While many of us might have had differences with Tim Russert over his political coverage on Meet the Press and elsewhere, now is not the time for that. This is a tragedy for his family, friends, colleages, associates and viewers, and for anyone who met or knew him, and my heart goes out to all of them.
I put together a brief video of his very final moments on what will now be his last Meet the Press show, which, quite fittingly, consisted entirely of a panel of members of the press (including his possible replacement, the excellent Chuck Todd).
It was especially fitting and ironic that in his final segment, he talked about the rise of Barack Obama, and how a man whom Obama has been favorably compared to, Robert F. Kennedy--who, like Russert, himself died tragically and all soon exactly 40 years ago last Friday at the height of his success and at a moment of great change in American politics and society)--predicted that a black man could become president in 40 years. Indeed, Tim, indeed.
And we'll be right back...