Brian -

Just a brief comment - will Luke be there with his Dad's white board?

Joan

Dear Brian,

To add to your song list from yesterday, how about "Put the Message in the Box," by World Party?  It's not a countdown song, but it has a good message.

On a completely different subject, thank you for carrying a little more Middle East coverage on the broadcast this past week or so.  I complain about the lack of coverage a lot, so I really appreciate it.

Yesterday on The View, Richard Dreyfuss made an appearance in support of his new film, "W."  If you can bear with the talk about that, he later gives an interesting discussion on the importance of civics studies in the American public school system:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTVGNisjU24

To Jackie:  Bill Clinton will be appearing with Barrack Obama at a rally in Florida tonight.  C-SPAN will be carrying it live.  I've seen 10:30 p.m. as the start time, and 11:00 p.m. as the start time, so check in and see.  I'll be watching.

To Anna:  Your man David Gregory was on The Tonight Show last night.  I missed it, but I'm sure you can see a clip online.

Good night, and lots of love to the regular posters:  Lisa in Arizona, Jackie, Stephanie, Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  XOXO  

thinking of Tim Russert fondly as this election winds down and loving to hear the commentary that he is giving from the heavens on this election...

Brian calm down it will be ok. Now I have a question you might answer Where is Sarah Palin's medical records? I told you she wouldn't release them for fear of the truth coming out.

Now the the Ghost news:  ABC made a mistake by not taking Obama's Ad and when they changed their mind it was to late. McCain could have done a 6 minute Ad with that 150,000 dollars spent on the Palin shopping spree.

All this talk about Obama's connection to Professer Rashid Khalidi while Obama was a board member at Woods Non Profit Fund from 1999-2002. McCain forget he was raising money for Rashid Khalidi from 1990-1998. McCain gave close to a million dollars to help.
This is getting so silly McCain's people didn't read his history.

McCain's campaign is now using the blame game on the hoax done by Ashely Todd.  Even Joe the Plummer is on the campaig for McCain/Palin as he gives Foreign Policy advice. The nuts are coming out of the wood work.  I wish these candidate would just deal with the problems and issues Americans wont to hear about.

I did see a great Ad today. McCain in his own words explained he knew nothing about Economics and would rely on the advice of the VP he would pick to handle that matter. Looks like we're hosed as Sarah Palin is now being investigated for spending Alaska taxpayers money for her Family to travel.

Everyone is tossing Uncle Ted Stevens under the bus. Over 40 years of loyal friends in the Republican Party now toss that 40 years out the window.
Mrs. Dole calls her opponent Godless, while Mrs. Hagan is an Elder of her church and even a long time Sunday School Teacher. Time to find another lie this one isn't working well.

Looks like we'll have to wait for cooperation from the Taliban. George W. Bush invited the Taliban as his guest to the United States. Now their the enemy. Dick Cheney recuited Osama Bin Laden now he's the enemy. Rummy was all smiles with his close friendship with Saddam, see where that went. There's a lesson somewhere in there.

Brian I have decided I want to visit Iran and speak to the real leader the Supreme Leader.  I believe like John Kennedy, you meet the person you don't understand or disagree with to resolve the problems. Now it strange because that's exactly what parents do with the kids in the play ground and in the end they all get along just fine. I remember a teacher bringing in two high school kids who were about to have a fight, funny how each had a point but in the end it was solved. Parents are so smart when it comes to teaching children how to get along but it seems it's lost as we become adults. Just my thoughts.

See you at 6:30

Barack Obama has already spent $750 million on ads. Only Verizon has spent more ($900 million). Now he's taking half hour ad slots out on all the networks tonight.

If Obama is trying to impress, I think of that Shania Twain song "That Don't Impress Me Much."

Obama is all about Obama. Another reason to vote McCain.

I will not be watching Obama's prime time program.  

I just can't believe it.  Next Wednesday we'll have a president-elect.  Can it be?  Do I dare to hope that the longest election cycle in history will be over???

What is the matter with Florida?  Why is it that everything politics ends up being worse there?  I was thinking our U.S. senate race was getting vicious and personal; I'm surprised it wasn't in your story!  

Just this weekend I was reading my mother's AARP magazine with you on the cover, Brian, and enjoyed seeing a photo of you with the family on the inside. (You actually saw them long enough this summer to be photographed together? ;) However, I think you spoke with just as much pride and fervor with Lucy's picture over your shoulder, not that I blame you.  She is a gorgeous pup!  

Catch up with the Obama campaign? Surely you jest.  With so much pro-obama news daily on your network, I figured NBC got the minute by minute, play by play from the man himself on a daily basis.  I never thought that the main networks could be bribed into supporting a politician. Clearly I was wrong- the 30 minute- paid for by lies and a broken promise infomercial airs tonight and I won't be watching, along with the rest of your primetime lineup.

Good Evening Mr.Williams, I am so fortunate to see the broadcasted reports on video even before the broadcast here in Arizona. A fine job on the reporting this evening. First of all I am happy the election night studio looks great and you have some really busy days coming up. I know it will be difficult, but try to get some rest in between the time of all the reporting on the election.
On the subject of airlines it now seems Delta has bought Northwest and become even bigger. Nice to know this huge airline is based out of Atlanta. Makes Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport that much busier.
On another note the campaigns of Senator Obama and Senator McCain are certainly heated in the final stretch of this election. In will be interesting to see Senator Obama's 30 minute advertisment covering 7 networks. The reports by Kelly O'Donnell and Lee Cowan showed how the candidates are hitting those "swing" States hard with many rallies. Time will tell on November 4th.
On another election note the report by Rehema Ellis really showed how many people have voted early and that is certainly a huge number in the 32 States where it has been held. Hopefully, all the confusion of the rumors and myths will be cleared up. It is such an important election I hope things go as they should. Again, time will tell next Tuesday.
So much is at stake in this election and whoever gets elected will really hae alot to work on and fix.
I wish that person the best!
Thank you for the fine reporting on the broadcast. See you in Florida tomorrow. Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra Safe and Well Richard! Hope to see you on Nightly News soon!
XOXO

Laurel:  Thanks for the heads up on my TV BF David Gregory.  I love late night television but with a career I can't do it every night.  

Stephanie:  Glad you are better!  Stay warm.

Jackie:  My Mom wrote in Hillary on her early voting ballot!    Did you do the same?!

Celine:  Always a voice of reason!  It's not over until the fat lady sings and the people vote!   Like your valid point on Andrea's book.

Brian:  De-ice in Florida for the day!   It's too cold in NYC!

My question  is  why  doesn't  the  truth  prevail
on  this  network about  the  candidates?  Does Senator
Obama  have  something in  his  transcripts that could
put  him  in  a different  light? They  are  sealed
until  after  the  election.  Why?

Hi Brian,

Obama is a hoax.

He has bought 30 minutes on NBC and the "Democratic fanfest informercial" is only 27:11 minutes long (on YouTube on the Obama channel). So Obama overcharges you 2:49 minutes. That is roughly 300,000 per channel. So when he buys the informercial on 7 channels that is an overcharge of 2,100,000 Dollars. That is a total waste of money. The same kind of waste, that the - God forbid - Presidency of Obama will include.

He wastes 2,100,000 on not used ad time. That money came from the American citizens. You can portray that on "Fleecing in America" - "Obama Edition".

Also it is a total waste of 21,000,000 Dollars. Why not say that all people who are interested in the policies of terrorist-hugger Obama can watch the whole show on the YouTube channel. Obama wasted 21,000,000 Dollars of donations on a 30 minute informercial.

Saving money obviously isn't in Obama's interest. That will be - God forbid - his policy in the White House. Throwing money around like there is no tomorrow.

Foreigners doing jobs Americans won't do.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/article5042571.ece

This has NOTHING to do with what you wrote.  I just had to tell you that Lucy is a beauty.  I love that you shared her picture with us.  Thank you for that and for all your wonderful work.  *Please give Lucy a butt scratch from me.*

Thank you that you got Mahoney on tonight---16days too late.  Now how long will it take to tell us that Rahm Emanuel was trying to keep it quiet.

I have only one comment after listening to Sen. Obama's (speech, commercial or whatever). The only line that was really striking to me was the last line, which in part said, "We will change the world".
I didn't realize we were going to be voting for the President of the world. Oh well, looks like the old standard write in vote will come into play this year, let's here it for Mickey Mouse !!!!

Yes Brian the Philly's won. My son's birthday is today and he's a Philly fan so he got a great gift.

I saw the video of Senator Obama already it's on youtube. I was impressed at how he did this ad. I learned the Ad was supposed to be 15 minutes for Obama and 15 minutes for McCain. To bad McCain spent all his money.

I listen to Sarah's speechs and slowly she moved away from talking about McCain to talking about herself. Once she refered to herself as President and I guess it was a mistake but a sign in front of her on the stage read Palin and McCain. She knows she wont have a job if she goes back to Alaska since her meal ticket Uncle Ted Stevens is a convicted felon. Sarah is looking out for Sarah and will use this situation of VP for all it's worth. Yes she's not the brightest person but she is a well trained Republican who knows how to back stab to move up.

Brian no word yet on the Summit Bush spoke about. As we have attacked Syria and killed innocent citizens the US Ambassador is asked to leave. Even Pakistan is ordering the US to stop bombing their country.

The deal the Govenment is making to save 3 million homeowners will be interesting. As their are millions who need help how will the chosen few be picked and will the others be left out. Now how does a Govenment demand tax dollars but only use the mooney for those they choose to help but still ask the other for taxes knowing their losing their homes. Explain that to me like I'm a 5 year old. We're seen Banks refuse to give the loans after getting the taxpayer bailout, AIG has a party with taxpayers money then ask for more, Waxman is now investigating the fact that all those chosen Companies that Hank Paulson gave money to are giving out bonuses with the lowest bonus being 110,000 dollars per person. The DOJ is going to Hawaii for a class at the taxpayers expense while they could have gone here in DC. I thought the Law Makers were bad until I learned that the DOJ task force for crime prevention got paid for a business meal but the meal was already paid in advance. No wonder Obama said we have to have checks and balances as all the Govenment agencies have been on a spending spree for 8 years.

Laurel: Thanks for the information about Brother Bill and Senator Obama. Yes I will be watching. I miss being back East but this time I get to see Bill/Barack at 9 pm when it's 12pm back on the East Coast.

Best to my friends Lisa, Laurel, Stephanie, Claudia, Celine, Anna and Matt

Dear brian,

I have appreciated all of the coverage and commentary on the upcoming elections and know that you and the team are doing an outstanding job.

A favor, if you can, I know Richard did an excellent segment on afhganistan, but we are losing more and more soldiers there every day; I think we are over 20 for the month and now there is talk of up'ing the expected increase of 10,000 to 20,000.  Please, please, make sure America is aware of the continuing need to support the trrops, regardless of personal views of the war.  My son served 15 months in Iraq and is scheduled to deploy again in february.  these soldiers need the support of the media and the American public - not support in terms of propaganda, but support in the terms of truth in reporting about how bad it is over there; what the living conditions are like.  Most Americans have no idea of the living conditions and expectations of our soldiers.  Please keep their stories in the forefront, even tho elections and negative advertising seems to be the top stories.

I’m writing because the Republican smear campaign against Barack Obama has gone too far.  Their tactics of guilt by association are straight out of McCarthyism, and their fear- and hate-mongering against Muslims has reached the level of the propaganda used to justify the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.

First the Republicans wanted us to believe that knowing a “terrorist” from the 1960’s made Obama dangerous and possibly a terrorist.  Now they’re trying to convince us that since Obama has a friend who’s Palestinian, he’s not only dangerous but anti-Semitic as well.  Well, folks, I had  a Palestinian friend when I was in graduate school from 1982 – 1985, and since I’m a Jew who lost nearly everyone in her family in the Holocaust, what does that make me?  (A human being, I hope.)

Then there’s the frenzy the Republicans are trying to build against all Muslims.  As Colin Powell said, what makes America great is that we have a Constitution that protects and encourages people of all races, creeds, and religions.  But Sarah Palin ( Barack HUSSEIN Obama) and her partners in hate have decided that the Constitution no longer applies to Muslims.

Finally, I want to make it crystal clear that I am NOT an Obama supporter.  In fact, on Tuesday I’m going to vote for Ralph Nader because he’s the only one who gets Pakistan.  But the Republican tactics are making me ashamed to be an American, so I decided it was time to speak up.

I watch NBC New nighly and haven't seen anything on the Khalidi Obama tape being supressed by the LA Time. I did notice an article "McCain criticizes LA Times for not releasing Obama tape" by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tucson, Arizona Published: 10.30.2008. I believe many would find this news worthy.

Brian -

The old saw says that people don't begin to think about an election until the World Series is over.  OK, that starts today - the preview was last night at midnight with Barack Obama and Bill Clinton mesmerizing a crowd in Kissimmee, Florida.

I'm not a meet and greet politician, I just  want people to be interested enough in their world to learn about issues and candidates and make a  personal choice.  But most of all, I want them to Vote.  The numbers of voters who have turned out in elections in the United States in recent years - yes, even the Presidential elections - are shameful.  The rest of the free world boasts much more impressive turnout numbers for their elections - you could look it up.

So, please vote - we all have our personal preferences - but it doesn't mean a thing if you don't cast a ballot.  What it means is that your opinion, choice, and/or candidate doesn't count. Also - vote the whole ticket - all those other selections are about your state, your town and your neighbors.  They may affect you even more than the top of the ticket.

As for baseball, "Congratulations" to the Philly fans and for the rest of us - it's wait until next year.

Joan

Why on earth is the media letting itself be manipulated by the McCain/Palin campaign? You gotta love the republicans because they know how to effectively bully YOU the media. The constant Sarah Palin's complaining of media bias has allowed her to go unchallanged on virtually everything she's been saying on the campaign trail lately. Why is it that no journalist who's interviewed her lately questioned her relationship/association with the Alaska Independent Party? Why is it that the media buys into this inaccurate notion that she's a "reformer" when her governing style is identical to the Bush/Cheney's. As a matter of fact, she was recently found to have violated public trust and abused her power as a governor in Alaska. This is not the kind of reform the American people is waiting for, this is the status quo. We've seen this during the last eight years. President Bush violated public trust when he misled the American people that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Vice-President Cheney abused his power when he ordered his aide to reveal the real identity of a CIA undercover agent in retaliation of the undercover's husband's public rejection of the White House famous allegation that Saddam Hussein was actively seeking to acquire Iranium from the African nation of Niger. Sadly, even Obama himself has never been able to shed light on the discrepency between Sarah's words and deeds. In fact, he missed an opportunity in the 3rd debate to attack Sarah "the sympathizer of Alaskan Secessionists" Palin on his governing record. It's a shame, media, WAKE UP!

Palin said she would produce her medical records, but still has not. But, what about Obama's birth certificate? I have not heard that he has proven his U.S. citizenship. Is that not a bit more important right now than if Palin was seen for her annual?

"The Constitution–the same one that Barack Obama says is fundamentally flawed; the same one whose First and Second Amendments apparently irritate him–says in Article II, Section I: “No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States.” (http://theamericansentinel.com/2008/10/29/is-obama-intentionally-precipitating-a-constitutional-crisis/)

Currently I have not decided, but think I may go GREEN. Writing of which, why is it that, although recognized on the presidential section of the voting ballot, we haven't heard much about any other political party, not even Ralph Nadar?! Is it because they don't have as much money to capture a spot on any of the major networks or possibly that there's already enough controversey between the donkeys and elephants?

Curious.

Hi Brian,
I sent my sister your election week music playlist. She send me some YouTube links, saying "I’m getting my music ready for Tuesday”.
Mavis Staples: "Eyes on the Prize"
Patti Smith: "People have the Power"
Leonard Cohen: "Democracy"
And I'm including one from me, Bruce Springsteen of course: "This land is your land"

I'm going to campaign headquarters tomorrow to do some phone calling. I thank you for the coverage of the campaigns your team has been providing. That along with the Huffington post, the dailykos.com, and fivethirtyeight.com has been keeping me informed.
Onward and upward to election day!
Lesley Jacobs

Brian,
I enjoy your newscasts, your dry humor and many other attributes, but I am quite tired of the unabashed promotion of Obama. Give me a break, please.

Hi Brian, can't wait to watch your interview with Obama tomorrow. Would you please ask him if he's willing to publicly bring up Governor Sarah Palin's relationship with the Alaska Independent Party? If he can't, then can he explain to your viewers why he can't. This reason i'm bringing this up is because i deeply beleive in the United States being ONE single indivisible nation made up of 50 states. It's now a fact that Governor Palin's husband todd was a member of the Alaskan Secessionist Party until 2002, and therefore Sarah Palin has been palling around with secessionists who hate America. Would Barack Obama stop doing this nation a disservice and publicly ask his opponents to clarify this issue? Many thanks Brian.

For the Michelle Obama fans there is a new book out by S & S.   I have linked a sneak preview.   I may read it when it hits the church book sale in a few months.

http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?tab=1&pid=633445&agid=2

Happy Reading!  

Brian,
I know you could put it better than I can, but we miss Tim so much.  My wife says Tim was the person who got her interested in politics - now she's a junkie.  This election in particular, Tim would be in his glory.  What fun he must be having in heaven.  If only we could see him jumping up and down in his chair as he explains the meanings behind the polls, and interviews the candidates.  Thanks for the memories.

Brian, It is obvious that it is payback time.  Obama buys 30 minutes of advertising.   NBC News runs 7 or 8 minutes of an exclusive interview with Obama.  If we did not get enough we get 7 or 8 minutes more tomorrow night.   NBC News does not give a hoot for equal time for competing candidates.
Dave Gray, Fort Myers Florida      

your doing a great job uncle Huck. i hope Obama wins!
love,
Caroline

It is my hope that the population that saw the bias and misrepresentation and lake of any journalism on the part of your self and your newwork begins the total boycott of all your networks and their sponsors. We can then only hope you will choke on your honest reporting then!

i read on one the blogs that obama will only treat the blacks far better than the whites is the true and if so how will that make him a bette preident  then presdient bush if that the case then the whites have four more years of fear i would pray that these blogs are wrong other wise  we as a nation our in trouble

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