Food for Thought

Andrea Wilton,CT — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:30:35 GMT

Would have given more than a penny to be at that meeting and volunteer my two cents worth on good ole Abe.
Nice work on the issue and importance of clean water on Cowan's piece "Thirsty Planet" and the tears flow for the children caught in a nightmare of despair and hopelessness on Bazell's piece. And yes congrats for the emmys. Much more, yet, to accomplish but the gate is open and the horses are a running.
1777 British troops occupied Philadelphia during the American Revolution.
1789 Thomas Jefferson was appointed America's first secretary of state and John Jay the first chief justice. Samuel Osgood was appointed the first Postmaster-General. Edmund Jennings Randolph was appointed the first Attorney General.
1980 The Cuban government closed Mariel Harbor, ending the freedom flotilla of Cuban refugees that began the previous April and inundated Miami

and so it goes...

Food for Thought

Brad, Seattle, WA — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 21:33:07 GMT

You are surprised that you are considered part of the media elite? You are the network's anchor and managing editor...if you aren't part of the media elite, who would be? Certainly not Drudge...

Food for Thought

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:17:59 GMT

Good Evening Mr.Williams, In my opinion I would always think of you as part of the media elite. I'm sure it was an interesting evening being at a dinner with President Ahmadinejad. Somehow I think that even when he smiles it comes across as insincere and forced. I don't really trust anything he says or does. Now on to the broadcast which I must say was really full of good reports this evening. The report about the sighting of Bin Laden last month and missing him is constantly frustrating. Someday that surveillance drone is going to find him again and this time he might be caught. I certainly hope so. The report by Lisa Myers concerning the border of Canada and the United States being so open is disturbing. Seeing how easy it was for someone to crossover into the United States without being noticed needs to be corrected. If there are more border authorities to catch these people then where are they. At least the camera caught someone once, I hope it happens more often. The idea about splitting up Iraq into three parts comes across as a good idea, but in reality will it really work with the people of the region. Finally, talking about whether men or women are happier. Women do have to multi-task everyday between job, children etc. I thought the comment from the wife about her husband watching over 100hours of the Tour de France while the women did the cleaning was somewhat humorous. But I sympathize with the statement. I guess it depends on the person and their life circumstances. Now I know Mr.Williams that you always do your share of work at the Williams household because you wouldn't just sit there not doing anything to help out. Thank you for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Really informative this evening! Peace to you and to all!

Food for Thought

Dave, Tn — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:19:11 GMT

Someone should do a study to see if women are subjected to the results of more studies than men, and if women take studies more seriously. How did the human race ever survive without being beat over the head with study after study?

Food for Thought

Dot, Illinois — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:23:55 GMT

Mr. Williams:

I hope you make copious entries into a daily diary for use in a book on newscasting. I think the details of such meetings as the dinner you noted would make fascinating reading.

I commended Mr. Flether on his wonderful report from Africa, and I commend you on the whole series on the planet's growing water shortage. Let us hope the Lifestraws are made readily available to those who desperately needed them.

The report that conditions for our injured soldiers getting treatment at Walter Reed have not improved appreciably is so not acceptible. If there is a problem in Washington, it seems that lawmakers settle on a "cause de jour," they have lots of hearings, etc. and give it lots of attention for a while, but then it just disappears with no more heard on the issue. Such seems to have been the case with treatment at Walter Reed. Lawmakers should continue to focus on the problem until it is remedied.

Will look forward to the debate this evening. The political bloggers have been going at it with guns drawn, so it will be interesting to see what develops from this meeting of all the candidates.

Oh, and I am very happy with my life. I work part time, spend time with my grandchildren, travel with my husband, and think life is good.

Stay safe and HAPPY!!!!!!!

Food for Thought

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 03:31:30 GMT

Brian interesting comments on the Iran Presidents speech. I wonder when President Bush gives his insight on what he is doing and why is that as truthful as the President of Iran. We honor our President and trust him at his word even with others say differently. Now the real question is who is telling the truth. I thought the President of Pakistan was lying on our President when he said his country was threaten by Bush/Cheney to join them or Pakistan would be bombed. Well the truth always comes out as it did with the documents released by the President of Spain. With your insight the Iran President sounds alot like President Bush/Cheney.

The next US President has alot to do to repair the damage from 7 years of corruption. I hope we get an educated and honest President this time. With the country wise to the fixed voting machines and denying voters rights now maybe we can have an honest election this time.

MoveOn.org is getting so much attention by our law makers as the injured troops aren't given a second thought.

Food for Thought

Elmo Jones — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 07:23:46 GMT

I think that dining with the President of Iran is wrong for all the obvious and moral reasons.Sometimes Brian - a free meal ain't worth it when Hitler Junior is speaking.

Food for Thought

Straight UP /AZ — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:37:32 GMT

Lets take up the issue of reality. The present situation the Washington Paper Hangers present to America. They the Washington Paper hangers are no longer serving America as intended. They perfer to stand on self serving agenda. Their intent is being not a servant of what the nation needs rectified in the matters of real issues, two wars, millions of illegals roaming our streets, the medical industry brakeing the back of America, the corrupt fuel industry, complete loss of the industrial industry and the list has so much more.

It goes beyond my ability to understand ""why would America want a present serving Washington Paper hanger to be President. They have failed us as in their present position. Just how in the hell can they think they have the leadership to govern this nation. They the Paper Hangers can't stop these two Wars, they can't and have failed to restructure secure our borders as thousands of illgals daily spit on the border as they cross it, there abilities to understand the moral being is being flushed down the toilet, double standard to address pork barrel spending, they waste of billions ""more like close to a trillion dollars on a ungrateful people who we removed a tyrant which ruled them and not take responseiblity to form their countries government. Do the Paper Hangers in Washington think we have moved into nation building???

I ask this: Are going to continue to march down the path of yesterday,, I sure in hell will not help elect a Washington Paper Hanger as they Already proved their track record!!!

Food for Thought

Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 11:51:27 GMT

Brian -
I watched the Debate last night, but I won't watch any more. They are not debates, they are scripted theater and they are making me sick. Each person is just trying not to say anything that will harm their own campaign and so they just spout platitudes. Most of these candidates won't win their own state. They are simply publicity hounds happy to use the free TV time for their talking points.

As noted, the first debate almost 50 years ago last night had only two candidates. Let's wait until we are down to two and not keep putting these ridiculous extravagandas on the air like a traveling circus.

Is this the way democracy is supposed to work? I don't think so.

Food for Thought

James C. Bays, Shaker Heights, Ohio — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:54:08 GMT

Brian -

I hate to be picky, but the debate was held last night at Dartmouth College, not Dartmouth University. (You called it Dartmouth University last evening and the evening before.) There was a very famous Supreme Court case in the nineteenth century argued by Dartmouth alum, Daniel Webster, in which he said: "Dartmouth is a small college, yet there are those who love it." The case is generally known as "The Dartmouth College Case."

Jim Bays
Dartmouth Class of 1971

Food for Thought

Jason Noah, Birmingham, AL — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 15:14:01 GMT

Brian, in my last post I forgot to mention this, but great job on the "Penny Story" from a couple of nights ago. It was non-stop alliteration and pun, and I'm pretty impressed that you were able to get it all out, with no mistakes, and without bursting into laughter at what you were saying. (Maybe that's what the commercial break was for just after the story.)

Food for Thought

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 21:41:19 GMT

Good Evening Mr.Williams, I tried to post on this blog last evening, but I guess it didn't go through. Anyway, I just wanted to say your broadcast last evening carried much information on all sorts of subjects. I found it difficult to focus on just one. With regards to the Middle East I hope the troops are able to find Bin Laden someday he will be found. But I think that the report about whether men or women are happier was interesting. Women do have to multi-task with many responsibilties. I liked some of the statements from the women on the report. The you saying "ouch" at the end was funny. Finally, Mr.Williams I would always think of you as part of the media elite. You are a fine Managing Editor and Anchor of Nightly News. Thank you for your excellent work! Peace to all!

Food for Thought

Dan, Boston MA — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 20:43:26 GMT

Brian,
Here's what I think about the debates.

They are, in their current form, pretty close to useless. The best we can really hope for from a candidate is a great sound bite; and even those are few and far between.

So here's what I propose. And I don't think it's an original idea, but it's one that doesn't get enough play.

We need single-issue debates. Especially when we've got a field of several candidates. Every debate these days, it seems, takes 50% of its time talking about Edwards' hair, or playing "gotcha", leaving the other half for actual questions about issues. But that's only an hour at best, and split among all the candidates, there's nowhere near enough time to have even a substantive answer, let alone a substantive *debate*. So we have 10 or so of these debates, and every one tries to cover the same topics, and every one gets pretty much the same results.

So, instead: Spend an entire 2-hour debate on health care. Spend another one on Iraq. Spend another on the economy. We've already got 10+ debates, why not give each of them a chance to actually get somewhere?

-Dan