R.I.P. Tim Russert

Unbelievable…

Unbelievable that the the fourth branch of American politics is dead. Unbelievable that the one LAST hard edged, balanced journalist left in Washington is dead. In the past two years, my Sunday’s have been centered around two people: Jesus Christ and Tim Russert. Jesus centers me in my spiritual life and Tim Russert brings me right down to earth where the problems of life are real.

I haven’t missed a “Meet the Press” podcast since 2005. It was the absolute highlight of my political week. He was my favorite Catholic and the only person that could make me wish the Buffalo Bills had actually won one of those Super Bowls.

He was the “Everyman” of journalism. when he asked a question, you felt he was asking on behalf of the  American people.  Forget all these vapid Washington news-dudes who are shocked – yes SHOCKED – that there are people in America who carry guns and love God – guys who can’t relate to middle America. He was middle America. As one person said, “He might have moved to Washington, but he never left Buffalo.”

What will we do? Meet the Press with Keith Olbermann? Meet the Press with Chris Matthews? God forbid. We were just musing the other day who would be the next Meet the Press man. Perhaps David Gregory.

I remember last Father’s Day him talking about his father. What a sad Father’s Day this will be for his son, Luke.

Lastly, since I heard the news, I’ve been asking, “Why, God?” Perhaps this is why. Today, Tim is in heaven and he has God across the table and he’s asking, “Where were you when those four Boy Scouts died in the tornado?” And believe me, the usual mystical God-answer won’t do. The follow-up questions will be tough, and God will have to come out answering… finally! So if the mysteries of the universe become less cloudy in the days ahead, we’ll know why.

Unbelievable.