The Kennedy Center is filling for Russert Memorial Service...4:00 on MSNBC..

[KoKo]

Senator Schumer was interviewed and he said: "I just can't quite come to grips with it...it will take time for closure." He commented what a friend Russert was to both Democrats and Republicans.

I wonder if they will fill the Kennedy Center? Might be good to see who all is there for Celebrity and Politico watching.

Reported that Obama and McCain sat side by side for the Private Burial survice this morning.

Starting off with a Military Honor Guard! And Russert never served....UNBELIEVABLE...!!

It's the Reagan Funeral, redux!

[monmouth]

1. Big Russ...Has anyone seen or heard anything about him? I haven't

been watching too closely but have been thinking about him..

[KoKo]

5. He had to go into Asssisted Living recently....was what I heard.

[K Gardner]

2. Flipped the TV on and turned to Fox when I saw what was on. It appears that Luke Russert

decided his dad would have wanted Barack to sit beside McCain, so he arranged it.

I've had enough. Sorry.

[Gabi Hayes]

27. are they siting under Jack Welch's seat?

[mitchum]

3. The FCC won't be able to fine them for the nudity resultng from...

the rending of garments.
Since it's cable and all.

[Robbien]

4. How many people have died in the floods

How many people are homeless now?

Never mind, can't let actual news interrupt the six day neverending Russert orgy.

[KoKo]

6. It really doesn't concern them.....sadly. Unless it gets ratings or money from Government..

:-(

[Robbien]

9. You can't tell me this over indulgence of Russert nonsense gets ratings

Who cares except the media and a few news junkies.

The majority of the world is saying "Russert, Who?"

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. Who both McCain at Obama sat besides should tell you what this is all about

the current and successor to GE's CEO.

[malaise]

7. Well Timmy designed the template

Didn't he win an award for The Reagan death orgy.

[AnneD]

8. This is just ....

over the top. I am not a curmudgeon-but I am starting to get there in a hurry.

[Ilsa]

21. ITA, and I have been a defender of the public displays of

affection for the late TJR. I believe that as his coworkers and friends, they have all lost someone close and beloved.

When I saw the honor guard this afternoon, I thought of this:



I hope no one considered doing to Timmy what they did to Lenin!

[Venus Dog]

10. Makes one wonder who exactly Timmy REALLY was?

:tinfoilhat:

[KoKo]

13. That thought crossed my mind, too. What "favors" did he do and for whom?

That this has gone on so long seems very strange...unless a lot of folks owed him.

[underpants]

17. Tim was a made man in DC

He had proven his loyalty in that he had shown his willingness to do whatever he was told to do ever loyally. The war on Iraq was the ultimate test for the DC crowd and Tim helped make it happen. Hillary did too and that is why the establishment tried so hard to help her out of the spot she got herself into with that kid from Illinois but sometimes the system fails and loyal members have to be cast off.

[libnnc]

11. He had a MILITARY HONOR GUARD?

He never served in the military

He was never elected to Congress or the Senate

AND HE HAD A MILITARY HONOR GUARD?

HOW THE HELL DOES THAT HAPPEN?

This is getting fucking freaky.

[gkhouston]

12. They're used to putting on shows at the Kennedy Center.

At first I thought they'd chosen the location for its convenience, and because doing security and TV at the Kennedy Center is hardly a novelty. Apparently, I was wrong.

[KoKo]

14. Must have had high friends in the Pentagon...so they broke the rules for the funeral...

:shrug: I wonder if this has ever been done before. I know Reagan didn't serve but it was done for him. Maybe because he was a governor? As you point out...what did Tim ever do to deserve such a high honor ...unless it was to serve in "another way."

[libnnc]

15. well, Reagan was PRESIDENT....that kinda goes without saying

that an ex president is going to get an honor guard :eyes:

[KoKo]

18. Yes..and he was ..kind of the "Annointed One" who brough Rpugs out of Wilderness after Nixon...

...so, yeah, there's a part of me that can understand the "Adulation over Reagan."

I just hope that those who were "on board" for all of that..have discovered that he was a "False Prophet" for their cause...having been run by General Electric..who gave Reagan his FIRST BREAK!

Google..........Reagan/GE..and see what you get...

[libnnc]

20. you're missing the point that I was trying to make

ALL ex-presidents get the military treatment

I know all about GE and Reagan...he replaced the ailing Robert Taylor as host of GE Theater

Russert did not hold elected office at the national level--ergo he had NO reason to have an honor guard.

[KoKo]

24. Agree! Russert had no Right to Military Honor Guard...how did he get it?

That's the question. It was offensive for those who have "served in military" or are "Former Presidents
to have gotten what Russert got.

I agree...what allowed him to get it...was my question.

Thanks.

[Leopolds Ghost]

29. Maybe because he co-operated with the Pentagon covertly on information warfare?

:shrug: Many ex-spies and Naval Intelligence types

(see Bob Woodward and Patrick O'Brien for obvious examples)

are beloved by the military and "in the know" celebrities.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. Two points Reagan did serve

and he was a former president

[Stinky The Clown]

16. Mike Barnicle regaling us with memories of elitism

feh ......

[KoKo]

19. I have to admit...hardened Lefty like I am...that Maria Shriver's Tribute..moved me to tears....

Even though I KNOW WHO SHE'S MARRIED TO! I just don't get this "Happy FAMILY THINGY." Sure, they are all CATHOLICS...but isn't it kind of "inclusionary" what they are doing?

It seems to be a great FEST to MOURN the PASSING of the CATHOLIC CHURCH..? :shrug:

[devilgrrl]

22. And I'm a bad girl for being cynical about it all. I so saw this coming.

:cry:

Will Walter Cronkite get a send off like that this?

[KoKo]

23. If someone does a "Shriver Eulogy" in You Tube...watch for it...it brings tears to eyes.,...

even if you cant stand any of it..it reveals a lot....

[Leopolds Ghost]

28. "Starting off with a Military Honor Guard! And Russert never served...." DO WE KNOW THAT?

The funerals of EX-SPIES are OFTEN attended by the heads of the military,
potentates, principalities and powers of this world. They all but openly
brag about how "close" the deceased was to the REAL halls of power -- the
security industry and in this case, the public information branch

(see also Woodward, Bob.)

Don't believe me? Google Patrick O'Brien and ask yourself why all those
military guys attended his funeral and all his books referenced
espionage and connect the dots why he was so loved by generals and hawks.

[Hardrada]

30. I asked on another thread about how much Tim Russert knew.

I guess it must have been rather a lot. And I guess WE won't ever know if it's something like the 50 year lock on JFK info.

[Venus Dog]

31. Most likely Timmy was CIA

and with the Military Honor Guard -- that kind of cinches it for me. This whole thing reminded me alot of "Charlie Wilson's War". This would explain a lot of what so weirdly has been going on since Friday. It also reinforces what has already been written about Operation Mockingbird.

The day he showed up at court in the Libby trial, getting out of the car on a pair of crutches (after Libby had done the same thing), I knew right then, he was part and parcel. There were never any more questions for me about him after that. He was right smack dab in the middle of the entire mess.

[KoKo]

32. It's disturbing for sure. I'm hoping someone will write about Russert getting the Honor Guard...

One of our lefty media might have noticed and have questions. I doubt any MSM will mention it.