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CNN Saturday Morning News
Myanmar Activist Aung San Suu Kyi released; Assessing the APEC Trip; American Woman Reigns as King; Fighting Airport Body Scanners; Eating Healthy Fast Food
Aired November 13, 2010 - 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: And thanks to our partners at CNN International.
But back here, thanks for joining us here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. I'm T.J. Holmes. And we are going to pick up on this breaking story we are watching out of Myanmar, also known as Burma.
And what we're talking about here is Aung San Suu Kyi. You may have heard that name plenty over the past several years. But this has been the No. 1 figure in this reclusive, this secretive military state of Myanmar. She has been the one voice, the most prominent voice for democracy in that country for years and years.
There is a picture of her. But for the past 20 years pretty much, she has been in house arrest - under house arrest for various regions - reasons. Well, this morning, we're just getting word, just a matter of about a half hour ago, that she has now been released, officially released. Now, I'm not saying she's officially left her house where she has been under that house arrest, but she can leave. She's free to move around now.
This is the word we are getting now. She has officially been released.
Now, this is a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She won this Nobel Peace Prize back in 1991, again, after her party, the NLD, which is the National League for Democracy there, which has opposed the military rule in - in Myanmar for years and years, she won. Her party won the election back in 1990, the last time they had elections there. That was the last time her party won. But the military wouldn't allow her to take - to take control. So she has been under house arrest essentially 15 - for the past 21 years.
Now, Myanmar did hold elections just a week ago, on Sunday. However, that was viewed by many people around the world, especially in the West, as just a front, that was a facade. Trying to show, trying to pretend - at least put on the front as if they have a democratic state there. But nobody at all thought these were free and fair elections.
Again, this is a country that has been ruled by the military for the past 40 years, essentially, going back to 1962, which is when the military took over. So closer to 50 years since the military has really been in charge there in Myanmar.
And again, pro-democracy forces have been loud. Pro-democracy forces have been there. They have been a presence there in Myanmar. But haven't been quite able to break through.
The leader of that movement, at least for the past several decades, has been Aung San Suu Kyi. She has been the one - she was the one who won the elections back in 1990. However, she has, like I said, been under house arrest for the past 15 of 21 years. She was scheduled to be released last year, some 18 months ago. But you'll remember a strange incident where an American man swam across a lake to her home, where she was under house arrest, for unknown reasons. He wasn't invited.
She took him in to take care of him because he needed some help. That gave the military there an excuse to extend her house arrest. So that's why she is just now being released today.
Today was the day, and a lot of people were holding their breath, waiting to see if, in fact, the military would go through with this. Just getting word, just about half hour ago, that, in fact, she has been released.
The video you are seeing here is of a - a lot of her supporters. A lot of pro-democracy folks there in Myanmar who have been on her side, who have been pushing for democracy, making this fight against the military junta who have ruled that country since 1962. They have been waiting, anticipating the moment she'd be released. A lot of people held their breath to see if the military would exactly go through with this. Word we're getting that, in fact, they have.
Now, President Obama, other leaders across the West have called for the military junta there to release this woman, and in fact, it has happened.
We do have a reporter there. We will not be telling you the name of the reporter we do have in Myanmar because Myanmar wouldn't let outside journalists, international journalists, including CNN to come in and cover those elections and - and to cover what's happening there.
However, we do have someone there we will not be naming for security reasons. But that reporter is on the line with me now.
And hello to you. You are there. A lot of people were holding their breath to see if this actually would happen. It appears it has.
And we're not hearing our reporter. Forgive me. We do have someone on the ground we're trying to get on the line, on the telephone. But it did, I'm told, drop out on us. It's certainly a challenge trying to report out of this country, a reclusive country, a secretive country that is under a strict military rule. Not a lot of openness, not allow - not allowing reporters to come in, observers to come in and - and cover the elections that took place, again, like I said, on Sunday.
Those were the first elections to happen there in some 20 years. Most people who were observing from the outside say those were just a facade, that was just a front to - to give the impression of democracy, to try to give some legitimacy to the government. However, most of the seats that were won in the election on Sunday, and you could guess, were won by the military. So now the military, a lot of people will tell you, feel they do have a stronghold after this election now, and they can say they won democratically. But again, a lot of people consider that just a front, and this was not a free and fair election.
Again, like I mentioned, the reporter we do have on the ground. We will not be naming this reporter, for security reasons. But I'm told we do have this reporter back on the line with me.
And again, tell us - and a lot of people were holding their breath, like I said, wondering if the military would go through with this release. It appears that they have.
VOICE OF UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly does, T.J., appear that they have. I mean, we know from our person that is right there at the compound that she has now emerged from that place.
It was about 15 minutes ago, I would say, that she came out of her house and greeted her supporters and all the other people who were waiting there at that place. Before that happened, what happened is that the military and the police started clearing barricades away that were in front of her house, that essentially prevented people from getting to there.
It was quite a tense situation in that area, where more and more of her supporters came to the house. In the end, it was numbering in the thousands, and also more and more riot police showed up there, and their posture became more and more threatening, when in the beginning, they were just sort of standing around. And then at the end, they were wielding rifles.
But right now, we do know that after spending the past - after spending 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest, after spending the past (INAUDIBLE) under house arrest, she is now being released. We do believe that she is going to go to her party headquarters. Her party is called the National League for Democracy, where there she is expected to take the reins. And many people here expect her to strengthen and to unite the opposition here in the country, T.J.
HOLMES: What do we expect now from the ruling military junta? Of course, they won so many seats in the election, like I said, on Sunday. But still, releasing her now - she is still a powerful threat to their rule.
UNIDENTIFIED CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're absolutely right.
And - and everybody here knows that the military and the - the - the despotic ruler, Tang Shui (ph), are very much afraid and wary of Aung San Suu Kyi. And you can see the reason for that really on the pictures that we've been showing as well.
She's the only opposition figure here in this country who's able to mobilize a lot of people. She's someone who, when she's released, people show up with T-shirts bearing her likeness, saying, 'I stand by Aung San Suu Kyi.' It's hard for a lot of people to understand what that means. But this country (INAUDIBLE) so repressive, that if you speak your mind, if you tell a Westerner like myself your political opinion, you are likely to go to jail.
So she is someone who really brings out a lot of courage (INAUDIBLE) a lot of people. And so there are a lot of (INAUDIBLE) who do put a lot of hope in her. And as I said, they want her to go back into politics; they want her to take the reins of the political party, want her to unite the opposition.
And really, what we're expecting from the military junta, from the general (INAUDIBLE) - watch this very closely. And there are some who believe that they might try and find reasons to put her back under house arrest. That is something that they have done in the past. If, for instance, she holds an international press conference, that could be a reason. If, for instance, she goes campaigning. In the past, those have been all reasons to put her back under house arrest.
So she certainly is treading on very, very delicate ground. But at the same time, it's no secret that the military junta was very worried about releasing her and should be very nervous at this point in time - T.J.
HOLMES: All right. Thank you to our reporter, again, on the ground, able to get this story out to us. Thank you so much.
And a reminder to our viewers, we are not naming our correspondent who is on the ground because Myanmar, the - again, this - this secretive state under this military rule, not allowing international monitors, not allowing international journalists in to cover this story or cover the elections that happened a week ago. But we do have someone there on the ground, but for security reasons, we will not be saying the name of that correspondent.
Again, we will continue here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING in just a moment.
But a reminder of what you have been looking at - the pictures and the story we are following. Democracy is - is at stake here, and the leader of the pro-democracy movement, and what has been, like our reporter said, a repressive state, a secretive state of Myanmar, that's been under military rule since 1962 - the pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, Nobel Peace Prize winner from 1991, has now been released from house arrest, where she has been for the past 15 of the past 21 years under house arrest. Just getting word, she has finally been released.
A big story with international implications a lot of people have kept an eye on for years and years. And they day has finally come: She appears to have been released.
We'll continue to follow that throughout the morning. But a whole lot more for you on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING, as we continue after a break.
It's 10 past the hour. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, at 11 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING, tell you about the president's trip. He's nearing the end of his 10-day Asian trip, halfway around the world right now, in Yokohama, Japan. He's involved in trade talks right now.
Now, he is attending a working dinner, a meeting with other leaders from APEC. That's the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Group. Earlier though, he met with several dignitaries and attended a retreat session. The president encouraging the APEC members to work together on trade matters as well as security. The president held talks with leaders of Australia and Japan.
Following the meeting with Japan's prime minister, he commented on Washington's close relationship with Japan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: As allies of half a century, the partnership between Japan and the United States has been the foundation for our security and our prosperity, not only for our two countries, but also for the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, it's been a tradition at these APEC summits, this class photo you've heard about. They wear the traditional clothing from the host country.
Japanese officials though told world leaders that they would give them a break; they didn't have to dress up in anything that was going to get them made fun of. They just did a smart, casual look. So not the traditional Japanese dress.
Now, we're waiting to get that picture. They took it just a little bit ago. We're waiting to get it in. We hope to show it with you - share it with you a little later.
But to give you an idea of what they've had to go through in previous years, check this out: This was President Bush. This was '08 in Peru, wearing a serape with his class. Up next, President Bush was in Sydney, Australia, looking like they were ready to ride the rugged Outback, of course. That was '07.
Here's President Clinton, linked arms with Asian leaders in the 1999 class photo. This was in New Zealand.
And here's one more for you: President Clinton again wearing a flowing white shirt. This was in Manila back in 1996.
Now, President Obama hosts next year's summit in Honolulu. He joked that he looks forward to seeing others all decked out in flowered shirts and grass skirts. Those were his words, not mine.
Also, 11 days now after the midterm elections, and we're still trying to figure this thing in Alaska. The Senate race there still not settled. We might - and I caution might - know the winner by the end of this weekend. Lisa Murkowski, of course, the incumbent. She ran as a write-in candidate after losing the Republican primary to Joe Miller, who as backed by the "tea party."
Miller is challenging a lot of ballots right now about the spelling of Murkowski's name. Murkowski now accusing Miller of trying to disenfranchise voters and calls his challenge "an act of desperation."
Now, how often does this happen? The FBI having to call in a plumber to help in its investigation of a Maryland government officials. Agents say the wife of Prince George's County executive Jack Johnson raced to find a $100,000 check for an alleged kickback so she could flush it down the toilet by the time they showed up. They also say she stuffed nearly $80,000 in cash in her underwear.
They've both now been charged with tampering with evidence and destruction of records.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK JOHNSON, PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY EXECUTIVE: I'm innocent of these charges. And I - I just can't wait for the - the facts to come out. And when they come out, I am absolutely convinced that I'm going to be - we will be vindicated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, Jack Johnson has been the chief executive of Prince Georges County since 2002.
It's 15 minutes past the hour. Stick around with us on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Sixteen minutes past the hour now.
Every golfer out there knows, you hit some good ones. But for the most part, you're hitting bad shots. It makes you want to put the clubs back in the bag for good.
That might have been the case for Robert Allenby yesterday at Australian - the Australian Masters. This was in Melbourne.
He tees off from the 10th hole. Looks pretty good. Looks like a pretty good swing. But where's this sucker going, really? It goes over the fairway and into the crowd - and look at that. It literally takes somebody out. A spectator got hit in the head, and you can see him collapsing there, right there on the fairway. They say it knocked the guy out; he had to be carted off there, as you see.
He - he - again, he had to be revived. But as far the shot goes, Allenby, even though it seemed like such a bad shot, he stilled parred the hole. These guys are good, aren't they? Oh, you all want to see it one more time. Ah let's - well, you know what? Let's go with it one more time. But you see the shot. He thought it was pretty good. Some kind of wary it went awry. But you see the guy go down, and you see the - hear the commentator there react to what happened.
Let me turn to an auction that's happening today, a big sports- memorabilia auction, happening this weekend at the Louisville Slugger Museum. Here is one of the bigger draws: A baseball autographed by Babe Ruth, used in a 1960 - excuse me, '34 game, he hit his 702nd home run with that ball. It's expected to get between $50,000 and $100,000.
Also on sale this weekend, a picture of a blonde. Not just any blonde. The blonde, if you will. That's Marilyn Monroe. This photo said to be one of Joe DiMaggio's favorites. It goes on sale today as well. Expected to bring in possibly some $40,000.
Also, to a little pro basketball. And Shaquille O'Neal - he has done just about everything in his career. Has he done the do-it-yourself interview? Well, he's got that covered, too.
Check him out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, NBA PLAYER: Please welcome the artist formerly known as "The Big Cactus," "The Big Agave." Everybody, Shaquille O'Neal.
So you playing for the Celtics, and your last name is O'Neal?
O'NEAL: That is correct.
O'NEAL: Are you Irish?
O'NEAL: I don't think so.
O'NEAL: You know what it should say on your uniform?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: OK, this guy is great. No matter what you think about Shaq, the guy is an entertainer and he really gets what he's supposed to be doing in the NBA - which, you know, it's an entertainment league, and he is a great entertainer on and off the court.
This is the debut of "Double Take." That's a new original Web series in which celebrities candidly interview themselves in a talk-show- style format. The first episodes showcases the humorous side of one of basketball's some would say biggest clowns. He pokes fun at himself about his nicknames, his movies, his NBA titles.
His latest nickname, by the way, in Boston: the Big Shamrock.
A quick break. We're right back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
O'NEAL: What page were you on the "Kazaam" script when you called your agent and said, "I'm in"?
(LAUGHTER)
O'NEAL: Mr. Funny Guy.
O'NEAL: Kazaam!
O'NEAL: Mr. Funny Guy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CONAN O'BRIEN, TALK-SHOW HOST: And a lot of people are - a lot of people were talking about the show today, a lot of reactions. And - and it's all playing out on television.
Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKE ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: It was great to see Conan back on the air.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I squirmed a lot in my seat. But no, I didn't pass out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's pretty gory.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's very gory.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's out of control. Drunk, cursing, naked.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I had the impulse to turn away, but it - I stuck with it. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It reminded me of Barbara Bush a little bit.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It reminds me of my husband, who is no longer alive. So I keep coming back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDY RICHTER, TV PERSONALITY: Some varied perspectives.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: If you hadn't noticed, Conan O'Brien - he's back. And people are watching his new late-night show. First week he's been on the air, it was this week - he average 1.5 million viewers ages 18 to 34. Overall, the show had about 3 million viewers a night. That's pretty good.
But he is getting the younger viewers - much younger viewers than Jay Leno and David Letterman. Conan, of course, airs on TBS, which is owned by our parent company.
Also, I'll give you an update here about actress Zsa Zsa Gabor. We have been following her health for the past several months here. She was rushed to the hospital again. Her doctor diagnosed her with a massive blood clot in her left leg yesterday. He said it could move from her leg to her heart.
Gabor was in the hospital a lot over the summer. She had a hip replacement back in July. She's 93 years old.
(MUSIC, "THE SIMPSONS" THEME)
HOLEMS: Ah, you know that music. Even if you're not a fan of the show, you know what this show is about. You know how it opens.
Well, they're going to renew "The Simpsons" for a 23rd season, Fox has announced. It's already the longest-running comedy series and will hit 515 episodes by the end of next season. Congratulations to them.
It's 24 minutes past the hour. Quick break. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Ah, good morning to you all. Beautiful shot behind me of Atlanta, Georgia. Downtown Atlanta, where we are here at our CNN world headquarters. Coming up about 6:30 Eastern Time where we are; 5:30 Eastern in Fayetteville; it's - what? - still 3:30 Eastern time out there on the West Coast. A lot of people not up yet, understandably so. And a lot of people not getting enough shuteye these days.
But a high school in New Castle, England, has decided that the best way to improve student performance is to let the students sleep longer.
Take a look at the school. This is not like the school I went to in West Memphis, all right? The building, as you saw there - this is some state-of-the-art stuff here. But the school day, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:45 p.m. - a lot of the students, they get to sleep in as late as 8, sometimes 9:00. They get to school well-rested. That's the idea, at least.
The late start time was influenced by research suggesting that teenagers have a biological predisposition to go bed late and get up late. A lot of adults have that same problem. They perform better, apparently, from midmorning to midafternoon. The kids loving it; the parents not sold on it just yet.
Now, the school - we were going to let you hear from one of the parents there - but the school says the early indications are that attendance is up. Math, English test scores up as well.
Quick break. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, bottom of the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING. Thank you for being here. I'm T.J. Holmes.
We're watching a breaking story out of Myanmar this morning, where the pro-democracy figure, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been released. She has been under detention, house arrest, for the past 15 of the past 21 years. She has been a pro-democracy figure in that country for decades now, actually won elections.
Her party won elections back in 1990, overwhelmingly, the pro- democracy group. However, the ruling military junta would not allow them to take power, annulled the results of that election and put her under house arrest, where she has been, like I said, for the 15 of the past 21 years. She won the Nobel Peace Prize back in 1991.
A lot of people around the world have been following her and her story and her movement to bring democracy to this repressive military junta that has been in charge there in Myanmar since 1962.
Now, there have been times over the past several years where they have said they might release her, had conditional releases set up. However, they have time and time again found reasons to put her back under house arrest. That is where she has been, again, 15 of the past 21 years.
Her family history, her father was actually big in the pro-democracy movement there as well and played a big role in Myanmar actually gaining its independence in the struggle against Britain. But, again, since 1962, the military junta has ruled and ruled in a repressive fashion there. Pro-democracy forces have been silenced. They have a lot of political prisoners in Myanmar as well.
She has, again, been under house arrest for some time, but this Nobel Peace Laureate has continued her movement. She has a huge following there. But elections were held on Sunday, just a week ago there in Myanmar. That was the first time we have seen elections in some 20 years. But, for most observers from the outside, certainly from the Western world, just considered those a front to democracy and only to give the facade as if they are now under a democratic system of government.
Most of the seats won in the election on Sunday were by the ruling military anyway, so a lot of people don't -- don't believe at all this is going to change anything with those elections we saw. But a lot of people now put some hopes on the fact that Aung San Suu Kyi has now been released and, in fact, this could possibly mean the start of, once again, of her pro-democracy movement.
It's difficult for us at CNN and other news organizations around the world to try to cover this story because international media was not allowed in by the ruling military to cover the elections or now to cover Aung San Suu Kyi and her release. We do, however, have a reporter on the ground. We'll not be naming that reporter for security reasons, but we are able to get some news out about her.
Also, another way that a lot of these news flies is on social media. Josh Levs is keeping an eye on that. Josh, we often see sometimes, in stories like this, sometimes some - the most information, the best information we get comes from social media, and I know people out there are talking already.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are. It's all over. It's the top topic on Twitter, and good morning to you, T.J. and folks.
Let me tell you, if you're just waking up now, starting your day with us, for hours throughout the night, millions of people had their fingers crossed, were on edge, were hoping that this news would break. And over the past hour, what we have been seeing literally is millions of people around the world celebrating this news.
It's 2010, so how do you find out where people all around the world are celebrating? One of the first places you go is online, and we're getting tons of tweets. I - it's too small for you to see on your screen.
I just want to tell you some of the messages we're getting. Maybe we could push in a little bit. This one says, "Today is a great day for women. Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma is free after 20 years' house arrest. She's free at last!" And that's the kind of thing a lot of people are writing.
Let me bang you through a few more of these. These are from all over the world. I pulled up tweets from different countries. "Brilliant news that Aung San Suu Kyi has been released." Look at this one, "Aung San Suu Kyi, adopted daughter of Delhi, is free," and look at the quote used here, "Free at last, free at last, Thank God almighty, she's free at last."
These are the kind of messages flying around here.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEVS (voice-over): This is another one from a Twitter site (ph) called Burma2010, where they're following the news out of Myanmar, and they're saying she's free and that so many people are celebrating, that people cannot wait. They're talking about the cheering, they're talking about how many people have lined up there.
I'm also going to tell you that I was tweeting with some people following this news closely, and I got an interesting one from a woman named Laurie (ph) who says, "Amazing and breathtaking news, but tenuous hope skates on thin ice."
Now, (INAUDIBLE) these pictures, I want to tell you before I go, there's a site called 64 Words for - 64 for Suu. It's where people all over the world have put together these 64-word messages for Aung San Suu Kyi, and many of these people are dignitaries, are very well known.
On this website, we got word from Her Majesty, Queen Rania of Jordan. We've got Romano Prodi in Italy, officials in Greece writing on here, Paul McCartney, messages on here. All of these just before the news of her release has come in.
We're following these and we're following everything on social immediate. T.J., people all over the world are sharing in the moment that we have been seeing and hearing about there, out of Myanmar and, you know, holding on to hope that this will last.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: All right. Josh, thank you. We will continue to keep a close eye on that story. Again, for our viewers, we'll continue.
Also, you're going to need to put this in perspective, exactly who this figure is, what she means there in Myanmar, what she could mean for possibly democracy going forward.
We're going to take a quick break, but after the break, we're going to get a live update from our Dan Lothian who's traveling with the president who's about to wrap up his 10-day trip to Asia. Stay with us. We're right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Thirty-seven minutes past the hour.
I want to get a check on the weather, and we need to check out if we can call this severe. We have that graphic and it's always so dramatic. But this is some pretty dramatic stuff going on.
BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It is dramatic to have a big, heavy snowfall affecting some bigger cities - HOLMES: Yes.
SCHNEIDER: -- like Minneapolis, St. Paul, plus we're looking at snow for Omaha.
It is going to be a wet, heavy snow you'll be shoveling out. I know it's November. It's not even winter yet, but this does happen in Minnesota, though it was warm earlier this week.
Check it out right now. You can see the temperature in Minneapolis is just teetering on the freezing mark, so cold enough to sustain snow for sure. And then down in Omaha, the same thing. The snow is now working its way to the north and east. Now, in advance of it, we're seeing some very heavy rain across places like Green Bay, but you will be seeing snow in Wisconsin as well.
Let's take a closer look and I'll show you what is happening. So this big storm will bring some measurable snow, as I mentioned, possibly even eight inches, 10 inches on - on the high side, even more with the strong area of low pressure. Snowfall accumulations are likely to pile up.
In localized areas, you may find yourself dealing with some snow drifts that are going to be a little bit more intense. And then, to the north, we'll be seeing snow as well into places like Duluth. So this is definitely going to be a tough storm to deal with as we go into the evening hours, and part of the reason as well has to do with the fact that it's going to be windy out there, so with blowing and drifting snow overnight tonight, the winds could get as strong as 25 miles per hour, gusts even higher than that.
And elsewhere across the country, we're also tracking some rain through the Midwest and heavy rain in advance of the system. Now, this is all going to impact travel in a big way. It's a busy Saturday.
Of course, we're getting close to Thanksgiving. A lot of people might be doing some traveling. You can see right now, we have no delays, but with the wet snow in Minneapolis and the windy weather that I'm anticipating here on the West Coast, in - all the way from Los Angeles to Sacramento, we are looking at delays.
Now, there is a bright spot in all this. If you're getting a head start and maybe you're heading to New York to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, for example, which is just now going up, the weather there has been spectacular. Yesterday was 65 degrees, shattered a record, and we'll see more really nice weather as we go to the north and east.
We'll be looking for some really pleasant conditions. You'll be finding temperatures will be soaring into the 60s as far north as Boston. So some really nice weather. Unusual for this time of year in many places.
That is a look at your forecast. Stay tuned. We have a lot more coming up, straight ahead, on CNN SATURDAY MORNING. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 41 minutes past the hour here on this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
The president is nearing the end of his 10-day Asia trip. He is talking trade security with leaders of several Asian nations right now at the APEC Summit. But, according to a lot of folks reporting back here in the U.S. has been that this trip not necessarily a good thing for the president.
Let's turn to our Dan Lothian who has been traveling with the president, coming (INAUDIBLE). He's at the APEC Summit in Japan. Dan, hello to you.
And is the White House aware of - well, of course, they're aware, but have they been responding yet to a lot of the criticism of this trip, that the president hasn't been able to deliver much?
DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And, you know, if you've been reading the newspapers, you see the headlines, disappointment, setback because they were not able to get any movement on the currency issues with China, not able to lock in a trade deal with South Korea.
But, you know, senior administration officials are saying that these deals are very complicated, that they take time, that there will be these incremental steps that have to take place before you have success in the end, and - and saying that all of this talk and this narrative that this has been sort of a disappointing trip for the president here in Asia are really exaggerated, T.J.
HOLMES: How - you say exaggerate. How are they selling it? What do they say at the administration they can point to as been the success of this trip?
LOTHIAN: Well, they'll point to the very beginning of this trip, when the president was in India, was able to talk about these deals, $10 billion in - in deals that will create jobs back at home, the 70 - 50,000 jobs back at home, and more deals beyond just the 10 C-17, the aircraft that will be bought by the air force in India. That is what they're pointing to as the success.
And also sort of the public relations success that the president and the first lady were able to mingle with real people, if you will while they were in India. The president was also able to go back to the place that he spent time as a child in Indonesia, that narrative of coming back now as president, seeing a vibrant city now expanding in - in Jakarta.
And so, that's sort of the positive side of it. But, also, to this other side, where they were not able to get these deals done, go back to what I was just saying a while ago. They believe that they are making progress.
It's not moving quickly like everyone may have expected it on this trade deal. The president is hoping that this is not something that will take months, but that will take weeks.
HOLMES: All right. And, last thing, what's left for the president before he heads on back?
LOTHIAN: Well, of course, we're just getting these pictures of the president and all the other world leaders, what we typically call sort of the funny shirt picture, with a family picture, the class photo. This year, they don't have those funny shirts. They all came out with their blazers and - and white shirts. We were hoping that they'd have something a little more exciting than that.
The big deal tomorrow is the president will be meeting with Russian President Medvedev. This is obviously trying to get this - this treaty, the START treaty deal, done. That's something on the president's agenda. They'll have to be dealing with that in the days ahead.
So that's where the president - before he heads back to Washington. And then, of course, we know what the president will be doing there. He will be sitting down with Republicans to deal with this issue of tax cuts for the middle class.
HOLMES: All right. Dan Lothian, always good to see you. Thank you so much, Dan, covering the president there in Japan.
LOTHIAN: OK.
HOLMES: Well, coming up, we have a new African king to introduce you to, and this one's quite special. We'll introduce you to her.
You heard me right. That's after the break. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. We've got 12 minutes to the top of the hour.
Women generally don't get to be king. That's kind of a general rule, right? And it's just common sense, right? A woman is not king, she's queen. Not in Ghana necessarily.
King Peggy, first woman to get that title in her family. She's actually an American living and working in Washington. She runs a small town more than 5,000 miles away over the phone and during vacation.
Nadia Bilchik, of course, is here to explain this one. How - how can a woman be king? How does that work?
NADIA BILCHIK, CNN EDITORIAL PRODUCER: Well, what happened was Peggy Bartels got a phone call one morning. She lives in D.C. She was born in Ghana from her uncle who lives in Otuam in Ghana. And he said, Peggy, you have been nominated as king of our small fishing village - king being leader. And Peggy was in disbelief.
This was actually around two years ago that this happened. Because they did a whole ceremony of libations, and they poured libations, her name came up. And in that moment there was vapor. And they did that three times.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: Much like I suppose how they nominate the Pope, right?
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: So the vapors came up and her name - and it was decided that she would be king, not queen, king meaning head of the village. She was a bit taken aback. She said are you sure? You don't mean queen mother, because that's another leadership role within the village. They said, no, you are the leader. You have been ordained. You are the king.
HOLMES: How did she get nominated in the first place? Did somebody threw - your hat in - your name in the hat kind of thing (ph)?
BILCHIK: They did suggest - that she obviously visited the village. They knew she had great leadership. She contributed to the village and she became the king. And she's done wonderful things, T.J.
You know, we speak about women and contributions.
HOLMES: Right.
BILCHIK: One of the things in this small village is although they have taps, the wells have dried up. So she's had a great initiative to bring the wells much closer so the children aren't going so far to go and get water. She's also trying to get a high school in Ghana and all kind of things to try and develop this fishing village.
HOLMES: How is she able to run it from - you said Washington, right?
BILCHIK: She actually works at the embassy in Washington, D.C.
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: She is a capable woman.
HOLMES: Wow.
BILCHIK: And she said sometimes, some of the men will say, you know, they might disagree with her and she goes, now, you have nominated me. I am in charge. You will listen to me. And I suppose having lived in America for so many years, there's a certain empowerment that comes with dealing with men in a possibly patriarchal society.
HOLMES: Now, any chance of her ever moving or going back? I mean, how often now does she even get to go back and visit?
BILCHIK: She gets to go back a couple of times a year. But the reality is finance. She obviously needs to earn a living. So unless somebody donates a huge amount of money, she's done so much for the village. There was some corruption. She's really worked hard to create a better place for her small village of Otuam in Ghana.
HOLMES: How long will she have the reign as king?
BILCHIK: Probably until, like her uncle, that she is deceased.
HOLMES: Really?
BILCHIK: The King of Ghana, King Peggy and there's a wonderful blog that she does with "New York Times" best-selling journalist or the "New York Times" best-selling author, Eleanor Herman, and it's a blog that shows pictures and really beautifully written and a great partnership between the two of them.
And I learned a Ghanaian word in Ghana -
HOLMES: OK.
BILCHIK: -- for, you know, happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and for anybody watching -
HOLMES: I love this.
BILCHIK: -- there who has Ghanaian background, Afishapa.
HOLMES: Afishapa.
BILCHIK: Afishapa. And, of course, so many African-Americans have roots in Ghana, because Ghana was the grand outpost of slavery.
HOLMES: You know what? Let me go ahead and reveal this to you. I did one of those African ancestry things. My roots were traced back to a tribe in Ghana - in Ghana.
BILCHIK: In Ghana.
HOLMES: So she might be my king. I need to look that up.
BILCHIK: She may be your king. So, to you dear T.J., Afishapa.
HOLMES: Afishapa. I have to get Nadia to teach me about my own African roots. Think that's something (ph). Nadia, appreciate the good stuff. As always, my African king -
BILCHIK: King Peggy.
HOLMES: King Peggy. All right. Nadia, thank you.
BILCHIK: King Peggy, otherwise known as Nana Amuah-Afenyi VI.
HOLMES: I'm going to go with Peggy. All right. Thank you, Nadia.
Well, coming up here. A lot of people are going to be traveling, coming up and getting into that season, the busy time. Thanksgiving's coming up, of course. Those body scanners. People are not feeling these things right now at the airports, including a lot of pilots and the pilots unions are getting involved telling their pilots to avoid these things. How is that going to work? It's eight minutes to the top of the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: And we're getting close to the top of the hour here.
And the anger continues to build over what you have to go through when you go to the airport. One opposition (ph) now to these full body scanners that are going into place at airports across the U.S. You may have seen some of these things.
The pilots union now, for U.S. Airways and American Airlines, they are urging their members to avoid these scanners. They are citing possible health risks from frequent exposure to the radiation, also their privacy concerns over the revealing images. The two unions represent about 16,000 pilots. They're being asked to request those private pat downs instead of scanners. People have problems with those pat downs these days as well.
The fight against full body scanners also being waged in court. A consumer privacy activist has filed a lawsuit against the TSA demanding that it pull the machines from U.S. airports. Marc Rotenberg appeared on CNN's "AMERICAN MORNING".
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARC ROTENBERG, EXEC. DIR., ELECTRONIC PRIVACY INFORMATION CTR.: There are a lot of objections here. There are health concerns, the privacy concerns. We're working with religious groups that think the whole thing is offensive. And I think the American public has become increasingly frustrated.
We can't let the TSA decide what its legal authority is. That's a decision that has to be made by a court.
JOHN ROBERTS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's some question too, Marc, as to how effective these machines are and could they have detected the type of explosive that Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab tried to employ on Christmas Day last year. What are your thoughts on that?
ROTENBERG: Well, that - that's actually a critical question, John. I think it's one of the reasons we feel most strongly about the need to suspend the program. If we thought it was effective, that it really would guarantee the safety of travelers, we'd have a very different view.
But you see, before we filed this lawsuit, we filed another lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act that we actually obtained the technical specifications for the devices. And we looked at those specifications, talked to the experts and we all reached the same conclusion. These devices are not designed to detect the type of powder explosive, the PETN that was used by Abdul Mutallab and others.
In other words, they're not even the right technology to deal with the current threats. And that, I think, is one of the most important points about this program. (END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now, also there's an online campaign to rally all air travelers against the full body scanners. Various groups out there are asking flyers to refuse the scans on November 24th. You know what that day is, the day before Thanksgiving. That's one of the busiest travel days of the year.
But keep in mind here folks, if you refuse to do this full body image scanner, then you can opt for the pat down. But as you know, just a few years back, TSA changed the pat downs to be much more intrusive, if you will. It's more of a rub down and they will rub across your private parts. A lot of people are uncomfortable with that. So a lot of people think you just don't have a lot of good options right now.
But we are going to turn now to the top of the hour and a breaking story we are keeping a close, close eye out. Hello to you all. We welcome you all this morning with us.
A breaking story out of Myanmar, that story being the release of the pro-democracy activist, Aung San Suu Kyi. Release - or the word we got about her release was just over an hour or so ago.
Myanmar, this - Myanmar, this country in Southeast Asia, which has been ruled by a military junta since 1962. This is a repressive government. Now, after elections on Sunday in which the military government was able to pick up most of the seats, a lot of people call that just a front to democracy.
Anyway, they have now released Aung San Suu Kyi, this Nobel Peace Prize Laureate who has been under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years. She and her democracy party or the National League of Democracy it's called, the NLD, actually won elections back in 1991 overwhelmingly there in Myanmar.
However, the ruling military junta would not allow her or her party to take power, essentially wiped out the results of that election, put her under house arrest, where she has been for 15 of the past 21 years.
Many leaders across the country -- excuse me, across the world, including President Obama have been calling for her release for years. She is seen as a threat to the ruling military junta there.
But her house arrest expired today. And the military junta has been saying for a couple of weeks now, they would honor that release. In fact, they went through with it. A lot of people were holding their breath, didn't know for sure whether or not they would do so, but it appears she has.
Now, she still is seen as some kind of threat to the ruling military there. A threat because it appears she is going to start right up where she left off, which is to continue her movement for democracy in that country.
Again, Myanmar, a small country that is rich in resources, but a people that have been oppressed for some years now by this military junta. She is out. We are seeing video here of what has been happening for the past several days. People have been collecting at her home where she is being held, or under house arrest, also collecting at the offices of her Democratic Party.
But, now, it appears she is out and we understand she is going to once again start up with some of her campaigning for democratic reforms in that country. We have reaction that's coming in from all over the world, certainly on the Internet as well.
Josh Levs is keeping an eye on that.
Josh, take it away.
JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely. And, T.J., thank you.
And, folks, let me just let you know that if you're just starting your day with us, what you have been seeing there has gotten the attention of millions of people all over the world who have spent hours and hours really throughout what's been a night for us waiting and hoping and praying that this would happen, that this release would take place.
And, now, about an hour and a half ago, the celebrations began. We have been seeing it all over the world.
One of the places we are seeing it is from an organization called The Elders, which is actually a group of independent world leader -- independent group that was brought together by Nelson Mandela. They weigh on a lot of these international issues.
And while we stay on the pictures, I'm going to read to you a statement that I now have from Desmond Tutu, who is the chair of The Elders. Listen to this. "Aung San Suu Kyi's release offers hope to the people of Burma who face uncertain times following the 7th of November elections. She is a global symbol of moral courage. We wish strength and help as she makes her transition from such a long period under house arrest."
He goes to say, "We are, of course, absolutely delighted that she is free and stand ready to assist her and the people of Burma in any way we can."
But while we watch these folks, I also want you to understand, there continues to be a lot skepticism about whether this will last, about how much it really means for potential change inside Myanmar, about whether it really begins some sort of process toward actual democracy.
This group, The Elders, also has a statement from the women who's one of the top organizers of it. She says, "It's a very important gesture," this is Mary Robinson. She says she's, of course, delighted.
She goes on to say, "But her release should not detract attention from more than 2,000 other political who remain incarcerated." And she goes on to say that there are a lot of questions about the elections and just in general, whether the 7th of November elections, the first since 1990, could really be described as free and fair. The statement says they cannot be described as free and fair.
So -- look, a lot of questions remain now about what's ahead. But in the meantime, I'm following Twitter. I'm following Facebook. I'm seeing so many people around the world. She is now the number one topic on Twitter, which says something -- in 2010, a lot of people celebrating, a lot of people repeating the phrase "Free at last, free at last" -- a lot of people in different languages.
I'm seeing messages here in Japanese, in Arabic, in Hebrew, in Chinese, and all sorts of languages from all over the world. People are saying that this moment is tremendous and can signal a change for Myanmar and for the world. So, certainly, international reaction, T.J., is pouring in quickly. And we will stay all over it.
HOLMES: All right, Josh, thank you.
And speaking of the international reaction, the president, President Obama, has been one who has called for her release. He has said that in recent days, it seems like we were leading up to this moment where she would be released.
A lot of people are standing by, waiting to see if it would to happen. Now, that it has, the president -- we have gotten some reaction from him as he's on his 10-day Asian trip. He's in Japan right now, the APEC Summit.
But I'm just going -- just bear with me, I'm going to look at it here and read from this statement. I think we have it up here as well.
But this is from the president saying, "While the Burmese regime has gone to the extraordinary lengths to isolate and silence Aung San Suu Kyi, she has continued her brave fight for democracy, peace and change in Burma. She is a hero of mine and a source of inspiration for all who work to advance basic human rights in Burma and around the world. The United States welcomes her long, overdue release."
I'll just continue for one more line here. He says, "Whether Aung San Suu Kyi is living in the prison of her house or the prison of her country, it does not change the fact that she and the political opposition she represents has been systematically silenced, incarcerated and deprived of any opportunity to engage in political processes that could change Burma. It is time for the Burmese regime to release all political prisoners, not just one."
Again, that from the president. Again, to put in perspective for a lot of our viewers -- you have heard her name pop up here and there as far as coverage goes here in the U.S. But she is a huge international figure, has been for years. And we talked about her plenty over the years when there are big moments or things that happened, including last year when an American -- you might remember this -- an American man swam across a lake, uninvited, to her home where she was under house arrest.
She took him in to take care of him. He needed some medical attention, needed food. She took him in as a humanitarian gesture. But that got her an extended 18 months of house arrest.
So, this woman, again, has 15 of the past 21 years been under house arrest. Not allowed to go out, has limited contact with the outside world. Not really able to continue her pro-democracy fight that she has been -- that's really literally in her blood. Her dad -- her dad was a pro-democracy fighter in that country. He was the one that had a lot to do with Myanmar getting its independence.
But the military junta that took over back in 1962 has really ruled that place and has really been a repressive government. But it's a place Myanmar, that is rich in people and resources there and a lot of people believe that just if the military junta, if there could be a democratic leader, democratic reforms, democratic form of government, that could change and turn the direction around for the people of Myanmar and that country itself.
So, that is what she means to Myanmar. That is what she -- a lot of people would say -- could mean for democracy in that particular region.
We'll continue to keep a close eye on what's happening there.
But a lot of people excited about the news she's released, but a lot of skepticism still of what it could mean going forward.
All right. At seven minutes past the hour now.
Another story we're keeping an eye on this morning, with some strange details of a man telling his wife, "Hey, the feds are at the door, could you flush the $100,000 check down the toilet and could you stuff that $80,000 in cash down your underwear somewhere? Could you do that for me? That is what a prominent D.C. area official is accused of telling his wife.
We'll explain this one. Coming up. Stay here.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Ten minutes past the hour now.
The president is nearing the end of his 10-day Asia trip. He's been trying to encourage cooperation over trade and security. He went to a working dinner earlier today with Asian leaders in Japan, the site of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
He's also attended a retreat with leaders of other Asian countries. Later, he talked about leadership with Japan following a meeting with that country's prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: As allies for half a century, the partnership between Japan and the United States has been the foundation for our security and our prosperity not only for our two countries but also for the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, it's been a tradition at these APEC summits, the so- called class photo -- you know, the one they have the funny shirts is how it's been called. It was when they wear the traditional clothing from the host country. We're standing by to get the picture from this year. We don't have it yet, I don't believe.
Japanese officials told world leaders they wanted to do a smart-casual look so they wouldn't have to do the traditional Japanese dress. So, we don't have it yet. But this kind of give you a reminder of what we're talking about from previous years.
President Bush in a serape back in 2008. This was in Peru. You can see what we mean by the funny shirt picture. It's the class photo. Here's the president in Sydney, Australia, President Bush, that was in '07, ready for the rugged outback.
We also have Clinton here. He was arm in arm with other Asian leaders back in 1999 in New Zealand. Not sure what that was. Not sure what this is, either. But it's white shirt. This is in 1996. He was kind of checking it out, admiring it there. That was in Manila.
Now, the president, Obama -- President Obama is going to host next year's summit. It's going to be in Honolulu. He's already joked that he looks forward to seeing the others, quote, "all decked out in flowered shirts and grass skirts," end quote.
Let's turn to another story that had a lot of us turning our heads this morning. The FBI had to call in a plumber to help in its investigation of a Maryland government official.
Agents say the wife of Prince Georges County executive Jack Johnson raced to find a $100,000 check for an alleged kickback she could flush it down the toilet when the feds showed up. They say she also stuffed about $80,000 in her underwear.
A lot of us trying to figure out how exactly do you do that. Eighty grand is a lot of cash.
They both now have been charged with tampering of evidence and destruction of records.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK JOHNSON, PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY EXECUTIVE: I'm innocent of these charges and I just can't wait for the facts to come out. And when they come out, I am absolutely convinced that I'm going to be -- we will be vindicated.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, Jack Johnson has been the chief executive of Prince Georges County since 2002.
So, there's a lot of fast food out there. We know, as a general rule, this stuff is not exactly good for you. But there's a lot that your kids want to eat.
Would you believe there might be healthy fast food choices? We're going to show you the healthiest ones coming up. They could help you out next time you go through the drive-thru.
It's 13 minutes past the hour.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: What is it -- 16 minutes past the hour now.
San Francisco's mayor is pushing back. He is fighting to keep the happy in the Happy Meal. Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation. Do you remember this legislation that would ban toys in kids' meals unless they meet strict nutritional standards? He did veto that law.
But the veto might not mean a doggone thing because the ban is likely to still become law. Why? Because the board of supervisors passed that ordinance with the veto-proof majority. City officials expect now a legal challenge from McDonald's, but McDonald's declined to comment.
Now, we keep talking about McDonald's here. You see McDonald's toys. But this applies to any restaurant, fast food or otherwise, that does have these toys that go along with meals. Also, the board has to vote -- again, they have to vote once again to override his veto. But, initially, they had enough votes to override the veto.
Now, we are talking a lot here about fast food. We know kids love the stuff. They're going to eat it one way or another. But there are some healthier choices out there on the fast food menu. Would you believe that?
Our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen takes a look at her "Empowered Patient" report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: With billions spent an advertising high-fat, high sugary foods to children on television, it's no wonder the kids bugged their parents to go to fast food restaurants. And guess what? Parents respond.
According to a new research from Yale University, 84 percent of parents take kids to fast food at least once a week. Now, these researchers at Yale sat down and decided to take a look at how many of the kids' meals at fast food restaurants actually meet the nutritional requirements for a preschooler, for a kid who is about 2 or 3 years old.
They looked at more than 3,000 different options for kids and here's what they found. Only 12 of them met nutritional requirements for pre-schoolers. So, we're going to share a couple of those with you so that you'll know what are the better options when you take your child for fast food. First of all, take a look at this one at Subway. The roast beef sandwich, if you get it with wheat bread, apple slices and without the cheese, it's 335 calories. That's about what a child that age should be having for a meal.
Here's another healthier option. Burger King has macaroni and cheese, and if you get the apple slices, no caramel dipping sauce and the fat- free milk, it's about 285 calories.
And here's the third. At KFC, they have a grilled chicken drumstick, get corn on the cob, unsweetened tea and a cheese stick. And that meal is 270 calories.
So, that's the first part, knowing what to get for your kid. Here's the second part: convincing your child to get these healthier option instead of the usual cheese burger fries and the soda.
Now, any parent knows that not always easy. So, in this week's "Empowered Patient" column, we have a couple tips for how to get your child to eat the healthier foods without making a huge scene and embarrassing everything at that fast food restaurant.
For "Empowered Patient," I'm Elizabeth Cohen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: I want to turn now to some video we are getting out of Myanmar, the story we have been covering there of a pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate -- new pictures of her after her release. This is a woman who has spent 15 of the past 21 years in detention under house arrest by the ruling military junta there. She has been released.
This happened just a matter of a couple hours ago that her detention was lifted. She was released. And it looks like, by some of these pictures at least, and from some of the reports we're getting, that she is going to pick up right where she left off with her pro- democracy movement.
This is at a rally. As you can see, there were crowds formed outside her home where she had been held. Also, crowds formed outside of the offices of her Democratic Party. But here she is, already -- again, just released not too long ago and greeting supporters, crowds.
We have seen cheering. We have seen crying, even people so happy that she's out.
We will continue to follow and monitor as best we can. Again, Myanmar in its oppressive government there, the military junta there, that has held political prisoners, anyone who doesn't agree with them essentially. A lot of international monitors will tell you, have been -- their voices have been stomped down.
But she is one voice that they have not been able to silence and now, she has been released. And it looks like she is starting to already pick right up where she left off with her pro-democracy movement. We'll keep a close eye on that story.
Twenty minutes past the hour here on the CNN SATURDAY MORNING. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: Well, 22 minutes past the hour.
I want to bring in our guy, Clyde Anderson, our financial analyst.
Tough economic times. You hear bankruptcy thrown around a lot.
CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL ANALYST: Yes. Yes.
HOLMES: OK. What is -- first of all, a couple different types. Get us clear there.
ANDERSON: All right. Let us clear this. There's two different types. You've got -- for personal, you've got Chapter 7 or you have Chapter 13 that you're going to look.
Chapter 13 is actually the restructuring of debt. And you can actually restructure and get on a payment plan to pay off your debt generally over in three to five years. On a Chapter 7, it's a clear wipe-out where they're going to wipe out all the debt. So, pretty much, you don't have to be responsible for it any longer once you filed that Chapter 7.
HOLMES: OK. How is it going to wipe out your credit?
(CROSSTALK
HOLMES: Seriously.
ANDERSON: Yes, and it is. It's going to hurt your credit. It's going to affect your credit drastically. I tell people all the time, though, if you get to the point where you are debating bankruptcy, generally, your credit has already taken some sort of hit.
HOLMES: OK.
ANDERSON: But, now, you're looking at really coming back on the other side. People look at it so negative sometimes, but it's not. It can be a good business decision if you're strategic about it.
HOLMES: And you said Chapter 7, that essentially wipes out the debt.
ANDERSON: Yes.
HOLMES: OK. What -- is that -- are we talking everything? Is everything included there?
ANDERSON: Not everything. You can't include things like student loans, taxes, back taxes or interest paid or penalties that were occurred during that time. Debts that are canceled of non-exempt things that can't be included say in bankruptcy. They're certainly non-exempt items that they cannot take from you like your home sometimes.
Generally, when you're doing a Chapter 7, they won't take your home. You can say, hey, I declared all these things. They won't take your car. If you have a second car or second home, they can take those things.
HOLMES: Now, do people naturally think -- and you say Chapter 7 wipes everything out. It sounds like you get a clean slate. Yes, your credit got hit. But are you free and clear, you're done with those debts and you can just roll on with life?
ANDERSON: Yes, for the majority, you're done. You're starting over. The thing is, you just can't take some of those bad habits that you took with you on the other side.
So, a lot of times, though, say to your creditors, hey, I cannot pay these things. So they're going to wipe them off of there. And you're going to have to rebuild.
Now, it's going to hit your credit though and again, it's going to stay on there for about 10 years if you're doing a Chapter 7.
HOLMES: OK. But, again, all the bills are gone?
ANDERSON: Most -- yes, they are gone.
HOLMES: All the bills are gone. OK. That can be helpful, I suppose. Who was this for, though? Who would take that option?
ANDERSON: As far as the Chapter 7?
HOLMES: Yes.
ANDERSON: Somebody that has gotten behind on their stuff. You know, maybe you lost your job and especially in this economy, and you had so many debts. You have credit card bills. You've had some things that just kind of backed up on you and you just can't handle it anymore.
And also with the mortgage thing going on right now, a lot of people are behind on their mortgage. And sometimes, a Chapter 13 will help you give that time to kind of restructure, and get it together. Even a Chapter 7, give me to time to get it together, not to wipe out the mortgage, but give you that time.
HOLMES: OK. We got about 15 to 20 seconds here, and wrap this up for me. How expensive is it? Don't you have to get an attorney or something?
ANDERSON: You do.
HOLMES: How expensive is --
ANDERSON: And you don't have to. There are several ways you can do it. I recommend you get an attorney to do it.
HOLMES: OK. ANDERSON: And on a Chapter 7, it can be anywhere from $600 to $1,500 or $3,500, in some cases, depending on the lawyer that you're going to get. On Chapter 7, you're probably looking at -- I'm sorry, on Chapter 13, you're probably looking at more like $1,500 to start.
HOLMES: OK.
ANDERSON: Just because, again, you are dealing with a trustee and it's over a long period of time.
HOLMES: OK. Well, we hate anyone would have to go through that, and go that option, but a lot of people are having to consider it these days, but a lot of stuff to consider. We kind of zip through them there, but hopefully, some information people were able to grab there.
Clyde, we appreciate it. Always good stuff.
ANDERSON: My pleasure.
HOLMES: All right. Great.
We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: All right. Welcome back.
I want to bring in our colleague from CNN Sports, Joe Carter.
Talk to you, your out covering some events somewhere, good to have you here in studio with us this morning.
Biggest story in college sports right now, unfortunately, is a bad one in a lot of ways. What's going to happen? Is this kid going to play?
JOE CARTER, CNN SPORTS: As of now, yes. We expect him to play.
We're talking about Cam Newton, Auburn's quarterback. He's essentially become the face of college football this season. I mean, this kid has dazzled people on the field. Front runner for the Heisman Trophy.
But there's some major controversy swirling around him right now and that's the news broke earlier this week that, you know, his father, Cecil, possibly sought big-time money. And I'm talking the allegations are being made of $100,000 to $180,000 from Mississippi State University during they recruitment of Cam last year. He obviously does not play for Mississippi State. He signed with Auburn.
But if this controversy is true, he would be an ineligible player, which means it would completely change the complexion of Auburn season. They are 10-0. They are in a great position to contend for a national title.
HOLMES: Yes.
CARTER: And if he's ineligible, gone are those 10 wins --
HOLMES: The whole season essentially is gone.
CARTER: The whole season is gone and the NCAA could come down hard with other infractions and penalties on him.
HOLMES: OK. Tell me this as we get our way to wrap here, even if no one paid -- if, say, Auburn didn't, could he and his father still be in trouble just for asking for some money?
CARTER: Absolutely. It's a total NCAA infraction. You cannot solicit any student athlete for any reason. Whether any money was exchange or not, you cannot solicit a player, can't solicit a student athlete. It's a direct violation of the NCAA rules.
HOLMES: All right. Their athletic director kind of raised some eyebrows. Someone asked hey, is he going to play this weekend? And he just said no comment. So, everybody is kind of still holding their breath to see what happen.
CARTER: Obviously, there are some internal investigations going on and they don't want to make a stand one way or the other.
HOLMES: Big game today against Georgia. Joe Carter --
CARTER: Good to see you.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: -- on a weekend.
Quick break here. I'll be back at the top of the hour with more live news. Right now, I need to hand it over to the good doctor. Stay with us.
