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Storm Hitting Plains, South; Coach Gives Kidney to Player; Dropping Fannie & Freddie
Aired February 09, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Live from Studio 7, I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed on Wednesday, February 9th.
Central Cairo is packed today, even though organizers did not call for a formal demonstration. Protesters also blocked Egypt's parliament building today, while workers expanded a general strike. Angry protesters say they won't go home until President Hosni Mubarak goes away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AZZA AL-MAHI, PROTESTER: It's over. There's no America. There's no Hezbollah. It's his fault!
What we are in is his fault! It's not due to the Americans! It's not due to Hezbollah! It's due to him!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Also from Cairo, this CNN exclusive. Our correspondent Ivan Watson has just wrapped up an interview with Wael Ghonim. He is the Google executive and protest figure who was secretly jailed for 12 days. Ghonim tells CNN this is no longer the time to negotiate with the government. We'll show you the tape as soon as the satellite feed from Cairo is in.
Winter's latest blast is punching east today, spreading snow into Dallas, Little Rock, and Memphis. Eight states face winter storm warnings. Now, the system left the central plains under a foot of fresh snow.
Pirates are holding a Greek-owned supertanker off the coast of Oman today. Now, the vessel is loaded with $200 million worth of crude. It was headed for Egypt, and these pirates from Somalia operate in the area even though it's hundreds of miles from the African country.
And the top House Republicans are going to the president's House for lunch this next hour. Wonder what is on the menu. Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Whip Kevin McCarthy are all likely to press President Obama on spending cuts. The president's budget blueprint for 2012 comes out next week.
And use of a recreational drug known on the street as bath salt is surging. You can buy it at the corner store, gas station for $25. The drug causes violent behavior, hallucinations, intense psychosis, and Congress is pushing to make this illegal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHARLES SCHUMER (D), NEW YORK: The so-called bath salts are nothing more than deadly narcotics, and they're being sold cheaply to all comers, no questions asked, at store counters around the country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Women with early stage breast cancer may not need to have lymph nodes removed from the armpit. New research now shows that the surgery does not increase the five-year survival rate. Lymph node removal, it's painful and may lead to infection and swelling.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: -- something known as lymphedema. The lymph nodes allow lymph nodes to circulate in your arms. If they can't circulate anymore, your arm starts to get swollen, it starts to get painful, you start to be more likely to develop infections. So women imagine having this procedure relatively young in life and, literally, for the rest of their life, there are -- one of them may not simply work the way that it used to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: A judge agrees Italian prosecutors are going to fast-track the trial for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. They claim that he paid an underage teen for sex and used his office to help her in an unrelated matter. Well, Mr. Berlusconi and the young woman, now 18, both deny having sex.
A Los Angeles judge is set to arraign Lindsay Lohan on a charge of felony grand theft this afternoon. Prosecutors say Lohan shoplifted a $2,500 necklace. If the judge finds that she violated probation for drunk driving, Lohan could go straight to jail today.
You are up to speed in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Now here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. A high school basketball player will head to a Florida court today. He is arguing that his team should be able to compete in the playoffs. Now, his team was forced to forfeit their wins because of his immigration status, and a lot of people are talking about this one today.
Our Carol Costello, she's joining us from Washington.
Carol, a lot of people want to know why.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. It's a really complicated story, but here is the story, Suzanne.
High school senior Bryan Delancy is not a U.S. citizen. He's from the Bahamas. He is here legally on a student visa. Delancy is also a star basketball player at Krop High School in Miami. In fact, because of him, the team is going to the playoffs. At least it was until the Florida High School Athletic Association found out the school had not filed paperwork about Delancy's immigration status. In Florida, high school coaches must inform the FHSAA if they have a team member who comes from another country.
Bad move, coaches. The FHSAA not only disqualified Delancy from playing basketball, it ruled Krop's team must forfeit the 19 games it won with him. In other words, kiss those playoffs good-bye, boys.
Delancy is crushed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRYAN DELANCY, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: All I want to do is go to school and play ball. And I love doing that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, but he can't play, because in Florida every kid has a constitutional right to an education. Whether he's here legally or not, no questions asked, no paperwork filed, but playing after-school sports is a privilege, not a constitutional right. Hence the paperwork rule. Delancy's lawyer says immigration status should have nothing at all to do with athletic eligibility.
So, "Talk Back" today, here's the question. Should immigration status affect high school sports? Facebook.com/CarolCNN -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Well, Carol, it sounds like it was a paperwork snafu, not the fact that -- I mean, it sounds like he's here legally, but they just didn't fill out the proper paperwork?
COSTELLO: The coaches said they didn't even know they were required to do that. In fact, they were under the impression they were not allowed to ask a student about his immigration status because that was against the law, because as I said, it's a constitutional right that every kid gets an education whether he's legal or not in the state of Florida.
So, the coach is saying, yes, it was a paperwork snafu, we didn't know that we needed to do it. And now the whole team is suffering.
MALVEAUX: Wow. I bet you're going to get a lot on this one. Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
MALVEAUX: Well, here's a look at what is ahead "On the Rundown."
A truck driver pulls into a gas station and gets more than just a fill-up. His truck ends up buried under twisted metal.
Also, the college baseball coach who donated a kidney to one of his players. We're going to hear from both of them today about the bond that they now share.
And the possible contenders who keep saying no. A look at who is not running for president in 2012.
And finally, your chance to "Choose the News." These are highlights from three stories, and you get to pick which one you want to see.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(NEWSBREAK)
MALVEAUX: And it's the winter that's just not going to end. More heavy snow burying parts of southern plains. And the South, that's next in line.
Our CNN's Ed Lavandera, he's with us from Oklahoma City.
Ed, how much more? Tell us, how much more do we have to endure here?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hopefully not much more, Suzanne. It really is getting rather tough to handle.
We're here in Oklahoma City. You can see some of the snow piles there in the background along the street here on the edge of downtown Oklahoma City. That isn't from this snowstorm, those are the remnants from last week's snowstorm. So they haven't fully melted off just as of yet.
But here in Oklahoma City, the storm -- the snow that we've gotten so far, not as bad as what we saw last week. But really, the worst of this snowstorm has been north of where we are, along near Tulsa, where they've gotten 12 inches of snow. But it is the temperatures that is really causing the most pain.
Temperatures in the single digits right now. Wind-chills down to minus 15 degrees below zero. That is what's really the hardest part of all this to take -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Ed, we saw pictures there, video of that guy slipping there, so please be careful. Obviously, you're dressed for the weather there, but one big last winter blast. We hope it's the last, at least. So thank you very much, Ed.
Want to go to Rob Marciano.
(WEATHER REPORT)
MALVEAUX: Well, a baseball coach gives his kidney to a star recruit. We're going to hear from both of them after this.
And time for our "Most Intriguing Person of the Day." This world leader is telling his ministers to stay put for their summer vacations, and we're going to tell you why.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MALVEAUX: So, who's telling his cabinet to stay in France this summer? Well, that would be the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, of course. The move comes after the country's prime minister said he and his family accepted a private plane ride and other vacation perks from the Egyptian government during a trip there over New Year's.
And this is a great story. A young baseball recruit, he has a new lease on life today -- it is absolutely amazing -- after his coach donated a kidney to him.
Our CNN's David Mattingly, he's in Atlanta, where this transplant took place.
David, a lot of people love this story. How do we know? Do we know how the patient is doing? Do we know how the student is?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Suzanne, the baseball player, Kevin Jordan, of Wake Forest was in a very bad spot. He went to Wake Forest to play baseball. He was recruited by coach Tom Walter. And Walter, part of his recruiting plan was that he stressed the importance of family, saying that, we are going to be there to watch your back, we're going to be there to sacrifice for each other, something he preaches to all of his players. And now that coach is really walking the walk.
The surgery took place on Monday. Both of them are doing well. But what we are finding out is how the player was really in a tight spot after immediate family members were not suitable donors.
The coach found out about it. It turns out he was a suitable donor, and he said it was just a no-brainer. He was going to be there for his player.
So that surgery taking place, and the family saying they were absolutely elated to find out that he would do this. And here's what the player had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEVIN JORDAN, KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT: We tried about all of the people that we knew as donors, and the coach came up clutch. He came through, and he was a match. We're just thankful and happy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MATTINGLY: Now, did you hear that? He said the coach came up clutch, baseball lingo, meaning he really game through in a pinch here. And this is going to be one pinch-hit for the record books, Suzanne.
The coach and the player, both looking at about six to eight weeks of recovery time. Kevin Jordan will not be returning to the team right away. He's going to be coming back to classes in the summer. His baseball future still to be decided.
But the coach says he plans to be with the team when they take the field for their season opener next week, when they start playing against LSU in Louisiana. The coach saying that he's not going to miss that, but don't expect to see him running out on the field to challenge any calls by the umpire. So it looks like a really happy ending to quite a story of sacrifice here.
MALVEAUX: That's amazing. That's awesome. Homerun, I guess, huh? You could call it that. Thank you so much.
Well, both Coach Walter and the patient, Kevin Jordan, both of them, they're going to be guests right here, CNN NEWSROOM, at 2:30 Eastern. You are not going to want to miss that.
Well, CNNMoney.com's lead story, Fed chair Ben Bernanke faces off against the House GOP, the Republicans. He's testifying before the House Budget Committee. That, of course, being the top story.
Also, a quick look at the markets. The Dow Jones is actually slightly down there, at about 13 points or so. We have been watching that movement throughout the morning.
Well, the Obama administration outlines a plan this week to phase out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Those are the government-sponsored mortgage companies, as you know.
And Carter Evans is at the New York Stock Exchange with the bottom line to tell us what the administration is actually proposing.
Carter, what does this mean?
CARTER EVANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Suzanne. So we're going to get the official proposal on Friday. In the meantime, I'll tell you what I know.
It's going to include three proposals, essentially, and one would be to eliminate Fannie and Freddie entirely. The other would be to back those two entities from the government's perspective only when they're in extreme danger. And then the third option would be similar to what it is now, for the most part, the government would continue to be involved in backing mortgages in this country.
It's kind of interesting. It doesn't really commit the White House to one plan or another. They're going to go ahead and submit these three plans to Congress, which basically say either you change it completely, you leave it the same, or go somewhere down the middle of the road. They're going to submit it to Congress and let lawmakers make their own decision on it.
MALVEAUX: Carter, obviously very significant, considering this really is going to change how the government -- what role the government plays in actually lending money to folks.
So how does it affect everyday people in this economy?
EVANS: Well, you know, I think the big concern initially is that it could make getting a home mortgage a little bit more expensive. I mean, right now, Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac backs or owns about 90 percent of the mortgages in this country. It's a significant number. This is quite a delicate process, to unravel these entities. It's going to take time, it's going to be several years.
I mean, the idea here is, is that if you get rid of the government backing, you can allow the private market to go ahead and do that for you. Well, without the government backing these loans, banks are certainly not going to take as many risks. And they're going to charge a lot more for them.
So that's one thing that you could be looking at. The big question now is, how would you unravel Fannie and Freddie from this whole mortgage situation, and do it in a way where you don't hurt the housing market any further?
MALVEAUX: All right, Carter. Thank you so much.
Well, confessions now of an iPhone geek. It's today's punch line. It's convenient, yes, but it's complicated. Also, a big yes.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONAN O'BRIEN, "CONAN": The Catholic Church -- well, we have got my mom listening to this one. What did he say there? What's that there?
The Catholic Church has approved -- that's how she talks. The Catholic Church has approved a new app that lets you make confessions over your iPhone. That's true.
(APPLAUSE)
O'BRIEN: It's also the first technology that raises the possibility of accidentally butt-dialing God.
Who is this? Why are you calling? I was in the shower!
All I hear is someone walking. Who is this?
Every time I have been butt-dialed, all I hear is, like, corduroy going up against corduroy. Who is this? Who is this?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: I think we have all done that.
Well, now it is your chance to "Choose the News." We're going to tell you about three stories, and you vote through text messaging for one of the stories that you'd like to see in the next hour. So let me give you your choices here.
You have millions watched as 33 Chilean miners were rescued four months ago. Well, you're going to meet the Pennsylvania business owner who made it all happen and see how it's changed his life.
Second story, retired doctor discovers he doesn't have to go overseas to do missionary work. He reopens his Iowa clinic free of charge.
And finally, Egypt's famous pyramids -- you know -- fenced off now and deserted. Our CNN's Fred Pleitgen, he finds out why from a camel -- on a camel named Moses.
So, those are your choices. Here's how you do it.
You vote, texting 22360. So, 1 for the Chilean miners' hero; 2 for donations-only clinic; and 3 for Egypt's deserted pyramids. Now, the winning story airs in the next hour, so text.
Well, the race for 2012 is on already, but, you know, some possible contenders say they are not running for president. Really?
Candy Crowley, she reports on who is staying out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Here's a quick look at what's "On the Rundown."
They are not running, at least not yet. They say they are not running. Candy Crowley looks at possible contenders who say they're staying out of the presidential race.
And a story that really gets upset. That is, got animal lovers upset. It's an update on a woman who tried to send a puppy through the mail. Yes.
Also, your responses to our "Talk Back" question. Should immigration status affect high school sports? A Miami team kept out of the playoffs because a player was ineligible.
So, we keep asking, they keep saying no. Some possible contenders for 2012 are now in the spotlight, but they insist they are not running the race for the White House.
Well, that story from our chief political correspondent, Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Political reporters are like market researchers, always looking for the next big thing.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Are you going to run for the Republican presidential nomination in the next year?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, I'm not.
KATHLEEN PARKER, CO-HOST, "PARKER SPITZER": You have said that running for the president steals the soul, or something along those lines.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), TEXAS: I probably said that, but more importantly, I said I'm not interested in leaving the best job in America.
CROWLEY: Texas Governor Rick Perry, South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, Governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Chris Christie of New Jersey -- most people couldn't pick any of them out of a lineup -- all say they will not run for president in 2012. And in varying degrees, all are hot in the circles of political power, so much so that 10 months into his first term as New Jersey governor, Christie, a Republican "it" boy, got sick of answering the question.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: What do you want me to say? Like, I'll jump off a building if they nominate me? I mean, I can't say this any other way. I am not a candidate for president.
CROWLEY: Well, he could have said, if nominated, I will not run. If elected, I will not serve.
That's what General William Sherman said in 1886, definitively eliminating any freak presidential scenario that might arise, and giving birth to the term "Sherman-esque statement."
Jindal got the test on MSNBC's "Hardball."
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LONG: LOUISIANA: I am absolutely not running for president. I know you get a lot of guests that are coy with you. There are no caveats in that statement. You can book it, you can save this video. I'm not running for president.
CROWLEY: And if there are 50 ways to leave your lover, there are 100 ways to ask the mayor of New York if he aspires to a different zip code.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Mayor, your speech about the national economy yesterday led to a lot of speculation about you're thinking about the White House. Are you surprised at that speculation? Are you pleased about it? Are you --
MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG (I), NEW YORK: Look, number one, I'm not running for president. OK? I couldn't be clearer about that.
CROWLEY: There are solid reasons to wonder about New York Mayor Bloomberg's appeal beyond his own city limits, but, still, he's a billionaire, he's been a Republican, an Independent and a Democrat. Can you spell "coalition"? That's enough intrigue to keep the question coming --
DAVID GREGORY, MODERATOR, "MEET THE PRESS": Are you saying that you are not even looking at the possibility of running?
BLOOMBERG: No, I'm not looking at the possibility of running.
CROWLEY: -- and coming.
GREGORY: Would you change your mind?
BLOOMBERG: No.
CROWLEY: -- and coming.
GREGORY: No way, no how?
BLOOMBERG: No way, no how.
CROWLEY: And if you're wondering, yes, Iraq commander David Petraeus said no to commander-in-chief when asked by a "Vanity Fair" photographer during a photo shoot.
And no, no, a thousand times no from the country's top diplomat.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you planning to run for president once again?
HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE: No, no, I am not.
CROWLEY: Really, no kidding. She repeats it early and often. Here she is on FOX News.
CLINTON: I've said it over and over again and I'm happy to say it on your show, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are done with elective office?
CLINTON: I am. I am happy doing what I'm doing and I'm not in any way interested in pursuing anything in elective office.
CROWLEY: The constant pursuit of an answer other than no is a mixed blessing for politicians who need the limelight but seem to hate the tedium.
JEB BUSH (R), FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: So I'm asked this question a lot, you would think about 10 times you'd be done with it. But I keep answering it honestly.
CROWLEY: Still, it's hardly fair to blame a reporter for asking when Jeb Bush's own brother took months to convince.
GEORGE H.W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think he'd be a great president. But he's chosen not to run this time.
CROWLEY: Hear that? Chosen not to run this time. That's why it's hard to take no for an answer. No often has a shelf life.
This is the newly elected senator from Illinois, late 2004.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So why have you ruled it out, running nationally?
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You know, I am a believer in knowing what you're doing when you apply for a job. And I think that if I were to seriously consider running on a national ticket I would essentially have to start now, before having served a day in the Senate.
CROWLEY: Over a year later, he was in Iowa at a high profile political event. A year after that, he was running for president. The rest is history. Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: I don't know how many times he said no, but he did.
Well, a reminder about your chance now to Choose the News.
I want you to vote by texting 22360.
Vote one for the Chilean miners' hero from Pennsylvania. How his small business helped save lives and changed his, as well.
Vote two, for the donations-only clinic in Iowa. You decide the doctor's fee.
Or, vote three, for Egypt's deserted pyramids now from a camel's eye's view.
The winning story airs in the next hour.
A woman faces big legal troubles for trying to surprise her son with a puppy. The reason? Well, she tried to send the little dog through the mail. And you're going to hear from her.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: All right. It is time for your Guilty Pleasure. These are stories that we can't turn away from. OK and this one, I can relate to this. I was in Kenya recently and saw a hippo. So there's hippos hanging out at a lake in Kenya, where a female apparently felt a boat of tourists was getting just a little too close.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She's coming.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So the hippo charges at full speed. Check her out. She can move, but not fast enough. Not fast enough to catch these tourists.
Well, animal lovers, they are outraged that a woman would put a puppy in the mail. But, you know, fortunately her plan did not work. Now the woman, she is being denied custody of the doggy.
Our CNN's Jeanne Moos reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pets are mighty cute in a box or even with their head in a box.
(MUSIC)
MOOS: But who would put a pup in a box, take him to the Post Office and try to mail him from Minneapolis to Georgia?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was mailed Priority Mail.
MOOS: Stacey Champion's (ph) priority was to mail a puppy to her son for his birthday.
STACEY CHAMPION, TRIED TO MAIL DOG: I wanted to surprise him really, really good by a poodle.
MOOS: Instead, she surprised post office workers last month when he package started to move and they heard panting.
(on camera): At one point post office workers called the postal inspector for guidance and held the phone up to the box so he could hear the panting inside. Worried that the breathing was becoming less frequent, he ordered workers to open the box.
(voice-over): Champion admitted lying to the postal clerk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you say that it was toy robot to the desk clerk?
CHAMPION: Yes. He kept throwing the box around. He kept throwing the box around, so I just told him it was a toy robot.
MOOS: Champion spoke at a hearing held so she could ask to get the pup back, plus a refund of the $22 she paid for postage. The poodle/schnauzer mix named Guess (ph) was taken to animal control after Champion was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty.
CHAMPION: They don't have no display what should be shipped and what should not be shipped.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We always ask you is it perishable --
MOOS: The postal inspector figures the pup would have perished during the three day trip -- either suffocating or freezing in the unpressurized hold of an airplane. Champion did poke air holes in the box decorated with fake money, but tape sealed the holes shut. The hearing officers ruled the pup stays put at the animal shelter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Disgraceful. You cannot tell me that you did -- that you thought you were doing the right thing.
MOOS: Maybe she thought her son would be opening the box in a happy scene like the ones on YouTube. This puppy will be put up for adoption. He has plenty of offers if Champion can't afford to board him until the animal cruelty charges are resolved.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know you did wrong.
MOOS: Next time, keep the dog on the stamp.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Well, if you want to travel for less, escape from all this cold and the snow, we're all getting a little bit tired of that. We're going to tell you the best time to look for some deals online.
And, get ready now, to test your news IQ. The CNN Challenge is back now. And here's the first question. Why was Elvis only shown from the waist up on his first "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance?
Was it because the camera wasn't big enough, because of the way he moved his hips, because he was wearing shorts, or all of the above? That answer straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We asked why was Elvis only shown from the waist up on his first "Ed Sullivan Show" appearance. The answer, I think this is kind of an obvious one, because of the way he moved his hips. They couldn't show it back then.
Well, next hour, test your knowledge right here alongside our own Ed Lavandera, CNN's Ed Lavandera, when we give him the CNN Challenge.
Concerned activists descend on the nation's capital, possible presidential contenders. They're going to be working the crowd, as well.
And Mark Preston, my friend there in D.C., part of the best Political Team Television, live from the political desk in Washington.
I understand that you've got some news, perhaps some breaking news.
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: I do. And, in fact, Suzanne, we'll talk about CPAC in a moment, but let's first go with this.
This is just into CNN right now. Jim Webb, the freshman senator from Virginia decided not to run for re-election. This is a very big deal for Democrats as they try to hold onto their majority in the Senate in 2012. Jim Webb, a centrist Democrat had been considering to run, whether or not to run. A lot of people didn't know what he was going to do. But he put a statement out.
Let me just give you a little bit of what he said. He said, "After much thought and consideration, I've decided to return to the private sector where I've spent most of my professional life, and I will not seek re-election in 2012."
Now, the person that he beat six years ago was Senator George Allen, a Republican. George Allen is running for that seat. So right now Democrats have got to be in despair. They need to find a candidate in Virginia now that they have lost Jim Webb -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Mark, was there any buzz on that before? Did we expect that, do you know?
PRESTON: Well, he hadn't told us. In fact, he was on "JOHN KING USA." He said he was considering it, he was thinking about all of his options but that he was going to make that decision. And just now, in the past few moments he has announced that decision.
So again, terrible news right now, Suzanne, for Democrats, as they try to hold onto their majority heading into 2012.
MALVEAUX: And tell us about the gathering of the Republicans.
PRESTON: Yes. And tomorrow we'll have the gathering of at least eight presidential candidates will appear before the Conservative Political Action Conference here in Washington, D.C. Some will say this is the kickoff to the 2012 election.
We're going to hear from the likes of Mitt Romney, from Newt Gingrich, from Tim Pawlenty, from Haley Barbour, many others. What this gathering is, is conservatives all across the country. Specifically young conservatives come here to talk about the future of their party, the future of their issues, whether they will start to tackle a little bit more socially conservative or whether they will become a big tent party. That's actually one of the issues that will be on the table.
In fact, Peter Hamby has an excellent story up on CNNPolitics.com which kind of lays it all out. It's kind of a cheat sheet. We'll be talking a lot about CPAC. A lot of coverage here on CNN, and on CNN.com, over the next couple of days, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Peter's work is great. So you'll have to check that out.
Thank you so much, Mark. For the latest political news, you know where to go, CNNpolitics.com.
And also, remember to Choose the News, the vote segment there. To choose your favorite text to 22360, that is the text there.
Vote one for Chilean miners' U.S. hero. How their rescue four months ago has affected a small business owner in Pennsylvania.
Vote two for the donations-only clinic in Iowa. It's run by a doctor who retired about 12 years ago.
Or vote three for Egypt's deserted pyramids, a tourism industry wondering when it's going to rebound.
And the winning story will air in the next hour.
So, if you're like me, you are sick and tired of the cold, the snow, maybe thinking about getting away some place nice and warm. Well, our own Elam, she's here to tell us how to save on travel expenses.
Stephanie, I don't know about you but I'm ready to go.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The family's been planning. We are busy planning something, Suzanne. You've already flown south, but apparently this winter's not even far enough south because the weather's been so bad. So, a lot of people out there need a break. And there are a few ways to save on a getaway for either Valentine's Day, maybe President's weekend. First up, Rick Seaney from FareCompare.com says best time to look for deals online is get this -- write it down on your calendar -- Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. That's noon out there for you West Coast folks. That's when companies usually post the latest deals.
And there are deals out there. But Seaney says, you got to read the fine print because most low-price offers, they require a 14-day advance purchase.
Now, follow airlines. You can do that on Twitter, Facebook, for specials and promo codes and sign up for low-price fare alerts with the airlines and travel sites. And don't forget to factor in those fees for things like changing flights of checking bags. The exceptions would be JetBlue, which doesn't charge for your first bag, and Southwest which doesn't charge for your first two bags or for changing your itinerary. You just pay the fare difference if there is one, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: And so is it better to take a look at these packages and buy the airfare, the hotel together as a bundle or separate? How do you save money?
ELAM: That's what everyone wants to know, right? To bundle or not to bundle. Your big travel question.
Well, Consumer Reports says make sure you price out whether it costs more to package your hotel, airfare, and car rental together. And check out a site like dealbase.com. It does the math for you and then lists the best package deals.
Seaney says, if you're buying for two or more people you may actually save money by buying each ticket separately. Now, as for the last minute bundles that are out there, he says they can sometimes be cheaper than just the airfare alone. And if you don't need a hotel room, Seaney says just choose the cheapest hotel package and don't use the room, Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right. Well, Stephanie is not done yet. Stephanie, you're going to stay right there. She's going to get to the best hotel rates. How do you figure that out in your winter get away?
That coming up after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: We're back with Stephanie Elam for today's Top Tips.
Stephanie, give us a sense of how you can get the best rate on a hotel right now.
ELAM: All right. Well, keep this in mind, Suzanne. By the end of this year, Smith Travel Research says the average rate of hotels nationwide is set to rise 4.2 percent. So that's going to put it about $102. So, it's not easy. But what you can go here is haggle. And in a recent Consumer Reports survey, those who said they negotiated for a better deal were rewarded with a lower rate or an upgrade 80 percent of the time. So you can definitely ask for it. Skip the toll free booking number, call the hotel directly and ask for the cheapest non-refundable rate, but only if you're 100 percent firm that your plans are not going to change.
But if there's a major conference in town, just go ahead and expect to pay more. Also check with the hotel if there are any other charges like resort fees. Those can run between $12 and $40 a day. And even if you don't use those amenities, you still have to pay for them.
But, no matter what, after a winter like this, Suzanne, the idea of being on somebody's beach with nice drink in hand sounds pretty darn good right about now.
MALVEAUX: Oh, absolutely, absolutely. I'm surprised you can actually haggle with hotels, but that's pretty good. That's a great tip.
ELAM: But most people don't know you could do it. So it's good to know.
MALVEAUX: Who know? Yes. All right, well thanks, Stephanie. I'm planning my trip right now, so I'll let you know where I'm going.
ELAM: Go for it. Yes.
MALVEAUX: OK, thank you.
ELAM: OK, good.
MALVEAUX: Well, taking bath salts off store shelves. Now, this is not the kind you dissolve under running water. It is a drug like cocaine, and it's becoming a menace, that according to authorities. How Congress now is getting involved in the next hour. That in the next hour of CNN NEWSROOM. We'll bring that to you.
Plus, a new study. Results on early breast cancer treatment suggests now that an aggressive surgery may not be necessary. Our own Elizabeth Cohen is explaining how tens of thousands of women could benefit.
And here's your chance to Talk Back on one of the big stories of the day. A high school basketball player will head to a Florida court today. He is arguing that he and his team, they should able to compete in the playoffs. Well, his team was forced to forfeit their wins because of his immigration status. A lot of people are talking about this story today.
Our own Carol Costello, she's got some of the responses.
Carol, what are people saying?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, Suzanne. All of this happened because the kid's high school basketball coach didn't file paperwork informing the Florida High School Athletic Association that Brian Delancy is from another country. Delancy and his attorney are in court arguing that a child's immigration status should have nothing to do with whether he is able to play high school sports.
So the Talk Back today, should immigration status affect high school sports?
This one from Lori. She says, "Forcing the entire team to forfeit all those games seems ridiculous.
This one from Joann. "He should be allowed to play. He's on a student visa. It's not like he was smuggled in."
This from Reilly. "In this situation, it was the coach's forgetfulness, not immigration status that messed him up. If you forget to renew your home insurance and have a fire, you're out of luck. How is this different?"
And this from Robert. "Yes, and while we're at it, let's cut some of that athletic funding and use it for, I don't know, education?"
Keep talking back, facebook.com/carolCNN.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure
MALVEAUX: Well, Kim Kardashian, she's used to the spotlight, obviously. But not this time. All thanks to Prince.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Kim Kardashian has probably never been told by any guy, get away, get away. But there's always a first for everything, huh? Well, this is what happened. It was a moment that was caught on tape. And, of course, it is a video that is now trending online today.
Jacqui, who is pushing Kim Kardashian away? This is interesting.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is. It's not what you think, though. We're talking about the great purple one, yes, Prince.
(CROSSTALK)
JERAS: He had a concert on Monday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and basically what he was doing, he has his jam sessions as he often does. And he was bringing people up individually at times on the stage to dance with him. Well, Kim Kardashian was announced and brought up on stage and she kind of freaked out a little bit.
Take a look.
(VIDEO CLIP)
JERAS: In case you missed that in typical Prince fashion, he says, get off the stage.
(CROSSTALK)
JERAS: But Kim says actually what happened -- she tweeted about it, OK, first of all. She said she was so nervous. She was so nervous that she froze when prince touched me. But then later on she went back on stage again, this time I redeemed myself. We all danced while Prince played the piano. Wow, what a night.
And I'm telling you, that would be a night, would it not, Suzanne?
MALVEAUX: Oh, yes.
(CROSSTALK)
MALVEAUX: Of course, there's another celebrity that's in the news a lot. I guess Lindsay Lohan. There are some folks that are watching what she does and cares about what she does.
What's happening?
JERAS: No surprises here. Once again Lindsay Lohan making headlines. This time, again, not for such great reasons. She is being arraigned today on felony grand theft charges. She's accused of walking out of a Venice, California store with a $2,500 necklace. Her attorneys say it's not true, she didn't do it, they're denying the charges. And, of course, she's already on probation, as we know, on a drunken driving conviction. She could potentially be facing jail time. I think that's the third time around, unfortunately, for Miss. Lohan, who just can't seem to get it together.
MALVEAUX: Yes. Well, we hope that she does.
I know a lot of folks are looking at this one, and he's adorable. Elmo. Can't get enough of Elmo.
JERAS: Who doesn't love Elmo, right?
MALVEAUX: Of course. What's up with Elmo? Tell me.
JERAS: Well, he's going to be back in business. Elmo was a little dry over the holiday season and flew off the shelves and people quite didn't get what they wanted. But he's going to be back on the store shelves soon.
CNN got an exclusive look at Elmo and his friend Cookie Monster. The Hasbro Company says the Let's Rock Elmo" is the most interactive Elmo toy ever. And there you can see there's a Cookie Monster there, as well. They play various instruments. And it's going to hit the shelves in the fall, Suzanne. But, I don't know how many parents might be able to afford this thing.
MALVEAUX: How much is it?
JERAS: $69.99. $70 for a toy for a toddler.
MALVEAUX: Yes. He does a lot but that is a lot of money, too, for Elmo. But we still love him.
JERAS: We do.
MALVEAUX: Thank you, Jacqui.
Well, a quick reminder about your chance to Choose the News. You vote by texting 22360.
Vote one for the Chilean miners' hero from Pennsylvania.
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And vote three for Egypt's deserted pyramids.
Now, the winning story is going to air in the next hour. So text and vote.
