NBC officially has now lost their last "real journalist". How sad.

[saracat]

Tim was the real thing. Now they have only FOX style goons and mediocre sycophants. This is a tragedy for network news. RIP Tim you will be missed.

[tekisui]

1. You could say Network News has lost their last true journalist.

The only one s left are on PBS and BBC.

[saracat]

4. Yup.

[Joe the Revelator]

2. What about Brokaw?

[saracat]

3. He is actually "retired". He is only occasionally around. I love Brokaw

[Joe the Revelator]

6. I agree. I'm glad he still shows up every once in a while.

[TexasObserver]

49. Brokaw is a good choice to replace Russert.

[MadBadger]

5. Id argue with you, but I just dont have the energy right now.

The people there are grieving, so take your below the belt shots while their down. Bravo.

[beachmom]

7. Keith Olbermann is good -- he actually reads the blogs and covers

stories like veterans care, the trampling of our constitution and the excesses of the radical Right not seen anywhere else on TV.

And right now, KO, looks devastated as do the other reporters. Your post says a hell of a lot more about you than it does about any of the journalists on NBC.

[saracat]

15. Really? It says I mourn Russert who was a journalist and Keith Olberman

is NOT a journalist. Sorry but he is just a jock sports reporter with an inflated ego who is not on par with Russert on any level of experience, quality,or education. Russert was a scholar and a gentleman.KO is the Bill O' Reilly of the left.

[gmudem]

18. Russert's death is very sad

But he is simply not in the same league as Olbermann. I understand you're bitter that he did not mince words about Hillary Clinton, but he has done a great job talking about topics that nobody else in the MSM will touch.

[saracat]

21. Your right he isn't in the "same league as Russert".And as Couric said

if someone can't be "objective(As Ko claimed he couldn't be) they has no business in journalism.

[Ichingcarpenter]

23. Are you watching Keith Right Now? I totally doubt it

Once again your objectivity is lacking

[saracat]

28. Nope. I don't watch O'Reilly either. Or Geraldo. I don' t do junk news . Sorry.

Keith himself says he can't be objective. I am sure KO is saddened by the loss of a fellow employees of NBC but that doesn't make him a journalist.

[Ichingcarpenter]

30. Then you can't judge him

[saracat]

31. I used to watch him regularly. I no longer do so. It was because he was

not objective I stopped watching him. I am not "unfamiliar" with his work. I have every right to express my "judgement" of him as a journalist or lack thereof. I am NOT watching him today.

[gmudem]

34. You yourself are not being objective

You are disillusioned by him because he did not treat Hillary with kid gloves. He was disgusted by her tactics and was not afraid to say so.

It's sad that you ignore all of the other work he has done when it comes to the treachery of the Bush administration. That means nothing to you because he said a few mean things about Hillary. If Olbermann wasn't talking about the crimes of the Bush administration, nobody else in the MSM would.

[saracat]

81. Actually, I stopped watching him long before anything he had to say about Hillary.

His lack of objectivity turned me off to him long before that. I waan't a Hillary supporter to begon with. I want a newscaster whose opinion ism't obvious about anything. Keith is a spokesperson. I am not intersted in spokespeople. But believe what you want.

[gmudem]

84. So you disapprove of what he was speaking about?

Who else in the MSM talks about the rampant abuses of power in the Bush administration? Who else highlights their scandals every day? Do you really not like him because of that?

Yeah he's biased, but he's the only person in the MSM who talks about what he talks about. He is a much needed voice of sanity and reason in a media world full of bullshit.

[ronnykmarshall]

60. I'll say this ...

It's the first time I've watched Keith in months. His show TONIGHT is very good. But his attacks on Hillary over the past months pissed me off. Keith can kiss my ass.

[LittleClarkie]

66. Disagreeing with someone's view doesn't change what kind of reporter they are

Does it?

He spoke his point of view regarding Bush, and he was lauded by many. He spoke his point of view regarding Hillary, and was condemned by others. But the man remains the same, doesn't he? Still calling it as he sees it, regardless of whether it will piss someone off. I'm sure he pissed of several Bush supporters, and if they ever watched him, they don't now.

That's not the gauge I'd use to measure the man.

[ronnykmarshall]

69. Well "truth" is in the eye of the beholder.

You're an Obama supporter, so you have a bias. So do I as a Hillary supporter. I don't think you'd feel the same if KO had attacked Obama.

Another thing that really frosts my ass. Now I'll say this, I'm sad for Andrea Mitchell. She lost a good friend. Not just a good friend but it seems like her BEST friend. BUT. La Andrea was grilled and call every name in the book when it was blessed by DU that she was a "Bush mouth piece". But when she took on Hillary .... OH LORDY ... she became a fucking saint.

It's interesting that Tim's death has brought back the bull shit that was part of the primary this year.

[LittleClarkie]

74. I worked nights at the time. I never did see KO's comments on Hillary

and wouldn't be that bothered if he had gone after Obama if he was doing it fairly.

Is that the problem? Do you feel he was unfair about his comments toward Hillary?

I am an Obama supporter mostly because I am a John Kerry supporter, at least in the beginning. If Kerry was going out on a limb in supporting the guy, I was going out there with him. I found things I liked about Obama after that endorsement. But Kerry was the catalyst.

Now if KO went after John Kerry, THEN I'd have a problem ;)

Of course, I did notice what you're speaking of right after I picked a candidate. It's amazing how picking a candidate changes your perception.

But still, I wouldn't have a problem with someone going after my candidate if they had a point. The people who were bothered by the McClurkin incident had a point, for instance, and I acknowledged that I supported Obama despite this issue, but did not disregard it or the pain it caused some.

[ronnykmarshall]

76. I am wrong then.

I didn't realize that you just picked a candidate. My apology.

[saracat]

83. The point is, with "real ' journalism" we shouldn't be aware of what the newscaster subjectively

thinks.

[Lerkfish]

86. you apparently are clueless to the difference between reporting and commentary

:shrug:

[Lerkfish]

68. time to get over it and move one to support the nominee

this blatant surrogate attack by proxy is tiresome.

[ronnykmarshall]

72. I am OVER it .

You just don't pay attention. Talk about needing to get over it. Good god.

[Lerkfish]

42. its very sad you take the death of one journalist to bash another journalist

and you do so for blatantly transparent reasons.

[TexasObserver]

51. Russert had his good moments, but KO has been much better the past few years.

[Lerkfish]

56. Russert was a good moderator: KO was speaking truth to power.

both are valuable, but one is much more needed at this time.

[TexasObserver]

58. Agreed. I think Brokaw or Williams will be the replacement.

It takes less of an advocate and more of a questioner.

[LittleClarkie]

59. Sadly, he spoke the wrong truth about the wrong power for the OP

Meanwhile, apparently the overblown egotistical hack is pretty broken up about the passing of that "real journalist." Some who are watching him say he looks like he's either had a good cry or is about to. They must have known each other.

I'm sure it's possible to mourn one without attacking the other, esp. when the one that is left is mourning too.

[TexasObserver]

70. Olberman has been far superior to Russert the past four years.

Olberman has demonstrated uncommon courage in taking on the war party and the administration. Russert has been more of a guy who goes along to get along. Russert had his good points, but he's not been the journalist Olberman has.

[u2spirit]

71. Saracat

You only don't like KO because he called Hillrod out during the primaries. To say otherwise is a lie.

[TexasObserver]

73. And there it is. The reality check.

[tabasco]

87. Cheney fed propaganda through whore Russert.

Your definition of journalist is incorrect.

[Shakespeare]

20. Took the words right out of my mouth, beachmom.

Some people can't get past their own biases to understand that their candidate is (rightly) going to be subject to tough coverage.

Russert was one of the best, if not the best, political reporter in journalism. I slipped into the conference room for my lunch hour to watch MSNBC's coverage, and it was really tough to watch Olbermann and Chuck Todd, who'd clearly both been crying.

[TexasObserver]

50. Olberman is a better journalist than Russert, but unlikely to get the nod.

Washington Insiders would wail too much.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. KO, Rachel Maddow, Jon Alter, Gene Robinson, Chuck Todd...

...NBC's going to be fine.

[PoliticalAmazon]

19. ITA. Russert let the RWers off the hook more often than not....

Still, it's a shock to know that he's gone.

[TexasObserver]

53. Yes, they are served well by those five fine journalists

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Chuck Todd is a hell of a journalist and his protegee

He does great analysis but I don't think he's an interviewer
but is one hell of a political journalist.

[PolNewf]

32. Chuck is great

He is very likable and I have no idea who he supports or supported in this race. I appreciate that.

And I like math!!

[TexasObserver]

52. Chuck Todd is great, but like you said, not an interviewer

[Kokonoe]

10. Tim Russert ended the democratic primaries with the words

"We now know who the Democratic nominee's going to be."

[NotThisTime]

13. He was a hell of a political journalist

[LowerManhattanite]

11. Hardly the time to continue the battles with media during Primary Season...

...while eulogizing Russert.

Kind of a cheap shot here, and a stalking horse for a personal agenda.

Not cool, but hey... :(

[redqueen]

14. but not surprising at all, no.

[ampad]

33. Nope not at all

This post was clearly a way to take a cheap shot at others, not surprising at all.

[tishaLA]

17. exactly. thank you for saying it.

[LowerManhattanite]

26. It's an ugly and disingenuous OP...

...using Russert's death as a fulcrum for settling Primary Season scores with newsfolk deemed not OK in the poster's book.

Look, I was no fan of Russert—long before this primary season for a myriad of reasons, but the man just passed away and to use his death as a bunker to lob grenades from behind is un-classy and frankly, ghoulish.

Why a long-time poster at DU would sink to that level is beyond me.

I mean, as a reader of DU for years, and particularly this primary season, I know why someone would feel that strongly, but...I guess I don't know how someone could actually put fingers to keyboard, put this up and let it stand as a reflection of themselves.

Ugh. :(

[saracat]

29. I feel very strongly about the state of television news. I have a personal connection to it

and I have been saddened by the death and retirements of many of the greats in recent years. Rather, Brokaw, and Jennings have been replaced by screaming loons of both sides of the aisle. Frankly I do not want a "liberal" media, or a "conservative" media I was a real and objective media. I didn't always agree with Russert but I do think he tried to be fair and was certainly more accomplished than the loons of today.

I was privileged to meet with Russert in 2004 and he was a true gentleman and phenomenally well informed. I was honored that he took the time to speak with me .I do mourn the passing of a very nice man.


.And ugh to you and your misjudgement of others.

[LowerManhattanite]

35. Okay. Here it is. Plain and simple...

The man JUST passed away. Whatever one may think of him, today—mere hours after he has left this mortal coil is a wholly inappropriate time to use—and that's exactly what you did with this OP—use his death as a bunker from which to attack media you obviously have a problem with. The OP smacks of passive-aggressive flame-bait and you knew that when you posted it. In the thread, 90% of what you've said is slams on colleagues of Russert's you've had a problem with during the Primary Season—not a remembrance of kindnesses or a lauding of Russert's talents. That's pretty damned shameful of you.

And you are NOT THE ONLY PERSON with deep seated feelings about the state of TV news. I've been a news-watcher since the venerable Robert Trout (one of Edward R. Murrow's boys) was retired by CBS-2 in NYC for Jim Jensen and the effective birth of the “Happy Talk” news we see today. The days of Sevareid and Brinkley commentaries and the dumbing down of the news is not your issue alone. But today is NOT the day for railing at the people in news you have a mad-on for. It's a day to mourn Russert, and if one's feelings about him cannot allow that, then to at least offer condolences to his family. Using his death as a stalking horse for settling scores with talking heads who bother you is Cheap-Shottiness 101...and you know it, which is why you've deigned now to prattle on faux-piously about the state of the news business only after your partisan sniping up-thread.

I've met most of these same people as I've had to deal with and occasionally work with people at 30 Rock here in NYC, so spare me the “my personal connection” business. It's a dodge, and a disingenuous one from what you tried to do here, which is evident to anyone with eyes and a handle on recent history in the now-dead DU GD-P forum.

And yes, I piped up in the “Who will replace him” thread too, saying that it was a bit ghoulish and too soon for that sort of thing as well, so I'm pretty consistent with my feelings on how people are conducting themselves TODAY, a mere few hours after he's died.

And your conduct in this thread, and in it's initial posting leaves much to be desired.

With that, done with you.

[TexasObserver]

54. Nicely said.

[saracat]

88. And I am done "with you "as well. PLEASE put me on ignore.

[JuniperLea]

12. Are you serious?

I watched him every Sunday... I'm sad to see another human being die, leaving a wife and son, but he was FAR from being a good journalist.

I guess people forget reality when they are trying to appear... whatever.

I guess there's no other news today.

[Benhurst]

22. Thank you. Truth always suffers when the conventional pieties hold sway.

[JuniperLea]

40. Lying about the dead is just plain wrong

Better to not say anything.

Embellishing a eulogy is far worse than padding a resume.

[Kahuna]

16. They still have Shuster. Unfortunately he doesn't have the pull to

succeed Tim. Maybe next time.

[TexasObserver]

55. Shuster is a superb journalist, but not pliable enough for MTP.

Russert did a decent job, but he also went along with the inside the beltway crowd, in a way Olberman or Shuster would not.

[Medusa]

24. We've all lost something with Tim Russert's death.

He was the grownup in a room full of kids. Really bratty kids. Who do I turn to now? I spent every Sunday morning with Tim.

[TexasObserver]

48. Russert was ok, but sometimes he was a tool of Washington insiders.

[TexasObserver]

25. Keith Olberman is far superior as a journalist.

Tim did a decent job on MTP some of the time. Others, he didn't.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[QC]

44. from the forum rules:

Do not say that you are hitting the alert link to report another member.

[TexasObserver]

46. Olberman is twice the journalist Russert was.

[Georgie_92]

27. Very Very Sad News, RIP Tim.

[bunnies]

37. What an incredibly unfortunate thing to say

about those who learned at his heels. You should be ashamed of yourself. And this... on the day of his death. How crass.

edit: sp

[TexasObserver]

62. Yes, it's an unfortunate attack on the journalists who remain at NBC

Olberman, Shuster and Maddow are all superior journalists to Russert, who was also a decent man and journalist. But he compromised himself at times.

[charlie]

39. Balls

I'm hardly surprised, though. May you and your children live the rest of your lives with only "real journalists" like Russert to depend on.

[sniffa]

41. I call BS. Tim never bothered to tread on Obama's phony birth-certificate

Some journalist.

[OzarkDem]

45. He wasn't a journalist in the true sense

He had a law degree, he never studied journalism.

[Bensthename]

47. him and Chuck Todd were the only to objective journalist. He will be missed greatly..

[Name removed]

64. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

57. The OP does nothing to pay respects to Tim Russert. Quite the opposite, really. nt

[TexasObserver]

61. The OP is an attack on all the other NBC journalists, several of whom are better than Russert

Russert was a decent guy and decent TV guy, but he was not a man of courage, and he can't hold a candle to Rachel Maddow or Keith Olberman when it comes to digging for the truth.

[Tribetime]

63. it's sad to use his passing to attack others

[TexasObserver]

67. Yes, how sad!

Really, it is sad. I agree with you.

[blondeatlast]

82. It certainly is, and it does Russert a grave disservice.

He clearly respected his colleagues and they him.

[IndianaJones]

65. they're all corporate whores...except the SportsCenter guy, I guess. nt.

[Kittycat]

75. How pathetic that the OP would use Russert's Death to attack other fine journalists.

Bitter, Bitter, Bitter Pizza for you.

[ampad]

77. I wasn't gonna come back to this thread

But I just have to say something. None of us really know when that faithful day will come saracat you and I could drop dead tomorrow. I know you knows this saracat, I know you do. I know you have issues with Keith O because of Hillary and all but this post is a damn shame, you should be ashamed. I'm not a Tim Russert fan but I have the good sense to know that now is not the time to try to throw digs in. You could go tomorrow or the next day, or the next day, or the next day. I sure hope there is no one out there that would take your departing from this earth in the way you took Tim Russerts departing: as a way to attack those they dislike over a freaking presidential candidate (who might I remind you) is a freaking human being that makes mistakes just like you and me.

I'm not a religious person but I do believe there is a certain respect that civilized people should pay to the dead. I say that as a person who will one day face death just as you someday will. I just cannot believe some of the shit I read on this board.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

78. Using a man's death as a thinly veiled dig.

How low.

[Name removed]

79. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Gore1FL]

80. Brian Williams certainly qualifies as a real journalist.

[davidpdx]

85. For once we are in agreement

Russert was great to watch and will be missed.