Tim Russert

CNN is reporting Tim Russert of "Meet the Press" died today of a heart attack.

Tim Russert dies at 58

Wow... that's a shock! Way too young!

R.I.P. Tim.

Wow!! What a shock. NBC News won't be the same without him. God speed to his family and friends. RIP Mr. Russert.

I saw that. It is a shame. He was very young, at 58.

R.I.P Tim Russert.

RIP Tim

Dead pool anyone.

I got home and turned on the TV and saw the scrawl and couldn't believe it. Out of all the loud mouth egomaniacs in the news broadcasting world he was one who always seemed to keep his emotions close to the vest. It's a sobering shock. It's strange how you've never met someone but seeing them in your living room all the time and makes their loss seem personal.

RIP Tim!

Well said, Beth E.

Tim Russert graduated from the law school at the university I work at and where my wife finished law school. I never met Tim, but he made you feel like a friend on the air. I heard that he had just returned from seeing his son graduate (I presume from college). Tim was very fond of his own father and it's such a shame to lose him not only at such a young age, but on the weekend of Father's Day. Then again, it is also a fitting irony.

I just now heard the news and I am shocked. Any political junkie or Meet the Press or just a cable news viewer knows Russert. Even if I didn't always agree with him, he always was polite to everyone and never came across as harsh or a know it all.

As I watch MSNBC and CNN I was waiting to hear exactly what he died of and all they say is he died suddently. I see now it was a heart attack. What a shame. Certainly someone I've become very familiar with throughout the last few years. Gee, just before father's day (he's father is still alive no?) and on Friday the 13 know less.

RIP Tim.

TIS

Yea Goombah, they said on the news that he just flew back from Italy. He took his family there for his son graduating college. I believe that they said that his wife and son was still in Italy.

My heart really goes out to his family this Father's Day weekend.

Sad and shocking. He always seemed to be a genuinely good man. We need more like him

Yeah, Mig, Tim came back from Rome early to do his work for Sunday's show. His wife and son stayed behind. I can't even imagine how agonizing that long plane ride back will be.

All everyone says is how much he loved his family. It makes it seem all the more sad that he dies right before father's day. Reading his last book, "Wisdom of our fathers" would be a real tribute to him.

It is always a tragedy when a parent survives their child. Tim Russert was an honest, intelligent, extremely hard working man who will be missed by his many admirers.

R.I.P.

I've been watching and listening to him for 20 years. I will miss him.

I'm curious to see Sunday how Meet the press handles this. Who ever is the fill in moderator is gonna have the eyes of the nation on them practically. Wondering if that person is gunning to be the permanent replacement. I hope they do a whole dedication show to him.

NBC had a special about him at 10pm and they are suppose to have a special Today show tomorrow.

Can you imagine the person who had to call the family and tell them that he collasped and passed away?

Its going to be Tom Brokaw, who is to senior to replace him. I think you can eliminate Chris Matthews and Kieth Olberman immediately. They are too partisan and too interested in what they have to say instead of what the guests have to say.

Andrea Mitchell may be a good pick, although I don't think she has the chops to do tough interviews, ditto whats his face Gregory. I am intrigued by the political analyst with the goatee....Chuck somebody. He is a Russert protegee who, like Russert never thought he would be working in front of a camera. He was brought onboard this year to be a political analyst, and so far he has done a very good job. He seems fair, interested in what is going on, and not taking sides.

In any case Russsert died way to young. I can only imagine how his dad is taking it, and how his wife and son felt learning the news in Italy, and then having to fly back knowing they would never see him again.

RIP

DT,

Do you mean Chuck Todd? The "numbers" guy? I hear he was a "righty", but I must say, by listening to him, I can't really tell. I don't mind listening to him.

Anyway, I know this sounds so "duh", but you just know how Russert was looking forward to this historical election and surely never would have saw this coming. Like most of us in his age group, we don't go to bed one day intending for it to be our last. Yea, I guess I'm still thinking he's way to young. . Makes one examine their own life and ask themselves "am I prepared?"


TIS

Tim was previously diagnosed with an enlarged heart and coronary artery disease. He was on medication for it. While a shock to all of us, he did have heart problems.

Tom Brokaw I think would be a familiar and gentle replacement. But how up to speed is he on politics? For Meet the press the moderator should at least have some familiarity with Washington.

Along with being moderator Tim was the Washington Bureau chief. He was more or less the boss to most of the Washington reporters I think. So he really is hard to replace.

TIS, as far as the historical election every eulogy I've heard said how it's a shame he's gonna miss this election. It's almost like it shouldn't go on without him.

I know I was looking forward to watching him on election night this year. Very sad.

My mother is in the hospital again being treated for a recurrance of her chronic pancreatitis. It was while visiting her that I heard of the death of Tim Russert and was ... still am ... absolutely shocked and saddened at the loss of this TV legend and obviously allaround great guy. My heart goes out to his family. While they obviously knew more of his health problems than the rest of us, the suddenness of his death must be absolutely devastating.

Last night and this morning I've been watching and listening to tribute after tribute from his colleagues. Included in ALL of them are his love and devotion to his family. I agree with those who cannot imaging these upcoming political months without his commentary and interviews. I'm certain there will be a huge hole among all the professionals who will be covering conventions, debates and election night without Russert.

While Brokaw will host 'Meet The Press' this weekend, I doubt that will be permanent. It will take months to find a suitable new host...barring an unknown, it may be a good idea to eventually bring back Katie Couric from CBS to give it a try. Couric was an early protoge of Russert...never really suited to that CBS Evening News thing, I think she would be right back in her element doing interviews.

Apple

Sorry to hear that news about your mom, Apple.

I will miss Russert talking about "Big Russ"

I am an "Imus in the Morning" listener. Russert was a regular guest on Imus. I know a lot of people don't like Imus, but in his own way he is a good interviewer. He asks the questions that the average person would ask. In that format, Russert was always a great guest. Down-to-earth, but very intelligent, witty and friendly. The kind of guy you would love to sit down at a bar with and have a chat.....and he would probably make you feel like you were friends all your life. Say hi to my Dad Tim.

Good post.

I remember Russert doing an evening show 8-10 years ago where he was interviewing Imus, and it was more like a conversation of 2 friends, who were brutally honest, intelligent and funny. They had an excellent rapport and interesting perspectives on life, politics, etc. even though they were dissimilar in other respects.

What I remember is that Imus' wife came on in the last five minutes with their toddler son, and it was clear she was quite protective. Russert pulled out some cookies and asked her if he could give the boy one. She asked, "Is it gluten free?" And Russert replied to the effect, "Oh, God, I hope not. I'd want him to enjoy it."

I'm not sure who I feel more sypathy: Russert's dad, who has the agony no parent ever wants to endure: burying their child. Or Russert's son, Luke, who should be celebrating one of the highlights of his life, graduating college, and now has the death of his own dad thrust upon him, on Father's Day weekend no less.

RIP Tim.

One of the very few poeple in the news broadcasting business that didn't bring out the Jon Stewart in you.

What a great and powerful tribute to Tim on today's Meet the press. Tom Brokaw almost made it through without crying. To see Tom with tears in his eyes is something.

Out of all the coverage I seen about Tim this weekend I don't think I heard anyone saying anything negative about him.

This article I came across includes some VERY touching photos of Luke Russert standing over his father's empty Moderator's chair at this morning's program. Note Matalin and Carville breaking down as well.

Until seeing these pictures, I didn't even know that Luke was present at the tribute show.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080615/ap_en_tv/russert_tribute_meet_the_press_15

I saw first hand how Tim Russert could absolutely demolish an unprepared candidate. In the 1998 Florida Gubenatorial election Russert came down here to moderate a debate between Governor Jeb Bush and his deomcratic opponent Bill McBride.
McBride was then the head of the State's largest law firm and was thought to be an intelligent, middle of the road alternative. What we didn't know until after the campaign was that McBride was so lazy he demanded to sleep in his iown ben in Tampa EVERY NIGHT, and get 8 hours of sleep regardless of how late he got home.

He made the usual democratic promises to provide all kinds of benefits for everyone without raising taxes and got a free pass with the press. In the debate he gave Russert a landry list of things that were wrong with Florida (all of them true) like worst per capita spending per studenton education, 49th in the country on teacher pay, massive numbers of uninsured, etc. Russert then asked him what was he going to do about it, and McBride spouted off a list of things he would do, all of which required increased spending. Russert then moved in for the kill. Showing a knowledge of Florida that few Floridians have, Russert did a quick analysis of the revenue stream of the state, its fixed obligations, its need to fund the retirement of X number of state employees scheduled to retire in the next five years, the state of the highways, etc ., "How will you pay for all this without raising taxes."
McBride literally did a Ralph Kramden "hamanahamanahamumana" before he made some vague comment about how he would cut waste from the budget. Russert then asked McBride to name three areas of the budget he would cut, and McBride said he wouldn't know that until he got in office. Russert then leaned in and
said "have you read this fiscal year's state budget?" McBride dodged and said it would be "different" when he got in office. Russert then reached down and waved some papers at him and said "here's a copy of your state's budget for this year. I've read it. Can you show me where the waste is?
The campaign was effectively over that night. A year later McBride was booted from the law firm he headed.

This is from my university's website, where as I mentioned earlier, Tim Russert graduated from law school:

CSU Mourns Loss of Tim Russert, Distinguished Alumnus

Did anybody see Luke Russert on the Today Show this morning? That was very tough to watch.

I really don't think 58 is that bad of an age to die at. I'd find myself more than lucky and gracious just to make it to 58. Either that, or I'd be sick of it all already.

I just think people seem to be more concerned with living a long life than living a happy life, and I'm already happy. I could die tonight, and I'd be fine with it. None of it really matters in the long run, anyway.

I didn't see the show but I watched the video of Luke. And he seems to be holding up pretty well don't ya think?

I was lucky enough to see Luke Russert's extremely gracious interview with Matt Lauer this morning. I agree Mig, that even though this was prior to all the 'official' ceremonial stuff (wake/funeral)...he does at this point appear to be doing extremely well. It's obvious his parents raised him well.

I was especially impressed at two things Luke said, one being that his mother was going through a 'tough time' but that they would get through it ok. That made it clear he was going to stand by her through every moment of this and for a long time afterwards.

Also when he spoke about his father's 'Meet The Press' chair, how he had made the decision he was going to keep it forever and that '...that's MY chair now...' with such determination.

I think as always, Luke's dad would've been very proud of his appearance on 'Today'.

Apple

Seems like a great kid. Too bad with all that education he doesn't know when to say "me" instead of "I."

I only saw tidbits of the interview, but I give him credit. I wouldn't be able to go before any audience, let alone anyone, without breaking down (so soon after the death of a loved one). I'd be an emotional wreck. I just wouldn't be able to control it. From what I saw, he sure seemed together, considering what he must be going through. Seems like a nice kid.



TIS