Good Bye Tim

I have been remiss in my stewardship of this blog. But I have seen the political landscape turn into a quagmire of bitter partanship. Attack after, attack, personal in nature. We have once again falling into the same old game. But something has occurred that warrants a new post.

As I was doing my usual observations on Thursday June 12, 2008 a news bulletin came across the net. I was expecting something about the war or perhaps the price of oil. But when I began to read what the bulletin said. I cried, I cried uncontrollable. I cried with the same intensity that I did when I lost my father.

The news was, Tim Russert, a fixture in American homes on Sunday mornings and election nights since becoming moderator of "Meet the Press" nearly 17 years ago, died Friday after collapsing at the Washington bureau of NBC News. He was 58.

But you have to understand the broader context. When I began the Shemwell Report in 1991 I was green as green could be. I had absolutely no journalism experience and was flying blind. But I did have the presence of mind to realize that I needed some network mentors. I needed to know how to interview in a professional manner. I searched the the air ways and found two people that seemed to have mastered the art of the interview.

Ted Koppel, and Tim Russert were those two. What they had mastered was the art of listening a key component in the art fo the interview. As the years progressed I began to also see how Tim had an additional gift. Each Sunday on “Meet The Press” he engaged his guest but it was never a personal attack. He seemed to put himself in the palce of the average Joe. This I think was the greatest journalist gift of Tim.

I will miss him, but I will carry with me the lessons he vicariously imparted to me each Sunday through his dedication to give the American people the real deal. Thank you Tim, GO BILLS.