American Morning
Girl Scout Cookie Controversy
One girl scout turned to the internet to sell more Girl Scout cookies for her troop. With the help of her dad she linked a page to Facebook where people can order cookies online and even posted a cute you-tube video.
Seems innovative and innocent enough, right? But the Girl Scouts of America says she's breaking the rules that clearly state you cannot sell cookies online and they want her to stop. Bryan freeborn and his daughter, wild, joined us live.
Minding Your Business – Cramer vs. Stewart
Watercooler consensus this morning is Jon Stewart won the battle of the funny man and the money man. Stewart's ratings are up 20 percent since this 5-day feud erupted. Cramer's are down. No way to measure the value of all the free publicity these guys are generating because of it. (Though Stewart poked fun at being able to raise advertising rates because it.)
Stewart made the most eloquent assessment yet about how Wall Street's side-bets in complicated derivatives and its aggressive leveraging hurt the responsible buy-and-hold investors who are the backbone of the financial system. And CNBC was nothing more than a cheerleader, he blasts.
Leave it to the Daily Show's staff: They certainly watch ALOT of cable tv news tape. The big showdown last night between Stewart and CNBC Mad Money man Jim Cramer was chock full of embarrassing videotape of Cramer. Clips from 2006 (some featured a couple days ago by CNN's own Jim Acosta) that showed Cramer seeming to talk about manipulating the market.
Dental Gold for Cash
As the economy sours, Americans are finding surprising and novel ways to just to get by. In pawn shops, shopping malls and jewelry stores across the nation people are parting with sentimental and not-so-sentimental gold jewelry to pay off the bills. Helping all this along are scores of television ads from “cash for gold” companies that promise to pay up.
In Wauwatosa, Wisconsin this week, Lyssa King of Gold Buyers set up a booth in the Mayfair Mall and was overwhelmed by long lines of customers. At two in the afternoon she ran out of cash and was forced to go to the bank to pay off people wanting to trade in their rings, necklaces, and bracelets.
"If He Hits You Once, He Will Do It Again"
Chris Brown's arrest for allegedly beating his girlfriend Rihanna has sparked a nationwide conversation on domestic violence. In fact, Oprah Winfrey was so moved by the story she dedicated a whole hour to the subject on her show yesterday.
Oprah has not been shy about offering her advice to singer Rihanna, and women who are in abusive situations. "If you have been abused once, she says, it will not be the last time." Oprah devoted a whole hour to the subject on her show yesterday. We wanted to talk about it with a clinical psychologist. Dr. Jeff Gardere joined us live.
Fast Forward
The stories that will be making news later today:
A court ruling is expected this morning on New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's request for access to a secret memo about 3 million dollars in bonuses paid to Merrill Lynch employees just before Bank of America acquired the bank. Bank of America has received 45-billion dollars in bailout money.
The search resumes for survivors of a helicopter crash off the coast of Newfoundland. 16-people are still missing. The chopper was carrying oil workers to an off-shore platform Thursday when it ditched and sank in the frigid North Atlantic. One man was rescued and one body has been recovered.
The Los Angeles Attorney General will hold a press conference on charges Anna Smith's former companion and lawyer provided highly addictive drugs to the late model. Howard K. Stern and two doctors charged with *eight* felonies. It all comes more than two years after Smith died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs.
What's On Tap – Friday March 13th
Hey everyone. Happy Friday the 13th! Here's what's in store for today's show.
- Former Anna Nicole Smith boyfriend Howard K. Stern and two doctors charged with furnishing drugs to the star, who died in '07 of a drug overdose.
- Madoff victims express their anger both in court and outside after he pleads guilty to ponzi scheme.
- Jim Cramer defends his advice on the Daily Show last night after being attacked by John Stewart.
- Obama administration set to roll out a new strategy on Afghanistan next week.
- When it comes to the Mexican drug war, the US is considering all options at stemming the flow of drugs northward and weapons south of the border. Federal officials say that could mean deploying military personnel and equipment to the region but militarizing the border is not the immediate goal.
- The millions of people who use their cell phones daily to play games, download applications and browse the Web may not realize that they have an unseen companion: advertisers that can track their interests, their habits and even their location.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
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