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Senate to Vote on Debt Deal; Giffords Returns to House Floor; Democrat House Leaders Votes Yes to Debt Deal; Interview with Rep. Steve Israel; Bloody Crackdown in Syria; Trading Small Town for War Zone

Aired August 02, 2011 - 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: It's 9:00 a.m. on the East Coast, 6:00 a.m. out West. Thanks so much for joining us.

Well, now it's the Senate's turn. Lawmakers schedule a lunch time vote on the debt ceiling plan as Washington races to the default deadline.

House members approved the debt plan but ignored funding demands for the FAA, virtually guaranteeing some 4,000 employees will remain furloughed for the next month.

And Florida keeping an eye on tropical storm Emily. It's in the eastern Caribbean now, but could hit the states this weekend.

All right. Senate showdown at high noon. Just three hours from now voting is scheduled to get under way on the debt ceiling plan to keep the government from running out of money. It passed the House with surprising ease.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: Yeas are 269, the nays are 151. The bill is passed and without objection, a motion reconsider is laid on the table.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, today's vote will cap one of the most bitter fights Washington has ever seen over spending. But for one brief moment, a burst of unity.

That's Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords wowing the House floor. This was her first appearance since being shot in the head six months ago.

But we're covering all angles of this developing story. Dr. Sanjay Gupta with a look at Gabby Giffords and her triumphant recovery. Ali Velshi in New York awaiting the open of U.S. markets this hour. And in Washington Wolf Blitzer and Joe Johns watching the political maneuvers.

Ali, let's go ahead and start with you. How do you expect Wall Street to react this morning? ALI VELSHI, ANCHOR, CNN'S AMERICAN MORNING: It's going to be a lower open today. Again, we've got two things going on. Right? We've got this debt ceiling, the passage of it, but now that we know we've got a deal and most people are expecting it to go through, investors are concentrating on the other things that are going on.

You saw that GDP, the weak number on Friday. Then yesterday we started right out of the gate. Remember we saw the stocks doing so well, and then this viciously bad manufacturing report came out, suggesting the economy is slowing down again.

And then this morning we had a mixed picture of reports on personal spending and income. Income is up which is good. Spending is down a little bit, which is bad. So what's happening is investors are focusing on a couple of things now. Not just the debt ceilings. So we're going to have a down open to the markets this morning.

But if something goes wrong with the passage of the debt deal, we'll see another leg down. If it doesn't you probably won't see much reaction at all.

So that is to say, Kyra, that all those days leading up to the passage of that agreement where we saw losses in the market, it does not look like the market is all that willing to give that money back now that a deal is done. That money, that capitalization, might be wiped out.

PHILLIPS: OK. Joe Johns, all along, the House was seen as the greater hurdle to passing the deal. Does that mean it's pretty much a done deal in the Senate?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, people who should know, Kyra, say they do expect it to pass the Senate. Sixty-vote margin is needed to overcome delaying tactics, at least a chance of course, that given the heartburn over this deal someone might try to filibuster this. So with 60 votes, according to the rules, you can get around that and pass the bill.

Put the emphases on heartburn, senators on the right, some of them, don't think it goes far enough, some concerned defense spending could be cut, others worried about taxes being raised. Some would like assurances that there'll be more about a balanced budget amendment going out to the states.

Democrats -- people on the left -- worried about things like entitlement, social programs, and a lot of people don't like the idea of what's going on with this super committee of 12 that's going to have an outside say on where the spending debate goes from here. But you can say that people who know are saying they think there will be enough votes to get this bill to the president's desk, even though they will be holding their noses as they vote.

PHILLIPS: You brought up some key words. Perfect segue.

Wolf Blitzer, you actually write on your blog that folks need to read between the lines. We hear entitlements or tax reform, dot, dot, dot. But what we actually hear is -- go ahead and fill in the blanks. WOLF BLITZER, ANCHOR, THE SITUATION ROOM: Well, those are polite words for -- when you talk about entitlement reform, what -- what they're saying are cuts in spending for Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security. Let's not beat around the bush.

And when they talk about tax reform, in effect what they're saying are tax increases. You speak to Democrats, especially over at the White House, that that would be tax increases from the current level for the wealthiest Americans, for the big corporations, for the corporate jet owners, the millionaires and the billionaires, as they like to say over at the White House, and the Democrats like to say.

But, in effect, it will mean increased taxes for those individuals making more than $200,000 a year, families making more than $250,000 a year.

So the debate is going to continue, Kyra. The debate right now may be ending with the Senate passage -- and I think the Senate will pass it in a few hours. The president will sign it into law over a signing ceremony over at the White House. They're not going to be corking champagne, because no one is really thrilled about this but they did get over a significant hurdle.

What will happen -- and let's get ready for November. The pre- Thanksgiving Day this debate is coming back because that's when this so-called super committee is supposed to come out with their recommendations if in fact six Democrats and six Republicans can agree on a plan. And by no means a done deal but they will be able to agree -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes, and you write on your blog saying that if you like this debt ceiling debate the last few days you're going to love the debate that's going to occur in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

BLITZER: And I also write, if you hated this debate, and a lot of people did hate this debate, Kyra, they're going to despise the debate that's coming up in November and December, because it's going to be -- it's going to play out once again.

And the trigger, if you will, the -- if they can't reach an agreement, either the 12 members of this proposed committee, if they can't come up with recommendations or if Congress doesn't approve those recommendations, then there are going to be some really painful sweeping across-the-board budget cuts, spending cuts, including 50 percent defense spending of the cuts, including 50 percent defense spending -- of the cuts 50 percent will go to defense spending and 50 percent nondefense spending, including some cuts in payments to Medicare providers, whether hospitals or doctors.

So that's going to be painful. Democrats don't want to see that. Republicans don't want to see cuts in defense spending. So it's going to be fun, I got to tell you.

PHILLIPS: You noticed I mentioned your blog twice, right? Should I mention it one more time? BLITZER: That would be -- CNN.com/situationroom. And I mentioned a little while ago that I was going to be with you, Kyra. And I tweeted @KyraCNN. I know all of your followers are following us right now.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: I follow you, you follow me. It's a very happy relationship.

Wolf, thank you.

BLITZER: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. How about that remarkable return of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords? A mere six months after a horrific gunshot wound to the head she was alert and standing.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta was watching the video like all the rest of us.

So what did you notice?

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is -- it is remarkable if you just take it from a pure medical sense. You know, about 75 percent of people who've had this type of injury don't survive at all. So, you know, the fact -- that was January 8th. I think most people have seen this video by now. Seven months later almost, she is standing there.

She is obviously conversing, interacting, recognizing her colleagues, giving them high five's, saying there short sentences.

I also noticed as well, you know, from a medical standpoint that, Kyra, you know, she's not moving the right side, her right arm really at all. So all left-sided waving and everything. She got some assistance, someone helping her hold her weight, help her down the aisle. That's all not unexpected as well.

You know this is a left-sided brain injury as you remember, Kyra, that affects not only your speech, your ability to express yourself, but also the strength on the right side of the body. So it all makes sense. But, again, seven months almost later, this is -- this is pretty remarkable recovery. One of her rehab doctors said she is in the top 1 percent of people who recover from this.

PHILLIPS: Do we expect anything less?

GUPTA: I know, right.

PHILLIPS: I mean she's a fighter, she is a survivor. So is all of this in preparation to get back to work?

GUPTA: I think so, you know -- yes, you know, if you look at rehab, it's a fascinating process. Obviously they focus on the things you think they focus on, just improving strengths and things like that. But in terms of speech, speech is really two things. Your ability to understand and your ability to express. She was always able to understand. And that obviously is helping her now. But now it's all about, you know, expressing herself, longer sentences, not having word-finding difficulties. So all of that is seemingly starting to improve. Even teaching someone to write with their left hand because her right arm is so weak. She was right- handed before.

So that's all part of it. But also getting outside, Kyra, out of the hospital with friends and family, getting the kind of emotional support that she got clearly on the floor last night. A lot of people say that's part of rehab as well. Reminding someone, you know, their purpose and their sense of vitality.

PHILLIPS: And you got to love her husband, too, right there by her side the whole entire way. It is.

GUPTA: From space and back.

PHILLIPS: There you go. I know. It's remarkable.

Sanjay, thanks so much.

GUPTA: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: All right. Well, next hour I'm going to actually talk to the intern who helped save the congresswoman's life, about her recovery, her -- his experiences. You remember Daniel Hernandez. He's going to join us around 10:10 Eastern Time.

Well, he was one of the top Democratic leaders in the House and he was one of the few Democrats who voted for the debt deal along with the Republicans. We're going to hear from Steve Israel about his yes vote just ahead.

Also ahead, a vial of serial killer blood. Ted Bundy, it's found. Is it going to lead to solving more cold case murders? That story right after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking stories "Cross Country."

Former Detroit Mayor Kwamie Kilpatrick is a free man. He walked out of a Michigan prison three hours ago. Kilpatrick served more than 14 months for violating probation in an obstruction of justice case that forced him to leave office in 2008.

The Web site for Central Falls, Rhode Island, called itself a city with a bright future but that may be stretching it a bit. Central Falls filed for bankruptcy after failing to get police and firefighter retirees to give up half their pensions. Here's the governor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. LINCOLN CHAFEE (R), RHODE ISLAND: Its ability to provide basic services for its citizens and to meet the obligations that are made to city retirees and beneficiaries have been endangered by years of unfortunate fiscal mismanagement.

(END OF VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And a vial of Ted Bundy's blood could help investigators close cold cases. The serial killer was executed in 1989 after confessing to more than 30 murders but he could be tied to even more killings thanks to a detective who came across the vial of blood taken in 1978. It was still on file. A complete DNA profile on Bundy will be uploaded to the FBI's national database this week.

Steve Israel, one of the few Democrats who voted yes on the debt deal. Also one of the most influential members of the House Democratic leadership. He joins me from Washington.

Congressman, you've heard the quote. It's everywhere this morning. Your fellow Democrats, Missouri's Emanuel Cleaver, who's also chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, called this deal a, quote, "sugar- coated Satan sandwich."

REP. STEVE ISRAEL (D), NEW YORK: Not sure if that's actually on the Capitol Hill cafeteria menu. But if you happen to bump into him in the hallway today, how will you persuade him that this is a good deal?

Well, I won't persuade him that it is a good deal. Look, every member of Congress has to do what is in the best interests of the districts that they represent.

I didn't like this deal but I'll tell you what I really didn't like, the notion that the Republicans were going to drive this economy off a cliff. The notion that my middle class constituents on Long Island would wake up today to exorbitantly high interest rates, to exorbitantly high mortgage rates.

The notion that the Republicans, if we had defaulted, would create an economic catastrophe and unbearable new cost for middle class families. And that's why I voted for this compromise.

Now this is done. It is a -- literally a done deal. And now with these Republicans in the House need to do is quit talking about closing the government and start helping to open small businesses. Start helping to create new jobs. And end their relentless march to end Medicare.

The debt deal is behind us. It's time for these Republicans to get serious about jobs and to talk about extending Medicare, not ending Medicare.

PHILLIPS: Now Harry Reid said that no one got what they wanted here. Do you agree with that?

ISRAEL: Well, of course I agree with him. I'll tell you one thing, if Democrats had the majority in the House of Representatives, we wouldn't be in the position we are in. We not have surrendered our caucus to the extremist that John Boehner surrenders his caucus to. We would have compromise. We would have made sure that we were making the right investments in middle class growths, and ask oil companies to shave some of the $4 billion in subsidies they get, and close down those corporate tax loopholes.

Now, the fight has been put to another day. We are going to form this bicameral, bipartisan commission. And, you know, I relish that battle in November and December because the choice will be put before the American people again. Do you want to raise taxes and raise costs for middle class Americans? Do you want the middle class to bear a disproportionate share to sacrifice? Or is it time to close corporate tax loopholes.

PHILLIPS: All right.

ISRAEL: Is it time to ask the oil companies to more.

PHILLIPS: And you made it clear this is going to have an impact on the 2012 election. Explain.

ISRAEL: Well, there's no question it's going to have an impact. The fact of the matter is over the past week, my office and all congressional offices were inundated with calls from Americans saying quit this nonsense, do a fair and balanced approach that asks oil companies and corporate tax loopholes to share some of the sacrifice.

The American people are holding Republicans accountable for their actions. They did it this week. They're going to do it going into the 2012 elections.

Our choices are better than the Republican choices. And I think that this is going to be very well for the Democrats.

PHILLIPS: On the note of election, you know, last week, you sent out a fund-raising letter right after Obama spoke about the debt ceiling crisis. How is this going to affect your fund-raising?

ISRAEL: You know, fund-raising an important element both for the Republicans and for the Democrats. But there's a time when you have to put that aside and do what is best for the long-term future of the middle class in America. So, when I cast my vote last night, it was not based on fund-raising at the DCCC or the fundraising to the RCCC. It was based on the amount of money my constituents would have to take out of their pockets to pay higher credit card interest rates and mortgage interest rates if we allow the Republicans to drive the economy off the cliff to default on a good faith and credit of the United States government and to end Medicare.

PHILLIPS: So, Congressman -- so, what do you say to the medical perception, though, where members are saying, hey, he's just using this as a launching pad to raise money?

ISRAEL: No, we are using this crisis to actually frame the essential and fundamental debate between Republicans and Democrats. Democrats want to reduce spending. We voted for a bill yesterday that cuts a trillion dollars. But Democrats want the rich people earning over a million dollars, big oil companies and big corporations to sacrifice something.

The Republicans were willing to end our economy as we know it in order to protect and defend those corporate tax loopholes. That is the defining difference between Democrats and Republicans and we will continue that contrast between now and November 2012.

And when we win the majority back, we will govern more effectively, more fairly, we will grow the middle class rather than asking the middle class to bear the sacrifice as these Republicans have done.

PHILLIPS: Congressman, thank you for your time today. I appreciate it.

ISRAEL: Thank you.

And as you mentioned, it isn't a done deal yet. The Senate still has to vote and that's expected to happen this afternoon around noon, less than three hours from now. We also expect to hear from the president today. That will happen sometime right after the vote. So, we'll be following that live for you all day, so stick it out with us here on CNN throughout the day.

Now, coming up, she actually beat out some much younger women for her Oscar. Now, Helen Mirren has done it again in the hot bod contest. Stay tuned.

And don't forget, if you're walking away from your TV, it doesn't mean you have to stop watching. I think we got this whole thing done properly where you can live stream on your phone, your computer, your iPad. CNN.com/video or you can just download the app.

You'll get on there and you'll hit live TV and you can see your options. Pop it. Hit CNN NEWSROOM. Oh, you have to select your TV adviser. Sorry. The iPod, something always goes wrong!

Bottom line, get on there with the new app and click on live TV and hit CNN NEWSROOM and take us with you wherever you go. I'll start working on this provide stuff. I'll get back to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right. Let's hit some showbiz headlines for you.

The band Kings of Leon fending off breakup rumors after canceling the rest of its U.S. tour. The drama started Friday in Dallas when its lead singer said he felt sick and left the stage. Now, the band is issuing a stadium he is suffering from vocal issues and exhaustion and needs rest.

He plays a mayor in his new TV show. But Kelsey Grammer tells "The New York Post," when he's done acting, he really might run for office. According to the former "Frasier" star, if and when he runs, it will be New York where he and his new wife just relocated.

And marriage is tough. That pearl of wisdom from divorcing diva Jennifer Lopez in the new issue of "Vanity Fair." Most of the interview were done before she and Mark Anthony announced her split. But she implies he wasn't thrilled about her career comeback.

She's won an Oscar, Golden Globe, even a SAG Award. But Helen Mirren's lack of sag has earned her -- well, a new title. And Zain Verjee has all of the details.

I had no idea, Zain, she is at her ripe beautiful age of 60-something. She looks pretty darn amazing!

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Yes, she does. You know, I mean, wow, Helen Mirren at 66 years old is knocking off. Check out this list, Kyra of supermodel Elle McPherson, Kelly Brook, J. Lo and Cheryl Cole. I mean, even Pippa Middleton, you know, was left in the dust next to Helen Mirren.

Of course, the big question for everyone is how does she do it? How did she get body of the year?

She says good posture, basically. She says go buy some four-inch platform heels and it looks like you have longer legs than anyone would think. She also says suck your tummy in if you're on stage or anywhere, just suck it in. Exercise 15 minutes a day.

She says she cuts her own hair! And she says she sleeps a lot too. Sleep is absolutely key. She says when she is on a set, when she's on a shoot, everyone may be at the bar and going to hang out at a restaurant. She goes to sleep.

Also, Kyra, she says the secret to amazing good looks is makeup.

(LAUGHTER)

PHILLIPS: Well, if you go to that checklist, we definitely have some of those things nailed. Others, not so much. But we are sucking in that tummy and sitting up straight.

VERJEE: Stilettos!

PHILLIPS: Zain Verjee, she definitely looks amazing. Good tips for all of us. Thank you.

Well, the Senate is getting ready to vote on the debt deal. And ready or not, investors are going to react. The markets are just about to open. We are going to go live to the New York Stock Exchange in just a few minutes.

And in the middle of the heated debate over the nation' debt limit, a moment of triumph. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords returns to Capitol Hill. We are going to hear from one of her closest friends.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Checking top stories now.

The Senate is set to vote on the debt ceiling deal about 2 1/2 hours from now. The bill needs the president's signature to beat the default deadline.

An autopsy today will determine how an 11-year-old New Hampshire girl died. Celina Cass' body was found in the Connecticut River one week after she went missing.

And tropical storm Emily expected to strengthen as it moves to the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center says that storm could threaten Florida by this weekend.

Final vote still a couple of hours away but investors have had a day to digest the meat of that debt deal. That's for sure.

Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange and our Richard Quest, "Quest Means Business," is live out of Washington.

Alison, let me go ahead and start with you.

Investors reacting to this deal or do they have other things on their mind right now?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think I got a little bit of everything right now on their minds. For one, we are going to see stocks have a lower open when the opening bell rings, expect the Dow to drop about 50 points. You know, it comes after a session that we had yesterday where one analyst called it schizophrenic.

We watch the Dow jumped more than 120 points, then it fell more than 100 points, before it ended basically flat. Now, part of that movement had to do with the debt ceiling developments but that positive news was actually offset by some dismal economic data, weak manufacturing numbers. They hit stocks hard yesterday.

And, today, investors are mulling over more disappointing numbers, showing that Americans -- they earned a little bit more in June but they also spent a little less. And with the debt ceiling stalemate apparently coming to an end at this point, the focus is now going right back on the slow-growing economy. You know, even with this debt deal, this recovery, the reality is, it can't go anywhere unless employers, they begin hiring and that's really not going to happen unless they know the country isn't in for another debt crisis or another crisis at all.

But the big worry at this point, Kyra, is just the broader economy -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. So, Richard, what's happening with the debt rating agencies? Talk is still swirling around the deal can't save a lower credit rating for the U.S. What do you think?

RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: It depends on when the final numbers are crunched. I think there will be huge, enormous pressure from the rating agencies -- on the rating agencies not to do anything until the final numbers are worked out.

At the moment, both Fitch and Moody's and S&P have all said they're going to wait and see. They're going to see whether this really does create, say, 3 trillion or 4 trillion worth of cuts over the long term. And if it does do that, then, of course, things look a lot more optimistic.

However, if they determine that this deal does not really make serious -- and I use the word serious -- cuts into the U.S. debt load, then they will downgrade.

And this is not about what happens today or next week or next month. This is about the long-term ability of the United States to deal with its debt problems. And when they decide to downgrade, or if they decide, or perhaps they decide to downgrade, they will be saying that not enough has been done.

At the moment, I would put a pound to a penny, as we say, that they're going to sit on their hands for a bit longer.

PHILLIPS: Well, thinking of pounds and pennies, Dow Industrials right now, Richard, because I know you can't see the numbers, down 31 just after the opening bell.

So what's your take?

QUEST: I take this as being that exactly what you and I talked about yesterday. The rally yesterday was an inch thick and a mile wide, a relief rally that evaporated like the mist in the early morning of summer here in Washington.

Basically, all that happened was that people were just glad that Armageddon had been avoided. What they've now really got to concentrate on is those low manufacturing numbers, those worries about the jobs. Jobs, jobs, jobs. And the concern that this debt deal that has been put together will have a drag on the U.S. economy. There's no doubt it will have an effect. The question is how much.

And Kyra, one other thing just to keep into this mix of problems. Europe's got difficulties, China's slowing down, the U.S. is now put in a big bit of drag, as well. This is not a terribly optimistic moment for the global economy.

PHILLIPS: OK. Yet you did say we avoided Armageddon.

Let me bring in Wolf Blitzer, Richard.

Wolf, what do you think? Did you think we avoided Armageddon?

BLITZER: Well, we certainly avoided what could have been a disaster. I don't know if it would have been Armageddon. It would have been a disaster potentially, even if the U.S. would have paid its bills in terms of foreign countries that the United States owes money to as far as treasuries are concerned.

There would have been a lot of domestic bills, Defense Department related bills, vendors from various agencies that wouldn't have gotten paid in the month of August, and that would have sent a shock to those credit rating agencies. They, no doubt, would have moved much more quickly. They may still move and downgrade the U.S. AAA rating. But they would have moved much more quickly if the deal had not been struck.

The deal really doesn't do anything directly to create jobs but what it does do, it avoids a disaster. It avoids what could have been a calamity; Armageddon as some have called it. That would have been a real disaster. That's why so many Republicans, so many Democrats, they hated this bill but they voted for it when all was said and done, because they fully understood the consequences of failure.

And the same is going to happen in a couple of hours in the United States Senate. Kyra, a lot of members are going to vote in favor of this legislation, probably get at least 70, maybe 75 votes in the United States Senate, but -- but they recognize --

PHILLIPS: What about those who oppose?

BLITZER: They recognize that if they were to reject it, it would be just be a disaster.

PHILLIPS: And those that oppose, Wolf, could we see some last-minute stall tactics?

BLITZER: You know, in the Senate, they can, obviously, filibuster. They'll need 60 votes. I think they have well over 60 to get it passed. I think that between Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, the minority leader in the Senate, Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, the majority leader in the Senate, they'll get well over 60 votes.

So you can stall in the Senate, you can come up with all sorts of tactics to filibuster or whatever. But if the -- those who favor the legislation have 60, then, you know, you can put (ph) back the stalling tactics.

PHILLIPS: Well and we're following it live right there in the bottom quarter of your screen.

Wolf Blitzer, we'll be talking a lot more. Thanks so much.

Now, how about the remarkable return of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords? A mere six months after a horrific gunshot wound to the head, look at this.

(VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Applause. The cheers. All of it nonpartisan. Giffords voted in favor of the debt ceiling deal, by the way. It was her first vote since being shot January 8th, while meeting with constituents in Phoenix. One of her colleagues describes her impact on the House.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D), FLORIDA: I went on the chamber first, saved some seats that would make sure that they were right by the exit by putting my purse and my iPad and a folder on three seats so that we could keep her one seat in, in case it was too much for the mob that we knew would happen. But she went right to the last seat, the seat right on the end so she could have the easiest access to all of the members. Her whole delegation, Arizona, came over. Republicans, Democrats. You know, we had a very tough few weeks leading up to this fight and this final compromise and Gabby melted everybody's heart last night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Then an aide to the Congresswoman says that her staff was pretty thrilled to see her in the House again.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

C.J. KARMARGIN, GIFFORDS' COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR: It was a very emotional moment. I don't think there was a dry eye in our office when we saw the Congresswoman on the floor of the House.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Next hour I'm going to have a chance to talk to the intern who helped save the Congresswoman's life. He's going to talk to us about her recovery and his experiences. Daniel Hernandez is joining us at 10:10 Eastern Time.

Coming up, Tea Party politicians paid a big role in the debt deadlock. Our contributor LZ Granderson says it's a big problem for the GOP. He joins us next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Congress' debt deal isn't a bit hit with the Tea Party, even though Tea Party politicians played a big role in shaping it. A lot of people think they also played a role in dragging out the deadlock to Republicans' detriment.

CNN contributor LZ Granderson is one of them. The title of his latest op-ed, "Wise up GOP, Ditch the Tea Party." You actually write, "kick those free-loading Tea Partiers out."

It's harsh. Tell me why you're so harsh.

LZ GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I'm harsh because I think that the jig is up. You know, they were -- they being the traditional GOP Boehner's group, were happy to ride the Tea Party wave because they saw the political gains. Now they're seeing what life is like when they actually are in bed with the devil. And I think Boehner particularly was frustrated because he's a rational guy and he wanted to do what was best for the country and he felt obligated to pander to this wing that he's actually courted into his party.

PHILLIPS: So LZ, let's weigh it out then. What would the GOP stand to lose without him?

GRANDERSON: Well, that is the million dollar question, right? I mean, that's the reason why you haven't seen people outside of John McCain just call them out the way that he did last week. There's some -- there's a recall election happening in Wisconsin next Monday and many of the Tea Partiers are going to show up there to try and protect the six GOP members who are being targeted. Now, if they manage to insulate those GOP members in Wisconsin, I think the Tea Party is definitely going to have a lot of power and going to be here for the long run for sure.

But if those people end up getting kicked out, I think what you will find then is that the Boehner group won't find it necessary to listen to the Tea Partiers as much because they haven't proved to be as powerful as they say they are.

PHILLIPS: So is this a sign of things to come?

GRANDERSON: Unfortunately, yes. You know, this really isn't about me wanting to see Barack Obama re-elected as much as I want to see intelligent discourse as we head to the general elections. And I'm afraid that if we continue to bow down to these carnival barkers, if you will, we won't get to that intelligence discourse.

PHILLIPS: LZ, thanks.

And you can read LZ's latest piece, "Wise up GOP, Ditch the Tea Party," at CNN.com/opinion. If you like, you can join the conversation. LZ loves your comments.

All right. Checking stories across the country.

A 26-year-old woman hiking Yosemite fell 600 feet to her death Sunday while trying to descend the Half Dome Peak. Half Dome rises 4,800 feet above Yosemite Valley. The cause of her fall under investigation.

In Webster's Chapel Alabama, the Goodwin family lost their rental home to a tornado earlier this year. They didn't call for FEMA assistance and that's when The Living Hope Baptist Church stepped in. They're building a brand-new three bedroom home for the family to live in.

And want to take a trip to space to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Seattle Space Needle? Well, they're holding a contest and the grand prize is a trip into space. It includes about six minutes of sub- orbital flight. That would cost normally $110,000.

Still ahead, Will McClain -- take the hard -- we're going to talk about Will McClain, that is right. He is the soldier that one of our correspondents Jason Carroll followed from the beginning to his time in Afghanistan. Searching for bombs is what he's doing now. Does he regret his decision? We're going to have that story straight ahead.

Also, a bloody crackdown on government protesters in Syria. How is the world responding? We'll go live to London for that in just four minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Story-making news later today. The Senate votes at noon Eastern on a debt ceiling deal.

President Obama meets with the crew of the space shuttle "Endeavour" and the American commander of the International Space Station Expedition 26th in the oval office. That's at 3:15 Eastern.

And a 9/11 compensation fund town hall meeting is being held in Melville, New York; that starts at 6:00 Eastern.

Well, it's been a deadly night for anti-government protesters in Syria. A Syrian human rights group says at least 24 people were killed and dozens more were injured by government security forces.

Our Zain Verjee in London following the actions to the violent crackdown -- Zain.

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Kyra, the international pressure is growing amid this brutal crackdown. Now, the Syrian government is saying that they needed to get in there because of what they are calling armed terrorist groups.

Let's take a look at the international headlines to see what their analysis and responses. This is "The National" from the United Arab Emirates. This is the headline, "Ramadan could alter the course of Arab uprisings". It says, "That forces loyal to Mr. al-Assad attempted to decimate the opposition in Hama ahead of Ramadan is an indication that the regime recognizes this will be its most testing four weeks."

And then take a look at "The Guardian". Its headline, "Under the hammer," it says, "The overwhelming truth after four months of protest is that Assad has lost even the bare minimum, the sullen acquiescence of his people to govern. After four months of videos of massacres, broadcast on YouTube, there is no way back."

The U.S. President Barack Obama, Kyra, has said that this situation is horrifying, that it's brutal, but the U.S., in reality, Kyra, many analysts say does not really have a lot of leverage in a situation like this -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Yes, we're following pretty dramatic pictures. Zain, thanks.

Well, he's a changed man thanks to the U.S. Army.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, how much more weight have you lost? It looks like you've lost even more weight?

WILL MCLAIN, U.S. ARMY: I'm around 170 to 175.

CARROLL: 170 to 175 pounds.

MCLAIN: Well, I've got another 15 from when I was at the states.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: But the changes to this soldier are more than just physical. Coming up next, we'll catch up with Will McLain in the combat zone two years after first meeting him.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: A small town couldn't hold Will McLain so he enlisted in the U.S. Army and is now half a world away searching for roadside bombs in Afghanistan.

CNN's Jason Carroll caught up with McLain two years after meeting him stateside.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCLAIN: That was the bike I learned to ride first --

CARROLL: We first met Will McLain when he was an 18-year-old high school student desperate to escape his small town, Rosemont, California. MCLAIN: I kind to (INAUDIBLE) to be getting out of this little town. It gets old, but then a lot of things you will miss.

CARROLL: That was nearly two years ago. Since then we've watched McLain's dramatic physical transformation.

MCLAIN: I am Will McLain Jr.

CARROLL: Following him from recruit --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Check out your bags.

CARROLL: -- through basic training. To soldier.

Will, how much more weight have you lost? It looks like you've lost even more weight?

MCLAIN: I'm about right now 170, 175. Lost another 15 from when I was at the states.

CARROLL: McLain is now a combat engineer at Forward Operating Base Lagman (ph) in Zabul, Afghanistan, it's his first deployment, his first time in a war zone. We caught up with him minutes after returning from a 40-hour mission.

(on camera): The training is much different from the reality being here on the ground, right?

MCLAIN: It's a whole different story. You go out from training to here.

CARROLL (voice-over): Here is a place where searches for roadside bombs routinely kill and injure. McLain and his company of combat engineers specialize in finding those bombs. His captain telling us on their last mission, their convoy got hit by one. (on camera): It was very serious out there.

CAPT. TIMOTHY BUTLER, U.S. ARMY: It was there were -- there were several injuries. Everyone was fine. Everyone will -- will fully recover.

CARROLL (voice-over): Sergeant Herbert Joseph received second degree burns on his leg.

(on camera): Is this the first time you've been hit like this?

SERGEANT HERBERT JOSEPH, U.S. ARMY: That was my first time.

CARROLL: You're first time.

(voice-over): It has been a few more times for Staff Sergeant Robert White.

(on camera): How many times have you been hit?

STAFF SGT. ROBERT WHITE, U.S. ARMY: Too many, too many times to count.

CARROLL (voice-over): It's a constant threat for these combat engineers and while the bomb didn't hit McLain's vehicle during the mission, the worry is always there.

(on camera): So how do you psychologically sort of move past that and focus on the job at hand?

MCLAIN: I think the big thing is you just got to -- to trust in the person beside you. You've got to know how to do your job, and do it as well as you can and trust the guy next to you is going to do his.

CARROLL: McLain has come to terms with the reality of what fighting a war really means. Though he has changed much over the two years, he says even if he could, he couldn't change anything about his decision to enlist. But he has had a change of heart about Rosemont, California.

MCLAIN: I was looking back at my home town; I was a lot more harsh towards it --

CARROLL (on camera): I remember.

MCLAIN: -- than I should have been. And now I look back they raised me to be what I am.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Jason Carroll, he does appreciate his hometown even more now.

CARROLL: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Why the change of heart? CARROLL: Well, I think Kyra, after talking to him and after he's been on the ground now in Afghanistan for a few months and seeing how little some of the Afghan people have and some of these various small remote villages, I think he has a greater appreciation for Rosemont, California that small sort of desert community out there in southern California where he grew up.

He was hard on it before, but he's definitely had a change of heart now.

PHILLIPS: Yes, these tough times in our life make us appreciate all the other things, right, that we used to kind of turn away from.

CARROLL: You bet.

PHILLIPS: Great story, Jason.

CARROLL: And don't I know it.

PHILLIPS: Yes, don't we both know it.

Well, the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM, the debt ceiling deal and the countdown to the Senate vote.

Let's check in with Wolf Blitzer. He's going to be topping our hour once again, He's joining us out of Washington for a preview -- Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR, "THE SITUATION ROOM": We're going to be taking a look Kyra at some brand new CNN poll numbers that are just coming in. These poll numbers fascinating especially one question. It's an intriguing question. We'll get the answers once -- once we come up at the top of the hour, Kyra.

The question is this, have elected officials here in Washington dealt with the debt ceiling crisis more like responsible adults or spoiled children? The answers, the numbers when we come back -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Ok Wolf, good tease.

Also next hour a story we've been talking a lot about, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords surprising her colleagues as she walked on to the floor last night seven months after a bullet entered her brain.

We're going to talk about her recovery with the intern who helped save her life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: NFL star keeper, Randy Moss, hanging it up after 13 seasons. Moss leaves the game tied for second place in the all-time touchdowns list. Speedy Moss changed the way the centers were played. He actually admitted he didn't always give 100 percent, but there was never a question about his talent.

And here's a trade you might not have heard about. Minnesota Viking's hunter Chris Kluwe (ph) giving the team's new quarterback, Donovan McNabb his number 5 uniform. Here's what McNabb has to do for it. He has to mention Kluwe's band, Tripping Icarus, five times in these conferences; make a $5,000 donation to his charity; and finally his favorite ice cream cone.

And check out this wild wrestling move. It's called the flying squirrel. And if you missed it, let's see it again. Ellis Coleman is the young man with the move, by the way. He finished third in the junior world championship.

Rob Marciano, every now and then you've got a move like that but right now, we'd like you to move to "Emily".

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I learned from Jimmy Super Fly Sunoco. From the top row, the squirrel has a little more finesse involved there and I do like it.

Speaking of finesse, we're trying to get this thing going and I say that again positively because we need rain not only in Texas, which we didn't get any with Don. We could stand some in the southeast U.S. and tropical storm Emily has a chance of getting there. Right now we're looking at a center that's right about there, about 260 miles to the southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rica.

And the latest aircraft recon has 40-mile-an-hour winds and slowly getting itself together. It's already better organized than Don was and it has some room to grow.

We do expect to see heavier rains from San Juan up through parts of Hispaniola, but that island tends to tear storms apart because of mountains. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens as we watch this track, which is from the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical storm getting over Hispaniola as we get towards the southern Bahamas on Friday and into Saturday morning, notice that the cone does include the entire peninsula of Florida, also includes parts of Georgia and the Carolinas.

This is where things get very uncertain. Days four and five. So just bear with us as we update that forecast tomorrow. But certainly in Florida, you're going to want to at least mentally prepare if not start physically prepare for some things.

The other thing I'll mention is the record breaking heat. We're looking at temperatures that would be not only up over 100, but in places like Oklahoma City, 110 possibly, could be 112 in Wichita, could be 110 in Dallas which has already seen 32 days in a row, Kyra, of over 100 degree heat. Sweltering stuff.

PHILLIPS: Ok. Thanks, Rob.

MARCIANO: You bet.