Democrats saying plan b is doa. Boehners proposal will not pass the senate. Huge winter storm stretching from colorado to the upper great lakes expected to cause blizzardlike conditions today. If this turns out to be real, a giant eagle snatching a child from a park in montreal. Instagram is backing off a new policy that allowed it to use photos. Out of russia, a truck rolling over spilling out dozens of cows. Do fans ever ask you to curse at them . All the time. And all that matters. Youve got to be kidding me. You know, in this town with that kind of email, do you think he could have survived the cia . I dont think so. On cbs this morning. A box office record, the hobbit an unexpected journey ea. Its about tom cruises ea. Its about tom cruises search for a new wife. Captioning funded by cbs welcome to cbs this morning. A new report on the attack that destroyed the american consulate in benghazi, libya, pulls no punches. It says the state department failed to provide proper security for the u. S. Ambassador to libya and other officials who were killed. However, the report does not blame any one person for the failures and it recommends no one be fired or disciplined. Margaret brennan is in washington. Margaret, good morning. Good morning to you, norah and to charlie. The review of the fatal assault blames systemic failures of leadership and management deficiencies at senior levels. Within two bureaus of the state department. Missteps that ultimately led to the deaths of ambassador Christopher Stevens and three american personnel at the u. S. Consulate in benghazi. Reporter the investigation sharply criticizes the state department for a Security Posture that was, quote, grossly inadequate to deal with the attack. Officials ignored requests from the u. S. Embassy in tripoli for better security at the benghazi compound. The failure to coordinate is blamed on two departments within the state department. Diplomatic security and near eastern affairs. Among the findings, there was an intelligence knowledge gap about the high threat environment and the inability of libyan militias to protect the post. They ran away when the attackers approached. There was an inadequate number of Diplomatic Security agents. And there were no technically proficient staffers. Boxes of security cameras set unused because nobody knew how to install them. The board did not single out vimgs for disciplinary action. Instead it praised the responders including two former s. E. A. L. S who died in the assault and the Diplomatic Security agents for their courage in the, quote, near impossible situation. The pentagon was absolved of any blame for their deaths, saying, quote, the interagency response was timely and appropriate, but there simply was not enough time for armed u. S. Military assets to have made a difference. The review also submitted 29 recommendations on how to improve security at diplomatic posts. Including hiring more security and personnel who speak arabic. In a letter to Congress Secretary clinton says she accepts every single one of the recommendations made. She already is sending hundreds of marine guards to bolster posts and asks congress to provide more funding. Margaret brennan, thanks. Also in washington is cbs news political director john dickerson. Good morning. Reporter good morning, charlie. What are the ramifications of this report . Well, the political ramifications, in a sense the political price has already been paid for these administrations. Susan rice withdrawing her name from the secretary of state nomination. Even though this report has nothing to do with her at all. She wasnt at the state department. That has removed her. Her nomination will not be discussed in the senate. If john kerry is the nominee, he wasnt involved with the state department. Hell answer questions. Hes not on the hook for them. That does not become a public forum for this scathing report. That as a political matter helps the white house. John, Hillary Clinton sends this letter to members of congress saying that she will accept all 29 of the panels recommendations. Five of which are classified. But there are some critics of this administration who accuse her of faking a diplomatic illness so she doesnt have to testify tomorrow before the committee. Does she suffer at all politically for this . Well, this is where the political focus of this moment rests is on Hillary Clinton. For two reasons. One, its the kind of messy end to what has otherwise been seen in bipartisan opinion as a strong career as a secretary of state. Well, the systemic failures are within her department. And so if nothing else, its a bad way to end her tenure. And, on the other hand, people obviously talk a lot about her as a nominee in 2016. What republicans say about this report and her culpability for the failures will be played again and again if she is a nominee in the or runs in 2016. I wonder why she wouldnt want to step forward and say not only will we carry out these recommendations, but im the secretary of state and i take full responsibility for this . She wants to say that, charlie. But then period, end, and lets move on. Exactly. Remember, the big question here was did Hillary Clinton duck this when it was going on . Did the administration know that there was a systemic failure here, but try to push away that story and create a new story, have susan rice go out on the shows and say this was a spontaneous attack . Much better to be accused much better for it to be a spontaneous attack which no one could see coming than to have systemic failures which they should have seen coming. John dickerson, thank you so much. In the fiscal cliff negotiations, one day can make a big difference. 24 hours ago it sounded as though the president and House Republicans were close to a deal. But this morning with 13 days to the deadline, progress appears to have stalled. Major garrett is at the white house. Major, good morning. Reporter good morning, charlie and norah. Good morning to your viewers in the west. Optimism has not yet turned to pessimism. Republicans and the white house still think a deal is possible and still want to get a deal and believe it can happen if the other side would just give a little. The problem on tuesday, no one was in a particular giving mood. House Speaker Boehner took a day off from near constant fiscal cliff negotiations with president obama. Boehner said the white house still wants too much in tax revenue and refuses to bring new revenue in line. We do not have a balanced plan. Only willing to fund 815 billion worth of cuts over ten years. Reporter bain soehner is isl talking to the white house. The house may vote soon on a bill to raise taxes on households raising 1 million or more. Its sure to pass but would fall well short of the grand bargain sought by each side. Its a legislative head shake by boehner or a sign that progress is derailed. Speaker boehners proposal is not balanced. Will not protect the middle class. Because it cant pass the senate. And it doesnt do anything. Reporter mr. Obama wants to raise income taxes on households earning more than 400,000. The rate would increase from 35 now to 39. 6 . Previously mr. Obama demanded higher taxes on households earning 250,000. The white house says a deal is in sight. Theres an opportunity on the table here to achieve 1. 2 trillion in additional spending cuts. It seems like folly to walk away from that opportunity. You know, major, charlie and i are just sitting here talking watching your piece about both sides talking about this. Theyre feeling pressure from their bases on this. What angers them the most . Reporter of course, there are complaints on the right and the left. On the left, democrats are not happy that the president has given up two things they wish he hadnt. One, raising the income Tax Threshold for higher tax ratings. From 250,000 to 400,000 tlrs. The president s also put on the table reducing future cost of living benefits even for social security. On the right, republicans dont believe that the white house has given up enough on spending cuts and dont believe Speaker Boehner has driven a hard enough bargain to achieve that. Theyre also unhappy the speaker is giving in at all on income tax rates. Those complaints are there. Not as aggressive as the white house and speaker feared. Theyre there just the same. Now to newtown, connecticut, where more funerals will be held today for victims of Fridays School massacre. Elaine quijano is in newtown. Good morning. Reporter good morning to you, charlie and norah. The search for comfort here means more funerals will take place today. It also means a slow return to things that once seemed routine. This simple act of going to school is no longer simple here. On the first day back after the shooting, its become more of a ritual. Mike morshuk planned to meet his 16yearold daughter after class. Ill be waiting outside the car and hopefully a few friends will come over, give them a big hug and a kiss, you know. Reporter for students at sandy hook elementary classes wont resume until january. In an empty school being renovated nearby. Their own building is still an active crime scene and may never be reopened. Tuesday morning funerals were held for 6yearold James Mattioli who loved cuddling with his mom at the end of the day. And jessica rekos, who so loved horses. She had just asked santa for a new cowgirl hat. Today there will be services for teacher vicki soto and principal dawn hochsprung. Victims who are being hailed as heroes for their actions. But healing is a long way off. Newtown assistant fire chief ray corbo was among the first on the scene last friday. In the quiet moments what do you think about . The families of these poor, innocent children. What they have to go through. Burials and funerals. Reporter for the First Responders who saw so much, there is so little to say. Sorry that we couldnt help more. Reporter as for the investigation, theres still no motive. Authorities say the shooter, adam lanza, so badly damaged the computer and hard drive in his house, the fbi has not been able to retrieve any data from them. Charlie and norah . Elaine quijano, thank you. President obama announces today that a new White House Task force will look at changes in federal gun policy. Also this morning for the first time, the National Rifle association is responding to the newtown attack. Bill plante is at nra headquarters in fairfax, virginia, just outside of washington. Bill, good morning. Reporter good morning, norah. The nra is one of washingtons most powerful lobbying groups. But for four days after the killings in newtown, it had nothing to say. Nothing on its website, on facebook or on twitter. But tuesday with politicians of every stripe now calling for some kind of action, the nra broke its silence. Saying that it was shocked, saddened, and heartbroken by the murders and that it had refrained from commenting out of respect for the families. In a statement the nra said it is prepared to offer meaningful contributions to help make sure this never happens again. And that it will offer more details at a News Conference on friday. In congress, the leader of Senate Republicans joined the chorus of politicians who are suggesting that something needs to be done. As we continue to learn the Facts Congress will examine whether there is an appropriate and constitutional response that would better protect our citizens. Reporter the white house Spokesman Says president obama is ready to now actively support a renewal of the ban on assault weapons as well as other limits. People have talked about high capacity ammunition clips, for example. That is something certainly that he would be interested in looking at. Reporter that came as victims of gun violence and their families demonstrated on capitol hill. Urging lawmakers to take action to help curb the carnage. Were here from tucson, from auro aurora, from columbine, trolley square, seal beach, Virginia Tech and newtown, connecticut. Names that have become iconic in americas bizarre and shameful epidemic of gun violence. Reporter public outrage over the massacre has also emboldened members of congress to challenge the power of the gun lobby. The political power is much like the wizard of oz. Theyre bullies. And whats most important is, they really dont represent their membership. The members are overwhelmingly in favor of responsible use of guns and responsible rules. Reporter feelings are running very high after this tragedy. Of course, theres been a lot of talk of a turning point. The president today will announce that hes putting Vice President biden in charge of a process to look at possible new legislation. But, look, change doesnt happen quickly in washington. There have been about a dozen attempts to bring back the assault weapons ban. Theyve all failed in congressional committee. And the National Rifle association spent 17 million this year to influence legislation and public opinion. Itll be looking out for its interests long after the outrage subsides. Charlie, norah . Bill plante, thanks. Senior correspondent john miller, former fbi Deputy Director joins us now. What should we expect from the nra other than a statement . If history is a guide, and you go on past behavior, the nra, the last time they were pushed into a corner was when murder was at its alltime high in the u. S. In the mid1990s. They came out in support of the background check we use today. Mostly they come out and say we need to do a better job of enforcing existing laws, not new laws. That means things like more names from people who have been adjudicated, mentally defected, to be added to the data base of prohibitive people. Right now theres only 1,700,000. Lots of states dont contribute at all because of privacy rules. More tracking down of people who arent supposed to have guns and things like that. Im curious, though, if theyll do more. Theyve already said on friday on this press conference theyre going to have a major press conference. Im curious if theyre going to Say Something more. Youre right thats in their track record. What about gun sales . Weve now read gun sales are up huge. How much were they up after fridays shooting . Well, saturday may turn out to be, we dont have the numbers yet, but by doing the projected math may turn out to be the third biggest day for gun sales in u. S. History. It could land in between 120,000 and 130,000 guns sold that day, the day after this massacre. And why is that . Well, its the traditional Christmas Holiday rush in gun sales, a. And whenever theres talk of new gun control that always spurs sales also. John miller, thank you. A series of winter storms are gathering strength in the middle of the country. They threaten to disrupt Holiday Travel across the u. S. Over the next few days. Lets go to david bernard, chief meteorologist of our miami station cbs 4. Good morning, norah. Were talking about a big part of the country. A series of storms thats going to be affecting the country. Let me start by talking about all the warnings in effect. Winter storm warnings from Salt Lake City right through eastern colorado and into the midwest. Some of these are even blizzard warnings in effect. And the accumulating snow between now and, lets say, friday morning could be measured in feet in some of the Higher Elevations in the pacific northwest. Itll be rain in seattle and portland. But the mountains will see very heavy snow. Could see a few inches with this storm around denver. But the real significant snows and the worst weather is going to run from omaha right through milwaukee. Thats where we could see blizzard conditions and some very significant snows. Maybe up to a foot of snow in some areas. Chicago has gone without snow now for a record 289 days. That is the last time they had an accumulating snow. It looks like that streak is going to end by thursday night. We could see several inches of snow in chicago and very strong winds. Maybe over 50 Miles Per Hour with some blowing snow as well. David bernard, thanks. Time to show you some of this mornings headlines from around the globe. The New York Times says a new study has found no clear evidence linking 9 11 debris to cancer. Six months ago the federal government added cannes tore the list of diseases covered by the World Trade Center fund. But the new York City HealthDepartment Found people exposed to debris and dust at ground zero did not have a higher cancer rate. Britains guardian reports on deadly attacks in pakistan targeting u. N. Workers giving out polio vaccinations. Two workers were killed today and one is in critical condition. It is not clear who is behind the attacks but the taliban opposes the Vaccination Campaign claiming that its aimed at sterilizing muslims. Usa today says the Housing Market is Building Momentum thanks to job growth, the construction of new Single Family homes will be up 25 this year. Its predicted to jump another 35 next year. And the San Jose Mercury news says facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is donating nearly 500 million in stock to a local nonprofit foundation. On his Facebook Page zuckerberg referred to a promise to donate more than half of his wealth to charity. He is part of the socalled our weather is all about the cold clear temperatures outside right now. Clear skies and temperatures still below freezing in a lot of spots. We have a freeze warning for the north bay set to expire at 8 a. M. Santa rosa at 27 degrees. 28 in napa a