And thats it for me. Im Brooke Baldwin here at the cnn headquarters in atlanta. Lets go to wolf blitzer in washington. Wolf. Brooke, thanks very much. Happening now, president obama nominates chuck hagel to run the pentagon. Calling him a leader our troops deserve. Hagels critics call him profoundly wrong on National Security. Also, we have new details about a horrifying night in colorado. A Police Officer cries as he describes a theater floor slippery with blood. Plus, a first look at proposed regulations that have wouldbe gun owners racing right now to buy guns. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situation room. Captions by vitac www. Vitac. Com we begin with president obama setting the stage for a new fight here in washington. This time, other the National Security team for his second term. The president s nominating the former senator chuck hagel, a republican, for defense secretary, and his counterterrorism adviser john brennan to direct the cia. At least one critic calls the hagel nomination an in your face pick. Lets bring in our White House Correspondent brianna keilar. Shes working the story for us. The president was effusive in his praise for hagel. President obama said hagel, a republican, quote, represents a bipartisan tradition that we need more of in washington. But of course republicans on the hill are panning this pick. And some democrats as well have some concerns. Critics charge that hagels support of israel has been lacking, and that he has not been tough enough on iran. They point to his comments, once describing apac, the leading proisrael lobby, as the jewish lobby. And also to his lack support for unilateral sanctions against iran. But here at the white house, theyre pointing to his support for sanctions from the u. S. As well as its allies, together, forming sanctions against iran. This is something president obama referenced today in the east room. He understands that america stands strongest when we stand with allies. And with friends. As a successful businessman, he also knows that even as we make tough fiscal choices, we have to do so wisely. And keep our military the strongest fighting force the world has ever known. Maybe most importantly, chuck knows that war is not an obstructi obstruction. He understands that sending Young Americans to fight and bleed in the dirt and mud, thats something we only do when its absolutely necessary. The president stressed hagels experience as an enlisted soldier in vietnam. Hagel would be the first secretary of defense to have been an enlisted man. Even though there are a number of concerns, and this will most likely be the most contentious of president obamas new nominations, the sense is that president obama feels that hagel has very good answers to the questions that he will be asked. And during his confirmation process, hell be able to win over some more support, democratic support. Some senators have voiced their support already for hagel. For instance, senator leahy, wolf. But there are some who still reserved their support, saying they have concerns that need to be answered during the process. Theres no doubt that the president refused to back down in the face of the criticism that had been building over the past few weeks. Listen to what senator hagel himself said today in the white house. Mr. President , im grateful for this opportunity to serve our country again. And especially its men and women in uniform and their families. These are people who give so much to this nation every day with such dignity and selflessness. This is particularly important at a time as we complete our mission in afghanistan and support the troops and military families who have sacrificed so much over more than a decade of war. Im also grateful for an opportunity to help continue to strengthen our country and strengthen our countrys alliances. And advance global freedom, decency and humanity. As we help build a better world for all mankind. The chairman of the senate armed soimps s Services Committe carl levin says he hopes to start confirmation hearings soon. The president picked a less controversial person to lead the cia. Although there are a few issues there as well. There are a few issues. John brennan of course his longtime top terrorism adviser. You could see today the fam yardty, the rapport these two men have, and certainly that came into consideration as president obama picked him. In 08, brennan withdrew his name from consideration for the same role as cia director, amid questions that it was actually liberals raising about his involvement in enhanced interrogation tactics during the Bush Administration. Since then, brennan has very much distanced himself from those practices. Hes been a top adviser to president obama as he has banned torture. So those concerns may not play as much of a factor. But do expect him to be asked some very tough questions about the drone program, which has in full swing very much under his direction. Thats something of course that a number of democrats, as well as human rights activists, so concerns about, wolf. Brianna, thank you. During our next hour, well hear from a Top Republican senator who has announced he will vote against confirming chuck hagel for defense secretary. I asked senator cornyn of texas why he isnt waiting for hagels confirmation hearings before making up his mind. I consider him to be an honorable man with a distinguished record of service. But also at the same time profoundly wrong on some of the biggest National Security threats confronting the United States today. Hes a good man, but this is a wrong job for him because hes certainly outside of the National Security mainstream. Youre going to see my interview with senator cornyn during our 5 00 p. M. Eastern hour. Thats our next hour. Well get specific about why senator cornyn thinks hagels the wrong man for the job. Lets dig a little deeper with our chief political analyst Gloria Borger. Why do you think i know youre speaking to a lot of folks, the president held firm, refused to be kowtowed, refused to give up on hagel . Thats right, wolf, as you know, weve been reporting hagel was his top choice since sort of early middecember and i dont think that really wavered even in the face of all this criticism that has come out. First, the president obviously believes that hes qualified. Hes a decorated war veteran. In the congress, he served on the Foreign Relations and intelligence committees. Hes cochair of the president s intelligence advisory board. I think the president and chuck hagel formed a bond over their mutual opposition to the war in iraq. As you know, hagel opposed the surge in iraq. I should add, he opposed the surge in afghanistan, which the president himself authored. But theres one other reason that i think the president looked to chuck hagel. And that is that he believes that hagel will not necessarily just accept the advice of the generals and say thats it. He believes he will not be intimidated by the generals. That he can stand up to the generals. And in the statement, we heard the president say today, he made it very clear that hagel is, as he put it, geared towards the guy at the bottom who is doing the fighting and the dying. And i think thats important to the president. We learned it when he went through his afghanistan review. He talked to the generals. He did in the end what some of them wanted. It was very important to him that he kind of divorce himself and make up his own mind. I think he thinks chuck hagel will be able to do that as they start to downsize the pentagon. All right, chuck hagel may be a republican, and there are plenty of republicans who say theyre not going to vote for him not necessarily vote for hip but arent happy with this nomination but there are some democrats as well who arent enthusiastic. Its mostly because the reasons brianna stated. Particularly the question of iran sanctions. And whether he is proisrael enough. I spoke with a senior democrat aide in the senate today who said to me right now there are at least ten democrats in the senate who he called either undecided or concerned about the hagel nomination. That doesnt mean theyre going to vote no. But it means theyre going to ask some very tough questions. Now, ive also been told that hagel has been privately working the hill with republicans and those democrats who have questions about him. And today in an interview with a lincoln, nebraska, newspaper, hometown interview, first interview, hagel himself said that his record will demonstrate what he called an unequivocal and total support for israel. I think John Brennans going to have a much easier ride through the Senate Intelligence committee and through the senate. He is going to have an easier fight. But there are questions about it. I mean, john mccain who was tortured himself when he was a p. O. W. , has raised real questions about brennans role in the Bush Administration supporting enhanced interrogation. Today, he put out a statement saying he wanted to know, quote, what role he played in the socalled enhanced interrogation progras while serving at the cia during the last administration. I would also point out, wolf, that john mccain is on the same side as the liberal Civil Rights Group the aclu in this. They are raising the same kinds of questions. Even though in the past, brennan has said that he opposes these enhanced interrogation techniques. Well watch these confirmation hearings every step of the way. Should be interesting, both of them. Low flying helicopters have people in some of the countrys biggest cities asking questions. The answers have to do with preparations for a possible terrorist attack. Using radioactive dirty bombs. Plus, before we get to that, we have some new details emerging about the colorado theater shootings, including the suspects strange behavior once he was caught. Uncer ] when was the last time something made your jaw drop . Campbells has 24 new soups that will make it drop over, and over again. From jammin jerk chicken, to creamy gouda bisque. See whats new from campbells. Its amazing what soup can do. To help protect your eye health as you age. Would you take it . Well, there is. [ male announcer ] its called ocuvite. 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Cnns ed lavandera was in the suburban denver courtroom as prosecutors began revealing the evidence against the alleged gunman james holmes. Eds joining us now. Ed, tell us what you heard. Reporter well, wolf, this is really the First Time Since the july shootings that weve heard from firsthand from the officers that made the arrest of james holmes just moments after the shooting that killed 12 people here in aurora, colorado. Those officers describe seeing james holmes just standing by his car in this frantic situation, chaotic, with victims screaming and yelling for help, and james holmes just standing there, decked out in protective gear, a helmet and a gas mask. And at first the officers said they thought he was a s. W. A. T. Officer. It wasnt until they approached hip they realized this was perhaps the asuspect they were looking for. One of the officers described him as staring off into space, seemed to be out of it. At the same time, the officer said he understood everything that was going on, never really spoke to the officers. But it was the testimony the officers gave where they describe first walking into theater number nine where the shooting took place that offered the most emotion from what we heard today. Several officers unable to just simply describe what they saw. They described the gruesome carnage inside that theater. One of the officers describing making four trips in his own police car, taking victims to rushing victims to the hospital himself. And then described the amount of blood that was left inside of his car as he made that final trip to the hospital. The fourth time taking six people in all. Wolf. And whats the Defense Strategy thats emerging from james holmes attorneys . Reporter well, you know, were kind of reading through the tea leaves at this point because theres a strict gag order in place. The Defense Attorneys are unable to speak with reporters about what their strategy is, but in the cross examination theyve asked these Police Officer witnesses, theres been a great deal of attention paid to james holmes demeanor, and what he looked like, how he acted, and that sort of thing. Clearly, there are a lot of people around here who suggest theyre going for some sort of Mental Health defense here down the road. But they still havent entered a plea so we dont know exactly what theyre going to do. But the indication seem theyre headed down that way. Youve also seen some of the victims and their families in the courtroom today. How are they dealing, ed . Reporter you know, its interesting, there were several overflow rooms where victims and family members can watch this testimony if they choose to. This courtroom is very crowded. A great deal of attention, of people who want to see what is going on throughout these proceedings. I was struck by one moment that i witnessed just outside of the courtroom. The father of one of the victims, a survivor in the shoot, and the officer, jason ofiat, who was the first officer who hand coughed holmes outside the theater after one of the sessions this morning, the gentleman came by and gave the officer a hug and thank eed him for everything he did that night. That speaks volumes to the emotion and how gutwrenching it is for many who are watching and listen to this and will be throughout this week. Ed lavandera, thank you. The colorado theater shootings and last months School Massacre in new town, connecticut, prompted president obama to set up a task force on gun violence. Our crime and justice correspondent joe johns has been getting some details about the ideas that are under consideration. Also getting some reaction from gun owners out there. What are you seeing . We, wolf, you know, america has a love hate relationship with guns. Its on full display now. Background checks for sales of firearms have hit a record pace in anticipation of new gun control proposals under development at the white house. People are racing to buy the weapons they fear they one day might not be able to get. We probably are seeing at least a 50 increase in sales. Our assault rifles, ars, aks, have all doubled in sales. Reporter meanwhile, over at the white house, the administration is looking to a working group of experts led by Vice President biden to come up with better ideas to reduce crimes committed with guns. You have a much more holistic view of how to deal with violence on our streets, in our country. Reporter officials who were inside the First Working Group meeting describe it as a brainstorming session that went far beyond talk of renewing the socalled assault weapons ban that was enacted during the clinton administration. The officials said they talked about banning highcapacity magazines, improving Mental Health checks for people who are purchasing weapons. Bolstering the federal background check system for gun purchasers, including closing the loophole that allows many purchasers at gun shows to avoid background checks altogether. Also, a National Gun Registry and improving tracking of ammunition sales. Dan gross, who is president of the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence, has had conversations with the white house. I would be fairly confident that the task force is, based on what the president s been saying, that alone, that the task force is committed to exploring more Broad Solutions than just an assault weapons ban. Reporter on capitol hill, some of the ideas go even further. The Democratic Senators from new york want tough new gun trafficking laws. We have thousands of laws but effectively none of them are focused on preventing someone from virginia from driving up to new york city, parking their car in a parking lot and selling illegal firearms out of the back of his truck to criminals. Reporter but the question is whether advocates of gun rights on the hill and the voters who sent them to congress will stand for it. I dont think the federal government has any business having a list of law abiding citizens who choose to exercise their right to keep and bear arms. Reporter the Top Republican in the senate points out Congress Already has a full agenda to last well into the new year. Clearly, well not be addressing that issue early because spending and debt are going to dominate the first three months. Reporter but there seems to be a middle ground. There are some gun owners who say certain people should not have guns. Im all for trying to weed out the individuals that shouldnt have them that make the rest of us look bad. And im definitely for that. But in the same sense, i dont think we should just, you know, ban everybody from owning a specific type of firearm. Reporter its important to say also what were reporting here is basically a wish list from some of the stakeholders in the gun control debate. A Law Enforcement official i talked to said he was not aware of any specific preposals the group had act