On Being Of Irish Heritage

Truths I gleaned from watching the Tim Russert memorial on MSNBC:

"I don't think there's any point in being Irish if you don't know the world is going to break your heart eventually."
—Daniel Patrick Moynihan, upon hearing of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Quoted by Brian Williams before saying (dripping with sarcasm), "for those of you not married to a dark, brooding Irishman, let me assure you that we are a blast to live with."

Which led me to Google the Moynihan quote to make sure to get it exactly right and found another from him on being Irish:

"The Irish were distinguished by qualities which tend to make men interesting rather than prosperous."

Fortunately for many of us in the world, Tim Russert was both interesting and prosperous. His son is a helluva kid, too. I wasn't able to keep my composure for even a few minutes when I attempted to eulogize my father. Strong young man, that Russert boy.

Russert Was My Imam

I said the other day that Meet The Press was the Sunday trip to church for me. Of course, it was convenient for me since I could Tivo it and watch it at my leisure during the afternoon. God forbid you happened upon me on an afternoon where I found out that they bumped the show to a different time slot and Tivo failed to get an update on it. Sure, I'd get a late night replay on MSNBC, but then I might not have my weekly dose of MTP until Monday evening. That just wasn't acceptable.

My faith and my country run neck and neck for the top loyalty. More often than I'd care to admit, my country and its politics take the top spot. Tim Russert, for his dedication to thorough interviews and assembling great roundtables, was the clergy that led me to pray at the altar of Democracy on a weekly basis. While I'd still watch Chris Matthews and George Stephanopoulos later in the day, neither could truly compare to Russert's dedication to the truth, rather than entertainment or loyalty to past employers.

Tim had an exuberance for the political process and for this country that never seemed to lean left or right. He was an advocate for American democracy and a lover of the truth. I've never felt the words of For Whom The Bell Tolls ring more true during my lifetime than with this passing. The world is lesser for the loss.

Please forgive me this second interruption of the regular topics. This should be the last for awhile.

R.I.P. Tim Russert

I normally keep my news and politics blogging segregated from my popculture stuff. But today, I was floored when I received a text message regarding the passing of Tim Russert.

One of my favorite parts of the weekend is getting comfortable in my favorite seat in the living room, setting up on the laptop, and watching my Tivo'd Sunday political talk shows. None stood out in my day more than Tim Russert's MEET THE PRESS. No journalist, in my opinion, did a better job of interviewing political figures without bias. He pressed for the hard answers without seeming disrespectful or resorting to ambushing.

My heart breaks at the loss, for no reason more than that his passing leaves both a father and a son to mourn such a loss on the weekend of Father's Day. This holiday has been a painful one for me since 2004, the first after the passing of my own father. I can only imagine their heartache this weekend. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Russert family...and to every family who will spend this Father's Day without the presence of their own father or a father without his child.