Charlie's Blog

Charlie...just for the record, to address your comment earlier about whether the 'blog' is a good use of time. I just happened onto your blog for the first time today. I love it. You are so real and so genuine (as are your co-horts on GMA. I don't see how any of us can fail to enjoy your thoughts on the day's events. It's just like sitting down and having a conversation with you. I was a longtime, NBC news devotee. Over the last few years, I have come to appreciate/trust your commentary over many others. I miss Tim Russert...he was my most trusted source for political commentary, but in his absence, you are it, my friend. Take care of yourself. We want you around for a very long time. I'll check back to your blog often. Best Regards, Vicky
(Washington State)

Charlie: This is return blog #6; you are like a close friend now, as you paint the scene as it is. Thanks to the "Bourbon Orleans" for keeping their doors open to you and your staff. What a way to spend Labor Day, or any day. We who have never known the hurricane experience up front and close, lean on you to put it in perspective for those of us interested in real news.
As I've said before, I am a retired teacher-librarian, and it was my responsibility to "make the news present to my students", while they would much rather hang out in a classroom they felt was unimportant to their graduation. It was the aftermath of 9-11 that put me in the position to present the news "as it is", a craft learned from my own interest in life and the world. You do it for a living, and with your persistence to bring it to us, "the truth will set us free".
So, Charlie, "funny thing happened on the way to St. Paul...we landed in New Orleans", was on my mind as I've watched you on today's news. You and your staff make the news real; others would rather be in denial while you get it out to us, as needed.
Praying for your safety and stamina; give it your best, as you always do. Stay dry!

At 6 pm tonight an F-18 buzzed over my house, not more than 200 feet in the air. Within seconds, I saw a small plane begin to turn East then Northeast. The F-18 circled around to the East. I could not see the Fighter jet anymore, but I could hear it as I saw the small plane fly away. I don't know if it was an F-18 or another jet, but I could see the pilot in his cockpit bubble.

My wife and I have watched ABC news for years. We are both Democrats and are of the opinion that both Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos are Republicans. They certainly slant the news to the Republican point of view. Shame on you.
On the news of the day:
I do not understand how the Republicans continue to get away with double standards. The child of the Republican Vice Presidential candidate being pregnant and not married certainly demonstrated “FAMILY VALUES” does it not. If a child of a Democratic political candidate were in the same situation, the religious right would be down on the person like a hawk. The Republicans are always spouting “Family Values. It seems to us that the Republican Party had now lost 2 of it most trumpted issues, family values and experience in government.
Richard Sherwin

I live in Ham Lake, Minnesota. Not more than 10 or 15 minutes flying time to St. Paul. Who was in this small plane and what happened with them?

I am a registered Democrat, however in the interest of fairness, why did we see Republican parties tonight but none during the Democratic Convention?

Is this an opinion or is it news reporting?

Mr. Gibson,

Thank you for taking the time to write. I hope you see blogging as valuable to your time, because it is valuable to us. You are a great journalist and respect you tremendously. Keep up the good work and increase ABC's coverage of the election. The more the better!

Daniel
Seattle, WA

So after weeks and weeks of butt-kissing coverage I see some dems are complaining here about All Barak Channel covering the RNC? One of the many reasons I left the dems. All, a bunch of hate-filled whiners. And what's with giving Diddy air-time on your website, ABC?

I really don't appreciate "Cokie's" judgemental call about the Palin family's difficult decision to discuss a personal family situation. She must view the world a a bowl of crap. Which is how I view most of the media. Look for the most negative thing that will get attention so we can increase our ratings. Where are the moral principles that our country was founded on????

Sorry Charlie, but when you attack the candidates' families, that is off limits. I don't know who writes the #### you report on, but I hear you say the words. Teen age pregnancies are not political. As far as family values, Ms. Palin loves her daughter and will stand beside her through these trying times. maybe you should respect that...

Charlie, I could not believe my ears tonight when I heard you compare Hurricane Gustav to "Storm Sarah", referencing the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's daughter as the latest "storm". Shame on you. You have daughters and you should be supportive or keep quiet. There are many families who live through an unwed daughter's pregnancy; listen to both political party nominees suggestion and do not politicize this family's child.

Charlie, your news story on tonight's televised nightly news mentioned that your reporters went out looking for lobbying parties at the DNC just as you did at the RNC. Your report was very critical of the intent and appropriateness of the St. Paul parties.

Did you run a similar story of the lobbying parties for the Democrats in Denver? NO!! If Obama is truely the "change candidate and ethics crusader" that he claims to be, then that story would be just as news worthy as the as the parties in St. Paul. WHERE IS THE STORY THAT LIKEWISE CRITICIZES THE DEMOCRATS FOR THIER COZY RELATIONSHIPS AND INFLUENCE PARTYING WITH LOBBYISTS DURING THE DNC???

Good Evening Mr. Gibson..;-)

The sheer theater of Gustav in the US is laughable and reminds me of professional wrestling. CNN for example has 5 reporters covering a mild hurricane that is a category 2. 115 mile an hour winds compared to 150MPH that hit Cuba. There is nothing on CNN except Gustav. Five reporters ignoring the evacuation what a gr8 example!

John McCain is just as lame cancelling, yeah for political reasons to "show" his compassion and as he claims patriotism. They seem to forget how NYC continued despite 9-11. Bush hanging his hat in Texas to "make up for Katrina, pathetic.

Why not discuss the choices we make. I live in the Arizona desert yet my insurance rates go up because of those living and ignoring the danger of significant hurricanes. As a taxpayer every disaster we bail out I pay for and so do you. Then I am forced to watch idiots refuse to leave a potentially dangerous area and the news flock in to show how brave they are, absurd!

There is enough real problems in our world without making them up for theater, CNN should be ashamed. Fortunately ABC has restrained the theater...

One solution to this growing problem would be to prohibit building (new and current) on flood plains. Why do we have laws when the penalties have no teeth? Make all the land on the coast public just as they do in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Sure it sounds crazy but this is a growing problem and like the War in Iraq we simply can not afford it.

To bail out these locations once fine, I will buy it, but twice, a dozen times Nah that is nuttier than a fruitcake. This was a number 2 hurricane and look at the costs, remember what a number 4 or 5 costs.

Spencer
Nogales, AZ

I think Palin was smart to say about the daughters pregnancy--some one would have found out about it and then all hell would brake loose----besides today ---not such a big deal----people can be cruel and they will when they want something---Charles-- you blog very well-----its lots of fun isn't it---

Palin pregnancy. Family matter. To chase it is unprofessional. Even Obama says it is irrevelant. CNN harped too long and is now on ignore.

Palin vs trooper. Get the facts not the opinions. French is seeking headlines. CNN naming as "trooper-gate" is doing the same. Did she apply undue pressure isn't the question. Did the trooper's superior fail to act due to "buddy system" is the question. And if "yes" then you've got a real story to report.

Last week when you covered the lobbyists' parties for the Democrats at their convention (which some of the commentators above obviously never watched!) my Democratic friends were offended that you were showing the Democratic legislators in bad light - and one of your ABC associates was taken off to jail for doing a good job reporting.

Glad to see you are being fair and also showing the Republican lobbyist parties! But how typical to see that the lobbyists at their party were providing a band named Hookers & Blow... do the lobbyists seduce the legislators with real hookers and blow, and is this their hint? For a party which falsely claims to be the "family values" party, I find them amusing in their behavior. The politicians caught with the most deviant sexual misdeeds have all been Republicans while the Democrats seem to be caught with traditional extramarital affairs.

Goodness - where were these people who are criticising ABC's coverage of Demo vs Republican convention parties? The Democratic party throwers wouldn't let in your news people, but they stuck it out on the sidewalk (or the jail). Good for them.

The "appropriateness" of the Republican party throwers was raised by McCain in that he asked his party to keep the tone of the convention down. Indeed the Republican's in there usual state of "not getting the working man" went on with their extravagance.

Oh, but by all means the McCain's are showing their support of our military people. Didn't you see Cindy McCain's interview with George Sunday? She was wearing TWO pins - one said "USMC" the other "NAVY". Wasn't that nice? Oh, you didn't notice them sparkling in the TV lights? Well, diamonds do that, you know! That, my friends, is lip-service!

She also was completely offended by Obama's reference to her wealth because her father worked hard for his money. Yes, he did and I respect her father for that, but the point, good lady, is that you are SECOND generation riche -- Obama worked hard for his money also and if he is nouveau riche - he is the one who worked for it, not the one who is benefiting from someone ELSE's earnings.

What you said about "the pregnancy" was just fine Charlie. If you had not said anything, you would have been criticized for favoring the Republicans. But you knew that already didn't you.

Keep up the good work. Enjoyed your coverage of the storm last night. Enjoyed "This Week" Sunday. Good job! Have a good night.

Charlie, I have to say I miss you in the mornings. I don't get to watch you in the evening time - too many carpools to have to handle. I'm a mother, in GA.
So sick of hearing about the hurricane - and how people are going to take care of their homes, etc. These people all coming running to Atlanta. I have to say they have their hands out... they would be no different if they were in their own home town. If they have nothing here - you know they had nothing there either. I'm over hearing about this child being pregnant. It's not our issue either. The media needs to step back - this could cause so much harm to this child and her baby. Stress can kill. I must admit the mother should have not taken on this position, she needs to be a mother to the 5 children she has - how does she think she can take on this role. I'm not sure who I will vote for this year - maybe I won't vote. I have not heard anything good out of either side. We need to take a long look at people losing their jobs, their homes, etc... we need to worry about what will be taking place when our own children are trying to find their way in this world. I feel sorry for my up coming grandchildren. There are no good words to say about what this world has come to. We people are the ones that have made it this way. My grandparents would be turning over in their grave if they could see how people treat each other. Please keep your messages positive - I'm tried of hearing all negative comments, Miss you in the mornings.

Charlie, I caught your GMA piece from N.O. and couldn't believe two completely ridiculous statements you made.
One, you blamed the Bush admin for the disaster Katrina caused in N.O. I think the smooth evacuations this time make it patently clear that the idiot mayor didn't know what he was doing last time!
Two, you said you hoped Gustav would turn away from N.O. To where? Houston? Galveston? Florida?

I am really disappointed about the way the media is trying to shred Sarah Palin's reputation. You made a raucous about Sarah Palin's history and lack of political experience-but, no one in the mainstream media will the same to Obama. Then lay off Sarah Palin and her family. So called 'troopergate' is an incomplete analogy of what was really going on. This ex brother in law had threatened to kill their father for obtainig a lawyer for Palin's sister. And, claimed no one would question his actions because he was a trooper. Why would anyone try to get this guy fired from his only means of support to the spouse and family if there wasn't a really good reason! Use your common sense and stop trying to gain politically from this. What would Obama or Biden do if someone threatened to kill a member of their family. It's the 'good 'ol boys (even troopers) going after Sarah Palin again. Lay off unless you want to give equal time to Obama's prior drug use. The realities of him belonging to an anti white church for 20 years at his wife's encouragement,etc.