Agreed. He'd beat anybody up regardless of party.

A true professional and overall nice guy. He was the only guy on NBC I actually wanted to hear.

NBC has lost the ONLY reason I had to watch and hear.
Now its truly..
NBC.....National Bullsh*T Company.

The void he leaves is great. One of the best, he gave hell to both sides in every debate, every interview, every guest appearance.

A very nice man, but a sycophant, who cozied up to those in power, Democrats and Republicans, yet exploited his reputation for being "tough." Of COURSE there's a "bipartisan" consensus that he was "objective" -- he worked very hard to scrub both sides of any dirt.

"Meet The Press" was usually a politican's last stop, akin to the confessional, wherein Fr. Russert would scowl and look paternal (meanwhile the guest would look penitent and humble, yet eager for more self-abasement) before administering a figurative sign of the cross and blessing. Of course, this is considered Real Fair and Balanced journalism (I can't imagine that when the obits for Seymour Hersh are written we'll see many references to his empyrean detachment). Journalists shouldn't be merely "respected" and loved; they should inspire odium and fear. If I'm being too harsh on Russert, it's a response to the adulation he inspires in most of my reporter friends. The world in which they operate allows so few chances for uncompromised reporting that Russert's occasional feints look honorable in context. All the best to Big Russ, the father he adored, who shouldn't have to endure this on this of all possible weekends.

Sorry Duke, I can't agree with your assessment.

I'm still in shock over this. He was about the only one at NBC that I could sit and watch. And in a personal interview I heard during his book tour some months back, he seemed to be very down to earth, answering the questions straight, very pleasant, and not full of himself like his colleagues. It was a nice surprise to hear him off the record. What a sad celebration for his family.