Reply #27: You nailed it

[Tangerine LaBamba]

It's a family mourning, only this family happens to be part of a television community.

Apparently, he was beloved by just about everyone who ever had any dealings with him. A truly nice and good man. Rare in this city, believe me. But, Tim Russert was active in his community, served lots of charitable purposes, had tons of friends beyond the political and TV worlds in which he operated, and did a lot of very wonderful things. He was also damn good at his job, which is something a lot of people still don't understand. He was incredibly talented, and because he made it look seamless, too many folks fail to gauge the depth of his contribution to the American news scene.

If you're honored on The Daily Show and the Colbert Report on one night, and the next morning, the President and First Lady show up for your wake, you can assume that you've led an extraordinary life.

Tim Russert was extraordinary, and that is why the huge outpouring. I regret that so many people don't grasp that, but, perhaps in time, they will. In the meantime, I find it amusing that the commemoration of this man's passing bothers some. It tells me more about them than it does about the man being mourned.