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CNN Sunday Morning
Gadhafi's Son: Regime Can Survive Libya Unrest; Wisconsin Budget Battle Touches All 50 States; Federal Lawmakers Eye Deal to Avoid Government Shutdown
Aired February 27, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone.
Foreigners continue to flee Libya at this hour as the United Nations takes action against Col. Moammar Gadhafi. U.N. sanctions has Libya's leader blaming outsiders for the protests there.
Stalemate in Madison. About 70,000 protesters hit the streets in the Wisconsin capital, their anger aimed at efforts to strip state workers of collective-bargaining rights.
Plus, a possible compromise in Washington that could keep the government running for at least another two weeks. At issue here is at least $4 billion in budget cuts that could affect you.
From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Randi Kaye. Good morning once again and thanks so much for joining us.
We have a lot tell you about this morning. Also coming up over the next 90 minutes, an exorcism for your home - a witch called in to get rid of all the bad karma trapped inside a foreclosed house. Is it really possible?
And speaking of theatrics, we're only hours away from Hollywood's annual red-carpet walk to the Oscars. A preview of the glitz, the glam and gowns just ahead.
And it's not an Oscar nominee this year but the theme from the movie "Adjustment Bureau" that is posing some intriguing questions about faith and free will. We'll explore that this morning in our "Faces of Faith."
But first, we start with the mass exodus of foreign nationals from inside Libya. This morning, a ship carrying thousands of Chinese citizens finally left the eastern city of Benghazi, and a plane carrying hundreds of people from India made it out of Tripoli.
There are many more people huddled in the streets around the capital's airport waiting to get out. This video was shot by a CNN crew in the capital city. It shows a virtual tent city filled with people trying to evacuate. And that's just at the airport.
The United Nations' refugee agency says as many as 100,000 people have fled on foot into neighboring countries during this deadly unrest in Libya.
Meanwhile, the streets of Tripoli are relatively quiet right now. There have been some reports of sporadic gunfire, but for the most part, people seem to be staying inside, fearful of the violent crackdown by the Gadhafi regime,
One of Gadhafi's sons who has been very visible during the crackdown says his father's government will survive. But late last night, the United Nations approved sweeping new sanctions aimed at the Libyan leader. The resolution includes a travel ban on Gadhafi and his four sons as well as several top government ministers. The assets of Gadhafi and his sons were also frozen.
The Security Council resolution also allows for an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the crackdown in Libya. It was a unanimous vote.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUSAN RICE, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Tonight, acting under Chapter 7, the Security Council has come together to condemn the violence, pursue accountability and adopt biting sanctions targeting Libya's unrepentant leadership.
This is a clear warning to the Libyan government that it must stop the killing. Those who slaughter civilians will be held personally accountable. The international community will not tolerate violence of any sort against the Libyan people by their government or security forces.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: CNN's senior international correspondent Nic Robertson is in Libya's capital, Tripoli, where he asked about what effect the sanctions might have.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: When I spoke to the foreign minister about the U.N. sanctions being placed on the country, he said that the United Nations was jumping to "hasty conclusions."
MUSA KAASA, LIBYAN FOREIGN MINISTER: It is unjust for the Security Council to rush and make decisions. The Security Council should be more responsible to begin with and confirm what's happening on the ground first.
Our door is wide open to this scenario and everyone who is interested, we welcome them to come to Libya and see what's going on.
ROBERTSON: Well, the foreign minister also talked about the reasons why the country is divided. He said that it was edging towards civil war, with civilians, he said, driving tanks. When I asked about who - who controls the rest of the country, he said, this is led by al-Qaida. There are people that have been given drugs, hallucinogenic drugs - these are the people, he said, the government here is fighting.
But when I asked him abut the civilians that have been killed here in Tripoli in the last 24 hours, he said - and one of them was a woman - he said, well, there are guns now in the hands of the civilians. The police stations have been looted, their weapons taken - so indicating there it wasn't government forces that had killed the civilians here, but implying that it was other civilians.
But the gunshots that we are hearing are carrying on into the night. And on the street corners here, police on some street corners, young - groups of young men armed with sticks and batons on other street corners. So a very tense, uneasy situation here through the night.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Tripoli, Libya.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: So the question is, are Moammar Gadhafi's days in power coming to an end? We'll ask a Middle East expert and author what Libya might look like with a new leader. That's in our next hour.
Here in the U.S., demonstrators across the country came out to back organized labor in that Wisconsin budget battle.
This is what it looked and sounded like in Denver. Rallies were organized in all 50 states to support public employees and others in Wisconsin who could be affected the governor's cost-cutting budget proposal.
In Olympia, Washington, a couple thousand people came out to support workers, but there was also a separate demonstration where others chanted in favor of Wisconsin's Gov. Scott Walker.
And this was the scene in Boston. Union members and pro-union supporters filled the statehouse. The events across the country were billed as a national day of action.
But those crowds were nothing compared to what we're continuing to see in Wisconsin's capital. The controversial cuts are on hold for now while more than a dozen Democratic senators continue to hide out far from the statehouse.
CNN's Ted Rowlands has more now from Madison.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, the impasse continues here in Madison. People continue to come down to the state Capitol here.
On Saturday, the Madison Police Department estimated that 70,000- plus people came down to the Capitol despite the snow and the cold weather.
Meanwhile, Gov. Walker continues his firm stance that he will not budge in terms of negotiating what hose 14 Democratic senators, who continue to hide out in Illinois. The protests on Saturday were mainly made up of union backers from the state of Wisconsin. But we did meet some people from out of state as well - some folks from Los Angeles and this group of nurses from Minnesota.
JEAN ROSS, PROTESTER: What they're doing here is trying to kill workers, period. There is no reason for what's going on to be going on. They've created a fiscal crisis and then blamed the victims. Well, we're all victims here.
LAURIE BAHR, NURSE FROM MINNESOTA: We have to stick together. We all work hard every single day for what we do, for the people that we care for and the jobs that we do. And what Walker is doing is very unjust and wrong.
ROWLANDS: One of three things can happen here.
Either one or more of those 14 Democratic senators can come back here and establish a quorum. The governor could negotiate and give in, if you will, a little bit on the collective bargaining part of his bill. Or three senators, Republican senators, could switch sides. Democrats say that is their strategy as this game of political chicken continues - Randi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Thank you, Ted.
And Dallas, Texas, is another city facing a budget crisis and possible deep cuts to the teacher rolls. But they have found a way to lessen the blow.
The school district is actually offering teachers $10,000 to resign at the end of the school year. Teachers actually lined up overnight Friday for the first-come, first-serve offer. Dallas says it set aside $7 million for the program. That would pay for at least 700 teachers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLAUDIA RODRIGUEZ, DALLAS IND. SCHOOL DISTRICT: This process is certainly a less-painful process than sitting in front of somebody and telling them that you have to let them go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's time to go. It's time to let some young people come in. I've done my job well. And so I leave with a big smile.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Some teachers may not be eligible for the full 10 grand. They have until March 8, though, to apply for that buyout. Coming up in our 8:00 hour, I'll be talking to the head of one of the major teachers unions, who has a plan to overhaul the way tenured teachers are treated. It is all about accountability, she says.
Time now for some other stories we're watching in our "Weekend Wheel."
Somber music for a tragic anniversary. People in Chile gathered this morning to honor the victims of the country's deadly earthquake one year ago today. Five hundred twenty-one people died in that quake; thousands of others were left homeless. Dozens of people are still considered missing a year after the disaster. Rebuilding efforts are apparently more than halfway completed.
Having a loaded weapon at a gun show - bad idea. Police in Mclean County, Illinois, are investigating what's being called an accidental shooting after two people were hit by gunfire yesterday when a loaded weapon went off at a gun show. Both men hospitalized. No word on their conditions; the gunfire catching everyone by surprise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBI OHL, EYEWITNESS: The gun was probably - when it went off, it was probably eight feet in front of me. And the people that were hit were right over here, so they were, you know, several - I mean, probably 15, 20 feet away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: The local sheriff says his department is investigating the customer believed to have pulled the trigger as well as the gun vendor.
Check out this human stampede of sorts caught on tape last night - last year at a Washington, D.C., Metro station where an escalator collapsed. This was shortly after the Jon Stewart-Stephen Colbert rallies at the National Mall in late October. There was heavy foot traffic.
Metro Transit officials now say the cause of the collapse was a failure of the escalator's braking system. Following this mishap, D.C. Metro is conducting more frequent inspections and improving maintenance standards, they say.
The space shuttle Discovery astronauts got right to work after docking with the International Space Station. They unloaded new supplies for the station shortly after exchanging handshakes with the station's crew. Discovery is the first shuttle to rendezvous at the station since Atlantis was there last May.
And check this dash-cam video from the Fort Myers Police Department in Florida. If you look very closely there - you see an officer. If you're wondering what he's doing, he's actually helping several ducklings that were just a bit reluctant to cross the road. You can't really blame them, right? With all the traffic. The officer said when he saw the baby ducks, he thought of his daughter; he said he could hear his daughter saying, 'Get out and save those ducks.' And that is exactly what that officer did.
It's now down to five days before the U.S. government shuts down if Congress does not pass a new budget bill. So what's the beef on the Hill right now? Four billion dollars in cuts.
We'll talk about that (INAUDIBLE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back. Twelve minutes past the hour.
Lawmakers in Washington eyeing a possible deal on the budget battle. This as a government shutdown looms if Democrats and Republicans don't reach an agreement by Friday.
CNN's Lisa Desjardins and Paul Steinhauser have more on the possible compromise and what Americans think.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN RADIO CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Randi, it is bad news for those who like drama, but it is good news for government employees.
Democrats and Republicans are very close to a deal that would avoid a government shutdown, at least for a little while.
Here's where things stand this morning: Both parties agree on some immediate cuts. They agree to take the cuts that President Obama proposes for next year and to make them now. They also agree to immediately cut earmarks.
The Republican offer on the table is to extend government spending with those cuts for two weeks. They'd use those two weeks to negotiate a longer deal.
Now, Democrats reacted rather warmly to this idea. Remember that government funding is due to run out late Friday night, so congressmen have a few days to finish this deal, and that should be plenty of time if nothing goes wrong.
Now, what do the American people overall think about this whole situation?
For more on that, we go to our deputy political editor, Paul Steinhauser - Paul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR: Compromise. That's what it seems Americans want when it comes to the budget battle between Democrats and Republicans.
Six out of 10 say they want their lawmakers in Congress to seek compromise on the budget. That according to a "USA Today"/Gallup poll conducted a few days ago. That's almost double the 32 percent who want their lawmakers to stick to their guns, even if that means there would be a government shutdown.
The survey suggests that a lot of people want Congress to make big cuts. Check this out: Nearly half the Democrats' budget proposals don't chop enough spending. And nearly 4 in 10 say the GOP plans don't go far enough.
The poll also indicates that the public's divided on which side's doing a better job in this budget battle. Forty-two percent say congressional Republicans and 39 percent say President Obama and congressional Democrats.
Now, politically, that's pretty important, because neither party wants to get blamed for a government shutdown, if it happens - Randi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Thanks, Paul.
If lawmakers don't come together and pass a funding extension by Friday, get ready for some changes.
For instance, forget about visiting parks, monuments and museums - they could be closed. Toxic-waste cleanup could stop and federal employees would be furloughed. But you will till get your mail and if you're on Social Security, don't worry, those checks will not stop. Law-enforcement officers would still be on the job - and, oh yes, lawmakers, yes, they will still get paid.
And there you see a beautiful look - an early look at Memphis on this Sunday morning. Looks beautiful. But there is severe weather on the way and it could get nasty through parts of the Mississippi Valley.
Meteorologist Reynolds Wolf will tell us how bad this could get and who needs to be alert.
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it looks like there's going to be a lot of people that could be affected by this, perhaps even millions, especially in parts of Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana and Arkansas. Strong storms on the way, coming down like a - like a sack of hammers.
We're going to talk about that coming up in a few moments. You're watching - yes, that network right there, CNN. We'll see you in a little bit.
Yummy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Welcome back.
Waiting for the boys of summer. Thousands of Milwaukee Brewers fans were doing exactly that this weekend as individual game tickets went on sale yesterday at Miller Park. Some fans camped out overnight for their place in line while braving the elements: a bit of snow and a high temperature in the low 30s.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIFFANY MOGLIA, MILWAUKEE BREWERS FAN: This is my first year and I'm never doing it again. I'm so cold.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Yes. She looks cold.
Brewers management says 98,000 tickets though...
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: ...why in the world - I mean, the Brewers had an OK season last year, but it was fair to partly cloudy.
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: Are they that good? Are they...
WOLF: It's just weird.
But is there any thing that would - would give you cause to stand outside in frigid conditions?
KAYE: There are very few things...
WOLF: Yes.
KAYE: ...that I would wait in line for or sleep outside for. I've never done that. I'm always amazed by the people that do it and brave the cold.
WOLF: If - if it's the right though - I mean, I could see some people - I mean, for me, if it was the Fat Boys - if it were the Fat Boys, I'd do that. Barry Manilow in concert, I'm there. Yes. That's right. I'll do it.
KAYE: Oh (INAUDIBLE)
(WEATHER REPORT)
KAYE: Check this out: hooves on the highway. A herd of goats snarled traffic and shut down a freeway in California Saturday. At least 100 actually ran onto the interstate - Interstate 5, actually, in Sacramento, California.
Needless to say, drivers were surprised and sadly could not avoid hitting several of them. Thirty to 40 goats were killed and one driver went to the hospital.
Front-row seats are not always a good thing. Case in point: This bull heading for the stands at a North Carolina rodeo. Check that out. Woah! It's stuck! Yikes!
Two spectators up front got a closer view of the action than they wanted when the bull cleared a five-foot wall. One suffered a broken foot and the other a bruised leg scrambling out of the way.
The bull though, not a scratch. He actually went on with the show.
A woman in Miami is recovering after a run-in with purse snatchers that could have turned deadly. Look at that. They nearly run her over. It happened when thieves stole her purse from her car at a gas station. She confronted them, jumping in front of their car. Probably not the best idea. But luckily, she was able to call for help after toppling to the ground. Amazing that she survived that.
OK, so it's Oscar night tonight and everyone wants to know who will be wearing what on the red carpet, and we have a preview for you.
Plus, you've probably Jesse Eisenberg is up for best actor for his role in the Facebook movie "The Social Network." If he wins, he will set a record for the Oscars. What's that record going to be?
We'll have the answer, quick two minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Jesse Eisenberg could set a record at the Oscars tonight. If he wins, he would be the youngest person ever to take the best- actor trophy. Adrien Brody holds that distinction now.
But aside from all those golden statues, there are the fashions. This is the ultimate fashion show for Hollywood royalty. And Hal Rubenstein, fashion director of "InStyle" magazine tells me we should expect to see very colorful ensembles tonight on the red carpet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HAL RUBENSTEIN, FASHION DIR, "INSTYLE" DIRECTOR: The actresses have finally realized that the fact is, if you - if you want your picture the next day in the paper, you want to be back on TV, it's - it's color that stands out, it's color that pops. And it's color this year that's brighter and bolder than I think - than it's been in - in many a season.
It's not about a pastel or - or a muted jewel tone. It's about red, yellow, emerald green, bright blue. It's really intense.
KAYE: Hmm.
So who are you going to have your eyes on, do you think, tomorrow night?
RUBENSTEIN: Frankly, I - I - you know, for all - for the - for - for all the nominees that are there, and there's Natalie Portman, and - you know, and - and Nicole Kidman, the person, really, I think to watch is Anne Hathaway. Anne Hathaway is - I mean, she is a striking young woman - you know, bright big features. And she's the host, which means - my guess, anywhere from six to nine costume changes.
KAYE: Sometimes, we have to admit, there's - there's usually one or maybe two or three who - who do make us cringe.
So is there anyone that you worry about on a night like this that might make us cringe?
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: Maybe you shouldn't warn them (ph).
RUBENSTEIN: Unfortunately - you know, unfortunately I think, we - you know, we're still waiting for those sort of disasters like, you know, Demi-Moore-in-bike-shorts moments. But they don't happen anymore. They really don't. the people - everyone's gotten very smart.
I mean, yes, you can look at Helena Bonham Carter, who always looks a little bit - a little bit odd. But frankly, she's - she dresses like, basically, the class British eccentric. She loves Vivian Westwood; she is always dressed that way. That's her natural look. I actually kind of love it because it doesn't look like anybody else.
But nobody really makes that flub. I mean, I wish they did, because that would make it more fun. But Cher's - Cher's not there...
(CROSSTALK)
RUBENSTEIN: Oh, I love them. They're incredible. I love those Bob Mackie pieces.
But, you know, there's not - there's no Celine Dion with the dress going backwards.
KAYE: Or Bjork. Remember that?
RUBENSTEIN: You know, or - or - or - the - my favorite was Kim Basinger, who wore a dress that was, like, formal on one side and modernist on the other that she designed herself that was hideous.
But we don't get those moments anymore because, really, the actresses and the stylists have really gotten much smarter.
KAYE: Well, I guess that's good news for all of them. A pleasure talking with you about that.
Hal Rubenstein, that was...
RUBENSTEIN: Thank you so much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Join "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT"'s A.J. Hammer and Brooke Anderson for live, red-carpet access at the Oscars. "Road to Gold" airs tonight at 7 Eastern right here on CNN.
Then at 11 Eastern, the most compelling moments from the Academy Awards show on our sister network, HLN.
We've considered the fashion choices. But who will take Oscar gold on Hollywood's biggest night?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Thirty-one minutes past the hour. Welcome back. Glad you're with us. I'm Randi Kaye.
A mass exodus from Libya. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees says around 100,000 people fled Libya on foot, and that is just in the past week. We've also seen several countries ferrying their citizens out of Libya on boats and planes. And, as you can see from these pictures here from Tripoli, there are many more people camped out around the airport, waiting for their chance to flee.
The United Nations approved sweeping new sanctions aimed right at Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The resolution includes a travel ban on Gadhafi and his four sons, as well as several top government ministers.
The assets of Gadhafi and his sons were also frozen. The Security Council resolution also allows for an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the crackdown in Libya. It was a unanimous vote.
One of Gadhafi's sons, who has been very visible during the crackdown, says his father's government will survive.
So what happens to Libya if Gadhafi's regime is swallowed up by this uprising? Some observers say that the country could descend into further political chaos. They say his personality and cult style of leadership has destroyed democratic institutions necessary for continuity.
Zain Verjee reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZAIN VERJEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Gadhafi family has a plan - fight and die. But if there is a Libya without strong man Moammar Gadhafi, what would it look like?
BARAK SEENER, MIDDLE EAST RESEARCH FELLOW, RUSI: It's very tribal and primitive. So, as a result of that, there will be infighting amongst the tribes that can culminate in a civil war.
VERJEE: Ali is a Libyan living in London. He's more confident of his fellow countrymen's ability to avoid chaos.
ALI ZIU, POLITICAL ACTIVIST: We will form a government by themselves, the people. The Libyan people will decide and will do it, OK, by themselves is through the government to run the country and, after that, they will follow steps where, you know, to have a better future, better life for the Libyan.
VERJEE: Some experts, though, are sounding the alarm bell. They say any leadership vacuum is dangerous and often allows extremists to become the winners.
SEENER: Already now, in eastern cities of Libya, you have al Qaeda moving in, you have Islamism on the rise, and you have absolutely no governance to speak of whatsoever.
VERJEE: Gadhafi deliberately got rid of any alternatives to his regime a long time ago, so there's no organized opposition group, and the Libyan army isn't going step in and take control like in Egypt. It's divided. Gadhafi kept the military unprofessional and weak so he could maintain firm control.
One major worry, Libya's vital oil reserves, the largest in Africa. That wealth would likely be controlled by powerful rival tribes that the west will have to woo.
No matter what the challenges, protesters in Libya say they just want Brother Leader gone.
ZIU: The Libyan people are now heading for Tripoli to liberate Tripoli from Gadhafi and his fellow (ph), and to free Tripoli so that all Libya will be free.
VERJEE: They've had enough of him. It's been 42 years, and for many, even one more day is too much.
Zain Verjee, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Are Moammar Gadhafi's days in power coming to an end? We'll examine that with a Middle East expert and author next hour. We'll ask him what Libya might look like with a new leader.
Unrest in the Middle East causing uncertainty in oil markets and pain at the pump. Gas prices jumped 17 cents a gallon over the past week. That as oil prices surged more than nine percent. The national average for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is now $3.33.
Analysts expect prices to continue rising.
Top stories now. More grim details are emerging out of Christchurch, New Zealand following last week's deadly earthquake and the search for survivors. Authorities there have raised the death toll to 147, and the nation's Civil Defense Ministry predicts that number will probably go higher as more than 200 people are still missing.
Police in Arizona say the law stopped them from arresting a state senator on possible domestic violence charges this weekend. They say Scott Bungaard was involved in a fight with his girlfriend Friday night. She was arrested on one count of assault but he was not arrested because of a state law that provides lawmakers immunity from arrest while the legislature is in session.
Meanwhile, in Washington, five days and counting to a possible shutdown of the federal government - that is, if lawmakers can agree to another stopgap funding measure. Republicans want spending cuts, Democrats are countering with proposed spending freezes.
The spotlights are up, the red carpet is down, and the nominees, safe to say a few of them are probably pretty nervous. Yes, it is that time again - Oscar time.
CNN's Kareen Wynter is in Los Angeles with a preview for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It's almost curtains up on the 83rd Annual Academy Awards and the red carpet, one that's currently covered in plastic.
It's already - already buzzing with action outside the Kodak Theater here in Hollywood. A rainy start to the big weekend, but the weather is expected to cooperate as all the festivities take shape on Oscar day.
The red carpet where all the stars will stroll down before making their way into the Kodak Theater has gotten a bit of a makeover, a much sleeker look, as you can see, this year, like the huge circular decorative display near the fan's bleacher position, so that's quite exciting.
As for the hosts, a lot of buzz concerning them as well, Anne Hathaway and James Franco, who, by the way, he's nominated in the Best Actor category for his film, "127 Hours." It's also in the Best Picture category. They're going to try to wow viewers this year with their chemistry, also nabbing younger viewers.
As for the big Oscar predictions, well, Natalie Portman is expected to take home Best Actress for her riveting performance in "Black Swan." In the Best Actor category, Colin Firth, there's been a lot of buzz that he could take home Oscar gold this year for his performance in "The King's Speech."
And the big category, Best Picture, well, "The King's Speech" will be going up against "The Social Network," so we'll have to say - see which one takes home Oscar gold.
I'm Kareen Wynter, outside the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And if you're interested in watching the Oscars and much more after, well you can join "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT's" A.J. Hammer and Brooke Anderson for a live red carpet access at the "Oscars Road to Gold." Airs tonight at 7:00 Eastern, right here on CNN. Then at 11:00 Eastern, the most compelling moments from the Academy Awards show on our sister network, HLN.
So do you have a need for speed? Reynolds Wolf sure does.
Yes, that's him. He's going to take us for a spin in a NASCAR stock car.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Oh, yes - the fast lane. Sounds pretty good, doesn't it, Reynolds?
REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It does. It does.
KAYE: You've been there. You've done it.
WOLF: It's - it's crazy stuff.
KAYE: The NASCAR experience.
WOLF: It is pretty - it was pretty - pretty crazy.
You know, if you ever get behind the wheel of the NASCAR, these high performance vehicles, every single RPM you have is basically controlled explosion in the engine and it helps propel the car forward.
Well, we actually had the opportunity to lower the boom as we got behind the wheel. Check it out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF: This is awesome. This is what it's all about.
You got the great car, we've got a beautiful weather, and you got the track.
DONNIE WETMORE JUNIOR, PETTY DRIVING INSTRUCTOR: Are you getting nervous at all?
WOLF: Dude, absolutely. Yes, big time. It's like before a hurricane or something.
WETMORE: A hundred and sixty-five miles an hour, so...
WOLF: It's - it is definitely Category 5. It's a Category 5 hurricane.
WETMORE: There is nothing like sitting behind the wheel of 600 horsepower and just have an open road.
WOLF: I can imagine.
WETMORE: Smelling the fuel, the noise.
WOLF: It must be nice. We're going to find out.
WETMORE: We are going to find out.
WOLF: I like it.
WETMORE: Slide all the way down in the car and push yourself back into the seat.
WOLF: All right.
I'm snug as a bug in a rug.
Nice. That was awesome, guys.
WETMORE: How was that?
WOLF: Unbelievable. Unbelievable. You kind of forget about a lot of the things except the steering wheel and what's in front of you.
I got to feel ground. That's what I got to do. Right here.
Oh, oh. Thank you. Goodness gracious.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: You kissed the ground.
WOLF: I did, and I was glad I did. I was glad I still had my lips on my face and that thing is over.
What's weird about these cars is that they're not built for comfort. They're built for speed. They're also built for safety.
So there's very, very limited movement. I mean, you're strapped in and you're like Alan Shephard in the Mercury 1 capsule. I mean, you're not moving that much. I mean, you can't really move your - your head that far. Everything is just, you know?
KAYE: For safety, right?
WOLF: For safety reasons. I mean, it all goes back to Dale Earnhardt and the tragedy that took place years ago -
KAYE: Right. Right.
WOLF: -- and that - NASA - oh, NASA. I was - NASCAR has really made some incredible modes in terms of keeping the drivers safe.
KAYE: So were you invited to do this or can anyone pay and do this if you've got -
WOLF: Anyone can do it.
KAYE: Really?
WOLF: Anyone can do it. I mean, it does -
KAYE: Cost a little money?
WOLF: It does cost some money, but the opportunity is something. It's just priceless. And getting out there and experiencing firsthand, there' nothing quite like it.
KAYE: Now, what was it like for you to just drive home after that in your car?
WOLF: It was kind of strange. It was like getting behind the wheel of like - you know, it was like being at the Kentucky Derby and you're riding a donkey, you know? It's just like one of those things.
KAYE: Pretty lame, huh? Even if you have a great car, you can't compare.
WOLF: It was lame. Absolutely.
But the - that car itself, unbelievable.
KAYE: Yes. That's pretty cool. Very impressive.
And speaking of cars, have you - has your car ever been towed?
WOLF: Yes.
KAYE: Really? I'm - I'm just curious how - how you respond compared to what we're about to see, actually, in just a few minutes, so you have to stick around, actually, for that.
But, in the meantime, we do have some breaking news, and we're going to get to our Nic Robertson, who is in Libya, right after this quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: And we told you just before the break, we have some breaking news. We want to take you straight to our CNN Senior International Correspondent Nic Robertson. He has been reporting from inside Libya. And we want to get to him and see what is happening there on the ground in Zawiya.
Nic, can you tell us what you're seeing?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Randi, we've been moved (ph) by government officials to the Town of Zawiya all the way from Tripoli, the capital. The roads have been in control of the government. The outskirts of this city in control of government forces and we've seen army manning checkpoints and digging in.
But once we got into the center of the Town of Zawiya, there was a large demonstration, a large anti-Gadhafi demonstration, people saying Gadhafi is a blood sucker. He should leave. They're flying the old flag of Libya, which was seen in the east of the country. So this is the opposition apparently taking control of the center of Zawiya. They've taken over army tanks, army antiaircraft guns. There are people in the rooftops with weapons, people in the crowd with weapons.
We talked to soldier who's said that they've changed sides. They're now on the anti-government side. They say that they're fearful (ph) of a government crackdown. What is slightly strange about this scenario is that government officials brought us in, to this city, they didn't come into the demonstration, but the government - the government officials who've been driving us around while we've been here have brought us to this anti-government demonstration and it does seem to be a very genuine anti-government demonstration. Very real sentiments expressed and people demanding that they get more weapons to defend themselves - Randi.
KAYE: And, Nic, I know where you are in Zawiya. You're about 35 miles west of Tripoli. And - and I was reading earlier - this morning actually in "The Washington Post" saying that some of these army defectors are actually making their way to Tripoli, willing to die for the cause, willing to save their country from Gadhafi.
Where are you just in terms of - is it possible that these people are making their way to Tripoli from where you are?
ROBERTSON: You know, the people - the opposition forces that we've seen here in the center of Zawiya are concerned about being attacked themselves here. We've also heard reports that - that key elements from the army have defected and they want to try and launch an attack on Tripoli itself. That's not what we can see here.
And, indeed, the roads around this town do have army checkpoints on them, do have antiaircraft guns and tanks, very much like the weaponry we're seeing lined up with the citizens in the streets here. We've seen men in uniform here. Opposition now in army uniforms. Opposition people armed with RPGs sitting astride antiaircraft guns. We're seeing the crowd climbing over one of the army tanks in the Central Square here and we're told 16 - we were told several days ago, 16 people were shot and killed in this square, an attack that was widely attributed to government forces driving in and shooting up unarmed protesters.
But what we're seeing here with the anti-government supporters here is that they have weapons, and they are sitting astride tanks. However, they're not driving the tanks and they say they're very afraid of attacks from the government forces. That doesn't appear that these people are mobilizing in any way to try and take on Tripoli at the moment, take on the capital, Randi.
KAYE: So you don't see any - any clashes right now? I mean, we've seen for days now, we've heard the reports and you've been there to actually see the video of the protesters that have been fired on. But that's not happening at this hour?
ROBERTSON: No. What we're seeing here is I would best describe as an uneasy standoff. There's a traffic intersection which has got barricades across it. Barricades, barricading the route we came in from out of town and there are men on that roundabout, on that intersection. And when we crossed over, they greeted us. And as we walked down the street, another 200 or 300 yards, we came - came upon the large anti-government demonstration.
So there is a front line of sorts, if you will. I spoke to one former Libyan Special Forces soldier and told me he'd left and gone over to the anti-government side, left the government for the anti- government side, and he said, yes, this is a sort of a front line, if you will. It's the area that they feel safe that they feel they can control at the moment. It is a relatively small area in the center of the city here, but they have - they have a very, very large anti- government flag, the old flag of Libya flying high over the center of city here. It is a very, very strong message to Moammar Gadhafi that the center of the city has fallen it appears to his opposition, Randi.
KAYE: And what are they telling you about Gadhafi? Any specifics on how they feel about him?
ROBERTSON: They feel that he's taken advantage of the country. They feel that he and his family have made money while they have suffered.
I talked to one soldier who said, you know, I've served in - I've served in Chad to the South of Libya. I've served in Sudan for the Libyan government. I, you know, I've been a soldier for many, many years, he said. And he pointed to gaps in his teeth. And he said this is, you know, this is what I have. I haven't been taken care of by the government. I've done all of these things for the government. So that's the - that's the criticism that we're hearing here.
The claims that Gadhafi is a blood sucker of the country. They're saying that he leeched away the wealth of the nation and not spread it equitably among the population. This is, after all - this country has, after all, the highest per capita income of any country in Africa, yet these people are complaining that the government has essentially - essentially not - not taken care of them properly. And that's part of the heart of the protest we're hearing here.
KAYE: Sounds like a very similar complaint that we're hearing from a lot of areas in that region. Our Nic Robertson there in Zawiya in Libya live with us this morning. Nic, thank you.
We'll continue to stay on this and continue to watch what Nic is calling a quiet standoff in the town of Zawiya. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Somber music for a solemn anniversary. People in Chile gathered to honor the victims of the deadly earthquake one year ago today. Five hundred twenty-one people were killed, thousands of others left homeless.
Let's look back now as Karl Penhaul reports on that tragedy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARL PENHAUL, CNN VIDEO CORRESPONDENT: In the area of Concepcion, where we are now, a search by firefighter rescue crews is going on in a 15-story building. The building that you can see behind me was actually a new building and it simply fell on its side in that earthquake.
Now, firefighter team leaders say that they have pulled out survivors alive. They have pulled out dead. They also believe that up to 40 to 50 other people are somewhere still inside that building, possibly inside the stairwell. They say they have heard no signs of life for the last 24 hours. But they say that they're not ruling out that some people may still be alive inside this building.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Dozens of people are still considered missing a year after the disaster. Rebuilding efforts are apparently more than halfway completed.
The bad spirits of financial insecurity, do they live in foreclosed homes? Well, don't worry. There is a remedy apparently on the way - a little old-fashioned witchcraft. Yes, you're going to want to see this right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: This is one of our favorite stories this morning. If you're looking for a way maybe to get rid of those bad vibes from a foreclosed home, well, we may have the answer. In Salem, Massachusetts, they've come up with a remedy that goes back ages.
Our Allan Chernoff introduces us to the so-called "good witch" who supposedly cleanses the bad energy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LORI BRUNO, WITCH AND PSYCHIC: With blade of steel, I seal this door -
ALLAN CHERNOFF, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A witch's house cleansing, incantations meant to ward off evils and evict negative energy from foreclosed homes.
BRUNO: From this door, negativity be out forever more, only good comes in. And now the good fortune begins.
CHERNOFF: Where else would a self-professed witch be called upon to secure home sales but in the Town of Salem, home of the infamous witch trials.
CHERNOFF (on camera): The housing crisis hits Salem, Massachusetts pretty hard. One local realtor decided she needed some extra spiritual help in selling homes. So she called upon the services of a local witch, Lori Bruno.
You as a realtor felt a lot of negative energy.
JANET HOWCROFT, SALEM REALTOR: Absolutely. A lot of anger.
CHERNOFF: You thought I need something to counteract this.
HOWCROFT: Yes.
CHERNOFF: And you knew right away what it was? That you had to get Lori?
HOWCROFT: I knew that these homes need to be blessed to clear out some of the negative energy. And so I asked her if she would be interested.
BRUNO: By the door, the bell is rung just as the voice of the angels are sung.
CHERNOFF (voice-over): Lori Bruno must be unique in a world of witches. She's got a thick Brooklyn accent, Italian heritage and claims she has been cleansing homes for more than 50 years.
CHERNOFF (on camera): Should everybody have a cleansing before buying a home?
BRUNO: Yes, either they call me or they learn to do it themselves.
CHERNOFF (voice-over): The cleansing is a little messy. She spreads symbols of the four elements. Kosher salt represents earth, incense, air, and a votive candle for fire and local tap water will do just fine.
BRUNO: Fire to bring warmth and happiness. That's it. And the water was to cleanse.
CHERNOFF: Does it work? John Runnells (ph) is a satisfied customer after buy a foreclosed property.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If by getting a positive attitude is having a witch come in and cleanse it, then by all means, have a witch come in and cleanse it.
CHERNOFF: But if you're home needs a cleansing, make sure you check references. After all, it takes a good witch to dispel bad spirits.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHERNOFF: I can report that Lori Bruno is a very good witch. She takes no money and only asks that the new homeowners give money to charity, which, of course, brings positive energy -- Randi.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you.
Well, what would do you if she showed up at your house with that broom? I don't know. But believe it or not, ringing bells, sprinkling holy water and pouring kosher salt on the doorways is nothing new. Witches, Feng Shui consultants, psychics and priests have been performing those rituals for centuries. Who knew?
(MUSIC)
KAYE: Good morning.
Coming up this hour: A possible $4 billion compromise in Washington that could keep the government running for at least another two weeks. We're talking $4 billion in cuts that could affect you.
Also, the theme from the movie "Adjustment Bureau" poses some intriguing questions about faith and free will. The topic in this morning's "Faces of Faith."
And they were once a model for the rest of the nation -- two buildings used as public housing for seniors and the disabled. Well, today, they could come tumbling down. We have to bring you the pictures of that implosion.
From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Randi Kaye. Glad you're with us this morning.
We start with Libya, and a smackdown from the international community. Late last night, the United Nations approved sweeping new sanctions aimed at Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. The resolution includes a travel ban on Gadhafi and his four sons, as well as several top government ministers. The assets of Gadhafi and his sons were also frozen.
The Security Council resolution allows for an investigation by the International Criminal Court into the crackdown in Libya. It was a unanimous vote. One of Gadhafi's sons who has been very visible during his crackdown says his father's government will survive.
Meanwhile, the streets of Tripoli are relatively quiet right now. That's the capital city.
But as our Nic Robertson reported from the western city of Zawiyah, about 35 miles from Tripoli, he reported just minutes ago that there are anti-government protests under way. Those demonstrators are armed, he says, but they're afraid of clashes with pro-government forces.
Just this morning, the United Nations high commissioner on refugees says at least 100,000 people have flooded across Libya's border into neighboring countries. Most of them are migrant workers. That's on top of the thousands of foreign nationals being evacuated by their home governments.
CNN's Fionnuala Sweeney is in Cairo this morning.
Fionnuala, good morning to you. How much pressure would you say are all these evacuees putting on Libya's neighbors?
FIONNUALA SWEENEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, let's take Tunisia for example. We know that 40,000 people crossed over from Libya across the border just since last Monday. And yesterday, 10,000 Libyans amassed on the border itself trying to cross. And they are in dire straits, in desperate conditions. And this, of course, putting more strain on a country that's just undergone its own revolution. And even on other countries nearby, such as Egypt, for example, which is 1.5 million expats living in Libya -- Egypt and Libya have had somewhat bumpy relations over the last 30 years, but they have mainly improved, particularly in latter years under the former President Hosni Mubarak. There are a number of business deals, but yet, there's 1.5 million Egypt now scrambling to try and get them out -- some of them crossing over the border on the eastern side. But Egypt has been sending planes, something like 10 flights a day to Tunisia to pick up some Egyptians.
And also, now, we're hearing today, it was just announced that it will be sending two ships to Tunisia to try and bring its citizens home.
KAYE: And just yesterday, the United States State Department said that they didn't think there were any large pockets of Americans there still trying to get out. Is that what you're seeing as well?
SWEENEY: Well, I think it's been extremely difficult for anybody to make contact or have communication with citizens of any country inside Libya over the last week or so because even now, as we hear more and more cities coming under the rebels' control or the protesters' control, there are still difficulties getting through to those, quote-unquote, "liberated cities." So, I think for the U.S. State Department, it has been a very difficult scenario, particularly with that boat that had been sort of stranded at the port there in Tripoli, unable to leave. But it seems now that the majority of Americans who wanted to leave have left.
KAYE: All right. Our Fionnuala Sweeney for us this morning live in Cairo, Egypt -- thank you, Fionnuala.
Here in the U.S., demonstrators across the country came out to back organized labor in that Wisconsin budget battle.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
KAYE: This is what it looked and sounded like in Denver. Rallies were organized in all 50 states to support public employees and others in Wisconsin who could be affected by the governor's cost- cutting budget proposal.
In Olympia, Washington, a couple of thousand people came out to support workers, but there was also a separate demonstration where some chanted in favor of Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker.
And this was the scene in Boston -- union members and pro-union supporters fill the statehouse there. The events across the country were billed as a national day of action.
But those paled in comparison to the demonstrations in Madison, Wisconsin. Police there estimated that around 70,000 showed up yesterday to support organized labor. They are upset at efforts by Republican Governor Scott Walker to strip workers of their collective bargaining rights. The bill is on hold for now while 14 state Democratic senators hide out somewhere in Illinois. (MUSIC)
KAYE: Lawmakers in Washington eyeing a possible deal on the budget battle -- this as a government shutdown looms if Democrats and Republicans don't reach an agreement by Friday.
CNN's Lisa Desjardins and Paul Steinhauser have more on the possible compromise and what Americans think.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN RADIO CAPITOL HILL CORRESPONDENT: Randi, it's bad news for those who like drama, but it is good news for government employees. Democrats and Republicans are very close to a deal that would avoid a government shutdown, at least for a little while.
Here's where things stand this morning: both parties agree on some immediate cuts. They agree to take the cuts that President Obama proposes for next year and to make them now. They also agree to immediately cut earmarks.
The Republican offer on the table is to extend government spending with those cuts for two weeks. And they'd use those two weeks to negotiate a longer deal.
Now, Democrats reacted rather warmly to this idea. Remember, government funding due to run out late Friday night. So, congressmen have a few days to finish this deal and that should be plenty of time if nothing goes wrong.
Now, what do the American people overall think about this whole situation? For more on that, we go to our deputy political director Paul Steinhauser -- Paul.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Compromise. That's what it seems Americans want when it comes to the budget battle between Democrats and Republicans. Six out of 10 say they want their lawmakers in Congress to seek compromise on the budget. That according to a "USA Today"/Gallup Poll conducted a few days ago. That's almost double of 32 percent who want their lawmakers to stick to their guns even if that means there would be a government shutdown.
The survey suggests that a lot of people want Congress to make big cuts. Check this out -- nearly half say Democratic budget proposals don't chop enough spending, and nearly four in 10 say the GOP plans don't go far enough.
The poll also indicates that the public is divided on which side is doing a better job in this budget battle. Forty-two percent say congressional Republicans and 39 percent say President Obama and congressional Democrats. Now, politically, that's pretty important because neither party wants to get blamed for a government shutdown if it happens -- Randi.
(END VIDEOTAPE) KAYE: Thank you, Paul.
Democrats and Republicans have until Friday to reach an agreement and avoid that government shutdown.
Time now for some other stories we're watching in our "Weekend Wheel."
Somber music for a tragic anniversary. People in Chile gathered this morning to honor the victims of the country's deadly earthquake one year ago today. Five hundred and twenty-one people died in that quake. Thousands of others were left homeless. Dozens of people are still considered missing a year after the disaster. Rebuilding efforts are apparently more than halfway completed.
Having a loaded weapon at a gun show -- bad idea. Police in McLean County, Illinois, are investigating what's being called an accidental shooting after two people were hit by gunfire yesterday when a loaded weapon went off at a gun show. Both men hospitalized. No word on their conditions. The gunfire catching everyone by surprise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DEBI OHL, EYEWITNESS: The gun was probably -- when it went off was probably eight feet in front of me, and the people that were hit were right over here. So, they were, you know, several -- I mean, probably 15, 20 feet away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: The local sheriff says his department is investigating the customer believed to have pulled the trigger, as well as the gun vendor.
Check out this human stampede of sorts caught on tape last night at a Washington, D.C. metro station where an escalator collapsed. This was shortly after the Jon Stewart/Stephen Colbert rallies at the National Mall in late October. And as you can see, there were some pretty foot traffic.
Metro transit officials now say the cause of the collapse was a failure of the escalator's breaking system. Following this, the D.C. metro system is conducting more frequent inspections they say and improving maintenance standard.
And check out this dash cam video from the For Myers Police Department in Florida. If you look closely, that officer, well, he has a big heart because he's helping several ducklings who are just a little reluctant to cross the road. The officer said when he saw the baby ducks, he thought of his daughter and he said that he could hear his daughter saying get out and save those ducks. And as you can see, that's exactly what he did. He helped them right across the road.
Stranded in a snowstorm with just a bag of jelly beans to eat? The amazing story of a couple who survived five days stuck in a snowdrift. You'll want to hear their story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: All right. So, let me set the picture for you. No cell phone reception, few supplies and little to eat, very little. That's how John and Pat Norvell describe the situation when their vehicle got stuck in snowdrifts near Cougar, Washington. Get this -- they survived five days with just little more than jelly beans to eat, a half a tank of gas to stay warm and their wits. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAT NORVELL, SURVIVED 5 DAYS IN COLD: We had no food. I had a small bag of jelly beans and we had two water bottles with water. And we had to keep filling them with snow and letting them melt back down in the water.
JOHN NORVELL, SURVIVED 5 DAYS IN COLD: We ate a lot of ice and a lot of snow to get the water out of the snow. And so, that was my main objective was to keep us hydrated. I think that's really that and the fleece blanket that we have, pretty much saved our lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Amazing they survived. Passersby found the couple and helped pull their vehicle out of trouble. Despite their Spartan diet, the diabetic couple checked out OK.
Well, it's quarter past the hour.
Reynolds, I got to do -- what do you think of that? They survived on snow so they were hydrated and jelly beans.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Amazing stuff. You know, the average human can actually last several weeks without food, but only a few days without water. But then when you have someone who is diabetic, that really throws a wrench in the whole plan. So, they are very fortunate, no question about it.
You know, parts of the Northeast, very fortunate at this winter weather they'd be dealing with up there is not going to amount to a whole lot, only a little bit of snowfall, light dusting in parts of Boston, less than an inch in many spots. Back in the Berkshires, you might have a little bit more. And in places like Rutland, Burlington, you'd have plenty of snowfall, some places up to a foot as of yesterday. But all of that is going to start slowing down just over the next couple of hours. No question.
Out west, different situation where we've had plenty of snowfall in places like the four corners. I'm just going to tell you about it. And this is the weather maker that we have, that area of low pressure. But we expect that low to pull its way into parts of west Texas, eventually moving into the Southeast or rather the mid-Mississippi Valley.
And by late afternoon, it's going to be that area of low pressure interacting with that moist and warm air, making for a very unstable situation. And it looks like we may have a chance of severe weather in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and even into portions of central Arkansas by late in the afternoon, evening, and into tomorrow. So, we're talking about strong storms, large hail, damaging winds, flash flooding, maybe even tornadoes also.
One of the big components I'll mention is going to be that mild air. We got plenty of it in parts of the Southeast.
And New Orleans, 69 for your high today, 65 in Atlanta, 76 in Tampa, 84 in Miami, 55 for Kansas City, 60 in Denver, 46 in Salt Lake City, Portland and Seattle in the 40s, the 50s for San Francisco -- they had the snow yesterday, long gone for today, but a little bit of fog -- 62 in Los Angeles. And we're going to finish up back towards the East Coast where we started. Boston, 48 degrees your high for the day.
All right. We're up to speed. Randi, back to you.
KAYE: All right, Reynolds. While you watch the weather, we're going to watch this.
We want to show you a picture of the Roosevelt House. That is a former Atlanta Housing Authority. As we told you, we're waiting for the implosion of this building, a demolition of this building -- waiting for it to come crashing down this morning.
We want to bring that to you either live or as soon as it happens, and we get the tape in. But we do hope to catch it. The students apparently from nearby Georgia Tech, they started a Facebook page and encouraged people to come out and watch this implosion. They are expecting about 1,000 people.
Inside that building, just so you know, 150 pounds of explosives. Apparently, it's safe for people to come by and watch it and watch it all happen. There are some holes in one side of the building. They've added some extra explosives.
So, we're going to keep an eye on this. Once again, at the Roosevelt House in Atlanta. It's a former Atlanta Housing Authority. As we wait for it to be demolished this morning and we'll bring it to you as soon as we can.
Meanwhile, the new Matt Damon movie is out next week that asks the question: is your life predetermined, or do you have free will to write your own future? CNN's Fredricka Whitfield sits down with one of the stars of the film to find out what he thinks. We'll have that.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Have you heard about the new Matt Damon movie, "The Adjustment Bureau"? It's about a guy who falls in love with a girl. Nothing new about that. But just as the romance starts, the so-called "Adjustment Bureau" agents who say they are fate's helpers put a stop to it. So, Matt Damon's character has to decide whether to go with fate or create his own path. The film pits two beliefs against each other, free will versus fate.
Our Fredericka Whitfield talks to one of the stars of the movie and the director to get their take on the topic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is your plan and we're determined to keep it that way. You bumped into a woman this morning on the bus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were you just staring at my legs?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was defenseless against the dress.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's that have to do with anything?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your path through the world is supposed to have been adjustment. You were never supposed to see her again.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Now, when you read this story and when you said to yourself, I'm employing to, you know, make this a movie that is going to get people thinking. What were you hoping that they'd be thinking about?
GEORGE NOLFI, DIRECTOR, "THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU": I wanted them to leave the theater of thinking about how much is your life determined by your own choices --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't outrun your fate, David.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just disagree with you about what my fate is.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOLFI: -- versus how much is it determined by things that are outside of your control.
WHITFIELD: Do you lean one way or another?
NOLFI: I think they are intentioned with each other. And I thinks that's how people -- most people experience life. And I'm definitely embracing the idea that people should seize their free will, but there's also a place for that grander plan, I think.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a firm believer in fate. But I also believe it's free will that deters us from our fated path.
WHITFIELD: Is this something that have you, you know, tangled with in your lifetime? Have you questioned many different crossroads in your life? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know, I deal with that all the time. Being an actor, you always ask yourself the question of, you know, how much of my success was fated?
WHITFIELD: So, will this movie now you think provoke some conversations?
NOLFI: I do think the message at the end of the movie is that maybe all the kind of obstacles -- I've wanted something so badly and this -- it just keeps getting thwarted by whatever is out there that's thwarting. You know, that's not the end, that's just the beginning. And there is a personal transformation that can come from that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: So, do we have free will or not? It's one of the biggest questions in religion.
Here's what one Christian pastor told Fredricka.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU")
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What is this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are the people who make sure things happen according to plan. We monitor the entire world.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can't outrun your fate, David.
WHITFIELD: So, this movie leads one to believe that most people's lives are planned. There's a plan. There's a planned book, that this "Adjustment Bureau," these people, whether you see them as angels or as something else, that they have this plan that says this is the way that your life is supposed to go.
APOSTLE KITO JOHNSON, COVENANT CHRISTIAN CENTER: I believe that the Holy Scriptures teach us that God has a plan, that there is a perfect pathway. However, the enemy has a plan, too. So, this movie can challenge a person to ask themselves, which plan am I going to follow from a Christianity perspective? There are two plans, there are two paths, and we make decisions on a daily basis that determine where we are at that particular time in our life.
WHITFIELD: So, what do you say to people when they come to you and say, gosh, you know, I'm not sure if this was my destiny, if this was supposed to happen, or if I should have made a different decision, if my path would have taken me somewhere else?
JOHNSON: It's important to consider or note that God has the plan, but we make the decisions. And God knows all, he sees all, and even when he pre-scripted the plan for our life, he was aware in advance of the decisions that we would make. And I teach my congregation that even when we make wrong decisions, pre-scripted in our plan were detours to get us back on his track if we make that our goal and our aim.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Very interesting discussion. And we want to know what you think about this. Do we have free will, or does fate control us? So, you can go to our belief blog to join the discussion. That's already begun. That's at CNN.com/Belief.
The federal government will shut down Friday if Congress does not pass a new budget bill. So, what's the beef on the Hill right now? Four billion dollar in cuts. We'll talk about it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Checking top stories now:
About 100,000 people have fled Libya in just one week, according to the United Nations. Late last night, the U.N. Security Council approved sweeping sanctions and an International Criminal Court investigation aimed at Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. That follows the freezing of Gadhafi and his sons freezing assets. And a statement from President Obama that it is time for Gadhafi to step down.
Congress has just five days to avoid a shutdown of the federal government. Leaders in the House and Senate are looking at a compromise stopgap funding measure. Republicans want spending cuts. Democrats are countering with proposed spending freezes.
More top stories at the top of the hour when CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues. But, first, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." begins right now.>
