Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 11/09/09
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/01/02/liveblogfinal.copy.jpg]
Tonight, we have breaking news on the suspected Fort Hood killer. Plus, Oprah talks with Anderson about her book club and her passion to educate children. And, we're taking your questions on health care reform. Text your questions to AC360 or 22360.
Want to know what else we're covering? Read EVENING BUZZ
Scroll down to join the live chat during the program. It's your chance to share your thoughts on tonight's headlines. Keep in mind, you have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules.
Here are some of them:
1) Keep it short (we don't have time to read a "book")
2) Don't write in ALL CAPS (there's no need to yell)
3) Use your real name (first name only is fine)
4) No links
5) Watch your language (keep it G-rated; PG at worst - and that includes $#&*)
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
@ David, Indiana – Yes, a red card in soccer means you're out of the game
I think Oprah is a celebrity who really makes a difference in this world we live in. She makes it a better place to live.
I looking to reading the book as well as Push which
it the basis for the movie Precious. Say you are one
of them sounds amazing.
Hi Anderson, I really enjoy the webcast, that you shared with Oprah and the author of Say You Are One of Them, When you talked about your brother committing suicide. I can't understand it as well, that our young people in the United States have so much, compared to other countries, but yet, they are willing to take their own lives, this is a tragedy in our country.
@Isabel and Megan what's a red card? A soccer penalty?
@ Shannon, you must have been quite traumatized, especially at that age, with the DC sniper(s) running around.
I remember the tarps at the gas stations. Stil gives me chills to think about it.
Oprah is a very wise woman! She knows the value of education!
I wish I could go to school there. :o)
Hi all!
Anderson when will you be holding your own web book club, as I have suggested to you and Jack earlier this summer, where the members get to suggest and choose the books?
@David Gergen, when someone is yelling "Allah Akbar" as he shoots his fellow soldiers it's a pretty slam dunk case to me.
Oprah is just wonderful! She should come to my homeland of Nigeria to create schools for young girls too 🙂
That is a great opportunity for thos girls.
Hello David Gergen!
I agree with you, too! I know it is so indeed sad for soldiers death..... I felt their pain so well. Thanks for your comment.
Will John have front seat at the execution! This is almost like hang them high!
i went to the same high school as the trigger man MALVO . i graduated a few years before him, but knew people who knew him. it was all so shocking.
I was a sophomore in high school at the time, and when that poor kid got shot all the teachers freaked out. Suddenly all the sports practices were in the gym and we weren't allowed outside for almost any reason. I live less than a mile from my high school, but my parents refused to let me walk.
It was a pretty terrifying time. I'd been to a lot of the places where shootings took place. I remember some gas stations even hung up tarps to try and block the sight-lines to their customers.
The U.S. needs term limits point blank. If we had that elected officials would do their jobs and represent their constituents instead of lining their pockets with special interest money. If you knew you only had to terms to serve in congress you would get up every morning trying to make a difference in order to leave a legacy. Works for presidents
Jerry,
Agreed!!! LOL 🙂
I remember the DC Sniper, I was still in high school back then. My crazy mom still made me walk outside and wait for the bus. It was kinda scary, you just didn't know when and where the next shooting was coming.
Why does CNN always try to humanize these murderers? John Alleln Muhammed deserves the death penalty. They should put him in front of a firing squad so that he can get a taste of his own medicine.
I have no sympathy for him.
That certainly gave the DC sniper power didn't it? He must have felt very powerrful at that time.
So scary. I lived less than 2 miles from that gas station in Fredericksburg at the time of the shootings. Our neighborhood was put on lock-down. My Dad always filled up at that station before going to work. He didn't like going there after the shooting.
Hello everyone - thanks for tuning in tonight. The story of Major Hasan is mystifying. Am so glad that so many people are not jumping to conclusions, waiting till we learn more facts. Let's hope that investigators can pry some from him. In the meantime, tomorrow promises to be a day of remembrance for those who have fallen - and Wednesday a day when we can all remember that despite this shooting, the U.S. Army is one of the finest organizations in the country.
I agree with attorney, He will be sentence death for now, I hope he never his family anymore. My heart goes to victim's families lost love ones! Thanks Joe Johns.
Hello. Watching the Timeline of Terror for the DC sniper gives me cold chills. October 2002 was a terrifying time.
This was a really frightening time in DC, Virginia
and Maryland. Everyone was afraid to go to gas
stations.
@Jerry – ha 🙂
The law currently is that no federal funds may be used for abortions. Where Stupak goes to far is in saying that people can not use Private money to by insurance in the exchange and have abortion as part of the coverage. Gov't will not tell me how to spend my money , but I do agree that federal funds should not be used for abortions .
That was sad case!
Joe Jackson, contesting Michael's will. How dare he! Since it was his abuse that caused Michael's demise. He never even showed any emotions or sympathy after his son's death. I hope He gets nothing.
I can't believe that was 2002 - feels like it was just last year.
Hey, wait a minute. You are reporting 25% of residents in New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida are uninsured and yet the Republican senators will not vote for health care reform, hurting their constituents.
I really think if you want to keep them honest, you need to be so your selves. Tell us what percent of citizens who are real constituents are uninsured. I suspect you are including a large number of illegal immigrants as uninsured residents, and if so this is very misleading reporting on your part. Just keeping you honest.
Just wondering why Candy Crowley and others in the media keep calling this a "health care" reform bill? All I am seeing is the Democrats demonizing yet another industry - the health insurance industry. All this legislation is proposing is regulating health insurance and providing it to more people. there is nothing in the bill that will actually reform "health care". If this bill passes, will the amount of money my doctor charges for an office visit decrease? Will a night in the hospital be cheaper? I don't think so. What Democrats are talking about is insurance, not health care. ALL people currently have health care, what they might not have is health insurance. those are 2 different issues. Please use the proper descriptions when discussing them. this is not health care reform.
I can't believe that the greatest nation on the planet can not figure out to take care of its citizens. Rushing a flawed bill through the house and senate is a huge mistake that we will be paying for for years to come. Why can't we use some of the money we put into social security everymonth to subsidize healthcare for working people and continue to assist those who are disabled through medical and medicare. All those that are on welfare or public assistance can and should work for their benefits by delivering meals to seniors and shut ins. Everyone has something to offer and some way to help earn their medical benefits. Lets git er dun!!!
In giving the statistics on Texas and how many residents have no medical insurance, you gave the percentage as 25% for Texas. What is clearly not being said is that much of Texas is rapidly becoming Northern Mexico, and illegal immigrants account for the majority of that 25%. They are not entitled to medical insurance, but they do get free medical care – at the expense of every other citizen here. They are largely responsible for putting our health care systems in Texas at risk for bankruptcy. This is the real story.
The states with the highest uninsured were border states. How many of the uninsured were illegal immigrants? In order to be accurate you have to make a distiction.
Whoa...i just searched this blog for "erica" and now realize the "erica" is part of "AmERICA"....you are really patriotic Erica 🙂
Isabel Siaba (Brazil)
I agree with you!!! LOL! She have deserved red card!!! I am so glad she is suspend right now! YES!
Because of the lack of insurance many people are forced to use ERs as primary care. This causes ERs to become overcrowed and not able to take care of the "Emergencies".
@Bryan – That's a good question. I just asked Randi, she said uninsured illegal immingrants amount to a small fraction of those numbers and barely register in the data. If they were removed, the number of uninsured would be about the same.
So, the short answer is: not many.
you just said 1/4 of Texans don't have health insurance. Thats wrong. 1/4 of Texans don't pay for health insurance, they just go to the emergency wards and get free health coverage from the tax payers
Hi Anderson,
Why did your TX health care story not point out that most of the "25%" of Texans not insured are illegal aliens, and will not be covered by the currrent House Affordable Health Care Bill? You made it look like they will be covered by the bill and they will not be.
The health care bill will die in the senate.
Oprah/CNN Webcast just ended.
Anderson, you missed a great interview – Oprah Skyped in a young man from Quebec who lost his entire family in one night during the Rawanda genocide. He told his amazing story of how he was the only one in his family to survive by jumping behind a sofa.
Incredible story.
A couple of questions:
- what percentage of uninsured are also registered voters? I'd bet you an ice cream cone that a majority of uninsured don't vote, so they have like zero political power
- in states with high uninsured, how much do they pay in public costs to serve those people in emergency rooms? Can we quantify that?
Good discussion with David and Candy. Some very valid points there.
I would like to see either a 2 year trigger , like Olympia Snow suggested, or a robust Public Option, no a "watered down" version.
This looks like it's going to be a major struggle in the Senate!
I hope it gets done Before 2010 elections.
The Panel discussion-excellent, as always.
Anderson congrats on identifying some of the senators who are objecting to the public option and have health care problems in their states (where a lot of their constituents have no health care).
I say identify all (i.e. ALL) the senators by name who are doing this. Pleeease! And ensure you keep on top of this in your future programs.
You are the only person so far that I seen doing this on national TV.
Keep up the good work you "studly commen sense thinker".
I am a pediatrician in Texas. The reason our uninsured rate is as high as 25% is because of the high number of illegal immigrants. You failed to mention this fact in the story. It is way more complicated than meets the eye to cover these nontaxpaying immigrants.
I am appalled by the amendment prohibiting federal funding towards abortion. The Democratic party CAVED and sacrificed the legal reproductive rights of Women. The Democrats pride themselves as being for Women's rights, but when it counts, women are pushed to the side. So much for equal protection under the law. What a disgrace!