Tim Russert, Requiescat In Pace

The news of Tim Russert's untimely death has come as a shock. I find myself unexpectedly emotional about the loss of a familiar figure in the world of news and politics. I never met him. I only new the man I saw on Meet the Press, his appearances on MSNBC, including Don Imus' program on that network.

One could quibble about his style of questioning, but no one could not see the evenhandedness of his approach. The view of political guests that he provided for us was informative and maximally enlightening as to who these people were. His loss will have a sorrowful impact on the coverage of politics in America, especially the coming election campaign.

More than this, was the truth of the man that came through the TV screen. His love of the work he did and, beyond all, the love of his family, famously his father, Big Russ, and his son Luke. Will we ever again see a public figure so unabashedly share his closest feelings?

He will eternally be missed. Across the internet, we should all follow the ancient Irish tradition of the wake and hoist a drink in memory of our dear friend.