>> we begin with a preholiday show in the granite state taking his message to new hampshire as they go to the polls in the first primary of 2012. president obama took up his role as defender of the common man. painting republicans who would raise taxes on the middle class to protect the wealthy as a mean-spirited grinch. >> tell them don't be a grinch. don't vote to raise taxes on workinoç americans in the holidays. put the country before party. time for the folks spending all their time talking about what's wrong with america to spend time rolling up their sleeves to help us rebuild america. and rebuild our little class. >> you can hardly blame him.

mr. romney welcomed the president to an open letter. apparently written with a poison penn that ran across the state. you were dealt a hard hand, but we now have had three years to watch your policies unfold and to assess their results. the evidence is in and it is unequivocal. i will be blunt. your policies have failed. if that wasn't enough, the romney campaign has unleashed their first television campaign ad in new hampshire attacking the president on the economy. . >> we need a rescue plan for the middle class. >> we're need swallow homeowners. >> for will take a new direction. if we keep talking about the economy, we are going to lose. >> we know that candidates and yes, even some newscasts take things out of context, but this time it is something. listen to the original line from then candidate barack obama on the campaign trail.

>> senator mccain's campaign said if we keep talking about the economy, we are going to lose. >> a low blow. using the president as he is quoting john mccain, but itting ises that that's the best mitt romney can do. an associate editor and pulitzer prize winner atç "the washingt post." he will be graciously filling in on this broadcast tomorrow as host. joining us as well, a correspondent for the nation. eugene, this ad from mitt romney, is it dirty politics right out of the gate? is this mitt romney changing his stance from being a very reasonable man to suddenly misrepresenting the president? >> there several technical terms. deceitful and it's a lie basically. this is a weird kind of

distortion because it's not as if it's going to be found out immediately and thus discounted as a serious attack on the president. after all it comes from john mccain, not the president. either it's a real stretch, he's trying to get attention, or somebody in the campaign trying to screw it up. >> you heard the campaign's defense. they say they knew all along it was john mccain that the president was referring to. does that defense work? >> i don't think it works. the ad has a lie right in the middle of it and a campaign has been called out on its lie and said yes, we meant to do it all along. that makes it worse. that is what they want to begin with. the politics are clear and the fact that people are discussing something mitt romney is doing that is what many have been loathed to do because he's not as exciting as the other character. i don't think they are all

candidates, but characters are more fun to discuss. the point here has to be clear. there is a lie in the ad and a lie that they won't back down from and the media will have to get clear about addressing thatç >> this letter that mitt romney wrote to the president, i'm sorry, but from where i sit, it seem inappropriate for someone to welcome the president of the united states to new hampshire with a letter outlining his thoughts as a republican presidential candidate. >> it seems a little cheap, a little declassy for romney to do such a thing. i don't think it violates a rule of presidential campaign decor um, but it just why bother? why not just have your campaign appearance and it's like a stunt. >> it feels like that. mitt romney is putting up big numbers. the latest polling has him at 41% in new hampshire. he is neck and neck with the

president nationally. do you think the president's speech today hitting on the middle class and being their representative, is that the right tactic to take if he were to face romney in 2012? >> absolutely. one thing we see is the economy being the under toe of every discussion. that's not going to change in this environment. as you said, we have a goofy letter saying your policies have failed, let me be blunt. you have obama talking about the jobs bill and the fact that his tax plans have been solid and people said he raised taxes don't know the facts. all of that is going to be the base line against romney and the state polls are much more significant than the national ones. people will rise and fall nationally and have impacts in places. >> the white house has been thinking about running against mitt romney for months now.

they call the white house to ask about libyaç or afghanistan an end with it. did you see romney? that was outrageous. i can't imagine that this is not part of an overall strategy. >> the president said of his payroll tax cut that $1500 is not a band-aid and he purposely used those words, we think, because of what mitt romney said in the debate. listen to this. >> the tax cut for middle class families that, is not a band-aid. it is a big deal. >> you would be okay with seeing the tax cut? >> i don't like temporary band-aids. >> a clear reference to what romney said. >> that's to your point, the white house targeting romney as their focus. >> they are paying attention to every word that comes out of his mouth and every memo and ad and everything. they are either using it or marking it down for later use.

this is very clearly aimed at him. >> as many presidents previously, the president today or candidates before, he talked about the occupied business. listen to his response here. >> young people like the ones here today including the ones who were chanting at me, you are the reason i ran for office in the first place. >> that's very different than what newt gingrich said about protester who is should take a bath and find a job. >> i think that's different. this is a fascinating counter point. so many people wonder what are the folks really getting done. pew has a studyç showing that last week there was nor news coverage of inequality than

state or any other issue. i thought today was one of the best lines i heard the president say. i heard other times they wrapped the occupy movement back into a democratic. >> he is being reluctant. >> very much so. he tried to make it and this is about the american jobs act. no, it's not. it's about something bigger, but to the extent that he said even when your activism protests me, i support you because that's part of the politics. that's great and to your point, it's different than the republicans. it's des parnlged. >> i have to finish with you. i have been following your columns and you followed newt gingrich's rise. how much longer can newt remain in place given that up to now he simply abused the broadcast media and blamed us. he said nothing about the other candidates. >> he is has now edged into the lead in some polls. that's a dangerous place to be in the republican field. that's a signal for the others

to open fire on him which i predict they will. he will have to fire back. it's certainly not in his nature to sit there and take it. he won't be able to do that much longer. you see fireworks fairly soon. >> thank you so much for joining us this afternoon. >> eugene, welcome to the broadcast and we forward to having you in this chair tomorrow. we get set to debate the foreign policy. close your eyes and cover your ears. >> in china there no student loan programs. there is no food stamp program and no af d.c. program and no retirement program either. ♪ [ gasp ] [ mom ] my husband -- he thinks it's a 3-sheeter. i say 1-sheeter. bounty can clean the mess with less. [ female announcer ] in this lab demo,

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. >> it's a whole ten days since we had a republican debate and it's time for another showdown tonight. a few blocks from the place the candidates hope to call home, the white house. tonight's subject is national security and foreign policy. none of the candidates's strongest suit and given past performances, we areç taking bs as to who makes our jaw drop first. >> okay, libya. um, nobody, that's a different one. >> maximum covert operations to block and disrupt the iranian programs. >> if you elect mitt romney, they will not have a nuclear weapon. >> we took flack from the press for going on a trip, but it was helpful to be in greece. >> for you look at china, they don't have food stamps and the modern welfare state. china is growing. >> what other country?

>> i would say i don't know whether venezuela is getting money or not. >> one candidate who won't be making debate gaffes is buddy because he is not participating this evening, but he does join us now from washington. good afternoon, sir. >> thank you, martin. >> what has been your overall reaction to the foreign policy credentials of this field from the pizza man herman cain to rick perry? >> weak. it frankly doesn't matchup to obama's foreign policy. i don't give our president high grades, but better grades than i have heard from my colleagues. i don't think most of them have been to china. i don't think most of them would stop products made elsewhere with iranian oil from coming into america. i don't think most of them addressed the bear in the room.

that's addiction to saudi arabiian oil. i don't think most of them have taken a stand on nuclear nonproliferationç except to se our army somewhere. ridiculo ridiculous. >> that's a fairly comprehensive condemn nation of their credentials. although the field of candidates will criticize the president for everything including his choice of footwear, if the field of foreign policy as you said, he has led the nation with a degree of success. do you,er is, acknowledge that the capture and killing of bin laden and alongside the measured support for libya, all of these actions have been to president obama's credit? >> they are. he stands on the back of a lot of effort of a lot of women and men who came before him. let's be fair about this. i don't think he has made any major or disastrous gaffes. i think he tries to pick up

knowledge as he goes along. i thought the libya was a disaster at first. i was skeptical, but it worked out fairly well and might be a pattern for any future ng tanglements. i believe this. i believe we are addicted to foreign oil and the president has not addressed that for one second. it's a mistake and number two, i think he joins bill clinton and george w. bush being too little too late and too slow on nuclear proliferation with iran. i expect action and a plan, martin. you haven't heard one and i haven't heard one either. >> what are we have heard, sir, is that rick perry would like to dig for more oil wherever it exists in america. >> i think he's on to something. i would emphasize naturalç gas.

natural gas has 20% of the carbon footprint of oil. my state, we cleaned up drilling 25 years ago from natural gas. it can be done. heck, i got the sierra club award as an environmentalist and the work we did. we ought to be energy-independent. we are sending $600 billion a year on a trade imbalance overseas for foreign oil. i would rather have a partnership with canada and mexico. no tariffs there. i would tariff foreign oil except canada and mexico. i would drill wherever it is found. i would supply manufacturing plants with affordable energy, energy independence. it will raise the value. >> would you therefore support the keystone pipeline? >> i do. >> you do? not with standing what we know about the potential damage to

the environment? >> i would be careful about that, martin. but you asked me, i come down on the side of action here. maybe i favor independence more than you do. i am a freedom-loving person and i think it's a disgrace that we owe all the foreign nations in the mideast homage for their oil. i would stop it. it is corrupting our foreign policy, martin. >> you know, sir, something else you made a big issue of is getting cash out of politics. something that you say corrupts our political process. i wish you luck with that, but what was your reaction when you learned, for example, that newt gingrich banked almost $2 million from services to freddie mac? >> well, i was surprised. >> you were surprised? >> well, i was dismayed. to pick on newt a second, to be

in bed with the size of government with two agencies that ut to be disbanded, let me say it again. they ought to be disbanded. we have spend $180 billion of the taxpayers' money and there is no solution in sight. disband them. >> governor buddy roemer, comprehensive and clear in your points. thank you very much for joining us, sir. >> thanks, martin. >> next, congress gets set to enjoy a well-earned holiday and there is news on the failed super committee as well. hi, could you read my list?

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and it's on a really good corner. let's see if we can buy the property." and the branch manager said, "all right, i will take a chance with the two of you." and we've been loyal to bank of america for the last 71 years. >> both sides said they tried to reach an agreement, but at the thanksgiving table, there plates full of empty promises and

missed opportunities. formed back in august and given the job of tackling the nation's crushing debt, the group of 12 proved incapable of compromise. >> democrats believe that the government having made a lot of commitments and promises that we really can't keep with the revenue ought the to increase revenue dramatically. >> america is stuck with the rigidity of people who wanted to protect the wealthiest people in the country instead of providing $1.2 trillion of deficit reduction. >> nbc's luke russert has been following the story since the buffalo bills were hot. they collapsed. >> that's a long time ago. >> it was a long time ago. there is a widespread sense of disappointment, but isn't this just political posturing? everyone knew it would reach gridlock and fail to make an agreement. >> there two camps at the beginning of this discussion.

the people who were very much optimists and the peasimists. at the beginning, both sides were at 50-50. after two week when is it came to the realization that a lot of time was spent on the rules and both sides postured around september or october really came to fruition that there was a high likelihood that this would not succeed. that being said, they tried to work hard until the end. senator kerry tried to have a tax reform after television interviews, but nevertheless is just goes to show you that here is a committee that was given something that i would consider to be one of the most valuable golden nugget. that is say filibuster-proof vote. so valuable you can't put a price on it. they were not able to do that and they were working as the

nation's deficit past 15 trillion dollars. you know what, these issues are not that difficult when you look at them from afar. you have $15 trillion worth of debt and medicare runs out of money the way it is structured. they add $3.8 trillion if you continue them. you can't have both. you have to make a decision and both sides need to give in and you refuse to do it. the republicans don't want to see the increases at all no matter what. that was a difficult position for democrats to move with. >> what have we got ahead? another over the debt ceiling and the expiration of the payroll tax cut and the argument about whether to continue unemployment experience. given what happened this week, can we have any confidence that the issues will be resolved? >> no, the debt limit issues they pushed back to 2013, but what you see inç congress this december is it becomes a very busy month. the payroll tax holiday that

president obama is campaigning on, he wants to see it extended as about 2% of a person's paycheck. it's a huge boost the president feels for the middle class and economists. unemployment benefits and money that comes from the government that goes back out into gas stations and restaurants and grocery stores. people take that money and spend it and use it. those were important to president obama that republicans see as $300 billion add the to the deficit. they will have strenuous negotiations. this will come down between speaker boehner and president obama and all the way up to the christmas holiday. you will see republicans getting some of what they want by coupling these things important to the president and legislation he would not sign. >> nbc's luke russert and good luck to the bill who is may have a chance against the jets. >> i don't think so, but good luck. >> the top lines are coming up. [ male announcer ] whether over a cup of maxwell house,

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with speeds up to 10x faster than 3g. ♪ here in new york city, anticipation is high for the year's big thanksgiving day parade. it will feature bands, floats and a lot of oversized balloons filled with copious amounts of hot air. if it's hot air, check out today's hop lines. >> the congressional budget office is a reactionary socialist institution that does not believe in economic growth. >> in child laws that are stupid. >> please, sir. i want some more. >> what? >> what are? >> i will say one word. we give you the first word that comes into your head. romney. >> hair. no, just a minute. >> you have another one. >> vice president.

>> cain. >> nine. >> if we keep talking about the economy, we are going to lose. senator mccain's campaign said and i quote, if we keep talking about the economy, we are going to lose. >>ç i will probably teach a course that outlines what we are going to try to accomplish and offer online. >> pay local students to take care of the schools. the kids would do work. >> please, sir. i want some more. >> what? >> food, glorious food ♪ >> go get a job right after you take a bath. ♪

>> indeed. a bath is exactly what you may need after watching the republican debate on foreign policy. here to help us perform a predebate ceremonial cleansing are our strategists and scholar, author and professor at georgetown university. good afternoon to both of you. we already heard newt gingrich take two positions in libya while herman cain is waiting for china to be a nuclear power. mitt romney promised he is the man to keep iran from ever having a nuclear weapon. with all the attention on newt, will he have the target on his back tonight? >> certainly. i think anybody who is the front-runner is going to draw the attention. newt gingrich's reemergence as a dog in that fight will make him the lead person who will be subject to the scrutiny of the

others. the question is will they be able to interrogate him as he may do himself a favor by saying something equally outlandish that gets him further up the poll. >> when you look at the latest polling, gingrich leads romney by four percentage points and herman cain by seven. is this a reflection of primary voters actually refining their preferences or is it what bonnie frank described as the bum of the month club? >> i think it's the anything but romney dynamic continuing to play out. they have a lot of problems. it's hard to know when he stands for. he has been on every side of any issue you can think of. for conservative voter fes they

want to find fault in newt gingrich, they can. the question is, are they desperate enough to find a mitt romney alternative that they are willing to live with the past sins. >> what are do you think? >> i think he handled it in a good way. he put everything out there and that was smart. here's the thing that's hard thing. he is participating them as coming from the mainstream media. none want to be seen as part of the media making these attacks. it makes it hard to level against him. >> well done, newt. another poll revealed troubling numbers. despite leading mitt romney by ten points overall, whenç it comes to the question of strong moral character, newt trails not just romney, but bachman as well. what do you make of that? >> yeah, i think it's the

gingrich who stole christmas and crist had it stolen back. the reality is that newt gingrich as crystal ball indicated has a lot to be -- a lot of explaining to do. his own moral character is there is an inverse proportion to failure flaw in republican candidates and the ability to run on a moral platform that said they are the person for the job. they seem to broker no awareness that human beings tend to mess up, but they see themselves as exempt from that and yet at the same time newt gingrich's dirty work and his bad behavior is out there for all to talk about if he can successfully say i dealt with that and addressed that. now let's move on to something different. we will see. in reality people understand that there is moral flaws that are fundamental to newt gingrich's character. >> what's interesting in the same poll they asked about leadership qualities.

newt scored higher than mitt romney on leadership qualities they tested. which are they going to weigh more heavily? for a lot of conservatives, they are salivating at the chance to have this guy who is very, very smart and schooled in history up on the debate statement. that is part of the reason why he is seeing this rise. >> professor. >> they are willing to defor concerns about morality in recognition of his leadership ability that said a lot. >> indeed. herman cain sent out a seven-page mailner iowa in which he mentions ronald reagan three times and i quote him as aç descendent of slaves, i can lead by garnering a large share of the black vote, something that has not been done since dwight eisenhower garnered 41% in 1956. if i can put the question to you both, do you think he can? >> he ain't getting much of the

black vote. brother, it will be a black day before the black man herman cain gets a large share of the black vote. i don't see it happening. >> you are not going to vote for him just because he's black? i'm voting for michele bachmann because i'm a white woman. just like i voted for sarah palin because i'm a woman. >> you have a crystal ball like i have a dyson vacuum. >> when are we come back, three young americans apprehended in cairo as the situation on the ground worsens. stay with us. [ male announcer ] what if you have potatoes? but you've got a meat and potatoes guy? pour chunky sirloin burger soup over those mashed potatoes and dinner is served. four minutes, around four bucks. campbell's chunky -- it's amazing what soup can do.

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elections. as the fourth day of protests continue, threw american students have been arrested accused of setting off molotov cocktails and clashing with police in tahrir square. gates has been active on twitter over the past few days, tweeting about his involvement in the protests. i'm quoting him. six hours at tahrir, enough tear gas for tonight. meanwhile, egyptians have swarmed tahrir square in response for a call about a million man march against the country's military rulers where we find the chief foreign correspondent richard engle who joins us on the phone. good evening. >> good evening. there have been developments recently. a lot of people are complaining of intense tear gas in the center of tahrir square. this after people vowed to stay in tahrir square angry at the speech given by the field

marshall in which he did offer compromises and moving up the date of the presidential election, but also in something the protesters are calling them effectively saboteurs and people who are trying to destroy the economy and insult the military. while he did offer consessions, he made no indication that he is willing to step down immediately which is what the protesters want and blamed them for pushing them into instability. >> the president repeatedly spoke of his support for protesters on the ground in egypt and cairo. is there anything at stake for the united states with all of this activity going on? >> i think that's what people are missing perhaps with all of the excitement in tahrir and the humans of thousands that are poring into the square. it's important to ask what is at stake here. the egyptian military has been in power in egypt for nearly 60

years and for at least decades it's been a close u.s. ally and receives money from the united states, more than a billion a year. it defends a peace treaty with israel. it is at times often a middle east peace broker. toppling the egyptian military be good for the united states? i think it's still an unclear question. the egyptian people who are put the question to today said that's really not their concern. their concern is the military and the primary goal is to defend the egyptian people and the military has been attacking the people and attacking demonstrato demonstrators. the united states has a lot riding on what happens in egypt. they have been a corner of stability and it's unclear what would replace it. >> we know the protests overç e last four days have gotten violent and thousands injured and 28 have died.

have you got any news on these three american student who is were arrested today? do you have any information about the current circumstances? >> not the very current circumstances. not over the last few hours zeechl spoken with the university officials and em passy officials. they all confirm that the three americans were in fact detaped. they were put on egyptian television and looking sheepish and the assumption is they are going to be deport and they have not received confirmation of where they are and when that might happen. >>iment oo i'm sure you will bring us that information when you get it. >> presidential elections were expected to take place in 2013. we are now hearing that these will likely take place in june. is this the result of these

protests? >> it is. even the previous date you had mentioned was a very unclear number. unclear date. what the egyptian military has been promising is a process that will lead to democracy. as a very long process that has a tremendous amount of bwiggle room. they are still supposed to take place in a week's time for the parliamentary election and start a long process. first it takes place for three months and six months after that. once the constitution isç written, a referendum. assuming the constitution passes, there will be presidential elections and the military would step down. it was assumed that yes, this would take place sometime in 2013, but as you can imagine

with all of these different factors here, it could have gone on well beyond that. remember in egypt emergency law was put in after the assassination of sa dat, it's still in place. what we had was a definitive date and that's important saying yes, the presidential elections will take place in 2012 in the summer. if the fill hare takesis place, they do not believe that and they are still in the scare demanding an immediate transition. >> richard engle as ever, you stay safe. par are thank you. >> next, the true failure in d.c. but first, brian sullivan has the cnbc market wrap. >> thank you very much. not a huge move for the stock market and the dow jones down about 48 points as we speak. there was a downward revision of gdp and initially came in at about 2.5% and down to 2%.

more news and headlines out of europe. kind of the same thing as far as europe goes. not so hot and stock market facing the longest clump in about four months. down 52 points to 11,495. a holiday shortened week. thank goodness. martin and the rest of the crew will be back after this short break. #ç

the failure of the super committee to reach a deal could have massive implications. not only for those lucky enough who have a job, but for those who rely on unemployment to get through. the president spoke about the tax fight during his visit to new hampshire this afternoon challenging republicans directly. for more on this, i'm joined now by congressman crowley of new york. good afternoon. >> good afternoon. >> i have to tell you friends of mine who vote and expect better from congress are absolutely disgusted. it would be remiss of me not to

convey their sense of anger towards you. what do you say about washington? what do you say about the congress? you've had since august to resolve this problem and there was no deal whatsoever. >> i share this frustration. i think that many of us in congress as well share that i bring back to the point that the majority held by the republicans today under this congress and it's not been the do-nothing congress. it's really why are we even there congress. reality is this is one of the most unproductive congresses in the united states during time of need. i'm not talking about just the big items. i'm talking about get the little items done. >> congressman, you've been there for a while. >> uh-huh. >> why couldn't you and your fellow democrats do something about this? >> i think if you compare where we were prior to this term, no one ever accused our congress of

doing nothing. some may have expressed we did too much by giving health care to people who couldn't afford it in the past. by promoting green energy and green jobs. by making college more affordable. we had a vision for america. people may not have liked that vision, but no one can argue we had a vision. what's lacking today, martin, there's a lack of vision in the republican caucus. nothing. about taking away -- >> here's your problem. there are constituents in your constituency who rely on the payroll tax cut, who rely on unemployment benefits. >> uh-huh. >> you're not going to be able to extend those if you can't reach an agreement on this. what faith should we have that unemployment benefits are going to be extended? >> martin, when i think our failure to act on those particular items really says more about us as a country. if we can't take care of those who are down and out, if we can't help those who are trying to get by day-by-day, what does it say about us? i believe this congress must

come back and we must pass this. i believe we will. >> but you çhaven't. why are you so confident after thanksgiving everyone's going to come back and be happy? >> i can't imagine this republican congress will not have that heart. if they want to be skrooj, they'll pay for it at the ballot box. if you're in charge and this happens under your watch people struggling to make ends meet cannot afford to do tharks the responsibility lies in the majority. the american people spoke. they gave them the power to rule. they gave them the power to dictate what comes on the floor in the house of representatives. not the minority. that's the way our system works. and if this does not pass, it's squarely on the back of the republican congress. the president cannot do everything by himself. >> senator john kerry said yesterday. >> yeah. >> that the 13th member of the super committee, who wasn't there, but had the greatest influence was grover. do you agree with him? >> 100%.

i think grover in his involvement -- his hidden involvement in all of this really sets a new standard, i think, for congress. the notion or idea that one would sign a pledge and by signing that would advocate his or her responsibility to do what's in the best interest of the united states gives me as a member of congress pause when i'm presented with any type of a pledge in the future. a pledge to me says that you don't trust me. you're asking me to sign a pledge because you don't think i'll do what's in the best interest of the american people. we are elected to do what is right for the american people. not for grover nor quest, not for any particular wing of society, but all of america. and by failing to come to an agreement, the republicans in congress once again said they would stand with the wealthiest 1% or 2% than stand with society. >> thank you for coming in. very happy thanksgiving. >> sameç to you, martin. >> we'll be right back to clear the air. ouncer ] how are we going to make this season better than the last?

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it's tiemt time now to clear the air. today is the 48th anniversary of the tragic death of jack kennedy. assassinated in the same year i was born, 1963. my colleague, chris matthews, whose book has just been published describes a man who charted a remarkablqç course fo the country both domestically and in terms of foreign policy. he also managed to win a pulitzer prize. he wanted us to reach up and to reach out. but compare that vision with two of the republican candidates. first, michele bachmann, she wants us to become more like china. >> in china there are no -- there is no student loan program. in china there's no food stamp program. there's no afdc program. no retirement program either. >> then over the weekend newt gringrich explained how he would

like to employ children as cleaners and janitors. >> most of these schools ought to get rid of the unionized janitors, have one master janitor, and pay local students to take care of the school. >> so she wants to regress to a country where human rights barely exist. mr. gringrich wants us to return to a period when child labor was the norm. and both want to be president of the united states of america. but listen to how chris matthews sums up the life of a truly great president. in the time of our greatest per ill, ultimate judgment, an american president kept us from the brink, saved us really. kept the smile from being stricken from the planet. he did that. he, jack kennedy. we give thanks for the life of president kennedy. thanks so much for watching. dillon's here to take us forward. >> very briefly, martin, i know we don't have a lot of