RIP Tim Russert

[Unrequited]

...it's just hitting the wires, heart attack at age 58

[grayedMatter]

I remember seeing him in the election coverage last week or the week before and he looked pale, was sweating, and his eyes kept watering live on air. I thought he looked somewhat under the weather, but never did I imagine this happening.

[grayedMatter]

Tim Russert
1950-2008


Tim Russert, NBC journalist and political heavyweight host of "Meet the Press," has died after collapsing at NBC's Washington news bureau, a source said. He was 58 years old.
Russert, who rose from the inside world of politics where he was former New York Gov. Mario Cuomo's press secretary and one-time chief of staff to the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, was able to successfully cross over to political journalism and rise to become one of its leading lights.
In his role as host of the seminal Sunday morning political program "Meet the Press" - which he took over in 1991 - he became renowned for his hard-nosed interviews where he frequently cornered some of Washington's cagiest political figures with tough questions.
Russert joined NBC News in 1984. In April 1985, he supervised the live broadcasts of the Today program from Rome, negotiating and arranging an appearance by Pope John Paul II - a first for American television. In 1986 and 1987 Russert led NBC News weeklong broadcasts from South America, Australia and China.
In 2008, Time Magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH FOR UPDATES.




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

[ThomasC]

What. The. Hell.

C'mon, really.

:(

Rest in peace, Tim.

[Patas]

My mom was working at the hospital when they brought him in. I got off the phone with her a bit ago and she told me about it.

This is certainly sad news.

[tempo]

Sucks. He interviewed with more substance than most of his colleagues. Too bad that whoever replaces him on Meet the Press will probably be a much lesser gasbag.

On a personal level, reminds me to take heart disease seriously. 58 years old, sheesh. (Did he die of a heart attack?)

[Breeze]

Wow. That's a mind-blower... :(

[twentyshots]

what a fucking drag. he seemed like a genuinely nice guy.

[epeolatry]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25145431/

Fuck, I always really liked him. RIP-- you were a good journalist. That's saying a lot these days.

[laurenmarie]

Meet The Press was one of the few serious political shows I enjoyed. He will be greatly missed. :(

[velouria]

Sad, sad, sad. He is the uncle of one of my good friends from high school and spoke at our graduation. He was a high school classmate of my boss and their 40th reunion is next week. He was a really good guy.

58 is too young, and I will miss him and his "board" come election time.

:(

[markalot]

Damn,

you could see he was getting bigger, more unhealthy, swollen kind of. I wonder if he avoided doctors or something. Very sad.

[Zane]

Sad news indeed. RIP. :(

[Trevour]

RIP - That's a big shock. :(

[jcarwash31]

In this time of sensationalized political "journalism", I could always listen to him discuss politics while everything else just seemed like more white noise. Recently I had seen him the most appearing on the Today Show in the morning before work. He was always able to lay out the issues of the day and strategies at play on all sides much like a good sports commentator/anchor would a ball game. He always did it with geniune excitement too. He will be missed.

[Jumpman]

He was one of the very few political hosts that I liked. Crap. RIP.

[akip]

i am genuinely bummed out about this---i don't know that anybody else can fill his shoes. he was so thoroughly prepared, didn't let anyone off the hook without a sweat (i read somewhere how he believed that selling prayer cards in the back of the church as a kid trained him to spot a liar). i saw scott mcclellan interviewed three times the week his expose book came out and russert was the only one who put him on the spot. matthews and olbermann both just back-patted him.

the crew on msnbc looks pretty shook up, as would be imagined, but olbermann looks like he's been crying.

buffalo's gonna take this hard.

[Cyclone]

He was one of the very few political hosts that I liked. Crap. RIP.

Ditto. Typically liked the context of the questions he asked at during the election debates.

[jneale]

I got him & Randy Quaid mixed up....guess that will no longer be a bother

[tempo]

Just caught a little of Olberman on MSNBC, and yeah, he looks like he's barely keeping it together. The TV news biz is unique in regard to public grieving.

[laurenmarie]

Just caught a little of Olberman on MSNBC, and yeah, he looks like he's barely keeping it together. The TV news biz is unique in regard to public grieving.

Yeah... I was listening as Olberman spoke with Barbara Walters and some of his sobs were audible as she spoke. He's got a pretty tough job at the moment. :(

[akip]

all MSNBC's regular programming's been preempted, but we're 50 minutes into what would have been hardball's slot and chris matthews is still conspicuously absent.

[bqs34]

Russert at his best. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajm5JTf7jZs)


He was a bulldog.

[jps]

Chris Matthews is on the phone live right now. He's in paris and is/was traveling throughout the day. He kind of sounds like he found out about 15 minutes before they got him on the air.

Matthews and all the rest... it's strange hearing some of them this close to speechless considering the work they do.

Russert was a giant in the industry and his work will be missed.

[REMgirl]

It's especially heartbreaking because he just made arrangements for his elderly father to be moved to a new care facility. His health was failing and Tim was totally devoted to his dad. I can't imagine the overwhelming grief his dad is experiencing.

Condolences to his family. A terrible shock.:(

[justsoyaknow]

this really is sad. I caught the news during the end of my work day.

agh. You know what I do on Sunday? I have a ritual... laundry, cleaning, Sunday morning coffee, and watching Meet the Press with Tim Russert. I actually look forward to this.

I cannot believe this. I didn't watch last weekend, but did the weekend before. Never did I think it would be the last time I saw his broadcast. What I will miss the most, is that he was by far the most fair, honest, and least opinionated of any political talk show hosts. I loved his demeanor, interview style and composure while dealing with some interesting characters and controversial topics.

I can't believe he won't be here to comment on this election. Very sad.

RIP and Much Respect, Tim.

[tempo]

Watching more of Olberman now. It's a sad occasion, but he's really showing off his talents -- amazingly eloquent, even off the top of his head. His show has become too bloviating for me, but he's shonuff good at this TV thing.

[The_Deacon]

I am just learning of this. Conan is doing a nice tribute right now. RIP Tim. So sad. :(

[akip]

Politicians and their advisers everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief, whether they want to admit it or not.

you said it.

[twentyshots]

urgh. this stuff nbc has put together is heart wrenching.

[akip]

urgh. this stuff nbc has put together is heart wrenching.

the single credit and empty seat at the end was a tear jerker.

[twentyshots]

the single credit and empty seat at the end was a tear jerker.

there was an nbc special on with david gregory and andrea mitchell that was pretty sad and then meet the press came on. james carville seemed to be really out of sorts much of the time and brokaw almost made it all the way through.....that would be pretty tough.

[Shlep]

all MSNBC's regular programming's been preempted, but we're 50 minutes into what would have been hardball's slot and chris matthews is still conspicuously absent.

I have to ask: does this not improve the hell out of Hardball? I mean, maybe I ought not to interrupt all the eulogizing of Tim Russert-- which seems heartfelt, and not surprisingly, since he was a great interviewer and seemed like a good guy, from what I could tell-- but calling that show Matthews does HArdball is like calling that PBS show about the spot where Bert, Ernie, BIg Bird, and Oscar the Grouch live Mean Streets.

[akip]

the only person on the MSNBC roster i could see maybe inheriting that meet the press spot is andrea mitchell---'cause she's hardnosed and, unlike matthews, she doesn't belie partisan leanings. though matthews has more personality, he's already showed his hand too many times.

[Shlep]

the only person on the MSNBC roster i could see maybe inheriting that meet the press spot is andrea mitchell---'cause she's hardnosed and, unlike matthews, she doesn't belie partisan leanings. though matthews has more personality, he's already showed his hand too many times.

I understand "Mitch" had a favorable working relationship with Russert; that is, he mentored her quite a bit, and she apparently wanted to emulate him. This, I think, would make her a seemingly sensible choice to replace him.

[Unrequited]

I've always had Andrea Mitchell as leaning conservative, based on her marriage to Ayn Rand disciple (and economic bubble maker) Alan Greenspan.

And Chris Matthews is an idiot. He'd be a horrible choice.

[Shlep]

I've always had Andrea Mitchell as leaning conservative, based on her marriage to Ayn Rand disciple (and economic bubble maker) Alan Greenspan.

EVen though ol' Bubble-Maker Al was an important architect of the high-flying Clinton-era economy, and who apparently has lots of nice things to say about Bill in his memoirs?

[Unrequited]

EVen though ol' Bubble-Maker Al was an important architect of the high-flying Clinton-era economy, and who apparently has lots of nice things to say about Bill in his memoirs?

Al was bi-partisanly incompetent, though grounded in conservative fiscal policy. I never voted for Bubba, he was too conservative for my tastes. :cool:

[tempo]

I second the vote for Andrea Mitchell taking over Meet the Press. I don't think Matthews will get the job, but eww... perish the thought.

[akip]

one suspects mitchell's a moderate republican, yet trusts that she wouldn't let it get in the way. she also has the gift of clarity. like russert, she's accessible without dumbing down content.

yet i doubt she could maintain the same broad base of viewership as russert with his personable enthusiasm and regular guy profile. his shoes are hard to fill, 'cause he had the whole package---tough, smart, yet engaging and someone that people could identify with.

[Buzzstein]

Sucks.....

[yoshomon]

No tears for lackeys of the spectacle!

[markalot]

No tears for lackeys of the spectacle!

Guys got to make a living.

[mike]

No tears for lackeys of the spectacle!

Stupidest. comment. ever.

[euro60]

Imagine my shock when I heard about this, coming back to the real world after 4 days in the bubble that is Bonnaroo. I simply couldn't believe it. He'll be sorely missed.

(I still really can't believe that this has happened.)

[akip]

well, he's still hitting the front page here, everyday. he really did epitomize the jesuit-trained local boy writ larger than life.

[euro60]

well, he's still hitting the front page here, everyday. he really did epitomize the jesuit-trained local boy writ larger than life.

you're adding this jesuit reference in a funny-weird-unnecessary kinda way. What does that have to do with anything?

[Unrequited]

you're adding this jesuit reference in a funny-weird-unnecessary kinda way. What does that have to do with anything?

The Jesuits teach you to question everything.

[akip]

you're adding this jesuit reference in a funny-weird-unnecessary kinda way. What does that have to do with anything?

i can tell you've never lived in buffalo. :D canisius high school is one of the pillars of buffalo culture.

[akip]

The Jesuits teach you to question everything.

quite right.

he also told stories of father strum (sp?), the prefect of discipline. he's a legend among canisius alumni.

[twentyshots]

i would imagine msnbc covered this all day.....
there was just a small feature on the nightly news.

[Buzzstein]

The Jesuits teach you to question everything.

quite right.

he also told stories of father strum (sp?), the prefect of discipline. he's a legend among canisius alumni.

I pretty much hate Catholicism, but the Jesuits at least have some sense.

[twentyshots]

So Russert's death at 58 is a sad occasion. Yet is it of such importance and momentum that his network, the other networks, and newspapers should continue to salute, remember, and otherwise memorialize him?


why is this guy so impatient? they put him in the ground today.
has he never watched television before?

it is hardly a spectacle, he was a part of the media and the media is covering one of their own. god forbid we grieve too long over a guy who loved his family, career and life and apparently never wronged anyone.

choose your battles wisely i say.....you have a universe of stupid shit that gets way too much coverage to bitch about.

[twentyshots]

consider the source. Slate and its cadre of writers are in the business of contradiction.

that being said, it has been a spectacle. He it's been four days now. I don't need to wake up to it every single day on NPR. The New York Times article about how out of touch modern media is with public wants/needs regarding political coverage is accurate. They're all to busy stroking themselves and crying over a fallen journalist to realize no one gives that much of a shit besides themselves.

But maybe y'all do.

my NPR listening has been spotty this week but I do not recall hearing excessive coverage. in fact, we are only at wednesday but this has already been a heavy newsweek for floods, tiger woods, the boston celtics, oil drilling and gay marriage. russert is in the mix but it seems appropriate to me. you know what IS always on NPR? iraq, iraq, iraq. everyday for better or worse for 5 years now. my mind absolutely wanders when they report on it so not only do i miss what they are talking about half the time but feel shitty for it too.

as for russert, perhaps he is getting "extra" attention because we are in the midst of a presidential campaign. i don't know.....i do give a shit but would be surprised if it stayed an issue after today.

[euro60]

i can tell you've never lived in buffalo. :D canisius high school is one of the pillars of buffalo culture.

it's all good then :) I am pretty big on Jesuit education, as you might tell from my "location" and I went to Jesuit college in Belgium.

[Docta]

the boss's tribute to tim, ugh got me all choked up

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/18/bruce-springsteen-at-tim_n_107916.html

[akip]

it did start to feel a bit weird on msnbc yesterday, even given it was the day of the funeral. i admit that the spouse and i broke down under pressure and made a few jokes about double rainbows and the aura of canonization. but who wouldn't have loved to have that funeral, or their own version of it?

it also seems that russert was genuinely beloved by his colleagues, many of whom were clearly devastated on friday. he was a big tv man and he had a big tv send-off. but it still wouldn't have happened to anyone else on tv who didn't have the deep affection of his industry, as well as his audience. actually, i can't think of any other media figure who would've gotten that much reverential coverage for dropping dead, even mid-campaign, 'cause it would've been confined to one side of the aisle or the other.

so st. tim is now the icon for integrity in political journalism. not a bad thing. also not a bad thing to drop the irony and cynicism once in a while and allow in that some emotions are genuine. it's sort of become the kneejerk reaction to chalk it all up to hysteria and exploitation.

[Sushi]

it's all good then :) I am pretty big on Jesuit education, as you might tell from my "location" and I went to Jesuit college in Belgium.
Tim went to a good Jesuit college in Cleveland (John Carroll) and went to law school at Cleveland State. Folks here kind of claimed him as their own too.

I think there are a variety of reasons why his death has made such a huge impact. He moderated, what, 20 democratic presidential debates in a race that is just going to get more heated. Whether or not you liked the way he moderated every debate (I didn't), he spent more time questioning Obama and Clinton than just about any other person in the media--he would have had a unique perspective on the guy who may well be the next president. And he was awfully young. 58 is young--he was a contemporary or younger than a lot of the people mourning him. That hits hard. People are mourning his loss but also looking at their own mortality.

[yoshomon]

Stupidest. comment. ever.

Wow - I'm honored, really.

[jps]

NBC named David Gregory as the permanent replacement for the Meet The Press job this morning.

Rather than give Gregory his own thread I thought this made more sense. He's got big shoes to fill.

[Docta]

eh, i think gregory was everyone's 2nd choice. i've heard many rooting for chuck todd and my hope gwen iffle (sp?). good luck to him.

[akip]

i like gregory. he has a different sort of likability than russert---not a big, blue collar, aggressive presence like russert, but a blander california boy vibe. not sure if the plumbers of the world will relate to him, but i think he'd do a decent job.

[rocketman70]

i like gregory. he has a different sort of likability than russert---not a big, blue collar, aggressive presence like russert, but a blander california boy vibe. not sure if the plumbers of the world will relate to him, but i think he'd do a decent job.

Please don't bring up any more effin' joe the plumbers this year. Bah! :p

[akip]

Please don't bring up any more effin' joe the plumbers this year. Bah! :p

don't worry. i'm waiting for that asshole to get pulled over for DUI or busted for mail fraud.:D

[justsoyaknow]

NBC named David Gregory as the permanent replacement for the Meet The Press job this morning.

Rather than give Gregory his own thread I thought this made more sense. He's got big shoes to fill.

I too watched this morning. i do like Gregory as a choice, although no one can replace Russert.

When Brokaw was interviewing Obama, I wonder what Russert would have thought about how this election played out. I can only imagine his little white board while calling PA, OH, VA, and FL.

we still miss you!

[Buzzstein]

Please don't bring up any more effin' joe the plumbers this year. Bah! :p

What about joe six packs? Are we still allowed to bring up those? :D