Dear Brian,

Speaking of Afghanistan....  A few weeks ago, I saw a report on Bagram Air Base that Jim Maceda filed for Today.  I was left with the impression that the detainees we hold there are subjected to the same sort of "standards" we employ at Gitmo.  I don't believe it ever ran on Nightly News.  Would you consider airing it?  I don't feel like I know enough about what is going on "over there."

Many of you probably already know this - tomorrow Saturday Night Live is re-airing an episode from the 1970s that George Carlin hosted.  I believe it may have been the premiere episode.  It'll be interesting to see if the political humor of that time still holds up.

The crape myrtle is in bloom here....  It's so beautiful!  

Have a terrific weekend!

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

I'm glad to hear that some sort of normalcy is returning.  I was fortunate enough to be an intern at ABC News' Washington Bureau for a time.  While I was there, Peter Jennings' cancer diagnosis was announced, and I remember the outpouring of emotion and the sense of upheaval that ensued. My thoughts have been with NBC News ever since the tragedy of Tim Russert's passing, and it's comforting to know that people are beginning to find their feet once again.

Wishing everyone there the best.

@Celine - I responded to your question from yesterday in an older thread.

http://dailynightly.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/06/26/1170674.aspx

It's a bit of a tome.  My apologies!

@ Celine:  Thanks for the update on Jane's Austen book. Emma by far is my favorite.  I am living life through Fanny now.  

Dinner party.   Guest List -- All the regular suspects and guests along with Brian and Mrs. W and Richard and Mrs. Mother Engel.  I have a few questions for Mrs. Engel too!    I figure that is 20.  I would like to imagine an Italian dinner with lots of laughter and intelligent conversation.   Cocktails at 6 PM.  Dinner at 6:30 PM.   Anna's home somewhere in the USA.  Date to be determined before we head to England for our Jane Austen tour.

@ Josh: Ditto on your tome!  Wow a loaded question.  As a kid I was in a total ABC Family and as I grew up I was totally a Peter Jennings fan.   Then I rolled over to cable and got bored with the opinions.  Now I am totally back to NBC, BBC, Reuters and other internet news.  I read alot of foreign papers.  

My favorite news show was 60 minutes for years when it was really good.  I still watch now but edit out all the celebrity garbage they package as news.   Leave the celebrities to ET and the grocery store check out lines.   (I think Angie is adopting ANOTHER child!)  Got to love Uncle Ted K.   Loved Nightline and I try to get him when I can on Discovery.    Thanks for the links!

@ Bill Gates:  Congratulations on your retirement.  May you be blessed with good health, a compassionate heart and an open mind to continue your wonderful work to provide health and education to all.   Thank you for what you have done to make the world a better place!

Friday Bests to All!

Hello Brian,

Thanks to you and the rest of the NBC News team for doing such a wonderful job of reporting in the absense of the Wonderful Tim Russert. All of you helped to pull this nation together after his passing.I was thinking the other day what made Tim extra special: he was BETTER than he appeared on TV, a rare breed indeed. Thanks again, I'll keep watching.

I swear, you treat Washington like it was a suburb of New York City! Out here, distances are so much greater, and mass transit so lacking that it's hard for us to get our minds around the idea of 2 states, and a Federal District in 24 hours.  

Haven't seen the news yet, but I did watch the clips of both Clinton's and Obama's speeches. I was struck by the seeming light-hearted tone, particularly since I had just read an article by Fineman saying it wasn't all chocolates and roses yet. Hope this gets up soon enough for Jackie to read... I'm really curious on her take on the events in Unity.

Enjoy your over-due, well earned day at the beach, just don't forget the sun screen.

That is why I have always been an  NBC viewer- its a family and that comes though out here!  

I just finished watching Friday's Nightly New with Brian Williams. I've been watching network news since 1977 on a regular basis, first with Walter, then with Dan, and since the competition went with a news lightweight, Brian on a regular basis. In all that time (big events aside), today's broadcast may be the best I've seen in those 30+ years. I know, my age may make me a little sappy but I thought the selection of stories in this edition was really amazing. Brian, keep doing more like that.

Democratic unity is just a dog and pony show for the American people. Barack Obama is the presumed democratic nominee because 50% of United States thinks Hillary Clinton is a polarizing figure (trying to use politically correct words here). I would never vote for her and I consider her and her political career a farce. She essentially lost the campaign because most super delegates agreed that if Bill Clinton can't be controlled now - how bad will he be when he's back in the White House!
The other point I wanted to make - what gives Barack Obama the right to give Hillary a check for 10 million dollars - didn't his staff solicit the money for HIS presidential campaign - isn't that considered taking money under false pretenses (even after the fact)?
So what Democratic Unity - try to respect the intelligence of American voters.
BTW, I read a great story on Cindy McCain (John McCain's wife) and was surprised the media did not cover her great business background, her family and her work with land mines in more detail yet!
Anyway, wish you a nice weekend Mr. Williams!!!

I just finished watching the news and was amazed at the program on the woman living in Afghanistan.  While I applaud her work and what she is doing there, I am appalled at her complete disregard for the Afghan culture.  She refuses to wear a headscarf, have a male escort, and even drives a car, which is completely contrary to the culture.  The comment of "Im bringing a little California to the area" is completely disresptful.  It saddens me to think that she should not have to follow the cultural ways of the area and try to blend in.  Are we so righteous that we think that the whole world should act like Americans do?  When you are in foreign country, you should be respectful and mindful of their culture.  Please do not think that you can completely disregard their ways.  You are in THEIR country, not yours.  It is just one more reminder that a majority of Americans are self absorbed, and it is no wonder that the rest of the world has such a poor image of us.

Democratic unity is just a dog and pony show for the American people. Barack Obama is the presumed democratic nominee because 50% of United States thinks Hillary Clinton is a polarizing figure (trying to use politically correct words here). I would never vote for her and I consider her and her political career a farce. She essentially lost the campaign because most super delegates agreed that if Bill Clinton can't be controlled now - how bad will he be when he's back in the White House!
The other point I wanted to make - what gives Barack Obama the right to give Hillary a check for 10 million dollars - didn't his staff solicit the money for HIS presidential campaign - isn't that considered taking money under false pretenses (even after the fact)?
So what Democratic Unity - try to respect the intelligence of American voters.
BTW, I read a great story on Cindy McCain (John McCain's wife) and was surprised the media did not cover her great business background, her family and her work with land mines in more detail yet!
Anyway, wish you a nice weekend Mr. Williams!!!

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Nice to see you in the Washington Bureau. Good to know that a few smiles have returned to the faces of the people of that bureau. First of all the interview that Mr.Brokaw conducted with Bill Gates shows how someone who started a computer company not knowing how big it would eventually become in the computer world and becoming so successful then now to devote his time after leaving totally to helping others is remarkable. He is really making a difference in peoples lives with the foundations he created and will help so many people. It was nice to hear him speaking about refresher courses online being put out by universities. Always learning new things and loving every minute of it. I thought what Mr.Brokaw said concerning that subject was quite humorous. He is really doing some fine work. The "Making A Difference" segment by Mr.Fletcher showed again how someone is truly helping others. Rosemary Stasek is a woman with a wonderful mission in the city of Kabul,Afghanistan. Bringing the blankets, paint brushes,paints,knitting needles for the blind and just showing how a woman can do anything she puts her mind to is a great model for the women and the young girls of the region. Driving around the city alone with her hair uncovered must be so surprising to the women seeing her. She is brave being alone with only one assistant and hearing her comment about the police would definitely ring true to those who live there in the city. It would be quite an achievement for her to become the mayor of Kabul. I hope someday she will achieve that goal. But in the meantime she is doing some excellent work and really helping others. Great piece! On another note the passing of Lt.Colonel Chuck Dryden is sad. He really made history and was a brave and dedicated soldier. Always to be honored. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Have a wonderful weekend on the Jersey Shore with your family!! Have a great weekend! Rest and relax!! Peace to you and to all!

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

Hi Brian

Absolutely wonderful show tonight. One of the very best. Positive, positive, positive which (I know) is not the way our world is shaping up these days. And, even with the North Pole/Wicked witch of the North (I'm melting!!) story which is tragic, the program brought tears to the eyes at least 3, OK maybe 4 times.  And Bill, what can you say about Mr Gates particularly when interviewed (no offense), by the legend. Anyway, great, great show. Keep up the good work. You're making me more and more glad that I gave up CBS after 25 years for your quality programming.

Brian,
Thanks for taking time to fill in for Tim, you're a good friend for stepping in for him.  Thanks, as well, for updating all of us on how your Washington Bureau colleagues are doing.  It is good to know that time is helping them heal.  
Tom Brokaw's interview with Bill Gates tonight was fascinating.  If Mr. Gates can do as much for the impoverished as he has done for computers, the world will be a lot better off.
As for your trip to the Jersey Shore this weekend, take time to take a deep breath, smell the salt air, and maybe even have a Rolling Rock.  Your break by the shore is well earned.  Enjoy it.

I think very highly of Brian Williams but tonights report of Hillary Clinton and B.Obama was snide and Andrea Mitchell's follow up about last night's dinner and "food fight" was graceless.

Good Evening Brian. I must  comment on your editorializing of the Obama/Clinton united front in New Hampshire on the Nightly News this evening. I perceived your tone and demeanor arrogant, pompous and disdainful when you classified their first campaign together as "choreographed".......major cheap shot on your part. For a moment I thought I was listening to Fox News. Just report the news, please!

Glad to hear that everyone is getting back to the "normal grind" after Tim's sad passing. Just as CBS was a second family to me, we, who have ever worked in broadcasting no matter our job or affiliation, are part of one great, large brethern and extended family. Even though I didn't work at NBC, I certainly felt and shared your pain.

Maybe Monday you can scare people with the story about the recent massive volcanoes under the Arctic ice cap. That's a story about something that has actually happened instead of what might happen. Guess the only problem with volcanoes is democrats haven't dreamed up a way to claim they can control them with only a few more restriction and of course more tax dollars.

Brian, I was waiting and finally relived on the Bill Gates piece when the discussion finally focused on his philanthropic efforts here in the U.S. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for helping the underdeveloped countries of the world, however I worry that the U.S. condition is becoming closer to that of a third world status. 2 or 3 Billion dollars could have really made a difference in New Orleans, or perhaps could in the Mid West. I would also like to add when the U.S. suffers a natural disaster, what countries ever offer assistance to us? Perhaps it's time to call in some markers from around the world. Food for thought.

I applaud Nightly News for having the courage and fortitude to air a story about the manufacture and use of kazoos (it aired on Wednesday's broadcast).  Sadly, the other networks have been conspicuously silent on this important subject.  And I'm not surprised--their parent companies rake in millions of dollars each year in advertising and sponsorship money from the powerful kazoo industry.  I'm certain that the other networks were under orders to keep quiet and sweep this story under the rug.  But not NBC.  And their courage in presenting this story is even more glaring when we consider that General Electric (NBC's parent company) is the world's largest manufacturer and supplier of wartime kazoos for use in Iraq and Afghanistan (Halliburton is a distant second).  GE couldn't have been happy with this story.  Yet NBC News went ahead with it anyway.  NBC, you have truly done proud the legacy of Tim Russert, Tom Brokaw, John Chancellor, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley, Lowell Thomas and John Cameron Swayze.  On behalf of viewers everywhere, I would like to say how thankful I am that someone finally had the guts to tell the truth about kazoos.  We are so much the better for it.  But why was it only given 2 1/2 minutes at the end of your broadcast?  Surely a story of this magnitude deserves a full half-hour.  Or perhaps even a full hour on "Dateline".  Please consider offering an expanded version of this important subject.

Pete Williams is my hero.  Every time Pete presents a story, Brian always introduces him with a syrupy "Good evening, Pete" in an attempt to goad him into responding similarly.  But to his credit, Pete will have none of it.  He simply ignores Brian's treacly greeting and launches right into his report.  Obviously, Pete understands that the news is serious business, and that the most important thing is the story itself, not some lame attempt to appear as if everyone at NBC News is involved in a big old kissy-face love-in.  You go, Pete.  You're the man.

On Thursday, Brian reported that GE's stock dropped more than 5%.  I guess that explains why NBC recruited Pfizer to sponsor the "What Works" segment for four days this week.  GE has to make up that deficit somehow.  Never mind that our medical costs are skyrocketing because Pfizer and the other pharmaceutical behemoths are pumping billions of dollars each year into marketing, rather than using that money for research and development.

With regard to the woman living in Afghanistan (featured on Friday, June 27), how can I contact her?  I have bags of knitting wool I would like to donate to her.  

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