushering in all of that moisture across the West.
And, you know, Don, you were right. It isn't officially winter. Meteorologically, it is winter. But in the Midwest, Chicago-ish area, looks like temperatures stay pretty much in the 20s all the way through Christmas.
LEMON: Really?
MAGINNIS: Yes.
LEMON: Snow? White Christmas?
MAGINNIS: Oh, they'll get some snow I think in the next couple of days. But on Christmas Day, I haven't looked that far yet.
LEMON: I had a white Christmas in Chicago. I was there -- I lived there a couple of years. It was very nice.
MAGINNIS: Yes. Chicago's a beautiful city.
LEMON: Yes, of course. And we know this. Thank you, Karen Maginnis. Appreciate it. We'll check back with you.
Hey, listen, we have some new developments -- really breaking news when it concerns the situation in North and South Korea. We're going to have a live report just after the break. Don't go anywhere.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Breaking news now. We have been telling you about pending military exercises between South and North Korea.
We want to go to Seoul, South Korea now and our Kyung Lah -- because, Kyung, we are hearing that the exercises will get underway. What do you know?
LAH: We just got off the phone with the South Korean joint chiefs of staff, Don. And the military is now announcing that these drills, these naval, live fire drills on Yeonpyeong Island will be taking place this morning. It is Monday morning here in Seoul. You can see it's a little hazy behind me. The military is saying the only thing that would have stopped this drill is the weather, despite what's happening at the U.N. Security Council.
So, the military saying we are now just hours away from the start of these live fire drills.
Now, what does this mean? Those waters where these drills are expected to take place, it's very similar drills, of just a month ago. It led North Korea to shell the island that killed two civilians and two South Korean marines.
Now, what North Korea said is that if these drills -- again which South Korea says will take place -- if these drills happen, North Korea will respond with stronger firepower. South Korea then is also expected to respond. And you're looking at a situation, Don, that could quickly spiral out of control, which potentially could drag the United States into this. Remember, there are 30,000 U.S. troops that are stationed here in South Korea. If you look, regionally, there are tens of thousands in Japan and the Philippines.
So, we're talking about a situation, that at this point, the U.N. Security Council is still in that meeting. We're waiting to see if anything can come out of that. Right now, South Korea's military saying they are not going to stop the drills. In fact, they are going to happen -- and happening in just a few hours.
LEMON: All right. Kyung Lah, stand by in Seoul, South Korea.
And, again, we want to update our viewers. We have been reporting on this about these pending military drills between South and North Korea, that many believe will ignite a war there. There's an emergency meeting going on now at the United Nations.
Our Richard Roth is there. They're trying to at least create or develop some sort of language that will stop these drills from happening. But so far, he said nothing has happened. And our reports from Kyung Lah is that the South Korean joint chiefs of staff confirm that military drills will happen today, Monday. It is 8:24 in the morning there, 6:23 here. They're 14 hours ahead of us.
Again, those military drills will happen. This is going to be quite interesting.
Also, remember, our Wolf Blitzer is in Korea as well, in Pyongyang. He's traveling there with Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico.
We will update you live here on CNN. So, make sure you stay tuned.
You know, it's something most of us don't even think about. What would you do if you saw a police officer being attacked on the side of the road? Or what would you do if you saw your friend staring down the barrel of a gun? Coming up: We'll meet two women who did not hesitate to jump into action while others just stood by and watch.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLITZER: All right. Here's a question we've all asked yourselves at one time or another: What would I do? What would I do? Like, what would I do if I saw a man attacking a police officer? Or what would I do if I saw a gunman taking hostages?
I'm joined now by two people who lived these real experiences. And they both chose to get involved. Angela Pierce saw a Dayton, Ohio police officer under attacked and jumped into help. And then Ginger Littleton, she used her purse to strike the gunman who took over this week's school board meeting in Panama City, Florida.
Thanks to both of you.
So, Ginger -- Ginger is on the phone joining us now.
Angela, I want to start with you. And then I want to ask -- what made you decide to help when you saw that officer in trouble?
ANGELA PIERCE, HELPED POLICE OFFICER SUBDUE SUSPECT: I just felt like that could be my father or my grandfather out there and I just wanted to help.
LEMON: You didn't think about your own safety? Or whether you could get hurt or even lose your life?
PIERCE: No, I didn't even think about -- I didn't think about it. I just hopped out the car to help him.
LEMON: So, you didn't have time. You just reacted the way you did?
PIERCE: Yes, I did.
LEMON: So, Ginger, I saw the press conference live, when you were there, you and the entire school board. You'd already left the room. You were safe. And then you chose to go back to try to help up your fellow board members. I mean, what were you thinking?
I heard you said your daughters say, you know, you have three daughters and they said, mom, are you nuts? What were you thinking?
GINGER LITTLETON, BOARD MEMBER, BAY DISTRICT SCHOOLS (via telephone): Well, they did say that. And I'm not sure I have the right answer. I think maybe that's might have been a right answer. But at that time, when I turned back around, Don, this man had moved up behind my board members at the same level. And there was nothing between him and his gun and my guys. And it was pretty evident at that point that they had a few seconds to live because he was going to do something really bad.
So, I didn't -- it wasn't analysis. It was what can I do? This is what I can do. I'm going to do it.
LEMON: Yes, you just kind of reacted. It's like that adrenaline kicks in and you just do it. The gunman didn't drop the gun. And then at that point, what crossed your mind when that happened? I heard you scream. LITTLETON: Well, he turned around swiftly. And I fell. I don't think he meant to push me down. He just reacted so quickly and I fell.
And when I found myself sort of eye-level with his kneecap, I thought, you know, I don't have a plan B. This might not end very well. But it -- sort of, as Angela said, it was something that needed to be done. And you don't have time to analyze it, you just do it and hope for the best.
LEMON: Would you do it all over again, Ginger?
LITTLETON: I have no idea. None whatsoever. This was a unique circumstance. No one ever expected this nut job to come into the room, armed as he was. And my guys had, as I've said before, three- ring binders and pencils.
LEMON: Yes.
LITTLETON: So something had to delay it or diffuse it somehow because the cavalry was not in the room at the time, and they had to get there or someone was going to be dead.
LEMON: Angela, would you do it all over again?
ANGELA PIERCE, HELPED POLICE OFFICER SUBDUE SUSPECT: I couldn't say right now. I really don't know. Maybe, maybe not.
LEMON: Maybe, maybe not. Do you think more people should help? Because we often see these things where something like this happens, similar situations, and no one will stop to help. Do you think more people should jump in?
PIERCE: I mean, it depends on the scenario. It depends on what it is. I mean, I don't know.
LEMON: Yes. But there is -- there is that fear, Angela, initially because you don't know. And so you can understand -- can you understand why people don't help when they're presented with situations like you?
PIERCE: Yes, because they don't know what the person's going to do...
LEMON: Yes.
PIERCE: ... or what they got because I didn't know what he had. I didn't know what the police was going to do. I just reacted because I heard him hollering for help.
LEMON: Yes. What was the ultimate outcome? Did you ever see this guy again?
PIERCE: No.
LEMON: And what happened with him? How did it all end?
PIERCE: He went to jail. And they let me leave. I went on by my way for that night.
LEMON: Did you hear from the police department again?
PIERCE: No. I didn't actually think it was going to make the news because I didn't hear from them for, like, two days. And then Monday, the following Monday, that's when they was calling me.
LEMON: Yes. So Ginger, any advice to people who are out there? Would you tell them to jump in, would you tell them not to, after your particular experience?
LITTLETON: I don't think -- I think that's way above my pay grade, actually, Don. I think everyone has to do individually what he or she has to do. And it could have had a very different ending, and I could have been the one that precipitated a bloodbath. I mean, you just don't know. But at some point, when your options are limited and you have to do something, then you take the limited options and do what you think is going to work. And sometimes it does and sometimes it doesn't. We were just very, very blessed that it worked out as well as it did.
LEMON: Yes. As I said on the day when you guys held that press conference, there was levity during the press conference, and if anyone knew the meaning of the season, Ginger, it's you guys right now. And I'm sure that's how you will be celebrating, with that in mind.
LITTLETON: This is going to be a phenomenal holiday season. We've already been baking Christmas cookies and singing carols. And my family has been here, and we're just going to stay close. I'm in the nesting mode right now, and I will do that for a while.
LEMON: Ginger Littleton and Angela Pierce, thanks to both of you. Glad you're safe. And happy holidays, OK?
LITTLETON: Thank you, Don.
PIERCE: Thank you. Merry Christmas.
LEMON: Merry Christmas.
A new tool for law enforcement. We'll show you how the dazer taser (SIC) is something to be feared by bad guys.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Cops versus criminals. What usually comes to mind is guns, tasers and really handcuffs. But there's more than one way to stop a bad guy. Gary Tuchman shows us a new crime-fighting weapon in today's "Edge of Discovery."
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get down!
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this simulated SWAT team takedown, the bad guy is distracted by a psychedelic green light called a dazer laser.
ROBERT BATTIS, LASER ENERGETICS: It's like a flash. The dazer laser's capable of blocking your vision entirely.
TUCHMAN: The laser isn't meant to replace guns or pepper spray. It's intended to give law enforcement more options.
BATTIS: If it can take out the vision, if it can take down the criminal, they can do it less violently, safer, and they can do it more effectively.
TUCHMAN: Robert Battis says there are plenty of other applications for the device.
BATTIS: It can be used for air marshals. It can be used in applications of the military, in applications that would even be for park rangers, for animal control. It can be used for riots, crowd control. Could be used in security applications.
TUCHMAN: The makers say the technology they use is safe and effective from just a few feet away to over a mile away. And they say it doesn't cause permanent damage to the eye. Dazer lasers could be in the hands of a U.S. law enforcement agency soon.
Gary Tuchman, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: Coming up on CNN, a brutal storm slamming the West Coast. We're talking snow, ice, even floods. It's some of the worst wintry weather the West Coast has seen in years.
And after more than a month of uncertainty, Iraq may soon have a government.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: In the headlines right now, an emergency Sunday meeting for the U.N. Security Council is still going on. At stake, the threat of war on the Korean peninsula. South Korea says it will go ahead with planned military exercises that North Korea warns could provoke an outbreak of hostilities. The Security Council seems to have reached an impasse on a meaningful resolution to calm tensions. China has blocked any language that would be critical of North Korea.
Senate Republicans are intensifying their efforts to postpone a vote on the new arms control treaty with Russia. Democrats want to vote before the lame duck Congress dissolves, and they say they have the votes to pass the new START treaty. Well, the treaty will need at least 10 Republican votes to be ratified, a number that will climb higher once the new Congress is seated in January.
The West Coast is getting pounded by massive storms. There's snow in the higher elevations, torrential rains elsewhere, all accompanied by howling winds. Up to 10 feet of snow is possible in the Sierra Nevadas. And up to 18 inches of rain could trigger flash flooding and mudslides in the Central Valley and southern California. Not a good day to be on the West Coast.
Wall Street is finishing out the year on a high note. CNN will closely be following developments as several key economic reports are issued this coming week. But we begin this week's look ahead in Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I'm Paul Steinhauser at the CNN political desk. How many people live in the U.S., and where do they live? And how many states will gain congressional seats and which ones will lose them? We'll find out Tuesday, when the U.S. Census Bureau unveils the results of the country's 2010 census. The findings will kick off a battle next year between Democrats and Republicans over congressional redistricting.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: I'm Poppy Harlow in New York. Well, investors have a host of economic reports ahead of them this week. Top of mind will be the final reading on third-quarter GDP. That's set to be released on Wednesday before the market opens. This, of course, is the broadest measure of U.S. economic growth, and most economists the rate of growth to tick up to 2.6 percent.
Also ahead this week, the latest jobless claims report, as well as a look at consumer sentiment and also new home sales. Both of those coming on Thursday. And of course, on Friday, the stock market will be closed for Christmas Eve.
A.J. HAMMER, "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT": I'm "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" A.J. Hammer. Looking ahead this week, two special editions of "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" for you. First "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" fame and fury. We're talking about the biggest star controversies that sparked outrage. And wait until you see this. It's "SHOWBIZ" "Wow," talking about the eye-popping, head- shaking, most stunning celebrity moments caught on tape. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" is live at 5:00 PM Eastern on HLN, and we are still TV's most provocative entertainment news show at 11:00 PM Eastern and Pacific.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, let's bring in CNN international desk editor Azadeh Ansari. And we start in Iraq.
AZADEH ANSARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL DESK EDITOR: Absolutely. So Don, it's been nine months since the Iraqi elections took place, and Iraq is still on this odyssey to form their government. So on Monday, the Iraqi parliament is going to meet and prime minister Nuri al Maliki is scheduled to make a partial nomination on his cabinet of ministers. So we'll see what happens. He has until Christmas to make a decision, or else it's back to the drawing board.
LEMON: All right, let's go to Afghanistan now.
ANSARI: OK, so in Afghanistan, we have a situation where our senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is going to look at areas where we've seen increased improvement due to the surge in U.S. troops and what's going to happen once we downsize and they leave, so... LEMON: OK.
ANSARI: ... that's a highlight piece for us.
LEMON: And last week, we were watching this, too, but this week, we're going to continue to watch it. In Belarus, the elections.
ANSARI: Right. The elections. So we had a lot of post-election fall-out that happened today, with the winning of President Lukashenko coming into office. And we're going to be monitoring this to see if there's any more violence or protests that happen.
LEMON: All right, Azadeh Ansari, we'll be following. Have a great week, OK?
ANSARI: You, too.
LEMON: All right, we appreciate it.
All right, so here's one for the football fans, all you football fans out there. The NFL playoffs are just around the corner. And coming up, a look at the teams some analysts are already speculating will be in the Super Bowl.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right, this is going to be fun. We're coming down to the wire in the NFL, with the playoffs fast approaching. No team is playing with more confidence and attracting more attention than the New England Patriots, and some analysts already are penciling them in as a team in the Super Bowl. Why did you do that?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JAMAL ANDERSON, FORMER NFL PLAYER: I didn't pencil them in!
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Hey, you know, it's a long season.
LEMON: Let me introduce you first. (INAUDIBLE) causing trouble already! Joining us to talk some sports, Jamal Anderson, a former running back for the Atlanta Falcons. And then there's Rashan Ali, she's the newest member of our team. Rashan Ali is an Atlanta sports commentator. And sports attorney David Cornwell, a regular here.
I'm going to start with this troublemaker right here. Let's start with you. Do you agree that the Patriots are the favorites to get to the Super Bowl?
ANDERSON: I mean, I certainly think with their history, obviously, Tom Brady...
LEMON: Hold on a second. Feel free to cut him off at any time because...
(CROSSTALK)
RASHAN ALI, SPORTS COMMENTATOR: I will. No worries.
LEMON: All right. Go ahead.
ANDERSON: I'm just saying that I understand it, Don, the history, Tom Brady, Bill Belichick. They've been there. They've won (INAUDIBLE) Super Bowls. They've won three of them. So I get it. But they're not the only team with the best record in the NFL.
LEMON: David...
ALI: And I would have to say, people are really overlooking the Atlanta Falcons. I think that they have done some tremendous things this season. And they're -- they've just been really quiet and under the radar, and they're going to surprise a lot of people.
LEMON: David?
DAVID CORNWELL, SPORTS ATTORNEY: There's no question the Patriots are playing well, but to paraphrase Herman Edwards (ph), that's why you play the game. When you get into the playoffs, it's a single elimination tournament. Just because they're playing well now doesn't mean they're going to get into the Super Bowl.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: I hate to -- you know, I hate to upset my mother. But she's, like, The Saints, the Saints. She goes, they can still go to the Super Bowl. I'm, like, Mom...
(LAUGHTER)
ALI: You know, I -- they can, but they won't.
LEMON: All right. They won't.
ANDERSON: I'm not prepared to count out the Super Bowl champions. Listen, they had a tough game today against the Baltimore Ravens, but they did fight back, fought to the finish on the road, so...
LEMON: All right. So David, I want to talk about this with you. There's a lot of talk out there about the NFL. They may expand the regular season by 2 games to 18, and get rid of a couple pre-season games. So you were a finalist, we know, to represent the team back in the day, the Association, the first one. What do you think's going to happen with this?
CORNWELL: The owners have the right to extend to 18 games. They want to do it to increase revenues. But I think it's a huge problem. The impact on players' bodies by adding two games per year is really remarkable. And when you think about it, the average career of the NFL players, three-and-a-half years, and it has been for 20 years. With focus on health and safety that we have in the NFL, we should be talking about prolonging careers and not shortening them.
LEMON: You guys are all -- you're shaking...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: No, no, no. Listen, it -- the bottom line for me is, every time you take the field, you risk getting injured. Of course, the more plays you're out there, the more possibility you have of getting injured. I was hurt twice on the football field on plays where nobody really touched me.
So my thing is, if the pre-season is four games, or five teams for some teams who are playing internationally, and they cut two pre- season games, and really, for NFL players, we get more -- the NFL pay is spread out over 16 games. If it's 18 games, two more checks. The games actually count. It matters to the fans. As far as I'm concerned as a player, every time I take the field, I have a chance of getting hurt. I'd rather get hurt in a regular season game where it counts than in the pre-season.
ALI: As long as the base salary for the players is increased per game, I think it's OK. But then I still, on the flip side of that, I agree with David that the risk of injury just increases tremendously.
CORNWELL: Remember the reason that players would want to do it is for -- they get better benefits and more pay. Well, the reason the owners want to increase the length of the season is more revenue. So you end up taking -- adding more expense to increase revenue. So that kind of doesn't make sense.
LEMON: OK. All right.
ANDERSON: The ex-player doesn't mind these two games.
LEMON: I was going to say -- I was going to say it's all about you.
(CROSSTALK)
LEMON: We're glad you're OK when you got injured, but it's all about you.
ANDERSON: No, but I mean, my point is pretty simple. It really doesn't matter. Like I said, if I play one series in the pre-season, which I did every pre-season game, I could get hurt in that series. I'd rather it count than not count. So 18 games to me, I'm, like, Whatever.
CORNWELL: You were an exceptional player and your career was longer than three-and-a-half years.
ALI: It was.
ANDERSON: Barely, though.
CORNWELL: But you're an exception to the rule.
LEMON: OK, let's talk about Michael Vick.
ALI: Oh, I love this!
LEMON: Big talk about the Pro Bowl, right, leading for a couple reasons. And then should he have a dog?
ALI: Well, you know, I know David is going to get into the legalities of it. I believe that once his probation is over that he can have a pet. His children...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's America!
ALI: It's America. I believe that he has the right to have a pet. I do believe that he has the compassion for animals. He still has compassion for animals.
LEMON: Here's my thing. When I see the advertisement for the team, Michael Vick's name goes before the team, right? It's like, you know, "and starring blah, blah, blah in such and such movie," the star -- he's the star of the team. They're taking a big risk, but it's paying off. He has a lot of love. Why does he have such support?
CORNWELL: He's not just the star of the team. I think he's the most valuable player in the National Football League this year. His story of redemption and comeback is not about talent, it's about character and commitment. He did two sit-down interviews this week. This young man is remarkable, and we -- every -- the level of hate and anger that people had should be reversed now and embrace him. He's doing an incredible job.
ALI: Right. And he's become a student of the game. And I say three words. God is love. He's been forgiven by the higher being, and it's OK. It doesn't matter what we think.
ANDERSON: I'm not with all of the dog conversation right now. I'll tell you why Michael Vick leads the charge with the Eagles. While you were probably prepping for the show, I'm sure, Don -- because you're a perfectionist -- Vick was leading the Eagles back from a 24-3 deficit in New York today. They won a football game where they should have easily lost.
The conversation about a dog -- Mike was talking about part of the rehabilitation process down the line. It's not something that's going to happen in the next couple of years.
LEMON: All right.
CORNWELL: But he's having a fantastic season.
LEMON: Listen, everybody makes mistakes. I'm not saying that I'm for or against him, but America is a place for redemption, right?
ALI: Yes. Absolutely.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, guys.
CORNWELL: We ought to honor him for that.
ALI: Yes.
LEMON: All right. Thank you, guys.
ALI: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Thank you.
LEMON: It's good to have a young lady here.
ALI: That's right!
LEMON: I love it, I love it, I love it!
ALI: (INAUDIBLE) female.
LEMON: All right, straight ahead, we're going to take you to a small town where they're still talking about a penny-pinching farmer. Look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
EILEEN EVANS, LEROY RESIDENT: Very frugal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Watched his pennies.
EVANS: Very frugal!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: We'll show you what this frugal farmer did, and we're sure it'll have you talking, as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Well, this is a story about people in a small Minnesota community and what happens when they receive unexpected gifts from someone they've always known as being tight with his money. Boyd Huppert of our Minneapolis affiliate KARE has this wonderful Christmas story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOYD HUPPERT, KARE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): There are people in big cities who would consider this harsh, unwelcoming country, people who wouldn't give a nickel to live in Leroy, Minnesota, who wouldn't pay the quarter they charge for coffee at the Leroy senior citizen center.
EILEEN EVANS, LEROY RESIDENT: And if they take a cookie, that's another quarter.
HUPPERT: People who need to pull up a chair and listen.
EVANS: My God, we've never had this kind of money!
HUPPERT: As Eileen Evans (ph) tells the story of small-town values and a check. EVANS: We didn't know what to do -- you know, it was $20,000.
HUPPERT: The envelope arrived from the estate of 94-year-old Loren Krueger, a retired farmer who had seen his share of sadness, having lost his first wife, then his second, having lost his only child, a teenage son, to cancer. But long before he passed away last year, Loren gained a reputation.
EVANS: Very frugal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Watched his pennies.
EVANS: Very frugal! Very -- he was very careful with his money.
HUPPERT: Apparently so. For as he humbly lived out his days in this white frame house on Main Street, Loren quietly amassed...
EVANS: We held onto it for a while.
HUPPERT: ... a fortune.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I said, Well, let me see it! I've never seen a check like that before.
HUPPERT: That first $20,000 check was followed by two more, $100,000 each.
EVANS: I said, my God, look at this! Look at this!
HUPPERT: Up to then, the seniors had been getting by on what the county gave their center, $600 a year.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Altogether, what did we get?
EVANS: Well, we got -- we got $220,000 total.
HUPPERT: And Loren wasn't done.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He left this church.
HUPPERT: Loren willed roughly a million dollars to St. Patrick's Catholic church.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Came here for many, many, many years.
HUPPERT: Then he revealed an ecumenical streak.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think we're very blessed.
HUPPERT: When Loren left the Presbyterians more than $400,000, too.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're looking at the new steel roof that we put on our church hall, thanks to Loren.
HUPPERT: Checks for the same amount were delivered to Bethany Bible Church and to Lutherans, who've already used some of Loren's gift to repair their bell tower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were notified through his attorney.
HUPPERT: That old pumper truck behind Chief Rick Dolman (ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's an '80.
HUPPERT: Plans are to replace it with a new one, thanks to the $220,000 Loren left the fire department.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is our crew quarters.
HUPPERT: Another $220,000 allowed the ambulance service to build an apartment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So we have to get another bed in here yet.
HUPPERT: For its on-call EMTs.
EVANS: I mean, honest to God! Nobody...
(CROSSTALK)
HUPPERT: All told, Loren spread some $3 million. Frugal was the word pinned on Loren Krueger in life. Generous is the way he'll be remembered.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's astounding what he did.
HUPPERT: There are still people who wouldn't give a nickel to live in Leroy. But folks around here prefer to put their faith in the kind of person who'd give everything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: It's a very nice holiday story from Boyd Huppert of our affiliate in Minneapolis, KARE.
Every weekend, we like to bring you some interesting news items that you might have missed throughout the week, and we call it "News You Missed."
First off, it's like, whatever, you know what I mean? OK, as far as annoying sentences go, that sentence pretty well covers it. A new Marist poll finds "whatever" topped the list of the most annoying word or phrase for the second year in a row, getting 39 percent of the vote. The teen favorite "like" was second, followed by "you know what I mean," or should be, "know what I mean," "know what I mean." Rounding out the top five, "to tell the truth," and then "actually."
All right, no fancy how fancy your Christmas -- no matter how fancy your Christmas tree is, it can't hold a candle to this one. It's in the United Arab Emirates. To do something better, you'd have to come up with $12 million worth of gems and precious metals to use as decorations. The tree is located inside one of the world's poshest hotels, the Emirates Palace. It's in Abu Dhabi. But now the hotel is having some second thoughts about it. It says the excess was in bad taste. Maybe so.
The next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM begins right now.
