American Morning
Fast Forward
The stories that will be making news later today:
Vice President Joe Biden is in Brussels this morning. He's there to consult with U.S. allies on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Biden will hold a joint press conference with NATO's Secretary General around 7:20 am eastern and he'll meet with senior leaders of the European Union around 8:30 am eastern.
Thousands of Tibetans and their supporters will march across the Brooklyn Bridge to the United Nations General Assembly building in New York City. Today marks 50 years since Tibetans rose up to protest China's invasion of their homeland, which forced the Dalai Lama into exile.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid hopes the 410-billion dollar spending bill will clear the Senate today. John McCain's attempt to strip the bill of its earmarks was defeated by Democrats and Republicans. The White House says President Obama will sign the measure despite its more than eight-thousand pet projects.
Second Life After Being Laid-Off
Some laid-off workers are finding a second life by following new careers that they find more rewarding.
What's Old Is New Again
Musicians have been known to re-make old songs. Hollywood loves to re-make classic movies. So it should be no surprise that toy company executives are joining the game by reviving toys that were hits one and two generations ago.
As the economy falters, profits are tumbling faster than "Little People.". Mattel Brands President Neil Friedman says in this tough economy consumers tend to go to what they feel good about, and that includes buying familiar toys for their kids. This helps the bottom line.
"It certainly saves having to advertise what the property is."
Hillary Clinton 'Unplugged'
In her trip through the Middle East and Europe last week, Hillary Rodham Clinton was warmly received in most places by audiences who are fascinated by the life of the former first lady – and she is trying to reach out to ordinary people through public diplomacy efforts.
Appearing on a popular Turkish television chat show, Hadi Gel Bizimle (Come and Join Us), Clinton tackled a few diplomatic questions but the main focus was on her personal life, such as when she "last" fell in love.
"It was so long ago, with my husband," she told the studio audience, adding that she first met former President Bill Clinton in the spring of 1971 when they were at law school.
Fast Forward
The stories that will be making news later today:
A new study finds the number of Americans who call themselves Christian has dropped more than 11 percent in the past 18 years. The survey of more than 54-thousand people also found 15 percent of Americans say they have no religious identification, a category that increased in every state.
There's a court hearing this morning for a Tennessee college student accused of hacking into Gov. Sarah Palin's private e-mail account. Prosecutors say David Kernell accessed the Alaska governor's Yahoo account after she was selected as John McCain's running mate.They say he reset the password and posted it online along with screen grabs of Palin's e-mail. Kernell is the son of a democratic lawmaker in Tennessee.
Investors bracing for more stock market turmoil. U.S. stocks are set to open lower today. Folks who see the glass half-full say there's never been a better time for bargains
What's On Tap – Monday March 9, 2009
Today on American Morning:
- President Obama plans to reverse limits imposed by President Bush on using federal money for research with embryonic stem cells. CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports live.
- Pastor killed in an Illinois Church. Parishioners take down the gunman. CNN's Carol Costello reports live.
- Some 12,000 troops will be pulled from Iraq over the next six months as part of a gradual troop withdrawal in the region – this as a man wearing an explosives-laden vest drove a motorcycle rigged with bombs into a group of police recruits in eastern Baghdad Sunday. The ensuing explosion killed 30 people and wounded 61 others, the interior ministry said. CNN's Nic Robertson is live from Baghdad.
- President Obama says he is considering efforts to reach out to elements of the Taliban. We will do a reality check on whether this is a good idea or even a plausible idea. Gary Berntsen/Fmr. CIA officer who led CIA forces in Afghanistan after 9/11 will be joining us live.
- President Obama’s way with words. 1) Obama speaks out against Holder saying we are a “nation of cowards” 2) Several leading black cultural critics say Obama uses "code words" to sends messages to the black community. And he's not the only one who does this. Michael Steele also has been using the technique, as has past presidents- from Reagan to GW Bush (with evangelicals). Michael Fauntroy/Professor at George Mason University who teaches and writes books on race and politics joins us live.
- The blameless victims of the foreclosure crisis—renters whose landlords face foreclosure. CNN's Kate Bolduan reports.
- In her trip through the Middle East and Europe last week, Hillary Rodham Clinton was warmly received in most places by audiences who are fascinated by the life of the former first lady – and she is trying to reach out to ordinary people through public diplomacy efforts. CNN's Jim Acosta reports live.
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