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The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.

Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.



What Times is it?

Posted: Monday, April 28, 2008 4:20 PM by Barbara Raab
Filed Under:

By Brian Williams, Anchor and managing editor

I read that the New York Times Sunday (and weekday) circulation is down. I must admit that on Sundays it becomes a tough paper to figure out. While this week's paper featured an op-ed piece by Elizabeth Edwards bemoaning the lack of serious, in-depth coverage of the political race, it's tough to figure out exactly what readers the paper is speaking to, or seeking.

Consider this: the Sunday Styles section lead story on April 13th was "Scavengers on the Urban Savannah" (people buy things at flea markets!), and promoted on Page One was "A Sex Chair Becomes A Battlefield." Alrighty then.

This Sunday's lead story was "Through Sickness, Health, Sex Change..." in a section that included the essay, "Was I On A Date Or Baby-Sitting?," and "Let's Say You Want To Date A Hog Farmer" (and who among us hasn't?).

The magazine cover story this week was "The Newlywed Gays!" (happy gay men in Massachusetts who are married outdoor grilling enthusiasts!), and another feature story profiled a man who "lives and paints" in New Mexico (one of those states west of New Jersey) and has an old-fashioned typewriter!

This week's restaurant/bar review featured a place in Brooklyn that features (tragically-hip/quaint alert!) "old-time cocktails and cheeses" (it strikes me: so did my Mom, at home in Jersey) and the so-called "big box" featured wedding was a classic: the groom wore the obligatory sneakers with his tux, the bride was a "spitfire" with a "wide and ready Julia Roberts smile." Per usual, bride and groom are both free-spirited, with strong opinions.

The lead story in the Travel Section? The rise of vacation resorts catering to nudists. It did occur to me that I haven't been getting out a lot on weekends. Is it just me?

On the other hand, one sparkling piece of journalism (which touched on a lot of themes frequent readers of this space will recognize) was by Peggy Noonan in this weekend's Wall Street Journal. Curl up with this one and give it the quality time it deserves. I'll say it again: Peggy is doing the work of her career and must be considered an early favorite for next cycle's Pulitzer for commentary.

A mea culpa and a thank you to the sharp-eyed Newsviners who wrote us (along with others) to tell us we had used file tape of penguins in a piece on the North Pole! There are no penguins on the North Pole. I must admit I was watching from home, and muted the sound to talk to a family member. Something registered, and I'd like to think I'm smart enough to have noticed. It was the visual equivalent of a kangaroo bouncing through Central Park.

Also, to Joan: I did not attend the Correspondent's Dinner this weekend, though sampled some of the festivities on C-Span (I thought the President was very good). I have attended those dinners for 26 years or so, and on occasion I opt for home and hearth. I saw the first 50 laps of Talladega, however, from the comfort of my kitchen. You were nice to ask.

We hope you had a good weekend. We hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast.

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Comments

I simply love to read Peggy Noonan writings with a true depth in thoughts and wisdom. Though English was never my firt language, I have have learnt a lot to express myself admiring her high and  powerful might pen.

God Bless Peggy who inspires me and you go girl, keep writing the truth and I there is a lot of courage to spell out the political correctness in today's world!

thom, greenville, nc (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 10:54 PM)

Brian Williams needs to quit sniffing his hair care products. The hair jonez is ruining his writing. The perpetual smirk may also be related to the sniffing.

Ann Dickerson (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 10:56 PM)

The Peggy Noonan piece praised by Williams is yet another in a long of her cloying, all-knowing, condescending, hypocritical writings. Her rhetorical style is by now tiresomely familiar: she sets down a passing impression about some trivial detail of her own life or a public event, then extrapolates this into a portentous statement about America. Along the way to her predictable conclusion, she blames the usual suspects ("snooty lefties", the Clintons, Democrats, all those Liberals who refuse to see the world the way she does) for messing up what would otherwise be a good and virtuous country.

Peggy gives the distinct impression that she absolutely knows what Americans think and want better than they do themselves. She is truly holier than thou. Her belated disillusionment with Bush, after years of advocating for him and his failed policies, only reveals her own hypocricy and shallow understanding.

Far from being a perceptive observer of the American polity, Peggy has done as much as anyone to degrade and poison public discourse. For as long I can remember, she has been preaching Christ-like public virtue even as she backhandedly sneers at her opponents and misstates their positions. She no more deserves a Pulitzer than my Coulter or Limbaugh do.

Rufus T. Firefly, Keokuk, Iowa (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 10:59 PM)

Brian, you are NOT covering the news.   There is very little real news about what the Bush administration is doing to this country.  And while I'm at it, do you HAVE to introduce the next topic coming up and then ask a leading question about it?  What kind of journalism is that?

Janet Pittsburgh, Pa (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:03 PM)

Brian,

Peggy Noonan is a career GOP shill - plain and simple.  As for Bush looking good, it's sad that this you bother to make this observation of a man who has run this country into the ground with his arrogance and incompetence.   You might as well have told us you enjoyed him on Deal or No Deal.

As pointed out by others in this thread, you refused to report the on the state of the United States Military Industrial Complex your news organization is part and parcel of.  You know what they say about people who live in glass houses, right?

So try reading Frank Rich in the NY Times.  I'll take Rich and the flawed Times over the Fox/ Murdoch Wall Street Journal any day, everyday.

Greg, Los Angeles, California (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:04 PM)

Maybe you should stay home all the time.

James Pilant (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:08 PM)

The NYT undoutedly has its faults. In 2003 it was instrumental in turning many a trusting reader into an Iraq invasion supporter. However, despite these failings, the paper proclaiming to print "all the news that's fit" consistently attempts to broaden horizons, tell interesting stories, and provide enough breadth and depth of political history (see recent ed criticizing Clinton) that the reader can stay informed with news couched in the proper context.

Ms. Noonan's editorials consistently lack this very depth and explanation. She trots out tired, established talking points fed to her by higher ups about various Republican heros. She has called Bush "trusting" and "responsible" (see op-eds from 2004) and yet now is critical of him. Yet she has never taken the opportunity to own up for her own laudings of the man. She hasn't taken responsibility for the powerful words that once came through her very prominent microphone, thus, how are we supposed to trust HER?
And by the way, if Obama should live up to the ideal that is Henry Ford-the same Henry Ford that was instrumental in publishing the widely discredited, anti-semetic, dishonest, fear-mongering Lost Protocols of the Elders of Zion-then I fear for the state of our union and the safety of our grandchildren.

Yes, the NYT talks about strange, unusual topics sometimes. But they ground their politics and their discussion of such in historical fact. Noonan does so otherwise at her own peril.

"To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone— to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone: From the age of uniformity, from the age of solitude, from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink — greetings!"

Sam (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:10 PM)

Brian, speaking of elitists, was that a bit of East Coast sarcasm I noticed? New Mexico is indeed not only west of New Jersey, it's even west of the Mississippi!
An amazing state by the way, pine forests and skiing to desert and frankly hotter than h--l in the summer. Churches tucked away in small pueblos that contain works of art deemed National Treasures. Vistas with light best captured by Georgia O'Keeffe. History that goes back to before the Mayflower, No, I am not a native, but I am in love with this state.  

I was entranced by the Noonan piece, even as I didn't agree with it. Her ablity to set the scene had the touch of a great novelist about it.

My favorite story tonight was the story of the crumbing infrastructure. That problem exists even here west of New Jersey. Am I correct in thinking that there is a connection between this segment and a rant you posted about a week ago that we all agreed with?  

ladytechie, 59 Farmington NM (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:34 PM)

Brian,

Peggy is doing the work of her career?  I hate to say this, but isn't she, umm, late to the party?  She is finally criticizing Bush and his follies, only after it has become okay in the press to do so.  Perhaps you should be praising Frank Rich or Paul Krugman, two columnists who have been warning about Bush and his follies about, oh 6 years sooner than Noonan.  But why let something like that get in the way.  

And no offense, but you are critiquing the STYLES section of the NY Times.  Seriously.  It is the one component of the paper which is for all intents and purposes put in their to try to attract wives, single women and gays to buy the paper.  

I mean - honestly.  It would be akin to me picking on the NBC Nightly News and focusing purely on the fluff pieces in the end put in their so you can send us off with a smile.  

Brian - I can only hope that all of this has been you attempt at reaching Red State America.  Your pandering is really, truly entertaining, Mr. NASCAR.

Brad (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:36 PM)

Sorry for the double post tonight, but I did want to point out to Tom from Pittsburg that the ratings for Nightly News are up.
http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/evening_news_ratings/default.asp

Just couldn't resist

ladytechie, 59 Farmington NM (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:40 PM)

Patriotism is genetic in white people but somehow have to educated into black people, and tested for to make sure that they somehow learned it properly. OMG I needed to read a white elitist woman to find that out. Guess calling your wife a c*nt as John Mccain did is also part of that all american breeding.

Thank you Brian what was i thinking. You people really are sheltered and think that you are the authority reinforcing your biases and predjudices in the cocoon of the media.
Always love eugenics with my coffee in the evening.

nina, LA, CA (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:44 PM)

A network news anchor complaining about fluff and drivel.   We live in remarkable times!

BobN, SF, CA. (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:48 PM)

Brian, you are a man of many talents and it's fun to enjoy them all.  Please keep up the dialogue. (Loved you on SNL, by the way.)

Maria, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Monday, April 28, 2008 11:54 PM)

Commentary on commentary on commentary. Whatever happened to factual reporting aka journalism? It's lovely to have opinion pieces, especially by personalities/anchors/pulitzer wannabes, but whatever happened to "the news"?

Bruce who tries to pay attention in Oregon (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:04 AM)

Mr. Williams:

Further to Connor T. McDonald's and Just John's posts, I am bemused by your shot at the NY Times yet have ducked its 7,000 word report the previous Sunday on how your network and a host of others were used and abused by the Pentagon's PR department (see
Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/washington/20generals.html?hp=&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1209442147-/jjC/MwnxAWBPrM/taF0NQ).

Howard Kurtz at the Washington Post called you and the other networks and cable news channels out today for having pathetically ducked the story:

"I don't agree that the MSM cover war and economics poorly ****but I do think their coverage of this important issue has been pathetic***. I covered the controversy stemming from the NYT story on "Reliable Sources" the last two weeks; yesterday I had Don Rumsfeld's former Pentagon spokesman and a retired colonel who was a military analyst for NBC. If there has been any coverage of this on CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC or Fox, I've missed it. ***The story makes the networks look bad, and their response, by and large, has been to ignore it***."

I look forward to some mention of the Times report on your network, but I'm certainly not holding my breath.

Regretfully,

Sean Heneghan


Melrose, MA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:21 AM)

Brian, you are a great writer and I applaud the craft you brought to this.  I also applaud Noonan's craft, to a certain point: but!  You've got to be kidding me about the propaganda of her piece... how is it worthwhile at this point in our history, with all the grave problems facing us, to say that McCain "gets it" about love of country and George Washington and Obama doesn't?  What exactly is her evidence to support that theory:  because Obama spent a l lot time in  his youth in other countries and/or Hawaii?  McCain was BORN in Panama!  Pulitzer?  We might as well give Limbaugh a Pulitzer and get it over with... the official death of journalistic integrity in the USA.

Andrea, Redlands, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:25 AM)

Brian, tell you what, you can belittle the NY Times Sunday headlines and stories (hey, it's a big paper with a much larger news hole than a month of NBC news) as long as you respond to their piece "Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand."   I KNOW FOR A FACT that those military analysts are not only getting board assignments and nice consulting gigs, as long as they keep their mouths shut and toe the line so they can help friends and family stay on the gravy train. It doesn't take a journalism degree to discover this corruption of our system.

Silent Sam, Silicon Valley (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:27 AM)

Excellent piece. Keep up the blogging, Brian.

Thomas, NY, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 12:48 AM)

Brian:
Good call on the Noonan article.  Starting off with a long (if cliche-ridden and overwrought) tirade about airport security lines that is hard to disagree with and then quickly slip in an innuendo laden attack on Obama that has absolutely no factual basis.  If this is what passes for good writing in your circles, you can hardly blame the NY Times for mailing it in sometimes.

Sam Jackson, Walnut Creek, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:04 AM)

Henry Ford was pro-Nazi!  Does Noonan seriously want Obama or Clinton or anyone else to be shedding tears for a Nazi sympathizer?  Brian Williams, what on earth were you thinking promoting this claptrap from a right-wing zombiebot?

Erich Scaliger (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:13 AM)

I dutifully  followed your link to Noonan's article and was amazed at the weakness of her arguments as well as her general ignorance about Senator Obama. She writes:
" But what about Obama and America? Who would have taught him to love it, and what did he learn was loveable..."

Does she believe he  was cloned in a lab, without a family or schooling or a community? As for what makes him "misty," it's Ms. Noonan's job, as a journalist,  to find out and tell us about it.

If this ridiculous, self-righteous opinion piece is something  you admire so greatly, then all I have to say Mr. Williams, is that you need a refresher course in rhetorical logic. Your bullsh*t detector is in sad disrepair.

Johnna Shapiro, Bloomington, IL (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:16 AM)

Brian Williams raved about Peggy Noonan's superficial WSJ article.

She can't stand that Obama is talking about the issues facing us instead of the Flag Pins.  She should write an article about how Bush has defaced our constitution.  The Founding Fathers would be shaking their heads about this issue, while we are all oblivious to the damage the neocons have done to the country.

What garbage.  No wonder people are leaving the networks in droves.  If that's the best Williams can find to inspire him, he should go report high school sports.

Christ, these pundits are depressing.

two7five7one (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:18 AM)

Brian,

You absolutely must be kidding.  As for the NYT, you failed to note that next to the article about the gay married couples there was a long article about the responsibility of the credit agencies for the mortgage and stock market melt down.  Have you done a story anything like that?

And as for Noonan, her article was purest tripe.  She accuses Obama of lacking patriotism mostly, so far as I can tell, because his parents weren't in the military and he did not live in Arkansas or some other rural strong hold of Real Americanism.  (Apparently Hawaii doesn't count as American.  Too ethnic or too Democratic?).  And he apparently doesn't get misty eyed over Sutter's Mill or Henry Ford.

Brian, if you really believe Noonan's article was so great I am starting to get an ever better sense of why the mainstream media can get things so consistently wrong.  You people really aren't that bright.

Glenn, Seattle Wash. (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 1:23 AM)

Well, Brian - I guess it was a slow news day for you to expound so thoroughly on the NYT. I happen to think they know who their readers are - and do a pretty good job of catering to them. The old grey lady can be very serious and can get into trouble sometimes with their astute investigations, but they also indulge in a bit of lightness now and again. But I have to confess that I haven't been watching you or your cohorts on the tube lately. Ever since the start of the primaries, I've been off you guys. You and Tim, Chris, Keith and others all sound alike - no distictions at all. Maybe NBC should check the water cooler and freshen it up a bit - Should make for more interesting viewing.

Jay, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:00 AM)

Brian Williams don't mind all the liberal crap that has been posted, this site has been linked to Huffungton Post, so all those loonies are commenting on you site.

tom (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:09 AM)

When NBC gets around to breaking stories about the Pentagon inserting mouthpieces into the media as independent "military analysts," then you can complain about what's an inch deep into the Sunday NYT.

And Noonan's piece wasn't journalism. There was no investigation, no facts, just her vague feelings combined with inane implications that somehow Obama isn't a true American, as evidenced by the fact that right-wingers have tagged him as "elitist."

Jesse Corum (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:13 AM)

Noonan wonders why Obama isn't patriotic enough to love anti-union goon-hiring, anti-semitic, Hitler-loving. Henry Ford. I wonder why Noonan isn't patriotic enough to keep her distance. You need to love a car guy? Love Durant or Sloan who built General Motors.

Michael Markman, Kirkland, WA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:23 AM)

I agree Brian. I frequently disagree with Peggy Noonan, but there is no one like her.  I think Obama would be very wise to heed any advice she gives.  Noonan frequently has her "finger on the pulse" and she learned form the master; Ronald Reagan.  Regardless of her topic; in every Noonan column there is always one sentence that I have to say out loud, it's that good.  She's a poet.

Charlie Trainer, Los Angeles, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 2:31 AM)

Posters here have asked some legitimate questions. Please answer this particular one:  Where is the coverage of the Pentagon shills on your network or in your blog?

Michael Young (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:05 AM)

Oh ha ha and la tee da, you thought the president was so good on C-Span--you and the rest of the MSM are a cowardly lot who have ruined journalism and this country. Get outta my face with 'the president was good" he's a lying, criminal traitor and until you treat him as one and he's indicted, so are you! (and so many of the press). Understand that I represent millions of young, educated PATRIOTIC Americans who see through you and Bush!

trespassinthru (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:11 AM)

So let me get this straight...You got your left foot out of your mouth, only to stick your RIGHT one in??

Andrew Williams (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:36 AM)

I also decry the lack of coverage regarding NBC's participation in hiring hacks who have connections with military contractors...BTW...can we hear a little more about Zimbabwe? Gaza? Two stories the world media have covered continuously, without resorting to coverage of Miley Cyrus, thank God...I too hate some of the dumb stories in The Times (I never read the Sunday Times anymore), but network news hasn't exactly been a beacon of brilliant journalism.

All that aside, I think your broadcast does the best job now of bringing the news in a half an hour. My Dad worked for the AP for 40 years, and his first choice for nightly news was always NBC--namely Huntley/Brinkley...first class all the way, and a legacy NBC always can be proud of.

Murton (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 3:36 AM)

You are an embarassment, Mr. Williams. Your corporate/conservative bias never ceases to amaze me. Wipe that smug smile off your face and start covering actual news, like I don't know, the war crimes going on as we speak in the name of the USA.

Dan B, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 4:17 AM)

That Peggy Noonan piece had the distinct odor of filler copy, an incoherent, silly mush whose argument was basically that we're going to hell because we have to go through silly airport security measures when presidents don't have to. She phoned that one in. If that's what Brian Williams thinks is sparkling, Pulitzer-worthy copy, it goes a long way to explaining the death of network journalism, where the anchors can't recognize good writing, which Peggy Noonan, notwithstanding her reactionary ideology, usually produces.

Rich P. From Princeton (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:31 AM)

Give me a break. Peggy Noonan is a Right Wing hack who toadies the Party line. When, when has she ever written anything that stimulates the mind? More and more Mr. Williams' slip is showing. What next from him, a fair and balanced look at Brit Hume. A agree with Tom: Brian Williams is as disposed to commenting on good journalism as Pee Wee Herman is to imploding novas.

Thomas (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 6:16 AM)

All three broadcast networks, including Mr. Williams' NBC have chosen to ignore our military and their plight. No a peep about the one hundred billion dollars found to have been squandered on construction projects in Irag, nor, and more importantly, that this is the deadliest month for Americans in Irag since the invasion started.

Let's be honest, Williams, Couric, and Charlie are all news readers. The people who chose what you will hear are the neocons who control the nightly news. One person has opted to be an American and report, at least a portion of what this administration has done, that person is Keith Olbermann. If you are not watching him nightly, you're not hearing about the atrocities that occur daily in Iraq. You sure won't hear it from Nascar Williams.

Shame on you Brian Williams for the abandonment of our troops and their families.

Donald Smith (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 6:43 AM)

Peggy Noonan "sparkling journalism"? Pffffffft!

What was once a reliable source for information and a valuable educational resource has degenerated into a puerile display of "psychopants" on parade parroting the approved message and party line, so as not to offend their sources of dis-information or - heaven forbid - be denied access to them and lose profit margin and future business.

We have only ourselves to blame for this. As consumers of the crap that passes for news these days we are willing accomplices, because if the truth really mattered - rather than haircuts, bowling scores or who is wearing underwear this week - we would be voting with our feet and pocketbooks to demand quality and accountability. Instead we have trivia bread and media circus to fill up our empty heads and distracted lives.

Pogo was prescient - and right."We have met the enemy and he is us."

Mikey, Neamt, Romania (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 6:53 AM)

someone send this to Bill OReilly, who swears NBC is liberal!

James M New York (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:02 AM)

Hey Brian, I keep waiting for a newscast where you don't use the term "remarkable" or "extraordinary." Last night you used "extraordinary" at least three times in the cast. In the first place, by using those terms you are characterizing the news - injecting opinion - and how is that proper? In the second place, can't you come up with different adjectives? Those two are hackneyed, cliched, lazy, and unoriginal. I challenge you to air just ONE newscast without using either of those words. Bet you can't do it.

Christopher Cruise, Silver Spring, MD (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:11 AM)

Brian, you are one of the journalists to whom Elizabeth Edwards is referring.  And she is correct!

Jeanne Walls, Little River, SC (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:42 AM)

Maybe I should go back to reading the New York Times. I was boycotting it along with all things FOX and ABC/Disney and CNN because of their nonreporting and misreporting of important news and sponsoring of right wing propaganda. But if Brian - I love the war and the wealthy and John McCain - Williams doesn't like it and cites Noonan as a rare high point then maybe I should look again. I may appreciate the stuff Brian doesn't like.  

Ed, Warren, New Jersey (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:59 AM)

Good lord, Peggy Noonan's "sparkling" column?  Barack Obama isn't qualified to be president unless he gets misty eyed over Sutter's Mill and famous anti-Semite Henry Ford?  Hillary Clinton learned about America in Arkansas because those of us in her home state, Illinois, clearly couldn't be "real" Americans?  Mr. Williams did you actually read that atrocious column?  Ms. Noonan's column was another right-wing trivia attack on both Mr. Obama and the half of the country that didn't vote for G.W.Bush. Her column was partisan, insipid and insulting.  I'm amazed and disappointed that you would single out that column for praise.

Sharon Rice, Cary, IL (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:02 AM)

Brian, very informative. And thank you for being believable and mature.  Charles Gibson might learn a thing or 2 two from you.

Bh In phoenix (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:12 AM)

Mr. Williams

Thanks for taking time to write these nice posts.

I would like to hear about: the Pentagon and its military experts and how the media has been played.

RE Miley Cyrus: sad sad sad. Annie Liebovitz is an important and great photographer, but she should not have done this shoot in this manner. And Miley's parents are equally culpable. Sad sad sad.

-- stan

Stanley Krute, Camp Creek, CA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:24 AM)

If one knows where to look, one can find that NBC-TV broadcasters tend to be Republicans.  Going back to David Brinkley and before.  So it is not unusual that Brian Williams is espousing that most Republican of writers, Peggy Noonan, or dissing the NYT, a Democratic leaning newspaper.

However, the bias the network is showing in constantly showing Rev. Wright with all his bombast and NOT showing John Hagee, John McCain's minister is just wrong.  Hagee's remarks are downright scary.  Calling for the end of the Catholic Church?  And John McCain was recently asked to refute Hagee and he refused.

No offense - but Jon Stewart is doing a much better job of "balancing" the news than you are.

Janet, Pennington, NJ (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:39 AM)

Dear Brian,

Write More!

Be well.

Ed, New York, NY (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:41 AM)

are you kidding me?  what a joke.  look mr. williams - all media is in the tank right now.  you didn't do your job with Iraq, you are not doing you job in relation to Iran, i have seen no investigative reporting on TV about the abuse of power this president has employed, nor anything about torture nor anything about the pentagon story about the talking heads feeding us all the bush propaganda.  and yet here you are criticizing the NY times.  why don't you fix your news before you start complaining about others?  shame on all of you in the "journalism" field for cowering to this administration in the wake of 9/11 and not doing your jobs. shame shame shame.

Heather Campbell, Pittsburhg PA (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:42 AM)

Peggy noonan's piece in the wsj was the most sophisticated bit of racist >> I read in years. It's implications were she and millions like herdo not fit the "profile" of terrorists do why put us through this inconvenience. And the part about Obama being "different" in his journey to adulthood required that we seriously question his patriotic and "is he a true American" bona fides was ridiculous. He must wear a flag lapel pin to convince us.

I would love to have Brian Williams explain what he saw in that column to many of us who read and said to ourselves "are you kidding me!".

frederick boyd, west hartford ,ct (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 8:53 AM)

Points well taken, except for those on Noonan.  Solipsisms shouldn't be the work of anyone's career.

Jake (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:18 AM)

Brian - Just forwarding a message to you from my brother, John Baldwin (we read a lot of books):

JC,

I saw the First 50 laps of Talladega AND the last 30.

If Brian is a fan of NASCAR ask him if he has read Liz Clarke’s (Washington Post reporter) new book “One Helluva Ride:How NASCAR Swept the Nation” It is getting great reviews.

JB

Joan Baldwin Chapman, Cheshire, CT (Sent Tuesday, April 29, 2008 9:20 AM)



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