ones. tonight, you have heard a few excerpts from my cd, making spirits bright. and my new book, after america, is in stores now. good night and have a terrific christmas. >> tonight, is this what you wantd? they say they got a deal. have been, there is a twist. it lasts only two months and we are right back in the soup again, fighting over the same problem. but what a day it has been. >> republicans contention that the two-month compromise somehow is unworkable is untrue. >> talk about nos. we keep hearing about the democrats in the house and how they were for that year extension of this payroll tax holiday. and yet, all but 10 voted no on this bill. how do we explain that? >> what's happening right now is exactly why people just get so frustrated with washington.

this is it. this is exactly why people get so frustrated with washington. >> two months versus one year. common sense tells that you one year is far better. the president himself has been a strong advocate for at least a year of payroll tax holiday extension. >> everybody in the country knows this is not democrats versus republicans. this is senate democrat, senate rpresident and the american people saying to the house republicans, what are you doing here, letting the clock run down and raising taxes on 160 million americans? senator reid and i have reached an agreement on the payroll tax relief on behalf of the american people. >> greta: house republicans say they will accept a two-month extension, in exchange, the senate will join the house in appointing conferees to work on a full-year measure. you will hear from john mccain

and congressman chris van holim and others who are fuming mad. but they are placing the blame on very different people. congressman michael grimm is here. good evening, sir. how do you like the deal? >> good evening. obviously, i don't like the deal because it's bad policy. but at this point, it's all we do. the reality is, i went into this trusting the president. i really thought that when he said that we needed one year and all of those in industry said one year made sense and stop doing the band-aid approach, stop with the short-term extensions, that's what's wrong with washington, change the culture. i thought he was sincere and wanted to help us in changing what is broken in washington. but he wanted to play polic ticks and we got caught. he played tolpolitics. he did a brilliant campaign move at cost of the american people. scaller: all right. were you on the conference call with the speaker tonight? >> yes. >> greta: did you speak up or say anything?

>> no, dinot. i don't think there is anything else to be said. the reality is, you know, i am a united states marine. i am proud of this country. i want to have full faith in the president of the united states. but the reality is that the president was not sincere when he told us -- i quote, it's inexcusable not toex extend this for one year. he was supposed to urge the senate to pass this for one year. why? because that's what is in the best interest of the american people. there is no one across the aisle or anywhere in the united states that believes tax policy should be done over two months. everyone knows you need at least a year. that's what is best. but at the end, it was politics over policy. and once again, broken washington has stayed the same because, quite frankly, the president would rather take the advantage and do what is expedient for his campaign, rather than try to work with congress. he wants -- he wants to run -- >> greta: do you have -- do you have any criticism of your own

party, if that's your view that this actually, if i can get this right, that the republicans in the house, who are in your position, that they came. are you saying the speaker caved? you are assigning no responsibility to the house republicans? >> it is not a matter of caving. at the end of the day, we have to govern, which means, we have to put the american people first. we couldn't allow taxes to go up on january 1 in good conscience. that's why we wanted a year -- >> greta: could have stayed and worked. we have -- it's only the 22nd. there are 8 more days in this month. that's my criticism, without getting to the substance of the deal, is that there are 8 more days i'm the only one left in washington and i am not a member of the house or the senate. >> logic would tell thought and the harry reid are thinking that they could never reverse the course. rather than allow the american people to be worried and have more uncertainty in the market, which was the whole point, we wanted one year to bring some certainty to the market.

everyone -- nobody's talking about the dodd fix. for a year, viheard nothing from doctors and from patient, other than we cannot afford foorght short-term extension. we need at least two years to make this work. that's why we pushed so hard to bring the american people some change -- >> greta: why do you think that the president and the senate democrats and senate republicans who joined the democrats, why do you think they wanted the two months and then to renegotiate in two months? >> there is no question, it was political expediency. >> greta: what do they get out of it? >> the democrats got a tremendous out of t. the democrats, for the last two days look like the champions for the working-class people that they are fighting for lower taxes for them, which is a bit absurd because the democrats keep wanting to raise tax. we were pushing for one year. they want two months. politically, you know, i can just say that the last two days

have not been good for republicans. but i think at the end, american people are going to look at this and analyze it and realize that we really were trying to do the right thing. hoar -- here's the result, no good deed goes unpunished in washington. we wanted goodless and we got bashed for it. >> greta: all right. are you supportive of the leadership in the house, republican leadership? because you obviously -- you got outmaneuvered by the democrats for your own statements? >> absolutely. let me tell you, speaker boehner has been consistent. he has really tried to change the cult nur washington, do things the right way and deliver for the american people. when he took the pot his word when he said he wants a one-year extension, he believed him. so did i. i thought it was an opportunity for both sides to come together. i have been working bipartisan and i will continue. i am not going to allow this to get in the way of progress for the american people. i am going to work across the aisle. >> greta: the president says he

wants a year. i can't quite understand what you think that they gained by doing the two months, other than looking like they outmaneuvered you politically? >> i think that's a lot, you know? to have at this time last two days where they can stand up, the president puts all of those people up on stage and says how he's fighting for middle-class americans. reality is that the president has to run against a broken congress because he can't run on his own policy, they have failed miserably. he can't run on leader help entases because he's had none. he is not a leader and his policies have failed. so he wants to show that the congress is broken and hoos what he can run on. >> greta: congressman, thank you, sir. >> thank you. >> greta: one unidentified republican congressman says that speaker boehner may have a hard time keeping his speakership after this. who is this speaking up anonymously? congress allen west is here. it's an unidentified congressman

who says that speaker barron may have a hard time hanging on to his job. do you know who is saying that? who is your view? >> no, i don't know who is saying that, greta. i saw the report coming in. i think it was reported that someone in washington, d.c., i got back down here in florida yesterday. this is the thing. i would rather have our leadership team than the house democratic leadership team or the senate republican or democrat leadership team. i don't want to have the president of the united states, who is really absent in leadership. i have to tell you, i feel like charlie brown, when he goes up to kick the ball with lucy. we were told, everyone said they wanted a one-year extension on this. we came up with a plan. that was paid for, that would not bring about any detriment to social security and we go to kick the ball and the ball moves. it becomes a simple two-month plan. so i think that what happened to echo, what michael grimm said, you saw the politics of demagoguery, trump policy and

principle in washington, d.c. today, i think that's a sad thing for america. >> greta: if you believe that, then it appears you got politically outmaneuvered and you caved and deviates from your principles. in theory, they were eight days lift and people could have stayed in washington and pounded the pavement. but everyone knew what the deadline was, but it just -- just from -- you seem to have given up, those of you who have your position because you got outmaneuvered and you didn't have the p.r. but it seems like, you didn't fight much at the end? >> well, i think that's not a good reflection of me. i put out a press release on saturday about this two-month deal. and the president very simply, by the constitution could have call the the senate back. have you to remember, the house didn't adjourn for the year. the senate did and packed up their toys and within away. so i think when you do the final analysis of this two-month deal, the thing that a lot of americans don't understand is

the pay force. our one-year plan was paid for. the one-year extension of payroll tax, unemployment with reforms and job creation policies. but the two-month deal, what will happen, the fees for loan guarantees for the government-sponsored enterprise, fannie and freddie, that will be the main way to pay for this. so, in other words if you are one of those americans, getting this $40 pentance that the president was talk walking back and forth on taj and you decide to buy a home and you go to a government-sponsored enterprise, you will see an increase in fees alcohol take away the money you are receiving. so the american people were duped by the the president of the united states. and that's why i don't like his style of leadership. >> greta: now, that's a substantive argument on the bills on the republican or the senate versus the house bill. -- >> that's why -- that's why --

>> greta: but -- yes, but here's one of the problems. you and others don't like it. you know, everybody knew this deadline was coming up for about more than a year. everybody was well aware of t. your party's in control in the house. you knew about it. and so it gets pushed up to the line and everybody says, well, it's too late, everybody went home. where i am from, i can't show up at 10:15 for my job. i have to show up on time for my job. i can't ask for an extension. have you extensions and have you deadlines and all do you is every time you don't agree, you create another extension. it's because when you don't do your job. >> i tell you, greta, give me the opportunity to be in leadership in washington, d.c. and i think you would see something different. from the military, we didn't go home until the mission was complete. maybe that's what the american people need to understand, it is about time to take a chance with some of the young leaders we have sent to washington, d.c. and move away from the establishment rhetoric and the game they play in washington,

d.c., you know, this was played out on twitter and facebook and in the media. the american people lose out. this is bad policy. you cannot do tax policy every two months. i think all across the world, people are laughing at us right now. >> you are going to be doing it in two months because that's what the extension is. i am curious if have you spoken to the other freshmen members of congress, the republicans who are the tea party caucus. have you spoken to any of them? has anybody said this is going to challenge the leadership? or is this a 24-hour wound and you pick up after the first of the year and it's fine and you move on to the next course of business? >> no. this is not a 24-hour wound. we have had some email discussions back and forth, between the freshman class. we are pretty let down, upset. but that does not mean we will continue to fight against the business as usual bitway two-step. because as you just said, this is a dance that continues on. we will never rectify the fiscal situation in the united states of america if we keep having

these sound-bite policies. >> greta: i am trying to gauge the fury within your group. is it such that people have said there will be a challenge to the leadership in the republican party in the house? have you heard of any of that tone? >> no, that's not the concern right now. the number-1 concern is that the person that is occupying 1600 pennsylvania, who is an abject fail nur leadership and supporting the grossive, most incompetent legislation i have seen, that's where we have start. simply, the president could have stepped in and instead of sending twitter post, he could have by the constitution, called the house and the senate back and made us resolve this. somebody has to be the adult in washington, d.c. >> greta: congressman, thank you, sir. >> always a pleasure. >> greta: why did it take congress so long to reach the two-month deal? were lawmakers doing their jobs or not? we spoke to chris van hollen, just before the deal was

reached. nice to see you. >> good to be with you. >> greta: i gave a republican, senator mccain a little heat about this. i am going to give you a little heat. quick question: when did the republican and it is democrats know that the tax cut would expire at the end of this month? >> oh, we have known for sometime, which is why the president came before the house of representatives and the full congress back in september, asking for a one-year extension and in fact, a bumpup. >> greta: how long do you think have you known about this? two years? three years? >> since last year. >> greta: do you see why that would be enormously frustrating to the american people that you are asking for another extension? >> well, everybody wanted a one-year extension. in fact, the house republicans at first didn't want to do any payroll tax cut. have you reported on that in the past -- >> greta: but they passed one recently. >> they did. they included in that a lot of poison pill, things that were unrelate to the payroll tax cut, which is a reason why it will

require more time to work out a one-year tax cut and why it's important to make sure for the next two months, we do not have an increase in the payroll tax. >> greta: the uncertainty gi$20 a week, which is not insignificant to a lot of families. but that's not going to stimulate the economy, if it doesn't happen. i think probably the more urgent issue maybe the doctor fix for people who want their doctors paid or make sure that the doctors accept new patients. we haven't even touched on that. >> right. >> greta: there is a lot more, unfortunately to this. >> that's right. >> you have the dock fix and millions of americans out of work, through no fault of their own. there are not that many jobs and that's one reason we need the cut to help this fragile economy move along. >> and our interview was much, much longer, but because we taped it before the deal was reached, most of our interview

became outdated. the news is never dull. but you can see the full interview online at gretawire.com. straight ahead, senator john mccain says the republicans have not played this thing well. what does he mean? that's next. one candidate for president gets the big prize, a big boost from a former president. which candidate? which president? we will tell you when dick morris goes on the record. and governor chris christie dashed the hopes of many republicans last fall when he said he would not be roping for president in 2012. but could he end up on the ballot? hear the latest from governor christie, himself. let's go to vegas. alright, let's do it. let's do it, let's go to vegas. vegas baby! maybe we should head back to the dealership first? vegas! no, this is a test drive. vegas! [ male announcer ] it's practically yours. but we still need your signature.

volkswagen sign then drive is back. and it's never been easier to get a jetta. that's the power of german engineering. get zero first month's payment, zero down, zero security deposit and zero due at signing on any new volkswagen. visit vwdealer.com. so i used my citi thank you card to pick up some accessories. a new belt. some nylons. and what girl wouldn't need new shoes? we talked about getting a diamond. but with all the thank you points i've been earning... ♪ ...i flew us to the rock i really had in mind. ♪ [ male announcer ] the citi thank you card. earn points you can use for travel on any airline, with no blackout dates.

>> it looks like congress beat the clock and the agreement only extends the cut for two months. are lawmakers really doing their jobs and who is to blame? we spoke to senator john mccain, just before the deal was reached. >> nice to see you, sir. >> nice to see you. merry christmas. >> merry christmas to you as well, sir. i have to admit, i'm surprised at your position on the extension of the payroll tax cuts, that you are willing to do it for two months. explain to me and i'll tell you why i'm surprised? >> all right. i want to do it for a year. there are a lot of things that i want. but us not getting the agreement that was made in the senate and with the president through, creates -- through the house, creates the appearance with the american people that -- that the republican party is opposed to the payroll tax cut.

160 million americans are affected by it. not to mention the so-called dock fixture and the unemployment insurance. we have not played this thing well. we need to get an agreement. we ought to strive for a year or even longer, long-term agreement. but right now, unfortunately, we are in a boxed canyon. >> greta: all right. both sides agree that it should be extended for a year. the reason that anyone asks for an extension, you don't need an extension if you have done your work on time. the american people are -- i suspect -- i hate to be so bold, but they are thinking, okay, you didn't do your work on time, collectively to get a product, the president as well. so you want to go on vacation? you knew about this quite a long time ago. why don't you stay, get it done, resolve it however you are going to and forget the two-month extension business? >> we should. i would point out that last saturday morning, we approved

with 15 minutes of debate, a $900 billion money bill, appropriations bill, which was full of pork barrel projects, earmarks and not one single amendment was aloud. i identified $3.5 million of pork in the defense part of the appropriations bill. and usually, in crisis like this, the president leads. i have served now, this is the fifth president that i have served under. every other president, republican and democrat, if faced with this kind of an impasse, would be calling the leaders over the white house, sit down and iron this out this. president goes shopping to get a toy for his dog. the president should be leading and he's not. he is exploiting this issue for short-term political gain. yes, the american people have every reason to be frustrated. i believe every incumbent is in danger right now. and every incumbent should be. >> greta: two other issues.

i don't know how much time we have. one is vice-president biden say the taliban is not our enemy. and the other topic is the bombings in iraq in the last 24 hours nwhich the devastating bombings, both are very discouraging to the american people. take a stab at either one? >> well, very briefly on both, the vice-president has been wrong consistently. and this is really remarkable. we have sacrificed too many young men and women in afghanistan. one of the tweets i got from one of the military people over there, so they are not our enemy, who is killing us? and, you know, it's an effort to try to get some negotiated settlement to end the war, which is not going to happen -- it is going to be very unlikely, which by the way, according to news reports, includes releasing some high-ranking taliban prisoners

in guantanamo. it is not going to happen. to say that the taliban, who sheltered al qaeda, who continues to work with the network to kill americans is not our enemy is beyond belief. >> greta: you know, it is also -- i was there when secretary of state hillary clinton spoke to the women -- i was in afghanistan when they talked about not turning our back on the women. i don't remember -- these taliban men hate the women. what they subject the women to is unthinkable. if we are going to turn our back and say they are not our enemy -- i don't get it. >> well, they routinely hang them from the gulf post in the soccer stadium at kabul. the abuses are well documented. on the issue of iraq, clearly, the bombings were planned to coincide with american withdrawal and that takes a long-time planning. the government is unraveling. the president takes a victory

scplap said -- the other day, one of his victory speeches, that iraq is now stable, secure and democratic. really? so the fact that we do not keep a residual presence there, despite what you you hear from the administration, is directly attributable to the president's campaign promises and to quote, end the war in iraq. but he was never serious. he was never serious about a residual force there. that's why we didn't have a residual force there. i greatly fear an unraveling in iraq. i pray not. because over 4,000 brave young americans gave their lives there. it's reprehensible. >> greta: thank you, sir. nice to see you. see you after the new year, sir. >> thank you. >> greta: coming up, a bomb thrower, that's the word president bush 41 used to talk about the g.o.p. candidate field. what does he mean? who was he talking about?

disik morris is here. 16 bombings in iraq, just days after the united states' troops leave. now what? ♪ [ male announcer ] a simple gesture can spark romance anytime. and when it does, men with erectile dysfunction can be more confident in their ability to be ready with cialis for daily use. cialis for daily use is a clinically proven low-dose tablet you take every day so you can be ready anytime the moment's right, even if it's not every day. [ man ] tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications and ask if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity. don't take cialis if you take nitrates for chest pain,

as this may cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure. [ man ] do nodrink alcohol in excess with cialis. side effects may include headache, upset stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. to avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical help for an erection lasting more than 4 hours. if you have any sudden decrease or loss in hearing or vision, stop taking cialis and call your doctor right away. [ male announcer ] ask your doctor if cialis for daily use is right for you. for a 30-tablet free trial offer, go to cialis.com.

my high school science teacher made me what i am today. r science teacher helped us build it. ♪ now i'm a geologist at chevron, and i get to help science teachers. it has four servo motors and a wireless microcontroller. over the last three y we've put nearly 100 million dollars into american education. that's thousands of kids learning to love ience. ♪ isn't that cool? and that's pretty cool. ♪ >> greta: governor romney got the nod from former president george h.w. bush. he said, i think... here's what

governor romney said. >> i am very encouraged by the support of president bush for my campaign. obviously, as you can tell, there is growing momentum for this effort, here in new hampshire and across the country. i had the chance to chat with the president this afternoon and wish him a merry christmas. he did the same to me. i thanked him for his support. his leadership, his heroic life and his friendship mean a great deal to mee. i must admit, this is much more important to me personally than politically. he's a real hero to me and my family. i appreciate his support. >> how poverty is president bush's unofficial endorsement? or anyone's? dick morris is a former adviser to president clinton and has written a book called dubs goes to washington. dick joins us. >> it's available only on dick morris dot-com and amazon.com. but it's a cute gift for your

kids. >> greta: it is not too late to order for christmas. dick, tell me, it isn't an official endorsement. does this have any oomph or emphasis or help for governor romney's campaign? >> well, i think it will help rom if he felt but more importantly, it's going to hurt gingrich because bush also said that he thought that gingrich was a bit of eye think he used the phrase bomb thrower. he told the story about how he worked with gingrich on the tax increases and gingrich was at the table and gingrich left the press conference, went to capitol scmil lobbied against it. i think that -- that could undermine gingrich a bit and contribute to him sagging momentum. unofficial in that fight, gingrich was right and bush was wrong. newt wanted him to keep his campaign commitments and not read taxes, "read my lips," but

former president bush didn't appreciate it and i think he got a measure of revenge. >> greta: tell me if this is true. it seems like there is a lot of republican establishment politicians who do not like or are not supporting newt gingrich. but he goes out into the field and he revs up the crowd. the people seem to like him. am i wrong on that? it's terrible to generalize, but is that what is happening sfwh if so, why? >> i think that's exactly right. the establishment of the republican party would much prefer mitt romney. on the other hand, i think the base is concerned about romney's past support of romneycare and he used to be pro-choice. i think what is happening in iowa is that everyone is ganging up on gingrich, with almost $10 million of negative ads running against him. gingrich made a fundamental mistake when he moved up in the polls in november and december, he should have been raking in

moan hand over fist, so when the numbers sagged, he could buoy them up. but he different he rode the tide and now he has no money to answer the attacks. so he's saying he's not running negative ads, but he can't. now -- >> greta: he did say to me the other night because i asked him about that -- how did we know -- suppose huall of this cash, would you be running them? he said, you run negative ads when you are at the bottom to get attention. he said, when he was at the bottom of the polls he didn't do that. but he bolstered that if he were rich, he wouldn't be doing it. that may be truism that's spin. but i think that, you know, the point here about politics in this presidential race and american politics generally, on the one hand, we are so anti-incumbent. and as republicans, we are so worried that the guy we nominate could be vulnerable to obama and

lose that we are very risk averse. and what happens is that when somebody gets out in front of the field, either a non-candidate like trump, daniels or christie or a candidate like bachmann, perry, cain and now gingrich, everybody closes in and hits them with negatives and they take quite a toll. the interesting thing about ron paul and mitt romney and rick santorum, the three candidates moving up sthr is they are the three that haven't been hit -- mitt romney advanced and everybody's shadow. he probably will win iowa. and probably then win new hampshire. i think gingrich will have a comeback in south carolina. but romney is advancing in stealth while everybody talks about gingrich. so is ron paul -- and rick santorum has won the tea party primary against herman cain and michele bachmann and rick perry.

>> greta: we only have a minute left. on capitol hill, quite a dram at past 24 hours. >> yeah. >> greta: and it looks like the republicans got quite a beating in the public relations or political sphere. your rereflection. >> the republican his a fantastic victory and got the democrats to agree to a tax cut on the middle class with no tax increase on the wealthy, funded entirely by spending cuts and requiring that obama choose between the unions and the environmentalists on the pipeline, within 60 days. what more do you want isn't republicans instead said, no, we want this to be for a year, not for two months. for goodness sakes, they should have accepted victory and thanked everybody. that's what they are doing,tu but it looks like defeat. this package is fantastic for the republicans. the long-term thing about it is that in two months, obama has to make a decision. does he alienate the labor yurngs by saying no to the

pipeline that will bring in oil? or does he alienate the environmentalists? either way, he's in very tough shape. he wanted to punt until after the election, but the republicans are not letting him. that's the long-term consequence of this bill. >> greta: dick, thank you. nice to see you. >> thank you. >> greta: coming up, just what many feared, no sooner do the troops leave iraq than all hell breaks loose. 16 bombs kill nearly 70 people. steven hadley goes on the record next. and governor chris christie hits the campaign trail for governor mitt romney. is there a vice-presidential job at the end of the trail? does governor christie think so? does governor christie think so? he tells you himself, coming capital one's new cash rewards card gives you a 50 percent annual bonus. so you earn 50 percent more cash. if you're not satisfied with 50% more cash, send it back! i'll be right here, waiting for it. who wouldn't want more cash?

[ insects chirping ] i'll take it. i'll make it rain up in here. [ male announcer ] the new capital one cash rewards card. the card for people who want 50% more cash. what's in your wallet? sorry i'll clean this up. shouldn't have made it rain.

the droid that wirelessly pulls files, music and movies, all at 4g lte speeds. and introducing the droid xyboard.

with an 8 inch hd screen and adaptive surround sound, a home theater for your hands. powered by verizon 4g lte, these droids are too powerful to fall into the wrong hands. buy a droid razr and get $100 off a droid xyboard. >> from america's news headquarters, i'm marianne rafferty. burmese opposition leader, formally registering for elections after the new government enacted a number of reforms. her party boycotted last year's elections because of restrictive rules that prevented her from being a candidate. she has spent much of the last two decades under house arrest for her political beliefs. a powdered infant formula has been removed from walnart stores nationwide after a missouri baby

who consumed it died from a rare bacterial infection. so far, the government hasn't ordered a recall, and the manufacturer says the batch tested negative for the bacteria before it was shipped. now, back to "on the record." for your latest headlines, go to foxnews.com. >> what is happening? a deadly wave of violence, sweeping across iraq. at least 69 people are killed in 16 bombings. the coordinated attacks come days after the last american forces leave iraq. coincidence or timed to coincide with the troop withdrawal? and did the u.s. leave iraq too soon? steven hadley joins us. what a complicated mess and not totally unexpected. but now what? >> two things. 1; this has the hallmarks of al qaeda. al qaeda has been trying to show that the iraqi security forces

can't provide security to the iraqi people. so is it a coincidence? no. it's clearly something that al qaeda -- a message from al qaeda to the iraqi people. if they do not escalate, these kinds of attacks which we see from time to time, are not sufficient to destabilize the regime. the real concern is what is happening politically with the outbreak between malbychi and the vice-president, arrest warrant and it is vice-president in the kurdish area, under protection of the kurdish leaders. there are unresolved political issues. they need to be addressed. this penitentiary for the long-term stability for iraq and also if iraq is going to be an example in the middle east of how sunni shiite and kurds can work together into a democratic framework to solve problems and build a future. that's an important lesson for the region. we are looking for iraq to provide that example.

>> it's a big world with different cultures and governments. but the idea that he could issue an arrest warrant for the vice-president and for essentially, being an asatsasin is so beyond any thought that there could be a stable government. is it -- i mean -- it's alarming. am i right that it's so alarming to think that the stability is at a serious jeopardy? >> it's alarming as a political matter. the allegation, as i understand it, is that two or three of the vice-president's security agents under questioning by iraqi authorities said that they were involved and inferentially he was involved in support for terror. who knows the details of this? it is alarming to see the prime minister serving as interior minister, ordering the arrest of the vice-president and simultaneously calling for

reconsideration of a deputy prime minister. it shows the unresolved tensions between shiite and sunni. the good news is all parts of the political spectrum are now saying, wait a minute. let's step back. let's get together. let's get all the parties together and try to start resolving the underlying issues. that's what has to happen and that's the challenge that jim jeffrey, our ambassador has, to try to get the parties now to start resolving some of these unresolved, underlying political tensions. >> to the other part of the world, to north korea... wla. do you see in the three months, six months, year, where are we going to be with them? >> short term, they will want to have some stability. middle 2012, very interesting. this is the year when they are trying to show to the world that they have arrived, they are a serious player.

will the new leadership, will the new leader be tempted to do something in terms of a nuclear test or a missile shot? how will that be responded to? will that cause a crisis? on the other hand, is this an opportunity where the chinese could pressure this regime to try to get it open up to do some economic reform -- >> greta: i mean, that's a possibility. i was there -- i was there last may and i have been there a couple of times. last may, there was such an influence eye mean, the cars on the road. it was extraordinary. people had cell phones, you couldn't dial out of the country. but the chinese were helping to build a road, a very big thoroughfare. the chinese -- somebody's pouring money into there. >> the chinese are pouring mon ne. in 2008, the chinese decided to move away from pressuring kim jong il. s that when he was having the stroke. they decided to be north korea's best friend. they put a lot of money in it. i think it will give them

leverage in the outcome. they have been pushing to try to get economic reform in north korea. the interesting thing is whether this would be an opportunity, whether the military in particular, would allow it because many people feel these are poisoned carrots, if you open up the regime, that country, the regime cannot stand. so the question is, is it going to go six months from now or are we going to be in a confrontation? or is there an opportunity, maybe to begin opening that place up? >> stephen, thank you. >> nice to be here. >> greta: straight ahead, is governor chris christie eyeing the vice presidency? and an impossible goal, or is it? the woman gets a chance to make a shot of a lifetime. a shot of a lifetime. see if she does [ male announcer ] you are a business pro.

premier of the packed bag. you know organization is key... and so is having a trusted assistant. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle...and go. you can even take a full-s or above and still pay the mid-size price. here we are... [ male announcer ] and there you go, business pro. there you go. go national. go like a pro.

>> okay. have you seen our top stories, but here is the best of the rest. governor chris christie stunning everyone. he has not ruled out running for vice-president, if tapped by the presidential nominee. however governor christie claims he and the candidate he endorsed, romney, have not discussed a v.p. role. >> he asked for my shut thoughtd i give them to him. >> have you talked about a vice-presidential role? >> no. >> never come up? >> no. i don't think you talk about that. i think as a nominee, you don't

talk about that stuff because you don't want to jinx yourself. i don't think he wants to talk to somebody about vice-president when he is not yet the nominee. there will be plenty of time for that when he sews up the nomination. i hope he will talk to a broad range of people and dry to find the partner that he am thinks will best serve him and america. >> you have said, who would want me to be their vice-president look at my personality. young he would be willing to have somebody as strong and as out there as you in the number 2 spot? >> i don't know. have you to ask him. >> i will ask him next time i see him. but you are not closing the door onatism i think that's presumptuous. running for president, that's my decision and mary pat's decision alone. vice-president is the decision of only one person, whoever the nominee of your party is. i think it's awful to say i won't do something that hasn't been offered. if governor romney testimonies comes to me and wants to talk to me about that, we will have a

full, complete conversation and mary scpait will talk about our future. but my view is, i think if you fast forward the tape to a year from now, i think it's going to be president-elect romney and some other vice-president-elect and chris christie, governor of new jersey. >> greta: back in october, governor christie disappointed many republicans at the time, saying he would not run for president, at least not in 2012. he wants to remain new jersey's governor. plus, an unbelievable shot. >> that's a long way. >> she did it, she did it unbelievable! you can call it beginner's luck. a 59-year-old woman from new york makes that incredible goal. brenda hulit had never held a hockey stick before. she was one of several people

chose tone test her skills in an ice hockey contest. she had to shoot the puck into a tiny goal, 114 feet away and she did it. the shocked announcer said he had never seen anyone make that shot. her prize? a new truck. this might make you say bah-huntbug. for more than a decade, this mail carrier has dressed up during the holidays. but now he has been banned. why isn't postal service says another male carrier, apparently a real scrooge complained. so though everyone else loves the santa suit, he will have to stick to the postal uniform. but he tell continue to spread holiday cheer. there you have tthe best of the rest. coming up, a g.o.p. candidate shows off hidden talent on late-night t. who was it and [ mujahid ] there was a little bit of trepidation,

not quite knowing what the next phase was going to be, you know, because you been, you know, this is what you had been doing. you know, working, working, working, working, working, working. and now you're talking about, well you know, i won't be, and i get the chance to spend more time with my wife and my kids. it's my world. that's my world. ♪ that's my world. this was the gulf's best tourism season in years. all because so many people came to louisiana... they came to see us in florida... make that alabama... make that miissippi. the best part of the gulf is wherever you choose... and now is a great time to discover it. this year millions of people did. we set all kinds of records. next year we're out to do even better. so come on down to louisiana... florida... alabama... mississippi. we can't wait to see you. brought to you by bp and all of us who call the gulf home.

>> greta: 11:00 is almost here, flash studio lights, it's time for last call. governor may be down in the polls but he can sure wow a crowd. take a look as he plays along with david letterman's fans. ♪ [ music ] . >> he's good. maybe they should add a talent competition to the presidential race. not sure if a swimsuit competition is a good idea, though. that is your last call and we're closing down shop. we want to give you a sneak peek at a special series that

starts monday, its called "road to 2012, america's future". >> what matters most to you. >> the economy. it's showing sign of growth but unemployment is still high. as i get ready to put my feet in the professional world i want to know very a job. >> jobs. >> job autos and economy. >> why? >> i think it has a lot to do with what we're looking at. we're coming here spending 100,000s ndz tuition, we'd like to know there are jobs out there for us. >> unemployment stays the same, will any of you currently intending to vote for president obama change your mind? >> if it were to rise again very no problem blaming the republican congress. >> you'll hear what college students are talking about next week on "on the record". thank you for being with us tonight. let us know what