Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Gaza Violence; Blagojevich Scandal; Hollywood Renting Homes; Severe Weather; Obama Neighborhood

Aired December 28, 2008 - 9:00   ET

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

ABBIE BOUDREAU, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: The Israeli military mobilizes tanks on the border with Gaza launching more air strikes while Hamas militants strike back. Studding images from the ground in Gaza, the devastation is widespread, a number of dead and injured, piling up.
TJ HOLMES, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: Also in the Midwest, people are hoping sandbags will protect them from rising water. We have a lot of weather woes out there and that is why part of the reason we're going to show you a lot of weather information up on the screen, here. We're going to keep it up, we'll get it up for you here shortly, but we're going to keep a lot of the forecast up and also allow the travel situation out there so you know what's going on out there as a lot of people try to get home.

From the CNN Center, here in Atlanta, it's Sunday, December the 20, what is this, the 28th, now? I'm T.J. Holmes. Good to see you here with us.

BOUDREAU: And good morning. I'm Abbie Boudreau. Betty Nguyen is on vacation.

Big story this morning, the air raids in Gaza City. Israeli jets pounded Hamas targets in Gaza again this morning and Israeli police say a missile from Gaza hit deeper into Israel. As you can see, there's really no letup in the violence.

Here's the latest. A U.N. Security Council ended a four-hour emergency meeting early this morning calling for an immediate end to the violence. Palestinian sources say the death toll from the Israeli raid has risen to 277, 600 more have been injured.

Israeli tanks have gathered at the border with Gaza. Just this morning the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to call up thousands of reservists. And despite the continued violence, Israel opened the border an allowed limited humanitarian aid into Gaza which, as we know, is really needed at this point.

HOLMES: Is desperately needed, right there. They are getting some of that in there, that is a good thing, but the situation certainly is dire, as we heard from a humanitarian worker short time ago. We've also been hearing from our Paula Hancocks, she's on that Israeli/Gaza border.

Paula, hello to you, again. We've been watching that buildup behind you. We see a tank behind you now, but there is a buildup of troops on that border, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to be going into Gaza.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN NEWS ANCHOR: That's right, T.J. Yes, there's been a buildup all day, all this Sunday, since lunch time, really, local time, it's now about 4:00 p.m. Local Time. We've been seeing these tanks arriving, here.

Now, we're about a mile and a half away from the Gaza border itself. And you can see what they're doing at the moment they're really just trying to maintain these trucks, they're trying to make sure that the tanks are battle ready and there is also an armor personnel carrier.

Now, there are probably about seven tanks, here, just to give you an idea of this. It's becoming a bit like a tank parking lot. They don't look in any rush to go anywhere, certainly they put up a canopy, there, looks like they might be setting up camp for the night. But the fact is, they are on this border and this is what the Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, wanted. He wanted to make sure that they were ready to go if need be. And he said if he needs a grand operation, then he'll go ahead with it.

And of course, from Israel's point of view, it doesn't harm that Hamas would seeing these pictures showing the power of Israel ready for a possible ground operation. The air operation is still ongoing. Throughout the day we've been hearing air strikes. They're less often now, I must admit. So, this certainly doesn't seem as intense as that incredible number of simultaneous attacks and air strikes on Saturday. But the death toll is rising, as you say, at least 275.

There have been some humanitarian assistance allowed in, as you were saying. I think it's somewhere in the range of 20 trucks. Some carrying basics like food and water, but those medical supplies are getting in. But the one thing that isn't getting in -- journalists. We're still on the Israeli side of the border. The Israeli government not opening the people crossing to allow journalists in at this point, so we can actually see what's happening in Gaza -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, Paula Hancocks for us again on the Israeli-Gaza border. Thank you so much.

Well, before hours -- the U.N. Security Council held an emergency meetings about the crisis in the Middle East, wrapped up that early this morning. The Security Council issued a statement expressing serious concern calling for Israel to open the border crossing to humanitarian supplies, also calling for the end of violence.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The members of the Security Council expressed serious concern on the escalation of the situation in Gaza and called for an immediate halt to all violence.

AMBASSADOR RYAD MANSOUR, U.N. OBSERVER TO PALESTINE: I can assure you that we, the Arab nations, and our friends in the Security Council and the international community will come back knocking on the door of the Security Council in order to bring Israel into compliance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOUDREAU: While Palestinian officials criticize the attacks, Israeli defense minister, Ehud Barak, is justifying them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EHUD BARAK, ISRAELI DEFENSE MINISTER: We will use our force as forcefully as needed against the Hamas in order to achieve a change in its behavior. It's like having an entity of al Qaeda the (INAUDIBLE) kind of country of state. That is something that we just can't afford. We have tried. I have tried. I convinced other members of the cabinet to give it a chance. We gave it, they broke it. Now it's time to pay the price for it.

SAEB ERAKAT, PALESTINIAN PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR: That we are calling up Israel to stop their attack and adhere to the Egyptian efforts in order to maintain a mutual cease-fire. I'm not saying this we have an army or a navy or an air force in Gaza. All I'm saying is Gaza is the most densely populated area on earth, six persons per square meter. I'm afraid if we don't begin a de-escalation and (INAUDIBLE) process immediately the net results of the continuation of such Israeli aggression will be disastrous.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOUDREAU: Palestinian president, Mahmud Abbas, is urging Israel and Hamas to agree to another cease-fire. Abbas' government is locked in a power struggle with the Hamas movement.

HOLMES: Well, aides to President-elect Barack Obama say he is closely monitoring what's happening in Gaza. He's been briefed on the violence by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. She's issued this statement, as well, saying, "The United States is deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Gaza. We strongly condemn the repeated rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and hold Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire and for the renewal of violence there."

She goes on to say, "The cease-fire must be restored immediately and fully respected. The United States calls on all concern to protect innocent lives and to address the urgent humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza."

Let's take a closer look at this, now, and get more on it. Joining me now to talk about what's happening there is Shibley Telhami, the Anwar Sadat professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland.

Sir, we appreciate you giving us some time again this morning. Are we seeing a continuation of and an escalation of the same old conflict or is there a new phase, a new page to this whole conflict that we are seeing right now?

PROF SHIBLEY TELHAMI, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND: I really don't see a new page. We've seen, first of all, the devastation, you know, whether you're Arab or Jew, Israeli or Palestinian, when you watch death and destruction on the scale that we're watching, and Israelis also feeling under pressure from the rocket attack, you can't help but be moved. But we've seen this before. You know, one party obviously pays a heavy price, there's an asymmetry of power. And clearly the Palestinians are paying a very heavy price, right now. But in the end, it hasn't paid off for the Israelis either. We've seen this before.

Now, is there anything new in this particular picture? You know, politicians always think there is something new in this. They think the situation presents new opportunities, something they have to do. Sometimes they do it because they feel they have no choice for political reasons. We know that the Israeli political environment, the upcoming elections in February are an issue, here. The Palestinians are divided. We see all of this as a factor, the cease- fire expired. But strategically there is no new element that is visible.

HOLMES: Well, you talk about paying a price here just because of the balance of power essentially in that region. But, is there anybody paying a price on the world stage as far as a P.R. standpoint, if you will, almost? I mean, the Palestinians, Hamas can't certainly become anymore isolated on a world stage, if you will, than they already are. But as far as Israelis, we're starting to see these pictures now, and hearing about so many civilians being killed. Is anybody paying a price just from the public standpoint?

TELHAMI: No question. I think in the short term, there's no question the Israelis pay a price, particularly in the Arab and Muslim world, but even in Europe you already see it in the commentaries around the world. Not because people favor Hamas or don't think Hamas is partly responsible, if not, you know, starting this and firing, but because when they see the devastation, it reminds people of what Gaza is.

You know, it's still not an independent country. It's a small piece of territory. It's been under a lot of pressure because of the blockade and you see the devastation of, in essence, helpful civilians who get caught in all of this, whose lives are affected day in and day out, even aside from those who are killed and wounded.

So, in that sense it does remind people of a very difficult environment. In Arab public opinion, you can see the coverage if the Arab world. People show the pictures that you're showing and more on the Arab media, and, you know, even if you don't like Hamas, in the end you blame the other side and I think Arab public is very angry, that's showing up, the media is very angry, but the Arab governments have not been doing much to alleviate it.

HOLMES: And sir, tell me here lastly and quickly, if you can, what was the most hopeful period we have seen recently? We talked about this cease-fire that was in place for -- a six month cease-fire, only many would say it was only in place for a about four months, but was that hopeful period, at least? There seemed to be some movement made. Do we need to get back to that? Was something working before this escalation of violence?

TELHAMI: No question. You need a cease-fire not just for humanitarian reasons, but really, you can't have a peace process, you can't have diplomacy while you have violence of this sort. Just doesn't work. I think we did miss an opportunity. I think that the cease-fire should have been exploited to get a bigger agreement in the short term between Israel and Hamas on the release of the Israeli soldier on the removal of the blockade, on bringing Hamas and the Gaza in the Palestinian area so that they could negotiate more effectively.

It was a missed opportunity and I think, frankly, right now, no one is going to be thinking about it immediately, but as soon as the dust settles, people are going to have to go back to some kind of cease- fire or else we can't have any diplomacy.

HOLMES: Well, kind sir, again, the Anwar Sadat professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, Mr. Shibley Telhami, sir, we are so grateful for your time this weekend and helping with some of your expertise and telling this story to our viewers. Kind sir, we appreciate your time.

TELHAMI: My pleasure.

BOUDREAU: Moving on to severe weather as continues to plague people in the Midwest. In New Mexico, a tour turned deadly after a bus flipped on an icy highway killing two and injuring at least 50.

People in Utah are getting out the snowplows and shovels. Just look at this video, here the Liberty got buried -- after Liberty got under 70 inches of it, officials there are warning there may be more snow on the way.

And from heavy snow to heavy flooding, people in Chicago already filling up the sandbags. Unusually warm weather that followed a severe ice storm may cause flooding in many parts of the state.

So, it's a busy travel day. I'm know I'm traveling, I'm going to Phoenix, today. So, let's see how my travel day and everyone else's travel day looks. Let's go to meteorologist Bonnie Schneider on some -- on the latest travel conditions -- Bonnie.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi Abbie. A lot of planes already up and at 'em, no problems. But we do have some delays that actually could affect your trip. I'll tell you about that in a moment.

First I want to show you that we have 3,063 planes in the sky, right now. The activity is starting spreading further west as we go through the day. And we do have some concerns because we are looking at overcast skies in the southeast and that is impacting air travel, right now.

Let's walk over and I'll show you where we have delays at this present time. And yes, there finally are some delays to tell you about across the southeast. What we're looking at right now are delays that are moving across areas into Atlanta. We have some delays there and we'll be watching for that, as well. So, our satellite perspective shows overcast conditions in the southeast. We'll be watching for that. And we're also watching for those delays. Right now 30 minutes out of Atlanta. We're tracking the delays in Atlanta and we're also tracking the nasty weather across the country.

What we're looking at really is just some stormy conditions up towards Chicago and we even have snow to show you about in Green Bay. We've had snow showers there accumulating to about one to two inches of snow on the ground and it's still going to be a little bit breezy out there with snow in the forecast over the next couple of days as we go through.

We can put the maps into motion, we'll show you that we're looking at other problem spots including flooding in and around Chicago and a lot of that is due to snow melt in the region. So, it is going to be a rough go of it, right now. The only delay to tell you about is Atlanta, about 30 minutes. We'll be watching for that. Back to you.

BOUDREAU: All right, well thank you very much, Bonnie Schneider.

HOLMES: All right, well Caroline Kennedy, she wants to be the next senator from New York. She's intensifying her campaign for that seat, she's hoping to be appointed by the governor, there, but not everybody is on JFK's daughter's bandwagon.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOUDREAU: Philadelphia's Liberian community is mourning the loss of seven of its members killed in a devastating house fire. Authorizes say the seven victims, including four children because trapped in the basement. The official cause of the fire is not yet known, but a neighbor says it started after a woman added kerosene to a heater that was just too heat. The indoor basement stairs had been removed. Only way out was a door leading to the outside.

Another horrible story to tell about. The suburban Los Angeles man who police say dressed up as Santa then went on a shooting rampage may have been nursing guilt for years. An attorney who knew Bruce Jeffrey Pardo says the suspected killer had a son who suffered severe brain damage in a swimming pool accident while under Pardo's supervision. Covino police have also found a second car in this case they say Pardo rented before the Christmas Eve shooting. Police say Pardo killed nine people at the party before committing suicide himself.

HOLMES: The panel looking into possibly impeaching Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich will meet again tomorrow. Our deputy political director, Paul Steinhauser, covering things for us, as always, this time he's in Boston.

Paul, the last thing you want as a politician, as a president, you don't want that the word "subpoena" being thrown around when they're talking about you or your aides. Now, they are possibly talking about getting some of President-elect Obama's key folks to have to go testify. Is that going to happen?

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Yeah, that's what could happen. Will it happen? Maybe not. But the lawyer, the head lawyer, the lead lawyer for Governor Blagojevich has asked the state lawmakers, this panel which is looking into possibly impeach the governor for all the things that he has done that we've been talking about in the news for the last couple weeks, they're talking about -- he's asking the lawmaker to subpoena Rahm Emanuel, who is the incoming chief of staff to Barack Obama, and Valerie Jarrett, who is going to be one of his senior advisors because he wants to hear from them about their dealings with Governor Blagojevich.

Now, this is probably not going to happen because a federal prosecutor in the case is probably going to squash those subpoenas and not let them happen because there's two things going on, T.J., you've got the impeachment hearings by the state lawmakers and then you've got the federal case, as well.

So, it may not ever happen, but at the same time, it's a distraction. When you're Barack Obama you're about to take over the White House an all this host of problems, both domestic and international, this is the last thing you want to dealing with, T.J.

HOLMES: Yeah, and now it looks like the governor there is digging in, so this will not going to be a quick resolution to this, so we might see this play on into President-elect Obama's presidency for some time.

STEINHAUSER: Yeah. And also, his seat, his former seat is still -- it's vacant and you know, of course Blagojevich was -- is being alleged that he was basically trying to auction off the seat. So, you've got that, as well. There will not be a junior senator from Illinois any time soon, most likely.

HOLMES: And that's not good for the people of Illinois. All right, we'll turn to the name Kennedy, that Kennedy name, a powerful name in politics in this country. Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, she says wants that seat that Hillary Clinton is going to be vacating as long as she gets approved be by the Senate to be the next secretary of state. Now, it is not all easy, breezy out there, no matter if your name is Kennedy or not. This is politics, so a little more coming at her now.

STEINHAUSER: Oh, yeah, these seats don't come up very often, especially -- and there's no election, here. The governor of New York, David Paterson, a fellow Democrat, he gets to choose whoever he wants to succeed Hillary Clinton. Of course, Caroline Kennedy says is not out there publically saying she wants the seat and her allies are really pushing hard and others starting to push back because remember, there are about seven or eight other people who would really love that seat and a lot of them are elected officials and they feel they have more experience. Some now are questioning Caroline Kennedy's experience.

A new poll just came out of New York state saying New Yorkers are basically split over whether she's got the experience or not. Some people saying that she's there because of her Kennedy name. We'll have to see. Listen, the governor of New York has said he will not name that person until Hillary Clinton steps down. So, we've got a couple more weeks to go, but yeah, it's not easy, peezy, as you just said. It's going to be a tough one, T.J.

HOLMES: They're all tough in politics, but we appreciate all you do for us and all you've done for us this year if I don't talk to you, Paul, again, happy New Year to you. See you next year, buddy.

STEINHAUSER: Same to you. Thanks.

BOUDREAU: All right, we'll we're asking everyone this morning, are you more or less optimistic about the New Year? We're going to read some of your e-mails -- responses later in the hour.

HOLMES: All right, and also, would you be willing to temporarily move out of your home and allow the movie cameras to move in?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: And welcome back here, everybody. A live look at this picture you see behind me. I believe that's the Statue of Liberty you see there in a live picture. I'm trying to make it out. Might as well just turn around, take a peek. Yes, the Statue of Liberty, a live look at New York; 2008 has been a rough year for a lot of folks and a lot of people are ready to say good-bye to '08.

BOUDREAU: Yeah, I mean, I kind of am. I'm ready to go.

HOLMES: It was a rough year.

BOUDREAU: It was pretty rough.

Today they're celebrating Good Riddance Day. Have you ever heard of that?

HOLMES: I have heard of it. I don't think it's been around that long, but it's a good one.

BOUDREAU: All right, it's in Times Square in New York. Organizers are setting up shredders and inviting people to shred their worthless stock certificates and depressing bank statements.

HOLMES: Yes, people can also take your photos of your exes, maybe an cheating ex down there and you can shred it, if you'd like. You can even take a sledge hammer and smash those lingering memories to pieces.

BOUDREAU: Just let it out.

HOLMES: You'd let it out! Get rid of that stuff. Some people taking down divorce papers and things and maybe some old love letters. Whatever. But people that had a bad year, take it down there and get rid of stuff, clean slate '09.

BOUDREAU: OK. Well, making extra money in these hard economic times by thinking outside the box.

HOLMES: Yes, and for some people that means getting out of their homes so Hollywood can move in. With that story, CNN entertainment correspondent, Brooke Anderson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Homeowners are getting creative when it comes to making money during this slumping economy by opening their homes to Hollywood.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Action, roll.

ANDERSON (voice-over): This may look like a typical Hollywood studio set, but in fact, this set is the Pasadena, California, home of Linda Pawlik.

LINDA PAWLIK, HOMEOWNER: They move out what they need to move out. And for instance, all of our living room furniture went into a moving van and left.

ANDERSON: Pawlik, a former actress, began renting her home for film, TV and commercial shoots six years ago following the example of a neighbor.

ANDERSON (on camera): What prompted you to do it?

PAWLIK: The money, first.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Today, a crew is on site shooting scenes for the television series, "Monk."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right, guys. Picture, please.

ANDERSON (on camera): Do you see it as, especially during this economy, a great supplement to your income? How do you view it?

PAWLIK: I do right now.

(LAUGHTER)

I do this week.

ANDERSON: Because it can be very lucrative. How lucrative can it be?

PAWLIK: Lucrative.

ANDERSON (voice-over): So lucrative that more and more people are leasing their homes for this purpose.

David Hatfield runs CAST Locations, which represents more than 1,000 homes in the Los Angeles area.

HATFIELD: People, I mean, literally are flooding my e-mail box, submitting their homes, wanting to get into this as an alternative source of income. The real estate market has slowed. So, when houses are sitting, they think, what else can I do with the house?

ANDERSON: Hatfield and his team write contracts, photograph properties and submit them for gigs. And just like talent agents, there's a payout for them, as well.

HATFIELD: We work on commission, exactly. ANDERSON: So, what's the potential profit for homeowners? Hatfield reveals pay ranges from a couple thousand dollars a day to as much as $15,000 total. And for 14 days per calendar year in California, it's tax free.

PAWLIK: To see your house completely changed and reinterpreted, and then watch these dramas go through, it's fun. It is fun.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK. Is that all good, guys?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, that's good.

ANDERSON (on camera): In terms of how these shoots impact neighbors, it's an inconvenience. But Hatfield told me some savvy residents in the vicinity seize the opportunity to make money themselves by renting a driveway for catering.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: I will be on a friend's couch in a second if somebody will come rent my house out.

BOUDREAU: They can rent my condo.

HOLMES: They need those for movies, as well. Like you said, somebody needs to clean it first.

BOUDREAU: Oh, very funny. Very funny.

HOLMES: Sorry.

BOUDREAU: OK, well, most people are worried about the downturn in the housing market.

HOLMES: Yeah, but in Chicago, and in particular, one Chicago neighborhood, residents are convinced the president-elect's home will equal a rise in home prices.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: You're looking at a live picture along the Israeli/Gaza border where you see what one of our reporters, Paula Hancocks, described as a tank parking lot. Israeli troops are beginning to amass at the border there for a possible incursion. Again no real indication and even as she said, a reporter there on the ground saying they're pretty leisurely around there, right now. Doesn't look like they're getting ready for immediate action, but still they are starting to build up there on the border for a possible incursion into Gaza.

What we've been watching the past couple of days are air strikes by the Israelis on a number of, quite literally hundreds of Hamas militants points in Gaza have been taking out. We know that at least 270 people have been killed, according to Palestinian officials, because of those air strikes. In retaliation, Hamas has been actually launching rockets back into Israel, as well. We know of a couple of deaths on the Israeli side, as well.

But, again this comes after a cease-fire that was six months in place, supposed to be a six-month cease-fire, expire just last week, just a matter of nine days ago, actually and the violence picked up. So, this is an escalation of the conflict there. But, it continues, again a live look you're seeing as Israeli troops begin to build up at the Israeli/Gaza border.

We'll continue to follow that story, again. Our Paula Hancocks there, on the ground for us. No letup in the violence that we know of, right now. Those jets continue to pound those targets in Gaza this morning. Israeli police say a missile from Gaza actually hit deeper into Israel.

U.N. Security Council, also want to update you here, they ended a four-hour emergency meeting early this morning, calling for an immediate end to the violence. Palestinian sources say again the death toll is up to 277, 600 more have injured. Those tanks gathering there at the border at Gaza, but still no real indication that they'll be going into Gaza, but still, Israel saying they're making a prudent move here just to start to amass there at that border.

The U.N., again, has called -- that Security Council calling for an end to the violence, but not really pointing blame to anyone, not really calling out either side. They're asking for violence to end, also asking for Israel to open up the borders to allow the delivery of a lot of humanitarian aid, which is, you know, on a day-to-day basis, already desperately need by so many folks in Gaza, but certainly during a time like this it is even more desperately needed. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had a message for the people of Gaza, today. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EHUD OLMERT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: You, the citizens of Gaza, are not our enemies. Hamas, Jihad, and the other terrorist organizations are your enemies as they're our enemies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Meanwhile on the other side, the Palestinian, U.N. observer calls the Israeli impounding or pounding, I should say, calls it inhumane, calls it immoral, says they should stop it immediately.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AMBASSADOR RYAD MANSOUR, U.N. OBSERVER TO PALESTINE: There is no justification for slaughtering hundred of Palestinian civilians and injuring close to 1,000 people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BOUDREAU: And of course the White House has something to say about all this, as well. They blame Hamas for this escalation. CNN's Elaine Quijano is near President Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Elaine, how is the president responding to the situation in Gaza at this moment?

ELAINE QUIJANO, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well, the White House is clearly pinning blame for this latest round of violence squarely on Hamas. White house spokesman Gordon Johndroe, yesterday, did not mince words saying that the members of Hamas are nothing but a group of thugs and he said that Israel will do what it must in order to defend it people against Hamas.

At the same time, Johndroe said the United States is very concerned about the plight of Palestinian civilians. Let's take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GORDON JOHNDROE, WHITE HOSE SPOKESPERSON: Hamas must stop launching rockets into Israel. United States holds Hamas responsible for breaking the cease-fire. Now, the cease-fire should be restored immediately. United States is also very concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and want all parties involved to work to get the people of Gaza the humanitarian supplies that they need.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUIJANO: Now, President Bush was briefed on the situation by his national security advisor, Stephen Hadley during a secure video conference, yesterday. Also, the president consulted with his secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, via telephone, but right now the White House is basically in wait-and-see mode, Abbie, right now they are just trying to see what happens over the next 24, 48 hours or so, whether or not there will be a further escalation of the violence. That will likely determine whether or not we see President Bush himself feel compelled to come out and make a comment perhaps on camera. Right now though, very much a wait-and-see attitude.

BOUDREAU: OK, do you know if the president has actually been in touch with world leader at this point?

QUIJANO: He has had a conversation, we understand that the king of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah, did make a phone call to President Bush yesterday, very concerned about this situation. The Saudi official news agency reporting that the king expressing his concern over what Saudi Arabia views as an act of aggression on the part of Israel.

Clearly tensions in the Middle East already escalating. Again we'll wait to see what happens. The White House is keeping a very close eye monitoring the developments as they continue to unfold.

BOUDREAU: All right, thank you very much, Elaine Quijano. Thank you.

HOLMES: We turn back to some severe weather and it's been a severe change in the weather that's causing new problems, now. We had ice last week, some storms that we saw in the Midwest, and then came a warm front. So now, homeowners are scrambling trying to keep their homes from becoming flooded.

Overflowing rivers and flooded basements are the problems now and they're being warned to watch out for. Missouri, there's been a lot of high wind, 70-mile-per-hour winds shattering some glass and ripped up some trees, damaging some ceilings, there, the wind also snapped power lines. More than 40,000 people lost power. Most of it back on at this point. Winds were so strong, flipped a plane, as well. Also toppled trees and homes on to cars.

BOUDREAU: It's a mess. It's a total mess. The one-two punch of ice and rain is keeping many Chicago homeowners on edge. Protecting homes from the heavy flooding is now a huge priority. Ashley Archon from affiliate CLTV has that story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ASHLEY ARCHON, CLTV REPORTER: The work is tough.

MICHAEL BURNS, HOMEOWNER: First of all, let's address one thing at a time. I'm really tired right now, because I'm out of shape.

ARCHON: But Michael Burns knows it has to be done.

BURNS: When it is not being flooded, it is beautiful. You get a view of the river. You can see the deer going by. It's quite a sight.

ARCHON: You see, in September his home here on the Des Plains River flooded before he was supposed to move in, before he had time to set up sandbags and believe it or not, renovations from that flood just finished.

PAT LEONE (ph), BUILDER: It got to about right here, right below these windows last time. And if it gets above that much again, there could be a problem, but we're going to try to prevent, you know, some long-term damage by sandbagging around this lower area in front, here.

ARCHON: Reporter: Pat Leone is Michael's brother and builder and has heard that the National Weather Service is predicting water levels to be about the same, cresting at over 9-1/2 feet, when the flood stage is at just seven.

LEONE: We're trying to do the best we can. And you know, with everyone helping, it's worked out pretty well.

ARCHON: And some neighbors have done the same, though none they know have planned to evacuate.

BURNS: We saw a shipment of food and beverages coming in to some places around here. People saying they will not leave. I've heard that story before. But I will leave quickly.

ARCHON (on camera): As soon as you're done protecting...

BURNS: As soon as I'm done trying to protect.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOUDREAU: It's a busy travel day out there. I'm sure a lot of people are watching us in the airport right now, maybe stranded, maybe delayed. HOLMES: Yes, with their fingers crossed. Bonnie Schneider, we've been talking to you all morning. You were talking about -- we see that map up there kind of fill up with more and more planes. And you talked about not many delays earlier, but you guaranteed there'd be some later. So, how we looking?

SCHNEIDER: Well, you know, I'll tell you, we're looking a whole lot better today than we were this time yesterday. We had much more lengthy delays, but we only have a couple to tell you about. But first I want to show you all the activity. It's the Sunday after Christmas and we're coming up on New Year's. So, a lot of people want to head to their next holiday destination.

So, right now we have 4,483 planes in the air. And the activity is starting to spread further to the west as we go through the rest of this morning, you'll be seeing that. But we do have delays, let's walk over here, I want to show you where they are. Not too many yet, but couple of them are growing, like Atlanta. The overcast conditions, there, we have arrival delays that are 30 minutes, but it is likely to go up from here.

And take a look at the reason why, we have a live picture from Atlanta courtesy of our affiliate WSB. And yes, that's overcast skies, thick fog, visibility right now is only at four miles. So, that's why we're expecting the delays in Atlanta to be on the increase this morning.

Also delays in Charlotte, as you can also see. We're giving the information on the side and bottom of your screen for travel and weather updates for this busy travel Sunday.

If you're traveling to Green Bay, it's cold, there's snow on the ground. All that snow is heading down to the Upper Peninsula into Michigan. We're watching for run-offs from heavy rain plus snow melt in Chicago. The flood warnings persist as far south as Peoria and into Illinois and Springfield. We're also looking for that runoff in and around St. Louis. This could cause some flooding in the region, thought we haven't had too much reports of it just yet, it's just something to keep on a precaution on.

Current temperatures across the country, big difference in the weather, very warm in the Southeast, colder up North right now, it's only six degrees in Minneapolis, so still feeling very much like winter, there. Back to both of you.

HOLMES: All right, Bonnie, we appreciate you and again, we've been following that breaking news out of the Middle East. We want to take you to some of the newest pictures we are seeing. A lot of the chaos on the scene. And you're seeing here some of the aftermath of some of these air strikes. This is from Gaza. At least a couple of hundred of Hamas targets have been hit, according to Israeli officials. Now, caught in the crossfire have been a number of civilians. At least 270 people total, according to Palestinian officials, have been killed, 277 is the number we are getting. But this is just another look at the scene.

We've seen some of this, but so many civilians caught in this crossfire and caught in the middle of this conflict have been trying to flee, trying to get away. But, these are some of the scenes this has created a humanitarian crisis on top of a humanitarian crisis.

Already day-to-day life not good for the Palestinian people. A lot of blockades up already that's keeping a lot of much-needed supplies getting in to them. This situation has made that situation even worse. But again, it looks like somebody there being helped. Number of injured, at least 600 that we know of. And I'm looking at these live -- not live pictures, but taped pictures, as we just got in, I'm looking at them fresh as you're looking at them for the first time here, as well.

But, people scrambling, trying to get out, trying to get away from what appears to be a building or something that has been destroyed, there. We will continue to follow this breaking story and this situation out of the Middle East as the air strikes and the conflict between the Palestinians, Hamas and also Israel continues. Stay here with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOUDREAU: Location means a whole lot when you're trying to sell your home and possibly even more when the president-elect lives next door. CNN's Susan Roesgen takes a look at property values in Barack Obama's Chicago neighborhood.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: This is the president-elect's neighborhood. It's a very nice neighborhood. And we have seen some for sale signs out here. We've heard some sellers hope that because Obama's house is here, they'll get what they're calling the "Obama bump."

BARACK OBAMA (D), UNITED STATES PRESIDENT-ELECT: We're keeping our house. We're going to -- we're staying there for a while.

ROESGEN (voice-over): When the president-elect said he'll hang on to his Chicago house even after he moves to D.C., his neighbors were glad to hear it.

DIANE ALTKORN, OBAMA NEIGHBOR: Well, we're certainly hoping there is going to be an Obama bump. There have been a number of houses around here that have been on the market for a long time, and I'm sure those owners are hoping the added cache of being three blocks from the president will help their selling efforts.

ROESGEN: Even though home values are sagging, just as they are in neighborhoods nationwide, most of the houses here are pretty pricey to begin with. Many were built in the gilded age of the late 19th century, big houses that sell for big bucks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: $2 million.

ROESGEN (on camera): $2 million.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, $3 million.

ROESGEN: $3 million?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah.

JEANIE SPURLOCK, REALTOR: I think one thing that's especially beautiful...

ROESGEN (voice-over): Realtor Jeanie Spurlock has been selling homes in Obama's Hyde Park neighborhood for 28 years.

SPURLOCK: What I think has happened is that the world now knows about Hyde Park and I think it validates what all of Hyde Parkers have known for many, many years.

ROESGEN (on camera): Which is?

SPURLOCK: That it is a fabulous community to live in.

ROESGEN (voice-over): In fact, some people think the Obama bump will make this neighborhood a fabulous investment for at least the next four years.

(on camera): Now whether or not having Obama's house in this neighborhood will really boost house prices or house sales, we don't know. But most people are just so glad that Chicago is Obama's home, even if his next address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Susan Roesgen, CNN, Chicago.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: Susan needs to keep her eyes on the road there, I think. But she made it just fine out of that story.

Josh, we want to turn it over to you here, now. We've been asking people all morning are they optimistic about the upcoming year. Hopefully they are.

JOSH LEVS, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: I was totally thinking the same thing, how do people do shots like that? I'm sure there was no one around. It was probably 5:00 in the morning, as soon as it was dawn. Susan we'll call you.

OK, so here's the thing, we've been getting tons of e-mails today, so many. And you know what? A lot of them have happy messages that just might help the rest of you maybe not feeling so optimistic about the next year. We are about to read some of your e-mails, Weekends@cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOUDREAU: Well, the New Year is just a few days away and for some people that means a fresh start and a chance to feel optimistic.

HOLMES: That was our question this morning, are you more optimistic about the New Year? Josh Levs has some responses. What do you got, Josh?

LEVS: (INAUDIBLE) we can get to as many as possible. We're going to start off this one.

"I'm enthusiastically optimistic about the New Year. Once President- elect Barack Obama takes office, I think not only will make tangible changes, but people will believe that things will getter and perception is a big part of economic panic."

Hey control room, the music underneath me, makes me slow down a little bit, that's cool.

Check this out, "I am optimistic the New Year and the new president will bring green thinking to the forefront and let me put some people to work," Brendan Barry.

But here's one, "I'm almost 61 years old, on Social Security disability, I can barely pay my bills and afford food now. I really wonder who will help us now. This next year does not look good for me at all," Les Stowe.

This is Mike McKibben, Lady Lake, Florida, "Just the thought that the Bush admin will be out of office does give one optimism that matters will improve." Wow.

"I'm extremely worried about the state of the economy in the coming year. I'm worried about paying my bills as I just got laid off." From T. Bardouill.

Got time for a couple more. "I'm very optimistic. I have a different perspective than most as I'm retired from the military and have a very secure, well-paying job. My military pension is for life. That's from Steve Price.

And how about we end on this, "I believe as an American that optimism is the only choice we have. This is what we believed in from the beginning. It's been bread into us" let's pipe up that music, "no matter how bleak it looks. We don't know how to stay down, Patricia Ann Barrett."

Keep 'em coming, folks, weekends@cnn.com, we'll keep reading them, bring some more on the air to you. So, see, guys, a lot of people feeling pretty good about next year, makes you feel a little better, huh?

HOLMES: A little bit, but have a couple of sad ones in there, as well, who's going through a tough time. But, we appreciate you it this morning, Josh.

LEVS: You got it, guys. Thanks.

BOUDREAU: This is an actual hard story to think about, but Children are often the innocent victims of war. We take you "To the Top," now, to meet an American woman who is helping children injured in war find hope again.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA LONG, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ellisa Montanti's mission began when she saw a letter from a boy in Bosnia who was badly injured in a landmine explosion during the war. Kenan Malkic was 11 years old when he lost both of his arms and one leg.

ELISSA MONTANTI, GLOBAL MEDICAL RELIEF FUND: I read the letter and saw the picture, and my whole life changed.

LONG: Montanti brought Malkic and his mother to the U.S.

MONTANTI: They lived with me for four months, and Kenan received prosthetics, two arms and a leg and new life.

LONG: She didn't stop there.

MONTANTI: I started to bring children. At first we stayed in my home and then it evolved.

LONG: Montanti founded the nonprofit, Global Medical Relief Fund, it provides surgeries and prosthetics to children injured in wars or natural disasters, like the recent earthquake in China.

Places like the Shiners Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, have donated medical care and funding from private donors allows patients to come back in a few years to fit their growing bodies with new prosthetics.

Montanti's helped more than 70 children since Kenan Malkic's letter first touched her heart in 1996. He's all grown up now, and is helping Montanti.

MONTANTI: In a lot of ways the charity has become much, much more than prosthetics. We're giving back a child their youth and their dignity that has been so unfairly taken away from them.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: All right, glad we could share that story this morning. Moving on here to one of the most popular video consoles out there. People just can't get enough of the Nintendo Wii.

BOUDREAU: But, could it really help save lives on the battlefield? Some scientists say there is a way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOUDREAU: Borrowing from a video game to use in combat.

HOLMES: Yeah, scientists adapting remote controls for Nintendo's Wii to defuse IEDs. CNN's Chris Lawrence reports it's an idea many scientists believe can virtually save lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A gun in one hand and a Wii in the other, it's one possible image of the 21st soldier. Engineers are modifying the video games remote to move military robots.

PETER WILL, ROBOTICS EXPERT: It's this natural hand-eye coordination. It's not looking at the keyboard or typing, and getting the motions from typing.

LAWRENCE: The Army uses robots to dismantle explosives and keep soldiers at a safe distance, but the controllers are big, bulky and the operator has to focus on 40 or 50 buttons, that's a potentially deadly distraction during battle.

The Wii-mote would use an infrared beam to instantly match a soldier's motions with the robots movement. Potentially, it's small and light enough that the infantry could use it to say, send robots into a building ahead of troops.

But, the Wii's greatest benefit could be its biggest drawback. The same way gamers accidentally throw controllers into their TVs, engineers have to account for a soldier's natural body twitches. So, the goal...

BOB QUINN, VICE PRES, TALON ROBOT OPERATIONS: Is to make sure you're not having misguided, unintentional movements of the body, make those changes in the robot and have the robot act chaotically because it's sensing that it's being moved when the soldier really has no intention of moving it.

LAWRENCE: Bob Quinn works for the company that's helping integrate the Wii. He says developers still have to extend the range of the controller and make sure its signal can't be hacked.

QUINN: And allow for the soldier to be able to make those movements without the enemy bringing out their own controllers, and taking over control of the robot.

LAWRENCE (on camera): The company tells me they can turn the prototype into a working unit within a year. The Pentagon doesn't move quite that fast. The Army has to test it, allocate the money. So it will probably be at least three years before it's actually available to soldiers.

Chris Lawrence, CNN, Los Angeles.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BOUDREAU: Coming up next on RELIABLE SOURCES, a year in review. Howard Kurtz will examine media coverage of the 2008 presidential campaign and how the news business has changed.

HOLMES: And that's followed by LATE EDITION at 11:00 Eastern. Wolf Blitzer looks at the economic crisis and what lies ahead in '09, but first, got a check of this morning's top developments. Up first here, Israel pounding Gaza for a second straight day. Prime minister Ehud Olmert suggested today air strikes against Hamas won't end any time soon. Palestinian sources say at least 277 people have been killed. Hamas militants continue to fire rockets into southern Israel. Our correspondent on the Israeli/Gaza border tells us Israeli tanks and troops are gathering there.

The United Nations Security Council calling for an immediate end to the violence and it wants all borders to be reopened so humanitarian supplies can get into Gaza. Members issued that call after a four- hour emergency meeting early this morning.

A suicide car bomber killed at least 22 people in Pakistan, today, another 16 wounded. This happened outside a polling station in Pakistan's northwest frontier. People where casting ballots for an empty seat in the National Assembly when that car ripped apart.

Those, just some of your headlines, more top stories coming your way in 30 minutes, but right now, RELIABLE SOURCES.