I can't believe he died. Then again, perhaps I could believe he died, but that's really not the point, is it. He just seemed so young, and so much a part of watching the news, period - whether you agreed with him or not. Though I never found much to disagree with, just points here and there amidst an otherwise middle-of-the-road stance.

This morning the Today Show interviewed his son and showed clips from yesterday's Meet the Press. Very moving.

I never feel much sadness or loss when people in the public eye die. Mr. Russert was so respected by everyone that I actually do feel a sense of sadness that the media lost someone who was able to transcend party lines and interview everyone so well.

I feel for the man's family, but feel no personal sense of loss or grief.

I think he did a decent job - more so than anyone in the media - of not accepting answers that were not real answers. However, I don't think he always asked the tough question. When he did ask, he'd go after his subject, but he certainly wasn't an attack dog.

What I don't understand, though, is the unending coverage on every news program on every channel, asking everyone how they will deal with the loss of Tim Russert. I applaud the one person I saw who said "I didn't know the man or anyone in his family. How can I be impacted personally?". The man did a fine job and was widely respected, but I don't see his passing as a 24/7 news event. Call me calloused, but I just don't.

I'd agree that the coverage is overblown. Tim Russert was a huge player in two specific industries: politics and media.

That just happens to be the perfect combination of influence to guarantee overwhelming coverage. Everybody who runs TV is thinking about it and everybody who TV wants to have on the TV will have something to say about it.

Plus, it happened on Friday when the news media are slipping into weekend mode with its big emphasis on politics and self reflection anyway (the Sunday morning shows and pretty much every media criticism show is on the weekend). And we're at something of a lull in the big stories (though spending the weekend in the car I can say that news coverage was still dominated by the California wild fires and Iowa flooding).

Plus, it was sudden. And, unfortunately, a large part of what has come to be the definition of "news" is simply "unexpected."

Just a perfect storm of circumstances, I'd say.

Word (That was just for you)

I dealt with it by avoiding all media this weekend. I could see this storm coming a mile away.

I am reminded of the line in Citizen Kane, "If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough." If you have twenty-four hours of news coverage to fill, then some stories are going to become twenty-four hour a day stories.

It depends on the connection one has to the people. For instance, last night on the Tony awards they gave a lifetime achievement award to Stephen Sondheim, who was unable to attend. I can't be certain but I imagine it means he's unwell. In any case, it occurred to me that I'm going to be truly devastated when he passes away.

But in the case of Tim Russert, I just feel sorry that an important political/media figure I respected had a life cut so short.

Well, I'm hardly surprised if TV made a big issue of one of TV's greats dying. I'm sure if someone on the LoT died, it would be a big deal on this message board, no?


I didn't see any of the coverage, though I did watch the so-so tribute on Meet the Press this past Sunday.

scaeagles, I think the ESSENCE of Russert's success is that he refused to accept the bullsh!t answers and yet did not become a rabid attack dog. He had to balance the need to get the big-time pols on his show with not making his show a mouthpiece for their mouthcrap.

I think he balanced this tough act better than anyone I've ever seen, and I simply don't believe he's going to be well replaced on television's longest running show.


Don't feel it personally if you don't. But I do. For one, he was tragically young, which always gets to me (especially as I near the tragically young but increasingly common death age range) and he was someone who's talents I enjoyed on an almost weekly basis for decades. I didn't cry or anything, like he was someone I went to cemetery screenings with ... but I felt great sadness that the cemetery is the only place left to see him.

Why should you?

I don't think I should....except when I watch the media coverage and everyone interviewed, regardless of in what capacity the had ever even met the man or not, was asked how they will carry on without Russert there.

Almost makes me feel guilty that I'm not in mourning.