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The evil that men do... I suppose that the dictates of good taste and the prohibition against speaking ill of the dead before the body is cold should prevail. Nevertheless here is my tasteless take on the tragic death of Tim Russert. The evil that influential men do lives on after them (except in Amerika) while the good is oft interred with their bones (hardly ever in these parts). I mourn anyone who dies before his time, be he an over-promoted, second rate news hack or the tin-pot dictator of a Middle East country murdered for his oil. Unfortunately Russert was not one of my favorite "journalists." The name "journalist" should have been retired from use some time ago and be replaced with the more modest, reporter, public relations analyst or copywriter. How about graduating students from the prestigious Columbia School of Stenography? To my mind he always asked the toughest questions of only the easiest targets while letting the big fish off. He certainly liked his job and rarely if ever crossed his bosses or their interests. I was not a regular viewer, so these comments are based upon quite a small sample. The examples that I did see however were quite telling. I wish I had a copy of the two most recent interviews with VP, Cheney. A couple of questions might have been considered hard hitting – after all I'm sure Russert had a sizable staff that does know how to read. No big deal - as the questions being asked were burning on the mind of every citizen in the country at the time. When Cheney summarily dismissed the questions with his customary wave as if brushing off a troublesome fly, Russert dutifully flipped over the card and promptly went on to the next question without so much as a follow-up or even a raised eyebrow. I hold guys like Russert largely responsible for not taking the powerful to task for our present sorry state of affairs. Of course those who do evil must bear the heaviest responsibility. It's just that I also place a great share of blame on people of influence like Russert who had to know better and cowardly chose to turn the other way. So, yes, let us sincerely mourn one who has left before his time. Let us also hope that he has gone to be with a god of mercy and not a god of justice. Here is a fragment of an obit that I doctored a bit. I couldn't resist. Copyright lawyers please note. Russert Mourned After Collapsing in NBC's Newsroom (Update)
By Kristin Jensen and Julianna Goldman (some revisions by Bob Boldt) June 14 (Bloomberg) --- Tim Russert, NBC News's Washington bureau chief, who collapsed and died in his Washington newsroom yesterday, was remembered as a skilled political analyst whose gregarious nature charmed his audience and the politicians who were subjected to his relentless questioning. He was 58. "Russert became famous for his penetrating interviews on the Sunday morning talk show Meet the Press, a program he hosted longer than anyone else", alleged former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw. Russert was also a best-selling author whose books included a tribute to his father, Big Russ and Me. Brokaw also alleged Russert was "one of the premier political analysts and journalists of his time'' and a beloved colleague. seismic sensors near the grave of premier political analyst and journalist, Edward R. Murrow recorded that Murrow turned over in his grave. Michael Newman, Russert's doctor, said plaque ruptured an artery, causing a sudden coronary thrombosis, according to NBC. Before becoming a journalist, Russert worked as an aide to former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1977 to 1982 and then worked for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in Albany for two years. Investigative Reporting When Russert worked for Moynihan during the New York Democrat's 1982 re-election campaign, his research showed that Republican opponent Bruce Caputo's claims of Vietnam service were false. Caputo dropped out of the race. ``It was one of the most important moments in my life,'' Russert told the Washington Post in 1989, describing his research at the New York Public Library. ``If I must say so myself, it was investigative reporting at its best. You have no idea how tough those librarians can be!'' Russert took over as anchor of ``Meet the Press'' on Dec. 8, 1991, and turned the show into "the most-watched Sunday morning interview program in the U.S. and the most-quoted news program in the world…" alleged CBS in a rare bit of self-deprecation. President George W. Bush speaking at a news conference in Paris today, said, ``America lost a really fine citizen yesterday when Tim Russert passed away.'' ``I've had the privilege of being interviewed by Tim Russert,'' Bush said. ``I found him to be a hardworking, thorough, decent man. Both the Vice President and I will forever remember the way he always gave us the benefit of the doubt'' Russert, Bush said, ``loved his country and its legitimately elected officials. He loved his family, and he loved his job, a lot and never stepped out of line. We have an expression in Texas: 'He never forgot what side of the bread he was buttered on, er he always buttered his bread on one side not the other', er well dammit you know what I mean. Well, never mind. The man's toast now. Wish I could say the same for Moyers.'' Russert's effect on political journalism is evident almost everywhere. The Washington Post credited him with coming up with the phrases ``red states'' and ``blue states'' as a way of glossing over subtle difference in the political attitudes of the electorate. This ham-handed oversimplification of dividing the parts of the country that tended to vote Republican and those that aligned more closely with Democrats may take a generation to set aright. Russert's use of a white dry-eraser board on election night 2000 is listed in TV Guide's ``100 Most Memorable TV Moments'' in history. He scribbled ```Florida, Florida, Florida'' and called the state the bellwether for that election, incorrectly declaring George Bush to be the winner, two months before the Supreme Court halted the Florida recount and appointed George W. Bush the 43rd president of the United States. Russert repeatedly declined requests that he apologize for his mistake. Arizona Senator John McCain, called Russert's death a ``shocking loss'' and called him the ``preeminent political journalist of his generation - just like me!'' One of McCain's aids hastened to correct the presumptive Republican nominee, reminding him that he (McCain) was a politician, not a journalist. For the original unblemished obit.
 Robert Boldt an editor of MWC News, is a freelance film/video producer living in Jefferson City, Missouri. He is active in local politics, worked on the Howard Dean and John Kerry campaigns and is a cofounder of The White Rose Collective. Articles by Bob Boldt at MWC News http://mwcnews.net/bob-boldt |
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