joining us now here in washington, ryan lizza. clarence page, columnist for the "chicago tribune" and amy holmes. ryan lizza, should the media have taken this tragedy, this undeniable tragedy and turned it into a kind of narrative finger-pointing between the candidates? >> well, look, the people who covered the campaign cover the campaign so you don't necessarily have foreign policy expects sitting there day in and day out traveling these, you know, ridiculous hours with mitt romney. you've got campaign reporters am and when mitt romney comes out and gives a statement that's critical of the president, you know, the natural inclination is going to feed that into the campaign narrative and ask questions that are much more related to the campaign. i think the one question that didn't go asked and should is the policy question of what is the republican/romney position on the response to the arab spring. >> i'm going to come back to that, but clarence page, romney started it by putting out that late night statement it turns out before

jeff zeleny, as well as "the new yorker" magazine, washington corrpondent and cnn contributor, ryan lizza, were you surprised the president didn't offer more specific details on how to achieve those goals in his acceptance speech? >> i was. i mean, he did offer more specificity than romney's speech, but the way he set up the speech, i think, meant that he deserved -- or that we deserved a little bit more detail. remember, he said at the beginning of his speech that this was the very -- one of the most important elections of our lives, and there's this clear choice between these two competing visions about the role of government in society, and in that clip that you played, wolf, he talked about how he's a president who tells you the truth. and i left the speech, and i reread it this morning a couple of times, still wondering on some of the big issues that he's talked about a lot in the last few years, what he's going to do and whether he will pursue them if he's re-elected. for instance, he mentioned climate change, but he didn't really tell us what he would do on that. we don't know on i

what did ryan lizza see on that stage last night? how about that hug?edad o'brien talks with debby debbie wasserman schultz. she talks about her own controversial and frankly, contradictory remarks. >>> plus he took the torch from the likes of john mcenroe agassi andy roddick's emotional farewell at the u.s. open. you will not want to miss that. all that and much more coming up in the next hour here on cnn. if you change the channel you will regret it forever. first, a text from hillary in the middle of bill clinton's speech? if you've checked your facebook overnight you might know what we're talking about already. it is hilarious. that is coming up next on "early start." [ woman ] ring. ring. progresso. your soups are so awesomely delicious my husband and i can't stop eating 'em! what's...that... on your head? can curlers! tomato basil potato with bacon... we've got a lot of empty cans. [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. capella university understands businesses are trying to come back from rough economic times. employees are bein

dana bash and ryan lizza and ryan, i want to get to dana. highlights. >> michelle obama. there's no question about it. she was validator and character witness and reaching out to women to do that she talked about being a mother. >> you see, at the end of the day, my most important title is still mom in chief. my daughters are still the heart of my heart and the center of my world. but let me tell you, today i have none of those worries from four years ago, no, not about whether barack and i were doing what was best for our girls. >> now, the other person to talk about important women in his life was the key note speaker, julian castro from san antonio. he gave a biting speech but did so with a smile. listen to what he said about mitt romney. >> republicans tell us that if the most prosperous among us do even better, somehow the rest of us will too. folks, we've heard that before. first they called it trickle down. then they called it supply side. now it's ryan -- romney/ryan or is it ryan/romney. the theory has been tested. it failed and our

ryan lizza has a new article, that's called let's be friends. you go into the history of where it first went wrong. where did it get off on the wrong foot. >> if you go way back, you can trace little bit from obama and clinton tangling from afar. right? when obama gets to chicago, one of his first jobs is running a voter turnout campaign. that helped the clinton campaign win illinois for first time since 1964. later on when obama is coming up in politics in the 90s, the quotes that exist for him at that time, he was a critic from the left of clinton in the mid-90s and critic of clinton's signing welfare reform in 1996. and then later when he ran for congress in 2000, who's the guy that comes to south side of chicago the week before the election and endorses barack obama's opponent? bill clinton. there was a long shot campaign, obama probably wasn't going to win. >> they both need each other now? >> fast forward, obama becomes a senator running for president. i picked some scabs off the ugly history of the 2008 campaign. the heart of that campaig

that comes from a profile by ryan lizza. that was from an advisor. that's an unfortunate dishonesty coming from senator mccain. >> thank you. we're going to continue to follow this breaking news. in fact, we have another few stories that we've been following. we're going to go to break and i have a cold, and i took nyquil, but i'm still stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't unstuff your nose. what? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels speeds relief to your worst cold symptoms plus has a decongestant for your stuffy nose. thanks. that's the cold truth! ♪ ♪ ♪ [ male announcer ] introducing a reason...to look twice. introducing a stunning work of technology -- the entirely new lexus es. and the first-ever es hybrid. this is the pursuit of perfection. to compete on the global stage. what we need are people prepared for the careers of our new economy. by 2025 we could have 20 million jobs without enough college graduates to fill them. that's why at devry university, we're teaming up with companies like cisco to help make sure

we'll be joined by ryan lizza. he has answers. and lex harriss has answers.u of california, she has spin and answers. more news, voters and swimmers warned as hurricane leslie kicks up angry waves along the east coast. bermuda now in the cross hairs and we have more news that every driver will want to see. we'll tell but the fastest highway in the country, we'll show you exactly where it is and just how fast you can go. do not change the channel or you will regret it forever. all coming up in the next hour of cnn. but first, an olympian's running record is beaten by a robot. a robot. the new cheetah that is blowing away the competition. that and cheese fries coming up next. so... [ gasps ] these are sandra's "homemade" yummy, scrumptious bars. hmm? i just wanted you to eat more fiber. chewy, oatie, gooeyness... and fraudulence. i'm in deep, babe. you certainly are. [ male announcer ] fiber one. why does my mouth feel dryer than i remember it to be? there are more people taking more medication, so we see people suffering from dry mouth more so. we may see more

the "new yorker" ryan lizza. said he got the bag carrying story from tim russert in 2008.r no comment from president clinton or obama or their camps. photo i.d. is required to get in the dnc. prompting an avalanche of irony-laced tweets today. one user tweets utter hypocrisy. dems require photo i.d. to get in dnc convention. user require i.d. to vote at hall or union contract but voter i.d. is bad. another if i need an i.d. to buy cold medicine, use a check or even get in the dnc convention why shouldn't i need an idea to vote? finally clint eastwood republican convention dialogue with an empty chair inspired eastwooding. people posing with an empty chair for pictures, as we told you about friday. now a new effort. national empty chair day. today, users of facebook, twitter and conservative blog like lyle insurrection.com -- legal insurrection.com posted empty chair pictures all over the country. part of the business of this week's democratic convention will be the approval of the party platform. tonight, chief washington correspondent james rosen tells us what is in it an

ryan lizza has an interesting comment in his new yorker piece about the relationship between bram and clinton when he says this is a very clintontonian move. he pitched himself as the antidote to the clintonism, now presenting himself as the heir apparent. it's a tactical maneuver on obama's part. for me it recalls ted kennedy's support of fwhoem 2008 when the big han in the party came down and put his arm around barack and said i can support this guy. you can support him. now to have the superstar of the party come down and say i'm still with him says a lot for barack obama. >> and you know, a lot has been made of how bill clinton, we respect sure what he's going to say. there's this history in this relationship. but i've got to say, this is a guy, one of the most skilled olticians in the country if not the most skilled politician in the country. he certainly knows how to deliver a speech. it is not in his interests at all, which is always at the front of bill clinton's mind, what is his interest and the best interests of his wife to undermine the president in any way. i think the ne

gloria borger, ryan lizza, both standing by. they'll join us next. how did i get here? dumb luck? i've made. ones we've all made. about marriage. children. money. about tomorrow. here's to good decisions. who matters most to you says the most about you. massmutual is owned by our policyholders so they matter most to us. massmutual. we'll help you get there. >>> live pictures coming in from cairo right now near the united states embassy, tahrir square. we're going back there in a few moments. let's get to our strategy session right now. joining us the new yorker magazine, washington correspondent ryan lizza, and cnn's chief political analyst gloria borger. look at this, gloria. a year ago we asked are economic conditions good or poor? a year ago 14% thought they were good. that's pitiful. now it's up to 32%. not so good either. it's improvement from where it was a year ago. the question, was this good for romney, obama? >> glass half full, glass half empty, look, it's a little better news for the president. means people are feeling a little bit better about their economic situation

thanks for that, ryan lizza. and we'll check back with you. >>> who's actually in the 47%?rs. back to the magic wall to break that number down. and olympic superstar shawn white arrested. what the so-called flying tomato is accused of doing next. -law your chicken noodle soup but she loved it so much... i told her it was homemade. everyone tells a little white lie now and then. but now she wants my recipe [ clears his throat ] [ softly ] she's right behind me isn't she? [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta taste this soup. ♪ [ male announcer ] the first look...is only the beginning. ♪ ♪ introducing a stunning work of technology. ♪ introducing the entirely new lexus es. and the first ever es hybrid. this is the pursuit of pfection. and the first ever es hybrid. a thing that helps you wbuy other things.hing. but plenty of companies do that. so we make something else. we help make life a little easier, more convenient, more rewarding, more entertaining. year after year. it's the reason why we don't have customers. we have members. american express. welcome in. >>> 132 inmat

. >> ryan lizza. brooke baldwin, it's been a great week with you. soledad o'brien is back next week. carol costello and "cnn newsroom" begins right now. >>> happening now in the newsroom. demonstrations canceled. egypt's muslim brotherhood calling off nationwide protests. was president obama's phone call behind the move? as we're learning to new arrests linked to the attack on the consulate in libya that killed four americans. >>> the fed's new push to make buying or refinancing a house cheaper. there are questions this morning. will it really help the housing market? >>> plus a second scandal, topless photos of kate middleton published in a french magazine. the royal family fuming this morning. the photos taken during a private vacation on private property. did the magazine break the law? >>> and field goal. play of the night with the packers and bears, green bay thursday night. "newsroom" begins right now. good morning to you. happy friday. i'm carol costello. we fwin with that bit of breaking news. dramatic efforts to tamp down some of the uglies

. >> ryan lizza, suzy welch? >> the problems are right and something about the with the delivery. >> i agree we having they said. >> that us for being brief. >>> cnn newsroom with carol costello begins now. good morning, carol. >> hi, john. happening now in the newsroom, they are stretching out and suiting up, the nfl's referees turn return to their field of expertise tonight. with the replacements gone, football fans can now direct their anger elsewhere. >>> fbi agents investigating the lady attack at the american consulate in libya still haven't reached ben gas zip. exclusive information on why u.s. officials still respect there more than two weeks after the gunfire. >>> where is jimmy hoffa? we have been asking that question for almost 40 years. now, investigators some new information that's leading them to a home in suburban detroit. >>> and it's one of the most famous paintings in the whole world. now, the mona lisa might have a twin. a new group claims da vinci created another version of mona. newsroom star

. >> ana navarro is joining us and ryan lizza down at the end. a washington correspondent for "the new yorker." the stage now set for the final push to election day. president obama accepting his party's nomination with a speech that some people say was great. others say it wasn't a home run. but a big hit with delegates in the convention hall. the president says unlike mitt romney his leadership has been tested and proven. dana bash has an assessment of how it went. the president is known forgiving great speeches and this is not considered to be a great speech. >> i think the word most people are using and it's accurate is safe. it was a safe speech but he definitely wanted to come cross as somebody who has been humbled by his four years and somebody who understands and wants the american people to understand it's not easy. >> barack obama accepted his party's nomination with the kind of soaring rhetoric that got him elected four years ago, except home and change were replaced by a reality check. >> i recognize the times have changed since i fir

. >> ryan lizza, suzy welch?> i agree we having they said. >> that us for being brief. >>> cnn newsroom with carol costello begins now. good morning, carol. >> hi, john. happening now in the newsroom, they are stretching out and suiting up, the nfl's referees turn return to their field of expertise tonight. with the replacements gone, football fans can now direct their anger elsewhere. >>> fbi agents investigating the la

ryan lizza, washington correspondent for the new yorker. welcome.nt" this morning, the nation about to be reintroduced to president barack obama, and that job will fall to the first lady as she takes the stage tonight at the dnc. she'll follow san antonio mayor julian castro who is giving the keynote address. i said earlier he was the first latino. but only on the dnc side. the first lady's speech will set the tone for the convention. she's got to make the case for why americans should trust the president to lead the country for another four years. dana, that could be a lot of pressure on the first lady. of course, first lady has a high approval rating. that will make things a little easy. what will she have to say? >> she'll have to do something similar to what ann romney did for mitt romney, but it's not as critical. what ann romney had to do was try to bridge the gender gap and make somebody who seems distant a little bit more human. what michelle obama has to do is to try to kind of lend her husband some of her popularity right now, because she

also we'll look at ryan lizza's new article, "let's be friends" and focuses on the relationship betweennton and current president barack obama and examines their friendship and pros and cons of the clinton factor. president clinton will speak at this convention. we're turning to martin o'malley, maryland congressman elijah cummings will be our guest as well. reince priebus will join us as they do the opposition message here. jim rogers, ceo of duke energy and co-chairman of the democratic national convention. he'll be joining us as well. and design gury, ty pennington, last week they built half a hour, this week the other half then they join them together. our guest as well right at the top of the hour on "starting point." >> so much to talk about in the cnn grill, which is the hub of activity here any democratic national convention. >> at this hour. >> when we come back, we're going to talk more about what the democrats have planned and what they need to accomplish here in charlotte. stay with us. go away. i was spotting, but i had already gone through menopause. these symptoms may be

ryan lizza, our cnn contributor, fascinating piece in the new issue entitled let's be friends.e writes this. president clinton's associations take it as a given that he would like nothing more than to see his wife become president. hillary clinton will step down as secretary of state after the campaign and begin the process of deciding whether she will run in 2016. by some measures a defeat for obama in november would leave hillary the undisputed leader of the party and propel her for the oval office that much faster. james, you're smiling. why? >> by the way, we're not rubio and chris christie. we have until 2012 convention. and i don't know that in terms of the democrats if president clinton, which i saw him do in a spot for president obama today on az actions on espn. why does that not help her if it's perceived as somebody that helped the party keep the white house? i'm not sure i understand the logic of it. >> but you're leaving open the possibility she could run in 2016. >> i hope she does. of course i do. i don't have any idea what she's going to do. >> i suspect she wil

ryan lizza, thanks to you as well. >>> in our next hour we'll hear live from president obama, vice presidentether also with their wives at the university of iowa in iowa city. we're going to have live coverage of that event. that's coming up in our next hour. >>> there's one item in the democratic party platform that republicans hope will derail president obama's chances in november. that's just ahead. you see us, at the start of the day. on the company phone list that's a few names longer. you see us bank on busier highways. on once empty fields. everyday you see all the ways all of us at us bank are helping grow our economy. lending more so companies and communities can expand, grow stronger and get back to work. everyday you see all of us serving you, around the country, around the corner. us bank. i just served my mother-in-law your chicken noodle soup but she loved it so much... i told her it was homemade. everyone tells a little white lie now and then. but now she wants my recipe [ clears his throat ] [ softly ] she's right behind me isn't she? [ male announcer ] progresso. you gotta t

gloria borger and ryan lizza is here. what's behind this bounce? >> one of the things that interested me was this question of enthusiasm. i think that's really behind this bounce that we've seen. generally overall during the primary season and coming up to this point, you've seen that republicans have had more enthusia enthusiasm. now take a look at this. we asked, are you extremely or very enthusiastic about voting in november? democrats now 59%. last week, 56%. so you see up three points. republicans are down five points. now, if the enthusiasm gap shifts, that could be so important to president obama because, don't forget, in 2008, it was the enthusiasm of the democrats that actually pulled them over the finish line. so that's what they need because this time, republicans have been so enthusiastic. now we seem to see a shift. but, again, as john was saying before, it's a big if. the question is, does it last? we don't know. >> everybody keeps saying that conventions don't matter. at least they matter in the short term right now. look at these nu

and from "the new yorker," ryan li lizza.in, gentlemen, good morning. >> with friday prayers end iing around the world right now, u.s. embassies around the world are bracing for more. >> the anger, defiance that began monday is now spreading to 11 countries, as far east as india. >> mayhem a few hours ago. this new development now, the ruling muslim brotherhood is calling for calm and calling off a nationwide protest. but a huge single demonstration is planned for tahrir square in cairo. that will go on. >> police are firing warning shots to break up the mob. there yet again, day two, in the capital of sanaa. five protesters were killed as hundreds of protesters stormed the american embassy there yesterday. you've seen the pictures. they were climbing the walls, setting fires. water canons now pushing this mob back. >> there has been a major development in libya. the first arrests in connection with the attack that killed two well respected american diplomats and two former navy s.e.a.l.s. >> following the developments in cai