Thanks for the heads up about your appearance on Jay Leno.  I enjoyed seeing you on Conan last night.

I'm fairly certain you meant "roll" instead of "roil," Brian, but to my surprise, the latter is an actual word that does describe the situation at hand.

Vampire Weekend plays at my college tonight - I'm glad we booked them before the sudden surge in interest.

Dear Brian,

I was the writer who posted re: the Ingrid Michaelson CD.  Thanks for the recommendation on the A Fine Frenzy album.  I have it, too.  I actually purchased both CDs at the same time!

Anyway, I look even more forward to your appearance on The Tonight Show, now that I know who you're bringing with you.  Since I fall asleep "early" all the time, I'll have to be sure to tape it.

Just a mention - your friend (and mine) Lisa McNeil apparently had a birthday yesterday, so belated birthday wishes to her!

Just a note to let you guys know I am very unhappy with the suspension of David Schuster. He is the best investigative reporter on the air right now, (note Libby trial), and just because he used a term that is younger and perhaps less tasteful that he should have, he should still be on the air. I actually voted for Hillary, but if this does not blow over quickly, I won't next time.

Brian, I don't know if this is the appropriate blog to sound off on something I just read on the internet.  David Shuster got suspended for making a derogatory comment about Chelsea Clinton and I believe MSNBC was justified in suspending him.  It's about time the networks take responsibility for their "journalists" who say anything they want on the air.  I am a believer in freedom of speech, but the envelope gets pushed farther and farther. Our society is in sad shape as our youngsters watch all this negativity...the lack of respect is out of hand. You are an example of a journalist with integrity and some of these people should take a page from your book!!  Keep up the good work.

Brian,
I am astonished (If you don't mind me saying so) by your musical prowess, as I had just recently started listening to Vampire Weekend myself.  I would be interested to know how you heard of them. My most rational conclusion is that either 1) they are big in New York, 2)a possible son or daughter recommendation, or y3) our vast connections at NBC. Might I recommend a band named Belle & Sebastian, and a band named Architecture in Helsinki (if you haven't heard of them already).  Might I also recommend a website called lastfm.com where by playing music in your itunes, this website takes those artists and songs you play, and recommends similar artists. The website is synced up with your itunes. It is a very nice site for music lovers.  Anyways, thanks for the heads up on the Leno taping.  I'll be setting my tivo accordingly.

Your biggest fan,

Matt

Brian,

I watched with interest the story tonight about Congress passing the $168 MM economic stimulus package, and now on to The President.  I would have liked to hear "the rest of the story" as outlined in the following article on MSNBC.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/Advice/TheDetailsOnTaxRebates.aspx

There is no free lunch if this information is correct, only a loan from 2009's tax refund (if one gets one)against 2008 taxes?!

What is the web address of the blog by the grandson of the WWI British soldier? I would love to follow along with his amazing story 90 years later.

Good Evening Mr.Williams, I will certainly watch "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" this evening. Having the Medal of Honor recipients appearing with you is simply wonderful because these men are such true, dedicated and brave heroes of our country. I remember reading all the postings of these fine men last year on "The Daily Nightly" and every one of them was just inspiring to read. The situations the men endured one sometimes found it hard to imagine and the bravery of all of them to persevere under the the most difficult of circumstances. We should honor them always. God Bless all of these Medal of Honor recipients. Now on to the broadcast. The report from Mr.Mott on the terrible storms that ripped through several Southern States shows that no matter how many warnings these storms cause horrible destruction. It is so very sad to hear how many were lost in the path of the tornadoes. I only hope the families affected can rebuild their homes and continue to live in their towns. Regarding the report from Mr.Savidge concerning the explosion at the sugar plant in Georgia, the pictures from that fire are awful. The local news came on for the late broadcast at 11:00PM and talked about the explosion and rescue crews at the scene. Very sad to hear of all those men who were burned I hope they recover quickly. Finally, I enjoyed the "Making a Difference" segment about the World War I soldier and his family member who is posting his letters on the web. This man experienced some terrifying things during the war and his letters bring that into the light. I will try and view these letters on the nightly website. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams. I will see you on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" this evening. Have a great weekend Mr.Williams. Peace to all!
To: Laurel, Thank you for the birthday wish! You are so sweet! And Happy Birthday to your mom! I hope your doing well! Stay well my friend!  

Thank you for the apology Brian.  I was a proofreader in my previous life and career, and so sometimes I hear and see them, and sometimes I don't.  While it was gracious of you to take responsibility for the "oops", I was actually waiting to hear someone else say it was part of a pro-choice conspiracy or that you were trying to peddle gender reassignment or some other outlandish thing. :)

I'm with Laurel - I'll have to take Leno because I'll be in bed long before he's on the air.  I wouldn't want to miss seeing all those genuine heroes get the recognition they'd never ask for but so deserve.

Happy belated birthday, Lisa M!  I hope you had a good one.  

Mr. Williams,

I greatly enjoyed your "making a difference" report tonight. And while I feel it is important to tell the stories of the soldiers who fought, died, and survived the front lines, I think it is equally important to tell the stories of the soldiers who defended our country from behind the lines. Like the blogger on your story, I also have a collection of letters (posted on a blog) written from a World War I veteran. These letters, however are love letters written to his girlfriend back home in Wisconsin describing his time in the Navy. Also, while William Henry (the front-line soldier) wrote in detail about his experiences, I have a feeling that Douglas Daniel (the Navy soldier) held back much of the destruction he may have faced while he was in France.

Anyway, I hope you have a chance to view this blog and if not, just know that these soldiers' stories still live on in their children (and great-grand children).

I'm glad they are honoring the heroes.  

There are too many people trying to tear them down.  John McCain and John Kerry are heroes no matter what the political parties say.

The athletes accused of steroids; some rightly, some wrongly, all are tarnished.  No matter how many injections of any substance they inject into me I'll never be able to hit or throw a ball like they do.  There is a talent in them I'll never have and they got the job because of talent.   What happened after that....

Movie stars and singers (like athletes are not really heroes but public figures).  The paps follows them taking pictures every few seconds until they make a mistake then the stars are front page news.  And it is not in a good way.

These people have done things and will do things most of us never will.  Why does society feel they have to tear them down.

Thank you for letting us know they still honor the heroes among us.

I am very happy that MSNBC is getting slaps from everywhere; they are demonizing Clintons by using worst verbal and body language. Whole MSNBC should apologize to Clintons and viewers.
It should start from Chris Todd, Russert, and Chris Mathew (I stopped watching his programme).

I seriously wish Hillary Clinton should not go for any debate on MSNBC. MSNBC is pimping for Obama and Opraha. Only Obama can tell how much cheaply he is getting service from MSNBC.

I will write to Hillary Clinton also and will request her, not to have any debate on MSNBC.

I tried to get on the WWI Blog as was mentioned tonight.  I have my Dad's Journal from WWII which was
written on the back of his maps. He talks about liberating a Death Camp and how people died while trying to escape. Their bodies were still clinging to the fence. The prisoners were naked,sick,and starving.  The the troops were advised not to give them food until the Medics arrived. However, they couldn't wait and when they opened the gates the
prisoners just ran into the streets. The report made
me think that while my Dad is still alive I need to
closely look at his journals and ask questions. That
is history and in a few years there will be no surviors to ask questions.  On the lighter note.......
His infantry also raided a Nazi Flag Factory.......he
sent many flags home to my Mom.  When my Dad came
home they went back to Austin Texas to attend ccollege.They had very little money ......my Mom cut the red out of flags and made kitchen curtains......

Welcome back to LA Brian
I'm glad to see the President act quickly to help the people in the tornado destruction. The baby who lived was a miracle and a gift.

Somethings wrong with some of your fellow MSNBC people such as Chris Matthews, Andre Mitchell and now David Shuster. The men seem to voice their hatred for woman and Andrea for some reason hates the Clintons on a personal level.  I just wish these people would just do their job and give fair/balanced reporting and leave their personal opinions for after work. But the attack on Chelsea Clinton was one of the worse I've heard so far.

Well AG Mike Mukasey is following in Al Gonzales's footsteps and doing as he's told by Dick Cheney.  Now Mukasey is not going to prosecute any Republican appointees for their crimes and false testimony under oath.  He even explain that the Laws that have been broken by the White House aren't crimes if the President does it or orders it.  This Administration would make the Mafia proud. With no Justice System now in the United States crimes and criminals have gone wild as the new Attorney General sits back and watches and excuses everything.  

Mr. Williams, beautiful tribute to the Medal of Honor heroes tonight, BUT...

You asserted that 3 conservative talk-radio activists have said they will vote for Clinton over McCain:  Limbaugh, Ingraham, and Beck.  In fact, each of them has said they will NOT vote for Hillary over McCain.  "Three strikes and you're out."

Fact-checking is still important, even on TV.

Since you mentioned that the political situation continues to 'roil' along, I think this comment relates to your blog. Yes, I'm from much-hated Florida and have been a life-long Democrat (will be an Independent after 2008). I honestly think the national news industry has missed the boat on the issue of the Dem National Committee removing Michigan and Florida's delegates. Fl Senator Nelson brought a lawsuit based on Constitutional amendments XV and XIX, and the District court didn't want to get involved. But Article II, Sec. 1 of the Constitution says clearly that State Legislatures have the power to decide how 'electors' in their states will be chosen. I don't understand how two private clubs - which is what both political parties are - get to put their bylaws ahead of the Constitution? Doesn't the Constitution have any meaning at all? This is not just a 'dust-up' between state and national parties. This is a precedent, and I think it's a dangerous one. Are we a nation of laws, or a nation run by 'personalities', like Howard Dean? How far are we from becoming a nation like Pakistan, when nonelected officials in our country can remove rights that the Constitution gives us?

Re the upcoming Democratic debate on Feb 26.
I wish the debates were more interesting.  Hillary says she can withstand the Republican attack machine... so why don't you throw some of it at her (and Obama)and see how she (and he) handle it.  I think Healthcare has been pretty well covered in earlier debates, although that was before Hillary said she would garner wages to pay for coverage. Why not cover the environment, alternative fuel, etc.  How do they both feel about the Executive branch amassing so much power under Bush in the name of the "war on terror", would they reverse any of the president's new powers?  I am also very concerned about all the money former President Clinton has received from foreign governments and this recent deal with Kazachstan.  This has hardly been covered at all.  Will this impact the decisions Hillary would make as President?  Most of the debates have offered up softball questions for all the candidates and then haven't pressed them on inconsistencies or for specifics.  This is a tight race on the Democratic side and the people need answers.  Thanks!

Dear Mr. Williams,
    In the midst of making dinner and chasing my children ( 5yrs, and 10 months) I enjoy listening to your news cast, sometimes, I even get to watch it!  lol.  Last night when you talked about the Medal of Honor Recipients, you also talked about a blog that was being posted of letters from WWI by his family.  My husband was watching it, and was very interested, as he saw in one of the pages you aired, the name Irvine, D.  Irvine is his last name.  I am interested in History and Genealogy. My husband would like me to look into that and see if we have a connection, but over dinner, the kids, and his excitement, I couldn't find the link to that on your website!  Would you be so kind to reply, or even mention it again?  Keep up the fantastic work!  

Dear Brian,

My NOLA friend recently said that Louisiana had turned out to be important due to Super Tuesday's not being conclusive for the Democrats--and added, "Maybe there is justice after all."

Sadly, so far she has been proven wrong because you and your newscast don't seem to be into justice. Your campaign coverage has sucked because of the way in order to maintain your self-censorship and news blackout on New Orleans you've been spinning Washington State as the big contest instead of covering in depth the lead-up to Louisiana's primary.

Were you even aware that Barack Obama campaigned in New Orleans Thursday--and Bill Clinton appeared there yesterday, in his wife's place? You did not even cover Obama's appearance at Tulane--where Obama said his administration would do a much better job rebuilding New Orleans than has the Bush administration. This would have been an excellent opportunity to cover Obama's Gulf Region plan. And yesterday you could have done what CNN did--aired a piece on how frustrated New Orleanians are that New Orleans and Katrina haven't been treated as valid campaign issues. That would have been far more important and newsworthy than last night's coverage out of Washington State--which has been spun as the "biggie" for obvious political reasons.

Or, on Thursday when you could have covered Obama's Tulane speech, were you too busy covering the CPAC wingnuts nostalgic for Ronald Reagan, regarding whose successors, as Michael Eric Dyson says in his book "Come Hell Or High Water: Hurricane Katrina And The Color Of Disaster," "...As the ideological children of Ronald Reagan, Bush and his adminstration have thrived on tax cuts, downsizing, the neglect of civic infrastructure, the shredding of the safety net, the will to privatization, the drgrading of the public sector, and advocating Reagan's idea that government is the enemy of the people. The Bush administration's incompetence in Katrina was the most devastating indictment of such a philosophy...."

Your support of these CPAC whackjobs, the Bush administration, and the party that drowned New Orleans and doesn't want to rebuild her is showing in this coverage decision.

I saw your Mardi Gras newsbrief Tuesday--but since that was a newsbrief and not a story, last night's newscast is the 31st since you last aired a full report out of New Orleans. You need to reopen your New Orleans bureau permanently and bring back full coverage out of that city.

Hello,

       I watched your evening newscast recognizing MOH recipients.  There is no doubt MSNBC supports our veterans.

      Would MSNBC be interested to share with the public the injustice being applied to WWII former POWs wounded in captivity?  I discovered the unbalanced scale of recognition four years ago and have not been able to correct it since.

       Members of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records refuse to follow or misinterpret the same guidelines the Air Force is following.

       Furthermore, a Colonel, USAFR, Retired, former JAG officer, currently a civilian attorney agrees with the AF, and my statements by providing a 5-page letter of legal opinion.

      I can provide copies of letters from the Army, Army Board conclusion, AF Board conclusions, and the Colonel’s opinion to substantiate my statements.

...thanks for having the Medal of Honor recipients on the Tonight Show. If you think about it THAT was a historic moment in television history. And like you said, these are the men who's pictures belong on trading cards as "Super-hero's"!

Am watching "Tucker" show at time Mr David Shuster mentioned the "pimp" remarks while talking with antoher guests.. I am for sure,there no maliciousness in the remark,its just a younger term so to speak but am fully agreed to his suspension as its should not be tolerated on the air..Having said that,hope that Mrs Hillary Clinton will not make much of it but instead would accept David's apology and plus other of his colleague...
As well,hopefully, whatever the result would be,it will not deter for any political team on tv to say whatever is the truth and nothing but the truth!
They should not be afraid to convey to the people what is happening behind the scene,so to say!

Hope MSNBC will have Mr David Shuster back on air and same to Mr Chris Matthews to keep on providing us what is the truth on these presidential nominee!

I think David Shuster's choice of words was really unfortunate. But seriously, Rush Limbaugh has said far worse things on his radio show, and yet he is trotted out in the mainstream media as some sort of spokesperson for the 'conservative' movement.  He gets a pass, as do many others on the right. They're still working.

Brian!  I hope you had a great time at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Tonight show with the Medal of Honor recipients, and Jay Leno.  Also, thanks for that shout-out to Japan during the Friday broadcast!  Hope your breakfast is good.  Try rice (yes, for breakfast) for a change sometimes.  :)  Thanks!

What is the name of the book of heroes that you talked about on the Tonight Show?  I would love to get it for our sons who are both very much interested in history and would love to read this book.

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