I sat mesmerised from Friday afternoon untill Sunday night. It so reminded me of a Friday afternoon in November back in the 60's,I hadn't realized what a hero, friend, and mentor Tim Russart was to not only those he worked with, and knew personaly, but us TV watchers too. A kinder more gentler, yet strong, and oh so eloquent man, besides my Dad, I have yet to meet. Or at least watch on TV.
My thoughts are with his wife, son and his dad and sisters, and to all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

I happened to be watching CNBC when the breaking news music came on. It wasn't the normal MSNBC breaking news. It was the big kahuna that says 'your world is going to change' and when I saw Tom Brokaw sitting there I knew it was going to be bad. Stunned doesn't come close. In the back of my mind I kept expecting Brokaw to say that the election was going to be postponed. It was only later that I realized how foolish that was. The thing is, he mattered.

I too, was glued to my television all weekend. It was so difficult to believe that Tim was no longer with us. He did have a wonderful life . . . and again, it seems that the good folks leave us too soon. I  was raised in Catholic schools, and still attend Mass and carry my rosary beads. And, I was born in upstate New York. We had good things in common yet I never had the opportunity to meet him. God bless you, Tim.

I am just a mature woman in Florida who looked to Tim Russert to explain (in regular people's terms) exactly what was going on in the political world.  After listening to him, I would get it.  Whatever am I going to do for the rest of this election cycle...and where will the excitement he exuded be on election night?  I, like so many others this past weekend, watched every tribute and Meet the Press and found myself in tears.  Such a fair man, such a great dad, son and husband.  We have truly lost someone special.  I take comfort in knowing he is walking with Abraham, Martin, John and Bobby.  My deepest condolences to the Russert and NBC/MSNBC families.  Luke did a wonderful job this AM on the Today Show furthering my admiration for Tim.  Such a strong, articulate young man raised by 2 wonderful parents.  How will we all go on without him?

I just can't imagine the empty heavy feeling that connects your entire day as you move task to task. As a teacher or any other professional, we know we come across those who come from fresh education and act like they know everything and miss out some great wisdom and "real education" from those as your dear boss whom I really admired...as a woman of same faith, mother and teacher of Catholic education...I GOT IT ..I got what he said and did.  I feel as we get more and more involved in our profession..the more we feel we need to learn. I think one of the best ways to honor such a great leader and teacher is to pass the same values with your own methods and embrace their new energies.  I pray for your energy and momentum to see out this campaign...God Bless You and your staff :)

So very sorry for the NBC and MSNBC family great loss of Tim Russert.  He was the best of the best and I share your tears.  What a loss to us all.

I went by the memorial for Tim outside of the Washington Bureau.  It was touching to see the "ordinary people" just stop they cars and read what people had written.  Also, when people were driving down Nebraska avenue, people were honking their horns in his memory.  Thank you Tim for telling it as it was

Tom, Andrea, David, Chuck, Keith, Betsy, and all who had the privilege of working with Tim:

Please know how very sorry I am for your loss. I am amazed at the way you carried yourselves this weekend -- I cannot imagine how difficult it was -- and will no doubt continue to be -- for each of you. I believe from the bottom of my heart that Tim is up there watching you and rooting for you to "Go Get 'Em!"

I, like so many, will miss Tim terribly -- but I know that you will do an excellent job of reporting, like you always have.  You're all in my thoughts and prayers. Be well.

I had no interest in politics until this election primary cycle and the upcoming general election. I can honestly say, MSNBC, especially Tim Russert was one of the primary reasons I'm making sure I'm in tune with today's politics and what potential lies ahead in the future. I became a weekly view of MEET THE PRESS and Tim Russert's show on Saturday.  He will be missed by those who recently felt a connection to him and admire his dedication to hard work, doing your homework and true and fair tough politics.

I can't even begin to express just how sad I have been since Friday.  My sadness is not the only thing I feel.  I also feel lucky and priviledged that I was able to see Tim weekly for many many years.  I will treasure those moments forever. What a guy!  What a human!
I know that he will live on in all those whom he touched.  I wish the fine professionals at MSNBC all the best in preserving and spreading this treasure.
My young niece is studying Journalism in Brazil.  She feels as if she knew Tim and she is committed to reflect all of what she learned from him in her work and personal life.
We all love you Tim, and your loss is not a real losss
in the classical meaning.  There is no such a thing as "closure" when it comes to you.  You are one of those rare pearls that we maintain the essence forever.
Have fun in heaven, and I hope to be worthy to meet you there one day!

I don't ever remember shedding so many tears for a "tv" person and feeling such a sense of loss as I did when I heard the news about Tim.  He turned on so many people to politics and actually made it fun to follow the races and learn how things worked.  It didn't surprise me to learn that Tim was Chuck Todd's mentor, because I believe that Chuck exemplifies Tim's spirit and passion.  It was you, Chuck, that turned me into a MSNBC political "groupie".  You give me hope that Tim's way of doing things will continue, and that you'll give us all that unique insight and perspective that is much needed.

Just know that our thoughts and prayers are with all of you, and that we'll continue to support you.  

Yesterday, as we watched "Remembering Tim Russert" and "Meet the Press", we, like you, were trying to process the passing of this beautiful human being.  We tried to hang onto every word this man had ever said, because we knew his voice has been silenced.  In other words, we were trying to "memorize" him.  Of course, the subject came up of how there is no one that could replace him, and that's true.  But Chuck, your name kept coming up as the one whom he may have been passing the torch to.  I know he was your mentor and your friend and in you, we see that same honesty and enthusiasm and fairness that we saw in Tim.  I think he saw it too.
Our hearts go out to Mr. Russert's family and to all of you that were lucky enough to call him "friend". He will be so missed by all of us who loved him.

I wish the election was tomorrow. I am not looking forward to seeing Bush kill thousands of people in the next few months to improve Republican polls by a couple of points.

My words can only echo others.  Tim Russert was fair, good-hearted, and genuine. What a wonderful attitude and absolute love of life.  What an example to all of us! My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Diane, Lee's Summit, Missouri

The best tribute to Tim from the journalists that carry on without his guidance is to do it with the integrity and motives that Tim did it. Stop the sensationalism and the speculation and filler air time nonsense. Be authentic in your life and in your work. Speak truth to power, that is how you honor him best. That is how you serve the common man that he remained and served.

I also spent the weekend crying and I watched all of the remembrances.  I had more respect for Tim Russert than almost anyone in the world.  It is such a terrible loss and my heart goes out to his family and his NBC/MSNBC family.  Take your time to mourn and as posted above, we will be waiting for you.  My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, son and Big Russ, along with all of you who worked for him.  

Carry on in his name and make him proud.  Go Get em!

I am mouring the death of a man I never met, but loved. I never missed my date with Tim every Sunday morning. He was an unselfish and great human being. I love you Timmy.

What an unbelievable loss. What makes this different is that for years Tim was the person that told us who won and lost. He was the person we all turned to when we weren't quite sure, and we needed reassurance, or even just the calming voice to make us feel like the answer would be there soon enough.  

I told my dad this weekend that I had been really impressed by the new political "team" that had been assembled by Tim Russert for this election cycle.  The new faces, and the old, all meshed so well, and really gave a voice to NBC that it hadn't had before. I now know that the combined voice we were hearing was Tim Russert's. He had assembled the perfect balance of people to make his voice come through.  Amazing really. What is more amazing is that it is as if he knew you all would be left to do the work this fall. His work this fall. As if he was preparing for a political season without him.  

Take your time. Find the closure you all need. We'll all be here waiting to hear Tim's "voice" when you're ready.

We'll miss you Tim.  Thank you.  

I've watched and weeped with you all this past weekend as you celebrate the life of Tim Russert! I so appreciated seeing and hearing Luke this morning and he summed it up for me, "Tim was the questioner for the American pubic. He helped educate the American people and wanted to help explain the complex issues so we could be better informed" He was so trustworthy and what a wonderful legacy he has left in all of you who knew he personally and were called his friends. You will ALL be in my prayers in the days and weeks to come!

My husband and I have been political junkies from the beginning of Decision 2008. We would be giving our own personal take on the status of the race and what had transpired during the day/week, etc., and if that had been good for Hillary, McCain or Barrack.  While at that moment, the team on television would be discussing the same things and then the show host would say that we will get an opinion from Tim Russert as to where things stand.  I would tell my husband to hush because we needed to hear what Tim was going to say because Tim was gospel.  If he said it, you could take it to the bank. I have to tell you that Sundays mornings before church will never be the same because I had been waking up with getting my juice and breakfast along with television remote so I could turn the channel to meet the press. It says a lot about the character when someone who was a total stanger, but yet you felt so attached to him.  He will be forever missed because you could always count on Tim to tell it like it was regardless as to your political affilation, your race, your gender or sexual orientation.  The world has been and will be a better place because of him.  My prayers to his dad, his wife and his son, to his MSNBC/NBC family and his entire journalism family.

As many of you are at NBC and reading these blogs and coverage, I am still in shock- don't believe it, and strangely, have awoken the past three days with a sense of sadness about it. I listened to someone over the weekend ask if the coverage was overkill in some ways...I immediately found myself quite defensive about it. Personally, in a world where people seem to appreciate little beyond the dollar and 'what someone can do for them' and the disappointment I often feel in our press and press coverage in the 'soundbite' era of reporting that is often unrealistic and callous and politically motivated, I was so very, very, pleased that your network actually took the time to cover his passing and cover it well. It was both moving and hopeful to see just how much he had touched so many people at your network and also the profound respect that many of you had for him in the field who worked with him on a regular basis.

My perception of this industry is often that it is far too self-serving and cutthroat to ever authentically indulge in such opportunities to REALLY share the impact of such losses and more importantly what they mean to that industry and the people who work in it. I have been soooo pleased and touched by the investment of full coverage of this loss, because in so many ways, he was very much a part of my world and yet I never personally knew him.

He was responsible for engaging me in politics at a very young age and I wonder how many people out there can say the same- my guess is too many to count. He will be deeply missed and I am comforted to know how deeply he will be missed by his colleagues and the industry as a whole. I don't believe I will ever watch another edition of 'Meet the Press' without thinking of him and what he brought to people and politics. Thank you so much for the in-depth coverage and sharing your thoughts, stories and emotions with the rest of us. God bless;-)

Tim Russert's grasp of the nuances and intricacies of American politics was unrivaled by anyone in the field. His reputation for firm but fair questioning placed him at the top of his field and earned him the respect not only of the hundreds of public figures who appeared on his program but also of the millions of viewers who watched every Sunday morning.

In this era of continuous news cycles, some define quality by who has the loudest voice or the most strident tone. Many so-called "news programs" seek to capture that "gotcha" moment and focus less on extracting the true story and focusing on the real issues.

Tim Russert stood alone in his reasoned approach to public affairs and politics. He has been universally praised, by colleagues and public figures alike, as being well prepared and having a probing but fair approach to interviews. His interest was more in raising the knowledge and awareness of the American people.

The tears running down my cheek come from mourning the loss of a fair and moderate voice that informed, and in many ways shaped, the political narrative in our nation.

Mr. Russert would close his interviews, regardless of the tone of the conversation with his guests, with the phrase "Thank you for sharing your views."

Today, I say thank you Tim for sharing your views. The political discourse will be the lesser with the silencing of your voice.

God bless the Russert family and his colleagues at NBC News.

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