"we'll certainly cover the economy and politics up high -- along with Iraq, infrastructure, and health"

How about GeneralGate?

Suggestions for Lead Story for Your Very Serious Newscast--

1. Barack Obama's Rev. Wright Problem: Has He Done Enough?

2. Why Is Hillary Clinton Sounding So Shrill Lately?

3. John McCain's War Hero Status: Why Is This Not Getting Enough Attention?

4. President Bush's Hilarious and Charming Performance at the WH Correspondent's Dinner, and How He WILL Be Missed!

5. Why Is Our Glorious Success In Iraq and Afghanistan Not Getting the Attention It Deserves? (Suggested panel would include your 2 4-Star General friends with Michael O'Hanlon for balance)

Ah gee, Brian: Why don't you just ask Pulitzer Prize-nominated Peggy Noonan, or your good buddy Rush Limbaugh?

Hope this helps!

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Sounds like you have been extremely busy today with all your events and meetings. I can understand how hard it can be to conscentrate on work when it is beautiful outside, but one has to focus on work. Which you always do. When you mentioned Iraq I am hoping Richard might be on the broadcast this evening! Always wonderful to see him! Looking forward to the broadcast Mr.Williams! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie! Be well Always Ladies!
Thank you Anna and Laurel for the making me see the mention on the Huffington post! WOW!

Dear Brian,

My goodness - I am glad I have been away for the past two days!  I believe it was our Stephanie who once said that, whenever she sees that many posts on your blog, it's usually not a positive thing!  

I have not read the Peggy Noonan article yet, and I'm not sure that I will - for no particular reason.  I would have liked to have read the Elizabeth Edwards opinion piece, though.  If she were running for president, I'd vote for her!  I really appreciate her shoot-from-the-hip style.  She just cuts through the crap.  I much prefer her to her husband.  Anyway, I didn't pick up a Sunday Times.  (It costs $5.00 where I live!  That, as opposed to $1.50 for the Sunday Washington Post.)

I'm not sure what the line is for a journalist:  you are a respected broadcast journalist who must remain impartial during each nightly newscast, but who also maintains a blog, within which personal interests, experiences, and - yes - opinions are expressed.  How do you walk that fine line of personal and professional?  Under what circumstances are you considered to have crossed it?  I don't know the answer to that.  I guess each viewer has his or her own answer, and you, as the journalist in question, have your own definition.  In any case, I DO NOT in any way question your journalistic integrity.  You appear to me to be an earnest and professional anchor, a steadfast friend, and a good son, to boot!  Oh, my God - you mean you're not just a talking head?  You mean you're a HUMAN BEING?!  As Hillary Clinton once said, to some, that is a revelation.  However, those who read and watch you daily already knew it.  Just make like Barack Obama and brush the dirt off your shoulders.

Enough about that!  I want to correct an expression I used the other night, in referring to the services for the late Sgt. Matt Maupin, who was killed in Iraq.  I referred to his family "putting him to rest," when I meant to say "laying him to rest."  It was a slip of the tongue; I certainly meant no disrespect.

May I recommend a terrific series on PBS this week?  It's called "Carrier."  It's been airing two hours at a time, each night since Sunday.  It ends tomorrow night, but will be shown in its entirety on Saturday.  As they say, check your local listings.  As a result of watching, my new favorite acronym (as though I actually had one) is FUNGUS, although I cannot reveal what those letters mean, in this forum!  Ha, ha.

I'll see you and Richard Engel later on tonight!

P.S. Love to Lisa, Jackie, and Stephanie.

Jackie:  I'm so glad you had a wonderful time with your dear friend of 50 years!  Good for you!  Btw, "our girl" Hillary will be on The O'Reilly Factor both tonight and tomorrow night.  I guess I will have to suck it up and tune in to Bill O.  :-P  

Also, for anyone else who is interested, Cindy McCain will be on Leno tonight, and Arianna Huffington is guesting on Charlie Rose.

Finally!  A critical mass of people who use reason, logic and evidence has discovered the pile-o-organic matter that is this pretender's nOOz blog.

For a very long time I've been calling for NBC News to carry full disclosure of actual and potential conflicts of interest of its reporters, editors, administrators and news readers.

Remember Russert's testimony at Libby's trial where he let the cat out of yet another bag by averring that he assumed unnamed sources were off the record unless they gave their express permission otherwise?  And that here on this blog, Williams promised to address the Russert testimony after trial?

Try to find any mention of it. Anywhere.

Remember the sickly sweet obsequious blogging of the Medal of Honors on this blog?

Williams has done nothing BUT stump for the Pentagon/White House/Fourth Branch/GE Corporate line.

Every once in awhile he forgets, and actually mentions something that is newsworthy and factually based.  But only when he's distracted.

NBC News is an organ of government propaganda, and it is not deserving of the free airwaves that it uses.  Its actions undermine democracy, sully the free press and are very unpatriotic. Williams is the flag carrier for the team.

Other things to do: Ignore military analyst propaganda scandal, or or make excuses for them and insist they're swell guys.

I appreciate your honesy, and in particular our reference to the two generals that as you noted are brokers. Wall Street should be so lucky, but as brokers go they are selling a bill of goods as much as they can, and due to their Patriotism, willbe reluctant to expose the dark side. It is left to us then the readers, to somehow, filter the service medals and the retirement benefits out of their comments, so lovingly presented by you. If you don't think we are watching....we are, and listening to every word. The words get laost when the subject is reduced to warm and fuzzy.

Brian, when NBC and MSNBC are putting military "analysts" on the air telling us what a real scary threat is Iran (or whatever country our government decides to invade next), I hope you will stop for a moment and consider what it means to present your viewers with just ONE side of the story: the Pentagon's side.

Whether or not you believe these "analysts" are unbiased opinions presenting an independent, non-Administration viewpoint, the truth is they still present the "war" viewpoint.

Pre-Iraq invasion we did not hear from human rights activists about the human cost of an invasion. We did not  hear from the Red Cross and refugee rights and UN experts and others who could talk about war in terms less clinical and antiseptic than what the military uses. We did not hear from veterans groups talking about the toll combat brings to our troops and their families.

The media--NBC Universal chief among them--have been major war cheerleaders from the beginning. I'm sure its corporate ties to a major defense contractor have nothing to do with it.

There is simply no excuse for the way the American media led this country into war. Tomorrow is the anniversary of President Bush's strut across an aircraft carrier to declare Mission Accomplished. Since then thousands of U.S. soldiers have died. We never even hear about how many contractors are killed--the Pentagon won't tell us and NBC never asks.

So no, I won't join you for tonight's broadcast. I'm disgusted by what on see on television these days. I'm sickened by the excuses. You let the country down.

Brian, I have been a long time viewer of yours and all things NBC including MSNBC, but over the last few years I have become really upset about the news coverage of the trivial and unimportant. Instead of highlighting Peggy Noonan's editorial in the New York Times, if I had been you I would have digested Elizabeth Edwards' editorial about the main stream media and their failings. Further, I would point to Bob Cesca's editorial at the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-cesca/have-you-left-no-sense-of_b_99244.html) which also criticizes the media for its obsession on the trivial!!! I thought the media had learned from its inaction in the lead up to Iraq, but I sadly do not believe the media learned anything !!! Brian, you are in a position to make a difference - fix what is wrong with the media before it is too late (if it isn't already) !!!

I haven't really watched network news for many years. I used to get most of my news from print newspapers and NPR, though lately, I get more of it from online sources and the BBC. And I do watch the Lehrer NewsHour... they may not be perfect, but they're a far sight better than anything on (the so-called public airwaves) broadcast TV or on cable.

Just thought you might like to know...

Hi Brian the blog is getting so full it takes me a while to read all of the comments. The comments were interesting and shows people are now paying attention to what's going on with our country.

Good to see President Bush gave an endorsement to his Wife/Daughters book. I've noticed how people now use their camera time for book selling. As the President announced the Teacher of the Year as many teachers are getting laid off.

Mrs. Obama is back on the campaign trail as he tries to help the Senator out of this mess. I hope she doesn't become worse then Rev. Wright with her comments. I hope Mrs. Kerry trained Michelle enough to act like a lady and not go off on people. With some of Michelle's reason comments you never know and we have to remember she's Black Woman who might forget she's representing Americans not just her husband.

To my friends Lisa, Laural and Stephanie all the best

I'm going to post this again, because I am sure it will get lost in the noise of the last blog:

Ok, so all the posters are citing just two sources, Glenn Greenwald, a very liberal blogger with a book, damning the MSM, to sell on the military analysis issue, and Timothy Noah, an equally liberal, let's say a bit to the left of Obermann, on Peggy Noonan. ( I cannot find the exact post now, but when I read Mr Noah piece last night I couldn't figure out why it seemed so familiar, then I realized I'd already read much of it on the posts, some without attribution by the way)

Is it really so shocking to find out that  military people supported the war in 2003? Excuse me, but in 2003 it was unamerican to NOT support the war. All
the posters who so roundly condemn Mr Williams on this issue are at the same time assuming that the critical thinking skills of the viewers are lacking, that we would simply not assume that on the face of it an instructor at West Point wouldn't support the war.  

Equally interesting are the posters who go to great lengths to protest that they would NEVER watch MSM news, then go on to protest that they have somehow been "duped" HUH? You didn't watch, weren't aware of the reports given by Gens Downing and McCaffrey, and yet you are so offended, that name calling is the best argument you have.

One last point, if I concede that there was a conflict of interest (which currently I'm not prepared to do) please all of you explain why you are holding Mr Williams and not both Mr Gibson and Ms Couric (and for that matter Mr Jennings and Mr Rather and Mr Brokaw) equally responsible. And why the free pass for Fox?  

In an earlier age of the Internet most of you would simply be denounced as trolls, linking here to post your party line with little or no understanding of the nature of this blog.  Begone with you!

Now to Lisa, you may end up an Internet star yet my friend!
Laurel, you didn't miss much, it'll all be over. trolls have really short legs.

I finally decided to read the Peggy Noonan article.  What a conservative elitist (the two words are NOT mutully exclusive) she remains.  She is ever defending Reagan’s legacy and seemingly surprised that Reagan is only just recently being lionized by some new young conservative pundits – that Peggy is because those of us who actually remember Philadelphia Mississippi, the savings and loan crisis, the huge "trickle down" budget deficits and his high crimes and misdemeanors in the Iran Contra subterfuge will hold to our opinions and not jump on this fantasy wagon of a new legacy you want to create for his administration and your role in it.   Someone show me where the “thousand points of light” which Peggy coined were ever manifested in those glory days of Reagan/Bush conservatism.  

Why is she suggesting there is some basis (unstated and unknown) for us to ponder the root and depth of Barak’s patriotism?  Why should I suppose that McCain or Clinton might base their feelings in reflection upon the spirit of our pioneers and that Barak does not?  Because McCain comes from a military family!  Are the military (and Peggy) our only worthy patriots?  She is simply manufacturing doubt – and that is a true conservative practice right from the Reagan administration playbook and later perfected by Carl Rove.

But the most telling and unsurprising things about Ms. Noonan in the article are her horror at being stuck in close proximity with the great unwashed in a security line and her phobia about foot fungus.  Who ponders foot fungus while going through the metal detector?  Someone focused on all the wrong fears.

So I'm watching the broadcast, while reading the blog. And you said it was a nice say in NYC today, and I hope you had a very nice day!!

But, up here, Upstate New York, it Snowed!!!!! Can you believe that!!!! Snow in April, when Tomorrow is May 1st.

I emailed our local NBC Chief Meterologist and this is what he said: History, over a longer period (100 + years) indicated that measurable snow falls once every eight years in May.
Just an Interesting tidbit, I thought!

Ok, Good Job NBC, as Usual!!
(oh look Chris Jansing....from our NBC affil.!!!)

After reading of NBC news collusion with the Pentagon and Executive Branch I will no longer be watching NBC nightly news or CNBC cable news. It is apalling that no credible public response and/or apology has been forthcoming from the NBC news division.

Interesting to read the comments by the BW Fan Club.  He's handsome, has that velvet voice, and ladies, I am certain he waits just as breathlessly to hear from you each day as you wait to hear from him every evening!  And I just know he and those retired generals are honorable men who would never, ever abuse your trust!  Furthermore, they would never promote wars that squander our sons' lives for anything but the finest of reasons!  

Wow!  What an amazing 2 days on this blog!?   I thought this was a nice quiet place. I guess I will have to visit some Tylenol to get my head back on right!  Wow, we do have some Debbie Downers and Sad Sams in America?  

Good to hear from Richard tonight.  How does he live in Bagdad I will never know.  

Thanks for the reports on the power grids tonight.   We need some windmills in our yards and solar on our roofs.   Time to go green America!

Brian, be well and remember this too shall pass!

Brian, you are fading into irrelevance, and as the overwhelming majority of the American people oppose this war, you have shown little interest in pursuing the real story of how we were misled.

Are you a journalist or a pampered corporate vassal?  A journalist asks hard questions, holds the powerful accountable.

Follow the model of Raw Story reporter Eric Brewer, who has tirelesslf fought the White House blacklist to help bring out answers in the Military Analysts scandal.

"...it pains me not to join in on the boisterous debate on our blog these days..."
I don't see much debate here, only a few praises of you mixed in with a disproportionately large number of posts expressing outrage at being duped by NBC News.  I wonder if you think this matter will go away any time soon...anyways, good luck!

My God!! 900 Iraq's killed in one month and 49 Americans!!  What are they fighting for and when is it going to end??  Are people going to continually kill each other to what end?  Where are the government officials who should be having or trying to have diplomatic talks to end this senseless killing.  It broke my heart to see that 2 yr. old child tonight taken out of that rubble only to die.

And those deplorable conditions at Ft. Bragg!!

There are so many issues that need to be addressed by the presidential candidates.  The next president has a tough road ahead of him/her and I hope he/she will be able to get this country back on track and we stay away from bickering and focus on the important things.

Brian, thanks for your blog in giving us a venue to vent!

Brian,

Time to MAN UP about your role in the Pentagon propaganda scandal.

Men, women and children were dying in Iraq while you were lunchin' by the way.

So, any chance NBC or MSNBC will mention how you claimed your military experts were independent and thoughtful in their judgements, rather then being briefed on what to say by the Pentagon, as well as invested in the weapon producing companies who made huge profits off the war? I'm pretty sure this isnt serious enough news, and definetly should not get play. I mean, our free media just ignoring their responsibilities and forgetting to investigate things is pretty boring compared to character issues! Certainly the health of our country and media services are not affected in the least by your outright denial of responsibility and refusal to admit your standards for journalism are terrible.

Thanks!

I was really bummed by tonites broadcast, starting with the dead little 2 yr. old baby in Iraq, and then you have Richard Engle looking so fine in his blue shirt.  He's really fierce too, seems mad when he talks, he's so passionate, I love that about him.  Even more depressing is the D grade of the power structure - how come our politicians haven't addressed this before now?  We have plenty of money to go building new embassies in Iraq and we can't even upgrade our own power infrastructure?  What good is all this oil and energy going to do us when there is some 100 year old system trying to run it.   It's really scary to think about and why aren't our Senators and Congressmen doing anything about it?  Aren't they supposed to be doing what we want them too?  Maybe I'm naive but I think we need to make some serious changes in the way we do business or there will be no future for our children's grandchildren!  

"...while it pains me not to join in on the boisterous debate on our blog these days, today time just won't permit it"

I'm sure that you're a busy person.  However, your personal integrity is on the line here.  It has been for about ten days now.  Actually, it has been on the line for for over 4 years, if the information about the Generals being war advocates masquerading as independent analysts was presented in The Nation in 2003.

I think that maybe your evening with Chris Rock might not be that important.

Brian - how does it feel to be so completely owned by Glenn Greenwald on the military analyst story?  I simply can't imagine a more thorough debunking of your pathetic attempt to dismiss this matter, much less such a complete expose of the lies coming from you and NBC.

More succinct Brian Williams: "I'm going to quit while I'm behind, and hope all this goes away."  

Oh Brian what can I say.
Fort Bragg is just one of our bases that needs repair. I know the Pentagon uses the money for Iraq and Afghanistan and only acts shock when the poor conditions at home come out. If the Father of the soldier hadn't put the pictures on YouTube nothing would be said or done. Remember how mad the White House was when the Abu Grab pictures went public. We'll see after the smoke clears nothing will be done just like Walter Reed Hospital.  

The young female baseball players can teach the Law Makers and adults what it means by being a team player. It is refreshing to see the youth have values even when adults don't.

Brian with the report on electric shortages it looks like we'll see another Enron. With no Justice System anymore the barn door is open for the companies to steal.

Laural I will watch my girl Hill but I'll also watch Mr. and Mrs. Obama. Yes I'm being fair to both candidates while my loyalty is still with Hill. Thanks for the info. I hope the issues and problems of the US can be the discussion now.

All ways my friends Lisa, Laural and Stephanie

Brian I know you can't read all the comments there so many now ( Go Team Nightly News )

It's a tough life, isn't it Brian?  Repeating corporate propaganda by day, watching Chris Rock and NASCAR by night.  Don't worry about what anyone here says about your ratings, though.  You're here to promote a corporate agenda, not to make the network money.  Your ten million dollar salary is not in jeopardy.  

Ladytechie... As for me, I'm still making the rounds. Last week and the week before, I was at ABC laying into Charlie and George, and then-- but only because they asked for feedback on why the public so distrusts the media-- The New York Times. In fact, I left them a doozy of a comment. Charlie and George had it coming for messing up the ONLY debate on broadcast television, i.e., the only one available to homes without cable. Not very small-d democratic, if you ask me.

Later this week, and next, I'll be stopping by the other network's pages, etc. (except maybe Fox, since they don't even pretend to care).

And, just so you know, whenever I run into one of those newspaper hawkers in the supermarket, trying to persuade me into subscribing to the Philadelphia Inquirer, I let them have it, too, for all kinds of reasons, but especially for their editorial decision not to run the K-R stories during the run-up to the Iraq Invasion. [One has to wonder if that played any role in McClatchy's decision to sell.]

EOC (Equal Opportunity Commenting)

[Chris Rock? Really? Isn't he just a little bit too subversive for such a restrained anchor? Maybe he'll ask about the news blackout, too... we can only hope.]

I was moved by april 30th piece about the college girl hitting her first home run, then breaking her leg and couldn't finish running the bases.  But her 'rivals' carried her on to home base so that the homerun counted!
You need to send a copy to every Republican and/or Democrat, Independent Congressperson, Senator, to show them this is how it's done!  This is what the American public want from our politians!!  Who says that the young people don't know how to act.  This should be carried on every station, network to praise these "Kids", instead of showing kids on 'u-tube beating the heck out of each other..
Great piece!!

Laurel---for the Elizabeth Edwards op-ed try:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/opinion/27edwards.html?th=&emc=th&pagewanted

That is what is on the bottom of my print-out of the piece and I just typed it in the address bar and it worked. I am registered on-line at nytimes.com, so I may get the article because of it. If you are not successful and aren't registered, try signing up--it doesn't cost anything. The op-ed is worth reading, so if nothing works, let me know and maybe we can try something else.

I wondered if anyone else was watching and enjoying "Carrier" on PBS. It is very,very good and an education for those of us who have never been in service, especially the navy. You have to admire those kids.


Joan---Tell your brother, I have and am reading Liz Clarke's book "One Helluva Ride: How NASCAR Swept the Nation". I'm not too far into it, but so far I am liking it. I'll let you know as I progress.

I was out and missed tonight's broadcast. I am about to watch the netcast. I see from the posts, Richard was on. I did see a post from him on World Blog earlier which was excellent as per Richard.

Take care all-

Julius Streicher was not a member of the German military and was not part of planning the Holocaust, the invasion of Poland, or the Soviet invasion. Yet his role in inciting the extermination of Jews was significant enough, in the prosecutors' judgment, to include him in the indictment at Nuremberg. He was subsequently executed on October 16, 1946.

As the number of Iraqi dead keeps mounting, you might want to reflect on your role in supporting the war of aggression and subsequent occupation of Iraq by the United States.

History will not be kind to you and others like you.

Dear Mr. Williams:  I too arrive at this page via Glenn Greenwald.  

Greenwald is a polemicist.  His tone is not measured.    But he raises serious, important points about your failure to disclose that NBC's "indepentdent" military "analyst" Gen Barry McCaffry was actually a member of a neocon pressure group devoted to fomenting the Iraq war.  He also has deep, undisclosed (by you) financial interests in military companies.

Mr. Williams, of the three network anchors you've shown the most courage - but I'm afraid that's saying very little.

And this issue isn't going to go away.

In his book FIASCO, Tom Ricks stated that the Iraq fiasco was Bush's responsibility, but it couldn't have happened without the capitualtion of other critical institutions:  the upper-echalon military, Congress, and the press.

This story -- and your conduct in it -- cuts to the heart of a failure by the major media.  People are dying because of it.  

If you walk away from this subject, you walk away a smaller and irrelevant man.

Ah, Iraq.  I remember that war!  Gee, with all the stories on the Rev Wright and Barack Obama, I thought we had won!!!  I mean, Jeremiah Wright is infinitely more important to the future of the US than Al-Qaida or the Taliban, or soldiers dying, right?  

According to Hillary Clinton, the Reverend's remarks are "offensive and outrageous."  Hmm.  Some might have thought that Bill Clinton's public humiliation of his wife on several occasions was "offiensive and outrageous."  Maybe we shouldn't vote for a woman who is married to a serial adulterer.  I mean, all sorts of things could go on in her White House!

I just know that focusing on the Reverend Wright, who seems to be a nutjob, will lower the cost of a gallon of gas, will solve global warming, and definitely bring the soldiers home.

Seriously, do you honestly think that Barack Obama was going to a church with a certifiable crazy as the lead pastor, and didn't think that it would affect his future in politics?  Could it be that the story is as he says - that Wright today is not the Wright of twenty years ago?  Or does the Wright mess give voters a good reason not to vote for a black man?

Dear Brian: You are a lightening-fast wit; I always enormously enjoy listening to you (off screen, as well as on). It must be a great comfort to know that should the world no longer want to hear news (impossible while you are doing it!) you would have as thriving a career as a stand up comic! (or sit down, as you did yesterday!)

Brian - I also heard what this nasty man in his Salon was writing about you - that you are not very bright and don't worry he is totally elitit that is what my mom says and she always tells me that I also don't play with a full deck of cards - so why don't you want to have my post's didn't I tell you that I also love your general friends and that I am against all your enemies and I swear I would smoke them out  and that's what the president  wants and I know that you too love the president and that you are a good patriot and don't you want the whole wide world to know this if you only would post my posts - please - pretty please - all these elitist would know haw wrong they are and how you are totally right and all would raaraaraa for you and it would be way cool.

Glenn Greenwald to replace Brian Williams..ahhh well ..maybe the next life ..go Glenn ..over 4,000 dead Brian..just feel a twinge of guilt??..could be a start,,just a "Vinny" on the blog..say hi to the other two phoenies there Chrissy and Timmy...gee I hope one of my messages get posted one of these days

I'm sorry I forgot to mention in my last post...a soldier will die today in Irag..maybe he or she would've loved to see Chris Rock in concert to..have a good time Brian..just aother "Vinny" on the blog

Mr. Williams,

I hope you can help.  My aunt heard you recommend a book about historic heroes.  She remembers little more than the impression you made.  Could you possibly provide the name and author?  Having searched the MSNBC website, I found "Medal of Honor," which you spoke of on the Tonight Show.  Still not sure of the title, she says that you mentioned this book on you Nightly News Report @ 6:30 p.m.  Can you help?  

"while it pains me not to join in on the boisterous debate on our blog these days, today time just won't permit it. "  And especially with Chris Rock in the offing.

In other words, you still think this is a big joke, the Great Unwashed unloading on an esteemed journalist, and on a wonderful network and corporate citizen, a true guardian of American democracy and truth.

You'll never understand, but of course that's what you're paid for.  If you woke up one fine morning with a sense of the enormity of what you and your colleagues in mainstream corporate media have perpetuated on the American people, you might find it difficult to offer up the dog and pony stories and the nightly lies....

To:
ladytechie 59, somewhere west of New Jeresy (Sent Wednesday, April 30, 2008 6:50 PM)

Posting something twice doesn't make it true. You are incorrect that people are citing only 2 sources regarding NBC using military spokesmen without disclosing ties that would lead one to believe they were not independent. Greenwald's piece at Salon aggregates several sources including an expose in The Nation from April of 2003 (an article entitled "TV's Conflicted Experts); the New York Times; Howard Kurtz from the Washington Post; as well as transcripts of Williams' overly fawning introductions of the military analysts in question televised AFTER the details of their unseemly pro-war bias and economic interests had been revealed in The Nation.

You can attempt to minimize the importance of paid, biased "analysts" being presented to viewers as independent sources but by any standard this is wrong, and a violation of the public trust placed in news-gathering organizations.

any idea when you're going to report on the pentagon propaganda machine that pwned NBC and the other networks? thought not; you know where your bread is buttered. now i know what it feels like to live in north korea.

Brain,

It is a nice time of year to be outside almost anywhere--generally speaking.  Speaking of generals, how is that story on the Pentagon's manipulation of our nation's media corporations before and during this war of attrition?  Well, I won't waste anymore of your time--it's not easy keeping people entertained AND informed.  Get er done!

oh, and happy mission accomplished day; you sure did your part

Forget the blog Brian. Really, just focus on giving us real, no-spin news. Nobody cares about what you had for breakfast or that you find Peggy Noonan's pap compelling.

I'm old enough to remember watching John Cameron Swayze telecasting in black and white, sitting in front of a teletype machine and delivering 15 minutes of real news.

He didn't rely on paid-for hacks, retired Generals or otherwise, to feed B.S. to his viewers. The production values were minimal, but the news value was considerable.

Network TV, NBC news included, has been a disgrace when it comes to covering the natiional security of the U.S. The bloody quagmire in Iraq is part of your legacy. And the Generals and correspondents who pumped up the ratings with breathless, jingoism as we invaded Iraq deserve only condemnation, not back slaps.

Just wake up and cut the crap.

Enjoy Chris Rock.

The rest of us are shamed by being duped by you and WarProfiteer, uh, I mean NBC news.  

500,000 civilians have died in Iraq.  That's 166 9-11's.  

Again, enjoy the comedy show!

My stepfather has lately been laid up with a dangerous autoimmune disease.  He watches NBC News to keep informed about world events while barely able to leave the house.  When I mentioned the Pentagon story he read it and immediately felt betrayed, because he realized that all the supposedly objective views on the war from these "military analysts" were completely biased. I don't think you realize how deeply moral and emotional an issue this is for many Americans, including "regular folks" who are scraping along just like the rest of us.  My stepfather now vows that he will never watch NBC News again unless you cover the story in detail.

Meanwhile, I can only hope that Keith Olbermann, "The Most Honest Man in News," despite assuredly having been muzzled by the top brass at NBC, will find the journalistic integrity you lack and at least make mention of the Pentagon story on his program.

So, just to clarify from you last post, is it NBC New's official policy is that if someone is a stand up guy, they can be hired as an independant expert no matter what their ties are.  Since NBC paid people from the pentagon program to advise on the war, could an Exxon employee be an expert that advises on energy conservation policies? Could someone from McCain's (or clinton or obama's) campain be a independant election expert? It seems that NBC's policy is to like the guy first, ask questions second (or never).  

And since I'm here, why are we at war in Iraq anyway.  I don't think NBC News ever answered that questions adequately (hint: maybe hiring experts that aren't government shills might help you get to the actual facts better).

Every day that goes by that Williams fails to address his willful and deliberate use of government propaganda to encourage the people of this nation to support a needless war built on lies is another nail in the coffin of America.  Informed people now realize that NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, MSNBC, FOX, CNBC, WNBC and all thier affiliates are nothing more than outlets for Republican propaganda and all information coming from these sources is HIGHLY suspect.  It is up to us, the informed, to spread the word to the uninformed.  The failure of the Corporate Sponsored Media is total.  It is now up to the citizens of this country to keep each other informed.  We can no longer trust Mr. Williams, Ms. Couric, Mr. Gibson, Matthews, Obermann, Abrams, Blitzer, or Mr. Cooper to tell us the truth.  They are proven liars.  The corporations that employ them are proven liars.  The Republican party are proven liars.  Facism lives....in America.

To Jackie Rawlings:

I hope your comments about Michelle Obama were in jest.  If not, they were disgusting.  You suggest Michelle might be prone saying things "worse then [sic] Reverand Wright."  What about Michelle's hundreds of speeches in this campaign would give rise to this concern?  Have you ever seen Michelle give one of her wonderful speeches?  She is patriotic, intelligent, and passionate about the issues.

Next you suggest that Micheelle needs to be "trained" by "Mrs. Kerry" to "act like a lady" and "not go off on people."  Again, Michelle has always conducted herself as a lady, much moreso than Mrs. Heinz-Kerry, ironically.  Certainly moreso than Mrs. McCain, who has been caught stealing prescription drugs from her own charity.  Michelle has been compared to Jackie Kennedy, one of our finest first ladies.  Somehow, I don't think a Princeton "trained" lawyer needs any more training on civilized behavior.

Finally, you suggest that Michelle doesn't realize she's representing America, because she's a "Black Woman" (capitalization in original, as if she were a different species!).  When has Michelle ever given the impression? It seems to be a figment of your imagination.  

Please find a video of Michelle giving one of her speeches.  I think you will then be able to reconcile your perspective with reality.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):