Tim Russert dead at 58

[shereads]

THAT Tim Russert. The invulnerable one, the permanent fixture on Sunday mornings at Meet the Presss.

Seems unreal.

 

[Guest]

THAT Tim Russert. The invulnerable one, the permanent fixture on Sunday mornings at Meet the Presss.

Seems unreal.

Yes.

Sad and shocking news.

 

[impressive]

 

[shereads]

Kind of stunned by this. He's such an icon. I've watched Meet the Press nearly every Sunday morning for years.

Russert wrote a best-selling book about his father, called "Big Russ and Me," and did a segment on NBC about taking care of an elderly parent who refuses to give up his independence.

Never imagined that his father would outlive him!

 

[shereads]

NBC video: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25147365#25148789

 

[CmdrSymax]

We'll miss you, Tim.

 

[cheerful_deviant]

It's hard to believe.

I still remember immediatly after 9/11 when there was basically 24 hour news coverage of the event for days that he (along with Tom Brokaw) impressed me the most of all the news correspondants. He handled the situation with a dignified composure that many others couldn't seem to manage amidst the chaos and confusion of the still developing story. He always struck me as one of the most professional of all the major personalities in the news.

It's truly a sad day.

 

[TE999]

This is very sad. He was unique among journalists ; assiduously non-partisan, a tough but fair interviewer and always cheerful. He was so excited about politics it was infectious.

Tom Brokaw almost broke down reporting it this afternoon.

Requiescat in Pace Tim. You were the best.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Ask not for whom the bell tolls . . .

A sober reminder to grab for the gusto today, because there's no guarantee of a tomorrow.

 

[shereads]

Someone called him "the narrator of modern American politics." I think that's apt. There was something comforting in his unfailing enthusiasm for the process - as if it would all turn out okay or we'd have received an official warning of impending doom from this jovial guy who was so close to the process.

I still think he lost Florida for my party in 2000 by calling it a Gore win before the polls had closed in the westernmost part of the state. When I die, I'd like to give Tim Russert a piece of my mind about that - and then I'd like to buy him a drink. Oh, the stories he must have.

His NBC co-workers have been talking about how fascinated Russert has been by this presidential campaign, and someone offered this quote from a week ago: "Can you believe we get paid to cover this?"

He was thrilled to live in a country where the son of a garbage collector could hold a Senator's feet to the fire in a public forum and call it work.

 

[DesertPirate]

Another good one gone

 

[S-Des]

Very sad, both when you think about the loss to his family, and when you think about the loss to the political discourse. There is speculation that NBC will beg Brokaw to come out of retirement to take his place through the election. I can't imagine anyone filling those shoes.

 

[DeeZire]

My favorite part of election coverage was Tim with his marker-board, adding up the latest vote tallies, as excited as a kid in a candy store.

 

[shereads]

My favorite part of election coverage was Tim with his marker-board, adding up the latest vote tallies, as excited as a kid in a candy store.

I know. Sometimes I wanted to smack him.