I applaud NBC for tagging along with Bono on this trip, however, I was a little disappointed when I didn't see any of the positive things that have happened over the past few years in the blogs (especially in the info. from DATA).
For example, Nigeria is one of few countries globally that has a declining HIV rate, and has REPAID about 90% of its debt recently paying back about $18 billion dollars in cash (so really, Nigeria currently only has external debt of about $5 billion not $35B).
Someone needs to tell these success stories so folks in the "West" can see that progress is being made.

its admirable that people are trying to help with the africa situation, but i dont believe that any amount of money will help solve their problems. with warlords and corrupt politicians they will never know peace.

Call me picky, picky but the headline reads "Is It Him?" A positive statement with that would read: "Him it is." C'mon.

Brian, safe travels to/in/from Africa...and with hope, your broadcasts from there will have you wearing a pair of the famous "Bono" glasses. Be well.

Have a good trip to Africa. I enjoy Bono's music, too.

Chip Reid's report on congressional corruption, which included Louisiana Rep. William Jefferson's problems, was most interesting. However, I got a sinking feeling when I read that possible skulduggery far worse, which should send chills down the spine of anyone who cares about Gulf Coast recovery, is taking place in Washington, and this is something NBC Nightly should shine the light of media scrutiny on.

According to the Times-Picayune, Louisiana officials including Gov. Blanco said yesterday they were concerned that Congress was delaying action on the all-important "emergency" spending bill that includes $4.2 billion for housing rebuilding and buyout grants in Louisiana and $3.7 billion for levee repairs and upgrades. Gov. Blanco says anything less would jeopardize Louisiana's recovery efforts. However, Congress looks as if it will not wrap up this bill (which has already been held up longer than it should have been) until the end of the month, and the President says he'll veto it.

What part of "emergency" don't they understand? Meanwhile, Louisiana is fighting for her very survival--as Gov. Blanco said, "We have extensive damage in Louisiana, and we need extraordinary help." But Congress and the President have been fiddling with various "topics du jour" while Louisiana burns.

The thing that would straighten this out would be if the President pushes a "Marshall Plan" for the Gulf Coast as strongly as he's been pushing immigration reform lately--but this is something he obviously lacks the conscience and the will to take action on.

Hey Brian and entourage, we're praying for your safe trip and return. God bless and please know that as you look upon the multitudes during your travels, you're seeing them for us-the multitudes who wish we were able to do more for them-and representing us. PS-try to pencil in some sleep somewhere in your itinerary:-)

Deep Throat, Hoffa but what happened to DB Cooper?

Now this, is journalisim ladies and gentlemen. Mr Gregory excellent job. Keep them coming and we shall watch and listen. Claim number one, okay lets earn that tittle.

Brian, you truly are one of the most amazing people, if not the most amazing person in our last decade. After hearing about this Blog firsthand from viewing Conan O’Brien last night, I was very curios. And to no surprise, you did not disappoint. The gift you have for connecting to the American people is one that is un-matched. I remember my great-grandmother was attached to Peter Jennings and I could never figure out why. At the age of 22 and the impact you and your team have had on my life, I now understand and can only hope that you will impact further generations. Thank you for who you are and everything you will do in the future.

It's time to think creatively when it comes to dealing with illegal immigrants in our country. I particularly liked the thinking of Sheriff John Trumbo of Umatilla, OR. According to Tomas Alex Tizon of the Los Angeles Times (as seen in the May 14th issue of the Seattle Times), this sheriff submitted a bill to President Vicente Fox of Mexico for the jail costs keeping the 360 illegal immigrants "from his country" who have spent time in jail. One can argue whether the motivation for this action was racial. Nonetheless it showed some creative thinking that should be taking place when determining a solution to illegal immigration problem.

Brian,
Nice commett in regards to the Rats with weraing the wires on the broadcast last night.My wife likes it as well.

Your right Brian some of us do remember Deep Throat and Hoffa but is seems history always repeats itself at lease for America. Now we have the current corrupt Administration and for the future generations they too will have their All the Presidents Men story. New names same corruption. Thank goodness I'm old, I don't think I could wait as long as we had to do with Watergate. Unless these young legal minds get to the bottom line fast. As for David, he is the best but he's interviewing a man who doesn't know how to tell the truth so good luck. Now for the General he knows what he's doing is illegal but as a team player it's his job to lie and get away with it. We need honest leadership to get honest results.

Are they crazy???? Still trying to dig up Jimmy Hoffa??? Do we not have better things to do with our hard earned tax dollars???? No wonder the rest of the World hates us or thinks we are nuts!!!! We ARE. What can they possibly hope to accomplish? Make sure he was murdered???? Give his widow some closure??? Is she still alive??? Doesn't he have a son in jail??? Who could possibly care where Jimmy Hoffa is buried??? I don't give a rat's butt.

The devil is in the details and it is the lack of detail that leads me to quetion the enforceability of either the house or senate version of the proposed immigration bill.

If we are going to deport all (the House bill) or round up, sort out and deport some (the Senate version) of the 11 million (the number generally agreed upon) illegal immigrants in this country, it will require an awful lot of police. Local police do not have the capacity or the desire to get involved, so the Feds would have to establish and fund a large immigration police force. Would Congress do it? Do we want such a police force in our midst? What do we do with these people after we catch them and before we are able to deport them? It would take a while. You can't just put them on a plane and send them somewhere. Without documentation, the receiving countries will send them back on the next plane. This leads to immigration detention centers and their attendant abuses. We have already been down that road.

With 11 million people involved, either provision will take a long time to accomplish and would set up a cat and mouse game between the Feds and the immigrants. How would it be done? I can see a scenario like this: the immgration police descend on a place of employment and check for illegals. As they come in the front door, the illegals go out the back. Those that remain must PROVE they are legal or that they are CITIZENS. That leads inexorably to a national ID card. Whether you are for or against it, I think all would agree it involves privacy and big brother issues, particularly since the card would probably have biometric data. That opens up a whole new avenue of debate.

While I agree the key is to hold employers responsible for checking worker's documentation, to require employers to access government data bases at this point is fruitless. Last I heard, the FAA still csn't access other agencies' terror watch lists and as Howard Fineman says: "...government admits that it can't even keep track of legal visa holders here." Maybe before we do anything we should get the likes of Bill Gates and/or Steve Jobs to bring government computers into the 21st century! But will Congress adequately fund and oversee an upgrade?

I am against illegal immigration and for legal immigration and believe we need to get the situation under control. But I don't think we are there yet. It seems to me Congress is about to pass a "feel good" immigration bill that won't or can't be enforced. The devil is indeed in the details--but no one is talking about them and we need to.

To Olivia and those who don't get HBO but whose interest has been sparked by Brian's commentary on the Sopranos: A&E (basic cable) will air a "sanitized" version of the series starting, I believe, in January.

Finally, in the spirit of this blog which gives insight into the process of journalism, I recommend the article by Jennifer Senior in the 5/22/06 issue of New York Magazine: "The Baghdad Press Club. The horror, claustrophobia, and everyday heroism of reporting on the Iraq war." (http://nymag.com/news/media/17014/) It is full of inside stuff and features interviews with all the top news correspondents in Baghdad--including NBC's Richard Engel. Good read. It leaves you shaking your head wondering how they manage.

Thanks for the interview aka Stretch and the POTUS. David Gregory is my main man! He is not afraid to ask tough questions, unlike many mainstream media reporters. But sadly POTUS doesn't get it. Maybe we need to send Stepehn Colbert to the White House for a friendly dinner. Thanks NBC for David, Brian and your other talented staff.