I feel for his family, I don't hate Tim Russert, this isn't personal - but we're not at his wake

[hulka38]

All I've heard about Russert was that he was a good father, son and friend. Those are great qualities.

He failed miserably when the public and his country desperately needed him to step up. If you think this comment is too critical of his work or comes too soon after his death then you can stick it. Young men are getting vital chunks of their bodies blown away unnecessarily because of the mass media's failures in the run-up to The Disaster. Russert carried a lot of neocon water at a critical time. It needs to be said again and again. Tim Russert's professional role regarding Iraq needs to be further analyzed and scrutinized for history's sake as does the entire news media in this country for the health of this country.

NBC and MSNBC in fact failed in their responsibilities to the public wrt the Iraq War. Pressured by the administration and fearing that questioning the administration's case for war would brand them as unpatriotic, execs pressured hosts into selling the war and being critical of people who were trying to expose the lies.

Donahue was the strong anti-Iraq War voice before they dumped him, not for ratings reasons but because he was too critical of the lies being sold to us. That spot later became Keith's. I like KO, but it's a hell of a lot easier being the anti-war, anti-Bush spokesguy post 2003 than it was in the months after 9/11.

I watched Chris Mathews in dismay every night because he seemed certifiably schizophrenic re which side of the war he was on, on any given night. I began predicting with some success whether he'd be selling or blasting the war based on his need to compensate for his previous show. I remember him yelling at guests on several different occasions in 2004 that debating about how we got into the war made no sense because we were at war now and we need to come together to figure out how to win it. There are so many more examples - I wish I had taped them.

Bottom line - the news execs and the tough, old, no-nonsense, truth seeking newsmen at NBC and MSNBC largely failed you, me and the United States of America in 2002 and 2003. Tim Russert played a significant role in that. They must not be allowed to guilt trip or word smith their way out of it.

[Skittles]

1. you are absolutely correct

yup

[texanwitch]

2. Excellent post.

I so agree.

[calmblueocean]

3. You are so right. I was just saying the same thing in an e-mail to a friend.

When you think about all the awful insanity of the Bush years, when you think about all the insane and illegal Constitutional contortions (like Cheney claiming that the office of the Vice President wasn't part of the executive branch, and so was not required to turn its records over to the National Archives, just to name one) and all the deaths and maimings based on false intelligence and falsehoods, Russert's record over that time is pathetic and embarrassing. This is the guy who was not just Washington Bureau Chief but Senior Vice President of News. He set the agenda for NBC News, a man who could literally have changed the world if he'd had the courage to actually be objective instead of merely popular.

I liked Russert as much as the next guy, and it was obvious he loved his kids. But no one's criticizing that. What they are criticizing is his record, and doing it now, before the plaster sets. There's something telling about the fact that over all these years of Bush admin lies and chicanery, the only Emmy Russert ever won was for his mawkish "the king is dead! long live the king!" Reagan funeral coverage.

The country and the world needed more than we got from Tim Russert. That much should not even be controversial. If we'd gotten the news coverage we deserved we wouldn't be in the mess we're in.

My condolences go out to Tim's family, but they also go out to our country and the world for the anemic job Russert ultimately did.

[tblue37]

5. Good post. n/t

[truedelphi]

13. The 600,000 dead in Iraq (Half of them children)

And our 4,000 dead soldiers would applaud your words (if they could)

[tblue37]

4. K&R. Thanks. n/t

[Taylor Mason Powell]

6. Kicked and Recommended

nt

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. Phenomenal job.

Wonderfully encapsulates all the important points that should withstand the wash-out from a well-meaning, but diversionary wake.

[Window]

8. K/R. Unfortunately, your post is so very true.

:kick:

[K Gardner]

9. K&R

[LawyersGunsandMoney]

10. MSNBC turned their airwaves

into his electronic wake.

[Joe Bacon]

11. The truth is that every step of the way, Tiny Tim enabled the GOP

He even boasted about having his talking points handed to him by the GOP. And he saw NOTHING wrong with it. Tim Russert never practiced journalism, he was a propagandist.

[WinkyDink]

12. Thank you. Death doesn't negate a life, but neither does it enhance it.