Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
North Korea Won't Strike After Drill; GOP Wants More Time with START; Ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Aired December 20, 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: Happy Monday, guys. Thanks so much. It's 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast; 6:00 a.m. out West.
Here are some of the stories that have us talking this morning.
As you just heard, the FBI officially gave the all-clear signal at Newark Liberty International Airport. The discovery of that suspicious package shut down the terminal. That package found harmless and as you can see, everything has reopened.
In Britain, 12 suspected terrorists arrested in early morning raids across several cities. A security source tells CNN the suspects are of all Pakistani descent.
And a metal thought to cause cancer is flowing out of faucets in at least 31 American cities. A group says it found chromium 6 in tap water in cities nationwide. The same carcinogen made famous by Erin Brockovich.
And if you shop for pet food at Kroger check the bag. Pet Food packages in 19 states recalled. It might have a toxic chemical byproduct. Here's the brands to look for -- Pet Pride Cat and Kitten Food, Old Yeller Chunk Dog Food as well as Kroger Value Cat Food and Chunk Food.
We begin with a step back from the brink on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea now says it will not strike the South following today's live fire naval drill. That's in spite of an earlier promise that the North would attack with, quote, "unpredictable self defensive blows."
The South is on high alert following the 94-minute military exercise near the Yeonpyeong Island. That's the small island shelled by the North last month. Tensions still running high this hour and keep in mind about 30,000 U.S. troops are stationed in that region.
Our Wolf Blitzer has been traveling with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
Wolf joining us on the phone via North Korea.
So, Wolf, what's your sense about how much of a threat this could become now that we are about almost 24 hours since the concerns began?
WOLF BLITZER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now it looks like that threat is dramatically easing with North Korea issuing the statement that they are not going to retaliate.
The great fear was that once the South Koreans started this live fire exercise that the North Koreans would retaliate. That the statements that they made going into it, and warning that there would be a military response. But since then the North Koreans have said you know what? They are going to -- they're not going to respond and assuming that that holds, that's a significant development because it does suggest that the North Koreans are signaling that they are ready presumably to end this crisis or at least reduce the level of tension and get things going toward some sort of dialogue.
Remember, coupled with this are some assurances they gave Bill Richardson here in Pyongyang including a commitment that the North Koreans have given to now again allow IAEA, International Atomic Energy Agency, monitors to come in and start looking at the enriched uranium facilities at the Yongbyon Nuclear Facility.
They've also agreed to sell presumably to South Korea 12,000 fresh fuel rods. That's enough to make six to eight nuclear weapons. And to also -- they are open to establishing a hot line, a military to military hot line between North and South Korea.
So all of these steps combined right now seems to suggest that the crisis, at least for now, has been averted. We'll wait and see what happens in the coming days. But it looks positive. Richardson told me that he thinks all of his strong words to the North Korean leadership, the military and the civilian leadership urging restraints may have paid off.
We'll see if it does.
PHILLIPS: And I know you've got exclusive an interview with North Korea's prime minister this afternoon.
Have you done that already, Wolf? Or are you yet to do that interview? And will you address the issue of who exactly is in charge right now in North Korea? A lot of people wondering. Is it Kim Jong- Il or his son?
BLITZER: There's no doubt that Kim Jong-Il is in charge. His son eventually will move forward with the succession but Kim Jong-Il is clearly in charge. The military is obviously very much in charge.
The interview that I was hoping to get is not going to happen. The North Koreans decided they didn't want to go on camera and do an on-the-record interview but maybe down the road.
They've invited me to come back. We'll see if that -- if that happens. But right now I don't think there's any doubt, based on everything I heard over the past few days -- I've now been here five, six days -- that all the indications are that Kim Jong-Il is clearly in charge of this country and will be until he formally hands over the power to his son who's, what, only 27, 28 years old. But that succession has already started.
PHILLIPS: Got it. We're going to talk to you again in about an hour, Wolf. Appreciate the update there in Korea.
Now in Washington, one of President Obama's top priorities is ratifying the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia. But this morning he's facing two challenges, the clock and growing Republican opposition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: I think if they had taken more time with this, rushing it right before Christmas strikes me as trying to jam us. I think if they had taken more time -- I know that the members of the Foreign Relations Committee spent a lot of time on this.
But the rest of us haven't. And so all of a sudden we're once again trying to rush things right here before Christmas Eve. I think that was not the best way to get the support of people like me.
JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: There have been 18 hearings, 1,000 questions we've answered. And -- but others, they simply are against any arms control agreement.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, the Senate resumes debate next hour.
Let's get -- straight to the hill. Senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash going to tell us what's going to happen with this bill.
What do we know, Dana?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a question mark, Kyra. The fact is that you heard that the top Senate Republican tell Candy Crowley he's going to vote against it.
Perhaps a bigger blow is that his number two, Jon Kyl, who had really been a principal GOP negotiator with the White House also said he's a no. And the White House is really trying to make concessions for him, hope that they could bring him over. That's not going to happen.
Still, Democrats are hopeful that they're going to get 67 votes that they need to ratify this. It's going to be a nail biter, there's no question about it. Because we're talking about the fact that they want to do this in the next few days.
This afternoon will be interesting. There will be a closed session, pretty rare, of the entire Senate. And they are going to have a briefing from intelligence officials about some classified secret information around this treaty.
And what we're talking about, Kyra, is this treaty with Russia, shrinks the size of each country's nuclear warheads and launchers. Now Republicans who have opposition to this -- they say that they have a number of issues, but one of the issues is verification of this treaty.
But another really, as you heard from Mitch McConnell, Kyra, is timing and tone. They're very upset that Democrats from their perspective are cramming this in, not just the START treaty but also other issues that the Democrats are trying to do pretty fast in these last few days like, for example, over the weekend the monumental vote that they took to repeal the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
Republicans are just not happy with how this overall lame duck session is going and that definitely is playing into opposition to the START treaty.
PHILLIPS: And we're going to have more on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in just a second.
Dana Bash there on the Hill for us. Dana, thanks.
Another pressing issue for lawmakers deals with the toxic legacy of the 9/11 attacks. Next hour New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg will stand along side fire and police officials to urge Senate passage of a health care bill.
It would provide free medical coverage for rescuers and survivors exposed to the poisonous aftermath of the attacks at Ground Zero. The House already has passed the bill.
For millions of illegal immigrants the dream is dead. At least for now. Over the weekend a procedural vote in the Senate failed, effectively shelving the so-called Dream Act during this legislative session.
The Dream Act promised a path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as children. Democrats say they'll keep fighting for the legislation.
And sometime this week President Obama will sign the new legislation that repeals the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. That means for the time being gays and lesbians will be allowed to openly serve in the U.S. military.
It's a historic change that will require a lot of work in the coming weeks. And CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr is joining us with a closer look.
So, Barbara, what does the military have to do before fully implementing a full repeal?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Kyra, there will be an implementation period as you say. It could last months, a good deal of bureaucracy to get through.
This here is the DOD, the Pentagon implementation plan for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Eighty-seven pages of a road map of what they are going to do. And basically, they are going to look at every regulation, policy, directive, every piece of military bureaucracy you can imagine and adjust it, rewrite it, do whatever needs to be done to make it conform with this historic change. That gays and lesbians can openly serve in the U.S. military.
But then after they do all of that, more bureaucracy. They have to certify to Congress that the military is ready for all of this. And then it goes into effect, 60 days after that, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" will be gone once and for all. So advocacy groups are warning their military members don't come out just yet. Wait, make sure. There's still a long way to go -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: What do we know about housing and benefits?
STARR: Well, you know, these are going to be the big questions, aren't they? Everyone believes as implementation goes forward. What about housing and benefits for gays and lesbians, for their same-sex partners?
We have a couple of details from this implementation plan. Let's take a look at them. First of all, the Pentagon is adamant so far there will be no separate bathing or living or showering facilities.
In the U.S. military, rugged conditions, everyone is together and that's the way it's going to stay, so none of this separate facilities. One interesting thing is, there will be no, if you will, married benefits for same-sex partners, not allowed under federal law, not allowed in the U.S. military. They are going to stick with the continuity of federal law on that.
And there will be no early out, if you will, for those who oppose gays and lesbians in the military. People who say, I don't want to deal with this, I want to leave military service, still will be required to fulfill their military obligation.
Gays and lesbians who had already been discharged can, in fact, reapply and re-enlist in the military if they meet all of the standards -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Got it. Barbara, thanks.
Well, severe weather is walloping the western U.S. right now. Spokane, Washington, South Hill, the place not to be driving this weekend. That's for sure. Demolition derby of bumper cars sliding down a sheet of ice there. Winter weather advisory remains in effect for several more hours.
And in Southern California, the biggest rainmaker they've seen in decades -- well, I guess in about a decade caused the mudslide worries in L.A.'s most -- one of its ritzy areas of La Canada, the Flint Ridge, La Canada area where roughly 25 families got the rude awakening of their life.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Saw a river of mud coming down the hill.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mud and rocks and then my husband said we better call 911, the hillside's coming down.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Now it's La Canada where they had those incredible brush fires just a few months back and that's made the area more prone to the mudslides.
Meteorologist Rob Marciano tracking that and everything else in the Severe Weather Center.
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes.
PHILLIPS: With his infrared satellite.
MARCIANO: There it is. You know I was kind of (INAUDIBLE) as we put that fancy terminology out there but basically, you know, you don't need the fanciness to see exactly what's going on.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MARCIANO: The eastern half of the country for the most part I think will see clear skies tonight? We have a lunar eclipse.
PHILLIPS: That's right.
MARCIANO: That's going to be an exciting phenomenon.
PHILLIPS: OK. You're a sky watcher, right?
MARCIANO: I try. But it's going to be late, though. I think I'm going to be getting my Z's.
PHILLIPS: Well, but we can either stay up very late or get up really early tomorrow morning, right?
MARCIANO: Basically Eastern Time, any time between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
PHILLIPS: OK.
MARCIANO: Is when you -- the totality will be I think 2:50 to 3:50. So right in there.
PHILLIPS: OK. So you're -- so it's a little -- well, NASA suggesting a little earlier. But I think I'm going to go with you because you watch this on a regular basis. Like NASA doesn't.
MARCIANO: Well, no -- the whole thing is three hours but the totality -- when it's completely blocked will be that.
PHILLIPS: I got you. You're not saying when exactly to be up to look for the moment.
MARCIANO: Yes. If you're up there -- if you are often looking from -- you know, 1-ish, Eastern Time, to about 5:00, you'll catch it.
PHILLIPS: Got it. MARCIANO: But in the middle there is when the bulk is. And anywhere where it's dark and you can see the -- and you can see the moon.
PHILLIPS: All right. And NASA is going to stream it live, I understand?
MARCIANO: Sweet.
PHILLIPS: Yes. There you go. So you know what? Just go to the computer. A lot easier.
MARCIANO: Just roll over and --
PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. Click on. OK, that's cool. Got to go. Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: All right, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right.
Well, the water that made your coffee this morning or maybe mix it with oatmeal, you need to have a serious talk about it. A new study links tap water with a chemical that could give you cancer. And guess what, millions of people right now are drinking it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
PHILLIPS: We don't have to go to Whoville to find the Grinch. He's actually been spotted in Coral Gables, Florida, your first stop Cross Country this morning, where the Wesley United Methodist Church is taking new donations for toys after this jerk burglarized the gifts collected for needy children. He cleaned them out. And his form of throwing the presents over the fence, well, it's reminiscent of that famous cartoon villain.
From Springfield, Massachusetts, a man falls 10 stories off of a hotel and lives. It happened Saturday night. Police say the unidentified man wasn't a guest, either. Apparently hanging off a Christmas decoration when he dropped 70-plus feet. As you might expect, he's in the hospital.
And last stop, beautiful Key Largo, Florida, where Santa doesn't limit his big entrance to chimneys. No, no, no, there's ho-ho-hos underwater. A local diver dons the Santa gear for holiday photo ops for his customers. He's got a makeshift Rudolph guiding him, as well. The Santa diver donated all his earnings to charity.
All right, today's Talker might make you want to run out and buy a water filter. It's a story about chromium 6, cancer-causing stuff if you swallow it. And now, we're learning that unhealthy amounts of it might be coming out of your faucet.
Take a look. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group, or EWG, tested tap water in 35 cities. In 31 of them, the chemical was in the tap water. That could impact about 26 million people right there. But there could be many more. Possibly three times that number. Now, if the name chromium 6 rings a bell, here's why.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JULIA ROBERTS AS ERIN BROCKOVICH: By the way, we had that water brought in special for you folks. Came from a well in Hinckley.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Oh, yes, chromium 6, co-starred with Julia Roberts in a major motion picture. It's also known as the Erin Brockovich chemical. Made all of those people in Hinckley, California sick. And Brockovich exposed the tragedy, helping victims get a huge settlement from the electric company.
Now, back to this new study. EWG found these cities that had the most chromium 6 in the water. Norman, Oklahoma; Honolulu, Hawaii; Riverside and San Jose, California; and Madison, Wisconsin. Norman had far higher levels than any other city.
And get this. The EPA knows this stuff can cause cancer, but it's not doing much about it. It isn't telling utility companies, "Hey, you can't have more than X amount of this stuff in the tap water." And get this, it's not even making water companies test for it.
We have reached out to the EPA. So far, no comment. We're going to talk a lot more about this next hour. I'm going to talk with the vice president for research at EWG, the group that did this study. I'm going to ask her why this stuff is still turning up in the water and what to do if you live in one of those affected cities. And our Elizabeth Cohen is going to talk more about how to protect your health and what you do now if you live in one of these cities.
Sometimes the long arm of the law needs a helping hand or, in this case, a helping fist from a good and feisty Samaritan. You're seeing the view from the dashboard.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, here's some TV that you've just got to see. It's from a dashboard camera in Dayton, Ohio. You actually see a police officer, clearly having some trouble with a suspect. The guy allegedly keeps trying to get the officer's gun.
But here comes Angela Pierce. No, she's not a cop. She's just a person who couldn't look the other way. Check her out. She starts throwing down on this guy. She actually helped get the suspect under control. CNN's Don Lemon had a chance to talk with her last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANGELA PIERCE, HELPED SUBDUE SUSPECT: I just felt like that could be my father or my grandfather out there, and I just wanted to help.
DON LEMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: 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 thought 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.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: When the fight was over, Angela high-fived the other cops who came to help, then she went on her merry little way. The Dayton PD called Angela's actions commendable.
Well, Michael Vick want as dog. It's been three years since the NFL star was convicted for his part in a dog-fighting ring. There's plenty of people who say "No way, no how." But the CEO of the Humane Society is actually taking a different side. You're going to hear from him next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: AAA says that 92 million Americans are going to be traveling for the holidays. And now, just in time for your road trip, the official numbers are on gas prices. Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange. Alison, we figured that out as we were driving cross- country this weekend. It's amazing how much higher it was.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: I know, yes. If you're a driver, Kyra, chances are you're definitely feeling it at this point. Many drivers are now paying more than $3 a gallon. The Lundberg survey, which keeps track of these prices, says the national average is sitting at $2.99 a gallon. That's up 7.5 cents in two weeks, and 39 cents from the same time last year.
So sure, we're kind of paying a premium here. But analysts are saying, look. It could be much worse. We've had oil prices kind of making this steady climb, and analysts had expected oil prices to rise even more.
Still, take a look. Many prices -- many places are already paying over $3 a gallon for gas, including San Francisco, Boston, Miami, Seattle. I drove by one station in New York. I'm paying $3.22 a gallon, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes. We experienced, I think it was $3.18, $3.20 over the weekend. All right, so, what about prices on Wall Street? How's the open looking?
KOSIK: We are expecting to have a modestly higher open. In just a few seconds, we're going to hear the opening bell.
Now, look at this, though. The major averages doing pretty well considering, gosh, where we're coming from. We're near two-year highs at this point. Now, we don't have economic reports coming out today, but we are seeing this upward momentum these days, and it is expected to continue, as well.
We've got a shortened week this week because of the holiday coming up over the weekend. The market is closed Friday for Christmas, so don't expect many investors to really be trading too much these days for this week, that is.
All right. We just heard the opening bell. The Dow right now in the green, edging up ever so slightly. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: Alison, thanks. 9:30 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:30 out west. Here's some of the stories that had us talking this morning. Tensions seem to be subsiding on the Korean Peninsula after a military drill failed to draw a response that North Korea had been threatening. (INAUDIBLE) now says there is no reason to retaliate for South Korea's live-fire exercise. That 90-minute drill ended this morning.
There's a big development also in the case of Amanda Knox, the American college student convicted of murdering her roommate in Italy. A judge has approved independent DNA tests on two key pieces of evidence. Knox is serving a 26-year sentence.
And this morning, much of the West Coast is reeling from a massive winter-like storm. The effects range from several feet of snow in the northern elevations to heavy rain and flooding in southern California. And there's warnings that mudslides are possible over the next several days.
Michael Vick wants to get a dog. That's right. The same Michael Vick convicted on dog fighting charges in 2007. But the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback just got some early support from the CEO of The Humane Society, who said that Vick would, quote, "do a good job as a pet owner."
Wayne Pacell has taken some heat for that, and he talked about it this morning with our John Roberts. That brings us to our "A.M. Extra." So, John, this isn't just about Michael Vick getting a dog. It's actually his daughters who wanted the new pet. Right? JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR, "AMERICAN MORNING": Correct. And he said that at some point, he would like to get them a dog. He knows it's going to be a while because according to the terms of his probation, he is prohibited from owning a dog for at least three years and needs to meet all of the terms of his probation should he want to become a pet owner in the future.
But Wayne Pacelle ran into a lot of heat for the comments you talked about, to the point where he, in a blog post on his Web site dialed it back a little bit to say whoa, whoa, wait a minute. I didn't mean Michael Vick should get one now. It's if he makes it through all of the terms of his probation. He said, quote, "I do not think that if his rehabilitation progresses and he handles probation flawlessly" -- or "I do think," rather "that if he progresses flawlessly it could be a good thing for his family to have a pet at the end of that process."
So, Pacelle, while he issues all of the appropriate caveats that he should when talking about somebody who came from a background such as Michael Vick did in terms of dogfighting, he did seem to have room in his heart to be generous to Vick. Here's what he told me.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WAYNE PACELLE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, THE HUMANE SOCIETY: We helped write the federal law under which Michael Vick was prosecuted. No one was harsher on Vick during that process in the run up to his conviction than me and the Humane Society. But people serve their time and then they need to be integrated back into society.
I think animals have healing properties. And as long as the animals are safe and we can really do anything possible to make sure that they begin to interact with animals in a healthy way. I think it's a good thing for them, it's a good thing for animals. There are animals dying in shelters every year because not enough people are adopting them. We want to promote adoption, of course, to the right people. But there are a lot of issues swirling around here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: And there are still a lot of people, John, saying no way should Michael Vick or anybody within his family have a pet.
ROBERTS: There are, including PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Lisa Lang, who's a member of that organization said this: "Just as convicted pedophiles aren't allowed free access to children, anyone who responsible for hanging, electrocuting or shooting dogs and who causes them to suffer in unimaginable ways should never again be allowed access to dogs."
Basically, Lisa Lang there is saying that the degree of his crimes was heinous to the point he should never be allowed to own an animal. She doesn't care if he's rehabilitated, she doesn't care if he goes across the country with Wayne Pacelle under the auspices of The Humane Society of the United States talking about the evils of dog fighting. She is saying absolute, he should never own a dog ever again. And many share that opinion.
PHILLIPS: We'll see what happens. John, thanks.
Congress is in a lame duck session, and the year-end holidays are upon us. But there are a few more things lawmakers may take up before Christmas. One important item, a new nuclear arms treaty. The latest from Capitol Hill, next.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Well, this morning the Senate will be back at work taking a look at a new nuclear arms treaty between the U.S. and Russia. But there's a lot to be done before the S.T.A.R.T. treaty can be even be considered for ratification.
Let's check in with Peter Hamby at the CNNpolitics.com Desk. Hey, Peter.
PETER HAMBY, CNN POLITICAL PRODUCER: Hey, Kyra. How are you?
If you were watching Candy Crowley yesterday on "STATE OF THE UNION," which you should every week because it makes a lot of news, Mitch McConnell said publicly what many Democrats probably thought, that he's not going to support the S.T.A.R.T. treaty, new S.T.A.R.T. treaty that is the arms deal with Russia.
It's a signature priority for the Obama administration in this lame duck Congress. He said it publicly. Now Democrats, you know, it's going to be a tough fight to see if they get the votes they need, the 60 votes to overcome that filibuster threat and pass this in a lame duck. We'll see a vote between Tuesday and Thursday of this week.
Something else we're watching today, the Republican National Committee race, that's the race to replace chairman Michael Steele. Why should you care? The Republican National Committee race will be important in rebuilding the GOP ahead of the 2012 presidential race.
And there's five challengers trying to take down Michael Steele. One of them, Maria Cino, a former Bush administration official, is starting to roll out support. She's had trouble gaining traction so far in this race. But she's coming on Monday, she rolled out the support of New York's congressional delegation who don't have a vote but also some RNC members who have publicly announced they're supporting her.
So, that's going to be a great race. We're watching it in part because it's the only race going on now, and we're political junkies in the political unit. So, we're really digging in deep on that one, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Well, I know you are digging deep on this political battle brewing in Virginia as well. Tell me what's up?
HAMBY: Right. That's one of my favorite political states, and not just because I grew up in Richmond.
George Allen, you might remember from 2006, former governor, former senator, one of the best races of 2006. He came up short against Democrat Jim Webb. You might remember that infamous macaca moment which really thrust YouTube on the national political stage.
Jim Webb this week, the Democrat, voted in support of the DREAM act, that's the bill that would have created a path to citizenship for children of illegal immigrants of this country. George Allen came out and hammered Jim Webb, criticizing him for the vote. He sees it as a wedge issue, especially in Virginia where immigration is a really big deal in these D.C. suburbs. So, he's already throwing shots across the bow against Jim Webb.
It's a foregone conclusion from my conversations with Republican operatives Virginia that George Allen will run. The real question is will Jim Webb run again? He has been quiet. He says he'll make a decision about that race in the first part of next year, Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. Peter, thanks. Your next political update in about an hour. And a reminder, for all the latest political news, just go to our Web site, 24/7, CNNpolitics.com.
CNN's primetime program "PARKER SPITZER" goes beyond the headlines to bring you all of the story, and this night, economist Jeffrey Sachs says the system is so rigged at the top that no one worries about how it works at the bottom. He says the high-profile debt commission hasn't figured out how the economy works for everyone. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFFREY SACHS, ECONOMIST: Even when you look at that debt commission, they just are all about cuts, cuts, cuts because they are not thinking this isn't a game of how you cut. This is how do you make the American economy work for everybody. And that's a question we barely ask right now because it's so rigged at the top, no one's worrying how it's working for those at the bottom. This is a rigged system right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: You can catch "PARKER SPITZER" every night 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
Freak weather conditions. That's how some Europeans describe what has shut so many airports down in the past few days, bringing holiday travel to a crawl if at all. I'll have that in your "Morning Passport." But first, today's flashback. Before he became the King, he was an Uncle Sam enlistee. On this date, in 1957 Elvis Presley received his draft notice for the U.S. Army. How did you think he came up with those GI Blues?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(ELIVS PRESLEY SINGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: East Coast, West Coast, all kind of things happening that's going to impact our holiday week, Rob Marciano?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And you know there's -- a lot of people are asking me this West Coast mess that's happening --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: Yes.
MARCIANO: -- on where they're --
PHILLIPS: Some mud slides and --
MARCIANO: -- getting feet of snow and -- and yes -- and unfortunately the bad part of that is mudslides.
But looking at it with a bit more of a silver lining is that they've got a bad drought out there so the snow is a good thing. Just you know, be care -- don't go out in bad country until the avalanche danger is done.
We have now 21 states that are under a winter weather advisory of some sort. In most cases the winter storm warnings that actually extend all the way into parts of western Wisconsin. And then back to the west is where we're seeing a lot of this action, of course.
A number of storms have ridden this pineapple express which continues to toss moisture right into southern California especially. And when that hits the Sierra Nevadas it turns into snow at about the 6,000-foot level or so. And it is just coming down to beat the band (ph). All the way up from Seattle to San Diego.
So -- and -- and then points east to about the continental divide and even spilling over a little bit more than that. What we're seeing right now as far as rainfall, we've already seen several inches across parts of Los Angeles. The wind not a terrible issue with this, we're seeing it -- we're keeping it below about 20 miles an hour across parts of Los Angeles. It is mostly in the form of the -- the rainfall that's going to be potentially letting some land and rock and hillsides go by.
Snow in Minneapolis tonight where they are playing Monday night football outside in Minneapolis, for the first time in I don't know how many years. It's frozen field, three to six inches of snow. That's going to be one to watch -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Yes but if you lived in Green Bay, Wisconsin and you remember the ice bowl.
(CROSSTALK)
MARCIANO: Yes, it's nothing.
PHILLIPS: Yes, so this is nothing.
MARCIANO: This is small potatoes.
PHILLIPS: Come on. Man up, boys.
MARCIANO: Exactly. For what they are paid, yes.
PHILLIPS: Thanks, Rob.
MARCIANO: Right, see you.
PHILLIPS: All right, well, freezing fog, piles of snow, at least it gives all those people stuck at airports across Europe something pretty to look at.
And American Amanda Fox (SIC) was convicted of killing her British roommate in 2007 but now on appeal maybe some good news for her.
And could Kobe Bryant's deal to be the new celebrity face of Turkish Airlines get grounded? Here to sort everything out for us is our Zain Verjee.
So Zain, first, Heathrow Airport becomes Heathrow hotel right now, right?
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh my God, Kyra, it's an absolute nightmare. You know I was supposed to land there a couple of days ago and was diverted to two different cities. And you know, it was -- it was awful but for the people, there were 200,000 people on Sunday who -- who never took off on the flights they were supposed to.
So, their Christmases and so many others may be ruined. More snow is on the way. There's ice, the roads are treacherous, so it's going to be a really difficult situation, Kyra.
I mean, you know, even Lady Gaga was affected in France. She had something like 28 of her -- of -- of her trucks couldn't go through because she needed them to perform for the concert. That's just her.
But there are so many people that are very upset and really angry also, too, Kyra saying you know, you guys knew this was coming. Why couldn't you fix it?
PHILLIPS: All right. Well, moving on to topic number two, Amanda Knox and her family probably happy with the latest news out of Italy.
VERJEE: Yes, they are. You know they hugged each other today in court. There's basically been an appeal. And there were two major developments. The judge said first of all they can independently re- examine two pieces of very key forensic evidence, right? One is the knife and the second is the victim's bra strap, both of which had Amanda Knox's DNA on it.
And the other piece of good news for them was that they -- the judge or the court basically allowed witnesses for the defense, quite a few witnesses but a couple of them say basically that Amanda has not been involved in this. So it's a good day for them.
PHILLIPS: All right. And maybe not such a good day for Kobe Bryant getting named the new face of Turkish Airlines --
(CROSSTALK)
VERJEE: No --
PHILLIPS: -- but not everybody is happy with this.
VERJEE: You know Kyra, what's happened here is that Kobe Bryant has been pulled in to a 100-year-old dispute. He is the face of Turkish Airlines. But the Armenians and the U.S. are really annoyed about this. Why? Well, because the Armenians say that back in 1915, the Turks killed about more than a million ethnic Armenians, they say it was a genocide toward the end of the Ottoman Empire.
Now, the Turks say no way, this never happened. What happened was -- was hundreds of thousands of people were killed but it was really kind of like inter-communal violence between Armenian Christians and Turkish Muslims.
So it's difficult situation for Kobe Bryant. You know the Armenians are upset in the U.S. They are actually the biggest population of Armenians outside of Armenia and most of them are in L.A.
So when I was in Turkey a few days ago, I mean a lot of people were talking about this story.
And Kyra, speaking of Turkey, I bought you a present for Christmas.
PHILLIPS: I love your presents.
VERJEE: Have you ever seen this?
PHILLIPS: Oh --
VERJEE: Have you ever seen this?
PHILLIPS: Oh I'm trying to see it up close. Oh, that's the evil eye.
VERJEE: It is -- it is like --
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: You're going to send it to me to protect my home?
VERJEE: -- this is from Turkey -- yes. I'll send you two, actually. I -- I got this and it is the famous Turkish evil eye and the idea is that someone gives it to you, this bead here is supposed to deflect it back on them. And the reason its blue is blue is supposed to be a color that absorbs bad energy. Kind of a like -- you know for example, if you've ever been to Greece, you see the homes are blue and white. Blue has a lot of significance in terms of protection and good luck.
So Kyra, Merry Christmas.
PHILLIPS: Oh I can't wait, you send it soon. I'll hang it in the baby's room. Thank you, Zain.
VERJEE: Yes, you're welcome.
PHILLIPS: Well, the man once called Europe's last dictator wins re-election. And riot police thump and arrest thousands of people who opposed them. We're talking about the post-election problems in the capital of Belarus where several hundred alleged delinquents were arrested in the wake of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko's re- election with a reported near 80 percent of votes from Sunday's presidential election.
And critics say it was thoroughly rigged. Two candidates claim they were attacked. One was shown on Russian TV who claimed he was beaten by police.
Mexico's state-owned petroleum company says it's still addressing the damage from a massive deadly fire ball that exploded from a pipeline yesterday south of Mexico City. At least 28 people were killed in that blast, another 52 hurt. The fire is reportedly under control now but it's unknown how the gas line may have been compromised; nevertheless, incredible pictures from that area.
All right, we're following lots of developments in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. Let's go ahead start with our senior correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen -- Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, carcinogens in our drinking water. I'll have the details of the latest report at the top of the hour.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm Stephanie Elam in New York. The great recession versus the great depression; the attitudes of Americans during both periods might surprise you. I'll explain, coming up in the next hour.
MARCIANO: And I'm Rob Marciano in the CNN Severe Weather Center. Flooding rains, maybe some mudslides and feet of snow, finds of hurricane force, cat-5 winds at the top of the mountains; and if that's not enough winter arrives tomorrow and a total lunar eclipse tonight. Weather at the top of the hour -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Thanks guys. And a Connecticut man digging in his garage finds a shoe box. Inside, rare photos of when they turned off the water works of a famous U.S. landmark. Next hour, we're going to talk to him and get the pretty amazing story.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What is this?
PHILLIPS: Let's go. Let's go. That's what we're talking about.
All right. We know that football is full of many traditions.
HARRIS: Oh, yes.
PHILLIPS: Right? And you've got, usually the coach of the winning team passes the game ball off to who ever played with the most heart. Right.
HARRIS: Yes, yes, yes.
PHILLIPS: Ok. So we found out even though the Tennessee Titans were on this losing streak --
HARRIS: Six games in a row, yes, horrendous game.
PHILLIPS: Yes, exactly. Until yesterday and something very special happened.
Let's take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF FISHER, TENNESSEE TITANS HEAD COACH: I've got one ball, ok? That was a battle out there today. Mike, come on up, man. Come on up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: That's good, huh? Jeff Fisher.
PHILLIPS: Wasn't given -- wasn't given to a player, but the offensive coordinator because why, Tony?
HARRIS: He was diagnosed with cancer -- when was it -- just a couple --
PHILLIPS: In November.
HARRIS: In November, that's right. PHILLIPS: Yes. And even though he has been going through treatment for that cancer, hasn't missed a game, hasn't missed a practice. That is pretty darn awesome.
HARRIS: That's awesome and speedy recovery, remission would be a heck of a gift, huh?
PHILLIPS: Yes. That would be the biggest victory of all.
HARRIS: You want to see some plays?
PHILLIPS: Let's see it. Eagles and Giants right there.
HARRIS: Let's start there. This is a real stunner. Take a look at some of the highlights here. Michael Vick and the Eagles are down 21 points, Kyra, in the fourth quarter with just over eight minutes to play. Vick brings them all the way back with his legs and his arms.
Then on the last play of regulation, you don't do this. You don't kick the ball, you don't punt the ball to this guy, DeSean Jackson, you don't do that. You kick it out of bounds, the worse you get is overtime.
PHILLIPS: Otherwise -- this happens.
HARRIS: Otherwise you get this. You get this.
So, you've got a stunning outcome. The punter here is accosted by his head coach, Tom Coughlin. Why did you kick the ball out of bounds? All we need to do is to get to overtime. You don't kick it out of bounds. You kick it to this guy. We're the fastest guys on the field and he does this to them.
PHILLIPS: He was afraid of getting tripped like last week.
HARRIS: Exactly.
All right. We have another big one for you.
PHILLIPS: Packers.
HARRIS: Green Bay at New England. Take a look at this. This is the play we love. This guy, Dan Connolly is what, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, look at this, 313 pounds. He takes this low, bouncing kickoff, the low bouncing kickoff that you kick to a lineman because you don't want to kick it to a speedy guy, who will take it all the way to the house. Then gets it all the way back to the four-yard line.
PHILLIPS: Can we repeat? 313 pounds.
HARRIS: 313 -- that is the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman in the history of the NFL. A tight game last night, but the Patriots come out, they win barely, 31-27. The big man, huffing and puffing all the way.
PHILLIPS: Let's talk about those big women. HARRIS: Don't you love it. This is real history here. We're talking about the Lady Huskies from the University of Connecticut. The UConn women's basketball team beat Ohio State over the weekend to win their 88th straight game. That ties the UCLA teams, huh. SoCal, right.
PHILLIPS: Yes. Yes. Yes. That's right. I'm SoCal.
HARRIS: Yes, 71-74, the longest winning streak in major college basketball history. They go for the record. That's tomorrow night versus Florida State. Congrats to that man Geno Auriemma and Maya Moore and the rest of the terrific Lady Huskies.
(CROSSTALK)
PHILLIPS: You like watching those ladies play ball, don't you?
HARRIS: It's great stuff.
PHILLIPS: You have a fabulous day, my friend.
HARRIS: You too.
PHILLIPS: All right. Happy Monday.
HARRIS: Yes.
