NBC’s Meet the Press Tim Russert Dead at the Age of 58 from Apparent Heart Attack

Tim Russert, NBC’s Meet the Press moderator and NBC Washington bureau chief is dead at the age of 58. Tim Russert collapsed on the set of Meet the Press yesterday from an apparent heart attack. Our thought and prayers go out to the Russert family. Tim Russert was a true giant in the news media industry and was a an interview that everyone feared but everyone wanted. He was tough, but generally fair. NBC, the media industry and America will dearly miss him.

I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice,” Brokaw said Friday.

God bless Tim Russert, his family and may he rest in peace.  Tim Russert was more than a journalist, he was a man passionate about his craft, politics, sports and his family.

WASHINGTON – Tim Russert, NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press,” died Friday after suffering a heart attack at the bureau. He was 58.

Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday’s “Meet the Press” broadcast when he collapsed. He was rushed to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, where resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, said cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis.

The news spread fast yesterday as first it was reported that he had collapsed at the Meet the Press set and then it was being reported by NBC News Tom Brokaw that Tim Russert had died.

Tom Brokaw reports on the death of Tim Russert

It seemed almost believable. I was actually passing by a TV set and saw at caption of BREAKING NEW: TIM RUSSERT. I first thought that Tim Russert had broke a political news story. Then to my amazement Tim Russert was the news story and he was sadly gone. What set Tim Russert aside from the rest was the fact that he seemed to actually enjoy his craft. It was not always about gotcha journalism.

The reactions have been many from the news industry and the disbelief that Tim Russert had passed at such a young age. One thing is for certain, NBC will not be the same news organization as they lost one of their grounding and balanced forces.

Others discussing the death of Tim Russert:

• Wizbang: Time Russert Dead at 58
• The Jawa Report: Tim Russert Reported Dead
• Hot Air: Whoa: Tim Russert dies of heart attack; Update: Brokaw video added; Update: The closest to objectivity among the MSM, says Limbaugh
• Michelle Malkin: Reports: Tim Russert dead after heart attack; was working in NBC Washington bureau

UPDATE I: Tributes to Tim Russert

UPDATE II: One of Tim Russert’s last interview. Vigilance needed on campaign claims; Big issues, not smears, need to be the focus

Well, the truth wouldn’t hurt either, but I understand your point Mr. Russert. They are not smears when legitimate questions need to be answered.

UPDATE III: When the right praises a MSM man, you know that he was brilliant in his job. Rush Limbaugh praises Tim Russert.

“It’s just a shame. Tim was a regular guy with that perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. He loved life and got everything he could out of it. Whether it was at dinner here in Florida while his son was taking golf lessons, or on the set of Meet The Press, Tim was always the same with me: genuine. He never condescended to anyone and was the consummate professional. He will be hard to replace. He was the closest thing there was at any of the networks to an objective journalist.”

UPDATE IV: Russert Mourned After Collapsing in NBC’s Washington Newsroom

Russert set the “gold standard” for moving from politics to journalism, said Albert Hunt, executive editor for Washington at Bloomberg News and a close friend. Before becoming a journalist, Russert worked as an aide to former Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan from 1977 to 1982 and then worked for former New York Governor Mario Cuomo in Albany for two years.

UPDATE V: What ever happened to respecting and honoring the dead and stop talking politics?

What is it with certain people that they are so full of hate that they cannot respect others, especially when we are referring to the dearly departed Tim Russert. Last night Chris Matthews had the opportunity to provide the respect and honor that Tim Russert had earned in his life, instead Matthews embarrassed himself and MSNBC. Some things are just inappropriate to discuss while eulogizing, Matthews managed to find that very topic. Matthews just couldn’t stop himself from bring up the war and Iraq. One will never confuse Chris Matthews and class, that is for certain. Chris Matthews, you are no and never will be any Tim Russert.

Watch the video for yourself.

Chris Matthews had his opportunity to offer remembrances of his colleague, Tim Russert, on Countdown with Keith Olbermann last night, and used it to give an anti-war screed. Even worse, he made Russert out to be a dupe bamboozled by the Bush administration while presenting himself as a superior journalist.

When most all on the Left and the Right in the media and bloggers honored and provided condolences to Tim Russert and his family, Chris Matthews managed to used the opportunity to go off on an anti-war rant. Some things are just so inappropriate and smarmy that one needs to feel to take a shower after watching and say ick. It really does go to show us all that Tom Brokaw was correct in his statement regarding Russert, I think I can invoke personal privilege and say this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice. NBC and MSNBC are in deep trouble.