in the ground. those are wonderful things. governor perry doesn't believe he created those things. if he tried to say that, it would be like al gore saying he invented the internet into michael dukakis created jobs three times faster than you did, mitt. >> as a matter of fact, george bush and his predecessor created jobs at a faster rate than you did, governor. >> that's not correct. >> yeah, it is correct. it was certainly spirited and that was 33 seconds of barbs. there were six other candidates there but the debate looked like the mitt and rick show. we'll talk about that with tim farley in a few minutes. one thing all eight of those candidates agree on is president obama. none of them thinks the president understands how to fix the economy. tonight the president will had put his jobs plan before the public and a joint session of congress. one democratic source says the plan could top $400 billion. it includes a lot of infrastructure spending, money for state and local governments, and targeted tax cuts. we're told it would be paid for in part by closing corporate loop holes and raising taxes on the wealthiest americans. the president's address is tonight at 7:00 eastern. cnn's live coverage begins an hour earlier at 6:00 eastern. today the so-called super committee holds its first meeting in washington, the deficit passy as part of last month's debt ceiling agreement. 12 members of both houses of congress, half democrats, half republicans, assigned to come up with a $1.5 trillion deficit reduction plan by november 23rd. they get started at 10:30 a.m. eastern. a medicare fraud pos se has its hands full. federal agents have busted 70 alleged medicare crooks in the last couple days, including doctors and nurses, accused of ripping off the government to the tune of $300 million in bogus claims. the assistant attorney general said this, quote, from brooklyn to miami to los angeles, the defendants allegedly treated the medicare like a personal piggy bank. officials say the schemes involved services like home health care and psychotherapy, as well as medical devices. authorities in carson city, nevada, released 911 calls from the shooting rampage tuesday at an ihop restaurant. a gunman shot 11 people with an assault rifle, including several members of the nevada national guard. three guard members died along with a civilian woman. the suspect killed himself in the parking lot. listen to one of the frantic 911 calls. >> ihop. get there right now. automatic weapons. >> how many? is it inside? >> i don't know. saw one guy going in. he's coming back out with a gun. he's shooting people in the parking lot. he's got an automatic weapon. get out of there. >> we're on the way. >> ryan, move! [ inaudible ] he's shooting at us now. >> authorities are still trying to figure out a motive. the suspect did not have a criminal history. his family members said he had a history of mental health problems, though. in texas an elite search team helping to look for people who might be trapped in the huge wildfire near austin. the fire has killed two people and destroyed 576 homes so far. one county official expects more homes will burn. the cause of the fire still unclear, but a separate fire about an hour away could have been caused by arson. investigators think four teenagers started it in a wooded area. that fire reached the subdivision and wiped out 11 homes. this more than an week after irene came through, what's left of tropical storm lee is hanging over the mid-atlantic and northeast and bringing heavy rain and more potential flooding from washington to new england. let's head to atlanta and check things out with rob marciano. oh, i'm tired of hurricane season. >> yeah. you know, it's -- we're already into the end and we've really only had two impactful storms in the u.s. but they've been big impacts including irene and tropical storm lee which has wandered onshore. we knew the moisture would be a big deal and has turned out that way. video out of eastern pennsylvania where flooding is becoming a huge issue. this is shot from yesterday and the pictures i'm sure we'll get out of other places this morning will be much, much worse because it's done nothing but rain nonstop overnight. the susquehanna, the schuykill and some of the smaller creeks getting into record flood stage. upstage new york, up the susquehanna valley through binghamton, they're seeing big-time flooding as well. middleburg seeing it also and the rains continue. here are the flood watches and warnings posted for the northeast. the green means you got river flooding and -- where is my clicker? all right. if we can take gr 107 that would be sweet and get the right source up there. we've got flash flood warnings posted for a good chunk of the i-95 corridor, including philly is under a flash flood warning right now and new york city getting a fair amount of rainfall at the moment. here's the radar. looking for some big-time rain across parts of the northeast and as that happens, we're going to see some travel delays as well. there you go. the other issues we're looking at maria, named yesterday. that's way out there in the atlantic ocean. maria is going to make a run at the u.s. after it skims the caribbean islands. some of the rainfall totals we expect today and your delays across the northeast, detroit, new york and boston. and here is your forecast track forma rhea. nate was formed yesterday afternoon and last night a little closer to home through the southern gulf of mexico. this, you know, a long shot, carol, but, you know, in an ideal world maybe we'll get some of the moisture from this through texas but right now our computer models aren't showing that. we'll keep you updated on nate which right now preliminary forecasts bring it into mexico over the weekend. >> did you find your dliker? -- clicker? >> no. just like a man. >> even hitting the space bar is not working this morning. so we're off to a good start here, carol. we'll see you in a half hour. >> just like a man to lose his clicker, but i won't make fun of you this morning even though i just did. >> see you carol. the top gop candidates debate last night but it's not what they said that has comedians talking. >> i don't know if you've seen all the candidates together in one place, but they look like castaways on an old sitcom. you know. yeah, the billionaire, the movie star, the professor, the skipper there. >> it's not the most impressive field of candidates. wap these candidates, like when apple unveils a new iphone, going maybe if i wait a while a better one will come out. >> it's hard to keep track of what all these candidates stand for. even for them. because there are a lot of them right now and -- look at this. >> tonight, from the ronald reagan library, a republican presidential debate. michele bachmann. newt gingrich. this guy. there he is. yes. he might be one. and mitt romney. >> oh. surely people know ron paul. the story of the apple iphone 5 lost in a bar is far from over. find out why police in san francisco are now launching a new investigation, but first check out the quote of the day. this is the quote. if barack obama remained roughly where he is now, sure, i think i could beat him. end quote. find out who said that coming up in 90 seconds. it's probably not who you're thinking it is. it's nine minutes past the hour. that works at the molecular level to help your engine run more smoothly by helping remove deposits and cleaning up intake valves. so when you fill up at an exxon or mobil station, you can rest assured we help your engine run more smoothly while leaving behind cleaner emissions. it's how we make gasoline work harder for you. exxon and mobil. ♪ this is the kind of truck that has it all. guess that means, you can do it all. it's the chevy season of doing. now, combine the all-star edition discount with other offers for a total value of $6,000 or qualified buyers can get 0% apr for 60 months plus a thousand dollars cash allowance on all silverado models. get to your chevy dealer and get that truck today. but sometimes i wonder... what's left behind? 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[ female announcer ] from neutrogena® naturals. ilgts is ten minutes past the hour. back to your quote of the day. quote -- that was former new york city mayor rudy giuliani. he said that to piers morgan and said it just last night. he was talking about a presidential bid and if he might, you know, kind of ran, he could probably win. apple, and nike, are making our high-tech headlines at this hour. let's head straight to hong kong and kristie lu stout. this apple thing is getting weirder and weirder. >> weirder and weirder. new twist in the story. police in san francisco have launched an investigation into the search of a man's home by apple xwlooes employees. last month two apple investigators searched a man's home looking for what is believed to be a prototype of the next iphone lost in a bar. the man told sf weekly that he consented to the search when the investigators identified themselves as police. and he said it was not clear the pair searching his home were from apple and he would not have authorized the search if he had known. the police, they are not adding any comment. apple has declined to offer its side of the story. it's not going to go away, this story. carol? >> i don't think so either. let's talk about something fascinating, though. nike is going to introduce these self-lace-up shoes. it sounds so back-to-to the future for me. remember that movie? let's remember together, shall we? >> of course. >> let's remember together. one of the best movies ever. nike has reached out to a few select shoe nerds with a most interesting invitation. it came in a box and inside the box a number of things but 1980s candy and a personal message on an ipod from doc brown. these shoe nerds have been invited to, quote, an unveiling that could change the course of time. one year ago bloggers caught on to nike filing a pat tent for self-lacing sneakers like the pair marty mcfly wore in "back to the future 2." if this invite is any indication, seems the year in the movie, which is 2015, is closer than when think. everything will be unveiled tonight at a private reception in hollywood. if only we could be there. >> i know. i wish i could. that seems so lazy to me, but still kind of cool. kristie lu stout, thanks as always. eight candidates debated, but two seemed to steal the show. has it come down to a two-person race? we'll take a closer look. it's 13 minutes past the hour. but first today is your day to ask for forgiveness. i'm sorry. i forget to say this. september 8th is national pardon day. actually started back in 1974 when president gerald ford pardoned richard nixon in the watergate scandal. 13 minutes past the hour. and i'm sorry you have to wake up this early. well-being. we're all striving for it. purina cat chow helps you nurture it in your cat with a full family of excellent nutrition and helpful resources. purina cat chow. share a better life. just having some chicken noodle. starting my progresso soup for lunch plan, huh. nope, just having some tender chicken and some tasty noodles. let's see... south western vegetables... 60 calories, oh beef pot roast... ...ya' know those jeans look nice. they do? yup. so you were checking me out? yup. [ male announcer ] progresso. 40 soups 100 calories or less. new splenda® essentials™ no calorie sweetener with b vitamins, the first and only one to help support a healthy metabolism. three smart new ways to sweeten. same great taste. new splenda® essentials™. the tragedy of september 11 united our country. this year, as we open the 9/11 memorial in new york city, we ask that you join us to honor, remember, and reunite. to learn more or to reserve your visit, go to 911memorial.org. good morning, washington, d.c. good morning to you. new polls have shown president obama isn't doing so hot when it comes to his approval rating and comedians certainly have taken notice. your punch line. >> this has been a rough summer for president obama. once again, his approval rating has hit an all-time low. right now his approval rating is somewhere between teen mom and "sex in the city 2." >> things are not looking good for president obama. he's getting hammered in the polls, and for a couple years there nobody touched him. now i think these people who do the polls are starting to pile on. >> president obama is expected to speak about the economy and job creation on thursday. but a new "washington post" poll shows confidence in his abilities has hit a new low. 62% say they disapprove of his handling of the economy, 47% can't stand the president's painting, 41% say his jump shot is terrible, 37% disapprove of how the president consumes a chile dog. 27% dislike his pregolf ritual and 34% don't care for his treatment of flies. >> it just seems -- >> oh, i really enjoy that, tim farley. tim farley joins us now, host of "morning briefing" on sirius xm. did you watch the big debate? >> here for every minute, did a postgame wrap-up. quite an evening of i think dynamic discussion, wouldn't you say, carol? >> absolutely. i thought it was really quite interesting. before we get down to our debate, let's talk about their debate. the republican frontrunner rick perry made his de beau last night, clashed with mitt romney and called it a ponzi scheme. >> it is a ponzi scheme to tell our kids that are 25 or 30 years old today you're paying into a program that's going to be there. anybody that's for the status quo with social security today, is involved with a monstrous lie to our kids and it's not right. >> tim, that probably played to the base, but not so much to other kinds of voters. what do you think? >> well, even republican strategists that i've spoken to in the brief period of time between the debate and now seem to think this would be a problem for rick perry in some of those republican states where there are significant numbers of retirees. for example, florida, which is a big state, and if he needs to get the nomination he's going to have to do well in states like that, pennsylvania and so on. it is something that i think he's going have to do a little more explaining about, ponzi scheme and monstrous lie and mitt romney was quick, by the way, to sound almost reagan-esque in his defense of social security, not necessarily as a handout, but rather as a safety net which is the original design of the program. so i don't think americans are against social security. polls don't seem to indicate that. rick perry may be flying in the face of the polls even among republican faithful. it could be a problem for him moving forward, carol. >> yeah. mitt romney also says maybe we should fix social security, not annihilate it, something like that. another hot topic both men talked about and sparred over, was the jobs creation issue. here's romney challenging perry on that issue. >> texas is a great state. texas has zero income tax. texas has a right to work sfapts a republican legislature, a republican supreme court. texas has a lot of oil and gas in the ground. those are wonderful things. but governor perry doesn't believe that he created those things. if he tried to say that, it would be like al gore saying he invented the internet. >> and then, of course, perry responded by saying, michael dukakis created more jobs in massachusetts than you did, mitt romney. it was an interesting exchange, though. which side won? >> yeah. mitt romney hit back and said george bush created nor jobs in texas than you did or at a faster rate. one thing that did strike me about this, this discussion about jobs is germane to what president is talking about, romney, perry and former governor huntsman were able to reflect to their job creation, left someone like michele bachmann out of the mix and separated rick perry and mitt romney from the pack. you mentioned this at the top of the show, turned into almost a two-man show. i did talk to a lot of, again, people who follow this very closely and there seems to be an agreement we saw the eventual republican nominee last night, although there are not too many willing to say it is just a two-person race but seems to be closer to that, carol. >> just briefly on the subject of michele bachmann, she did so well in her first debate appearance. this time she just seemed, i don't know, just paled when it came to, you know -- >> they didn't ask her the questions either. they didn't direct questions to her, number one. number two, i think there was a sense people now expect a little more of her. when she first appeared it was a sense that she was a cartoonish character and dispelled those myths quickly but now, perhaps, they expect a little more than some of the talking points and she seems very adept at delivering those and looks good, but there seems to be a lack of depth and that's one of the things. but the big problem she just didn't get the questions last night so she didn't get a chance to respond. >> the first question posed to michele bachmann came 14 minutes into the debate. tim farley, enjoyed it as always. thanks so much. remember cnn's tea party republican debate is coming your way this monday at 8:00 p.m. eastern. several hockey players with ties to the national hockey league killed in a plane crash. we'll have more details on what happened that's coming up after this quick break. it's 21 minutes past the hour. ♪ sing polly wolly doodle all the day ♪ ♪ hah it is 23 minutes past the hour. this is your "am: wake up call." thanks for joining us this morning. head around the world with zain verjee live in london. good morning, zain. >> good morning to you, carol. we want to focus a little bit about what happened in russia. there was that really tragic plane crash and most of the victims that were killed were actually team members of a hockey team and it was -- it's just so sad. it's unclear exactly what the cause was. we want to show you pictures, too, of a vigil, carol, that's being held by fans that went to a stadium, lit candles, put the hockey team scarves there, placed flowers, too. you know part of the problem with some of these russian planes, there's always a question about their safety of these passenger planes. so that's being thrown into question. it's a tragic story for russia and the russian leader gave his condolences. carol? >> and for hockey fans in the united states, three of those players played on the detroit red wings. we're grieving here as well. let's talk about mexico because the mexican government, correct me if i'm wrong, but they're training their residents to use guns to protect themselves? >> yep. that's exactly right. they're doing this in garcia in mexico, and it's a course they're offering. it's a new one and it's free. anyone who has a weapon, who has a permit, can be trained how to use it effectively because a lot of people just want to defend their families because of all the violence that's been going on in different parts of mexico. what they're doing is they're offering these courses and they've got something like 3,000 people that have already signed up, engineers, school teachers, and even housewives, who have handguns. this is a new project that they hope will be effective and that will allow people to use guns effectively. >> wow. zain verjee, reporting live from london, thanks so much. it's submerged in floodwaters for days now a nebraska nuclear power plant has been rated among the worst in the country. the big concern about that just ahead. it's 25 minutes past the hour. ♪ [ male announcer ] sitting. waiting. hoping. that's a recipe for failed investing. open an e-trade account and open doors, seize opportunities, tak