I had expected to write a very different post than the one you’re about to read. I’ll write that other post, perhaps even tonight. But first, I would like to say a word about Tim Russert.

I was shocked and saddened to read today of Tim Russert’s passing. Tim Russert was among a handful of journalists upon whom I would rely to make me an informed citizen. He was a member of the journalistic elite but never an elitist. His questions were tough but fair, and he could ask a combative question in such a pleasant, amicable way that he would get answers other journalists couldnt. He was a Democrat and worked for politicians including Mario Cuomo, but you’d never know it watching him moderate “Meet the Press” because he exemplified objectivity. Every week when I finished watching “Meet the Press,” I’d think, “…and that’s the way it is.”

I can’t remember when I started watching ”Meet the Press,” but Russert was the host by then. I gravitated to the show because Russert elevated the discussion beyond petty partisan bickering. Oh, sure, he often had guests who would simply parrot the talking points of their political party, and “debates” that amounted to people like James Carville and Mary Matalin expelling oral flatulence. But Russert had a way of moderating those discussions in such a way that one could find the speck of gold among all the dust of partisan rhetoric. And when it came to the roundtable, he’d assemble some of the finest journalists in the field, and together they would add to the sum total of our knowledge rather than fall all over each other trying to score some imaginary “points.” 

Russert used the medium of television skillfully. When some political figure declared that he or she had “always” supported this or opposed that, he would then put on the screen text of a quote that belied their claim, or video that did the same. For example, just before Hillary Clinton bowed out of a the Democratic primary race, Clinton supporter Harold Ickes was claiming that she had won the popular vote. Russert reminded him that months ago Ickes had told him, “Tim, repeat after me, the delegates determine the nominee, not the popular vote.” Ickes closed his eyes for a fraction of a second and heaved a sigh. He, like so many before him, found that Tim Russert wouldn’t let him get away with the spin. 

Russert was born and raised in Buffalo, just about an hour from my hometown of Rochester, N.Y. He never forgot his roots; NBC’s Brian Williams called Russert “aggressively unfancy.” During football season, Russert would always give a shout out to his (and also my) favorite football team, closing out “Meet the Press” by saying “go Buffalo Bills” and then urging them to beat whatever team they were playing that week.

Russert was clearly enjoying covering this most remarkable presidential race. It is particularly tragic that he died before being able to cover its conclusion. He deserved to live long enough to report on the outcome.

My thoughts and prayers go out to Russert’s family, friends, and colleagues. The world is poorer for his passing. And my Sunday mornings will never the same.

Rest in peace, Mr. Russert. And may the Buffalo Bills win a Superbowl in your honor.