Good Evening Mr.Holt, Nice to see you this evening of Memorial Day! I watched President Bush lay the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and his speech. It is always very moving and touching because we should always honor our brave soldiers and remember the fallen soldiers who made the ultimate sacrfice. I look forward to the story about the "Arlington Ladies" it sounds very heartwarming and touching. On another note it is terrible weather in the midwest with all the destruction caused by those massive tornadoes. I hope everyone effected wil recover soon. Looking forward to the broadcast Mr. Holt. Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie and Stephanie!
Hi to all great ladies of this blog!
Laurel-I did see a repeat of RE's documentary on MSNBC at noon! It is now introduced as the 2008 Alfred I. Dupont winner!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!
Be Well Always!

Dear Lester,

Good to see you on the broadcast tonight.  I'm glad "Mik" will be on the broadcast, too - I just love him, and it seems he appears on the DC affiliate more than he does the national broadcast.  He is the best.

I'm sorry to say I missed the ceremony this morning at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  I have been to Arlington National Cemetery a few times, though.  A high school classmate of mine is buried there.  I was there right after Jackie O. died, to see her grave.  The eternal flame for President Kennedy is lovely, but so is the simple memorial to Robert Kennedy.  It's in a beautiful, peaceful spot on a hillside there.  Of course, I watched the National Memorial Day Concert, too.  I was sobbing within the first 15 minutes, as I knew I would be.  It is a very moving tribute, of course, but I'm a big crybaby, anyway.  I weep at Coca Cola commercials!

No offense to NASA, or to the space program, because obviously there is a value to exploring our universe - even if it is just for knowledge, and nothing else - but I can't help but wonder to what better use we could put their funding right now.  I mean, we're exploring Mars?  And the President wants to go back to the moon?  Why?  Aren't there urgent problems here on Earth?  I guess the drive towards exploration is in our DNA.  (I'm ducking right now, 'cause I know someone's gonna slag me off for my opinion!  If I'd been alive in the 60's, I guess I would appreciate the concept more.)

My prayers go out to all who have lost so much in this horrific weather.  I can't even imagine what it must be like to become homeless in an instant.  Which reminds me, hurricane season begins June 1st.  Will Brian be in New Orleans?  I saw that the first "green" house was just completed in the lower ninth ward.  The response to Katrina will forever be a national shame.  Apparently, it took Homestead, Florida 10 years to rebuild after Hurricane Andrew.  I wonder if New Orleans will be that "lucky."

Lots of love to Lisa, Jackie, and Stephanie!
Hello to Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt!
XOXO

It's great to see stories like Mr. Miklaszewski's piece on the evening news; at a time of war, we all need a little hope and inspiration, and from the sound of the report, it will surpass all expectations and give us a little bit of that hope.

Hi Lester
To all those who have served the US I say thank you. The Iraq soldiers got my care package as I sent junk food as usual. I was proud to see others putting flags on the graves of our brave soldiers and the soldiers at the hospital I visited smiled.


Now to the news Lester can't report. Bob Barr is now a candidate for President. Yes Barr is the former Law Maker who quickly attacked Clinton for impeachment. But Larry Flynt found out Bob supported his wife in getting an abortion while quickly leaving her for his mistress of many years. Yes Barr dropped future attacks on Clinton as he was worse. Barr will now be the GOP Christian Religious Moral Values candidate we should follow.

Warren Buffett a billionaire who knows Economy said we're in a recession. Now I know other analyst who get a pay check to talk about Economy say different but I would rather follow the advice of a man who has proved what he knows. Yes folks we're in a recession with or without rebate checks.

We're all heard that the US is on a mission to stop Iran from getting Nukes as they might attack Isreal. Yes Isreal says they are defenceless and are afraid if Iran get Nukes they will use them. What the White House kept secret is the following:

Former President Carter says Israel has 150 nuclear weapons

Yes Isreal has Nukes given by the United States just as Iraq was given Nukes. Now what's interesting is why the lies. Iran can't have Nukes but the US can give Nukes to Isreal. No wonder Russia said if the US bombed Iran they would protect Iran. Good news is Pakistan got great help with their Nukes from the US for cooperation.  Now what's the count on who has Nukes and who doesn't have Nukes.

Fox News reporter Liz Trotta apologized for saying someone should kill Senators Obama and Clinton. A clear out right threat yet nothing reported about it by the Media yet twisting Hillary's comments were headline news.  Another none reported piece of news is President Bush got a poor reception on this Memorial Day and Law Makers are getting an ear full from their voters on this mess we're in.

I've listen to Tim Russert and other so called experts in Politics and have come to the opinion it's just a pay check. The facts are behind the scenes and it's the power people who will make sure the candidate of choice gets in. As I see it, McCain is out and being used as he was in 2000. Obama has his support political people such as Kerry, Kennedy, Leahy, Pelosi, Feinstein and Boxer among others. Yes these Law Makers will got to either side that wins. Hillary has her support team but her ace is the number of voters she gets by the American people. Yes most Americans don't know what the popular vote vs the electoral vote vs delegates vs Super delegates means. Hillary will get the popular vote and Obama might get most delegates and even more Super Delegates. What America will have to say is has the Constitution fallen. Do the American people elect a President or does the chosen delegates/Super Delegates choose. If the Delegates choose the candidate we don't need Primaries or Elections anymore. The vote by the People isn't necessary. Delegates are to bring their vote that their area gave.  Super Delegates were formed by the Democrats in 1982 after the lost to Ronald Reagan. Big mistake. Now none elected Super Delegates can choose the candidate without any interest in the voters choice.  Now again it's up to the people to either stand up for letting their vote count or let others choose for them. Howard Dean will either direct the Democratic Party to push the voters out of the election process or make them part of it.

Best as always to Lisa, Laural, Stephanie, Claudia, Anne and Matt

Good Monday to you and all the NBC staff, Lester!

On this Memorial Day, it would have been a much better tribute to our veterans if the candidates had laid so low there was nothing to report.

Yes, I am felt hostage in my home for a couple years now because of gas prices and no money.  My trip to visit my sister was a rare trip that's not likely to happen any too soon!  Just getting to the ocean - 35 minutes away - its going to be tough this summer as gas prices march forward!

Pardon me for feeling sarcastic about China's "graciousness" in allowing parents who lost a child or had one injured in the earthquake to conceive and deliver another sanctioned child.  How big of the government to do this for them!  This does nothing to erase the devastation suffered by the country.

Another thing on the broadcast that doesn't make sense to me.  Communities in California are raising money to save the schools that they already support by their taxes?  Isn't this also the same state that just made it illegal for parents to home school their children unless under selective restrictions?  Am I the only one seeing the double standard?  If more kids were homeschooled, then the schools would be less crowded for the parents who didn't choose alternative means of educating their children.  If we're going to raise money to fund the schools, why don't we just raise more money to fund the police, the firefighters, the mayor's office, etc, and get rid of taxes altogether?  How much more money are we needing to pour into broken systems?  

Hats off to the Arlington Ladies.  They have a most solemn responsibility, and I am grateful that they are there to support the families in their times of grief.   They stand in the place of all the Americans, like myself, who would be there if we could be there.  Thank you, Jim, for sharing their story.

I'm going to start forgetting names our list of regulars is getting so long!  Good holiday wishes to Lisa, Laurel, Jackie, Claudia, Celine, Anna, and Matt!  

Good Evening Mr.Holt, First of all the report about the terrible tornados in the midsection of the country was awful to see. So much destruction of homes and businesses I hope all those people will be able to recover and rebuild their homes. Seems like that front is not moving fast enough to move out of that area of the country. More storms are not needed in the same area. I hope things get better soon.
It was moving to see the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan raising the American Flag to honor their fallen comrades. They are the ones we should always remember each and everyday, but especially on a day to honor our military. God Bless all our brave men and women in uniform!
The piece about the group of women known as the "Arlington Ladies" was just so moving and touching to see. They are doing such a lovely thing by being there at each funeral and giving the handwritten note to the family. No person should be alone and they do give such comfort to a grieving family. It is so very hard when the person is so young and it is always difficult. A wonderful thing to volunteer to do by offering ones deepest sympathy to those in need and trying to give comfort at such a sad time. A truly fine piece to see on Memorial Day. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt. Peace to you and to all!

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

To all the regulars, a most lovely Memorial Day, hope you all had good weather.

If you missed the broadcast just click  on the clip about where all the politicians were this weekend ( the President will be here Tuesday to top it all off)  

What I wanted you to see wasn't the campaign stuff, just the gorgeous scenery behind Lee Cowan. Now you all understand why I love this state so much. Gotta admit though, the fact that we are the most purple state in the union does make playing grassroots politics fun!  Didn't get to go to any of the events, invitation only, and I'm clear up in the far notthwest corner

Lisa 9 days  

Mr Williams, and everyone else at NBC:  the Department of Defense Inspector General has launched an investigation into the secret "psychological warfare" office run from the Pentagon, which placed phony "independent experts" in major media outlets -- including your broadcast -- to promote the war, and obscure coverage of blunders by Donald Rumsfeld and the Bush administration.

You should know all about it:  I understand you were present in some of the meetings with Rumsfeld -- although you may not have understood the full nature of the program.

Won't you report on this story, now that a major investigation is under way?  Don't you feel some responsibility to the thousands of American service men and women who have died, or been maimed, or are still serving recurrent tours of duty?

Lester-- The amount of damage done by tornadoes this year is mind boggling. The scenes shown today looked as though those towns were wiped right off the map. And the forecast is for more to come! What horrible news. For once, may the forecasters be wrong.

Claudia--  Thanks for putting the drive-by comments in perspective and I do like your plan for handling them in the future.

Anna--  Thanks for the Richard info. I just checked B&N again, but still nothing. It is hard to believe Richard, a native NY-er will not do a signing here. I think he'll be on Charlie Rose. He already has appeared on his show.

Happy to meet another Jane Austen fan! I can't tell you how many times I've read her books. I have a "Complete Jane Austen" volume that is well worn from use. Beside P&P, what's your favorite? I'm fond of Mansfield Park. Did you see the PBS series of all her works? I missed Northanger Abbey, but enjoyed the rest. The P&P was, of course, the A&E production with my all time favorite Darcy--Colin Firth. One of these years I'm going to take a "Jane Austen's England" tour and see all those places!

For all--  Just picked up news of Fareed Zakaria's new program on CNN. It premieres this Sunday at 1 PM. His guest will be Tony Blair. Perhaps you saw him on Charlie Rose recently (awesome show), and read him occasionally on MSNBC.com. I'm looking forward to his show.

Best to all the regulars---

You seem to have blocked my Memorial Day comment regarding the Pentagon-sponsored "psychological warfare" program, which placed covert shills for the Iraq war in major media venues, including yours.

Why?  Doesn't our obligation to our war dead, and the hundreds of thousands serving in harm's way, require us to consider why we sent them, and what they are doing there now?

At large ,the biggest issue is the truth being a failure of our government being honest, and not looking out for the people interest. A french resident built a auto at home, that operated on compress air,at 50 mph , this auto goes 200 miles, in town it runs all day on it's tanks of air compressed.The man reported, he could have them ready to go in two years, this was never reported again. Seems some big money bought it and, place it on the back shelf.So what is all this pump up false news about fuel,, we do not need it, if the people had true representation, yet the people is not, other than big money. All the pump up news, and politics, is why the mass does not vote.Bush and his Office should be in prison,but big money is also, news station owners as well.The media is for seventeen percent of the population, and the people gets the shaft,politics at it's best,is a failure.To think this adminastration gets away with high crimes, and invade other people lives ,to force our fake politics down others throats in Iraq, etc.This government can, and has created a life time of being fake...

The story about the "Arlingon Ladies" was touching.  And I also want to say "thank you" to the soldiers that sacrificed their lives for the country.  And, thank you for the broadcast, Lester!

Bill Clinton thinks there is a conspiracy against
his wife who should read "Running On Empty" by
Ellen Sue Stern.  The book may be out of print now
but she is welcome to my copy.  I no longer need
to refer it, thank goodness.

Phyllis Kunz

Mr. Holt - This "one day a year" (Memorial Day) that we use to remember those who have fallen to protect us is just as much used to cook out, picnic, go to a park, drink and party and spend another "holiday" having fun. Fun is fine but it seems that the "memorial" part, for too many of us, has been forgotten.

Hilliary may relate to Marianne in " Sense and Sensiblity"
"With such a conspiracy against me, what can I do?"
There's no one like Jane Austen when you are in a
tight corner.

I tuned in this evening to The Nightly News with
Brian Williams and appreciated his coversation
with Tom Brokaw who was a voice of reason on
that book (and war).  I am talking of course of Scott McClellan's book which to me is self-serving.
Speaking of Mr. Brokaw I have an autograph copy
of his book "The Greatest Generation". Hawley-Cooke,
a terrific bookstore but now owned by Border's ,
promoted this best-seller.  My parents were of that
generation and I agree it was The Greatest Generation.

Phyllis Kunz

Up to now I really liked the governor of New York
until I read in this morning's Louisville
Courier-Journal "SAME-SEX MARRIAGE STIRS N.Y.
UPROAR.  If he is eventually replaced, I hope
the powers that be have t he good sense to choose
you as the next New York governor. You have my
vote, Mr. Holt.

Warm Regards
Phyllis Kunz

I was stunned as everybody was by the NYC Crane
Collapse, a tragedy.

City Councilman Tony Avela asked a question which
deserves an answer, "How many people have to die
before the Mayor decides?  Enough is enough."

I love New York.  My husband and I were there on vacation  when we were first married and really
enjoyed the trip.

It was good to see you this evening, Mr. Holt,
on Nightly News

Phyllis Kunz

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