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House To Vote On Payroll Tax Cut; Blizzard Pounds The Plains; Kim Jong-il Lies In State; Lawmaker: Call Out National Guard; Wikileaks: Cybercrimes Cop Testifies; 2011 Headlines and Highlights
Aired December 20, 2011 - 10:00 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 the top of the hour on this Tuesday. Thanks for joining us. Right now millions of Americans are rushing off to work. They want Congress to do its job.
Today, the House is expected to strike down a Senate bill that extends the payroll tax cut for another two months. House Republicans say that's not long enough. They actually want the full year guaranteed.
But the clock is ticking, and if the deal isn't made by January 1st, 160 million American workers will see their paychecks shrink. We're talking about an average of $1,000 over the course of a year. No politician wants to take blame for that.
Here is some of that discussion just minutes ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE FRANK PALLONE (D), NEW JERSEY: Is this the Christmas present, is this the New Year's gift that we're going to give to the American people, that their taxes are going to be raised, that they're not going to be able to have unemployment insurance if they're unemployed?
What does this mean for the economy, Mr. Speaker? Do the House Republicans want to send a message to the president right now when the economy is actually starting to improve slightly?
This could easily send us back and make the economy go back into a tailspin. Do they dislike the president so much that they would risk the economy for that?
REPRESENTATIVE BILL JOHNSON (R), OHIO: We're here to stop politics as usual in Washington. President Obama called for a one-year extension of the payroll tax holiday, and we're here to do exactly that. Job creators need economic certainty to create jobs, and to do that we must extend the payroll tax holiday for one year.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: All right, there's a look at the politics, but let's talk with Kate Bolduan on the Hill about the question that most Americans are asking right now, Kate, and that is, will my paycheck be smaller in two weeks than it is today? KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: By the looks of those sound bites, you would say, it doesn't look too likely, but I tell you, Kyra, there is still time. This tax cut does not expire until the end of the year, and you know deadlines do wonders around here.
But let me say this, on the flip side, for the first time, there is beginning to be a real question if the two sides will be able to agree in time as they really do seem -- don't seem they very much dug in that this point.
House Republicans, as you said, they are opposed to a short- term extension. They say two months of an extension of this tax cut does not fix the problem or go to the point, which what this tax cut is intended for, which is stimulating the economy.
But on the other side, Senate Democrats, Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, he has no intention he has said of starting up talks, opening up talks again about over a one-year extension, which they had been negotiating until he says the House passes this two- month extension to ensure this tax cut does not lapse.
So we'll obviously be seeing if there is any movement on either side in the latest chapter of this standoff -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: We'll keep watching and waiting for you to let us know what's going on. Kate Bolduan on the Hill. Thanks, Kate.
OK, well, Thursday is officially the first day of winter. But try telling that to folks hunkered down in the nation's mid section. As you can see, blizzard warnings blanketing parts of five states now from Colorado, to New Mexico, to Texas and in some areas.
Wind gusts had been clocked at 50 miles an hour. Snow has piled up to two feet deep in parts of Colorado and New Mexico and the impact expands across the region. A remarkable 200-mile stretch of Interstate 40 is close from Albuquerque to the Texas state line now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd say if you don't have to travel, don't.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's Christmas. How are we supposed to get home?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're just a little disappointed here, but we'd rather be safe than, you know, sorry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: CNN meteorologist Rob Marciano is joining us to take a look ahead because the storm is actually heading east so here's the question, problems for holiday travelers? What do you say?
ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: This would certainly get folks so worried on any other year or any pattern, I should say. There are some good news with this storm although it was an intense storm and still is. We have blizzard warnings that remain in effect for Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Some of the stuff coming out of Kansas, really remarkable.
Take a look at some of the video at Garden City near Dodge City in Western Kansas. They had winds starting at noon yesterday, sustained at 30, still almost there now and the snow is winding down, but blowing sideways. So there's your blizzard.
When you get visibility dropping to zero, that's when it becomes dangerous, that's when we shut down the interstate. Still some of the interstates are shut down until the sun comes up and roads are working to clear some of that stuff up.
It's 24 inches in New Mexico as far as the snow totals are concerned with this storm. Even in Canton, Oklahoma, seeing ten inches of snow and the winds, of course, with this. Not only do we have sustained winds of 30 to 40 miles an hour, but we had wind gusts of nearly hurricane strength in places like Clayton, New Mexico.
So powerful, powerful storm, but it's not going to get any more intense. It is heading for more populated areas like Chicago, like Detroit, like Pittsburgh even like New York City. The moisture is starting to spread in that general direction, but most of the moisture is in the form of rain.
Now down in the south across parts of Louisiana, we do have some severe weather (inaudible) earlier this morning or just a few minutes ago, had a tornado warning out, so some rough weather there, but generally speaking, this is heading into more mild air.
So we'll see some wintry precipitation in places like Chicago, maybe Cleveland and through Pittsburgh, but it shouldn't do all that much. This thing will head towards the north into the mile there. We'll see that go bye-bye.
Some rain tomorrow in New York and the next system coming down into Texas. Now we'll take a similar track, but get the rain and snow on a little closer in some of the bigger cities and I think travel get more dicey with this system and the one some behind it come Christmas eve and Christmas day -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, thanks, Rob. All right, let's turn to North Korea now, and former dictator Kim Jong-il. This morning his body lies in state, his regime somewhat in limbo. His youngest son that took part in a ceremony beside the glass coffin has been named his successor.
The world is wondering who is really in charge right now. Anna Coren is in Seoul, South Korea. So Anna, what's your take?
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, by all indications, Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il's younger son, is in charge. He obviously has been named as the successor, and by all reports, the succession does seem to be going smoothly.
Now the South Koreans say the reason that they believe this is the case is because there was a big gap between Kim Jong-il dying and that news being announced to the rest of the world.
They say that any power struggle in the regime between the elite, and I guess the younger generation, it doesn't seem to be there at the moment.
Perhaps it will, you know, show itself in the New Year after the mourning period is over, but for now, Kyra, things certainly seem to be relatively calm.
PHILLIPS: We'll stay on the story, obviously, as things develop. Anna, thanks.
Calls for the National Guard after a toddler was killed in a New Orleans street. Cross country is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Stories across the country now. A Louisiana lawmaker wants National Guard troops to patrol the streets of New Orleans. He says the bad guys are running the city after a toddler was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting.
And police in Florida investigating this massive fire at the Marina in Coconut Grove. Four expensive yachts a total loss. San Francisco's candlestick park could have used a couple candles. Two power outages briefly delayed the football game 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
More testimony possible today in the military hearing against Bradley Manning, the army private accused of leaking classified documents to the Wikileaks web site.
Pentagon correspondent, Chris Lawrence following this for us. Chris, what have we learned so far today?
CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Kyra, you know, a cyber crimes investigator has testified that he found 100,000 State Department cables on a computer that Bradley Manning was using and he also found a computer that would allow that information to be written to a CD.
However, on cross examination by many defense attorneys, the cybercrimes investigator admitted that he could not see direct proof that it was Manning that put that information on the computer, and he said he did not find evidence that it was passed on or transmitted to anybody else.
This is all part of the big connect the dots case in which they're trying to tie the information found on Manning's computer with those half a million documents that were released by Wikileaks.
PHILLPS: And so tell us what the cybercrimes expert told or talked about in the hearing yesterday?
LAWRENCE: He basically talked about what he found on those computers, the 100,000 State Department cables, also an SD card that was found at his aunt's home in Potomac, Maryland.
All again, all of this is information that they're trying to tie to what wikileaks released.
PHILLIPS: All right. So what happens next, Chris?
LAWRENCE: Well, this is an Article 32 hearing, so basically it's sort of like a civilian grand jury hearing. This is to determine if there is enough evidence to go forward with a full court martial. This will wrap up, and by all estimates and everything I'm hearing, it probably will be referred over to a full court martial.
PHILLIPS: And finally, what kind of punishment is he facing?
LAWRENCE: Technically, if he was convicted on all the charges, he could face the death penalty for treason. But the prosecutors have indicated they're not going to seek the death penalty. They would be looking for life in prison, and it's unlikely that a senior officer would overrule what the prosecutors recommend.
PHILLIPS: Got it. We'll follow it. Chris Lawrence, thanks.
In a hail of bullets, he was gone. The death of the world's most wanted terrorist just one of the stories that made this year one to remember. We're going to turn the calendar back to January and start at the very beginning.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, we saw notorious criminals captured or killed, national disasters, and nuclear meltdowns. No doubt 2011 was a big, busy news year.
Joe Johns actually takes us back to the beginning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Martin Savidge here at CNN Center in Atlanta.
We're following breaking news. A story out of Tucson, Arizona at this hour. Several people have been shot.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): January 8, tragedy in Tucson as accused gunman, Jared Lee Loughner goes on a rampage, killing six, wounding 18, including Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": A crackdown on anti- government rage. Police in Egypt are clashing with protests.
JOHNS: January 25th, Egypt's Tahrir Square becomes the staging ground for massive anti-government demonstrations. Protesters demand President Hosni Mubarak give up power.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The son of Moammar Gadhafi on Libya television basically warning the people of Libya saying, this is not Tunisia. This is not Egypt. Things will go in a much different direction. JOHNS: February 16. All eyes on Libya as anti-Gadhafi protesters hit the streets in Benghazi. A bloody crackdown followed. It would take months before Gadhafi was captured and killed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My God, the building is going to fall!
LAWRENCE: A massive wall of water. A devastating tsunami swept the shore along Japan's north eastern coast, sweeping away cars, boats, homes, almost anything in its path.
JOHNS: March 11, scenes of utter devastation as an earthquake measuring 9.0 spawns a tsunami off Japan's coast. The walls of water heavily damage nearby nuclear reactors. And for weeks the Japan government and its people feared the worst. Massive radiation leaks.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These people are very resilient. They've been working very hard, but there's a lot to deal with. In fact, just to see what they've been dealing with over the last couple of days is complete destruction.
JOHNS: April 25, a tornado outbreak across the southeast leaves more than 300 dead.
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, CNN'S "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": One of the greatest days I can remember in my lifetime in this country.
ANDERSON COOPER, HOST, CNN'S "AC 360": We're going to bring you all the pomp and the pageantry, the big moments from the wedding and the reception and the moment of the day.
JOHNS: April 29, Prince William married his long-time girlfriend Kate Middleton. Following the nuptials, the two took a pageant-filled ride through the streets of London.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Tonight I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda.
JOHN KING, HOST, CNN'S "JOHN KING USA": Tonight the president of the united states saying, almost 10 years after 9/11, justice has been done and Osama Bin Laden is dead. That's why you see that happening right there, at Lafayette Park across the street from the White House.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This has come as a real bombshell.
JOHNS: May 14. The head of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is plucked from a flight before takeoff. A hotel maid in New York accused him of sexual assault. The charges were later dropped.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was really unbelievable to even hear this. Quite a bombshell this morning. They're breaking a story out of California that former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger --
JOHNS: May 17, political bombshell. The former governor of California, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, confesses to fathering a child outside his marriage to journalist, Maria Shriver. The two later announced an end to the marriage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As to the cause of first-degree murder, verdict as to count 1, we, the jury, find the defendant not guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The devil is dancing tonight.
JOHNS: May 24, Casey Anthony goes to trial for the murder of her little girl, Caylee in Orlando. Shocked and outraged when a jury cleared her of the crime six weeks later.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: We've got some breaking news. Let's get straight to the Hill. Dana Bash, I'm wondering if this has anything to do with Anthony Weiner?
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I spoke to a Democratic source who is knowledgeable about Anthony Weiner's plan to tell CNN that he does plan to resign from Congress.
JOHNS: May 27. Congressman Anthony Weiner embroiled in a scandal after a lewd picture of himself was sent by a woman on Twitter resigned weeks later.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am announcing my resignation from congress.
COOPER: Breaking news tonight, one of America's most wanted criminals after a sting operation. JOHNS: June 22. Fugitive no more. Alleged organized crime figure James Bolger wanted for at least 19 murders, is caught in California.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The final liftoff of Atlantis. America will continue the dream.
JOHNS: July 8, the Shuttle Atlantis lifts off at Kennedy Space center, the final shuttle launch of the program.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The space shuttle spreads its wings one final time.
JOHNS: After 168 in existence, Rupert Murdoch's "News of the World" newspaper shuts down amid claims that the paper hacked royals, politicians and even crime victims.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Two explosions have rocked central Oslo in the last hour, wounding at least eight people.
CHO: July 22, terror in Norway. In Oslo, a bombing killed eight people. On nearby Latoya Island, at least 70 people, many of them youngsters attending a political youth camp, are shot to death. The tragedy stuns the tiny nation. The accused attacker is later described as a right wing Christian extremist.
(END VIDEOTAPE) MALVEAUX: All right, Joe Johns wraps up the rest of the world straight ahead, including Jerry Sandusky's first arrest on child sex charges and the ensuing Penn State scandal.
Also a winter storm causing blizzard conditions heads east. We're going to tell you who is getting smacked right now.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Before the break, we kicked off our year in review, looking at some of the stories we will all remember and some we'd also like to forget. Joe Johns now wraps up the rest of 2011 for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a remarkable moment. It is a remarkable vote for the country and it's a remarkably emotional moment. The congresswoman returns to the floor for the first time.
JOHNS: August 1st a rare moment of bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.
KING: The rating at standard & poor's served notice this afternoon that it plans to downgrade the government's AAA credit rating.
JOHNS: America's credit indicating is downgraded from AAA to AA-plus. Standard & Poor's blames it on the lack of cooperation between the White House and congress to get a handle on America's debt problem.
Breaking news now, CNN just confirming that Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Incorporated, has resigned his position.
Jobs died October 5. Flowers were left at many Apple stores around the world.
PHILLIPS: All right, in New York City this morning, they're regrouping from occupied anarchy. There were a few bursts of violence. Scuffles were few. Protesters lifting barricades, blocking traffic and clogging subways.
JOHNS: October 17, the Occupy Wall Street movement gains steam. To take a stand against what they see as corporate. The movement grows over the next few months, even spreading to other countries.
ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news for you, the hikers have been released. Shane Bower, Josh Pattal having been in an Iranian jail since 2009 --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These are people who are feeling that --
JOHNS: September 23. After years of failing to reach a peace deal with Israel, the Palestinian leader asked them to recognize Palestine. It fell on deaf ears in the Security Council
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's start with breaking news. We have just learned that in American citizen linked to al Qaeda has been killed.
JOHNS: September 30, a CIA drone strike in Yemen takes the life of Anwar Al-Awlaki, the al Qaeda leader in the Arabian Peninsula. Awlaki was an American citizen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's free after more than five years in captivity.
JOHNS: October 18. Israel releases more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for just one, Corporal Ajhad Shelite held by Hamas for more than years.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: The college sports world is reeling from child sex abuse accusations against an ex-coach for the Penn State football coach.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: November 6th, the former assistant football coach at Penn State, Jerry Sandusky, is charged with multiple counts of abusing as many as ten young boys over the span of 15 years.
The scandal brought shame to the school and ended the career of legendary Coach Joe Paterno.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We, the jury in the above entitled action, find the defendant, Conrad Robert Murray, guilty.
JOHNS: November 7. Conrad Murray is convicted at his trial over the death of pop superstar Michael Jackson. Murray got four years in prison for the crime.
COSTELLO: It's happened again, another child sex scandal at a major university. A college basketball coach accused of abusing a ball boy for more than a decade.
JOHNS: November 17. Two men appear on ESPN, accusing former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine of sexually abusing them. Later a tape surfaces in which Lori Fine appears to have known about her husband's alleged abuse.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: A couple breaking stories here in the CNN NEWSROOM. First, we want to tell you about the former Illinois Rod Blagojevich has been sentenced just moments ago to 14 years in prison. He was convicted on corruption charges, including trying to sell President Obama's Senate seat.
LEMON: This is breaking news, Hala, and it is history. The war in Iraq is officially over. U.S. troops are moving across the border into Kuwait now -- Hala.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the last, last, last anything you can imagine in terms of the military is crossing into Kuwait.
JOHNS: December 17. The final American combat troops in Iraq depart, ending America's long war there. Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: And we're at the half hour. Let's check some top stories.
A winter storm has shut down highways in the west and Midwest, blizzard conditions still smacking the southern plain, and as much as two feet of snow fell in north eastern New Mexico.
The Philippines says that the death toll is reaching nearly 1,000. Flooding has left tens of thousands of people homeless now.
Partisan fighting, putting your payroll tax cut in jeopardy with time running out on a deal. You're looking at live pictures now at the House debate.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaking. House Republicans don't like the Senate pass a two-month-long extension and now want a conference committee to work out a year-long pact.
All right, North Korea's preparing for the funeral next week of Kim Jong-il and right now the North Korean leader's body is lying in state in Pyongyang. His son and successor, Kim Jong-un, viewed his father's body along with other party officials and dignitaries.
On the other side of the heavily armed DMZ the South Korean government expressed its sympathy. It's asking church groups to refrain from lighting steel frame Christmas trees along the DMZ. Communist North Korea considers the structures psychological warfare.
Well, American journalist Laura Ling has witnessed North Korea's harsh communist government. She and another journalist were held by North Koreans after illegally crossing into that country from China in 2009. The former president Bill Clinton helped get them released. Ling and her sister Lisa spoke with our Sanjay Gupta last night.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Laura I mean, I have to -- Kim Jong-il's regime -- I mean, they put you and your family through hell. I mean so many of us watched while you're over there, while you're in captivity for five months. What were your thoughts when you heard about his death?
LAURA LING, ARRESTED FORMERLY IN NORTH KOREA: It was very surreal. I got chills immediately. But I also thought about the North Korean people. People who have been suffering under that regime for decades.
I also thought about my guards, my interrogator, my interpreter. These were people who are task with keeping me prisoners, but at the same time we did share and develop a relationship and I thought about what the future might hold for them.
GUPTA: And Lisa I imagine some -- some of your thoughts -- you initial thoughts were the same but it must have been a very emotional moment for you as well. LISA LING, LAURA LING'S SISTER: It was, and it actually quite surprising for both of us, because when President Clinton met with Kim Jong-il, when he negotiated the release of my sister and her colleague, he actually was very surprised by how coherent that the, quote-unquote, "Dear Leader" was at the time.
He brought his physician with him and he noticed some paralysis on one side of his body, but he said that his -- his mental faculties were fully intact.
GUPTA: Laura -- Laura, let me ask you. Kim -- Kim Jong-il's heir apparent, his son, I mean, he's young, the country is a relatively young country in terms of demographic. He's been educated outside of North Korea. I mean, does this make you optimistic at all for the future of this country?
LAURA LING: Well, I mean, I think that everyone right now, all we can do is speculate. But I do think that there could be a window of opportunity. You know Kim Jong-il there was twenty years for him to be groomed into a leader. Kim Jong-un has had less than two years.
And when you talk about this propaganda machine, he has -- Kim Jong-un has existed -- has not existed for very long in that machine. So it will be interesting to see what happens.
GUPTA: Yes.
LISA LING: Yes and we were trying to negotiate Laura and Euna's release. It was interesting because our sources were actually dealing with two entirely different factions inside of North Korea, because it seemed that there was this schism between the members of the foreign ministry and the military.
So -- so if that is any indicator, it seemed like it's just an extremely unpredictable time in that country right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: Laura Ling had been sentenced to 12 years hard labor for illegally entering North Korea.
Newt Gingrich is slipping in the polls, he's being attacked on all sides. We're going to talk to our "Political Buzz" panelist right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Well, "Political Buzz". A rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. And playing today: founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics, Patricia Murphy; Republican strategist and columnist for "The Hill" newspaper, Cheri Jacobus; and Democratic strategist Robert Zimmerman.
Ok, guys, first question. The death of Kim Jong-il reminds us of that 3:00 a.m. test, you know, where the President of the United States has to be ready to respond to any type of international crisis at any time.
So which of the GOP candidates do you want answering that call? Cheri?
CHERI JACOBUS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: I think I'd like to have Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney. Or maybe Michele Bachmann, perhaps Rick Santorum, nor Ron Paul and certainly not Barack Obama and I think that's the main point. This is a -- this is one of those situations where we are reminded what's really important and it's not somebody's hope and change little slogans or their ability to read off a teleprompter.
And it's not even about someone's personal life. This is where we want real experience, intelligence, maturity and a steady hand. And that's where I think that's we've got a good Republican field. And almost anyone of them would be much better than what we have now.
PHILLIPS: Robert?
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Hello.
PHILLIPS: All right, we might have -- it looks like we lost Robert's connection. We will try to get him back up in a minute. So Patricia?
PATRICIA MURPHY, FOUNDER/EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: Well, I think I know that Robert would have liked Barack Obama to answer the phone calls.
PHILLIPS: There you go. You answer for Robert and then you go ahead and give me the middle of the road ok.
MURPHY: Robert, don't bother. We don't need your -- you don't need your audio. I'm going to stay neutral on this, that's my job, but I -- to -- to Cheri's point, I think the person Republicans are most worried about getting a 3:00 a.m. phone call is Ron Paul because he probably wouldn't answer the 3:00 phone call.
They love his economic policies, they love his small government. But he takes his foreign policy to such an extreme. No foreign aids, no foreign intervention. I think that's the person that GOP voters are most worried about.
PHILLIPS: All right, Robert, do we have you back? Robert, do we have you back? Ok. Here's what I'm concerned about. I want to make sure we have balance here, so why don't we do this.
If it's ok, can we take a break and try to get -- ok, fantastic. We're going to take a break. We're going to get Robert Zimmerman hooked back up and we'll be right -- he is? Ok, Robert, are you back?
ZIMMERMAN: I'm back. I'm back.
JACOBUS: It was silent only for a minute.
PHILLIPS: Yes exactly, Cheri was very excited because she was going to be all to the right here, and Patricia was trying to be balanced but give your side of the story. If this wasn't happening Robert so let me get you back. Did you hear the question? Let me ask you that?
ZIMMERMAN: I -- let's start -- what was the first question? I didn't hear it clearly, no.
PHILLIPS: All right, Kim Jong-il, the death of a dictator. Looking at all the candidates out there right now, who is the president that you would want in place to take that 3:00 a.m. call if all hell broke loose with an international crisis?
ZIMMERMAN: Look Kyra -- Cheri, I'm glad to be back with you. Bottom line is when you listen to these Republican candidates, very frankly, most of them sound like -- most of them very frankly, bring no credibility to discussions like getting housing and mortgages ahead of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.
Jon Huntsman though does stand out. His tenure as ambassador to China during the Obama -- first two years of the Obama administration gives him credentials, and he understands that China is essential to the stability of a region. And also aborting a major exodus -- a refugee exodus even to South Korea or to China.
PHILLIPS: All right here we go, second question. We got you all linked in. The Gingrich campaign on the defensive of now. As you know, polls are showing that his support is slipping nationally. Attack ads are coming from all sides. Here's a little bit of one.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We do agree our country must take action to address climate change. If enough of us demand action from our leaders --
REP. NANCY PELOSI, MINORITY LEADER: Together we can do this.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIPS: What do you guys think? Are the ads working? Cheri?
JACOBUS: Yes, they are working. His numbers were soaring before and now he's taking a hit. And the really bad news is that if he is a nominee, and he -- he still could be, certainly, we know what Barack Obama, the Democrats, are going to throw at him. They'd be very nasty from the left. They have $1 billion. They have no record to run on, and they certainly don't want to remind voters of Obama's record and the high unemployment and the trillions he's wasted on the stimulus package and what he's done with his Obama care, on and on and on.
So they're going to go after whoever the Republican nominee is with that billion dollars, and it's going to be hard, and that's what the voters are going to have to sift through in the next election.
The good news is that Gingrich is good in debates and he can wipe the floor with Obama. PHILLIPS: Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: I think I was better off when I lost sound.
JACOBUS: We all were, Robert.
ZIMMERMAN: Let me just point -- obviously the short answer that many pundits are saying is that negative advertising works. The bigger issue is the public is starting to get to know Newt Gingrich's record. And whether it's putting children back to work by avoiding child labor laws, overturning the constitution by trying to control the judiciary, he's demonstrating that he's not the intellectual, not the idea man but just a demagogue. It's also worth noting that this great strategist doesn't have a campaign organization in place.
PHILLIPS: Patricia.
MURPHY: Yes. When Newt Gingrich became the front runner in this race, he had a giant bull's eye put on his back and that is the biggest problem for him. He is getting hammered on all sides, getting outspent in Iowa at least 8-1; in some cases 30-1, depending on where you live. Every single candidate is coming after him.
And to Robert's point, Newt Gingrich does not have the organization, he does not have the money. He is not even in Iowa. He is in Virginia right now trying to make sure he gets on the Virginia ballot. So he's getting pushed and pulled and hammered from all sides, and this is when it matters that he doesn't have the money and organization to respond.
PHILLIPS: All right guys. Here we go. Your buzzer beater; 20 seconds on this one. Mitt Romney poked fun at himself on Letterman last night. Here's part of the top 10 list.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: Number two.
MITT ROMNEY (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Newt Gingrich? Really?
LETTERMAN: Yes, that's right.
And the number one thing that Mitt Romney would like to say to the American people --
ROMNEY: It's a hairpiece.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KYRA: Ok, guys. If you were doing the top 10, what would have been your number 1? Robert?
ZIMMERMAN: If I were Mitt Romney, I guess I would say, hey, I've been endorsed by Christine O'Donnell, Dan Quayle and Bob Dole; I'm the Republican of the future. Or maybe it would be, "I may be a flip- flopper but I'm not putting your 6-year-old back to work." Or maybe the last one might be, "Consistency on issues is highly overrated."
You know, Kyra, that would be a lot funnier if I had some music and a band behind me. I just want you to know that.
PHILLIPS: As he says it with a very straight face.
JACOBUS: You know I missed most of what he said because now my sound went out. It really did, I'm not just making that up. I think it's good that Mitt Romney is making a little bit of fun at himself, but he could have really talk about how good-looking he is, because he is. And there is no reason for him to pretend that he's not and that would have been a good opportunity to do that.
PHILLIPS: Oh, Cheri, a Mitt Romney fan.
(CROSSTALK)
JACOBUS: Yes, he's building from the best parts available.
PHILLIPS: He's married, Sherri -- I have to tell you, you know.
JACOBUS: It's a complement. I'm not hitting on him. Please.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Ok, we got it. Patricia?
MURPHY: If I was Mitt Romney, I would say, America, give it up. What is the problem? You know I'm going to be the nominee, I know I'm going to be the nominee. Dispense with the pleasantries, give it up.
PHILLIPS: Thanks guys and thanks for rolling with us with all the audio problems. I really appreciate your patience.
(CROSSTALK)
ZIMMERMAN: Sure.
PHILLIPS: So do you prefer a veggie wrap over a greasy hamburger? Guess what; a new study ranks the healthiest airports in terms of food. And we're going to tell you which city is at the top and the bottom of the list. And if that hamburger is really ok.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Check news cross country now.
A guns-for-gift exchange does a pretty good business in San Diego. More than 300 weapons were turned in for gift cards, no questions asked. Organizers say that even after they ran out of cards, folks still kept turning in their guns.
And a disabled cook in Idaho just got an early Christmas present, a $200,000 lottery jackpot. He says he loves his job and he's going to keep it. His co-workers say they'll help him set up a savings account.
A holiday surprise for little girls in Georgia. They got natural hair Barbies from a local group called "Rollific". The group held a doll dry, gave them makeovers and gave them out, hoping to boost those girls' self-esteem.
Airports jumping on the healthy food bandwagon. A new study ranks the best airports are pushing salads, hummus and veggies. Felicia Taylor, making us all hunger. Why don't we go ahead and start with the rankings, shall we?
FELICIA TAYLOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely right. Listen, there's no excuse not to eat healthy especially when you're rushing through the airport. 83 percent of airports had at least one healthy option. That's not enough, in my opinion, but nevertheless, it's up from 57 percent just 10 years ago.
From a physicians committee that are responsible for medicine, the healthiest airport, Detroit's Wayne County airport scored a 100 percent. Every restaurant has at least one healthy option. That's followed by San Francisco and Washington-Dulles. Last on the list, Kyra, Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson airport. Only 71 percent of Hartsfield's restaurants have a healthy option. And I have to tell you. I was recently in Atlanta and I found it a little frustrating because I couldn't find a vegetable. Or something green.
PHILLIPS: Wait a minute, I didn't see Portland, Oregon and they've got really good sushi.
TAYLOR: That's healthy.
PHILLIPS: Exactly.
TAYLOR: It's good.
PHILLIPS: All right, Felicia. Thanks.
Offering healthy food is great for consumers, right, but it's also a business decision. I mean airport restaurants are trying to respond to this demand, right?
TAYLOR: Yes, absolutely. I mean let's face it, you know, it's always tempting to have fried food, so naturally that sells. But more people really do want to eat healthy. And fast food chains have started to pick up on that trend just a few years ago.
There's not so much that food on board on planes anymore. You get the peanuts and pretzels, and that's not so good. So flyers are more likely to buy something in the airport that they can take on to the plane with them.
The bottom line, the more options that you give people, the more chances you actually have to make a profit. That's a good thing for the airport, a good thing for the airlines. They're not supplying the food like they used to, so everybody benefits from this.
PHILLIPS: All right. How are the numbers looking before I let you go? TAYLOR: We've got a great rally -- we're up 250 points on the DOW right now. So it's basically because we've got some upbeat housing report news, bank stocks are rebounding -- they're up about 2.5 percent. The housing stocks, I have to tell you, are up between 5 and 7 percent today? Really good news today on a Tuesday, which is surprising me. I'm not sure the rally will last, but we'll find out.
PHILLIPS: All right. Thanks Felicia. Big stars are giving back big time.
Indeed, it is. One of our favorites, Tony Bennett. We'll tell you what he's doing for young people in the arts right after our break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: Tony Bennett has given back to his birth place. He and his wife are behind an arts program to help students in Queens, New York. CNN's Alina Cho shows us the wide range of Bennett and the steps he's taken to help people.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At 85, Tony Bennett is just getting started.
TONY BENNETT, SINGER: When my friends say at 85 going to number one on Billboard will never happen again. But it's fantastic. You know.
CHO: "Duets 2", featuring Lady Gaga and the late Amy Winehouse has been nominated for three Grammys.
BENNETT: They said why don't you do disco and why don't you do rap and you're not following where the music is going. I said, well, I just want to stay with quality.
CHO: It's not about instant fame, it's about developing something, a real skill.
BENNETT: Even if they don't become artists later on, you'll get an idea of the difference between a piece of junk or something that will last forever.
CHO: That idea inspired Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto to create Exploring the Arts, a non-profit aimed at teaching arts education at a time when many arts programs are being cut. The centerpiece is this state of the art high school in Astoria, Queens, Bennett's birthplace.
(on camera): How does that make you feel?
BENNETT: It's the greatest fan club in the world.
CHO (voice-over): In addition to academics, majors include dance, drama, fine arts. BENNETT: Beautiful. Did you do this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you. Yes.
BENNETT: How wonderful.
CHO: And don't forget Bennett's specialty, singing.
BENNETT: This is real music.
CHO (on camera): And it stays here, doesn't it?
It does. Here and here.
Oh, the voice. It's his gift to the world and his holiday gift to me.
Wow.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
PHILLIPS: Well, a CNN special, "BIG STARS BIG GIVING" airs December 24 at 2:00 p.m. And again on Christmas day at 4:00.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PHILLIPS: All right. We're checking stories making news later today.
12:05 Eastern, President Obama and Vice President Biden take part in a ceremony marking the return of the U.S. flag and military colors back from Iraq. That's at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Then NASA is holding a tele-conference at 1:00 Eastern announcing a new planet discovered by the Keppler Mission (ph).
Also in Washington, the National Hanukkah Menorah, lighting ceremony will take place at 4:00 Eastern.
All right. Well, the payroll tax cut fight on Capitol Hill, now it's getting pretty personal for the President. Dan Lothian is at the White House. Dan, the President's holiday plans getting all messed up for sure.
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. I mean, you know, everyone is trying to get away for the holidays. The First Family, most of the folks' first family are already in Hawaii but the President is still here as up on Capitol Hill they try to figure out whether or not they can get that extension done.
Here at the White House behind the scenes, they really are pushing hard to make sure the taxes don't go up on middle class Americans, but they are waiting to see what the House will do next. Privately the thinking here is that Republicans won't come out looking very good, certainly House Republicans, if, in fact, taxes go up on middle class Americans something that, as you know, is politically quite sensitive during an election year.
The President is also heading to a ceremony marking the end of the U.S. mission in Iraq. Right? Tell us about that before we wrap up the hour.
LOTHIAN: That's right. They'll be out of Joint Base Andrews attended by Generals and other troops. The flag that flew over Baghdad was officially retired last week during a ceremony in Baghdad. That will now be at joint base Andrew. So it's a pivotal moment for the country as this war in Iraq is now over.
But also what continues to linger is what happens in Iraq now that U.S. troops have pulled out? Will the Iraqi government be able to maintain security there without the help of U.S. troops there on the ground?
PHILLIPS: Dan Lothian at the White House. Dan, thanks so much. And of course, we'll have a number of political updates for you in the coming hour. And a reminder for all the latest, go to our Web site, cnnpolitics.com. 24/7.
That does it for us. Suzanne Malveaux --
(CROSSTALK)
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Good to see you back.
PHILLIPS: Here for the next two hours. Good to see you too. The holiday's approaching.
MALVEAUX: Yes, some days we get off, other's not so much.
PHILLIPS: Have a great show.
MALVEAUX: Thanks.
