That's what it appears to be.

Look, I have (had) little against Tim "integrity is for paupers" Russert. He was a genial host and very watchable. He was also part of the bizarre clique of Heathers that was focused on taking down the Clintons in the 1990s and keeping Al Gore out of the White House in 2000.

To watch other famous TV journalists on cable news yesterday, however, you'd have thought Elvis died. Hours of coverage uninterrupted by events such as 10,000 Iowans being evacuated by floods. Hey, the river will still be there Monday, but the Heathers only have a short window of time in which to elevate a decent journalist, with a lot of on-air personality and opinion but little actual substance, into Edward R. Murrow.

Compare the reaction to the death of Jim McKay, just last week:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX87LuNI97g

Here's something to ask yourself: If Tim Russert was such a great journalist and such a great, great broadcaster, why is all the coverage focused on other journalists' reactions, and none of it on Russert's work, itself?

Don't they think something like this is a shining example of great journalism?

http://www.youtube.com/v/x4fU01IbTr0&hl=en

Compare with this Bill Moyers clip which includes Russert footage:

http://www.youtube.com/v/729rbjVi_6w&hl=en

Watching that second clip, particularly the interview with Russert, shows the real tragedy surrounding his premature death. He had traded his integrity for wealth and security, and he knew it. Was heartbroken by it.

RIP, Timmy.


http://imperialwitness.blogspot.com /