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Back in the saddle

Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2009 3:59 PM by Ian Sager
Filed Under:

by Lester Holt, NBC News anchor

Good afternoon from New York. It's nice to be back after a quick trip to Las Vegas to cover the Consumer Electronics Show.  A broken airplane and snow on the East Coast kept me from making it to 30 Rock in time to anchor last night's broadcast.  A big thanks to Amy Robach for sticking around to cover for me.

On tonight's newscast: The battle lines are being drawn over Barack Obama's proposed economic stimulus plan, as Washington readies for next week's inauguration. John Yang is covering that, and will also show us today's inauguration dress rehearsal, including news of who took the place of the President-elect.

All signs point to a new – possibly more intense – phase of Israel's assault on Gaza. On a day Israeli forces made their deepest penetration into Gaza, correspondent Richard Engel will tell us what may lie ahead for the conflict.

Finally, we’ll explain the royal flap going on over what Britain's Prince Harry was caught saying on a video tape he shot almost three years ago. Please join us for tonight's NBC Nightly News.

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Dear Lester,

Welcome back from Vegas!  Did you bring that 108" TV screen with you?!

With regard to last night's story on minor league baseball player Robbie Tolan, I just want to say that it is a sad commentary on the state of race in this country when, in 2009, you can't even be black in your own driveway!  I hope that police officer not only loses his job, but is prosecuted to the full extent of the law, including for the commission of a hate crime.

I was very moved by the dedication ceremony of the aircraft carrier named for former President George H.W. Bush.  I didn't vote for him, because I don't subscribe to his politics, but he did serve his country with honor and bravery in World War II, and that certainly deserves recognition.  I thought the quote of Phyllis Diller's was especially bittersweet.

A while back, I included a link to a story in my local paper about Socks, the former First Cat (from the Clinton White House).  He now resides with Betty Currie and her husband.  Well, he's made the paper again, but not for a happy reason.

http://www.somdnews.com/Enterprise%20121708/stories/12192008/entetop111435_32182.shtml

That's all for now.  Lots of love to the regular posters:  Lisa, Jackie, Stephanie, Celine, Claudia, Anna, and Matt.  XOXO
I saw you on Friday Night on NBC's with
Brian Williams, who said you would be here
Saturday, weather permitting.  No such luck.

Is Las Vegas giving odds on when the Supreme
Court will rule that Pres. Elect Obama is
eligible for the Presidency?  Just asking,
Mr. Holt.  There is a lot of buzz about this birth certificate
issue and should be resolved.  Either there
something to it or it is slander.





is something to it, or it is slander.
Good Evening Mr.Holt, Great to see you back in New York! You made it back safe and sound! I'm sure you had fun at the computer electronics show with all the gadgets! Always wonderful to see Richard on the broadcast! PLEASE STAY EXTRA SAFE RICHARD!! Now on to the broadcast. First of all Richard's report from Sderot,Israel showed how the Israeli troops are determined to enter Gaza City and continue the fight against Hamas. Hearing the barrage if artillery fire into the region sounded just horrible and frightening for all the innocent civilians. Seeing the cable attached to a bomb could indicate that Hamas is booby-trapping the buildings. the use of white phosphorous which is not illegal, but is lethal to breathe. Hopefully, Hamas will not be able to restock anymore rockets to fire into Israel. I really hope both sides find some way to resolve for peace, yet that doesn't seem to be happening soon. I hope for the civilians the fighting ends very soon. Excellent reporting as always Richard! PLEASE STAY EXTRA SAFE!

The report by Mr.Maceda from Kandahar,Afghanistan with Delta Company showed these brave and dedicated troops continue the dangerous task of finding and destroying IED's. The never-ending suicide bombers., IED's are always mounting and the troops need all the reinforcements they can get. The deployment of 30,000 more troops to the region will help them, but more casualties will happen and that is the devastating part. The troops welcome the challenge of finding the weapons and destroying them, but I hope someday they can all come home.
On another note seeing the preparation for Inauguration Day was exciting. It was nice to see President Elect-Obama at Ben's Chili Bowl. I'm sure it was great for all the customers to see him there eating.
On another note the Golden Globes being tonight does offer some escapism from the terrible news events. The report by Mr.Lewis showed how movies have always offered fun and excitement for the viewing audience. All glitz and glamour tonight. Many great performances.
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Holt! Excellent reporting Richard! Peace to You and to All!

Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori and Matt!
Be Well Always!
STAY EXTRA SAFE AND WELL RICHARD!! Always great to see you on the broadcast! Excellent reporting!
XOXO
I have tried to write to NBC, but they make it very hard to do so, without participating in some useless "opinion poll".  I hope someone there will read this.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This is addressed to NBC TV News and whoever was responsible for the news on Sunday evening, January 11, 2009.

This evening, Lester Holt reported on a very serious, 60-vehicle pileup in New Hampshire. The report briefly showed a string of vehicles, all obviously damaged in a single, chain reaction crash.

My complaint is that Lester Holt reported it as being "on the interstate in New Hampshire".

WHICH interstate had the problem? Why not let people know, in case it was weather-related, thus perhaps preventing additional accidents?

Is NBC News so ignorant that they think the state of New Hampshire has but ONE "interstate"? Among the various interstates that pass through parts of New Hampshire are I-89, I-93, I-95 and I-495, to name a few.

If NBC News was/is unable (or too lazy) to ascertain WHICH "interstate" had this serious accident, why bother reporting it at all, other than merely airing yet another useless piece of sensational video?

Try doing your job, NBC. If you set out to report the "news", please do so -- and don't just slap sensational tidbits together in a way that demeans the public.

Thank you.
Hi Lester did you buy any toy?
Looks like this inauguration will be a big one. It will be nice to see Americans smile for a change.

Lester for 7 years President Bush has said the United States don't TORTURE. I am a believer that our President wouldn't to the American people or the World. The Media reported exactly what information was given by the White House. Today I watch a touching Bush Senior talk about his son the President, Then George W. spoke about his Dad. Then I almost fell out of the chair with his following statement:
Bush: I Personally Authorized Torture Of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed»
All those years the President wasn't telling the truth. What an example to the youth and all Americans.

Israel will continue to attack Palestine until President Bush leaves office. Israel is not only using Cluster Bombs but bombs the spread fire as many people have been burned to death. Israel is doing as much damage and killings as possible before Israel is stopped. The World is waiting for Obama as he will not support the invasion of Palestine.

Alot is made of Harry's comments thank goodness the US Media doesn't report the words and comments said by the US soldiers. I've never seen so many young soldiers as we have and they are kids still.  Harry has alot on his sholders for such a young man. Plus we're talking about something that happen 3 years ago. I guess more is expected from Harry then grown Adults.


Have a great day all my friends

Glad to see you made it back Lester. It's always fun to see you immersed in the electronic gadgets that you enjoy so much. In fact, we always enjoy your presence.
On a lighter note, I tuned in to the Golden Globe
and was delighted that NBC's Alec Baldwin and Tina
Fey took top honors.  Good for them.  I saw
Steven Spieglberg give his speech, and was impressed
by him, a genius.

Loved all those gorgeous gowns.   A fun night,
Mr. Holt.
Regarding birds and airplanes...and the crash today

Dear Lester,

First, welcome back...we missed you. And let me tell you that I have never seen or heard a more lovely man on television than you. You are the quintessential archetype for what a newscaster should be: well-spoken, erudite, compassionate, decorous, humble. I will also send this information to Chris Matthews, but it will not start out THIS WAY...to be sure.

Because of the incredible plane accident today and the miraculous landing in the frigid Hudson River, I thought you may like to use this tidbit gleaned from the Internet in 1999 about birds attacking an English airport. No matter what they did, they could not get the birds to leave, and the danger was increasing daily.

At Gloucestershire Airport in England, they were having so much trouble with flocks of recalcitrant birds swooping about while airplanes were landing and taking off that they spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in their attempts to clear the runways of avian intruders.

Guess what finally did it? A worker had been inadvertently blasting Tina Turner on his Boom BOX at lunch one day as he sat outside the control tower when he noticed the birds flew away in horror. To date, the voice of TINA Turner broadcasting from the roof of the flight tower and from speakers on the landing strips is the only thing that has consistently worked to remove the dangerous flying felons.

Perhaps planes could be equipped with on-wing aerodynamic speakers that blast Tina...

You are a doll, Lester...

Dr. Cheryl Roberts

I have the link for you but I was not sure I could post it here, so this is from Reuters, October 20, 1999:

"Tina Turner's voice is more effective in scaring birds from Gloucestershire Airport's landing strips than specially designed cassettes of bird distress calls, airport chief fire officer Ron Johnson told The Times newspaper.

"'We used to broadcast tapes with birds' distress
sounds, but we found they don't work very well and
what the birds really hate is Tina Turner,' Johnson
said."



"What's Love Got to do With It", is my favorite
song, and Tina Turner is my favorite performer.
She is the most exciting woman in the world. Men of
all ages and color love her.  She still has It!!!
The modern Cleopatra.    If I were Ms. Turner,
I would not be concerned about the birds as it is
better to stay in one own's species:o)  

Have a nice weekend, Handsome!


Mr. Holt,
I just learned that the Supreme Court dismissed
the lastest case against the eligibility of President
Obama, so it would appear it was slander about his
birth certificate.  I would be remiss if I did not
update you as I posted the info on your blog.
Viva Las Vegas.
It is 7:46 PM Monday Jan 26, 2009
Good luck in the new year.
Lester
The Las Vegas money is on President Obama.  However
there is a lot of buzz again about his birth
certificate.  If he were removed for that reason,
who would become president?  Biden?  McCain?  No,
indeed.  It would be Hilliary Clinton.  Which I would
never have guessed but then I am not a political
analyst.




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