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CNN Sunday Morning
Obama Headed to Joplin; Food Pyramid Being Replaced; Companies with Best Vacation Plans; Bypassing the Earmark Ban; "Good Grief" Camp
Aired May 29, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JOE JOHNS, CNN ANCHOR: From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Joe Johns, in for T.J. Holmes this Memorial Day weekend.
Also, a good morning to the service women and men who are watching us on the Armed Forces Network around the world.
Country music's Zac Brown Band is sporting new jewelry to help the troops. Some say they offer a little bit of extra protection in the war zone. We'll explain about that.
Plus, a dramatic escape for passengers aboard a Delta flight. We'll tell you what happened.
And take a close look at the circle on your screen. Sometimes baseball fans would do whatever it takes to catch a ball, including dropping their kid just to make a catch. Oh, come on.
It's Sunday, May 29th, 6:00 A.M. in Atlanta, 5:00 A.M. in Joplin, Missouri.
The nation's chief executive offering a shoulder to cry on this morning. He's headed to tornado-damaged Joplin, Missouri. President Obama is expected in Joplin shortly after 1:00 Eastern. He will meet with tornado victims and deliver brief remarks at a 3:00 Eastern memorial service at Missouri Southern State University.
His visit comes as the death toll rises to 142 this morning. More than 90 people remain missing, more than 1,000 have been injured. Later this afternoon, at 5:41 Central, the city is observing a moment of silence. That is the exact time one week ago when the tornado plowed a half-mile swathe through Joplin.
We want to take you now live to Joplin. Our Paul Vercammen is there, once again.
Paul what are people expecting to hear from President Obama?
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, what they're expecting to hear is some words of comfort, and they also are very glad that he's here because the people of Joplin want to make sure that the focus stays on them at a federal level.
They, as you can tell from the pictures behind me and the devastation that we've been seeing, say they need all the help they can get. And the city managers here say while this is going to be difficult, again, the infrastructure here completely hampered by the tornado, they are glad to know that the president is coming here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK ROHR, JOPLIN CITY MANAGER: It's going to be a challenge. They've been working through that. He can handle some of the specifics, but it also is something that can focus attention on us and get us the assistance we need to get through it.
So, yes, there are going to be some inconveniences but there's also a lot of positives associated with the -
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERCAMMEN: And, again, the president will tour the destruction zone, and we also hear that the governor, Nixon, will speak today at the service.
By the way, speaking of other services, with had a lot of churches damaged in this tornado, all up and down the stretch, in fact, and they're all making plans and contingency plans for Sunday. We understand some masses will be held in the parking lot and other churches will lean on some other places of worship in the area to help get their parishioners into church today.
So it's going to be an interesting and - and sad day in some ways here in Joplin, the one-week anniversary, if you will, Joe. And, as you said, at 5:41 the entire city will observe a moment of silence as they remember when that twister hit here - Joe.
JOHNS: So Paul, the president spent about a week in Europe before coming home to Joplin. Are the people there feeling he ignored them or was sort of too slow to come out after they had all this trouble with the tornado?
VERCAMMEN: You know, we haven't heard anything like that. They don't feel like they were ignored.
I think what you hear time and time again, when you talk to these home owners and business owners, what they do want, however, is - is a commitment from Obama at the federal level to make sure they help rebuild this town. I mean, some of the people refer to Joplin not being able to get back on its feet entirely until maybe decades because of the devastation here and how long it's going to take.
It's - it's a severe economic blow as well, you know, in very tough economic times. And so, more than anything, I don't think they're worried at all about whether or not he was in Europe. They just want to know what the commitment is going to be to rebuilding their city of 50,000.
JOHNS: Paul Vercammen in Joplin, Missouri, thanks so much for your report and we'll be checking back in with you. President Obama's visit to Joplin comes one month to the day after he visited Tuscaloosa, Alabama. An April 27th tornado there killed 41 people.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano toured Pratt, Alabama shortly after that tornado. She is headed to Hackleburg today to survey recovery efforts there.
More than 230 people were killed in Alabama over a three-day period in April.
People are back in their homes this morning after a scary situation in Hudson, North Carolina. A massive fire at a chemicals plant there forced the evacuation of some 700 homes in the area.
Crews fought the fire well into the night. We do not know how it started. The plant makes chemicals to coat furniture.
The EPA says the air is safe to breathe.
We're going from the food pyramid to the plate. The government are trying a new shape to illustrate what it we should be eating as part of a new initiative to promote healthy eating and good choices. The pyramid has been the standard for around 20 years.
Here's CNN's medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The pyramid, to put it gently, is not considered a great public health success. You don't look at it and think, oh, I get it. Now I know how to eat right.
It was confusing and divided into lots of intricate sections. And one of the biggest criticisms is the stuff you weren't supposed to eat so much of, like sweets and sugars, were at the top of the pyramid, which is sort of counterintuitive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: The new design from the Agriculture Department is expected to be unveiled Thursday.
Investigators are taking a closer look at a Delta Airlines plane that caught fire as it landed in Atlanta. The FAA says the plane blew a tire. Delta says the brakes overheated.
You can see the tail cone popped off. That's part of the evacuation procedures for the plane. None of the passengers or crew were injured.
Flight 2248 was coming in from Pittsburgh.
Former Honduran president Manuel Zelaya returns home to a cheering crowd after nearly two years in exile. He was overthrown in a coup in 2009. At this rally, he told supporters to pursue peaceful change.
Zelaya recently signed a deal allowing him to return, and corruption charges were dropped. His return also clears the way for Honduras to rejoin the Organization of American States. The country was kicked out of the OAS after the coup.
Just ahead, $1 billion squirreled away by Congress kept in a hush-hush fund so they can pay for pet projects? So how does this not violate the earmark ban? We'll take a look at that.
And how about busting out the skis for Memorial Day? Reynolds has a varied holiday forecast. I think you can call it varied.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is the winter, Joe, that will never end. Aspen, some ski resorts going to be opened up today. Hard to believe. Kind of slushy down towards the bottom of the mountain but, at the top, some nice looking snowfall.
We got that coming up, some rain around parts of the county and CNN's Marc Halualani is the man behind the camera. Marc, show people what we're going to get here in Atlanta. Plenty of sunshine. It's a beautiful day, folks.
We've got more coming up, right here on CNN SUNDAY. See you in a bit.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Hitting the slopes on Memorial Day weekend? Seriously? That doesn't even sound right. In Aspen, Colorado, though, you bet.
Heavy spring snow coupled with cool temperatures left plenty of powder on the mountain for skiers and snowboarders to take full advantage of, but getting there may be half the battle. Check out the road to Yellow Stone National Park. They're trying to dig out from more than 20 feet of snow.
Campers may want to add a few blankets to go along with the tent and the backpack. That is, if you can reach the campsite.
That is pretty wild stuff, man. It's beginning to look a lot like summer.
It is nine minutes after the hour. Reynolds Wolf has our first check of your weather forecast. That's a trip. I just can't get over that.
WOLF: You want to know something freaky, Joe? I'm - I'm going to deliver something right at your doorstep that's freaky as can be. More snow in Aspen, Colorado now than we had on January 1st.
JOHNS: That's wild.
WOLF: It's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs.
JOHNS: You know? WOLF: It's absolutely bananas. That's true.
And that's the case, so a lot of people out there, going out there, getting their ski boards - snowboards, rather - getting their skis, getting a little taste of winter before summer really digs in. And it's not just in parts of the Central Rockies but it's also portions of the Sierra Nevada.
Take a look at this. See this nice, purple, Barney-looking color that you got there? Barney, the purple dinosaur? Yes, that indicates we're seeing a little bit of some winter weather advisory.
Yes, I know what the calendar says. We all do, as we're drinking our coffee this morning, but five inches of snowfall expected in some of the higher elevations, and, of course, we've got that heavy snow pack that is in several feet in parts of the Central and Northern Rockies. Let the good times continue.
Meanwhile, what you can expect for the rest of the nation, though, is going to be kind of - kind of rainy in a few places. If you happen to be in Detroit, Michigan, maybe in - in Milwaukee, maybe you're putting out some of the bratwurst on the - the grill today, holding an umbrella at the same time.
So you better be ready. Some scattered showers are going to be possible. But, at the same time, you have to keep the - keep in mind there's also going to be the potential of seeing some rough weather across parts of the Northern Plains and into the Central Great Lakes, namely into Michigan. Just a slight risk into the afternoon hours.
Now, in terms of your temperatures, muggy and warm conditions can be expected for portions of the southeast. In Atlanta, your high temperatures are going to go up to about 89 degrees. But that's kind of a - kind of an interesting thing because when you have the high humidity, it's going to feel like it's around 94 degrees. So, if you're going outside, doing a little bit of yard work, you'll be amazed how quickly things are going to get warm. Stay inside, enjoy some good times.
Ninety-one for Tampa; 88 in Washington, D.C.; 90 in St. Louis; to wrap things up towards Minneapolis, 69 degrees; 50 in Salt Lake City your expected high for the day; Seattle with 64; San Francisco and into Los Angeles, 10 degrees, the separation into the 50s and into the 60s.
Joe that's the latest in the forecast. Let's kick it right back over to you.
JOHNS: That's not bad. Not bad at all. A good Memorial Day weekend, I say.
WOLF: Should be interesting.
JOHNS: For the most part. Yes. I got to hit the pool a little bit here. No snow, hopefully.
WOLF: After the newscast. After the newscast. Absolutely.
JOHNS: Well, you know, let's go for it.
WOLF: There you go.
JOHNS: All right, great.
For this next story, keep in mind that Father's Day is a few weeks away. Check out the guy circled here at last night's Marlins and Dodgers game in Los Angeles.
He wanted a souvenir. He wanted one bad, and he was apparently willing and able to drop everything, including his little girl. And not only did he drop the girl, but he also fumbled the catch. And, to make it worse, of course, it was on camera.
Security did talk to this guy, but I liked the daughter's elbow to the ribs. You know? Come on. I mean, that's unbelievable, to drop the little girl and drop the ball.
WOLF: Joe, I love you, man, but, if it were me, I'd drop you, too, to go get the baseball. I mean, come on. Come on.
JOHNS: But I'm not a little girl.
WOLF: That's true. That's very, very true.
But, yes, I - I think that it's going to be -
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: A little bit too much. A little bit - you know, I think the guy just - well, here's a great shot of the eager - (INAUDIBLE) again. He gets the ball and he drops -
JOHNS: Unbelievable.
(CROSSTALK)
WOLF: There's the drop and -
JOHNS: Whoa.
WOLF: Oh!
JOHNS: I mean, he's got his priorities in line is what I say.
WOLF: Gosh almighty.
Now, who is the lady that we're going to see in just a few seconds that's on the other side of him, on his right? There's a -
JOHNS: Yes.
WOLF: I don't know if - well, you don't see them in these images here, but she - she would make eye contact with the dude, so I'm wondering if there's something going on in there, too. Understandably so, when the guy drops the kid -
(CROSSTALK)
JOHNS: Right. And now he's on CNN. Oh, well.
WOLF: It happens.
JOHNS: Yes, buddy. All right.
How much vacation time does your company give you? If it's not much, you should check out CNN's list of companies with the best vacation perks.
Google makes the list by offering 15 to 25 vacation days, depending on how long employees work there. They also get 12 paid holidays and all the sick time they need.
Software maker Intuit offers flexibility and a healthy amount of time off. Employees get up to five weeks off. They can also save up to two years' worth of vacation and take it all off in one big chunk at a time. Did I mention the 32 hours of paid volunteer time?
Not all the best perks come from computer companies. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has the most altruistic vacation policy. Employees not only get 15 to 20 paid days off but the company has a vacation time bank. Staffers can deposit unused personal time and sick leave and make those days available to other employees in need.
And if you think these companies are generous, what if your company didn't even count the number of vacation days you took? I'll tell you who does that, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Now, before the break I told you about some companies with great vacation perks. What about the ultimate perk of all, unlimited vacation time?
About a year ago the software company HubSpot stopped tracking its employees' vacation and sick days completely. Company officials say the change has reduced administrative costs and employees take the time they need. It's also, obviously, been a great recruiting tool.
Other companies with a similar policy of not tracking vacation time include Morningstar, IBM, Best Buy and Netflix. So there - there you go.
Potential presidential candidate Sarah Palin kicks off her nationwide bus tour in Washington, D.C. today. She hasn't declared yet, but this could be a big step toward an official run.
CNN deputy political director Paul Steinhauser has more on the other political stories we will be watching this week.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Hey, good morning, Joe. Mitt Romney makes it official this tweak. Romney, who ran for the White House last time around, formally launches his second bid for the GOP presidential nomination.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY, (R), FORMER MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: Americans will do what it takes to keep this nation as it's always been, a strong and fibrant (ph) - vibrant nation, with a strong economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: And the former Massachusetts governor announces his candidacy in neighboring New Hampshire. That's the state that holds the first primary in the presidential primary and caucus calendar. Winning New Hampshire is crucial to Romney's chances of winning his party's nomination.
So guess who's showing up in New Hampshire just a few hours after Romney tosses his hat into the ring? Rudy Giuliani. The former New York City mayor headlines an event for the New Hampshire Republican party. Giuliani's thinking about making another bid for the White House, but he hasn't taken any concrete steps.
Friday, a bunch of presidential candidates will be right here in Washington to speak to a major gathering of social conservative activists. Social conservative voters always have an influential role in picking the Republican nominee - Joe.
JOHNS: Paul Steinhauser in Washington this morning.
No earmarks, no problem. It looks like lawmakers have found a way around the Congressional ban on pork projects, taking advantage of a roughly billion dollars put aside in a special fund.
So how's it work? CNN's senior Congressional correspondent Dana Bash takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DANA BASH, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Redstone Arsenal in Northern Alabama, home of army rocket and missile programs. It could get $2.5 million added to a defense bill to developed unmanned vehicle technology, thanks to Congressman Mo Brooks, who represents the district.
BASH (on camera): So that is probably going to go to your district and help your constituents.
REP. MO BROOKS, (R), ALABAMA: I can't say that it's going to go to the Fifth Congressional District, but I will say this. If that is a service that we can offer to America, I'll be tickled pink.
BASH (voice-over): In this press release, Brooks boasted about getting more jobs for his district. BASH (on camera): That sounds like an earmark, which the House banned this year. So what is this all about? Watchdog groups worry it's a backdoor way around the ban.
BASH (voice-over): The House Armed Service chairman cut hundreds of millions of dollars from a variety of defense programs and put the money in a newly created pot, dubbed the Mission Force Enhancement Transfer Fund. Lawmakers are using it to pay for projects and policy proposals. To some, it's a pet project slush fund.
TOM SCHATZ, CITIZENS AGAINST GOVERNMENT WASTE: This money has never been in this bill before. It's certainly suspicious that it has occurred for the first time after earmarks have been placed under a moratorium, and it looks like a work-around.
BASH (on camera): But it's another form of pork?
BROOKS: Well, no. I disagree. I don't think that it's pork because you're not able to allocate where it goes.
BASH (voice-over): That is a big difference. With traditional earmarks, lawmakers guaranteed funding for projects back home. Here, the Defense Department has final say over the money.
But, in some cases, there appears to be little doubt lawmakers' districts would benefit. Betty Sutton secured more than $30 million for a defense corrosion prevention program and projects. It so happens the University of Akron in her Ohio district has the first corrosive engineering program in the country.
Sutton declined a CNN interview request.
Then there's the Tea Party backed freshman Steve Palazzo. He scored $19.9 million for Navy ship design and feasibility studies and sent out this press release promising much of it will directly benefit South Mississippi shipbuilding.
He also declined to talk to CNN. An aide said the Navy would ultimately decide how the money is spent.
Senator Claire McCaskill, a long time earmark opponent, says she knows the way things work and doesn't buy it.
SEN. CLAIRE MCCASKILL (D), MISSOURI: Somebody is going to call the Defense Department and say this is what it represents. This is what I want it for.
If it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it's a duck. It's an earmark.
BASH: Other lawmakers in both parties secured millions that could benefit their districts and rejected CNN's requests for interviews to explain. Most said through spokesmen the Pentagon will make it a competitive process.
The congressman who did talk to us said if he can still help his district in this post-earmark world, no apologies.
BROOKS: None whatsoever.
BASH (on camera): Thank you.
BROOKS: I'm doing my job.
BASH: Until the Pentagon ultimately decides, we wouldn't know for sure if lawmakers successfully steered pork to their districts. Regardless, some (INAUDIBLE) say members of the House Armed Services Committee should have used the hundreds of millions of dollars they found in Pentagon savings to help pay down the sky-high deficit, not for even more government spending.
Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Losing a parent is especially hard on children. Losing them to war is really tough.
We go inside a camp where all the children have one thing in common - a parent is a fallen service member.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: CNN, Washington, D.C. There, you're looking at a picture of the White House there in that town, where they're expecting Rolling Thunder, the Vets on Motorcycles Rally, to come rolling down into town in just a little while.
The United States Capitol, very nice morning there. Good morning to all of my friends in Washington, D.C.
A painful reminder of the courage of our men and women in uniform, the remains of seven U.S. military personnel killed overseas returned Saturday to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
The fallen troops include Sergeant Kristoffer Solesbee. He was killed Thursday in an attack in Afghanistan. And Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Thibodeau, who was also killed Thursday. He died in a helicopter crash during combat.
It's tough for children of fallen service members to deal with their loss, but the "Good Grief" Camp organized by the non-profit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, also called T.A.P.S. brings children in mourning together and tries to help them cope.
Here's our Sandra Endo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANDRA ENDO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A game of balance for 11-year-old Anthony Balmer.
ANTHONY BALMER, 11 YEARS OLD: Mostly, here you get happiness and then sadness.
ENDO: A mix of emotions at this Memorial Weekend Camp for Kids of Fallen Service Members.
ENDO (on camera): So are you hoping to smile a lot at camp?
BALMER: Yes. I do every year.
ENDO (voice-over): Balmer's father, Ryan, was killed by a roadside bomb while serving in Iraq in 2007. But at this "Good Grief" Camp, death is a shared experience with children from all across the country.
A. BALMER: Most of the kids have gone through the same thing. Their mom or their dad have been lost, and they're going through those emotions.
ENDO: And there's a big need to tend to those emotions. This year's camp run by the non-profit Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors or T.A.P.S. nearly doubled in size with the waiting list of families who want to participate.
BONNIE CARROLL, FOUNDER, T.A.P.S.: Families who've come to T.A.P.S. gain coping skills. They learn they're not alone in their grief. They need other family members who truly understand what they're going through.
ENDO (on camera): For the families who weren't able to come here this weekend, there re other smaller regional programs held throughout the year to help these young survivors cope.
ENDO (voice-over): Anthony's mother, Danielle Balmer, also has a 4-year-old, Gabrielle, going to the camp for the first time. She says the effects of war on kids are life-changing.
DANIELLE BALMER, HUSBAND KILLED IN IRAQ: They've had to grow up a lot faster than most kids, and I think they have a better understanding of life, and different aspects of life. And so I'm - unfortunately I'm sad that they have to have that, but I am grateful that they do because it's allowed them to be better people.
ENDO (on camera): What do you feel like after you've done with this whole camp experience?
A. BALMER: I feel like it's OK to cry and you don't, there's not as much weight on my shoulders from all the sadness.
ENDO (voice-over): Mrs. Balmer focuses on the positive. She's engaged to widower Christopher Sweets (ph), whose wife was in the Air Force and died of cancer two years ago. He has three kids of his own who are also in the camp.
CHRISTOPHER SWEET, WIDOWER: We're going to provide them a lot of love and that's, you know, based on what we - the love that we learned from our spouses, and they still live on in our family.
D. BALMER: I love it for all of us and I love that we're able to have this happiness again.
ENDO: Sandra Endo, CNN, Arlington, Virginia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Coming up, they're talking about tearing down the food pyramid. The government is moving ahead with plans to restructure nutritional guidelines. We'll reveal the new shape of healthy eating next.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFF SGT. LYLE WILLIAMS, U.S. ARMY: Hi, everybody. This is Staff Sergeant Lyle Williams from (INAUDIBLE) Salerno, Afghanistan. I want to take this opportunity to say hi to my mother and father, Jenna and David Williams, my sister Anne and Bailey.
I love you, guys. I miss you, guys. I'll be home soon (INAUDIBLE). I can't wait to see you. I want to wish you guys a happy Memorial Day and hope you guys enjoy the game. Take care.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Welcome back. It's 31 minutes after the hour. I'm Joe Johns in for T.J. Holmes.
President Obama offering comfort today to the victims of the Joplin tornado. President Obama is expected in Joplin shortly after 1:00 Eastern. He's going to meet with tornado victims and deliver brief remarks at a memorial service at Missouri Southern University. That's at 3:00 Eastern.
His visit comes as the number of dead rises to 142, more than 90 people remain missing, more than 1,000 have been injured. Later this afternoon at 5:41 Central, the city is observing a moment of silence. That is the exact time one week ago when the tornado plowed a half mile path through Joplin.
Just a couple of days after that tornado hit, people were planning to rebuild. The president is expected to talk to local leaders about rebuilding efforts.
Our correspondent in Joplin has already interviewed one man who was busy yesterday rebuilding his wife's business. Other people there tell him they can't wait to get started.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARREN COLLINS, CONTRACTOR: I just had two police officers stop by and said, "Man, we want to shake your hand," the first glimmer of hope that we've really seen towards the town rebuilding. At some point, we're going to have to stop scratching our heads and standing staring at the rubble and roll up our sleeves and get things back to some sort of normalcy. It's time to roll up our sleeves and do what we can do to move on with our lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: The Joplin City Manager says the president's visit today will keep the national focus on his city's problems.
People who live in Tuscaloosa know the challenges that come with rebuilding after such devastation. The city was hit April 27th with a tornado that killed 41 people.
Our David Mattingly tells us that recovering from such a powerful storm isn't easy.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Joe, it's been a month since the devastating tornado hit here in Tuscaloosa and we came here to find an abundance of hope and a recovery that's moving slowly.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY (voice-over): One month since a monster tornado killed 41 people here, Tuscaloosa, Alabama offers little hope for a quick recovery to the victims of more recent tornadoes in places like Joplin, Missouri.
MATTINGLY (on camera): What's this over here?
GAYLE HARDIN, TORNADO SURVIVOR: That's my grandson's tent.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): On the outskirts of Tuscaloosa, I find Gayle Hardin in a moment of despair.
HARDIN: Today, it just hit me, you know, that I'm not ever going to be able to go back home again.
MATTINGLY: After living in tents for weeks with her family, almost everything Hardin had still sits in a massive pile next to the road. Letting go of the life she knew has been the hardest thing of all.
HARDIN: I don't know how to start over with everything because everything's just dirt and debris. But I got my family and we'll make it.
MATTINGLY: A thought echoed daily across Tuscaloosa as small signs of hopes slowly emerge. The streets are finally clear. Water is back on. Electricity returns to more homes by the day.
MATTINGLY (on camera): But one thing hasn't changed. So many neighborhoods like this remain in pieces, abandoned, lifeless ghost towns. In fact, if you look around and look at all this destruction that's still all around us here, it looks like the storm hit yesterday.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): And it feels like it to survivors whose lives were broken, bent and battered.
MATTINGLY (on camera): What was it that went in here?
STEVE BROWN, TORNADO SURVIVOR: That was a two by four that went straight through.
MATTINGLY: It went right through the house?
BROWN: Right through the house.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): In one of the hardest hit areas, Steven Brown is the only one I find trying to rebuild. His house, the only one on the street still standing, but shredded inside and out by debris.
BROWN: That was a piece of paneling come through and wedged inside - inside of that right there, just wedged inside of that wall there.
MATTINGLY (on camera): If someone had been hiding in this closet -
BROWN: Yes. Yes.
MATTINGLY: -- that wouldn't have been safe either.
BROWN: Yes. It went straight through.
MATTINGLY: Oh, look. It came all the way through.
BROWN: Yes.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): His family survived huddled and praying in the hallway floor. Three next door neighbors died. A Google street view of Brown Street shows a neighborhood that was full of life. This is what it looks like now.
MATTINGLY (on camera): After everything that's happened, what made you decide to come back?
BROWN: This is home.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): And like so many hit by this tornado, Brown is getting help from volunteers offering foods, (INAUDIBLE) and comfort.
Brown tells me he's learned something and wants to tell the people of Joplin don't turn down help and don't give up.
BROWN: If you can't go anywhere else, you can always go home, so -
MATTINGLY (on camera): Wouldn't it have been easier for you just to pack it in and just say I'm not going back and start over somewhere?
BROWN: Yes. It would have been a whole lot easier. It definitely would have been a whole lot easier, but I wouldn't let this get me down.
MATTINGLY (voice-over): A full month after a deadly tornado and so many still so slow to turn the corner from surviving to recovering.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MATTINGLY: There is an intense determination to rebuild these neighborhoods, but not to rebuild them the way they were before. Most people here now believe that these homes should be put back, but better, stronger, and safer - Joe.
JOHNS: David Mattingly in Tuscaloosa. More on Alabama's tornado recovery in our top stories.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano is going to return to the disaster zone today. She'll visit hard hit Hackleburg, a small town that was leveled by an EF-5 tornado, one of 14 tornadoes that tore through that state April 27th.
The USDA's food pyramid is going to go the way of the dinosaur soon. The Department of Agriculture is expected to unveil a new icon on Thursday in a renewed effort to improve the nation's health and diet. So what's it going to look like? Of course, you're familiar with the new guidelines so that pyramid will be replaced by a dinner plate.
And former Republican Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, remember her? She's kicking off a national bus tour today in Washington, coinciding with Rolling Thunder, the Annual War Veterans Motorcycle Rally in the nation's capital.
Save money and help the troops. It's as easy as snip, snip. The king of coupons is coming up next with some tips to slim down your grocery bill and more.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Well, it's the weekend and many of you are probably gathering your coupons for a trip to the grocery store, but you probably don't go nearly as far as Nathan Engels. This is the guy that's been featured on the TLC Program "Extreme Couponing," which airs each Wednesday night. He's not only saving himself a lot of money, but his coupon clipping is also helping U.S. troops serving overseas. I talked to him about how he discovered extreme couponing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NATHAN ENGELS, MR. COUPON: I started it because my wife and I got married and we combined our finances. And I'll tell you, we were just drowning in debt. We had so much debt. It was so - it's just incredible.
So we started setting a grocery budget and so we're setting a grocery budget I realized I had to stretch my money and so I naturally turned to coupons to do that. What we can do is we buy a lot of stuff as you can see on TLC's "Extreme Couponing." And so what we do with all that stuff is we can give it away and we're empowered to give through that. So I think that's one of the great things about it.
A lot of people when they see the show they say, wow, those people have so much stuff in the garage, but they don't understand the purpose of why - why we stockpile. And we tell people why would you pay for something later when it's free or cheap today? It doesn't make any sense. But if it's free or cheap today, buy a couple extra so you can give it away. And that's the cool thing of what we're doing is we're empowered to give to organizations like Operation Troop Aid, Operation Homefront, those are great organizations you can support.
And this week there are wipes that are free at some major grocery stores, and (INAUDIBLE) it's a highly requested item that troops in Afghanistan request. And so those things I wouldn't be able to buy $300 or $400 worth if I didn't have coupons. But because I have those coupons, I can go and get those wipes and donate them to the troops in Afghanistan.
JOHNS: So give me an idea, how many boxes of stuff you have in your house right now?
ENGELS: I do have a lot. If you watch the show, you can see my stockpile. I mean, it's a pretty - impressive - it impresses me sometimes. But, I mean, what our - our stockpile is really designed to prevent me from spending $200 or $300 at the store. So right now I think I have like 20 or 30 tubes of toothpaste. I have about 50 boxes of cereal. I have about 300 or 400 cans of vegetables and soup. So - but those things are great. They don't - they have a great shelf life and I don't have to buy them when they're expensive at the store.
JOHNS: So you're kind of an extreme example, but is there any way the average shopper can do this, use coupons to donate stuff to troops?
ENGELS: Sure. You can get on our website and that's a great place where you can learn how to do this. It's really simple for the average shopper, doesn't take too much time if you know what you're doing. We're liking this a lot to chess. You have to learn how to play the game and if you learn how to play the coupon game, you really play it well, but you sort of have to learn the rules.
And so, websites like ours are a great way to empower you to learn. We provide you with lots of lists and coupon match-ups that will make the time that you spend doing this a lot quicker.
JOHNS: I've also read that you sort of dumpster dive for coupons. How does that work?
ENGELS: Yes. I dumpster dive for coupons, because who wants to actually try to spend money for them? And, you know, if you buy the newspaper and you buy a lot of newspapers like a lot of couponers, too, you end up spending $20 or $30 or $40, and that can be counterintuitive. So we stress different ways, creative ways to find coupons cheaply.
So sometimes you can go to a convenience store - I'm sorry. You can go to like a cafe and see if anybody's purchased a paper and discarded it. You can go to a dumpster and pick out the newspapers - Sunday newspapers that have coupons in them. There are lots of different ways you can get coupons cheaply.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: Coming up, talking about antiquity this morning, unearthing an ancient discovery. Scientists have found secret markings in the Egyptian pyramids that haven't been seen in more than 4,000 years.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: A brazen attack on high-ranking military officials in Afghanistan. The Taliban targeting the NATO-led international force and their Afghan counterparts.
CNN's Stan Grant has more from Islamabad.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STAN GRANT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): The Taliban says it has specifically targeted this high level meeting between international and Afghan officials in Northern Afghanistan. He militants saying they wanted to disrupt any plans to launch a military offensive against it.
Now, inside the meeting was the head of all of NATO forces in Northern Afghanistan, German General Marcus Kneip. He, we understand, has been injured. Those injuries are not life threatening. He has survived. Not as fortunate, though, some of his troops. A German foreign minister has described this attack as barbaric. Also killed the Regional Police Chief General Dawood. Now he is seen as a significant and powerful figure in the region. A former military commander in the Northern Alliance which fought the Taliban in the days leading up to and after the U.S.-led invasion in 2001.
Now, this attack complicates an already confusing and complicated picture inside Afghanistan. U.S. troops are preparing to withdraw or draw down at least in the coming months. NATO forces also looking at handing over responsibility for security to Afghans. At the same time, there are these fledgling talks between the Taliban and the government there and U.S. forces as well to try to reconcile the militants with the rest of the country.
Now, at the same time, there have been a spate of attacks across the border in Pakistan as well in the weeks since Osama Bin Laden's death, also targeting Americans, NATO and Pakistani troops and installations here, as well as in NATO supply lines. A very complicated picture, caught in the middle, ordinary Afghan and Pakistani civilians and, of course, international troops as well. Around 200 troops killed in Afghanistan so far this year.
Stan Grant, CNN, Islamabad, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: A massive fine for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The $34 million judgment comes while Mubarak awaits trial on more serious government corruption charges.
CNN's Diana Magnay joins us live from Cairo this morning. Diana, what is this all about?
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Joe.
Well, this is a $90 million fine that Mubarak and two of his other senior officials from the previous regime are going to have to pay, because they apparently cut off for five days at the height of the revolution all of the mobile phone services and Internet communications - telecom communications. So the loss to the national economy amounted to $90 million - around a third of which Mubarak is meant to pay himself.
But we had an exclusive interview wit Mubarak's lawyer last night and he said that this was the first he was hearing of it that this must be some kind of some trial, he called it. And he said that Mubarak wouldn't be able to pay that kind of money anyway, because his personal fortune amounts to just $6 million.
Now, that is a real bone of contention here on the streets of Cairo, how much this man is worth, whether he amassed a huge personal fortune at the expense of the public's purse. And he is, of course, facing trial on corruption charges, the amounts of money that he managed to enrich himself and others. But also, more seriously a charge which carries the death penalty whether he authorized the use of deadly force against protesters, all of which his lawyer says he categorically denies - Joe.
JOHNS: Great. Thank you so much, Diana Magnay, in Cairo this morning.
Scientists are trying to decipher new drawings found deep inside the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. The team using robots and bendable camera has taken new images from inside one of the pyramids still sealed chambers and tunnels. They found a series of drawings and other markings, but they aren't sure what all of this means just yet. The scientists are also trying to learn the real purpose for all of the rooms here and passageways.
For more on the story, which is just fascinating, check out CNN.com.
Country music's Zac Brown Band is sporting new jewelry to help U.S. troops. We'll tell you how a bracelet is helping to protect service men and women overseas.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: That's the Zac Brown Band there. And if you've ever seen them in concert, you may have noticed that they're each wearing Battle Saint bracelets, a not-for-profit bracelet idea comes from Cynthia LeMay. And we don't want to point out, Cynthis LeMay is the wife of our weekend managing editor Jim LeMay here at CNN.
Reynolds Wolf has the story of the Battle Saint bracelet.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WOLF (voice-over): A somber march. A loud ovation. And a last good-bye for these deploying troops. The Atlanta Airport is the final stop on their way to war, so that's where you'll find military moms like Cynthia LeMay.
CYNTHIA LEMAY, CREATOR, BATTLE SAINT BRACELETS: Where you guys headed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Afghanistan.
LEMAY: Afghanistan?
WOLF: LeMay knows the pain of deployment all too well.
LEMAY: Our son right now is in Afghanistan and my nephew just got back from his third tour in Afghanistan. And we also have several other members that are in harm's way.
WOLF: While she can't be on the frontlines protecting her son, she can ask for a little help from above.
LEMAY: We put together these Saints bracelets. My son has been wearing it since he went over and he's been in a couple of firefights and attacks.
WOLF: This is the Battle Saint bracelet. It's made up of 12 to 16 different saints, each with a unique military connection.
LEMAY: These are bracelets that actually had different saints on them including St. Christopher to protect you when you travel and St. Barbara to protect you if you work with explosives. They have very specific meaning to the military and provide them specific protection.
WOLF: She started it as a way to feel connected and to show support for the troops overseas. And now, the small memento has spread to Hollywood and beyond.
(ZAC BROWN BAND'S "CHICKEN FRIES" VIDEO PLAYING)
You'll find them on the wrists of celebrities like Zac Brown and the cast from "Band of Brothers." And now you can get them online, too, a token of support for those at home and those on the frontlines.
BRANDON KUHN, U.S. ARMY: I feel pretty proud to wear this, and it makes me feel like I'd be a little more protected over there like I got somebody watching over me a little more.
LEMAY: When you have a loved one in harm's way not a moment goes by when you don't think of them, so we wear these every day, we think of our loved ones and all of the other servicemen and women who make so many sacrifices every day.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: The Battle Saint bracelets cost $5, $1 of that goes to the Intrepid Fallen Hero Fund and these things are very cool. You know, they're wood.
WOLF: Yes.
JOHNS: And, you know, as bracelets go, the kinds that you get and they sort of create buzz around the country, this is like the most colorful and - and nicest looking.
WOLF: It's very simple. It's very elegant. You know, the great thing about it, I mean, well, one thing I love is just the story of what Cynthia LeMay did. All moms worry.
JOHNS: Yes.
WOLF: All moms worry. And especially if a child that is going off to - to defend our country to go fight, it's got to be a terrifying prospect. But to take some of that stress and turn it into something positive is a pretty bold and a pretty amazing move.
And, again, it's something that anyone can really take part in.
JOHNS: Yes.
WOLF: And even - even if you don't believe, maybe you don't share the faith it's still a great, great bracelet. Again, $5 and $1 - but $1 that goes to one fund (ph).
JOHNS: Absolutely. And if you do share the faith, then it's even something more special.
WOLF: Precisely.
JOHNS: Good for Cynthia LeMay. All right.
WOLF: Exactly.
JOHNS: Part of the family here at CNN.
Coming up, Sarah Palin is hitting the road, this morning, first on a bike, then on a bus. I'll tell you a little bit more about that just ahead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LT. COL. NEIL HARPER, FT. BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA: Lieutenant Colonel Neil Harper from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, currently serving at Ft. Prosperity. I'd like to give a shout out to my lovely wife Michelle and two my two great kids, Ashlyn (ph) and Anthony (ph). I'll be home soon. Love you. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: From CNN Center, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm Joe Johns, in for T.J. Holmes this Memorial Day weekend.
Sarah Palin will be hopping on a motorcycle this morning. She's joining the Rolling Thunder for their ride. But some people aren't too happy about it. We'll tell you live to the Pentagon.
Plus, some call it abuse. But most Americans call it borrowing their own money. We'll take a look at a new bill that could limit the loans you take from your 401(k) plan.
But, first, it's the day of prayer and remembrance in Joplin, Missouri. And President Obama will be there to offer comfort to victims of last Sunday's deadly tornado.
The president expected in Joplin shortly after 1:00 Eastern. He'll meet with tornado victims and deliver brief remarks at a memorial service at Missouri Southern State University. That's 3:00 Eastern. His visit comes as the number of dead rises to 142. More than 90 people still missing.
Later this afternoon, at 5:41 Central, the city is observing a moment of silence at the exact time one week ago when the tornado plowed a mile and a half path through Joplin.
Live now to our Paul Vercammen in Joplin.
Paul, what is the importance of the president's visit to the people who are there?
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think, first and foremost, many of the people here are looking for, as you said, the president to deliver some words of comfort at a time when the city of 50,000 is hurting so much. But, also, not to be lost in any of this, officials here and the townspeople, they really want the federal government to step in as much as it possibly can to help them rebuild Joplin because there's just been so much utter devastation, about a third of the city hit by this tornado.
So, when the president speaks at the local university tonight, it will be something that is just infused with, in a sense, local clergy, because just downed road, there's these people over there, that's St. Paul's Methodist Church. Well, the message will be delivered by the reverend there. And that just over here, a little ways, also destroyed in the tornado is St. Mary's Catholic Church. And the reverend there will bring invocation and the benediction.
So, we're all be, sort of, congruous, if you will. It seats about 2,000. So, they say they might have to set up a situation where a remote closed circuit TV can show the rest of the people there. It seems to me, more than 2,000 will turn out tonight. Of course, logistically, it could be difficult, especially with this city being so ravaged by the tornado. But the police will seek outside help so they can get all of this done and allow for the president's visit to go smoothly.
Let's hear from the police chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHIEF LANE ROBERTS, JOPLIN, MISSOURI POLICE: There is no question it will be a little inconvenient. Our streets are not in particularly good shape even now. So, it will be a little inconvenient. But we will make more provisions so that people can get around.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VERCAMMEN: And also on this Sunday, FEMA will be open and people will be able to go in front of them and begin to state their cases, if you will. Of course, a lot of people looking for loans so they can rebuild, Joe.
JOHNS: So, Paul, we've been talking about this over the weekend. The president just now coming from Europe to Joplin, the scene of so much disruption -- but you haven't heard people complaining about how long it's taken him to get there?
VERCAMMEN: No, not in the least. And, in fact, people here have been so laser-focused on the task at hand. I mean, look at this behind me, when people are on their hands and knees literally sifting through rubble trying to find important documents or just trying to clean up the remains of their house. And, of course, there's been so much focus on the missing and the deceased, I think the last thing on many people's minds was and is: when would the president get here. I have not really heard anybody.
And we've talk to a lot of people over the last week. Of course, this is the anniversary, the week anniversary. And no one has complained to me about the president not immediately arriving here.
JOHNS: Paul Vercammen there in Joplin, thanks so much for your reporting.
President Obama's visit to Joplin comes one month to day after he visited Tuscaloosa, Alabama. An April 27th tornado there killed 41 people.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano toured Pratt, Alabama, shortly after that tornado. She's headed to Hackleburg today to serve recovery efforts there. More than 230 people were killed in Alabama over a three-day period in April.
Meanwhile, former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wheels into Washington later today. She's kicking off a bus tour that coincides with the annual Rolling Thunder bike ride. Exactly where, she's not exactly invited. CNN's Sandra Endo is now live at the Pentagon.
So, Sandra, what are people saying about Sarah Palin coming to Rolling Thunder?
SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Joe, I can tell you, you may actually hear the revving of engines behind me because as hundreds of motorists actually behind me, motorcyclists coming out here, they're all excited for this event. As you mentioned, former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is joining their event this morning as well. We haven't seen her bus arrive here yet.
Also, this is just a starting point for the day's events for Rolling Thunder Ride to Freedom. This is their annual event to commemorate and remember all of the nation's veterans, as well as prisoners of war, and those missing in action.
Now, from here, later today, they'll be going to the National Mall. That's where they'll have a bigger event and they'll be hearing from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, as well as Admiral Mike Mullen.
But, as you mentioned, the big draw and also speculation around Sarah Palin, will she or won't she be running. The potential presidential candidate is kicking off her One Nation bus tour with this group, the Rolling Thunder. So, it will be interesting to see her reception and also her message here at this event today.
But, again, the speculation swirls around whether she'll enter this race. And, of course, the flirtation continues today. We'll be along for the ride, as well as the Rolling Thunder -- Joe.
JOHNS: Yes. So, there's been some reporting that she's actually been trying to rent a motorcycle or some such to make her way out there and Rolling Thunder is such a big event in Washington, D.C. Do you have any idea whether she's going to bring that big old bus that she's got, all painted up with her picture and stuff? Or she's actually going to try to use a motorcycle?
ENDO: It will be an interesting scene, good imagery either way for a potential candidate, as you know, Joe. So, yes she has gathered up, that bus ready to go from a tour from D.C. up towards the Northeast later in the coming days. So, that is her plan for that One Nation bus tour.
So, we are waiting to see that bus roll in or whether she rolls in on a Harley. And again, this is just the beginning of a full day of events.
JOHNS: Suspense, that's one of the things that Sarah Palin's always been very good at, sort of her homework. She keeps media and the nation guessing. So, we'll be watching very closely.
Thanks for that, Sandra Endo. We'll talk more about how Sarah Palin may factor into the 2012 presidential election with Republican strategist Ford O'Connell. That's coming up in about 10 minutes. We're going to go from the food pyramid to the plate. The government is trying a new shape to illustrate what we should be eating as part of a new initiative to promote healthy eating and good choices. The food pyramid has been the standard for around 20 years.
Here's CNN senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: The pyramid, to put it gently, is not considered a great public health success. You don't look at it and think -- oh, I get it. Now I know how to eat right. It was confusing and divided into lots of intricate sections.
And one of the biggest criticisms is that the stuff you weren't supposed to eat so much of like sweets and sugars were at the top of the pyramid, which was sort of counterintuitive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: The new design from the Agriculture Department is expected to be unveiled on Thursday.
We're getting our first look at never published pictures of Marilyn Monroe. The sexy new pictures were bought as negatives -- believe this -- at a garage sale decades ago. The owner and a noted art dealer are now trying to figure out who took these pictures.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY FURYUNIDENTIFIED MALE: I found an envelope with negatives. I didn't know what they were, but I realized they were old. They were 2 1/4 by 2 1/4. So, they were medium format negatives. You can't really see what they were.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because they're negatives.
FURY: But being a photographer, what the heck, I think I paid $1 or $2 for the package. And I took it home, put them on the light board with the loop. And needless to say, I mean, these are Marilyn. So, that was probably my greatest garage sale discovery ever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: That's just unbelievable. It is thought that the photos were taken in Los Angeles probably around 1950. It's just not known how much they are worth, but my guess is they're priceless.
The heat is on for many of this Memorial Day weekend. But we'll tell you where some are bundling up and laying down the snow skis.
Reynolds Wolf has the details on the day's forecast -- Reynolds.
REYNOLDS WOLF, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I'm sorry, man. I'm still flummoxed about the Marilyn Monroe pictures. You know, when I get to garage sales, I'm the guy who gets the broken Rubik's cube or the frog-shape oven mitt.
JOHNS: Yes.
WOLF: Anyway, back to weather. Here's something that you're not going to be seeing in a garage sale. Some incredible snowfall is still falling out to the West. We're going to talk about that. Plus, some heat around parts of the nation and the possibility of you -- guessed it -- severe thunderstorms.
It's coming up here on CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: It's 13 minutes past the hour. Let's check with Reynolds Wolf for your forecast.
So, what's happening here, man?
WOLF: Well, it depends on where you happen to be. There are parts of the nation, Joe, where it's going to be horrible.
However, you're heading out to the beach, some places look good. In fact, take a look. If you're going out to Galveston, Mobile or Destin, you can't rule out the chance of rain. It's going to be a slight percentage, only 10 percent, which means there's a 90 percent chance of plenty of sunshine. And whatever showers do form, it will not last that long. The high is mainly in the upper 80s in most spots.
Tampa is a little bit of an exception. The rain chances go up, but so too will the temperatures, 91 the expected high. Miami, 86 degrees, is making the way up the Eastern Board. And Savannah and Hilton ahead, mainly 80s and 90s.
And as we head up to Virginia Beach, Atlanta City and Cape Cod, water temperatures will be in upper 50s, highs mainly into 70s and into the 80s.
Let's do just a complete opposite of what you deal with in the beach. Let's talk about some snowfall, anyone heading out to Yellowstone National Park will be facing -- let's just show the images. Let's go right to it.
Take a look at this incredible spot that we have for you up in Yellowstone National Park. With some places, the snow is up to, say, 20 feet or so. It's going to be very difficult for them to clear the roadways, which is certainly going to be interesting. It is the winter season that will never end.
As we come back to the weather computer. We'll be dealing with over the holiday season will be the possibility of some storms developing across the Central Plains.
In fact, if you take a look at the temperature gradient right here where you're seeing on one side, you got 70s, one side you got the 80s and 90s. Right on that line, your dividing line, is where you can see the best chance of these storms developing into the afternoon hour, through the Great Lakes and into the Upper Midwest.
We've got more on that severe weather possibility coming up.
But now, Joe, let's pitch it back to you.
JOHNS: So, Reynolds, where are your favorite beaches in the United States?
WOLF: I like Folly Beach in South Carolina. I know it's on the U.S. But I actually like Elbow Beach in Bermuda. I was there during a hurricane but magnificent, beautiful place.
JOHNS: Right. I got Santa Barbara, Hilton Head you know
WOLF: Pismo Beach is good, California.
JOHNS: Exactly. Right. Right.
So, we're talking about beaches. But, you know, Memorial Day marks, what, the start of the summer season. According to AAA, 34 million people are going to hit the road. And if you're not sure where you want to go to the beach, Dr. Beach has you covered.
Dr. Beach is Steven Leatherman, director of the Florida International University's coastal research lab. Now, this guy has scoured the country for America's best beaches and he's got a list.
Coming in at number five: Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, OK. Number four: Main Beach in East Hampton, New York. Number three: Kahanamoku Beach in Oahu. You got to have Hawaii in there.
And now, the top two beaches -- you got to wait until after the break and I'll tell you. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: Before the break, we began counting down America's best beaches as listed by Dr. Beach. Here's a look at the best beaches. Rounding up the top five -- coming in at number two: Coronado Beach in San Diego. OK, I'll buy that. And the top beach in America, that -- we finally got the drum roll -- that would be white sands of Siesta Beach on Siesta Key in Sarasota, Florida. Yes, man, I'm about ready to go to the beach.
Sarah Palin hits the road today in a bus. She starts her One Nation Tour in Washington and will head up to New England. Palin has not yet said whether she plans on running for president in 2012, but this bus tour could be an indicator.
Joining me now from Washington is Republican strategist Ford O'Connell.
Ford, you worked with McCain/Palin. Is there anything we can read from this One Nation Tour?
FORD O'CONNELL, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST: Oh, I mean, I think the big question out there is: is this a publicity stunt? Because with Sarah, as you know, every time we talk about Sarah, satellite links line up and everybody wants to see the buzz in the blogosphere.
The bottom line is: she's looking for the opening in the field. If she sees it, if the bus tour is well-received, if the movie in Iowa is well-received, she may enter the race.
At the same time, though, she's looking to remain politically relevant on the national stage. She's a tremendous political talent. She's 47 years old. She does have a political future ahead of here.
JOHNS: Now, today, of course, is Rolling Thunder in Washington, D.C. She is in town and apparently participating in the rally. There you see some of the motorcycle riders, a lot of veterans.
And there's been some controversy about whether she ought to be doing that. Number one, is this the kind of thing she might do to get involved with the motorcycle rally from your experience in the previous campaign?
O'CONNELL: From my experience, you know, with Sarah is -- the bottom line is she's pro-veteran and she's very sort of pro-frontier mentality. And I think that makes the motorcycle rally and the veterans a perfect fit for her.
JOHNS: Does she ride, to your knowledge, a motorcycle?
O'CONNELL: Well, we may find out today. I'm not sure. I mean, obviously, she's very into it with Todd with the snow machines. But this is again a natural fit for her constituency. And I think for a group of people in America that feel our government has talked down or talked over them.
JOHNS: All right. So, if she decides to run for president, how would you gauge her chances if you were handicapping today?
O'CONNELL: I think she's got a long road ahead of her. The bottom line, though, if she can raise money, as we discuss, like a holy roller on Sunday morning. And that will keep you in the game because our primary roles have changed. But with her name ID, she can make a run as long as she can take that sort of anti-establishment mantle.
But what's going to be key is for her to get a top line political team around her and to come up with a game plan, and that game plan is going to have to go through Iowa.
JOHNS: You know, I talked to one conservative and you know him well, Richard Viguerie, who said, to a lot of conservatives around this country, she's sort of an unknown quantity, you know, the last campaign, the one you worked on. In fact, Sarah Palin in fact basically had to do whatever John McCain wanted in terms of policy.
Do we know exactly what Sarah Palin stands for at least at this point? O'CONNELL: Well, I think she stands for limited government. I mean, I think that's the big thing, and she wants to put the economy back on track.
With that said, yes, she is a blank slate to some extent, and part of going from sort of a flame-thrower candidate which she is seen by media pundit, who were fine. It means that she's going to have to up her game, get on message and understand the substantive issues that are facing the American public.
JOHNS: Ford O'Connell in Washington, D.C. -- thanks so much for coming in on the holiday weekend. We'll see you in the campaign trail.
O'CONNELL: Thank you, my friend.
JOHNS: You bet.
O'CONNELL: Hands off that 401(k). Congress is now considering a plan to limit access to your money. But why is that? We'll explore it, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JOHNS: You know a lot of people are struggling in this economy. It's tough. Some folks need extra money just to get by. But two senators don't want you dipping into your 401(k). Democratic Senators Herb Kohl and Republican Senator Mike Enzi have introduced legislation that would limit the loans you're allowed to take from your 401(k).
I asked financial analyst Clyde Anderson why they're pushing this legislation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: With Social Security having problems, they want to make sure we have some sort of retirement fund, even though again this is our own money.
JOHNS: Herb Kohl is rich.
ANDERSON: Right. Herb Kohl, you know, he's the owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, a philanthropist and the lineage of the Kohl's Department Store.
JOHNS: When do you think he tapped his 401(k)?
ANDERSON: And that's why I'm having a problem. You know, right here, I have the bill in my hand. And I have a problem because I think he may be a little bit out of touch with reality of what middle class Americans are going through right now.
Again, this is money that we put aside, you know, for our own savings and now, they're saying they want to limit the amount that you can touch. People are using this money right now for foreclosures, to avoid foreclosure, to really just help ends meet. JOHNS: So, who does this benefit?
ANDERSON: Well, you know, they're saying, again, they want to protect the consumer. So, they want to say they want to limit the amount of time that you can pull loans from this. Now, some people maybe in a situations where they may have abused this and said, you know, I needed excess, I need to do certain things, to pay for certain things, you know, as Americans consume.
But, again, you got a lot of people that are in positions where they are being smart about what they're doing but realize this is money they've taken aside, putting away, and companies have made money of this 401(k) as well, you know? You are talking about putting money aside that came out of just pretax dollars and I think a lot of times, we get caught up in pretax and it seems like so much more. And so, we go with 401(k) and invest it.
JOHNS: Right. Now, what I did here on the radio and in some other places, that they were using that term 401(k) abuse. If you look at it on the other side, what is 401(k) abuse supposed to be? Too many loans or taking money out and not paying it back, or what?
ANDERSON: Well, they're saying it's too many loans. But also, as a lot of people are taking these loans out, and then they're losing their jobs. And what happens when you lose your job, usually, you have several years to pay back this loan if you take it from the employer. But once you lose your job, you have about 60 days to pay it back.
And so, a lot of people, almost 70 percent of the people that take these loans are now defaulting on the loans. So, it's becoming a problem because everybody is losing for that, and if you look at it from a government and company perspective.
JOHNS: So, it's maybe not so much 401(k) abuse as it is 401(k) financial disaster.
ANDERSON: I think you're maybe right. I think it's time for a shift. I mean, this has been in place for a while. I think it's time to look at something -- a different mechanism instead of 401(k). I think it's a little bit outdated right now.
JOHNS: OK. I asked viewers to weigh in on the 401(k) plan and I got some responses on -- either on my Facebook or Twitter page, I can't remember.
Anyway, Judy says, "My two older kids had to dip into their 401(k) but they pay it out of their check. I see no problem with it." Right? OK.
ANDERSON: I mean, again, you have mentioned, it's your money. It's like a piggy bank. It should be. It's my savings account.
So, if I need to pull from it, I'll pull from it, and then I'll pay it back if need be.
JOHNS: Right.
Now, Nardra sent me this one for the senators, "No comment considering they have the golden parachute retirement that takes care of them and their families for the rest of their lives."
There really is a pretty good deal on Capitol Hill when it comes to benefits if you're working there, certainly working for a long time.
ANDERSON: Yes. And I think we mention that, a little out of touch with reality maybe.
JOHNS: And Catherine said this, "It's been a life saver since credit dried up."
Now, there's another thing. The banks won't give you credit, but you can still borrow from yourself.
ANDERSON: Right. Exactly. And, again, you mentioned, I think this is why it was put in place. This is a mechanism to save me if I need to, you know?
As the market crashed, you know, you can't get credit. I got this money put aside, why can't I tap into it to save my financial situation? So, I think, we got to look at it that way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JOHNS: A special conversation with Patrick Kennedy talking about his life, his addiction and his famous family.
"SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts right now.
