Say Whatever You Like About Tim Russert - But Wait Till Nobody's Interested

[SoDesuKa]

Let no one accuse me of dancing on anyone's grave. I sincerely respect other people's feelings. But I have my own take on the life and contributions of Tim Russert, and I'd rather share them while it's still timely.

The embargo on adverse comments resembles a Free Speech Zone, only the separation is chronological, not geographical. Say whatever you like about Russert, but wait until nobody's interested. That's similar to the way municipalities protect free speech these days - say whatever you like, but don't get any closer than a couple of blocks away.

[Forkboy]

1. And there you go.

Short, concise, and spot on. :thumbsup:

[hfojvt]

2. just wait until the statue of his heroic greatness has been made, cast in bronze

before you start pooping on it.

"(JP) Morgan having been named while alive 'The Savior of the Nation' there was not much room for the hyperbole to continue its expansion. But at least it maintained its bloated state. After his death, Morgan was called by Pope Pius X, 'a great and good man.' According to a London paper, he had been 'a towering constructive force,' and 'a generous benefactor.' The New York Stock Exchange hailed him as 'a constructive genius ... devoted ... to the whole wide field of philanthropy and humanity. The whole world has lost a wise counselor and a helpful friend.' The New York Tribune said, 'He left great riches, but also left a good name more priceless than great riches.'" Culture of Make Believe p. 439

"The winners in Morgan's process of monopolization were the large owners, of course. The losers included the American public, which had financed these railroads to the tune of $700 million in cash as well as the gift of public lands large enough to comfortably contain all of France; passengers who saw their fares soar and their safety concerns ignored; and small companies which were driven out of business by higher freight costs while monopolies like Rockefeller and Carnegie enjoyed rebates. For workers, as they found themselves less able to bargain for higher wages, shorter hours, or safer conditions, the effects of 'Morganization' were written in blood. Over the next 18 years, between 1889 and 1907, the percentage of railroad employees annually killed or injured increased from 3.1 (22,000 out of 704,743) to 5.5 (92,178 out of 1,672,074). Between 1888 and 1907, 53,046 railroad workers were killed, and more than 800,000 were crippled for life." (op. cit. p. 420)

All hail the masters of industry and finance and praise forever more to their notable and noble shills.

[ClassWarrior]

3. Timmeh was a sellout, and a lousy excuse for a telejournalist.

Tho I am sorry for his family that he died.

And there you go.

NGU.

[Kindigger]

4. I just know that

I didn't know about any of this until I got home at 8pm; I hadn't seen a teevee all day. So the first thing I always do is turn on DU. I shouldn't have read any of it when I did.

I bought a Father's Day card yesterday, and on the way home I was thinking how I had to wait until after 'Meet the Press' to drive the 35 miles to deliver it, and spend the day with Dad.

So I read a bit and decide I didn't want to read anymore. I walked around the house doing chores last night, thinking about my 75 yr old dad surviving a ruptured, softball sized aneurysm April 2007, and all the stuff I want to do with him if only gas didn't cost a fortune. I thought about my husband who died of a heart attack in his sleep in 1999; he was 41. And as I always do, I wondered if he was fortunate or unfortunate not to have seen 9/11 happen.

Then I felt bad for all of Russert's friends, and his family with Father's Day and all. And it doesn't matter to me if the guy was a part-time a-hole, because he was basically a good person, and was blessed with a whole bunch of good friends.

When I wake up tomorrow and hear the 'Meet the Press' theme he won't be there, and for awhile I'll feel lost and disoriented. And I really feel bad that he won't be here to see the election; at least he got to know who would be in it.

So I'll go finish watching 'Today' and wonder why that a-hole Cheney is on there, and still alive. It just doesn't seem fair.

[PeaceNikki]

5. I believe tomorrow's MTP will air.

He recorded it yesterday and collapsed while recording voice-overs.

[burythehatchet]

6. That's a very astute observation and an informative analogy.

:thumbsup:

[Buzz Clik]

7. You can say what you want when you want. However, ...

... those who show a lack of respect are likely to be reminded that some of us don't appreciate it.

This happens every time someone of stature dies -- DU erupts in a stream of inappropriate comments. I guess it's one way of pretending to be important.

[SoDesuKa]

8. Inappropriate

Respect for the dead does not mean forgetting about who they were and what they did. Your notions of propriety should not be binding on the rest of us. I am not sad to see Tim Russert gone. He was a celebrity journalist who partied with the people he should have been criticizing. He was part of what was wrong with America. His death can only be seen as something positive.

[arcadian]

11. I agree, the wargonerers will no longer be vetted by one, Tim Russert.

His death is a great boost for us taking our country back.

[SoDesuKa]

15. There's a Chance

There's a chance Russert will be replaced by a journalist, not a celebrity. There's not much of a chance, but with Russert out of the way it's at least a possibility.

[Buzz Clik]

18. You people have completely lost perspective.

Assuming you had perspective to lose.

You make it sound that Russert had some degree of influence outside one hour every Sunday on one network. He's not as popular as Rush Limbaugh. He may not be as adored as Neal Boortz.

If -- by some wild chance -- you're correct that Russert was rotten to the marrow and that he cavorted with all who are evil in the world, that means he was hired intentionally and knowingly to do that evil work. He will be replaced by someone of similar evil magnitude.

There isn't enough tinfoil in the world to insulate you.

[arcadian]

25. Buzz Clik, I've seen that user name on another political discussion board.

A "conservative" one. Are you that same poster?

[Buzz Clik]

30. Prior to DU, I posted on roughly a dozen boards under this name.

If you're speaking of the Central Urinal -- yes, that's me. Was me. I was banned in very short order. They claim that unlike DU, they are tolerant of differing points of view. That is not true. They will abide others only if you're willing to absorb endless abuse without fighting back.

[SoDesuKa]

29. No Disrespect

It's not disrespectful to say what you think when somebody you don't even know dies. I didn't know Tim Russert, except from his work as a television journalist. Frankly I don't think his death is much of a loss.

I do not mourn for all of the dead of the world, I can't. People who are scolding me for disrespect are acting as though they knew Russert themselves. That's because they've bonded with a person they know only because they've seen him on television. I don't think that's real grief.

I'm sorry for your loss, such as it is. If I were at Russert's wake speaking to his bereaved loved ones, I would express my condolences, such as they are. But I can't imagine myself there. This is a political forum. People express their views on issues of the day. Tim Russert, celebrity journalist and TV talking head, is dead, but I do not mourn his loss. Why should I? I didn't even know him.

[Buzz Clik]

31. You've missed the point. I don't care if you mourn his death or even care that he's dead.

The incredibly horrid acts of joyfully celebrating his death and/or cursing him endlessly within hours -- minutes! -- of the announcement of his demise were disappointing and appalling.

[Buzz Clik]

17. Fine. Do as you please. Show absolutely no sign of human dignity. Expect criticism.

[Reterr]

9. If it is that unimportant you would think some people would stop complaining

and just leave and spend their important time some other way than arguing with us inferior people in this cesspool :eyes:.
If it is that irrelevant, that foul a community then why not just leave? Oh thats right-that is not as much fun as ostentatious displays of sanctimony, self-righteousness and superiority :eyes:.

All the claims of concern about Russert's family comes across as such BS when it is from the same people propagating the shit by posting about it 50 times. Don't like this stuff? Stop posting about it and it will die down.

Alternately try to talking to people without the nauseating superior tone and maybe something actual would be accomplished. Talking down to people rarely makes them see your view point-all you do is alienate them further and add to the stuff you deplore.
But then, that would be assuming all of this is about anything but being holier than thou.

[Buzz Clik]

20. And there is it -- the bottom of the barrel: "What don't you leave?"

What's the problem, pal? Getting a little sensitive about accurate criticism? You can dish it out to a dead guy but can't take it when someone with a pulse returns fire?

Grow a spine. I'll be here for at least another four years.

[EFerrari]

28. Whenever DU posters "erupt", there is an equal and opposite contingent

of authoritarian posters who want to shut down discussion.

[earthlover]

10. if nobody's interested in a few days, what makes you think they are interested NOW?

It can wait. Wait until they bury the guy at least. Good ideas don't have a shelf life.

[SoDesuKa]

13. Shelf Life

Good ideas don't have a shelf life.

I don't agree. The time to comment on the news is when it's news. Not everyone feels that the death of Tim Russert is a great loss, and the time to say so is when the subject is topical.

This is not a seminar on the Great Books. It's life. It's news.

[quiet.american]

12. Why do people even feel the need to rush in with harsh words when someone dies?

When Jerry Falwell died, I just refrained from posting anything at all because I had less than nothing good to say or think about him. Tim Russert was not nearly as far down on my list as Falwell. In fact, I liked him, even though I'd found myself disappointed with his show in recent years.

It may not be entirely rational, but when someone dies, I think of how I would feel if a dear one of mine died and I came across immediate postings on the "internets" referring to them as an "ass-licker," "asshole," "fuckwad," "tool of the elite," etc.

From the point of view of being compassionate, it's just not right.

[SoDesuKa]

14. Why Do People Feel the Need to Comment on the News?

I don't feel the need to rush in with harsh words when somebody dies, but I do feel a sense of deprivation when my opinion is squelched by people who simply disagree. Tim Russert was neither a great American nor a great journalist. The time to say so is when other people proclaim the contrary.

I have as much right to my opinion as you have to yours.

[quiet.american]

22. Of course you do. Let's leave it there. nt

[Bluebear]

16. I hear that, but why would someone whose loved one just died come to DU?

I agree that people go out of their way to be tasteless in cases like this... but the notion, for instance, that Russert's son may happen upon DU in his grief and become more upset just doesn't make sense to me.

[kath]

19. exactly - that notion is utterly preposterous. Yet so many DUers are promoting it.

pathetic. :eyes: :eyes:

[quiet.american]

23. How about taking a moment to actually read what I wrote. nt

[quiet.american]

21. Hello, you'll note I prefaced by saying it's not entirely rational.

I don't expect Luke Russert to read DU -- my point is putting myself in someone else's shoes -- someone who has just lost a loved one. It doesn't matter whether they ever see my comments or not -- it's just not right. If I wouldn't say such things in their presence about their loved one who just died, then I'm not going to pile on anonymously either.

[Bluebear]

24. Indeed

I am agreeing with you far more than disagreeing here :)

[quiet.american]

26. Just wanted to clarify that I'm not laboring under the illusion that the Russerts read DU. nt

[EFerrari]

27. Because the corporate media exploits these deaths to sell their agenda?

People are at their most vulnerable / receptive during these losses. Marketing people know that.