But I agree with Juan John Cole:
Tim Russert was a newsman. He was not the Pope. This is not the JFK assassination, or Reagan’s death, or the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. A newsman died. We know you miss him, but please shut up and get back to work.
Cole refers, of course, to the still-non-stop coverage of Russert’s death that continues on MSNBC. It’s gone from remembering a good guy to a bunch of NBC hacks sitting around talking about him for no apparent reason other than filling up air time.
My other thought is that they should just shut up already and let his family mourn in peace.
A father lost his son, a son his father, and a wife her husband.
Anyone else who claims they miss the guy has no idea what those three people are going through.
Update: Just to be clear, this isn’t a commentary on Russert’s death so much as it is a commentary on the way the media, or at least one particular cable network, is obsessing over it. If it wasn’t Russert’s death, MSNBC would probably be obsessing over Natalee Holloway, Jon Benet Ramsey or Britney Spears. When you have to fill 24 hours a day with “news” it’s inevitable that most of the coverage is going to be pointless blather.
Which is, unfortunately, what Russert’s colleagues seem to be reduced to at this point.
“Anyone else who claims they miss the guy has no idea what those three people are going through”
Do you have any idea what this sentence means?
Why does news coverage interfere with their ability to mourn?
Are you a licensed grief counselor? Or do you just play one on your blog?
I’m referring to the talking heads on MSNBC.
And speaking as someone who HAS lost close family members, I can say that there really isn’t anything helpful about outsiders commenting about things they don’t understand.
I’m assuming, though, that you think it’s just fine that MSNBC is whoring the death of a good man for ratings ?
OK, let’s get something strait.
You’re a bunch of lefties, thoroughly political and substance-less people, and you’re upset that people are making a big deal out of Tim Russert’s death because Russert refused to tow to your narrow, unthinking party line.
But you know you’ll look like the jerks you are if admit how you really feel in public, so instead you come up with brilliant arguments such as:
“A father lost his son, a son his father, and a wife her husband.
Anyone else who claims they miss the guy has no idea what those three people are going through.”
Yeah, that’s the ticket. Outsiders are dishonoring Russert’s family, by saying what a wonderful man he was, and how much they’ll miss him.
Next time something like this happens, the unreflective lefty crowd would be best advised to clamp it, lest they reveal in public who and what they are.
Juan Cole is a well known and respected blogger.
John Cole is also a well known and respected blogger.
Juan and John are two different people.
You wrote Juan, and meant and linked to John.
Brian,
1. I’m not a lefty.
2. It’s sad that Tim Russert died.
3. It’s pathetic that MSNBC chooses to exploit it
4. # 3 would matter more if anyone actually watched MSNBC.
5. So, you know, shut up ok ?
I should have limited my “lefty” remark to Cole.
I shall now proceed to follow your stricture #5.
Brian,
Duly noted.
“Are you a licensed grief counselor?”
Once again, the Cult of the Holy Expert rears its ignorant, servile head.
Anyhoo, I kinda liked Tim Russert, although I recognize the fact I probably shouldn’t have, seeing as how he was an agent of the sinister, dominant media establishment. Its a shame he died, but its not a national tragedy. Story over (or at least it should be).
Sorry guys, but Tim Russert was better and a bigger than the current pres. and many others in the past. Anna Nicole Smith got more “news coverage” and “media attention.” If you can’t or refuse to honor a great truthful, non-quasi journalist than you are part of the non-caring, non’thinking, non-moralistic part of our society that really needs to just shut-up and please don’t vote! Little Russ was and will always be an icone. How uncaring and unbelievable you are. Used to think the articles and comments here were very spot on. I now think you have reduced yourself to very spot-off. Hope you have a great day.
Sandy,
I agree with you. Russert was better than most of the other so-called journalists out there and I don’t think anyone can really fill his shoes. The idea of Meet the Press in the hands of Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews — two names I’ve seen mentioned this past weekend as possible successors — is depressing to say the least.
What I was trying to point to wasn’t that, but the fact that MSNBC bascially spent the weekend saying nothing about a great newsman. If he was around, I’m guessing he’d have preferred if they’d actually covered news — the story about the prison break in Afghanistan being one of the events that comes to mind.
Just media being media.
When John-John Kennedy crashed into the Atlantic, one of the Boston stations went to 24-hr coverage of a helicopter circling around above empty water. 3 days of that. Just fascinating.
Doug:
Thank you so much for understanding my meaning about the great man that Russert was. I do agree with you that 24/7 coverage, saying the same thing over and over again is a waste of my time. I do like the heartfelt people who talked about how he is so not replacable. Yesterday morning at 9 for me was very sad, and it was a great tribute to Tim. Beyond that, I am thinking of his family. Luke Russert this morning on with Matt Wower, was so impressive with his emotional control, maybe one day we will see him rise to the level that his dad did. I don’t care if Tim was left leaning, he left his personal politics at the door when he entered the Meet the Press studio. I will miss the truthful and honest way he devoted himself to being and doing the best that he could be. Chris Matthews or Keith Olberman- that gives me the chills, but, I wouldn’t expect less from NBC. I do not get my news from the MSM, and learned long ago that Fox has an agenda as well. I learn more from blogs such as this and many others. I think I’ll keep it that way. Thanks again for your kind response.
Sandy