Tony, Tim and Tradition

It's not popular in Blogdom to say nice things about Washington insiders even when they die. But at the risk of attracting venom from those who see debate only in the poisonous black and white of good and evil, I'm going explain why the premature death of Tony Snow and Tim Russert just four weeks before are such huge losses.

Both Tony and Tim represented the very best of politics' "Competition of Ideas". Both were champions of the honorable disagreement, where skeptical reporters and passionate advocates could hash out the best solutions to society's problems through intense debate.

Both of them died at the top of their game. Both squeezed every last bit of pleasure there was from exploring every facet of the issues that confront us.

Both were not only possessed of remarkable intellectual skill, but boundless enthusiasm. That inspired all of us in their huge audience to pay attention and participate in our system, as flawed as it is.

Unlike many of our showmen commentators of the day, Tony Snow and Tim Russert were "Old School". How unfortunate it is that the term is now often used derisively by the UNschooled. They suggest that paying attention to facts and context instead of emotion and prejudice are obsolete. Tony and Tim proved them wrong by demonstrating every day that such fundamentals are essential if reason has any chance against mindlessness.

Even though we've lost two giants, we can carry on their tradition by ignoring all the nasty clamor, and challenging each other with intelligence. As we struggle to stay afloat as a nation, that is our only hope.

Follow Bob Franken on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frankenb

Comments

[soupson52]

I watched Tony Snow give those press conferences. I guess I missed the fact part. Felt his last name was extremely perfect. Mycondolences to the folks at faux news.

[thatvisionthing]

yep

[Mapleave]

Nice tribute, Bob Franken. I agree 100% and fired a few blogs recently because of nasty --no, plain stupid-- comments about Tim Russert and Tony Snow.

Condolences,too, to the family of Bobby Murcer. A great guy, gone too soon.

[Indubio]

I agree that civility in politics is dead. Even when a politician attempts to behave civilly he is savaged. Russert and Snow weren't political savages and their deaths represents a collective loss to American society. No, they didn't always promote intelligent debate focusing often on the mundane and silly: No one's perfect all of the time. Compared to their contemporaries however both Russert and Snow were pretty classy. I can't ever recall agreeing with Tony Snow on any issue and I feel his serving as a mouthpiece for the most inept and corrupt administration since Harding and possibly in US history was beneath his abilities and ultimately it damaged his intellectual credibility. I know Snow claimed he loved his job as press secretary and found it challenging, but this only further lowers his credibility as an independent thinker and reporter at least to those who those of us who don't support Bush's policies..

[Bluedog12]

Right on the mark.

[MPeter]

Both of them were liars who made Bush's destruction easier. They lies with straight faces and smiled even as they enabled and covered the slaughter of many innocent lives. Both played the power game at the expense of our democracy and to the detriment of millions.

[soupson52]

Amen, MPeter

[LeftVetPatriot]

Exactly.
Journalism is dead and these two helped kill it
with their fawning and pandering bows to power.

I offer my deepest sympathies to their colleagues and loved ones.

[Grulg]

A nice farewell. I heard that Bobby Murcer died too-of the same thing that Ted Kennedy has. He was 62.

[bascombe]

hopefully, they caught Ted's case earlier.

[wilburr0g]

Look, I wouldn't say a mean word about either of these guys. I watch TV once in a while, so I've seen both of them doing their stuff. They both convinced me that they were cool guys. However, the nation needs some attention to be paid to serious issues. I love these guys, but seriousness has never been their forte. The 'competition of ideas' that you refer to has devolved into asinine public relations oriented 'Gotcha' politics. It made these guys the darlings of the ratings, but left the information hungry viewer bereft.
Still - not their fault -
With Love,

R.I.P. Tony & Tim !!

[marilyn34]

Thank you Bob Franken ! These two men lived their lives to the fullest. They will be missed by many.

[GoletaZeke]

Right on doxylux13. The DC beltway msm does no wrong in its march for truth, justice and the rights of the common man.

[paixa3]

choke, cough, choke....

[ToeJamSam]

That was an unexpected, and kindly, observance.

Thanks.

[Grammie]

Thank you, Bob Franken, for a lovely and accurate piece about both these fine men.
They both will be sorely missed for both themselves and the honesty and skill they brought to their profession. We need more of that now rather than less. It a loss for us all. Their family and friends have my deepest condolences.