Tim Russert Blew It on Iraq. So Why Are We Canonizing Him?

o_O

jdfu!

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I can only assume Cockburn's incredulity at the canonization of Russert was sarcasm. We all know the game these days, be a good little soldier and get the pat on the head, and maybe a multi-million dollar contract. Buck the system and stay in the back waters.

All I can say about Russert was that I won't miss him but I won't say good riddence until I see how craven NBC is when replacing him.

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True, Russert (along with the overwhelming majority of the Washington Press Corps) "blew it" on Iraq. There were times during an otherwise delightful Sunday morn when I would find myself screaming at the tube at the top of my lungs:

"YO, RUSSERT! WHASSAMATTA YOU???"

My theory is that perhaps it was inconcievable to this patriotic child of the fifties that his government would lie to him on a subject as serious as committing men and women to fight and die in a war in a far way land. The American press sould have learned a hard and bitter lesson in 1971 with the Pentagon Papers. Tragically they did not. Maybe it is a lesson that each new generation of journalists will have to learn.

Hey, folks! Your government can't be trusted. HELLO???

When Bill Moyers chastized him in his documentary Buying The War for naively allowing himself to be used as a pawn by Dick Cheney in a September 2002 appearance on Meet The Press, it was well deserved.

But let's not judge Russert's entire career on Iraq. All in all, his was a life well lived. His death is a loss to public discourse and to pretend otherwise is silly.

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Sunday Will Never Be The Same: Tim Russert 1950-2008

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Thanks for writing this. FAIR also put out a good piece yesterday in a very similar vein:
FAIR Article

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Newton Minnow labeled TV as a "vast wasteland" at the outset of its impact on national discourse. We have learned that spin and sound bites mean more than content and debate and it is best exemplified by the Sunday pundit shows and pathetic Presidential debates. Russert was no more than a TV clown-prince, good man or not. Why else would every felon on earth seek appearance on Meet the Press? Nobody feared Russert, he was too easy to best and as all in the current media the jugular vein was never his object of attack. He prospered, NBC loved the ratings his eager guests generated and those that cared enjoyed the entertainment that ensued. I wasn't one of them. In my view he was irrelevant because he lacked the courage of conviction, without which any contemporary expression is mere gas. Cockburn hit this nail on the head!

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Tis not "we" who canonize, tis "they"...

And I for one would be quite happy if he were shortly joined by about 300 of the other architects of evil in Washington, starting from the top down.

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Jesus - I believe the media would have embalmed Russert and propped him up in the corner if they felt they could milk his death one more day...

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are proudly displayed on the White House website.

Does that tell you something?

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The Illusion goose steps forward!

Another Parrot
Falls off the perch
Singing the same old Blues
Penny for the Rich, please?

The Media is the lubricant they use
To screw you.
The Prostitutes lead
The Blind

The BUSH Disaster!
Anytime Disaster Struck
Either they initiated it or ignored it.
America drowns in BU__! SH__!
as
The Chimp Parties!


Who counts the votes?
Who owns the Media?
Who owns 99% of everything?
Who gives you the finger?
Now,
Guess who is getting Funked?

Does you’re a-s hurt enough yet?
To get off the couch?
Before we all are
FREEDOM Fried!

P.S. Jack can’t save ya.

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My sentiments exactly! Russert failed to question the governments propaganda when it was his responsibility as a journalist to do so. The media just likes to make big stories of "heros" and "demons", and Russert didn't fall in the demon category. As you say in the piece, it is also a way for the media community for patting themselves on the back for the terrible job they have done.

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I was an advent watcher of MTP until Tim allowed Cheney to go on his show and never questions all the lies that he spewed to the American people. Yes at the beginning he questions but then less and less. From That point on I could no longer watch. I will miss Mr. Russert but this administration changed him. Rest in Peace

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say in court testimony or depositions that the administration chose Meet the Press, because they knew they would get very little push back to their lies about the Al Qaeda ties with Hussein, WMD, or the litany of excuses for going to war?

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When I watched Democrats and pundits from the left praise Tim Russert's fairness, I couldn't help but think of the words of the replicant Priss, in Blade Runner, "Then we are stupid and we will die."

Tim Russert was a likeable guy. that did not make him fair and impartial. One of the pundits said that Russert was "so well prepared that he had questions twelve levels deep." Well, this was true, if he was interviewing Democrats - he would persist and persist with every possible embarrassing, damaging or incriminating interpretation of events.

With Republicans, though, Particularly administration officials Russert tended to be one level deep. He would ask the expected question from the news of the day (even if it was uncomfortable!) But then he accepted the subject's prepared answer, no matter how inadequate or obviously flawed it was.

If Russert was fair, Republicans wouldn't be heaping so much praise on him. They aren't wired that way. Democrats could learn from this.

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http://tinyurl.com/4yojza

And at least one person thought it was a legit article!

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I've been sitting in disbelief at the encomiums being shouted from all directions regarding Mr. Russert's death. He failed so often to ask the right questions and slavishly served as a propagandist during the run-up to the war. I won't miss him.

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Exactly. Tim Russert was just another sub-mediocre main-stream media guy who helped the Bush administration perpetrate its fascist lies. That such a mediocre example of mainstream journalism is being canonized does not portend well for the United States.

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I think Id much rather listen to the truths encapsulated in one of Keith Olberman's 'Special Comments'. The media fawnig over Russert reminded me of all the BS after the death of Ronald Reagan. As far as the tap-dance media pundits, politicians & anchors do around Israel goes, it is easily understood when considering who owns the media. See link:

http://www.natvan.com/who-rules-america/

People have a choice. Seek other sources for truthful media information, or get used to continually being lied to, 'spun', or intentionally misled.

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the dude is dead, let him be. let it go and move on already!

JT
Online Privacy when it Counts

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As I never the less bereive, this was absolutely spot on. The trial of The Scooter elucidated Tim's fulcrum role in marketing garrison enterprise to the states once united for an america.

A renoun author, who I'll leave annonymus, told me the day we let Tim go that he went to college with Tim in Cleveland. When the news of Jimi Hendrix's death was announced in '70, Tim was eating at the "Frat" boy table in the cafeteria. It errupted in joy. This speaks of those loyalties of Tim, not him himself.

If it wasn't bad enough to not realize he was having the slab of Cheney's advisor on the show once a month, but to have Mary Matlin celebrate postmortum THE loyalty that stands more then any other media performances in getting us into and avoiding return from Irag, is so sobering.

Say hi to the fallen, Tim. Their loved ones miss them dearly.

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I heard Russert say three times that Ronald Reagan raised taxes, but then refuse to say what those taxes were. That means he committed Lies of Ommission in order to help perpetrate one of the biggest political myths in our nation's history. Tim knew Reagan was responsible for a nearly 25% increase in Social Security taxes (that means on earned income only), which means working Americans... but only for relatively low wage earners.

The amount changes slightly every year, but today any American earning over around a hundred thousand dollars in wages (not stock dividends or capital gains for example) receives an automatic 12.4% tax break on everything earned over that amount. Reagan said Baby Boomers would have to prepay for their Social Security, thus dramatically changing the pay-as-you-go system that existed up to The Gipper.

Reagan Republicans have been raiding Americans' retirement accounts for other purposes (mostly wars which they've ironically turned into a source of creating INsecurity) ever since.

Reagan lead and should get credit for not only the largest tax increase in our nation's history, but also the most regressive one (like Robin Hood in reverse). Republicans have lead our economy closer to ruin every time they have gained control. This Simultaneous Parallel Backwards World needs to end, but without a viable public watchdog I'm not as hopeful that it will.

Thanks in large part to the lack of honest reporting by our main stream media, we now primarily get to pick between Republicans and Republican Lites in our next election.

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I quit watching "Meet The Press" long ago. It was pointless. Nothing but affirmation of the status quote. The author's exactly right when he says they praise Russert to deny their owning failings. NEWSPEOPLE? What a joke!

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Russert was a nice guy who worked hard to make himself seem penetrating and tough. But he was not exceptional when it comes to the media's role in the war, he was running with the pack. His life was of consequence to his family and friends - and that is how he should be remembered. Most of the praise came from the same colleagues who feed at the same trough of mis-information and pretend to be journalists. I really didn't pay a lot of attention - and neither should anyone else. We should all move on at times like these and take this propped up hommage from the collective for what it is - hollow and self-serving. No need to get mean about it.

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Why not canonize him? Isn't that what we do as a country? We say one thing...we do another...and everybody gets a huge pat on the back! I think tim Russert was probably a wonderful family man but he drank the same kool aid that everyone did. He promoted the current regime and would have continued to support those in power to keep his high paying job...and the power that went with it.

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but he sure as hell didnt ask any real questions; just had that bluff poker face and a hand full of jokers.

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There hasn't been a true investigative journalist since Edward R. Murrow. Russert was just another mouthpiece for the system.

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It is obvious the media was very in love with Russert so we the people got it shoved down our throats. The media is also in love with themselves if they think we watched all the hoopla. I didn't !!!!

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I agree completely with this view of Russert. He was complicit along with most of the MSM in the lies and propaganda that led up to the illegal war in Iraq.
I have no problem with the notions that Russert was a good man, a good father or a good Catholic but he was not a good reporter or pundit as far as his responsibility to inform and educate Americans.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Tim Russert did nothing.

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Ruusert may not have been a screaming dessenter- but that was not his job or his goal. it was to ask questions and Try to get answers and ALLOW YOU TO THINK FOR YOURSELF!!!
Why do you think Keith Nor Chris could EVER get any High Ranking Officials to come On- They wouldn't allow them selves to be put in that position to begin With.
Yes he had to Play the Game or the Only interviews we'd have, the only questions Asked would have been by George Stephanopolis or Hannity!
No shit he had to play the Game, same as Obama has to do Now- they are Not the Ones calling the shots, they are the ones trying to work with in a corrupt sysytem to eek out what little information they can So WE have an Opportunity to decide whats credibility.Jesus do Us Lefties need to be Spoon fed and pampered Too.
I appreaciated when Tim would drill the Left harder then the right- He was making the Point THEY could handle it without relying on repeated pre anointed Talking Points.
Did Tim Ask all the question, nail the BS'ers as much as I wanted Him to all the Time? NO., I knew the answers already- I can listen and think for Myself.Was I looking for Tim to be the Moral Champion for Our Cause- NO!
Perhaps You are the one who placed too much credence on an interviewer- He was not there to be the Damn Judge and Jury- That was supposed to be YOU!
I honor Tim Russert Because he Never TOLD me what to think- I would never put that much responsibity or Trust in ANYONE!that is MY responsiblity as a Citizen of a Democratic society- To think for Myself!Frankly I find Your Attempt to tell Me what to think about Russert as an Insult to my Intellegence and personal sense of Independence.
so take your Neo Con Styled 'Holier than Thou', 'to dumb to think for your selves' Attitude and shove it up your Ass!

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1. He was a member of the main-stream media, and they always canonize their own;
2. He was a lapdog for the spin in Washington, from whichever side of the aisle;
3. He was not Bill O'Reilly, so we are expected to think he was a canon for great journalism.

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Enough Already! The eulogies for Tim Russert ignore his role as the War Party's sounding board by Justin Raimondo 6/18/2008

http://antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=13006

Russert was just another cheney/bush water carrier. Wonder how many soldiers died while the rest of the water carriers were rhapsodizing Russert?

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Catholic bashing from the Nation. Not new.

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When Bill O'Reilly dies, don't be surprised if President Jenna Bush declares a national day of mourning. Fox News (which will be the only news network left at that time) will spend 3 months eulogizing him. The Washington Monument will be renamed the O'Reilly Monument, Kennedy International Airport will be renamed O'Reilly International, the US Post Office will issue an O'Reilly stamp, and US Mint will put his face on the newly printed US$2000 bill (which will be worth what $100 is now).

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So what can you expect from political pundits? Not much. For an alternative view check out The End of History: The End Point and the End Game http://theendpoint.blogspot.com/

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That's the only word I can describe the fawning over Russert for the past WEEK. It's out-and-out NAUSEATING. All it tells me is that the mainstream corporate-owned media's collective ego has gotten way out of hand. It's beyond ridiculous. And now they are worshipping his son!! It's crazy. I hardly saw a blip when Brian Jennings died. WTF?

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-- which probably says a lot about how mean and horrible most of the still-living newspeople know they are. It's nothing but a personality thing, and his hosting of MTP on Sunday mornings was one of the longest-running gigs on TV. Russert was a television star, and any TV star who dies gets a lot of coverage, especially when the people determining the coverage are his co-workers. I'm sure his "regular guy-ness" is also quite unusual around newsroom corridors -- makes his passing like the death of the last of an exotic species. Of course the coverage on TV isn't going to go into any substance, it's all about the man's place on TV, and that is worth something. At the very least, remember his topic was politics and news and not crummy reality shows -- we should be pleased for that.

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I am agast at the comments left here. You people cannot put aside you petty political BS for a minute and mourn the life of a good man. Left, Right, or moderate doesn't matter- Tim Russert was a good man. If you passed away today, what would people say about you? Would people come out in droves to mourn you? You all need a reality check and need to remember what is truely important in life. Politics falls way down the ladder.
Reflect on your life and try to make yourselves better.

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Thanks for having the courage & insight to write this piece. It echoes my feelings over the past week.

My favorite hegemonic moment of Russert's recent career was the shameful and gratuitous UFO question he spit at Dennis Kucinich during one of the early debates.

He was a complete tool - and I'm glad others aren't afraid to say it.

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To Whom It May Concern,
I found Hardball to be rather offensive last night. First I tried to think of a time when several African-American anchors and contributors sat on a set reminiscing about church, school, and their culture, and for the life of me I couldn't think of a time I've ever had that experience. Yet when a couple of Irish Catholic guys get together they are allowed to wax poetic about their culture and church. Does Chris really believe that the Irish are more inclined than others to the fields of law, politics, and reporting? Does he really believe it is some kind of kismet, and not a concerted effort that allowed Irish and Italians to predominate police stations and firehouses? I found it unsettling for he, Pat Buchanan, and Mike Barnicle to discuss their religion in such a fawning way in public. When I took journalism one had to at least give the impression they were objective. From this point on nothing these three journalist say about religion or their cultural observations, will hold any water for me. I can't imagine your network allowing three Muslims an opportunity to shoot the bull about Islam. I can't imagine your network allowing three Baptist or Buddhist doing it either. I understand that your newsroom has suffered a great loss, and I offer my sincere condolences. However that doesn't excuse this lapse in professional decorum.

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all broadcast tv is regulated, he could only talk about certain issues on 'meet the press,' and specifically, political issues. We all know the Iraq war was wrong and for the wrong reasons (just now 'Big Oil' are getting their paperwork done to claim Iraqi oil) but he did his job. (And look how passionate he was about it, he had a freakin' heart attack while recording voice-overs for a clip segment; at least that's what was reported so it's moot to question it; in reality, only those who were there when it happened really know. Not that i'm questioning it and I won't until i read any first-hand accounts of the situation. Critical thinking's a bitch.)

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I am so glad to see this article as Russert to me was a goon for the Administration..

He provided this discredited criminal Administration the premiere platform for all the lies they told to cause the lives of hundreds of thousands and bring the world condemnation down upon America..

I'm 56 and have already lost many many of my contemporaries some of them world famous some just beloved and great individuals known to me it's tragic but 58 is not young when you consider the thousands of truly young Americans from 18 years old even babies kids that never got to even learn what life is, that Tim Russert helped send to their untimely needless senseless deaths..

Cry not for Russert cry for these children American and Iraq that he helped murder..!

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Wow people, the man is not even cold in his grave yet! I never watched his show, but I knew who he was. Have a little respect for his family as they are grieving.

Aren't we non-republicans supposed to be more understanding, and "live and let live" types? Or is that just me?

I find this article and all the responses so incredibly callous and disrespectful. So just stop already, OK? WELL....except for those who have never made mistakes in their lives and careers, and who have never "gone along to get along" in the corporate world - or just in their own family! COME ON!

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Russert was a good man who loved his family and his job. Just like those who have died or have been injured in Iraq. They should give those men and women more attention.

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I haven't though about this a lot so don't expect some profound statements from me on what I'm about to say. But here goes...

My Dad and I used to watch MTP/ Russert every Sunday morning, together after he got back from church. It was fun and we used to talk about the topics Russert brought up, until my Mom threw me out of her chair.

But over the years we noticed that Russert was always on the side of the Rethugs. So eventually we stopped watching it, that was about six years ago.

But folks, I've got to tell you all, that I get far more mental stimulation and diverse ideas from all of you than I ever got from Russert. This site, Salon, HuffPo and MOJO are far better and more thought provoking and humorous than Russert or any of the MSM is or will aver be.

The MSM is dead and gone. You are alive and well and chock full of divergent and yes sometimes screwy ideas, just as mine are screwy. But what we do on this site is far better and more meaningful than Russert, the Bushie Rethugs and the SCOTUS will ever be or do.

Again, they are dead and you are alive and well.

That is my testament to you, your verbosity, veracity and passion. Inquiring minds never die or get old.

SO, keep on keeping on. And lets not let the bastards get us down. Discourse, civil or otherwise, is always needed and must be valued, desired and respected.

This is like a Town Hall forum. If we ever wrest America back from the repressers and oppressers we can thank each other. And if we never do, it will not be that we didn't try.

One of Roves strategists said, about six yaers ago, they have been planning this for 35 years. How in the hell could any of us have foreseen any of this. That time period was the late 80's, halfway through the Carter administration, and was when Pope John Paul II was elected.

Possibly historians and sociologists can tell us what the Repugs were doing thirty-five years ago. That, quite possibly, was the time of the conflation, the 'hook-up', between the Repub party, the Neocons and the Theocons.

Other than saying that, I don't have a clue as to what they were planning, I didn't even know such people or groups existed. I was working six days a week and cared very little for politics.

I even thought Fords pardon of Nixon a few years earlier was an okay idea, not great, but okay, and I understood why he was doing it, or thought I did.

Well, was I ever stupid. I claim the 'Top Jackass' of the year award, for myself.
And little did I know that my religion, Catholicism, was going to hook up with any political party, much less the worst, most foul, most evil political party, the Repub party. The party that is entirely based on the worst of human instincts, the most crass, craven and basest of instincts. The instinct and worship of money, avarice, greed and power over people.

So here we all are, all this many years later. We are battered, bruised and have literally had the shit kicked out of us, and our country. Hopefully, we are somewhat the wiser.

The Repub party is attacking us. The pillars that support them are the money people, the Big Business(not the little bottom tier of businesses) the top tier of
American businesses. The Neocons are the second pillar of the Repub party that is attacking us and what is left of our democracy. And the Theocons/Theocrats are the thrid pillar that is attacking and devolving and diminshing our country.

What exactly is there for any of us to believe in. WELL, I'll tell you. I no longer believe in institutions, like my religion, or our government. Nazism and Fascism abound therein.

I BELIEVE, in you people. YOU, Y-O-U. The goodness of decent people is the resting place of my hopes.

Amen, I rest my case.

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Thanks for not drinking the koolaid but for recognizing in this past week "the medium is the message".
It has never been more evident than when the Chief Presstitute of the Occupant was celebrated as the major spin doctor for the party that he was. He was never a journalist. The Occupant, who has not deigned to be at one military funeral since the invasion, was delighted to attend and comment on Timmeh's passing.
And has anyone else noticed the fawning of Joey The Rat over Bushie ( denounced as a war criminal in Europe) and linking that to Grandpa Bush=Nazis=Pope Pius XX11=Opus Dei=Catholicism=Blair=evangelizing soldiers in Iraq with Christian medals-for-food=good catholic ex-altar boy Russert???? Who else is in this exclusive club?

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It seems to be politically correct now to cannonize ANYONE who dies! No matter what kind of a shit he was. Child Molester rapist, murderer== makes no difference, if the dies suddenly he becomes a hero. a wonderful person in his own right. Such is the game. (and don't anyone think i am accusing TR of anything for Gods sake). I had no respect for him and i am not going to miss him. I am sure others will. Fine, but lets not make him out to be more than he was.

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screw you you jealous basterd

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I agree. Russert was part of truly a conspiracy to allow the real story of WMD to appear to the American people, a story that we could find only on foreign or alternative sources. He misserved the American public.

But Alternet surely is doing exactly the same with 9/11 Truth. We are being misserved by Alternet and Amy Goodman and the rest. It is a travesty. One day, all of you will be put into one pile, labelled: treason!

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Tim Russert:
Loved politicians. Loved politics. Thought they all go to Washington to do good but make mistakes.
And so, like a good Catholic, he shepherded Cheney, Bush Jr. , Reagan, Rove, etc. etc. etc. into the guilt absolving rubric of his staged interrogations.

The guy was a System Suckhole who asked the off the shelf tough questions, let them give their stock answers, then thanked them for coming before he sent them back out to do their private and public damage to the Body Politic and to the poor people in it.
He also, long after 9/11, still spoke about it as though it was the real deal, needed to be responded to, and was so filled with rage when he saw Ground Zero that he wanted to join up and go over and do some damage to jihad.
What kind of imbecilic incredulity did that require?

A guy whose life was predicated on research didn’t do any long after it was readily available.

So there you go. Another Potemkin Village Idiot waving as the billionaire royalty sweep by on their way to their next systemic murders and robberies.

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This Maudlin two-to-three-day Event carries a lot more interest and revelatory power than the reason of its Convocation. Seldom do we see a gathering, in-the-flesh, of The Ruling Classes as in this Hagiographic and celebratory Excess, paying Tribute to a most loyal and dedicated Servant and Mediator of their Cause.

There, gathered together and aiming at their gods, we saw in the flesh all those who stand behind the Actual Conditions we now are experiencing.

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Make one mistake on the exam posing one hundred questions, you flunk. Utter one word offensive to one extreme of the other, you should lose your job, never be heard from again, and be drawn and quartered.

And, by all means, you should be the object of as many verbal missiles as possible. Verbal attack, after all, is all "Americans" are capable of these days. The U.S. is the land of the middle finger salute from a car speeding by, the nation of effeminate, metrosexual momma's boys whose masculinity and machismo is all verbal. Give him an adversary he can savage by e-mail, someone who doesn't share his political views, for instance, he is a real super-hero.

Meanwhile, the new "yankee" doesn't DO anything for his country but run off at the mouth. He doesn't do anything about our problems but criticize in that mucho macho verbiage everyone who does do something. Today's Captain America doesn't do anything, even, about his own plight - imagined or real - he just just bitches. Talks.

"They," in other words, should do something. He's doing his part. He "blogs."

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he is what Americans are trained to venerate...rich, white, christian, hetero, older, male...same pattern, nothing ever changes. If John Wayne were still around he would be the next president...

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Another bright but aging female cast aside. Now SHE was good. But no fond memories, no sentimentalizing will occur with her passing. It seems to me that too many men simply find themselves incapable of relating to and embracing a woman-as-hero. Too bad for them...

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Mr. Russert May have been a fine human being, loyal, helpful, giving, and faithful. However I cannot give him a pass on aiding the promotion of the invasion of Iraq. Of course most of the mainstream media was caught up in that desire for revenge on someone, and the Bush administration gave all of them an easy target.

The popular thing to say is something about what a good interviewer he was. This is where I disagree with the pundits. I believe that Mr. Russert often tended to take a path that would not offend any powers that be. However my criticism comes not so much as to the questions that he asked, but to the way he would allow his guests to almost take over his show. Repeatedly, he would allow his guests to be rude to one another, interrupting and talking over each other. It was his show, and I believe that he did a disservice to us all, by allowing that sort of behavior to be accepted and broadcast nationwide. I would have hopped that his desire for fairness and accuracy, would have demanded that all of his guests be afforded common courtesy. “Meet the Press” with it’s prominence in the world of news politics, should always be a place for the guests that are invited there, to present their position fairly and not be obfuscated with noise. Then the hard questions will have to be answered to the viewers satisfaction, not camouflaged and covered with misdirection.

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