implications oevery sll change that you notice. change is not always for the better. and even if it it for the better it's not always sustained. so we need change in the right direction that is steady and stable and we would like the world to keep an eye on what's happening. >> rose: we continue with the burning question of the moment in american politics, will governor chris christie of new jersey run for the republican nomination for president? joining the conversation, tom defrank of the "new york daily news," nia-malika henderson of the "washington post," matthew dowd, former strategist for george w. bush,john harris of politico and jack welch former c.e.o. of general electric. >> a decisive leader. somebody who's done something in new jersey that's special. and has done the real thing, who seems to be totally authentic. it's a very attractive characteristic. >> he's smart enough to understand that it's the wrong time for him. that he's not ready to be president which i think makes him presidential timbr to tell yothe truth. i have twoords for governor christie, fred thompson. >> i think the two questions governor christie hasto answer-- and we always answer the first question-- is are you ready to run? and i think that's the a question you've got to answer. but the second question which i think is an important question is are you ready to governor? and i think barack obama answered the first question yes, he was ready to run and he won. but i don't think many candidates asked the second question, are you ready to govern? >> once he plunged in, he will find this is damn hard work. it's hard work to assemble a campaign and ensure ballot access and particularly-- and perry underscores this-- it's hard work showing you are, in fact, ready to goern and performing well in these debates and other high profile settings if you haven't been preparing. >> should he? i mean, as a reporter, sure, i'd li another person in this race the cover closely and it would make the race that much more exciting and volatile. will he? it doesn't look like he will. from everything he said, i think he actually came out to say, you know, he would have to commit suicide in order to convince people that he's not going to run. >> rose: aung san suu kyi and whether christie will run or not when we continue captioning sponsor by rose communications from our studios in new york city, this is charlie rose. >> rose: we begin this evening with a conversation with someone you might know and admire but have nevereen in conversation. shes myanmar's oosition leader aung san u kyi. her non-violent campaign for democracy won her the nel peace prize in 1991. she was under house arrest for almost 15 of the last 21 years. she wareleased in november, 2010, but remains under clos government surveillance. i spoke to her last week at the 2011 clinton global initiative during skype. it was a conversation i began with desmond tutu, the archbishop from south africa, we were participating in the clinton global initiative introduced by president clinton who joined us later in the conversation. but here it is tap last week. it's my honor and a great pleasure and opportunity to go across oceans via satellite to talk to aung san suu kyi. i hope you can hear me. this is charlie rose sitting with archbishop tutu here in new york. and there you are. please join me here in new york in welcoming aung san suu kyi who is in myanmar. (applause) thank you very much. as you can see, there is standing ovation here in new york for you. (applause) which is... which is a tribute. if we can hear you... which is a tribute to the respect that the world has for you. how are you and how goes your own struggle for democracy? >> i'm well and very happy to see both of you, especially archbishop desmond tutu who i've always wanted to mt. this is almost as good as meeting in person and it's ve kind for him to get to see him this way. you asked how things are getting on. it's getting out. it's not easy and i'm sure every south african knows how difficult this kind of struggle can be and we're talking about the reconciliation that is sometimes the most difficult of all because both sides have to be prepared to compromise and to give not just take. and give and take is such a mutual process that we need to find the right balance. we are at a very difficult state but at the same time, as i've always said i'm cautiously optimistic going forward and that we will be ableo get on to t road to true national reconciliation. >> rose: what's necessary in terms of the message that you want to say to the world about the struggle? because i think of a speech you made about freedom from fear. how have you been able to make this journey when we appreciate the sacrifices you've had to make and not seeing your children, having your husband die away from your country. >> all journeys are made step by step. and that's how i have made this journey, step by step. to be quite honest, i didn't think when i first started out in the movement that i would have to devote my life to it. i took it for granted that i would somehow balance mily as i went along with my struggles but it turned out not to b true. but i not the only one who is in this position now. many of my colleagues are working alone wiout t support of families and friends. so i get tremendo courage from looking at them, from lookingat how hard they struggle and they are the unknown soldiers of our cause and i think the unknown soldiers are far braver and far worthier than people like me who are known to the world. and because i'm known to the world i'm protected to a great degree. but those unknown people who are working as much as i am, they are not known to the world so th don't at protection. their courage is tremendous. and to work with people like that you are encouraged and strengthened from day to day to continue this journey step by step. sometimes i think we've learned. >> rose: i want to bring archbishop tutu in on this coersation. i, like nerve his audience, the idea of the two two of you talking to each other with the values that you have. because you have said before my goal is not regime change my goal is value change. values are what drove the people in south africa to findheir own freem as well. archbishop tu. >> rose:. >> well, i'm like a smitten young man. i love you. (applause) >> i must return the compliment. >> rose: you're smitten as well? >> i just want you to know how much you have inspired many people and because you continue to believe in the humanity even of those who have sought to dehumanize you over these many years. god is proud of you. and god smiles even throughthe pain as god looks at the incredible thing th you are doing, have done. the things that you have suffered, your compassion, your beauty. (laughter) >> rose: the he goes again! >> (laughs) >> rose: do you believe and do you have to believe that democracy... full democracy will come? >> yes, i do believe that. otherwise i would not be taking this journey step by painful step. because when we talk about democracy we're really talking about institutions. we want the kind of institutions that will protect the freedom and security of our people. and some people say democracy a western concept. it's a western word but the idea of freedom and security needs to be balanced with the concept that is acceptable to human beings across the globe. and this is what we want. people want restraint but they want to be secure as well. this is why when the americans talk authe right to life, bertand pursuit of happiness everybody else can understand that. we all want our lives to be protecte we all want to be free. we all want to be able to find our own freedom to search for our own happiness, build our own ppiness, not to have other people's idea of happiness imposeon us whether we nt it orot. so i think when we say we want democracy, we want the kind of simple feds and security that people all over the world want. archbishop desmond tutu was talking about the rights of women and girls. in burma, women are supposed to have a relatively isolated society and yet we are still the second class of gender. still even in burma. and we see this is a problem of human trafficking and of course the majority of people trafficed are women and girls. so this shows that there's a lot still to be done for women and girls in burma as in africa and other places in the world. >> rose: look at the arab spring does it resonate you because of the struggle you have made for dignity and democracy and changing the opportunity for people to control their own destiny? >> yes, of course. vements like the ones that are happening in the arab countries means something people all over the world struggling for their own freedom. manyeople remember what happenedn 1982348 burma when our people rose up to ask for democracy. of course our societies are very different but in the end they're all human beings and i think we can all understand each other's hope and fear and aspirations. we would like the arab countries to be as happy and proerous and secure as we would want our country to be. >> rose: i'm going to give you another opportunity. >> (laughs) >> rose: as you sit there smitten. >> i'm dazed. i just want to say, too, how inspirational you have been pointing out that ultimately good will prevail. that we believe god wants this world to be a world that is more compassionate, that is more gentle, that is more caring, that is more sharing and you live that out. >> rose: do you feel that there is real traction taking place in terms of building on the possibility of changing myanmar? >> i think there's a possibility of change. i think this... i noticed on the very first day i was released because i saw so many young people in the crowds who came to greet me. many more young people than i'd ever seen in other crowds that have come to greet me in many parts of burma before i was put away in 2003 and this made me understand that there was some change going on. change that is coming from the people. and i think that's the best and most reliable kind of change. and of course you've heard i've talked to some of the representatives of the government and we hope we are waiting to see signs of real change very soon. the has be a lot talk but people always want to see something concrete and they're right, too, talk is never enough but at least it's the beginning and we are beginning to see the beginning of change. we have said... i mean, i have said i'm looking forward to coming to burma when u are grated as the head of government there. quite seriously. (applause) >> rose: we couldn't hear because of the applause for that. would you repeat that? >> i have to be very, very ambitious because i do something want to come. (laughter) >> rose: we're all witness to something that's going on here. mutual admirationnd more. (laughter) when you... what is it that the world can do to aid in the struggle that you're engaged in? >> awareness. i alwaysay that. what we really need is awareness. awareness of what is going on our country. it's not easy to know exactly what's going on. sometimesology what going on. i'm not sure because so much is going on at the same time but i think we need cultivate awareness of what's going on around us and if the world wants to help burma, the world needs to know what is happening in burma. and this means a lot of effort. you don't get to know what's happening in a place just by looking at a newspaper from time to time. i think you really have to follow what' going on there and to think very deeply about the implications of every small change that you noticed. change is not always for the better and even if it is for the better it's not always the same. so what we need is change in the right direction that is steady and sustainable and we would like the wld keep an eye on what's happening. >> rose: awareness is one thing that you suggested. we have to be aware andyou just can't come and occasionally check on it, you have to have an ongoing sense of the necessity of awareness and contribution. but what is it that governments can do? >> i think first of all they should listen to the voice of the people of burma. what is this that the people of burma want? and then they can decide how they can help. because with hu jintao, we are neighbors, burma is a neighbor of china and india and it's always been good neighbors and we would like to continue be good neighbors. but times ar changed and circumances have changed and to continue to be good neighbors certain policies have to change. i believe thathe best kind of relationship between any two countries is a good relationship between two people. not only between the government, between the people. and this i would like every head of government to keep in mind it matters in the long run and with the united states government i would like like to take the opportunity to say that i very much appreciate what they have done for us for over two decades now to help us in the struggle for democracy. but, of course, we always think that more can be done. i think that this is so the people... we always think that more can be done. and we would appreciate it very much if the process would hp by giving... by the right kind of encouragement in the right places. >> rose: is there specific things that you need in order to communicate yourwn struggle and your own passion? do you have the access that you now need rohr there limitations in what you can do? >> well this is the kind of thing that i could never have done seven years ago, is speak to you like this and see you like this. so we are making progress but we need more progress and what i'm very concerned about is that we need young people tobe more fit to cope with the challenges of the modern world. we need a better educated burma. we need bter health care. we need a more open society in which r young people can realize their potential. >> rose: and are they aware... are the young people of burma aware of your own struggle? does everyone understand the plight that you have had undergo? >> i wouldn't say that everyone is aware of it or everyone understands. but i can say that a lot of young people are supporting us and i think more and more everyday and that's very encouraging. >> rose: social media, as you know, played a prominent role in the arab spring. does it play a role in burma. >> i don't think the media has quite (inaudible) because in burma we do not have such a develod communication, can we put it that way? and veryew of our young people really have access to the modern technologies that plad such an important role in the arab spring. >> rose: you have talked about freedom from fear. remind us how you have been able to have a freedom from fear and why it's crucial in living the life that you haveived. >> well, if you were fighting all the time you wouldn't be able to sustain in the circumstances in which i had to live. so i think i had to learn not to let fear control. but freedom from fear, i do not mean that you don't feel free but you let fr control you. it's not fear that should decide what you do or whayou should not do. you have to face that fear in order to be committed to a cause in wch you believe. >> rose: you've also talked about changing values rather than regimes. how will you achve a chan in values? >> by tking and talking, i suppose. so far that's what i think happened to it i try to talk to as many people as possible to make them understand what we are working for, what we are struggling for and why. i think basically people have the right to know what other people are doing if we want them to join us then they must know why but i have to explain that we don't need to say that much. a lot of people understand but they want the same thing that we want. >> rose: it gives me great honor again, as i mentioned earlier to invite president clinton back because of what he said to this audience and what he said to me so please invite president clinton. (applause) >> hello. i was just jealous of the bhop and charlie having all the fun with you. and i wanted to thk you for doing this and thank you for continuing to lead and inspire us all. and thank you for being willing to make all the sacrifices you'd have madeo live t beautiful life you live. we're very grateful. thank you. >> rose: this has been a remarkable experience for nerve this room to have this opportunity to see and here you live as you were speaking these words of aspiration and affirmation about universal values and your own sense of the very real possibilities of political change. i suspect that president clinton as well as archbishop tutu would very much like to be there on a day that you see the democracy that you have fought for achieved and they could be on a plane to watch you as they watched nelson mandela find the freedom for people of south africa, thank you again for a wonderful opportunity. (applause) >> rose: there'srowing spulation about whether new jersey governor chris christie will enter the replican presidential contest. he's being urged to run by many dinary citizens, wealthy donors and party leaders. s appeal includes his blunt style, fresh face and record in new jersey. there's still questions about his experience and electability in a closely watched speech tuesday night at the ronald reagan presidential library governor christie attacked president obama's record. >> ourbipartisan accomplishments in new jersey have help to set a tone that's taken ahold across many other states. it is a simple but powerful message. lead on the tough issues by telling your citizen it is truth about the depths of our challenges. tell them the truth about the difficulty of our solutions. this is the only way to lead america during these troubling times. in washington, on the other hand we have watched as we drift from conflict to conflict with little or no resolution. we watch a president who once talked about the courage of his convictions but still has yet fod the courage to lead. we watch a congress at war with itself because they're unwilling to leave campaign-style politics at the capitol's door. the result is a debt ceiling limitation debate that made our democracyppear as if we could no longer effectively governor ourselves. and still we continue to wait and hope that o president will finally stop being a bistander in the oval office. we hope he will shake off the paralysis that has made it impossible for him to take on the big things that a so obvious to all americans and to a watching and anxious world. yes, we hope. we hope. because each and every time the president lets a moment to act pass him by, his failure is our failure, too. the failure to stand up for the bipartisan debt solutions of the simpson bowles commission, a report the president asked for himself, the failure to act on the country's crushing unemployment, the failure to act on ever expanding and rapidly eroding entitlement programs. the failure to discern pork barrel spending from real infrastructure investment. you see, the rule foreffective governance is simple. it's the one ronald reagan knew by heart. it's the one he successfully employed with social security and the cold war. when there is a problem, you fix it. that's what you do. >> that's what he d. that's the job we've been sent to do and you cannot wait for someone else to do it when you're sitting in the ol office. we pay for this failure of leadership many, many times over. the domestic price is obvious-- growth slows, high levels of unemployment persist and we make ourselves even more vulnerable to the unpredictable behavior of skittish markets where the political decisions of our lenders but there's also a foreign polyrice to pay. we diminish our ability and influence the thinking and ultimately the behavior of others. the is no better way to persua other societies arod the world than to becom