R.I.P. Tim Russert

I was saddened when I learned that Tim Russert passed away from a heart attack. I started watching Meet the Press six months ago and immediately bonded (through the television of course) with its host Tim Russert. Unlike the similar Fox News shows, Russert seemed fair and balanced when he interviewed the top players in politics and his presidential discussions with the candidates were both informative and entertaining. I especially liked Russert’s style of questioning. He used the politician’s own words, own actions, and own votes, which were often contradictory. He’d ask them for explanations, but he never engaged in shouting matches and never asked cheap questions. As Wonder Bread would say, Russert was gentleman and a scholar and he will be missed on Sunday mornings.