Good Evening Mr.Holt, Nice to see you this evening. I agree one better make sure the e-mails get sent to the correct people. I thought it was funny too about you sending your vacation request to a person at GE Aviation. I'm sure they were somewhat surprised! Anyway, much happening in the Middle East today and ongoing through next week. I watched MSNBC and heard Richard speaking on the phone about Obama's visit and he said it was difficult for reporters to know his schedule, but he said he visited with troops and went to the air field. He did mention there was intense fighting happenning in the region. I can't wait to see him on the broadcast this evening. He certainly knows the best what it is like on the ground. He did a great report as always! Please Stay Safe Richard!! You are the best!! Regarding the White House Staffer sending the e-mail about Prime Minister Maliki to reporters concerning the 16 month exit plan for withdrawal of troops by Obama, I'm sure he was alittle embarrased by the mistake. Also, the talks about Iran's nuclear program and the negotiations will be interesting to hear. Looking forward to the broadcast! Always great to see Richard!! Peace to you and to all!

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

Dear Lester,

Terrific blog tonight!  I haven't made that mistake....yet!  I can't imagine that the White House press staffer's gaffe could do much to hurt the Administration at this point!  

I look forward to Richard Engel's report from Afghanistan.  I'm glad the news media is focusing on that war more now, although unfortunately, it coincides with higher troop losses.

Lots of love to all the blog regulars!  XOXO

Hope I get to see the broadcast tonight - or tomorrow.  My area's been pummeled by severe, violent weather & it's anyone's guess if we'll have power and for how long. Lightning killed two not all that far from me, and the next town over looks like a tornado touched down.  Thankfully, the cats & I are unscathed; we're just melting, hoping & wishing the fans & a/c to come back on!

Got it - Obama made it to Afghanistan.  Sen. McCain had things to say about it, though I don't know what, now.  I did hear that the president finally came to an understanding with PM al-Maliki about a time table for withdrawal.  Sounds like progress in a good direction, if only it would happen before Bush leaves office.  

Another storm?  Bertha's still out there churning & creating rip tides on Maine shores; its been scary out there this week.  Makes me pout, not being able to get to the ocean!  

Be well, regular bloggers!  Don't work too hard this weekend, Lester; its too muggy out there to do hard labor!

Nice try Lester but the email was no accident. I think we've learned by now how the White House game is played. CIA covert agent Plame's name was leaked for a reason. It all falls into the US visit to the Iran talks. It's sad when instead of just telling the truth excuses are used.

It was good to see Senator Hagel with Obama even if no one bothers to say anything about it. At lease we can see from the videos that Democrats and Republicans can work together for the best of the American people.

It looks like things are changing for the better for the United States of America. Our 7 years of lies, crimes and corruption will be over Jan. 20th 2009.

Obama is getting a good well from the Foreign countries and our troops. Maybe we can get our friends back around the world and start working on peace and the economy instead of war and greed.

I saw the Dark Night movie and it was good. Heath should be nominated for an Oscar, he was that good.

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

Hi Lester,  

 Yes, happens to me several times.  The one that I remember is emailing your colleague, Natalie Morales. I forwarded an email to Natalie meant for my wife, lets just say something to do with age.  I never heard anything from my wife about it, she usually does not let something like that go by, and so I knew something was wrong.

Good Evening Mr.Holt, Always great to see Richard on the broadcast!! Great way to begin the broadcast! Richard you look awesome in those blue shirts!! Richard's report showing Senator Obama meeting with troops and Afghanistan local government officials was interesting to see and will hopefully inform him of how things are on the ground. Hearing Richard say that intense violence in increasing and that Taliban fighters are building in numbers is a terrible thought and will have a big effect on the amount of troops deployed in the region. Richard's meeting with the member of parliament and hearing the man state that one part of the area is controlled by the government and not far away another part is out of their control is a frightening idea. It has become a safe haven for these militant groups and an extremely dangerous place. The Pentagon wants to send more troops to the country and I just hope that sooner or later these fighters will be defeated quickly. There does need to be more attention spent on this country, yet conflict in Iraq is an extremely big priority too. Another wonderful report Richard! Always Stay Extra Safe Richard!!
The report by Andrea Mitchell from Baghdad speaking with General Petraeus showed how violence has decreased alot in the region. Hearing the troops are gathering good information from people in the areas is  promising and that many blocks seem safer for the citizens. The Sunni's rejoining the government was interesting news too. General Petraeus credits the troops with all their brave efforts for the better security in the neighborhoods and I certainly hope it continues in that direction. I hope electricity is better for the people and not so many times being cut off. Everyone has suffered enough there needs to be some good news from the area.
On another Middle East note the talks with Iran about their nuclear program seemed to reach a stalemate. They now have 2 weeks to give an answer so time will tell.
Regarding the heat and the high temperatures in the Northeast, it is nice and hot here in Georgia. The next two days here are forecasted at 96 and 97. Good time to be indoors.
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt! Great to see you Richard! Always Stay Safe Richard!! Great reporting!
Peace to you and to all!

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

That's very mysterious to say the least about
the e-mail from the White House. One can
only speculate. Once, I sent an e-mail
to myself but I don't think I have ever
sent an email of the importance of the
one you write about.  Somebody did not
follow through and I don't know how he or
she keeps her job. On a more positive note
I am encouraged by the news from the Mid East,
great reporting as usual.
Phyllis Kunz

We are being asked  by Prime Minister Maliki to leave Iraq. McCain and Bush won't even promise to leave.  If we aren't wanted in Iraq  our presence will become an occupation. Isn't that news? Isn't anybody going to question Bush and McCain about that?

The huge news from today is Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki said Barack Obama's plan for pulling out troops from Iraq in 16 months is the right plan. Its top news here on the MSNBC website. Nightly News barely mentioned it. Maliki also said the surge isn't the primary cause of the reduction of violence in Iraq. Maliki is in a better position than anybody to know. But that contradicts a talking point that NBC has repeated, that the surge is responsible and McCain was right about the surge. NBC didn't air Maliki's surge statement on tonight's broadcast.

NBC devotedly covers John McCain's brags that he knows all about Iraq because he went on the dog and pony tour the known fabricators from the Bush Administration sent him on. McCain's been going on and on about how Obama doesn't know anything about Iraq because Obama has only been there once. It turns out that McCain is the one who had no idea what was going on. McCain favored keeping us there for 100 years. He must have had no idea the Iraqis were trying to  politely evict us. He made such a fool of himself! It turns out Obama was the one who was right. NBC didn't mention that tonight. In fact, they gratuitously repeated McCain's smears once again.

Is McCain going to flip flop now? Is NBC going to say, like they did about Obama, that a change means the candidate is either opportunistic or pragmatic? Or is McCain going to insist on the unwelcome occupation?

Instead of depth about Maliki's support for Obama's plan, NBC spent a second night interviewing General Patraeus. NBC, Bush and McCain imply that generals  should decide whether we should stay at war on not. Bush likes those rules because he fires any generals who don't agree with him, and can order the generals he keeps to say whatever Bush wants. So the rule really means that nobody is allowed to question or disagree with Bush. The GOP acts like questioning their generals is blasphemy. We live in a democracy and we have every right to question generals! Generals should NOT get involved in civilian politics and presidential elections. If Maliki wants us to leave Iraq,  generals or Bush or McCain or Obama or any other American isn't entitled to differ.

NBC showed its bias by only interviewing a general who supports the Bush line. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff agrees with Obama that we should take troops from Iraq and move them to Afghanistan. NBC never mentions that general.

Afghanistan is another messy byproduct of NBC's McCain support. McCain opposed adding additional troops. Now that the truth comes out that more troops are needed, NBC never points out that John McCain, who sold himself as the expert and called Obama uninformed was in fact the one who was wrong. McCain is double talking and backtracking now. Of course, NBC hasn't labeled that as an "opportunistic or pragmatic flip flop" yet.

Friday night's broadcast was bad. NBC News again ran a McCain campaign commercial free of charge and without balance or factual analysis.  After a hatchet job  that implied Obama  was trying to put on a phony show to hide his inexperience, NBC ran the McCain daily talking points almost verbatim.  Then NBC sunk really low. They said Obama's trip may backfire because Americans might think foreigners are trying to interfere with our elections. Who, other than a xenophobic right wing hate monger would think such a thing?  Perhaps NBC can predict that Americans might think that because they are planning to run the McCain smears that say the same thing. Did anybody ever question foreign interference in our politics when McCain went abroad? NBC even still promoted McCain's trips tonight. They called McCain "better traveled." What did that have to do with anything that happened today?

Here's a NYT story on Obama's planned trip.    Looks like Obama is going to be on the cover of VF next month.  I hope we start learning more about this man and his track record or lack of it.     Why am I feeling this election is about a popularity contest?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/17/us/politics/17anchors.html?ref=politics

Bests to all!

On occasion I send e-mails to President Bush.
It would be awful if Harry Reid, D-Nevada received my emails by mistake because Reid is not a man to be
encouraged. Him or that woman--Nancy Pelosi

Phyllis Kunz

Mr. Holt, I was just researching THE SECOND LADY
by Irving Wallace and to my dismay I clicked on
your Blogg with my critique of this terrific book
with about four othe emails to you, all over the
Internet, which I did not appreciate. It was
so embarrassing.  Sincerely, Phyllis Kunz

When the Devil goes out the front door, he comes
in the back.  I just figured out what happen and
I owe you an apology.  Whenever I mentioned the
book by title somehow AOL picked it up.  Sorry.
I know youwould not embarrass another person on
purpose.  You are a good man, and a good man
is hard  to find.

Phyllis Kunz.
Phyllis Kunz

Asia is great and coming up. Cities build in Asia has some how diversify and has successfully acepted American goods in growing Asia. Some how with the captial growing Asia could be the next power house.

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