When push comes to shove, Tim Russert was not an important man outside of his family. He was a reporter who appeared on network television. He died.

NBC called him a “giant” in journalism and the world of politics. A giant? Like Edward R. Murrow? Like Benjamin Franklin? Like Mike Wallace? and others of similar ilk who were groundbreakers.

Russert didn’t break any new ground in journalism.

NBC went nuts on Nightly News. Devoting their entire newscast to praising Russert. Mike Barnicle of the Boston Globe referred to him as “Timmy” fer chrissakes. And then he teared up.

Sally Quinn compared his death to John F. Kennedy’s death! She felt special because Tim was praying for her when a family tragedy stuck. Pope Russert?

ABC was similar in their glowing tribute. I didn’t watch CBS.

Other people died that same day. People who impacted a LOT of people’s lives in a positive and authentic way. Tim Russert was a high visibility TV personality.

It was way overplayed by the networks.

He was not irreplaceable.

It’s inside-the-beltway mentality at it’s worst!

The National Press Club got it right…

“Tim was a colleague and friend to all in journalism. He was a role model for all of us, whether in print or broadcast. Tim epitomized excellence in journalism and unflinching commitment to the craft. Our profession has lost a stellar journalist.”

Hyperbole. Over and over and over. Why did Russert have to die at the beginning of the weekend when news is slow?
Can we be far from St. Tim of Buffalo?

Most bigwigs have settled into a “he was a great journalist” reaction after the spinmeisters have had a chance to sleep on it, but NBC is still mourning every change they get.

But their still are a few who are just nuts.

Barbara Walters: “There is no one who knew Tim, and that includes millions of Americans who felt they knew him too, who isn’t deeply shocked and saddened by his death. Tim was everyone’s idea of what a journalist should be and he made us proud. He interviewed me just one month ago for his weekly television show and much of our conversation had to do with his love for his father, Russ, and his son, Luke.”

Millions who felt they knew him? Does she have such little respect for our intellect to think that we believe people on TV are really like their on-air personna? Apparently so. “he interviewed me… and much of the conversation was about…” his dad and son. Which was is BaBa? I thought the interviewer listened to the person being interviewed. She needs to retire to The View permanently.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: “Today, broadcast journalism lost one of its giants, who will be remembered along with names like Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and David Brinkley.”

Oh, puh-leeze to put him in the same category as those people is just ludicrous. Absolutely laughable.

In the big scheme of things Tim Russert was Just. Not. That. Important. He was a pundit.

Sunday’s Meet the Press showed an empty chair where Russert normally would have parked. NBC’s version of the riderless horse cortege. Perhaps the white board should have been draped in black fabric.

Conan O’Brien got the memo. His late night COMEDY show paid their tribute. Looks like if you’re NBC you pay tribute. During the golf tournament Saturday and Sunday on NBC, they took time to pay more tribute… Golf? Russert?

The Today show on Monday was suitably maudlin and morose.

Will this continue through his burial? One can only hope that it ends there.