THAT'S A PLAN THERE LEO MADISON WI IT WOULD BE SOMETHING I TO THINK WOULD WORK ANY ONE OUT THERE ALSO THINK SO? THE PEPOLE NEED THIS.COME ON A SHOW OF HAND'S

Brian,

Could NBC do a non-scientific poll and perhaps a report on how many Americans would vote for a limited number of terms (e.g. 2) to an elected political position including Congrssional and Senatorial positions. I believe the Country is at a tipping point in terms of how to reshape our Government and this now seems rational to examine and perhaps change.

This is a political year and suffice to say based on recent polling that many Americans are not satisfied with either parties performance in the Congress. This speaks more about personalities and politcal positions of power that are built up over years and will not change unless candidates are replaced. It is neither a good situation or one that will change without the American people directly involved in the process. It may even unite us on this issue.

The argument from our elected officials of course is that the voters will and do decide who stays and who goes but we know that special interest drive issues with contributions that are not necessarity in the mainstreams best interest. Voters are not voting on issues as much as the marketing of a person. We do need political reform in this Country including additional voting time, i.e. 1 week, easier registration via internet and mailers, term limits, public campaign contributions only, etc...

I think most Americans (80% or higher) would support these reforms and they should get the opportunity to vote on this through a National referendum instead of our elected officials deciding for us through committee.

I am amazed at one huge difference in numbers regarding the Immigration Reform debate this morning. Dick Durbin (D - IL) has said that the president's plan will require 150,000 troops over the next two years, while the president said that he would station 6000 troops for a year deployment. Who is right??? Chris Matthews suggests that we might need 300,000 troops. This is a awfully big divide in the numbers for there not to be any clarification this morning.

http://www.cynicalgeek.com/blog/2006/05/immigration_reform_address_the.html

Here's an idea that could help with both "illegal" immigration and Gulf Coast recovery (or recovery in other places hit by disasters--for example, the way the weather's been going in New England, the people there might need help.)

Border Patrol members could, when they catch undocumented workers, offer them the chance to do community service in New Orleans (for example), where they could help residents gut and clean and pretty up their houses, or rebuild if their homes need to be demolished.

First, however, for security purposes, the workers would be required to register. A term of service would be for a specific period--say 5 years. (If their services are no longer needed in New Orleans, say, after 3 years, they could be sent on to another disaster area where help is needed.) Then, in exchange for performing their work obligations, they would receive inexpensive food and housing and Green Cards. Also, free of charge, they would have to take mandatory English lessons.

Any who successfully perform their duties and learn English would be put on the track to citizenship--however, any who bug out without completing the required 5 years of work, who does not learn English, or who commits any sort of crime would have their Green Cards revoked and be deported.

(I am aware that there has been controversy over "illegal" immigrants already working in New Orleans reconstruction--maybe a similar program under which they could get credit for time already spent working could "legalize" them.)

On a lighter note, I enjoy your Sopranos updates. It sounds like a good show, but I don't watch it because I don't get HBO. (I guess it's a good thing I don't watch it--I've found that almost every time I get to be hooked on a TV show (of the entertainment variety) it ends up being cancelled.)

I have just heard the President's take on solutions to combat illegal immigrants.

Let's see, he says it isn't amnesty, but amnesty by any other definition is still amnesty in my book.

Then he tells us we must measure our words on this issue, not inflame the situation. May I translate this idea for you: Hey, you US Citizens, sit down and shut up while Hispanics march, wave their flags, and take over your country, which ultimately destroys your standard of living. In other words, make nice and continue to hand out free health care, food stamps, education ad nausem.

Yeah right!

Why was the Presidents speech not aired in Calfornia?
I came home from work particulary to hear what he had to say, only to receive a news re-cap, and to see CNN's disrespectful display of airing the President not speaking.

Needless to say I am disappointed and I feel strongly that this was a poor lapse in judgement on someones part.

I

I too appreciate the comments on the West Wing. I never really watched the show till about 6-8 weeks ago when I happen to flip the channels and saw the election returns come in. It really caught my interest. I'm sad that last night was the last show. But it will live on in my DVD library. I now have the first 6 seasons and watching them from the beginning. Can't wait till season 7 comes out. Brian also thanks for your nightly news. NBC is where I get my local and national news from...

Just wanted to comment on the Presidents speech. He is trying to play to his base. He talked about a soldier who was hurt while serving in Iraq yet the soldier was not an American citizen. So we now take those who aren't Americans to invade countries. Most of the speech sound like it should have been in freeing slaves and giving American slaves equal rights. Just didn't fit for immigrats as they came here to work as slaves were kidnapped and held to work. Maybe Bush should try speaking to Americans instead of at American people. We allowed people in come in the US for over 30 years to work our fields without a word, we enjoyed the benefits of what they did now he was them out, well who will do their jobs or will the elected officials bring back slavery to full in those jobs?

It was only 1 hour of wonderful TV. The first hour was a repeat and the finale was too short, too many loose ends unanswered, however, the first time Barlett appeared in the first episode he was using a cane and the first time he appeared in the last episode he was using a cane.

The more things change the more they remain the same.

Would it had hurt the bottom line that much if they had made a 2 hour movie for the finale an a 1 hour full cast retrospective at the end?

Quality TV with good writing is getting harder to find while reality TV is taking over.

WW had one episode with violence and that was when Bartlett was shot. The rest of the action was in the dialogue. Just about every other show on TV today has blood and violence. Not a fair trade-off.

Hopefully they, the people in charge, will not fill the time slot with reruns of Cooking with Celebs.

Joan Chapman mentioned the music of The West Wing.... I suspect many people don't notice the credits, but for years now, the best music behind the best dramas have been coordinated / composed / arranged and/or performed by Snuffy Walden. The West Wing, Early Edition, ThirtySomething, My So-Called Life, The Wonder Years - all of these shows have had their tone set by music from Snuffy Walden. Okay, okay, some of those weren't great drama, but it wasn't the fault of the music. Snuffy is the man.........

Brian, looks like your heavy hitters will be fisking Bush's speech tonight. I think it might be useful to probe what percentage of Americans feel a true border/illegal immigration crisis. One spin is that Bush is feeling the pressure only or mainly from his "base." Others believe it goes well beyond his "base" and 50% of population, and that a certain media personality is connecting with much more than just "knuckle-draggers" or your garden-variety xenophobe.

"She was a national celebrity, having conducted the daily televised briefing for years, and thus probably would have been recognized by name."

It seemed fairly accurate to me, seeing as how most Americans (in my opinion) would not recognize Scott McClellan on the street, even if they were walking in front of the White House.

Brian - thanks for the nice words about the West Wing - the only show I've been 'addicted to' since Northern Exposure. I even watch the Bravo reruns and can practically say the lines. Yes, the writing was brilliant and the plots - particularly the early ones - were well constructed, but I will always remember the music. It was always appropriate and sometimes very subtle. The recent episodes with Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits were reminiscent of the early ones and made me wish that the show could go on............