Tim Russert: 1950-2008

I was saddened to hear of the death of Tim Russert this afternoon. Russert, the moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," was a tough journalist who asked some tough questions of politicians of all backgrounds and gained the respect of Washington power brokers and the admiration of fellow members of the press, but perhaps his proudest role was as a father and as a son. He spoke glowingly of the values and guidance his father (who's still alive) gave him, and he tried by all accounts to be as good a father to his son Luke. The biggest ironies of his passing at 58 are that it occurs just before Father's Day weekend, and that Russert - ever a political junkie if there was one - will be denied knowledge of the outcome of a presidential election campaign he was so eager to cover. R.I.P. :-(