Hmmm...maybe that previous anonymous poster hasn't heard anything about the "evil" Diebold voting machines because Democrats won the House and Senate?

It would be great to replace these script reading / give me the answer I want / media darling Senators with the Marine officers you mentioned. Then we might actually learn something.. It would also be funny to have the same officers put the Senators in the hot seat, and question them.

Senator "it's been reported" that only 10 of you bothered to even read the NIE before voting. Were you one of them?

Senator "There are people who say" that some members of the senate and house only pushed for a new resolution on Iraq to look strong on defense before the 2002 elections. Were you one of them?

Senator have you ever appeared on Father Tim Russert's program seeking absolution by answering NO to the question. "If you knew then what you know now would you vote for the Iraq war?"

Senator when was the last time you had a real idea?

I've watched way too much c-span :-)

God bless our troops and their families.

Brian, first of all thank you for the wonderful work you do every night. As a New Zealander living here, I am finding the reports from Chad very interesting and sad. I am hoping that these reports will be more expansive as time goes on, and maybe the more you show on it, the sooner some one will get up and do something about it. Maybe if you shame them enough?

I'm really disappointed in NBC Nightly News. It has been over a week since the elections and I've heard not a single report about those evil Diebold electronic voting machines. What gives?

Ann Curry is to be commended for her reporting. How in the world we can be ignoring this situation is beyond my comprehension. She brings a face to the suffering and it's heart wrenching to watch. She is doing a phenomenal job. Kudos to NBC for passing on giving OJ a public forum. He's gotten away with murder, twice, and now he needs more money because he's been out of the spot light for a while. Please, no more on him. He belongs on FOX, if I had any interest in hearing or seeing him I can turn to them. I won't. It's beyond me how this country has sunk to a level where millions will tune in to that sideshow.

While I am in admiration for the quality of work done by Brian and the NBC Nightly News team, I can hardly believe you actually gave air time to the latest OJ Simpson affront to human dignity. Whatever were you thinking? That stuff belongs on Fox, E or Entertainment Tonight or in my opinion, not covered at all anywhere. That OJ is walking around a free man is so mind-boggling, and this latest round of publicity is beyond disgusting. Please, no more...

Re last night's O.J. Simpson report, prior to which you asked something to the effect of "What was he thinking?":

Simpson, who I imagine got tired of having been out of the news for several years, now has a book he wants to hawk--so in order to make it sufficiently provocative to earn him face-time on newscasts, he has in the book how he would have murdered Nicole had he done so. So I think that's all it is--he wants the publicity that would help him sell his book (that I wouldn't pay a plugged nickel for.) And I'm with his sister-in-law Denise who said proceeds from the book's sale should go to the victims' families.

On an entirely different topic, continued kudos to the "Coming Home" series.

Watching Ann Curry's brilliant work on the sad story of what is happening in central Africa is a reminder that the world needs another body to help with this issue. The UN is a bloated shadow of itself... it cannot be the instrument of peace for the 21st century when so much is at stake. It is time for another institution to emerge with real teeth (it's own military capabilities?) that can stand up to bullies like the Janjaweed. Must we wait for another global catastrophe to convince ourselves of this?

Brian -

Thanks for the nice comments.

It's great to have a forum like this where real discussion is encouraged and engaged in by thoughtful people who are informed and can express their opinions in a literate manner.

You've set a high standard by your daily blogs and ensuing comments and by your real interest in our opinions. As a writer, I appreciate that.

So, what's News today??

Joan Chapman Cheshire, CT
PS - I heard from friends and family from all over the US after you read my email on air - don't worry -The NBC Nightly News is covering the country.

Dear Brian,
Hello, I'am a big fan of your show. Though I'm only 13 I find it very informing, and watch it every night. But to tell ya the truth, you could of done better than "A shot heard around the airline world," Wednesday night!Though I really enjoyed "All they want is 10 peanuts and something to drink." It made me laugh! keep up the good work! Also steer clear of bad material!
your fan,
Savanna!

Brian- Thanks for the continuous great job- from Katrina to Iraq, to the election.
On the Iraq Study Group- we still don't get it. I look at this group, the Bush administration's handling of Iraq- and say- when will you understand.
Our 'study' groups are made up of 'old'men- look at Bush's admin- made up from people from the Bush 1988 group - Cheney, Rumsfeld and others. Now this group- James Baker, Lee Hamilton, and others. Our enemy is young, mad, and willing to die.
Isn't time we start to understand 'their' culture, their beliefs, and how we can make a better world, instead of this U.S. theory that we'll bomb them into belief of our culture, our way.
The Lott re-appearance clearly indicates- we have no spokesmen, no diplomats that can meet one-on-one with who we deeem as the enemy today.It's just a replay of old politicians.
If we don't change our approach- we'll never solve the problems.

Noone should be surprised that General Abizaid is against a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq. The General takes his orders from President Bush, and he has clearly seen what happens to those in the military (e.g. General Shinsheki) who contradict the official administration line.

The crisis in Darfur is the worst cultural violence since the Holocost in my opinion. What are we as Americans doing to stop this? We should try getting the army over there to keep Darfur safe.

You definitely have a preponderance of intelligent, thoughtful people responding to this blog. When so much of what is out there on the internet is more chaff than wheat, this blog is a must for those who wish a civilized discussion of current events.

Thanks, Brian :) The thanks really should go to all of you for providing this forum for us; so many have been taken down due to abuse. This is a haven for a kind of conversation that is less available than it used to be. I've been online since 1994, and have watched the growth and then the loss of discussion forums, and it's REALLY nice to have one like this available again!

BTW .. you or your staff might be interested in becoming familiar with the discipline of change management simply because many of the behaviors and reactions you see in the political and social realms are expressions of how people are reacting to rapid change. William Bridges is a "guru" on the subject, and most business or IT schools also have experts available. I think it might be helpful to journalists as they try to provide context for the "happenings" around us.

Hi Norma. You can see yesterday's comment thread to read what Brian was writing about here: http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/11/quote_of_the_da.html

When I clicked on the URL given below for trackbacks, I got the message "trackbacks must use HTTP POST." Maybe the problem is that I am a MAAC user, with MAC OS X,4.9. Any suggestions?

Brian: Your comments fmake me curious to see yesterday's postings. Is there a way to do this? I do check in often but cannot ALWAYS do so.