Dear Tim Russert: You Had Me at a Scribble

We aren't going to get tired of hearing it, we shouldn't get tired of hearing it; Tim Russert was the real deal. I believe Tom Brokow said it best yesterday when he said "He was a man with a profoundly moral center." In today's media and political environment that really says it all.

I not only grieve for his family, but for our nation, because truthfully I have zero idea how we're going to make it through this election without him.

Tim had me election night 2000 with his "Florida, Florida, Florida" scribbles. The way he whipped out that dry erase board, breaking it down to the people. He clearly understood in his infinite wisdom that I (along with I'm sure thousands of others) did not understand what was going on that dreadful night -- he guided us to knowledge and understanding of what was happening (even if we were hating the reality of it!) He made the political game accessible to the masses. He made many of us want to be involved and participate in the process. His dry erase board visual was simple, brilliant and truthful. Just like Tim.

The past day or so, I have been listening to all of the wonderful things colleagues and friends have been saying about Tim Russert, and it's driven me to ask: "How do you want to be remembered?" "What is it that you want to have done in this lifetime that others will remember about you?" It has quieted me for a moment.

At the end of our days here, it's what we did on this Earth that matters, isn't it? Were you a nice person? Did you live your life being compassionate, loving, warm and gracious? Did you walk through your life with integrity and honor? Did you take time to stop listen and care about those around you and give back to others? Were you a spiritual being who thirsted for knowledge and growth?

Tim was.

How we walk through our time here, what we contribute and the kind of mark we leave is an interesting concept; the evidence we leave behind is what makes us who we are.

Today, I am questioning my mark, it feels as though mine is in tiny Helvetica font around 9 point, and light blue... versus a deep, warm and inspiring purple, bold, in a crisp 12 or 14 point Mrs. Eaves font. Solid, creative and meaningful. And easy to read.

I find that I'm taking time this weekend to sit quietly and ask myself exactly what it is that I am passionate and inspired by, and why. I am grateful to Tim Russert for so many lessons, but today mostly I have gratitude for inspiring reflection. I know Tim believed in getting to the soul of the matter. We admired that about him.

Tim was one of the few journalists who have made me miss the adrenaline high of working in broadcast news. I worked as a producer in news for many years and he had this way of hitting a nerve that made me secretly yearn to be back on the front lines again. He made me miss having the platform to change perception, to get and deliver the story in the most direct way possible. He made journalism feel exciting and authentic again.

Tim Russert will be deeply missed by fans, friends and family. And he will be most missed for his journalistic integrity. He was the real deal.

I know he's up there probably just finishing up his interview with the Big Man -- getting the scoop and studying. I do hope like so many of us, that somehow he will shine down from heaven and guide us to November in that perfectly Tim Russert way.

Comments

[jennyymartin]

Stacie really hit on what made him appealing to both the masses and the political insiders. His death also made me reflect on what my own legacy will be. Nice work, Stacie.

[LPK]

I was never a big fan of Tim Russet and found him to be very much on board with the Iraq War. He was far from being the great interveuiwer that NBC would like us to think. Their 3 days of mourning was way over the top especially with the disastrous floodign in the mid west over the weekend.

[BigBen]

Hillary was right; many things happen between June and September but they would rather rag on her than admit the truth of what she said. Now Tim knows that she was right. Who is next?

[jhNY]

Mr. Russert made millions yearly as a corporatist cerberus whose even-handedness was usually most aparent to those whose positions or candidacies he supported. And he managed to be taken in regularly by the most dangerous people in Washington, or at least pretended to be, if that's what the moment called for. Cheney found him useful and directed propaganda his way regularly , and not just during Plamegate, and we're all poorer for it.

I'm hoping that Russert was a one-off, and that no so-called journalist ever has so much influence and power over American politics again. The fact that so many succesful politicians of both parties and reporters of all ages have felt obligated to praise Russert beyond recognition is but proof of his power and influence, and both were overlarge. I prefer my reporters on the sidelines, taking accurate notes and asking brave questions of the powerful. Russert's own style of bravery seemed, by contrast, to exert itself most vigorously and most often in attacking the politically weaker of the Washingon insiders amongst whom he plied his trade.

Russert slathered his affable normalcy over the long twilight of our democracy, an extraordinary period of American political history which has taken place mostly off-camera and under-reported by a media employed by the powerful to promote their own interests at the expense of everybody else's, for which he cashed a big fat check every year. And we're all the poorer for it.