Friday, June 13, 2008

Goodbye, Tim

It was with absolute shock that I realized that the man that I invite into my home every Sunday morning has passed. I can be in my jammies, with a hair horn from sleeping, eating our traditional weekend breakfast scramble, and sitting down with a political wonk makes the morning feel complete.

Being from a struggling town, with a dad who passed on a blue collar work ethic, I highly respected Tim Russert. He had a gift for taking something complicated and boiling it down to its essence. In addition, he didn't argue with those he was interviewing-- he put their words up on the screen and let them respond.

I really want to focus on those last three words-- he let them respond. What bothers me most about modern journalism is that journalists will throw out a question, wait three seconds when the guest is five words in, and then they will jump in with another question or will cut them off.

Not Tim Russert. He asked a question and wanted an answer. And if you didn't answer his question, he'd tell you just that and demand the answer.

Goodbye, Tim. We will miss you on Sunday mornings.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Back to politics...

Why is it that I must be subjected to Alpaca commercials while I'm trying to get my CNN fix? I just want to know how the Democratic primary went in my fantastically wonderful home state, and then I have to listen to drivel about Alpaca farming. Bleh.

In deference to one of my favorite bloggers (who has more readers than 0), I have refrained from commenting on the Democratic race. Since it is now over, I must disagree with my West coast counterpart, and declare my giddiness over Barack Obama's status as the Democratic presidential candidate. I have really desired a presidential candidate that inspires, and then moves this country to greatness.

Watching the Democratic primary has been trying this spring. Going back to my polysci background, seeing the drama has been fascinating. However, it has made me very nervous that the Democratic contest was this heated. Democrats are mobilized by the cluster-bleeping of George Bush. I didn't want an overly heated primary to divide the Dems.

Yes, I am a feminist. I am. Hillary wasn't what I wanted in my first female presidential candidate.

Is Barack perfect? Nope. I'll rant about that another night, though.

Unite, Democrats, unite.

Let's get the red out of the White House, please.