Tim Russert

This evening at 5, when I got out of work, I got into my car, turned on the radio and, for some reason, started singing "Ave Maria". I haven't the slightest clue why that song popped in my head, but as I was doing the 16th notes at "plena", I was stopped short by the news report from NPR that NBC Washington Bureau chief and Meet the Press host Tim Russert had collapsed and died at work today. Russert was a devout Catholic, so maybe he wanted to hear it in Alto. I don't know. Regardless, with that news, I was stunned.

"WHAT?!!!" I yelled and almost hit the brakes on Rte 9. I couldn't believe it. Especially this week, with my dad's birthday being on Monday and Father's Day being Sunday, I was already in a fragile state. But to hear of another vibrant, tour-de-force who was cut down before age 60 -- my dad and Roby n being 2 within the last 12 months-- and a man I so admired, took my breath away, in a very bad way.

I am a political junkie, certified by my ability to name the current ruler of Egypt (Hozni Mubarack, spelling questionable) and the running mate to Michael Dukakis in the 88 presidential election (Lloyd Bentson, also a Freemason, see previous post) without Googling.

Therefore, it goes without saying that I was a fan of "Meet the Press" and Tim Russert. Sock it to 'em type journalist. Carpet calling. Research like James Lipton but with much harsher effect, since it was politics and not actor biography that motivated his relentless research.

All the news-people who have been speaking about him today -- Keith Olberman hosted a day-long comemoration of him on MSNBC -- talked about the importance of Sunday mornings with Tim. To tell you the truth, if I was up that early on a Sunday, it was often to nurse a hangover. If not in the hangover state, then I was either sleeping in or up and about the house doing things and listening to NPR.

HOWEVER, I am a night owl, as witnessed by this 2 AM blog post, and I spent many Sunday nights staying up late to watch the MSNBC re run of "Meet the Press" on what was officially early Monday morning (1 AM). That's often how I ended my weekend.

I agree with all the public commentators that Tim Russert was special--someone on the inside of Washington but not at all wonky. Someone who clearly loved his work, because he did it so confidently. And I'm not the only one who feels a big vacuum in the world of Washington reporting with the loss of Tim Russert.

Tim Russert 1950-2008
A Fine Journalist