Great job, Mr. Williams.  Only one or two sentences about Iraq, how everything is getting better, basically blowing off any negatives from the Defense Dept. report and ignoring the more critical GAO report entirely.  Concentrating on the positive is a wonderful thing- but I might as well get my news from the White House lies.  You'd make a great Tony Snow.

I recall reading John F. Kennedy’s (or perhaps his ghost writer's) 1956 book, Profiles in Courage. Perhaps the most interesting - or disturbing - aspect of the book is the way it reveals the long history and often-dire consequences of partisan politics in America. All the way back to the start of the 19th century, politicians have been voting along party lines at the grave expense of their constituencies, their principles, and the welfare of the nation.

And, if you think about it, at no time in the country’s history has there not been some frightening issue that threatened to tear our nation apart at the seams.  From the abolition of slavery to the country’s continued independence from Britain to the threats posed by fascism, genocide, and nuclear holocaust, there has always been some specter hanging over us as a country.  And sadly, all these have been the subject of ugly and nearly intractable partisan politics.

On the one hand, its comforting to think that in the face of all that, Americans have survived, at times showing remarkable courage and an appetite for progress. At the same time, it seems that the stakes get higher with every generation, involving more people, more countries, fewer resources, and yielding less room for recovery.  Whatever comes our way, it promises to be a wild ride.

Whoa!  While I agree with your assessment, I believe that we'll make more head way in the world if we view the glass as half full.  Optimism is necessary for positive change - more now than ever.  So we must get to work. It's not too late to turn this ship around.  Thanks for caring enough to write about it.  Peace.

In my opinion & experience, it is much easier to say the glass is half empty and be pessimistic.  It takes a conscious decision and effort to see the glass as half full and find the good in one's own life and in the world.  And yes, those of us who try to see it as half full have days where we just don't see it, but the trick is to keep trying every single day.  

The world we live in can be a very scary place, as demonstrated by the wars and terroristic acts that are fought every day.  But I have to believe that in most people there is a sense of wanting to do good, like the strangers who came to the aid of a pregnant woman who ended up having her baby on the subway platform --- many people stepped up to help without a single thought of what was in it for them.  There are people who may think that doesn't matter but it is people who do these things that give me hope.

Thank you for linking to the article.

I am very pessimistic about the short term future.  With prices for everything rising and salaries not rising (or in some cases, people getting laid off), I fear for what is going to happen in the next year or two.

However, I remain optimistic about the long term future.  As the article said, this country has been through tough times before and we always rebound.  I am confident that we will again.  

Please have your medical reporter explain to your viewers of the possability that Tim Russert's untimely death could possibly have been prevented if he had worn compression stockings on his long airline flight.  Blood tends to pool in your lower legs and clott; when you walk around after a long flight, any clots start to circulate - and if to the heart, it can be 'curtins' :-(

This is a well-known phenomin among doctors and frequent long-distance flyers, yet not well publicised to the general traveling public :-(

Mr. Williams,

I have lately been thinking about the same things that were referred to in the article you made a link to. I still think this has been one of the worst years in recent memory at least for the U.S. I felt even more depressed after reading the reference made in that article to "the economic stagflation (stagnant growth combined with inflation) and Iran hostage crisis of 1980; the dawn of the Cold War, the Korean War and the hysterical hunts for domestic Communists in the late 1940s and early 1950s; and the Depression of the 1930s." Those weren't exactly the best of times for this country, nor for the world.

It all reminds me of the story of the optimist and the pessimist. The pessimist says, "Things can't get any worse", and the optimist says, "Oh yes they can!".

In regards to Luke Russert holding up that glass, I've always felt that Mr. Russert was one of those people who saw it both half empty and half full, with a personality that trended toward the latter. His knowledge gave him a vision that many did not have, and he was able to see things from multiple perspectives.

Mr. Williams,
I have spoken to my family members about the Great Depression/WWII and I learned how awful that was, I have seen documentaries about the 60s and how many felt that society was coming apart, 100 years earlier than that our country was going through the Civil War and its long aftermath. My point is that every generation has challenges of varying degress, nothing comes easy, and there are and never have been guarantees. I know looking at the news today can seem overwhelming but unfortunately we don't have to look far in this world to see others worse off. We are still the greatest, most generous country the world has ever known despite all of our issues, and we will rise to the challenges of our time just as our fathers and mothers did theirs-I am sure that your parents wondered what kind of world they were going to give you during this time in 1968-and you did all right.

I think the best lesson from Tim Russert is not his optimism or work ethic-although those qualities are to be greatly admired-it's the fact that he had a profound faith in God, His plan, and that He has given the tools we need to rise to the challenges we face in life. At the same time and in the same line of thought, it is our responsibility to help others who cannot help themselves. We have to believe that, even though sometimes we do not understand why things happen or like it. I write all of this as another sometimes brooding Irish American. Sorry to go on so long. Bill Kelly

Hi Brian...I scanned over the link and you are correct there were a lot of terrible situations mentioned.  I would certainly like to think that my glass is half full.  There are certainly some things that are out of our control, but for the areas where we can make a difference we do need to pull ourselves up by those proverbial bootstraps and get to work.  All of us face times when we need to muster up all the crit within us and face the problems head-on.  We as a nation have become spoiled and we think that we can blame all of our ills on someone else.  We need to learn to sacrifice a little individually to make things better for everyone.  I think that may be one thing that comes from the high gas prices, maybe we will have the time to sit down at the dinner table and actually eat as a family. The evening meal can feed your soul and spirit as well as your body.  We need to start looking up and quit looking down.

I also wanted to briefly comment on Dr. Dobson's   attack on Sen. Obama earlier today.  First let me say, that I am not an Obama supporter, but I am a Christian. (born & raised) I am certainly glad that Dr. Dobson does not speak for all of us. He has no way of knowing how Sen. Obama interprets the Bible. I'm sure he has opinions that differ from other Christian leaders.  I think one of the first things we need to do is leave the judging to God and quit throwing stones at others.  Dr. Dobson sometimes has rhetoric that is contrary to the beliefs of other Christians.  He should not be trying to influence anyone's vote without knowing how Sen. Obama really believes.
 

"Each period also was followed by a change in the party controlling the White House."

That's all it's about. People in their right minds have grown numb to the sewage dumped on us from New York, DC, and LA.

What do I think?  I was widowed at 39. My dad is sick, my friends are far away, my dog was put down 3 weeks ago.

What do I think? I am hopeful.

Maybe this is what we needed was an awakening of the spirit in each one of us to get more involved and do what is right not only for ourselves but for the good of people everywhere.  I believe we must take stock and decided on those very issues.  We cannot always look to our leaders,(ie government) but be quite leaders ourselves when it comes to community and our world.  Selfishness and greed will ruin this country and therefore we must hold our leaders accountable but ourselves too.  Within that maybe we will find our bootstraps and the lost art of problem solving with the majority in mind.

Didn't someone refer to himself as a "dark brooding Irishman". the other day. Let's see who was it, oh, yes now I remember.. Brian Williams

A few days before you went to Afghanistan Matt posted a similar comment. Let me reprise my response to him....

Here's what you don't know yet, nor can be expected to know... this too shall pass.  We've been here before. You grew up in one of the largest expansion periods in American history, and it's easy to assume that they way things were are the way they'll always be. Nope. It's why we commerate things like the assignations of 40 years ago, why when floods happen they are often compared to a flood that happened 120 years ago.
Yes, there is lot's wrong with this country, but when people of goodwill give up on it then, and only then, is it irreparable.

And more, you and I have lived through the most astounding half century in history. Much of it dark, but consider this as well.. First the very medium I address you on. Who would have thought, when we were kids, that a middle-aged lady in New Mexico would feel free to address the anchor on Nightly News? Could you imagine the look on Huntley's or Brinkley's face? Yet the internet has freed us all. We have escaped the bonds of earth.. we're even close to solving the riddles of Mars. And this election.. oh this election, Love the candidates, or not, it's one for the history books, and there you are in the catsbird seat, getting to cover it all.
Is America still America Sure it is. Are there issues, of course, there always have been and always will be. Take time this summer to watch a flag wave, buy lemonade at a kids stand, go to some small town for the fireworks, (for some reason that always gets to me more than the big city shows) to lay in a hammock and realize how wonderful your wife and kids are...... There, in the small towns and and small moments of life you'll find the glass half full...

Now, about that day off.....................

There are a lot of problems in the world, but many good things are also about. I hardly see good news on the television anymore.

By the way: Mr. Williams, you look sunburned. Hope you're alright.

Good Evening Mr.Williams, A fine broadcast this evening. First of all the report about the rising costs of everything we purchase does make the outlook appear bleak. Everyone is looking for a bargain and sales on merchandise because we all need to save money. The stores are struggling and really mark down their goods in order to create sales and the mailings for the sales are always coming. It is so very difficult to save and one must try any way one can. Hopefully things will improve in the coming months. The report by Mr.Mott concerning the ways in which businesses are offering gas cards was quite interesting. With the cost of fuel rising so sharply there seems to be an endless opportunity to earn a gas card for free gas. Although the last way mentioned may be alittle too much. The report you mentioned about the amount of change found in the buckets at the security lines at airports was amazing. The amount recovered at LAX was simply astounding and the amount found at JFK not quite as surprising, but I liked your comment about cab fair. I wonder how much is recovered at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. I mean the busiest in the nation must bring in a good amount. Anyway, a good broadcast this evening Mr.Williams. Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Celine,Claudia,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
XOXO

Hi Brian -
I think there is tremendous pessimism after seven+ years of a very dark regime, and perhaps some apprehension of what we have yet to learn about what's been hidden (which will begin to come out after the next administration takes over).
You can see it in the popular culture ... increasingly gruesome police procedural shows on TV, or else the most imbecilic escapist "talent" competitions and reality shows, which, I hope, are nearing their downward arc. Art mirrors life to a degree, always.
We need to focus on the future and what we each can give back to society, and get involved in the political process no matted how jaded we feel. It's about COMMUNITY - small and large! JFK's "ask not" line has never been more appropriate than now.
Keep on with your good work.

Brian,  this is the first night since Tim Russert's death that he wasn't mentioned on the broadcast.  You had the perfect oportunity with your lead story on diabetes. It is an epidemic in this country and i'm glad to see its getting more press.  I see hundreds of  patients every month fighting this battle.  They stuggle with life style changes, medication and finding time for exercise.  Tim's internest mentioned that he too had a pre-diabetic condition eg Impaired fasting glucose...which leads to type 2 diabetes in most.  ...you can confirm these facts and relay to your viewers..and hopefully encourage compliance among these patients...and make my job easier.  Continue to educate us on Tim's death and keep us posted on his family.  I lost my father during my freshman year college...he was 58.   Michael Herlevic, MD

I want to applaud and ditto Dianna Benson's comment..It is time for all Americans to become 1 as a nation of Americans again.  Both the Dems and Reps are responsible for the mess were in now.  

Brian,

My glass is half full, it has to be. I am an ER nurse and my sanity relies on me having hope every day that I go to work. We are in a tough time right now but no worse than Americans have faced in the past. They came out alright and so will we. You have spoken at many college commencements and have seen the quality of our youth. They should give you hope. You have seen some horrors in your career as I have in mine. But those images can't make you lose hope. Our lesson to our children is to never give up and to always have a positive outlook for the future.

Thank you, Brian for addressing diabetes as a "healthcare emergency" tonight. Too many patients are seen in the ED with out of control diabetes. And so often it can be avoided with life style changes. I really enjoyed your broadcast tonight.

Laurie

Thank you for your segments on people "Making a Difference." Those are the best antidote anyone could present in the face of the discouraging news the article you present defines. Yes, there is much that is genuinely distressing in current news, but in the face of it, courageous people do make a difference. Bless you -- and them.

The News Hour just had a couple of "experts" on talking about the "new speculators" in the oil market. These new speculators are state employee pension funds and college endowments. The "expert" said the problem is these people aren't only buying up oil, but holding onto it longer than normal traders. He also said these aren't bad people and if they knew what they were doing to the country they'd be shocked. I don't buy that. I think these two arms of the democrat machine know exactly what they're doing. Wonder what would happen if President Bush decided to empty half the S.P.R. onto the market? Wonder if that would cause a little sell off panic? Brian you've been accused of being a Republican. How about calling the white house and bouncing that ideaR (kerry joke) off of them :-) Could make for the ultimate Political poker game story. ssshhhh don't warn the democrats

Good Evening Brian~
I try so hard to see the glass as half full, but just the headlines today alone are hard to swallow. I fear for my grandchildrens future, oil, gas, food, water, peace? Today is a new day in the world which seems to be definately spinning out of control. But I have to believe that we're all going to pull it together like we have in the past and rise from all these ruins we see all around us today. If we do not have hope and faith, we all might as well call it a day!

Regarding your story on diabetes:

While your story mentioned this is about keeping your glucose in check; it did not indicate that keeping your glucose in check is about controlling your insulin.  This is important because insulin is elevated as a response to carbohydrates.

Dramatically reduce your carbs, and you quickly control your insulin and eliminate your risk of diabetes.

You mentioned weight and exercise as a cause.  Guest what, you dramatically reduce your carbs, and without exercise, you will reduce your weight because insulin stores excess carbs as fat AND prevents body fat from being used as fuel.

So why am I the one telling you this and not your doctor?  Because there are only three macro nutrients; protein, carbohydrates, and fat; and if you decrease your carbs, you will increase your fats and they still believe eating carbs is safer and healthier than eating fat.  They are so wrong.  

Brian I see you've been reading the blog and emails.
Hope allowed many to continue with the glass half full/empty. In the 50's and 60's people had hope and honest leaders to bring Democracy to all Americans. My grown kids ask my where the the young people from Woodstock?  John Kennedy and Dr. King and others pushed for change and did it with honor. Today hope and change seem to be words. I see young people with the same look in their eyes of a future, what scares me is we don't have the honest Leadership that we once had. My daughter says we lived the fat of the lamb during President Clintons tow terms. We see that the down fall and corruption of our Country took 7 years. We lost our honest Courts/Judges and Department of Justice. The World sees the US as liars and cheats. We need to pull together to win our country back. This Administration is far worse then Nixon. Words wont change what is happening. We see now that all Americans are effected by what the Bush Administration has done. No American rich or poor is safe and this is the time America needs a true Leader.  We hear the hate words of race and threats to Iran to fix the Presidential Election.  I say when the 9/11 bomb hit color didn't matter all that was necessary was to be an American.  I saw people pull together as one, we shouldn't need an attack for us to fight for our country back. I often remember Dr. Kings dream and pray it comes true and is for fulled in my life time.

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

Brian -

Every generation has its' challenges going back to the beginning of our country and yet Americans find a way through all sorts of trials and tribulation.

The current state of the union not withstanding, we continue to grow as a country and a civilized electorate.  However, in the world order, we are a young country and still growing.

I'm with Luke on this - our glass is half full.

Count your blessings.

Joan

Mr. Williams, The Energy crisis, natural disaster government reaction shortfalls, tumbled economy, war, and enviromental corrosion are ALL human created problems that can be solved by us all if we pull ourselves up to "half full" and change our leaders in Washington. We will excercise this optimisim by voting the "Half Emptieds" out and replacing them with those who represent positive ideals. I believe that the "Half Full" approach (already evident with the voters) for  the '08 election if properly voted upon by all, could could really make a difference this time around. "Go get 'em" America!!

Brian,
    You've posed a very thought provoking question.  As a 1st time mother of an almost 18 month old in these troubled times, it's hard some days with the economy, gas prices the war and our environment.  Then I look at my beautiful daughter and wonderful husband of 4 years (today) and I'm with Luke Russert my glass is half full.  
  Thank you for coming into our household every night and informing us and keeping us on our toes.  So happy Tom Brokaw will be leading Meet the Press during this election season.  I imagine Tim is very proud.  Both you and Tom are such professionals and you all have not been afraid to show your human side lately which is so nice.

I am going to put seconds in to Joan Chapman's good comment.   My glass is bubbling over with hope.  Although I am a news junkie, I try really hard not to let the bad news get to me.  Yes, I have felt the saddness of many Americans with job losses over the years but I have picked myself up with faith and hope.  Yes, I have family but I can't really count on them.  They count on me.

All I can say is avoid the negative as much as possible and live your life simply and purposefully.  Take 10 minutes to meditate and pray.  Turn off the TV sets and exercise and run and play.   Sex is always free with a loving and caring person.  That is always good for the optimism.    (Okay, I have to go, I am blushing now.)

Reading this article finds me flip-flopping between the two poles of half-full, half empty--and reaffirms my belief that the negativity and sense of helplessness I feel to help reverse all the maladies we face comes out of nearly eight years of the worst administration in my lifetime. And it didn't take long for us to get stuck in the mire in which we now find ourselves in our country.  God help John McCain or Barack Obama who will follow George Bush, trying to "fix" what George and his henchmen (read Rove,Rumsfeld, Cheney, and a host of others)wrought on the American people.  This barometer says we're more than half-empty.  It'll take some serious change to help me see things as half-full.

Take heart, Brian!  When I was a kid in grade school in the 1950's, we had to do atomic bomb drills in case the Russians tried to obliderate our country.  The schools I attended were segregated, and now an African-American may be our next President!  These days, our granddaughters have just as much opportunity as our grandsons in the world.  More people in this country, even moderately poor people, are comfortable than even fifty years ago.  Although things aren't perfect, the glass IS half-full!

I have watched most the memorial services and comments about Tim Russert's very untimely death, and I was very moved by all that was said about him, but more so by his son.  Maybe you could explain to me why it takes a death of what appears to have been, first a wonderful human being, second a great husband, and third an outstanding Father, and then the news man that he was, that it takes his death for the general pubic to find out about what kind of real man he was.  Why dont you do something, maybe once a month on the personal lives of the people we watch most the time, and maybe we would watch them alot more.  I know now I wish I had watched Tim on Sunday morning, and maybe I could understand more about what is going on in this crazy world.  He seems now that he could have explained more than what we are hearing in the news..  Maybe this isnt said exactly like I would like it said, but when I hear people talk about something, and if I know them better, I will most likely believe them, because I know what kind of person they are and what they really believe in..  Why does it take someone's death for something good to be said about them, why cant they hear while they are alive.   THANK YOU

Is this what the Cold War fealt like?  Uneasy, restless, speculation, worry, paranoia, etc.  Where will we be 10 years from now, if not tomorrow?  We aren't fighting anyone, but I feal like we are fighting everyone.  I'm too young to know what it was like, but I know what I'm feeling now.

Brian, we are at the beginning of an Axial Age, and by definition, that means that "the way we do things around here" is undergoing profound change. Change always makes people frightened because they know what they are losing (a sense of mastery .. "I know the rules") and don't yet know what they are gaining.

This is not the first time in human history that things like this have happened. Humans are resilient and will adapt. It's going to take time, and it's hard to have patience with time when everything is in disarray and fear takes the reins.

An old curse is: "May you live in interesting times."
Well we're living in interesting times. And we will both survive them and still thrive too.

"Patience, Grasshopper" .. indeed. This too will pass, and we will build a new world, different from the world we've known, but yet a better world.

Wishing you the joy of a sunset that takes your breath away today....

Hi Brian, I read the article and while I can be pessimestic at times I also have learned that it is what it is.  We have control over some of the things in the article, over others we have no control.  The weather is going to be what it is going to be.  Global warming is not really surprising because if you believe in history and evolution then you already know the earth is constantly changing.  

I don't agree with the war in Iraq, but now we are there we need to finish the mission.  

I was in grade school in the 1950's.  There was a communist behind every tree.   was a teen during the 60's in Birmingham, Alabama.  Had a front row seat to watch the riots in the race for equality.  When the 16th St. Baptist church was bombed we heard and felt it by the airport, a good 15-20 miles away.  Most of the guys I went to high school with were shipped to Vietnam right after high school.  Many never made it back. By the 70's we were in a recession and jobs were scarce, but as long as we had food and family most people just got along as best we could always believing it would get better.  By the 80's and 90's people were making money in stock and .com markets.  

So I believe we have come to another watershed in this unbelievable world we have been given.  I have no doubt the current troubles will pass and a new set will take the place of these.  It is discouraging to have to report on floods and tsunamis and Americans being killed in Iraq and hurricanes, I know that.  But we can take Tim's view and look at the glass as half full, especially if you have your health, your family, you love the job you do or at least can tolerate it.  Just keep the faith as we used to say back in the day.

Recently you ran a story on the Nightly News on fuel ecomnomy and the rush to make a more fuel efficient car or truck. The problem we face here is similar to the problem we faced in the 70's. The Auto  Makers are making cars that literally fit  people about 5'8" with an arm length of about 32" max and a shoe size of size 10 max. The problem is that many of us are not that small. I myself am 5'10 with 36" arm length and a shoe size of 14. I was called a tweener by  my local mens wharehouse a clothing store.
I have gone to many Auto shows  over the last 5 years looking for something that would fit me. Unfortunately there are no real midsized cars  of today (what we would of called a compact car of the 70's) that fit. The only thing is a Nissan Frontier  and a Volvo S-80  I'm not into Pick  Ups  and the Volvo fit almost perfectly  save the Foot Box area  where the pedals are. my feet are so big that they touch both the pedals Break and Gas   Not good!
Untill someone actually addresses  the problem of  space in the main drivers seat  I will have to keep driving my 15 yr. old  1500 Blazer with my small 5.7ltr. V8 I am truly discusted with all auto mfg. as they are short sited and are only in it for the buck.
Furthermore we have had over 30 yrs to correct this situation  but NO  we  just hit he snooze button and hope it will all go away.  Well it didn't and we are now up against the wall.
As for me I will buy the car or Truck that will fit my specs. Not caring if it is made in America or not.

On an up note I enjoy  NBC Nightly News  and will probably  continue to watch it.  I enjoy Good News not Bad there is enough bad news  in our daily lives and  a station that has a good amout of Positive  well ballanced news has my vote.

Lee t.

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