BREAKING: NBC’s Tim Russert dead of a heart attack.
By on Jun 13th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
BREAKING: NBC’s Tim Russert dead of a heart attack.
The New York Times is reporting that NBC’s Tim Russert has died of a heart attack, at the age of 58.
UPDATE: The New York Times has more.
UPDATE: Russert’s colleague Tom Brokaw announced his passing away live on the air earlier today:
UPDATE: Statements from President Bush and Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) found here.
UPDATE: More statements, including those from Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former President Bill Clinton, can be found here.
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Wow - that's really young. How horrible for his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pmWhoa.
Who did he piss off?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:37 pmWhat a shame . . . and so unexpected. Way too young to die. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pmWhat sad news, he will be missed on my TV. My thoughts are with his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:40 pmSad to hear.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pmto #6. STHU
It's sad for his family, but he took Meet the Press to new lows causing Lawrence Spivak to roll over in his grave.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:42 pmI was never a fan of his politics, but this is terrible news for his family.
RIP
June 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pmMy condolences...
June 13th, 2008 at 3:44 pmSadly, Russert was just now coming to the realization that the MSM had to step up its game and begin reporting important issues instead of the blather of haircuts and such.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:46 pmMy condolences to the entire Russert family. He was way too young.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:48 pmIt's Shocking news, 58 is not Old. I might not have agreed with some of his reporting/conclusions, but I will miss him and his show.
My condolences to his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pmTim Russert was a remarkable interviewer. His calm demeanor was always a breath of fresh air in comparison to the many in-your-face bores that seem to be the norm these days. America has lost a great journalist.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pmI am saddened by this news.
No matter what party affiliation, news like this is never welcome.
I pray for his family in this time of grief.
58 is too damn young!
June 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pmMy thoughts go out to his family. I was never a fan, but you have to feel for those who loved him.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pmNot a fan but condolences to his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pmIt's sad, too, because I think Russert would have really enjoyed seeing how this year's elections turned out.
Who will NBC get to moderate MTP now?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pmThis makes me so sad. How can we have a presidential election without Mr. Russert. :(
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pmR.I.P. Tim.
And a message to all those overweight mid to late 50s baby boomers out there. Exercise, see your doctor and lose weight. Life is way too precious.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pmWe may disagree with our politics but don't tell me that TP'ers are so low to agree with this.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pmRIP Russert. There were times I wanted to smash my TV watching you, and there were times where the questions you asked and the aggression you showed were actually in the name of GOOD, and that is how I will remember you today.
Condolences to the Russert family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pmTo rest Tim, too soon.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:52 pmRightOfAttila Says:
We may disagree with our politics but don’t tell me that TP’ers are so low to agree with this.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
_____
This is neither the time nor place for this kind of crap, troll.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:54 pmMay your Karma take you to good places, Tim.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:54 pmOne year younger than me, damn, that sucks.
How was he "healthy" if he died of a heart attack, you clueless twit?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:54 pmA shock to his family and to his media family. When Russert was on his game, he was very, very good. Sad.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pmRightOfAttila Says:
We may disagree with our politics but don’t tell me that TP’ers are so low to agree with this.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
No, we're not. You have to remember that liberals do not all think alike the way conservatives tend to do.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:55 pmI dont agree with Nostras sentiments Attila and you shouldnt assume as much.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:56 pmHey Attila,
Did you notice the very next comment telling that a$$hole to shut up? Of course you didn't, since it would mean you couldn't use it to attack liberals.
I'm sure that person has been extensively flagged already, take your faux concern and outrage and shove it.
Again, RIP Tim.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:56 pmI mostly felt he leaned the wrong way, but this is very sad news. Condolences to his family.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:56 pm19: Death is the great equalizer. Maybe when your time comes, you will have enough time to reflect on who you were during your life.
P.S. Bad karma to curse the dead. So, good luck with what's left of your existence.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:57 pmDying that young and suddenly is scary, and I do feel for his family. Other than that, I do believe he willfully and joyously aided and abetted the neocon agenda. I did nor like him one bit.
These ideas are not connected, but a person should be remembered for what they did, not for the shock of their sudden passing.
My condolences to the Russert family.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:00 pmmy thoughts and prayers are with his family. he was too young to die. this is very sad.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pmWow, what a shocker. Despite I disagree with Mr. Russert's reporting especially on the Presidential race, he accomplished a lot as a reporter. My condolences goes out to the Russert family.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pmOMG -- that's horrible! He wasn't even that old. What a shock this must be for his family. My prayers go out to them.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:02 pm#19 -- you are a low-life idiot.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:02 pmThis is a viciously shocking end of an era. Terrible, just absolutely terrible.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:03 pmhelenahandbasket Says:
And a message to all those overweight mid to late 50s baby boomers out there. Exercise, see your doctor and lose weight. Life is way too precious.
I'll be 55 in November, so this news strikes very close to home. Your advice is spot on for those of us in this age bracket. Two months ago I began 5 mile bicycle rides and gave up processed sugar. I have lost 21 pounds. Lately I've been wavering in my resolve. This sad news tells me I need to continue to strive for better habits and health. Thanks for the reminder.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:03 pmMy instant reaction when I read the news was "Oh, my G_d!!" And that's all I could say or think for several minutes. I disliked intensely Mr. Russert's politics and the way he conducted himself in his chosen profession, but never in my wildest and most demented dreams did I believe that the world would be better off without him. Oh, my G_d!!
May Mr. Russert rest in peace, and may him family find some peace of their own in the horrible days to come as they learn to carry on without him.
To nostrafarious re #6: Words fail me yet again. The length and breadth of the depravity of your comment is simply mind boggling. One can only hope that you're a better person than your words suggest, and that your comment is only a brutish brain fart.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm.
Timmehhhhhhh! NOOOOOOOOOO!
.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pmWho will NBC get to moderate MTP now?
Can you say Trannie Coulter?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pmShe keeps getting on the Today show often enough to spew his vile venom, NBC keeps bringing him back, again...and again....and again....and
I'm sorry to hear it. Good journey, Tim. My thoughts are with your family.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pmnostrafarious Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Hmm. I will stop at no end until your comment is deleted and you are banned. I see you created an account for the special occasion, huh? And if you call yourself a progressive, turn in your badge. You're not welcome in our party, the party of humanity.
I'm also discouraged that two people would recommend the troll's comment.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pmThat is such a shame. As with many of you, my condolences to his family.
A shame, because I think he was looking forward to seeing things change in the Whitehouse adn to be a part of history.
And to all those who posted crap, I hope no karma comes around to you! Whether or not you agreed with him, celebrating his death in your manner is lower than low.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pmI certainly feel for Russert's family and friends but I won't personally miss him. He did this nation a great diservice by being Dick Cheney's lapdog when he came calling.
My guess is that next Sunday Meet the Press will be dedicated to his years as anchor of that program. After that, it will be interesting to see who NBC selects to sit in that chair.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:07 pmDitto. Those are the type of comments expected by Freepers.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:09 pmThat Sucks. Man.
Farewell, Tim. The world of journalism is decreased at a time when it can hardly afford it.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:10 pmFor the person who said that having a heart attack means that you are not healthy should go back to school..I am a RN and have seen plenty of perfect healthy men have massive heart attacks.. For no reason at all...Maybe you should watch what you say...You know the saying..You sew what you reap!!! My prayers go to his family...
June 13th, 2008 at 4:11 pmIt amazes me that one who never posts here, shows up and spouts vile crap "in the name of progressives".
This is the fuel that will feed the O'Reilly liberals are haters fire, and yet the other 50 sympathetic posts (so far) will be ignored.
It does grow tiresome, I do admit.
Again, condolences to Tim's family.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm#37 RogerSuckEggs ~ At your demise, most likely NO ONE will be distracted, nor give a shit.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:16 pmThat's Karma.
Bye Tim , While I didn't always agree with your politics you will be missed . My heart felt condolences to The Russert family .
June 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pmThey obviously were not healthy if they had a "massive heart attack".
Last time I checked, there is nothing healthy about a heart attack or MI.
It's clear YOU need to go back to school.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pmDear God, I hope Tim rests in peace. But I have a question to you, Dear God... Why did'nt you take O'Reilly instead??? Are you jaking with us? Why?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pmHis death is tragic at that age, and my sympathies go out to his family and loved ones.
That said, professionally he had turned into a hack and a shill for the right; he was *not* a journalist, yet NBC cloaked him in a journalistic mantle that he was more than happy to don and use for entree into the halls of power for the sake of "access" and the kind of washington celebrity status that the bush administration used to manipulate the mindless sheep that serve as the voices and faces of modern corporate media.
He and chris matthews are of the same ilk. One step above chris wallace, two steps above bill o'reilly.
His family can mourn him, but the airwaves are better off with him gone.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pmPlease God... take O'Reilly too! Amen
June 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pmNo, I don't know that saying. I do know the saying, "You reap what you sew". You're 0 for 2.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pmThis is posted on MSNBC, Tim's last interview. I can hear his voice saying these wise words.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25137286/
The things he will never get to do now....what a bummer.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pmI am in shock, and very saddened. My heart and thoughts go out to Mr. Russert's family.
He left a strong legacy, and although I didn't always agree with him, I often respected his style.
I remember very recently Terry McAuliff talking about Tim's father "watching from the sky" and Tim reminded him that his father was "still here and watching from the barcalounger". That's the Tim I prefer to remember.
Godspeed, Tim. My Sunday mornings will never be the same...
PEACE
June 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pmJust to be clear, there are many things about Tim that I could criticize. I feel this is not the time nor the place.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pmBury the dead.
Let the family mourn.
Appreciate life.
He died before his own father. How sad....especially right before Father's Day.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:23 pmUmmm.. Dr Matt?
It's you reap what you sow... like planting. Not the needle and thread gig...Just sayin.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:24 pmI wasn't the biggest fan of Tim's politics, although sometimes did come through with some good sensible journalism and he did have a great sense of humor. This is sad news and my condolences to his family and friends.
I'm amazed at some of the trash that is posted here regarding Tim Russert. Regardless of how you may feel about Tim's politics, he was no Rush Limbaugh who's passing would make the world a better place.
RIP, Tim.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:24 pmDRxJ ~ The last one especially!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pmTimmeh, we hardly knew ye. MTP is a classic and as much as I disagree with their parade of conservative politicos, I always tune in.
I was beginning to believe that Russert was finally getting what's been going on for the past eight years in the media and DC and was starting to see the light. I wil miss him this election season.
There are some very big shoes at NBC to fill.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:25 pmLOL. Oops. You're correct....I was just floored that someone could be so hysterical in a single post.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pmmy condolences to his family.
My question is how and why as I am sure a person such as Russert would be heavily insured health wise, as compared to most, and a future problem would be detected in order to avoid the fatal attack. 58 is too young to be dying of a heart attack.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:26 pmnostrafarious Says:
LOL!! Wonderful to see false liberals like yourself reveal just how intolerant of other opinions they are. Who the hell ever gave you a progressive badge??? Yourself?
June 13th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
______
There's nothing even remotely progressive about kicking the recently deceased.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pmObviously horrible news for him and his family , however the rewriting of history is absurd , he pandered to the belt way , let Cheney off the hook before the invasion and was consistently lenient to the right wing power elite and NBC's self promoting of his and Browkaw's books was unprofessional .
June 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm#51 nostrafarious:
Is it just me, or did anyone else do a spit take when they read this drivel from nostrafarious? Seems to me that nostrafarious’s repugnant comment (the original #6 before it was deleted – thank you, Think Progress) celebrating Mr. Russert’s death is the ultimate expression of intolerance of others’ opinions. I don’t know what you are, nostrafarious, but you’re no liberal, no progressive -- your comment suggests you're not even human. If nostrafarious has “a progressive badge” one can only hope that it combusts into flames in his putrid little claw.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:38 pmI have a feeling the one who posted the vile sentiment is the same troll [or group] accusing others of agreeing with that false sentiment. Its troll sock puppetry.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:38 pmThanx for the quick cleanup, TP. There is no call for that kind of garbage.
RIP Tim
June 13th, 2008 at 4:38 pmI have said my share of criticism of Russert, but dying at the age of 58 is truly a tragedy.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:40 pmI am sorry for his family.
The risk factors are heavy, especially after 50. Periodic doctor's appointments become necessary. Bill Clinton, thankfully, had good timing and had his bypass surgery before it was projected that he would have suffered a massive heart attack just weeks later. I wish that Tim Russert, and other heart attack victims, had the same good timing. I know it's tough.
Cholesterol checks? Aspirin regimens undertaken? Limiting running those marathons? Can all of that make the difference? I've come to know the human heart as a easily volatile part of the human body. It's very scary.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:41 pmI heard from my spouse that his trip to Italy was in celebration of one or more of his kids graduations. Could have been one of those sitting induced blood clots.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:42 pmhelenahandbasket Says:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And a message to all those overweight mid to late 50s baby boomers out there. Exercise, see your doctor and lose weight. Life is way too precious.
Yeah, let's all get thin and healthy like Jim Fixx... No way we could drop dead of a heart attack then.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:44 pmThank you, Dr. Matt and others, for your persistence on cleaning up the crap.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:45 pmMy question is how and why as I am sure a person such as Russert would be heavily insured health wise, as compared to most, and a future problem would be detected in order to avoid the fatal attack. 58 is too young to be dying of a heart attack.
Lots of men put off going in for regular check-ups, even when they do have good health insurance.
As for his age, my former boyfriend died of a heart attack this January - he was 47. An investement manager I've worked with for the past six years died of a heart attack last year at 46.
Heart disease is a horrible disease. Take care of your heart! Don't smoke, get moderate cardio exercise, keep your weight under control and see your doctor regularly.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:46 pmIt is neither appropriate nor of any value whatsoever to express anything other than sympathy for his family at this time.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:48 pmOne of the Greatest Bush Enablers!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pmtriv33 Says:
Yeah, let’s all get thin and healthy like Jim Fixx… No way we could drop dead of a heart attack then.
Anecdotal. More overweight people die of heart attacks than thin. Fixx overdid it.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pmRightOfAttila Says:
nostrafarious Says:
Thank God, one less Neocon, media shill.
We may disagree with our politics but don’t tell me that TP’ers are so low to agree with this.
Of course we don't. I also don't believe this was posted by a Progressive. This person is not a regular on TP so I suspect it is a right wing troll posting hideous things to try to make this site look bad.
I wasn't a fan of Tim Russert, even though I think he had finally had his "come to jesus" moment on this election. But, my heart goes out to his loved ones. He was just two years younger than I am, and I know that I'm way too young to die.
Take care everyone, be safe.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:00 pmI'm somebody that loathes when people get overly sad on the death of a television personality, but I am greatly saddened over this. Godspeed Tim.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:03 pmMarie Says:
It is neither appropriate nor of any value whatsoever to express anything other than sympathy for his family at this time.
Sorry, I don't subscribe to that assertion. I just wonder if the suit he'll be buried in will have a GOP button on the underside of the lapel. While I feel sorry for his family, how many families buried loved ones, because he didn't do his job, and instead did the GOP's work for them? A hack is a hack, be he live or dead.
And now you can report me for abuse.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:05 pmDallasNE Says:
After that, it will be interesting to see who NBC selects to sit in that chair.
I'm betting it will be another neocon reporter. I actually thought that Tim Russert had finally seen the error of his ways and was coming around to the side of the light. So, NBC will probably be not too sad he is no longer around and will replace him with someone who is still firmly in the pocket of the right wing.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:06 pmDRxJ Says:
It amazes me that one who never posts here, shows up and spouts vile crap “in the name of progressives”.
This is the fuel that will feed the O’Reilly liberals are haters fire, and yet the other 50 sympathetic posts (so far) will be ignored.
That post was by design and had it's intended consequence. I'm sure we will see that person's post on O'Reilly or Hannity as proof positive of what "hatemongers" we on the left really are. I'm glad that TP got it down quickly. But, they need to get rid of the post that quoted that person also.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:08 pmw o w . . .
this news does come as a total surprise...
i have complete and sincere sympathy for the russert family...
my own father went into the hospital on friday of father's day weekend '01, emphysema... died one week later...
i don't do father's day...
R I P
June 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pmDallasNE Says:
After that, it will be interesting to see who NBC selects to sit in that chair.
I'm betting David Gregory. Or perhaps David Gergen. God, don't let it be Andrea Mitchell.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pmbarfly,
June 13th, 2008 at 5:14 pmRe: #86,
I will not flag your post because the best example is a truly bad example.
I'm a little unclear on how that vile poster was able to post twice. TP, didn't you ban him after his first vile post? If not, why not?
When are you going to start banning people by their ISP? It would make this place so much nicer.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:16 pmI was busy watching Holland v France in Euro2008 so I'm late to this news.
Completeley unexpected. My condolences to his family--what a shock.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:16 pmwhatever
June 13th, 2008 at 5:29 pmSorry that should have read: whatever nostrafarious
June 13th, 2008 at 5:30 pmnostrafarious:
Well put - all of it.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:42 pmWalt - I was thinking the same thing. People don't realize how dangerous it is to sit in one position for a length of time.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:43 pmNostra - there's a huge difference between being respectful and being "sappy amnesiacs" as you so rudely put it.
Obviously, that difference is lost on you.
We civilized people can be respectful and polite and offer our sincere condolences to Mr. Russert's family without compromising our principles or being untrue to ourselves. While we may disagree with his stand on the issues or his journalistic POV - we can offer our sympathy and best wishes -- without ranting and raving and calling him names.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:46 pmToo bad Russert gave McCain a pass for so long. Never put off til tomorrow..., eh Timmy?
And yet O'Reilly and John Gibson live. Death is so unfair.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:47 pmWaltTheMan Says:
barfly,
Re: #86,
I will not flag your post because the best example is a truly bad example.
Here's an example, of some of the things Russert often allowed his "roundtable" regulars to discuss:
Geroge Will:Drilling is underway 60 miles off Florida. The drilling is being done by China, in cooperation with Cuba, which is drilling closer to South Florida than U.S. companies are.
As we all know, that's just a bit of the unchallenged bunk Russert often allowed conservatives to speak, on his show.
How's that for a eulogy?
June 13th, 2008 at 5:48 pmJust for the record... I do cry for people that I don't know personally. I won't cry when Rush or Cheney kick the bucket. As a matter of fact, I might celebrate instead. As for Tim Russert, I feel sad, not tearful, just sad and shocked by the news.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:51 pmAnd by the way... Tim may have allowed people to say whatever they wanted to on his show. He didn't speak trash about people like Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingram and John Gibson and Dick "traitor-so" Cheney. There's a difference between allowing his guests to speak and inciting and encouraging riots like the Rush Limbaugh, the un-American.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:55 pm94 - nostrafarious - while what you are saying may be true, must it be said at this time? Can there not be even the shortest time of mourning and respect for the dead?
June 13th, 2008 at 5:58 pmIn this sad time of corporate misinformation and trash journalism, one of the last honest newsmen has died. RIP.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:10 pmAlthough I did not agree with all what he said...I always watched his show.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:32 pmHe showed good intelligence and good grasp of the issues he covered.
I was shocked to hear about his death this afternoon at a young age...
I ask mercy for him and prayers for his family.
R.I.P. Mr. Russert.
Mr. Russert was very excited when Sen. Obama won the dem nomination. He said he would love to go into the inner city and talk about the excitement.
I liked this guy a lot.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:35 pm"John Kerry" comes here to make a baseless attack on Keith Olbermann, showing how classy you are AGAIN.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:06 pmMy condolences to his family and friends.
I've been watching watching the pundits spout about what a fabulously great guy he was and I understand that's the only natural reaction in a case like this, BUT
I just can't get the memory out of my head of the unnamed White House source comment (if I'm not mistaken) that Cheney chose Meet the Press to catapult the lies in October 2002 because he could "control the message" there.
Russet prepared his gotcha questions for others but when it came to the Bush gang he always rolled over, I don't know why, could it be he was more attached to that fat General Electric paycheck than doing the right thing.
Some might say it's in bad taste to speak ill of the dead. For all those so concerned about Tim, where's your concern for the 4,000+ Americans and countless Iraqis who died because of the success of the "catapulting the propaganda" campaign. What about all the wounded, maimed, the kids who lost their mothers or fathers.
I guess they"re not as important as Timmy because they didn't collect a fat media salary.
I see some say "He was so young".Weel, he got a lot better shot at life at 58 than some of the people who died in Iraq, US soldiers 22 or 23 years old and the nameless Iraqi kids known as collateral damage.
The day of the 2007 State of the Union address 5 US soldiers were killed. I couldn't find ONE reference to them in the media. Not even their names. I supposed they were just commas in Tim's storyline of WMD's. Iraq-Al Qaeda links and yellow cake.
If this is in bad taste, so be it.
June 13th, 2008 at 7:31 pmI find the shooting of an Iraqi mother of 4 in the forehead by a Blackwater operative to be in bad taste also.
People are too controlled by the corporate media as to what we should focus our thoughts on and what and who is important.
It is so easy to control peoples thoughts and emotions with media or entertainment.
People should be as aware of that as the people who control the media are.
WaltTheMan
June 13th, 2008 at 8:21 pmLike you, one of the first things I thought of when hearing the news was that he had just returned from a long airplane flight, and wondered if there was any connection.
His doctor was just on TV with a commentary of the result of the autopsy and he briefly mentioned the flight, the obvious recent blood clot that precipitated the MI.
Very shocked.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pmRIP Tim. Wow, I'm sad.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pmWhy could anyone celebrate anyone's passing? Is that a conservative trait? I wish everyone a full life.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:15 pmMy deepest sympathies to Russert's family & friends. His early death is a tragedy.
His legacy at NBC, however, is his spearheading of the mutation of the long-running & much-honored Meet the Press into the POX News-style pigsty it became. He could have, should have, and might have done better.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:21 pmIt's a tragedy when someone dies so suddenly and young like he did. Regardless of Tim's political leanings, he wasn't a bombastic blowhard like many in the MSM.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:41 pm109. flavorino Says: Some might say it’s in bad taste to speak ill of the dead. For all those so concerned about Tim, where’s your concern for the 4,000+ Americans and countless Iraqis who died because of the success of the “catapulting the propaganda” campaign. What about all the wounded, maimed, the kids who lost their mothers or fathers.
I guess they”re not as important as Timmy because they didn’t collect a fat media salary.
I see some say “He was so young”.Weel, he got a lot better shot at life at 58 than some of the people who died in Iraq, US soldiers 22 or 23 years old and the nameless Iraqi kids known as collateral damage.
Undeniable point, flavorino. Well said.
The overwhelming response to the untimely and unfortunate death of a media colleague dwarfs the coverage of the illegal Iraq war & crimes by the bush administration. I remember the famous photo of the little girl, spattered in blood, sobbing at the feet of the very soldiers who obliterated her family.
Most of the media figures in Russert's league were also part and parcel of the selling of this war and the dissembling and filiblustering of valid criminal actions by the bush administration. While the media elite were doubtless friends and shared the cocktail circuit, enjoying the "kewl kids" status, they did it at the expense of the entire nation and our democracy...
Not to mention over one million Iraqi lives and 4000 Americans for a lie, being somehow easier for people to understand and mourn the tragic death of one than 10,000, 100,000, or a million.
As flavorino points out, neither genuine heroes of the Iraq war, true patriots like Kucinich, Wexler and Feingold who deserve near deification for their courage, nor even the villainous crimes of the administration which deserves whithering scrutiny, will ever receive the same deserved attention. Such near deification and attention is reserved, by a complicit media, for the unexpected death of one of it's stars.
Joe Darby should be so lucky; Should have been so lauded.
My condolences to the Russert family.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:14 pmI really don't want to sound insensitive, but it never ceases to amaze me how much attention The Media will pay to one of their own who gets wounded or dies. There are citizens dying every day from lack of health care, from fighting an illegal war, but they get minimal coverage. Every single outlet has been literally gushing about how wonderful Russert was. I'm seriously NOT trying to diminish him, but am extremely disappointed in this 'balanced' coverage of a good newscaster who certainly didn't live long enough to become a Cronkite.
June 13th, 2008 at 11:37 pm44,000 Americans die each year in car accidents.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:03 amMy condolences to his family. Of the dead say nothing but good; how does that go in Latin? Never mind.
I must remind everyone that Tim Russert, accolades aside, testified under oath during the Libby Grand Jury testimony AND the Libby trial that he had given the White House favorable treatment so he could continue to get exclusive access from them. Under oath. He swore in open court that he refused to uphold his journalistic principles so he could continue to have inside access.
And that's beside his ridiculous Clinton coverage of Monica and impeachment, as well as Meet The Press's penchant in the new millenium for hosting Republican conservatives at a two-to-one ratio over Democrats, with liberals and progressives rarely if ever making appearances. Even Dick Cheney said that program was a great Sunday morning stopoff for distribution of White House talking points. And how about the laughingstock of an interview with George W. Bush in late winter of 2004, when he asked all of ONE tough question, which Bush stammered a response, with NO followup from Russert? I got the distinct impression that Russert felt sorry for Bush, being an unarmed man in a battle of wits.
I'm sorry, people, but Tim Russert did much more harm than good to my country, my government and to journalism. He was a Media Wh*re, people, and that's his legacy.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:11 amAgain, I'm sorry, people...but when all I hear about Tim Russert are accolades, praise and 20-20 hindsight, all I can think about are the things he did that counter each of those ridiculous claims.
Tim Russert didn't deserve to die. That's not the point. The point is, don't let them make him out to be a saint. That's why I come in here! To get the facts. All you have to do is search THIS SITE for heavy, real criticism of Tim Russert.
I don't blame ThinkProgress for having such a vanilla, safe, bland post about his death. They have to. But in comments, we should be able to speak our minds about what he did--in his job, that affected each and every one of us. Russert had an important role to play for the last eight years, and he rarely did anything but tick me off for NOT doing his job.
I'll be damned if I'm gonna let him slide just because people grieve over someone they never even met...
June 14th, 2008 at 12:26 amThe media is going wa-a-ay overboard on their eulogizing Russert. I understand their interest, but the coverage reflects their self-importance/self-absorption and is extraordinarily inappropriate.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:46 amToday the count of dead young soldiers in Iraq hit 4099, with 15 dead in June.
How many ordinary citizens died from truly preventable illness had they been able to afford care?
He died much too young. The grief of his friends & loved ones is the grief none of us can pretend to fathom.
However, the accolades for the "journalist" are misguided or false. He spearheaded the mutation of Lawrence Spivak's justly lauded and revered Meet the Press into a FOXNews-like Gong-Show joke.
His suckfests with criminals like Cheney plumbed the depths of corporate-media corruption. He was one of the spotlighted phonies who killed off serious broadcast journalism and paved the way for the likes of Bill O'Reilly.
Nobody forced him to do this. He could have either grown a spine or quit in disgust.
He may have been a decent fellow in private life, and I have no reason at all to believe otherwise, but he was a disgrace to the Fourth Estate.
He was no more a real journalist than Matthews, Hume, or Williams. He COULD have been good -- he could have been GREAT -- but he was not. He CHOSE to stooge and he CHOSE not to care about it.
A great pity.
June 14th, 2008 at 6:04 amAh finally the true nature of the progs comes out. Slamming anyone in the media they feel are "part of the problem". I knew this false "we are sorry for his family" and what not wouldn't last.
For those people who are complaining about all the coverage Russert is getting you must not be paying attention to what they are saying about him. He was one of the toughest and most informed intervewers around. Countless times he would take things a guest may have said that contradicts something they said in the past and use it against them. Making them defend their point, or admit they have flip flopped. He felt it was his job was to find out where a person stood on a topic, and then take the opposite side.
He will be missed, and remember as a great journalist. Not as a shill.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am123. Another Chris Says: Ah finally the true nature of the progs comes out. Slamming anyone in the media they feel are “part of the problem”....He was one of the toughest and most informed intervewers around. Countless times he would take things a guest may have said that contradicts something they said in the past and use it against them. Making them defend their point, or admit they have flip flopped. He felt it was his job was to find out where a person stood on a topic, and then take the opposite side.
Yes, the "true nature": erudite and tactful honesty; something sorely lacking in a conservative. While you claim Russert was informed and 'tough,' he was also cited by cheney's staff as the best place to disseminate lightly-or-unchallenged bush administration talking points. Having the vice president's lackeys label you as a patsy isn't likely to endear you to the Pulitzer committee. One has only to do a cursory search here or Media Matters to produce a legion of Russert's contortions and lop-sided guest roster.
...and remember as a great journalist. Not as a shill.
Only by those who take the word of the vested-interest-administration-serving media.
Edward R. Murrow was a great journalist.
Bill Moyers is a great journalist.
Seymour Hersh is a great journalist.
But Russert, along with Brokaw, Couric, Lauer, Gregory, Stephanopoulos, Matthews, etc. are personality pundits who've abridged their journalistic ethics to facilitate access. They "cooperate" to get their ledes and consequently erode their credibility. At least they get invited to some "great journalist" cocktail parties, eh?
June 14th, 2008 at 9:18 amHe was one of the toughest and most informed intervewers around.
When interviewing democrats. Republicans usually got to relay talking points uninterrupted, and unquestioned by "the giant of broadcast journalism."
June 14th, 2008 at 9:39 amRussert Was Naught But A SCUM Parasite.
(SoCalledUnbiasedMedia, that is)
His only accomplishment, as far as I can see is that he was a celebrity, in the meaning remarked by the late Dan Boorstin, in his ground-breaking, and ill-read book of media criticism, The Image (1961), for which there there is but one criterion: Tim Russert was known mainly for being known. If he did anything else well, it eluded my (admittedly cursory, intermittent) attention. He specialized in another thing Boorstin presciently described in the same book: the pseudo-event.
Afaik, he never once spoke 'truth' to power, never bucked the system, was never critical of his own medium or any other. He was a good soldier of the propaganda Army.
He pretty much defines "parasite" in the SCUM sense: abstracting his fee for providing no measurable service except to the powerful.
June 14th, 2008 at 9:45 amHe will be missed, and remember as a great journalist. Not as a shill.
June 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
only by his family, and that segment of the political culture which mistakes, as a matter of principle, and lauds a partisan hack and tongue-laving tool of the Regime masquerading as an 'objective journalist.
June 14th, 2008 at 9:50 am123. Another Chris Says:
He was one of the toughest and most informed intervewers around. Countless times he would take things a guest may have said that contradicts something they said in the past and use it against them. ...
______
Gee -- too bad he didn't do that when he was felching Dick Cheney, or any other Bush Misadministration criminal. When he had THEM on, he was Larry King's wimpy kid brother.
Not even tossing softballs -- catching them on his chin
June 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am121. Marie Says:
The media is going wa-a-ay overboard on their eulogizing Russert. I understand their interest, but the coverage reflects their self-importance/self-absorption and is extraordinarily inappropriate.
Today the count of dead young soldiers in Iraq hit 4099, with 15 dead in June.
The media creates their own reality. I'm curious about the U.S. soldiers who die in Iraq. Who are they? Where are they from? What's THEIR story? What about their families? who are they? 4099 of them. Just once in while I'd like to see someone in the media talk about THEM. I don't hold any hope of the media actually doing a piece on the Iraqi dead, THEY really don't count.
June 14th, 2008 at 10:58 amMaybe the media doesn't want to acknowledge who these dead Americans are they share responsibility for those deaths by "catapulting the propaganda", and that includes Mr. Russert.
Like I said before, I guess those soldiers don't count to the media because they're not celebrities. What is a celebrity anyway?
Answer: someone made famous by the media.
To me it's all a bunch of horses***, that's what the media produces, that's one of their prime products: sh**.
126. tokin librul Says:
he never once spoke ‘truth’ to power, never bucked the system, was never critical of his own medium or any other. He was a good soldier of the propaganda Army.
He pretty much defines “parasite” in the SCUM sense: abstracting his fee for providing no measurable service except to the powerful.
He took the paycheck and kept his mouth shut. The easy road.
June 14th, 2008 at 11:04 am#
WaltB Says:
I really don’t want to sound insensitive, but it never ceases to amaze me how much attention The Media will pay to one of their own who gets wounded or dies. There are citizens dying every day from lack of health care, from fighting an illegal war, but they get minimal coverage. Every single outlet has been literally gushing about how wonderful Russert was. I’m seriously NOT trying to diminish him, but am extremely disappointed in this ‘balanced’ coverage of a good newscaster who certainly didn’t live long enough to become a Cronkite.
I agree completely. Google News is tearfully hosting his ascension to sainthood. That's the sorry state of the MSM's objectivity. Politics aside, I've got heart concerns of my own, and Russert was just a little bit older. Time to get out for a walk.
June 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pmflavorino,
June 14th, 2008 at 1:06 pmrecall a couple of years ago when Ted Koppel (Nightline)devoted the full news program to listing the names of the fallen in Iraq, along with photos. It created quite a flap at the time -- networks, politicians, and the white house all were opposed to such "propaganda." No one has done anything like it since.....now it would take hours to go through them all.
I watched "Grace is Gone" last night -- I am still tearful.
I'm sick of being politically correct where republicans like russart are concerned. It is the same mentality that makes olly north out to be a hero when he is actually a traitor.
Please do tell me again what a great American Raygun was...
Why do we have to be nice to them when they treat progressives with such public distain?
Who created the "you're either with us or against us" mentality?
Who coined the phrase "Love it or leave it"?
Who cornered and stymied progressives in the 50's by accusing them of being communists?
Who, when they took over both houses of congress, in a show of "bipartisonship" told the Democrats it was time for them to sit down and shut up that the repubs were now in power?
Russert, I hope that if there is a god in heaven that he has mercy on you. You have some begging for forgiveness to do first.
June 14th, 2008 at 1:34 pm133. Fred Says: Russert, I hope that if there is a god in heaven that he has mercy on you. You have some begging for forgiveness to do first.
...and about 4099 souls to whom he has some 'splaining.
June 14th, 2008 at 2:46 pmIt's sad, but this was the only way to wipe that shit-eatin' grin off his face.
June 14th, 2008 at 3:09 pmI am soooo tired of the Timmeh Russert solid wall to wall coverage on TV that I am about to puke very colorful peacock feathers!!
Wow, you would think he's a missing blue-eyed blonde pre-teen in Aruba with this kind of coverage...anyone hear 'bout that Iraq war thing goin' on?? Or the Afganistan thing?
"Oh, he was so great"...etc.!!! Bullshit!!!!
He was a Corporate Fascist suckup!! He could have brought the truth out but he sucked a bunch of GE war mongering feet completely clean every Sunday morning!!
June 14th, 2008 at 4:31 pmTwo observations @ work yesterday regarding Tim's death:
1. Several young people (around 20 years old) in the breakroom viewing the news remarked they didn't even know who Tim was. Talk about being out of touch.
2. The manager of operations in my area first expressed surprise upon hearing about his death, and then joked, "that's what being a Democrat got him." Ass----.
Anyway...
R.I.P. Tim. Whether or not anyone agreed with him or not, it cannot be denied that he had a great love for politics. I admire him greatly, and will miss him, for that.
And for the earlier comment questioning Tim being healthy yet was felled by a heart attack, I do believe there can be no warning signs of an impending attack, and a heart attack can kill anyone in any age group, "healthy" or not. In 1972 my grandfather passed a physical exam with no problems, was not overweight, yet died a week later from a heart attack.
My condolences to the Russert family.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:48 pmWow! theres some pretty ugly people here right now. Cruel comes to mind. While I didn't like some of his work, I still respect the fact that this man died Yesterday!, and should be given a little time before people start chastising him, or better yet, downright BASHING HIM! There is a time for everything. This is not the time to slander this man. At least wait till he's cold and buried. I see some people have learned nothing in life. You better hope you're not treated the same when you die. At least for your families sake anyway. RIP Russert. My condolences to the Russert family.
June 14th, 2008 at 4:56 pmMr Buddy,
There's also a whole bunch of shallow, misinformed idiots out there that put one highly paid shill for corporate fascist interest ahead of our fellow citizens.
How 'bout some respect for the soldiers dying every day!! They aren't rich. They suffer more than Timmeh's family every did!!!!!
June 14th, 2008 at 5:08 pmHow awful for his family I am really sorry for them.
June 15th, 2008 at 10:12 amBut I quit watching MTP in 2003 along with the rest of the MSM.
They were and are the bush/chenny enablers and we need to stop acting like they are journalists and stop listening to any of their drivel. They do not investigate, they just get access by repeating whatever they are told by the people they should be investigating. Way to much unnamed sources and way to much repeat the talking point bullshit!
dixie, I agree. All I'm saying is people should wait till he's been buried. That's all.
June 15th, 2008 at 10:21 amAll this does is show how people can be so mean spirited
people can be.
I think about our troops everyday. One of my friends from high school lost his son in Iraq. I feel for him and his son every day dixie. I just think that to bash a man who passed is wrong. At least wait till he's in the ground. I also think that when the media loses one of their own, they go overboard with the coverage.I see what you're saying and do agree with you.
I just think people should wait a little bit. Give the family some time to grieve. His son is of an age where he probably goes on line. So I ,myself wouldn't want to say anything that would hurt this young man at this time.
But if it makes you feel smart, go ahead.