Tim Russert - Dead!

[LordJezo]

Who saw this coming?

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06132008/news/nationalnews/tim_russert_dies_from_apparent_heart_att_115384.ht m

[pennington]

I just saw this over on Drudgereport too. The chalkboard will be blank next election day.

R.I.P.

[MadMatt]

Holy crap! That is huge!

RIP Mr. Russert... :down:

[ibanez23]

Ohhh the humanity! What next?

[Freitag]

Who saw this coming?

http://www.nypost.com/seven/06132008/news/nationalnews/tim_russert_dies_from_apparent_heart_att_115384.ht m

Did he and Imus ever make up?

[TheMojoPin]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!?

Wow, this is nuts.

[Tall_James]

Never saw that one coming. RIP Tim.

[Friday]

HOLY CRAP

i just turned on MSNBC and this was on.... 58 years old.

RIP :sad:

[K.C.]

Holy shit...

I don't know why it's so shocking, but it is.

[K.C.]

God help us all if Chris Matthews takes over 'Meet The Press'

[topless_mike]

i blame hillary.
her not being able to buy the election broke his heart.

[PD]

I liked watching Tim Russert.
He did good interviews, was an easy listen, and didn't take himself too seriously.

When Homicide:Life on the Street had a character Megan Russert, he made an appearance as her character's brother.

we will be missed every sunday

"If its Sunday, it's Meet the press"

[MikeB]

Did he and Imus ever make up?

Yea. For what ever reason Imus quickly forgave him once coming back and had him on the show often since.

I know bartlett trashed him when he was on O&A during Imus off period so it wasnt just outsiders thinking Russert handled the situation wrong.

I am a big Imus fan and HATED Russert for what he did but if Imus forgave him I figured I obviously should also.



I will miss his goofy dry erase board on election nights.

[sailor]

insanity.

[MadMatt]

God help us all if Chris Matthews takes over 'Meet The Press'

No, he is on tour this summer so I don't think he will be able to do a TV show.


Wait... maybe that's Dave Matthews...

[Friday]

I will miss his goofy dry erase board on election nights.

me too!
i actually enjoy his election coverage.
he always stayed up late to keep me company on the telly.
:(

[TheMojoPin]

This stinks. Easily my favorite of all the major TV journalists out there today.

[Lady Resin]

What a shame. I use to love hearing my husband yell at the TV on Sunday mornings. RIP Tim.:sad:

[Doogie]

Perhaps this is a sign the wrath of the Clintons has begun...

[SinA]

Wow. Not long ago that Hillary staffer said something about "Big Russ up in heaven" and Tim had to tell him that his dad was still alive.

I saw him at a restaurant in DC once. I thought about saying "hello" but didn't want to interrupt his meal. I stand by that decision.

[Judge Smails]

My wife and I were just having a laugh the other day about the time he had the Clinton campaign guy on and he tells Tim something about their dads watching the show together from heaven and Tim goes: "My dad's watching from the Barca Lounger. He's still alive!"

Hmmmm, somehow I think the Clinton curse has struck again.


EDIT: Damn, too slow.

[K.C.]

Wow. Not long ago that Hillary staffer said something about "Big Russ up in heaven" and Tim had to tell him that his dad was still alive.


Someone let the plan slip early, I guess.

[King Hippos Bandaid]

wow, thats fucking crazy

RIP


way too soon

[Freitag]

God help us all if Chris Matthews takes over 'Meet The Press'

No. God help us all if it's OLBERMANN.

[Dude!]

I saw him at a restaurant in DC once. I thought about saying "hello" but didn't want to interrupt his meal. I stand by that decision.

you should have interrupted him
if he hadn't had that fat-filled dessert that night
he might not have had the heart attack today

in a way, you might be responsible for this

[Friday]

No. God help us all if it's OLBERMANN.

Dude.
No. That cannot happen.

Another thing I liked about Russert was his makeup always looked flawless and natural.
No way that pancake covered maniac Olbermann would be able to live up to this legacy!

[SinA]

you should have interrupted him
if he hadn't had that fat-filled dessert that night
he might not have had the heart attack today

in a way, you might be responsible for this

i killed tim russert?


on a related note, although they never met and he doesn't watch 'meet the press' i'm sure fez is really upset.

[Zorro]

Russert Dies and O'Reilly Lives... proof there is no God...

[K.C.]

I like the FOX News spin on this story.

Neil Cavuto and Josh Gibson are basically spinning the story as:

"Skilled and beloved pig-headed liberal journalist dies for hating God"

[Dirtybird12]

Pretty sad news. Guy had great interview skills and knew his shit -

Pretty sure his son has or had a show on XM.

[Recyclerz]

Pretty sad news. Guy had great interview skills and knew his shit -

Pretty sure his son has or had a show on XM.

Second. One of the few journalists/pundits to actually confront politicians with their past statements that were usually either lies or 180 degrees different from their current talking points. (Although Jon Stewart/The Daily Show should also get a fair amount of credit for popularizing this technique as well.) Also he seemed to take his work seriously but himself less so. He'll be missed. Godspeed.


PS His son does (did?) do a sports show (60/20 Sports I believe) with James Carville on XM.

[DolaMight]

Pretty sad news. Guy had great interview skills and knew his shit -

Pretty sure his son has or had a show on XM.

Yeah Lil Russ had a sports show with Carville.




I just opened drudge and had to read the headline 3 times. I don't know why it's so shocking to me. He had the heart attack figure but I always figured him to be mid 40's or so, not 58.

He gave the best political interviews as he really would ask the uncomfortable questions that the other anchors wouldn't. Others anchors like to say the cliche "I ask the tough questions" but they never do. Russert with a few exceptions always did.

[mildly amusing]

He was easily one of the more watchable and likeable news personalities...that is a small club in this day and age...such a shame, 58 is too young

[Boyzbigg]

totally a shock

[Zorro]

No. God help us all if it's OLBERMANN.

Man I used to love Countdown, but Olberman has turned into a partisan hack... a bizarro world O'reilly... what's the opposite of loufa

[danner1515]

Sad news. He was one of the few TV political commentators that I actually liked. R.I.P.

[Phil_Nubbs]

A Good Egg gone. :glurps:

[IamPixie]

Very sad news. RIP tim.

[Whiskeyportal]

One of the few good ones :glurps:

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Heard the news while stuck in traffic today on the return-trip from burying a 59-year old whose death shook up everyone who knew him very badly. He went too soon.

On a glib note, I always liked him because he had a cool name.

[epo]

That's really sad news. Russert was not only a solid journalist (you never would have known that he worked for democratic candidates as a young man as he worked the middle so well) but also seemed to be a good guy.

RIP Timmy.

[K.C.]

One of the few good ones :glurps:

White people are so scared of bl..


...Oh...I'm so used to hearing that in a different context.

[DarkHippie]

Rest in peace Tim. in a sea of douchey journalists, You were a buoy of not-douchiness

[ahhdurr]

Bummer. I thought this was a joke.

[scottinnj]

I like the FOX News spin on this story.

Neil Cavuto and Josh Gibson are basically spinning the story as:

"Skilled and beloved pig-headed liberal journalist dies for hating God"

I guess we have ears made differently. Cavuto and Gibson have been nothing but gracious to Russert's memory.


Unless you're joking. Then it's hilarious.

[nukinfuts]

Truly sad, there are not many good journalists left today and I really liked how he was in the middle and not such a nut job like some of the others.

:sad:

[scottinnj]

That's really sad news. Russert was not only a solid journalist (you never would have known that he worked for democratic candidates as a young man as he worked the middle so well) but also seemed to be a good guy.

RIP Timmy.

Damn straight. His explanation of the electoral college during the 92 election showed me the genius of the founding fathers. It made me believe the electoral college system in the Constitution was the most brilliant piece of the document other then the Bill of Rights.

He'd tear you up on the show, but would do it respectfully. I remember when Kerry was on MTP after he won his party's nomination, and Russert allowed him to speak out about the swiftboaters, but when it came to policy, he tore him to shreds.

Same with Larry Craig, Donald Rumsfeld, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Bob Dole, Ross Perot, Bill Clinton and George Bush.
He took his politics, put them in his locker when he went to work, and spoke for all of us.
And there was a civility about it. He was never personal about it. And he never let MTP become a shouting match during the round up period. MTP treated everyone on the show with respect, remembering we are all Americans.
He may have been a Democrat, worked with Moyniham and Cuomo, but you'd be damned if you could see any bias at all on MTP. Those who say they could, please cite an example. So far today on the radio, the nuts who want to be spoonfed their talking points calling into various talk shows have failed to do so.

Tim Russert made politics exciting to me. Even above policy, the politics were always interesting.

Thank Tim, for making me a better educated person about our government.

[zen]

PS His son does (did?) do a sports show (60/20 Sports I believe) with James Carville on XM.[/QUOTE]


Holy shit! Listened to Carville's LSU loving ass and his more chill partner numerous times but never made the connection between the Russerts. I second, third, and fourth what everyone else has said about Tim. He was truly a journalist/political pundit with integrity and spoke more to the everyman than anyone I can recollect. RIP Mr. Russert.

[MagillaGorillaz]

Brokaw was really upset. You never really think that these guys would really be freinds off the air, but I guess they were.

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[drjoek]

Lotta big time props for Russert going on on the news tonight.

I always liked him

Irish, Catholic guy makes good:thumbup:

[PapaBear]

I never realized the DC local NBC station, and the NBC Network DC Bureau used the same facilities. The Channel 4 news at 5 was very somber tonight. It's so sad and shocking when someone goes in this way.

[Devo37]

here we go again: a flood of news stories about what a 'great guy' he was from some of the same people who slammed him every week for going easy on whatever guests were on his show.

the false-sympathy is pathetic. even worse than false-outrage!!

[TheMojoPin]

It sucks he won't be around to offer his insight into what is going to be a very interesting and history-making presidential election.

[TheMojoPin]

Damn straight. His explanation of the electoral college during the 92 election showed me the genius of the founding fathers. It made me believe the electoral college system in the Constitution was the most brilliant piece of the document other then the Bill of Rights.

He'd tear you up on the show, but would do it respectfully. I remember when Kerry was on MTP after he won his party's nomination, and Russert allowed him to speak out about the swiftboaters, but when it came to policy, he tore him to shreds.

Same with Larry Craig, Donald Rumsfeld, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Bob Dole, Ross Perot, Bill Clinton and George Bush.
He took his politics, put them in his locker when he went to work, and spoke for all of us.
And there was a civility about it. He was never personal about it. And he never let MTP become a shouting match during the round up period. MTP treated everyone on the show with respect, remembering we are all Americans.
He may have been a Democrat, worked with Moyniham and Cuomo, but you'd be damned if you could see any bias at all on MTP. Those who say they could, please cite an example. So far today on the radio, the nuts who want to be spoonfed their talking points calling into various talk shows have failed to do so.

Tim Russert made politics exciting to me. Even above policy, the politics were always interesting.

Thank Tim, for making me a better educated person about our government.

Well said.

[Devo37]

according to the cnn show i'm watching now, Tim Russert came up with the idea of 'red' and 'blue' states! this is just stupid now.

[PapaBear]

according to the cnn show i'm watching now, Tim Russert came up with the idea of 'red' and 'blue' states! this is just stupid now.


He probably did.

[midwestjeff]

Someone should tell Hippo.

[silks]

I love the smell of dry erase markers.

They remind me of Tim.

[A.J.]

I never realized the DC local NBC station, and the NBC Network DC Bureau used the same facilities. The Channel 4 news at 5 was very somber tonight. It's so sad and shocking when someone goes in this way.

Which is partly why this is REALLY big news down here. He would always come on Channel 4 on Sunday mornings to talk about who was going to be on MTP that day.

I'm probably going to repeat what others have said so forgive me: I always liked Russert because, even though I knew he was a Democrat, I also knew he would ask the tough questions or call people on their bullshit. He wouldn't lob softball, fluff questions like god-awful Larry King or be a smug prick like O'Reilly. He was matter of fact and honest. And the fact that people from both sides of the aisle (and other networks) were obviously and sincerely saddened by his passing shows that, at the end of the day, he was a friendly and likeable guy.

His funeral/memorial service is going to be a who's who of Washington politics.

[Yerdaddy]

Shit.

[Lady Resin]

Here's the line up for tomorrows Meet The Press:

Here's the line-up of whose going to be on Meet The Press tomorrow:

MEET THE PRESS (NBC):
Special Edition dedicated to the extroardinary life of Tim Russert:
TOM BROKAW
MIKE BARNICLE - MSNBC News
JAMES CARVILLE
BETSY FISCHER - Executive Producer, Meet the Press
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN - Presidential Historian
GWEN IFILL - PBS
MARY MATALIN
MARIA SHRIVER - Former Correspondent, NBC News

[TheMojoPin]

This is just depressing. MTP replaced church as my Sunday morning ritual ten years ago, and I've only ever known the show under Russert. Beyond the tragedy of a man dying so early, it's seemingly impossible to think of anyone as good as him taking over the show. Obviously, the longest running show on television isn't coming to an end, but watching these clips over his 17 years really shows what a gigantic loss this is to the world of political journalism. I hope MTP remains a source of incisive insight into the world of Amerian politics, because Lord knows we don't have many.

[A.J.]

Here's the line up for tomorrows Meet The Press:

Here's the line-up of whose going to be on Meet The Press tomorrow:

MEET THE PRESS (NBC):
Special Edition dedicated to the extroardinary life of Tim Russert:
TOM BROKAW
MIKE BARNICLE - MSNBC News
JAMES CARVILLE
BETSY FISCHER - Executive Producer, Meet the Press
DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN - Presidential Historian
GWEN IFILL - PBS
MARY MATALIN
MARIA SHRIVER - Former Correspondent, NBC News

It was a really nice tribute I think. Funny moments coupled with fond remembrances and some of Russert's best moments on the show. And even by showing famous moments, you realized how knowledgeable he was. One clip in particular was him hounding Hillary Clinton about her interest in running for President after she was first elected to the Senate where she kept saying "I don't want to run for President". Brokaw and Carville were really trying hard to keep it together at times. But the signoff was perfect: it was a clip from a year or two ago where he wished a Happy Father's Day to everyone, paid tribute to Big Russ and Luke, and said "if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press."

Sundays just won't be the same...nor will Election Day.

[TooLowBrow]

One clip in particular was him hounding Hillary Clinton about her interest in running for President after she was first elected to the Senate where she kept saying "I don't want to run for President".

i never get this, sure she said that as a junior senator. because people didnt want her becoming senator just to go off and run for pres. so she didnt run till she was a senior senator, still she got crap for it. but obama ran for pres as a junior senator and i havent heard people ask him why hes shirking his responsibility to his state.

[A.J.]

Hillary is still the junior Senator from New York -- Shumer is the senior Senator. The reason she caught shit is that she was occused of being a carpetbagger like RFK in 1964: using a New York Senate seat (not her home state) as a springboard for a Presidential campaign.

[Phil_Nubbs]

It's about time.

RIP Mr. Tim.

[TooLowBrow]

Hillary is still the junior Senator from New York -- Shumer is the senior Senator. The reason she caught shit is that she was occused of being a carpetbagger like RFK in 1964: using a New York Senate seat (not her home state) as a springboard for a Presidential campaign.

sorry, i meant that she waited for her second term as senator. rfk ran, like obama, in his first term as senator

[Lady Resin]

It was a really nice tribute I think. Funny moments coupled with fond remembrances and some of Russert's best moments on the show. And even by showing famous moments, you realized how knowledgeable he was. One clip in particular was him hounding Hillary Clinton about her interest in running for President after she was first elected to the Senate where she kept saying "I don't want to run for President". Brokaw and Carville were really trying hard to keep it together at times. But the signoff was perfect: it was a clip from a year or two ago where he wished a Happy Father's Day to everyone, paid tribute to Big Russ and Luke, and said "if it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press."

Sundays just won't be the same...nor will Election Day.

This picture of his empty seat really got to me:

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/US/06/15/russert.sunday/art.mtp.empty.chr.cnn.nbc.jpg

:sad:

[AKA]

This has been such sad news. The show this morning was really well done - I can't believe how much I took him and MTP for granted. The fact that he got both of my parents (both partisan in their own politics) equally nuts at different times, always spoke to me that he was doing his job.

My only time seeing him was actually at the home opener for the first Nationals game at RFK back in 2005. He was with his family, and we passed as they were leaving, and you could tell he was having the time of his life.

Which is partly why this is REALLY big news down here. He would always come on Channel 4 on Sunday mornings to talk about who was going to be on MTP that day.

It actually is the same studio as the old McGlaughlin Group (which just left NBC last month), and locally the George Michael sports shows - Redskins, Full Court Press, etc. The one time I visited there, a couple of years ago, it was so odd to see the sets folded up and stacked next to each other.

[watson]

man Tom Brokaw was an embarrassment today, his lisp is really bad now, I wonder if he will replace the victim

rumors have it as David Gregory, Chris Matthews or Joe Scarborough taking over

[watson]

sorry, i meant that she waited for her second term as senator. rfk ran, like obama, in his first term as senator

...and it worked out really well for RFK :(

[Zorro]

The saddest part of all this is that Russert's death was totally preventable. Seems like a guy that took care of everyone, but himself.

[TheMojoPin]

The saddest part of all this is that Russert's death was totally preventable. Seems like a guy that took care of everyone, but himself.

Actually, at the time of his death, he was. He was taking medication and had changed his diet and had been exercising for some time.

[nate1000]

He was easily the most famous guy from my high school. Now there is only me. Don't worry, Timmy. I'll carry that standard high!

[Jujubees2]

He was easily the most famous guy from my high school. Now there is only me. Don't worry, Timmy. I'll carry that standard high!

Hey, my assistant is also a Canisius Prep grad. He might challenge you for that title!

[Zorro]

Actually, at the time of hid death, he was. He was taking medication and had changed his diet and had been exercising for some time.

Whatever he was doing it was not enough. An artery burst because of plaque...this just shouldn't happen to a person under treatment. My guess is he was told he needed a bypass and was waiting till the election was over.

[Cybersoldier]

I'm still shock that he died and it happened before father's day. Just goes to show you, you'll never know when a person is going to die

[Zorro]

Whatever he was doing it was not enough. An artery burst because of plaque...this just shouldn't happen to a person under treatment. My guess is he was told he needed a bypass and was waiting till the election was over.

I am wrong. Guy had lots of risk factors, but apparently nothing specific.

[hereintheUK]

I was only vaguely familiar with the guy but the memorial on MsNbc with his kid was really touching. A lovely version of Thunder Road from Bruce at the end too.

[Devo37]

apparently, he was the greatest human being in the history of the world.

at least, that's the way the networks are reporting it.

(of course, they put on the false-sympathy act anytime they think a celebrity-death ass-kissing will get them a ratings boost...)

[DiabloSammich]

I hope this is Fezzie's ichiban tomorrow.

[hereintheUK]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ul2ivcmDQ

[Rockvillejoe]

apparently, he was the greatest human being in the history of the world.

at least, that's the way the networks are reporting it.

(of course, they put on the false-sympathy act anytime they think a celebrity-death ass-kissing will get them a ratings boost...)

He's dead, so all due sympathy to his family, but you would have thought the guy had found a cure for cancer the way they sent him off.

a military honor guard at the kennedy center? for a guy who suppossedly was an "everyman" type of person? please. a couple of things:

while growing up in buffalo, he loved to brag how he was taught by the "jesuits", a chapter of strict, catholic priests that helped shape his future.....yet he sent his own kid to the snottiest, waspiest, richest, boys school in washington dc. st albans. the same school that al gore's kid got kicked out of for selling pot, and where virtually every rich family sends their kid.....yet you would have thought he would have sent his son to one of the best JESUIT high schools in the COUNTRY located just 4 miles away next to the national capitol in a tough neighborhood called Gonzaga. a school where supreme court justices, senators, and heads of state went themselves, and now send their kids along with middle class kids, (like mine), in a challenging envrionment.

another reason why this guy was no everyman/great guy as they like to pretend. i've said this story before on this site a year ago. i was in line in a verizon store in bethesda. i turned around to see how the long the line was, and tim russert was standing there. i did a double take, as his face registered to me as someone i knew. when i turned back around on the second double take, he shot me a look, (more like a scowl), like he was saying"don't even think about talking to me". which i wasn't going to anyway. yeah, some everyman.

his stories of kindness seem to extend to only the powerful and influential in this city. he was a member of the elite, politcal, "club" in dc that fancy themselves as regular folk, but in reality are far from it. hypocrites. the whole stinking lot of 'em in my book.

I could go one. There are other stories, like him at Ruths Cris steakhouse where a budday works, but i did not witness them myself so suffice it to say, he was human like the rest of us.
now, he's dead. and he can't listen to R&F anymore. That's the real tragedy. :down:

[Rockvillejoe]

Actually, at the time of his death, he was. He was taking medication and had changed his diet and had been exercising for some time.

not so fast, mojo. the fact is the guy was in ruths cris steakhouse, in bethesda, around 9pm, the tuesday before his death eating a steak at the bar.....
people that are watching their calorie, cholestrol intake are not eating at ruth's. the guy looked out of shape.
regardless, whether he took care of himself or not, he dead, and i still feel for his son who seemed to really love his father. that sucks the piotus.

[AKA]

I really do think the reaction (or over-reaction) to his death is really coming out of a collective unconscious perfect storm that's making it difficult to process it all together: the longest running host on the longest running show + how he changed that show, and in many ways changed the way those shows conduct themselves + his young age + his accomplishments professionally + his this particular political season and the fact he won't see how it will end + the stories of those who he mentored + his personal life story (including those of his father and his son) + the fact that he evidently was a really good guy + the fact that it is impossible to look around and point to anyone remotely with those credentials = someone we all kind of took for granted.

Many of the people in the business are reacting the way they are because many of them either knew him, or they really looked up to him; the public is reacting the way they are because they liked and/or respected him, and recognize that there is no one to fill that void - and, if anything, their mourning should be viewed as a "message in a bottle" to the News divisions to take a half step back, without cynicism, and look to the example Russert left.

[Rockvillejoe]

I really do think the reaction (or over-reaction) to his death is really coming out of a collective unconscious perfect storm that's making it difficult to process it all together: the longest running host on the longest running show + how he changed that show, and in many ways changed the way those shows conduct themselves + his young age + his accomplishments professionally + his this particular political season and the fact he won't see how it will end + the stories of those who he mentored + his personal life story (including those of his father and his son) + the fact that he evidently was a really good guy + the fact that it is impossible to look around and point to anyone remotely with those credentials = someone we all kind of took for granted.

Many of the people in the business are reacting the way they are because many of them either knew him, or they really looked up to him; the public is reacting the way they are because they liked and/or respected him, and recognize that there is no one to fill that void - and, if anything, their mourning should be viewed as a "message in a bottle" to the News divisions to take a half step back, without cynicism, and look to the example Russert left.


agreed. and the fact that one of their contemporaries, 58, bought the farm. Too close to home.