Sound Politics: Mourning a Good Man

June 14, 2008

Mourning a Good Man - UPDATED

It is inevitably jarring to see someone whose exuberance for life is manifold, be called home by God much earlier than we here on earth care to see.

Whatever one's concerns with the MSM, it is impossible not to respect the rigor and infectious enthusiasm with which Tim Russert approached his work. The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza called him, "the single most influential political journalist working in Washington."

Heady stuff, but here perhaps is an ultimately more telling tribute to the man's life from Kate O'Beirne:

I am so very sad at this terrible news having known Tim as unfailingly decent and down-to-earth. He was modest, generous, and kind. He was an institution in Washington, but behaved as though he were unaware of his exalted position. We were more likely to sit around after Meet the Press talking about our families than the latest from the campaign trail. His personal experience was in Democratic politics but he had a lively curiosity and was grounded in Buffalo. He was genuinely interested in everyone's opinions.

Like the also departed Michael Kelly, Tim Russert will be remembered by many for his supererogatory journalism, just as he will also be loved by others as simply a marvelous human being.

UPDATE: there are some wonderful moments in Meet the Press today, remembering Russert. I could watch clips of his best and most memorable interviews for hours. The full netcast of today's show is below and can be found on this page as well. It is worth the view, if nothing else as a remembrance of a man who demonstrated so publicly the love of life and country that is the heart of the American essence. If time is short, the last few minutes are especially poignant, from 49:52 to the end.

Posted by Eric Earling at June 14, 2008 10:37 AM | Email This

Comments

1. Tim Russert was far and away the best interviewer out there. The public loses one of the few objective journalists around and the industry loses the role model for what objective journalism is all about and how it should be conducted.

I was listening to Olbermann talking to Chris Matthews last night and he (matthews) still managed to bring his tired old lines of Bush bashing into the interview about the loss of a colleague. It truly is a sickness with some people.

The level of Journalism has devolved over the years with the exception being a stalwart like Tim Russert. He will be missed in more ways than one.

Posted by: Rick D. on June 14, 2008 11:37 AM

2. Tim Russert was way more objective than most of the rest of the heavily biased and prone to editorialism "journalists." Bummer. He will probably get replaced with some more Olbermann like liar.

But this is why I eat oatmeal every day, run and check my blood pressure often. 58 is way too young to go. Get in shape for your kids' sake. They need you now and forever. Hopefully Tim's loss will inspire others in that high stress profession to put health first. Bonus side effect of taking personal responsibility for our health is that the statists will be less likely to force socialized medicine on us.

Posted by: Jeff B. on June 14, 2008 11:51 AM

3. Why Tim Russert and not Joel Connelly?

Posted by: Doc-T on June 14, 2008 07:10 PM

4. Tim Russert, RIP

One less Democrat disguised as a journalist.

Posted by: ShermanStreet on June 14, 2008 08:03 PM

5. Whether you agreed with Tim or not, you knew the guy had done his research and was a straight shooter. Sure, he was a Democrat, but he was also a professional and he didn't bring shame to journalism like a lot of these loudmouths do today.

With the loss of Russert, about 97% of MSNBC's (and 87% of NBC's) integrity goes with him. Perhaps they can change the name of the cable channel to AirAmericaTV.

Posted by: The Real Mark on June 14, 2008 08:42 PM

6. While he kept his bias more in check than most, it was still evident in the tone, if not the substance, of his interviews.

Whoever replaces him at NBC is unlikely to be as good though.

Posted by: deadwood on June 14, 2008 10:13 PM

7. Indeed, one Democrat aparatchik gone. No need to mourn.

Posted by: JB on June 14, 2008 11:25 PM

8. Russert is interviewing God as we speak, pressing him on his many inconsistencies.

Posted by: wutiitz on June 15, 2008 06:08 AM

9. We heard of Russert's passing while listening to the radio Friday afternoon. The comments here that seem to revel in his demise make me ill. I'm sure some of these comments come from the usual leftist trolls that pretend to be conservatives and are so dishonest and mean that they would even stoop so low as to exploit the death of a wonderful man. I hope you creeps choke on your next soy milk de-caf latte.

Russert was a truly decent, fair man who loved his family. Sure he was a Democrat, but one who was more steeped in the tradition of Scoop Jackson than Barack Obama. He wasn't a partisan hack like Matthews. Russert was a journalist who put his politics aside when he walked through the studio door.

We were going to see my wife's father,(our only remaining parent), next weekend. As we listened to people tell how much Russert had affected their lives my wife blurted out that we needed to go see her dad on Father's Day. And so we will drive to the coast today, watch the US Open with her dad and cook him a salmon dinner. I'll raise a glass to Tim Russert, a man who valued family above all. Oh how he will be missed.

Posted by: Bill Cruchon on June 15, 2008 09:42 AM

10. I second Bill Cruchon's comments. I was shocked and saddened to hear of Tim Russert's death. He was one of the few MSM political reporters that I had respect for. His death means the average MSM pool of political reporters moves further to the left extreme.

Posted by: Bill H on June 15, 2008 12:12 PM

11. Tim Russert made meet the press. his style of journalism to me was very much in the Murrow tradition, of informing the public and not letting elected officials getting away with anything. My heart is so sad over his passing.

Posted by: linda on June 15, 2008 08:48 PM

12. Tim Russert was a class act. While he was likely a Democrat, having worked for Mario Cuomo and Daniel P. Moynihan - he was above all a professional and was asked the tough questions to anyone on Meet the Press and did it with class and integrity.

He will be greatly missed and I don't see anyone on NBC, MSNBC or any of the other alphabet networks who can come close to filling his shoes. (Chris Wallace may come the closest, but I don't see NBC going approaching Fox News - as it has become bent to the progressive left)

Posted by: KS on June 15, 2008 10:25 PM

13.
I guess the Hillary retribution killings have just begun...

Posted by: John Bailo on June 16, 2008 06:13 PM