NBC's Tim Russert dies at 58

[Kansas Viking]

Tim Russert, who pointedly but politely questioned hundreds of the powerful and influential as moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," died suddenly Friday while preparing for his weekly broadcast. The network's Washington bureau chief was 58.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080613/ap_ ... russert_32

I couldn't believe it when I got home and saw this headline. I have been watching Russert for years and always respected the man. Besides being one of the better broadcasters and interviewers out there, he was a die hard NFL and Buffalo Bills fan. He died without seeing his favorite team win the big one.

I will miss seeing his commentary and moderation this year during the political season.

RIP Tim.

[Demi]

Man, I never watched the program, but it was a shock, he seemed so young.

[PurpleMustReign]

Wow, that is sudden. I wonder what he died from?

That's too bad. It seems the best anchormen are all dying lately.

[BigMo]

I couldn't agree more Mike! Tim was the best in the business and I truly enjoyed last Sunday's edition of Meet the Press. It's sad that he will never know how things turned out in this years elections or that he will never grace our TV screens again!

Does anyone know if Bill or Hillary were in the building when he collapsed? j/k

Rest in Peace Tim Russert!

You'll be missed for sure!

[TrenchGoon]

I wasn't a fan but it is still sad news.

Rest in Peace Mr. Russert.

[DanAS1]

I posted a lengthier post on this thread a few minutes ago but it didn't appear (I'm still having trouble posting on to the new Board, or figuring out how to go back to the old version).

Anyway, I'll be brief. Russert was a great American. He was the most balanced and skilled television journalist of his generation; nobody else was close. And he came across as a very decent and fun-loving man. A real mensch.

He was also a huge sports fan whose beloved NFL team went 0-4 in the Super Bowl. For that last reason alone, we should raise a glass tonight in his honor.

He will be sorely, sorely missed.

[Minniman]

I disagree with you on Russert as a journalist. He was corporate news to the extreme. Russert often served up easy questions when he knew better, and he didn't follow up on any tough questions that he would ask. He didn't talk truth to authority, nor did he expect it, and I could not respect him as a journalist for those reasons.

That stated, he was a good family guy with good morals, as far as the information I know about him. I was surprised at his death, and it is a sad day.

[VikingMachine]

I couldnt disagree more with Miniman. I greatly respected Russert. I thought he was an excellent journalist, very fair and asked excellent questions, IMO. I will miss him on Meet The Press.

[TrenchGoon]

If you compare him to hacks like Chris Matthews, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olberman or Dan Rather he looks pretty good.

he was among the best that the main stream had to offer, which doesn't say much, but as I said, I am sad to hear about his passing.

[axeldaddy]

If you compare him to hacks like Chris Matthews, Bill O'Reilly, Keith Olberman or Dan Rather he looks pretty good.

he was among the best that the main stream had to offer, which doesn't say much, but as I said, I am sad to hear about his passing.

Same goes for me.

[DanAS1]

I disagree with you on Russert as a journalist. He was corporate news to the extreme. Russert often served up easy questions when he knew better, and he didn't follow up on any tough questions that he would ask. He didn't talk truth to authority, nor did he expect it, and I could not respect him as a journalist for those reasons.

Well, I'm happy to hear that you feel that way because the comments I've heard in the last 24 hours have indicated that he was so universally beloved that I've been wondering if we've all been brainwashed. (And perhaps your point, Minniman, is that in some profound way, we have been.) In any event, I wasn't suggesting that Russert was worthy of comparisons to Spinoza, Nietzsche or any of the other legendary truth-tellers whose iconoclastic gems we have the privilege of reading. But compare him for a moment to the others who ply his trade -- the so-called television journalists. Obnoxious, offensive, odious ... and those are just the O words!

In the land of the blind, as they say, the one-eyed man is king. I would think you'd have to admit that, as a TV journalist, Russert was at least a one-eyed man. That's more than I can say for the likes of Wolf Blitzer, Joe Scarborough, Larry King, Patrick Buchanan, Chris Matthews ... Heck, I don't even want to run down the names. Yucch.

[jackal]

sorry to hear he died but I don't really follow the news much.

[Minniman]

I couldnt disagree more with Miniman. I greatly respected Russert. I thought he was an excellent journalist, very fair and asked excellent questions, IMO. I will miss him on Meet The Press.

Russert asked good questions from time to time, but he didn't follow up well. He also didn't ask questions that were critical to uncovering the truth. If there was a group of people who watched "Meet the Press" each week without other information, they would not have been much better informed than people watching the fake news on the 24 hour news channels. There were many other shows that were much more informative, but I doubt Russel was allowed to go beyond the soft questions that his GE corporate handlers allowed him.

Tim Russert was a good guy, and he did an O.K. job. He was also well liked, but he was no Edward R. Murrow.

[John]

I couldn't believe it when I got home and saw this headline. I have been watching Russert for years and always respected the man. Besides being one of the better broadcasters and interviewers out there, he was a die hard NFL and Buffalo Bills fan. He died without seeing his favorite team win the big one.

I will miss seeing his commentary and moderation this year during the political season.

RIP Tim.

I was as stunned as you.

I rarely watched his show, but read a couple of his books. He was a good guy and way to young (to close to our age!) to die. My prayers go out to his family who must be in a state of shock right now.

John

[viking_guy]

i was shocked when i heard the news. he was the best political commentator BY FAR. he will be missed. RIP