Tim Russert, 1950 -2008

We had him, we didn’t realize what we had, and now he’s gone. Tim Russert was so consistently excellent at his job, and so grateful and delighted to be doing it, that it was easy for most of us to take him for granted. He acted as though he was just a working stiff, and we took him at his word. Mr. Russert loved the workings of politics; he loved to dig in and find out who had the cards and who was bluffing.

It was never an ego trip with Russert; it was the process of getting at the heart of things. It was never done with anger or arrogance; it was done with delight at being part of it all. That’s why so many of his interview “victims” have been praising him over these past few days.

At a time when politicians hire a staff of people to control access to them, Mr. Russert established himself as the one interviewer who had to be told the truth. And no one who wanted political power could afford to avoid his forum.

I don’t mean to diminish all the tributes pouring in about what a wonderful family man, friend, and humanitarian Tim Russert was.

For most Americans, though, what we’re most grateful for, is a man who insisted that powerful people stop tap dancing and tell us the truth.