couple of times, until you told me not to anymore. >> ned reyerson. >> bing. >> bing. >> groundhog's day, animal house, caddie shack, all classic comedy films by harold ramis. remembering the hollywood comedy giant it is a bfd, vice president joe biden christens the guest chair for seth meyers and his new late night gig arizona republicans fl flip-flop on their own bill. this is "way too early." good morning. i'm thomas roberts. it is tuesday, february 25th. welcome to way too early to show where we don't discriminate against fle viewers but i do like the gay ones better. just saying. we start out with some serious news. defense secretary, chuck hagel, has announced his plan to build

an army for the 21st century, including deep cuts to personnel in exchange for improvements in technology and equipment. the cutbacks would amount to over 100,000 fewer active duty troops in the army. if adopted, the size of the army will be reduced to its lowest level since before world war ii. so far, the reaction has been mixed. army secretary, john mccue, says the cuts provided equal doses of reality and opportunity while acknowledging the challenges lie ahead. the founder of iraq and afghanistan vets of america say the cuts would hit service members making it harder for them to make ends meet. congressman, buck mckeon says we are trying to solve our financial problems on the back of our military. that can't be done the international manhunt for ousted ukrainian president, victor yanukovych is on. the president of ukraine was fleeing under the cover of darkness on friday night. a warrant issued for his arrest along with other members of his government accused of mass murder.

a new footage appears to show some of the shooting was organized, disciplined and deliberate. police firing on protesters for 30 minutes under orders from a general. russia is defiant. it's foreign minister is calling the t.i.d.e. of change armed mutiny. the united states is examining its relationship with uganda. it criminalizes homosexuality and makes it illegal not to report gays or lesbians to authorities. first-time offenders could face 14 years in prison with a possible life sentence for repeat offenders. the united states and countries around the world call it a serious setback for civil rights. >> instead of standing on the side of freedom, justice and equal rights for its people, today, regrettably, ugandan president took uganda a step backwards by signing into law a legislation criminalizing home

mo sex rueality. it is more than an affront and danger to the gay community in uganda. it reflects poorly on the country's commitment to protect the human rights of its people and will undermine public health, including efforts to fight hiv aids. >> they signed similar legislation in law in nigeria. governor, jan brewer is under pressure to veto a controversial new bill that's made its way to her desk. they touted it as a religious freedom bill. it would merely extend protection of religious rights to businesses. opponents say it is nothing more than legalized discrimination, specially against gay customers. john mccain and jeff flake have called for him to veto the bill. three republican state senators that voted for the bill says it was approved in haste and has caused impleasurab

caused immeasurable harm. arizona is far from the only state grappling with this issue. a similar bill in kansas died after passage in the house. protesters swamped committee hearing where republican legislators are pushing their own version of a religious freedom bill. the president and vice president met with the nation's governor in d.c. to work through big policy issues, particularly the economy and the president joked about the next rez at 1600 pennsylvania avenue. >> i enjoyed watching some of you with your eyes on higher office size up the drapes and each other. >> all in all, by the accounts, it was cordial, productive, until the news conference that followed just outside. >> he did mention the minimum wage repeatedly to us. what i worry about is that this president and the white house seems to be waving the white flag of surrender after more

than five years under this administration. the obama economy is the minimum wage economy. i think there are things we can do instead of waving the white flag of surrender instead of declaring this economy to be a white flag economy. i think america can do better. >> until a few moments ago, we were going down a pretty cooperative road. you just heard what i think ended up being probably the most partisan statement that we have had all weekend. i don't know what the heck was referenced to white flag when it comes to people making $404 a week. that's the most insane statement i have ever heard, frankly. let's be very clear that we have had a great meeting and we didn't go down that road and it just started again and we didn't start it. thank you. >> i'll take about 30 seconds. i will take my 30 seconds. wait. i would like to respond just quickly. if that was the most partisan

statement he has heard all weekend, i want to make sure he hears a more partisan statement. i think we can also grow the economy more if we would delay more of these obama care mandates. >> doubling down with an extra 30 seconds. governor malloy who you just saw there at the mike is going to be joining us on "morning joe." the george washington bridge scandal appears to be having a political scandal on governor chris christie. his approval rating is down more than 20 points. 70% approval rating that we were talking about last year, now just 49% of registered voters approve of his job in office. his disapproval rating is also up by 30 points. now, 56% believe that chris christie is more concerned with his political future than actually governing the state of new jersey. as christie falls in the polls, it opens the door to other potential contenders, including jeb bush for 2016. he spoke about his family name and how it could be a potential issue if he ever ran for

president. >> we had a bush and then we had a clinton and then we had a bush and then we're going to have a clinton and then he turned to me and goes, and then we're going to have a bush. i get the point. i get the point. it is something that i would have to, if i was to run, i would have to overcome that. so will hillary, by the way. >> so after nearly 60 years in the house, congressman john dingell is set to retire. he steps down as the longest serving member of the history of the lower chamber, known for his record on health and energy issues. the 30-term democrat says he is retiring because of the hyper partisan nature of the congress. i find serving in the house to become obnoxious, it has become very hard. i'm not going to be carried out feet first. i don't want people to say i stayed too long let's shift focus and talk some business news. markets rallied as the s&p neared a record clothes. the dow rose more than 100 points.

steve sedgwick is live in london for us to explain what we are looking for today. steve, good morning. >> very good day to you. we got 1858 in the s&p. that is record territory. we came off 11 points later on. it couldn't maintain momentum. the nasdaq trading at 14-year highs. keep it on janet yellen. she is up in capitol hill before the senate. everyone wants to know when and if the fed knows if it is going to be hiking interest rates. we are talking about some of the valuations on the nasdaq. the biggest valuation facebook is paying $19 billion for. mark zuckerberg has been justifying what many are saying is a very full valuation. saying it is the most engaging app out there. it is a great fit for us. it has over 465 million customers well on the way to getting 1 billion users. also, around 70% of them use it. they are going to be sticking on a voice-calling service. mark zuckerberg thinks it is an

absolute killer application. >> this other news is going to upset people just in time. disney announcing its prices are going to go up. >> a price war between the likes of universal and walt disney. a price war on the up side. some are saying disney is daring the opposition to go above $100 per day for an adult fee. it is the second time walt disney has upped their fees for an adult in the last year. back in june, they upped the price from $89 to $95. now, they are going to $99 for adults and children age 10 or over. looking at my family as well, that would cost me the best part of $500. it is quite scary. >> you have to start socking your pennies away now if you want to go to the best place on earth. sad news to pass along. an iconic figure in comedy being remembered. harold ramis wrote and directed some of his generations funniest

films and also busted ghosts on the side. >> something very important i forgot to tell you. >> what? >> don't cross the streams. >> why? >> it would be bad. >> i'm fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing. what do you mean bad? >> try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every body slowing at the speed of light. >> that's bad. important safety tip. thanks. >> ramis passed away yesterday after a four-year battle with a rare autoimmune disease. in addition, the chicago native was behind the scenes of some of comedy classics. two years after writing animal house, he made his directorial review in 1980 with caddie shack. he worked with bill murray several times over the years. many film fans would say the best collaboration came in the 1993 movie, groundhogs day. he was 69 years old, survived by his wife and three children. we want to know what were your favorite lines from a harold

ramis movie? tweet us your responses using the hashtag way too early. you can see i got my gopher. got my little gopher with me. he always means so much. still ahead, baseball is changing the game, the rule change that could mean the end to the most exciting play in sports. speaking of change in the game, taco bell is out to revolutionize your breakfast. we have their new menu. you better get the hot sauce ready and the maalox as well. that story and a check on weather when way too early comes right back. soldiers didn't have time to

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>> let's talk sports. a controversial proposal became official in major league baseball. many say the most exciting play at the plate in the sport. they are putting forth a new rule that says a catcher can't block the plate unless he already has possession offer the ball. it also says a runner cannot go out of his way to make contact with the catcher. this is subject to replay. after more than 100 years of collisions, it may take some time for players to adjust to this one. we go to nba high lights. the lowly knicks hosting the mavericks. this was a tight one. new york down three in the fourth forces the turnover. carmelo from deep tying the game. there. all right. after another turnover, nicks with a chance to take the lead. j.r. smith comes up empty.

no foul called. tie is scored. anthony hounding dirk nowitzki who puts it up against the clock. bounces in. mavs win a thriller. they are in the playoff position out west. >> that's the knicks season right there. that's all i need to know about the knicks. >> to college, this is for you, bill. college game where the formerly undefeated syracuse orange look to stop a two-game losing streak after losing a heartbreaker. another tough/rough break. up to two seconds remaining. >> no good. the buzzer. syracuse survives. >> so they survive. >> i have like five additional gray hairs because of that game last night. >> we'll take care of that after the show. >> they hold on, break their two-game losing streak. they grg to visit virginia on saturday. if you think it is all fun and

games for pitchers and catchers at spring training, you are right. this is is hank, the brewers new unofficial mascot. apparently, he was hanging around the team facility when some of the staff and players fook notice. they named it after hank aaron and started taking care of him. it is not clear what position he is going to play but the brewers first base position remains up in the air. good-looking little pickup right there. >> no match for our gopher, though. >> we're going to get a check with weather, bill karins and our gopher. >> any excuse to bring the gopher out once again, another very cold, wintry period.

you could pretty much put it on a recording. it is going to be this way for the next few weeks. fargo, minus 26. that's even cold in the middle of winter. i know you are probably used to it by now. still not fun. at least we are getting a little more. the sun angle is getting higher. sooner or later, the sun has to win out. not in this next two-week period. chicago is at 5 for the windchill. the funny thing about this cold outbreak, it isn't going to go as far south as the big one in january. it is not going to head into the southeast or even texas. it is really the northern plains, great lakes, a little bit in the northeast. there is a chance sometime in the saturday to sunday, maybe monday time frame for a little bit of snow to move in. that will be good, because that will warm it up a little bit. it doesn't look like a blockbuster event. the forecast today, cold as advertised. the thing to notice is, we are going to get some rain coming our way in california. the drought has been a huge story and continues to be. we have implications that even los angeles could get their most

significant rain in three years coming up. that would be good. >> that's good for them. coming up at the top of the hour on "morning joe," a show of bipartisanship between governors quickly dissolves into an embarrassing back and forth. who got the worst of the exchange between bobby jindal and dan malloy. we are going to huddle around the water cooler where the vice president helped seth meyers get comfortable on his job. he got some inside info about the state of the union. we will have that and more when "way too early" comes back. try new olay fresh effects everything off wipes to remove makeup. and bright on schedule eye roller to instantly de-puff. for instant beauty sleep, no sleep required. new fresh effects from olay.

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at the top of shot, we talked about congressman john dingell retiring after 60 years in the house. starting with dwight d. eisenhower, dingle worked with 11 presidents and served with 2,419 house colleagues and cast more than 25,000 votes. there were only 48 states when he was sworn in. been around a long time. you may have to incorporate a run to the border into your morning routine. taco bell is moving forward with its plan to operate full breakfast m breakfast menu. some of the items you can look forward to, the waffle taco.

a waffle wrapped around scrambled eggs and cheese and syrup. the a.m. crunch wrap, scrambled eggs, hash browns, cheese and bacon and sausage and for your sweet tooth, cinnabon delights, bite-size sweets coated with sugar. mcdonald's owns a 25% of the breakfast market. taco bell -- mcdonald's is extending their hours of serving the egg mcmuffin. taco bell in college was a big deal for us. jimmy kimmel. >> on saturday night, rob ford was at a fundraising event and he tried his hand at d.j.'ing. you might assume he wouldn't be a very good d.j. you would be absolutely correct with that assumption. ♪

>> sometimes i feel like he is doing this stuff specifically for me. thank you a lot for that generous contribution. >> he is taylor-made for you, jimmy. seth meyers made his debut as the host of "late night" early this morning. joe biden stopping by to help welcome seth to his new job. >> my favorite performance of yours all year, state of the union, killing it at the state of the union. now, when you are there and you are pointing and smiling, you are actually pointing and smiling at people? president of the senate,

big-time guy like me. i walked the senate over to the house and they announce us. we go in and as we're walking over, a senior senator said, look, joe, i know you and barack are friends but don't stand up on every damn thing he says. i said, all right. i counted 17 times this particular senator stood up in front of the president. i went like this to point to him. talk about a suck-up. this guy was out there telling me don't do that. joe biden, always a good guest i think they nid need to invest in a little more set design. it is like cb-2. set, you can do better. the best moments from harold ramis illustrious comedy career. some of the most mentioned scenes. "morning joe" is just moments away. ♪ ♪

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that's why i take my warfarin every day. but it looks like maybe we should ask your doctor about pradaxa. in a clinical trial, pradaxa® (dabigatran etexilate mesylate)... ...was proven superior to warfarin at reducing the risk of stroke. and unlike warfarin, with no regular blood tests or dietary restrictions. hey thanks for calling my doctor. sure. pradaxa is not for people with artificial heart valves. don't stop taking pradaxa without talking to your doctor. stopping increases your risk of stroke. ask your doctor if you need to stop pradaxa before surgery or a medical or dental procedure. pradaxa can cause serious, sometimes fatal, bleeding. don't take pradaxa if you have abnormal bleeding or have had a heart valve replaced. seek immediate medical care for unexpected signs of bleeding, like unusual bruising. pradaxa may increase your bleeding risk if you're 75 or older, have a bleeding condition or stomach ulcer, take aspirin, nsaids, or blood thinners... ...or if you have kidney problems, especially if you take certain medicines. tell your doctors about all medicines you take. pradaxa side effects include indigestion, stomach pain, upset, or burning. if you or someone you love has afib

not caused by a heart valve problem... ...ask your doctor about reducing the risk of stroke with pradaxa. 1,000 people freezing their butts off waiting to worship a rat. what a hype.

they used to mean something in the town. they used to pull the hog out and eat it. you are hypocrites, all of you. >> first ones here. >> but, we're so far away, clark? >> right, right. at the end of the day, when the lot is all full and everybody is fighting to get out of here, we will be the first ones out too, right? why? because we are the griswolds. >> my name is ben soebl leoni. ben sobleoni, also known as benny the groin, sammy the schnoz and once as miss phylis le convenient. we had some great tweets asking you some of your lines. remember from animal house, was it over when the germans bombed pearl harbor. remember that? it was good. i won't go into acting.

>> i have one. i want you to guess the movie and the actor. the quote is, and this is your grandson, huh? now i know why tigers eat their young. >> caddie shack.of the drinks ue cigarette butt in it? remember that? he still drank it any way. natalie is under the weather so we send her the very best and i appreciate my gopher, my co-host, helping me out this morning. "way too early" is every. "morning joe" is next. ♪ >> thank you, jimmy fallon, for take over "the tonight show" at 11:30 so i could take over "late night" at 12:30. i promise to treat it with respect and dignity and to only use it to do completely original comedy pieces. starting now. ♪