TIm Russert has died of a heart attack, or something. He was the go-to guy for the Bush Administration's propaganda campaign. He was a friend to those in power, trading power and presteige for honor and responsibility. He will be easy to replace.
He will not go to a Catholic heaven to be with his father. He will go to his grave and be forgotten except by those who loved him. Few people will discuss him in the years to come, because to remember him will be to remember his complicity. The evil that he did will live on long after him.
I love you.
ReplyDeleteHeh, thanks.
ReplyDeleteHum, I'm now jealous.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I agree. This is a difficult subject to address without appearing to be uncaring and cold-hearted. Yeah, Timmy had friends and family, and a lot of colleagues who will miss him. But man, I was really rather insulted by the coverage MSNBC was giving the story yesterday. They were in a difficult spot, as he was their New Director, or whatever title he did hold. But even KO seemed way too over the top in his praise and willing to forgive his complicity in very grave matters.
I will not forget the testimony during the Scoots Libby trial, where a Bush adminstration flunky (I forgot the lady's name)came out and said that they viewed MTP as the best way for Cheney to "get the message out". Tim was either really gullible or was just so enamored of his position of conduit of propoganda for the adminstration that he didn't see he was being used. And then Tim, himself, came out and said something along the lines of that he ALWAYS felt his conversations with public officials were "off the record" and were only "on the record" whenever the source granted him that pleasure. Jeez! What kind of position for any self-respecting reporter, MUCH LESS THE HEAD OF A NATIONAL NEWS ORGANIZATION, to take? I just made a post over at my place about this. How can these people be so blind to the fact that they are either being used or look like complete morons? Or both...
I dislike saying harsh things about people who have died or are very ill, such as Tony Snow when it was announced he had cancer. That makes it kind of tough to be a caring human being but also be able to call stupidity and manipulative behavior out when necessary. But there are times when exceptions can be made. I really thought that MSNBC went too far overboard.
Some talking head on teevee was just saying what a tough interviewer Russert was, and how he never backed down to power. It was so blatently false it was ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteNot many of us have a chance to stand up for freedom and fight for a cause. Russert did, and deliberately chose fame and money instead. He betrayed his country, and some people are acting as if it's tacky to point that out.
Imagining Russert had never worked in journalism is pretty easy. Someone else would have been the conduit.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people worry about being polite at this late date? Aren't there enough bodies to make it okay to condemn the guilty?
ReplyDeleteBut Russert was a swell guy, all enthusiastic, and a big Buffalo Bills fan, so that's what our story is going to be. That and the media patting one of their own on the back, not looking in the mirror.
ReplyDeleteAlso, his father is still alive, much to Terry McAuliffe's chagrin.
Hey, dlgood, great to see you.
ReplyDeleteI imagine that every important talking head out there wanted to impress on everyone how important they are and how much they'll be missed when they die. Plus, if you talktalktalk, nobody has time to remember Valerie Plame and Dick Cheney.