TIM RUSSERT DEAD AT 58
Buffalo’s own Tim Russert died today from an apparent heart attack while at work at the NBC bureau in Washington.
Update: Tim Russert wasn’t just a well-respected journalist and debate moderator. He didn’t just host the Sunday political talk show of record. He wasn’t just that guy who would be up all night during an election and then show up on the Today Show at 0-dark-hundred. He was a devoted father, son, husband, and a son of Buffalo who never forgot his roots, and was a tireless booster for his hometown. It’s safe to say he was the best-known and most vocal Buffalonian in America.
His loss is tragic, too early, and shocking.
As I recommended yesterday afternoon on Twitter:
After all, he introduced Buffalo to much of the country. Why not name our gateway after him?
George Says:June 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
A devastating loss. Buffalo loves you Tim. We’ll miss you. Rest well
Chris Smith Says:June 13th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Whatever you thought of his politics or journalism…he was a great friend of Buffalo. One of the city’s greatest ambassadors and a true believer that Buffalo would one day be reborn.
hank Says:June 13th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Tim was a graduate of Canisius HS, the cross town rival of everyone’s favorite “School on Kenmore Av”. But all the ribbin’ was always good natured when you would meet him.
He always mentioned our Bills and Sabres in his broadcasts when we were getting close to those championships we never seem to win.
Rest Easy Tim
mike Says:June 13th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
hank you sure it wasnt obama’s fault?
Christopher Says:June 13th, 2008 at 5:36 pm
Russert was an ace journalist. Always fair and always prepared. He was the face of Buffalo and he never missed a chance to tell people where he was from. This is a real shocker.
Jon Wong Says:June 13th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Hey…Didn’t “BIG RUSS”, Tim’s Daddy, ever teach Tim that NOBODY like a squealer. Didn’t Tim testify against da Scoot Libby? Oh…I’m sorry BIG RUSS wasn’t reared on the WEST SIDE…he wouldn’t have taught Tim to keep his fookin mouth shut!!!! BOO HOO.
eac Says:June 14th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I don’t have much respect for Tim Russert as a journalist. (Or Tom Brokaw, or Brian Williams…)
But I’ll give him props for championing his roots, definitely; his spot for Old Home Week ‘07 was really cool.
RIP Tim Russert Says:June 14th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Only the good die young. Sad day for his family and this nation.
chesucks Says:June 14th, 2008 at 11:23 am
I somehow feel like I have lost a dear friend. Tim Russert will never be forgotten, although Buffalo will never be the same. I hope Tim realized Buffalo’s love for him equaled his love of Buffalo.
Ward Says:June 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Salt of the earth, which is why he was a perfect ambassador for this town–the City of No Pretensions. He was like the brother-in-law you loved to have over for a cookout. Way too soon to lose him.
Snarky Snarkmore McSnarkamaphone Says:June 14th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
I guess because that would be like naming our gateway after one of the MSM hacks who was instrumental in this administrations misleading us to near catastrophic economic, military, environmental and civil liberties policies of total FAIL?
Jes’ sayin. It’s sad that he died; I feel especially bad for his dad- no father should have to bury his son. It’s a deep and sudden personal tragedy for many people- and sort of a shallow, rah-rah-Buffalo tragedy for everyone else. So, let’s not ascribe this guy to be something he wasn’t, like a real journalist. He was a former Democratic press secretary turned mainstream talking head. Definitely more praiseworthy than career gas station attendant; not exactly Nobel laureate, either.
Bill Altreuter Says:June 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Certainly 58 is too young; absolutely it is sad for his family.
But I am mystified about all this “great journalist” stuff. Tim Russert was a toadying television talking head who I never ever saw ask a tough question– unless the person being questioned was someone out of power. I never saw him stand up to a soul in the Bush administration, but he was always quick to try to spring a trap on a Democrat.
In this he was not unique– one of the reasons we are in this horrible war is that the press in general failed to do what it tells us its job is. It didn’t dig into the background, it didn’t ask the hard questions, it didn’t follow up. Most of all, it didn’t report. Russert and his colleagues merely regurgitated the disinformation they were fed.
I heard Cokie Roberts talking about how Russert’s program made her program better, because her people had to go out and get “guests” (which is what they call interview subjects) that were as good as those on “Meet the Press”. Russert was able to book his subjects in one of two ways– if it was a high powered official who had an agenda, MTP was a great forum. Russert would ask fawning questions, and never press a point. Notwithstanding his law school background he couldn’t cross-examine his way out of a wet paper bag. If the sought after guest was someone like Howard Dean, Russert would avoid discussions of substance, and instead ask about matters of perception. He’d follow up with those sort of questions sharp enough. People would go on MTP notwithstanding this because it was a valuable platform, but it wasn’t valuable because Russert brought any sort of intellectual rigor to it. His performance in the Clinton/Obama debate was a disgraceful example of exactly what I’m talking about.
Being from Buffalo doesn’t automatically qualify someone for sainthood, and going to a Jesuit high school doesn’t mean that one is an intellectual. The world has lost a high profile Bills fan. Oh well.
indabuff Says:June 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
My guess is Bill went to Saint Joe’s or Saint Francis…
Bill Altreuter Says:June 14th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
St. John the Baptist DHS, West Islip. Down the road from where Rick Lazio went to high school. I wouldn’t be too quick to draw any conclusions from that either. (I had Dominicans and Franciscans.)
As a point of clarification, I don’t mean that Russert didn’t try to put people on the spot– that was actually his signature move. My problem with his approach was that he didn’t follow through– and he never pulled the same stuff he pulled on the people who weren’t in power on people who were. “Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable” wasn’t his style, and for me that’s the first thing any self-respecting journalist ought to be trying to do.
mike hudson Says:June 14th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
but news about russert’s favorite 2008 candidate goes on, unfortunately, and we would be remiss were we not to mention this soaring oratory from sen. barack obama, uttered friday as the sainted newsman lie in state.
“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,” obama said.
a stunning “untouchables” reference, really. particularly in the well-known context of the candidate’s aversion to guns, god and all things that made america great.
is he saying he’s going to kill mccain? isn’t this worse than when hillary mentioned the 68 election?
he’s a muslim, right?
Terry Says:June 15th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Glad to see that I am not the only one shaking my head at the canonization of Talking Heads……Next stop the Geraldo Rivera Highway…. God help the poor SOB from Buffalo who finds a cure for cancer, he or she will no doubt be buried in ignominy….
RIP Tim Russert Says:June 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
If you can’t say something nice - why bother? Seriously, grow up.
Snarky Snarkmore McSnarkamaphone Says:June 15th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Now there’s a hefty dose of irony.
freida Says:June 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
It would be naive to think that Tim Russert could assult a guest with a verbal sledge hammer and then expect these powerful idividuals to subject themselves to his interview. His tactic was to be , for the most part, understated in his approach to questioning. Sometimes it worked, and somtimes it didn’t. But the fact that he was able to interview these individuals, repeatedly, is a testament to how savy he was in knowing how far to push the envelope.. And, when direct answers were not forthcoming the best he could do would be to set up a line of questioning where the viewers could read between the lines for themselves.
James Ziolkowski Says:June 15th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
What a great wonderful, honorable man Tim Russert was. Everyone will remember Tim as a loving father and son who wrote about his hard working, blue collar father (Big Russ and Me). Tim ws well respected and fair on his Meet the Press program that he hosted for many years. Tim was our ambassador to Buffalo, NY. Tim was a guy that every man should aspire himself to be. Tim lived only about a mile away from where I live and in his book I seen many things that I can relate too. Things when times were simpler and better. When people worked hard and took personal responsibilty for the things they’ve done. We’ll all miss him very much.
James Ziolkowski Says:June 15th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
You can put Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews and Jack Caffery together and those lefty liberals couldn’t hold a light to the honesty and integrity of Tim Russert, who sought the truth without any bias.
The liberal media (especially MSNBC)that follows Obama like ’sheeple’ is a sad and disgusting sight to behold.
http://blog.myspace.com/navy_jim
hank Says:June 16th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Tim Russert went to Canisius High School. All the pundits DID say he was “Jesuit Trained”—Are you sure some of you “commentors” ever lived in Buffalo? He’d ramped up Canisius when they played St. Joe’s annually on MTP..
Did Obama do it? No Mike he didn’t, but your old lady did me real good.
Greg Says:June 16th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
while I understand the amount of coverage local press is giving this, I just don’t get it on a national level.
granted a rarely watched (or listened on wben) meet the press
Greg Says:June 16th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I need to proof read better, that last sentence should say “I rarely” not “a rarely”
Pat Says:June 17th, 2008 at 1:08 am
Rename Court St downtown as Tim Russert Blvd
The Buffalo Bean » Blog Archive » Lawmakers Want To Rename Highway For Tim Russert Says:June 17th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
[…] a bad idea, but I also like Buffalo Pundit’s idea of renaming Buffalo Niagara International Airport to Tim Russert International […]
Chris Says:June 17th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Absolutely rename the airport. Start a petition. Let’s do it…
Michael Says:June 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I was really pretty bummed about this. If there’s a petition to rename the airport I’ll sign it, if non-Buffalo residents are allowed to.
James Ziolkowski Says:August 13th, 2008 at 12:49 am
There’s no problem with standardized testing. That’s the teachers union complaint. The teachers should also be given standardized testing, which many would fail.
The teachers union groups bad teachers in with the good. It’s the liberals policy of failure and socialized schooling. It’s your kids that suffer.
NYC pays teachers that are put in ‘rubber rooms’ because they cannot teach and they also cannot be fired. What’s wrong with these people?
Is a 46% graduation rate acceptable in Buffalo?
James Ziolkowski Says:August 15th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
Oh, you liberals love to jump right on the bandwagon with traitor, backstabber, liar Scott McClellend and David Siskind who were paraded out on liberal cable TV like MSNBC, but when someone comes out against the “Chosen one”, “the Messiah” Obama and asks some questions it’s all lies and he is a racist and bigot. No one knows who this Obama character is and the lberals put their own values upon him, which Obama said in his book, that they will be sadly disappointed.
The liberal media has fawn over Obama and are afraid to ask Obama the real tough questions, so someone has to whether you liberal like it or not.
I see now of the errors you put down really had anything to do with what Corsi has to say, just about a typo on Obama’s marriage date and who the book was dedicated to. Oh brother. Is that your best shot?
You’d think that Corsi said something about Mohammad, they way the liberals are attacking and foaming at the mouth like rabid animals. You’d think that Corsi was talking about the liberals GOD. Oh, wait a minute, liberals have NO GOD. Liberals are immoral, Godless, socialists.
Strange how you don’t hear a single peep out of these righteous idiots when Russia invaded Georgia. The sounds of nothing from the “how dare you invade a sovereign state in an illegal war” is deafening.
Any smart America can see right through Obama’s fake facade of deceipt.
I don’t have any ‘white guilt’ and I’m NOT on welfare or food stamps, so Obama will NOT get my vote.
Isn’t it funny that the liberals who are all for freedom of speech and who just love to say, “Death to America, Bush is the devil” and who spit on and burn our American flag all all up in arms over this book about their Chosen one?
I guess first amdenmnet righst ony go to peopel who suit the liberals won political agenda. All others must shut up. What a bunch of hypocrites. Maybe that why other countries hate Americans.
Ever think of that, liberals? Still no outrage by liberal socialists over Russia attacking Georgia.
Obama is on his sweet vacation along with the 110th liberal Democrat do nothing Congress.
Maybe Obama is shooting some three pointers while people die in the streets of a Democratic country. Shame on you Obama and you liberal Congressmen. Shame. Nice going libs. We better start drilling-NOW!
Loks like the liberals are calling for “JIHAD” aaginst Mr. Corsi. lol
John Edwards as come out and said this book is nothing but a lie. “Hey, can you keep that baby quiet? I’m trying to talk to the press about Obama.”
Like Jack Nicholson said, “YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!”
How dare you talk about our false idol like that. Has Obama named Osama his VP yet?
James Ziolkowski Says:August 16th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
1993 Mogadushu Blackhawk down, 18 US special forecs fkilled and dregged through the streets. Clinton does NOTHING
Osama bin Laden’s “Ladenese Epistle” declaring Jihad and war against the United States. Fall 1996 Clinton does nothing
Feb. 23 1998 Fatwa to United States declaring war against against USA and CIA sends PDB to President Clinton does nothing.
Two US embassy attacks in Saudi Arabia kills US servicemen. 1996 Clinton does nothing
Two more US embassy attacks in Africa (Aug.7th 1998 Tanzania and Kenya) many US servicemen and civilians killed. Clinton does ‘Wag the dog’ with trial on Monica Lewinsky upcoming.
Aspirin factory in Sudan hit and $5 mud huts in Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden laughs and said all Clinton did was kill some pigs and chickens
Oct. 2000 US navy ship Cole hit and 17 sailors die and dozens horribly burned. Clinton does nothing.
So the USA was repeatedly hit by al-Qaeda radical Muslim terrorist and liberal Demoicrat President Bill Clinton did nothing or very little t avenge their deaths. So much for Clinton lied and NO ONE DIED!
Liberal Democrats are pathetically weak on our national defense. Liberals will NOT protect America.
Ten year navy vet 1982-1992
Jimmy Z.
Kaisertown
“Obamanation” by Jerome Corsi NY Times Best seller.
Huh ? Says:August 16th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Jimmy Z : I get what you are saying , but why in this thread ? There are plenty ‘o liberals to troll/rile up/ e-fight with on this site - but do it in a more current thread.
Kaisertown clown Says:August 17th, 2008 at 12:03 am
Jimmy go look up your drinking buddy lynn dejack and have another one, ps Kaisertown is a white ghetto.
Snarky Snarkmore McSnarkamaphone Says:August 20th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
1161 signatures still = FAIL, yo.