THE WASHINGTON REVIEW & COMMENTARY: Weekly News From The White House

For those of us who like to think that President Obama is trying to ‘indoctrinate’ America’s school-aged children to join some type of evil cult, I know that the posting of the Presidential message to be delivered tomorrow will not phase you. Probably because some of you can not read.

Those who are truly interested in the facts and particulars of the Back To School speech, the White House has released the remarks as to be delivered. The White House did not make special concessions regarding the release of the Presidential speech to the public because the press usually receives a copy of any to be delivered speech by the President twenty- four hours in advance. Well, I receive them in that fashion.

As with health care reform in this country, the public education system, too, is failing. Less than 40% of the senior classes in urban America actually walk across the stage in June. More and more African American boys are dropping out of high school during the 9th grade. African American girls are becoming mothers and potential high school drop-outs at an alarming rate. With the economy  in the state that it is in, more and more it is becoming apparent that a high school diploma is not enough to make a living. But without the motivation from home and school, African American youth are falling quickly through the cracks to a life of severe poverty, which also tasks the economy and the health care system. A vicious cycle that continues from one generation to the next.

To have a President of The United States that has a clue as to what is going on in urban America and basically what is happening in the American public school system period, it is high time that close-minded individuals take heed and follow suit. The last discussion America had about education was concerning the failed “No Child Left Behind” program that basically and uncategorically left African American children living in cities like Detroit, Chicago, and New Orleans not only behind, but out of the race for quality eduacation completely.

But as usual, like the health care reform discussion, it has been concluded by some that a quality education is not a right, but a privilege for those who can afford it. President Obama’s speech to America’s youth is below:

WEEKLY ADDRESS: President Obama Announces New Initiatives for Retirement Savings

WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama will announce new steps to make it easier for American families to save for retirement. These new initiatives will complement the president’s major legislative proposals to boost participation in IRAs and match retirement savings.

The new initiatives will:

·         Expand opportunities for automatic enrollment in 401(k) and other retirement savings plans,

·         Make it easier for more than 100 million families to save a portion or all of their tax refunds,

·         Enable workers to convert their unused vacation or other similar leave into additional retirement savings, and

·         Help workers and their employers better understand the available options for tax-favored retirement saving through clear, easy-to-understand language.

Together, these steps will expand the range of choices for workers who want to save and will make saving easier for millions of Americans.

Attached is a fact sheet that outlines the new initiatives for retirement savings.  The fact sheet will be live on the website at 6AM tomorrow morning.

The full audio of the address is HERE. The video can be viewed online at www.whitehouse.gov.

Remarks of President Barack Obama

Weekly Address

Saturday, September 5, 2009

As we spend time with family and friends this Labor Day weekend, many of us will also be thinking about the state of working America. Yesterday, we received a report showing that job losses have slowed dramatically compared to just a few months ago. Earlier in the week, we learned that the manufacturing sector has posted its first gains in eighteen months, and that many of the banks that borrowed money at the height of the financial crisis are now returning it to taxpayers with interest.

These are only the most recent signs that the economy is turning around, though these signs are little comfort to those who’ve experienced the pain of losing a job in the previous month, or in the previous two years of this recession. That’s why it is so important that we remain focused on speeding our economic recovery. Throughout America today, tens of thousands of recovery projects are underway, repairing our nation’s roads, bridges, ports and waterways; renovating schools; and developing renewable energy. We’re putting Americans back to work doing to the work America needs done – and mostly in private sector jobs.

But even as we take aggressive steps to put people back to work, it is also important that we keep faith with men and women looking back on a lifetime of labor; hard-working Americans who deserve to know that their efforts have resulted in a secure future, including a secure retirement. For this recession has not only led to the loss of jobs, but also the loss of savings. The drop in home values, for example, has also meant a drop in the value of the largest single investment most families have. And the decline in the financial markets has led to a decline in the value of 401(k)s and other sources of savings and retirement security. As a result, over the past two years, the American people have lost about $2 trillion in retirement savings.

This carries a painful toll. I’ve heard from so many who’ve had to put off retirement, or come out of retirement, to make ends meet. I’ve heard from seniors who worked hard their whole lives but now, in their golden years, are unsure of where to turn to pay the bills, afford the prescriptions, or keep the home in which they raised a family. And having too little in savings not only leaves people financially ill-prepared for retirement, but also for whatever challenges life brings. It places in jeopardy so many dreams, from owning a home to attending college.

The fact is, even before this recession hit, the savings rate was essentially zero, while borrowing had risen and credit card debt had increased. Many were simply struggling to stay afloat as incomes were stagnant – or falling – and jobs were scarce; that’s important to remember. But there were also those who spent beyond their means. And more broadly, tens of millions of families have been, for a variety of reasons, unable to put away enough money for a secure retirement. Half of America’s workforce doesn’t have access to a retirement plan at work. And fewer than 10 percent of those without workplace retirement plans have one of their own.

We cannot continue on this course. And we certainly cannot go back to an economy based on inflated profits and maxed-out credit cards; the cycles of speculative booms and painful busts; a system that put the interests of the short-term ahead of the needs of long-term. We have to revive this economy and rebuild it stronger than before. And making sure that folks have the opportunity and incentive to save – for a home or college, for retirement or a rainy day – is essential to that effort. If you work hard and meet your responsibilities, this country is going to honor our collective responsibility to you: to ensure that you can save and secure your retirement. That is why we are announcing several common-sense changes that will help families put away money for the future.

First, we’re going to make it easier for small businesses to do what large businesses do: allow workers to automatically enroll in a 401(k) or an individual retirement account. We know that automatic enrollment has made a big difference in participation rates by making it simpler for workers to save – and that’s why we’re going to expand it to more people.

Second, we’ll make it easier for people to save their federal tax refunds, which 100 million families receive. Today, if you have a retirement account, you can have your refund deposited directly into your account. With this change, we’ll make it easier for those without retirement plans to save their refunds as well. You’ll be able to check a box on your tax return to receive your refund as a savings bond.

Third, we’ll make it possible for employees to put payments for unused vacation and sick days into their retirement plan if they wish. Right now, most workers don’t have that option.

And fourth, the IRS and the Treasury Department are creating a plain-English, easy-to-follow guide, as well as a website, to help folks navigate what are often very complicated waters, especially for workers changing jobs who often are unsure how best to continue saving for retirement. Because the rules ought to be written to encourage people to save – instead of discouraging them.

We’ll also build on these steps by working with Congress. As part of my budget, I’ve proposed ensuring that nearly every American has access to a retirement savings account through his or her job. This plan would make it possible for workers to automatically enroll in IRAs through payroll contributions. And the budget simplifies and expands a tax credit for millions of families, matching half of a family’s savings up to $1,000 per year and depositing the tax credit directly into a retirement account.

This is a difficult time for our country. But I am confident that we can meet the challenges we face and leave behind something better; that we are ready to take responsibility for our future once again – as individuals and as a nation. I hope that all of you have the chance to enjoy this Labor Day weekend with family and friends. But my larger hope and expectation is that next Labor Day, the economic storms we’re weathering now will have given way to brighter and more prosperous times.

Thank you.

There is a lot of unnecessary hoopla on the part of the GOP in Michigan and Florida concerning President Barack Obama’s speech to the nation’s school aged children September 8, 2009. It is, however, very disturbing how a so-called reputable group of individuals can read something and completely create a fictional review of it.

Well folks, The Kaleidoscope Factor has evaluated the documents in question and have not found any evidence whatsoever that the President is trying to brainwash America’s children by “indoctrinating” them to join him in some evil plot to take over the world by hosting ‘death panels’ to turn senior citizens into Soylent Green.

We have included a link for you to investigate the educational materials that the the Department of Education and the Obama administration jointly collaborated in formulatting to aid children to thoroughly comprehend what the President will say to them next week.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/10582301/President-Obama%E2%80%99s-Address-to-Students-Across-America-September-8-2009

The educational materials are pretty precise in pin-pointing and targeting school aged children’s comprehension capabilities. If teachers follow-up and engage their students after President Obama’s speech by using these materials, perhaps a spark can be ignited in a child’s heart to want to learn.

The root of this situation with GOP naysayers and those who want to hate on President Obama is a simple one: there’s a lot of people that still refuse to believe that there is an educated African American man in the White House and these in turn refuse to accept or acknowledge his leadership. Being that he is from my generation, I get what it is he is trying to do.

Do you remember “The School House Rock” series that used to come on Saturday mornings back in the seventies? How about the “After School Specials?” Did you know that there were educational materials from these that were used in the classrooms of 1970′s children? I recall a movie about teen suicide that starred a young Charlie Sheen in his very first acting role. It was pretty controversial. There were educational materials provided in the classroom that teachers discussed with their classes before the program aired and the next day in school.

A lot of parents and so-called interested parties were totally against the subject matter and the classroom discussion. But did they understand the enormous impact the movie had on it’s teen viewers? My classmates opened up about deep feelings of depression and despair they felt. The pressure to succeed and get into college. The pressure of being liked in school. So many different issues. The movie spoke to them.  Some had had the painful experience of losing a friend or relative to teen suicide. I will never forget that movie or the materials for it.

In fact, I still have it in my scrapbook.

As my homies Public Enemy told us back in the day, if you hear something that doesn’t exactly sound right, “don’t believe the hype!” Investigate it for yourself first! Don’t allow a few bullies with hidden agendas and padded bank accounts pull you into a discussion that doesn’t exist. It is a waste of time and mainly cooked up to further thwart the real conversation about universal health care for the milions in this country who have very little or no health insurance at all.

To pull children out of school over something that could stimulate their intellectual growth is preposterous!

And by the way, did you know that Soylent Green is made out of people? LOL!

Love that movie!

Tonight, the family and friends of Michael Joseph Jackson will gather to celebrate the life of one of their beloved at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The service looks very classy and eloquent. Low key. But unique. Katherine Jackson no doubt orchestrated this solemn evening. As I watch, intently envious, yet intrigued, I think about the two memorial tributes that were held in his honor. The BET Awards, which tried to pay homage to King of Pop, fell short because of the ghetto mentality and lack of serious talent to represent the calibar of Michael Jackson’s stature. Grieving as I was, I was highly disappointed by the spectacle that was intended to honor one of own. I don’t know if Michael would have approved, but I am sure that his heart may have been touched by the outpouring of love and sincerity. I guess that is all that counts.

The public memorial service held at the Staple Center was large in scope. The memorial was broadcast all over the world and Michael’s fans united with his family to celebrate the loss of a life gone too soon. But even in my own grieve, somehow, I couldn’t feel the release that I needed. I yearned to say good-bye. But not like this. My heart was ripped open the day Michael died. I wasn’t necessarily sure that I could even say goodbye amid the words of Berry Gordy, the man that put Michael and his brothers on the map, Queen Latifa, and Brooke Shields. I noticed that the people that really loved Michael, truly, weren’t all present. The Jackson family, yes. His closest friends in the world? No.

I am shocked, but not entirely as the video feed is interrupted. The service has begun. I am kinda pleased that I don’t have to listen any longer to those ridiculous commentators on CNN, who claim to be pop or Michael Jackson historians. What do they know? Really? What do they really know?

Elizabeth Taylor is seated. I see a lot of faces that the media doesn’t know by name, but I know to be Michael’s friends, business associates, and family. I see Rebe’s husband whom is mistaken by the ‘experts’ to be Qunicy Jones.  I see Michael’s uncle and aunt. The Jackson resemblence is a strong one. I am hurt, at first, as I realize that I won’t be allowed to participate in the celebration of Michael’s life with those that loved him and knew him best because even though I loved him with every fiber of my soul, I can not truly say that I knew him. I am not foolish enough to say casually that I came to know him through his music. That is simply ridiculous. Yes. There is a huge part of Michael in his music. But what was his favorite breakfast food? Did he even eat breakfast? Did Michael like lasagna? How did he like his steak? What did he think about the philosophy of Malcolm X? What were his true feelings about the horrible backlash he received when “Thriller” was released from Jehovah’s Witnesses? Did he have any regrets, though, when ”Thriller” propelled him beyond superstardom? Was he a SpongeBob fan? Or a Patrick fan?

See. I didn’t know Michael Jackson intimately like all those who have gathered there tonight to say a final good-bye.

But I do know that Michael Jackson saved my life. August 3, 1981, at the age of thirteen, I attempted suicide. One day, I swallowed about a hundred pills from a prescription that was used to control my asthma. I wanted to die. I was thirteen and I felt that my life was in the toilet. Don’t ask me at forty-one what I was thinking because at this time in my life, I couldn’t really give you a satisfying answer. I was, and always will be, a huge Jacksons/Michael Jackson fan. I won’t bore you with that ‘number one fan’ crap because you could rightly reason, “Who isn’t?” I do know now, without getting too personal with my business, what the root of my problem was. But as a young person growing up in Detroit during the hardcoare Reagan years, my neighborhood, my community, my entire world was hard knock. On this particular day, I just felt as if there was no hope of my life getting any better. Of course,  if I could forsee my life thirty years into the future at the age of thirteen, I would have put a smile on my face and some pep in my step instead of having to endure the horror of having my stomach pumped.

My mother found me layed out on my bed unconscious and I was rushed to the hospital. I don’t know what the prognosis was, but I do recall my dear cousin Venus crying her eyes out over my bed along with my favorite aunt. It was a rough time. No one understood really why I would do such a thing. How could they when I didn’t? I stayed in the hospital for about two weeks undergoing psychiatric counseling. I longed to go home. Not because I missed my family. I missed my Jacksons/Michael Jackson albums.

When I was finally released, in my room on my bed, was the newly released “Triumph” album. I was hesitant about touching it, but I traced the cover and Michael’s face gingeredly. I tore the plastic off the cover and held the treasured vinyl in my hands. I gently placed the needle onto the record and all of a sudden these large sounds of horns and booming voices tumbled out from the first track, “Can You Feel It?” For the next three hours, I listened to that album over and over again. Then the next day, I played it for another three to four hours non stop. I felt the energy seep back into me and for the first time in months I felt alive! Then I pulled out all of my Jackson Five albums, my Jermaine Jackson albums, but ultimately my Michael Jackson solo lps. I rediscovered “One Day In Your Life”, “With A Child’s Heart,” “Show You The Way To Go,” and most importantly, “We’re Almost There.” That cut I played religiously. Whn I’m down, I still play it along with “Lookin Through The Windows” and “Maybe Tomorrow.” Some of Michael’s finest moments.

Then it was everywhere! The Jacksons were coming to town! The Jacksons were coming to Detroit! My excitement at the fact that Michael and his brothers would be in the same very space that I occupied was beyond sensational! Beyond thrilling! But the excitement was short-lived because I knew that I wouldn’t be there to see him. My dad had been laid off yet again and my mother was holding down the family with a job serving popcorn, subs and cherry Coke slushes at K Mart. The tickets were twenty-five dollars a pop. I cried and begged anyway for a chance to see the man that was keeping me alive and full of hope. I had to see him! I just had to! But I soon realized that wasn’t to be. I tore my mind from the fever catching Detroiters up in a tornado and focused on entering high school and my Michael Jackson albums.

One day, my father called me into the living room. He held out two rectangular sheets of shiny paper in front of me. I saw wording on it but I couldn’t quite comprehend what was going on. My father somehow came up with the money to buy the tickets!

End of Part 1

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts:

• Barbara J. Bennett, Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency
• Michael Punke, Deputy Trade Representative – Geneva, Office of the United States Trade Representative

President Obama also announced that Thomas Paul D’Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear Security of the National Nuclear Security Administration, will continue serving in his current role.

President Obama said, “The dedication and talent of these individuals will be tremendously valuable to my administration as we work to tackle our challenges at home and abroad, and I look forward to working with them in the coming months and years.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals today:

Barbara J. Bennett, Nominee for Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection Agency

Barbara J. Bennett is a global business executive with over 25 years of experience.  She is the former Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Discovery Communications.  From 1990 to 2007, Bennett was a key member of the team that built the parent company of the Discovery Channel into one of the world’s most extensive media enterprises, with more than 100 channels telecast in 170 countries, in over 30 languages to over one billion subscribers. As CFO, she was responsible for the worldwide financial functions and strategies of the company including accounting, treasury, budgeting, reporting, audit, tax activities, and evaluation of new growth opportunities, and leading a multi-cultural, multi-lingual team located in the five leading international hub offices in addition to corporate headquarters. Since 2007, Bennett has been an independent consultant working with companies and non-profit organizations with interests in media, hospitality, tourism, and professional sports.  She serves on the board of National Rehabilitation Hospital and chairs the investment committee of Presbyterian Homes & Family Services.  She earned her bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University and completed executive programs at Harvard Business School and Yale University.

Michael Punke, Nominee for Deputy Trade Representative – Geneva, Office of the United States Trade Representative

Michael Punke has worked in the field of international trade law and policy for two decades.  From 1995 to 1996, Punke served as Senior Policy Advisor at the Office of the United States Trade Representative.  There, he advised the USTR on issues ranging from agricultural trade to intellectual property protection.  From 1993 to 1995, Punke served at the White House as Director for International Economic Affairs with a joint appointment to the National Security Council and the National Economic Council.  His responsibilities included assisting in the management of the interagency process.  From 1991 to 1992, Punke was International Trade Counsel to Senator Max Baucus, then Chairman of the Finance Committee’s International Trade Subcommittee.  Punke has also worked on international trade issues from the private sector, including as a partner at the Washington, D.C., office of Mayer, Brown, Rowe, & Maw.  During the past six years, Punke has advised clients on trade issues through Michael Punke Consulting out of Missoula, Montana.  He also has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana and as a writer, authoring a novel, two books of nonfiction, and two screenplays.  Punke is a graduate of George Washington University and Cornell Law School, where he was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell International Law Journal. 

President Obama also made the following announcement today:

Thomas Paul D’Agostino, Under Secretary for Nuclear Security of the Department of Energy and Administrator for Nuclear Security of the National Nuclear Security Administration

Thomas Paul D’Agostino was sworn-in on August 30, 2007 as the Undersecretary for Nuclear Security at the U.S. Department of Energy and the Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).   The NNSA’s responsibilities include designing, producing, and maintaining safe, secure and reliable nuclear weapons for the U.S. military, providing safe, militarily effective naval nuclear propulsion plants, responding to nuclear and radiological emergencies in the U.S. and abroad and promoting international nuclear safety and nonproliferation.  Prior to serving as Administrator, Mr. D’Agostino served as the Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs at NNSA and directed the Stockpile Stewardship Program, which is responsible for maintaining the safety, security, and reliability of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.  He was also previously the Deputy Director for the Nuclear Weapons Research, Development, and Simulation Program where he directed the formulation of the programs and budget for the research and development program that supports the Stockpile Stewardship Program. He spent over eight years on active duty in the Navy as a submarine officer to include assignments onboard the USS SKIPJACK (SSN 585) and with the Board of Inspection and Survey where he was the Main Propulsion and Nuclear Reactor Inspector.  D’Agostino earned his undergraduate degree from the United States Naval Academy, his masters in Business Finance from Johns Hopkins University and his masters in National Security Studies from the Naval War College as a distinguished graduate.

UPDATE: The Kaleidoscope Factor is posting the entire Chris Brown inteview. It is important to us that you, the informed and empowered reader, make your own call. Chris Brown has accused bloggers of blowing the assault he committed against Rihanna out of proportion, which in his opinion, duly influenced the judge in this particular case. Those are his own words, not ours.

Chris Brown said that the ‘immature’ media is the source of his issues, but then turned around and said that it was his being ‘young’ and ‘immature’ that caused his actions. We at The Kaleidoscope Factor opt to believe otherwise.

Not only will this transcript vindicate us here at The Kaleidoscpe Factor in our accurate reporting of the Chris Brown/Rihanna story, it will also shed light on a few other disturbing facts:

1. Chris Brown admits, then stumbles and denies the other two assault incidents that happened between he and Rihanna. It’s in the transcript, folks. Chris Brown is lying.

2. Chris Brown claims he doesn’t remember the assault and was shocked when he saw the police report.

3. Chris Brown and his mother, Joyce Hawkins, claim that when they first saw the leaked pictures of Rihanna’s battered face, they thought the pic was altered.

4. Chris Brown apologizes, yet he isn’t in a domestic violence offenders program nor is he under the care of a professional counselor or psychologist. Yet Brown claims that he wants counseling. Hmm…

Good evening. With us tonight on LARRY KING LIVE are Chris Brown; his mother, Joyce Hawkins; and his attorney, Mark Geragos.

Chris entered a guilty plea on June 22nd — a deal that allowed him to avoid jail time. He pled guilty to felony assault after a widely publicized incident with his girlfriend, Rihanna. A second felony charge, making criminal threats, was dropped. And Chris was sentenced to five years probation and six months of community labor.

We thank you all for coming.

How are you doing?

BROWN: I’m good.

Thank you.

KING: This had to be the worst period of your life.

BROWN: Possibly, yes.

KING: Possibly?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Are things calm for you now?

Are you into it?

BROWN: I think it’s more a relief now that everything is kind of all said and done as far as like what I have to do and what’s going on. I think it’s no more — no more media frenzy for them to kind of blow out of proportion anymore.

KING: So you’re glad it’s over?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: What did you plead — explain, quickly, Mark, what he pled guilty to.

MARK GERAGOS, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Assault, basically, was what it is — a felony assault charge; sentenced to five years of probation; as you said, 180 days of what Judge Schnegg calls community labor. And he has to undergo a domestic violence program for one year. KING: And five years means you’ve got to be like perfect…

GERAGOS: It means he walks the straight and narrow for five years. And as Judge Schnegg said in court yesterday, she’s — she’s a tough task master, but she’s fair.

KING: We’re taping this a week before it airs, so it’s airing on this night, but that was yesterday, meaning last Tuesday.

GERAGOS: That was.

KING: And before we get into the meat of everything, Chris, how have you handled all this, Joyce?

JOYCE HAWKINS, CHRIS BROWN’S MOTHER: It’s probably the most painful time of my entire life. It’s been hard, really hard, seeing him going through the pain and everything that he’s gone through, dealing with the media and dealing with the situation. It’s been really hard.

KING: Especially with all the pain you’ve had in your life.

HAWKINS: Yes, along with that.

KING: Which we’ll get to later.

But the labor-oriented service, what — what does it mean you have to do, Chris?

This is back in Virginia, right?

BROWN: Yes, back in Virginia.

KING: What do you have to do?

BROWN: I think they want me to do anything — anything from picking up trash on the side of the street, washing cars, graffiti removal, I mean any — anything. But it’s the law, so I’m willing to do whatever they want me to do.

KING: Is it fair?

BROWN: To me, possibly everything comes — everything comes with consequences. So I feel like definitely it is. And I have no misjudgment on what the judge has — has — has given me. So I’m willing to do anything they ask.

KING: So you feel it’s — it’s fair?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Yes. The judge was very specific. She wanted labor involved in the punishment.

BROWN: Yes.

KING: What did that mean to you when she said that, hard work?

BROWN: Hard work, yes, definitely. And I’m a very hard worker, so that — that’s kind of — I wouldn’t say second nature, but it’s definitely something that I’m willing to — to do.

As far as the actual what I have to do, I felt personally that, as far as not saying as — as a celebrity, because I don’t exclude myself and try to become like, oh, I’m a celebrity so I shouldn’t be punished. But I feel like with — with what I’m capable of doing as far as influencing people, influencing kids, the youth, I can do a lot more to help the community other than picking up trash. But I don’t — I’m not saying picking up trash is something wrong. I’m willing to do it. But I’m just saying, I know I can do a lot more, which I intend to do, aside from our community service.

KING: The sentencing judge, as I understand it, has not lifted a protective order the court imposed on you in connection with Rihanna. That means you can’t be with her?

BROWN: No, I can’t. I can’t communicate. Nothing.

KING: Do you think that’s fair?

BROWN: It’s kind of hard, definitely, because being — her being my friend for so long and us being — being that close of a friend, it’s kind of like, wow, like, not being able to see or talk to that person is kind of — kind of difficult. And — but it’s — it’s also hard because we’re both in the same industry. We do — we go to the same events. We…

KING: That you can do, right?

BROWN: Yes, I can go to the same event. We haven’t (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: But you cannot go together?

BROWN: Not — not at all. We have to be like 10 yards away from each other, but I just feel like it’s harder, because we’re always in the same vicinity, and it leaves more — because we have the protection order, it leaves more room for error. It leaves more room for people to start rumors and start — start more stuff, like, oh, they’re together. They’re not supposed to be together. And — and it just kind of leaves more room for — for problems.

KING: You have to be real careful, right, Mark?

GERAGOS: Yes, more than careful. I mean there was an incident — a supposed incident in New York where the two of them — unbeknownst to each other because they don’t talk to each other — are rumored to be at the same hotel. So before — before we even verify it, I just tell him, move. So, you know, it’s almost — I’ve kiddingly joked, we almost have to put GPS chips into the two of them to figure out where the other one is at all times.

KING: How well do you know Rihanna, Joyce? HAWKINS: I’ve known Rihanna for four or five years. And…

KING: Do you like her?

HAWKINS: I like her, yes.

KING: When the incident happened, how did it hit you?

HAWKINS: Like I said, I was devastated. I was really upset about the situation and really felt really bad about this whole situation really…

KING: Were you shocked?

HAWKINS: Very shocked. Very shocked.

KING: We’ll get into all of it.

During the sentencing, the judge said she was not immune from the chatter on the airwaves about meetings between you and Rihanna.

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Now, obviously, it upset her, right?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Do you understand that part?

BROWN: Yes, I understand that totally. Of course, like, the media, like — I’m not saying this media — but the media, as far as like the — the — the immature media, you know…

KING: Immature media?

BROWN: The immature media. I feel like it’s high school sometimes, how people just pride theirself on personal business. But like I feel like they — they spun a lot of the stuff out of control, as far as with — with the judge, with a lot of things, because everybody reads the newspapers. Everybody reads the blogs. Everybody reads stuff like that. So it’s easily influenced when there’s something that’s already stated like it happened.

KING: But what happened happened.

BROWN: Yes.

KING: And you were involved in what happened…

BROWN: Yes.

KING: … So you have to accept the consequences.

BROWN: Definitely.

GERAGOS: You know, the difference in this case — and I’ve been through a number of cases where there was media attention — the difference in this case is the aftermath of the incident, where there was repeatedly just false stuff that would be printed. And major newspapers would put out things — they’re — they spent the weekend together here or they spent the weekend together there, which was just false. They weren’t even — at one point, they said the two of them had spent the night together in one location. She wasn’t even in the country.

KING: Simply put, when was the last time you had contact with her?

BROWN: It’s been a couple months, because I think that’s when the actual stay away order was in effect. So from there, we haven’t had contact at all.

KING: Do you love her?

BROWN: Definitely.

KING: In love with her?

BROWN: Definitely.

KING: Would you spend a lifetime with her?

BROWN: Would I spend a lifetime — well, I mean, I’m 20, so…

KING: No, well, let’s say — could you conceive of that down the road?

BROWN: I — yes.

KING: We’ll be right back with Chris Brown, Joyce Hawkins and Mark Geragos. Don’t go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brown has been accused in an attack against a woman identified by sources close to the couple as Rihanna. Authorities believe an argument between Brown and a woman turned physical, with the woman suffering visible injuries. Brown was arrested and released on $50,000 bail. Neither he nor his lawyer nor Rihanna have cemented.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We’re back with Chris Brown and his mother, Joyce, and his attorney, Mark.

OK, we’ll show it now and then get through it and then get to the whole story of what happened. Here’s the photo of Rihanna’s face after the February 8th altercation. It has been seen around the world many times.

When did you first see it?

BROWN: I first saw it, I think, like maybe a week after the — the incident. I think — I think TMZ or somebody posted it. But I first saw it, yes, that’s when.

KING: What did you think?

BROWN: I — I didn’t know what to think at the time. I was like what, like, because at — at the time, I just didn’t know what — honestly what to think. And I didn’t know if the pictures were altered. I didn’t know if they were real. I didn’t know what. So I was just like, man. I just felt so disappointed, like, in myself.

KING: But you accepted the fact that you caused it?

BROWN: I accepted the fact, yes.

KING: And when you look at it six months later, do you have a different reaction?

BROWN: When I look at it now, it’s just like, wow, like, I can’t — I can’t believe that — that actually happened. It’s — it just really like took a toll on me. Like, I was just like wow.

KING: How did you react, mom?

HAWKINS: When I saw it, I was really hurt. And I didn’t know if it was altered, either. So it was just — it really bothered me, really — because I — I mean, I really care about her and my son.

KING: And you had violence in your own life, right, which we’ll move to later, because that could have probably led to some of this?

Are you OK?

I mean you — you had it pretty rough, right, Chris, growing up?

BROWN: For the most part, like, my mom and — and my dad, like, my actual biological father, we — they took care of me good. But I mean, as far as like growing up in — in — growing up in domestic violence situations, as far as when my mom’s, like, ex-husband and stuff like that, like there used to be times I used to be scared to go to bed, because I’d be like, well, I don’t know.

KING: This was her husband or her boyfriend?

BROWN: This is her — her boyfriend and her husband at the time. So it was just like I don’t…

KING: So you saw a lot of violence?

BROWN: It depends. I didn’t — I didn’t like overhear it. I didn’t really see it all the time. Like I might — there might have been one or two occasions.

KING: How old were you? BROWN: I was like seven — seven and eight.

KING: Were you scared?

BROWN: Yes, very scared. Sometimes like I just didn’t want to even come to the house, because there was like that (INAUDIBLE).

KING: Do you feel — do you see any guilt at all, Joyce?

Like do you say to yourself, maybe I should have left?

HAWKINS: Yes. And I did leave eventually because of him.

KING: But that’s a common thing, isn’t it, Mark?

GERAGOS: Yes, they — they talk about the cycle of violence.

KING: When you grow up with it?

GERAGOS: I — you know, the — I’ve handled these cases or these types of cases for years. And you tend to see — it’s almost surprising. I mean, in some cases, I’ve represented three generations from…

(CROSSTALK)

GERAGOS: … Of people who have been charged with this crime. I mean…

KING: By the way, Joyce, I’m not a counselor, but it’s not your fault.

BROWN: No.

GERAGOS: You know, but — you know, this has been especially tough on — on Joyce. And I think…

KING: Of course.

GERAGOS: …one of the things that’s been really hard for — for Chris has been the toll that it’s taken on his mom and on Rihanna. I mean, it’s the two women that he loves most in — in his life and loved (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: Have you spoken to Rihanna, Joyce?

HAWKINS: Yes, I have.

KING: Are you OK with her, the two of you?

All right, let’s go back. You’re driving home from a pre-Grammy party with Rihanna, right?

You’re dating at the time?

BROWN: Yes. KING: You’re in love, she loves you?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: What happened?

BROWN: Well, Larry, I don’t feel like it’s appropriate for — for me to speak on what actually happened on that night, just out of respect for Rihanna and myself. And I — I respect our privacy more and I don’t want — I don’t want to just go into that. I don’t feel it’s (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: No, but can you tell us, from a point of view, what happened?

I mean what caused this?

BROWN: I don’t…

KING: You don’t have to be specific, but can you tell me what — I mean, had you — had you done this before?

BROWN: No, I’m sorry. I mean, I don’t — I don’t want to really talk about what went on, like or what — I feel like I owe it to her not to talk about that.

KING: Mark?

GERAGOS: Well, the — you know, I’ve — one of the things that’s interesting about Chris is, when I first met him, he wanted to take responsibility immediately. I mean, he did not want to deny this. And that’s not usual — not usual in my line of work. I mean, usually, you know, you can have a — you can have a client who — they’ve got a videotape of the guy running out of the house and with the weapon in his hands and, you know, he’s denying it the whole time.

Chris was completely different in that. I mean, he came in. He was forthright. He felt guilty. He felt a great deal of remorse. He wanted to reach out. He wanted to apologize. And, frankly, it was the fact that I told him, no, you can’t, let me work this through for you and we’ll deal with it. And there will come a time when you can talk about it.

And — and I’ll go back to what I said before. I mean, he felt absolutely awful and kept saying, “I want to talk to Rihanna. I want to apologize. I want to get help. I want to — I don’t want this to happen ever, ever again. And I want to make it up to my mom.”

I mean, you can see from Joyce’s reaction today it’s still — it’s still kind of an open sore.

KING: All right.

Was drinking involved?

BROWN: Well, I don’t want to discuss what was going on and what was done that night (INAUDIBLE).

KING: Well, you leave us in a weird position here. The affidavit says that you tried to force her — identified in the report as “Robyn F.” — you tried to force her out of the car. I mean, you must have some memories of the night. This could help people who might be in the same kind of position.

BROWN: Yes, but I — I feel like, as far as like for her privacy — and I respect her enough and — and respect her privacy, as well as mine, not to let people know and not to let people know what went on and what went down.

KING: Why do you think you were violent?

BROWN: I don’t — I don’t want to go into that. I’m sorry.

KING: I mean, why do you think — what do you think — without telling me what she said, you said — I understand. That’s your privacy, you don’t have to say it.

What do you think caused you to be violent?

I mean, you have to think about it. Everybody — we all think about ourselves — why did I lose my temper, why did I get angry over this?

BROWN: I mean, that’s — that’s — relationships. I wouldn’t say it’s OK. I think in — just in relationships in general, there’s — there’s chances where you lose your temper or like arguments get heated or whatever the case may be. But that’s — that’s — I just think it’s — I’m not saying domestic violence is a part of relationships.

I feel like that just there — there’s — we’re young. We’re both young. So nobody taught us how to love one another. Nobody taught us a book on how to — how to control our emotions or our anger. So it’s like — I just — I’m not — I’m not trying to fall on the fact that I’m young. I’m just saying it’s — it’s just that — it’s a lot of stuff that I wish I could have — I wish I could have changed that night.

GERAGOS: It’s one of the reasons, too, I think that the judge has ordered the counseling and one of the reasons that it’s a requirement that it be one year in California and in a lot of other states. It’s a complex issue. It’s something that — you know, there’s learned reactions. There’s — there is impulse control. There’s all kinds of things that go into it.

And one of the things that I think that the judge and the D.A. wanted was that you get into counseling, that you — you grapple with these issues and you learn it, and you go through it and try and figure it out for yourself.

I don’t think that — I mean, he’s done a lot of introspection, but I don’t think he’s — he or anybody else ever gets to a point where you say, OK, now I understand completely. I think you have to — you have to go through the process.

KING: Yes. Well, you may never understand it, right?

GERAGOS: You may never understand. I mean, there’s people who’ve been in therapy on issues like this for, you know, decades.

KING: We’ll ask about charges being pressed and the like after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We’re back with Chris Brown, his mother, Joyce Hawkins, his attorney, Mark Geragos.

All right. Some of the things — when you hear about all the things that the police and the reports say you did, how do you react to that?

BROWN: I — I don’t — like, I’ll just look at it and like, wow, like, I’m in shock. Because, first of all, that’s not who I am as a person and that’s not who I promise I want to be. And so I — I just — when I look at like the police reports or I hear about the police reports, I don’t know — I don’t know what — what to think. I just don’t know what to think. I’m just like, wow.

KING: Do you remember doing it?

BROWN: No.

KING: You don’t remember doing it?

BROWN: I don’t — I don’t — it’s like — it’s crazy to me. Like, I was just — I’m like wow.

KING: What did he say to you, Joyce, when this happened, the first time you spoke to your son?

HAWKINS: He came and he actually spoke to me about what happened. And I was totally shocked, totally upset about the whole situation, because I know that Chris has never, ever been a violent person, ever. I mean throughout the entire time, even through high school or anything, I’ve never been called or (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: Never?

HAWKINS: Never.

KING: Weren’t there some previous charges with Rihanna?

Did — weren’t there some altercations in the past?

HAWKINS: There were no charges ever.

BROWN: No. No charges, no.

KING: No. So when you look at this, are you — do you feel like you’re looking at someone else?

BROWN: Yes, from the outside looking in. When you see you’re on TV, when they’re saying this, when they’re saying that…

KING: Well, you punched her a number of times.

BROWN: Yes.

KING: You threatened to beat the blank out of her when you got home; also said you warned you were going to kill her. You bit her on the ear and thinking — now, you hear all that…

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Obviously — this is always the disparagement here — you have a lawyer here, you don’t appear like a violent person at all.

BROWN: No.

KING: In fact, you appear rather calm, rather nice.

So what happened to you, do you think?

BROWN: Well, Larry, I’d just say, I guess that night it was just one of the nights I wish I could just take back and — and I really regret and I feel totally ashamed of what I did.

KING: It never happened to you before?

BROWN: No.

KING: Was — how did Rihanna react to all of this?

BROWN: I — I don’t know. I mean…

KING: What did she say to you?

BROWN: I mean, well, we talked briefly after, but it — but, yes…

KING: The incident?

BROWN: Yes. But I don’t want to really go in — I don’t want to — like I said before, because of her personal and my personal, I don’t want to say what — the conversations we had on the phone. But — but we just basically tried to work it out.

KING: Did it matter whether she pressed charges or not?

GERAGOS: No. In California, it really doesn’t. There’s — there are exceptions. I mean, it’s not like they can — they can take her and put her in jail if she doesn’t press charges or anything like that. They’ve changed the law in that respect. However, there are plenty of cases where the D.A. Prosecutes — in this county, in L.A. County — and they don’t have anybody. I’ve — I’ve actually seen cases where they’ve tried the case without the complaining witness or the victim. So they don’t — they don’t need to.

And part of the problem, when you ask about Chris, you know, the specific incident and things like that, you know, the law was originally designed — and still is — that the complaining witness or the victim is not supposed to be identified and precisely so that there won’t be these questions — so they don’t have to kind of relive it. And…

KING: But that would have been impossible.

GERAGOS: In this case, you know, it would have been impossible, I suppose. But, you know, she’s kind of in an unfair position by virtue of the fact that she isn’t cloaked with the anonymity that you normally get in these kinds of cases.

KING: I understand.

GERAGOS: And he’s embraced that and said he doesn’t — he wants to — he doesn’t want to violate that. And I — I respect him for that.

KING: But his own actions should be explained, don’t you think?

GERAGOS: Well, you know, he’s explained them in detail to his lawyer. He’s explained them in detail to his mom. And he’s explained them in detail to her.

KING: But this is his one kind of television interview…

GERAGOS: Well, I understand. But I don’t know that…

KING: (INAUDIBLE)…

GERAGOS: I don’t know — and — and I — I think out of respect for her and her family…

KING: All right.

GERAGOS: … I think it makes more sense for him not to get into it. If she wants to talk about it, that’s her prerogative. But I don’t think it’s his to…

KING: All right. Then we’ll discuss after the incident, without going back to the incident.

GERAGOS: Absolutely.

KING: Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chris (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The allegations have already cost Brown major endorsements. Wrigley dropped him as a pitch man. So did the Got Milk campaign, with both citing what they called “serious allegations.” The story has also stunned the hip hop community. In a radio interview, Kanye West was quick to come to Rihanna’s side.

KANYE WEST: Rihanna is so important to our culture, to — to, you know, pop music. In that sense, I feel like that’s my — my baby sis and I would do any and everything to help her in any situation.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Two superstars used to headlines, but not like this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: I just want to cover this, because you said — now, according to the probation report, Chris, there were at least two other incidents of domestic violence between you and Rihanna before the February 8th assault. Neither was ever reported to authorities.

Why?

BROWN: Because — I don’t know. And (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: Are you saying it never happened?

BROWN: Yes, I’m not aware of those — those incidents.

KING: It says the first incident took place last year in Europe — a verbal dispute. You shoved her into a wall in Europe. And according to a probation report, the second incident took place in Barbados, driving in a car again. And you got out of the car and broke the front driver and passenger’s side windows.

Are those false reports?

Was that in the probation?

GERAGOS: That was in the probation report…

KING: Well, that means the probation officer…

GERAGOS: But I think it was left…

KING: …learned that, right?

GERAGOS: No. I think what the probation officer did was take something that he saw in another report. I don’t think that that — in fact, I’m positive that if you look at the probation report, he never spoke to — to Rihanna, nor was there a statement that was delivered. I think that that was lifted.

KING: Are you saying it never happened, then? BROWN: Yes. I mean, I don’t have — especially of those — of that nature, like, no. Like as a — as an actual couple, like, we have disputes and arguments, but it’s never got to the extent that it got to this point.

KING: Did you have major differences?

HAWKINS: No.

BROWN: I mean…

KING: I mean for a 20-year-old…

BROWN: I mean yes, we’re

KING: …what would be a major difference?

BROWN: …20 years. Yes, it’s not a major…

KING: What lollypop are we going to get tomorrow?

BROWN: No. Right. But it’s not really a — it really wasn’t ever like — our relationship was pretty good. Like, I — like we had a pretty steady and great relationship.

KING: Did you like — how did you think of them as a couple, Joyce?

HAWKINS: I mean I liked Rihanna. And as a couple, together, fine. He’s — he’s my kid and she was like a child to me, as well. She was like my daughter to me. I mean (INAUDIBLE)…

KING: So it wouldn’t have shocked you if they had gone on together and eventually married?

HAWKINS: It wouldn’t have. I mean, we’ve spent Christmas together…

KING: It’s happened before.

HAWKINS: …and did other things together. It was a relationship between two young people.

KING: When you talked to Rihanna after it…

HAWKINS: When did I talk to her?

KING: When you talked to her, what was her attitude?

HAWKINS: I — I just actually spoke to her — it was the same. It wasn’t any different and no animosity towards him.

KING: No animosity?

HAWKINS: No. No. She said, “Mom, I love you.” And I said, “I love you,” as well. KING: She calls you “mom?”

HAWKINS: Yes.

KING: Do you — when you look at — at what happened — and we know the stories that when you grow up with violence, later violence occurs, do you ever say to yourself that that’s how I can piece this together?

HAWKINS: No.

KING: He was subjected to it as a kid?

HAWKINS: I don’t really say that, because I don’t believe that just because someone was abused that — and someone saw it, they’re going to actually be an abuser. And it can happen, but I can’t say that for sure for every case, because it’s not the case.

KING: So then this is completely mind-boggling to you?

HAWKINS: It is mind-boggling to me. Yes, it is, because I never saw it before this situation. So it was like — it wasn’t something — I was like, oh, my god, he’s always done this.

KING: He didn’t fight with kids in school?

HAWKINS: No. You know, there were scuffles but…

BROWN: Every kid has scuffles like with…

HAWKINS: But no fights.

BROWN: …with guys, but there was never no — like a domestic dispute between a female and me. Like I never…

KING: All right. Do you say to yourself, Chris, I’m a — you know you’re a great talent, right?

I mean, you know you’ve got a lot of talent?

BROWN: Thank you.

KING: You’re a great dancer, a great singer, you’re popular, you’re known all over the world.

Do you ever say to yourself, I screwed up?

BROWN: All the time. Every day.

KING: I screwed my career.

BROWN: Every day. Every day. I think — I think this is probably — like I said, it’s probably one of the worst moments of my life. And I always — always wish like I could take it back. And every day, it’s just something that sticks in my mind. And I’ve said countless times how — how sorry I am to Rihanna. And like — and I just accepted full responsibility. But it’s just one of those — those things I wish I could have relived and just handled totally different.

KING: I promised that we’d ask about after the incident.

We will after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KING: We’re back with Chris Brown, Joyce Hawkins and Mark Geragos.

What happened — after the incident it took about eight hours for you to turn yourself in. What happened then? I mean, in those eight hours?

BROWN: I mean, those eight hours, I was basically just going to my mom and just like being totally disappointed in myself, and how disappointed she would be in me. At the same time, just trying to make sure everything was right and be ready to turn myself in.

KING: Were you scared?

BROWN: Definitely, yes.

KING: You went to see your mom first?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: Where was this?

BROWN: I think where we were staying at our hotel.

KING: In L.A.?

BROWN: Yes.

KING: You were here visiting?

HAWKINS: Absolutely. For the Grammys.

KING: For the Grammys, right? That’s when…

HAWKINS: Yes. Mm-hmm.

KING: OK, so that — you learned about it from your son?

HAWKINS: I sure did.

KING: You didn’t have to see the pictures or anything?

HAWKINS: No. I’m not.

KING: Did he tell you everything that happened?

HAWKINS: He sure did. KING: What does a mommy say to her son?

HAWKINS: I’m there for him no matter what, but when he’s wrong, he’s wrong and I’ll let him know that he is and I’ll try to give him the right advice and tell him how he should or should not do with situation of this magnitude and what the situation was.

KING: Were you worried about Rihanna?

HAWKINS: I was worried about her. Very much so. Want to know how she was as well.

KING: You forgave your son because he’s your son.

HAWKINS: Of course, I would forgive anyone. It’s not just because he’s my son, I’m not one to judge anyone.

KING: Well, we do judge in society.

HAWKINS: Well, I don’t have that right to do that. I mean…

KING: How do you explain it to yourself then?

HAWKINS: How do I explain…

KING: He has trouble explaining it to himself, because I understand, that’s hard. We don’t know always know why we do what we do.

GERAGOS: It takes a while. Sometimes you get there, sometimes you don’t. But, you know, there’s — it’s especially difficult when there is all kinds of reports and misreports and things of that nature. I mean we’ve talked before about the supposed two prior incidents. But if you look at the — what these supposed incidents are, one is where she’s supposedly slapping him and there’s a reaction. The other is a breaking of the glass.

That’s not domestic violence, that’s technically if that happens, it’s vandalism. So you’ve got that. You’ve got all of these other things that tend to kind of morph into their own urban legends when they aren’t necessarily true. When, at the same time, you’re already as he was, feeling guilty about the whole thing and wanting to apologize and wanting to (INAUDIBLE).

KING: But you understand in modern media rumors start, people start — I mean there are all the crazy thing…

GERAGOS: I do. But the problem with this case was is the sourcing of it. I mean there was repeatedly stories of where they were patently false. Where we would show them that they were patently false. Write a letter that they were patently false and they still wouldn’t — they still reported it.

KING: But the one thing not false is what happened that night happened.

GERAGOS: And everything.

KING: You can’t escape that.

GERAGOS: We continued the arraignment a couple of times in this case. At least once. Because he wanted to plead guilty from day one. He wanted to apologize from day one. And that was one of the reasons that we continued arraignment in this case.

KING: Why do you want to plead right away?

BROWN: I mean I just felt like there’s consequences for my actions, and I feel it was up to me to be a man and show people that it’s not OK, regardless of what any domestic incident, it’s never OK. And because I am a celebrity and celebrities get the name of getting off when they’re in trouble all the time, so I just felt like it’s basically, like, it was just my right as a man to do that.

KING: But if you wanted to do that, you wanted to pay the price, you might have done jail time.

BROWN: And it’s something I’ll have to accept.

KING: On July 20th, Chris posted a public apology video on his Web site. Let’s take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: What I did was inexcusable. I am very sad and very shamed of what I’ve done. My mother and my spiritual teachers have taught me way better than that. I have told Rihanna countless times and I’m telling you today that I’m truly, truly sorry and that I wasn’t able to handle the situation both differently and better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: Why did you post that, Chris?

BROWN: Well, I did it — first, I wanted to do it immediately. Actually, I wanted to do it right after the incident happened. But I felt I owed it to, like, people, and definitely my fans, and people who really support me, and I let down that to let people know who I really am and how remorseful and sorry I was.

So that was key, like as far as — because I had already apologized to Rihanna. Me and her had established that I was sorry. And she knew I was sorry. And then from there, I just wanted to tell my fans and the people who were like, what happened and whatnot, the people who already want to scrutinize me and whatever.

Just my natural fans and all my fan base who actually looked up to me and prided themselves on listening to my music or having a good feeling about me. I wanted to express to them how I felt and how I was.

KING: In the video you posted, you say you’re sorry and weren’t able to handle the situation both differently and better. How do you explain that?

BROWN: Just differently and better. Just me being a bigger man like when the problem occurs, instead of walking away, handling the situation is very different. And just being mature about it and not handling the stuff immaturely.

KING: What kind of input did you have on that video? Did you…

GERAGOS: Not a whole lot. I mean, the input I had on the video was holding him back from doing it sooner. That’s about the only input. He — you know, what you saw there was largely written by him. Those are words that came from his heart. I plugged in a couple of things and he scratched them right off. And he said no…

KING: (INAUDIBLE)

BROWN: Yes. I got a little help because of the wording, but it all came from my heart. Those words are from my heart.

KING: We’ll be right back, don’t go away.

ANNOUNCER: LARRY KING LIVE brought to you by…

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Police arrested Chris Brown this weekend after an alleged fight with this girlfriend and fellow Grammy nominee Rihanna.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: … assault against girlfriend Rihanna.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Chris Brown’s first words…

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: … history of domestic violence.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: … how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: … Chris Brown brutally attacked his girlfriend…

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Surrounded by a crush of cameras, Chris Brown arrived in court to face the music.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We’re back with Chris, Joyce and Mark. When you apologized, how do you do that? What did you say?

BROWN: When I apologized, I just basically showed that I was really sorry.

KING: What did you say to her? BROWN: I don’t want to say what I said to her, how we had our conversation and how we dealt with the situation. It’s between me and her.

KING: Did you ever talk to her, Mark?

GERAGOS: You know I haven’t. I talked to Don, her lawyer, and I’ve known Don for a number of years. And we have a good relationship. And he, I think, had pretty good contact with her as well.

KING: What did you say to her, Joyce?

HAWKINS: When this happened?

KING: Yes. What did you say?

HAWKINS: I wanted her to know that I was — felt very, very bad for what had happened and apologized for my son, along with I’m so sorry for what happened to you. And I don’t know what else to say. I gave her a hug and she hugged me as well.

KING: What did she say to you?

HAWKINS: She doesn’t have a lot to say. It was, like, mom, I’m OK. I’m OK. And I love you.

KING: She always call you mom?

HAWKINS: Yes.

KING: OK. Something strange. Later in February, you and Rihanna were photographed jet skiing and relaxing at the Miami home of Sean Diddy Combs.

How did that come about?

BROWN: Well, after the incident, it was like a lot of media frenzy. A lot of stuff going on. I mean, with me and her, it was just like — just wanted to get away and kind of — I wouldn’t say rekindle our relationship but just build that friendship back up that we had lost briefly with because of the two sides.

It was sort of like Romeo and Juliet story, like both sides not wanting us to kind of have contact so we just got away and just wanted to — and that’s the main reason I was on the jet ski. I know I got a lot of flack from that and other people were like, well, why is he on a jet ski, why does he just act like he had no care in the world?

Because I was rekindling my relationship with my friend.

KING: Did you rekindle it?

BROWN: At the time, yes.

KING: Would you say it’s rekindle now? I mean, even though you can’t see each other and talk to each other?

BROWN: I’m pretty sure we can always be friends and I don’t know about our relationship, but I just — I know definitely that we ended as friends.

KING: What was that like to be back with her there at that home, after all of this happened, without being — you don’t have to tell us why it happened. What was it like? Boy, that had to be awkward.

BROWN: It was awkward. I mean, I think we have already established there how sorry I was. And she knew that. And then from there, we just wanted to relax. That’s all it was about. And I know everybody was like, Puffy was the mediator. He wasn’t. He was actually just a friend. And he just — out of everybody, he stepped up and was like, well, I’ll lend you my house.

KING: Did she ever say to you, why did you do that?

BROWN: No. No, never.

KING: Never said that? And you weren’t able to tell her because you don’t even know why you did it?

BROWN: Yes, the situation was really touchy, so we didn’t really want to — we just wanted to be friends and relax.

KING: So what did you talk about?

BROWN: That’s personal.

(LAUGHTER)

KING: I mean, what do you talk about? The next record you’re going to do or what?

BROWN: No, I think when we hang out, we don’t really worry about the entertainment side or our careers as far as music is concerned. We’re just — we’re just kids. We’re just having fun.

KING: You’re not surprised with the attention this got, are you? You can’t be surprised.

GERAGOS: Well, you know what, a little bit. I teased him when I got the call that morning at about 6:30. And I said, you know, somebody said this happened. And I think Ben Brafman called me and told me, you know, Chris Brown and Rihanna. And so I got out of bed. It was about 6:30.

KING: The lawyer Ben Brafman?

GERAGOS: Yes, the lawyer Ben Brafman. And I walked into my 18- year-old daughter Tenny’s room. And I woke her up and I said, “Who’s Chris Brown and what’s a Rihanna?” And you know…

(LAUGHTER)

GERAGOS: She looked at me and gave me this, “Dad, you’re such a loser.” And you know, that was…

KING: The rest is history.

GERAGOS: A couple of hours, yes.

KING: We’ll be back in 60 seconds.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Tonight on “360″, Nancy Garrido, Phillip Garrido’s wife, building her defense in the court of public opinion. Her lawyer today saying she’s a victim. This in response to news she continued to hold Jaycee captive while Garrido was in prison. We have details ahead.

And the fight for Afghanistan. August is the deadliest month yet in the eight-year battle Public support for the war slipping. Is it time to pull out? We’ll look at that.

Plus Michael Jackson’s burial will finally happen tomorrow two months after the singer’s death. Randi Kaye will have the details of who’s going to attend, how much it will cost and which stories will pay tribute to Jackson.

We also heard Chris Brown’s story. We’ll be taking your questions for Denise Brown, Nicole Brown-Simpson’s sister on the program tonight. Now back to “LARRY KING LIVE.”

KING: We’re back. Chris, the February 8th episode shocked a lot of people for a lot of reasons, including the fact that Chris had spoken out about his mother having been a victim of domestic violence. Here’s some of what you told Tyra Banks. This is all before all the incident. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: It affected me, you know what I’m saying? Basically, especially towards women, I treat them differently. Because I know — I don’t know when I go through the same thing or put a woman through the same thing that I put my mother through.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: What happened?

BROWN: I made a mistake. Made a mistake. And I — it’s just something I have to live up to and own. And just know that I can change it and be a better person. I definitely made a mistake.

KING: Do you ever think maybe something’s the matter with me?

BROWN: I mean, when — I’m not saying I have a problem. But when people — I’m willing to get counseling. At the end of the day. I’m willing to learn myself more. Because me being 20, I don’t know everything. I’m not a man fully yet. So I want to definitely be a man and learn who I am and learn how to control emotions. Learn how to control different things. I’m definitely willing to learn.

KING: Do you ever, Joyce, think back whenever there’s — and star to say, wait a minute, there was this time when you were 17, or I remember once when he was 19, or — where you can say now I understand partially what happened?

HAWKINS: No. Never.

KING: Did you ever get a call from a parent of another kid who said…

HAWKINS: No.

KING: … Chris beat my son or my daughter up?

HAWKINS: Never, never.

KING: So you’re totally — you have no knowledge of…

HAWKINS: I know that hasn’t happened to him. I mean I have never — I’ve never gotten a call.

KING: You can’t piece anything together?

HAWKINS: No.

KING: We’ll be right back with more. Don’t go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And now more on the Rihanna/Chris Brown saga.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The allegations and the affidavit are shocking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: 19-year-old Chris Brown has been charged with two felonies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Shocking new details in the reported Rihanna beating come to light.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One count of assault and one count of making criminal threat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is a media frenzy here at this criminal courts building in L.A.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We’re back. Chris, you said you loved her. Would it bug you if she dated other men? It’s going to happen.

BROWN: I definitely would be affected by it, but at the end of the day, I mean, we’re not together. So if she’s happy, I’m cool.

KING: How about you and other girls?

BROWN: I mean, right now, I’m focused on my career. So only girl that I love is all my fans.

KING: You’re not dating?

BROWN: No.

KING: Nor do you intend to?

BROWN: I mean, well, who knows? I’m not saying I’m not going to date. I’m just…

KING: But if you saw her, it would have to bug you a little. If you (INAUDIBLE)…

BROWN: Tell me, who wouldn’t be upset or who wouldn’t be like kind of hurt if somebody else gets the person you love?

KING: In late May, a video of Chris Brown bowling with a recording artist Bow Wow appeared on YouTube. Here’s some of what Chris said to the camera.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: Yes. I’m very — we’re not — and I will do all the talking. I’m going to say this is just some new stuff I’m doing. I just want to say what up? Because I haven’t been out there but new album will be coming soon. We’re working on my career right now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It’s crazy.

BROWN: Called “Graffiti.” Got everything on it. You know what I’m saying? Y’all be ready for that. I’m about to drop a single to some of you so, we ain’t going nowhere. Everybody that hates us, they’ve been haters. All my real fans, I love y’all. I ain’t a monster.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: You’re not a monster. Who are the haters you’re talking about?

BROWN: I know that kind of gets — that sounds so bad when you watch it, but…

KING: You don’t sound good.

BROWN: Yes.

(LAUGHTER)

BROWN: But I think who I was trying to address was the people in the blog sites who continuously made false statements or continuously put out — I’m saying that incident, I’m talking about like the haters as far as — like blog sites. People who aren’t naturally my fans that just comment on stuff that always just — that’s just bogus. And it’s like, OK, well, if you’re not my fan, then don’t listen to my music. I’m not asking you to.

KING: Your idol was Michael Jackson.

BROWN: Yes.

KING: How do you think what happened here in the middle of all this with you?

BROWN: I mean, I was devastated. Like I say, my situation was definitely, definitely important but I got broke down when I found out Michael Jackson died. And it just — it really struck a nerve because it was like — that’s like one of the reasons I really do music, like honestly.

And my first reason when I was 15, I was like, yes, I’m going to get a lot of girls and will be able to do music, I’m going to have fun. But it really was Michael Jackson. I was watching him ever since I was 2 years old trying to do moonwalk, trying to do the (INAUDIBLE) dance, I was like his protege.

KING: Did you think about going to the memorial service?

BROWN: I did go.

KING: Oh you did go.

BROWN: Yes. I just kept a low profile.

KING: Did you? How did the paparazzi miss you?

(LAUGHTER)

KING: Did you go disguised?

BROWN: No. I just — I was a couple of rows back. I just wanted to be chilled and pay my respect.

KING: Do you remember him as a little boy being Michael Jackson?

HAWKINS: Yes, because I love Michael. I was one of his number one fans. And of course, him being in front of the mirror and watching Michael dancing at 2 years old, doing little videos at theme parks to Michael Jackson music.

KING: We’ll talk about in our remaining moments that career and where it goes right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was once hard not to like Chris Brown. The 19-year-old fresh faced R&B singer wooed kids and their parents with its clean lyrics and polished good looks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KING: We’re in our remaining moments. We reached out to Rihanna for a statement about tonight’s interview with Chris Brown. Received no response. There is a standing invitation for Rihanna to be a guest on LARRY KING LIVE.

And before we ask about what you do with your career now, do you want to say something, Joyce?

HAWKINS: I just want to reiterate that Chris has never, ever been a violent person. I know you keep asking me, but he’s never, never encountered any activity with violence at all. So I just wanted to make sure…

KING: So this was an aberration to you?

HAWKINS: Yes.

KING: What do you do with your career now?

BROWN: I mean, only time will tell. I think…

KING: Are you recording?

BROWN: Definitely. Music, that’s my passion. But I feel like I’m going to do a lot of my stuff. Just having fun. Just trying…

KING: Are you doing any concerts?

BROWN: Not at the moment. I think I’m going to wait this — wait a little while. It’s just been — I don’t think at the end of the day this is — my career is over. I just feel like it’s just — I just need to prove to people I can be a role model.

KING: The tragedy, though, is when you die maybe 100 years from today, this is going to be in the first paragraph.

BROWN: Yes, this — they did it with Michael Jackson. So — and that’s my man. That’s who I love. So I just feel like that’s what people love. People love negativity. They feed off that. It’s like a drug to them. So I think if I continue to live my life in a positive way and a positive manner, and show people the other side of me, then it leaves no room for error at the end of the day.

KING: Anything you want to say to her now or your fans?

BROWN: I mean, with just everybody, I mean, like I said, I’ve apologized. I’ve said I’m sorry. I thank everybody who supported me, my real friends, and you know who you are. I just love all my supporters and I love everything. Thank you.

KING: This probation prevent him from doing concerts?

GERAGOS: No. In fact, he can travel anywhere in the U.S. and if he gets permission he can — from the court — he can go outside of the country. But he’s got a load of community service to do.

KING: All supervised in Virginia?

GERAGOS: Yes, with the approval of the Probation Department, all of these things are going to be done where he lives. He lives in Virginia, as I think they’ve mentioned. They live three doors away from each other. Mom keeps a pretty good eye on him. And I’ll tell you something, I’ve grown to love this kid like a son or a nephew.

KING: You have?

GERAGOS: I really have. I mean, I adore Joyce, but this guy, I have really come to like quite a bit. He’s a great kid, a realty great kid. And I have a high degree of confidence, I’ll say it now, so that you can play it back if he ever does anything, but a high degree of confidence that he’s not going to do anything like this in the future.

KING: We all hope so. We wish you the best, Chris.

BROWN: Thank you for having me.

KING: Thank you. Thanks, Joyce. Thanks, Mark.

It’s time now for Anderson Cooper and “AC 360.” Anderson?

Hey all you Chris Brown fans out there! Get your popcorn and favorite drinky drink ready as your icon joins Larry King TONIGHT @ 9pm on CNN! I heard that he is going to absolutely, positively LIE his behind off! I don’t know why he would do that because his career is all but over at this point. No amount of lying can save that Titanic because it has already sunk!

That’s right! I know how you Chris Brown fans like to keep Tammy Wynette’s country classic “Stand By Your Man” on constant repeat, so get ready to watch your man say that he doesn’t remember beating the daylights and practically choking the life out of his then girlfriend, Rihanna. Whom Brown also admits that he still loves. Yep. Can’t wait myself! I am practically foaming at the mouth!

I wondered why it was that Chris Brown chose to go on Larry King instead of, let’s say Oprah or Tyra Banks show. Could it be that these two women couldn’t be trusted to allow Chris Brown to LIE his way to some sort of redemption? I mean come on! What teenaged to mid twenties young women watch Larry King? To salvage your tarnished career, everybody knows that Oprah’s couch is the key! Washed up Whitney even knows that!

But, to go on Oprah would mean that Chris Brown would have to own up to the truth and come correct with the reasoning behind it. Tears are definitely a plus toward an Oprah sanctioned redemption! Women everywhere, around the world tune into Oprah at least a dozen times a year. Some every day. Everyone knows that if its a comeback you’re looking for and you’ve been a tad naughty, take it to the Oprah couch. Or at least Dr. Phil.

That’s why no one is going to be quick to believe a word out of Chris Brown’s mouth. His publicists and attorneys have all but ruined his life and career by their bogus strategies of silence and then denial.

I know one thing, Chris Brown didn’t tell that judge in California that flat out lie about blacking out. But, he is willing to feed the public that crap because he and his redemption team think that we are stupid and ignorant. No domestic violence victim wants to hear that load of garbage!

Yeah, Chris Brown blacked out alright!

It was when the LAPD sirens were within hearing distance as he was wringing Rihanna’s little neck. That’s when Chris Brown realized that he had just choked the life out of his short career and blacked out.

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

AT IFTAR DINNER

State Dining Room

8:08 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT:  Please, everybody have a seat.  Thank you.  Well, it is my great pleasure to host all of you here at the White House to mark this special occasion — Ramadan Kareem. 

I want to say that I’m deeply honored to welcome so many members of the diplomatic corps, as well as several members of my administration and distinguished members of Congress, including the first two Muslims to serve in Congress — Keith Ellison and Andre Carson.  Where are they?  (Applause.) 

Just a few other acknowledgements I want to make.  We have Senator Richard Lugar here, who’s our Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.  Where is Dick Lugar?  There he is.  (Applause.)  Representative John Conyers, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.  (Applause.)  Representative Rush Holt is here.  Thank you, Rush.  (Applause.)  Have we found you a seat, Rush?  (Laughter.)

REPRESENTATIVE HOLT:  I’m on my way to the train.  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  I got you.

We also have here — Secretary of Defense Gates is here.  Secretary Gates.  (Applause.)  Our Attorney General, Eric Holder.  (Applause.)  And Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius is here.  (Applause.)

And most of all, I want to welcome all the American Muslims from many walks of life who are here.  This is just one part of our effort to celebrate Ramadan, and continues a long tradition of hosting iftars here at the White House.  

For well over a billion Muslims, Ramadan is a time of intense devotion and reflection.  It’s a time of service and support for those in need.  And it is also a time for family and friends to come together in a celebration of their faith, their communities, and the common humanity that all of us share.  It is in that spirit that I welcome each and every one of you to the White House.

Tonight’s iftar is a ritual that is also being carried out this Ramadan at kitchen tables and mosques in all 50 states. Islam, as we know, is part of America.  And like the broader American citizenry, the American Muslim community is one of extraordinary dynamism and diversity — with families that stretch back generations and more recent immigrants; with Muslims of countless races and ethnicities, and with roots in every corner of the world.

Indeed, the contribution of Muslims to the United States are too long to catalog because Muslims are so interwoven into the fabric of our communities and our country.  American Muslims are successful in business and entertainment; in the arts and athletics; in science and in medicine.  Above all, they are successful parents, good neighbors, and active citizens.

So on this occasion, we celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, and we also celebrate how much Muslims have enriched America and its culture — in ways both large and small.  And with us here tonight, we see just a small sample of those contributions.  Let me share a few stories with you briefly.

Elsheba Khan’s son, Kareem, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when he lost his life in Iraq.  Kareem joined the military as soon as he finished high school.  He would go on to win the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, along with the admiration of his fellow soldiers.  In describing her son, Elsheba said, “He always wanted to help any way that he could.”  Tonight, he’s buried alongside thousands of heroes in Arlington National Cemetery.  A crescent is carved into his grave, just as others bear the Christian cross or the Jewish star.  These brave Americans are joined in death as they were in life — by a common commitment to their country, and the values that we hold dear.

One of those values is the freedom to practice your religion — a right that is enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution.  Nashala Hearn, who joins us from Muskogee, Oklahoma, took a stand for that right at an early age.  When her school district told her that she couldn’t wear the hijab, she protested that it was a part of her religion.  The Department of Justice stood behind her, and she won her right to practice her faith.  She even traveled to Washington to testify before Congress.  Her words spoke to a tolerance that is far greater than mistrust — when she first wore her headscarf to school, she said, “I received compliments from the other kids.”

Another young woman who has thrived in her school is Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir.  She’s not even 5’5 — where’s Bilqis?  Right here.  Stand up, Bilqis, just so that we — (laughter) — I want everybody to know — she’s got heels on.  She’s 5’5 — Bilqis broke Rebecca Lobo’s record for the most points scored by any high school basketball player in Massachusetts history.  (Applause.)  She recently told a reporter, “I’d like to really inspire a lot of young Muslim girls if they want to play basketball.  Anything is possible.  They can do it, too.”  As an honor student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls — she’s an inspiration to all of us.

Of course, we know that when it comes to athletes who have inspired America, any list would include the man known simply as The Greatest.  And while Muhammad Ali could not join us tonight, it is worth reflecting upon his remarkable contributions, as he’s grown from an unmatched fighter in the ring to a man of quiet dignity and grace who continues to fight for what he believes — and that includes the notion that people of all faiths holds things in common.  I love this quote.  A few years ago, he explained this view — and this is part of why he’s The Greatest — saying, “Rivers, ponds, lakes and streams — they all have different names, but they all contain water.  Just as religions do — they all contain truths.” 

They all contain truths.  Among those truths are the pursuit of peace and the dignity of all human beings.  That must always form the basis upon which we find common ground.  And that is why I am so pleased that we are joined tonight not only by so many outstanding Muslim Americans and representatives of the diplomatic corps, but people of many faiths — Christians, Jews, and Hindus — along with so many prominent Muslims.

Together, we have a responsibility to foster engagement grounded in mutual interest and mutual respect.  And that’s one of my fundamental commitments as President, both at home and abroad.  That is central to the new beginning that I’ve sought between the United States and Muslims around the world.  And that is a commitment that we can renew once again during this holy season. 

So tonight, we celebrate a great religion, and its commitment to justice and progress.  We honor the contributions of America’s Muslims, and the positive example that so many of them set through their own lives.  And we rededicate ourselves to the work of building a better and more hopeful world.

So thanks to all of you for taking the time to be here this evening.  I wish you all a very blessed Ramadan.  And with that, I think we can start a feast.  I don’t know what’s on the menu, but I’m sure it will be good.  (Laughter.)  Thank you very much, everybody.  (Applause.)

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT

ON 2009-H1N1 NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

Rose Garden

2:13 P.M. EDT

     THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, everybody.  Before I say a few words about the meeting we just had I’d like to mention some good news that came out today about our economy.  For the first time in 18 months, our manufacturing sector has expanded, and the statistics used to measure manufacturing output is the highest it’s been in over two years.

     This means greater production of transportation equipment like cars, and electronic equipment like computers and appliances, and it means these companies are starting to invest more and produce more, and it is a sign that we’re on the path to economic recovery. 

     There’s no doubt that we have a long way to go, and I and the other members of this administration will not let up until those Americans who are looking for jobs can find them.  But this is another important sign that we’re heading in the right direction, and that the steps we’ve taken to bring our economy back from the brink are working. 

     Now, we just had a good meeting about our ongoing efforts to prepare this country for the H1N1 flu virus this fall.  And I want to thank John Brennan, our CDC Director Tom Frieden, and Secretaries Sebelius, Napolitano, Duncan, and Locke, for all the good work that they’ve been doing to get us ready today.

     As I said when we saw the first cases of this virus back in the spring, I don’t want anybody to be alarmed, but I do want everybody to be prepared.  We know that we usually get a second, larger wave of these flu viruses in the fall, and so response plans have been put in place across all levels of government.  Our plans and decisions are based on the best scientific information available, and as the situation changes, we will continue to update the public.

     We’re also making steady progress on developing a safe and effective H1N1 flu vaccine, and we expect a flu shot program will begin soon.  This program will be completely voluntary, but it will be strongly recommended. 

     For all that we do in the federal government, however, every American has a role to play in responding to this virus.  We need state and local governments on the front lines to make antiviral medications and vaccines available, and be ready to take whatever steps are necessary to support the health care system.  We need hospitals and health care providers to continue preparing for an increased patient load, and to take steps to protect health care workers.  We need families and businesses to ensure that they have plans in place if a family member, a child, or a co-worker contracts the flu and needs to stay home. 

     And most importantly we need everyone to get informed about individual risk factors, and we need everyone to take the common-sense steps that we know can make a difference.  Stay home if you’re sick.  Wash your hands frequently.  Cover your sneezes with your sleeve, not your hands.  And take all the necessary precautions to stay healthy.  I know it sounds simple, but it’s important and it works.

     Finally, for people who want to learn more about this virus, please go to www.flu.gov, or talk to your doctor. 

     I want to commend every member of our team.  I think we’ve done an extraordinary job in preparing for this flu outbreak.  We anticipate that there will be some issues coming up over the next several months.  The way it’s moving is still somewhat unpredictable, but what I’m absolutely confident about is that our team that’s assembled here has done an extraordinary job in preparing for whatever may happen.

     So we appreciate all of you for being here, and I want to publicly again thank you for all your extraordinarily hard work.  All right.