Tim Russert recalled to the home office
Shocked and saddened doesn’t begin to cover it. I loved Tim Russert. I never missed an episode of “Meet The Press.” When he appeared on “Today,” The Missus knew that whatever was happening in the front room, I was checking out of it until Tim was done speaking.And the reason was, he was the most honest journalist on television. He was tough as nails and prepared to the hilt. He never let a non-answer slide, but his aggressiveness in pursuit of the answers he was looking for never seemed personal, nasty or petty.
Bottom line: He came across as both honest and decent. He was always a gentleman on camera. And he was endlessly smart; not clever, but intelligent and well-studied. How many TV-news figures can you say that about?
He’ll be missed around this house like an amputated limb. Sunday mornings will suck awfully hard for a long, long time to come.
As one newsman to another, I wish you a peaceful journey, my television friend. Rest well.
posted by Fang Bastardson at 2:44 PM
7 Comments:
I was shocked too. We need all the level heads we can get these days, and no one seems prepared to replace him. A sad afternoon.
3:46 PM
I was all set last Sunday to watch 'Meet the Press' when that ogre I've written to you about, Fang, pounded down the stairs in a desperate attempt for drama and attention.
I vacated the premises without a word. "Next week," I thought, "the ogre will be gone, and I can watch 'Meet the Press' in peace."
Fuck.
Only the good ones die so soon. The rest of us stick around and stink up the place.
6:03 AM
Sorry Mark. Last week's was a great show, too. Journalist round-table, and Russert was in his element; he was downright giddy. It was a pleasure to watch, even without knowing it was his last show.
It ran literally at 5 a.m. on this wretched NBC affiliate out here on Christmas Island, so I taped it to watch later while I worked. I checked yesterday, and I've already taped over it. More regrets...
Stinking up the place since 1962
~Fang
6:36 AM
From MSNBC.com, Dan Rather (my other favorite newsman) writes about Russert:
"Tim's passing is a loss not only to his family and many friends, it is a loss to good journalism and to our country.
Tim, first and foremost, was devout in his faith and deeply devoted to his family. He loved his country with a passion and became a classic example of the ideal American journalist.
Tim had become an important part of our political process. He will be especially missed in this historic presidential election year.
Tim Russert was a beacon of quality journalism.
At a time when quality journalism is in increasingly short supply, Tim Russert was a leader for what is best in American journalism. He was tough but fair, pulled no punches, played no favorites.
As an interviewer, he had few, if any, peers."
6:53 AM
To Dowdy's point - why do the good die young and why do some of us seem to living so damn long?
Damn. November is going to be so dman empty without Russert's even-headed reporting.
1:57 PM
Tim Russert's passing was a drag. Before he took over Meet The Press, that show had become stale and boring. I feel for whoever takes over... all they have to do is step in for the best. Sort of like replacing Chick Hearn with the Lakers or when he finally retires, Vin Scully. (sorry Fang, had to get a sports analogy in there)
Leave it to KCRA 3 to run the best public affairs program of the last 20 years at 5 a.m.
Go Bills. RIP.
3:22 PM
"Leave it to KCRA 3 to run the best public affairs program of the last 20 years at 5 a.m."
Man, you're not just whistlin' "Dixie." What a bunch of complete idiots. We thought we were the only ones who noticed.
6:32 PM
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