Tim Russert

You are so greatly missed!

Tim you will be missed.

I am saddened by the the loss of Tim Russert. Few journalists have been as fair and even with others as Tim. It is a sad day for everyone who knew him and for all those who did not. There is a void in the news industry tonight that will never be filled again. Too great and too young a man to lose so soon. I wish his family all my warm thoughts and prayers, and offer a huge thanks for having learned so much from him over all these years. God Bless and smooth travels Mr. Russert.  I am sure your son is so proud, even in his profound sadness.

I can't say I watched Meet The Press that much, but Tim's election coverage was superior. He was one of the great charismatic voices in news. He was an honest man of integrity who cared alot for kids and his family. RIP Tim Russert.

a very intelligent interviewer. so knowledgeable in politics. great in Meet the Press. so sorry to see he died so suddenly. talking politics was his big thing and this year he was so valuable with his information and discussions. he will be missed.

Very intelligent individual.

Update: This election won't be the same without Tim Russert.

What I see is that Tim was a diligent worker, putting his all into everything he did. The fact that he showed no leanings on either side of the political spectrum made him a great moderator. He is indeed an icon in the world of journalism, and it is undoubtedly going to be very hard to fill his shoes.

And to whoever is giving people those silent "funny" votes on these heartfelt comments: May I ask where your conscience is?  Guess you must not have one.  But your attempts to be vindictive and vicious is only making you, the one dishing them, look foolish.  Especially when you never have the guts to show yourself.

A tough interviewer, no doubt. But Tim Russert also had a cheerful disposition, and after the grilling he would lay on guests who would often contradict themselves, he would lay off them and give them a smile (and maybe a little pat on the back) as if to say "I'm not doing this because I want to make it hard on you, but because I'm doing my job...and I really hope you're doing your job, too." A great newsman who was at his best during the coverage of elections, Russert will be missed greatly.

Rest in peace, Tim.

Update: It illustrates how good a man he must certainly have been when colleagues (like Tom Brokaw and Andrea Mitchell) and competitors alike (like Sean Hannity and Bob Schieffer) have their own special and fond memories of him. Russert was in a class all his own.

I was shocked when I heard the news that he died of a massive heart attack. Tim was a tough fair minded journalist. Meet The Press will never be the same.
R.I.P

What a sad day....Im not big on politics but I counted on Russert to make sense of some of the madness.  It will be strange to go through this election without him.  He was such a great interviewer.  He didn't treat the audience like fools....yet he could joke and stay neutral.  He reached out to his audience...I feel like I lost a friend and i never personally met the man.  He was an icon and will be missed.

I was saddened to hear that Tim Russert died today. He was well respected among his peers. Mr. Russert a former attorney and current VP of NBC was an excellent moderator and newsman. The long time host of  "Meet the Press" will be missed.

Like Loerke, Russert wasn't my favorite journalist, but when he was on, I'd watch him. He was smart, if not quite as forceful as I would have liked, and seemed like a likeable, decent guy. He wasn't Edward R. Murrow, but in an era where the likes of Bill "Pass Me The Loofah" O'Reilly and Sean "Make Mine A Double" Hannity are able to pass themselves off as journalists, he might as well have been. R.I.P., Tim.

Well, I won't pretend he was my very favorite newsman, but I am saddened by his sudden death. He reminded me of the Catholic dads I grew up around: generally humble, physically bear-like and florid-faced, always fully present in his conversations. Unlike the faux-populists at Fox, Russert was authentically a blue-collar guy, one of the few to wind up in a newsroom or even on TV, period. Even though his moderate stance could get corny, I did like watching his interviews. R.I.P.

Acidic and not all that bright.

Tim Russert is one of the foremost mouthpieces for The Terrorists in American Media.  Through his megaphone in the American press spouting support and opposing efforts to detect and hold them accountable, few people have done more to support The Terrorists and facilitate their acts of hatred that Tim Russert.

I am deeply disappointed by how he treated Don Imus, after all Imus did to promote Russert and his books. Tim is certainly no Big Russ and his dad would be ashamed at how little loyalty Little Timmy displayed

Is that bloated face from drinking or just bad genes?

He thinks he is a national treasure, but he is only adequate. Does anyone actually stay watching to the end of Meet the Press?

I'd rather have explosive diarrhea in a wetsuit than watch this moron lie to people for a living, I mean he IS Catholic, so why isn't he a priest lying to 9 year old boys? Was he not convincing enmough to fool children into playing "hide-the-crucifix"?

Well prepared, but in denial about his liberal bias - his ego peeks through too often

Wolf in sheep's clothing. He is a liberal, but pretends not to be. He needs to go away and take Imus with him.

Seems to be most prepared interviewer in the business, but at times is a bit too confrontational, with guest from both sides of the political spectrum.

Softball, softball, softball--never gets any REAL answers from anyone on the show,and doesn't demand them, just pitches another softball question and lets them ramble on off topic, won't, can't watch this travisty.

One of the most insightful minds in the business.

Usually he can grill someone well. However, I had the misfortune to watch his interview with Caroline Kennedy. I'm surprised he didn't ask to kiss her feet. His insipid flattery and fawning reverence for this child of priviledges' "family legacy" was revolting!

The only guy you can watch on election night! Stephanopoulos is as confusing as his last name, Rather and Co. are either retired or wishing they would be, and the cable networks put me to sleep! Russert also knows his stuff, while still remaining down-to-earth and understandable at the same time.

getting worse by the day. i'm really sorry to say it..

Big, touchy-feely teddy bear that tries to project objective approach to interviews, but is as liberal as the day is long. Terrible when he interviews someone from his own network on CNBC (e.g. Tom Brokaw, Al Roker, etc.)

Great guy. Five stars. He's the reason I'm turning the TV on at 10:30 am on a Sunday. He's a great host of Meet the Press, playing it very even-handed yet fair. He asks tough questions without pushing it and keeps the show moving a good pace while covering all the bases. Plus, he's just a regular guy - a Buffalo Bills fan.

This guy made me sick on the morning following the 2000 presedential SELECTION. Made himself to appear worn and tired after a long night of election watching. Produced a clip-board to work his funny math' in calculating the electoral college votes. Looked much more prefessional and relaxed this time around. I guess that was because he knew that George Bush would be elected. I don't feel him to be a very attractive-knowledgeable interviewer. He tends to pander to the right and that alone makes me suspicious of his credibility as a reporter.

I like Russert,now I would consider him fair and balanced.(Why does Fox have that label?)

isnt a lower rating or he would get it

Tim is far and away one of the very few people working in the television media with genuine *integrity*!! He asks the questions you want him to ask, and does do with intelligence. He can get tough when needed, and knows when to give his interview subject the proper space. Compare him to a complete phony like Bill O'Reilly, and you'll find that Tim is everything that Bill is not!

Not impressed, doesn't interview well, lets the person go on and on and not answer the question, never pushes for an answer to the question either. Rarely asks tough questions either. A powderpuff interviewer, never watch his show anymore.

Part of the problem.

Very professional. Asks questions that should be asked. Always ready with quotes. All around talent.

Very professional

This is one of those guys like Larry King who has to get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and tell himself, I'm the luckiest guy in the world because I have no talent whatseover and I'm not too bright either.

His book is 4 star, interview with Quomo was the worst puff piece and I turned him off.

Highly overrated, but hides his leftist bias fairly well.

I think he's overrated most of the time. When Richard Clarke was on (trying to sell his story/lies and his book) Tim didn't really grill him like he should have. I was disappointed to say the least. There were many answers that Clarke gave that should have been followed up on. Too bad...I thought Russert would perform better. Still, more even-handed than most major network newsmen.

I actually think he's pretty fair, and I don't think that about many talking heads.

I watched Tim Russert's interview with Karen Hughes tonight and thought , what a nice little tete a tete. I also watched Tim's interview with Richard Clarke which was more of a grilling and cross examination. Hughes was spinning the Bush BS while Tim was nicey nice and listened patiently to her defense of the worst administration we've had in modern times. Clarke is a believable whistle blower who's motives in writing a book were in question. I've kinda lost some respect for Mr. Russert over his handling of those two interviews and can only think he was somewhat intimidated by K. Hughes.

Sir, I won't be paying much attention to your program in the future maily because of your lack of demand for answers to questions asked of your guests. I have grown tired of listening to so many answers that are obvious dodges to your questions. Even some of your questions seem almost apologetic perhaps for fear of embarrassing your guests. The same can be said of the Hardball program although C Matthews has been more aggressive lately. It's really too bad that people like yourself are in such a unique position to get answers to important questions and fail to do so. Sincerely, Joe Fasulo Punta Gorda,Fla.

Yes, he is a Democrat. Yes, he worked for Mario Cuomo. That said, he is the most fair interviewer on the Sunday Morning talk show circuit. He asks relevent questions to all his guests, and is tough no matter their political persuasion. The line of questioning remains civil, it never gets loud like on other shows. An asset to politics.

tough but fair. Can show a tilt to the left occasionaly so I couldn't give him 5. Does a good job.

Russert asks all the tough questions and holds no punches. He interviews in a way that's not overbearing or arrogant either. That makes people want to come on to his show even though they'll get hit with tough questions.

I have to respect a reporter that intimidates the hell out of most politicians. Russert is respectful, but forceful in his reporting, always asking the tough questions and usually making politicians look like fools. The absolute best interviewer on television.

Excellent journalist. ONe of the few who doesn't read his own press clippings.

Lacks perspective in his reporting.