Good Evening Mr.Holt, A fine broadcast this evening! Always great to see Richard on the broadcast! Yeah! First of all the report by Mr.Fletcher from the border and it seems the fighting is going to continue for several days. Israel continues the air assault on Gaza to drive out Hamas and more death adn destruction ensues everywhere in the region. So many targets including the University, Intelligence Ministry and other locations completely destroyed. Hearing the hospitals are overcrowded because of so many wounded is terrible and the chaos of trying to help all those hurt must be simply awful. When the siren sounded and Mr.Fletcher said they had to get to a shelter it was scary to hear him say "Where is the shelter?" Each side is poised and ready to attack which is frightening and certainly could cause many more casualities on both sides. Both sides have planned for at least a year and definitely are ready to battle. Hopefully, there will be a cease-fire soon, but it is unlikely right at this point. KEEP SAFE MR.FLETCHER!!
Richhard's analysis of the Arab world's reaction shows how many areas oppose the Hamas regime. Many governments of Saudi Arabia,Egypt and Jordan see the danger of this situation with Hamas. As Richard stated the Arab media is showing the images all the time and much more violent pictures that United States television. It must be horrible for the citizens of the region to live through as well as see on television. Richard saying there are two governments one being run by Hamas and the other the International Paleastinian Authority which as officials say would want to knock out Hamas. Certainly an extremely volatile situation and one that is not ending soon. Although I do hope that for all the innocent civilians it ends soon.
Excellent reporting Richard! Always great to see you!

On another note the report by Trish Regan about the economy shows how stores simply must discount to make sales. There will be many stores going out of business after the first of the year and it is sad for all those losing jobs. Customers are being careful with their money and hearing their only going the buy what is needed can be seen all over the United States. Many vacancies in malls this January due to low sales. I hope things turn around next year for the better. Time will tell.
The piece by Mr.Cowan about the couple's love story seemed great at first until it was found out not to be true. It is distheartening to hear it was emebellished and did not happen that way.
Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Holt! Great to see you Richard! And also on "Morning Joe"! Always excellent reporting! Peace to You and to All!

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

Good Broadcast This Evening; the story about the hersey pennsylvania man wh has to choose between his diabetes medication and putting food on the table for his family is just one of many I see every day. And also about the lottery ticket story; too many people are throwing away money they don't have on lottery tickets that they never win on, the odds are so high. If they took that money they spend on the lottery and saved it they would be better off.

It is very hard to believe someone would give up his diabetic meds. for food. Then he ended up in the hospital which is even more costly. Where did you come up with that story?

Hey Lester,  

Just wanted to write in and say great job tonite on all the news.  I love when Richard Engel explains things in the middle east so we can all understand them, and how interesting to think about how the different images we all see on tv really reflect how we view the world.  It was interesting to hear him talk about how the images we see are much less violent than they see in the Arab world.  Is this what helps shape them to be so violent and chop off peoples heads at the drop of a hat?  Or is that their radical Muslim upbringing, hmmm...maybe it all ties in together?  Anyways, love to see Richard looking so fine in his nice suit, he sure does clean up nice:-)
I like knowing that he is safe in New York too.  I hope you stay thru new years.  Cheers Everyone!

l8r~

Hi Lester
Palestine had a Democratic Election and Hamas won so I guess Democratic Election don't work if the winner isn't who the US wants. Israel and Palestine have been at this for years. Good to see with the US and Saudi support Israel has now they can wipe the Palestines off the face of the earth and claim the land for themselves. Richard was right about the pictures not shown in the US they are showing to much of how woman/children are being killed. One man died in Israel from bombs over 390 Palestine people died. Bush doesn't see a problem but Obama isn't the type to join in murdering woman/children for a country to take land.

FDIC did the right thing by not reporting that over 100 US banks will fold. We don't need people rushing to withdraw their life saving. I guess it's better to let people wake up on morning and find out their broke.

Bernard Madoff is said to use an instanity defense. Now that his off shore accounts have been located let's see if it works.  Oprah believed the Jewish love story so who knows Madoff could put it off. We have seen Israel bomb Syria and now Palestine with stories right out of Dickens and people believe it. White House Lawyers are still looking for a loop hole to grant Robert Toussie his Pardon since he paid 40.000 dollars for it already.

Hank Paulson was appointed US Treasury Secretary and Law Makers gave him 700 billion dollars that is now gone and unaccounted for. Hank Paulson has now hired an adviser to tell him what to do with the billions more he will ask the Law Makers for. No one listen as I said Paulson couldn't manage kindergardeners milk money. Paulson like many are given titles as others do the work. The Law Makers knew he didn't know what he was doing but allowed it anyway. Paulson allowed the Chinese to have a bank in the US as over 100 plus banks will forclose and you guest it the Chinese bank with pick up those customers. Smart move as we did borrow over 500,000 billion dollars from China. Maybe Hank's adviser will hire an adviser too. Look money is no problem with the White House and as long as Law Makers get a kick back it's ok. Now all that stops when Obama/Biden get in office so it's a rush to steal as much as possible before the free money stops.

Have a great evening all

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

Good evening and thanks for always doing a quality news program. My husband and I look forward to watching every weeknight! Because we care about the stories and how they relate to all of us as Americans, we are disappointed that Nightly News chose to announce the birth of Bristol Palin's baby. Is she running for office? Is she a role model for others? Is she struggling with the economy? I know I'll read about this baby in the tabloids, but when we sit down to your national news program we look for meaning and substance. We love you all on the Nightly News...we're just fed up with the silliness of celebrity for celebrity's sake.  
Better programming for the New Year? Cheers to that!!

For many years our jobs, manufacturing jobs, telephone ‘Customer Service’ jobs, etc., have been outsourced. Corporations made plenty of money with that. The profit margins looked great, and on Wall Street things boomed.

But what they were doing was shrinking their own customer base - killing the roots of their consumer base. Our jobs that were sent overseas have dried up the pool of money that we consumers have to spend. The people in India and China WERE doing great, and their economy was doing well - until now  - and a large part of that problem is that now their jobs are being outsourced to other even cheaper labor forces.

Henry Ford had it right: Pay your workers enough money to be able to afford to buy the vehicles they are making. Where do you think customers come from? Cause and effect. People spend their wages at home, for their needs. India and China got rich, and we withered because our roots - our jobs - dried up.

As for having to cut back on medications to save money - that is nothing new to many of us Americans. Perhaps with our current economy this problem is just becoming more widespread, and thus came to your attention. This situation is just one more example of our broken, for profit, 'don't get sick'  U.S. healthcare system. I’m glad it finally made the news.

My husband and I have had to make these hard choices - whether to take our meds or pay the bills - for years. Many people I know have also had to do that for years. MANY people live from paycheck to paycheck - and have had to cut corners to survive for a long time. We have been fortunate enough to have insurance most of the time, but our costs and co pay has steadily risen. We should be taking statins, for instance. They are great - for those who can afford them. But my husband and I don't take them, because we can’t afford to get them, and have enough left to pay the bills and eat too.

We tried to fit them into our budget. We ordered our pills in larger quantities, but the insurance companies stopped that. I refuse to buy from their mail-order-designate... It's actually cheaper to buy from Canadian pharmacies than to buy using my insurance mail order. But the Bush administration stopped us from using Canadian Pharmacies.

So now I take only one of the medications that were prescribed for me - my blood pressure medication. We simply can't afford to get the rest. And I only take THAT because the consequences (if I skipped that) could be lethal.


I sure hope (and pray) that the Obama Administration changes our health care system drastically. We may have the best healthcare system in the world, but only the wealthy or the lucky few with outstanding insurance have access to it because of the outrageous costs.

Israel should have responded sooner - It is Israel’s government fault for this escalation.

For years the Arab population around and surrounding Israel has been bombing with rockets and suicide bombers.

Would the U.S. or any other country shown such restraint while its citizens are terrorized, the answer is absolutely not.

Israel chose restraint. The Arab world sees restrained as a sign of weakness and capitulation.

It is long overdue for Israel to take off the gloves and respond with extreme force and keep the pressure without relenting.

Do not worry about the media or world opinion. You do whatever you have to, to defend your country and its population.

People in the world respect those in power who defend their citizens and not weaklings, even though they may object initially.

If the Arab permit extremist to hide among civilians, they must bear the consequences, it is a right and an obligation to protect its citizens by any means available – no force is too small, extreme force and prejudice is required.

For every bullet a grenade, for every missile a bombardment. When Sharon was defense minister many years ago, that was the policy and it worked, it will work today also.

Any terrorist actions should be dealt with in the strongest fashion possible, otherwise the situation will escalate.

Anyone threatening the security will be expelled out of their homes and the greater Israel

Jay Draiman

I am usually a day late and a dollar short,
but today I want to wish you and everyone a
Happy New Year and all good things in 2009.'I
agree with Al Roker that this is the best
time of the year. Happy New Year!!!

About Oprah's Hoax:  "Gone with the Wind" is, in
my mind, the greatest romance novel written and
everybody knows how it ends "Frankly, my dear,
I don't give a damn."  So much for true love.
Wuthering Heights rates No. 2 with me, perhaps ties
with Gone with the Wind.  Catherine dies, but
Heathcliffe did dig her up from her grave which
borders on madness perhaps but he did come for her,
so true love may be rare, but it exists and is not
make believe like the story on your program.  Such
is life!!!.

IN RETROSPECT, OPRAH FAVE IS RIGHT, IT IS THE
GREATEST LOVE STORY, EVER.
PHYLLIS

OOPS, TYPO, LESTER

IN RETROSPECT, IT IS THE GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER
SOLD.PARAPHASING OPRAH WHO SAID, GREATEST LOVE
STORY TOLD.

PHYLLIS

Still it might make a good TV movie.  I don't
think people would pay $10 at the box office with
money being tight for everybody and that it was a
hoax.
Phyllis

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