I am all kinds of broken up watching the coverage of (American journalist) Tim Russert's death, I'm not even sure why.
One reason, is that I simply cannot imagine what it's like for these NBC people to have to immediately begin national television coverage of your friend's death right after it happened in front of you.
From what I read, NBC let themselves get scooped by other networks in order to make sure that his family was contacted first.
Tom Brokaw is killing me.
I just can't stop watching it, though.
I'm not a very political person, but if there was something I needed to know, I could understand what Tim Russert was talking about.
But, man the things I've learned about him today.
While people generally don't speak ill of the dead, today you can just feel that everyone who had come forward from all over the world really means what they say about him.
I know a little about him because he spoke at an organization I'm involved with (I didn't get to see him).
He had so much pride for his son who just graduated college and two books about his dad who he had to move to a nursing home just last week.
He loved kids and the stories over and over again tonight about how he was always the first one to acknowledge anything that happened with his friends and coworkers families.
He was a devoted Catholic and had so much pride for where he came from and passion for what he did.
And I have to love a Bruce Springsteen fan.
I can't help but wonder though, if this moment might make everyone take a deep breath politically and proceed a little more humanely the rest of this election year.
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The news of Russert's passing hit me hard this afternoon, too. He wasn't even 60 yet. I hope it was swift.
He was a great journalist, in the truest, purest sense of the word.
I do hope, as you said, that the rest of the election year is a little more humane.
He would love that.
Great post. For some reason, I thought they had gone into repeated footage from today, but I haven't seen what they are showing right now. Yes, Brokaw is doing an amazing job...even with a shaky voice.
I say let the NBC folks mourn the way they need to...there's plenty of time for getting back to the news...tomorrow...
I'm a total political junkie, and although I haven't actually cried, I've come darn close. I really admire Tim Russert, and I love Meet the Press. The absolute best Sunday show around. And, like you, I've been struck by how sincere everyone has been in their praise and love of him. People from both side of the political fence just honestly loved him. That seems unusual in this day, and I hope we can work a little harder at it.
We watched some of the coverage last night on MSNBC. What an amazing guy and great journalist who truly loved what he did and truly loved his family, too. The timing with Father's Day really gets to me.
I was thinking the same things last night while watching Brokaw. I don't know how they do it and remain so calm and together. I watched Russert sometimes and I always liked him. I didn't know all of that about his life but what a great life he lead and what a great man he was!
I heard that the other networks waited until Tom Brokaw broke the news on NBC. They all loved Tim Russert because he was the real thing.
I didn't start crying hard until David Gregory said that the Cardinal came to the station to pray with them yesterday afternoon. "Tim has just gone home to heaven," the Cardinal said. And David Gregory said, "Tim didn't go home from work early." That did it. I was crying for the rest of the afternoon.
It is a shocking reminder of the brevity of life.
I don't know why this has hit me so hard but watching Keith Olbermann barely keeping it together yesterday left me crying. He was such a fixture and a genuinely good guy. I read someone (http://www.haikuoftheday.com/haiku_of_the_day/) said he was in heaven giving Baby Jesus a terrorist fist jab....Amen!
I watched him every chance I got. He was so respectful of people. He wanted the truth above all else.
I'll miss him terribly.
I am not into watching much politics but I did watch Tim. Sunday mornings won't be the same; hearing his voice on Meet the Press.
Potically, I was very hot and cold with Mr. Russert. But I guess to some degree that could be said of any one.
More than anything as somebody above me said, it really reminded me of the "any one at any time" brevity of life.
To be honest though, believing it would have any "softening" effect on the remainder of the election season, would be simply foolhardy. It is a nice wish... just not going to happen.
Yeah, I'm sorry to say that I agree with JayMonster. I don't think there's much hope that Mr. Russert's death will soften anything about the election season. He'll be mourned and then both sides will put their combat gear back on and it'll be just as ugly as it always is.
You and I have talked many times about how neither of us give a rats ass about politics, but, like you, I was pretty stuck to the tv with the TR coverage.
I always enjoyed Tim because of his ability to make all the political stuff understandable. He had a real gift that way. Plus, he just seemed like a great guy, one that we'd have liked to have lunch with or have lunch with at the Mothership (may it also rest in peace).
Tim had a Dan Millerish thing about him, ya know?
I'll miss him a ton. I hope that boy of his goes into the biz. He's got a sparkle and charm that would be a natural for the camera.
I didn't really know who he was before the news coverage but man, now that I have watched so much news coverage he really does sound like he was an amazing man. I wish I would have watched him on television. It sounds like he will truely be missed.
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who killed Tim Russert?