While Russert always had his biases, I feel that he at least tried to be fair to all sides. I hope for the best for his family and loved ones at this time.

That's much better.

Now THIS is the response I expected from IMAO, as opposed to the previous post by Mr. Simon, who was not too happy with the "righteous indignation" of the commenters. Whatever.

Thanks, Frank.

RIP.

Thanks for this, Frank.

Tim was one of the good ones. He'll be sorely missed.

wait, where is the other 'tribute'

Much better, the last one really bothered me.

Apparently I missed something earlier. If the Simon everyone is referring to is the one I think it is (Laurence?) then good riddance. I've never understood why you let him post here, Frank.

Re: Tim Russert

He wasn't very good at hiding his personal feelings. But they tended to leak by expression, rather than by anything he said or did. I do believe he was one of the decent guys in the news, who truly took what he did seriously, and believed he had a duty to report the news, unlike many of his colleagues. May his family find peace & take joy in remembering him as he was.

He was the only one in the mainstream media not on fox news that I liked. RIP

This is the huge issue...

1) Tim Russert, nice, intelligent guy, builds up a career at NBC for decades. Is liked by all, on both sides.
2) Keith Uberduche is promoted past him for being a sportscaster who reads Daily Kos and other tin-foil-hat tripe and passing it off as informed opinion.
3) Tim dies of a heart attack.

Pretty much a "no justice" news day all around. R Kelly released after being on video porking some kid, earthquake in Japan, Taliban free a bunch of terrorists from prison (and without ACLU support) and Audriana Lima engaged to some ^(*^(#(# pro athlete.

Shocking news! Tim will be greatly missed. Prayers to his family and friends!

Russert was... LIKEABLE. While his political leanings certainly biased his "reporting," he was solid and fair to both sides of the aisle (and even those down the middle and around the periphery). All sympathies to his family.

frank...

are you just going to ignore that previous post on tim russert?

[I never saw it. -Ed.]

I'll have to actually stand up for a Lib, here.
Russert has a Lib, but I've watched him for years and you would really have to dissect his body language to find clues to his personal opinions. He played it as fair and was better than 99.999% of the others in the business.
Wait till next week when they give Obersleeze "Meet the Press" and disgrace the memory of TV's LAST honest journalist.
Plas he was a genuinely decent human being.
God, I'd better go lay down for a while.

The man was revered by everyone in politics, a giant. He called the Democrat primary over after Indiana on May 6th and is dead in a little over a month. The Klihnton curse strikes again. If it wasn't for a expiated autopsy, I might begin to believe foul play may have been involved.

Much better. Thanks.

My prayers go out to the family.

That said "meet the depressed" now has something real to be depressed about.

Tim Russert seemed like a very likeable guy. I've been meaning to read his book about his relationship with his father, and now I'll make a point of it. I'm sure he will be missed by many.

However, it is amazing how the journalists deify their own, even at a time when genuine heroes are deemed un-newsworthy. Since the moment of Russert's passing, this news story has been treated as the passing of a world leader. I was hesitant to make this post until I read this piece that was very well written on the subject (surprisingly, in the Orlando Sentinel):
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2008/06/lessons-of-the.html

My family's prayers are certainly with the Russert family. However, we have many fallen heroes in this country who have willingly given their lives to protect the freedoms of all Americans (including the press). While those real heroes are insulted or ignored, a TV newscaster is treated like a national hero. I think even Tim Russert would be somewhat embarrassed at this coverage...especially at this time in our nation's history.

Remember Barbara Olson? Barbara wrote HELL TO PAY, the bible on Hillary Clinton. She was hot on the trail of California Congressman Gary Condit, who was under scrutiny for the disappearance of his love interest & intern, Chandra Levy. Condit had been interdicted while disposing of a zippered leather Tag Heuer watch container in an Old Town, Alexandria, VA, Safeway dumpster; surrounded by a fifteen foot high brick wall. Barbara Olson was on her way to Los Angeles to talk about Condit, as a guest on the popular late-night TV show, Politically Incorrect. Ms. Olson was on a flight bound for LA, when it was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon. The date was 9/11. Chandra Levy's remains were found about a year later in Rock Creek Park. Congressman Condit ran for reelection but lost.

The Huffington Post / 09-01-07: “Since the Dem debate a few days ago a lot of people have understandably been taking shots at Tim Russert for his often small-minded ‘gotcha’ questions and his constant references to Bill Clinton. Some Hillary backers are seething about Russert; indeed, in a conference call with big donors, Hillary pollster Mark Penn and other supporters repeatedly griped about Russert's approach, with one supporter saying that he ‘should be shot.’ It's worth noting, however, that there's a long history here. Russert has been trying to catch out Hillary with ‘gotcha’ questions about Bill and other things for years now – in fact, his efforts to do this date all the way back to Hillary's first Senate campaign in 2000. And then, as now, the Hillary folks were mighty pissed off with him. The bad blood goes way back:” http://theseedsof9-11.com