to watch the president of the government give up on leading and governing and spend full time campaigning. but the president dares the republicans to say no. if congress does something then i can t run against a do-nothing congress. if congress does nothing, then it s not a matter of me running against them. i think the american people will run them out of town. democratic political strategist jamal simmons is here along with karen hand ready and john avlon here with me. jamal, has the president found a way to get the jobs bill with a tax increase? he does have it right. he s lining up for the republicans, either you re for the middle class or against the middle class. i think that s going to be something for republicans to have to wrestle with. i m not sure i would be on the side of defending wall street and millionaires in this kind of electoral environment. it was interesting, a cnn reporter ran into susan collins, moderate republican in the halls of congress tod
out from his hiding place revealing new information about cease fire talks. could his father be ready to surrender. we ll have that exclusive report seconds away. tropical storm lee is putting parts of the gulf coast under water. cnn reporters are positioned in towns right in the storm s path. we ll take you there live. then we ll head to an area still reeling from hurricane irene. president obama plays a visit to paterson, new jersey. a live report is just ahead. first to libya and exclusive developments right here on cnn. moammar gadhafi and influential sons appear to be running out of options. that s according to cnn international correspondent, earlier this year in tripoli, that was before the capital fell to rememberle forces. the whereabouts of moammar gadhafi are still unknown are they. nick robertson has spoke about the dwindling chances for some kind of cease fire. look at this map. south of tripoli is bani, walid one of the few places where they find support. let