Dear Lester,

Because last night's broadcast was pre-empted by Preakness coverage and local programming (snore) I was ever so grateful to have the netcast available.

Lisa:  Woo hoo!

Ladies:  I just posted today's "message" on yesterday's blog.  Check it out, if you are so inclined.  (As though I ever actually have anything substantive to say!  LOL)

Good night all!  XOXO

Lester-- Thank you, thank you for the weekend netcast. I was out yesterday, came home late, and sat down and watched you on the computer. Hooray! News available over the weekend when no matter what we do, the world doesn't stop!

Girls, and Matt-- How about book store signings? I checked B & N (B&N.com, left side click B & N Sudio, then Stores & Events), but nothing yet. It's still early, publishing date is 6/3 I think. I'll keep checking and let you know.

Then there is Natl. Constitution Cntr in Philly. (Love that place. If you are ever in Philly and haven't gone--GO. It's terrific.) They have frequent talks and book signings. If I lived nearby, I'd be in that place every week for talks! I went down a couple of years ago to hear Andrea Mitchell and get her signature in my copy of her book. Howard Fineman will be there Tues. So it IS frequented by NBC newspeople. Just checked their website and nothing yet on RE, but I'll keep at it.

Am I being naive--or will I bring wrath down on my head--if I say--you know, if the author reads this blog--he could be a big help!! What do you "usual suspects" think?!! (Just teasing a bit Richard!)

I know one thing--Google is sure humming! O-o-o-just thought of the Newseum in D.C. Will check now...

Take care all--  

Thank you for allowing Richard Engel to interview Bush. Richard asked some great questions.

Good Evening Mr.Holt, Always great and wonderful to see Richard on the broadcast!! Looking handsome as always!! Now on to the broadcast. The interview Richard had with President Bush was really interesting although in my opinion I think Richard knows more about what is happening on the ground in Iraq than the government. As Richard showed the President did receive a cool reception, but he stands by his speeches. When Richard said that a soldier who had been medivaced out of the war zone only to return back to get medivaced again was hard to hear. Richard stating it is difficult to see success on the ground only to have the President state they volunteer for duty was somewhat disturbing. These soldiers have sacrificed so much and have to do two, three and four tours of duty not necessarily because they always volunteer because it is so hard on the families and especially if they have children. I think Richard was given somewhat of a hard time by the President, but it is a difficult region and peace is going to take a long time. I will watch the entire ineterview that Richard had with the President on the web, but I from the part I saw from his report on the broadcast it was great! Another fine job Richard!! Please Stay Safe as Always!! (I did see Richard on Weekend Today too! Woo!Hoo!)
On another note the report by Ian Williams from China concerning the earthquake showed some horrible destruction. The huge rocks blocking the roads seemed impossible to climb and with so many missing in those villages. Every person found alive does bring a glimmer of hope. It is a terrible situation and I hope there are no more afterschocks so that no more destruction can be done.
The report about the soldiers and their extended duty was frustrating because these men already served their time and now it is being lengthened without their knowledge. Hearing how that soldier's hand had to be reattached because he was injured due to another tour made one feel so bad for him. I am happy he survived, but I wish this conflict would come to a peaceful end soon. Time will tell with this tumultuous region.
Finally, I enjoyed the piece about the circus by Mr.Potter. Those people bring joy to many adults and children. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt. Great Report Richard!! Stay Safe as always!
Hope the mom and her baby are okay!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all great ladies of this blog!
Be well always!  

Thank you for allowing Richard Engel to interview Bush. Richard asked some great questions.

It seems, Mr Holt, that I am  the only one who
did not appreciate Richard Engel's interview with
President who I think is wonderful.  I thought
Engel was disrespectful and I admired the president
who said, "You're entitled to your opinion"  Pres.
Bush is a class act and does not get red-face and
loose his cool like Clinton when somebody gives him
a hard time.  I am sick of Clinton.  We would not
have had 9/11 had he ok'd taking the shot on Bin
Laden when our Armed Forces had him.  I am sick
of people blaming the president for terrorism when
CLinton was completely at fault.  If a Democrat gets into office you can rest assure another 9/ll will
happen without a year.  And I am sick of the Media
bashing President Bush which borders on treason.
President Bush gave a powerful speech in the
Middle East and they got his message.  President
Bush is still the leader of the Free World, and I
hope by an Act of God, he has another term, Plus.

I watched the whole interview and Richard does not offer up any big softball questions--it's hardball all the way, backed up by his on-site experience. Good for you, Richard. You aced that one big time! But the man still won't acknowledge reality! January 20th can't come fast enough.

Thank you Thank you Thank you for the weekend news netcast.  It will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Lester I had to look at the web news out here in California today.

Laural you always have something important to say. I will check B/N out here about Richard's book. Your right he is the only Journalist who not only lasted but also told the truth to the viewers.  Remember the Pentagon memo that allowed Americans to know the Media/Journalist were given fake information about the hold invasion situation.  
Now it's the 411 from inside Iraq about the soldier who used the Quran as target now what wasn't told is the soldier had a letter on the target but it's to bad to repeat.  No this isn't done by our troops I asked Peaches. She said it's only one idiot as soldiers know to respect people and their religion.

The New York Times recently documented the Pentagon’s domestic propaganda program using “military analysts” in the media to garner support for the Iraq war.  
Yes even the NYTimes knows the deal.  Now Brian uses his words to ID who gave the information. With Richard telling the truth NBC stands alone as the only station with fair/balanced/honest reporting.

Now to my topic Hillary.  I knew something was strange with this campaign. But thanks to the Saudi King I think I figured it out. Look the Saudi King played the White House for the fools they are. Check the status of the Middle East before Bush stole the Presidency. Yes as Bush/Cheney acted like the Middle East weren't as smart of them it turns out they were. Dubai, Qatar, Iraq and all the Middle East have been winners. Like the Saudi King said if the US wants Oil buy it. Hillary and Obama have been attacked by all sides and words that can't be repeated. Even Hillary's daughter was called a pimp. As the Media was following the White House reports and some Journalist like Chris Matthews, David Gregory, Tim Russert and Andrea Mitchell who proudly call themselves insides of the GOP, they got played too.  Democrats had to learn you don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.  As McCain thinks that he can win with Rev. Huckabee one only needs to look at the amount of votes they got in the Primary. Yes the Republicans had the lowest turnout in history. All the propaganda wont change those numbers. The extra spice to the Democratic vote is none other then Ron Paul who has been over looked by both the GOP and the Media.  The World Powers know this new Administration will be one of the strongest the US has had in 7 years. For those Bill Clinton haters I say get use to the brother being around. Yes I said brother because if I did have a brother I'm want him to be Bill Clinton. I just like people who are real and not perfect ( or say they are).

I'm glad to hear Senator Kennedy is doing well.

the best to Lisa, Laural, Stephanie, Claudia, Anne, and Matt.

Lester:

Love, love, love the broadcast on the net!  One night Bill Gates did an interview on Colbert about 2 years ago and he said that TV is going to the internet.   This way people could watch as needed on demand.  I was in my kitchen and said, "oh really, Bill what a wonderful idea."  There's Lester at 9:15 PM on my computer and Richard's full interview.  Some place I read that NBC has a new WOMAN in charge of internet programming and she has been trying to revolutionize the entire web content.   Cheers to you Ms. President of On-line Programming or Internet Programming!   Love all the changes!

I watched the entire 15 minute interview with Richard and the President and to be quite honest it was the same old stuff.   The President is steadfast in his opinion and Richard sure interjected his thoughts a few times.   Wow!  

I have "found" Richard scheduled in 5 different cities and like Celene said, anytime Richard or his real publicist wants to guest blog and promote his speaking locations I am sure Brian and the powers that be wouldn't mind.    All my resources are about exhausted.

Bests to all!

 

Stop-loss a "back-door draft"? A real surprise to soldiers? Oh, please - spare me!! It's right there in the original enlistment contract, it's something that recruiters take pains to explain to prospective recruits BEFORE the contact's signed.

Hard to swallow? Yes. Disappointing that your post-Army plans go on hold or change? Absolutely. But a surprise? Only if you weren't paying attention before you raised your hand.

You guys must go out of your way to find the most naive, spoiled troops for these kinds of stories.

From a former soldier, former Army wife, current Army mom

Jackie, Brian and Bloggers:

If you have a chance read the cover story in Vanity Fair this month.   It is definately a fascinating read on Bobby Kennedy!  Seems like Teddy is doing better!    

Monday bests to all!  

I do hope the mother and baby are alright. Its horrible to see someone being hit by a SUV, or any other car for that matter.

I'd like to thank you for showing the weekend Nightly News on the podcast. I live in England and can't go through the day without my fix of Nightly News. Thanks once again.

Cheers to Richard Engel for the face to face with Bush.  Mr. Engels breadth and depth of knowledge on the Middle East so outshines Bush's propogandist garbage. "Smash the beehive" indeed.  Well said and way to not let Bush off the hook the way everyone else does.  Glad to see the Fourth Estate is not dead after all. Bravo!

NBC "News" gets their backsides kicked by the White House (and rightly so) in an email to NBC - for deceiving the American public in an interview with President Bush:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080519-4.html


Steve Capus
President, NBC News
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, N.Y. 10112



Mr. Capus:

           This e-mail is to formally request that NBC Nightly News and The Today Show air for their viewers President Bush's actual answer to correspondent Richard Engel's question about Iran policy and "appeasement," rather than the deceptively edited version of the President's answer that was aired last night on the Nightly News and this morning on The Today Show.

           In the interview, Engel asked the President:  "You said that negotiating with Iran is pointless, and then you went further. You said that it was appeasement. Were you referring to Senator Barack Obama?"

The President responded: "You know, my policies haven't changed, but evidently the political calendar has. People need to read the speech. You didn't get it exactly right, either. What I said was is that we need to take the words of people seriously. And when, you know, a leader of Iran says that they want to destroy Israel, you've got to take those words seriously. And if you don't take them seriously, then it harkens back to a day when we didn't take other words seriously. It was fitting that I talked about not taking the words of Adolf Hitler seriously on the floor of the Knesset. But I also talked about the need to defend Israel, the need to not negotiate with the likes of al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas. And the need to make sure Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon."

           This answer makes clear: (1). The President's remarks before the Knesset were not different from past policy statements, but are now being looked at through a political prism,    (2).  Corrects the inaccurate premise of Engel's question by putting the "appeasement" line in the proper context of taking the words of leaders seriously, not "negotiating with Iran," (3).  Restates the U.S.'s long-standing policy positions against negotiating with al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas, and not allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon.

Engel's immediate follow-up question was, "Repeatedly you've talked about Iran and that you don't want to see Iran develop a nuclear weapon.  How far away do you think Iran is from developing a nuclear capability?"

The President replied, "You know, Richard, I don't want to speculate – and there's a lot of speculation.  But one thing is for certain – we need to prevent them from learning how to enrich uranium.  And I have made it clear to the Iranians that there is a seat at the table for them if they would verifiably suspend their enrichment.  And if not, we'll continue to rally the world to isolate them."

This response reiterates another long-standing policy, which is that if Iran verifiably suspends its uranium enrichment program the U.S. government would engage in talks with the Iranian government.

NBC's selective editing of the President's response is clearly intended to give viewers the impression that he agreed with Engel's characterization of his remarks when he explicitly challenged it.  Furthermore, omitted the references to al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Hamas and ignored the clarifying point in the President's follow-up response that U.S. policy is to require Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment program before coming to the table, not that "negotiating with Iran is pointless" and amounts to "appeasement."

           This deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline is utterly misleading and irresponsible and I hereby request in the interest of fairness and accuracy that the network air the President's responses to both initial questions in full on the two programs that used the excerpts.

           As long as I am making this formal request, please allow me to take this opportunity to ask if your network has reconsidered its position that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war, especially in light of the fact that the unity government in Baghdad recently rooted out illegal, extremist groups in Basra and reclaimed the port there for the people of Iraq, among other significant signs of progress.

           On November 27, 2006, NBC News made a decision to no longer just cover the news in Iraq, but to make an analytical and editorial judgment that Iraq was in a civil war.  As you know, both the United States government and the Government of Iraq disputed your account at that time.   As Matt Lauer said that morning on The Today Show: "We should mention, we didn't just wake up on a Monday morning and say, 'Let's call this a civil war.' This took careful deliberation.'"  

I noticed that around September of 2007, your network quietly stopped referring to conditions in Iraq as a "civil war."  Is it still NBC News's carefully deliberated opinion that Iraq is in the midst of a civil war? If not, will the network publicly declare that the civil war has ended, or that it was wrong to declare it in the first place?

Lastly, when the Commerce Department on April 30 released the GDP numbers for the first quarter of 2007, Brian Williams reported it this way:  "If you go by the government number, the figure that came out today stops just short of the official declaration of a recession."

The GDP estimate was a positive 0.6% for the first quarter.  Slow growth, but growth nonetheless.  This followed a slow but growing fourth quarter in 2007.  Consequently, even if the first quarter GDP estimate had been negative, it still would not have signaled a recession – neither by the unofficial rule-of-thumb of two consecutive quarters of negative growth, nor the more robust definition by the National Bureau of Economic Research (the group that officially marks the beginnings and ends of business cycles).  

Furthermore, never in our nation's history have we characterized economic conditions as a "recession" with unemployment so low – in fact, when this rate of unemployment was eventually reached in the 1990s, it was hailed as the sign of a strong economy.  This rate of unemployment is lower than the average of the past three decades.

Are there numbers besides the "government number" to go by?  Is there reason to believe "the government number" is suspect?  How does the release of positive economic growth for two consecutive quarters, albeit limited, stop "just short of the official declaration of a recession"?

           Mr. Capus, I'm sure you don't want people to conclude that there is really no distinction between the "news" as reported on NBC and the "opinion" as reported on MSNBC, despite the increasing blurring of those lines. I welcome your response to this letter, and hope it is one that reassures your broadcast network's viewers that blatantly partisan talk show hosts like Christopher Matthews and Keith Olbermann at MSNBC don't hold editorial sway over the NBC network news division.



           Sincerely,
           Ed Gillespie
           Counselor to the President

Re: the Richard Engel interview w/ Pres. Bush---he was tough, he asked hard questions, but nobody, NOBODY, knows Iraq and its people and the goings-on there like Richard.  He had the right and the duty to press Pres. Bush for some new answers, new insights from the man---it didn't happen.  I don't consider Richard too tough and too probing. It was great and I so appreciated it! Just proved the ineptness of our President---again!

I have watched NBC News my entre life and NEVER have I been so distrubed by the difference between the OPINION offered up as NEWS FACT during the Edited Version of Richard Engle's interview with the president and the ACTUAL FACT of what was said by both President Bush and Mr. Engle as seen on the UNEDITED Version on the NBC Nightly News website!!

I read each and every word of the letter to the President of NBC from the White House and wholeheartedly support our President.  

NBC completely changed the question and answer order.. During the Edited version that made it to the airwaves Ques 1 was in some cases followed by Pres. Bush's answer to a completely DIFFERENT question from the original interview! I understand editing for Time Restraints but COME ON!!  By changing the order of the interview and adding photos from the ground in Iraq and photos of wounded soldiers and photos of military units saying goodbye to their families as Mr. Engle questions the president about the multiple tours of duty that our brave soldiers are serving, serves only ONE PURPOSE... to pull at the heartstrings of Americans and cause us to see the war as a total FAILURE and to see the U.S.'s continued deployment there as serving NO PURPOSE BUT TO COST LIVES OF US AND COALITION SOLIDERS!  

THIS IS DISPICABLE!!  If you actually listen to the entire interview and you listen to President Bush's REASONS and RATIONALE behind his Administration's strategy in the Middle East you realize that his ONLY agenda in that region is the PROTECTION & SECURITY OF THE UNITED STATES & THE FREEDOMS THAT WE HOLD DEAR!!

This will not change my choice of which network I will get my news from but it does make the lesson that I learned nearly 10 yrs ago in H.S. Govt & Economics painfully Obvious; That lesson being that a great majority of the TV & Newspaper media in this country tend to report news (espeically when it comes to political issues) with a LIBERAL SLANT!!!  Fortuately for NBC News this slant seems limited mostly to matters of governemnt, polotics & the War on Terrorism.

I have always respected Mr. Engle for spending such long periods away from his family in the midst of Iraq and the unrest there.  I do however think that he knew better than to continually see the situation in Iraq in a NEGATIVE light.

It pains me to write this but it HAD TO BE SAID by someone!  

Regretfully,

S.Millay, Oanka, SD

No surprises. Democratic deceit and wrongful broadcasting. You only report the liberal talk. I cannot wait until (God help us all) a President Obama is finally found to be such an out of touch head of government that all you NBC and MSNBC lovers of him will finally have a red face and do a lot of stuttering trying to defend him. It will not be a pretty picture for you. We will dog you.

Richard Engel is a liberal activist not a reporter why did he edit out the President's real response????? Why did NBC allow this????? Hummmm maybe NBC is Obama campaign communication headquarters!!!!! I have no problem with this .... lets just be straight ...what is is .... NBC is not a news organization!!!!

This is regarding Richard Engel's interview with President Bush.  I appreciate Richard's honest reporting from Iraq and legitimate interview and observations.  My son has served in Iraq twice.  Contrary to President Bush's comments, my son did not serve his second tour voluntarily.  His second deployment was due to being stoplossed in his fourth year of service to the army.  Four years signed up for, became six years served.  Yes, its in the fine print when they sign up, but how many nineteen year olds read the fine print on anything that they sign?  How many forty year olds do for that matter?So, no Mr. Bush, many soldiers dont volunteer to go back, they are forced to. I thought Richard and NBC showed restraint by not pointing this out on the air to Mr. Bush.  Richard has spent alot more time in Iraq then Mr. Bush has and I would believe his reporting more then the president's save face words.
Please continue your great honest reporting Richard and nbc nightly news!!!

NBC, you are two liberal for my taste.  What ever happened to reporting the whole story without "edits" that slant the actual conversation and subsequent content?  This reminds me why so many Americans, including myself, are turned OFF by the national broadcast networks.  I will give you a number "one" for the worst which is why I boycott all NBC television, particularly .... NBC or ... Nothing But Crap!  

I watched Engal's whole interview with President
Bush and I think he was rude and too negative but Pres.
Bush was brilliant in answering his questions and
showed him up.  I have always thought Engel and
Brian Williams too negative about Pres. BUsh.  
However, Mr. Holt I have always found you to be
fair and objective which is why I always tune in
on the weekends. You may ask tough questions, but
you are fair.  Engel strikes me as a guy trying to
make a name for himself. Him and Williams both.
Your reporting rocks, but you do not sensationlize
the news like Brian Williams and I respect you
for that
Phyllis Kunz

I watched Engel's interview with President Bush and was intrigued by what else might have been shared so logged onto the full interview. After comparing the network broadcast with the entire interview, I felt my original perception of the edited version was not changed at all by seeing the interview in its entirety. Mr. Bush continues to defend his failed foreign policy with mindless hubris. The words left out of the broadcast only reinforced the rest of his answer. Frankly, NBC did him a favor by leaving them out.
As for "civil" war in Irag and "recession" in the U.S., the public was using those two terms long before the media did.  

I just read that Bill CLinton unleased a 12-minute
tirade against the Media.  He singled out
NBC's Tim Russert, ABC's George Stephanopoulus
and MSNBC's Olbermann and Chris Matthews for slanted
reported against Hilliary Clinton from the beginning.
In this case, it seems to me that the Clintons
have a sense of entitlement, and they have nobody
to blame but themselves.

Phyllis Kunz

In this morning's Louisville Courier-Journal there
was an article about the landslide win of Hilliary
Clinton with the implication that Kentucky is
racist.  I certainly hope that it is not true and
behind us but if not, I am glad it is out in the
open.  Only good can come from it.

Also speculation who would fill Ted Kennedy's
shoes.  The Columinist choice was Hilliary.  My
choice is Alec Baldwin.

Phyllis Kunz

I can stomach MSNBC for about 1 minute at a time.  The liberal talk of Olbermann is over the top!  He NEVER EVER says anything negatvie about Obama.  His whole show-EVERY NIGHT- is summed up in:  Bush is the worst person in the world and is evil and Foxnews is the worser person in the world for being fair and balanced.  No need to watch anymore, that's it, the show, every night same thing.  I keep watching thinking I'll hear another side- anything, but there isn't.  Same old thing every night.  What a shame that this is considered journalism!

IT WAS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT SEN. CLINTON MADE
THE OFFENSIVE REMARK ABOUT THE ASSASINATION OF
ROBERT KENNEDY.  I FELT BAD FOR BOTH TED KENNEDY AND HIS FAMILY AND SEN. OBAMA AS WELL.

IT WAS REPORTED THAT SEN. KENNEDY MAY HAVE ONLY
A YEAR OR SO TO LIVE, AND SHE MAY AS WELL HAVE PUT A TARGET ON OBAMA'S HEAD.

I BELIEVE THERE WAS A MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A MAN
NAMED VINCE WHO WAS WITH THE CLINTONS, AND SOME
THINK THE CLINTONS MURDERED HIM.  AND OTHERS.

ON NBC NIGHTLY NEWS THIS EVENING, BRIAN WILLIAMS
SAID "SHE MEANT NO HARM TO OBAMA." OBVIOUSLY QUOTING SOMEONE FROM HER CAMPAIGN. YEAH, RIGHT.  SHE
MISPOKE.

HAVE A NICE MEMORIAL DAY, MR. HOLT.

WARM REGARDS
PHYLLIS KUNZ

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