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Campbell Brown
President Obama Hits the Road; Investigation Continues Into New York Plane Crash
Aired February 16, 2009 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAMPBELL BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi there, everyone.
On this Presidents day, we're just hours from the moment that could define President Obama's legacy all with the stroke of the pen.
Bullet point number one tonight: The president gets set to travel to Denver, hoping to scale a mountain of financial woes with his $787 billion stimulus package.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Now, some fear we won't be able to effectively implement a plan of this size and scope. And I understand their skepticism. Washington hasn't set a very good example in recent years. And with so much on the line, it's time to begin doing things differently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: And bullet point number tonight: It's a double-header for the president this week. He also is rolling out plans to try to stop the mortgage meltdown.
We're going to show you what to expect, the fine print to ultimately look like as we break all this down for you tonight.
And bullet point number three: revealing new images of the president, pictures you have never seen before, up close and personal with the commander in chief. These were taken just in the past few days and we're going to have a whole lot of them to share with you tonight.
And bullet point number four: We're also following the investigation into the crash of Flight 3407, new details about the plane's final moments in the sky. Just why did the crew have the plane on autopilot at such a crucial moment in the flight? We will get into that as well tonight.
But, first, to the big week in store for the president. Tomorrow, he signs the bill that injects a massive dose of financial adrenaline into the dangerously slow-beating heart of the economy.
And here's what the president had to say about the $787 billion spending and tax cut bill during his weekly address on the Web.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) OBAMA: This is a major milestone on our road to recovery, and I want to thank the members of Congress who came together in common purpose to make it happen. Because they did, I will sign this legislation into law shortly, and we'll begin making the immediate investments necessary to put people back to work doing the work America needs done.
For our plan to succeed, we must stabilize, repair, and reform our banking system, and get credit flowing again to families and businesses. We must write and enforce new rules of the road, to stop unscrupulous speculators from undermining our economy ever again. We must stem the spread of foreclosures and do everything we can to help responsible homeowners stay in their homes.
And in the weeks ahead, I will submit a proposal for the federal budget that will begin to restore the discipline these challenging times demand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: And, tomorrow, as the president said, not just a milestone for the economy, but a milestone for this president.
CNN senior White House correspondent Ed Henry here live with the details for us.
Ed, what should we expect tomorrow?
ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Campbell, this is all about trying to get outside Washington.
The president this past weekend took his family to Chicago, their first chance to get home since he was sworn in. The White House aides say, basically, that one of the big lessons they learned from the stimulus fight is that it's very important for this president to get outside the Washington beltway, that he does a much better job in sort of that campaign-style atmosphere outside Washington, selling his plans.
This was a sweet victory for him on the stimulus bill, getting this done so quickly, such a big piece of legislation. But they realize they can't celebrate too long. They have got a lot of other big problems.
So, first of all, what we can expect, Tuesday, he signs the stimulus bill into law in Denver. On Wednesday, the big thing is to deal with the housing crisis. He will be in Arizona. He's got thousands of people losing their homes every day, a lot of people looking at this plan expected to be over $50 billion to try to keep more people in their homes.
The second thing he has to deal with is the banking crisis, Wall Street and Main Street still waiting for more details from Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. What are they going to do with bank bailouts? What are they going to do to try to thaw those frozen credit markets. People who can't get student loans, mortgages, car loans, they're very desperate right now to get more details from this White House. And finally the automakers are going to be here in Washington tomorrow. They're due to give their viability plan to the president Tuesday so that he can get an idea on whether they deserve more taxpayer money or not. That's obviously a very important step moving forward in dealing with this financial crisis -- Campbell.
BROWN: And, quickly, Ed, during the stimulus battle, the president talked about his efforts, highlighted efforts to reach out to Republicans, but you're hearing not so much of a priority for the White House anymore.
HENRY: Yes, he's not going to be giving it up, but he's going to be dialing it back.
The White House today released a sort of photo spread of some behind-the-scenes moments that are sort of fascinating of while he was trying to negotiate all of this. You see him hosting the Super Bowl party, where he had Democrats, as well as Republicans. You also see even him at the Alfalfa Dinner trying to work Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, bring him along.
He did get Susan Collins, one of those moderate Republicans, on board, but very few other Republicans on board. And so, the president on Friday had some newspaper columnists aboard Air Force One. And he said one of the lessons he learned about bipartisanship is -- quote -- "You know, I'm an eternal optimist. That doesn't mean I'm a sap."
And what he was trying to say there is, he's going to continue to reach out to Republicans. But White House aides say they realize, in the days ahead, the president knows that he's going to have to muscle some things through just with Democratic votes. He's not going to make bipartisanship the barometer of success anymore -- Campbell.
BROWN: Right. Lesson learned.
Ed Henry for us from the White House tonight -- Ed, thanks.
HENRY: Thank you.
BROWN: Now the plan for saving your home.
President Obama made it clear in his weekly radio address that he plans to stop the financial dam burst that is leaving homeowners drowning in debt. So, how will his plan help you save your home?
Tom Foreman breaking it down for us tonight -- Tom.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): More than a million homes have been taken by banks since the housing crisis began a year- and-a-half ago. More than twice as many risk foreclosure this year. That's the cornerstone of this recession. And, this week, the White House is expected to roll out its plan for attacking the problem. TIMOTHY GEITHNER, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: Home prices are still falling as foreclosures rise. And even credit-worthy borrowers are finding it harder to finance the purchase of a new home or to refinance their existing mortgage.
FOREMAN: The administration is directing $50 billion of the bailout money toward ending the avalanche of foreclosures and stabilizing home prices.
But how?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: Well, financial analysts believe first the plan could call for widespread loan modifications for families on the verge of defaulting. What that means is determining probably based on a formula how much can each family out here who's in trouble afford to pay? Maybe they're supposed to pay this much per month, and they can only pay this much per month.
Then they look at the banks, the institution holding that family's loan, and they ask, can you swallow a payment this low? And is it still worthwhile for you, rather than taking a foreclosure? Should you keep this House viable? That's what they want to see. And the government might help these deals along with a financial help of some sort for the homeowners and for the lenders. We will just see how that actually plays out in the long run.
Second, they want people who want to buy homes to be able to do that. The stimulus bill provides for an $8,000 tax credit for first- time homebuyers, and that could be important to neighborhoods everywhere. Why? Well, look at this. When you have houses out here and some number of houses wind up being in trouble, maybe just a few in given neighborhoods, they're not the only ones that suffer.
When they wind up vacant, that lowers property values for many, many miles all around. That starts affecting businesses further out. People start losing jobs. And the worse and worse it gets as that spreads out. The simple truth is, this year, the Center For Responsible Lending says 75 million of you could see your home values drop because of this phenomenon.
You have paid your bills, but you're still going to suffer, but not if those defaulted homes can be resold quickly. And, third, the last thing we have to look at here is standardization. What does that mean? Well, what that means is losing your home right now may depend on which bank you're using, where you live, how willing they are to help out.
And that adds uncertainty to this whole idea of who gets a modified loan. A clear government definition of which loans can be saved could help everyone know where he or she stands -- Campbell.
BROWN: And, Tom, it seems like two concerns keep coming up about all this time and time again. And one is that all of these elaborate plans are moving way too fast, and, two, that they're all moving way too slow. What's your read on that?
FOREMAN: Yes, well, these are complex ideas, Campbell.
And the potential for mistakes is absolutely out there. But waiting is not working out well either. The number of homes lost through bad loans is now quickly being inflated by defaults from people who have lost their jobs and just can't pay. That's different than what we saw before. And unless the situation gets better, eight million more houses could be taken by the banks in just the next four years -- Campbell.
BROWN: All right, Tom Foreman for us tonight -- Tom, thanks very much.
And a quick program note here -- financial expert Suze Orman is going to be with us on Wednesday. And you can be part of the NO BIAS, NO BULL interview. Upload your video questions to Suze by going right now to CNN.com/Campbell.
Coming up next: our political panelists here.
Also, President Obama getting some help defending his stimulus plan from someone who knows what it's like taking on the GOP.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I find it amazing that the Republicans who doubled the debt of the country in eight years and produced no new jobs doing it, gave us an economic record that was totally bereft of any productive result, are now criticizing him for spending money.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Hear from former President Clinton whether there's any real hope for bipartisanship when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: President Obama takes a mini victory lap tomorrow, signing the stimulus bill he hopes will get America back on track.
The president laid out the stakes in his weekly Internet address this week. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: Congress has passed my economic recovery plan, an ambitious plan at a time we badly need it. It will save or create more than 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, ignite spending by businesses and consumers alike, and lay a new foundation for our lasting economic growth and prosperity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: An awful lot of work to do. And here to talk about the big week ahead for the president, some of our best political minds, all of them as it happens in Washington this evening, CNN political analyst Roland Martin, our senior political analyst, Gloria Borger, and Republican strategist Kevin Madden.
Thanks, guys, for being here.
Gloria, let me start with you.
He's signing this bill tomorrow, the stimulus plan. It's a done deal. It passed. So, why the need for the big event? Why does it feel like he still needs to sell this plan a little bit?
GLORIA BORGER, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, because he does.
I think he needs to remind the American public always why we need a stimulus package, because it's so huge. And the success of his presidency in many ways rests on it. He has said that himself. And, also, as Ed Henry was saying earlier, Campbell, it's really important for him to get outside of Washington. He's going to sign it in Denver. He's going to talk about the investment in clean energy that's provided for in the stimulus package.
So, it's a way for him to get outside of Washington and remind people why we need it.
BROWN: And, Kevin, the president unveiling his $50 billion housing plan on Wednesday. Are Republicans on Capitol Hill gearing up for another fight?
KEVIN MADDEN, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Well, you know this, is money that's already been approved. So, I think that you're going to see what happens on Capitol Hill, which always happens, is that everybody is going to stampede to the microphones, stampede in front of the cameras, and, you know, listen, hold the president accountable on this.
This is a lot of money that's going to be spent on people that either made mistakes on their fore -- on their -- when it came to foreclosing on their homes, or there's a lot of money that could be wasteful. And Republicans have to be very vigilant about being seen as the party that's going to offer a lot of oversight on all of these big taxpayer-funded bailouts that are going to be taking place.
ROLAND MARTIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: I'm sorry, Kevin. I can't just sit and allow you to say that they're going to be helping people frankly who bought over their heads.
The reality is, there were a lot of people who were put in situations when they were given subprime loans, when they should have been given prime loans. The other issue is this here, it's am much broader issue.
Republicans, on the initial bank bailout bill, Campbell, they were against bankruptcy judges allowing them to be -- modify loans. Now, all of a sudden, they support that. They recognize that the problem started in the housing market. You cannot have more houses on the market going under, because it's causing prices of those who are still in homes to go down and to decrease. And so, you have got to stabilize the housing market. Smart move to focus on it. You will see more Republican report for this than you did on this stimulus package.
BORGER: But they're not going to reward people who acted responsibly. It's very clear from talking to folks inside the administration that that's something they're going to guard against. They want to help the people who deserve the help, not the ones who acted irresponsibly on their own.
MARTIN: And they also said the same thing about those various banks. I love how we only talk about responsibility when it comes to homeowners, but never Wall Street. That's just a little thought there.
BROWN: OK, but it's a perception issue clearly they have to deal with.
I do want to move to something else.
And, Gloria, let me ask you about this. This is an interview John Roberts did, our CNN's John Roberts, with former President Bill Clinton. And he took a swing at congressional Republicans. Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: I find it amazing that the Republicans who doubled the debt of the country in eight years and produced no new jobs doing it, gave us an economic record that was totally bereft of any productive result, are now criticizing him for spending money.
I'm a fiscal conservative. I balanced the budget. I ran surpluses. If I were in his position today, I would be doing what he's doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: It's a very different tone from the current president.
BORGER: Yes.
BROWN: Is it helpful to have somebody else out there sort of making these jabs for you, if you will?
BORGER: Yes, I don't think folks in the White House are going to be complaining about what Bill Clinton said at all.
In fact, it's what a lot of them are saying privately. Look, Barack Obama, after this stimulus package, the president's popularity rating is still at more than 60 percent. When you look at Republican popularity rating now, it's at 31 percent. So, while they may have helped themselves with their base, Campbell, overall, they're not growing in popularity.
And what President Clinton is doing is reminding people of the past eight years. It's one of the reasons that President Obama is president. So, fine with them.
BROWN: Let me, Kevin, get your take on one other thing he said. Listen to this prediction from former President Clinton.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINTON: Here's what I think will happen. I think that, as we go along, if the American people stick with him, and if he begins to have good results, then I think more and more Republicans will cooperate with him, because they will see that he's right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: So, Kevin, if it works, if we see some results in the stimulus package, are Republicans going to change their tune?
MADDEN: Well, that's a lot of ifs in one statement.
But, look, I think it's hard to predict. I think Republicans are very clear that we're going to stick to our conservative principles. If you look at the earlier clip, the criticism is actually valid that Republicans were not as vigilant as -- enough -- as we should have been over the last eight years when it came to spending.
And I think that we're now unencumbered by not having a Republican in the White House. And we can draw the line and say enough is enough when it comes to spending. The rationale that we should just continue spending just because Barack Obama thinks that we should continue spending is one that I think Republicans summarily reject.
So, I think we're going to continue to go out and put our principles out there, our efforts to -- what we think we ought to be doing to move the economy forward. And where we agree with President Obama, we will agree. But where we disagree, we will have to be the voice of loyal opposition.
MARTIN: One word, Campbell, credibility.
And the problem is, as President Bill Clinton said, Republicans have very little credibility on this issue because of their action over the past eight years. That's their biggest problem.
BORGER: But it still has to be played out. And I think the big question is going to be, are the Republicans seen as principled here, standing up for what they believe, or are they going to be seen as obstructionists, just supposing everything?
And I don't think we know the answer to that yet.
(CROSSTALK)
MADDEN: No, that's right.
And, Gloria, just one last point. We had a very interesting debate during this last election about how much Washington was spending and whether or not Washington had a tin ear when it came to the concerns of taxpayers.
BORGER: Right.
MADDEN: And yet Democrats just passed the largest spending bill in the history of the nation.
So, I think that the more and more they look like they're protecting the status quo here in Washington, the Washington standard, they're going to have a lot of trouble with voters.
MARTIN: But, Kevin, no bad economy, no need for the bill. And so, like it or not, Republicans have to acknowledge that this was their economy. Democrats are saying, we have to fix it.
BROWN: All right.
BORGER: And now Obama -- and President Obama owns it...
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: Yes, I know, whether he wants it or not.
(CROSSTALK)
BROWN: OK, guys, we have got to end it there.
BORGER: Right.
BROWN: To Roland, to Gloria, to Kevin, thanks. Appreciate it.
The U.S. has invested a tremendous amount of military and diplomatic efforts and money -- billions of dollars -- in Pakistan. So, what does it mean that a part of the country is now under Sharia law, Islamic law? Christiane Amanpour is going to be here in a moment to explain.
And Michael Phelps made not a single mistake in any of his outings at the Olympics, but he made a big one and an apology since. Case closed?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: As always, we're "Cutting Through The Bull" tonight.
And imagine if we gave up any part of this country, any part at all, to terrorists. Well, that appears to have been happening in Pakistan, where the government has cut a deal with the Taliban, allowing Islamic law, or Sharia law, to be enforced in the northern part of the country, near the Afghan border, this after Taliban militants led a grisly campaign of attacks, including beheadings, kidnappings, and the destruction of dozens of girls schools. The same people who helped provide a safe haven for al Qaeda leading up to 9/11 have now scored a victory against Pakistan and given new reason for the U.S. to worry, after we gave Pakistan $10 billion in large part to try and reduce the threat from terror.
How much harder will the fight become for our troops now that the Taliban controls yet another piece of territory? And the logic of Pakistani leaders is simple: merely wanting to seek peace. We wonder if the entire region and the U.S. will pay dearly for that concession.
And joining me now tonight to help us cut through the bull and bring a little clarity to this issue is chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour.
And explain to us what this means. It hasn't gotten a lot of attention, but this is a really significant development.
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It is hugely significant, and because of what you mentioned in terms of what it will mean, also, for the U.S. and the fight in Afghanistan.
These are Pakistani Taliban. Taliban is a creation of Pakistan. Over the last several years, they have been roaring in to try and take control of parts of Pakistan. And now they have. The Swat Valley is the most fertile, richest part of Northwest Frontier Province.
And people are very concerned. We have just been talking to former Pakistani officials concerned that that means they're going to move down next to Peshawar, a well-known town. We all know it's the gateway to Afghanistan. It's where right now U.S. convoys are moving down to try to get into Afghanistan with reinforcements.
So, conceding and appeasing the Taliban up there is in my view and the view of many of the analysts who we have just been talking to tonight very dangerous. And it doesn't work. The Pakistani government has tried it before and just has given them time to rearm and come back. So, this is a very dangerous situation on many, many levels.
BROWN: And explain to people what it means, Sharia law being imposed on the lives of the people there, what it means for them.
AMANPOUR: Well, Sharia law is Islamic law.
But what we have seen, for instance, in Afghanistan, where the Taliban, as you know, before 9/11 were there, it means really fundamentalist Islam in the most agrarian sort of way. It's violently against women, and I mean violently against women.
It puts them not just under the all-enveloping veil, but it refuses to allow them to go to schools, to go to work, to go to out without an escort. As we have seen now in Swat right now, where the Pakistani Taliban have taken over. They have destroyed dozens of girls schools, even boys schools, and people are very, very concerned that it's going to mean terrible things for women up there. And this is one of the reasons why the Taliban was overthrown. And many, many people in the United States really wanted the Taliban in Afghanistan to be overthrown. And now to give them concessions up there in Pakistan is very dangerous.
BROWN: So, what is the level of U.S. influence or the ability that the U.S. has to influence at all?
AMANPOUR: Well, look, this is a very interesting question.
The new U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, has just been in Pakistan.
BROWN: Right.
AMANPOUR: And, a few days later, this is announced? I'm very, very concerned about it. Did they know? Did they not know? What does it mean for the U.S.? And what could it do? The U.S. tried to get Pakistani army to fight back against the Taliban over the summer, and the Pakistani army did step up.
And then they started -- it's started to stall. And what's happened now -- and lots of Pakistani military have been killed, by the way, in this fight -- what's happened now is that the military is not going hand-to-hand with the Taliban. What they're doing is standing back, the Pakistani military, and shelling the so-called militant outposts they think are there from long distance.
And what this has done has created mayhem amongst the civilian population. It's created a lot of death and injury, destruction of property. So, now the civilians up in that area have had enough. They want security and peace by any means. So of course they're now saying, OK, well, we have got Sharia law. Maybe that will bring us peace.
But, again, we have seen this movie. We saw it in Afghanistan. We have seen it. And this is a very, very slippery slope, particularly if it means that they're going to be emboldened and look now towards Peshawar, which is the gateway, the capital of that area.
BROWN: To that point, let me just show people, because I think we have one of the Google maps, where this is happening.
And it is -- this is not Islamabad. This is a small region more or less, but as you said with the ability to become dangerously close to other areas where they may...
(CROSSTALK)
AMANPOUR: Exactly.
It may not be Islamabad, but it's, as I say, the gateway to the Khyber Pass, where all the U.S. military is taken on trucks, the supply, the wherewithal.
And that's going to be very difficult if that falls to the Taliban. Then the game is up, according to analysts. If that falls, it's going to be very difficult to fight the war in Afghanistan. That's -- let's get that straight.
Then it's not that far from Islamabad. It's not that far. It's a few hours up the road. So it's not that far from Islamabad. It is one of the most lawless parts of Pakistan, that Northwest Frontier Province. It doesn't have a huge amount of government control up there.
The rest of Pakistan, it is an Islamic state. But the rest of it is pretty much governed by old British-style laws. It used to be a British protectorate colony and all the rest of it. And there are laws based on civil law, based on all of the -- the sort of rule of law that we know.
So, what? They're going to have several different legal systems, religious systems for different parts of Pakistan? It seems that it's a recipe that's going to lead to more instability.
BROWN: Something we will be watching closely.
Christiane Amanpour for us tonight -- thanks so much. Appreciate it.
And historians rank the presidents and add George W. Bush to the list, who we will explain when we come back.
And you would think a rock star has arrived, flashbulbs as Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton begins her first major trip abroad -- more on that when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: As we've said, it is Presidents Day, so who is your favorite? The C-SPAN cable network surveyed 65 historians who picked Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Franklin Roosevelt as the top three. The bottom three presidents are Franklin Pierce, Andrew Johnson and James Buchanan, all from the 1800s. The worst rated modern president, George W. Bush, finished 36th out of the 42 former occupants of the White House.
Now the scandal that just won't die? Can you say Blagojevich? Oh, yes, a new twist in the saga of the former Illinois governor accused of trying to sell President Obama's Senate seat. All that and more in our "Political Daily Briefing." Erica Hill here and she's got it all.
ERICA HILL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And another case for us to prove that we can, in fact, save Blagojevich, Campbell. It never hurts, but we know it ain't easy.
Republicans in the Illinois State legislature claimed Senator Roland Burris actually wasn't telling the full story last month during Blagojevich's impeachment trial. They point specifically to this exchange. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you talk to anybody who is associated with the governor about your desire to seek the appointment prior to the governor's arrest?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Give us a moment.
SEN. ROLAND BURRIS (D), ILLINOIS: I talked to some friends about my desire to be appointed. Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: So why is this an issue now? Well, it all stems from an affidavit released by Senator Burris a few weeks ago. In it he recalls, "That Governor Blagojevich's brother, Rob Blagojevich, called me three times to seek my assistance in fund raising for Governor Blagojevich. I could not contribute to Governor Blagojevich because it could be viewed as an attempt to curry favor with him."
Well an admission -- that admission has some wondering why the senator failed to mention the calls when asked about them under oath. Republicans, in fact, are calling for an investigation into the matter. Now over the weekend, Senator Burris said it didn't cross his mind to mention those conversations at the time and adds he has no plans of stepping down, Campbell, from his seat in the U.S. Senate.
BROWN: I don't think that's the last we've heard of the story.
On to other topics, though, Hillary Clinton making her first trip abroad as diplomat in chief.
HILL: That's right.
BROWN: What was on the agenda? Tell us.
HILL: She is in Japan tonight, which is the first stop on this tour. Her diplomatic mission to Asia is into creating, in her words, a network of partners. She referred to U.S. relations with Japan as indispensable.
The trip itself is interesting because this is a change. Traditionally, a secretary of state's first trip has been to Europe. Secretary Clinton will spend two more days in Japan before she heads to Indonesia and then she's also going to South Korea and winding out the week in China.
BROWN: So we can't talk about Hillary Clinton without talking about Bill Clinton because he's been doing a lot of interviews over the last, you know, 48 hours, I guess...
HILL: Yes.
BROWN: ... had been sort of out there. But he's actually not out there. He's also talking about being kind of a househusband, right? HILL: Yes, which is an interesting concept, right? To think of the former president as just sort of sitting around not doing much? Yes, it's a concept only.
Though some women would actually like to see the former president do just that, there's a new poll out from "U.S. News & World Report" which found 40 percent of women actually think he should be a househusband. But as he told CNN's John Roberts, it ain't likely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I told her, you know, it's funny. I told her when she left that I wish now that I was an ordinary citizen because I wish I could go with her and be with her when she comes home at night and do for her what she did for me when I was president. But it's not in the cards. We're doing the best we can to work through this and do the right thing.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN ANCHOR: Will you ever be comfortable being a househusband?
CLINTON: No, I have to go to work. I'm too much of a Calvinist. If I don't work every day, I get nervous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: The president, of course, is very much active these days as you mentioned, Campbell, in promoting the Clinton Global Initiative. He has, though, had to cut back on some of that overseas travel as a result of Mrs. Clinton becoming secretary of state.
BROWN: Not slowing down in the least, though.
HILL: No.
BROWN: All right. Erica, I know you're going to come down a little bit and tell us about the Obamas big week away in Chicago, the family weekend. We've got lots to talk about on that front.
We also have some more or some more rather of those unguarded moments at the White House. Pictures out today worth a thousand words.
And at the top of the hour, the publicist for the mother of the California octuplets didn't last long. She's going to tell "LARRY KING LIVE" why she quit so abruptly.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Tonight, we're following new developments and new video from the crash site of Flight 3407 as the families of the victims said goodbye.
First, Joe Johns has tonight's "Briefing" though -- Joe.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Campbell, two European nuclear submarines collided in the North Atlantic earlier this month. The French and British subs bumped into each other at slow speed while on patrol. Each returned to port on its own power. Both governments say no one was injured and the nuclear weapons aboard the sub were not threatened.
Olympic champion Michael Phelps is off the hook in South Carolina. The winner of eight gold medals in Beijing became the target of a sheriff's department probe after a photo showing Phelps smoking marijuana at a party last year. Today, the sheriff announced there is not enough evidence to bring drug charges against Phelps, although the sheriff and Phelps both hope something good comes from the matter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL PHELPS, OLYMPIC CHAMPION SWIMMER: Be happy to having this thing sort of rest a little bit. You know, I realized that I had made a mistake and a bad judgment. And I guess this is something that I need to learn from, I will learn from, and have learned from.
SHERIFF LEON LOTT, RICHLAND COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA: Now he's got one of the most highly publicized mistakes I think you could ever make when it comes to drugs. We have to take that now and use that in a positive way to teach our kids.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: And Lance Armstrong wants his bicycle back. Somebody ripped off the one-of-a-kind bike used by the seven-time Tour de France winner for time trials. Armstrong has posted a photo of the specially modified bike on his twitter page offering a reward. It was one of four bikes taken from his cycling team's truck parked outside a Sacramento hotel. Armstrong is competing in the Tour of California as he mounts a return to the Tour de France.
A chimpanzee was shot and killed after attacking a woman in Connecticut. Here are some pictures from six years ago during another escape by the same chimp. Today, the animal escaped from its owner's home in Stanford and went after the woman living next door. She's now reported in critical condition with life threatening bites and abrasions. Police killed the chimp after it started attacking the patrol car they were in.
And the U.S. Strategic Command says the collision of two satellites in space had nothing to do with the object spotted falling from the sky in Texas on Sunday. An Austin news photographer captured what some are calling a fireball. It was spotted one day after the FAA warned pilots to look out for falling space debris.
A government spokesman says a meteor or other natural phenomenon may be what led to that flash across the horizon. There are also reports of sonic booms heard in Texas yesterday as well.
And, Campbell, I guess all you could say is the truth is out there somewhere.
BROWN: OK, Joe Johns for us tonight. Joe, thanks.
We are learning more tonight about the violent end of Flight 3407. The final moments, the 26 seconds tell an incredible story.
Finally today, the families had their first chance to visit the site where 50 people were lost and Randi Kaye has our full story when we come back.
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BROWN: Just 26 seconds. That's all from the first recorded sign of trouble until the end for Flight 3407. Well, tonight, investigators are questioning whether the plane's autopilot played a part in those final moments. They spent the day studying flight recorders and the debris field near Buffalo, New York. And we want to get these new developments on the plane crash investigation from our Randi Kaye who's been looking into all of this.
Randi, what can you tell us?
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Campbell, every day they're making progress at this crash site near Buffalo. Today, they actually allowed media cameras inside the site for the very first time.
Take a look at some of the new video that we have. The NTSB recovered the engine today. You see that being hoisted up there. They're shipping that out then they're also hoping to put everything that's left in bins and on trailers by Wednesday before a big storm is supposed to hit that area.
Also today, families of the victims were able to tour the site. This was a private moment for them. Cameras were not there. But later we did see these pictures of roses that you can see there left on the ground.
The final moments for the passengers on Flight 3407 can only be described as terrifying and violent. The final 26 seconds or so were the worst. As the plane tried to land, the NTSB says the landing gear was brought down and the wing flaps were open, but then investigators say the plane indicated it was going to stall. Something, possibly ice, apparently affected the wings or the tail so seriously the plane lost its balance and was unable to fly normally. So let me walk you through those final 26 seconds.
The NTSB says the plane's flight data recorder indicates the plane rolled violently and, of course, jerked the nose up. The plane pitched up at an angle of 31 degrees then pitched down at 45 degrees. The passengers likely would have felt like they were on a roller coaster at that time.
At one point, the investigators say it rolled so far from side to side, once as much as 105 degrees that the plane almost rolled on to its back; 105 degrees would have been 15 degrees beyond vertical.
Some experts have told media that the passengers may have felt like they were flying upside down. Also in those final moments, the plane suddenly dropped from 1,800 feet to 1,000 feet, a drop of 800 feet in just five seconds. Probably felt like the bottom was dropping out.
The NTSB says at that point, passengers and crew would have been experiencing G-forces twice as strong as on the ground. Something else, when the plane smashed into that house, it was facing away from the airport. Investigators are still trying to figure out why.
We've also learned that the plane was on autopilot as it approached Buffalo's airport. It turns out, in December, the NTSB issued a safety alert that recommended against flying on autopilot in severe icy conditions so pilots don't miss the indication of ice buildup, but that alert was only a recommendation. Only the FAA has the power to change airline regulations.
The final seconds of this doomed flight were so violent, in fact, the NTSB says the autopilot disengaged and an alarm sounded warning of that imminent stall.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GREGORY FEITH, FORMER NTSB INVESTIGATOR: Now the airplane is in an unusual attitude and the pilot has to try and do so many mental gymnastic things like trying to figure out what the position of the airplane is and what the appropriate corrective action is. And at low altitude, that is just not possible for successful recovery.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: And, Randi, you mentioned passengers on board felt the force of 2 g's according to the NTSB. I mean, what does that mean?
KAYE: That's what we wanted to know. We want to know what these people were going through onboard, how they were doing on board. And it turns out that 1 G gravity is what we feel every day walking around, steadying ourselves with our feet.
We spoke with a physics professor from NYU, and he said when a plane takes off, passengers feel just a touch more gravity, like a 1.1 G. So if passengers on board that flight to Buffalo were feeling 2 Gs, he said it would like you're going up a hill on a roller coaster, or imagine if your weight doubled. If you weigh 130 pounds, it would all of a sudden feel like you weigh 260 pounds. You're still conscious, you can still move, but it just takes double the effort. But Campbell, no matter how you look at it, it was a terrifying 26 seconds.
BROWN: I know. Absolutely. No question about it.
Randi Kaye for us with a lot of new, interesting details about all this. Randi, thanks.
When we come back, President Obama, his family in Chicago figuring out how the first family can relax in their hometown. We also got more of those pictures. Some pretty incredible inside photos of the new president on the job when we come back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BROWN: Top of the hour coming up which means as always, so is "LARRY KING LIVE." Larry, what are you working on for tonight?
LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Campbell, the controversy continues with the famous octuplet mom. We've got her former publicist who quit because of death threats.
And then Suze Orman is back. She's got an action plan for you in this troubled times. Helping you next on "LARRY KING LIVE" -- Campbell.
BROWN: All right, Larry. We'll see you in a few minutes.
A Valentine's Day table for two at Table 52. That's a Chicago restaurant for the president and the first lady. If you were looking for the Obamas in Washington this weekend, you were looking in the wrong place. More on that when we come back.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAX FINK, 2ND GRADE, NORTH STRATFIELD ELEMENTARY: Dear, Mr. President, I've learned lots of interesting facts about you, like your favorite sport is basketball and you are the fifth youngest president.
Are you going to help with the Iraq war? I think it should be stopped because it has been going on for a long time. Last I heard, there was a school they named (ph) for you. Sincerely yours, Max Fink.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: Max, there is a school named after the new president. It's on Long Island, New York. And we're sure that your school in Fairfield, Connecticut, is pretty special too.
All over the country, children writing letters to President Obama. We love it when we share them with us. To send us your letter, look for the iReport link on our Web site, CNN.com/campbell.
So George W. Bush used to go south for the weekend, down to Crawford, Texas. Well, this president goes north to Chicago. Well, that's actually not quite north but yes, I guess it is from Washington, where he found cold weather and a warm reception on a Valentine's visit.
Erica Hill has all the details about the first family's first trip -- Erica.
HILL: That's right. The first trip since the inauguration. First trip home to Chicago and it's all about love and basketball this weekend for the Obama family while they were there. You can expect actually to see a lot of them in the Windy City over the next four years. In fact back in December, the president told the "Chicago Tribune" he expects to be there every six to eight weeks, which means his neighborhood -- fellow neighborhood residents, neighbors, that is, I guess you'd call them, should get used to the barricades and the heightened security. Luckily, they've had a taste of it throughout the campaign.
It is a much different space to secure than former President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas. The flight restrictions around the Obama's neighborhood were in place for the weekend and will be any time he goes up there. No amount of security, though, can suppress the curiosity of folks in Chicago.
Crowds lining up for any glimpse of the president and the first lady this weekend. Here they are, after their valentine's night date. Somehow they managed to pull off a romantic dinner at Table 52. It's a restaurant with Oprah's former chef, Art Smith, at the helm. And I think we even saw in Mrs. Obama's hand, there may have been some leftovers there.
With Valentine's Day behind him, it's time for a little cutesy with the guys. The president playing some three-on-three at his daughter's former school with some big names including one of his aides and one-time Duke basketball player, Reggie Love. He also snuck in a trim from his long-time barber and watched the NBA All-Star game at a friend's apartment, Campbell.
BROWN: And I understand he also got some advice on his game from somebody in the --
HILL: Yes, he did.
From some people who know what they're talking about. John King sat down with some current and former NBA stars this weekend. Among them, Magic Johnson, Grant Hill, Bill Russell. Here's their take on the president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Everybody -- get one tip. Help him out.
STEVE NASH, NBA PLAYER, PHOENIX SUNS: Keep the dream alive. Get better every summer, he'll be in the league before he knows it.
MAGIC JOHNSON, FORMER NBA PLAYER: Continue to pick the right teammates.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was good.
JOHNSON: Because that's what he's done so far, running with the right teammates. That's how he's going to turn the country around and that's how you win pickup games. You pick the right people.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he should continue to play. That's the main thing. He should continue to play.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He needs to keep playing, but not too much. Stay the President, don't try to take my job.
(LAUGHTER)
Don't try to take my job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: Don't get too good. Just worry about being good as the president.
You know, President Obama was actually watching the game in Chicago. It was, of course, played in Phoenix this year. He did manage to make an appearance. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Those of us who grew up playing basketball, whether on a playground in the city or in a farm in the heartland, are grateful to the game for the lessons it teaches us about life. I encourage everyone to join the NBA in the spirit of service to others. Just log on to USAservice.org to find or create a project near you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HILL: You can hear the cheering in the background there as that public service announcement was played at the NBA All-Star game. The Obamas back in Washington earlier today with the president, I imagine, already back at work. Big old stack of papers on that desk.
BROWN: Just waiting for him. All right. Erica Hill for us tonight. Erica, thanks.
The most intimate way to see the presidency and the president through the eyes and the lens of a White House photographer. We're going to take a look at some of the moments we've never be allowed to see unless he had been allowed to see and to capture them first. That's coming up when we come back.
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BROWN: In our "Bull's-Eye" tonight, a revealing look inside the West Wing. Behind the curtain, Gary Tuchman is in Atlanta to show us. What have you got, Gary?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Campbell, they say every picture tells a story. The ones posted today on the White House's Web site collectively tell the story of President Obama's behind the scenes battle for his economic recovery package.
There we see the president huddled with House Democratic leaders inside the Oval Office. That's Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel on the right. And here on Air Force One with the Indiana congressional delegation. Note the casual tone, no jackets for most of them, no seat belts for all of them.
A day later with the delegation from Florida on the same aircraft, they're on the desk what looks like the president's smart phone. This one finds the president in his private study placing a call to governors hit hard by the economic crisis.
And here's President Obama, the party host, serving Super Bowl snacks in the White House theater. We are told he was serving cookies, wasn't serving beer or anything like that as far as we know, so unlike many other Super Bowl parties, but cookies while they watched the Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals.
And this one, we see the president trying to drive home a point to House Republicans when they visited the White House. This is the president leaving the room to begin the walk to the podium for his first primetime news conference.
And now this one -- it captures the private moment with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the Oval Office. The president's hand on the senator's back. It looks like they're about to walk out the window, or at the very least, look out the window.
And here's the president cradling the phone on his shoulders. He tries to persuade a Republican senator to vote for the stimulus bill. As we all know, only three Republican senators did so.
And finally, this one from the state dining room. We see drinks in the foreground. It looks like water, orange juice, maybe cranberry juice. And there's the president right in the middle of the Democratic Blue Dog coalition, right underneath the portrait of a contemplative Abraham Lincoln.
Campbell, these snapshots now part of American history on this Presidents Day.
BROWN: All right, Gary Tuchman for us tonight. Gary, thanks so much.
Sobering subject matter in our "Bull's-Eye" tonight. But once the news conference on Japan's struggling economy began, the headline became, has this guy been drinking? Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking in a foreign language)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BROWN: That would be Japan's finance minister at a G7 summit in Rome yesterday rambling a bit there. He denies he was drunk. We're going to have to end on that note.
"LARRY KING LIVE" starts right now.
