Whoa. Tim Russert Died Today.

Posted on 06/13/2008 at 3:45 pm by Bob Cesca

Terrible news.

The New York Times is reporting that MSNBC’s Tim Russert has died of a heart attack at the age of 58.

Russert suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed Friday afternoon in NBC’s Washington bureau, according to the New York Post

MORE… My condolences to his wife, Maureen, and his son, Luke. While I didn’t always agree with his choice of questions or the makeup of his panels, I always admired his professional consistency and very much related to his insatiable love of politics, America and presidential history.

MORE… Ezra Klein:

Presumably, he’s up somewhere beyond the cloudline, hectoring God about His inconsistencies. “But Lord, in Exodus 6:12, you clearly said…”

MORE… A friend e-mailed me and mentioned that if you Google “Tim Russert” my recent Huffington Post essay about his Farrakhan questioning of Senator Obama comes up as #7 in the results. I wish it wouldn’t for the next several days. I was extraordinarily hard on Russert in that piece — not necessarily unfair, but rough. Hopefully it’ll be bumped down soon.

MORE… Chuck Todd and Keith Olbermann:

MORE… Senator Obama:

“I’ve known Tim Russert since I first spoke at the convention in 2004. He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend. There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew. Somebody who cared about America, cared about the issues, cared about family. I am grief-stricken with the loss and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. And I hope that, even though Tim is irreplaceable, that the standard that he set in his professional life and his family life are standards that we all carry with us in our own lives.”

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  • http://richeyrich.wordpress.com/ Rich

    RIP, Tim. One of the few decent guys in Washington. My heart goes out especially to his dad.

  • midad

    He will definitely be missed. Very sad for his family. Gone much too soon.

  • dusty59

    I re-read the Huff Post piece… I don’t think you were engaging in character assassination- just some tough questions. Russert could be tough, too.His loss will leave quite a hole.

  • http://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/ Paddy

    Sad, very sad. Anyone else notice Matthews is nowhere to be seen on MSNBC? I’m guessing he’s too broken up. Barnicle had me in tears on NBC nightly.

  • Farmisht Phoenix

    You weren’t harsh; he failed to do his job, and you called him on it. The people who are letting McCain slide while they hammer Obama deserve to have their feet held to the fire. Death doesn’t change what he did.

  • LiveFreeOrDie08

    Matthews was on a plane to Europe. He heard the news when he landed.Russert was not perfect, but his absence leaves a very large void in the world of journalism. He walked the walk, researching every comment or opinion. Many could learn from him, some have. I hope the media will make something positive come from this and honor his respect for journalism in what they choose, and how they choose to represent the news.”If it’s Sunday…it’s Meet The Press”

  • http://www.coalregionvoice.blogspot.com vuwildcat88

    I got to interview Chris Matthew when he came to Bucknell University a few years ago. Russ was there this year, but didn’t offer any interviews. It was still nice to hear him speak.

  • bajasteve

    It’s nice to see that (with one asinine exception) the devotees of this blog realize, unlike so many on other blogs, that it’s incredibly obnoxious to speak ill of the dead. If not out of respect for the memory of the one who has passed, then out of consideration for the feelings of his or her loved ones. I’m sure that Tim treated his own family with love and affection, and that they returned the same to him.If you really wish to say nasty things about him, at least wait until a reasonable period of mourning is over. Then write them on a piece of paper, fold it until it’s all sharp corners, and shove it where the sun don’t shine, moron.