Good Evening Mr.Williams, First of all it is scary what is happening in the financial institutions right now. People need to know their money is safe and secure and finding doors closed to their banks is a terrible. Hopefully, there will be some good news because things do tend to make an upturn after a while, yet that poses little comfort at the moment. I hope things get better soon for everyone. On another note it sounds nice the All Star Parade going down sixth avenue. I hope its a good game tomorrow night. Looking forward to the broadcast. Peace to you and to all!

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

That cover, when there's no evidence that Obama's a terrorist, is incendiary and excessive.  Obama should sue them for slander at the very least.  In any event, all the best with your broadcast today and in the future.

Ouch, that cover art should win the New Yorker the Don Imus/Michael Richards/Mel Gibson diversity appreciation award.  As for satire, it's  animosity with a punch-line.  Artistic freedom in our litigation happy society?  That will be the day.

Speaking of the Politics of Fear it is about time the Homeland Security Color Chart makes another pre-election appearance.  The only questions remains are what color will Homeland start with and which terrorist group will be attacking what landmark?

Hi Brian
Now to my opinion of the picture on the New Yorker. It's the timing and the frustration of Americans and the racial attacks being done today that make it sicking. If the US weren't in a recession and a corrupt Government people might have a sense of humor.

As for the banking problems they will get much worse. I see Foreign investors coming in to save the US Economy. Henry Paulson couldn't manage lunch money so the Economy is out of his range.

Brian you once spoke about the Big One meaning Earthquake in California. With Bush/Cheney plan to drill for oil it looks like that big one would happen sooner rather then later. With drilling the it would cause the San Andreas Fault line to push California in the ocean.  The history of drilling for oil is something George W. Bush knows alot about as he failed so many times drilling on US soil as the Saudi Leaders kept giving him funding. At lease this way the US with the policies of the US Government can destroy the US all by ourselves. Now you don't have to be very bright to know any drilling in the US wouldn't do anything about the oil crisis.

You have to give Cindy McCain alot of credit by using Race Car Driving to try and get votes for her husband. It takes Cindy has never said a word about her love for Race Car's until now. As for her business smarts looks like that's gone two as Anheuser-Busch is sold to InBey. She is a great example to other Billionaire's not to leave the wealth to the kids.

To all the France visitors Happy Bastille Day.

Smart move on Senator Obama's part to visit Israel and let's hope he also takes the time to talk to the Democratic elected President of Palestine. I will never understand why Palestine had an open election that was history making yet the US didn't like who won and doesn't recognize the winner. Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is corruption problems. I am glad to hear Senator Obama is taking Republican Senator Hagel with his as he has alot of experience.

Please send John McCain a memo that Czechoslovakia  was a sovereign State from 1918 to 1992. Now there is Czech Republic and Slovakia. Someone has to help this man he doesn't know mush about anything. It's a shame because all he has to do is Google his questions for the answers in stand of having someone later correct his mistakes.

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

I find it incredible that no one mentioned the fact that the portrait of Osama bin Laden is hanging in the background on the cover of the New Yorker Magazine!
I also don't find any humor in Brian's comment about the helicopter over the New York airspace being friendly (one of ours).
After 9/11 I don't think that was appropriate at all.

The New Yorker trying to pretend all that "stuff" didn't originate out of the Clinton (the country is becoming increasingly polarized) Cult? Please ...

Mr. williams:  I just wrote this e mail to the editor of The New Yorker reflecting my views on this news story tonight:  Dear Editor, my question to you is WHY would you ridicule and subject  Mr. Obama and his family to such incendiary material on the cover of your magazine?  Your position is clear: extreme and anti American  using fear and inflamatory material to perpetuate myth.  Cruel humor backfires and it certainly reflects the mindless nature of your cover this week.  What a horrendous method to get people to buy your magazine!  Reflect on this:  individual freedom comes with responsibility even your cartoon humor.  WHY would you imply point blank that the American people should question the integrity of Mr Obama's character?  Revisit WWII propaganda cartooning used  to create hate and fear.  What you have displayed on your cover this week is not much better then that.

A very Concerned American Citizen and US History Teacher
Donna Fairfield

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Another fine broadcast this evening. The report concerning the bank closure of Indymac seeing all the people standing in line to withdraw their money was certainly scary and makes one really think about all the banks especially ones big in the mortgage business. The FDIC is healthy and can insure up to $100,000 for each individual,but it is still disturbing to see the Federal Reserve stepping in and helping the customers at the bank buildings. Hopefully, many banks will be okay. Time is of the essence. On another note the report from Afghanistan about the nine soldiers who were killed and how the Taliban attacked was really horrible. It sounded as if they absolutely penetrated beyond the wire barriers, but the brave US troops did fight back fiercely. It is extremely frightening the Taliban has regrouped so much. Someday I wish these groups didn't exist at all. It shows this region is still a very dangerous place.
The report by Mr.Bazell about the effect of the loss of Mr.Russert and how many are having their hearts checked was informative. It is hard to think it takes the loss of a beloved person to bring this subject to light. It is vitally important to take care of oneself and have ones heart checked. Finally, the report about the lady named Mae who is making her mark in Hollywood was inspirational and fun. She seems to be really enjoying herself and she did well mimicing (you know who!). Quite a compliment Mr.Williams. And at the age of 99! Nice piece! Thank you for the broadcast. Peace to you and to all!

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

Seems that my grandparents were right not to trust the bank when it came to their money.  The family was still finding hidden money 25 years after my grandfather died.    A few of the notes my grandfather hid are not in circulation anymore.

I do not use a bank; I use a credit union.  What's the status of those these days?  I don't have much to store in a credit union, but its all I've got.  I am just ever grateful I've never earned enough to invest in anything; I didn't think it would be a good idea to say that!

I don't see how Bush's decision today to open the Alaskan Wildlife Reserve for oil helps us.  Even if this action were to be helpful, we won't see any effects for years, so why bother?  We could have two upswings by them and not need it.  

My favorite cartoons are satyric.  I heard about the NewYorker cover via NPR's All Things Considered.  Before I even saw it, I figured the sketch was depicting what the Obama nay-sayers view as the future.  If you're not laughing over the drawing, then its doing what it was intended to do.  If nothing else, this sketch will continue the dialogue and hopefully give people more reasons and abilities to be informed before they vote.

Good Monday to all of the regulars, including Laurel, Lisa, Celine, Jackie, Anna, and Matt!

OK, I'll bite. I truly wonder if the New Yorker cover was worth the entire news cycle. It even ended up on the local news here. I can't think of a more "niche" magazine, and hence one with so little impact beyond that niche. Until of course it became the sound bite dujour. Next time ask your self, how will this play in Peoria? And that opinion from someone who's been accused of being a Brian Williams fangirl at that! That being said, cartoonists are going to have a hard go of it this season, so much of what is out there on the internet is so far out that it becomes impossible to satirize it, without merely reinforcing it.

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.......

Brian a bit of local news that might interest you. A local amateur historian has come to realize that our town was the childhood home of a Metal of Honor winner. Seems I've heard this story here,about other young men. Lance Corporal Kenneth Worley Worley died Aug. 12, 1968, in Bo Ban Hamlet, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam "in a valiant act of heroism, (he) instantly threw himself upon the grenade nearest him and his comrades, absorbing with his body, the full and tremendous force of the explosion," his medal's citation states. The grenades had entered the hut where Worley and his comrades were sleeping.
The historian wants a memorial, the mayor isn't so sure.By the time Worley was killed he may have been an orphan, and no ones seems to remember the family, except for a very few who remember going to school with his siblings. Hence the mayor's reluctance. I guess.   I maybe writing you and asking for help before this gets settled.  

Hope all the regulars had a great weekend.

Kudos to Donna Fairfield for her letter to the editor of The New Yorker.  I applaud her concerns and echo them.  Senator and Mrs. Obama must need a very thick skin and amazing senses of humor to withstand "satire" such as that.  What the Senator and his wife really deserve is an apology from The New Yorker, but certain media outlets would rather be controversial than do the right thing.  Lucky for this audience, Brian and his team at Nightly News have a higher journalistic standard.

It is All-Star week, enjoy everyone!

The 2008 Republican campaign is a replay of 1996:  A player who courageously took one for the team early in his career but arrived too late for the big game.

I am becoming more and more troubled by this hands off policy when it comes to any critisim or in this case, a quite funny cartoon reflecting the perceptions (or misperceptions) of Mr. Obama. Cartoonists have baked politicians since the beginning of time. We need to be tolerant, and mindful to the freedom of speech. This does not mean that people are not allowed to be offended, however I'm sure there are alot of people who got a chuckle out of this one. every politician has to have a little chicken leather for this kind of stuff. Mr Obama is no exception.

Am I alone in my surprise and fascination with the airing of the Miss Universe Show last night on NBC. I mean let's consider this thing for a moment, Live from Ho chi Min City (Formerly Saigon). That's right folks, Vietnam, the war which we fought defending freedom, at huge cost of American lives, and domestic turmoil which still resonates today. No one can convince this blogger that things haven't changed in today's world. This event which couldn't be more of an example of what the North Vietnamese communists used to refer to as "Western Imperialism " . I can't help but wonder if all of the Vietnam Vets were thinking as Miss U.S.A. fell on her rump, that perhaps the ghost of Uncle Ho gave her a decisive shove. In any case, it was truly a Twilight Zone experience.

Hi Brian -

While I usually have little interest in the Home Run Derby, last night I came upon it just in time to see Josh Hamilton and Clay Council put on the performance of their lives.  

You know the history - Hamilton's drug problems, his return to the majors and his promise to his High School coach - now age 71 - to have him pitch to him if he ever made it into the Home Run Derby.  

It all came to pass last night to the awe and delight of thousands of little kids and their parents who saw that, if you try hard enough, you can make your dreams come true.

Joan

Hi All:

Just to let you all know if you are interested PBS Wide Angle is doing an interesting show on midwives in Mozambique.  

With the training of college students for the doctor/nurse program,  we all may be confronted with seeing a nurse for routine visits and a doctor for surgery only.

My only comment on the cover of the New Yorker is    our country is definately at a turning point in history.

@ Celine:   Glad you are enjoying your retirement and booking all of your family and friends social events.  Sounds like you are having a blast.    I think stay healthy and fit in mind, body and spirit is the best for all including retirees.

Bests to all!

Does anyone besides me think the Media (in all of it's forms) is partially responsible for the hype and scare in the financial and housing markets? Granted, greed is the one lesson we just can't seem to learn; so, it keeps reinventing it's wrath in different forms over the ages. But please, tone down the coverage and the enthusiasm for sensational coverage...and maybe we can get back to growing our economy!

There is always a hint of truth in satire.

The entire media frenzy over the New Yorker cover is a distraction from covering issues that are really important and that matter. Aren't you folks in the MSM sufficiently disgusted with your sensationalistic behavior to knock it off YET? Is selling advertising that much of a priority for you? Jon Stewart did a great send-up of this faux topic on a recent Daily Show. And you wonder why we prefer to get our news from him?

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