Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

President Obama in Arizona; Remembering Arizona's Youngest Victim; Drug Tests for 6th Graders; Loughner Confrontation at Tucson Jobs Center; Sen. Udall Urges Lawmakers to Mix

Aired January 13, 2011 - 16:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And now, take a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): How young is to young? Should sixth graders be subject to random drug tests at school? Wait to see what happens if they fail in one school district.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Heroism is here, in the hearts of so many of our fellow citizens.

BALDWIN: A rousing speech, an electrifying scene at a time went the folks in Tucson need to know they are not alone.

OBAMA: Gabby opened her eyes for the first time.

BALDWIN: But, today, saying goodbye, happening right now, the funeral of a 9-year-old girl.

It has been more than half-a-century since the military gave someone a fifth star. So, does General David Petraeus deserve one?

Plus, forget the principal's office. Now kids as young as 6 are being sent to the cops and getting misdemeanors. Wait until you hear this.

And are you cheating on your significant other when it comes to money? Americans are coming clean.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Here we go, hour two. I'm Brooke Baldwin. A lot happening now.

Let's go and begin with the latest we are learning out of Tucson here. Police have a black bag that could possibly belong to this man, accused shooter in the Arizona massacre Jared Lee Loughner. In fact, it was his father who says he saw his son with the black bag the morning of the shootings.

And we are told a man found it, a teenager, found it along a riverbed, what they call the Wash, not too far from Loughner's home. It is still not yet clear what is in the bag.

Also new today, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is becoming even more alert. Doctors say her eyes are starting to focus, not just opening. Also, she is moving her arms, she is moving her legs. We are told the next step is taking away her breathing tube.

Meantime, it is a sad, sad scene in Tucson just outside of the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Here are pictures. Family, friends, members of this community, they are saying goodbye to the youngest victim from Saturday, little 9-year-old Christina Green. The family is expected to leave the church any moment. We will bring you some of those moments here live on CNN.

Next, remember Captain Owen Honors? You remember him? The Navy relieved him of command a couple of weeks ago for making and showing those raunchy videos? Well, now his ship has sailed. Really, it has, the USS Enterprise today leaving for a six-month mission to the Mediterranean and Arabian seas. The new captain says his crew ready to roll.

Next, a dramatic, difficult rescue in Florida. Look at this. Here's what happened. This is Coral Springs, where a worker who was inspecting this water tank slipped and fell more than 10 feet inside this tank. It took crews about an hour to reach the worker. The rescue was made difficult by the tank's 30-foot-high walls. They did eventually, and you see them there, airlifting the worker to a hospital -- or the beginning of that airlift, I should say -- only suffering here minor injuries.

Next, fiery images from Mount Etna from CNN iReporter Shawn McCarthy. This is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Italian scientists say the volcano started rumbling earlier this week, and, as you can see, it is spewing quite a bit of red lava there. They believe the lava flow peaked yesterday morning, most of it flowing right down the eastern rim. And right now, it is not threatening any villages or people.

Next, Bradley Manning, he is that U.S. soldier accused of leaking thousands of government secrets to WikiLeaks, and now that group is helping him pay for his legal fees. Julian Assange's WikiLeaks has given Manning more than $15,000, according to this online group supporting the Army private. We are also told Manning now has more than 100 grand to pay for his attorneys.

Next, one million homes in the U.S. were foreclosed on last year. That breaks a record, according to RealtyTrac, which follows the housing market. Also, nearly three million people got foreclosure notices.

So, we are sitting here thinking, will things get better? One analyst says it is like -- quote -- "taking inventory of deck chairs on the Titanic."

Huh.

Next, from Russia spy to TV host. You remember her? Anna Chapman first made headlines when the U.S. busted her as a secret agent from Moscow last year. Now reports are this mysterious redhead will host a weekly program on Russian TV. And the show, you ask? What could this possibly be about? Solving the world's most complicated mysteries.

Next:

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TED WILLIAMS, GETTING TREATMENT: When you're listening to nothing but the best of oldies, you are listening to Magic 98.9.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, we have heard that voice a lot by now. That voice launched 1,000 job offers, or, actually, I should say, tens of thousands, if you could believe, dollars in offers anyway. Ted Williams, he is now heading to rehab. That's according to a spokeswoman with the "Dr. Phil" show.

Dr. Phil convinced Ted Williams to enter treatment after he admitted he had not been sober for two years, as he has previously stated.

Next, tucked away for decades and decades, this amazing discovery at a church in Wisconsin. This Bible that you are looking at here, guess how old it is? Oh, you know, just 340 years old. The centuries-old relic was in this old safe under heaps of old books and pamphlets.

Inside the Bible, a treasure chest of old German catechisms, many of which were more than 100 years old. The German Bible was printed way back in 1670. It weighs 20 pounds and its cover is made of pigskin over boards with brass corners and clasps.

Next, a dream ride. Take a good, long look. This could be yours. John Lennon's first car is for sale. This is a 1965 Ferrari 330 coupe. Pretty sweet. Nice blue. Once belonging to the Beatle legend, it goes on the auction block in Paris next month.

But let's talk dollars and cents, shall we? This thing is worth between $155,000 and $220,000. Folks, that is twice the normal value of this kind of car. Why? Because it was John Lennon's.

Next, this is kind of odd. Peter Fonda found a body on Sunset Boulevard. Police say the actor was just driving along, noticed this car had been parked on a side street for a couple of days. So, he actually stopped, got out to check on this car. He saw a man slumped over the wheel. Investigators are calling this a suicide.

Next, follow me here. We see people arrested for driving drunk in cars and on trucks, on motorcycles, maybe even the occasional tractor. Yes, we have seen it. But on animals? Austin police have arrested two men for allegedly riding drunk on a horse and a mule.

I'm not making this up. They were reportedly luring people out of this club to take pictures with them and the livestock. OK, look at this with me. I don't know for sure. I can't prove it to you that this guy is drunk, but let's just say he is not ready to go for a field sobriety test. So, look at him. Night-night -- on horses riding drunk. I'm telling you, I learn new things every day.

(STOCK MARKET UPDATE)

BALDWIN: So, what is Jared Lee Loughner doing behind bars? I know you know that answer, but, coming up, you will hear from a U.S. Marshal who has actually been keeping an eye on him, some new details there.

Plus, riots and clashes in the streets of a country in Africa, it is all about unemployment and the government, and the situation there now turning deadly. We are going to show you some more of this video. That is ahead.

And should children be drug-tested in the sixth grade? Parents, what do you think? One town in Jersey is going to be doing this. And students won't have to worry about police if they test positive -- more on that next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Welcome back.

We have just gotten some information here just in from the story that is evolving in Tucson, Arizona. According to investigators, Pima County Sheriff's Office, we have learned that they have found -- it was actually a teenager who found this black bag near the neighborhood in this desert where this alleged shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, lived.

Now, they found this bag. They have not been able to conclusively say, yes, in fact, this was Loughner's black bag, but his father did tell investigators that he had seen him with this black bag this morning. And we have now just learned that police have found ammunition inside the black bag. They are working to confirm that it, in fact, was that of Loughner.

As soon as we can confirm that, we will pass it along to you -- the shooting Saturday morning.

Also this: Three people are hurt after a plane crashes on this beach in Florida. Take a look at the video here. Here it is. It happened in Venice. The single-engine plane landed right there on the shoreline in the water just two miles from the airport. Police say three adults were hurt. A child on board is doing fine. Investigators still trying to figure out what caused the crash.

And it is a question some of you parents wrestle with: Are my children doing drugs? The board of education in one New Jersey school district does not want to deal with that uncertainty anymore. In fact, they are voting -- or they did just vote to begin random drug tests.

But get this. This is not for high schoolers here. This is for middle schoolers. I'm talking children in the sixth grade. So what do school officials hope to accomplish by testing such young kids?

Our Mary Snow found out.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Now what happens when we multiply?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A lesson in math conversions is what you might expect in sixth grade.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give me the ratio.

SNOW: But for these 11-year-olds in Belvidere, New Jersey, learning real-life lessons may come earlier than most kids in their state. School officials want to randomly test middle schoolers for drug and alcohol, something that is usually reserved for high school students.

SANDRA SZABOCSIK, PRINCIPAL, OXFORD STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: When parents call or even when we get anything from the police, it's very general.

SNOW: Principal Sandra Szabocsik says she gets calls about weekend parties involving marijuana and alcohol in this small rural community. She can't pinpoint a specific drug problem at her school, but says there are realities that can't be ignored.

They include a 2009 drug bust in a nearby town involving teachers arrested as part of a ring selling prescription drugs. Szabocsik hopes the random test will serve as a deterrent in keeping middle schoolers away from drugs and alcohol.

SZABOCSIK: I'm hoping that because they know they could be tested come Monday, maybe they will just say no, I can't do that, I'm afraid. And I also look at it as a way they can say no to their peers.

SNOW: In order to conduct testing, both parents and kids have to agree to participate. We spoke with several parents ready to sign up.

CAROL TAURIELLO, PARENT: I think it's great.

SNOW (on camera): Why?

TAURIELLO: Because, you know, the kids now you don't know what they are doing, performance enhancement drugs, things like that, even regular drugs, the kids are not as open to come home and tell their parents.

SNOW: But others question the need to expose kids this young to random tests saying it could backfire.

GREG CASTERLINE, PARENT: What is the message being sent to them that they have to be random drug tests -- tested? There is a question then about the integrity of every kid.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Mary Snow joins me from New York.

Mary, I was sitting here trying to think, OK, when you are in sixth grade, you are 11 years of age, and they talk about this being a deterrent. But let me ask you this, what happens to the kids if they fail these random tests?

SNOW: The school is saying, you know, if these middle schoolers do fail, they won't be punished. They say they wouldn't tell the police about it either, that they will be offered counseling.

But you know, there's a similar program in the high school and the kids, it is a voluntary program, but they are really forced into doing this because if they don't sign up for the random drug testing then they can't participate in sports or other activities. So this is something that has been going on in this district for the past several years.

BALDWIN: So it's been in the district for a few years? How widespread is it, overall?

SNOW: In New Jersey, in terms of middle school students, this is not very common. There are only about a handful of districts were middle school students are involved and there are about 500-plus districts in New Jersey, so that gives you a sense.

And then across the country, the Department of Education statistics shows 14 percent of middle schoolers. I mean, it's more common -- not as common -- I shouldn't say common, but it's done in high schools. Middle schools really kind of rare.

BALDWIN: Yes, I mean, you think about it in high schools, all made us -- caused us pause when we heard about the middle school. So that's why we wanted to bring you on.

Mary Snow, thanks so, so much for that

When lawmakers with different opinions all get in the same room, they are always fascinating moments, shall we say, especially when Republicans and Democrats sit on their own respective sides. So what would happen if they mingled about? How would that seating arrangement work out?

Joe Johns has that in our "Political Pop." Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You know, we are learning more about this confrontational encounter involving Tucson shooting suspect Jared Loughner. Here's what we're learning, this whole thing happened inside this employment office. This is the Rio Nuevo One Stop Career Center in Tucson. And apparently, Loughner showed up there back on September 29th, this is all according to things incident report provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Office. Now Loughner shows up, has this video camera, starts taking pictures inside the building. The front desk staff asked him to turn off his camera. Loughner refused, held the camera prominently in front of him. He said he was working on a school project.

Now center director Mary Bredeski (ph) says she told Loughner he did not have permission to use his camera. Loughner left the camera running, put it in his pocket, he was told again, turn off your camera. And that is when Loughner pulls out this crumpled copy of the U.S. Constitution out of his pocket, waves at the director saying, no, it was his right to take these pictures. Bredeski says she tried to calm him down, then asked him to leave the building. Loughner did so.

By the way this all happened on the very same day Pima Community College suspended Loughner telling him he had to undergo psychological treatment before he could return to school.

Also, I want to pass this along to you, getting new insight into the current mindset of Loughner. David Gonzalez is the U.S. marshal for the state of Arizona and Gonzalez saw Loughner just this past Tuesday, sitting in his cell, this six by six cell in Tucson.

I want to read to you some of what Gonzales told "The Daily Beast" about Loughner himself as he was sitting in his cell. He said this, quote, "He doesn't say much, he just sits in his cell with smirk on his face, nothing else." Goes on, "He refuses to talk to deputy marshals, just yes or no or OK, just one syllable answers. It's almost like nobody is worthy of him speaking to anybody. He has this sort of paranoid headlights stare. He just sat there, elbows resting on his knees, staring straight ahead and smirking. I saw him do that for about 15 minutes straight, just looking at the wall."

Again, that was the U.S. Marshal for Arizona David Gonzales describing Loughner, who saw the Tucson shooting suspect in his cell just two days ago.

Time for a little "Political Pop," and this one is all about Republicans and Democrats and coming together, literally. CNN's Joe Johns there for me in D.C.

Joe, talk about the State of the Union, all about because of Mark Udall, Mark Udall's proposal to have everyone sitting together there. Is there a seating chart and who puts it together anyway?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It looks like the only rule here is just do it. Congressional Research Service, which is about as nonpartisan as it gets, did a little paper on the State of the Union in 2006. And quoting, it said, "Aside from reserved places for leadership, seat notice chamber are not assigned to particular members," end of story.

And, Brooke, as you said, you talked to Senator Udall in the last hour, he already said he is going do it. Listen.

Maybe we don't have that sound bite.

BALDWIN: Oh, I'm waiting for it. The long pause.

JOHNS: Wait for it. Wait for it.

BALDWIN: You're right. I can vouch for you, Joe Johns what he told he me, he will do it and also some feedback from others and he told me it isn't in any kind of rule playbook. So I f they don't assign members seats, per se, it really is just up to them to mix it up.

JOHNS: Yes. It is really more about tradition than about rules. And you have said and we know, the tradition is Republicans sit on one side of the chamber, Democrats on the other side. That's why you get the bizarre spectacle of one side giving the president a standing ovation while the others sit on their hands, which looks a little silly.

I mean, there are some reserved seats out there at the State of the Union for members of the Senate, for the Congressional leadership, reserved seats for the president's cabinet, any justices of the Supreme Court who want to attend and the Joint Chiefs. The vice president and the speaker sit on the dais, but other than that, it's pretty much first come, first serve.

BALDWIN: And then can you recall, he told me, I think it was Senator John McCain, a couple of other folks expressing interest in mixing it up.

JOHNS: Right. Yes, sure, there were a lot of them out there and a lot of Democrats who have really been signing on to this thing. Of course, haven't heard a lot from, say, the speaker of the House; I sent an e-mail out to them.

But the other half of it though is that what a lot of people don't realize is that there are certain seats that are really prized during the State of the Union. Members of Congress actually get buzz back home from being seen shaking the president's hand as he walks in. And the only way to get those seats, which are right on the aisle, is basically to go and camp out for a really long time.

So I started calling you around to some of the members who have sort of evolved this thing to a high art of finding their way into the picture when the president walks in. One of them is Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel of New York, and I asked his office, got a statement back. They said he thinks it is a really good idea.

But I thought what was kind of funny and cute here, he said, among other things, I would consider taking my aisle sit on the GOP side -- he's Democrat -- of the aisle this year. Obviously, he's still going to get an aisle seat regardless of whether he is sitting on the Republican or the Democratic side, at least he thinks so.

BALDWIN: That's funny, they camp out.

JOHNS: But yes, some very prized seats. Yes. Yes. It is fun to watch, too, because people back in the districts, you know, love to see their member of Congress -- BALDWIN: Get the face time.

JOHNS: -- shaking the president's hand on that big night.

BALDWIN: Exactly. Fascinating.

JOHNS: Exactly right.

BALDWIN: We are all going to be paying super, duper close attention there at the State of the Union. It'll be interesting to see if this thing carries out.

Joe Johns, thank you very much, sir, with your "Political Pop".

And, you know, there is also some video really that is really making the rounds online, these eight women squaring off in the middle of a gas station parking lot. Now, police, they have seen the video, they are very interested in this case, we're going to show you that video next.

Plus, people are missing. Look at this they are dying. They are in floodwaters. This is Brazil. Threatening even more families now. There is dramatic new pictures of these rescues. Hala Gorani is going to walk me through some of this, next in "Globe Trekking."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Want to tell you about this wild night at a racetrack gas station, this is in Ocala, Florida show you what happened when eight women squared off in this parking lot. Roger, let's roll it.

(VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I only heard about it, now I'm finally seeing this.

So apparently, the big surprise here, police say they didn't know about this brawl until the video turned up online because no one called 911, despite all these women. Not even the employees at the racetrack gas station picked up the phone and called 911. So police are looking for what they call "the primary participants" now that this video is very much so making the rounds on the Internet.

Time now to take you "Globe Trekking," take a look at some of the bigger stories outside of the United States. Hala Gorani, anchor of CNN International, with me.

And I cannot get enough of these pictures, I mean, it's horrific, in Brazil, especially these rescues.

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: Right, and this is some of the most dramatic video we have seen so far in the several weeks since flooding has been a big issue north of Rio de Janeiro.

Take a look at this. Here is a woman. There she is being rescued, she is being pulled up, because the dry parts, the only dry parts in some of these areas are the roof tops. She had a dog she was trying to save and the dog -- she wasn't able to hold onto it.

BALDWIN: No, she goes across with the raging water.

GORANI: If you listen to the -- there it s look, she is holding the dog. They are giving her instructions, this is what we are going to do, we are going to throw you the rope.

BALDWIN: Look how fast the water is rushing.

GORANI: A raging river eventually.

BALDWIN: Through the raging water.

GORANI: And there she loses the dog.

BALDWIN: Loses the dog; thank goodness she at least is okay. But this is the situation there --

GORANI: Absolutely. And the death toll, over 400 now. It is expected to go higher because so many people are feared trapped in the mud.

BALDWIN: Mud slides!

GORANI: Because of the mud slides. As I said, the issue there is getting to these people, getting the rescue. You see, this was not very high-tech. they are throwing a rope down in very, very difficult water and people are sometimes not making it.

BALDWIN: Right. A quick update on Lebanon. You talked about it yesterday. What do you have?

GORANI: The prime minister making the rounds. You'd think if the government collapses what is the first thing do you. You rush back home, right?

BALDWIN: Right.

GORANI: Not the prime minister.

BALDWIN: Back to the job. Not so much?

GORANI: No, no, no. He goes to France, trying to get the support of Nicolas Sarkozy. He met with him at the Elysee Palace in Paris. You'd think after the visit with France's leader, what would he do? Go back to Beirut? No, he is going to Turkey to try to shore up more regional support. This is after, of course, Hezbollah forced the collapse of his government and people are very much concerned about renewed conflict there.

BALDWIN: Okay. Actually, let me interrupt you. Hala Gorani, thank you so much. We do have more live pictures here as people are leaving. This is the church where they have been holding this Catholic mass, this funeral -- let's just listen -- for nine-year-old Christina Green. (LIVE PICTURES)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And welcome back. A general sees stars, your children's battles with ear infections, and the Northeast covered in snow. A lot on the wheel of "Reporter Roulette" today.

I want to begin at the Pentagon with Barbara Starr. Barbara, I just want you to set the story up and explain this whole move tonight get General David Petraeus get a fifth star.

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know what, Brooke? This comes up periodically, should the United States have a five-star general? And there have been some op-eds written recently by veterans groups and supporters who say it is time to give General Petraeus a fifth star because of his very distinguished service in Iraq and now in Afghanistan. But this is something that really hasn't happened since World War II, since the days of Eisenhower, Bradley, Marshall, General Macarthur. They were the last to have five stars it would be a problem today.

It would be a problem today. Congress would have to approve it, and he would outrank everybody else, then. Even the other generals and admirals he works for. So, maybe not so fast. It might not happen any time soon.

BALDWIN: Hmm. So, it's been that long, though? Decades?

STARR: Yes, it really has. It has really been -- it really was something that happened back in World War II. Believe it or not there is something higher than a five star back in the history of the U.S. military. There is something called general of the armies. That was George Washington and General John Pershing. Right here at the Pentagon, one star.

BALDWIN: Taking me way back in history there! I love it, though. Barbara Starr at the Pentagon for me. Thank you, Barbara.

And next on "Reporter Roulette," Elizabeth Cohen on this new study parents should hear. Should your children get antibiotics for ear infections? Elizabeth?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: When your child has an ear infection, do they really need a antibiotic? A lot of time, they do get antibiotics. But several studies in "The New England Journal of Medicine" this week ask the question is that necessary?

And look what one of them found. They found that 80 percent of the time, an antibiotic does get rid of symptoms within seven days. But you know what? When a child gets a placebo, a sugar pill that does nothing, 74 percent of the time the symptoms goes away within seven days.

So, the bottom line for parents? If your pediatrician says your ear infection is mild, you don't an antibiotic. Just keep an eye on your child, make sure they don't get worse. Listen, have a discussion with the pediatrician. They might not need it. And antibiotics sometimes can give your child bad stomach problems, so you want to avoid them if you can. Brooke?

BALDWIN: Elizabeth Cohen, thank you. Finally here on "Reporter Roulette," Chad Myers in Atlanta, we are finally starting to see some pavement under the ice. Right? Which is a good thing. I actually got in my car for the first time this week.

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: But wait til you hit a bridge. And then it's ice again.

BALDWIN: But then we have the Northeast. How's it looking?

MYERS: Thirty-six inches in some spots, Brooke. The snow came down literally for hours, and in some spots, three inches per hour for 12 hours. Wilmington at 36 inches. Here is Vermont, here is New Hampshire. Concord, 22 inches of snow right there they are digging out in New England.

BALDWIN: And then what about, just 'cause the pictures are so amazing, Mount Etna in Italy?

MYERS: You know, a very active volcano, but when we get pictures like this, you can't help but just literally stare at it. Look at that heat! I have been to Kilauea in Hawaii, and it's nothing like this! Just kind of oozes, and lava just kind of falls down to the sea. But Mount Etna just explodes, and it comes out, spewing - literally - spewing lava. Coming out of a volcano. And they think today should be the biggest day going down from here.

But you never know. It's a volcano!

BALDWIN: Etna. Always an answer on crosswords. Am I revealing my inner geek?

MYERS: Etna, glad I met ya?

BALDWIN: There you go.

(LAUGHTER)

BALDWIN: Chad! We'll leave it there. Thank you, Chad Myers. And that is your "Reporter Roulette."

Now, it is no secret that New Jersey governor Chris Christie doesn't mind talking, sharing opinions. Now, he has advice for Sarah Palin, and he does not hold back with this advice.

Candy Crowley is standing by. Your CNN political ticker is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: CNN Equals Politics. Candy Crowley, host of "STATE OF THE UNION" joining me from Washington with the latest news, hot off the political ticker. Candy, good to see you.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke, good to see you.

We have some new numbers for the president out of a Quinnipiac poll showing they have his approval rating at about 48 percent. Now, the last time Quinnipiac had him at 50 was a year ago, October. So, those are pretty good numbers for the president, also sort of in line with what other polls are showing, the president is ticking up in this new year.

Interesting. Inside that poll, people were asked what's the best thing and the worse thing the president has done so far? And shows you, still a divided country on certain things, 26 percent said health care was the best thing the president has done; 27 percent said it was the worst. Still a fairly divided country, at least when it comes to health care.

Sarah Palin you mentioned before the break. Chris Christie who is the New Jersey governor, very outspoken. Loves, in fact, relishes taking on his critics says that Sarah Palin needs to do more of that. She needs to stop being so scripted, needs to stop being in such controlled environments and get out there. Face the media, face the voters. He says otherwise, she is never going to be able to run for president if, in fact, that's what she has in mind.

And finally, some troublesome news on the job front. The number of Americans who are filing for first-time unemployment claims jumped last week about 35,000 people, more than the week before. It was an unexpectedly big jump. We have been getting some good unemployment figures showing that unemployment benefits -- people applying for unemployment benefits general has gone down. These are first-time appliers for unemployment benefits, nonetheless, a troubling jump and shows you as well that the economy still has growing do. Brooke?

BALDWIN: And Candy, isn't it tomorrow, if I can look ahead here, isn't it tomorrow when the RNC ultimately will vote in a new chair. We'll find out if Michael Steele gets to keep his job?

CROWLEY: Yes. We will, and it will be a big deal. Simply because Michael Steele -- the first African-American head of the RNC, has been very controversial in so many ways, but also has headed the party when the party has been very successful at the polls. Not just last year but the year before with when Michael Steele was chairman.

So he has a good record but he said some controversial things. It is an uphill climb for him. That will be big news tomorrow for the Republican party.

BALDWIN: I wanted to make sure that was on everybody's radar watching, big news for tomorrow. Candy, thank you so much.

CROWLEY: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Also, Bernie Madoff ripped off billions of dollars from his investors, so why are his victims finally about to get justice? Today marks this huge step. We are on the case.

Plus, some very competitive people want to break the world record for the longest game of dodge ball. Can they do it? Can they do it? You're going to see, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Have you been snowed in this week at all? One gentleman took matter into his own hands literally, you got see this. The iReport comes to us from Robert Castle of Dunwoody, Georgia. He was so desperate for a little peace and quiet, he built himself an igloo. An igloo in Georgia, I never would have thought. There he was getting work done with his laptop, of all things. He must have been pretty desperate though. How long do you think it took him to build the igloo?

Next, there are some out there who are actually enjoying the winter weather, like these little guys. These monkeys have to be careful walking in the snow. Let's watch. I'm told they slip. I'm watching for t maybe he is just checking out his foot. Maybe he is really hungry. I really don't know. But those are monkeys in the snow.

Let's move on to the next video. Which is growing up, did you like playing dodge ball? A lot of people did. There are leagues even now. I have some friends playing. Can you imagine playing dodge ball for 36 straight hours? A group of dodge ball, we will call them enthusiasts, did precisely that and set a new Guinness world record for the longest dodge ball game. That, my friends, is a serious workout.

And coming up in just about ten minutes we have Wolf Blitzer with "THE SITUATION ROOM." And Wolf, you know, we have all been watching, obviously, the situation unfolding in Tucson between the investigation and what some folks within the Pima County sheriff's department are also telling us, and then this sad, sad scene. We saw the casket. I'm always so saddened to see these tiny caskets for that of nine- year-old Christina green.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": It is so sad. Your heart goes out, everyone's heart goes out. What a senseless, senseless murder of this sweet nine-year-old girl and the family and everybody suffering, the whole country. Indeed, I think people all over the world are suffering as a result of that, all these deaths simply so senseless, trying to make some sense out of it. We will be having extensive coverage, as you know, Brooke, coming up in ""THE SITUATION ROOM,"

We're going to be speaking with Dr. Sanjay Gupta, our chief medical correspondent who himself is a neurosurgeon. He is now in Tucson. He has been spending some time today speaking with the doctors and we will get an update on what is going on, a miraculous recovery on the part of the Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. That's what a lot of people are thinking.

Because of what she is doing now raising her hand, raising her feet, opening her eyes, keeping them open for about 15 minutes at a time, it's really amazing when you think of someone point blank shooting a bull neat her brain, and now she's beginning that long recovery struggle. That is inspiring.

BALDWIN: Is truly inspiring, amazing to think this bullet goes in, comes out of the left hemisphere of her brain, entered and exited the way. Wolf Blitzer, look for that and Sanjay on "THE SITUATION ROOM". Thank you for that.

Still though here, you could call it kindergarten cops, children as young as six years of able, they're not going to the principal's office anymore. Instead some are getting misdemeanors.

Plus we have some breaking news on football great Lawrence Taylor. He is accused of rape. Will he go to jail? Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now take a look at tomorrow's news today, let's fast forward. And Michael Steele, we'll be learning his fate tomorrow. Members of the RNC, the Republican National Committee, will be voting whether Steele will be elected or someone else here as the head of the RNC, chairman of the RNC.

Also, worry about China. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be delivering this huge address on the future of America's relationship with the emerging superpower.

And former CIA officer accused of leaking U.S. secrets to reporters will be arraigned in Virginia. The Justice Department said the officer was mad at the agency after being fired.

And this story here it is just now coming into us out of New York, and talking about NFL legend Lawrence Taylor charged with felony statutory rape, has pleaded guilty to lesser charges today, and he will be avoiding jail time.

Taylor appeared before a judge in Rockland County. He pled guilty to one count of soliciting a prostitute and a second count of having sex with a woman without consent. The woman here, a runaway, was 16 at the time and thus unable to give legal consent to having sex. The former New York Giant is expected to be sentenced in March to six years probation and ordered to pay fines totally $2,000. The deal requires Taylor to register as a sex offender.

So parents, let me though this at you. What happens if your child utters his or her first swear word in school, maybe gets into a little scuffle on the playground? When a lot of us were children, it would mean having to get the white erase board with, chalkboard, writing with "I will behave" 150 times over, maybe a little eraser cleaning duty, that was about it.

But wait until you hear what is actually happening in Texas. Instead of being sent to the principal's office, kids as young as six are being handed tickets and sent to court. Sunny Hostin is on the case. Sunny, what are these children doing to warrant tickets and court time?

SUNNY HOSTIN, LEGAL ANALYST: I don't think they are doing enough. Apparently the most frequent offenses, Brooke, are disrupting class, disorderly conduct, and they're also being ticketed with leaving campus without permission. These are the frequent offenses of the young kids involved. It's unbelievable.

BALDWIN: That is why we are talking about it. How many elementary school kids are being handled this way?

HOSTIN: There was a study done over a five-year period, and it is a significant number. I think we have a full-screen of it. In Dallas, 1,248 students, in Aleve, Texas, 355, Wichita Falls, 99, Austin, Texas, 91, and Humboldt, Texas, 75, so a significant amount of students.

The study was done by Texas Appleseed. I have a copy of it. It's about 214 pages. Interestingly enough, there is a piece that says African-American and Latino students are disproportionately represented. And so this is really problematic.

BALDWIN: It's problematic. What is the thinking behind all of this?

HOSTIN: I don't know what the thinking is. Again, I read this, over 200-page report, and I still have so many questions. The districts issued a statement saying they want kids to be held responsible for their actions, they want kids to know there are consequences to their actions. But I think the district gets a dunce cap on this, Brooke. Bottom line, what happened to partnering with parents, what happened to detention, what happened to schools knowing how to discipline children?

BALDWIN: Should I ask this question? I hear you, Sunny, I hear you, but could kids actually end up doing time?

HOSTIN: I'm not sure. It's not clear. These are class c misdemeanors, and it can certainly cost a family upwards of $500. And in our economy, for any family, that is a lot of money. But if they keep on getting these tickets and misdemeanors an pushed into the system, I could foresee juvenile court. These kid does have rap sheets. They could have records.

This is something that I, myself, am going to investigate further, maybe bring you another report this is really, really troubling to me, Brooke.

BALDWIN: I love your passion, Sunny Hostin.

HOSTIN: I am passionate about kids.

BALDWIN: Let's talk about victims here of Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme. They are about to get some of their money back. The money isn't coming directly from Madoff, it is coming from where?

HOSTIN: One of the estates of one of the participant in the Ponzi scheme, he had made about $7.2 billion or $7.6 billion dollars and he died in 2009. And his wife with settled with the trustee, finding that even though they invested about $619 million, they withdrew more than their fair share, which was in the billions.

And so there is a settlement of $7.2 billion that the bankruptcy court and the trustee agreed would be disseminated to the victims. So this is a huge, huge victory for the Madoff victims and a big pay day for them.

BALDWIN: Pay day, you said $7.6 billion. Why is one of Madoff's investors off the hook?

HOSTIN: Well, I will say, he did die of a heart attack in 2009. Off the hook, not necessarily -- his estate had to purge, you know, $7.2 billion. But he took out more than he should have. And so I think that is why they decided to settle this. And it is, again, such a wonderful, wonderful thing for the victims of this horrible scheme.

BALDWIN: It's a wonderful thing for the victims, but what about the individual investors here who were totally wiped out by Madoff?

HOSTIN: You know, I think that it's been reported that over 2,000 victims, certainly, will get paid back. The trustee has verified about $6 billion in funds that victims lost. There are some victims that will not get their money because they invested with feeder funds. But there will be, Brooke a large majority of victims that will see some of their money returned to them.

BALDWIN: Good for. They Sunny Hostin, thank you so much. Good to see you. We'll see you back here tomorrow for "On the Case."

And now Wolf Blitzer coming up here next on "THE SITUATION ROOM" with an update, an optimistic update, an outlook of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and many other stories here evolving in Tucson and beyond. Wolf Blitzer with "THE SITUATION ROOM."