It's good for the Republican Party that McCain has chosen Palin. There are now the greatest differences on the ticket. From the High North (Alaska) to the Deep South (Arizona) from a male to a female, from an experienced politician (McCain) to a previously unknown Gouverneur from Alaska (Palin). How much can there be a greater difference on a ticket. Also it's great that McCain has chosen a Governeur because now the GOP is ready to lead and to talk.

I hope that Hurricane Gustav won't hit the Gulf Coast next week not so hard than forecasters predicted because next week is the GOP convention and the media has a tendency to bond catastrophes to the Republican Party because you dislike the GOP, as I have witnessed on all your recent news broadcasts, which I saw over the live stream of MSNBC.

Also Brian, try next week to report on the Elephant's convention with the most gravitas and excellence that you can gather over the weekend. Also don't let the Bush bashers take over the newscasts of NBC News programs during the convention.

Looking forward to the netcast.

Hi Brian
Interesting choice for McCain of Gov. Palin as if woman would only follow woman. Someone should tell the GOP woman are smarter then that, as Hillary was backed for her experience and qualifications not because she's a woman. Now I do wish Gov. Palin luck as she has no experience and her Citizens want to impeach her from office. Yes the criminal investigate that is going on Gov. Palin because she got her ex brother in law fired because of her sisters divorce. Spiro Agnew comes to mine. Well I hope the Media doesn't attack her like they did Hillary. No woman should be called the names Hillary was called by the GOP and the Media.
With all the qualified candidates John McCain had to choose from he picked a beauty queen who's experience was being Mayor for 7000 people and then becoming Gov.
With all the corrupt elected officials in Alaska I know the GOP could do better then that. Now the plan to get Hillary's supporters will fail. It is sad to see the Republicans think so little of the Office of President that they pick a woman who has no experience but has won a beauty contest. Show how little the job of President really is. I hope McCain keeps Joe Lieberman on stand by he just might have to replace his VP if she's indicted before the election.

I know the World Leaders are having a good laugh at this one. Of all the people to choose from in the USA the Republicans pick a beauty queen who knows nothing and even admitted she didn't know what a VP does.

See you at 6:30

Wow, Sen. McCain certainly came out of left field with his VP selection.  One might wonder if he had an extreme SENIOR MOMENT. If they think that she could possibly equal Sen. Clinton they certainly missed the boat.  We supported Sen. Clinton because we believed in her and her vision for the future of the United States, not because she was a woman. We will now throw our support to Sen. Obama.  It is kind of scary to think this woman who has been Gov. of Alaska for less than two years could be a heart beat away from the oval office.  She needs to remember who cracked that glass ceiling that she referred to today.  It was not her and she is no Hillary.  

Dear Brian,

As I have stated before in this forum, I am white, and my boyfriend is black.  We both love each other without regard to color, just as each other's color is part of what we love.  Does that make any sense?  As CeCe Peniston sang, "With brown cocoa skin and curly black hair, it's just the way he looks at me, that gentle lovin' stare."  In other words, his skin color is beautiful to me, but that is only part of it; I'm in love with the whole package, and vice versa.  Anyway, our relationship has been a real eye opener, because I have gone through life never having to think twice about my race, as he has had to do.  On the other hand, he has gone through life never having to think twice about his gender, as I have had to do.  We discuss race and gender issues all the time, and in particular, since the Democratic primary campaigns began.  He voted for Senator Obama; I voted for Senator Clinton.  We both voted for former President Clinton.  We are both registered Democrats. Today, he was hurt and angered to learn that many of his white colleagues - some of whom he's called friend - who happen to also be Democrats, will not vote for Obama, simply because he is African American/biracial.  It's an attitude that just blows me away, every time I encounter it.  My boyfriend took special pride in voting for Senator Obama.  I understand that.  On the other hand, he would never vote for Alan Keyes.  I took special pride in voting for Senator Clinton.  On the other hand, I would never vote for Ann Coulter, should she ever run.  (God forbid.)  Barack Obama still doesn't quite move me.  However, if I vote for him in November, it won't be the first time that I have been less than enthusiastic about my candidate.  After all, I voted for John Kerry.  At the end of the day, I vote POLICY, and not PERSONALITY.  And certainly not color.  This world sure has a long way to go.

For any who are interested, C-SPAN will broadcast live the memorial service for Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones on Saturday, at 11:00 a.m.

Happy Friday!

Lots of love to Lisa (cheer up!), Jackie, Stephanie, Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  XOXO

Very scary and very insulting!  The nomination of Sarah Palin as a VP candidate is transparent tokenism.  She knows nothing about foreign policy or fixing the ailing American economy.  Talk about being inexperienced and unprepared to lead!  This is the 21st century; American women are much more sophisticated.  We vote for candidates based on merit.  Someone should tell John Mc Cain that the 1970’s battle of the sexes is ancient history!

WHEN WILL WE HEAR ABOUT HELP FOR DISABLED AMERICANS.
WE SEEM TO BE FORGOTTEN BY BOTH CANDIDATES. I HAVE SEVERE R.A.. I WAS TAKING DMARDS BIOLOGICS(DRUG-CLASS),  OF ENBREL, HUMIRA, ETC. , I HAVE SYMPTOMS OF LYMPHOMA.  THIS IS A TYPE OF CANCER THAT HAS NO TREATMENT(HEPATOSPLENOMEGALY LYMPHOMA)
BRIAN; CAN YOU HELP OTHERS TAKING THIS DRUG CLASS, BY
BRINGING THEM THIS NEW INFO ABOUT THIS CLASS OF DRUGS
THANK YOU.

I see McCain as a weak, shallow man without any confidence in his abilities to win the election when he picks the day after the Dem convention to announce his choice for VP.  

Instead of people talking about how well Obama did last night they are picking apart the mooseburger eating gov.

If McCain keeps up with the cheap tricks this is going to be an ugly election with less substance and more fluff than usual.

For the record:  I voted for Hillary in the primary but when she wasn't the nominee I was struggling with whether to vote for McCain or not vote at all.  McCain got my vote today when he named Sarah Palin as his VP choice!

McCain & Palin all the way!

I am grateful that Obama's speech got more viewers than American Idol!  I loved his speech.  If he could only make good on all his promises... I've never seen a politician who could do it all.  My question for him: which ones will he insist on, and which ones will he accept a compromise?

I have been waiting for two other things: McCain's veep choice, and McCain's speech.  Palin who?  I never heard of her before this announcement.  (Sorry Alaska!)  She's beautiful... that's about all I can tell you.  I honestly can't see her helping the ticket.  Her husband is a fisherman?  How is that going to fly in the GOP?  It doesn't bother me at all; I'd love to see blue collar blood in the White House.  Her choice doesn't help me out, since I now have to get to know a virtual unknown.  At least I know some things about Obama!  

As an aside comment to yesterday's blog comments on political coverage: I don't appreciate Olberman either.  Now he's doing football?  His character is better suited for that venue!

Thinking of you tonight, New Orleans... remembering Katrina, praying for deliverance from Gustav.  I suppose the Gulf Coast has been on borrowed time, considering that its been spared a direct hit since Rita three years ago.  How could those individuals buried today in NOLA go without being identified?  Is no one looking for them?  Did their families give up?  Could they not be identified?  That was the most painful part of the story for me.  

Art Smith is going a grand work in teaching with food.  Where else do you find more common ground than with kids and food?  What a grand concept and I'm ecstatic that it's working!  It teaches them good health practices and can fortify the entire country.  (Now if he can provide motivation... I'm all for that!)

On a totally "benign" subject: what is wrong with my New England Patriots?  I realize it was the last exhibition game, but they let the Giants whip their butts AGAIN?  That's just insulting!  It's so good to see football on the TV again, though!

Yes, lnp, the big day is Monday.... but there's a great chance I'll have bright sunny skies and I will have my baby nieces and my siblings.  What could be better?

Brian,

All I have to say to you is this...enjoy your day at home.  Relax.  And then, as you're off to St. Paul, wonder when all this craziness is going to end.  Do you ever wish for a week that is considerably less hectic than some of them that you've been in the middle of lately?

I wish for you nothing but a good night sleep and some alone time with your family.  

Enjoy St. Paul.

Good Evening Mr.Williams, A great broadcast this evening! You and the NBC team did a wonderful job covering the Democratic National Convention. A very exciting week with alot of great speeches. Now it is on to the Republican National Convention. I know your coverage will be wonderful. Try to get some rest before Sunday! Now on to the broadcast. The choice by Senator McCain of Governor Sarah Palin is certainly a surprise and another historic event. In the report by Kelly O'Donnell is it a gamble by Senator McCain and  time will tell as we all learn more about her.
On a weather note I really hope Hurricane Gustav does not cause too much destruction. The Gulf Coast region doesn't need any huge storms coming their way. Hopefully everyone will be safe and sound from the storm.
Finally, I enjoyed the "Making A Difference" segment, the Chef Art Smith is really opening up the minds of these children to new cultures and making them even better people by the use of food. Good Piece!
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams! Peace to you and to all! See you on Sunday! Try to get some rest too!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Safe And Well Richard! Hope to see a report from you soon!
XOXO

Obama made references to Abortion & Gun Control in his acceptance speech that I have not heard anyone picking up and discussing.  I thought they showed how his mind works on working together with the opposition and trying to make some progress on two very important issues that need attention in our country.  He was including both positions and making some attempt to bring together some compromise.  I have not heard any other candidate do such so far.  I was very disappointed that these statements are not singled out on t.v. or in my newspaper The Los Angeles Times.  I guess they were not negative enough for people to notice. God help us!Mary

38 million watched OBama - more than the opening of the olypmics - wow - and how many stations was it on was it on 10 - 15. Sorry but the alternatives weren'tany - they call that a captive audience - most people have no idea where the off switch is on any electrical appliance.

I didn't like Kelly O'Donnell reporting that Palin "added a new layer of history to this race." That gives the impression that Palin's nomination was a first.

Barack Obama made history as the first black nominee last night.  Palin is not the first woman to be chosen for VP. The Democrats reached that milestone 24 years ago with Geraldine Ferraro.

Its bad enough that McCain timed his pick to destroy the beautiful historic moment our nation was sharing with Obama. McCain even tried to steal credit he didn't deserve by selling his VP pick as "historic."

It looks like Gustav may upstage McCain. You're already showing the buses lined up to carry people away:

What about pets? Wasn't concern for pets a major reason why many people didn't leave when Katrina hit? What arrangements are being made for people who can't evacuate on their own but who won't leave without their pets? Are we going to see pets abandoned by their desperate, heartbroken owners like we did with Katrina?

I am embarrassed for Brian that he has sold his soul to such a left wing organization as NBC.  What happened to objective news coverage?  Brian you are a better and more talented person than that.

I cannot believe the audacity your network displayed today by putting the breaking news byline under Sarah Palin's name asking how many houses she brings to the Republican ticket!  Your network's partisanship and bias could not be any more obvious.  Shame on you for stating opinion and commentary as breaking NEWS!!!  Do you know how incredible this makes you look?  Do you care????  I am 52 and grew up preferring NBC to ABC and CBS--and besides PBS, there were only you three.  However, I wouldn't trust your network now as far as I could throw any of you.  Shame on you if you do not speak up and tell the powers that be to stop this obvious and cavalier display of partisanship. Why would you stay at an organization that treats others in such a despicable manner.  You have lost me as a viewer and you have totally lost what little respect I still had for your organization.  You need to get out while you still have somewhat of a reputation to salvage.  You are too good of a newsman to stay in such an 'unjournalistic' atmosphere.




Snellville, GA

TO: All of NBC news staff

What a really CHEAP SHOT NBC took today by placing that news alert questioning the number of homes Palin adds to the GOP ticket. I am thoroughly disgusted by that remark.

I started back watching NBC news during the Olympics after being away for years;  I continued this past week after the Olympics were over, but i am finished now. I will NOT watch a network that is so biased, unfair and has nothing better to say than cheap stuff like that.

I will not only not watch your news, but i will not turn your network on at all.


A Hudson
Peachtree City, GA

Good Evening, Brian!
Kudos to you and MSNBC for the outstanding coverage and intelligent analysis of the convention.

Couldn't help but think that the train engine so humorously interrupting all of you was the "voice" of your (and the viewers))dear friend, Tim Russert. Yes, he did let his voice be heard :)

Missing him lots in this exciting election year......

Keep up the good work!

Thanks for all you do~
Cindy Littlepage

Hello Brian
Why don't you tell america and the world why the republican party is FINISHED

By the way are you sure that only 38 millions americans watch the convention last night?? what about all the ones who watched it on the internet, like me??

I personally was saddened to see NBC (MSNBC) immediately attack Sarah Palin.  When I read her bio, I could not figure out why other than bias for the other candidate. She is a special politician that will bring true change as she had in Alaska.  She has turned the politic of Alaska upside down defending rights of the citizens regardless of political party.
She goes sfter corruption regardless of political party.  John McCain hit a home run to me.  She has to complete the race but her presentation on NBC today as she was presented and her biography show a "hockey mom" like me.  Women and men will vote for her Keith Olberman. She has brain, beauty, character and common sense.  Brian and Tom Brokaw should speak for themselves more often not taking sides just balancing the slanted news that your fellow broadcasting display.

brian:

please ask hillary voters such as jackson, tn, how they will justify a vote for mccain/palin in the upcoming election.  as hillary herself said, what were they supporting...what were they voting for?  it is not just the person, but what the person stands for that should drive one's vote.  

it is incredulous to think that such staunch supporters of hillary and presumably all that she believes in, are now ispired or willing to vote for a ticket that represents the complete opposite of her policy and philosophy, particularly when it comes to women's issues such as the right for choice.  

voting for palin to be one heartbeat away from the oval office is the height of insult to hillary.  it is a vote of spite, not a vote of intelligence.  hillary must be sorely disappointed in supporters such as those.

thank you, brian for all your excellent reporting.  and, it is great to have tom brokaw at your side throughout the broadcast, but i sure miss tim russert....he is missing a great news cycle....  

As a Sf bay area California conservative Republican (there are a few of us!) I was thrilled with McCain's pick for VP. I was even MORE excited when one long time friend I have jousted with for YEARS, a Democrat, told me that he is leaning towards not voting for Obama. I then visited with some business friends today, also Democrats, and they were thrilled with Palin (they said McCain was a genius!) because they too, were angry that Obama did not choose Hillary. More votes for McCain/Palin. I think you are underestimating at how excited folks are about the Palin choice, and how many Democrats are still angry with the Obama campaign.

Good Evening Brian! I feel that last night's speech by the Democratic Candidate was powerful and emotional. it was a historic moment for all Americans, and I was glad to have shared it with my family and the anchors and reporters of NBC. You guys did an awesome job covering the DNC, and I will always remember watching this speech with you at the desk.

Brian,
I did not watch NBC for any of the dems convention I watched cable.I used to be a big fan of yours until all of your liberal friends from MSNBC&CNBC sucked you in.I hope you will seek a better network soon,your better than them.Today I saw something on your network that put an end to my watching NBC or any of its affliates every again when McCain introduced his running mate today.Your network as you know ran the breaking news HOW MANY HOUSES DOES SEE HAVE!!!I think thats a very low blow,and im an  independent voter and a woman!I wonder if this would have been the same of Hillary? Its ashamed that your ratings are falling fast,I wish you well.

Brian,I stayed up all night to see who Mccain would pick for VP,When Mike Barnacle called in and asked where Lindsey Graham was when everyone was being cut from the list.This game they played with the media was pointed,no wonder with the lying they did with the press they tricked us into a war trade, blood for oil. Brian I speak to you as a fellow history buff and political junky.Those little drops of oil that rise from the hollowed ground we call the USS Arizona. We must remember the Japanese attacked us because we were going to cut off their oil supplies.Waves of B-17 flying fortresses flew into the heart of the third reich,to Plowesty Romania to destroy Hitlers oil supply.Virtually a suicide mission and many air crews did not return.I saw Presidents Ford & Carter at their state of the union adresses tell us middle east oil was going to hold our country energy hostage.I'm very affraid that someday we might go to war with that wonderful country that just hosted the Olympics over oil resources.So when John McCain named Mrs.Palin to VP running mate the first thing I thought of was she has one quality that no one on the list had, was the north slope and Anwar was her backyard.I see his choice not for the country's benefit,because if she is a heartbeat away from commander and chief,but has no forien policy experience,and remember when Bush 43 was running in 2000.One of the main criticism was he had no forien policy experience,but Bush 41 was President,Vice President & the head of the CIA.Obviously he does not listen to parental advise.This was a desperate move by McCain after the speech at Mile High the night before.I saw Obama and Biden as a good chance not a gamble,but John McCain has turned his gamble into a bad bet.How he thought PUMA's would vote for her,I don't have a clue.I like the idea that she would probably make a better President than McCain,her morale compass needle is way to far from true north.Chris Mathews had a great sound bite with "good & Pawlenty" but he was close with good and Palin("T").McCain is 72 years old today I believe he suffers from post tramatic stress syndrome not from being a prisoner thats part of it but I personally believe its from the missle accident aboard the USS Forestal that killed 139 sailors and almost McCain himself.

Brian, Brian, Brian,
First, I respect your work as a serious jounalist, but I am having serious questions about your integrity as you continue to appear, without questioning, on MSNBC with KO and Chris Matthews. It is obvious to the viewers that you and Tom B are uncomfortable with the over the top bias but you both go along with it.  It makes one think that the paycheck means more to you both than your integrity as a journalist.  Please don't let KO bring you down as he has others(Sorry DP but it's the truth).  

Brian, you have an opportunity at this moment.  Stand up, be a man, and do the right thing.  I think you know what that is.
Cheers

PS I know this won't make the page but I had to write

Brian -

After the weekend, do you have the option of either the hurricane or the convention?  I would think that would be a hard choice - either will be chaos.

Wherever you end up on Monday, take good care.

Joan

It's a sad day for journalism when your colleague Keith Olbermann refers to Governor Palin as Mayor Palin, thus feeding the sexist, mysoginist characterization that most women have of the MSNBC news team. If Obama, a first term Senator, is respectfully addressed as such, then why not Governor Palin, who is Alaska's Governor? The glass ceiling is a barrier that will never be demolished by our daughters if powerful men refuse to acknowledge the accomplishments of women. I attended Punahou with Barry Obama, and I know he is a good person. But as a woman, I feel your news organization (most notably Olbermann, Schuster, Matthews, Lawrence O'Donnell) has been reckless towards the two female candidates,  and as Chuck Todd noted after Hillary's speech on Tuesday, MSNBC may have been too dismissive of the power and meaning of the first female candidate for President, and what it represents for women in this country. MSNBC clearly sees the relevance and historical nature of the the first African-American nominee by a major party, which for all minorities (myself included) is phenomenal, but please don't compromise your journalistic objectivity and alienate women by parroting the talking points of the Obama campaign (i.e., Palin is the Mayor of a small town) or ignoring the accomplishments of truly inspirational women.

Brian,
The Obama speech Thursday evening was the first one I listened to in its entirety. I had hoped Hillary would be the Democratic ticket nominee.  My boyfriend and I support the Democrats and do not wish for another term under the Republican leadership. Both of our daughters have supported Obama from the beginning of the campaign. Hope you have a safe trip to the Twin cities and thank you for your broadcasts.

I have never been so excited about a Vice President in my life. Sarah Palin is amazing, and is a lot better then Hilary Clinton will ever be. Finally a woman in politics who is NOT a feminist and knows what her role as a woman is..

McCain-Palin 08= Amazing!

I have been a Republican my whole life, starting with Barry Goldwater. I loved John McCain in 2000 since I agreed with almost all his stands on issues. I also believed in the man, since he always put nation first, both as a war hero and as an independent Senator. But now I am very troubled, so troubled that I could not sleep last night. Over the last two years, he has changed his stand on many issues, but times and conditions change. Although I disagree with him on these issues now, I also realize compromise is a necessary part of democracy, and these changes were necessary in order to get the Republican nomination as President.  I believed he would move back to the political center once the nomination was secured, since I always believed in the man. However, his selection of a Vice-President has shocked and dismayed me. It seems, in this case, John McCain has not put the nation first, but rather his ambition to be elected President first. His selection was very smart as a political move, but is DANGERIOUS for the country and his party.

John McCain is not a young man. No one lives forever, nor do you pick the time you die, or have a stroke, or are otherwise incapacitated. If he should die in the first year in office, at least, he would have had the time to set up his administration. But what would happen if he was elected, and then died before the Electoral College met. In most cases, if this happened in the past, the electors would vote for the Vice-presidential candidate as President. But, could they do so in this case with a clear conscience, with a Vice-presidential candidate who knows nothing about how Washington or the WORLD operates. If someone else was chosen, it would be second president in U.S. history who was not elected to be president, or Vice-president. Jerry Ford was the first, but at least, he was knowledgeable about world affairs, and was selected by the elected representatives of the people in Congress to be Vice-President, and only then later on seceded Richard Nixon in a Constitutional process. The electors are not government officials, most people do not even know who they are, they are even less well known then the candidate for Vice-president before she was selected.

The nation would be thrown into a Constitutional crisis, the likes of which we have never seen, with electors from both parities trying elect someone President. We would have no idea beforehand who would be the winner. It would make what happened in the 2000 election look like a cakewalk. Imagine how this would look to the world, both our friends and enemies. And, the Republican party could be blamed for it. The danger to our country is too great, no matter how small the possibility of this happening. For the first time I feel that in making his choice, John McCain has not put his nation first, but rather his own political self-interest. Therefore, I beg my party, the Republican Party, to reject John McCain’s choice at the convention and choose someone who would meet the first requirement of a Vice-presidential nominee, ready to assume the powers and act as president from day one. (and even before).  Thank You.



P.S. – Because I do not know and can not communicate with all the convention delegates, I will use the news media to communicate this message.  

Brian ~ Just a comment on the Democratic National Convention.  I missed seeing Tim so much!!!!!!!!  You and Tom did a great job along with the rest of the team, and I wouldn't watch anyone else.  But I couldn't help missing Tim, especially the night of Obama's speech in the stadium, my husband looked at me after the cameras had fanned the crowds, and softly said ~ Tim would've loved this!
Everyone must have missed his presence at MSNBC, and I was so happy when Keith O asked you in the post show, Brian what are your thoughts?  And thank goodness you mentioned Tim, I hadn't heard anyone mention him all week!  You made a point of saying how much you missed brother Tim... thank you.  I was waiting for you or Tom to say something.  It definitely leaves an empty spot inside, knowing how much he would have been loving all this. Keep up the good work, and mention Tim from time to time...

A fresh new alternative!
It struck me that although she might not have years of experience, at least she has already visited troops in Kuwait without it being a challenge like Obama only went after a challenge from Senator McCain!!!  Then his people say it had already been scheduled???
Liberals watch out for SARAH!
By the way,does anyone remember McCain's mother?
Senator McCain is not going anywhere soon.
Also, I don't care how many houses anyone has-the American opportunity...and I am homeless.It is inevitable we will be a target again-and I want Senator McCain in charge,temper and all!

I am sending this e-mail in response to the CNBC "News Flash" banner written: "We wonder how many homes this will add to the McCain/Palin ticket?"  I am astonished that the NBC news producers would allow this banner to be under Sarah Palin as she accepts her nomination as the VP running mate on the Republican ticket.  Do we need to remind NBC that this was and is an historic event for the Republicans?  Would you all have done this if it was the Democratic pick?  I'll answer that for you, "NO!!"  As a registered independent female, you have infuriated me beyond words.  You, along with the knee-jerk response of the Obama/Democratic camp to McCain's pick of Palin has confirmed my decision to campaign and vote this November for the McCain/Palin ticket.  How dare you take this event away from Sarah and all the other women in the U.S.!

the gop is toast.... palin? what were they thinking? women know this is pandering - they are smarter than that. it literally sends a shiver down my spine to think she could be in the oval office if something happens to mccain - the new pres will inherit a huge mess - how will she cope? she knows NOTHING of national politics and international relations!

Excerpts taken from: http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/29/news/newsmakers/palin_oil.fortune/index.htm

Palin also raised taxes on oil companies...paid every resident $1,200 to help ease their fuel-price burden.

To be sure, it would be an overstatement to brand Palin as an enemy of Big Oil. Her husband works as a production supervisor for BP. [she supports]... drilling in the Alaska Natural Wildlife Reserve, as well as exploiting Alaska's natural gas resources, ...."Personally, I have respect for the industry," she said in an interview with Fortune last year, "for the contributions it's made to our state ... and great respect for what their CEOs are doing. We know their mission, to take as much as possible and leave as little behind."

But it does take a special person to go from small-town mayor ...to standing up to the world's biggest corporations. Despite a stint as chairman of the state's Oil and Gas Commission, she'd never done business on a remotely similar stage. ...Being reasonable commercial operations, I expected the Big Three will act responsibly."

...She saw part of her responsibility as delivering her state's natural gas to those hungry markets. "We're still too reliant on the federal government," ...

...[For a trans-Alaskan pipleline] President Bush did send an envoy to Alaska to help get the project going, but Palin still felt the approval process was unwieldy. "So many federal agencies and permitting processes," she told Fortune. "It's mind-boggling."

...She faced bitter opposition from the more conservative members of Alaska's legislature over the tax increases. ...oil companies still own the gas under their lease of the North Slope. And now that TransCanada has bid for the pipeline, Alaska is committed to covering up to $500 million of its costs regardless of whether the pipe gets built.

...She loved ESPN so much, she named her daughter "Bristol," after the town in Connecticut where the cable network is headquartered. ...we know she loves a good power play

Why would you even begin your blog with a statement that could so easily make you look...well...wrong?  40 million viewers--an historic number.  Again, what does that sentence do for you?  Is this some way that you were trying to say, "well, it was a big event in the stadium, but hey, maybe they wasted their time because the viewers at home weren't watching"?

When I step back from my ideologic viewpoints and look objectively at both presidential candidates to consider their choice of a truly qualified VP running mate, I try to think ONLY of who would serve the BEST INTERESTS of our nation.  If something tragic were to happen to the elected president, I believe that the BEST INTERESTS of our nation would better served by Biden.  Not even considering gender, I cannot see how only 20 months in an executive office (having managed NO catastrophic event), a BA in Communication, being a former basketball player, and parenting 5 children qualifies anyone to serve as a potential president. Palin seriously lacks experience in federal government activities and international affairs.

Boy, you TV media guys- and we do mean “Guys”- just don’t get it. You continue to make statements for us and about us “Hillary Supporters & Hillary Women” which are just flat out wrong!  We are so excited about McCain’s choice that we are calling friends and lining up to vote for a split ticket in November. We will choose a McCain-Palin President/Vice President ticket and then make our own choices for a local and state Democratic ticket.  Not only are you wrong about Hillary supporters refusing to vote for a pro-life candidate or a member of the NRA - you have been wrong all along. This is why the polls showed the media and Washington was out of touch by not recognizing Senator Clinton’s appeal to 18 M + voters.  We’re sick of being called uneducated, lower income, non-professional, blue collar voters… or as an angry Senator Kerry called us this morning “Stupid Women”. Our entire network of Democratic friends have professional jobs; the minimum of a BA/BS degree, and many of us have our Masters Degree or several professional licenses. We make over $150-200k+ a year, drink wine and eat cheese, and run successful small businesses that hire Americans. We’ve never voted Republican before, but we will in 2008.  We are too old to worry about abortion. We will let the Obama girls fight for their own.  Neither side will approve gay marriage and Creationism should be taught as an “alternative”.  We bought handguns this past year as crime has increased, and we are willing to take the time to convince people like McCain and Palin, that we can have a universal healthcare program that takes advantage of being a capitalistic nation.  Obama speaks out of both sides of his mouth. We are completely disgusted with the DNP’s politics and many Democrats condescending comments about anyone who disagrees with them. We all know and understand that the Democrats can not deliver on Obama’s promises and that four years under Obama will be as unproductive as the past 2 years under the Democratic congress. Congress has a lower approval record than George Bush’s!  Unless we listen to everyday women like Sara Palin and learn to work together to reform America, nothing will change.  Unity was the last thing Obama brought to the table - in fact he never did bring it to the table!  Thank God Senator McCain was willing to make a change that does resemble America’s future. Sarah Palin is a lot closer to my neighbors than Joe Biden or Barrack Obama and she reminds me of a very strong woman president portrayed in “Commander in Chief “who governed by her intellect, her integrity and her common sense… rather than others political spin.
Oh, in case you want to be sure we are some of those Hillary women, just let us know. We’re ready to send you a video!

I think Sen. McCain's VP choice has made a huge statement concerning his opinion of women.  He obviously thinks we are stupid. God gave me a brain and I certainly will not vote for him simply because he put a woman on the ticket. I also think it speaks volumes about his ability to use good sound judgment.  He picks a woman who has less than two years as Governor of a state which has a population smaller than that of Indianapolis, Indiana.  He says she has the experience to be commander in chief because she is the commander and chief of the Alaska National Guard?  What kind of foreign policy experience does she process?  Wow, she balanced the budget of Alaska.  That does not mean she has what it takes to have a grasp on the finances and economics of the United States.  The McCain campaign says to remember we are voting for the top of the ticket not the VP.  Well, when I vote I certainly would feel much better knowing that if the President died the VP could take over without skipping a beat.  I am sure she is a nice person, but as a voter I do not feel she is qualified to be President and when you vote for the top you better be sure the #2 person on the ticket is ready to step up from reserve to varsity. Another thing I heard is that she is a big supporter for home schooling.  What in the world will that do for public education?  We already have challenges in regard to education we don’t need another. Perhaps the Gov. from Alaska should hit the books.  She needs a crash course in economics, national security, foreign policy, & constitutional law just to name a few.   It looks like Sen. McCain is pandering not only to women, but also to the Evangelical Christians.  It appears that once again James Dobson and Rush Limbaugh are calling the shots.  I think Sen. McCain is too old, too bound to his past, and judging form his choice of VP lacks the judgment it takes to lead our great nation.

Brian,
I absolutely cannot believe you allowed McCain to negatively compare Palin's experience with Obama's qualifications on Sunday nights news.Talk about integrity. When he complained that somehow Obama shortchanged the American people by refusing to meet in town hall meetings. Did you even consider mentioning that Obama has indicated that he would agree to five town hall debates rather than ten? I think you owe it to your viewers not to just sit there.

Dear Mr. Williams,  
What are you doing still working at MSNBC?  Journalism is a word you know, but it is clearly missing from their vocabulary.  Did you see the "banner - breaking news" listed when Senator McCain announced his running mate?  How stupid to list "breaking news" as "how many houses..."
I have watched my last MSNBC.  Get out, and get to a real news agency that delivers REAL NEWS.  

I watched your interview of Senator McCain Sunday night.  Why didn't you ask him about Palin's foreign policy positions?  Did she express any before being designated as his running mate?  I've looked online and couldn't find much more than a throw away comment about her hoping they had a plan in Iraq.  What foreign policy credentials made her so appealing to him?

I am seriously concerned about Sarah Palin as the GOP vice-president nominee.  Her foreign policy experience is extremely limited.  The job of the vice-president is to be ready and able to take over the presidency should something happen to the president. It is my earnest plea that the news media thoroughly scrutinize her and ask her the hard questions.  The news media let us down in the build up to the invasion of Iraq.  I hope they don't do so again.

Senator Barack has a good plan, as a Senator. But his ideas are not those of a President. As a Senator, he can raise or cut taxes. As a President, he has no power to do either.

As a Senator, he can introduce legislation to kill babies. As President, he has no power to do that.

As a Senator, he can move tax money to slum areas to keep them slums. This is done by paying people to do nothing. As a President, he cannot move money like that.

In this Democrat election, it would be better if Joseph Biden was running for President, and Barack was his running mate.

Senator McCain is not a Presidential character. He is much more of a retiring Senator. He should retire when his seat comes up for reelection.

At this stage of the political game, we are stuck with those candidates that have been put in front of us by uneducated voters. But the same uneducated voters will elect one team in November. The educated voters are already decided. The uneducated voters will only be decided when the media makes up their minds for them.

Hi Brian, in todays world of "Latinos for Obama" and "African Americans for Obama" dont you guys think you all are missing something..that something is very powerful and controversial at the same time. its called "Muslims for Obama". this will and should create new discussions that this nation needs and deserves. There are over 10 million muslims here and millions are registered voters and they are ignored in every election. Politicians and people of America have to understand that its not fair to see all muslims in negative light all the time and that every one has to come out of shadows to acknowledge that muslim vote can turn the election. Pl do shed some light on this issue that has been ignored for so many election cycles.

I thought the media was to report the news and not make it. It is clear to me and others who I have spoken to that the Media is doing its best to see that Obama is elected. I have neve see anything like this, where the media have given the election to one person as they have. Shame, there is no way the media is staying out of it. you have made your choice, no let americans make theirs...

9/1/08
Brian Williams,
On MSNBC tonight, you referred to "cement".  The word "cement" and the word "concrete" are sometimes used interchangeably and they should not be.  Cement is a dry powder that you can buy in bags or in bulk.  Concrete is a product that comes from mixing "cement"
sand, stone and water.

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