Gentleman Jim

Rich, El Paso, TX — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 22:46:50 GMT

Keep after the story of the totally fake news conference which FEMA orchestrated last weeek to "report" on what a great job they claimed they were doing for the California fire victims. This is an outrage and a criminal act.

Gentleman Jim

jim oneill, hillsboro il — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:06:38 GMT

What a shock! Perhaps a bit of foreshadowing, on a bad day in November 1963, i heard jim running through elder hall at northwestern university yelling at the top of his voice that"Kennedy was shot; Kennedy was shot!" Tho we did not keep in touch post graduation, i always enjoyed seeing him on the news. One memorble time was during a hurricane when he rode it out! my thoughts and prayers to his family. Good journey, dewey.......jim

Gentleman Jim

Lynn G., Minneapolis, MN — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:09:53 GMT

My condolences to all of you. It's so sad when someone looks forward to retirement and then never has the chance to realize those dreams. I hope that the memories you all share of those happier years will bring comfort and peace to you and to his family.

Gentleman Jim

Lisa McNeil,Alpharetta,Georgia — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:26:06 GMT

Good Evening Mr.Williams, It is so very sad the loss of Jim Cummins at the very young age of only 62. I certainly remember his broadcasts for NBC News and he delivered excellent reports. As Mr.Capus stated about the coverage of the California wildfires, "This was the kind of coverage that Jim poured himself into for decades." I'm sure he would have been there giving really great reports. He is at peace now. My thoughts and prayers to his family. Now with regards to the history of NBC news and this broadcast. NBC news certainly has come a long way since the Huntley-Brinkley report. They were pioneers in the news business. They would really be impressed with your studios now. Now on to the broadcast. Enjoyed the limited commercial interruption this evening. It is a good idea! With regards to Mr.Cowan's report about the middle class financially squeezed it really seems to be true. When the pastor was speaking about his collections being slim I thought our church is always asking for money and just recently our pastor asked for more money. He said he understood how people have obligations and cannot always give extra to the collections, but I know how nice the rectory is at our church and our priests live very well. I don't really think they understand fully what it is like to raise a family and pay bills because they don't have to in their life. Everything is much more expensive as stated in Mr.Cowan's report and it is very hard to save. It is hard to catch up. I liked seeing Tom Brokaw in the studio and his interview with Warren Buffet. It is not fair that his employees are paying more out than he does. It was interesting that he shared the information with Mr. Brokaw and his employees. They did agree it wasn't fair. Maybe it can be changed, but probably will not be. Finally, the report about all the Vice President titles in companies. Some of the people with these titles really do not deserve them. I don't agree with Mr.Trump about giving the employee the title, but not changing their salary. One should honestly earn these titles and work hard to receive them. Not just have printed on your business card for vanity. If the person proves he or she earned the title then they really deserve it. Even in NBC News there are many journalists with titles to their position and I think that they all worked extrememly hard to earn them. There are many that you speak to on Nightly News Mr. Williams who are top of the line people and do great reporting. They earned their postion well! Thank you for the great broadcast Mr.Williams! You have a very busy week! Peace to all!

Gentleman Jim

Dot, Illinois — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:51:16 GMT

Mr. Williams:

Very good newscast this evening. I really appreciate the limited commercial format.

I am glad that you continue to show reports on diagnosing Autism early--so many people are affected by this disease.

I could easily identify with the report on struggling middle class families. My daughter and her husband both work full time, have two children and a hefty mortgage and she often worries that one extra expense could derail their financial plan. She is forty and would love to work part time or stay at home with her children, but that is impossible.

Warren Buffet is indeed an unusual man. Perhaps his calling attention to the inequity of our tax codes will spur Congress to inact changes. Of course, in an election year, I doubt whether much will be done.

The football play with all the laterals was incredible! You gotta love it.

Lastly, the news about the death of Jim Cummins was so sad. He was a good reporter. My condolences to his family.

Hope the debate goes well tomorrow evening. The blogs were loaded with expectations for all the candidates.

Stay safe.

Gentleman Jim

Marv Trachta Cedar Rapids, Iowa — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:04:23 GMT

Thank you for remembering Jim Cummins. I'm proud to say Jim was from my hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I remember watching Jim win a state championship in basketball at Regis High School in the early 60's. He was a class guy. He was a hero of mine(six years older than me) Who I never met, but never forgot. My sadness is that he never really got to enjoy retirement or know how much he meant to so many of us here in Iowa. My sympathy to his family.

Gentleman Jim

Jackie Rawlings Riverside California — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 02:46:27 GMT

Brian I loved the play of the day I remembered the Stanford game.

The White House now has Ahmad Chalabi to rebuild Iraq. Blackwater promised US immunity for the murders in Iraq. Egypt to build nuclear program and Israel has an arsenal of Nuclear weapons. Good to see the White House ask Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter for help with the mess in the Middle East.

The South American Hillary Clinton was elected President of Argentina yes Madam President Cristina Kirchner. So many countries are voting smart qualifed educated woman as Presidents. Maybe one of them can teach the United States Woman's Rights and Equality in reaching top jobs.

President Sarkozy showed alot of class when he left the interview with 60 minutes. Yes Americans love to get dirt on anybody and make it gossip time. But other countries show respect for their President's private lives. I guess once the US attacked Bill Clinton they feel they can attack other World Presidents. I notice how other countries don't talk about President Bush and Mrs. Bush's private lives. Our Journalist are showing the World we have no class or respect.

Interesting report on Autism with children. Now not all Mothers have to money to pay for a Pediatrician. So most children only go to a clinic or general doctor. Now with no Health Care for children the report isn't going to do much. But it is good for those Mom's who can afford medical insurance. An American child is lucky if they get health care in the United States.

Now I can call myself Vice President of living and get away with it.

Warren Buffet is great but this Administration wont listen as they need as much taxpayers money as possible for Iraq and war profiteers. Bill and Hillary Clinton sent their refund check back to the Government but yes it was refused. We do need someone who will represent the American people as we have no representatives right now.

Gentleman Jim

Del Jakeman, Ocean Park, Maine — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:21:26 GMT

RIP, Jim Cummins. In reference to the vice president story, they call that "psychic income!"

Gentleman Jim

Jason, Birmingham, AL — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:42:00 GMT

Brian, just wanted to say that I thought y'all did a fine job on the newscast Monday evening. I was glad to see that the limited commercials gave you a chance to do more news stories, which is always a great thing and the best reason for having limited interruptions to begin with!

I felt for you at the beginning of the broadcast when I could tell that either the tele-promter wasn't working, or you were having trouble seeing it. That's got to be most tense situation. Thank goodness for those pink pages! You handled it well though, which is a tribute to your professionalism.

After reading some of the comments on the new studio at the end of last week, I wondered if y'all ever imagined the changes would create such a "hoop-la." I mean, people threatening to stop watching the broadcast because of it! Wow. I thought it was pretty appropriate that the wildfires in CA happened the next day and you were reporting, not from a fancy new studio, but from a hillside in front of a charred house. It's all about perspective, isn't it?

Gentleman Jim

Stephen G. Gavlick — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:46:41 GMT

Brian:

Concerning Warren Buffet's tax comparsion:

Social Security Tax is not a TAX but is a retirement icome and retirement health care.

Lower tax rate for qualified dividends and long term capital gains are necessary for shareholders to invest in business.

Please remember that those that invest create the jobs for the workers.

What is Warren's effective tax rate if he excludes Social Security Taxes and Qualified Dividends and Long Term Capital Gains from the calculation.

Gentleman Jim

Tim Cummins, New York, NY. — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:28:52 GMT

Brian,

Thanks to you and all your colleagues at NBC for the kinds words and tributes on my uncle Jim's behalf. The outpouring of love and affection for Jim is remarkable.

Gentleman Jim

Cyrena, Vicksburg, Mississippi — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:02:33 GMT

How sad that Jim Cummins didn't have a chance to enjoy his retirement ... may he rest in peace.

On a lighter note, I was there at the Millsaps/Trinity Game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi. Millsaps has one of the most charmingly beautiful campuses anywhere, by the way. My Godson is a player on the Millsaps offense. Even though my team was on the losing end of the deal, I just have to say that that play was -- AMAZING!!! There I was, finishing off the last half of my chili-cheese dog after saying to the person sitting on my right that the game was surely over, and we won ... when WOW!!! Everyone in the stands was on their feet, jumping up and down and screaming, willing the Millsaps team to stop the play. But the play just kept going, and going, and going. I don't know when during the play, for me at least, that it stopped being about ending the play, and turned into stun and awe about what was happening. My heart went out to my godson and his fellow players, especially after the great game that they had played, but I can't help but be wow-ed by all those laterals. And, my chili-cheese dog? Well, we searched and searched for it, because nothing drives me crazier than when people leave trash and food on the ground and in the seats after a sporting event ... I still don't have a clue where my chili-cheese dog went or what happened to it. We stopped on our way out so that I could get another one. That particular vendor at Millsaps has always had the best chili-cheese dogs on the planet ... lol.

Gentleman Jim

Gina Cicatelli Ciagne, Washington, DC — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 15:43:23 GMT

I am so glad that you commemorated and celebrated Jim and his contributions to the news world. I was lucky enough to have spent an inordinate amount of time with Jim and his family as my dad and he were friends and co-reporters at WMAQ-TV in Chicago. I know my life is better for having known him and it was a blast to be included in the energy of their house. He will be missed.

Gentleman Jim

tom driscoll,denver,co. — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:31:59 GMT

I remember the 1st.veitmaness child adopted in america,jim was thare milwalkie wi. (1973). he was the best uncle anyone ever had.

Gentleman Jim

Jeffrey Liszka, Des Plaines, Il — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:58:58 GMT

All of the reports on Mr. Jim Cummins have been excellent. The fact that he is being shown the respect that I believe that he has earned for his countless acts of greatness is fantastic. He is someone that I have known for my whole life and will greatly miss. He was my godfather and always treated me like I was part of his family. I hope that his family knows that I am only a phone call away from them if they ever needed me for anything, for I know that was what Mr. Cummins once said to me. I am a better man for knowing him, and try to act in a way that I always saw come out of him. With dignity and honor. I will miss you and will never forget you.