Honoring the great Tim Russert...Irreplaceable

If you are into news and journalism like me, then you understand why between emptying boxes this weekend, I was glued to NBC and MSNBC. I watched ALL and I mean ALL  of the coverage on Tim Russert. When I posted news of his sudden death on Friday, it had just reached the internet so there wasn't much written on him. By the time I got home from work though, it was a different story. It was all over both stations as drops here and there on the other news stations. 

Don't ask me why, I have never met the man, but I was truly saddened by this. I did watch his show and I still remember when he wrote Florida Florida Florida on the little white erase board. Someone left a similar one with his name on it outside the studio.  Talk about tugging at the heart. Matt Lauer was part of the saturday edition of the Today Show and when he said, "Pal, go get 'em". I lost it a bit. I did lose it sunday though when Meet the Press started and  Tom Brokaw said this is a celebration". Wow. I repeat I did not know this man. Part of what made his show so interesting to me was the way he approached his interviews and how he always seemed to make sense of politics that didn't. I always came away with a better understanding after seeing a topic discussed on his show.  This year's election coverage will truly be unfamiliar without him. I am thinking Meet the Press should stop here and have another show with a different name. I don't think anyone will be able to Rake 'em over like Russert. Truly Irreplaceable!

My sadness of the situation changed though this morning thought. The Today show had an extensive interview with his son, Luke. He was all smiles and acknowledged all that was great about his Dad. He spoke with grace and elegance and even gave Matt Lauer a laugh or two. See the video below.