>> jim cramer. >> jim cramer. >> the very unstable jim cramer. >> without question, jim cramer is a virtuosof the money market. >> this fiery money manager literally rolls up his sleeves to host cnbc's "mad money." >> cramer. >> one of the greatest most spectacular performers on television. >> is evidently insane. >> you have to be nuts to understand the market, and i am nuts about the market. >> friend of the show, "mad money" host jim cramer's along. >> i think that's going to report -- thursday! open all the time! >> two thumbs up. >> it's arrested development. >> there's a triple sell! >> don't buy! >> don't buy. >> and spend all day listening to my dad yell at "mad money" with jim cramer. >> bottom line! everything's going to be fine. >> stark industries. that's a weapons company that doesn't make weapons! >> are you okay? >> oh, yeah, it's nothing, i was a guest on "mad money" last night. >> what's happening? is one of you jim cramer? okay, stop it. >> hello, fellow facebookers, i'm here to do one thing, get you more friends. >> there's one guy who gives it to you straight. >> it's mon

neither does jim cramer. follow jim cramer on twitter. when do you take 5-hour energy?on the night shift. when they have more energy than i do. when i don't feel like working out. when there isn't enough of me to go around. ♪ when i have school. and work. every morning. it's faster and easier than coffee. every afternoon when that 2:30 feeling hits. -every day. -every day. every day is a 5-hour energy day. [ male announcer ] 5-hour energy. every day. four delizioso subs, featuring the molto bono chicken parmesan. juicy, oven crisp chicken covered in marinara sauce & bubbly cheese on freshly baked italian herb & cheese bread. subway. eat fresh. on freshly baked italian herb & cheese bread. we want to protect the house. right. but... home security systems can be really expensive. so to save money, we actually just adopted a rescue panther. i think i'm goin-... shhh! we find that we don't need to sleep that much. there's an easier way to save. geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more. >>> all next week on "mad money," celebrating the sixth birthday of

neither does jim cramer.ter. >> hi a flashback today. 9:30 in the morning before the new york stock exchange when germany's ceo over the latest internet -- yelp range the opening bell. pulsed right through me. i felt like joining the throng, the congo line, celebrating the birth of a new billion dollar baby. my flashback knew better. my flashback recalled the hooplah of another era, and the only emotion that should be on display no matter what the latest internet geniuses had cooked up is skepticism. unadult rated skepticism. you see my flashback was of the late mark haynes, 13 years ago. at that point the host of ""squawk box"" telling me his guest co-host that he couldn't give any free passes to the internet entrepreneur ifs they were making no money for shareholders. he said that if he weren't especially cuff on those execs bringing companies public with no profits, that he wouldn't be doing his job. he wouldn't be doing right by the viewers. he could cause them to lose money, and it was his job to do his

neither does jim cramer.e announcer ] want to spend less and retire with more? at e-trade, our free online tools and retirement specialists can help you build a personalized plan and execute it with a wide range of low cost investments. get a great plan and low cost investments at e-trade. >> i had a flashback today. a searing one right at 9:30 in the morning on the floor of the new york stock exchange when germany's ceo over the latest internet -- yelp range the opening bell. the cheer, the excitement, the adrenaline. it pulsed right through me. i felt like joining the throng, the congo line, celebrating the birth of a new billion dollar baby. my flashback knew better. my flashback recalled the hoopla of another era and how the only emotion that should be on display to matter what the latest internet geniuses had cooked up is skepticism. unadulterated skepticism. you see my flashback was of the late mark haynes, 13 years ago. at that point the host of "squawk box" telling me his guest co-host they couldn't g

i'm jim cramer and i will see you monday!

too late to that program. >>> i'm going to ross in california. >> caller: booyah, jim cramer. >> what'shief? >> caller: triangle petroleum? >> too speculative. mhr, not giving up on that. >>> i need to speak to chris in massachusetts. chris. >> caller: jim, booyah. >> booyah. >> caller: a question for you on inwood pharmaceuticals. >> we looked at that. it's a cholesterol and gastrointestinal, and it does fit this space for speculation. so i'll bless it. buy buy buy. >>> i need to go to shique in california. >> caller: hi, mr. cramer, how are you doing? >> real good, how are you? >> caller: awesome. what do you think about hexla mining? >> come on. i thought you had horse sense on a friday afternoon. no. i'm going to sell, sell, sell on that particular name. >>> let's go to ted in texas. >> caller: a long-time viewer of the show and a daily watcher. i want to give you a big hook 'em horns booyah. >> i'm loving that. >> caller: howard hughes corporation. hhc. >> man, you just stumped the chump. i do not know that name. i do not know it at all and i've got to come back. woe wow, like a ho

i'm jim cramer and welcome to my world. >> you need to get in the game! >> he's going out of business and he's nuts! they're nuts! they know nothing! >> i always like to say there's a bull market somewhere. >> "mad money," you can't afford to miss it. >> hey, i'm jim cramer. others want to make friends, i want to save you a little money. my job is to teach, coach, entertain. the market's best first quarter in ages came to an end today. the dow went out with a bang. apple down. what's it man? well, for starters it means when the opening bell rings on monday, we're dealing with a different market. there won't be any more hedge fund shenanigans like markups or window dressing pushing stocks up but we'll also probably see the end of the lock-ins that i told you about yesterday which put pressure on the year's best performers. what's the game plan for next week? first things first, i'm going to show you how i will invest my $640 million. yes. while some would say it is premature this -- not that one. this is

tweet them to @jim cramer mad tweet. stay tuned. all coming up on "mad money." >> >> let's talk about the greatest -- the most improbable comeback story i've ever seen in all of my years as an investor. let's talk about american international with aig. when aig collapsed two years ago and then went onto be propped up by bail out after bail out and the fed ultimately committing $182 billion to keep this money on life support, hardly anybody imagined that aig would be able to get this company back on its feet. but that's exactly what happened. this turn around is a testament to the power of good management. after years of being so-so managed, aig turned the corner in august of 2009 when previously the med of met life, one of the most trusted execs in the insurance business took over as ceo. right after 9/11 and said he would pay out all of met life death benefits immediately, no one else was saying a word. i'm not surprised that under his leadership aig has gone from being a really impossible to understand financial company to a meane

these things i've done ♪ >> jim cramer! hen you get him mad. >> this fiery money manager literally rolls up his sleeves to host cnbc's "mad money." >> who is cramer. >> jim cramer. >> you have beautiful eyes. >> i've never seen the president. >> jim cramer and former chairman of the federal reserve alan greenspan. >> let me guess, i will get my own show. >> in honor of this one, rick santelli is on set. present over here. >> good to see you. >> take a look at this. don't let it fall. only rick santelli can deliver a cake in style. "mad money" baker's union. >> you're a gem. thank you so much. >> happy anniversary, everybody. >> thank you to everybody at cnbc to give us the show, to nbc to give us a chance, to one of the greatest teams in the world that makes me look good every single day. >> jim cramer, ladies and gentlemen. >> seven years of television, quite something. >> we've got plates, we've got forks. i want the piece with your head on it. >> done your way, my friend. it's a humbling thing. love the show from the get-

. >>> i'm jim cramer and welcome to my world. you need to get in the game. firms are going to go out business, and he is nuts! they're nuts. they know nothing. i always like to say there is a bull market somewhere. "mad money." you can't afford to miss it. hey, i'm cramer. welcome to "mad money." welcome to cramerica. other people want to make friends. i'm just trying to make you a little money. my job is not just to entertain, but to educate and teach. so call me at 1-800-743-cnbc. is retail investing making a comeback? i got to ponder that on a day like today. averages got pummelled in the morn, rebounding somewhat in the afternoon. the dow closing down 46 points. the s&p sinking only 1.9%. the nasdaq gaining 0.04%. right now i'm seeing a lot of things in this market that remind me of what this business was like when i got into it 30 odd years ago, right about the time when the great bull market began. that was the moment when individuals began to return to the market after many years of thinking it simply wasn't worth it. which, by the way, it wasn't. so

i'm jim cramer. i'll see you monday! hey, larry, what are you looking at before the weekend? >> jimmy, as you know, i'm still an optimist on stocks and the economy. that's my big theme tonight. good evening. i'm larry kudlow. this is "the kudlow report." things may not be perfect, okay? but i am still an optimist on stocks and on the economy. and in a moment, i'm going to show you some key charts that will try to make my case. >>> and it's a friday night and a new movie is out. this is the obama so-called documentary, but it's more like a propaganda movie because unlike a documentary, it has no negative points. i may supply a few. that in just a moment. >>> first up, the big story, another stock market gain. this is the fifth straight week. the dow is up 311 points. the nasdaq closing over 3,000. the s&p over 1400. now, again, this story ain't perfect. it should be better. but you know what? let me try to make the case why the markets are pretty decent along with the economy. all right. let's go right to the board. retail sales first up. remember, folks, a week ago, we had a

i'm jim cramer, see you tomorrow. >> this morning on early today. tale of the tape. new video raises questions about the story george zimmerman called the police. >>> tottic friday's megamillions jackpot sigh rockets to a record-shattering amount. and seeing is believing. a frisbee trick shot audience does it again. >> announcer: this is early today for thursday, march 29th, 2012. >> today we begin with a zimmerman video. when zimmerman killed trayvon, he told police he had fought with him. however, police security camera video from that night by ab contraction news shows police officers leading into the with hand can you haves. the parents of trayvon martin reacted last night telling usa today it shows that zimmerman's claims of self defense are false. last night, zimmerman's father texted that martin threatened his son while they're strullyinged on the ground. >> in doing so, his firearm was killed. trayvo, in martin said something to the eh fabulate that you're going to die now or you're going to die tonight. >> in washington, bush wore a hood day in the house. >>

you heard from jim cramer. we've seen such an incredible run-up in stocks and a small decline may not be such a big surprise. question, is a bigger correction coming, and if it does, how do you protect yourself? here now is steven chis weis, fast money contributor, author of "the billion dollar mistake" and michael ozanian, forbes magazine national editor. michael, you are looking for a -- you have been looking for a correction. how do you protect yourself? >> larry, i would be into cash, and i would be ready on a big pullback if i really believed in equities, and if i really believed that the economy was rebounding, which i do not. look, larry, let's look at what the people running these companies are doing. they're selling their stocks like mad. it's a sucker's game. they are using company's money to buy huge amounts of stock. >> insider stock. >> insiders selling right now. the insiders selling to buying ratio is as high as it was last spring, and according to trintabs it's the highest on record. >> is that

i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow. crammer has gone mobile, top stories, lightning round, and mad money videos and more, all of nbc-universal television >>> a jet blue captain is subdued by passengers after becoming unhinged in a mid air outburst. an accident sends rockets spiraling into the sky. and petite puppy. meet the tiny canine vying for the title of world's smallest dog. >>> this is "early today" for wednesday, march 28th, 2012. >>> welcome to our viewers across the nation. today we begin with air scare. a pilot for jet blue airlines is receiving medical attention after he had to be restrained by passengers on a flight from new york to las vegas. kurt gregory reports. >> reporter: this is home video posted on youtube capturing the terrifying moments for passengers on board a jet blue flight when the captain was heard screaming as passengers scrambled to subdue him. the plane was flying from new york to las vegas when sources say the captain began acting erratically pushing buttons and screaming. the co pilot be

i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow. >> staynected to kramer on madmoney@cnbc.com. >> in this morning on "early today requests. overshadowed as rivals seize on a major gap by one of his aides. >>> breaking ranks, an out spoken u.s. marine ends up in hot water for criticizing the commander in chief. and pecking order. a reporter from an nbc station is attacked while shooting a story. >> announcer: this is early today for thursday, march 22nd, >> announcer: this is early today for thursday, march 22nd, 2012 captions paid for by nbc-universal television >> today, we begin with damage control. instead of celebrating a solid win in illinois and a hay jar new republican endorsement, mitt romney's camp is back pedaling. nbc has details. >> reporter: mitt romney's 12 point illinois win impressed big-named republicans, one in the endorsement of jeb bush who said now is the time for republicans to unite behind governor romney. rick santorum tried to spin. >> the establishment was comfortable with the status quo.

right here, "mad money," i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow. >> this morning on "early today" high court controversy. protests swirl as the supreme court considers the legality of a landmarked health care law. >>> oops, he did it again. president obama explains comments picked up on an open mic. >>> and unhinged. a run-away-vessel gives the term houseboat a whole new meaning. >> this is early today for tuesday, march 27th, 2012. >> hello and very good morning to you. today, we begin with the heart of the matter after it was essentially a warm-up, day two of the supreme court hearing, we'll dig into one of the key components requiring nearly every american be insured by next year or pay a penalty. nbc has details. >> reporter: the supreme court show down on the obama mandate. >> it's a command. >> reporter: no disagreement about that. the bill the president signed requires almost all americans to buy health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine. 26 states sued. >> coming into federal court to challenge is unprecedented. obligation to

i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow! >>> this morning on early today, eye on the prize. illinois is up for grabs and the results could shake up the presidential race. >>> rapid melt. time lapse video captured the spring thaw of the lake in minnesota. >>> and center stage. one of the most high-profile women in the world makes big debut. >>> hello and good morning. today we begin with a big swing state in the republican race for the white house, all eyes are on illinois. voters head to the polls in that state's primary today where a convincing victory for front runner mitt romney will make it very difficult for his rivals to keep running. tracie potts joins us from washington with more on this. >> reporter: good morning. rick santorum is hoping to do well in illinois but it's going to be an uphill battle for him. mean time mitt romney even though he is the front-runner at this point is not taking the land of lincoln for granted. >> thespian cakes are something else. i'll tell you. >> reporter: mitt romney in his third day campaigning in illinois the land of reindian and ob

"squawk on the street" and tomorrow night "options actions" and meantime "mad money" with jim cramer starts right now. >> i'm jim cramer and welcome to my world. >> you need to get in the game. >> go out of business and he's nuts. they're nuts. they know nothing. >> i always like to say, there's a bull market somewhere. >> "mad money", you can't afford to miss it. hey, i'm cramer. i'm "mad money." i'm just trying to save you a little money. my job is not just to entertain you, but to educate you. so call me. oh, is spain suddenly back on our radar screen? was the stunning decline in italian banks responsible for almost the entire morning's weakness? until late afternoon when the market add nice rebound. dow closing up 20 points. but s&p didn't get in black. nasdaq down .31%. was it the weaker than expected jobless claims this morning? is that what made us concerned when we have that dive? it is the economy slowing, or perhaps the speech the president gave where he blasted the oil companies for making so much money. while at the same time of course, in the sign of economic weakness, t

i'm jim cramer, see you tomorrow. >>> this morning on early "today", tale of the tape. what george simmerman told police the night he shot and killed trayvon martin. >>> hot ticket. mega millions skyrockets to a record shattering amount. >>> seeing is believing. a frisbee trick shot artist does it again. >>> hello and good morning. welcome to our viewers across the nation. i'm lynn berry. we begin with the zimmerman video. when george zimmerman shot and killed trayvon martin in florida last month he told police martin had fought with him, breaking his nose and repeatedly slamming his head beagainst the ground. however security camera shows police officers leading zimmerman into the police station with handcuffs shows no blood or bruising or grass stains visible on his clothes. the parents of trayvon martin reacted last night to the video saying it shows zimmerman's claims of self-defense are false. but zimmerman's father said martin threatened his son as they struggled on the ground. >> in doing so his firearm was shown. trayvon martin said something to the effect of yo

>>> i'm jim cramer, and welcome to my world. you need to get in the game! they're going to go out of business and they're nuts! they're nuts! they know nothing! i always like to say there's a bull market somewhere. "mad money." you can't afford to miss it. hey, i'm cramer. welcome to "mad money." welcome to cramerica. other people want to make friends. i'm just trying to save you money. my job is to educate you. call me at 1-800-743-cnbc. after an incredible week for the market, where all the major averages broke out to levels we literally haven't seen in years -- >> hallelujah! >> even if today wasn't particularly exciting, nasdaq slipping .04%, something struck me. maybe the best way to understand this market is in terms of the things that haven't happened. when i look at how 2012 is unfolding, how we could have put together seven straight up days for the dow, a streak that unfortunately snapped today, after all the strength we had already witnessed, it's clear that we've been paying too much attention to what has happened. and not enough attention to wha

i'm jim cramer, see you tomorrow. >>> in illinois last night, 47% of the vote romney's double-digit vote further justified his claim to be the presumptive nominee landing romney the majority of that state's 69 delegates. steve hamilton has details. >> reporter: mitt romney shored up his front-runner status in illinois. another one this one by a large margin in a big midwestern battleground state. >> join us, join us. together, we're going to ensure that america's greatest days are still ahead. thank you, guys. thank you so much. >> reporter: romney showed his strength. winning men and women voters in illinois. moderates and tea party activists. most said the economy was their number one concern. >> i don't care what the unemployment rate is going to be. >> reporter: rick santorum campaigned on freedom from big government. he missed an opportunity to show he can win in the kind of state republicans need in the fall, but he stuck to his theme. >> economy. joblessness. national security concerns. the family. all boils down to one word, and that's what's at stake in this election and it's ri

mad money with jim cramer starts right now and he has an exclusive from sirius. cramer starts right now and he has an exclusive with mel karmazan of sirius. >> i'm jim cramer and welcome to my world. you need to get in the game. >> they're going to go out of business and he's nuts! they're nuts! they know nothing. >> i always like to say there's a bull market somewhere. >> "mad money." you can't afford to miss it. >> hey, i'm cramer. welcome to "mad money" welcome to cramerica. my job not just to entertain, but to educate and teach. so call me at 800-743-cnbc. hey, we've got to give this market its due. when good things happen. when actors in the world stage try to solve many of the problems they're facing, problems that caused the dow to plummet two days ago, the market reacts the right way and goes almost back up and the dow climbs 71 points. the nasdaq soared 1.18%. thank you again, apple. ten points a day keeps the bear away. let's just tick down the amazing point-counterpoint transformation that's unfolded in the 48 hours since the sell-off. one by one, the

. >>> i'm jim cramer and welcome to my world. you need to get in the game. firms are going to go out of business and he nuts! they're nuts! they know nothing. i always like to say there is a bull market somewhere. "mad money." you can't afford to miss it. hey, i'm cramer. welcome to "mad money." welcome to cramerica. other people want to make friends. i'm just trying to save you some money. my job is not just to entertain you, but to put this in context and teach you. so call me at 1-800-743-cnbc. cramer, do you like him or do you hate him? someone asked me that on the floor of the stock exchange today where i do my morning show, the squawk on the street. wanted me to predict what would happen. with the average rally hard, i wouldn't take the bait. why? because this is a case by case market, not market a that is driven by the averages. so i refused to get into the day to day risk on, risk off nonsense. see, this market is radically different from anything we have seen in ages. it's a worthless exercise unless you're in the future pits trading the s&p 500. le

i'm jim cramer and i will see you tomorrow! hey, larry, you got a great show lined up. tell us about it. >>> thanks, jimmy. the president is still mocking oil and gas companies. that burns me up. you're going to be on my show in just a moment. tonight we're covering the biggest issues from the market and politics in one word -- energy. it politics at the pump. it hasn't been this critical for a sitting president this close to election time since the carter administration. now in a desperate attempt to fight sagging poll numbers, president obama admits he and british prime minister cameron talked about releasing the strategic petroleum reserves. this case of government interference in the pfree markes always back fires. the president continues to mock republicans. take a listen. >> if some of these folks were around when columbus sell sail, they must have been founding members of the flat earth society. they would not have believed that the world was round. >> threw go. eight cheap shot applause line. meanwhile, folks, investors are still buying stocks. the dow was up an

larry kudlow and jim cramer together on set here at post 9.rold hamm, the great father of the shale oil and gas drilling up in the dakotas, his message was north american energy independence is within sight if we take the cuffs off, let everybody drill where they need to, the environmental stuff is fine. he was optimistic about this. north american energy independence, no more reliance on opec. >> we are in a situation and north dakota will, i believe, pass alaska. we're talking about the tremendous finds. harold hamm of continental resources believes this is the largest find since prudeau bay. i'm hung up on this because i see the company's well ahead of the government making the transition. one thing is certain. there is a backlash in washington against all fossil fuels because of leanings that aren't really able to be swayed. we are not swaying anyone on this who is anti-fossil fuel. >> it's a pity. i don't want to bash the president. but personally, the president is on the wrong side of the issue. he's basically anti-fossil fuel. we can do

my pal jim cramer agrees. what you got? >> larry, listen up, the president demonizes the oil companies. hey, i get that. forget the fact we're in a moment where we can drill our way closer to energy independence for this continent and the president royces not all petro product are created fall. this is so low because we have way too much and it is land locked because of the difficulties exporting it. it can be used to the debt trim of oil for the trucking market that burns one quarter of what we import. do you want the price to go down? you don't have to drill wrb drill, drill, you just have it use, use, use. it is simply not true we can't bring down the price of oil. it's not true. a real competitor, liquefied natural gas, would destroy the pricing structure and bring down gasoline's cost. if you actually wanted that to happen, would you know this fact. the president makes it a pint every time it t.o. say that the -- it refuses to acknowledge the fact and it is a fact. if these alternatives do not work for surface vehicles

i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow! >>> this morning on "early today," mega mania. the nation's largest jackpot ever sets off a ticket buying frenzy. >>> holy dash cam. police release video of a bizarre traffic stop in maryland. >>> and super massive twister. nasa scientists spot a solar tornado that's five times the nasa scientists spot a solar tornado that's five times the size of earth. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> hello,s and good morning. i'm lynn berry. today we begin with lotto fever. the largest lottery prize in u.s. history keeps getting bigser. the meg goo million jackpot has hit an estimated $540 million, and that's expected to rise even higher as millions of americans buy their tickets ahead of tonight's big it drawing. nbc's kirk gregory has more. >> reporter: this single little slip of paper could mean -- >> half a billion. >> it's such an insane amount of money. >> reporter: -- a whole lot of green for a lucky winner tonight in the mega millions lootry drawing. with still hours to go before the drawing, the record-breaking sum cou

jim cramer -- here we go. >> oh, hello. >> all right. jim cramer has literally run onset.s carrying a ka tan na. >> the worst deal ever was when exxon bought when natural gas was incredibly high and natural gas just hit an all-time low. that's all i have to say. >> but that was more recent, jim. this deal is now seven years in. and it clearly hasn't done anything. can you give exxon at least a year or two to try to perform? >> if they would back natural gas fuel for surface vehicles, yes. but they only favor it for utilities. they don't favor it for cars and trucks. >> i'm not going to say -- listen, you and i both -- >> you and i both went to law school, right? do you remember the american rail car. california company was buying up railroads to modernize them. guess who it was? it was actually gm through subsidiary buying up railroads to rip them out to build roads. >> oh, negative. true. >> i'm just throwing it out there. >> i heard it. i said first of all i happen to be -- >> making herb very uncomfortable. >> i happen to be a coors light -- how are you, herb? can you b

i think that michael johnson answered a question that was posed to him by jim cramer. he specifically used the word in herb's column "development" not "research." that's a key distinction. >> when i look at -- there was another point here that was kind of interesting. i went back and forth with the company on this. this is the issue of what they are. are they a multilevel marketing company or are they something else? they say they're something else. and the street values them sort of as something else, not as an llm company. what do you think? >> well, i think it is a multilevel marketing company. i follow three of them and they are by far the premier example of multilevel marketing. but i think it's fair to comp them to other high-quality growth companies, whether you're talking about lululemon. they're not in the same business but they're a high-quality growth company and they ought to be comped against that group tooshgs. >> i'm on their website and they have a big thing -- it's glossy. it says, 5 billion and we're just getting started. they can't be referring to re

right here, "mad money," i'm jim cramer. >>> this morning on "early today," high court controversy. protests swirl as the supreme court considers the legality of a landmark health care law. >>> oops, he did it again. president obama explains private comments picked up on an open mike. >>> and unhinged. a runaway vessel gives the term >>> and unhinged. a runaway vessel gives the term "houseboat" a whole new meaning. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> well, a very good morning to you. welcome to our viewers across the nation, including the pacific time zone. i'm veronica de la cruz. we begin with the heart of the matter. it was essentially a warm-up, day it two of the supreme court's three-day hearing will dig into the president's health care law, requiring every american to be insured or pay a penalty by next year. steve handelsman has details. >> reporter: the supreme court showdown on the obama mandate. chief justice john roberts. >> it's a command. the mandate is a command. >> reporter: no disagreement about that. the bill the president signed requires almost all am

i'm jim cramer. see you tomorrow. >> sta>> roger goodeltoday," sk? an important endorsement for mitt romney is overshadowed and rivalries seize on a major gaffe of one of his aids. >>> breaking ranks. an outspoken marine end up in hot water for criticizing the commander-in-chief. >>> pecking order. a reporter from anbc station is attacked while shooting a story. >>> this is "early today" for thursday, march 22nd, 2012. >>> hello, everybody. good morning to you. i'm veronica de la cruz. today we begin with damage control. instead of celebrating a solid win in illinois, mitt romney's camp is backpedaling this morning after a top aide admitted his conservative pitch would change once he's the nominee. steve handelsman has details. >> reporter: mitt romney's 12-point illinois win impressed big name republicans and won him the endorsement of jeb bush, popular former governor of florida who said now is the time for republicans to unite behind governor romney. rick santorum tried spin. >> all of the endorsers, the establishment, you know, who is comfortable

many thanks, jim cramer. appreciate the update. mixed today, but the nasdaq reached a new 11-year high. let's turn to our savvy investors, talk about the markets and the economy. joining me, we welcome back liz anne saunders, chief investment strategist at charles schwab, and our friend michael farr, president of farr, miller and washington. welcome back. can i just start on the economy and profits and all the rest of it. we got some pretty decent housing numbers the last couple of days. and today existing home sales up 18% the last three months. and prices, okay, prices actually up a tad against a year ago. is housing getting better? is it going to be a positive contributor? >> i wrote a report a couple of months ago contending that housing had broadly bottomed. looking a it at a regional level. the bubble allowed it to be this national monolith, which is not the case anymore. i do think when you think of housing as a contributor to gdp, already residential investment was up in double-digits in the last gdp report. and i think tha