I am so disappointed in the news that John Edwards has admitted to having an affair.  I honestly believed that he truly was one of the rare gems, devoted to his wife, taking the marriage vows of "for better for worse, in sickness and health" seriously.  My heart goes out to his wife and children for having such a hurt thrust upon them.  

He can never make up for this.  He can only hope and beg for forgiveness.

As I'm already watched it - live on German television, cheers up that Germany is nearer to China than the USA. It was indeed spectacular and was worth to see it. I watched the entire four hours from 2pm to 6pm German time. I don't give away details - because NBC won't publish my comment - because it would take away rating points if I reveal this enormous undertaking that the Chinese people did. It was ginourmous, gigantic or whatever word you might insert that shows superiority. But the only thing is they left out is that they didn't mention any word of communism during the history section. They skipped Mao and the creation of the communist party and slided right away into the future, I hope you will cover that note during tonight's broadcast.

I hope will comment on tonights broadcast that Russia has entered South Ossetia - while the Prime Minister Putin sat in Beijing during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics (how arrogant) - and killed, according to Ossetian news sources 1,400 people. It is gruesome in the streets of the capital as I have seen on German television.

It's not good for the Democratic party that Edwards had an extramarital affair. That issue is more serious than the Larry Craig incident on the Minn/St.Paul Airport restroom. It can be interpreted by the Republican party that the Dems have no personal values during the election campaign. It's a shame for Edwards as he has a cancer-stricken wife.

By the way, the performance of Brian Williams during the three-way interview on Larry King Live was superb. I stayed up until 3am in the morning - because of time differences - to watch Williams, Couric and Gibson on CNN International.

Brian,

It was a perfect day here in Maryland.  The temperature was just right.  A perfect way to go into the weekend.  It's already Saturday morning as I write this...for you anyway.  Enjoy your weekend, take everything in, and most of all, practice your Chinese.  I hope you'll take my advice.  I tell my students all the time, "The world is really becoming too small.  We have to be able to communicate in languages other than English."  It's a shame that we Americans consistently expect that others will jump through hoops to communicate with us in our native tongue.  It's nice to help broaden our own linguistic horizons while striving to better understand what makes other cultures tick.  Have a super weekend and enjoy!

Dear Brian,

I know that Mr. Rutherford will probably feature the young man I am about to mention, along with others, in his blog about our fallen service members, but I wanted to call attention, anyway, to a soldier from my area who was killed one week ago in Afghanistan.  He was Ryan Patrick Baumann, 24, a sergeant with the 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky.  He died a hero, for a cause he believed in, giving his own life, in order to save his buddies.  I would never presume to know what it is like to lose a loved one to war (and I hope I have never come off that way):  my friends and family and classmates who have served in Iraq and/or Afghanistan have made it back – including my cousin, Liisa, who worked on school renovation projects in southern Iraq.  I didn't know Sgt. Baumann, but I thank him for his courage and his sacrifice.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/04/AR2008080402843.html

On the opposite end of the spectrum – from young to old – I am mourning the loss of my great aunt, Sammie, 89, a vivacious redhead who lived life by her own rules.  The last time I saw her was in 1992, but one of our most memorable visits was in her hometown of Chicago, in 1981.  The clock on the wall meant nothing to Sammie – time, and the keeping of it, was subjective.  We got thrown out of the Art Institute of Chicago at closing, despite the fact that we had not yet finished looking at Andy Warhol's homage to Campbell's soup.  Lights off, no exceptions.  The security guard was unmoved by our sad story.  We didn't get home from dinner at a German restaurant until nearly 10:00 at night, which might not seem strange to city dwellers, but it's a little odd to a 10 year old from rural Maryland!  We almost missed our bus back to my aunt's three story walk-up, which I remember as being given over to houseplants, and to two fat cats named Imple and Pokerchip.  This was the same woman who had the dumb luck or good fortune to survive the Winecoff Hotel fire in Atlanta, Georgia, on December 7, 1946 – still the deadliest hotel fire in U.S. history.  Today, I am wearing Sammie's 22 kt. gold and green jade cabochon ring, with Chinese characters stamped inside, whose significance escapes me.  Maybe it will bring me some of that dumb luck or good fortune, too.  May she and Sgt. Baumann both rest in peace.  To both of them, I dedicate Robert Frost's "Nothing Gold Can Stay."  God bless.

Love to all the regulars.  XOXO

laurel

I'm very disappointed that NBC didn't show the Opening Ceremony live on one of their 7 channels.  The ceremony was 3 hours yet coverage will be for 4 hours, I can only imagine the number commercials that will be added to make up for the loss in revenue.  I usually enjoy watching NBC and NBC News, and I will continue to do so, but I really am disappointed that the people around the world can watch it live or on the computer, but the country that invented the TV cant do so.  PS we all know that the Today Show this morning wasn't 'Live' as was announced.  Thank you for listening, I appreciate it.

I was also really disappointed to hear the news about Edwards.  There's been a lot of discussion already about the moral repugnance of his affair, and the jeopardy to which he would have subjected his party and supporters in keeping a secret of this sort had he been the nominee.  I have nothing to add to those points.

What I am ultimately upset about is the fact that this blow to his reputation will almost certainly impact the major anti-poverty campaign he's been trumpeting.  Poverty, to say nothing of homelessness, had until recently become an under-addressed, and under-reported issue.  And, whether as a Presidential candidate, private citizen, or cabinet member, Edwards seemed poised to make a big impact on how the poor are treated in America.  I only hope that the remaining candidates will carry on this positive part of his message.

As a former resident of Philadelphia, I've been watching the news from there with dismay over the last few years, as the city has slipped back into a decline, with homelessness on the rise and a quarter of its population living below the poverty line.  Part of it's due to the fact that federal funding to the city was cut by a third over the last eight years.  And, of course, Philly isn't alone, but stands as it long has, as a barometer of urban areas across the country.  Our cities, let alone our rural areas, can't handle the current economic situation alone.

Edwards or no Edwards, the federal government, along with private organizations, need to step up and assume a leadership role in creating new opportunities for impoverished people and regions.

For the record, I am not advocating extramarital affairs, but it's is so stupid and distracting to spend so much time talking about Edwards' affair. Please talk about REAL issues, which are important for the Nation (war and peace, health care, employment,  economy). Please stop making people stupid by following the footsteps of the yellow press and then claiming that your viewers want to hear about such scandals.

Edwards' affair is not breaking news for the nation, it is just a personal problem. He is disloyal to his wife and kids, but not to the nation.

From what I saw so far of the Olympic Openings it is great. China should be very proud of a job well done.

Yes John Edwards had an affair but of course those who are perfect are now judging. We allowed the GOP to distract us from taking care of US business with the Clinton affair. Since then so many Republicans have been seen for their sins but we excuse their actions but attack those of the Democrats. That's the way we do things in America. We're more interested in someone's personal affairs then our Economy or our Military lost.

Looks like every person who joined Bush/Cheney in the illegal invasion of Iraq is about to lose their jobs. Now Georgia President teamed up with Bush and as his country needs help with the War with Russia. Bush is busy telling China to do as he says not as he does in the area of Human Rights.

I'm starting to feel bad for Senator McCain. I listen to some of his speeches and he does sound like an old many trying to hang on to his memory.  The GOP should pick a VP for McCain quickly as he's going fast.

For all the hateful talk about Bill Clinton. He's been very busy helping the people of Rwanda and other areas of Africa. Yes we see headlines of a Law Maker who opens the door for a lady, but Bill just keeps helping people with no photo ops. That might be the reason why he loved around the world. He just helps people who need it and they live to say thank you. That's something the Democrats can't take away for Bill Clinton. Yes Senator Leahy and McCain are doing movies parts to hopefully become Hollywood Stars.

Speaker Pelosi might not impeach President Bush but Pakistan will impeach President Musharraf for his War Crimes. Only in American can a President get away with being accountable for his crimes first Nixon now Bush who's next?

Have a great weekend and enjoy the games

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

Edwards is not running for any office and should not be in the spotlight. Shame on you re: the Edwards story. You did nothing but try to ruin the man and embarrass his family. Shame on you and all the news media.

I too am sad to hear of John Edwards' admission but I ask again, for heaven's sake, what business is this of any of us?  Does it change his political positions?  I had the same questions about Bill Clinton.  I am so tired of this nonsense.  It's not my business; its not your business.  It's between the couple and God - unless he has used this other woman to break the law and commit felonies.  

I'm also scratching my head to figure out why all this opening ceremony business has to do with how special China is.  I'm not saying that China is important.  I'm simply thinking that any one person or group of people can put on a very good show - shall I mention John Edwards again?  China may have gone a great show, but I will reserve my final opinion.

Russia is at war again?  Can someone remind me why we are allied with this country who picks on its neighbors regularly?  Oh wait... we pick on neighbors too!  My heart goes out to Georgia's citizens.

Unfortunately I don't know anyone married or born on 08/08/08.  Would be a cool birthday!

Ugh humidity... last night the thermometer in my bathroom registered a higher dew point than it did the air temp and yeah... the air looked like it does behind you tonight/tomorrow morning.  It's not fun!

Thank you for sharing Lopez Lomong's story.  He is a true success story.  I'm so glad you introduced him to us, since I'm not a fan of summer-type sports.  I wish him well!

Be safe & well in China, everyone of the NBC team!  Happy weekend to all the regulars!

Good Evening Mr.Williams, Great to see Richard on the broadcast this evening! Beautiful blue shirt! I am very happy he watched the Opening Ceremonies! Always Handsome! Richard's report about the Opening Ceremonies really looked out of this world fabulous! Those pictures from the stadium were spectacular and I can't wait to see it on this evening! It was horrible though to see and hear the protests happening in India, Turkey and outside China. One always just wishes for peace and goodwill during the time of the Olympics. Although it should happen all the time anyway. The number of 91,000 people in the stadium was a staggering number if people, but the excitement is electric with all the shops having tvs on and the retaurants too. Such pure joy at hosting such a spectacle and it seems to have been a wonderful beginning. Great fireworks! Another great report Richard! Wonderful to see you in Beijing!
The report by Ian Williams concerning the date being of good fortune was evident with many people either getting married or births of babies. I wish all the couples happiness in their lives because every day is precious.
On another note the report by Mr.Mullen about the migrant workers who built the "Bird's Nest" Olympic Stadium showed how so much pride and really hard work was put into building this huge stadium. The man featured in the piece seemed so proud of being part of the work that went into it. And I am happy he was able to get home to his family. It is such difficult work, yet he hopes for a bright future for his children. I hope his family reapes very good fortune.
Finally, the "Making a Difference" segment about Lopez Lomong the refugee from Sudan who is the flag bearer for the US Team, he has come so far and is a truly wonderful choice to carry the United States flag. It was a heartwrenching and touching story and he seems to have shown such strength and determination. I hope his mother was able to see him carry the flag! Go Lopez Lomong in the 1500 meters!
Thank you for the broadcast this evening! Great to see smiling and handsome Richard! Great report as always! Peace to you and to all!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Safe and Well Richard! Great to see You!
XOXO

Hey Brian,

Can't wait to see the Opening Ceremonies here shortly, but I just had to write and say how moved I was during tonites broadcast on the story of the Chinese Migrant Worker who travelled far to work and sent money home to his family, all to provide a better life for his kids, which is what we all want, but it's so sad that he has to be away from them to make any money.  14 years is a long time, and to only go home once a year....I just can't imagine.  We take so much for granted, and have so much and don't fully appreciate it.  My gripe this week is I am losing my cool parking space downtown, only a block from the office and getting the boot to a further away deck at the end of the month!  Now that all seems so trivial...oh well.....another great show tonite Brian, although what is with the term   "that woman"  it reminded me of the whole Bill Clinton/ Monica Lewinsky denial, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman"  and we were all like, yeah....right!  I was so disapppointed to hear that Edwards had cheated on his wife, while she had cancer no less! But honestly, not that surprised.  He's a good looking man and is human like the rest of us.  But how embarrasing to have your dirty laundry aired in public.  So glad I'm not a celebrity:-)  Why do people want to go into politics anyways these days?

TGIFF !!!  

Dear Brian Williams:  The story about John Edwards cheating on his wife has been rumored for months now.  Even though he denied it I had a feeling it was true.  It is sad, especially for his wife; but it makes one wonder how many other famous polititions and people running our government are doing the same thing but didn't get caught yet.  We all know about John McCain and how he dumped his wife for another younger, prettier, richer, blonde woman when his wife became very ill.  So the Republicans have no room to talk about John Edwards.

Why does fluff like the John Edwards story enjoy more air time than a start of a war between Georgia and Russia?  Why not cover the phenomenal drop in oil prices that cannot be attributed to a rise in demand in China or India - perhaps the threat of a Federal investigation into speculators has done the trick or ...?  Where was the real journalism and please don't quote the National Enquirer anymore!

Why are you talking over the opening ceremony.  You should talk a lot less and let us listen to the music.

@ Amanda:

I feel the same way.  I thought Edwards was one of the good guys.  Edwards gave a speech one night and I sat in my bedroom watching and crying.  It was all about the goodness in America.  He fooled me too.    I guess he was thinking with the wrong body part.

Opening Ceremonies are awesome!  

I was disappointed by the disingenuous reporting by Dr. Nancy Snyderman this evening.  MSNBC is reporting that the air pollution index is at 96.  What does Dr. Snyderman report?  The measuring devices are not accurate.  The woman should be ashamed to call herself a scientist and a medical doctor.  Here is what MSNBC reported:

"On Friday, AP readings showed a PM 10 concentration of 373 micrograms per cubic meter — far above the WHO guidelines for healthy air of 50 micrograms per cubic meter."

Yet Dr. Snyderman claimed that the haze and pollution was humidity. If there was ever any doubt that NBC will do anything to protect its $750 million investment, I think that can be erased.  Here was a great opportunity to show their viewers the long term threat that China poses to global warming.  Instead we received the type of science only the Bush Administration promotes.  

NBC you should hang your head in shame.

we waited 4 years, have lived through 2 months of NBC's continuous blasts about the opening ceremony of the Olympics and all day we waited for the ceremony to begin - one that has been stated as outstanding beyond belief.  Well what did we watch but hundreds of commercials which sandwiched in between a few selections of the Opening Olympic ceremony.  Ok someone has to pay the bills - but when we returned to the scheduled program, we were shown a new segment and never really finishing the last one.  We were left hanging.  Describing the event is not the same as actually seeing it.  You would think with all the NBC personnel they sent to Bejing, they could at least show the ceremony without commercials for one night.  We have gone through the news - like the news is something we can't miss a moment of.  We are really disappointed with NBC tonight - you let the American citizens down.  You want people to watch - you have banked your ratings on this 17 day event.  The opening and closing ceremonies should be shown in full - shame on NBC.

Why doesn't the media mention that John McCain did almost the same thing--but married the woman with whom he was having the affair?  

I am now unemployed from a job in wich I have worked at for TWENTY FIVE YEARS only to be out suorced to CHINA and you expect me to watch your NBC's coverage of the Olympics. I do respect all of athletes efforts
but I think they can have a better atmosphere not only health wise but competition wise.You can KISS MY AMERICAN ASS BECAUSE YOU JUST LOST A NEILSON RATING VOTE

Dear NBC

I  wanted to share my opinion on the commentary at openings ceremony. During the THAI CHI routine one of the commentators said that China is showing the world the way to be one with nature.
Well, I find that commentary very disturbing. China is  well known for extreme cruelty to animals, the Chinese government is well know for their cruelty to humans and they are well known for their activities of extreme pollution. You have to be delusional to say that they have a goal to be one with nature.
THEY HAVE NO SUCH INTENTIONS. ALL CHINA WANTS IS POWER AT ANY COST. THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ANIMALS  AND THE HUMANS IN THEIR COUNTRY.
I AM APPALLED  AND VERY DISAPPOINTED HOW NBC BECAME PART OF THIS FALSE PROPAGANDA.
VERY SAD INDEED.
NEXT TIME NBC MAY WANT TO CHECK THEIR FACTS BEFORE THEY PROMOTE SUCH AN OUTRAGEOUS LIE TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

  Yours sincerely
    Nora Kosztolanyi

As much as the Beijing Olympic opening was the most spectacular event I have seen, I do have to wonder how come the little boy that survived the earthquake and walked Yo Ming--why was his flag upside down?  All the other China flags have the stars and moon on the top of the flag, but the little boy's was upside down.  Just a question.

Nora, did you ever go to China? Do you really know the culture of China? Do you really understand Chinese? If not, please shut up. Next time you may want to check the facts before you give any comment.

An interesting "Wizard of Oz" moment on the Nightly News last night (pay no attention to the man behind the curtain).  Dr. Nancy Snyderman says instruments to measure pollution are inaccurate and explains away the thick haze that has been Brian's backdrop as sand from the Gobi desert and humidity??  Is this real news or just NBC's effort to put a little "shine" on the upcoming Olympic Games broadcast?  After all of the stories about how bad the pollution is in China, I find Dr. Snyderman's report just a bit disingenuous.  

AMAZING!

I see you are doing it again and the computer users of the land are up in arms - tape delay.

When the opening ceremonies was live in China many people in the US are either at work or on their way to work.  They would have caught bits and clips of the ceremony but not the entire program until they watch the tape delay.  Showing it live would have sparked more interest in watching the tape delay but you decided against it.

The net was alive with people trying to find live internet feed and as a result of your blocking efforts created much animosity.

Why are you still using business models that were effective 30 years ago but no longer valid?  Such backward-looking vision is the same that has doomed the music industry -  people would rather download the songs they like rather than buy a CD full of songs they don't like and for year the music industry keeps fighting downloads and losing sales.

Show everything live for those who can watch it live and repeat it again on prime time for those who can't watch it live.

This doesn't mean I'll be watching.  Last night I watched about 5 minutes of the opening - between commercial breaks.

See you in a few weeks since you are being canceled for the duration.

Mr. Williams

I'm probably your biggest critic but only because I watch the video podcasts of all three channels. Katie Couric is my favorite. What your broadcast missed about the number 8 is that it's chinese pronunciation rhymes with the chinese word for prosperity. It was mentioned in the report, but not emphasized enough. If you think about it, we don't have this problem with the english language as no word in the english language rhymes with death as the number 4 does in the Chinese language.

BTW, Katie had her video podcast out before yours..

China has a great pride, it's their opinion of themselves, or at least their dictators, that China is the center of the universe.. So when they host an event, they want to show off as much as possible. The problem here in America is we don't know enough about China to know about this.. Our going to their games just pumps them up and proves to themselves that they are the center of the universe.. I don't know if it was a good thing to hold the olympic games in China or a bad thing, but I guess the hope is that we will see more acts of freedom of speech in the games as it is a given China will make this the biggest spectical in the world. I would hope that the freedom of speech is aligned with the Chinese people by in opposition to the Chinese government as it is the Chinese government  that is th eproblem. They present to their own people a misperception of their importance and fuel the chinese pride, but don't give their own people the right to choose.. And the spectical of these games are proof of that..  Remember what the turks of the old world did to make bears walk on two legs? They walked them over hot cools as a punishment.

Ditto.

John Edwards didn't lie to his wife, his wife and children knew. John lied to protect his campaign, it's the denial of his having an affair that is the concern. People don't realize, the people we vote for are not like us, they live in a completely different environment than us, they are offered choices that if we were offered the same, we don't know (under pressure) how we'd react ourselves. Sex is a drug, An affair is a drug, it's like taking a holiday from the public eye, while trying to achieve your goals..

If youa re Christian, or Jew, take a look at King David or Solomon. It's human nature. And you have to wonder, why did God select these people to be leaders?

But in post modernist society we expect perfection, which is almost hypocritical in that post modernism is about finding your own truth and respecting others..

I'm not addressing the problem, I'm laughing at it.. It's a business, this thing we call news..

I agree with Nora that China is trying to create an image through the symbolism of the opening ceremonies: that they value their people when in truth they exploit them in so many ways; that they respect their rich history when they have forbidden citizens' practices of it and have physically obliterated so much of it physically; that Beijing is a lush and beautiful city when that illusion is at the cost of this year's farm crops and future water security; and the list goes on.

I was fascinated by the story about the "migrant worker."  I assume he is internally a migrant (native Chinese?) but the report didn't state that.  He has two children, so isn't in compliance with China's one child policy.  Why is this?  Because he is from a rural area where there is less scrutiny?  There isn't a clear understanding in the US about what this policy means.  Many Americans believe there are severe penalties and forced abortions in China.  I have altertatively read that it is "enforced" only economically through only subsidizing one child, and that Chinese couples, after determining the sex of the fetus, might opt to abort/adopt out/send to rural relatives a female child.  It would be great if one of your reporters would educate us Americans about the truth of this policy.

Also, as a skilled trades worker and someone interested in workers' rights, I wondered about the scars visible on the face of the migrant worker.  Could a reporter educate us about the workplace safety experience of Chinese workers?

That would be great!

Dear Brian:

I find it appalling that NBC has surrendered objectivity and discussing the issues related to the Chinese government with their presentation of the Olympics. The Chinese government record speaks for itself: extreme abuse of people, animals, the environment, an exponential leap in the death sentence beyond every other country and most of all their invasion and status in Tibet. And much, much more with their Orwellian brainwashing of their own people (a govt official was just on TV stating that Tibet is part of China in the same way as the state of Texas).

Finally, the ridiculous assertion that the recent murder of Olympic personnel from the USA by a Chinese citizen had nothing to do with them being Americans is very troubling to say the least. This could have very well been fueled by anti American rhetoric from the Chinese government that triggered someone who is mentally unbalanced to go out and murder Americans. But it is beyond credibility to think that a Chinese citizen did not know that he was attacking Americans: taking in the American accent of English and the type of dress would certainly have made it obvious that the person who murdered the American Olympic personnel knew where they were from. But this is just one more attempt by NBC to be overly nice and to avoid objectivity.This could have very well been fueled by anti American rhetoric from the Chinese government that triggered someone who is mentally unbalanced to go out and murder Americans.

NBC personnel need to be vigilant in recognizing that the Chinese approach to the Olympics is a nationalist effort to bolster allegiance from their own citizens. Where was the five circle symbol and the promotion of the Olympics as a worldwide, international event involving many different cultures? Other countries in the past have also used the Olympics to promote nationalism orchestrated by a dictatorship -- no need to say who they are because we all know. I am very disappointed in NBC coverage,  with an opportunity at least some of the time to deal with the Chinese Govt objectively that does not care about individual rights whatsoever.

Sincerely,
Dr. Dave Wheeler
Portland, Oregon

Dear Nora Kosztolanyi:

Do you eat beef?

Dear Mr. Williams,
Why are you and other reporters not wearing ties? Does this have something to do with the Chinese culture?

Ooops!  My bad... The swimmer's name is CULLEN Jones, NOT Kellen.  I usually do a better job of getting my facts straight when I'm complaining.  Smooches!!!

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):