Dear Lester,

Since everyone else has weighed in on the McCain/Palin interview, I guess I might as well put in my two cents.  I found it to be a total snoozefest - not because of anything Brian Williams did or didn't do, but because Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin are two of the most defensive, ill at ease, uncharismatic, boring, inarticulate manglers of the English language in the political arena today.  We've already had to withstand nearly eight years of a similar personality:  his name is George W. Bush!  Please, no more!  I don't think I could take it!

I look forward to Richard's continued reporting from Afghanistan.  I'll say again, in this forum, as I already did on World Blog, that the zip code for the Korengal Outpost is incorrect, as listed on the Nightly News and Today websites.  I believe the correct zip code is 09354.  I really would appreciate confirmation on this, because I am very eager to send out a care package.  I work full-time, and am a primary caregiver to my mother, who suffers both mental and physical deficits as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Needless to say, I don't have much of a life!  It would give me great purpose, and help snap me out of my myopia, to be able to bring some small comfort to those who serve our country under such perilous, primitive conditions. I NEED A CORRECT ZIP CODE!  Thanks.  (And so does the nice lady from Montgomery County, MD, who wants to send cookies!)

Thanks to Jim Maceda for his recollection on World Blog of the bombing of our Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, 1983.  I was only 12 years old then, but I vividly remember the news footage.  Those images are still so haunting, even 25 years later.

To Jackie:  I highly recommend Dexter Filkins's new book, "The Forever War."  I bought it on audio CD, because I know that if I buy the book, it will just sit in the stack with the 50 million other books I've been intending to read!  At least now I can listen to it as I drive to and from work.  You would be absolutely appalled at the part where Mr. Filkins describes Paul Bremer's visit to an Iraqi maternity hospital.  It disgusted me to the point of wanting to vomit.  

Lots of love to the regular posters:  Lisa (Enjoy Arizona!), Jackie, Stephanie, Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  XOXO

Is there any limit about how much news NBC will ignore to provide puff pieces from the McCain campaign that mention nothing but his talking points?

I read today that McCain's latest rally drew less than 1,000 people. Other media outlets, even MSNBC, have reports from McCain staffers who are going off the record to blame each other.

None of that made the Nightly News tonight. I saw McCain talking points, an assessment of the race that was more optomistic for McCain than any other anywhere, and corny pictures of Sarah Palin with her kid.

NBC is doing fantastic reports from Afghanistan, so I know your network could do better than they have with McCain.

@lnp: Why would you like Obama? He is the most polarizing politician in decades. Even George W. Bush is a small light in comparison of media attention that has been brought for Obama. Obama might be charismatic, articulate and all that rhetoric stuff but he has no heart in his policies. He is dependable like clockwork in what he says. Because he is a demagogue on populist and no more.

John McCain might have connections to lobbyists, but he is able to blend that out and have a policy that is heart-warming and has a heart, soul and spine unlike Obama's. Because the lobbyists were required over the years to have successful policy changes in your country. McCain is also the more accomplished personality of both candidates.

McCain and Palin never instrumentalized their relatives during the campaign phase. Now Obama even has exploited his grandmother's ailing health for getting more votes out of older people and retirees who often live in states like Hawaii and Florida. He exploited also his kids at the DNC in Denver, his wife the entire on the campaign trail. He exploits everyone in order to get a vote, he also my German people for looking like a politician with foreign credentials, he exploits everyone like Jeremiah Wright, Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther King, and everything that made America great. He is the greatest exploiter - in the most vicious meaning - that has lived on this planet in order to gain momentum.

And for someone like that, the USA will - God forbid - vote on November 4, 2008.

I guess, Obama will become the biggest disappointment in modern history and the Americans will wish Bush back, because Bush had class and a spine unlike Obama. Even the Bush years will look like a bright future in comparison what lies ahead if - God forbid - Obama gets elected. Because you will get socialism, communism, and protectionism in one compact package - a recipe for the destruction of the American dream, that millions of your fellow countrymen have lived over the last 234 years. He will lay your country in ashes with the combination of a democratic-led House of Representative and Senate. The combination of Nancy Pelosi (San Francisco liberal), Harry Reid and Barack Hussein Obama (phony Chicago politics) is lethal for the American soul.

With Best Regards and Happy Voting - hopefully with conscience of keeping America alive

I have no idea if what I am to write pertains to the blog or not, but write I must.  I used to love love love NBC and especially Brian Williams.  As of today, I have not watched NBC nor ABC or CBS for that matter, and that is due to the one-sided coverage of this presidential campaign.  Whether one is a Demorat or Republican makes no difference.  It to me is atrocious how the main stream media can spend many minutes on Sarah Palin's wardrobe and nothing on the fact Joe Biden said the Obama regime will be tested within six months of his presidency.  It is a scary thought and nothing is made of it.  If Sarah Palin had made the mistakes that Biden has made - for example watching TV when it had not even been invented, and that is a little tiny mistake, the would be first-page news.  

Your station is so unfair I can hardly believe it.  It should be called NBC Obama and talk about not getting it - You guys don't get it at all.  It is totally unfair and biased reporting.

For that reason, I hope your candidate loses.  Oh and now I am watching Obama dance.  And sure he can dance better, he has not had every bone in his body broken.  

This is the first time I have ever lived in a "battleground" state (and who would've thunk----North Carolina?????), so the political goings on are pretty exciting.  Over 1,000,000 have voted early in our state, with another week of early voting to go. A peaceful and safe weekend to all!

Goo Evening Mr.Holt, I am posting from Phoenix, Arizona this evening because I am visiting the State. ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE RICHARD ON THE BROADCAST!!  I watched Richard's report and I viewed the video Richard had on his posting on World Blog. Always an incredible job by Richard! Great Report as Always Richard!! He is just awesome!! I posted on his posting too and I will state again what and fine job Richard and his crew did while at the Korengal Outpost. I would like to knwo how to send things to the troops there too! Those soldiers are so very brave and dedicated to our country. God Bless them!!

On another note it is so very sad to learn of the deaths of Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother. So very tragic.

Thank you for the posting Mr.Holt! ALWAYS STAY EXTRA SAFE RICHARD!!
Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Stay Safe and Well Richard!
XOXO

Be grateful for not living in a battleground state.  

Robo-calls.  Calls from local pols for Obama.  Calls from local pols against Obama.  Calls from local pols for McCain.  Calls from local pols against McCain.  National ads for Obama.  National ads for McCain.  More phone calls for and against.  National ads against Obama. More phone calls against and for.  National ads against McCain.  Ads from the local party headquarters saying Obama is coming to town.  Phone calls from the local party HQ asking you to attend the Obama rally.  Ads from local party headquarters saying Palin is coming to town.  Calls from local HQ asking you to attend the Palin rally.  

Day 2.  TV ads for McCain.  TV ads against McCain.  TV ads for Obama.  TV ads against Obama.  Open mail, pull out 20+ ads for Obama, sort out 20 ads for McCain, sort out 10 ads against Obama, sort out 10 ads against McCain.  Robo-call from Tom Ridge.  Radio ads for and against Obama, play song, radio ad for and against McCain.  More TV ads.  Wait...it's an ad for a car.  Local TV news promo teasing us with the latest in campaign news coming up at 11.  Late night TV comedians opens with political news from the campaigns.

This has been going on for months.

I will be so happy when the elections are over and Sen. Obama is finally Pres. Obama!

Everyday brings more and more outrageousness from McCain...now the professional POW is somehow finding fault that Sen Obama hasn't had the misfortune of having to go to war? (as infered by Cindy)

And as for Palin....I will be very surprised...or maybe I won't be...if she is re-elected Gov....she and Stevens are cut from the same cloth!

I want to be first in line for her clothes "donation" to charity.

http://fotki.yandex.ru/tags/%D1%8F%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%BA%D0%B8/users/gardzey/view/124290?how=week&page=0
i had a dream this night of re(g)ning wisper

Good Evening Mr.Holt, Greetings from Phoenix Arizona! I am posting from this State because I am visiting and seeing the area. I have never been to Arizona before and it is definitely a different landscape. I have enjoyed it so far and will be here all next week. Now on to the broadcast! ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO SEE RICHARD ON THE BROADCAST! Richard's reports are always incredible. His report from Korengal with the troops from Viper Company really show how the enemy is constantly in the hills firing at them, yet because of so many trees and other obstructions they remain hidden. Such a very dangerous area being the safe haven for the Taliban and al-Qaeda. My heart went out to the commander named Howell who is only 29years old,married with two little girls at home sending letters back home. The terribly tough terrain having to be climbed everyday and always getting fired upon is so horrendous to deal with all the time. Seeing Richard running zig-zag down that open part of the mountain slope made me nervous. I wanted to just keep saying STAY SAFE RICHARD!! All the mortar firing too is just awful. I hope someday the troops can all come home. God Bless all our brave soldiers. And PLEASE KEEP SAFE RICHARD!! EXCELLENT REPORTING AS ALWAYS!! Richard had a World Blog posting on this same report and I will say again as I said on his World Blog posting that it was excellent reporting by Richard and his crew. I will say I would like to send a carepackage to the soldiers in that area. So I hope the correct information about the address is printed.

On another note I cannot wait until election day will be over. And we finally have a winner. Certainly much campaigning being done in the homestretch.
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt! I was able to watch your broadcast at the time here in Phoenix. STAY EXTRA SAFE RICHARD!! 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 reporting as always!
XOXO

I think Brian Williams did the best with what he had to deal with. Ms. Palin is a total disaster. You can not blame this on anyone but John McCain. If he can't beat that in picking a running mate, how can he be president of the good ole USA? I don't think he can. I hope Obama takes it to him and I really think he will. I don't think anyone with good reasoning will put the republicans back in office. I sure wish Tim Russert was still with us. He was magnificant.

What is this about the Obama campaign denying any more access to an Orlando TV station because one of their reporters (who happens to have been the assistant of the late Peter Jennings) asked questions that every member of the press should be asking?

Biden and Obama are so used to not having to answer hard questions that they are shocked and angered when they get one.

Lester, you're a reasonable person as well as a good journalist. Surely you see that the media has not done their job when it comes to covering Obama and Biden in depth.

One of the historical hallmarks of this election is that it's when the American people were shown the blatant bias of journalists who are dishonoring themselves and the profession of journalism, preferring to use it to advance their own agendas rather than for issuing impartial information.
It's evident that journalists have come to think that the fringe benefits of their jobs include a platform from which to push their own politics.

Lester, you appear to be so well grounded that you don't need to join in the bias in order to feel accepted by your peers. You should be proud of yourself and ashamed of your colleagues.

I'm sure this wont appear, you are not interested in any views other that Obama, and he needs to be investigated on several fronts!I believe he is taking us toward a dictatorship!Now I guess you will have the government investigate me!Seems you can't cross Obama, and you are holding up for him!!Wake up America!!A fed up democrat.McCain for me.

I bet if someone was attacting McCain it would appear on your site!!Why don't you investigate obama??
How can a fed. funded ACORN go all out for a democrat?
Something wrong!!!

voting in this years pres election? you should watch this youtube video. it already has over 3million hits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA6_k3NtXZs&feature=related

you have to be kidding this guy talked about obama not being a natural born citizen mccain was born in panama as in the country of panama. as far as i knw thats not the usa

Are we getting to be Dumb and stupid?
All the presidential debates and coverages are no substance. Two guys went up and express their idea, no one go into the contents who is lying.
NBC, you need to do your job.
American fellows:
What kind of changes are we looking for??
Obama, what are we expecting from him.
Look into his track record, whom he affliate with and ask youself, what kind of change he is bringing. Are you looking for that.

Tonight we watched NBC Nightly News hoping to have some even reporting about Obama.  Last week three nights were reserved for reporting on McCain's campaign.  It was promised that Obama would have equal time.  Yet nothing tonight.  Perhaps tomorrow?

I believe NBC has gone totally Republican in the last days of this election. All I see is McCain/Palin on Nightly News interviews not with just any reporter, but with Brain Williams. I see the same thing on CNBC today 10/28 and also on MSNBC. Gee, what happen to equal time? I am tired of hearing the same thing over and over again from McCain/Palin. NBC has allowed McCain/Palin air time that has gone completely unanswered by any side.  I find this disappointing and having to turn off my TV.

Can we PLEASE get back to hardcore journalism in the media and get to the bottom of the issues that have caused this great country to flounder in a way that should never have happen.

I’ll be watching!

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