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 If
you were to look at my profile on facebook, you'd see that I have
only three TV shows that I watch: The Simpsons, The Office, and Meet the Press.
For the past 10 years, I'd developed a Sunday morning routine
which consisted of waking up, brewing a French Press carafe of good
coffee, and watching "Meet the Press" at 6AM. But
yesterday Tim Russert, the show's moderator, died of
a sudden coronary failure at the young age of 58. I'll surely watch the
show tomorrow morning, but it will be like going to a funeral, as
journalists and politicians remember Tim's life.Tim helped me look at both sides of issues better than anyone. Guests from left and right were challenged on the show to defend their positions. Exchanges, with everyone from Hillary to Orin Hatch, Madeline Albright to Condelizza Rice, were usually followed by 30 minutes of dialog amongst journalists. By the end of the hour, I always felt like I'd been given the opportunity to consider both the merits and liabilities of whatever issue, politician, or candidate was in the spotlight that morning. A steady diet of this kind of 'critical thinking' helped me learn how to look at issues more thoroughly, weighing merits and carefully considering the axioms and presuppositions on which positions are built. Meet the Press not only helped keep me informed about political issues, but the show, and Tim Russert in particular, made me a better thinker and hence a better pastor and theologian. But Tim was also, more than any other public figure I know, a real person, whose love of family and traditional values shined through his work. He spoke often about his relationship with his father and wrote a book about dads, using his own as a model. Having grown up in a blue collar family where his dad worked long hours so that his kids could go to college, Tim passed on the ethic of integrity and sacrifice he saw exemplified as a child, not only to his own son but to millions, in a way that was far more effective, at least for countless blue or purple Americans, than Dobson could ever hope to be. I'll still be getting up at 6 on Sundays, but I don't know if I'll be able to continue to watch Meet the Press without feeling like a friend is missing in the room. |
Comments
Nice tribute. I agree that Russert was a kind of throw back to a time when television journalists actually engaged in thoughtful dialog. I find it interesting that the short list of candidates that might be considered as his replacement doesn't include anyone with his skills. At least two of the people on the list, Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman, seem to me to espouse the "I'm right, you're an idiot" approach. Russert was a completely different kind of journalist--fair, smart, insightful.
Stan, say it isn't so! There have got to be other people out there besides Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman to sit in that seat on Sunday mornings. If NBC were smart, they'd put guest hosts in that chair for the next little while, and really think about what they're doing. I imagine, though, they're feeling the pressure of having a true anchor during the upcoming election.
Richard, thanks so much for your blog (and pretty amazing that we both blogged on this topic within minutes of each other)! You expressed so beautifully what was good and decent and smart about Tim Russert's journalism. And how it made us all better thinkers. I am definitely going to miss him.
What I appreciated about Tim Russert was his ability to be non-adversarial, yet get to the crux of an issue. I always felt he had a liberal bent, but he seemed to be more fair and balanced than some conservative pundits think they are. You couldn't help but like the guy, he came across as a nice person, which is difficult at best and virtually impossible for the profession he chose and loved.
I hope Keith Olberman doesn't take over his role on Meet the Press. Keith Olberman would be the polar opposite of Tim Russert, and would definitely drive away any conservatives that enjoy the program.
I recently lost my job, and had to reduce expenses. One of my expenses that I had to reduce was Dish TV. I now have the basic programming, which doesn't include Fox News, but includes CNN, HNN (CNN-lite), and MSNBC. I didn't think it was possible, MSNBC has usurped CNN as the ultra-liberal news network.
Keith Olberman's nightly diatribes, and in particular, his venomous rants against the President of the United States, would bring him no less than death in the countries he vehemently protects with his nightly harangue against the President and Iraq war.