Comments on: An Unexpected Subject http://billmyerscreations.com/blog/2008/06/13/an-unexpected-subject/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:52:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Jerry Chandler http://billmyerscreations.com/blog/2008/06/13/an-unexpected-subject/#comment-11320 Jerry Chandler Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:03:57 +0000 http://billmyerscreations.com/blog/2008/06/13/an-unexpected-subject/#comment-11320 I was a meet the press fan. The reason for that was Russert. I've started watching lots of news shows that I later dropped because the host became an advocate for one side over the other or an egomaniac. Russert never did that. He held every guest to the same standards and to the same fire and he never made the show about him, his opinions or his biases. He was also an extremely pleasant interviewer. more and more the "news" programs are filled with confrontational hosts who talk over, shout over and shout down their guests when the quests are speaking. Not Russert's style. Even if you were answering in spin he would let you finish. Then he would provide facts on screen to poke holes in the statement and turn the spin, politely, into Swiss cheese. I'll miss seeing him. I'll miss his style and his wit. I'll really miss seeing him come this November. The crazier and more wild the politically situation playing out, the more he seemed to enjoy covering it. It was an almost infectious feeling when watching him covering the "big games" in politics. I'll never forget watching the night of the 2000 election fiasco as Tim was sitting there holding up a board with his handwritten tally of votes on it and, while never losing the seriousness of the moment, making a major historic event into almost a popcorn and soda viewing moment. His passing wasn't just a loss to his family and his friends; it was almost to the level of a national tragedy. We now have one less credible, dependable and trustworthy news source in an already minute selection of such sources. I was a meet the press fan. The reason for that was Russert. I’ve started watching lots of news shows that I later dropped because the host became an advocate for one side over the other or an egomaniac. Russert never did that. He held every guest to the same standards and to the same fire and he never made the show about him, his opinions or his biases.

He was also an extremely pleasant interviewer. more and more the “news” programs are filled with confrontational hosts who talk over, shout over and shout down their guests when the quests are speaking. Not Russert’s style. Even if you were answering in spin he would let you finish. Then he would provide facts on screen to poke holes in the statement and turn the spin, politely, into Swiss cheese.

I’ll miss seeing him. I’ll miss his style and his wit. I’ll really miss seeing him come this November. The crazier and more wild the politically situation playing out, the more he seemed to enjoy covering it. It was an almost infectious feeling when watching him covering the “big games” in politics. I’ll never forget watching the night of the 2000 election fiasco as Tim was sitting there holding up a board with his handwritten tally of votes on it and, while never losing the seriousness of the moment, making a major historic event into almost a popcorn and soda viewing moment.

His passing wasn’t just a loss to his family and his friends; it was almost to the level of a national tragedy. We now have one less credible, dependable and trustworthy news source in an already minute selection of such sources.

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