June 13, 2008
Political Journalism Loses A Legend
Vaughn Ververs: The Death Of Tim Russert Will Reverberate For A Long Time
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Tim Russert speaks to the crowd during a debate between Democratic presidential hopefuls Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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Photo Essay Tim Russert, 1950-2008 Longtime NBC political journalist and host of "Meet The Press" dies of heart attack at 58.
The death of NBC’s Tim Russert has stunned the journalistic and political worlds. And his loss will reverberate through them - and our political system itself - for a very long time.
In over 15 years as moderator of NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Russert grilled candidates, congressional leaders, cabinet members and political activists of all stripes with a style that was respectful and fair but also confrontational. His show became a measuring stick for anyone seeking elevation to higher office, a gauntlet of sorts that had to be run by presidential candidates to prove their chops - the “Russert test.”
With his background in law and active politics, Russert developed a style that was unique and effective, commonly confronting his guests with past quotes that differed from their current positions and staying on a single point until he received an answer. “Face the Nation” host Bob Schieffer, who competed with Russert each week on Sunday mornings said it best when he learned about the news. “Tim was the best of our profession. He asked the best questions and then he listened for the answer.”
That style was on display not long after taking helm of the Sunday morning public affairs show. In 1992, a presidential candidate who was riding high in the polls named Ross Perot appeared on “Meet the Press.” With diligent and specific questioning, Russert pinned down the candidate who was forced to admit that his deficit reduction plan didn’t exactly add up. Russert, as the Washington Post wrote at the time, “so rattled the Texas billionaire that he announced he was cutting back on interviews to work on his policy prescriptions.” Perot would swiftly see his political fortunes fade after that.
The impact Russert had stretched beyond Sunday mornings and he became an instantly recognizable face and voice for the network on the “Nightly News,” the “Today Show,” special events from Washington and, especially, election night. He did his homework, he remembered his lessons, and when Russert spoke, Washington listened.
But what separated Tim Russert from most political journalists was his ability to simplify seemingly complicated issues, to boil the story down to its essence and to communicate the excitement and joy he found in doing so. In the age of technological bells and whistles, fancy graphics and touch-screen computer maps, Russert preferred the unsophisticated.
Perhaps no story was more confusing than election night 2000, a night that would stretch on for weeks as two campaigns battled it out in the courts to determine the leader of the free world. It was on that night when he stripped all the technology away and pulled out a simple white board to break down the math and proclaim, in an observation that echoes today, that the whole election was boiling down to “Florida, Florida, Florida.”
Even as the testaments continue to flow in from all quarters of the political and journalistic world, the loss of his voice from this campaign will not be replaced. Not everyone in politics or journalism had the privilege of working directly with Russert, but nearly everyone in Washington respected and admired him for both his work and his obvious love of -- and respect for -- a city and process that defines our democracy. Politics is not always pretty and it’s rarely popular. But it is essential and Russert helped make it understandable and accessible. That’s why journalism and politics won’t be the same without him.
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See all 91 Comments" . .He asked the best questions and then he listened for the answer.%u201D
Watched some of the over the top tributes to this man.
Many times he talked over people giving answers.
This includeded Ross Perot.
Of course I was probably not listening the
same way "journalist" listen.
I was blessed to have grown up in a neighborhood with a larger than life Irish Catholic with blue-collar roots we all called ''big daddy'' who was the heart of our community, had a passion for life, a gazillion friends, and was pure support to me and nurtured talents I didn''t even know I had. He died while I was in my teens, and I don''t think I''ve ever come across anybody else personally who was so thoughtful and generous of heart, but I still remember him often as THE example of humanity at its best.
I think anybody who''s fortunate to have had the chance in life to have been cared about by such kindhearted individuals can''t help but be made a better person for it. There are still times when I get petty and small, and thoughts of ''big daddy'' remind me that there''s a better way to be in life.
My thoughts and prayers to the Russert family and the fans of Tim Russert who are in grief over his passing . . .
he called the democratic primary over and gave the
advantage to Barack Obama. Oldest spin trick in the
book.
Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:59 PM
You''re right. A miniscule number of right wing junkies still buy in to the fiction of George W. Bush. The rest of us have seen beyond your propaganda sound bites and false patriotism and discovered the real danger to our democracy is not stone age goat herders, but a whole government based on lies. Halfwits like you rail against liberals like there''s some big conspiracy set against you, but I''m no liberal. I''m a Republican and you''re a nazi... and I will stand with my liberal brothers and sisters and will fight your vileness until our country is free once again. Your craven cowardness in the face of the real danger we face is a testimony to your worthlessness. Stick your head back in your hole and stay out of our way... real Americans are at work and you might get hurt.
Posted by RowdyWicca at 02:59 PM : Jun 14, 2008
Obviously, more than bought your herione''s krap.
Posted by SamTheTVCat
The newer stress tests are done by taking a series of images of the heart, then they inject a chemical that puts the heart under stress and take additional images for comparison.
I don''t know . . .
I was here, then I went there. If you watched the show THEN you must know what happened.
Than: Used to suggest preference. I liked that show more THAN the new one. I am not smarter THAN him, just better looking!
Will you hillbillies get it right? There, that should unite a few people.
I stated my opinions, and YOU came out swinging, and criticizing MY posts. When I refute what you say, you cry like a baby.
Why do you even bother posting?
Posted by hungry1968 at 02:16 PM : Jun 14, 2008
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My response:
1. Hey, idiot! Go back and look! You attacked ME first!
2. You refuted NOTHING of what I said! As I''ve pointed out!
3. YOU''RE the one that seems to be ''crying like a baby''! Do you do this EVERYTIME someone fails to absolutely agree with what you say?
4. Personally, I was thinking the same thing about YOU, why do you bother posting?! If you can''t accept the fact people are going to disagree with you?!
5. In your latest post, you''ve applied the strategy of accusing me of everything YOU''RE guilty of!
6. What I find interesting is, you can''t find common ground with someone who essentially agrees with you to a lesser degree and you disdain the rightwing nut jobs, so who''s left? I don''t want or expect a reply.
Good day.
Laughable!!!
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Posted by hungry1968 at 01:14 PM : Jun 14, 2008
Actually half of the democratic base holds very conservative values...that why your stink hole candidate had such a hard time scamming the nomination!
You just love to forget that not the whole country buys his KRAP!
Posted by RowdyTEXAN
The truth is hard to swallow, eh, wingnut?
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Posted by HarryDoghiny at 12:40 PM : Jun 14, 2008
Truth? A five minute sound bite of trash for whatever he can sensationalize and get ratings for?
May be your kind of truth if you want to sit there in your chair and flip your tv clicker...you''re welcome to it!
Posted by hungry1968 at 11:59 AM : Jun 14, 2008
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My response:
1. You assert,''There was NEVER anyone more unbiased or partial...than Tim Russert. Once again, that''s your opinion. No matter how many times you repeat it, you won''t convince ME of it! I DISAGREE---as is my right---get over it!
2. I never read steelmonkeys'' post, but, I do not ascribe to his believe as you''ve stated it! But, I especially do not like people trying to put words in my mouth, as you''ve attempted to do in your post!
3. I stated my position in my original post. What didn''t you understand?! I thought he did a good job, I don''t believe he did as perfect a job as you seem to believe! That''s all. Okay?
Posted by RowdyTEXAN
The truth is hard to swallow, eh, wingnut?
I CALL THIS OVERLY EXCESSIVE ON REPORTING THIS SAD EVENT! BUT IT IS TANTAMOUNT TO CRAMMING IT DOWN OUR THROATS!
But as for listening to the news on tv, I quit that a long time ago. I can read the exact same news online, and not have to waste my time through a bunch of sensationalism bull along with stupid tv commercials for 20 minutes of my time.
As for one newscaster being more fair and impartial than another...they''ll all pick up a story and goose it for what ever ratings they can get out of it.
Keith Olberman especially is a goose stepping piece of trash! No matter who he''s talking about! That kind of krap I don''t miss at all.
I''d rather go out and read from all kinds of media and sort out what''s real and what''s bull spit on my own, without having to look at some stupid newscasters face while they''re yammering!
Posted by hungry1968 at 08:18 AM : Jun 14, 2008
You''''ve OBVIOUSLY never watched "Meet the Press".
Posted by hungry1968 at 09:16 AM : Jun 14, 2008
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My response: Just because someone else has a different opinion from yours'', doesn''t mean they aren''t watching the same show! AND, it especially don''t make YOUR opinion automatically correct!
You''re obviously not as open-minded about the job Russert did, as you''d like to believe!
Posted by hungry1968 at 08:18 AM : Jun 14, 200
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My response: You''re naive! NOT always he didn''t! Most of the time he tried. I would guess, that at times he had to agree to ''go easy'' in order to get certain guests on the show! Better that than not get them on!
Also, I hope MSNBC pays no attention to your suggestion that Chris Matthews takeover MTP! He''s a total sellout/suckup artist! Olberman would be best, but he''s got his own show and might not want to do it!
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