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Police, Protesters Clash in Cairo Streets; Republicans Debate National Security; Economic Reports Good, Not Good Enough to Take Spotlight off Europe; More Confrontations, but Call for Truce in Egypt; Millions of American to Travel for Holiday with Bad Weather; Romney Starts Naming Names for Running Mate; Ron Paul Upstaging, Shaking Up Debate
Aired November 23, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Also, a Wisconsin mayor is threatening to sue teenager who happens to be his Twitter impersonator. The account is owned by, yes, a teenager who's talking about running against the mayor. The kid says it's just satire. He's not doing anything. So bring it on, Mr. Mayor.
We're at the top of the hour. Lookie, lookie, it feels like the weekend.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: A challenge. I know, it's like a Saturday. Isn't it?
HOLMES: Like a Saturday.
WHITFIELD: But it's not. It's the day before Thanksgiving. You got a big plan?
HOLMES: Of course.
WHITFIELD: Getting the turkey ready and basted and all that?
HOLMES: Big football day tomorrow as well.
WHITFIELD: You got it planned out. Very good.
HOLMES: Good to see you.
WHITFIELD: I'm going to see you again in the morning, right?
HOLMES: See you tomorrow. Same thing.
WHITFIELD: Same bat channel.
HOLMES: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Happy Thanksgiving. T.J., thanks so much.
Live from Studio 7, I'm Fredricka Whitfield.
Let's get you up to speed this Wednesday, November 23rd.
Just in -- Egypt's highest ranking Muslim cleric is calling on police to stop attacking protesters. This comes as the country's uprising gets bloodier and bolder.
Authorities now say at least 35 people have been killed and almost 2,000 injured in five straight days of violence. Clashes between protesters and police are happening outside Tahrir Square.
And inside the square, tens of thousands of demonstrators are standing their ground demanding the country's military council quickly hand over power to civilian rule.
Our Ben Wedeman was on the ground just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): A lot of the protesters we saw did go back to Tahrir Square and they were asked by the -- by the army and these religious figures. But I think several, I'd say 400 or 500 more are holding their ground. They're not moving back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Three American college students accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at Egyptian police are expected to face more questions today this time in the presence of U.S. embassy representatives. The mother of one of the young men says she's not surprised her son was taking part in the protests but does not believe he was attacking police.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOY SWEENEY, DERRIK SWEENEY'S MOTHER: He is a very passionate person. He believes in democracy. He believes in standing up for what you believe in. Standing up for what you feel is right and that's the kind of person he is. So, are we surprised that he would go down there and stand up for what he believes in? No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And many voters may be rethinking the Republican presidential field a day after the CNN national security debate. The candidates were all over the map on issues as far flung as the Afghanistan war, Iran and illegal immigration.
Newt Gingrich strayed from party lines saying illegal immigrants who have been here for decades and obey the law should be able to stay.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I don't see how -- the party that says it's the party of the family is going to adopt an immigration policy in which destroys families that have been here a quarter century, and I'm prepared to take the heat for saying: let's be humane and in enforcing the law without giving them citizenship but finding a way to create legality.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Amnesty is a magnet. When we have had in the past programs that have said people who come here illegally are going to get to stay legally the rest of their life, that's going to only encourage more people to come here illegally.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: And I'll talk with CNN senior political analyst Ron Brownstein's in a few minutes and get his take on the debate last night.
Also, a judge in Texas who was criticized after a YouTube video showed him whipping his daughter has been suspended. The Texas Supreme Court did not give a reason for suspending Judge William Adams.
The video shows Adams hitting his then 16-year-old daughter repeatedly with a belt and then cursing at her. Adams says she was punished for using the Internet to illegally download music and games.
And new information today on the Penn State scandal. Sources close to the investigation say child and youth services is looking at two new cases of alleged child abuse by longtime assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. The boys making allegations are still under 18.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARA GANIM, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: These are not the first two new cases we've heard of. There have been reports of several other cases, other attorneys have said that they have victims who say that they were abused as far back as the 1970s. So, you know, it's kind of unclear how many of these have been vetted by police, how many might testify before the grand jury, how many with the statute of limit ace that the cases could be prosecuted. We don't know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Sandusky is formally charged with molesting eight boys. All are adults now.
The University of California-Davis is trying to make good after police pepper sprayed peaceful Occupy protesters last week. All of which was caught on video. The school is now promising to pay the medical bills of students who were sprayed. Charges against students who were arrested are being dropped.
And a stunning helicopter crash is caught on camera in New Zealand. Take a look.
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WHITFIELD: A rotor blade clipped a cable as the pilot was preparing to put up a Christmas three, that caused the chopper to flipped and slammed to the ground, as you just saw there. The pilot was not seriously hurt.
And here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day as you're preparing for tomorrow's holiday.
We ask: What are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving?
Carol Costello joins me now from New York.
Carol, happy Thanksgiving.
COSTELLO: Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Fredricka. Are you getting ready for the Thanksgiving prayer? You know, the one before dinner where you thank God for all that's good in your life? I know. It will tough again this year.
With unemployment at 9 percent, the stock market on a roller coaster ride from hell and bitter partisan politics, it's tempting to skip the thanks and ask God for help, please.
Renowned physician and spiritual guru Deepak Chopra says, don't do it. All this negative energy is impacting the nations' success.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEEPAK CHOPRA, SPIRITUAL GURU: These guys are feeling insecure. America is at war outside and inside. Inside, you know, so much divisiveness in our political parties, and feeling a lack of self- esteem. We think, oh, we can't produce anymore. But everything that's right still exists.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Hmm. That's easy for him to say. He has a media empire, and I'm sure you whisper, everything that is right still exists to yourself every time you get a job rejection.
Still, on this Thanksgiving eve, let's look at the bright side. Overall for 2011, we've added 1.2 million jobs. Well, that's not as many as we hoped for. We're not losing jobs, right?
Interest rates are at record lows and staying that way until at least 2013.
Not bright enough for you? Look around you. Most of you have love in your life. Family, friends, God. So let's focus on those things today.
So the "Talk Back" question of this pre-Thanksgiving Day eve, is that how you say it? What are you grateful for this Thanksgiving?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN, Facebook.com/CarolCNN, I'll read your responses later this hour.
WHITFIELD: All right. Look forward to hearing all of those many thanks coming your way. Thanks so much, Carol.
COSTELLO: Sure.
WHITFIELD: All right. Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering.
First, it is day five in the bloody street protests in Egypt. We'll look at exactly what the protesters want.
And the Republican presidential candidates in this country showing just how differently they think about immigration and national security during last night's debate. And what it might mean for the race for the White House.
Then, some positive news when it comes to jobs in America. Unemployment has gone down in most states. We'll show you where.
And, also -- tens of millions packing their cars or heading to the airport for Thanksgiving holiday. But bad weather may slow you down.
And then later, why this former beauty queen is talking to CNN from jail.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I have been here one year and seven months and am incident of all the accusations. It is all a big misunderstanding.
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WHITFIELD: It is day five of the pro-democracy demonstrations in Egypt. You see it is never-ending, activity right now in these live pictures. And you can hear sirens in the background as well.
This is Tahrir Square. Looks familiar, doesn't it? Well, it is ground zero for the uprising as it was earlier this year when the Egyptian people overthrew their longtime President Hosni Mubarak. This time protesters are taking aim at the military rulers and similar to earlier in the year, the fight for democracy has been deadly.
Our Ivan Watson is in the thick of street battles on the streets of Cairo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is where the fighting's been raging now into the fifth day. This one road here with police not very far away, and these kids choking, puking -- but refusing to give up ground, with the constant tear gas in the air.
Eyewitnesses show that they're actually breaking the cease-fire sometimes that are around the here. The fury. There's another round of tear gas.
I've got to put the gas mask back on.
Venting their fury at the police.
(INAUDIBLE)
WATSON: The Marshal Tantawi's speech Tuesday night has done nothing to diminish the rage of the people here who continue in these cat and mouse battles with the riot police.
I've had my gas mask off for about 45 seconds, and I'm already succumbing to the effects. These kids are running around with surgical masks, and spray water, and, again, showing the gas mask canisters clearly manufactured in the U.S.
I don't know what can diminish the rage of these angry young Egyptians.
What do you want?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We think this is going to be from the people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The freedom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't need any military control for these people.
WATSON: The police are embracing -- embracing the protesters, trying to make peace.
Both sides suffering in this conflict. We can see some of the police crying from the tear gas they've been firing themselves. But I predict both sides are going to start fighting again with a matter of minutes.
(voice-over): Sure enough, moments later, a fresh volley of tear gas sends these young revolutionaries running and skipping for cover.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And that was CNN's Ivan Watson reporting on the streets of Cairo.
And we want to take a moment to honor a member of this CNN family. Our hearts are breaking today. Longtime CNN radio anchor Stan Case was killed in a car crash in Birmingham, Alabama, Tuesday night. His wife Angela Stiepel Case was injured and remained hospitalized. She is one of CNN's writers, one of our lead writers on my weekend team.
Stan Case came to CNN's in 1985 after working for a correspondent for KABC-AM in Oklahoma City.
CNN Radio news manager Mike Jones says Case was, quote, "In many ways, the backbone of this network."
Tyler Moody, vice president of CNN Radio, says, quote, "Our thoughts now are for his wife Angie's recovery and his family during this difficult time. For over 26 years, Stan was our friend first and colleague second. He will be missed."
Stan Case was 59 years old.
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WHITFIELD: Eight candidates, eight very different opinions on everything, from the war in Afghanistan to immigration.
Our Jill Dougherty has the highlights from last night's CNN Republican debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With eight Republicans onstage, President Barack Obama got a few nicks.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you like what Barack Obama has done to our economy, you'll love what he's done to our national security.
DOUGHERTY: But these candidates had the knives out for each other.
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Are you suggesting we take all out of troops out next week? What's your --
JON HUNTSMAN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Did you hear what I just said? I said we should drawdown from 100,000. We don't need 100,000 troops.
DOUGHERTY: There was heated debate whether the post-9/11 Patriot Act should be extended.
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All of us will be in danger for the rest of our lives. This is not going to end in the short run, and we need to be prepared to protect ourselves.
REP. RON PAUL (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You can still provide security without sacrificing our Bill of Rights.
HUNTSMAN: I think we have to be very careful in protecting our individual liberties. We forget sometimes that we have a name brand in this world.
DOUGHERTY: Should specific ethnic or religious groups in America be profiled for security screens?
WOLF BLITZER, DEBATE MODERATOR: Who would be profiled?
SANTORUM: Obviously, Muslims would be someone you'd look like. Absolutely. Those were the folks who -- the radical Muslims are the people that are committing these crimes.
PAUL: It's digging a hole for ourselves. What if they look like Timothy McVeigh? You know, he was a pretty tough criminal.
DOUGHERTY: In the midst of a heavy debate, a light moment.
BLITZER: Is it OK for Muslim-Americans to get more intensive pat-downs or security when he go through airports than Christian Americans or Jewish Americans?
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: No, Blitz. That's oversimplifying it. I happen to believe that if you allow our intelligence agencies to do their job, they can come up with an approach -- I'm sorry, Blitz. I meant Wolf, OK? Blitz -- Wolf.
(LAUGHTER)
DOUGHERTY: And what about aid to Pakistan?
REP. MICHELE BACHMANN (R-M), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I also think that Pakistan is a nation that it's kind of like too nuclear to fail.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Until Pakistan clearly shows that they have America's best interests in mind, I would not send them one penny, period.
BACHMANN: With all due respect to the governor, I think that's highly naive.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: OK. So, not a lot of fireworks last night, but a lot of different ideas how to handle national defense.
I'm joined by CNN senior political analyst, Ron Brownstein.
So, Ron, you know, I want to play a bit more of that exchange that took place between Mitt Romney and Jon Huntsman. Let's listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUNTSMAN: We need a presence on the ground that is more akin to 10,000 or 15,000, that will serve our interests intelligence gathering and special forces response capability, and we freed to prepare for a world not just in South Asia but indeed every corner of the world in which counterterrorism is going to be in front of us for as far at the eye can see for the 21st century.
ROMNEY: And the commanders on the ground feel we should bring our surge troops by December of 2012 and bring down all of our troops other than perhaps 10,000 or so by the end of 2014.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So, there doesn't seem to be a real party line when it comes down to this policy in Afghanistan. But, you know, based on what was said last night, who scores the most points on that?
RON BROWNSTEIN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, you know, I think Mitt Romney had been kind of wobbling on this issue. He's kind of moved around on different positions, as he's been accused on other issues as well. But, now, he's kind of aligning himself clearly with basically staying with the timetable that the commanders and President Obama had set up.
Jon Huntsman arguing for a faster drawdown.
What you really have here are two different traditions -- you saw them broadly in the debate, two different traditions, two different lines of thought in the Republican Party colliding. Historically, there was a realist tradition that was vibrant that goes back to James Baker and Henry Kissinger, that was reluctant to kind of take on a lot of causes abroad, was skeptical of nation building. In some ways, that was what George Bush ran on talking about humble foreign policy.
And then there's what became the ascendant neoconservative vision, the George Bush of 2001, that talked about then a much more expensive role for America and the world, a much more willingness to try to remake societies even at the point of a gun in Afghanistan and Iraq. And that view, by and large, is dominant in the Republican presidential field. But you have both in Huntsman a more realist view and then in Ron Paul, the kind of libertarian governism, the kind of come home America from the other side.
So, I think voters actually got a good view of the array of thinking on the Republican party on these issues, but with that kind of Bush era view, somewhat chasten, but I think still dominant.
WHITFIELD: OK. Most everyone agrees that economy is still the number one issue. But when it pertains to security, where is that on the list of priorities for the average Republican voter?
BROWNSTEIN: Well, I think -- you know, Republican voters generally, one of the fissures between the parties is how each of their coalitions view the best way for America to advance its interests in the world. There's no question that the Republican coalition believes in much more of a peace through strength argument and is more willing to see us go our own way with our without the support of allies. And that is, by the way, a popular point of view among the blue collar, working class, white community that has moved for the Republican Party really since the '60s and very dramatically under Obama.
The Democratic coalition is very different. They think security is best achieved through international diplomacy and alliance. And much more responsive to the kind of reintegration with the world that Obama talks about. And for that matter, Jon Huntsman talks about.
You know, in many ways, I thought Huntsman last night looked like a candidate who was appealing almost beyond the Republican primary. Much of his message seemed very more attuned to unaligned less ideological, less partisan voters than to the actual voters who will be deciding his fate. Maybe he's thinking about those New Hampshire independents who can vote in that primary.
WHITFIELD: A real strength for Newt Gingrich, his debating skills. However, last night talking about immigration, some say it was quite a departure from the party line. Take a listen.
BROWNSTEIN: Yes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GINGRICH: I don't see how -- the party that says it's the party of the family is going to adopt an immigration policy which destroys families that have been here a quarter century. And I'm prepared to take the heat for saying, let's be humane in enforcing the law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Does that help keep him out front or might he have shot himself in the foot?
BROWNSTEIN: It was a huge moment, actually. First of all, I think the whole debate was, I think, the clearest view for today's voters and today's viewers of the Newt Gingrich people covered in the 1980s and 1990s, it was just radiating intellectual self-confidence, to the point where he does throw some long passes that sometimes are not complete.
And that -- what he said last night about immigration was, I think a big gamble in the primary. But, also, a big gamble in the general election for Mitt Romney in his response if he gets that far. I mean, what Gingrich said most Americans probably view as reality. That we are not going to deport 11 million people and you might make distinctions in any response to illegal immigration.
But that is not necessarily a position you can sell in a Republican primary. A less incendiary proposal from Rick Perry that he supported in Texas for in-state tuition for illegal immigrants certainly brought him down with those Tea Party supporters, who also have been crucial to Gingrich's rise.
On the other hand, Mitt Romney takes advantage of that. But by taking such a hard line, if he gets to the nomination, maybe hard (INAUDIBLE) Hispanic support that could be there given the tough economy.
WHITFIELD: OK. Ron Brownstein, thanks so much. Always good to hear from you.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you, Fred.
WHITFIELD: Happy Thanksgiving as well.
BROWNSTEIN: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. Egypt's religious leaders a step in the forefront in the violence that's ripping their capital apart. It's day five of the uprising.
I'll talk to a Middle East expert, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Here's what's ahead on the rundown, next.
A fifth straight day of clashes in Cairo. And talk of a truce, we'll look ahead at what's next for that country.
Then, a new report suggests most U.S. states are seeing a drop in jobless rates.
And a beauty queen in Colombia is charged leading a ring of fashion models to smuggle cocaine.
And stocks are in the red again today after two days of losses.
Alison Kosik joins me now from the New York Stock Exchange. So, Alison, what's driving the sell-off today?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You know what, Fredricka? The market just can't seem to shake these fears about the Eurozone debt crisis. You know, every day there seems to be a new headline, a new report showing its wrath.
And today, one coming from China. The Chinese manufacturing slowed significantly last month. And that's a big deal because it shows that not even big, bad China can disconnect itself from Europe's problems.
Also, German auctioned off government bonds today. That didn't go so well. In fact, a third of those bonds didn't even have buyers.
And there are Italian Spanish yields, they're still rising. Again, it shows there's little confidence that those countries can make good on those investments, even rich countries like Germany -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
So, what about all the U.S. economic report out today, there are more than usual, because the markets are closed tomorrow, right?
KOSIK: Exactly. The big sort of dump truck of economic reports that we got today, they're good enough to show that the economy is still growing, but not good enough to take the spotlight off of Europe. We found durable goods orders, orders for big-ticket items, like computers, cars, refrigerators, those orders fell but came in better than expected. New jobless claims are up, but below the crucial 400,000 level. That's good news. And personal income and spending, how much we made and spent last month, was up. It shows people are cautiously buying, but, hey, we're still buying stuff -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: That's a little bright sign there. We're hearing a new report out showing unemployment rates across the country are actually falling. Tell us more about that.
KOSIK: Most of us don't feel it but, believe it or not, the stats show the job picture is actually improving. Let me pull up a map and show you what states exactly, where unemployment rates are falling.
In fact, 36 states are experiencing this. It's almost 75 percent ever country. Another map I want to show you shows the big of the declines in unemployment, the rate in Alabama, in Michigan, in Utah, in South Carolina. They fell less than 1 percent. Sounds minuscule but it's a huge drop for one month. True, we're seeing improvement in little bits, but there's still room for more improvement. Look at Michigan and South Carolina. They have unemployment rates over 10 percent.
Fredricka, it's all about baby steps, baby, in this recovery, right?
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Right. You've got to crawl before you walk.
Alison Kosik, thanks so much.
KOSIK: Yes.
WHITFIELD: More confrontations and even a call for truce in Egypt. We'll have the latest and talk to a Middle East expert about what's next for that region.
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WHITFIELD: All right, let's get back to Egypt's uprising. Night-time view there, what's taking place. You can see from these live pictures, clearly an assemblage of a lot of people. And you saw tear gas as well. We're hearing reports that possibly there is some either rounding up of protesters or trying to break up the activity of protesters involving military police. Difficult to tell from these pictures here. Bottom line, it is day five of these protests and it seems to be never-ending. It seems to be picking up as opposed to dissipating. Many of the people there are demanding that the nation's military rulers step down immediately.
Meantime, we understand that Egypt's highest-ranking Muslim cleric also tried to involve himself in this by trying to urge protesters to stay the course. The protesters rejected the military's proposal to speed up a transition to civilian rule. Officials say at least 35 people have been killed, and almost 2,000 injured in clashes between police and protesters. The general prosecutor's office says a truce has been reached between the protesters and security forces at the ministry of interior in hopes of preventing further bloodshed.
So the question now is, what is next for Egypt?
Joining us from Paris by phone, Fawaz Gerges, a professor of Middle Eastern politics and international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Egypt's highest ranking cleric, Professor, is calling for police to stop attacking the protesters, but do you trust this so-called truce that we're hearing about, that may have been brokered in large part by religious leaders?
FAWAZ GERGES, PROFESSOR OF MIDDLE EASTERN POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE: Well, I think it's important but I doubt it very much whether it will be able to really end the current crisis. Fredricka, for your viewers, this is a multidimensional crisis. On one hand, you have a trust deficit between the Egyptians, in particular the military council that's ruling Egypt, and many Egyptians. Trust in the military institution is eroding as a result of the military council.
On the one hand, you also -- and we hardly talk about the second point I want to make. Really, at the heart of this particular crisis is a fundamental divide between what I call the secular divide. This particular crisis stems in part because of the rivalry and struggle between the liberals and seculars on the one hand and Islamic forces on the other hand presented by the Muslim Brotherhood. And the military for the last few weeks have been trying to respond to the liberals' fears that the Islamists basically will win a majority in the parliament.
And finally, Fredricka, few Americans know that Egypt and Egyptians in the last 10 months, since the ouster of Mubarak, have been really suffering. You have more than 40 percent of Egyptians who live on less than $2 a day. Egyptians are really suffering and paining and their lives have not improved in the last months. So you have a multidimensional protest that has climaxed as a result of the miscalculation of the military council and unwillingness to relinquish power. It wants to maintain its hold on the nation. This is why at the heart of this crisis is a complex set of grievances on the parts of millions of Egyptians.
WHITFIELD: So a lot of demonstrators are taking part because they're frustrated there hasn't been more change, more progress for them since the Arab Spring. But at the same time, collectively, it looks as if this movement is very much empowered by what took place during the Arab Spring, right?
GERGES: You're absolutely correct, Fredricka. What we are seeing is not like a second revolution as many television commentators have been saying. This is a revolution in the making. It has been in the making for the last 10 months. The reason why many Egyptians have basically risen up, again what I call the second phase, because I think what you have in Egypt is a change psychology. A psychological rupture has taken place not just in Egypt but throughout the Arab world. People feel empowered, emboldened. That's why I believe the military rulers, who were basically appointed by Mubarak, miscalculated monstrously by not loosening their grip on power, by trying to postpone the inevitable, that is basically transition to civilian rule by trying to really set the rules before the elections take place. and what they misunderstood, misread, is the psychology of the Egyptian people, the public mood/ and that's why I doubted very much the group of clerics, respected as they are, will be unable to address the grievances of millions of Egyptians, who have been in powered by what has happened in the country in the last 10 months.
WHITFIELD: Professor Fawaz Gerges, thanks for your time, joining us from Paris.
Americans are on the move for Thanksgiving, and the weather, well, it's not cooperating in so many places. We'll have a live report from one of the country's busiest airports right after this.
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WHITFIELD: Tens of millions of Americans are traveling by road, rail and air to get somewhere else for Thanksgiving. More than 23 million are making the trip by plane. And depending where you are, the weather is expected to make one of the busiest travel days of the year quite the challenge, to put it nicely.
George Howell is at Atlanta's airport.
George, what it's looking like? It looks barren behind you, but something tells me that's not the case, really.
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, certainly, we are seeing more traffic than usual. Rather, we're seeing plenty of traffic on today this Wednesday before Thanksgiving, but not nearly as bad as we would expect this day. We talked to people who are making short connections to meet with family members, stay there a few days, but it's also interesting when you talk to the military men and women who are traveling into Atlanta to make a hopefully extended stays with family.
In fact, we talked to Jason Tinker, who just flew in from Iraq. Listen.
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SGT. JASON TINKER, U.S. ARMY: When we walked down to the baggage claim, about 600 people just all of a sudden started whistling and clapping, and it was amazing feeling. Amazing, so.
HOWELL: And as far as being back, what's the first thing that you plan to do?
TINKER: Kiss my wife. I've been married to her for 20 years, and I love her to death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Great story there. We've seen plenty of those stories as people get off the flight and arrive here in Atlanta.
A lot of people coming into town today, ready to spend time with family and just relax and enjoy the holidays -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: You know, it's been pretty stormy in the southeast the last 24 hours, and it's not over yet. How is that impacting on- time departures and arrivals?
HOWELL: It's interesting. We talked to one family. They're flying to Denver from Dayton. And they tell me that they were flying into Atlanta, but had to wait in Dayton because of the weather that blew through Atlanta overnight. That weather, not an issue right now. We see some clouds in the skies, but not nearly as bad as it was last night. So really smooth sailing right now out of Atlanta. And that's a big deal, given the volume of the traffic that comes through this airport -- Fredricka?
WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.
A lot of people are thankful to be able to try to get away, even if they are going to be a little delayed here and there.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, George. Thanks so much.
All right, checking some of the stories our affiliates are covering across the country.
A school bus crash in southern Maryland injured 15 students. The bus was carrying a high school women's basketball team returning from a game. No one was seriously hurt. Police say the driver of a pickup truck caused the crash. He was charged with drunk driving.
In Edmond, Oklahoma, a sea of one-dollar bills rained down on an intersection during Monday's commute. Drivers jumped out of their cars to grab them. Police think someone went to the bank and accidentally left the money on the hood of their car. A Good Samaritan grabbed what he could, about $700, and returned it to police.
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UNIDENTIFIED BOY: (INAUDIBLE)
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FREDRICKA: Ah, you can never get enough of those. In Highlands Ranch, Colorado, a soldier home from Afghanistan surprises his children in their classroom two days before Thanksgiving. He got down on that bended knee, and the children rushed into his arms, as you see there. Not a dry eye in the house. He hadn't seen them for 400 days.
So what are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving? That's our "Talk Back" question. Your responses moments away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Some Thanksgiving turkeys are roasted, others grilled, even deep fried. If they are lucky enough, they are pardoned by the U.S. president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I like doing this.
You are hereby pardoned.
(LAUGHTER)
Give them a round of applause.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Pardoned and blessed. This is the 64th year a president has granted a pardon to holiday poultry. This year's lucky gobblers, Liberty and Peace, will spend the rest of their lives at George Washington's Mount Vernon in Alexandria, Virginia. Beautiful.
All right. We are still a long way from the general election, but one Republican candidate may already have some possible running mates in mind.
Joe Johns is live from the political desk in Washington.
Joe, we're talking about Mitt Romney, who is floating some names around already?
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, he's probably getting ahead of himself too, Fred. But GOP presidential contender, Mitt Romney, on Monday, dropped a name for possible running mate should he secure his party's nomination. He said there are probably 15 names of people, including new Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte. There are terrific Republicans in the Senate, he said, and the House and governors offices as well. He's trying to be pretty diplomatic.
But the Senator he mentioned happened to be sitting next to Romney at the time of the interview. Romney, this weekend, got her endorsement. She's a first-term Senator, if you don't know here, elected in 2010 with 60 percent of the vote. She's seen as a strong conservative of issues of finance and defense, former attorney general, also comes from the right state too, the first of the nation primary state. When she was asked who Romney should pick, she picked a bunch of other people, including Marco Rubio, Paul Ryan, and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. So a lot of names out there should Romney get the nomination.
But as you know, not a single vote has been cast, Fred. We're sort of a long way away from getting to that point.
WHITFIELD: It is still early. Lots of debates. We had one last night. Ron Paul was kind of upstaging some of the candidates, shaking things up a bit. He said he's not riding off into the sunset, is he?
JOHNS: No, not at all. And he's always changing the conversation, if you think about it. He's had some strong showings, even in the polls. Right now, he's at 14 percent in Iowa, according to the latest CNN/ORC poll. That's very respectable, running a strong third. Whether you agree or disagree with his Libertarian points of view, he certainly can take a debate in a different direction. He did so last night. Probably the best example of that was a position he took on profiling. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. RON PAUL, (R), TEXAS & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: What if they look like Timothy McVeigh? He was a pretty tough criminal. I think we're using too much carelessness in the use of words that we're at war. I don't remember voting on a declared declaration of war. Oh, a war against terrorism.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: Really distinguishing himself there from comments that were made by the former Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, who said he would like to see some profiling, especially on young Muslim men. So Ron Paul taking a strong position there, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. I wonder. A lot of these candidates may not be taking the holiday off, because they are campaigning hard. But any of them revealing their Thanksgiving plans that we know of?
(LAUGHTER)
JOHNS: No. Not so far. One of the things that a lot of us have been wondering about Ron Paul, for example, is whether he has plans for the future of maybe running as a third-party candidate. But the funny thing about him, so far, he's said again and again, no, he's not going to do that. You always wonder though, a guy like that, with such following, maybe he'll change his mind down the road. Some candidates actually have. So never say never at this stage -- Fred?
WHITFIELD: Yes, there's always been that little bit of that chatter. Now it is kind of intensifying, isn't it? All right, thank --
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNS: Yes, it certainly is.
WHITFIELD: All right. Happy Thanksgiving to you.
Are you staying Washington side?
JOHNS: Yes. Exactly. Hoping to fill in for Wolf Blitzer in "The Situation Room" on Friday and -- unless something extraordinary happens tomorrow, I'd love to take it off.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: All right, we'll be watching.
Thanks so much, Joe. Happy Thanksgiving.
For the latest political news, go to CNNpolitics.com.
You have been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question: What are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving?
Carol Costello joins me now.
Carol, what are people saying?
(LAUGHTER)
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Lots of cool stuff.
So what are you most grateful for this Thanksgiving? That was the "Talk Back" question today.
This from Christine, "My husband, who is an Army captain, I cannot imagine our family without him."
This from Paul, "I'm grateful for my daughter, girlfriend, family, my job, the fact we have an NFL season and my Raiders lead the AFC west right now. Go Raiders"
(LAUGHTER)
This from peter, "I'm grateful my wife and I have our health. I'm also grateful we have a roof over our heads and food on the table."
This from Arthur, "I'm grateful for the abundance of turkeys this year, especially in Washington. And only two deserve a pardon."
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: Do you have a long list of things you are thankful for, Carol?
COSTELLO: I'm thankful for my husband because he's the best. He's the best. He is the best.
(CROSSTALK)
COSTELLO: He is. I'm also grateful for my family. What else matters in life? I can't think of much else.
WHITFIELD: I know. I know. I'm with you on that one. I'm grateful to have a great supportive, I'd say, harmonious family that spans from Atlanta to D.C., New York, Texas, California. Hopefully, not leaving anybody out. We laugh together and we laugh at each other, and that's fun.
(LAUGHTER)
COSTELLO: Isn't it? It's the best.
WHITFIELD: I like that.
All right, Happy Thanksgiving, Carol.
COSTELLO: You, too, Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: We'll see you again the next hour.
Columbia's former queen of coffee is a convicted cocaine trafficker. She says she's innocent. CNN has her first interview from behind bars.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Argentinean authorities say Colombia's former queen of coffee headed up a ring of drug-smuggling fashion models who operated from South America to Europe. She maintains her innocence. Now Rafael Romo has her first interview from prison.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: From her very humble beginnings in Columbia --
(CHEERING)
ROMO: -- she rose to the top of one of her country's most coveted beauty pageants. At the age of 21, Angie Sanclemente was crowned as the queen of coffee. It was the year 2000 and the beginning of a career that would propel Sanclemente into the world of her dreams as an internationally acclaimed model. But that career came to a screeching halt in May of 2010, when Sam Clemente was arrested in Argentina, and charged with drug trafficking.
After being convicted in early November, Sanclemente is speaking from prison for the first time. SANCLEMENTE, CONVICTED FOR DRUG SMUGGLING (through translation): I have been here one year and seven months. I'm innocent of all the accusation accusations. It was a big misunderstanding.
ROMO: After her arrest, she became known as the queen of cocaine. She was charged with leading a ring of fashion models to smuggle cocaine from South America and into Europe. She says her boyfriend and his uncle, who are also in prison, were indeed involved in drug trafficking, but not her.
SANCLEMENTE (through translation): it may sound ridiculous, but I'm innocent of this farce they invented. My boyfriend made a mistake and I'm paying the consequences. But I love him, and I love him because he loves me just the way I am. I never found in anybody else what I found in him.
ROMO: Now 32 years old and sentenced to six years behind bars, the promising career she once had seems like a vanishing dream.
SANCLEMENTE (through translation): I regret having taken the flight.
ROMO: She expressed regret once before. She was dethroned as the queen of coffee for breaking the rules by having been married.
SANCLEMENTE (through translation): I'm very capricious. A lot of bad things have happened to me for not listening to my mother.
ROMO (voice-over): Words that now sound prophetic.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
