Good Evening Amy, Nice to see you on a Saturday evening broadcast of Nightly News. Always enjoy you on Weekend Today! You do a great job! I watched the video of the tornadoes across Oklahoma and it certainly was scary. Such power in mother nature and how much destruction can be caused in a short amount of time. Atlanta is still repairing many windows from the tornado that came through the city in March and recently many towns in Georgia were hit by tornadoes. I hope all those affected can rebuild nicely. It does take time. Also, good job to you, Peter,Chris and Jenna in the tug o war against the Navy on Weekend Today this morning. You did a great job! Looking forward to the broadcast Amy!
Peace to you and to all!

Hope everyone in having a great holiday weekend!
Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all great ladies of this blog!
Be well always!

Dear Amy,

It's good to see you on the broadcast tonight.  I miss seeing you on MSNBC, but I enjoy your work on Today and Nightly News.

I hope everyone is enjoying the Memorial Day weekend.  Tomorrow night, I will be watching the National Memorial Day concert, which is broadcast live on PBS, from Washington, D.C.  If you've never watched it before, I highly recommend it.  As part of the program, various performers read aloud the actual letters of veterans from various wars.  Very often, the veterans themselves, or their family members, are in the audience.  My favorite performer is the actor Charles Durning, himself a World War II veteran.  (He was at Omaha Beach.)  His readings are always extremely powerful.  If you're not bawling your eyes out by the end, then you haven't got a heart.

If I could be petty for a moment, I wanted to post the comments of a gentleman from Germany, who had these words to say about me and some of the regulars who write here (posted on the Steve Capus/Ed Gillespie blog):

The problem here at NBC News is that when they are offering a blog to write in like the "Daily Nightly" they are accustomed to "Yeah"-Sayers like the following contributors: Lisa McNeil, Jackie Rawlings, LNP, Matt, Laurel, Anna and the surrounding frivolous clique of patronizers. So NBC News is accustomed to be cheered and not criticised. When I wrote several medium complaints about the broadcast, they were not published because of that criticism. So NBC News has unlearnt to be unbiased and to be criticized.

NBC News should consider the affiliation those yeah-sayers like the above mentioned.

Marc Schulz, Delitzsch, Germany (Sent Tuesday, May 20, 2008 4:36 PM)

Look!  I'm listed twice!  Does that mean I'm twice as evil?  LOL  Who knew we were so "powerful," ladies & Matt?!  And so goes free speech - perhaps our greatest freedom.  It's one of the basic rights our war dead have fought to defend, throughout our country's history.  I am grateful.

To Lisa:  Thanks for all your well wishes.  Right back atcha!

To Jackie:  I'm glad all that crazy weather and devastation has not reached you.  I hope you remain safe.

To Stephanie:  Welcome back, girl!  I missed you!

To Celine, Claudia, Anna & Matt:  Best wishes to all - you "frivolous clique of patronizers," you!  LOL  It's simply wonderful to be so loved.  :-)

XOXO

Don't worry soon President Obama will be able to have a band play the Soviet National Anthem, and control the climate.

Hi Amy,
Great work on tonight's Nightly News. Hats off to the camera crew showing the tornado footage, awesome pictures.
How did you fare in this mornings tug-a-war competition? I would think you would be quite a distraction to the men in uniform, Advantage, team Robach!
Hope to see you in future NBC, MSNBC, newscast.

Good Evening Again Amy, Very good broadcast this evening. First of all the weather has certainly caused some devastating destruction in the midwest. The number of 930 tornadoes is staggering and I hope everyone affected recovers quickly. The report by Mr.Mullen from China at the epicenter of the earthquake showed some massive destruction. So many lost and missing it is very tragic. Seeing the bride in front of the church was sad because it happened right around her. The pandas being moved to another location was nice to see even though the animals will have to adjust to new surroundings they seemed happy to eat their bamboo. The report by Mr.Taibbi about the high cost of travelling makes many just stay home this holiday weekend. It is nice to enjoy the holiday right in ones own backyard.
I will say it was very moving to see the scouts place American Flags at Marietta National Cemetary in Marietta,Georgia. We should honor all our military and our fallen soldiers who served so bravely and made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless all our troops! Thank you for the broadcast Amy! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all great ladies of this blog!
Laurel-I will watch the National Memorial Day Concert from Washington. I have seen it before and it is very moving.

Hi Laurel - its great to be back!  I'm afraid that my head cold got the better of me, however, so I slept through tonight's broadcast & the massive tornado through Oklahoma.  I have good friends in Oklahoma City - I must find out if they are OK.

Being gone means I apparently missed the brouhaha.  I have looked over a few previous posts and see how vicious it seems to have become.  I don't mind being in the "frivolous clique of patronizers" but I've also had critiquing things to say, too!  I guess what makes me different is that I know where to get other points of view, so the "bias" of the "liberal NBC" doesn't bother me.

Shall I tell you.... my sister lives in Michigan at her in-laws house right now, and they are as Red as they come.  President Bush is their hero, and anyone who isn't a Republican aught to be shot, in their humble opinions.  They live & view their world through Fox News.  After an evening of that, I was totally nauseated!  :)  I don't mind people who can defend their political positions, even if I don't agree with them, but they don't seem to be able to do that.  No wonder my throughly Democratic sister is having a hard time living with them.... ;)  

Hellos also to Lisa, Matt, Anna, Celine - and of course, Amy!  I'm sorry to have missed your Nightly debut!

Amy thanks for sharing your experience as I've never (thank goodness) been in the area where there was a tornado. But with Global Warming who knows!

Laural: I read several comments about how Brian's regular blogger never complain. To bad they haven't read the posting. The German blogger should go back and look at the posting Brian gave to explain to his viewers how he and his staff pick the news to report. I like to think the rest of the bloggers full in the rest of the news. As for the letter in response to the complaint given NBC about Richard's interview. This blog was sit up for comments and that's what we do. Personally I'm honored to be able to communicate with people like Lisa, Stephanie, Anne, Matt, yourself and others about what's on our mine.  Reading, listening to others makes us better people.  Brian and his staff are employed by NBC and a wise person would remember that.

Now to my girl Hillary. I agree with Bobby Kennedy Jr. as Hillary's comment was not showing disrespect. I listen to what she had to say and realized it took a really sick person to think of this comment being and attack on Obama or a insult to the Kennedy's. Facts don't change no matter how much we wish they would. Prescott Bush plotted to kill FDR, JFK was assassinated without answers and Bobby Kennedy was assissanated too. Senator Obama was given Secret Service Protect early because of threats that is a fact and nothing will change it. I do respect that Hillary's comment was big news but the documents from FBI show Bush/Cheney committed War Crimes, Pentagon can't find 15 billion dollars and former Gov. Pataki's 4 term crime wave to coming to light.

I do feel bad for Kelly as she would be a poor used car sales person. McCain had to top the campaign fund raiser to a smaller place no tickets were selling. She forgot to report Teflon John McCain had cancer surgery in February 2008, the man's in poor health. With all the protection the reporters have given John he wouldn't invite them to the ranch. One might think the Media is all for McCain but I remember when reporters were laughing at him when he mismanaged his money and had to take the plan and carry his own bags, what a difference time makes. I do wish McCain the best as I would anyone.

Stephanie I read about your travels. Train and Plane great. The train is just better to me, the airports seem to have everyone in a rush and with that homeland security it's over the top. I'm glad your safe and every thing went well.

Best to my friends Lisa, Laural, Stephanie, Claudia, Anne and Matt

Hello to all! I want to share the news that I received e-mail notification that Richard's book is being shipped. By my calculations, I think I will receive it Tuesday--I hope, I hope!

To Laurel, you "doubly frivolous patronizer" you--  (In light of that, I think we need to fashion a badge of honor for you!) I owe you a couple of replies. I have been up-to-my-eye-balls-busy, so I've been reading but not having time to write. First let me compliment you (Excuse me--patronize you!) on your Richard defense on Friday. Well said!! Bush is saying things are getting better in Iraq when Richard is sitting across from him having been shot at in Sadr City while being embedded a week or so before??!! And Richard gets criticized??!! Does Bush have any idea of what it's like to be in a fire fight??!! I stopped reading the replies to Steve Capus. Typical: "...blah, blah...so I never watch NBC News!" Well if you don't watch it, you didn't see the "edited" piece, so how can you comment on it??!! The "ditto-heads" salivating when their masters ring the bell!

Mr. Schulz should also be careful commenting on situations about which he knows nothing. In his mind I am one of the "clique of patronizers" of NBC News. To Brian, I am a pain in his butt who has pointed out problems for years. I am a retired teacher, and just as, out of respect for their dignity, I did not dress kids down in front of the class, I certainly am not going to criticize Brian in a public forum. I have too much respect for him as a newsman and as a person. There are other channels to use to voice a grievance to NN, and use them I do--but when I do, I engage in specific, thoughtful, constructive criticism, not personal attack. As I have said here before--we, who frequent this blog, are not mindless toadies, but rather: "...thoughtful, questioning people, respectful of the opinion of others, who use NBC as one of our (news) sources."

I got your "heads-up" about Kevin Spacey. Thanks. I watched him on Carlie Rose. It was an interesting show. I am an avid Nascar fan and there is a 600 mi. race that will thankfully occupy my time Sun. night. Nascar is my weekly escape from the problems of politics, government and the world in general. Racing and Jon Stewart keep me sane. (And football in season.) I probably will watch the movie eventually--but truthfully, I'm not anxious to revisit that troubled episode. In my mind there are no heroes from 2000. There is blame to be placed on all sides--including Mr. Gore. The Democrats always seem to be able to, as they say, snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. I'm beginning to think they are about to do it again.

Anna--  It really isn't funny, but I couldn't help laughing--a SEAT charge??!! What happens if you don't pay it??!! Also, you said something about having identified the 5 cities on Richard's tour. I know of Atlanta, the 2 in California, but where else? I'm not coming up with anything! Help!!

Stephanie--  How was your flying experience? You did not comment, so I'm hoping it was uneventful.

Matt--  I truly enjoy reading your comments. You are wise beyond your years. Are you perhaps thinking of politics after law school?

To all--  On Wed. 5/21, the NY Times op-ed page had a hilarious column about Clinton/Obama by Maureen Dowd titled: "The Last Debate", and Tom Friedman a sobering MUST-READ column: "Imbalances of Power". Both are still accessible on nytimes.com. Type author and title in the Times Archive bar.

I am thinking this weekend of the people who sacrificed to give us the country we enjoy today and vow to continue to work to keep it great so as to honor their efforts. We are so lucky--thanks to so many!

Best to all the "usual suspects". Enjoy your holiday weekend!

I'd like to watch the tornado scenes tonight on NBC, but my kids are hogging the TV.  (The kids were fascinated by Saturday's footage, though.) As usual, I'll have to wait for it to post here.  Why don't we get a new TV?  Who knows?  My wife just gave one away on "freecycle" and I've got two more in storage.  I think maybe my wife feels that one TV is enough.  One other thing: I'm really glad NBC gave up that heavy handed bit where web viewers of Nightly News were forced to watch the same ad over and over.  I don't mind a little advertising, but that sort of forced repetition, "enhanced method" of advertising seems cruel and unusual.

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