Tim Russert Dies - Page 2

PhiGam · #1 06-13-2008, 04:03 PM

Just saw it during the Open... RIP

ThetaDancer · #2 06-13-2008, 04:09 PM

Oh my goodness. How absolutely horrible

RIP, Tim. Sunday morning just won't be the same without you.

sunnyhibiscus · #3 06-13-2008, 04:18 PM

I too thought that it was a joke, but sadly, it wasn't. This is all too sudden. 58 is too young to die.

We'll miss you, Tim.

ADqtPiMel · #4 06-13-2008, 05:35 PM

He was a classy dude and a top-notch journalist. One of my coworkers was in the studio when it happened apparently - he sent out a group email telling us what happened and there was a collective gasp across the newsroom.

AGDee · #5 06-13-2008, 06:57 PM

NBC news is a complete and total tribute to Tim. Beautiful and poignant tributes from George Bush, Ethel Kennedy, Brian Williams, Andrea Mitchell.. on and on and on... I don't know how they are all holding it together, because I am barely keeping it together watching this. 10 pm EDT, a special hour long tribute...

mystikchick · #6 06-13-2008, 07:23 PM

I never watched MtP, but he always struck me as a genuine and honest reporter in a time where too many are content to sell out and be hacks. Keith Olbermann looks like he's barely holding back tears, and I don't blame him. American journalism is probably the worse off now for having lost someone of his integrity and high standards. Rest in peace, and my heart goes out to his family.

shinerbock · #7 06-13-2008, 07:52 PM

I loved MTP, and I don't see anyone in that organization that can fill the giant void of professionalism that exists from his absence.

Awful loss for his family, his son just graduated and on Father's Day weekend...just a harsh reminder for us all.

nittanyalum · #8 06-13-2008, 09:57 PM

This just breaks my heart, Tim was a class act, and as someone mentioned above, for his son to lose his Dad the Friday before Father's Day, oh, that's too much. I was hoping he'd be the moderator for the presidential debates this year because I love his presence in those situations. So I'll think of him during those and every Sunday morning. Best thoughts and wishes for his family, coworkers and friends. (I can't imagine the trauma for his coworkers who were right there with him when he collapsed)

AKA_Monet · #9 06-13-2008, 10:03 PM

^^^I bet he wanted to wait and do all that "political stuff" before he went in for surgery... That is why, fellas, you really need to HEAR your physicians when they tell you these things.

Benzgirl · #10 06-13-2008, 10:17 PM

I just watched Larry King, who dedicated his show this evening to Tim. It was a Whos Who in journalism and the stories were unbelievable -- Ted Koppel, Campbell Brown, Barbara Walters.....

I love watching Tim and fondly remember his white board (Florida, Florida, Florida). They played a clip tonight where Tim told of his son asking for the whiteboard, only to follow with, "it's worth a fortune on eBay".

Meet the Press this Sunday will be devoted to Tim, but the show will never be the same. Tim, may you rest in peace

DeltAlum · #11 06-13-2008, 10:50 PM

This is going to seem a little silly, but it meant a lot to me given the circumstances.

I once applied for a job directing at the NBC Washington Bureau which would have included Meet The Press. A mutual friend (former NBC Washington Bureau producer) suggested I get directly in touch with Tim Russert. I never did because of his schedule and travels, and as it turned out, they had an internal candidate from the NBC local owned station who was going to get the job.

In normal circumstances, I probably wouldn't have heard from anyone, or at best received a form letter, but Russert had his assistant call personally to thank me and let me know I would have been a strong candidate had not this other person been available locally.

Big deal, huh? Well, as those of you know who have applied for high level jobs, you often have no response at all. Even though it wasn't Tim himself, it was impressive that he went out of the way to be sure I was contacted.

He was an outstanding journalist and, obviously, an outstanding person as well.

Sadfly · #12 06-13-2008, 11:41 PM

I never watch the political news shows/listen to talk radio but he seemed like a "stand-up" guy. I'm glad that he was able to spend a nice vacation with his family.

When I heard the news late this afternoon, it was the first time that I realized today is "Friday the 13th".

Nanners52674 · #13 06-13-2008, 11:49 PM

I heard the news right as i was leaving to go into work. . . When i mentioned it when I got in not a single one of my fellow employees working (all round my age) had any idea who he was. This stunned me more than i could imagine.

I had the pleasure of seeing him one night in a restaurant on Nantucket he was with his family and just seemed like a normal down to earth guy no pretense about him.

Not only is it tragic for his son to have lost him on fathers day weekend but Tim's father "Big Russ" who Tim wrote the book out has outlived his son. . . A tragic thing for a parent. . .

I have no idea what im going to do on election night with out his white board. . .

DeltAlum · #14 06-14-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

When i mentioned it when I got in not a single one of my fellow employees working (all round my age) had any idea who he was. This stunned me more than i could imagine.

Well, the the Sunday morning news shows tend to be either of great interest or none at all, depending on the person. Even in broadcast circles that time period was sometimes called "The Sunday Morning Ghetto."

I was surprised that another director at our network, who is in his mid-40's, didn't know who he was -- and my friend had even worked for an NBC affilliate for a while.

I was not suprised that ABC and CBS gave a considerable amount of time on their regular newscasts to Russert's death, but I didn't expect Fox and CNN to basically give their entire evenings over to the story (although a lot of that programming is rebroadcasts from earlier).

I suppose it pays tribute to the man and his reputation and professionalism, but I'm not sure I've ever seen a newsman given the coverage that you would expect for a head of state or high ranking politician.

Also, in passing, I thought that the coverage was pretty well done on all fronts.

AGDee · #15 06-14-2008, 12:48 PM

I think if Walter Cronkite had passed away before retirement, he would have received the same type of attention(and still may). I put Tim Russert in the same category as Walter Cronkite. I think he had an incredible amount of integrity and tried very hard to be unbiased in his interviews. He really became more recognizable as a household name during the 2000 election with his white board.