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CNN Sunday Morning

Big Three Bailout; Obama's Picks; Obama V.A. Secretary; Greece Unrest; Congressional First; Gift Ideas; Von Bulow Saga

Aired December 07, 2008 - 9:00   ET

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

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: In New Orleans, voters boot out a long-term Congressman, bringing in the first Vietnamese American elected to Congress. We'll hear how this Republican candidate won in a heavily Democratic district.
RICHARD LUI, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: And then in just a few hours, President-elect Obama will go before cameras to make another big announcement.

NGUYEN: Also, it's a very special journey for millions of Muslims all around the world and this morning the Hajj is underway. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, bringing you news from all around the world, I'm Betty Nguyen.

LUI: That's right. And good morning to you, I'm Richard Lui in for T.J. Holmes who's off today. It is Sunday December the 7th.

NGUYEN: All right, let's right to it. Detroit's big pothole, well it could be filled this week. Congressional aides, there, in Detroit working on a short-term loan for the nation's automakers, up to $17 billion. CNN's Kate Bolduan is in Washington. She joins us now, live.

Kate, do we have any details on what is being worked out? I know they've been hard at work over the past couple of days.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, they are working and they're working on a compromise, a deal, Betty. It may be a turning point in the ongoing debate over whether to rescue the struggling auto industry.

The startling November jobs report, one official says it changed everything in terms of a bailout. Following the second round of testimony from top executives of GM, Ford and Chrysler, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, late Friday, backed off her strong opposition to using funds from existing loan programs to help the Big Three.

That money was originally intended to help automakers produce more fuel-efficient vehicles. Now, Pelosi's reversal comes after weeks of deadlock between Congressional Democrats, Republicans and the White House over where an emergency loan would come from. In a statement Speaker Pelosi did caution no money would be released from that green program, "unless there is a guarantee those funds will be replenished in a matter of weeks."

Sources familiar with the compromise tell CNN they they're working with a total of between $15 billion and $17 billion, right now, to help automakers survive through March.

Now, that's less than the Big Three requested. Both Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid say they hope to have legislation ready by next week, Betty, the path is then to the president. And while it's not a done deal yet, what was a stalemate is making significant strides towards reaching agreement now -- Betty.

NGUYEN: Not going to be a done deal until it's signed, sealed and delivered.

BOLDUAN: And you know that (INAUDIBLE) Congress.

NGUYEN: OK, thank you, Kate, do appreciate it.

LUI: President-elect Barack Obama is expected to announce his pick for Veteran's Affairs secretary, today. For the latest let's go live now to CNN White House correspondent, Elaine Quijano.

Good morning Elaine, and what can you tell us about retired Army General Eric Shinseki?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well good morning to you, Richard. Eric Shinseki is someone who is a highly decorated Vietnam veteran. And most people remember him, Richard, from comments that he made back in 2003.

It was then as army chief of staff that Shinseki testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee and he made the comment to the effect saying that something on the order of several hundred thousand troops would be needed in order to pacify Iraq.

Now that comment, of course, did not sit well with Bush administration officials and Shinseki retired just a few months later, but Shinseki himself did not have a direct role in war planning. As army chief of staff then, he was not in the direct chain of command. Nevertheless, critics since his testimony have really seized on his comment even to this day.

Now, for his part, President-elect Barack Obama in an interview to be aired on "Meet the Press," later today, said he thinks Shinseki is exactly the right person who is going to be able to honor the troops when they return home.

Shinseki, Richard, we should tell you, is somebody who himself knows like what it is like to be wounded in combat. He actually had to have most of his right foot removed. Veterans groups, for their part, initially are saying they support this choice. That announcement, we should tell you, Richard, coming this afternoon. Of course, today is also Pearl Harbor Day -- Richard.

LUI: All right, Elaine Quijano, thank you so much.

NGUYEN: Well, speaking at the Democratic National Convention while endorsing Barack Obama may have given Caroline Kennedy a taste for politics. She is said to have talked about Hillary Clinton's seat in a conversation with New York governor, David Paterson. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV DAVID PATERSON (D), NEW YORK: We'll, I'm not going to comment on any of the people who have spoken to me about it. And she didn't evidence an interest in it, she just called me and asked me a few questions. And I'm sure if she's interested she'll call back. But, I'm not going to rate any of the candidates or talk about perspective candidates. It just kind of adds speculation to the speculation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So there you have it, the governor being very tight- lipped on Caroline Kennedy.

Well, if Hillary Clinton is confirmed as secretary of state, Paterson would appoint someone to fill the last two years of her term.

Former GOP presidential nominee, John McCain, is leading a Senate delegation to Pakistan, the goal to keep tensions from escalating in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. McCain met with Pakistan prime minister yesterday and McCain says he believes Pakistan will work to keep the crisis from intensifying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: At this time of tension between India and Pakistan it's critical that the government of Pakistan take specific steps toward cooperation with India and in bringing the perpetrators to justice. If the terrorists succeed in inflaming relations between these two great countries, they have achieved their aim. We cannot let that happen.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Well, the delegation is also visiting India.

LUI: All right, now to some live pictures coming from Arafat, Saudi Arabia. Millions of Muslims there taking part in the spiritual pilgrimage known as the Hajj. Today, they have gathered at the spot where the prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every able-bodies Muslim who can afford to is required to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime. Again we're having live pictures there coming out of Arafat, Saudi Arabia, a very dynamic situation and event happening, there.

Then we take you to Greece where young people there are on a rampage. The country experiencing some of the worst unrest seen there in years. Cars torched, windows smashed and petrol bombs exploding. We now have on the phone with us from Athens, CNN's Anthee Carassava.

Has the situation there, Anthee, calmed down at all?

ANTHEE CARASSAVA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well Richard, the situation here is in fact very tense. There are violent riots rattling Athens capital, and other major cities as we speak. I can tell you for a fact that as a foreign correspondent who's been covering this patch for nearly 20 years, these protests are the worst I've seen. And one senior police official told me a while ago that the tension is so thick that you can almost cut a knife -- cut into it with a knife.

That's why the interior minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, took to an urgent news conference earlier today advising restraint during demonstration planned for today and tomorrow. The scene however in downtown Athens, is harrowing. There's shattered glass everywhere, store fronts are smashed, burnt debris, rubbish being tossed and charred in almost every corner of the capital's commercial district, dozens of cars torched. And militants (INAUDIBLE) now, playing a game of cat and mouse with police not far from a university in Athens.

Now, these explosive protests have ripped through the country with protestors taking to the streets in other major cities, venting out their anger after Saturday's deadly shooting -- Richard.

Anthee, this group known as the Known Unknowns, what do they want?

CARSSAVA: Well, they basically do not like the police and their ideology is one of far left extremism. But the circumstances surrounding this particular incident and what happened on Saturday night, these circumstances are under investigation. An autopsy will be performed tomorrow on the miner's body to establish the exact cause of the his death. Police however have said that a team of officers were attacked by a mob of some 30 people and that led to a verbal exchange between the policemen and the youth and that led, in fact, one of the policemen to fire three shots.

Now, depending on which account you hear, one account says that one of those warning shots ricocheted off some other object and killed the 14-year-old. Other accounts say, including eyewitness, say that the policeman pulled out his gun, opened direct fire on the minor as he was about to hurl a petrol bomb.

LUI: Anthee Carassava thank you so much there, live in Greece with the youth rampage with the latest for us there.

NGUYEN: Well, President-elect Barack Obama has already come under fire for some of his choices as he puts his cabinet together.

LUI: OK, and as matter of fact, one voting bloc says his nomination of Bill Richardson for secretary of commerce is not enough.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LUI: Today is the 67th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. Unaware of the approaching Japanese flotilla, 185 U.S. Navy vessels were moored in small groups throughout Pearl Harbor.

NGUYEN: Well, they say they are disappointment. Top Hispanic lawmakers saying Obama's appointment of Bill Richardson for commerce secretary is basically not enough. Is that truly the case? Joining us live this morning, Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and also we have Reprehensive Representative Luis Gutierrez from Illinois.

Thank you both from being with us today.

REP ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R), FLORIDA: Thank you. Good morning.

REP LUIS GUTIERREZ (D), ILLINOIS: Pleasure.

NGUYEN: All right, Representative Gutierrez, let me start with you. What do you think? Was commerce secretary just a consolation prize for not getting secretary of state?

GUTIERREZ: You know, I think it's an excellent decision. I look forward to working with Governor Bill Richardson. I had an opportunity to meet him in 1993 when I got to Congress. He's a great consensus builder, something that Barack Obama needs...

NGUYEN: But, is the Hispanic community upset about that? Are they disappointed?

GUTIERREZ: It is a little too early. There are many, many more nominations to the cabinet to be made: HUD, Small Business Administration, U.S. Trade representative. I have a lot of...

NGUYEN: Was he the best shot at the highest position?

GUTIERREZ: I have a lot of faith and a lot of confidence. Look, it's not simply about the ethnicity of the people that surround an administration but the quality of those people.

NGUYEN: Well, you know, I want to talk about that, absolutely.

Representative Ros-Lehtinen, let me ask you this, is Richardson the best pick because of his experience, regardless of his ethnic background?

ROS-LEHTINEN: Well, I congratulate President-elect Obama for having the foresight to pick the best candidate for every slot and we should look beyond someone's racial and ethnic background. Bill is proud to be Hispanic, I am as well. Luis is as well. But I think Obama is correct in picking people for what they stand for.

Now, worrisome in that is that although he is a good friend of mine, Congressman Javier Basra, his selection or possible selection at U.S. trade representative troubles me. Yes, I'm proud that he's Hispanic, it would be another good choice for our ethnic origin, but Javier would sooner be trading with communist Cuba than he would extend Colombia free trade agreement with a great Democratic ally like Colombia. So, it's not just about race and ethnic background or religious background, it's about the issues and what they stand for. Bill Richardson is a great choice.

NGUYEN: Yeah, well, I'm going to go to Cuba in just a minute, but before we leave this, though, Representative Gutierrez, the Hispanic vote really is a major factor in what allowed Obama to win this. So, I guess, in due course, is there a feeling among the Hispanic community that, you know what, we need to be represented in your cabinet?

GUTIERREZ: Absolutely. And the Obama transition team is doing that. Let me just go back to Governor bill Richardson, if I could, just a moment.

NGUYEN: Sure.

GUTIERREZ: Excellent choice. Look, Barack Obama and his transition team clearly are picking excellent people in terms of public policy. Bill Richardson was energy secretary, but he was also a leading member of the House Democratic Party. And a president's job is to put out good public policy, but to build a consensus in the House and in the Senate to get the job done. So he does both of these things.

I think we are expecting much, much more from this administration, but I think what Hispanics are also looking to is jobs, healthcare, immigration reform and ending the war in Iraq. I mean there's a lot more -- and those were the kinds of promises that were made to the people of the United States and specifically to the Latino community. And I think Barack Obama's right on target to meet those.

NGUYEN: Representative Ros-Lehtinen, I know you wanted to get a word in. What were you going to say?

ROS-LEHTINEN: Well, it's because when President Bush made his selections for the cabinet and different posts, many of the Senate members gave his nominees a very hard time. Now, with President-elect Obama and his selection, he'll be facing a far friendlier audience with the Senate makeup and it's just interesting that it's a matter of circumstance and who happens to be in control of the Senate at a particular time.

I believe that whoever Senator Obama nominates to all these different posts, they will have smooth sailing an certainly someone like Bill Richardson who does have, as Luis points out, those strong ties with the House and the Senate, those nominations will go through easily as will Hillary Clinton who enjoys obviously great support from her own Senate colleagues in a bipartisan manner.

NGUYEN: Well Representative Gutierrez, you mentioned when Richardson was energy secretary under Clinton, now there is really some controversy that's stirring because there has been a Chinese- American group that's saying, you know what, we don't want him to be affirmed -- or confirmed as commerce secretary because of his handling of the Wen Ho Lee case, of course everyone will remember him being a scientist who was accused of sending secrets to China which is something he was not ever charged with.

So, that being the case is this going to be a fly in the ointment when it comes to confirmation?

GUTIERREZ: Oh look, Bill Richardson also has sought the release of hostages throughout the world with our U.N. ambassador, has a great resume. I can't think of a person in Washington, D.C. that doesn't have a "blemish" on their record, that doesn't have someone that won't protest.

I think he got a raw deal. He was asked by the Clinton administration to go in and clean this mess up in terms of our security at Alamo. He did a job that needed to get done, but it was a really a raw deal for him. He came in late into the process. Spent a little time there in order to clean up and give our country a sense of national security around its energy program.

And you know what? He's going to come back, he's been a great governor, elected and re-elected, very popular. What a great guy. I only hope that at the end of the day, some day that I could have such a reputation and such a resume.

NGUYEN: Boy, this is a Richardson love fest here. Let me ask you this, Miss Ros-Lehtinen, when it comes to Cuba, we understand that Raul Castro wants the Obama administration, specifically Barack Obama, to communicate, to have talks. What are your feelings about that?

ROS-LEHTINEN: Well, I think Senator Obama in his speech, when he came down here to my hometown of Miami, made it quite clear that he is in favor of the embargo, he will loosen some of the restrictions currently on the books about the number of flights Cuban-American families can take. So, travel and remittances will be lessened.

But I hope that President Obama makes good on his promise that he will fight for the release of political prisoners, hw will fight for free elections, multi-party system in Cuba and free expression of ideas. And I think that he will be a man of his word and he will not lift the embargo, or attempt to until those conditions are met. But the embargo will be something that's in the hands of Congress, whereas the remittances and travel are in the hands of the executive order through the president. So, he probably will make good on that. Let's just hope that we'll have freedom in Cuba throughout this administration.

NGUYEN: And also, we hope that next time Obama calls you directly you're not going to hang up on him.

ROS-LEHTINEN: Oh, I'm going to take the call. I may not take Luis' call.

GUTIERREZ: Come on Ileana.

NGUYEN: Oh, come on. You two are friends.

GUTIERREZ: Let me, if I could chime in.

NGUYEN: Absolutely.

GUTIERREZ: Look, President Bush had a more restrictive relationship in terms of remittances and travel. I think it's good to open it up. I think it's good for Cuban-Americans who are now here in the United States to be able to visit their families with more frequency in order to permit the flow of dollars, of medicine and food back to their family members. It's what immigrants do around the world.

And I think that as long as we keep our eye on the prize and that prize is making sure there is a free democratic society in Cuba where you have elections that clearly nobody can contest are fully democratic where you have a press. And yes, release political prisoners that are in jail because of their political convictions.

I think Barack Obama is attempting to balance -- change some of the initiatives of the Bush administration in terms of allowing more people to visit, but between that visiting and that communication, we want to bring down a lot of the walls of silence...

NGUYEN: All right last word...

ROS-LEHTINEN: One last thing. Let's not continue the myth. There is no embargo on medicine, there is no embargo on food, humanitarian aid, there's no limit and let's not continue to say that there is such a limit, because it does not exist.

All right, Representatives Gutierrez and Ros-Lehtinen, we do appreciate your time, today.

ROS-LEHTINEN: Thank you.

GUTIERREZ: Thank you.

ROS-LEHTINEN: Bye, Luis.

GUTIERREZ: Bye.

NGUYEN: Richard, they are just, I mean really, so friendly.

LUI: Yeah, more agreement on Richardson, really than disagreement, right?

NGUYEN: Absolutely, yeah.

LUI: And it was funny that you brought up the issue of President-elect Barack Obama calling her and she did not realizing it was him.

NGUYEN: Yeah, she hung up on him twice. She didn't believe it was him. And I think even Rahm Emanuel called as well and she hung up on him. Didn't think it was him. Well, but this time she'll take the call.

LUI: And she has a good sense of humor, which is good.

All right, the 2008 elections mean another big first for the U.S. The winner tells us how he did that. More after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Vivian Stringer is the third winningest coach in college women's basketball history, but off the court she's had to stand tall against great personal tragedy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VIVIAN STRINGER, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH: Steady hands. Steady hands. Come low, come low, come low. Steady hands.

NGUYEN (voice-over): Rutgers women's basketball coach Vivian stringer's life has been one battle after another. A coal miner's daughter she fought to be one of the first black cheerleaders at her Pennsylvania high school.

STRINGER: No one can make you feel inferior unless you allow them, which is what I try to transfer to the young ladies that I coach.

NGUYEN: Early in Stringer's coaching career spinal meningitis left her daughter severely disabled. But she persevered and in 1982 led Cheyney, a small black college, to the national championship.

STRINGER: When called upon in that special moment, you'll be surprised that have you what it takes.

NGUYEN: Ten years later stringer lost her husband to a heart attack. Yet she took the University of Iowa to the final four that same season.

STRINGER: My mom had to deal with this when she lost my father. My mom had six kids, I have three, so who was I to just break down and complain?

NGUYEN: At Rutgers, Stringer became the first basketball coach ever to take three schools to the final four. And through it all she's had to fight breast cancer, and respond to racial slurs by radio host Don Imus. Basketball is more than a game for Stringer, it's a lesson in life.

STRINGER: You have to rise. When you get knocked down, but we got to get back up.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LUI: December 7, 1941. 12 U.S. ships were sunk or beached in the attack at Pearl Harbor and 164 U.S. planes were destroyed.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LUI: OK, Straight to live pictures coming out of Arafat, Saudi Arabia. You know it's early evening, about 5:29 in the afternoon, there. Millions of Muslims are taking part in the spiritual pilgrimage known and the Hajj. And today they've gathered at the spot where the Prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. Every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to is required to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

Getting some live pictures coming out, as you see the sun going down there, Betty, and what a beautiful day it is amongst all of these buildings that have so many years of history behind them.

Some two million people make this trip annually. One out of six people in the world are Muslim. So, this is an important event that happens each and every year. Now, for many today marks the most important ritual, again called the Hajj, one of the main pillars of Islam.

All right, well, CNN's Arwa Damon talked with pilgrims at Arafat. She filed this report just a short time ago for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARWA DAMON, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: We're in Arafat at the base of Mount Mercy. Some pilgrims have spent the entire night here camping out in tents, others have been sleeping on the ground, all in anticipation of today's sacred ritual which begins when the sun comes up.

DAMON (voice-over): This is a moment that all of the pilgrims have been waiting for, because it is here at Mount Mercy that prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon some 1,400 years ago asking God to forgive his followers. The pilgrims will be doing the same.

We've seen them praying with their arms outstretched, oftentimes overcome with emotion as they ask God for forgiveness. Pilgrims who we've spoken to who we've performed the Hajj in the past says it is here where they've felt closest to God.

(on camera): We're here with a Dr. (INAUDIBLE) whom we just met, a general practitioner from South Africa on his 14th Hajj. His wife is a tour operator, and his daughter, Iman (ph), she's been here seven times.

Doctor, what is it about this experience especially here at the Mount of Mercy that makes this so special?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Mount of Mercy, as you call it, in Arabic, Jabal Rahma, is a place where every believing human being who has erred and has had fault in his past life can come and cleanse himself and ask for total forgiveness. I think this is what drives one to come over and over. It's to quench one's thirst, cleansing one's spiritual self from all the human errs one commits over the years.

DAMON: There journey here very much about achieving an elevated spiritual status. For some it'is a second chance at life. Saudi authorities are estimating that are some three million pilgrims performing the Hajj this year. Some, like the doctor who we just met, have been here multiple times. Others have saved their entire lives for this very moment.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Arafat, Saudi Arabia. (END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And back here in the U.S., Louisiana voters have just put the first Vietnamese-American into Congress. And we are going to talk with him live, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Louisiana voters have picked little-known Republican Joseph Cao to replace incumbent and indicted Democratic representative, William Jefferson. The runoff was yesterday. Cao, who's an attorney and community organizer, took home almost 50 percent of the vote and he becomes the first Vietnamese-American in Congress.

And here with me now is the newly elected Congressman. I know you haven't had much sleep, but, boy, what a win this was. How you doing today?

ANH "JOSEPH" CAO (R), LOUISIANA REP-ELECT: I'm fine, Betty. Just a little bit tired, I only had...

NGUYEN: I bet you are.

CAO: I only had a little bit over four hours of sleep.

NGUYEN: Just four hours? Well, you know, you might want to get used to it because there is a lot of work to be done in Congress. But let's talk about this win. You upset a nine-term Democrat who obviously, as we talk about, indicted on bribery charges just last year. But going into this race, you had to have known this was not your typical run for Congress.

CAO: No, it's not. I knew that it was going to be a difficult race. However, I had a strong group of supporters. I had just a tremendous outpouring of generosity, tremendous outpouring of motivation from people of 2nd district. So, when we were approaching the last days of the campaign, we were pretty confident that we were going to win.

NGUYEN: Well, let's look at the timeline, here, because had this election not been postponed because of Hurricane Gustav it would have been on the presidential election day, which means you would have had a higher voter turnout in a district where, what, two out of every three voters it a registered Democrat. Do you think that this win maybe could be chalked up to the fact it was a low voter turnout during the election last night?

CAO: That is correct. We were hoping for a low turnout because it would provide us with the greater chance of winning.

NGUYEN: You know, I don't think I've ever heard that before, a politician say we were hoping for a low voter turnout. But it did work to your advantage this time.

CAO: You know, that is correct because based on the demographics of the district, a high voter turnout would have gone to our disadvantage.

NGUYEN: You know, you're virtually an unknown on a political scene, so when people look at you today, really getting a good look at you and your positions, what do you want to tell them about where you stand, what kind of politician you're going to be?

CAO: Well, you know, I hope to be a politician who will be able to work with people, to go across party lines, to sit down and discuss the needs of the nation and the needs of the 2nd Congressional district. You know, I've not a hard-core conservative, nor am I a left wing liberal, I'm more very pragmatic.

You know, Aristotle use to say virtue is the mean between two extremes. And I hope to go down that line.

NGUYEN: You know, your personal story is part of what makes this win just really so remarkable. Like myself, and so many other Vietnamese-Americans, we came into this country fleeing war and Saigon falling to communism. You came here what? When you were eight years old? Didn't speak a lick of English. So, what does this win, being the very first Vietnamese Congressman, what does this mean to you?

CAO: Well, first of all, I'm very honored and at this point, at this point somewhat speechless to be the first Vietnamese-American Congressman. But, I also hope that many of our young people will consider being more politically active and to be more involved in the community, because as you can see, really anything can happen.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. And you said something last night after your win. You said this, and I'm quoting, "I'd like to encourage young Vietnamese in this country to work peacefully for a free and Democratic Vietnam." Are you planning to do the same in Congress?

CAO: I do, Betty. You know, when I with a nine years old I received a letter from my father while he was in the re-education camp and he told me to study hard, to work hard and to give back to your country and to your community. So, I hope to do that in Congress, that I will be able to somehow influence a democratic movement to bring to Vietnam peacefully the freedom that we all desire.

NGUYEN: And your father now I believe wheelchair-bound, served self-years in the re-education camp. He was a soldier in the South Vietnamese army. This has to be just a shining moment for him, as well.

CAO: You know, I don't talk much with my father, but I'm pretty sure that he's very proud of me.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. All right, well, here is the multi-billion dollar question, if you will. Now that you are headed to Congress, a lot on the plate and of course that being the economy. How do you plan to fix it?

CAO: Well, Betty...

NGUYEN: No hard questions at all for you, right? CAO: You know, if I knew the answer to the question I would have run for president. But needless to say, I will work my hardest in order to come up with a solution and possibly work with the president- elect Obama and with the rest of Congress in order to come with a solution to address the problem.

NGUYEN: All right, Representative-elect Joseph Cao, we do appreciate your time today, and congratulations.

CAO: Thank you, Betty.

NGUYEN: And if you think it's been colder than usual this year, we're shifting a little bit right now, talking about the weather outside, just wait until you see the numbers out there, today.

LUI: Yeah, Reynolds Wolf is going to join us, he'll have the cold, hard facts on the forecast, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, British scientists say this year will go down as one of the coldest in a decade. The Met Office, as it's called, is the British equivalent to the U.S. National Weather Service.

LUI: OK, and it is due to release information next week showing this year to be the coldest since 2000. Does that squelch the global warming crowd? That's one of those top words of 2008. Well, not really. A Met Office scientist says this is not evidence global warming is slowing.

NGUYEN: You know, Reynolds Wolf, he may be an expert on all of this.

We're going to bring you in to weigh in. Reynolds, what do you think?

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Just opinions. Just opinions.

(CROSSTALK)

You know, the earth is 4.6 billion years old and there's so much about this planet that we don't know about, we're trying to learn more and more every single day. I do believe that there is global warming. I also believe there is global cooling. I think there are natural ebbs and flows that happen on the planet. The big question somebody is this caused by combustible engines? Is it human actions that is causing the change of our climate? And that is still something that a lot of people disagree on.

NGUYEN: Well, it looks like a little bit of a global cooling behind you there with those numbers.

WOLF: No question about it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

LUI: Reynolds, 16, that's better than single digits certainly, which they might get, right?

WOLF: No complaining. Absolutely, no question about it, guys.

LUI: All right, thanks Reynolds Wolf.

WOLF: See ya.

LUI: Just about everyone is looking for ways to save money on gifts this holiday season, but here's something you probably haven't considered. Dumpster diving.

NGUYEN: Yeah, not really on my list, but that's one of the more unusual ideas that our viewers send us. Josh Levs has a look at these ideas that they sent him. And I don't know, some of them actually don't involve casing through trash, so that's a good thing.

JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, there's some that don't require that. I know, I love this, someone actually wrote in and they seriously do that. I'll show you that in a second.

Here's an idea that's really interesting. Couple weeks ago in the NEWSROOM here, we invited viewers to send in your ideas on clever ways to save money, buying gifts. And we were blown away by responses we got. So we put something together at dot com. Check this out.

This is CNN.com/holidayshopping and here's the story, you see it. Viewers weigh in, making the most of the holidays. We've put together a bunch of your ideas. Let's go to a graphic I have for you. With this first one, I think If's a really nice idea. Something I've never heard of called an Angel Party. "We invite young children to a two- hour creative arts party where they have an opportunity to make at least four angels that they can take home and they give then away as gifts. We ask each family to bring one toy for children in a less fortunate family that we adopted." That's the Delbert Ortiz and Portillo family. It's really nice.

All right, let's go to this next one which is a good way to save some money, from Carol in Minnesota, "Our family has agreed to exchange books as holiday gifts. To encourage imagination, these books can be new or used, homemade, magazines, tape or CDs, photo albums, notebooks, diaries, et cetera." Really cool idea.

All right, let's go to one more, here. All right Jackie Jernigan, "Our big family is being creative instead of heading to the mall we're going shopping at used book stores, church bazaars and antique stores for little nostalgic things."

And now, the big one that we were just talking about, time to go to this last graphic here, we'll show you, the dumpster. "People throw away brand-new things like appliances, furniture and things you wouldn't believe. Every Sunday my husband goes dumpster diving and comes home with the most beautiful things. We clean them up and give them as gifts. It's free and doesn't cost us a dime." From Viola in San Diego, California.

Now, I'm not encouraging dumpster diving, but I guess if you can find amazing things in your own little way you're helping the planet. Get more ideas right here at CNN.com. We set up the story so you can actually weigh in. At the bottom, just click on one of these. There you go, sound off, right the at the bottom. You send us your ideas. We're going to keep an eye on them and we just might share some of them right here on TV.

So, Richard, Betty, did we inspire you a little bit?

NGUYEN: You know, we make fun, but you would be amazed what people throw away. In fact, I've seen people throw away perfectly good televisions with the remote control attached to it. I mean it is just amazing. So hey, who knows?

LUI: They just want the space.

LEVS: I know it really is incredible.

LUI: But I might go (sniffing).

NGUYEN: Well, you got to clean it up a little bit. That all washes off, right?

LUI: I don't know. I mean, maybe just won't want to do that.

NGUYEN: Josh, you try it and let us know.

LEVS: OK. I'll tell you what, we'll take video of me doing it. Or send us an iReport.

NGUYEN: That too.

LUI: We rather you do it. That would be more fun. Thanks, josh.

LEVS: Thanks guys.

LUI: Well, drama and mystery surrounds the life of Martha "Sunny" von Bulow.

NGUYEN: We're going to take a look back at the notorious courtroom drama that she will always be remembered for.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, just in to CNN, we've been talking about how this weekend they've been working feverishly to come up with an auto industry bailout plan. Well, Senator Carl Levin who co-chairs the Senate Auto Caucus, he stepped to the microphones today, let's take a listen at what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN CARL LEVIN (D), MICHIGAN: This right to ask questions of the automobile industry. They got the plans, we were right to demand those plans. What we haven't demanded from the financial industry is anything. We've handed them the blank check, $350 billion, $150 billion to one insurance company. No plans, no appearance before Congress, no oversight and that's got to end. We should insist upon those plans, the oversight that the money be spent to help people stay in their homes, to help people keep their small businesses, instead of just providing that money to banks and to Wall Street.

SEN RICHARD SHELBY (R), ALABAMA: Well, I tell you, they've given the money to the financial institutions was a mistake and we don't even know where that money has gone, who benefited from it and now Secretary Paulson wants to release the other 350, let's not do that. We need accounting there. We need to know who benefited from this because certainly the American people haven't yet. They're not making a lot of loans. We're saving a lot of institutions who helped cause the financial debacle.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: So, there you have it, senators Carl Levin and Richard Shelby talking about this plan to bail out the Big Three, but the concern, a lot of been airing in the past few weeks, you know, we want to make sure there's oversight and make sure people are held accountable for this. We're not going to write a blank check.

LUI: And Senator Levin is clearly stating, hey look, $700 billion, at least half of that already given without any hooks or requirements there, why not us, too? This is a very important part of our economy, so no doubt that debate coming tomorrow, people will be listening to it again.

NGUYEN: Now though, we want to shift gears just a second because we want to take you to Howard Kurtz in Washington to see what's ahead on CNN's RELIABLE SOURCES.

I have a feeling, Howard, you're going to be talking about this, as well.

HOWARD KURTZ, RELIABLE SOURCES: Good morning, Betty. Coming up, we've got a lot to talk about. What if they sent O.J. Simpson to prison and no one cared? A look at why most of the media tuned out the sentencing of the man whose trials once transfixed America.

Rupert Murdoch has built one of the world's great media empires, but a new book says he's not that thrilled with FOX News. Really? We'll ask the author.

Chris Matthews actively exploring a run for the Senate in Pennsylvania. How can he stay on MSNBC while playing a hardball politics himself? That, plus, a look at the new moderator of "Meet the Press." Breaking news, this morning, ahead on RELIABLE SOURCES.

NGUYEN: All right, thank you, Howard. Looking forward to that. Meantime, though, Martha von Bulow, the woman at the center of the notorious von Bulow trials has died. She spent almost 28 years in coma. CNN national correspondent, Susan Candiotti looks back at von Bulow's tragic life.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She was an American blond beauty of great wealth and high society. When Martha "Sunny" von Bulow fell into coma in December 1980, her husband was accused of trying to kill her, resulting in not one, but two of the most sensational trials of that decade.

DOMINICK DUNNE, WRITER: It was because the people were so rich.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): That simple?

DUNNE: I think it's that simple.

CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Crime writer, Dominick Dunne knew von Bulow and her children and has written extensively about the case.

DUNNE: What they're going to remember is the coma because nobody really knows what happened, still.

CANDIOTTI: Dunne made no secret that he sided with prosecutors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The key to this case is the black bag and its contents.

CANDIOTTI: Sunny's husband, Claus von Bulow, was initially tried and convicted of twice with trying to kill his wife with injections of insulin from a medicine bag.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The jury finds the defendant Claus von Bulow guilty.

CANDIOTTI: Sunny von Bulow remained hospitalized in coma and von Bulow remained free on a million dollar bail. Then famed Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz won him a new trial and the second time, von Bulow was acquitted. He met with jurors.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanked them for the time and patience they've shown.

CANDIOTTI: Hollywood made a movie about the case based on a book BY Dershowitz called "Reversal of Fortune."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I never woke from this coma and I never will.

CANDIOTTI: After learning of von Bulow's death in a New York nursing home, Dershowitz told CNN. "We proved overwhelmingly that there was no crime and that the coma was self-induced. We saved his life, but could not save hers."

Von Bulow lives in London. Dunne saw him recently and got the cold shoulder.

DUNNE: He's very hard and sort of stares me down, the society stare and then dismisses me like this.

CANDIOTTI: Dunne says Sunny von Bulow was often visited by her children and grandchildren.

DUNNE: What we're going to rember about Sunny is just the tragedy that her life turned out to be.

CANDIOTTI: Sunny von Bulow was 76 years old.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Well, up next on RELIABLE SOURCES, President-elect Barack Obama cabinet selections, the announcement, that is expected to happen today and the slots that still need to be filled.

LUI: Then, don't miss LATE EDITION at 11:00 Eastern. Wolf Blitzer looks that transition of power and the future of the GOP.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LUI: Upset in Louisiana, Republican Anh "Joseph" Cao, a virtual unknown on the political scene, beat out incumbent and indicted Democratic representative, William Jefferson, yesterday. Cao becomes the first Vietnamese-American in Congress.

Well, the hearings are over, but it was the 533,000 U.S. jobs lost in November that apparently convinced Washington it can't let U.S. automakers go bust. Sources tell CNN that 15 to $17 billion in loans are in the works right now to get Detroit through March.

And President-elect Barack Obama is filling another cabinet position. Obama is expected to nominate retired Army general, Eric Shinseki to be secretary of veteran affairs. Shinseki is the former Army chief of staff. A formal announcement is expected today.

It was a brazen attack in Pakistan. Militants stormed two transport terminals and torched more than 160 vehicles destined for U.S.-led troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. Military says the losses will not have a major impact on operations against Taliban militants, there.

And then, Space shuttle "Endeavour" begins its return to Florida, tomorrow. Bad weather forced it to land at Edwards Air Force Base in California, last week. The cross country trek on top of a Jumbo 747 will take about one week to do. More top stories in 30 minutes for you. RELIABLE SOURCES begins right now.