Who will take on this legacy?
Who will we turn to for an inside out understanding of our political process?
Who will now provide us with the issues state by state in senate debates for key states?
Who will hold the white board on November 4th with the state that will tell us the story of our next President?
Who will provide the enthusiasm of our political dialogue that he brought to news every day, not just this historic presidential season?
Who will emulate that balance of being driven by a passion of what you do with the ultimate understanding for what was important?
Buffalo's native son has died and we have lost a vibrant voice in journalism. Just in the brief time that I have written this blog I have mentioned Tim Russert a half dozen times. In clicking through the television channels late this afternoon I saw the unthinkable - Tim Russert Dead at 58 -- Not possible I thought, but sadly changing the channels only provided more images of the death of a giant. I have been watching endless coverage of the NBC broadcasters and correspondents. All look distraught as a family suddenly lost without their patriarch. He was admired, reveered and beloved for the astute and meticulous research that he brought to his Meet the Press interviews and for he gregarious nature and diligent priority around family.
I had the dumb random luck to meet Tim Russert at a Boys and Girls Club gala in Washington, DC. He was serving as Master of Ceremonies and to my great surprise wound up in a seat next to me. Knowing his great love of the Buffalo Bills I knew that was my "in" to striking up a conversation. I led with football, got into a discussion about the Yankees and in a badge of honor - made him laugh. It was no more than 5 minutes of conversation. But I went on that night to watch him raise a half million for the Boys and Girls Club in 10 minutes from the podium.
It is rare in life that the people we place on pedastals meet our expectations. In a time where heroes are hard to come by, Tim Russert was certainly mine. I had placed Tim Russert in that level of esteem that few could live up to, so to come in contact with him and have him exceed everything I believed him to be was truly amazing. He will be remembered for many things, but I hope his legacy will give just credit to his integrity and faith - in family, our country and the fact that he was a man who never forgot where he came from.
I think it is fitting that Tim Russert's final Meet the Press was at a table surrounded by his political correspondents. However it is not fair that we will hve to weather the remainder of this political season without his navigation. I take stock in the fact that on his last day he was doing the thing he loved most he was surrounded by his NBC family. While it is awful to think that Sunday's will now go on without Tim Russert, it is fitting that the world of journalism and the Sunday political pundits will pause this Sunday to remember Russert, on Father's Day.
My heart is broken for his wife, son, family and extended family at NBC, may God be with them all.
5 comments:
Well said. Thanks for your sharing.
hey there...
i wandered over here from vivachucktodd...i read your post about tim's memorial service, and i'm holding back tears still as i type this. thank you for all your beautiful words, at the service, on vct, and here - i myself chose to rant about why it couldn't have been o'reilly or limbaugh or coulter instead, but you expressed your (and all of our) grief with wonderful grace. <3
Dalissa, thanks for posting. I too wandered over from Viva Chuck Todd after reading your account of the memorial. I have seen pictures of the Russert rainbow that appeared after the memorial. (Russert rainbow) It must have been amazing to see it in person. It was so fitting.
I thought Chuck must be grieving mightily; he brought me to tears every time he came on Friday and Saturday. I'm glad you were able to give him some words of encouragement in person for all of us.
Now that they have announced Tom Brokaw as interim for MTP am I the only one who has noticed that MSNBC has removed Tim Russert from their cycle of voice over ads promoting the meaning of voting for their "Place for Politics" promos?
His image is gone and they have not been using his voice over. I may be the lone wolf here, but I think that is a mistake. Anyone who is a political junkie and/or watches MSNBC associates this election to Tim and even with his passing I think they should honor that.
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