Necrophilia

[NashVegas]

That's what it appears to be.

Look, I have (had) little against Tim "integrity is for paupers" Russert. He was a genial host and very watchable. He was also part of the bizarre clique of Heathers that was focused on taking down the Clintons in the 1990s and keeping Al Gore out of the White House in 2000.

To watch other famous TV journalists on cable news yesterday, however, you'd have thought Elvis died. Hours of coverage uninterrupted by events such as 10,000 Iowans being evacuated by floods. Hey, the river will still be there Monday, but the Heathers only have a short window of time in which to elevate a decent journalist, with a lot of on-air personality and opinion but little actual substance, into Edward R. Murrow.

Compare the reaction to the death of Jim McKay, just last week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX87LuNI97g

Here's something to ask yourself: If Tim Russert was such a great journalist and such a great, great broadcaster, why is all the coverage focused on other journalists' reactions, and none of it on Russert's work, itself?

Don't they think something like this is a shining example of great journalism?

http://www.youtube.com/v/x4fU01IbTr0&hl=en

Compare with this Bill Moyers clip which includes Russert footage:

http://www.youtube.com/v/729rbjVi_6w&hl=en

Watching that second clip, particularly the interview with Russert, shows the real tragedy surrounding his premature death. He had traded his integrity for wealth and security, and he knew it. Was heartbroken by it.

RIP, Timmy.


http://imperialwitness.blogspot.com/

[glowing]

1. I didn't care for Russert.... Another man in a suit pretending to know what

a younger, white, married with kid, female thought or felt. Too many journalists pretend to think they know us, and they don't. Journalism has been crap for a long time. It has been quite a while since truth was printed and slant was left behind.

However, I don't wish anyone harm or ill will... Sometimes we all have to do what we must to survive. Some like to survive at a higher stature than others.

[NashVegas]

3. Of Course The Funny Thing

Could be my sig - except I doubt very much Russert was even remotely scraping from about 1983 on. I didn't wish him harm, either, and feel bad for his family & friends, but the display we received was inappropriate and way out of proportion to his contribution.

[glowing]

7. What else were they going to do all weekend... They have till Sunday AM

to get it together and even then it will be another round table of eulogies... Oh well, let them rest and on Monday, the news will continue on.

[B.S. Lewis]

20. haha

this is an awesome post

[live love laugh]

2. And when Bill Moyers dies, we will hear hardly a peep. nt

[NashVegas]

5. Ain't That the Truth?

[tabasco]

4. He sacrificed his integrity for wealth and security.

The definition of a coward.

[madeline_con]

6. Russert's coverage was a bit like the Reagan funeral.

it never sxeemed to end. Stand by for more Sunday morning.

[jgraz]

8. "To this day, I wish my phone had rung"

That should be Timmeh's epitaph.

[Hun Joro]

9. Necrophilia about sums it up. Great post.

[LibDemAlways]

10. Russert did what he felt he had to do to stay

employed and to enjoy the lifestyle that comes with a highly paid, high profile tv "news" job. He served his corporate masters well.

A lot of the talking head blather I heard last night was lauding him for his "impartiality" after working for Dems in the past. That was laughable. He sold out long ago.

Thanks for a thoughtful post.

[MelissaB]

11. The last youtube link with Bill Moyers is priceless. n/t

[NashVegas]

12. Aye

The contrast between the two of them, and in how seriously they treat their subject material is shown in that interview.

[Snarkoleptic]

13. I'll take Cindy McCain's sex life for $400 Alex.

[NashVegas]

14. Ouch

You bad.

[Raster]

15. Answer: "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you c**t."

[Gabi Hayes]

16. great point, as the ONLY clip I saw of his work (to be fair, I didn't watch much at all)

was of him grilling David Duke

go out on a limb much?

I think the next guest on that show was Joe Camel

pretty sure, anyway

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Edward R Murrow... nope, that is too low

he became a SAINT I tell you

[lonestarnot]

18. LOL and we can't even ask, "was it good for you." Our minds are supposed to already be made up to

the affirmative.

[crickets]

19. I will miss you, Jim McKay.

Peace.

[and-justice-for-all]

21. Sorry the dude died...it happens...

But I do not have much sympathy for M$M cheerleaders. He was not a Journalist, he was a political commentator/report..he read from scripts.

Sure, he could have been an OK dude in general. I am not going to be harsh on the guy, unlike Falwell, I was merciless when he died.

[NashVegas]

22. Kicking Just Because

CatWoman's thread bears it out.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3465675