these are forces that wear blacktop to bottom without any figures or symbols on them. >> an amazing, never before heard explanation of who these iranian basij really are from a man who used to be one of them. look at this picture shall. the former president trying to win the release of two journalists. it's happening now on your national conversation for tuesday, august 4th, 2009. hello again, everybody. i'm rick sanchez. this is a conversation, as we often say, no the a speech. as always, it's your turn to get involved. as we begin this particular conversation, there is another health care forum that has been interrupted. there seems to be a pattern going on here. have you seen some of the pictures that we've been showing from around the country? i want you to see this one for

yourself. i also want you to make your own decision as you watch this. i am going to show you as much of this as we think is necessary for you to get a clear picture of what's going on. this is the latest example. green bay wisconsin, last night, democratic congressman and medical doctor, steve kagin, he called a meeting to discussion the crucial issue of health care reform since he is a doctor and a politician. he wanted to meet with his constituents. here is what happened. >> kill the bill. >> all right.

now shall i twoont shwant to sh another one. this is congressman tim bishop. he says he wants to make sure his audience is civil and informed, as he prepares with the audience and his staff to have this town hall meeting. watch what happens to him. >> i have a nice little pension and i don't want to be taxed to pay for other people's health care. >> can i finish this sentence? >> what -- >> i am about to tell you. >> stand up, stand up. >> no one is talking about the government taking over health care. >> no, no.

>> one at a time. >> you are pulling the wool over our eyes. >> i am trying to. >> here is another one. congressman bishop, by the way, says that he is not having anymore town hall meetings after having to be escorted out of there by police. here is another one. this one seems to show democratic congressman lloyd dogeth of texas. he is wearing a beige shirt, being chased out of his own voter's forum. watch this one. >> just say no, just say no, just say no. just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no, just say no,

just say no, just say no, just say no. >> this is amazing to watch and look who is joining us now? it is the congressman. thanks so much for being with us, sir. >> great to be with you from deep in the heart of texas. >> i love that are the pa of the country. what was that like? >> well, rick, there is a little pattern that you just pointed out to your viewers. this is not grass roots, pitchfork waving folks. this is a coordinated campaign by the republican party and the insurance industry. to modify a little, one thing you said. i visited with these people for an hour, listening to their questions, trying to explain the

pl plan, having their talks and boos. only after they began to make so much noise no one could be heard, i decided to visit with people individually. this appropriately began chanting at the top of their lungs their "no" slogan. >> you say, these people are basically being orchestrated by the republican party and who else did you say? >> well, the insurance industry. >> how do you know that? that's a heck of a thing to say. >> i know with reference to the republican party because it is on the website of the local party chair, both urging them to come and thanking them for coming. it's interesting that they decided to set all this up as a video opportunity. so what you just showed was film taken bit republican party of texas on a new youtube video.

they proudly proclaimed that their edited version was produced by the republican party of texas. today's "new york times" reports the coordinated effort of some of those groupses that have insurance company funding. they will do anything they can to block health care reform for working americans. >> the one thing we should always expect of each other, whether we agree with each other or not is that we are going to be, when we come into any conversation or dialogue, both civil and informed i think congressman bishop made that point. do you get a sense, either in your environment where you had your meeting or in the others that you have seen so far that people are either being civil or informed? >> rick, unfortunately, not. although, many of people that were gathered there weren't there to say no but to listen and learn as i was. i began this discussion saying that i was ready to show as much respect as i received but i think you get a flavor of not just from the yells but when

they show up with a sign, lloyd, doggett, trader to texas, devil to all people and a beautiful photograph of a marble tombstone with my name on it that they didn't come to learn and talk. they came to demonize. >> look at that video. it seems like they weren't just content to tell you what they have to say which, by the way, is their right as citizens of the united states. >> absolutely. >> we are glad there are people out there assembling and passionate and are showing how much they care? >> i couldn't agree more. and would defend their right to say everything critical of me. it's when they go over the line and engage in conduct that denies their neighbors an opportunity to be heard. it wasn't that i was hurt. it was that their neighbors were denied their right of free express by their unruly moblike conduct. >> one of the things i noticed when i watched all three of

them, that's why we wanted viewers to watch all three. correct me if i'm wrong. i got the impression that a lot of the things that were being said in one were also being said in two and three. some of the very parallel statements, if you will. i'm wondering if you have stopped to figure out where these folks are getting their information. they do have a very parallel ideology, do they not? >> they do have a script, this is des sisseminated through the republican party and websites they are going through and some of the private organizations that are helping to ork kes straight all this. it is pretty much the same everywhere. government, u than asia. >> both parties, from time to time have used those kind of

bumper slogan speaking points as they say. >> they are phoney as they relate to this bill, which has been a couple of years in the making on euthanasia. there is no provision for this. there is an opportunity for a doctor to be paid under medicare if his patient or her patient chooses to seek counseling on about do they want to be tied to a machine. do they want a living will, whatever. on socialized medicine, the government owns no facilities and hires no physicians. >> what happened when you told them that? >> only jeers and attempt to refer to provisions in the bill by line and verse with whatever they had been given, to deny it was true. there was never any willingness, any give-and-take. i became convinced we could write that bill any way one would want to write it. noing would satisfy them.

i would like to make this point. they were waving the tenth amendment, the right's reserve to the states and admitted to me, several of them in the discussion, that they did not only want to stop health care reform. they want to repeal medicare and social security, because that's the same philosophy of no rights for the federal government to play a role in helping its people with their individual choice. >> that's why we wanted to have you on. you are uniquely qualified to talk about what it is like to be with one of these. >> i hope it is a message to your viewers to not sit back and think that president obama and the democratic party -- >> that's a good point. where is the other side? you have to admire people who are passionate about their cause. you may think they are ill-informed. they are passional ate and show up. where are the millions of americans that want this thing to pass?

where are their rallies? >> many of them came but this were drowned out. unless more americans who are suffering under the insurance companies get out there an express their opinion and write their letter to the editor and call in to these talk shows. if they don't get that message out, the insurance companies will win in september. we just cannot let that hoop. >> congressman could go gedogge for being with us. if your car is starting to get too many dings, starting to smell a little bit like maybe it has rained inside your car because your kids left the windows down, like in my case or you just hate the look of your car. you can trade it in and maybe get back as much as $4,500. listen, everybody in this country wants to know more. the secretary of transportation is going to join me in just a little bit to try and sell you a new car for your clunker. we are going to take you through this.

also, some unbelievable pictures. former president, bill clinton, meets with jim jong-il to negotiate the release of two captive american journalists. look at these pictures. you think mr. clinton is freelancing or working on behalf of the white house? is he doing this on his own or for president barack obama? let me know. i would be interesting on your take. we do an aftershow now. the conversation continues here right at 4:00. it is on cnn.com/live. so much going on. stay with us. we're going to let you see what dignified transfer looks like when we come back as well. hold on. i'm being told we have breaking news coming into us right high now. according to what we are getting right now, stay with me, folks, i want to make sure i read this right. you want me to read what's in the yellow right here?

thanks. kim jong-il, stay with me here, has just ordered the chairman of the national defense commission on granting a special pardon to the two american journalists who have been sentenced to hard labor. this is in accordance with article 103 of the socialist constitution by releasing them. this is information -- this is the north korean state news agency that is now bringing us this information. it was handed to me just as i was getting ready to go to commercial there. this is being reported now by the "associated press." i understand some of the folks behind me now are diligently calling the state department to make sure -- this is an important story for me, an important story for my staff. the very last interview that we did with one of these two journalists was right here on this show. just a day on the eve, in fact,

of her going into the area that the north koreans say where she was actually captured. so over the last couple of hours, since early this morning, we learned that president bill clinton had gone to north korea to pyongyang to negotiate their release. there was no indication at this point. as we asked just moments ago during the tease, whether he was going there on behalf of the united states or going as a freelancer, as some have said in the past. we are still not clear on the answer to that question but we do know and learned just before we went on the air that he was allowed to meet with both of the journalists now, now, as you see for yourself, we are just now getting information that, in fact, the journalists have been given a reprieve, a special pardon, from kim jong-il himself. this is information coming to us now both from the "associated

press" and their stories coming in from the news network. in fact, yes, angie, can we go with it? cnn has now confirmed that this is, in fact, what is going on right now, that kim jong-il has ordered the pardon of two american journalists who have been sentenced to hard labor in accordance with article 103 of the socialist constitution. jill daught jill is joining me. the allegation is that both of these journalists had not only gotten too close but crossed into the border when they were captured. now, it appears that kim jong-il is saving face by saying, we are not saying they didn't do it but we are going to go ahead and give them a pardon. the other part is, is the united states giving anything up here? is there a quid pro quo or any

type of deal? jill, take it away. >> i think i would have to go back. look at what the united states has said, specifically hillary clinton. did about two or three weeks ago did say -- in essence, issued an apology for the actions by the journalists so there was admission by the united states that possibly they had broken the law. this still would have to be clarified but the point is, the north koreans believed that they had crossed the border illegally, that they had certain who hostile acts. what they are saying here is that former president clinton expressed a sincere apology to kim jong-il and kim jong-il, in turn, pardons the journalists and they are released. it also says that clinton courteously-dish many reading a report from the north korean news agency kcna.

clinton relayed a verbal message from president barack obama expressing thanks for this and reflecting views on ways of improving relations between the two countries. so what we have actually, rick, is a very quick mission by president clinton. he got there. he met with kim jong-il. this, obviously, was probably worked out in advance. >> i was just going to say. >> the trip was. the trip definitely was. it was planned according to a source that we have that is intimately associated with these plans to try to free the journalists. the trip was worked out in advance. you would have to say that right now this has happened so quickly that there is no way this could happen simply in a few hours. >> we have heard from laura ling's family as well as euna lee. since we have been following this story for the better part of the last month. as i noted moments ago, the last interview that laura ling did was with me here just on the eve of her being detained by the

north koreans. what we don't know, because there has been a complete news vacuum on this, is what -- where have they been? where were they staying? what is their present condition? now, we add to that, when will they actually be released? will the former president be flying back to the united states with both of these journalists? jill, can you hang tight real quick for us. we are going to try and take a break. i want to ask you about some of those questions and i want to ask about what is it that kim jong-il would be wanting from the united states with this apparently brokered deal with former president, bill clinton? stay with us. a lot of news going on. we will be right back.

welcome back. cnn has confirmed that the two journalists that we have been talking so much about, laura ling and euna lee, who were captured and detained by the

north koreans for allegedly trying to sneak in the country. a deal has just been brokered between kim jong-il and former president, bill clinton, there in pyongyang. apparently, they have been pardoned. those are all the details we have at this point. we are working to get more. i have jill dougherty joining me and i am now being joined by somebody who might make us make some news. i am being joined by the president of the korea society of new york. i am reading here that you have been discussing this case with the north koreans for quite some time. i imagine this those discussions you have learned what maybe they have been looking for in all of this. what can you tell us? >> i don't know if i am going to make any news. i think the news has been made by president clinton and kim jong-il. a number of us have been having quiet conversations with the north cre yakoreans urging them

the right and sense i believe thing. the north koreans have been increasingly inclined in recent weeks to recognize the fact that their legal system having run its course, they have had their verdict and their sentence and all that, that the time, indeed, was here for them to do the right thing. it was only one thing they were waiting for and that was an appropriate moment to allow the young ladies to come home, the two journalists to come home. that was, of course, the president's visit. >> did the appropriate moment involve what they are able to get back for doing something like this? >> i think what they are going to get is what they have just gotten, a visit by the former president of the united states. it has given the north koreans some face, some cover and i think it has given them, most importantly, an opportunity to do the right thing in the context of something that will probably provide somewhat of an

improvement in the atmosphere between the united states and north korea. >> is jill still with us. jill is gone. let me ask you this professor if you could give us some insight. do you think at this point that this was something orchestrated by the white house or that the former president of the united states decided he wanted to make this trip or perhaps something in between. what can you tell us? >> sure. for quite some weeks now there have been a number of contacts going on in new york, not only the contacts -- nongovernmental contacts such as mine and others. our department has been engaged with the north koreans with quiet discussions and diplomacy. to try to frame the issue and an understanding of what it would take to get the two journalists home. this did not happen overnight i was listening to somebody on the program describe this as waex

and wee weeks and weekings in the making. that's right on the mark. the decision to send president clinton as the envoy to close the deal was something that happened farrell la happened fairly late in the game. the idea of an envoy and the conversation that's been going on about how to bring this result about is one that is of long-standing. the families have been involved in it much the families have been kept involved and kept informed by the white house and the state department. i think it's a very, very good outcome for the families. i think it's a good outcoom for the united states. >> will it be a good outcome for north korea when you consider that this is a country that's been acting consistently as a renegade. yes, it is very nice that they are letting these two americans leave but think of all the people who are still having to live under that regime where they are being brutalized according to reports.

many of them are being killed. many of them are being captured. there is a thought police in that country, not to mention the fact that they have been scaring the heck out of the world with some of their nukes lately. do we say, thanks for doing that and now we are going to be nice to you or do we go back to the hard line? >> i think it's a lot more complicated than that. certainly, one of the reasons that the north koreans have consented to allow the two young journalists to go is the recognition that the world's attention was increasingly focused on their legal system, their judicial system and their penal system and that was creating a tremendous level of interest in something that the world had not been tracking before. this, at least, from the north korean perspective is probably a way of relieving some of the pressures. now, on to the bigger issues, there are plenty of them on the table. the north koreans have acted in the way you have described. i could go into great and gorie detail about all the things they have done. the record is very clear.

what this does is remove a major obstacle. it removes a major cloud over the relationship and it removes a barrier to the sorts of consultations and discussions that i hope will follow at some point in the coming weeks. this gesture by the united states, which i support, i hope that this gesture will convince the north koreans that there is another path that stthey should and could be going down. it is a path of cooperation that will require them to reverse a number of the steps they have taken and get back to where we were, such as implementing these agreements. >> can you stick around? we have jill dougherty back. we have to get a break in and pay some bills. a lot of americans are wondering, what is the hurdle

that keeps this country from wanting to be, kim jong-il, a good citizen of the world, if nothing else, maybe not perfect, he could be imperfect like the rest of us, it seems like it goes beyond from what we have read. jill dougherty is going to be with us when we come back. we are also going to be here with evan grabier, who is taking us through this as well. he has been part of the talks that have been part of this breakthrough. both laura ling and euna lee have been pardoned. we don't know when. they are hoping to return to the united states. one suggestion is to make your shipping more efficient with priority mail flat rate boxes from the postal service. call or go online for a free supply and up to $160 in offers from authorized postage vendors. shipping's a hassle! weighing every box... actually, with flat rate boxes you don't need to weigh anything under 70 pounds.

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well dock back. we are talking about breaking news that laura ling and euna lee have been pardoned by kim jong-il. let's get back to jill dougherty. i do want to ask you if you know anything about when they might be coming back or any new details that are coming out of this. i also want to ask you about why this country continues to act in a rogue manner? >> well, on the first question, rick, you would presume that now that they have been pardoned that they can leave. so i guess we can presume they would be on that plane with president bill clinton and could be coming back to the united states very quickly. that was his mission, was to

free them. that's what he was supposed to do. apparently, he has done it. they should be able to come back. >> on the other question we were talking about evan about. why do they, as an american, who watches this from the outside, why do they continue to ablth like a rogue nation? >> i have been to north korea. it seems to me like when you try to put yourself in their shoes, you understand some of the paranoia that they have. they are pretty much paranoid about the outside world. they believe that other countries, specifically the united states, wants to destroy them. they also know that there is money to be made in doing the things that they do, selling weapons, selling nuclear technology, et cetera, and they are desperate for money they will do anything, sell anything to survive. to them, it seems natural and business as usual. that's what they do to survive.

>> there might be some people having a late lunch or an early dinner. are the stories that we here with the atrocities that take place in that country true or confirmable? >> well, there are -- >> either way. >> go ahead, jill and i will follow up. >> from the observation that i have and from what i've seen, there are people who are very hungry in that country, people abused, people in prison and there are definite violations of human rights according to the reports we have. there are a lot of different reports some of those may or may not be true. you would have to say it is a very controlled society. that repression is used to keep people in line. >> draw a picture for us, if you would, evan. >> just to add to that, i think what jill has said is right on the mark. there have been lots of reports,

books, articles and confessionls, if you will, provided by deif he can tors who have come out of the north and these convey some very horrific details. once again, sometimes there can be some exaggerations but the overall message, the overall picture that's been drawn, is one that is very similar to the picture that jill just described. it is a very closed, very secretive and fearful and paranoid is probably an accurate word to use. if you look at their behavior, a lot of their behavior can be described as the actions and the statements and the policies not of a strong country but of a fragile one and a country that fears that it may not be able to exist. so a lot of their actions have a certain internal logic. it is not a logic that we like or feel comfortable but it's a logic that allows them to

survive through some of the mechanisms that jill just described. >> if they are that who are rid, should any former president of the united states go there, shake hands and negotiate and be photographed side by side with such a man? >> i'll go first. >> go for it. >> well, i would say, what they want to do, the united states. this administration wants to get something. they wanted to get those americans out of there. apparently, they've done it. number two, they want to get the north back to negotiations. if there is a way to shift this deteriorating situation, which was very dangerous. they were setting off missiles, doing nuclear attacks. if you can bring them back and kind of shift and bring them back to the negotiating table shall that's getting something. perhaps, nobody knows, but

perhaps this could begin that trajectory. >> so it is worth even the bad p.r.? >> the primary mission of president clinton was to get the journal is back. he was not there is a negotiator. every single u.s. administration for decades has tried to negotiation with the north cre yans, sometimes successfully, sometimes not so successfully. i did this job for many, many years as a negotiator in the state department. it is worth the effort to try to move north korea in a better direction while keeping our powder dry and our alliances strong in the region and remembering who our friends are. the ultimate goal is to try to defang north korea and enhance and improve security in the region. every president has agreed with that fundamental core policy. >> good answer. i thought, it's a difficult question. i was born in a communist country that many people often

criticize whether we should be talking to them as well in fidel castro. i have always been curious as to what is the right balance to strike. two people who know a lot about it. my thanks to both of you. when we come back, we will be joined by someone from the white house who now wants to get in on this conversation. the breaking news for those of you who are sticking with us is that the two journalists, last of which did an interview on this show before she disappeared, that would be lawyer ling and her photographer and producer, euna lee, have been pardoned by kim jong-il after consultations and negotiations, whatever the proper word is to use with the former president of the united states. new information coming out every moment. a representative of the white house. stay with us.

welcome back. we are following some breaking

news stories. a lot of cue does for the former president of the united states, bill clinton. let's go to our twitter board if we can, robert. bill has that charisma. the north koreans were happy to hear from what they comprehend. great reporting on the euna and laura situation. come back to me, if you can, guys. let's reset something here. laura l laura ling and euna lee have been pardoned. we are told that a representative from the white house will join us in a second. let me bring you up to date on the other story we have been promising to bring you every day. we have made a commitment. the commitment is what's going on in afghanistan.

every day, right here, we have been talking about afghanistan, the war, the politics, the legacy, the marines and today the cost. no, i'm not talking about the dollar cost here, folks. i want you sigh this. two brothers in arms. private first class dennis prat on the left and pfc, anthony light foot on the right. 12 days later, both men would die in combat. i have done a lot of interviews, because of what i do for a living. you see me doing them every day. i have interviewed presidents, foreign heads of states, tycoons and even once in a while, some buffoons. all are important interviews in their own way but none that i have done is likely as important as the one i am about to show

you. one soldier's mom. her name is lavonne lightfoot is allowing me, honoring me to tell the story of her son's return. today, i want to bring you anthony lightfoot's story in honor of all u.s. soldiers that have lost their lives in combat but maybe whose stories weren't told. >> there is an official military term for this process. this slow-motion removal of u.s. military caskets from an airplane. it is not a macho fighting term or a clever acronym. it is just two words, dignified

transfer. it's not a performance or done for the television audience. most happen without a capp camera anywhere near, middle of the night, in the rain and snow. honor guards, silent, rigid, strong, disciplined, dignified. lots of people in this country believe you shouldn't see video or pictures of these caskets when they arrive at dover air force base. that's a debate for another day. we can see them if the family of the fallen man or woman give permission. the man inside that flag-draped coffin buried today at

arlington, his mother gave us permission, to let you see this. she wants you to see this. >> i don't see why we can't share our loved ones with the world. i want my son to be remembered. >> her son, her soldier, anthony lightfoot, two months and one day after his 20th birthday. he died july 20th in afghanistan. >> they told me that anthony had got hit by improvised explosives and then some rounds went off and then a grenade shot through the vehicle. >> did they say he died incompetent stantly? >> i am pretty sure he did die instantly. >> is that important to you? >> yes. he didn't -- i don't believe he suffered. he died instantly, because i was told he don't have his lower extremities. >> how often do you cry? >> i cry every now and then at

night. i don't get much sleep. then, sometimes i be thinking i be hearing somebody be saying, mom. but i don't say anything but i just turn. >> his voice? >> yes. one night i thought i saw him sitting in the chair. i guess i watts seeis seeing th. i don't know. when his coffin came back to dover delaware i saw this little puff of smoke saying, mom, i'll be all right, don't cry. >> by the way, this story isn't finish. lavonne lightfoot, lives in lawrenceville, georgia. today, she is in washington doing what a mother should never have to do. she is burying her own son. she has graciously invited cnn into her life, into her pain so that you can, in her own words, as she told me, share her son

with you. the man she calls baby. stay with us. we are expecting to get some pictures from anthony's military funeral that, like i said, is still taking place at arlington national cemetery. we have several crews there taking pictures of the cemetery. they should come in any moment. when they do, i will share them with you throughout this show as well as the rest of the week exclusively. now, let me let you know what else we are doing for you. there is information that we have now confirmed that, in fact, the two journalists we have been covering have been pardoned by jim jong-il after talking to former president, bill clinton. we are hoping to be able to get some information as to what, where this story will go next, whether they will be coming home any moment now, what their condition is. we are working to get this information for you. we are going to hit a break. when we come back, we will be joined by a representative from the white house who hopefully will be able to fill in some of the questions for us.

stay with us. we'll be right back.

welcome back. we have just gotten these pictures. this is the burial of anthony lightfoot at arlington national cemetery. i haven't seen these pictures. i am looking at them for the very first time. the family, ms. lavonne lightfoot was gracious enough. she is there. to let us be there with her. we have several photographers. they are taking video. we are not able to bring you the video. the ceremony is just now concluding. we asked them to have cameras on hand and take stills. this is the very first still we have been able to get back of him being intered.

do we have another picture, michael? there is another one as well. again, the video of anthony lightfoot, pfc, that's the moment there where the mom is handed the american flag in honor of her son's sacrifice. she, by the way, was a gulf war vet as well. she was in desert storm. a 22 year v-year vet. she said it was her son's decision to go into the military. the very latest pictures. as it happens, we will continue to share that with you. when we come back, we have more information on that pardon by kim jong-il of the two journalists, euna lee as well as laura ling. we are all over this story. obviously, a lot is going on. we are following for you as best

we can. new information coming in. stay with us. plus, your comments as well when we come back.

here we go. so many of you have been touched by that story that we were touched by as well, the burial of anthony lightfoot, which we are still covering for you. let's go to our twitter board if we possibly can, see the comments coming in fast and furious. every returning dead soldier deserves the dignity for their sacrifice. thank you. under that, it says there are lots of stories like that out there, rick. and then look at this one. this story has me crying, rick, because i have seen this too much in kabul and mosul in the past. we have got a lot of comments, that from people who say they were touched by that story, by the effort of that honorable family. i want to do something now, bring in elaine quijano at the white house, following what is going on with the release of the two journalists. any new details? anybody at the white house saying anything new about this

since we first learned about at the top of the hour? >> i wish they were. the white house is being very cautious. obviously, is a sensitive situation and white house press secretary robert gibbs said a short time ago in the briefing that it is a very sensitive situation. what he did address though was of the issue of how these negotiations involving former president bill clinton might play out when it comes to broader concerns here about north korea and nuclear ambitions. here's what robert gibbs had to say on that front. >> we have looked at, as i said a few months ago, we are not equating, we are not -- we look at detainment and other issues separate. we always hope that the north koreans would look at it the same way. that's how this administration has approached this. >> reporter: whether the north koreans see at the same way is

unclear at this time. robert gibbs reiterating the position that they hope that north korea will keep the issues separate. the u.s. all along said the detention of these journalists is a humanitarian issue that should be kept separate from the nuclear issue. rick? >> elaine quijano, thanks so much for joining us with that information. now we might be able to get some more information, i guess somewhat consider this right to the source. ray lahood is the secretary of transportation. he is joining us now. you know, this is, i think in most people's eyes, fantastic news, that the former president was able to go in there and negotiate this release, if indeed that's what happened. i imagine at this point, you guys aren't releasing a lot of information because until they are on the plane and on the way back, you are afraid you might blow this, right? >> well this is out of my lane, rick. i will be happy to talk to you about trains, planes and automobiles but i will wait to let the white house talk to but these issues. i'm thrilled for the young ladies and also their families. >> i do know that you have been

particularly keen lately, talking about what is going on with the economy. and you have been very much tied to this cash for clunkers program. you know, this is interesting, because this thing has really he essentially worked and it's not every day that people can universally say that this is something that seems to be working that came out of washington. is there any other way that we can look at this other than the fact it's been good for detroit, certainly good for those -- for those car dealer.ships that are suddenly busy again and a lot of americans are getting their bucks worth in being able to get some new cars, right? >> you hit it right on the head, i couldn't say it any better than you have. it is win for people who want to buy a new car it is a win for our economy, it is a win for those who say we need more fuel-efficient cars on the road. 80% of the cars coming in are trucks or suvs and the lion's share going out the door are more efficient cars. it is a win, win, win, win, all the way around, particularly for our economy, for salesmen, for

scrap yards, for people who own dealerships that have been hard hit for many, many months. this is a huge lift for the american economy and we can say this part of the stimulus has worked. and we all ought to be proud to be able to say that. >> i guess the question is the senate going to go along with this? if they do, we will be able to continue the program for quite some time what is your take on that? what are you hearing? >> i'm hearing out of the majority leader's office, senator reid, they have the votes to pass this $2 billion, wit house passed last week, which will continue the program and allow americans to continue to shop for new fuel-efficient automobiles. >> huh. >> and again, a continuation of a big boost to our automobile economy. >> saying it is going to happen, we will be following to see if it does. a deadline has to be some time by friday. >> right. >> we will be following that, sir and we thank you for being so honest, taking us through this conversation.

>> thank you. >> we will be right back. stay with us. your comments as well as the very latest on all of these store there is we are followinger you. don't you know it, just as you get ready to go on the air with a planned newscast, everything else comes in and we ad lib. we will be right back. meet jack. recently turned 65. glad he's now got medicare on his side. but jack knows that medicare part b cpders only... 80% of medical expenses. so, he got himself an aarp... medicare supplement insurance plan -- insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company. a medicare supplement plan...

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thanks so much. so many of have you been talking about what is going on today. the very latest information is that two journalists from north korea have been pardoned. we at cnn confirmed that about 45 minutes ago. we still haven't confirmed is when they will be coming home, where they have been held, what their condition actually is at this point, whether they have had a chance to talk to their families yet. we do understand they did have a chance to talk earlier today with the former president before the announcement that they have, in fact, been pardoned. and we have been getting a lot of tears -- a lot of comments from you on the twitter board. good and bad. and there is this also there is one more thing. yesterday in trying to defend a me meaning of senator john mccain's statement about being in a deep hole, john mccain's word, hispanics, needing to recruit more hispanics, telling the republican party, i paraphrased to my colleague