Dear Lester,

How's the weather up your way?  It's pouring like crazy here, and we're under a tornado watch until 9:00 p.m. now.  Yikes.

I watched - well, mostly listened to - the DNC hearings online today.  I thought good arguments were made on both sides of the issue.  I'll be interested to see how things work out.

Anna:  Thanks for inspiring me to Google again.  Here's a link to the Simon & Schuster site, with all of Richard's appearances.  He's coming to D.C.  Woo hoo!  I'll have to get a haircut now, so I can see him through my bangs!  Ha, ha.

http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?pid=586790&tab=1&app=appearances

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

Good Evening Mr.Holt, First of all it seems this election process is never going to end any time soon. Hopefully, after this weekend and this Tuesday their will be a conclusion and then discussion of the conventions. On another note the report by Mr.Dawson concerning the crane accidents in New York and elsewhere shows that something needs to be done ASAP to solve this problem. The surge of highrise buildings is the can be the cause of many of these accidents. Too many people have been killed of injured and the local governments have to do something about it and keep things safer. Regarding weather and the beginning of hurricane season causes many people to have major concerns in their areas that are prone to these storms. Hopefully, these storms will not make any landfall. This country has seen too many incidents of terrible storms and doesn't need anymore. Finally, the segment about the panning for gold by Amy Robach was enjoyable. Even if alot of gold isn't found the activity seems fun and brings families together. Nice piece!
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt! See you on Sunday! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Celine,Anna and Matt!
You are all wonderful! Be well always!
Laurel-Stay Safe in the bad weather! I hope it is over quickly!
WOO!HOO! I am so very happy Richard is coming to DC!
XOXO

The Chickens are coming home to roost for the DNC.

Hi Laurel:

We will have to keep you in an upbeat mood!   No more "crabbing" on the blog.  Just make it a Sunday resolution.

I have been into the book all day today.  Wow!  I have learned a lot.   I am usually a fast reader but I am having to re-read so much so I have slowed down.

I am still looking for an east coast book signing after 6/7 so I am crossing my fingers.  

Well, ladies, Obama resigned from his church today!  Surprise?!  They must have done some poll that said most Americans don't like this stuff.  Politics!

And the delegates -- FL and MI!  This election has been SO much about drama and so little about the American people.  

Bests to all!

No kidding, Lester.  I feel like I'm a freshman in high school again, learning about the electoral process.  I must confess that I'm rusty in what I learned, but I can't help but be fascinated.  This entire election will be one for the record books.  

Not so fascinated, that I miss important family events.  It poured here too, Laurel, but it was sunny on the inside: my middle niece turns 1 year old tomorrow, but today we had her birthday party for our side of the family.  I was too wrapped up in taking photos of the big event - can you believe that my brother's camera vanished right at the most important time?  She loved her gifts, once she realized there was cool stuff under the paper!  I assure you, we didn't have any fancy rules running this particular party!

Hello to Lisa, Celine, Anna, Jackie, Claudia, and Matt!  How's the reading coming, Lisa?

Hi Lester
Yes this is an education on Delegates and what rule they play in an election. What's more surprising is how Senior Democrats think the voters don't have a say in who the nominee is. Now Pelosi will most likely see her last term in office as she sounds more like a Dictator. Funny how even the Law Makers don't listen to her but she thinks voters will.  It's to bad the Democrats used politics this time and no the best qualified candidate.  This will be a lesson in how voters wont be dictated to by anyone.
Obama left his church yet no one says who is Hillary or McCain's church?  What's with that anyway.

Well I took my money that could have gone to Scott's book and went to see Mr. Big/Sex in the City.  Look I ready knew the President leaked Plame's name, released classified documents to counter act Mr. Wilson's facts and even David Brooks accidentally said the date he was given the information which just happen to be earlier then the date announced by the White House. So Scott's tell all book is really old news if a person paid attention.

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

The general media is consistently failing to identify  the real reason why—and assign real responsibility for--the Michigan and Florida delegates not being eligible to vote at the Democratic National Convention later this year. While the facts have been presented, the ongoing hysteria of “Count my vote !!” by uninformed or uncaring protesters shows a “follow the leader, right or wrong” mentality by the press that should not exist. It means the press is no longer free because there is no independent or original thought available for general public consumption—and that was the fundamental principle upon which the First Amendment to the US Constitution was created. Perhaps the matter needs to be assigned to the Sports Desk, in order to get that “in depth analysis” people accept without question.

This lack of a free press in the US has existed since the run-up to George W. Bush’s Invasion and Occupation of Iraq began in 2002, and possibly as early as the late 1990s.

That lack of a free and independent press put undue public pressure on the DNC rules committee, causing it to change its previous rules regarding delegates. Yet those rules were laid out well before any delegates were selected by any state.

The DNC rules committee should have told the Michigan and Florida members to take their issue up with their respective state committees. Nothing could be done for 2008—but it would have been a one-time event that really made the state committees aware of their responsibility to abide by the rules laid out for them—as the consequences of violating those rules could be very serious for the voters in their states. The voters did make choices—but the state (MI and FL) committees also made a conscious choice (i.e., it was not an accident) to hold their selection process outside the required time frame set by the rules committee. The voters knew this fact—and chose to try to select delegates anyway. Thus, the voters knew their choices could not vote at the Convention.

To put it in terms most people might understand, if you go to vote for President of the United States on July 4, 2008--why is your vote not counted? Isn’t July 4th a sufficiently “patriotic” day to vote in the US? So, tell us why your vote does not count if you vote on July 4th?

I watched all day.  There were some points made that never hit the media, so I am glad I watched.

They should have made this decision BEFORE the primaries.  Then both the canidates would have at least shown up and let people get to know them, and the election would have been valid.  

The only real fair way to do this would be to split delegates 50/50 in both states and give them full delegate votes. 8 in 10 people would argue this is true, given the "Will not count" status in these two states.

It was bungled, there is not doubt about it.  You simply cannot tell the population that their votes will not count, and expect them all to come out and vote anyway.  Who can argue that?

Obama must be allowed a certain amount of respect and praise for giving up delagates that he really could have won by just saying "No."  He did not have to concede these delegates, as the DNC said they were null and void from the beginning.  

If Clinton takes this further, I would be inclined to remove all of the delegates, or, split them 50/50 at full representation.

lester & the good folks at nbc. i think you and everyone should know that there is an underlying, suppressed maybe even somewhat embarrassed to say element of we (white(s)(im a white male male 54) & women?) are not comfortable with the thought of a black president. Me personally because i fear it would fire up the black community giving them a go ahead to take over and exceed ground with the already powerful naacp and black rights over kill type of correction combined with the underlying feeling we (whites and others) should respect the blacks to the point we over permit them by not saying anything to avoid sounding or looking racist. So therefore i
(a democrate) may be feeling forced to vote Mc Cain in the general election as well as campaign for him also, even though i am seriously apposed to the middle east war and our young men and women irresponsibly sent there and many other republican policy in general! I wanted to see clinton pres & clinton 1st gentleman and  barak obama vice for 8 years then after obama gained some serious experience and credibility with all americans, he could win for another 8 years... thus democrates controlling the white house for a very needed 4 terms and 16 years! thank you terry, tulsa ok  

Dear Lester,
I think more people should think like Lee. I wish American People would stand up and say we're not going to take this anymore.  Does the goverment care.

Watched the evening news on May 31.  We were told Obama resigned from his church,,,, REALLY....what took him so long?????  Do you REALLY think the people of America can believe him now since he'd gone there for years.  Why now???  To make himself look good,,, toooo late.  Hellllloooo, we are being fooled once again by the media and our candidates.  Wonder how long that would have been an issue had it been a SHE.  He may have resigned, but,,, it's still his faith and why would he have resigned if it weren't his true religion even now.  What are you hiding, Barrack Oboma?, you silver tongued devil?  People will be sorry if they vote for you.  You are toooo inexperienced to be president, where exactly did you come from.  Had never heard of you till you became Oprah's boy.

I tuned in to the video this morning as I was out
in the sun yesterday from 10:00 to 7:00.  At least
I got a tan. Well actually I am as red as Bill Clinton but I
will be tanned by Monday.

The coverage was very interesting, and It's really
neat having the video when you miss the Nightly News.
Another pretty tie Mr Holt..  Either you or you wife has
good taste.  See you tonight.

Phyllis Kunz

I do have to say great job to MSNBC on covering the whole--sometimes boring thing, along with the space litoff at 5:02pm. I wish MSNBC was on like that all the time on the weekends, I love MSNC on the weekends, mainly because there is nothing else on & I have more time to watch it then during the week.

better Luck next time on the gold hunting lester!!!!

See you at 6:30 tonight, unless sports reckes it:(

Why do you newspeople keep calling Hillary the winner
in both FL and MI? Where is her punishment for breaking the rules as set by thew DNC? She has gotten her way too many times. We need a nominee that works for the good of the party, not self alone.I see her going back to her first love-the republican party- and she had launched the perfect reason to justify it. She was so sure that this would have been over after Super Tuesday. The majority of people, myself included, look forward to
a CHANGE from politics as usual. I have the Audacity
of Hope that this country can be as good as its promise.

To Linda: Re not having heard of Barack Obama "before he became Oprah's boy." Where were you during the last Democratic Convention? Check it out....
The Rules Committee came up with its compromise, as I knew it would. I personally don't think the 2 delegations should be seated at all, as they agreed to the rules & then broke them. Obama didn't campaign in either state & his name wasn't even on the ballot in one. How fair is that?

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