there was an article today i think on "reuters" mentioning that our nation, we continue the current course, will lose our triple-a bond rate, the earliest date i've ever seen that is 2010, that's 2009 now, that means next year. how we deal with that is really a tough but important issue. some highlights from the department of commerce, the bill includes $13.85 billion, including an increase of $4 billion to conduct the census. the chairman included funding for trade which i appreciate. and dual-use export control to respond to cyberthreats. the bill includes $27.5 billion above the requests and the f.b.i.'s operating level is funded at the president's request, which is necessary in order to continue current staffing operation levels which also fund the urgent increase in counterterrorism programs. too often we fail to recognize the critical and dangerous work the f.b.i. is doing at home and abroad in order to detect and prevent terrorist attacks. this incredibly important work and the -- the bill strongly supports those efforts while also providing necessary funding for the f.b.i. to fulfi

general mcchrystal, there has been progress caring for reuters that have been diagnosed with mental health issues, but because of the stigma associated, many do not get assistance that is required. we must get the message to our war years that one of the most courageous acts is reaching out for help. if confirmed, what would you do to continue efforts to tear down the stigma that deters many from getting counseling? >> i think primarily it is to talk to leaders. we have had senior leaders that have sought help and i thought that was usually helpful. i would continue to talk to our leaders and tried to convince them that they don't have to pretend they don't need help but to break down the walls of the stigma. it begins with leadership at every level. >> thank you very much. senator wicker. >> i am on the horns of a dilemma. i understand you have not voted and neither have i.. i have a lot more confidence they will hold the vote open if you could get some assurance from the majority leader. my questions may be briefed there for. i certainly appreciate the hearing and it has been very, very

host: this is from reuters. the report that north korea threatened today to retaliate with extreme measures if the united nations pushed before last month's nuclear test with washington saying that it may put pyongyang back, terrorism list. the response would be to consider sanctions against us as a declaration of war and answer with extreme, hard-line measures -- that is according to a commentary on the north korean newspaper. secretary clinton was on this week with george stephanopoulos on sunday morning. she commented on the fate of the two journalists. they had not yet been convicted. >> i have been involved directly in working with our team as they have made a purchase and request for information through the channels we use with north korea. the swedish ambassador and pyongyang is taking care of our interests there and has visited both young women now three times. i have taken every action that we thought would produce the result we are looking for. we think the charges against these young women are absolut

international coverage, and because and get that online for free, and reach a new accommodation with reuters, you are going to see a modern version of the zoned editions replace what we are previously full blooded metro daily newspapers. that is the worst-case scenario. i would rather see local papers try for this model sooner rather than later. i don't know if that is going to happen. i think journalism has a value, a value that will eventually be store itself. you are going to eventually see somebody do start up's. state are going to pay for it with online subscription. in my whole time as a journalist, you lost money on subscriptions. he lost money. you accepted that and you got it on your display ads. that made. if somebody pays for a third of what cost the baltimore sun to get it to your doorstep now, even less than that actually, it is $22 a month to get the baltimore sun. for $8, for $9, you get it online, that is all profit. there are no trucks, no gas, no printing press. that is the revenue stream. you can generate $300,000 a month if you get a 10th of the baltimore sun's subscripti

this is our reuters report. tennessee, good morning on the independence line. caller: good morning, and thank you to all of the cable companies for providing c-span. it is the only form other than the internet where we can hear both sides. that editorial on "the washington post" is just another example that the entire subject is being pulled up a blind alley. the issue is that we are america and their several hundred detainees, some of whom have been there up to seven years, who have never had a hearing at all. some may be the meanest people in the world and some are totally innocent. they should have their day in some kind of court. they should have a just and fair hearing. host: thank you, jerry. the next call comes from the republican line in tampa. caller: good morning, when obama gave his first executive order and knew we were in trouble. the reporters asked him questions and he knew nothing about it and had to turn around to his lawyer and ask, how will guantanamo is closing work? and his lawyer said they were working on it. that should have been cut and

parisa hafezi it is the reuters bureau chief in iran. good morning. >> good morning. host: how long have the polls been open? what is the mood like in iran? guest: local time, it caught 15, the polls were open. it is an unprecedented event because in 1997 cut the president was elected. it was not like this, and people were killing in front of the station -- where -- people were queueing in front of the station. they say they want a moderate candidate to lead. the turnout is expected to be around 18%, 26 million iranians are eligible to but note -- are eligible to vote. when you go to poor areas like tehran or rural areas, you can see supporters of president ahmadinejad, but the rest of the country is going to vote for hussain masaaki. he has been campaigning with his wife. how was that a priority? >> in iran, women and beyond are very important for the outcome of the election. because he can say that he is the first politician who is accompanied by his wife during the election and she has been supporting him and giving speeches and encouraging people to vote for him.

benefits as president obama has to chicago and a speech to the american medical association, here is a reuters our records, obama to lobby on health care reform and a right to cost about 2.5 trillion in elite believes 46 million americans uninsured. and little access to medical care despite the cost the u.s. system consistently ranks worst and other developed countries on many key measures. michigan is next, republican caller. make sure you turn down your television or radio, i can hear your feedback. >> caller: yes, sir. i am from michigan and i also support the single payer system of a medical. i think it is the only system that will work and i know is the only that all work. there is no other system that is going to work. as far as i'm concerned that the insurance companies have been given plenty of chances and all the have done have put the screws to us barrett if we have a lot of small businesses and people will start small businesses and be able to afford the two support themselves. it is just unbelievable all the positive benefits from compared to all the negative feedback we are gettin

host: you have been reporting in your riding for reuters that the economy is a big factor in this. can you explain that a little bit? how is that influencing voters? guest: since bachmann and john was a elected in 2005, -- since ahmadinejad was elected in 2005, poor people have become poorer and the rich have become richer. inflation is very high now, at around 25%, and people are really suffering to leave their day to day life. what the candidates are promising is that they will open up more foreign investment, which iran needs to improve its energy sector. and that that is what they are planning on. the economy is one of the main factors in this election, and one of the reasons that people even from conservative groups are voting for mousavi is that he was capable of running this country when iran had a war with iraq in 1980, and he could manage the economy. people are saying that as much as they are doing right now. this is one of the positive points for mousavi because he was capable of running the country during the war. they are voting for him because they believe he can arra

washington, reuters, medical bills are involved in more than 60% of u.s. personal bankruptcies. an increase of 50% in just six years. now, we've had a certain kind of folks running this place over the last six years, right? the u.s. researchers reported on thursday, more than 70% of the bankrupt families had health insurance, but were still overwhelmed by their medical debts. the team at harvard law school, harvard medical school and ohio university reported in the "american journal of medicine," a very representable institution. using -- this is a quote from the study, using a conservative definition, 62.1% of all bankruptcies i2007 were medical. 92% of these medical debtors had medical debts over $5,000 or 10% of their pretax family income, the researchers wrote. another startling quote, most medical debtors were well-educated, owned homes, and had middle class occupations. now that's pretty serious. i just want to ask, one of the three of you, do any of you have reactions to this study? i yield to the gentlewoman from california, ms. woolsey. ms. woolsey: you're actually tell

. >> [inaudible] >> stuart, reuters. a general question for the panel. the president of iran is sometimes portrayed as somewhat of a us nut case with holocaust denial, with direct threatening of israel, and with general comments that seem off the charts. do we think he's really that, or do we think he's a good poker player with some very good bluffs going on? >> ken, do you want to -- >> well, you know, there's some people who are, you know, maybe treated for psychological problems can be brilliant in games in some ways too. i don't think it's an either/or situation. i do think, however, that he has attracted the wrath and lack of admiration of a significant portion of the disciples of ayatollah khomeini, and i think that's what this rift is about. those who were followers of khomeini and implemented khomeini's policies from the time he was in exile in france feel that ahmadinejad is just not worthy of that mantle, of that succession to the presidency and that he has seriously isolated iran to the point where it is hurting economically and vulnerable to

and return to a combination of this as yet press and reuters, you are going to see this sort of a modern version of the zone in addition, replaced were previously substantive full blooded metro dailies. that is the worst-case scenario. i would rather see locally owned newspaper survive in a rather see them try for this model sooner rather than later but i don't know that it is going to happen. you know, i do think though that journalism has a value, that eventually the value will restore itself and if newspapers can't make the transition year of wrestling going to see somebody do start-ups -- ca baltimore.org in higher 10 or 15 reporters and 20 or 30 reporters and then pay for it with online subscription. because here is the thing we also mess. in my time as a journalist you lost money on subscriptions, the gas, the trucks, the printing presses, the wood pulp. you lost money there. and you're accepted that anybody on your display ads. that made it harder for us to see the future. the truth is that if somebody pays for a third of what caused the baltimore sun to get to your doorstep now,