[the invisib1e hand]

to the media, the death of Mr. Russert was the good news.

The bad news was that print advertising is down 14%. So naturally that had to be unreported.

[BenLurkin]

If anything, it shows just how much those who disseminate information think of themselves.

Agree. It seems the Mr. Russert was a fine man but his passing is being recognized in a manner which is way out of proportion.

[blackbart.223]

He does make a valid point.

[Secret Agent Man]

It’s because he was one of them, a guy who worked for big Dem figures (Moynihan, the former NY Gov whose name escapes me even tho I can see his face).

That and because he was tough on Repubs, and not as tough on Dems. He was a liberal journalist. What else can you say other than that his death was very quick and he didn’t suffer.

[mnehring]

Is it really any surprise Bob? The media lives in a world, created by themselves, that revolves around themselves. Tim Russert seems like a decent man and I don't want to diminish the hurt his family must feel, but the media is really looking at this as a big ‘look at me’ moment.

[kms61]

I agree that its overblown. The way I look at it is if someone at my workplace died, things would come to a screeching halt for the rest of the day. The difference when it happens in the media is that they have cameras. It’s tiresoome, but completely predictable, and it’s not going to change. You can get worked up over it, or watch another channel until it blows over.

[vetvetdoug]

The Entertainment and news industry are the most self flatulating industries there are. When a real hero passes away, like the man that passed away recently from Mississippi that earned the Medal of Honor at age 17, it makes news and is mentioned and is gone. We are going to have to listen about Russert for the next several days. The News likes to report about themselves because they think it validates much of what they do.

[CitizenUSA]

The author makes an excellent point. I was sorry to hear about Tim Russert, but his death is hardly news of greater importance than floods in Iowa, the Mars lander, $4 gallon gas, the war in Iraq, or a hundred other stories affecting hundreds of thousands if not millions of people. The networks even broke into normal broadcasting to announce his death. He was a journalist. He might have been a decent journalist, but he was only a journalist.

[fowb]

I feel bad for his family but as far as I’m concerned he was just another liberal media gasbag. He was probably a bit more balanced than Stephanopolus or Matthews, but still toed the line when necessary.

[Revolting cat!]

Thank you Bob for saying it. Celebrity worship galore (see this very forum for examples.) It makes one barf and long for the days of the Soviet newsreels which were narrated off screen by faceless hacks. Yes, I wish for faceless hacks instead of celebrity newsreaders reading from teleprompters, halfwitted newsreaders, whom many here consider, for mysterious reasons, “journalists”. Journalists, ahem, write, get it?

[oldvike]

Russert, while liberal, was the last of the true journalists, IMO. I have no problem with the tributes he’s receiving. He was one of a kind. RIP Tim.

[Candor7]

Jeter Pennings, Rim Tussert, now gone?

Who is next, Ran Dather?

Maybe Michael Moore?

The good Lord is calling Liberal mouth pieces home to the Big Presser in the sky.

The reasons may be apparent.

Drat Mudge needs to watch his step.

[Palladin]

It is amazing how fast Greta, etc. dropped the stories of the deaths of the four Boy Scouts and the coldblooded shootings of two little girls to rush and worship at the altar of One Of Their Own.

[Revolting cat!]

You ain’t seen nothing yet! Wait for Baba Wawa or Walter Traitoryouknowwho to kick the bucket! A week of national mourning guaranteed! (Dozens of Pray-A-Thon threads here, multitudes of FReeper skeptics banned for life!)

[FreeAtlanta]

Ok, I have to agree it is disproportional. I liked Russert compared to the others, but he still leaned too left for my comfort.

That said, he was going to give Obama the best examination of all the "moderators" this election season. For this, I am most sad at his passing.

Comfort and blessings to his family. He was the best man to them and obviously loved them and was was loved by them.

[Lloyd227]

I turned off the radio today about an hour into Hannity’s show as it seemed that’s all he wanted to talk about.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Was there some incident during the campaign, where Russert angered Hillary?

(seem to recall something?)

Not saying anything. Just asking...

[skinkinthegrass]

short/concise...the world revolves around them....
Egoist / self-centered...most, but not all.

[FredZarguna]

The excessive media over Tim Russert — a genuinely good guy, Dad, and hard-working man should be taken like the joke about the pope and the lawyer who show up simultaneously in heaven. The pope is quite put-off by the enthusiastic welcome afforded the lawyer, while he is virtually ignored; but St. Peter admonishes him: “this place is full of Popes but we've never seen a lawyer before.” Whatever you may think of Nixon, his assessment of the press was succinct and correct: “they're a bunch of sh!ts.” Time Russert was a rarity. He was not one. RIP.

[BIGLOOK]

You've got a point, Bob; we've heard lots of stories about other journalists and media people who've met tragic ends or suffered injuries, lots more than the common man or soldier cut down in their youth or prime. Those who survived have had air time to describe their travails after wards and are held up as heroes of their profession. But then, life ain't fair.

Tim Russert's sudden demise touched the media stars' own sense of mortality. It was a shock. His position at the top, his relative youth, his workaday ethic ended suddenly, finally. Tim Russert was the only reason to watch NBC (unless there's a football game), he was their sole redeeming factor, their icon.

On our side of the street, away from the lights and cameras, Tim Russert was a good guy. a good son and a good father. The son of a common man who always remembered his roots. Something the elite media is having difficulties dealing with as well.

He died with his boots on.

Godspeed Tim Russert.