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Court Documents Contradict Newt Gingrich's Story About Divorce; Big Arrest in Mexico's Drug War; Raging Violence in Syria; Betting On Elections?; Year-End Financial Advice; Pakistani-Indian Border Dance; Most Memorable iReports

Aired December 26, 2011 - 12:00   ET

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

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour now. I'm Drew Griffin, in for Suzanne Malveaux on this day after Christmas. Let's get you up to speed on our top stories.

Newt Gingrich's past personal life under scrutiny again because of his presidential campaign. Now court documents obtained by CNN contradict what Gingrich has been saying about his divorce from his first wife. He says his wife then, Jackie, wanted to end the marriage. Documents show Gingrich filed that complaint. Details ahead in a live report.

Just a week and a day until the Iowa caucuses, the latest poll a three-way dead heat. These are the three -- Ron Paul, Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. The American Research Group poll is showing Ron Paul at 21 percent, Romney at 20 percent, and Gingrich is at 19 percent. The other candidates lagging behind in single digits.

More Arab League observers are on their way to Syria. Here's why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(GUNFIRE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(GUNFIRE)

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GRIFFIN: An opposition group says security forces killed more than 20 people in the city of Homs today. The observers plan to go there tomorrow. The U.N. says more than 5,000 people have died since Syria's crackdown on protests began in March.

A suicide car bomb in Iraq got through six security checkpoints before setting off an explosion at the Interior Ministry. At least five people killed, 39 wounded. Now, this happened after Iraq's prime minister met with the senior security officials there to talk about how to keep the country safe. A series of explosions killed almost 70 people in Baghdad last week.

A Christmas gift for basketball fans. The NBA season beginning after a months-long lockout. Teams faced off across the country Sunday. The dispute that kept them locked over was over revenue sharing. It ended with a virtual 50-50 split between the owners and the players.

More now on our top story, court documents that contradict what Newt Gingrich has been saying about his divorce from his first wife, Jackie. He says he wanted to end the marriage. Court papers obtained by CNN tell a different story.

CNN reporter Alan Duke dug up the paperwork from the divorce, and he joins us, along with political editor Paul Steinhauser, in Des Moines.

Alan, though, let's start with the news that you have actually dug up. What do the documents show us?

ALAN DUKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, these documents show us that Jackie Battley-Gingrich, his first wife, did not want the divorce, which is interesting, because this year, the Newt Gingrich campaign has come out with this new defense about that divorce. It's been very controversial for three decades. I was covering it back when it was happening, and it was controversial because people questioned the way that Newt was handling his divorce from his first wife.

Well, what Newt started saying this year in his campaign -- told us in a statement just this weekend was that in fact it was Jackie who requested the divorce, and that was somewhat surprising to people who know her, because they say it didn't happen. So we went, found the court records, and -- after some trouble, because they were stashed away in the court clerk's desk, as they told us, to protect them. But what we found in fact was a petition, a response from Jackie Gingrich, which I'll read from, says, "Defendant shows that she has adequate and ample ground for divorce, but she does not desire one at this time."

While the Gingrich campaign is telling us now that it was the first wife who asked Newt Gingrich for the divorce, these court documents show that's not the case.

GRIFFIN: And much of this is going to go online, so people who want to look through this can actually find the details in your reporting. Right?

DUKE: Yes, it should be available about now, the full story, with interviews and the actual court documents that we found at the Carroll County, Georgia, courthouse in a file stashed in a drawer this week.

GRIFFIN: Yes.

Paul, I want to turn to you, because this divorce has been much talked about for years and years and years, and nit-picked over. Does it really matter anymore? I mean, it was a messy divorce. He's talked about the divorce.

Is he getting any political traction there in Iowa, or do you anticipate it will?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Well, listen, he's been married three times now, Drew. And he's admitted to having an affair with his current wife when he was still married to his second wife. It's been a story line for Newt Gingrich since he jumped into this race for the White House back in the spring.

Take a look at this though. This is an ABC/"Washington Post" poll from just a week ago, and it asks, "Is Gingrich's marital history, three times, is that a factor in your vote for the White House, for the GOP nomination?" Seventy-two percent say not a major factor. This is of Republicans who are likely to vote in the primaries and caucuses. But Drew, here in Iowa, and also in South Carolina, which is the third state to hold a contest, social conservative voters are more prominent in Republican circles, and with them it could be an issue.

This morning, I was speaking to a prominent social conservative leader here who likes Gingrich, like his stances on the issues. But he brought up the marriages, and that can be a problem for some voters here.

We've seen it come up in the debates, Drew. We've seen Newt Gingrich acknowledge that he's made mistakes in the past, and that he's gone to God for forgiveness. Yes, it can be a factor with some voters, especially here in Iowa and South Carolina -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: I'll reach out to both of you guys.

Alan, and you first with the same question. Have we heard back from the Gingrich campaign at all?

DUKE: We got an e-mail from them on Sunday saying that they're standing by the point that Newt Gingrich is the one who asked for the -- that Jackie Gingrich asked for the divorce. They're standing by that, despite what the court documents say. What they're saying is that these divorce papers were actually filed by Newt Gingrich at her request, but that is not what people who were there contemporaneously are telling us now.

GRIFFIN: All right. Nitty-gritty online.

Paul, to you, any reaction at all from the Gingrich campaign? Are they likely to react to this?

STEINHAUSER: Other than what they've told Alan and a few others that have reached out, probably not. Listen, they don't want this to be the story line this week.

The Gingrich campaign wants to come out strong tomorrow here in Iowa. They want to talk about the economy, they want to talk about jobs, and contrast themselves with Mitt Romney and Ron Paul and the other candidates. This is the last thing they want to have to deal with again -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: All right.

Paul Steinhauser, in Iowa.

Thank you. Alan Duke, thanks for coming in, breaking this story.

It's online right now, as Alan says. You can check it out.

And a reminder. Tune in a week from tomorrow for the country's first real votes and the candidates' first true test. "America's Choice 2012," live coverage at the Iowa caucuses beginning Tuesday night, January 3rd, 7:00 Eastern.

Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of our bigger stories of the day. We want to know, do you think that betting on a presidential race should be legal? Here's the story.

A derivatives exchange is asking for permission to offer trading, as they call it, on the 2012 election. It means you could win money based on who wins the election.

The idea is to treat these candidates' campaigns like companies. Stock values would rise or fall, and investors making or losing money. If approved, this would be the first time wagering on elections would be federally regulated.

So, here's our question: Do you think it should be allowed? Should betting on a presidential race be legal?

You can join that conversation on Facebook. You can post comments on Suzanne Malveaux's page, Facebook.com/SuzanneCNN.

And here's a rundown of some of the stories we are covering over the next hour.

First, Mexican authorities arrest the alleged security chief of the most wanted suspected drug lord in Mexico.

And new attacks in Syria have left dozens dead there.

And how much money would you put on President Obama winning? A company is asking to legalize betting on the presidential race.

And later, the end of the year isn't just about holiday parties. Important money deadlines coming up. We'll help you keep track of them.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Mexican authorities say they've made a huge arrest in the violent drug war they have been fighting there. They have caught the alleged security chief for the drug lord known as "El Chapo."

Why is this a big deal? We turn to CNN's Latin American affairs editor, Rafael Romo.

And why is it a big deal? This is a security chief, but he is more than that, really.

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR: He's more than that. And let me just begin very basically.

Think of Al Capone in the 1920s and '30s. Multiply his level of cruelty by 100, and his money by a million, and that's Mexico's El Chapo today. He is that kind of a guy, and he's wanted both in Mexico and the United States.

And this morning, Mexican authorities introduced to the Mexican media a guy -- what we see right now is El Chapo, but the guy who was arrested, Felipe Cabrera Sarabia, he is one of his top lieutenants. And some people say the only way to get to El Chapo was by targeting his inner circle. This guy, Cabrera Sarabia, was not only in charge of drug trafficking in the Mexican state of Durango, but some say he was also in charge of providing security for El Chapo.

Let's listen to one spokesman for the Mexican army who describes how he operated in that part of Mexico.

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GEN. RICARDO TREVILLA TREJO, MEXICAN ARMY (through translator): The violence that Cabrera Sarabia used to maintain control of his criminal activities was a factor that helped him become more important within the organization of "El Chapo" Guzman. He was a key operative in the organization's drug trafficking activities and even became responsible for providing security to this drug lord in his area of operation in the mountains of Durango.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMO: Now, Drew, I was telling you that Cabrera Sarabia is one of part of the inner circle, but just to give you an idea also about how powerful El Chapo is, this year he's number 55 on the list of the "Most Powerful People in the World" according to "Forbes" magazine, with a fortune estimated to -- listen to this -- $1 billion. Regardless of where the money came from, that's a lot of money.

And the U.S. is offering a $5 million reward. And also, Mexico, a $2 million reward. And again, as you can imagine, he is also the most wanted man in Mexico.

GRIFFIN: And what's frustrating, if you look at our video closely enough, Guzman was under arrest. He was arrested. "Shorty" is his nickname, right? I mean, "El Chapo" is --

(CROSSTALK)

ROMO: Right. Somebody's going to make a movie out of his life one day.

He was arrested back in 1993 in Mexico. In 2001, he escaped from federal prison in Mexico in a laundry cart. Ever since, authorities in both Mexico and the United States have been after him. There are rumors that he got married with an 18-year-old in the Mexican state of Sinaloa in 2007, but nobody can confirm it.

And even that he has moved to a different country, to Costa Rica. But nothing seems to come close to him being caught.

GRIFFIN: Wow. Well, the Mexican government is series about this. I hope they find him and chase him down.

Thanks a lot, Rafael. Appreciate it.

ROMO: Sure.

GRIFFIN: Here's stories making news across the country.

Investigators are trying to figure out what set off this house fire in Connecticut. It happened on Christmas morning, and it was deadly. Two adults and three children died in that home. Two people did make it out alive.

There's been a big find at the bottom of the ocean. A group of scuba divers spotted that. It is a plane off of Florida, and it could be a World War II era plane. It may have been in the water, obviously for decades.

(WEATHER REPORT)

GRIFFIN: Tensions rise in Syria. Take a look at this. This, as the government's brutal crackdown continues there.

We'll have a report coming up.

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GRIFFIN: Arab League observers are heading to Syria today. Their visit comes as several attacks have left dozens of people dead there.

Mohammed Jamjoom has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the Syrian government crackdown intensifies, the first of a small group of outside observers is beginning to arrive in Damascus. We have no idea if the Arab League observers will be able to get close to the scenes of violence that continue to pour out of Syria.

Here, a tank rolls down a street in Baba Amir, a neighborhood in the flash point city of Homs. Activists say thousands of Syrian troops have recently surrounded it and are shelling it almost daily.

CNN can't verify many of the videos posted from Syria, but one Homs resident describes the carnage he's witnessed, explaining how everyone has become a target.

ABU OMAR, HOMS RESIDENT: I'm now near the field hospital. In the last two days there is a lot of injury. More than 200 injury in the last three days. They executed little children because they shout against Assad. They bombing one house, a civilian house.

JAMJOOM: In the past week, the Syrian government's bombardment has escalated. The same day a protocol was signed allowing those Arab League observers into Syria, activists say the Syrian army stormed the town of Kafr Uwaid in Jabal al-Zawiya, a part of Idlib province.

This video purports to show family members mourning loved ones who died in what's being called the "Massacre of Kafr Uwaid." Residents of Idlib have become accustomed to the violence. Many even fear to bury their dead in public cemeteries.

In this video taken in November, some bury their loved ones near a deserted road. At a hospital, one injured demonstrator lays in his bed and tells of the horrors he's seen. "I've seen wounded people taken by security forces with their oxygen masks still on," he says.

Another man describes a crackdown he experienced. "I was injured by gunfire in a protest in Jisr al-Shughour," he says. "Security forces fired on us and injured many youth, and one was killed. I went to a hospital and was treated."

With many Syrian neighborhoods deserted and besieged, many people are now questioning how effective the Arab League observers' mission will be.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Mohammed joins us live from Cairo.

Mohammed, what is the latest we're hearing from Homs today?

JAMJOOM: Drew, the words we're hearing most from opposition activists in Syria today are words like "bloodbath" and "massacre." We're told by opposition activists that at least 22 people died in Homs today as a result of this ongoing crackdown, especially in the neighborhood of Baba Amir.

And we're seeing very disturbing videos posted on social media sites like YouTube. One purports to show a street with houses coming under attack from the Syrian regime as people in those houses scream out, "God is great!" Another one purports to show a tank rolling through the streets of Homs with a soldier on top of that tank shooting.

Now, we can't verify these videos, but they go along with what we're being told by activists on the ground in Syria. And these activists are very, very concerned. They believe that if something isn't done soon to stop this, that a genocide could occur -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: I mean, you've said that we can't verify these videos, but they seem pretty legitimate to us, otherwise we wouldn't be putting them on the air. Five thousand people dead since March, according to the U.N. And now the Arab League observers are going to go in there.

My question is, for a lot of us who don't understand the region, what will these observers be able to do? Are they just going to be led around the nose by the government, shown what they can and cannot see? And will they be able to stop any of this violence?

JAMJOOM: Well, Drew, that's the key question. The protocol that was signed between the Arab League and the Syrian government stipulated that these monitors would be able to go in, that the Syrian government would end the violence, that the military would be withdrawn from cities and towns, and that detainees would be released. But right now many people in Syria are asking how effective the Arab League will be.

The Arab League has said today that they will be going to towns like Homs, to towns like Idlib, where reported massacres have happened. But will they be given free rein? Nobody in Syria that we've been speaking with, the activists, trusts the Syrian regime to actually take these people to the places where most of these crackdowns are ongoing, and they're concerned these observers won't have free rein to do what they want, but they won't be given unfettered access. It remains to be seen.

The Arab League, they seem optimistic they'll be able to do what they need to do. But the activists, the opposition groups within Syria, are very much concerned. And they say that even on a day when these team members are supposed to arrive, this brutal crackdown continues and is only escalating -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: But it just seems like the government of Syria doesn't care whether or not the Arab League observers show up or not. And I'm just wondering how strong a presence the Arab League will be able to push on the Assad government to get them to stop this violence.

Are they going to have any influence?

JAMJOOM: Again, nobody really knows at this point. The Arab League has been repeatedly criticized by opposition groups, by Syrian opposition groups, for being an ineffective body. Many people within Syria were mocking the Arab League even as they were arriving, calling this protocol that they signed with the Syrian government a protocol of blood, because they believe that al-Assad will not do anything to stop this crackdown that's been going on, that the activists say is going on.

Now, at a time when so many human rights groups are condemning the al- Assad regime, when the U.N. is saying 5,000 people have died, other groups are saying over 6,000 people have died in the months-long crackdown, will this Arab League group with about 50 to 100 members be able to do much? Nobody knows at this point. The Arab League hopes that they will, but a lot of people inside Syria don't think they're going to be very effective.

One more thing to add. A few days ago, when an advance team was in Syria, when they were meeting with officials in Damascus, car bombs went off. The Syrian government alleged that al Qaeda was there, that they were targeting the Syrian government.

The activist groups we spoke with in Syria say this was awfully convenient, that it fit the narrative that Bashar al-Assad has been trying to tell the world, saying that there is terrorism that he's fighting within Syria, that he was trying to convince the Arab League and those observers that he must crack down in that country in order to prevent terrorism. The activists that we speak with say there is no al Qaeda, there is no terrorism in Syria, and they say that the Arab League should not believe the claims of the al-Assad regime, who is telling them that he is legitimately fighting terrorists within Syria -- Drew.

GRIFFIN: Very interesting story, Mohammed. Thank you so much.

And I just want to point out, if you want to read more about the intricacies of this Syrian situation, up on our Web site right now, CNN.com, is a story about President al-Assad's wife, Asma, and why she has not spoken up about this violence. An interesting read-through if you care to read more about the regime of Bashar al-Assad and the inner workings of Syria, thanks to Mohammed Jamjoom in Cairo.

Well, people bet on everything from horse races to football games, but how about the outcome of a presidential election? There is a request now to the federal government to regulate betting on presidential politics.

You're talking about it, and so are we, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're working on.

Next, you've heard about people legally betting on games, but what about political elections?

Then, a new year can also mean a new start. Advice on how to avoid financial stumbling blocks in 2012.

And later, we're going to take a look at some of the best iReports that came to us from around the world.

Well, some say that politics is a gamble anyway. Now a Chicago firm wants permission to let people bet on the outcome of major political races the same way they bet on corn or wheat futures.

Tim McDermott is with the Nadex Exchange, the company that's pushing the idea. He joins us from Chicago. And to talk about the political implications, Larry Sabato with the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia joins us from Charlottesville.

Tim, we want to start with you. I've got to tell you, this sounds --

TIM MCDERMOTT, NADEX EXCHANGE: Hi Drew. Thanks for having me.

GRIFFIN: Appreciate you coming on.

This sounds just like gambling in another word. How does this work? And is it gambling?

MCDERMOTT: It's not gambling. Financial markets have existed for a long time. And actually, political election markets have existed for a long time. Currently, they exist in unregulated markets, and we're looking to bring those markets into the regulated space here in the United States.

GRIFFIN: How would you do it though? If I want to invest in a candidate -- is that what you're calling it -- what would happen?

MCDERMOTT: Sure. Well, the Nadex Exchange offers online electronic trading and a platform -- a regulated platform here in the United States -- for people to trade. So, people can open an account with Nadex, they can deposit funds into their account, and with at least $100 in their account, they can begin trading our contracts.

Some of the contracts we offer are financial contracts, metals contracts, various commodity contracts, foreign currency contracts. We're now talking about offering political election contracts for people to trade as well.

GRIFFIN: But here's why I don't get it because after the election, now we know the results are in -- what do I have? I don't have a continuing market to be invested in. It seems like it all just evaporates into thin air.

MCDERMOTT: Sure. It is actually just like a corn contract that expires on a certain date. Our political election contracts will expire on a particular date.

And they settle as of the election and if a person bought the contract for the candidate who won, that person would receive $100 per contract and the person who sold that same contract would lose the amount they had invested in that contract.

GRIFFIN: So there would be a buyer and seller for each of these contracts.

MCDERMOTT: Exactly. It is just like any other market where you have buyers and sellers coming together, they each have a view of the market, and when their prices match, a trade occur and that trade occurs on, in this case, a regulated exchange.

GRIFFIN: Larry, based on your record in the past you could be a very rich man if this goes through. Are you buying this? Does this sound like a good idea to you?

LARRY SABATO, CENTER FOR POLITICS, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: Well, it's perfectly legitimate. As I understand it, it doesn't violate any election rules. It is certainly a form of betting. It is gambling of a sort.

But then most things connected to the stock market and connected markets seem like gambling to me. It is another way for you to lose your money. I suppose you could win money as well.

But look, there are a lot of people who shouldn't participate if this including reporters and editors and non-partisan pundits and analysts. I think once this thing gets going, a legitimate question to ask every reporter and every pundit is are you betting on the results of the election.

Because if you are, it seems to me you have a direct conflict of interest and the specter of bias can be raised. GRIFFIN: Tim, I'm going to get back to you in a second. But Larry, to continue that thought, is it possible that somehow or another that there could be rigging going on here for the financial outcome of this Nadex trading that's going to be going on?

SABATO: Did you say rigging?

GRIFFIN: I did.

SABATO: I wouldn't call it rigging. Look, they claim, as I understand it, that this is going to be suggestive of the final election results. Maybe it will be, maybe it won't.

Any election analyst who relies on a single method of prediction, a single number, is going to be wrong a lot. So I certainly wouldn't encourage people to look at this alone.

They may look at it in terms of lots of different numbers from polling to the opinions of experts, to the reporters in the field.

GRIFFIN: Tim, let me ask you. You need government approval to do this. Are you likely to get that in the short amount of time we have before, I mean, basically the election season, hard election season opens a week and a day from today with the Iowa caucuses.

MCDERMOTT: Yes, it does. Drew, we filed the proposed rules with the idea that we would begin offering the contracts hopefully as soon as January 4th, the day after the Iowa caucuses.

We think that these markets actually are totally consistent with the CFTC's mandate and what Congress said in their recent financial regulations. We're trying to move markets that currently exist.

There are markets that offer these contracts. The in-trade market, for example, based out of Ireland, but which has a lot of participation from the United States.

We want to give people that are trading those contracts on an Irish trading platform a regulated U.S. market where they can trade that same kind of contract in a regulated place.

And we think that it is important because the information that those markets generate, they really aggregate a lot of information an generate very good, accurate results.

We think that those markets shouldn't be coming from an offshore overseas unregulated trading platform. That information should really come from a regulated exchange in the United States.

GRIFFIN: Larry, I don't think anybody's been more accurate in predicting outcomes of elections than you have, especially over the last couple of elections.

Are you likely -- if this market does open up and the -- trying to say this without saying gambling now -- the trading begins, are you likely to look at this as a political predictor for what the outcome may or may not be? Do you think this will have any scientific bearing on your polling?

SABATO: I'll certainly look at it, but I'll look at 100 different variables. And some will matter much more to me in predicting elections, including the state of the economy and that sort of thing.

That matters to me a lot more than in-trade or this particular index, but it will certainly be one of many variables that I think anybody interested in politics will take a look at.

But don't base election predictions base on a single variable whether it's this or the Gallup poll or anything else.

GRIFFIN: Larry, appreciate you coming in today. Thank you very. Tim, good luck with this. We'll obviously follow this if and when you do get the OK. Are you looking for the OK by next week, right?

MCDERMOTT: We hope to hear something in the next week or so and the CFTC has an obligation to look at rules that are filed and we're sure they'll do that and we'll hear what they have to say.

GRIFFIN: All right, Tim McDermott in Chicago, Larry Sabato in Charlottesville, Virginia. Appreciate it. Good conversation, guys. All right, take care.

Well, we've been asking for your opinions now. I'm saying it is betting. Should betting on a presidential race be legal? You can join the conversation on Facebook, post comments on Suzanne's page.

It's facebook.com/suzannecnn. We're going to share some of your responses in just a few minutes. Maybe they'll change after that discussion.

This reminder -- tune in a week from now. There will be no betting. There will be actually voting. Real candidates getting real votes in the first true test in Iowa, America's Choice 2012, live coverage of the Iowa caucuses Tuesday night, January 3rd, 7:00 Eastern right here on CNN.

Here's a wine with a cause. The California winery that's getting noticed for much more than its taste.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: A historic California winery is good for your heart in many ways. In today's "Giving In Focus," how one man's passion for the grape and philanthropy helped define Eller's Estate Winery.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Eller's Estate is a special place because of the land, first and foremost. This is right in the heart of Napa Valley and some of the very, very best primo AAA quality cabernet land anywhere. The land here at Eller's Estate has been in grapes for 125 years. Jean Le Ducq was a pretty amazing businessman, built businesses in France, came to America and did the same thing. John Le Duc's father and grandfather both died in their 50s from heart disease.

And Jean Le Ducq had a problem with his own ticker and was at that time very cutting-edge heart bypass surgery at the Mayo Clinic and so he wanted to give something back so he created a foundation.

The Le Ducq Foundation funds international cardiovascular and neurovascular research. They've funded to the tune of $200 million over the last 11 years.

When I was hired here at Ellers Estate, my marching orders were to make great wine, take care of the property, take care of the brand, take care of the personnel and send a check back to the foundation.

DR. JEFF FINEMAN, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO: The money is substantial and it really allows a significant amount of research to be performed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The ultimate goal is to treat newborns that are born with the most devastating type of congenital heart disease and improve their lives dramatically. The goal is ultimately that these children that 20 years ago had absolutely no prognosis go on and live long, fruitful lives.

I didn't come here to be a do-gooder. I came here because I knew I could make world class wine from this land. On top of all that, to be owned by this foundation and return all of our profits back to support international cardiovascular research is just astounding.

If you look carefully and turn that "E" sideways you see there is a little heart in the "E." It is first and foremost about the wine but we love that little heart in the logo.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Did you know today is an official holiday in Great Britain? It is Boxing Day. These ladies are taking it seriously. What is Boxing Day? We're going to tell you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: It is Boxing Day in Great Britain and other commonwealth countries as well, including Australia and Canada. Traditionally on the day after Christmas, servants and the poor were given gifts.

One theory is because servants were required to work Christmas day, their employers let them take the day after Christmas off and employers would give them gifts in boxes, thus the name, often celebrated today with horse races, rugby and a bit of drinking.

With Christmas in the rear view, 2012 is just six days away. That means less than a week to close out the books on the old year and start the new one. Christine Romans has the skinny on keeping your wallet fat.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As the clock winds down on 2011, don't drop the ball on your finances. First, use it or lose it when it comes to your flexible spending accounts. These are the pre-tax spending accounts set up to pay your co-pays or prescriptions. The rules changed this year, so that new year's eve run to the drugstore to buy $100 in aspirin, band-aids and tissues, it won't fly this year. Check with your company plan and make sure you've sent all that money you've set aside.

Sell losing investments if you need the write-off and make charitable contributions before December 31st to get those tax deductions. Check the rules at irs.gov to see if your donation qualifies.

Next, plan for 2012.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is absolutely step number one, get out of the credit card debt. Step number two, look, it's an election year. We have no idea what's going to happen. Markets are up and down 100 points each direction every single day. This kind of stuff drives normal investors like me crazy. I would suggest doing what a very smart person once told me to do, is to stop staring at it. And if it drives you that nuts, then just stay out of it for a while.

ROMANS: Diversify your retirement account. Make sure it's the right strategy for you. If you're young, focus on stocks. If you're close to retiring, choose more bonds. And raise your 401(k) contribution by one percentage point each year for five years to help close the gap between what you're saving and what you really need.

And finally, invest in yourself.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put your resume together. See where there might be some gaps and make sure you fill in those gaps. Whether it's going back to school for education while working or maybe asking for more responsibility, taking on a new project where you're at. The biggest control piece you have is investing in yourself. No one can take that away.

ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Well, you have a lot to say about today's "Talk Back" question. Should betting on a presidential race be legal? Here's what Darwin had to say. "I think it should be allowed. Why buck the pattern of money being the root of all this evil?" Got more of your responses coming up right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: Well, we've been getting a lot of buzz on this "Talk Back" question today, should betting on a presidential race be legal? A derivatives exchange is asking permission to offer trading on the 2012 election. That means you could win or lose money based on who wins the race. If approved, this would be the first time wagering on elections would be federally regulated. Here's the responses.

Matt says, "no, we need to stop treating politics as some kind of sport. Political parties are not sports teams and candidates are not players. These people will be leading our country!" For heaven sakes.

Ryan says, "this would be fun and entertaining. It would give us an outlook on what the general public is actually thinking as opposed to the news agencies who all have a slant on the topic."

Lee says, "letting people bet on the outcome of the election could create legalized cronyism. Too many people already have a financial stake in the election. This would make it much too extreme."

And Jan says, finally, "why not? If people believe they could win some money by helping their candidate win the election, they may become more active in the campaign and it could increase voter turnout. Too many people don't participate now because they don't see anything in it for them regardless of who wins. Money motivates people." A little skin in the game there from Jan.

You can see more responses on Suzanne Malveaux's FaceBook page at cnn.com/suzannecnn. Keep the conversation going. We hope you will.

And a reminder, we want to talk to you about politics here. Tomorrow on "The Situation Room," Wolf Blitzer is going to interview Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. That's tomorrow starting at 4:00 Eastern on "The Situation Room."

Tension between nuclear neighbors India and Pakistan marked every day with a gate closing ceremony that takes place at the border. It's part dance, all bluster, and our Reza Sayah found out a big tourist attraction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

REZA SAYAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Who's tougher? Who's stronger? Who's got more swagger? This is the daily showdown between nuclear neighbors Pakistan and India at the Wagah border crossing just outside of Lahore.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tense. It is intense.

SAYAH: This war dance is a symbol of six decades of bad blood and mistrust sparked by a violent separation in 1947 after British rule and fueled by three wars, a nuclear standoff, and a seemingly endless barrage of accusations from both sides.

Ever since 1959, the long-time rivals' border guards have met here at sunset and faced off in a flag lowering ceremony.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's just about spirit and, you know, patriotism. SAYAH: Each angry stomp, each glare, another dagger in this battle of bravado.

SAYAH (on camera): If you want to know what India and Pakistan's often bitter rivalry feels like, this is where you come.

SAYAH (voice-over): The ceremony starts with a furious 50-yard march to the border gates. Then comes the stare-downs, followed by the synchronized lowering of the flags. The event is one of the region's most popular tourist attractions. Thousands line the stands on each side of the border. The stronger the scowl, the louder the roar. Few electrify the Pakistani crowd more than Sergeant Tarik Mahmoud. At 6'6" tall, 240 pounds, no border guard here is bigger. The towering figure who doesn't speak on camera, but makes clear that his country is not to be messed with.

SAYAH (on camera): But over the past years, though there's been some developments and some signs that show maybe, just maybe, this icy relationship is thawing.

SAYAH (voice-over): Pakistan and India are meeting again. Leaders talking peace, not pointing fingers. And work is underway to expand trade. Despite signs of improved relations, the border gates are still slammed shut after every ceremony, erasing half a century's mistrust takes time, analyst say. Until then, conflict, not peace, defines Pakistan-India relations.

Reza Sayah, CNN, Wagah, Pakistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: Wow.

Well, from the massive Occupy Wall Street protests to attacks in Libya, we are going to show you some of the best iReports of 2011.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GRIFFIN: This year was filled with iconic moments from across the world. We're going to take a look back now at some of the most memorable iReports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ON SCREEN TEXT: January 25 - Several thousand demonstrators take over Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt.

Abdel-Maguid Ramzy uploaded the first video to iReport from the scene.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're so excited. I'm so proud to be an Arab today. For the people of Egypt to want it, half (ph) their lives.

ON SCREEN TEXT: February 11 - President Mubarak steps down.

March 9 - iReporter Gyula Soprany's camera captures an RPG attack in Ras Lanuf, Libya. iReporter Mugu Vanzariu shares his images of Libyan refugees in Djerba, Tunisia.

March 11 - A 9.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Japan and spawns a massive tsunami.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God! Holy crap!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God, the building's going to fall!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The whole ground was shaking so much. It was -- it was unbelievable.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's something that you would not wish upon your worst enemy.

ON SCREEN TEXT: APRIL 29 - Jason Sauter is CNN's official Royal Wedding iReporter.

JASON SAUTER: We are currently being escorted by the local authorities here down to the media area so we can get as close to Buckingham Palace as possible.

CROWD: Congratulations, William and Katherine.

ON SCREEN TEXT: U.S. tornado strikes, May 22, Eddie Atwood, Joplin, Missouri.

After Osama bin Laden, May 2, Zack McTee, New York City.

Norway terror attacks, July 22, Trond Lindholm, Oslo.

September 17 - Occupy Wall Street movement begins.

iReport received more than 3,000 Occupy Wall Street submissions from more than 300 cities in 31 countries.

Occupy protests spread across U.S. and the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will fight for jobs. We will fight for peace.

ON SCREEN TEXT: October 20 - Former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi killed by rebels.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it's over. The tyrant is gone!

ON SCREEN TEXT: Thailand floods, October 26, Kris Clijsters, Bangkok.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GRIFFIN: We certainly thank all those iReporters who sent that news into us.

And the CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Natalie Allen. Hi, Natalie.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, thanks, Drew.