Russert Dead

SAD DAY FOR THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

By The FITS Gals

FITSNEWS – June 14, 2008 - The FITS Gals were as stunned as anyone to hear about the passing of Tim Russert yesterday. Tributes from around the globe are pouring in, and those who knew him best will be paying their own tributes on a special edition of “Today.” From MediaBistro:

Matt Lauer will anchor a special edition of “Today” dedicated to the life of Tim Russert. Guests include Tom Brokaw, Vice President Dick Cheney, Mike Barnicle, Steve Capus, Bob Schieffer, George Stephanopoulos, Andrea Mitchell, Lisa Myers, David Gregory, Pete Williams, Jim Miklaszewski, and Nancy Snyderman.

Russert was working at MSNBC when he collapsed and died of a heart attack, according to press reports.

The man famed for putting politicians of all stripes on the “hot seat” actually started his career in politics, working on the Senate campaign of Daniel Patrick Moynihan and then on Mario Cuomo’s campaign for governor of New York.

Russert successfully made the transition from political operative into an award-winning journalist, gaining a reputation as one of the toughest interviewers in the country on his show, Meet The Press . He was awarded an Emmy for his work covering Ronald Reagan’s funeral, and is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, “Big Russ and Me” in 2004 and “Wisdom of Our Fathers.”

Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh said this about Russert:

“It’s just a shame. Tim was a regular guy with that perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. He loved life and got everything he could out of it. Whether it was at dinner here in Florida while his son was taking golf lessons, or on the set of Meet The Press, Tim was always the same with me: genuine. He never condescended to anyone and was the consummate professional. He will be hard to replace. He was the closest thing there was at any of the networks to an objective journalist.”

True that … our thoughts go out to Russert’s family and friends …

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