Tim Russert's death is a staggering blow to any citizen who demands truth from his or her elected officials. It would be difficult to find a better prepared, more well read, and more analytically insightful interviewer than Russert, who excelled at penetrating the flim-flam too often regurgitated by politicians. Of Russert's many formidable assets, his greatest may have been the intensity of his professional preparation.
In his latest book, The Post-American World, Fareed Zakaria writes that U.S. national politics has become little more than "ceaseless, virulent debates about trivia - a politics of theater." He contends that a "can do country" is losing competitive advantage at the hands of "doing nothing politics," although like many of us he does remain bullish about America's future. His point is lamentably accurate and no better evidenced than during the Congressional leadership tenures of Messrs. Gingrich, Hastert and Lott. Russert saw through this nonsense and held Republicans and Democrats alike accountable and within reach of informed public scrutiny. His loss in this and so many other contexts is almost unimaginable, given the dreadful state of contemporary, mainstream journalism.
I did not know Tim Russert. Too bad. The only encounter was a wonderful session in a hotel lounge in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. It was the night before his beloved Buffalo Bills suffered their fourth consecutive Super Bowl defeat, this time at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. He was joyous and effusive, telling stories of sports and politics and buying a round of drinks for a small group of us lucky enough to be there when he and several friends arrived. He seemed warm, generous and so very much alive. Age 58 is hideously too young to die, but Tim Russert nonetheless found the time to show us how to live.
Comments
I believe the points you made are very well taken. I could add that although he was a memorable political journalist and interviewer in any medium, he was particularly outstanding in the arena of network television. I can't think of anyone, at the present time, who would be considered his peer. Network television still reaches a huge audience and a journalist of his quality will be sorely missed.
Jane Christo, Brookline, MA
June 16, 2008
It is very sad for our world to have lost this man’s voice.
Diane Hammer, Boston, MA
June 16, 2008
He was way too good and way too young.
Dick Gorham, Westbrook, ME
June 16, 2008
In his latest book, The Post-American World, Fareed Zakaria writes that U.S. national politics has become little more than "ceaseless, virulent debates about trivia - a politics of theater." He contends that a "can do country" is losing competitive advantage at the hands of "doing nothing politics," although like many of us he does remain bullish about America's future. His point is lamentably accurate and no better evidenced than during the Congressional leadership tenures of Messrs. Gingrich, Hastert and Lott. Russert saw through this nonsense and held Republicans and Democrats alike accountable and within reach of informed public scrutiny. His loss in this and so many other contexts is almost unimaginable, given the dreadful state of contemporary, mainstream journalism.
I did not know Tim Russert. Too bad. The only encounter was a wonderful session in a hotel lounge in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. It was the night before his beloved Buffalo Bills suffered their fourth consecutive Super Bowl defeat, this time at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys. He was joyous and effusive, telling stories of sports and politics and buying a round of drinks for a small group of us lucky enough to be there when he and several friends arrived. He seemed warm, generous and so very much alive. Age 58 is hideously too young to die, but Tim Russert nonetheless found the time to show us how to live.
Comments
I believe the points you made are very well taken. I could add that although he was a memorable political journalist and interviewer in any medium, he was particularly outstanding in the arena of network television. I can't think of anyone, at the present time, who would be considered his peer. Network television still reaches a huge audience and a journalist of his quality will be sorely missed.
Jane Christo, Brookline, MA
June 16, 2008
It is very sad for our world to have lost this man’s voice.
Diane Hammer, Boston, MA
June 16, 2008
He was way too good and way too young.
Dick Gorham, Westbrook, ME
June 16, 2008