tonight on "nightline," born again yus? children's whose incredible talents defy explanation. but are they born? or can they be built? "nightline" investigates the making of the child prodigy. senator no surrender. he's the most controversial newcomer to capitol hill, with a radical pedigree. but can rand paul's high ideals survive the senate? we've got the "nightline" interview. and, revolution. as the power of moammar gadhafi is gravely shaken, our cameras go inside hidden libya for a dramatic dispatch from a revolution in progress. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with

terry moran, cynthia mcfadden and bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," february 23rd, 2011. >> good evening, i'm terry moran. and we begin tonight with the kind of incredible talent that is as fascinating as it is perplexing. child prodigies. they are sometimes dismissed by skeptics honed through practice, and yet, in some rare cases, very young children exhibit amazing gifts that seem to express something more, some divine touch, perhaps. so, which is it? here's john berman with our report. >> reporter: shut your eyes for a second. that music could be coming from a maestro. now squint. that trick shot from a seasoned

pool hall hustler. that painting from an established master. but it turns out they have a combined age, combined, of 20. there's a word for that. prodigy. how good are you at the piano? >> well, i'm okay. >> reporter: just okay? >> i love it. >> reporter: 9-year-old emily bear is better than okay. okay doesn't get you to carnegie hall. so good, her concert was filmed by german tv. okay doesn't get you this. >> one of my favorite things is when i played for the president. >> reporter: of the united states? >> at the white house. he was really nice. >> reporter: emily has been playing since she was just 18 months old. >> it was here. her fiddling didn't sound like a kid. we were getting our kitchen

painted and our painters were like, who's playing? they put her in lessons at age 5, and now, she's playing all over the world, and composing, too. who is your favorite composer? >> i like bach. >> reporter: can you just play a bach melody? >> well, yeah. ♪ >> reporter: and while she's playing, keith o'dell is sinking. nearly everything. keith, how old you are now? 3 years old. what do you like to play? >> pool. >> reporter: are you a good pool player? >> uh-huh. >> when he was like 16 months to 18 months he used to sit and watch me play all day. and he just picked up the cue and started pocketing balls at 18 months. >> reporter: just started playing? >> just started playing. >> reporter: who is the best in the world? >> me. >> reporter: okay, maybe not

yet, but he can do all kinds of trick shots that would blow your mind. >> reporter: do you come up with new shots on your own? >> yeah. >> reporter: what makes you think of the new shots? when daddy's not watching me, i will play pool. >> reporter: he's got sponsors. he's a huge hit on the internet. not to mention tv. how good do you think he is? >> there's stuff he's doing that people who are 30 years old can't do, i mean, he's incredible. >> reporter: keith makes it look easy. like a simple landscape for kieron williamson. >> yeah, i think it's really easy. >> reporter: 8-year-old kieron, who lives in holt, england, got a drawing pad from his parents a couple years ago. the simple sketching soon turned almost super natural. >> it's very difficult to appreciate that it's coming from, you know, from kieron, because he's normal in every other way. but what he produces is just

breathtaking, it's amazing. >> reporter: his work is the buzz of britain. 33 paintings in his last collection sold in 27 minutes, making more than $230,000. he has taken some lessons, but if you're looking to build your own child prodigy, take a class in prodigy 101, our parents have some thoughts. where does the ability come from? >> well, i'd really like to be able to say he gets hissal friend me, but we don't know where the talent comes from. >> reporter: 'em limbemily's mu? you think she was born with a gift? >> i absolutely do. >> reporter: keith's table work. why do you think he's so good? do you think he was born that way? >> definitely. definitely a natural talent. >> reporter: you don't fear that she's just doing this for you? >> oh, god, no. >> she would like to do more performing and we're kind of slowing things down and trying to keep it balanced. >> reporter: alyssa quart, a published author at age 7, says balance is the key. >> what's really important is to

have it come as much from the kid as possible and have that element of flow. they'll be able to take that quality over into their adult lives. >> reporter: what's the most days you've taken off in a row from piano? >> two? but i love doing it. it's not like i'm forced to do it. >> reporter: but there is clear parental involvement. keith and his dad is together constantly. what do you say when you're playing pool? >> i love you daddy. >> reporter: and the parenting isn't easy. >> it think when most people look at it from the outside, they would think, that would be great if my child had this special ability, but it puts new a position where you have to make a lot of decisions that you never thought you would ever have to make. and it does complicate your life. >> reporter: and in the end, all these parents of remarkable kids want them to be normal kids and normal people. >> what does a prodigy become? a genius later or just a successful person?

even being a successful person is a kind of let down often because they've been really remarkable when they were young. and there are people that have this amazing set of skills that they carried over into adulthood. >> reporter: what do you want him to be when he gropes up. >> whatever he wants to do. >> reporter: kieron wants to be -- >> a really good artist and a professional footballer. ♪ >> reporter: and emily? well, her air hockey isn't quite as good as her music. i play tenacious defense. >> score! >> reporter: their gifts are a huge part of their lives now. but what about the future? >> it's completely kieron's choice if he paints or not. we hope he doesn't lose it completely. >> whatever would make her happy is what we want to do.

and so if she wanted to take a break or wanted to stop, we would be all for it. >> reporter: for the time being, these amazing kids are amazing kids. it's something no one can ever take away. one thing is certain. we can't all be prodigies. teach me to play something. >> reporter: i can play that. i can't do that. >> do that. >> reporter: i'm john berman for "nightline" in rockford, illinois. >> berman is no prodigy there. good luck to keith o'dell, too. he's going to compete next month. up next, even the most conservative republicans balk at his proposals for slashing government. we sit down with the newly minted senator, rand paul. ♪ [ male announcer ] here they come. all the new tech products you need.

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>> announcer: "nightline" continues from new york city with terry moran. >> if republicans and democrats can't find a way to compromise on spending, the federal government will shut down on march 4th. but what do you think the chances for compromise would be if senator rand paul, the fiery tea party newcomer who wants to abolish the departments of education and energy and lots more, what if he was running the show? well, tonight, bill weir sits down with the senator for the "nightline" interview. >> reporter: it is lunchtime on capitol hill and america's most controversial new senator is on his way to the one place he knows his ideas are always welcome. the office of america's most controversial representative, also known as dad. i was so curious about how the roommate situation is working out. >> we're not talking about that in public. >> reporter: it's that bad?

>> actually it's very good. >> reporter: yes, rand and ron paul are d.c. roomies these days and share a lot more than rent. >> i'm glad to see the revolution is continuing. >> reporter: because the son grew up worshipping his father, as the doctor turned philosopher statementsman was mocked and praised for his ideals. he was there when he ran for president, with promises to gut big government, end wars and legalize drugs. and now, the libertarian lion has a blood ally. did he have any sage advice, first day in the halls of power? >> he said just be real quiet and don't try to stir up any trouble. >> reporter: right, right. >> no controversial votes. we don't believe in that. >> reporter: that is the epitome of sarcasm, of course. and when it comes to stirring things up, rand paul has made poppa proud from the moment he left his doctor's office to run for this one. >> there were times when my wife

was crying and we thought, is it worth it? >> reporter: as a tea party candidate, paul had to beat kentucky's democrat and republican regimes while surviving potentially devasta devastating controversies. >> i abhor racism. but at the same time, i do believe in private ownership. >> reporter: he argued in a meeting with "the louisville currier journal" that by ord ordering african-americans to be served, there was too much power in government. and then, there was the pot-fueled escapade that paul tied up a woman. he denied it and later clarified it wasn't kidnapping, but a prank. what was the lowest point of the campaign for you? >> i think probably being called an idol worshipper. being -- >> reporter: aqua buddah. >> being accused of kidnapping.

now we can look back and laugh at it a little bit. >> reporter: but as he describes in his new book, "the pea tar by goes to washington," he shrugged off attacks from the, quote, left wing media and was spurred ondy disgust over rampant spending by both parties, especially republicans like mitch mcconnell. what's your relationship with mitch now? >> i think good. i think the entire republican caucus on the senate side is for t a balanced budget. we are in tune. but i say, you have to cut spending. >> reporter: you're miles apart from what they want to cut. >> yeah, that's what i mean. >> reporter: so, while the president argues for a budget scalpel, rand paul would use a chain saw, shutting down the departments of energy and education. he would kill the consumer product safety commission, shrink the pentagon and cut off all foreign aid. and while republicans were proposing $50 billion in cuts, he wanted to slash $500 billion.

>> i would say, i'm not here to bring you a brand new shiny building. i'm not here to bring you any federal money. there is no money left. >> reporter: does the richest nation in the history of nations have a responsibility to take care of -- >> as a christian, we are our brother's keeper. and we do have a moral obligation to take care of those. the question you have to ask is, the the government equipped to do it? >> reporter: and consider the bill making it a federal crime to shine a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft in flight. it passed 96-1. who was the one? >> can you imagine -- >> reporter: it was you. explain that. >> 14-year-old kid shining his laser light at the cockpit. i don't want that. i think the local sheriff can take care of that. laws are best done at the local level. >> reporter: but at the federal level, there is the real possibility the government could grind to a halt if both sides can't agree on a budget.

what are the chances, you think this is all going to shut down in march? >> i hope it doesn't. i hope we can find a compromise. the other side wants a dynamic of blames republicans for shutting things down. but this happens at every level of government. for example, in my little town if they don't pass a budget, you know what the first thing they do? they turn the lights off at the little league park, they say, no more little league games. >> reporter: but a government shutdown is not little league. and the cuts he's proposing have the potential to make those wisconsin protests look like a church social. but rand paul has promised his tea party faithful there will be very little compromise in his tenure. and they'll be watching to see if he becomes senatized. are you a burr under the saddle of republicans? >> sometimes. and i do think i am able to age agitate. everything up here is fixable. i'm not afraid to talk about it. i'm not afraid to be elected. >> and senator paul's new book is in stores now.

thanks to bill for that report. up next, we're going to turn to libya. rampant violence there and signs that after 40 years, signs that moammar gadhafi may be teetering on his pedestal.are going to sae 50 - 90% on great daily deals all over town. vo: they're going to discover new... restaurants, spas, museums, famous people, helicopter rides juggling classes a different kind of juggling classes concerts, yoga studios, theatre golf, lessons, more lessons, movie tickets and a whole lot more. end vo: if your week doesn't sound quite that exciting, maybe you want to sign up for ours. groupon.com (engine starts) ♪ ♪

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and now to libya, where moammar gadhafi is fighting for his political life. auto cats in tunisia to the west

and egypt to the west have recently fallen, but gadhafi's held power longer than either. still, reports emerged today that he may be planning to blow up that country's valuable oil inf infrastructure, just one possible sign of his increasing desperation. here's alex marquardt in libya. >> reporter: tonight in libya, more video emerged of gadhafi's forces brutally cracking down on protesters. helicopter gun ship firing into the streets. fighter jet dropping bombs. human rights groups say they've confirmed around 300 deaths. witnesses say the number could be as high as 1,000. gadhafi and his forces hang onto the capital. there are reports that thousands of foreign mercenaries are gathering around the city to hold it. a very different story in eastern libya, where the people have taken the country's second biggest city and the surrounding area. >> we are taking control of everything, traffic, security,

utilities, everything. >> reporter: today, our team traveled from the egyptian border to tubruq. egyptians streamed across the border. migrant workers coming home from libya, carrying whatever they could escape with. we weren't able to drive into libya, so we're walking. unlike the other road that goes into egypt, which is chock full of people, this one going into libya is desserted. we arrived in libya as darkness fell. a sign in graffiti greeted us, down with crazy gadhafi. dark, bumpy roads gave way to small towns where civilian men patrolled and life was surprisingly normal. it was clear who is in control and what they think of gadhafi. >> if he is really king why do the people not want him? >> reporter: people here say they don't have basic necessities or a voice. so, they vow to continue fighting until they overthrow their leader. for "nightline," i'm alex marquardt in libya. >> the libyan revolution continues. an