he is in durbin to deliver some home truths. president criticized his detractors and called for unity among the a.n.c. >> headlines about the imminent death of the alliance are a waste of time and ink because the alliance will lead for a long time to come. however, there are challenges that must be dealt with. the recent strike by public servants requires serious introspection. >> it was clearly what the party faithful wanted to hear. although the president has spoke to packed party divisions with one of the boldest speeches of recent times it looks like the knives are out and the succession battle has already begun. and one man the media is watching closely is the standard bearer for south africa's workers who helped bring the president to power. a man critical of corruption within the party and now describes the relationship with the a.n.c. as dysfunctional. so is he going to back the president for another round? >> we know how divisive that discussion will be. if we were to open the discussion to say yes to a second term, no

senate, senator dick durbin.thank you so much for joining us, senator, from the beautiful city of chicago, i should add. >> it's great to be with you, candy. thank you. >> the man that you see now out talking at these town hall meetings and to these crowds, is that the same person you saw connecting with voters during the campaign? >> well, it is. with the same talents and the same values and the same determination. you know, there were dark days in that presidential campaign. i remember them. i was with then-senator barack obama, and this man has a determination and an energy that comes into play in those moments. and you're seeing it now. candy, one of the key polls that we watch is the generic congressional race. do you prefer a democratic congress or a republican congress? and in an off year election, it should be pretty strong on the republican side. but did you notice what happened in the gallup poll in the first 19 days of september? when the president was out working hard, as our candidates are working ha

you are looking live on the senate floor, senator durbin is speaking on this matter. and our senate correspondent is live on the hill. this morning, there was a threatened fillibuster by the main senator collins and slow was going to be the one who would make or break there and the democrats needed a 60th vote, one republican to cross over. i assume they did not get one. >>reporter: we are looking to get the exact break dutch of the vote. it was 56-43. the measure will fail. the defense authorization bill funds our military. their equipment. their salaries. but the version that senate majority leader reid was trying to get to the floor included repeal of "don't ask, don't tell." and that would be okay if they could debate it but he controlled that tightly. so, that republican senator collins from maine said although she sides with him on the issue of getting rid of it she could not go along with the procedure he was using, take this to the floor and not allow republicans to have other amendments that would go against the policy or the repeal. so she said she was betwe

we'll tell you the latest with senator dick durbin.ay with us. >>> welcome back to "the ed show." if you're on the fence and trying to make is decision where you're going to vote in november, i think this story is a classic of right and wrong, and what is right and wrong in america. now, once again, this is just facts. the republicans proved to me anyway they don't give a damn about the american worker. earlier today, senate reps, they blocked the cheating american jobs and offshoring act. they blocked it. the bill would have provided incentives for american companies to hire workers here in our country and replace the jobs that have been shipped overseas. is that common sense? is that american? that, hey, we want to create jobs in america. we know that outsourcing is an issue. we know that companies are racing to the bottom line. but you know what? we're not going to penalize them. we're going to give them an incentive if they bring the jobs back to america. they're not going to have to pay tax for two years. only 53 senators voted fo

we'll tell you the latest with senator dick durbin. stay with us. until one day, my daughter showed me a designer handbag. and like that, we had a new side to our business. [ male announcer ] when the martinez family saw an opportunity, the hartford was there. protecting their employees and property, and helping them prepare for the future. nice boots. nice bag. [ male announcer ] see how the hartford helps businesses at achievewhatsahead.com. [ male announcer ] at ge capital, we're out there every day with clients like jetblue -- financing their fleet, sharing our expertise, and working with people who are changing the face of business in america. after 25 years in the aviation business, i kind of feel like if you're not having fun at what you do, then you've got the wrong job. my landing was better than yours. no, it wasn't. yes, it was. was not. yes, it was. what do you think? take one of the big ones out? nah. >>> welcome back to "the ed show." if you're on the fence and trying to make is decision where you're going to vote in november, i think

senator durbin has been a champion on this. host: arkansas. charles, republican line. caller: you can tell mr. durbin for me, as far as students ago, they are too stupid to get credit card if they cannot pay them back. if you and shuster and did durbin want to start your own credit card company, you can do it. you can compete with the other credit cards. you said it retailers have no choice. they do. they do not have to use credit cards. guest: that is not a realistic option to retailers that i speak to. more and more people are using plastic. that is the way the economy is functioning. there is nothing wrong with that, it is a convenience for the individual consumer, and it is a benefit for the merchant, getting a secure transaction. the question is whether or not there should be price gouging allowed. the price you charge should be reasonable and fair. retail merchants are governed by the loss of competition. a gas station is a classic case. they have a competitor on another corner. they will be checking their competitor's prices all the time. you and i decide that w

senators dick durbin and joe leiberman at a joint news conference this morning. >> it's time to bring some justice in this particular regard to the united states military. thank you. >> i want to thank senator leiberman for his support of the dream act. i support his efforts to repeal don't ask, don't tell. >> don't ask, don't tell has been in effect for 17 years. >>> another devicive issue facing senators today, an immigration bill. wgn's robert jordan is live downtown with details on what's called the dream act. >> allison and steve, as you heard, dick durbin mentioned he is one of the authors of this dream act which was proposed by senator durbin with republican support. it's not law yet. it will offer a path to citizenship for undocumented citizens. and one ever the ways they could go about gaining this is to go to an institution of higher learning like a college or trade school for a couple of years or go into the u.s. military. it's all designed to help young people who know no other country but the u.s. >> even though we are undocumented, we consider ourselves a part of this co

but durbin said no. when asked if he was endorsing emanuel.nd house minority leader john boehner thinks he's in line for a promotion. boehner says if republicans regain control of the house in november, he's confident his colleagues will vote to make him speaker. >>> and new polls in california have democrats out front in key races. senator barbara boxer is leading former hewlett-packard ceo, carly fiorina, in the senate race. for governor, it's state attorney general jerry brown leading former ebay executive meg whitman. >>> and for the latest political news, logon to cnnpolitics.com. >>> deaf boys abused by their priest. now as adults, they're coming forward and seeking justice. >> i went into his office. the door was closed. and father murphy said, take your pants down. >> we'll have an exclusive interview with one of the victims who is suing the pope. it's drive to places with views that'll leave you awestruck...month. fit every stick, pad, helmet and puck month. easily conquer pavement, dirt, rocks and muck month. and get it all while kee

durbin: i would be happyo yield. mr. reid: i say to my fend through the chair, is it not also true that under the terms of the "dream" act, no one becomes a citizen? they get a simple green card, is that true? mr. durbin: they reach legal status. they have to make application to go beyond that. in this situation, young people, undocumented in the united states who want to volunteer to serve in our military cannot do it. they are willing to risk their lives for america, and we say no. the secretary of defense knows that's wrong. this morning in a conversation that i had with him in my office over the telephone, he reiterated what he had said to me before: these are the kind of young people we need in america's military, high school graduates from cultural traditions that respect the military, people who are going to make more diversity in our ranks. that's what we need. he knows from a national defense rspectiv these will be good recruits for our military and will distinguish themselves, serving our country and coming up

durbin: mr. president, for those who have been following this vote, this has been an attempt to proceed to the defense authorization bill. it's one of the most important bills that we consider during the course of a year. senator levin of michigan is chairman of the armed services committee, and he was prepared to bring that vote to the floor. there was an attempt made by the majority leader, senator reid, to allow three amendments to be considered, three amendments which would be considered before other amendments on the bill. one of the amendments relating to the don't ask, don't tell policy, there is a provision already in the bill which aows after review by the joint chiefs of staff, the president, the department of defense, the possibility of removing this provision from our law. that was one of the amendments. the second amendment related to senate procedure on secret holds, but the third amendment and the one i rise to speak to is the one which became the focal point of this last vote. tha

durbin: . the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: mr. president, for those who have been following this vote, this has been an attempt to proceed to the defense authorization bill. it's one of the most important bills that we consider during the course of a year. senator levin of michin is chairman of the armed services committee, and he was prepared to bring that vote to the floor. there was an attempt made by the majority leader, senator reid, to allow three amendments to be considered, three amendments which would be considered before other amendments on the bill. one of the andments relating to the don't ask, don't tell policy, there is a provision already in the bill which allows after review by the joint chiefs of staff, the president, the dertment of defense, the possibility of removing this provision from our law. that was one of the amendnts. the second amendment reled to senate procedure on secret holds, but the third amendment and the one i riseo speak to is the one which became the focal point of this last vote. that amendmen

dick durbin said they can do the math and don't have the votes. you mentioned this and i'm more worried after the election and have three fewer seats. that's in the lame duck session. we are hearing the house is uncertain and maybellining towards not voting. they won't vote if they definitely won't vote. there is chicago and there always is with the house and senate. the senate is refusing to hold hands. >> we're discussed a notion that the speaker might have a strategic motivation to bring up the tax votes under the suspension process that requires a 2/3. boehner spoke out against that. is he admitting that he fierce the possibility that it would be employed? >> yeah. i think they do fear t. it's an odd procedure and i wonder how the democrats would go along with it. so a suspension requires a 2/3 vote and what you would be doing and it's the first time i would see them do this. instead of trying to get the number of votes you need down as democrats did, you begin to get the number of votes you need up so more democrats could vote for the tax cut

one of the thing we want to talk to senator durbin about as well as all things political, this lookingn, i'm sure that won't surprise you. but senator lieberman, an independent now, is one of those who argued that the tax cuts should be extended to everyone, not just the middle class. a for the republican women, marcia blackburn, kathy mcmorris-rogers, both of them were present when the republican party leadership unveiled this pledge to america. kind of their manifesto of what they'd do if they got in power. so we want to ask them about that and some of the reaction to it. so lots of politics and some governance. >> all right, candy. keep them honest up there, too, will you, when they start to weasel out of these things. thanks, we'll see you at 9:00 great. keep it here for "state of the union." ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] every business day, bank of america lends billions of dollars, to individuals, institutions, schools, organizations and businesses. ♪ working to set opportunity in motion. bank of america. save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance?really was abe lincoln honest? m

senator durbin has been a champion on this. host: arkansas. charles, republican line. caller: you can tell mr. durbin for me, as far as students ago, they are too stupid to get credit card if they cannot pay them back. if you and shuster and did durbin want to start your own credit card company, you can do it. you can compete with the other credit cards. you said it retailers have no choice. they do. they do not have to use credit cards. guest: that is not a realistic option to retailers that i speak to. more and more people are using plastic. that is the way the economy is functioning. there is nothing wrong with that, it is a convenience for the individual consumer, and it is a benefit for the merchant, getting a secure transaction. the question is whether or not there should be price gouging allowed. the price you charge should be reasonable and fair. retail merchants are governed by the loss of competition. a gas station is a classic case. they have a competitor on another corner. they will be checking their competitor's prices all the time. you and i decide that w

the authorization to sue the bank is going to come from congress and as senator durbin said the banks own congress so you are not going to see a lot of people in congress with the spine to say go ahead and sue these banks. realistically do you think in the end these banks are actually going to buy back these bad loans that they have dumped on fannie and freddie? if congress grows a spine and says we will not stick the taxpayers with this debt we are going to make the banks take these back then that could happen. if congress wimps out like they usually do then i will not hold my breath. in the meantime if banks are trying to figure out a way out of buying back these loans then how so? there are seminars going on now where they are trying to figure out a way to weasel out of purchasing these back obligations by saying it was not me it was another third-party. they are trying to figure out ways to avoid repaying these. this is an issue we will definitely keep watching. thank you for joining us mike van zalingen / neighborhood housing services of chicago. lawmakers are moving the small bu

when alito was nominated to the supreme court, senator durbin of illinois said how can you as someoneman catholic and pro-life sit on the highest court in the land? when that is going on in america, it's scary. >> glenn: as i see it, church is for sunday. god as the founder's said, nature's law from nature's god is every day. that's why i believe we have to learn correct principles. then man will govern himself. if you realize it's wrong for this reason, when we manage ourself or we don't need someone to nudge us or rule over us. back with the audience questions next. [ applause ] >> glenn: mixing up church and state, mark has a question. go ahead. >> putting the prayer back in our schools, putting god back in our country and inspiring people to find the courage to stand up for god and country. would turn our country around. would you stand for that? how would you do -- >> glenn: i absolutely would. restore what we did in -- reverse what we did in 1962. >> put prayer back in our -- >> glenn: if you look at the problems we had in the country they went straight line up after we did that

the durbin bill that passed at the last minute, it came out of nowhere. it was heavily political. i take it as an outline. >> i have a document that was prepared by david huntington who was a partner in a company. it was published on the harvard law school forum. i figured it was somewhat credible. i do not want to bore the audience, but i want to see if you've interpreted it. the act introduce significant direct regulation of over-the- counter derivatives transactions. among the most notable provisions affecting the otc derivatives markets are clearing and trading. the act authorizes the cftc and the sec to mandate central clearing of otc derivatives that are determined to be a corporate for clearing and capable of being cleared. does that sound like something that is when to work? >> i think that will work. the more that you can put in a transparent system, the better. when you wanted to get a stock price just by looking at a ticker 25 years ago, you would have to call a stockbroker. today, you can pull it up on a computer screen. the bond market in the credit markets need to mo

you are having a meeting with senator dick durbin and the fed chairman ben bernanke to talk about the implementation. tell me about your meeting. guest: the rulemaking process by which we are going to implement the credit card provisions that were in the wall street reform act. the chairman has met with a visa and master card, the fed has met with the big banks. and senator dick durbin and i, the principal authors of the credit card reform provisions in the wall street though, want to meet on behalf of consumers and merchants. basically what the wall street reform bill did with credit cards is try to help our merchants, who were getting hammered with the highest credit card transaction fees in the world. they pay about $50 billion a year. a lot of folks don't know this, but if you go and use your credit card -- of course, they are important and good for the economy. a secure transaction for the merchant. good for the consumer. but the charges that the monopolies impose are the highest in the world and it is becoming a huge cost to our merchants and really strangling a lot of their via

meantime, regarding the senate's failure, senator dick durbin on what he sees as simple math. >> i can count, and i know you can, too. we have 59 democrats and not a single republican in the senate supports our position that we need to do something that's responsible to reduce our deficit but also to help middle income families bring us out of this recession. >> why will that be different after the election? >> well, i hope it will be different. occasionally one republican will break ranks and help us. what it gets down to, we can count, and we know we don't have 60 votes for our tax position. we want to basically say after the election when we still face a deadline by the end of the year we'll take up all these tax issues. >> however, immediately after the election, the terms of three appointed senators expire from the states of illinois, west virginia, and delaware. if republicans win any of those seats and are seated immediately as expected, the republican filibuster would be harder to overcome. and there is another issue democrats might want to come to grips the popularity of their

while individuals in the congress, senator durbin and mayor bloomberg have made extraordinary statements, many other political leaders and people running for office in this year's election have been disgraceful and have fuleeled this fire and done grave damage to the electorate. it has become a political issue. it should not become that kind of issue. i think we need to speak out against that. >> just to add, this morning, to talk to the administration, we had one of the persons representing the administration it with us at the neighborhood planning and the white house initiative on faith based initiatives. all this information has been ferried to the white house so they can have a deeper appreciation of the breadtho of this. >> next question? >> do you think there has been a robust enough pushed back or debunking of a lot of the propaganda that perhaps has laid the groundwork for this reaction we are seeing now? i am thinking of movies like " obsession," "relentless,"which americans have seen it and take as truth and would make them receptive to the messages they are hearing now. do you

now getting some indications from dick durbin and other senate leaders they may be leaving as soon ask. october1. rahm emanuel i'm told is up to his eyeballs as some aides say in terms of trying to get the senate to finish some the president's agenda before they go home and campaign full time. he has not had a chance to really sit down and do a gut check with his family, et cetera. i'm told by the sources close to emanuel that he is all but certain to run. as you full well know, and that once the senate is gone, this will happen pretty quickly. that we will see him go through the formal mashinations and i'm hearing in the works a deputy chief of staff at the white house you will remember he was chief of staff when barack obama was in the senate. he was chief of staff and very trustd vidzer to the president. he will be the acting chief of staff because this is happening so rapidly they may not have a full time chief of staff in place. so pete rouse might be a bridge until the president decides on someone to be the full time chief of staff. happening very quickly. >> too early to talk a

i had dick durbin on my show, who is a sponsor of the dream act. one aspect of the dream act that we all support, which is if someone was brought here -- >> michael, you -- michael, for you to question the timing of a vote after george bush took air force one back to washington to pass a special offer for tarry schiavo, talk about special circumstances is gone. i've got one more thing we've got to talk about here. it changes a lot. cal thomas, a conservative writer, put this out. he says, conservatives -- and one of the reasons why the tea partiers are getting support, he says conservatives are tired of being taken for granted. their agenda ignored by the republican establishment, especially when those they vote for to get in power and too often vote with democrats. tell me, michael, how many -- how many republicans have come and voted with the democrats in the last 22 months? >> okay, i don't know what cal is talking about. there were eight republicans who voted -- eight out of 177 in the house who voted with the president on -- >> this is about t

reporter: well, essentially what we've seen here, thomas, last week the united states senate, dick durbin said this issue's punted until after the midterm elections because the democratic caucus in the senate could not reach a cohesive majority in terms of what they believe should be the pass forward on tax cut issue. the legislation cannot be completely fixed because you need the senate vote to be there. you could see an 11th hour campaign in the house, which is taken up by progressive house liberals who have circulated a letter signed by over 41 members to have nancy pelosi try to extend the middle class tax cuts and then not extend them for the highest earners. why do they want to do this? they want to say we're on the side of middle class tax relief, challenging republicans to come out against it. however, on the democratic side in the house, there is still a lot of infighting as to whether to do on the tax cut issue. blue dogs circulated their own letter which said there should be a one-year extension of the tax cuts until the economy comes back 110%. what will nancy pelosi do? a lot

president said that, speaker said that, harry reid and dick durbin said that.s: here is the point, congressman. the democrats have held a big majority in the house and the senate for almost two years now. since january of 2009. you have had it almost two years. isn't it a serious failure by democrats in both the house and the senate that you haven't told the american people what is going to happen to their taxes on income, on dividends, on capital gains, on inheritance and it's comingp up now three months away. is that any way to add certainty and confidence to the economy in tough times? >> it is not. that's largely due to the obstructionism in the united states senate by the republicans who have just enough to stop any action. >> chris: you have a majority for more than a year. and the fact is that the democrats in the senate -- i'm asking you to defend the senate, they haven't even written a bill. you haven't written a bill in the house. >> hold it. we have passed a capital gains bill more than a year ago. >> chris: i'm talking about extending the bush tax c

democratic majority whip dick durbin said thursday: "we are so tightly wound up in this campaign that it's impossible to see a bipartisan answer to the challenge we face. that's the reality before the election." republicans and some democrats favor extending tax cuts for everyone, including the wealthy. for more on all of this, we turn to david herszenhorn, who covers capitol hill for "the new york times." thanks for being back with us. so what's this delay all about? >> well, the senate clearly doesn't want to get embroiled in this issue before the election. it's just too unpredictable and the story line for democrats is clean, as things stand now. they're making the case that republicans would block tax relief for the middle class to hold out for tax break force the wealthy. republicans, of course shall want to extend those tax cuts for everyone. and so it's easier in the view of democrats to push this until a lame duck session. the political situation will obviously be less intense then. but as you said, the house speaker today left open the possibility of forcing a vote. and that

they talk about the tax debate with dick durbin of illinois.s well as republican marsha blackburn. again, they begin airing at noon eastern with meet the press. 1:00, "this week." "fox news sunday clothes close at 2:00. "face the nation" at 3:00. "state of the union" at 4:00. listen to them on c-span radio or online at c-spanradio.org. >> this weekend on "book tv," theoretical physicist and author, michio kaku. join our 3 our conversation with your calls and could messages, on c-span 2's "book tv." >> you do not get to choose the moment when the opportunity to shape the country comes your way. all that you get to choose is what you do when your best. >> the british prime minister defends his decision to form a coalition government tonight at 9:00 on c-span. >> for all of the people in the book, there are many mistakes they might have made in their lives. >> between 1915 and 1970, nearly 6 million african- americans migrated from the south. at 8:00 on a "q&a." >> "washington journal" continues. host: for the next 45 minutes we want to focus on l

dick durbin said not at this time. so, again, a lot of political talk.yond the midterms it appears while democrats are laser focused on the midterms. john, kiran? >> well, if rahm emanuel knows how to do anything, it's win an election. there's no question about that. >> no question. he is -- what's that famous story about a fish wrapped up in a newspaper to a political opponent? so he plays to win. no question. >> you know, we talked about stephen colbert and his testimony before congress on friday. it seemed to appear as though he was going to do it straight as himself, and i guess the written testimony he put in seemed to be straight, as well. and it was a very different story when he showed up. >> it was. and we heard john boehner say it was inappropriate. but it certainly drew attention to this whole idea and issue of illegal immigrants. and you know, as you know, you get sworn into office. and, you know, if you do the wrong thing, you could get in trouble. but colbert got out of washington unscathed, so to speak. >> thanks so much. we'll go to check

dick durbin telling the truth. the vote. hoyer walked it back. i assume pelosi was talking more hopeful. let's talk about president obama's approval rating. many have pointed to independents. that's the reason. the gop is more motivated. that's the reason. there is another reason. >> steve: that's right. and in politico today, they talk about how when you look at the people who are going to be voting in the upcoming midterms, who is really, really motivated? the answer, men. republican men, because when they asked the questions of everybody across the political spectrum, but when they asked light, are you going to likely vote, republican men seem to be the most motivated. meanwhile, at the other side, 48% of republican men call themselves very enthusiastic about voting. whereas only 28% of democratic women say that they are the same. and republican women, democratic men, in the middle. you've got one side this very motivated republican man. least motivated, democratic women. >> gretchen: coming up today at the nati

yesterday on cnn state of the union senator dick durbin said that democrats will come together to take the tax issue up by december 31. a busy week for president obama campaigning for key democrats and the message, getting millions of americans back to work. the president spoke a short time ago on nbc's "today" show. >> we're actually seeing more job growth so far in this recovery than we did in the last recovery we had in 2001. the problem is we just lost so many jobs because of the crisis that we've got a much bigger hole to fill. and that means we're going to have to accelerate job growth. we have to do everything we can to focus on that. and that means making sure that anything we do we're spending that money wisely. >> later today president obama is slated to fine a $42 billion bill designed to help small businesses spur job growth, it comes on the heels of the proclamation by experts that the great recession as it's called actually ended last summer. but that's not the sentiment of nearly three-quarters of hos those polled. there's this. answering the question, have the president

dick durbin is the chief sponsor of the bill. i think we have a good trio.e need to build that bipartisan support that the dream act has always had. it has 11 republican co-sponsors in the past. and many in the past have allowed a vote on the dream act. megyn: yes it has never gone the through. republicans have come out and said, i don't know. harry reid said i don't know if i have the votes in the senate. >> in 2006 there was a separate vote, remember in 2006 we actually got comprehensive immigration reform thanks to president obama and his leadership. and there was a separate vote on the dream act. sew it did pass the senate. in 2007 there was a separate vote for cloture to allow a vote on the dream act. on two different occasions it has passed the senate. megyn: let me ask you this. i want you to address this. this is the criticism of the dream act. even people who are really against illegal immigration have more empathy for kid who were brought here through no choice of their own by their parents who are illegals because their parents made a decision tha

the battles are so close, that the whip durbin says that the senate will adjourn a week early so thats. mr. clinton has some strong opinions about the momentum of the tea party movement whose candidates have scored victories in senate races from alaska all of the way to delaware. bill clinton and i spoke about that and much more today here in new york. >> reporter: are the democrats underestimating the tea party movement? >> i don't know. i think that it would be a mistake -- i think that what we should say is that those tea parti partiers, and 20% of them said they would vote for democrats if there were no tea partyiers on the ballot. in the purest form, they are saying they have been let down by big business and big government, and i have been let down because the big banks were bailed out and nobody helped me, and the government bailed them out and they are fine and have a job and making mortgage payments and have an ability to send their kids to college. i want reform in both. but the funders of the tea party movement tend to be pretty far right extremists who want their goal list

. >> senator durbin also on the sunday show acknowledged today that democrats don't have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster on extending those tax cuts making under $150,000. -- $250,000. >> they say especially business owners need more certainty. here is john boehner. >> as we leave here this week and adjourn for the election without preventing these tax increases on the american people it will be most irresponsible thing i have seen since i have been in washington, d.c.. >> reporter: and david axelrod on the sunday talk shows, he said he believes republicans will feel pressure from voters between now and election day to pass the middle income tax rates and let the rates expire. >> julie: all right. thank you very much. >> gregg: minnesota at guard says it has more than hundred soldiers on flood duty across the state a series of thunderstorms dumping almost 11 inches of rain forcing hundreds of people from their homes. some areas completely empty looking like ghost towns. rivers also cresting above their normal levels. destroying buildings leaving a trail of debris. emergen

i want to say that, just put an exclamation point after what dick durbin said.eal of don't ask, don't tell, of which it's a part, is a critically important piece of legislation. the fact that our colleagues would be having on the senate floor this debate about whether to vote to proceed, to take up the national defense authorization act, to me is unbelievable. >> we are keeping a close eye, a close ear, on the debate going on right now on the senate floor on don't ask, don't tell. you can see more of the vote around 2:30 eastern today. >>> stay right there. you're in the "cnn newsroom." it contains the same nutrients naturally found in healthy skin. skin absorbs it better and it lasts for 24 hours. later gator. lubriderm. your moisture matched. the more you spend, the bigger the bonus, up to $250 to use on your next purchase. start earning with as little as $75 spent, including great sale prices. hurry, sears bonus days are on! sears. with the best decongestant. my choice is clear. claritin-d. nothing works stronger, faster or longer for allergy congestion relie

hot on the ticker is that if rahm emanuel runs for mayor, he'll do it without the backing of dirk durbint in the senate, basically telling candy crowley that he will not. president obama had an interview where he all but endorsed rahm emanuel, saying he would make a great mayor, then he decided to take a shot at house republicans and their new pledge to america. this 21-page document, the president calling it a continuation of quote, irresponsible qualities. he's going to be hitting four campaign states starting in new mexico tonight. finally, bad news for charlie crist. the governor of florida running as independent for senate. new poll out has him trailing ma marco rubio. kendrick meek is up to 23%. still a distant third. this is bad news for the white house because the had been hoping if meek did not win, that maybe charlie crist would win and then align himself with democrats after the election. vote for some of the president's programs et cetera, but right now, it's looking break for crist. >> and rahm emanuel jumping in early. everyone thought he would wait. everyone's trying to be

and let's face it dick durbin, the senior senator from the state of illinois is the chief sponsor ofhe bill. i think we have a good trio. megyn: lou dobbs is a syndicated radio talk show host and my guest. lou, he was uncertain he has the votes and now it's like he thinks he may be certain he has them. >> frankly i don't know what they have in the way of votes. i'm very suspicious of these pre-floor introduction vote tallies. either way the democrats in this administration have put themselves on a path to further trouble politically come november 2nd and not less. megyn: is that what this would do? >> absolutely. megyn: this is not like the stuff we've been seeing coming out of ice, don't remember them unless they have a felonious history. this is help the kids who came here with illegal parents, through no fault of their own before age 16, now they want to go to college, serve in the military, those people can be american citizens. >> isn't it interesting we know all of that thanks to congressman gutierrez who i personally like a great deal. megyn: he says he watches every day. he's

first of all, my dear friend and my senator from the great state of illinois, senator dick durbin.ampion for businesses in louisiana and around the country, senator mary landrieu is here. >> okay. we'll keep one ear on that. our producers will, to let us know if the president says anything we need to bring to your attention. for the moment, thanking a bunch of folks and then will sign this into law. back to ramish, associate professor at the m.i.t. media lab. showing us a chart when i left you on your left, my right saying that while that is still used, this phone is using its resolution, this technology that you've introduced uses the phone's resolution and the input of the user to determine your eye prescription in a place where you otherwise can't get access to an optometrist or ophthalmologi ophthalmologist? >> exactly. and deciding which line is sharpest, when you look through this phone it will show you a set of lines. and you go to those lines. when there are a line, you hit. so because we're making this into something more objective, anything is line lines, the reserves are