Posted By: Hannah Malbrough on Monday, June 16, 2008
I thought that Tim Russert was a friendly, Honest, and a man ofcharacter, which is rare in a society where values aren't used ina positive manner. Tim Russert seemed to be a part of my family.He will be missed by my husband and myself He informed us with a lot of knowelege in the political arena.
Posted By: Patricia D. Shanahan on Monday, June 16, 2008
Tim Russert spoke at my son's graduation from Suffolk University a few years ago. He had clearly done his homework even for that event. He knew his audience, he knew the school and he knew about its relationship to the "name schools" in Boston. He completely connected with the mission of the school and the dreams of the graduates. His speech was well-paced, entertaining, inspirational and personal and left us all feeling even happier about a very happy day. We are heartbroken for his family and for ourselves.
Posted By: Thomas Edward on Monday, June 16, 2008
Im sure Mr Russert is interviewing LBJ and Nixon in heaven right now.
Posted By: Kathleen Windas-Goodwin on Monday, June 16, 2008
Tim always came across as a good and decent man that loved what he did. TV reporting will never see another like him.
Posted By: Tom Bigler on Monday, June 16, 2008
He was the voice of the American public. He is missed already.
Posted By: Korliss Barber on Monday, June 16, 2008
Tim was a great man as I watched meet the press on Sunday mornings and seeing on the Today's Show. I always felt that he was a man that gave straight forward answers and didn't back down from anything, I often wondered when he would throw his hat into the ring for becoming President but for some reason I sensed that he wouldn't be happy. But now that he is in heaven I know he is smiling down on the world saying continue what I started and keep america safe with smile on face and happiness in your heart. To Tim you will truly be missed. Good Night and Good-Bye. My deepest sympathy and prayers go out to his wife and son may god be your strength and guide through this celebration of his eternal celebration.
Posted By: Michael C. Price on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tim Russert...had a curiosity to find the facts, and would stop at nothing to do so. But he always did it in a manner that, even though probing, wouldn't be in the argumentative mindset many think is the best way to handle politicians and newsmakers. Many may not have liked the questions, but they always respected him for how he handled himself, and his guests. They were talked to-and not at, quite a difference in this day and time.The same goes for us, his audience. The man was human. He treated us and his guests that way. May the rest of those in the business learn from THE MAN. Goodbye Tim,may your character go on-we can all learn from it!
Posted By: Jerry Tomlinson on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I am never saddened by the passing of public figures, after all it is what we all do; however, the passing of Tim Russert has affected me deeply for some reason. We all counted on him so much to get to the bottom of things. He was the master.But it is more than that, he was so uniquely human. I am hoping that his legacy will inspire all to give more, to be more, to love more and to just....go get em.
Posted By: Diane Rikhof on Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tim Russert was always a Sunday morning guest at our house . We will miss him deeply. Our son does not see how we can have elections this year without him. We have appreciated getting to know his family and friends as we all share our great loss.
Posted By: Ramond Jones on Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Why couldn't it have been O'Reily?
Posted By: George Riddick on Sunday, June 22, 2008
A Tribute to Tim Russert ... from a nobody Nobody knows who I am, and, to tell you the truth, I rather like it that way. I have seen far too many people let fame and good fortune go to their heads in my day. I am 59 years old. Tim Russert was not one of them. Unlike anyone I can remember on television over the past fifty years, Tim Russert seemed to relate best to those of us fans who call ourselves “nobodies” out here in the farms, streets, schools, neighborhoods, churches, and small businesses of America. He used his own dad, Big Russ, a former trash collector in Buffalo , to convince everyone their opinion was both relevant and desired, not just the political superstars he interviewed on ‘Meet the Press’. His smile was contagious. It is Sunday, June 15, 2008. Father’s Day. I just watched Tom Brokaw, and a distinguished list of guests, honor Tim on NBC … and focus all of us on the empty moderator’s chair in the dim light. No one will ever fill that chair the way Tim Russert did for over seventeen years. No one … not even a nobody. As a baby boomer myself, I was both shocked and saddened by the surprise announcement on Friday that Tim Russert had passed away at the age of only 58, many years from his prime. Tim was my favorite of all the political journalists I have known and seen on TV, radio, in print, and online. Tim was not flashy at all. He did not allow his vast intelligence to make his guests uncomfortable. But he was hard-hitting and straight to the point because he knew exactly what average Americans wanted to hear and see from their intermediaries on the news and over the public airwaves.More important than all of that, however, was Tim's obvious love of his family and friends. I did not know Tim, personally, but I could not help but feel better every time I saw his face. It was something about that smile of his and his unique approach in using humor to help educate his audience ... and educate us he did. Everyone, from all walks of life, seemed to be his friend. Anyone who heard Tim talk about his dad knows exactly what I mean about Tim’s true love. His book, ‘Big Russ & Me’ tells it all. My heart goes out to Tim’s wife, Maureen, and their son, Luke, for their obvious loss, pain, and sorrow. But somehow I just know they knew how many lives, both young and old, Tim touched along his way. He will be sorely missed by us all.Whether it was spreading his faith, his love of sports, his family values, or the intricacies of the political system we cherish, Tim Russert demonstrated a level of passion and enthusiasm unmatched by anyone I know in everything he did. He was an inspiration to all of us. Coincidentally, early next month, a new company that I have formed just recently, called Islandview Technologies, is premiering a humorous and sometimes hard-hitting interactive political documentary online, called 'Play it in Peoria', or PIIP for short. Tim would have known right away the deep meaning that is buried within that title. Tim's presence, determination, humor, and wisdom (and yes, sometimes a bit of sarcasm) are buried deep within this play. We even "borrowed" a quote or two from Tim and his dad along the way. The whole purpose of 'Play it in Peoria' is to entertain while we educate, to probe and analyze “issues” from both sides of the aisle, and the Mississippi, and to encourage more people to get involved in the political processes in this great country. The only way to do that is to "tell it like it is" whether the political points of view are popular at the time or not. I think that was one of Tim's primary goals as well. Our ‘Play’ goes out in beta mode this week. Our plan has always been to get prominent political commentators to view it first so we could incorporate some of their points of view into the script. I wanted so badly to get Tim Russert's comments first, before we officially launched the PIIP production in July 2008. He was my favorite of all the talented and energetic political newscasters and journalists who have covered the elections this year with both unseen, and sometimes unappreciated, energy, tenacity, dignity, and class. We plan to dedicate ‘Play it in Peoria ” to the memory of Tim Russert, if Maureen, Luke, and Big Russ say that is okay. No one has the enthusiasm, the passion, the “gusto”, or the smile of Tim Russert. In the age of high technology, I’ll never forget how Tim used a simple erase board handwritten by Tim, himself, in red, to focus an entire nation on the importance of the ‘Florida, Florida, Florida’ elections in 2000. Can you name a journalist with this kind of following … or obvious charm? I can’t. To be interviewed by Tim Russert, and to leave that interview without injury to either body or spirit, was a “right of passage” for everyone in the political arena for the past fifteen or so years. Even Tim’s closest competitors admired and respected him, and tried to duplicate his intense preparation style and his success. It simply could not be done. There was only one Tim Russert. I do not share the point of view that the media has been too biased in its reporting (a few uncalled for Hillary exceptions aside) in the election coverage of 2008 thus far. In fact, I would say the exact opposite from what I have read, heard, and seen. Tim didn't care whether you were a Democrat, a Republican, or an Independent. When you came into an interview with him, you had better be fully prepared. He wanted to get straight to the facts, and honest opinions, not sort through ten gallons of political rhetoric, BS, and mud-slinging along the way. That's exactly the way we liked it, Tim. I only wish more of us had time to tell you that to your face. An untimely death of a young man or woman in their prime often causes people to question their faith. Not Tim. With humility and grace not witnessed in many these days, I can hear Tim say that maybe this is simply God’s way of telling us all to appreciate each other and be sure to recognize the bright “rays of sunshine” He continually sends our way. I just know that’s why Pope Benedict came to say “hello” and “goodbye” to Tim and touch his body and bless his soul along the way. Thank you, Tim, for all you have contributed to this country and to the world. We will all miss you, Tim. Even those of us out here who never got to shake your hand and say "hello". Go Bills! Respectfully, George P. Riddick, IIIChairman/CEOIslandview Technologies9962 Brook RoadGlen Allen, Virginia griddick@islandview2.com
