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CNN Sunday Morning
Deficit Deadline Looming; Escalating Violence In Egypt; Obama Back Home in Washington
Aired November 20, 2011 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Well, good Sunday morning to you all. We're at the top of the hour on this November 20th. Hello, as always, to our military men and women watching us right now on the American Forces Network. Thank you for being here, and thank you for what you do.
Well, the Republican presidential candidate has a message for the "Occupy" movement, and I quote, "go get a job right after you take a bath." We'll tell you what else you missed from the candidate forum last night in Iowa.
Also, her fiance died in Afghanistan. So to honor him, she joins the Marines to finish his mission.
ANNOUNCER: From CNN's world headquarters, bringing you news and analysis from across the nation and around the globe. Live from Studio 7, this is CNN SUNDAY MORNING with T.J. HOLMES.
HOLMES: Let me get you caught up on the headlines, what you might have missed overnight while you were sleeping.
First of all, President Obama, he came home. He's back at the White House right now after wrapping up a nine-day trip that took him to Hawaii, Australia, and Indonesia. The trip was meant to promote American business and manufacturing in the region.
Also on Capitol Hill today, a live picture you are seeing, and work will be going on. Members of the deficit super committee promising to keep working to get a deal done. But now one member of that so-called super committee is openly admitting that a compromise is unlikely. A live report just a couple of minutes away.
And what you're seeing here, police firing tear gas into crowds of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square today. They're trying to break up demonstrations. It's the second straight day of protests aimed at the military government that took over for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. He was forced from office earlier this year, you'll remember. Two people have been killed in the clashes. We'll have a live report from there. That's minutes away as well.
And firefighters say they now have the upper hand on the wildfires in Reno, Nevada. Thousands of people were forced from their homes, but now many of them being allowed to go back. At least 30 homes were destroyed by those fires. Also, according to the "Hollywood Reporter," actor Christopher Walken has now hired an attorney to represent him in the reopened investigation into actress Natalie Wood's death. Walken was on the boat, the same one that Wood and her husband were on, the night she disappeared and died. Again, that was 30 years ago. The sheriff's department told the paper that Walken is not, however, considered a suspect in the case.
Also, protesters were back at it overnight on the campus of U.C. Davis. They pitched tents on campus. They're protesting rising tuition costs. They were back in place a day after this happened.
(VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And we first showed this to you yesterday. The school's chancellor has ordered an investigation into this pepper spray incident. Police used that pepper spray on the protesters and they say they felt threatened, but this is how one of the protesters described the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOPHIA KAMRAN, PEPPER-SPRAYED BY POLICE: They broke into our circle to remove our tents, which was apparently the aim of the riot cops in the first place. After they removed our tent, they made about five very arbitrary arrests. It could have been any student. It wasn't one person in particular that was acting out. They just arrested who they could, which we felt was unjust. So we stood in solidarity with them -- or actually we sat in solidarity with them and asked for them to be set free. And that's why we didn't move from the crossway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Some people now calling for the chancellor at University of California Davis to step down. The chancellor saying she's not going anywhere.
Also, we continue with some more "Occupy" news. Police in Portland using pepper spray, as well, on the protesters. You see that right there? They're trying to break up the "Occupy" demonstrations there. This protest was part of the nationwide call to action on the two-month anniversary of the "Occupy" movement. Last week we brought this to you live when police first moved in to try to force the protesters out.
But this sign maybe says it all. They're not going anywhere. "Occupy" protesters have kept up the pressure on marching on banks. They're telling them they're turning their focus now to problems with the health care system.
Also "Occupy" protesters in the streets of Washington, D.C. The police ended up arresting about a dozen people after they occupied an abandoned building that was being used -- used to be used as a homeless shelter. Firefighters had to be called in to help clear protesters out of there. And in Des Moines, Iowa, "Occupy" protesters gathered outside a forum for the Republican presidential candidates. It was the Faith and Leadership Forum hosted by a conservative group called Family Leader. And inside, current front-runner now, Newt Gingrich. He had this message for the protesters outside.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All the "Occupy" movement starts with a premise that we all owe them everything. They take over a public park they didn't pay for, to go nearby to use bathrooms they didn't pay for, to beg for foods from places they don't want to pay for, to obstruct those who are going to work to pay the taxes to sustain the bathrooms and to sustain the park so they can self-righteously explain that they are the paragons of virtue to which we owe everything. Go get a job right after you take a bath.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: He was answering a question there about "Occupy." But the main focus of that presidential forum was faith and values. An important opportunity for the candidates to reach out to those conservative voters with just six weeks to go until the first in the nation caucus. Some highlights for you from last night you may have missed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the non-faith element to intimidate us into not fighting that. I believe we've been to passive. We have maybe pushed back, but as people of faith we have not fought back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how do you fight back?
CAIN: The way you fight back is not be afraid to express your faith in any setting, rather than worrying about the political correctness police.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, the states do not have the right to do wrong. And so there are folks here who said that states can do this and I won't get involved in that. I will get involved in that because states, as a president, I will get involved because the states do not have the right to undermine the basic fundamental values that hold this country together.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My challenge for all of you and for every elected official out there, for every governor and for the next president of the United States is to not be afraid to be a faithful individual every day. To live that life. To stand up for your values. To be able -- if you are a pastor, you need to be in the pulpit every Sunday and, frankly, every day that you have the opportunity to be in that pulpit, talking about values because values are going to get decided. Somebody's values are going to decide what the Congress votes on or what the president of the United States is going to deal with.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: We'll have more on that forum and how the race is shaping up coming your way at the bottom of the hour when Patricia Murphy joins us. She'll be our guest in studio.
Also for our viewers, a reminder, just a couple days from now, Tuesday night, the Republicans running for president will gather just steps away from the White House for a presidential debate on national security and the economy, co-sponsored by The Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute. That's the CNN Republican debate, 8:00 Eastern. That's on Tuesday.
And a big story today. It will be a big story tomorrow and throughout the week. This deficit super committee having to work today. Been working all weekend because a deadline is looming. They have to have this thing wrapped up by tomorrow. Let's get to our Lisa Desjardins. She's on Capitol Hill for us this morning.
Was there any movement yesterday? Do we expect any today?
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: No, T.J., no movement yesterday. And to be honest, we don't expect any. And, you know, to say that the super committee is working over the weekend, to be honest, we're not really sure how much work they're doing. They haven't been meeting as a committee. We know Republicans spoke over the phone yesterday. But that's really the only thing that we know as far as actual action. There's great divide over many issues. And right now Republicans and Democrats simply have stopped talking as far as we know.
HOLMES: It sounds like -- and we heard in some sound bites, some interviews, it sounds like they're waving the white flag. So now is it -- are we moving on to politics and who gets the blame if this deal doesn't come together?
DESJARDINS: Right. Well, listen to the last piece of sound we have from any member of the super committee. This is from yesterday, Senator Jon Kyl. Here's what he told reporters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JON KYL (R), ARIZONA: The hope was that even at this late day you could take things that had been scored and put them -- put them together. But that's pretty doubtful at this point. But obviously nobody wants to quit until the stroke of midnight, as you can see here by my presence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DESJARDINS: Now, he wasn't blaming anyone. And, in fact, he was asked, who should get the blame for this. Senator Kyl said, I'm not saying. But, T.J., behind the scenes, even for the last four or five days, the blame game has been underway with some Republicans saying, oh, President Obama needs to get involved. That's always a sign the talks are probably kind of about to go over the cliff. Democrats saying that Republicans simply won't compromise. So certainly the seeds of the blame game have been planted.
HOLMES: Lisa, last thing.
DESJARDINS: Yes.
HOLMES: Remind our viewers. OK. If they don't get a deal done, what happens?
DESJARDINS: Right. Across the board cuts for most of government. That means the Defense Department and most everyone else, not Medicare recipients, not Social Security, but most everyone else in government would get about an 8 to 9 percent cut. But -- the big but, T.J. --
HOLMES: Yes.
DESJARDINS: It won't go into effect until 2013. So if the super committee fails, Congress has all of next year in theory to rework this if they want or if they can get the votes. And that's unclear as well.
HOLMES: All right. They said they'd be working this weekend, but Lisa Desjardins telling us --
DESJARDINS: I don't see them.
HOLMES: Not a creature is stirring so far.
Lisa, we'll check in with you again. Thank you so much.
We're at 10 minutes past the hour now. And we know our military men and women are a brave, brave bunch for what they do out there on the battlefield. But it really took some guts to do this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. SCOTT MOORE, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: Hey, Mila, Sergeant Moore. But you can call me Scotty. I just want to take a moment out of my day to invite you to the Marine Corps Ball on November 18th in Greenville, North Carolina.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Love this guy. Cool as a fan, asking that lady, one of the hottest actresses out there, Mila Kunis, out to the ball. You know, well, the ball just took place. Did she show up? We've got the update. Stay with me.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, at 12 minutes past the hour, welcome back to this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Thank you all for being here.
We're going to turn to a situation out in California right now. They're out there monitoring a landslide that's creeping across San Diego. They believe it could be getting more serious. Take a look at this. A major chunk of road swallowed by a sinkhole. That hole may be getting bigger after storms expected there later. And city crews say the landslide is now moving four inches a day. Back in November, it was moving an inch a day. They say the sinkhole was caused by a rupture of an old water line underground.
Well, again, we're just about 13 minutes past the hour. And let us say a very good, good morning to Alexandra Steele.
Always good to have you with us.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you.
HOLMES: You told me snow -- we're talking snow?
STEELE: The first snow of the season for some yesterday.
HOLMES: Is that right? Whoo-hoo.
STEELE: Oooh. Yes. And we're talking tornadoes concurrently.
HOLMES: Oh, wow.
STEELE: So a lot going on. And 70-degree temperatures in the northeast. So lots going on.
Hi, everyone. Hope you're having a great Sunday morning.
Let's show you what it looked like. Minneapolis, first snow of the season, picking up three inches. Places, though, could see and did see 12 inches of snow in Rapid City. So, South Dakota really taking the brunt of this snow. But, you know, actually a little bit late. About four weeks late for some areas. Average snow, first of the season, about October 3rd. So well later than that.
All right, so let's take a look at the big picture. Here's the radar perspective from Paducah to Bowling Green to Lexington. There's a cold front. And along the cardinal front we've got showers and storms. And believe it or not, there's the potential today for severe weather. It's actually called a second tornado season. Second half of October into November there is the chance for some isolated tornadoes. And we do have that.
You can see Dallas, Ft. Worth, to Little Rock the potential for some strong storms. Kind of synoptically everything's coming together. That warm, moist air from the south. That lifting mechanism with the front.
So that being said, also here in the northeast, hey enjoy it. Boston, you can see, New York, Washington, 60s today. Hey, take a look what happens tomorrow. That cold front moves through. Temperatures drop to the 40s and 50s, although still staying really mild here in the southeast.
So, big picture for today. Cold temperatures here in the northeast. Warm in the southeast. And this massive storm, once again, moving into southern California, T.J., could see maybe up to 12 inches of snow in the Sierra, four to eight in the southern California mountains. So we'll talk about that. And Wednesday, huge travel day. And we could see some problems on the East Coast. We'll hit that coming up next.
HOLMES: We don't like problems.
STEELE: No.
HOLMES: All right. Thank you, Alexandra. Always good to have you with us.
STEELE: Thanks, T.J.
HOLMES: And it's about 15 minutes past the hour now. We're always singling out our military men and women for what they do out on the battlefield, for their bravery there. But it really -- it really took some bravery to do this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. SCOTT MOORE, U.S. MARINE CORPS.: Hey, Mila, Sergeant Moore. But you can call me Scotty. I just want to take a moment out of my day to invite you to the Marine Corps Ball on November 18th in Greenville, North Carolina, with yours truly. So, take a second, think about it and get back to me. All right, bye now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: I love that guy. Cool as a fan. There he is, though. He got his date. The Marine Corps Ball was Friday night in North Carolina and Mila Kunis, the one he was asking out, Sergeant Scott Moore, she showed up and she was his date for the ball. Now, she's not the only one to do this as of late. You may remember Justin Timberlake, there's a picture of him, he starred with Mila Kunis as one of his running buddies. But they kind of had this little bet going back and forth. But that young lady you see there, -- there she is -- Corporal Kelsey De Santis, she called out J.T. in a YouTube video. That got out. He decided he would go with her. Mila Kunis decided she'd go with Sergeant Moore. So, really, nice to see celebrities giving back in such a way. But it looks like this might be the theme a lot of military men and women might start calling out celebrities. You're not going to turn down a member of the military.
We're at 16 minutes past the hour now and former President Hosni Mubarak, forced out by those Arab uprisings and now Egypt looked like it was about to turn a new page, but this is actually what it looks like in reality today. Chaos in Tahrir Square once again. Two people dead, 750 wounded. We'll take you live to Cairo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Eighteen minutes past the hour now. We turn to Egypt. Violent clashes between demonstrators and riot police are now escalating. (VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: The health ministry says two people were killed, about 928 people injured. Early today, Tahrir Square was packed with demonstrators who barricaded the streets and blocked traffic. Our Ben Wedeman is in Cairo.
Ben, these scenes look awfully familiar from several months back. But why are protesters once again back in Tahrir Square?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, T.J., it really is like old days. In fact, this Cairo newspaper says "flashback, blood, fire, and tears in Tahrir."
What they're protesting about is the -- what's called the SCAF (ph) -- the supreme council of the armed forces, which took over from deposed President Hosni Mubarak back on the 11th of February. Many people increasingly impatient. They feel that it's time for the generals to go back to the barracks. They're angry at police brutality. As we've seen, almost 1,000 people wounded. One dead in Cairo. One dead in Alexandria.
And, of course, we're just eight days away from Egypt's first democratic election, post the fall of Hosni Mubarak. And, of course, the military rulers are increasingly nervous about the possibility of violence during the elections. But they're really stuck between a rock and a hard place. (INAUDIBLE) the elections could indeed be violent. On the other hand, if they cancel them out of fear of violence, there could be even more violence.
But this is really a vivid display of this newfound Egyptian freedom. This desire to come out and express their anger in ways that a year ago would have been simply impossible.
T.J.
HOLMES: Ben, you mentioned the elections. Is it up in the air right now for what they might do? Or at this point they plan on making sure they go ahead with that vote?
WEDEMAN: Their position is still full steam ahead, that the vote will go ahead. It's going to be a very long election. There's going to be four different rounds and each one has a runoff. So we're talking about well over a dozen elections in Egypt between the end of this month and March of next year. But certainly these will be critical elections, which will sort of set the tone for the atmosphere in the country. They will be taking place in most of Cairo and Alexandria, the two biggest cities in Egypt.
So there's a lot of expectation. But it will probably go ahead. But as I said, many Egyptians I've spoken to very worried about what could happen when the ballot boxes begin, when the voting begins on the 28th of November.
HOLMES: All right, Ben Wedeman for us in Cairo. Thank you as always. Let us switch now to Syria where President Bashir al Assad is sending out a warning to the world despite his nation's increasing isolation.
(VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Al Assad is saying that any military intervention against his country would lead to, quote, "very dire repercussions." He also told a British newspaper that he is willing to die resisting foreign forces. The Arab League voted last week to suspend Syria's membership and the west is threatening economic sanctions over the eight-month crackdown on protesters. The United Nations says more than 3,500 people have been killed in the violence. Assad's office places the death toll, though at 619.
Well, the "Occupy" movement has created headlines as protesters clash with police. But in Fairbanks, Alaska, the bigger fight is over the bitter cold and tents to keep the protesters warm.
Also, it's the holiday season. A lot of people are going to be out there shopping. Maybe a few dolls are going to be bought. Some of these talking dolls. You're not going to believe what this doll might be saying to your child. We've got one right here with us. We'll explain the controversy. Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 25 minutes past the hour. A look at stories making news across country.
We start with an "Occupy" protest in Fairbanks, Alaska. The challenge here is the weather. The Occupy Fairbanks movement has kept its vigil at Veterans Memorial Park for two months, but temperatures midweek plunged to minus 36 degrees. Town officials want their warm-up tents removed, calling them squatters. But protesters say they have the right to stay warm.
In Tampa, a severely wounded Iraq War veteran has a new home thanks to an organization called Building Homes for Heroes. The organization's founder says Sergeant Joel Tavera's spirit and courage are unbelievable. He lost both eyes, rights leg, four fingers and suffered burns over 60 percent of his body after several rockets hit his SUV. The Army awarded Tavera the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SGT. JOEL TAVERA, WOUNDED IRAQ VETERAN: Just walking through and thinking, man, this is a huge home. I might get lost in here. It's kind of nice though. It was nice to be lost in my own home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And in Marietta, Georgia, another sign of the tough economy. Hundreds lined up for free dental care Saturday. Many waited for hours. Volunteers for an organization called Dentistry From the Heart saying so many showed up, they had to turn some away. All right, I want to turn to a story we were telling you about yesterday. It's Christmas time. A lot of people are going to be buying gifts, holiday gifts. Maybe some toys. Some toy dolls. But one being sold at Toys 'r' Us, people have an issue with. I have one in my hand right now. And people are concerned with what it says. All right. I want to let you hear what this doll says. Listen closely. You tell me what you think you hear.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK (INAUDIBLE).
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: OK, folks, it -- we have it here and we were trying to let you hear, but you judge for yourself, but people think they are hearing the doll say, "hey, you crazy blank." The b word. This is called the You and Me Interactive Triplets doll. It's made for kids ages -- you see right there -- two and up. Now, parents heard this and, of course, they said, wait a second. Something is wrong here. However, Toys 'r' Us, where the doll is sold, they put out a statement in saying, hey, this is just a coincidence. If you think you hear that, it's not quite right. Here it is. They said, anything that sounds similar to a swear word is just coincidence. What you are hearing is baby babble. So cue it up for me one more time and we're going to roll it and let you hear it one more time. Listen to this. We do have it, right?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hey, (INAUDIBLE).
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: There you go. So, you decide, is that baby babble or do you think something's up here? I mean babies can say all kinds of, you know, things that sound like swear words. Maybe this is just a coincidence, or is something else up? Should this be pulled? Please get involved in this conversation. A lot of parents out there are concerned. Others are saying, yes, what do you do here? Just some baby babble. You know where to find us. Been talking to some of you already on Twitter. Always keep that up here right next to me at the desk. But also you can find us on our blog, cnn.com/tj and also on FaceBook at tjholmescnn.
We're about 28 minutes past the hour now. Getting close to the bottom of an hour. We'll have an update on the stories making headlines here in just a moment.
Also, something in New York to keep a close eye on. One hundred and fifty thousand kids possibly left standing on the curb Monday morning trying to get to school. Yes, New York City making plans in case school bus drivers decide not to show up. Also this morning, time is running out. Will the super committee come up with a deal. And will it be a big deal or will they just live down those expectations and start blaming each other once again? That's all next. Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We are just past the bottom of the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. Thank you for spending part of your weekend here with us.
And let me get you caught up now on what's going on and what will be going on this coming week. The spotlight is on the Congressional Super Committee. Six of the 12 members of committee appear on television talk shows today, looking increasingly doubtful. They'll reach agreement on how to reduce the nation's deficit by tomorrow's deadline. The main sticking point for reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion, of course, is over taxes.
Also, the president missed much of the committee's struggle during his nine-day trip to Hawaii, Australia, and Indonesia. We're told he did keep updated, though. He arrived back at the White House earlier today. He says trade agreements involving Boeing and G.E. will increase exports and save 130,000 jobs.
Also, the new government in Libya says it wants Moammar Gadhafi's captured son, Saif al-Islam, prosecuted. Revolutionary fighters took custody of him after a stakeout and desert gunfight. The International Criminal Court in The Hague wants to put him on trial for war crimes.
His capture set off celebrations all across Libya. His captors say he was trying to make it to Niger, which has granted one of his brothers asylum.
Also, tragedy at one of the oldest college football rivalries in the country. An accident outside the stadium at Yale University killed a woman and injured two others as they tailgated before the game against Harvard. The driver of a u-haul lost control, suddenly sped up, and crashed into the women.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I mean, you could see the path of destruction coming in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were kind of just pin-balling off, but one hit the other.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just thought it was an accident, but then you see all the people laying on the ground over there. It was horrible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Yale is now reviewing policies related to tailgating before athletic events.
Also an undercover video showing chickens being abused at an egg farm has now cost that company dearly. McDonald's and Target both dropped Sparboe Farms as their egg supplier after this video went public. The video by the group Mercy for Animals shows chicken crammed into crowded cages and unsanitary conditions.
The FDA already had cited the company for serious violations. The company owner says in a statement, quote, "I was deeply saddened. This isn't who Sparboe Farms is. Acts depicted in the footage are totally unacceptable and completely at odds with our values as egg farmers."
Also, the New York City school system worried about a possible strike by bus drivers. And if that happens, more than 150,000 public school kids would be affected and may not have rides to school. Maybe starting as early as tomorrow. The Amalgamated Transit Union says it wants to protect jobs. The city, though, is looking at plans to get students to school, including providing metro cards and reimbursing parents for gas.
We turn to some politics now. And the Republican presidential candidates speaking to conservative voters in Iowa. Most of them were there for a Faith and Values Forum. Here are some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HERMAN CAIN (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: In the declaration where it says "endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights," and then it delineates three of them - life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. It says that among these are those three. I happen to think there was another one that was implied - the right to protect yourself, your family, to protect your property.
NEWT GINGRICH (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The declaration of independence is signed by a group of people who are going to fight an eight-year war. It is a declaration of war in Great Britain, in effect. Washington is in the field for eight years with one week at Mt. Vernon. These people who wrote these documents understood the grim reality.
I believe we should not go to war if we can avoid it. And when we have to go to war we should do so decisively with overwhelming power to seek the quickest possible victory. And we should in fact be quite prepared to do whatever it takes to win once we begin an engagement.
MICHELE BACHMANN (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There is nothing more important to me than those little lives that we raised. And I didn't give birth to them, moms didn't give birth to these kids so that they become wards of the state or servants of the state. We raised these kids to grow up and be happy, fulfilled adults, to carry on our society and live wonderful, fulfilled lives. That's what we want.
How do they achieve that? They achieve that by all that we pour into them as little people, but then also through the education system. This is what moms are concerned about. That is a common good.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Those are the two places when we talk about the common good, is obviously the defense of this country, the security of this country, and the economic security of the family.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, who did you not see on that stage? You did not see Mitt Romney. He skipped out on that forum in Iowa and instead held a town hall in New Hampshire, the first primary state. Listen to him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A year from now, you're going to turn on your TV, and the announcer may come on and say President Obama has been re-elected. And that's the case - I hope that's not the case.
If that's the case, what you'll know is that we're in for another three or four or five years (INAUDIBLE) of distressed housing prices, you'll know that median income will most likely continue to go down. And you'll know that it's going to be tough being in the middle class in America.
Now there's an alternative. You can turn on your TV and hopefully what you'll see is someone coming on and saying help is on the way. Mitt Romney got elected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, that's where the candidates maybe standing on faith and values. But coming up next, political insider and someone who is quickly becoming a good friend of our show here on CNN SATURDAY and SUNDAY MORNING. There she is, Patricia Murphy in the house taking a look at where these Republicans stand and the week that was and the week that will be.
Stay with us. Washington, D.C., gorgeous picture. A lot of work getting done there today. Right, Patricia?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, it's 40 minutes past the hour now.
We turn to some politics in the race of the Republican presidential nomination just six weeks away from casting votes in Iowa. The latest polls show Newt Gingrich. He is in a dead heat. He's a front-runner now.
Joining me now, a good friend of ours, Patricia Murphy, founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics. And we were just talking about a moment - I think we had it queued up. Something that happened at the beginning of the forum last night - PATRICIA MURPHY, EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: Yes.
HOLMES: -- which I thought was just almost cute. It was interesting. It was Michele Bachmann - can we roll the video here for a second?
This is the forum starting. All the candidates are sitting down. And we're not making a big to-do about it. But listen to the sound here, but she starts getting everybody water.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to begin by thanking Representative Bachmann for taking care of the water for today's events.
BACHMANN: I'm used to it, Frank.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You know, this was - you know, moments like this just happen on the campaign trail. But does this tell us something about her? This is just her nature?
MURPHY: Well, it totally tells us that she's a mom with five kids. There is no mom who is going to let a table sit with empty glasses. This is just Michele Bachmann rolling up her sleeves, and getting in there.
HOLMES: I thought it was an interesting moment from last night.
MURPHY: And notice the men are also sitting around, like, thank you for the water. Thank you, Michele.
HOLMES: Well, let's turn now to actually what they were talking about. It was a faith and values forum, yes. But Newt Gingrich, a lot of eyes on him these days.
MURPHY: Yes.
HOLMES: Something I'm getting a lot of response from is what he said about the Occupy folks last night.
MURPHY: Yes.
HOLMES: He said go get a job right after you take a bath.
MURPHY: Well, you know, he's not wasting any of his time embracing the Occupy Wall Street movement when he knows that his conservative base has a lot of problems with the Occupy Wall Street movement.
To me, though, for anybody who wants to someday get into a general election sounded incredibly harsh, and it's not that people aren't looking for jobs. I mean, there's 9, 10, 11, 12 percent unemployment in some of these states. It's not they're not looking for jobs, there aren't jobs and that's why they're protesting. But this is Newt Gingrich being, you know, Newt Gingrich.
HOLMES: Did he peak too soon? Someone told me that.
MURPHY: Yes.
HOLMES: It would be better if he would have gotten to the front- runner status maybe after the Thanksgiving holiday.
MURPHY: Well, of course everybody wants to peak the day of the Iowa caucuses, right. And so we've had with all these Republican candidates just an incredible series of booms and bust. And so you boom, you break out, you're a front-runner. And then the media comes and visits and they bring up everything that you've done in your past life.
And for Newt Gingrich, he has been in public life for so long -
HOLMES: We're not going to learn anything else about him, are we?
MURPHY: Well, we're not going to learn anything, but we're going to be reminded of things.
HOLMES: Right.
MURPHY: And there are things about Newt Gingrich that conservatives, if his name was, you know, Danny - I don't know what. If his name was not Newt Gingrich - excuse me -
HOLMES: Anybody else's name.
MURPHY: Yes. If he was anybody else. If he was Joe Smith and he had supported TARP, which he did, if he had supported an individual mandate, which he did, if he had been paid by Freddie Mac, which he was, for his advice and counsel in Washington, if any other candidate had done that, conservatives would not be giving them a second look.
But it's Newt Gingrich. Those things have been on the back burner because he's not been getting a lot of attention. Now that he is getting a lot of attention, what he has done in his past life is coming back in ways to haunt him. So, yes, he may have peaked a little bit too soon.
HOLMES: OK. You talked about boom and bust. Why hasn't Mitt Romney gone bust yet?
MURPHY: He is just Mr. Steady Eddie right now just flying below the radar. And he learned his lesson in 2008. He is just doing everything right. Just taking care of business in these early states. Just opened an office in Iowa. Isn't really playing strong in Iowa, but he's going to cover his bases there just in case. And he's going big in New Hampshire, because that's where he wants to get the headlines.
Now, it's not helping him break out of the polls, but he is at least just nice and steady. And he may just end up being kind of the nice guy who eventually asks you to the prom and eventually go with him. He's not like the exciting, whiz-bang guy.
HOLMES: But he's solid. He's a good guy.
MURPHY: he's just a solid, just solid, straight arrow, maybe that's just going to be who they end up with at the end of the day.
HOLMES: He's the one that mom wants their daughter to settle down with.
MURPHY: You can trust him, can't you?
HOLMES: You can trust him.
MURPHY: Just look at him.
HOLMES: And Herman Cain going to be OK?
MURPHY: Well, Herman Cain, listen, he's still holding on in these polls. Iowa, he is still leading in Iowa. And if he pulled out a win in Iowa, that changes the race dramatically. Iowa, you know, none of these votes have been counted. But whoever wins Iowa is a contender. They are the real deal.
Right now, these guys are just vying for who could be a contender. And if he, you know, stays this strong in Iowa, in January as he is today, he's going to still be in great shape.
HOLMES: All right. Patricia Murphy, who - I'll go ahead and just say it here, will be a regular on - on our show.
MURPHY: Thank you.
HOLMES: It's so good to have you here.
MURPHY: What a pleasure.
HOLMES: It's good - she's not a morning person. I'm giving her a hard time. But it's good to have you as always.
MURPHY: It's great to be here.
HOLMES: About a quarter to the top of the hour now.
And a former White House Chief of Staff, now the Chicago mayor, Rahm Emanuel, he said the field of Republican candidates, a bunch of - and I quote, "turkeys." Maybe appropriate language for the Thanksgiving holiday coming up. He was the keynote speaker at a Democratic fundraiser in Iowa while the Republican Thanksgiving Family Forum we were talking about was going on across town. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, CHICAGO: I don't know about you, but I've watched a couple of those debates. I've got to be honest. I never thought I'd say this - I'm beginning to miss the wisdom of Sarah Palin.
Their debate was called the Thanksgiving Family Forum, which is fitting because I've never seen a greater collection of turkeys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: What are you doing there, Patricia?
Emanuel was harshest on Romney calling him inconsistent and cold for the problems of the middle class.
Also, Jon Huntsman, he skipped the Republican Forum in Iowa as well, but he did find time to drop by "Saturday Night Live" to talk about being an underdog. How did this go?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Isn't it true that nationally you're currently polling in the low single digit?
JON HUNTSMAN (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It is true, Seth (ph). But only a few months ago, I was polling at margin of error. So to have any digit at all is a pretty big deal.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you so much for coming.
HUNTSMAN: Are your parents registered voters?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My mom is a Democrat and my father is an independent.
HUNTSMAN: Say hi to your dad for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: You know, can that - and how was his performance last night actually?
MURPHY: It was pretty good. It was pretty good.
HOLMES: OK.
MURPHY: And, again, for somebody who was pulling a margin of error just to get on "Saturday Night Live," you know -
HOLMES: It's a big deal.
MURPHY: -- that's a big deal.
HOLMES: Well, he's known as being kind of the stiff guy, can't really break out. He didn't seem to really break out and show that much personality (INAUDIBLE).
MURPHY: Well, that's a lot of (ph) personality out of Jon Huntsman.
HOLMES: Wow. The standard is so low, so it was a good performance. All right.
Well, Huntsman said he did not care about the national poll numbers earlier this week while he was in New Hampshire. He's putting his whole campaign on New Hampshire, as you might know. He's been spending all his time there, the nation's first primary. So he needs a good showing there.
We're about 12 minutes off the top of the hour.
We're going to turn to some sports. And Tiger Woods - he brings it home for the American team at the President's Cup. Is Tiger back?
Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're about 10 minutes off the top of the hour on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. Good morning to the City by the Bay there. Pretty early out there for them. A lot of them still out probably in this Saturday night.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Not home yet. Well, a lot of wet weather happening there, though.
HOLMES: All right.
STEELE: California under the gun (ph). Let's talk a little sports.
HOLMES: Yes.
STEELE: Michael Vick?
HOLMES: Yes.
STEELE: Not happy. He's not going to be on the sideline. He's still be home, right?
HOLMES: Maybe they can pull off one day, because they need to win desperately.
STEELE: All right. So here's the forecast.
Hi, everyone. Welcome back, again. All right. Giants hosting the Eagles, 8:20 tonight, 55 degrees, though, so certainly some decent-looking weather. But, hey, the antithesis of that, Green Bay hosting Tampa Bay, 1:00 game, temperatures 32. If this game were at 8:00 tonight, it would be 27 degrees. So very chilly out there if you're going to be out there at all.
And also what we're going to see today in terms of the wet weather, not so much in those areas, obviously but there's the stalled cold front we've been watching. In the northeast, temperatures are really mild today; 60s even floating with 70 in Washington, but enjoy it. Tomorrow those temperatures really drop. Warm here in the southeast as well. California just an inundation of rain and snow. Snow in the sierra, it could see up to a foot. Southern California Mountains at about 6,000 feet, getting four to eight inches of snow.
And, of course, Wednesday a big travel day, T.J., coming up we'll talk about where the troubles will be in just a little while.
HOLMES: As always, Alexandra, always good to have you here with us.
STEELE: Thank you.
HOLMES: Thank you so much. We'll see her plenty throughout the morning.
We turn to a little sports. And Tiger Woods, he won it all for the U.S. team at the President's Cup in Australia. His match, his round, he beat his guy head to head, sank the putt that actually put the U.S. on top to win the President's Cup. He had a really rocky start to the whole President's Cup, certainly in that first round. But he bounced back and won it all.
Does this mean Tiger is back? Well, a lot of people hoping he will be for a lot of reasons including for golf itself. But the President's Cup goes to the U.S. team. Tiger Woods winning it with a winning shot.
All right. And in football, college football, this weekend was wild. If you didn't keep up with this, the BCS Championship picture is now just hazy. Because three out of the top five teams lost this weekend. Oklahoma State lost. Oklahoma lost. Oregon lost. So that opens the door for your Arkansas Razorbacks to get into the national championship picture. Anybody who knows this show, knows me at all, knows why I'm putting this out there. But things did get interesting, but you'll still going to have LSU and Alabama up top.
We're about eight minutes off the top of the hour now. And a story that you just have to hear next. Someone that I was really touched to talk to a couple of days ago. This is a story of love and commitment and a woman wanting to finish the work of her fiance who died in Afghanistan. Stay with me. You want to hear it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: We're about six minutes off the top of the hour now.
And I want you to stop for a moment because I want you to listen to Madeline Cates' story. Her fiance died in Afghanistan just weeks after he was deployed, five weeks after he was deployed. You can imagine that devastating news. But then she got determined. Determined to finish her fiance's mission.
So what did she do? She enlisted. Listen to her tell me her story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MADELINE CATES, FALLEN MARINE'S FIANCEE (via telephone): I just have it in me right now to basically finish his mission. He started it, and I'm hoping to finish it for him. I want to be able to do that for him. I feel like I would honor him in that way.
HOLMES: Now, a lot of people would tell you he enlisted, he went to war. He sacrificed for his country. So, you know, it sounds like he did do his mission.
But what part of you feels it's not complete, that he didn't necessarily get to finish?
CATES: Well, just the fact that, you know, it was such a short time that he was over there and that he has so many like plans in the Marine Corps that he never got to do and he just got started out. He hadn't even been in a year. So I feel like I need to do that for him. I think that he would like that.
HOLMES: You ever thought about military service for yourself before?
CATES: No. Not at all. Not at all until recently, about maybe two months ago.
HOLMES: Now, how long after his death that this idea really comes up? And how long did you go back and forth debating about doing it?
CATES: Well, I started thinking about it not even a week afterwards. Like it just popped into my head and it kind of stuck there. And I didn't really say anything for a while, but probably I want to say almost two months afterward is when I finally went to the recruiting station, and it just went from there.
HOLMES: When did you all plan to get married?
CATES: He proposed March of this year. March 20 is when we got engaged. And he was supposed to be back from Afghanistan February or March time frame. There's no direct time. But whenever he got back we were supposed to have our wedding. We had it planned out.
HOLMES: Madeline, it is an absolute pleasure to talk to you. I'm sorry these circumstances brought us together, but a lot of people have heard your story. And they have certainly touched by it. So sorry for your loss.
But I really hope we can continue to keep up with you and check in with you as you begin his mission, as you say, but a mission of your own, as well. Thank you so much and good luck, Madeline.
CATES: Thank you. Thank you, T.J.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Madeline Cates, we will keep up with her story.
Now, we're getting close to the top of the hour. Clyde Anderson coming up next. Stay with us.
* HOLMES: Good morning to you all. Top of the hour here on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING. From the CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, I'm T.J. Holmes.
I want to get you caught up on what you may have missed overnight.
At first, President Obama, he's back home, came home after that nine-day trip that took him to Hawaii, Australia, as well as Indonesia. It was meant to promote American business and manufacturing in the region.
Also, Capitol Hill today, supposed to be a busy place, should be a busy place. But what's the point?
Some are even telling you, the deficit supercommittee that is facing down this deadline now -- they have to work this weekend for any hopes of getting a deal done. But according to our reporters, not a lot of meetings are necessarily going on. Maybe some phone calls here or there. And, also, some members of the supercommittee coming out and saying a compromise is unlikely.
We will go live to Capitol Hill here in just a couple of minutes.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: Are you're seeing this scene here. This is police firing teargas into crowds of protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square. This was happening today. They're trying to break up demonstrations. This is the second day of demonstrations we've seen aimed at the military government that took over when former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was forced from office earlier this year. Two people were killed in the clashes yesterday.
Turn back here to the states and Reno, Nevada. Firefighters there say they do have the upper hand now on wildfires. Thousands of people were forced from their homes, but now many are being allowed to go back, at least 30 homes were destroyed by the fires.
Also, according to the "Hollywood Reporter," actor Christopher Walken has now hired an attorney to represent him in the reopened investigation into Natalie Wood's death. Walken was on the boat, along with Wood and her husband, the night she died 30 years ago. The sheriff's department told the paper that Walken, however, is not considered a suspect in the case.
We turn to the protest, the Occupy protests, and one of them going on the campus of U.C. Davis. They pitched tents on campus to protest rising tuition costs. These protests and some protesters are back in place a day after we saw this scene play out.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
HOLMES: You saw this first here yesterday. And people were outraged when they saw a lot of this video. And the school's chancellor has ordered an investigation into this pepper spray incident.
Police were pepper-spraying protesters who were on the ground. Police say they felt threatened and defended their right of using that pepper spray.
One protester described the scene this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOPHIA KAMRAN, PEPPER-SPRAYED BY POLICE: They broke into our circle to remove our tents, which was apparently the aim of the riot cops in the first place. After they removed our tents, they made about five very arbitrary arrests. It could have been any student. It wasn't one person in particular that was acting out. They just arrested two they could, which we felt was unjust, so we stood in solidarity with them -- actually, we sat in solidarity with them and asked for them to be set free. And that's why we didn't move from the crossway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: You have some people now calling for the school's chancellor to step down. She says that is not going to happen.
Continuing with Occupy movement now, police in Portland used pepper spray. See the highlighted area we're showing there? This was a couple of days ago. But a lot of people are pointing to this as a sign of police kind of going over the line here.
Now, this was a demonstration, you see the woman sprayed directly in the face. The protest was part of a nationwide call to action on the two-month anniversary of the Occupy movement. Last week, though, it was us right here that brought this to you live, the scenes on the streets of Portland overnight when police first moved in to try and force protesters out.
So, how is that going? Maybe this -- you see the sign, "We are not going anywhere." The protesters kept up the pressure. They're marching on local banks, and some of them are turning their focus to problems with the health care system.
Streets of Washington, D.C., as well, Occupy protesters, you can find them there. Police ended up arresting nearly a dozen people after they occupied an abandoned building that used to be a homeless shelter. Firefighters had to be called in to help clear out protesters in that building.
Also in Des Moines, Iowa, last night, Occupy protesters gathered outside a forum for the Republican presidential candidates. It was the Faith and Leadership Forum hosted by a conservative group called the Family Leader.
And inside, the current front-runner, Newt Gingrich, he did speak about the protesters. They might not like what he had to say. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: All the Occupy movement starts with the premise that we all owe them everything. They take over a public park they didn't pay for, to go nearby to use bathrooms they didn't pay for, to beg for foods from places that they don't want to pay for, to obstruct those who are going to work to pay the taxes to sustain the bathrooms and to sustain the park so they can self-righteously explain that they are the paragons of virtue to which we owe everything.
Go get a job right after you take a bath.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, the main focus of the presidential forum was faith and values, an important opportunity for some of the candidates to reach out to those conservative voters just six weeks now until the first in the nation caucus. Some of the highlights you may have missed last night --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Those of us that are people of faith and strong faith have allowed the non-faith element to intimidate us into not fighting back. I believe we've been too passive. We have maybe pushed back, but as people of faith, we have not fought back.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And how do you fight back?
CAIN: The way you fight back is not be afraid to express your faith in any setting rather than worrying about the political correctness police.
RICK SANTORUM (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, the states do not have the right to do wrong. And so, there are folks here who said that states can do this, and I won't get involved in that.
I will get involved in that because states, as a president, I will get involved because the states do not have the right to undermine the basic fundamental values that hold this country together.
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: My challenge for all of you and for every elected official out there, for every governor and for next president of the United States is to not be afraid to be a faithful individual every day, to live that life, to stand up for your values, to be able -- if you are a pastor, you need to be in the pulpit every Sunday and, frankly, every day that you have the opportunity to be in that pulpit, talking about values, because values are going to get decided. Somebody's values are going to decide what the Congress votes on or what the president of the United States is going to deal with.
(END VIDEO CLIPS) HOLMES: And a reminder to our viewers. Tuesday night on CNN, the Republicans running for president will gather in Washington, D.C., not too far from the White House, for a Republican presidential debate on national security and the economy. It's co-sponsored by the Heritage Foundation and American Enterprise Institute, 8:00 Eastern Time, Tuesday, right here on CNN.
Let's get back now to the story, the big story about the deficit supercommittee, supposed to be the big story over the next couple of days. But it is not looking good right now.
Our Lisa Desjardins is on Capitol Hill for us.
And there was a Thanksgiving deadline to get a deal done, that's Wednesday. But in all reality, they need to have something done by tomorrow. Monday is a real deadline.
LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right.
Here's the deal, T.J., the law that put the supercommittee into effect said that a supercommittee can only vote on a proposal if it has all the estimates for the costs of that proposal two days ahead of time. Oh, that means really tomorrow, they need to have all those estimates in place.
And I also think really, T.J., there's kind of more of a theoretical deadline here, as well. At this point, talks have completely broken down. We don't think Democrats and Republicans are talking to each other. They're still in their party groups. In fact, we just had one phone call yesterday. No in-person meetings up here.
So at this point, it feels like staffers and supercommittee members are starting to think about plans to go home for Thanksgiving. And I'm starting to wonder, you know, are they making travel plans? When will they do that? Probably tomorrow and the next day.
So, I think, in the next few days we will have a sense of when this all could end -- T.J.
HOLMES: Well, it's not looking good. Remind our viewers, the consequences of not getting a deal done.
DESJARDINS: They're serious. Eight percent to 9 percent cuts across the board, across federal government. That means 8 percent to 9 percent cuts at the Defense Department, and then on the other half of government, discretionary cuts to the rest of spending.
That was meant to kind of share the pain equally between the pro- defense or public ends and Democrats who are concerned about social programs. So, both defense and social programs would get hit. I know there might be Medicare recipients out there who are worried. In this deal, though, Medicare recipients, the beneficiaries, they would not get hit by the cuts. But perhaps Medicare providers would, T.J.?
HOLMES: OK. And last thing, we're going to let you go. But I just want to be clear, they told us they would work through the weekend if they needed to. From what we gather, they don't necessarily have meetings planned. They weren't meetings face to face.
I know they get work done on the phones. But for the most part, what is the evidence that work and negotiations are going on this weekend?
DESJARDINS: There isn't any evidence that serious negotiations are going on. It is very possible -- I mean, this whole supercommittee process has mostly been in secret. Supporters up here have been staking them out, outside their doors, trying to get little pieces of information.
But there haven't been any in-person meetings since Friday. And even then, it was really kind of everybody in their corners, Republicans meeting with themselves, Democrats meeting with themselves. Right now, T.J., there is no sign that negotiations are ongoing.
It would be interesting to watch "STATE OF THE UNION" in a couple of hours coming up on CNN --
HOLMES: Yes.
DESJARDINS: --and see what supercommittee members say on air today about how things are going. That might be -- the negotiations may happen on air.
HOLMES: On the air.
Lisa Desjardins, thank you. We'll check in with you again there on Capitol Hill. We're about 11 minutes past the hour now.
We're going to turn some weather and some nasty stuff moving into the upper Midwest. Going to have traffic issues. I know a lot of people starting to travel right now, trying to get to grandma's house for Thanksgiving. Well, need to stick around for the forecast. Tell you what's coming up.
Also, we've been asking you to weigh in on this talking doll story. Parents were outraged when they think they heard what this doll was saying. Do you think it has a potty mouth, or is just it baby babble?
You all have been chiming in. We do appreciate it. One person saying, "Just saw the piece about the doll with the 'potty mouth'! Seriously, you should hear the kids at the mall around Christmas time. Laugh out loud." Point taken.
More of your comments after the break. Stay with us on this CNN SUNDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Good morning to you folks in Minneapolis, Minnesota, today. Got a little snow up there I'm told. But Alexandra Steele here is with me. She was informing me that it came a little late. We could show some video of this actually. We can put up -- you were telling me, this is kind of late in the season for them to get this.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, late is relative, right?
HOLMES: Right. Yes.
STEELE: It's three weeks late. On the average, they see this first measurable snow on November 3rd. So, it's a little bit late -- three inches.
Now, also last year, remember the first measurable snow, eight inches. So, this kind of pales in comparison, but it was the first measurable snow for Minneapolis. Rapids City coming in with some big numbers, a foot of snow. That whole system, though, is moving east.
Here's what's happening, the stalling cold front, showers and thunderstorms firing off. We're talking about rain, but also today, we're going to talk about severe weather, the potential for isolated tornadoes.
Now that may seem late to you, but, believe it or not, the second half of October and into November, there's a second isolated tornado threat that we see here. So, that's what we're going to see. Kind of all the synoptic features coming together -- warm, moist air from the South, this kind of uplift with this front. Uplift mechanism will fire off the storms. So, the potential for isolated tornadoes, say, Dallas, maybe towards Little Rock. But that being said, we'll see that today.
But another big story, the temperatures. Watching us from the Northeast this morning, you'll say, we're pretty balmy this afternoon. Look at these temperatures -- 60s flirting, with 70 in Washington, D.C. -- really five to 15 degrees above average. Here in the Southeast, as well.
But watch what happens tomorrow. That cold front moves through. Behind it, much colder air. Look at these numbers dropping from the 40s to the 50s. In the Northeast, kind of from the Mason Dixon line north/south, you stay mild. So pretty nice conditions there today. Cooling off tomorrow.
A big picture also into the West Coast -- a big storm system, T.J., is coming in. Sierra, a foot of snow, and even then the southern California mountains at about 6,000 feet. Maybe four to eight inches.
We'll also talk about Wednesday, of course, huge travel day, obviously. Where will the troubles be? So we'll get to that coming up.
HOLMES: Is that the day people still go on Wednesday?
STEELE: Absolutely.
HOLMES: That's the day still?
STEELE: Yes. Although I think it's kind of migrated a little bit more toward Thanksgiving and that kind of thing, kind of shifting because people got a little smart. So, we'll talk about -- 90 percent drive, and then the rest other/or fly, of course.
HOLMES: All right. Always good to have you, Alexandra Steele.
STEELE: Yes.
HOLMES: Thank you so much.
We'll see her again shortly.
We're about 17 minutes past the hour now.
And earlier, we were telling but this story -- about a new doll, all right? The holiday season, people out are there shopping. But a new doll at Toys 'R' Us -- a talking doll -- people think they hear the doll saying something that a doll should not be saying.
You take a quick listen. It's hard to hear. You need to pay close attention. But you tell me what you think you hear --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOICE: Hey, you --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: All right. We ask you to weigh in. We have one of the dolls here even.
But some people think they hear the doll saying, "Hey, you crazy blank," the B word.
Well, some of the responses saying, "Be a parent and make the decision to buy or not. Don't wait for someone else to raise your child." It's a good one.
Another from Daveyboy saying, "First the breast-feeding baby, now this? I mean, what is going on?"
Here's the one from DouginPA, he says, "Where can I get one of those dolls? I need a Christmas present for my ex-wife." Come on. Be nice, Doug.
Another saying, "I'm not even hearing the 'hey crazy' part, say nothing of the expletive. Somebody may be looking for a lawsuit."
Now, for the part of Toys 'R' Us, they are saying, we are not going to stop selling this doll. It's a coincidence. If you think you hear a swear word, what you're hearing there is just baby babble.
Parents, you make the call on your own.
But, of course, it is that shopping season. And are you one of those folks who like to shop early and get it done? Well, that might not be the best way to go. Our financial analyst Clyde Anderson tells you what you should be doing to make sure you don't go broke over the holidays.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: As we get close to the bottom of the hour, we've got advice -- in particular, our financial analyst, Clyde Anderson.
You're about to go shopping, there are things you need to do to not go broke, all right? Common sense things, but maybe thing we don't keep in mind often enough, including: do not go shopping with a credit card. Make sure you got cash only. Yes, that's just one tip Clyde has for you now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: I like to call them financial success plans.
HOLMES: OK.
ANDERSON: You know, we really want a plan going into it because a lot of people will create a budget and not stick to it. So, you want to create a budget. But the goal is not to just hit the budget, come under the budget. Make it a game with yourself.
HOLMES: So, when you say a budget, you say, all right, I'm going to spend this much, and everybody goes over?
ANDERSON: Exactly. That's what they always do. I feel good that I made it. But don't just feel good that you made it. Now stick to, it and try to hit under it.
HOLMES: Hit under. That's important to know.
All right. A gift list -- you say make one that works. What's the difference in one that works and the one doesn't?
ANDERSON: A gift list -- a lot of times we make a list, we want to make a list that's strategic list -- who's on the list, what are we getting? Be specific about the products that we're getting and what we're looking for for them. Don't just say I need a gift for dad or mom. What am I getting mom and how much does it cost? You really want to be specific and nail down. That's going to help you stick to the financial success plan.
HOLMES: Do you need to be specific about who you need to give gifts to?
ANDERSON: Yes. Especially in these days, I think you do. I mean, everybody doesn't need a gift.
HOLMES: Yes.
ANDERSON: You know, we have to really shrink that list down a bit.
HOLMES: That tells me a lot there.
Food we're talking about. Shopping and eating? These things go together. What are we talking about here?
ANDERSON: OK. When we're talking about food, use things you have in the pantry. Let's cut back on eating out a little bit. I mean, we've got to think about it. Where are we pulling money from? The average person spends about $704 annual on Christmas gifts. That's average. A lot of people go over that.
And so, really, what we want to make sure that we're doing is figuring out where we're pulling money from. Is it something we've been saying up, or are we cutting back on some things? And if we can cut back on food cost, use stuff that's in your pantry.
HOLMES: Can't do the stuff you've been doing all year.
ANDERSON: There we go.
HOLMES: All right. Good point there.
All right. I was asking you this during the commercial break, the best time to start shopping. I was thinking we were talking about middle of the day morning or night. Now, you're talking about the time or season?
ANDERSON: Start early and also shop late -- as far as you want to make sure that you're getting the best deals. I mean, you know, we've got Black Friday coming up. People are always saying, well, that's the best time -- well, there's time to shop throughout the holiday season. You know, those aren't always the best days. You want to go in and figure out when I can start right now, but also you're going to get deals after the holiday, as well.
HOLMES: OK. Well, on this one, do I start early, or you just need to monitor it throughout and figure out --
ANDERSON: Monitor throughout. Don't try to lump it all, it's stressful.
HOLMES: Some people want to get it over with right now.
ANDERSON: I've got to get everything done today. You don't have to get it done, because if you take your time and pace yourself, you can find the true bargains. Be a bargain shopper. Look online, figure out the prices, compare prices. Don't just feel that today they're having a sale, so I've got go out and get it.
HOLMES: Most important question maybe -- cash or credit, Clyde?
ANDERSON: Cash. Cash is king. HOLMES: Come on!
ANDERSON: Again, we're not -- people haven't budgeted and aren't prepared for the interest that they're going to pay on those credit cards.
HOLMES: Yes. Good point.
ANDERSON: And they're not going to pay it right away. And so, don't feel like, you know, I'm going to charge this and it's going to disappear. No, it's there and you're going to be paying over and over for it. So, you blew that budget out the window when you start using that credit card.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Another deadline looms in Washington, and once again, they don't sound optimistic.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: As we get closer to the bottom of the hour now, stories we are keeping a close eye on -- the spotlight on the congressional supercommittee. Six of the 12 members on the committee will be on television talk shows, on the Sunday talk. It's looking increasingly doubtful they'll reach agreement on how to reduce the nation's deficit by this week's deadline. The main sticking point for reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion appears to be over -- you guessed it -- taxes.
The president was gone while much of the back and forth was going on in Washington, D.C. with that committee. He was gone on that nine- day trip to Hawaii, Australia, and Indonesia. But he did arrive at the White House a little earlier today. He says trade agreements involving Boeing and G.E. will increase exports and save about 130,000 jobs.
And the new government in Libya says it wants Moammar Gadhafi's captured son, Saif al-Islam, prosecuted. Revolutionary fighters took custody of him after a stakeout and desert gunfight. International Criminal Court in The Hague wants to put him on trial for war crimes. His capture, news of it, set of celebrations across Libya. His captors say he was trying to make it to Niger, which has granted asylum to one of his brothers.
I'll be back with you at the top of the hour with more live news.
Right now, the good doctor.
