markets are up because of things happening around the world and action happening. that is a good thing. let's turn to los angeles where police have cleared out and shut down the camp set up by occupy protesters. they've arrested dozens of people who still refuse to leave. about 1400 los angeles police officers moved in after midnight. the camp had been there a couple of months. 200 people arrested. police say the operation was mostly peaceful. another alleged victim speaks out about the child sex abuse allegations at syracuse university. mike lang is his name. 's a former syracuse ball boy and he told cnn that the assistant coach, bernie fine, molested him. fine has denied the allegations but yet he has not been charged with any crime. >> he kept touching me. >> where? where did he touch you? >> in my leg and my penis. >> did you say something to him? >> yes. i said, bernie, please stop this because i'm not that kind. i won't tolerate it. if you don't want me to come over here no more, i won't come over here. if you keep doing it, i'm not going to come over here. this was actually the scene last night. syracuse fans giving the head coach, jim boeheim, a standing ovation at last night's game against eastern michigan. also earlier in the day the chancellor of the school gave her support. the two have been friends for 38 years. with more allegations out there he said the investigation will have to determine what happened, quote, on his watch. also word we are just getting of a lawsuit. the first lawsuit filed in the penn state sex abuse scandal. an alleged victim of former defensive coach jerry sandusky is suing the school, sandusky, and his charity. he says he was sexually assaulted more than 100 times in the '90s. penn state holds a question and answer session tonight. students will be able to talk about the child molestation charges against the former coach. only students will be admitted to this. it will be streamed live online. we'll do politics now. presidential candidate herman cain is making a stop in the next hour where he will reassess whether his presidential candidacy can continue. cain denies an allegation by an atlanta woman that the two of them had an on-again, off-again affair. in an interview cain's accuser was asked if she thinks he's fit to be president. >> in my opinion, no, i do not. i honestly do not think that he is n my opinion, would make a good president as far as i'm concerned. my views are different than his views, but at the end of the day this is not political. this is absolutely not political. >> again, we are waiting for his event coming up top of the next hour. this video you're seeing, this is 30 years ago now. man shot the president and today that man, john hinckley jr., is in court seeking his freedom from a mental hospital. hinckley's motive for the attack on reagan was to impress actress jodie foster. he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. britain being hit right now with its worse strike in decades. up to 2 million workers staging a 1-day walkout to protest pension cuts. 60% of schools are closed. hospitals have canceled nonemergency services. international travelers are being told to expect long delays at heathrow. a big day for the millions of people taking the high cholesterol drug lipitor. pfizer's patent runs out today. other companies can start making less expensive generics available. pfizer says more than 17 million people have been prescribed lipitor to lower their cholesterol. you're accustomed to banks judging you based on your credit. they're dealing with a downgrade in their credit rating. christine romans is in new york for us. we're not talking about any banks. big banks are getting a look. >> yeah. i'll tell you something, here's the interesting thing. you get a downgrade of america's big banks and they're all up in trading because of this big, huge market surge. you can see the dow is up 400 plus points. that's because the fed and a bunch of central banks came in and said they were going to keep the oxygen flowing in the global banking system. they were going to keep money flowing so that no one was going to have trouble borrowing money overnight. that's because of the european crisis. that blunted the effect we had expected because of this downgrade. standard and poor's downgrading six big u.s. banks, jpmorgan, bank of america, citigroup, you know these names, goldman sachs, wells fargo, morgan stanley, bank of america as of yesterday was down 61% already so far this year. it's up big this morning because of the fed's move. essentially standard and poor's saying the playing field is different now. the u.s. credit rating has been dropped and where these banks operate is really important. we've got a slowing u.s. economy. s&p has downgraded a bunch of banks overseas and that's because of the escalating credit crisis there. >> what does this mean for me, christine? >> well, if you're paying your bills on time, t.j., and you have a little bit of money in your account and not getting hit by fees, it doesn't mean anything for you or your bank account. what it means for the direction of this country and the stability of the banking system is this, it means that there is growing concern about danger signals that are flashing in the credit markets, in the ability for banks, commercial banks, central banks to borrow money and get money, keep money moving around the world. it's one of those signals of a much bigger issue. that is a crisis in europe that is a real problem because of the interconnected nature of the world economy, you hope it doesn't mean down the line that it means fewer job opportunities here, higher cost of borrowing here, factories having to close here. we're at a dangerous moment in the global economy. it plays in here together. >> thank you. what is this thing? is it a christmas tree? is it a holiday tree? whatever you call it, be ready to defend yourself. that brings us to our talk back question of the day. carol costello here with us. people get a little fired up about this topic sometimes. a christmas tree or holiday tree? >> yeah. is there a war on christmas? is there such a thing. that's the talk back question. it's that time of year. no, not for good cheer. time to wage war on christmas. yes, it has begun. the first bomb allegedly dropped in rhode island. neither republican or democrat, independent, called the statehouse christmas tree a holiday tree. fox news, as it does every year, went crazy. >> if it was a maple tree, or an elm in there, maybe it's a holiday tree. it sure looks like a christmas tree. >> if it has lights, ornaments, angel, it's a christmas tree. >> you're right. >> but chafe fee's sticking to holiday tree. he says the use of the term holiday tree is continuation of past practice. it does not represent a change on my part. the word holiday symbolizes religious freedom. it's ridiculous depending how you look at t. there is no war on christmas, never was. he goes on to write, in fact, many christians, myself included, register a basic level of annoyance at the way the christmas season now stretches back into october because we don't really need a basic reminder of how to properly celebrate the birth of christ or his divinity on the count of the fact there is a basic concept called faith that we keep in our hearts. the talk back question, is there really a war on christmas? facebook.com/carol on cnn. >> i might write in on this one. carol costello, we'll see you again here shortly. nine minutes past the hour. dozens arrested and police clear out an occupy camp in la. three decades after president reagan's shooting. we'll find out what it was like making plans in the white house in case he died. we'll get this store rimpt a family loses itself in christmas tradition literally. they got lost so bad in this tradition. they had to call 9-1-1. i'm phil mickelson, pro golfer. if you have painful, swollen joints, i've been in your shoes. one day i'm on top of the world... the next i'm saying... i have this thing called psoriatic arthritis. i had some intense pain. it progressively got worse. my rheumatologist told me about enbrel. i'm surprised how quickly my symptoms have been managed. 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[ ma[ male announcer ]rel. shopping for medicare coverage? the annual enrollment period ends december 7th. now is the time to take action. call unitedhealthcare medicare solutions today. 12 minutes past the hour now. after two months the occupy camp in los angeles is shut down. l.a. police moved in after midnight to close it. casey is live in l.a. how did this go down, peacefully? >> reporter: it went down relatively peacefully, t.j. local officials are saying they're very pleased with the big success of this operation. >> casey, hang tight there. looks like we lost his microphone, the audio there. this encampment from last night, where about 200 people were arrested. thousands have been there over the last couple of months. seven weeks that they had been there at city hall. at first a lot of people there in city government certainly did support the fact that they were there, but after time a lot of people, like a lot of cities, got fed up with them. we'll get casey back. we'll talk with one of the police officers out there as well who took part in what was, for the most part, peaceful. told i have casey back again. you hear me again? we lost your audioalmost immediately there. >> reporter: i've got you, t.j. you got me? >> go right ahead. >> reporter: as i was saying, sorry for the audio problems, last night they moved in and they arrested about 200 protesters. los angeles police department said that there were only three incidents where they had to use force last night, which is pretty incredible when you consider the manpower they brought in and the number of people, thousands of people that were camped out. two people didn't want to be arrested. they actually see these trees here. i believe my photographer can pan over to these trees. there was one protester living in a tree house up there. they had to shoot bean bags at that protester to get him out. he sustained minor abrasions according to the lapd. that was it. what happens now is going to be perhaps the most difficult part of the task. you can see in front of me they've set up a perimeter here fencing. what they want to do is make sure the occupiers don't come back in and occupy this park. they are expecting minor protests later today. some of the occupiers who were not arrested have gathered at a church near here. they're strategizing figuring out what they're going to do next. meantime, the process of cleaning up the mess is going on. as you can see, sanitation department trucks are here. they've started cleaning up what was left behind by these protesters. when the police went in here last night, they had to put on hazardous material suits. it was a giant pile of them here earlier this morning. the sanitation department has cleaned that up. the other thing that they are trying to do is some of the personal belongings that are not trash were left behind by some who were not arrested or fled the area. they are trying to gather those and get them back to the protesters once they're released from custody. >> all right. thank you so much. let's go cross-country look at some of the stories making headlines today. four amish men are being arraigned in federal court in ohio on hate crime charges. the police say he and the other suspects held down several other amish men and cut off their beards. the family went searching for the perfect christmas tree. rescuers went searching for them. they got lost in the wilderness out there trying to find a tree. they wandered around for hours before they finally called 9-1-1. the dispatcher used the cell phone's gps to find them. they were cut ld around the fire in the dark in the wilderness. police in florida, they were acting like kids shoving each other, the kids did a good thing. they were fishing in a canal when a 3-year-old boy stumbled in the water. >> we were sitting here fishing and we could see the kid. we could barely see the kid from over there. next thing we know, he fell in the water. >> there were ducks around him. there were arms in the air. next thing you know, we saw the head. he was bobbing up and down. we got up as fast as we could. >> the little boy had wandered out of the house when his mom wasn't looking. he's going to be okay. 17 minutes past the hour. presidential campaign of herman cain up in the air now after the latest allegation against him. he is denying a claim by an atlanta woman that the two of them carried on a long-term affair, but he says all the accusations are taking an emotional toll on his family. he is now, quote, reassessing his campaign. what would it mean for the republican race if cain quits? let me bring in our senior political analyst, david gergen. we do know, cain is having an event in ohio, rally. we do plan to bring you some of that live. it's supposed to start 45 minutes from now. is there any indication yet, david, that the republican primary voters are fed up with this? >> reporter: there are a lot of indications that in iowa, south carolina, some key early states, conservatives are leaving herman cain. his campaign seems pretty well over as a serious candidate whether or not he decides to continue. the question then becomes what happens as a result of that. he has been commanding the support recently of about a sixth of the american voters. where do they go? i was in sacramento last night speaking to about 2,000 people. no one was interested in talking about cain. all the buzz was about newt gingrich. >> it sounds like you're saying this is a done deal, only a matter of time before he gets out. >> reporter: there's just too much baggage on the sled. people like him, they enjoy his company. he can continue to speak at forums, but we are talking, after all, about the most powerful position in the united states and, indeed, in the world. i think a great number of people have concluded whatever you think about the particular facts, this man is not prepared to be president. he's prepared to do a lot of other things but not be president. i think it's over. >> we can put this poll up. cnn orc national poll. what happens if he gets out? talking about where his support might go. 38% of the folks, cain supporters, where would your support go, gingrich would get 38%. romney at 25%. this is a poll, of course. nobody has cast a vote. does the good news keep piling up for gingrich right now? >> reporter: it sure does. that's what i was saying about the buzz out here in sacramento. this is northern california. you wouldn't expect many people to be talking about newt gingrich. they wanted to know more about him. is he different? has he changed? is he someone we could seriously look at? newt gingrich himself has told me and others, he may not survive the next few weeks of vetting, but if he does, he has emerged as a powerful and potentially upset rival to mitt romney. he's getting a lot of -- there's some excitement about him and mitt romney needs to bring some of that magnetism back to his own campaign. look at the polls, what we've seen here in the last few days. newt gingrich has now moved ahead in iowa. he is second in new hampshire. he surged in new hampshire. second to romney. he has opened up a lead in south carolina of some 15 points. there's a poll out of florida today, these are early, poll out of florida today shows newt gingrich up by 24 in florida. if he were to sweep all those states except new hampshire, he'd be hard to beat. this may not last. as we've seen, it's mercurial in republican primaries. there's something going on that we can recognize, a search by conservative voters for an alternative to mitt romney. he's still the favorite to win the nomination, i think, but for the first time he is being seriously, seriously challenged. >> i have time enough for one more topic. it was going to be romney or rick perry. rick perry is probably more fun here. let me play that clip if people have not seen it. he had another moment. this one had to do with the voting age. let me run it for the viewers and i'll come back to you. >> those of you that will be 21 by november the 12th, i ask for your support and your vote. those of you who won't be, just work hard because you're going to inherit this. you're counting on us getting this right. >> what do you make of that? just another clingworthy moment? we all have those types of moments. he's had one too many, has he not? >> reporter: i'd say when he couldn't remember getting ready of the energy department, that was the turning point. i am very sympathetic with rick perry. i don't know him well. i've met him, talked to him. he's a good fellow. been a good governor. but to be president you need to be on a different level. you need to be at a very, very high level of confidence. pem assume that in their presidents. when they don't see it, you don't get into that circle. he, himself, knows that. he's going to play out his strength. he'll go back to texas, but this has become increasingly a two-person race. can somebody else possibly break into that charm circle? we'll have to wait to see. maybe santorum will get a little support, maybe michele bachmann. in new hampshire john huntsman has gotten into double digits. right now it's a romney/gingrich race. >> it's not going to go away. we'll continue our conversation with david after the break. we're going to turn away from politics. david was one at the white house having conversations after president reagan was shot. now it turns out that the man who shot president reagan wants to be free. >> breaking the bank. so to guin: ..row. lile cbby one to yell row! guineaig: ro's kof strange. guinig: row...row. such a simple word... row. anncr: t an easierayo save. get online. go to geico.com. get a quote. e u 15% or more on car insurance. president. john hingically jr. hinckley jr. fired four shots. he was eventually found not guilty by reason of insanity. here we are three decades later. in a court in hopes of getting released from a mental hospital. we rejoinour senior political analyst. he was working in the white house the day reagan was shot. a handful hubbled in "the situation room" at the time trying to decide what to do next and what to do if the president died. david into some of the details of the day for a second. you tell me your personal feelings of seeing the man who shot president reagan possibly going free. >> reporter: i hope they keep him locked up. he tried to shoot the president of the united states, ronald regan. he came within an inch of killing him. he got off on an insanity defense. that does not mean he would not be a menace to society if he returned. i know there's room at heart for forgiveness, but in this case i have very, very little forgiveness. >> it sounds like in the way you said it he got off on an insanity defense. of course there are plenty of doctors who would disagree and say this man was a sic