Happy new year

Posted: Monday, December 31, 2007 4:20 PM by Sam Singal

By Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

It sometimes feels to me like the Presidential primaries should have started months ago. As friends and viewers often remind me, it seems like we've been covering the 2008 campaign for years. So many candidates, month after month of debates and candidate forums, and all those polls. Well guess what? While we've been decorating, shopping, returning gifts, and making New Year's resolutions and reservations, the 2008 contest has finally reached the part where the voters get to decide. You want drama? You've got it in Iowa where between the two parties there are five front runners. And watching the candidates trying to break up the pack in these final three days has produced some bizarre moments on the campaign trail which we will tell you all about on tonight's program.

On top of all that, could we see a new independent candidate make a late entry into the race? NBC's Mike Taibbi will tell us why all eyes are on Democrat, turned Republican, turned Independent Mike Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City.

We'll have the latest on the dispute in Pakistan over how Benazir Bhutto was killed. We'll show you that new tape of the attack that has turned all of us into amateur ballistics experts. What happens to her at the moment the shots are heard makes a compelling case that she was shot. Pakistan's government, however, is sticking with its claim that she was killed when her head struck the sunroof of the vehicle she was in. Ned Colt will wrap things up for us from Islamabad.

If you're thinking about earning a college degree through one of those popular on-line programs it will be worth watching Rehema Ellis tonight and her report about some that are not what they may appear to be.

Finally you should know Brian returns from vacation tomorrow. I've enjoyed anchoring Nightly News over the last week, and appreciate your comments on the blogs, especially those saying I need a day off. (I'm pretty sure most of them came from my mom using aliases). I'm going to take the advice, and spend a few days visiting family, and look forward to seeing you all again on my regular weekend broadcasts of TODAY and Nightly News.

I wish all of you a safe, and happy New Year!

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Comments

Lester - You've been a trouper and deserve a holiday week of your own. Thanks for all your fine reporting over the holidays and enjoy some family time in the New Year.

Joan Chapman, Cheshire CT. (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 5:01 PM)

MR. HOLT,
IF MR. WILLIAMS DECIDES TO CHANGE HIS DAY JOB
FOR SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, YOU WOULD BE A GREAT
REPLACEMENT FOR HIM.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

PHYLLIS KUNZ LOUISVILLE, KY. (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 5:30 PM)

Many thanks for the terrific work you have done during this waaaaayyyyy too busy (news-wise) last week of the year. It continues to amaze me how our world seems to have speeded up and nearly daily (it seems) creates big stories that used to happen a couple times a year.

Wishing you RELAXING time off :)

Lynn G., Minneapolis, MN (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 6:12 PM)

Thanks Lester! You did a fabulous job filling in for Brian Williams. It should have reminded people across the U.S. why those of us in Chicago loved you so while you were here. Happy New Year.

Jim Perry, Chicago, IL (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 7:20 PM)

Lester, No this is not your mother, however, I'm happy you're getting around to some time off. I have enoyed you tremendously the past few days. Happy new year and be safe. I'll be watching this weekend!

Cynthia, North Carolina (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 7:29 PM)

Bhutto wasn't assassinated, she died as a result of a fall. Who is writing this stuff?

The bush administration talked her into going back and changing the government with the protection of the U.S. Bhutto wasn't adequately protected and now the country is in turmoil. Sounds familiar?

The bush administration convinced this country to go into Iraq to change the government and sent in troops without adequate protection - faulty body armor and unarmored Humvees - for the troops. Many were killed or wounded and now the country is in turmoil.

Just what have the bush administration gotten right except massive profits for their friends?

Dewey Quong, Reno, NV (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 7:38 PM)

Good Evening Mr.Holt, First of all I have enjoyed your anchoring of Nightly News over the last week. You did an excellent job and certainly deserve some time off. Rest and relax over your time off Mr.Holt and have a good time visiting family. I cannot believe it is the last day of 2007. Now we have finally come to the Iowa Caucus and definitely alot of drama. This is going to be a very long election year and I will be happy when we have reached a decision on the person to be elected into the Office of President of the United States. Regarding the video of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto it seems that from the way she fell that she was killed by the bullets. I just wonder why the government is set on the idea that her head hit the sunroof and that is how she died. It would appear that the Pakastani government is attempting to cover up something important regarding the incident. I suppose if an investigation is allowed what would be the outcome. Now on to the broadcast. The report from Mr.Colt concerning the final moments of Bhutto certainly showed how close the assailant and suicide bomber came to her vehicle. The governemt saying it was a skull fracture from the force of the blast may be part of how she died, but the bullets must have caused some part in her death. I was surprised the husband did not want an autopsy, but maybe he is satisfied with the doctor's examination of her wounds and feels it is unnecessary. Both the husband and the son seem to feel the elections should be held which could gather sympathy votes for their party, yet as one person stated no more violence is needed. Stability is the most crucial thing this country needs and holding the elections on January 8th may be too soon. Time is of the essence in this region and all over the Middle East. On another note I'm happy you mentioned the rainfall in the Atlanta area. Nice to know the area did not end the year as the driest on record. May more nice rain come in 2008. Finally, the look back at all those who have been lost over the past year brought forth some extremely talented people. Many fine singers,writers,actors,tv personalities, former leaders, a First Lady, and an astronaut. Also General Downing and other fine people mentioned throughout the year from the Daily Nightly by Mr Williams. Including for all animal lovers the loss of Barbaro the young thoroughbred horse. May we all remember their fine spirit for life and never forget their contributions to our world. In conclusion I would like to say that I have really learned alot over the past year from the Daily Nightly postings from Mr.Williams, Mr.Holt and all the correspondents of NBC. Also from all the postings on World Blog which I have learned many things about people and places all over the world. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to bringing us the news and educating us of the people and places that affect our lives. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt. HAVE A VERY HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO MY FAVORITE JOURNALIST RICHARD!! STAY SAFE AS ALWAYS !!. PEACE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL THE BLOGGERS OF THIS DAILY NIGHTLY POST. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008! PEACE TO ALL!

Lisa McNeil,Alpahretta,Georgia (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 7:41 PM)

Happy Year Lester and all the NBC staff, let's hope 2008 is better then the last 7 years.

Congratulations to President Bush on his first award.
Yes President Bush won the top Duke Award, well Al Gore got the Nobel Peace Prize now Bush has his own first place award. Talking points memo website has all the 2007 winners. PBS will be showing the winners soon.

Now that the US gave Pakistan Nuclear Weapons there might be a really big problem of who becomes President. Now that the Pakistan people have seen that Musharraf was a key player in Mrs. Bhutto's assassination and when she asked for help from the US she was denied. Iran closed their boarders with Pakistan.

Now I hope the people both Republican, Democrat and Independent are listening to the candidates as most are clue less about the current problems in the Middle East. Even Rev. Huckabee doesn't even know where Pakistan is on the map. Karl Rove used God to get Bush elected twice as he said the Christian Republicans were bringing God and Religion in the White House. We see how that turned out, looks like Satan is the one in charge. Now Rev. Huckabee is using the same trick. When will Americans stop buying in to the lies of so called Religious people.

Here's a little history that might be used in a Supreme Court case about ID's for voters. I remember reading about the poll tax, as people had to pay to vote in the USA. Now we know it was illegal and stopped. Now with the GOP trying to stop minorities from voting in this election that question will be taken up by the Supreme Court. Now the GOP has a sure 4 Judge vote as the Bush appointees but then it's the 5 other Justices. Now if a State charges for ID it's illegal so this might test the Constitution and the heart of this country. If the Bush Judges have minorities out of the voting system it will be the beginning of the end. Without the United States Constitution their is no foundation to stand.

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California (Sent Monday, December 31, 2007 10:26 PM)

Lester, take a vacation! And I'm NOT your mother! You've earned one. You have done a terrific job with NN this past week.

Particularly effective was the analysis of Mrs. Bhutto's killing by Ann Curry and Richard Engel, and the web-extra analysis by Bob Grenier. Was that Bob Windrem's voice I heard asking the questions? All of it extremely insightful and informative. Thank you for that and kudos to all!

Also thanks for the pieces on the "plastic dead zone" in the Pacific, the USS New York, the news from Kenya, and all the US politics. Lots to keep current on and you did it all well.

Do have a happy New Year and TAKE THAT VACATION! Have fun!

Celine, JC-NJ (Sent Tuesday, January 01, 2008 12:45 AM)

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