Bush attends wake for Russert

In the refectory at St. Albans -- a private Episcopal institution where generations of Washington notables like former Vice President Al Gore went to high school -- President Bush and first lady Laura Bush attended a wake today for NBC journalist Tim Russert, paying their respects to the family.

In a statement after Russert's death Friday, Bush called Russert "a tough and hardworking newsman" who was "as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

The president should know.

Bush appeared on "Meet the Press" several times. In November 1999, in an interview from the governor's mansion in Austin, presidential candidate Bush told Russert that he thought one man could make a difference. "If I didn't think an administration could change the zero-sum politics of Washington, an atmosphere that is so hostile sometimes, an atmosphere that just chewed a good man up like Clarence Thomas, I wouldn't be running," he said.

And then there was the interview in February 2004, from the Oval Office, in which Russert asked, "In light of not finding the weapons of mass destruction, do you believe the war in Iraq is a war of choice or a war of necessity?"

Bush seemed to have no ready answer. "That's an interesting question. Please elaborate on that a little bit. A war of choice or a war of necessity? I mean, it's a war of necessity. In my judgment, we had no choice."

In his memoirs, former White House press secretary Scott McClellan said that afterward the president "seemed puzzled and asked me what Russert was getting at with the question."

No doubt others interviewed by Russert over the years are still mulling over his questions too.

-- Johanna Neuman

Photo Credit: Ho/Reuters

Comments

[Surfmom]

First off, May Tim Russert rest in peace.
For everyone of you right-wingers, you should be ashamed of yourselves for defending Bush. He is a disgrace to the human race. For any of you that are still in his corner, you all must HATE America. Get your head out of your ass. The left side is, has been, and ALWAYS will be morally superior to the right wing morons. You are all an embarrassment to the USA.

[Kwesi Wilson]

Within every tragedy is an opportunity. I believe the opportunity in the passing of Tim Russert is to his contemporaries to emulate his integrity, tenacity and ethics. Ask the tough questions and be watchdogs for the public and not lapdogs for public officials. And there should be an award in his honor given to ONLY those who emulate him.

[SG]

1. Russert had more integrity in his little toe than all the GOP politicians that had ever appeared on Meet the Press, combined, and most of the Democrats as well. He did his job better and worked harder than all of them. He'll be difficult to replace to say the least.

2. Bush is not "America". Being anti-Bush is not being anti-American.

3. Bush was told by U.S. intelligence that Sadam was not an imminent threat to the USA, but Bush chose to ignore this. An inconvenient fact, eh?

4. Why anyone would now listen to and give credence to a RightWing Extremist such as those who have posted here today, who still think Bush is a great president, is beyond all comprehension. Thankfully, RightWing Extremists are dwindling in number, and are now relegated to the outskirts of the American political scene. Let's hope they stay close together in thier exile, and far away from the good people of America.

[Mark Pepper]

Johanna Neuman I am so confused... I thought this was about Tim Russert? This obscure observation regarding an obvious political sidestep in no way celebrates the life of Tim Russertt.. I, on the other hand, am thinking about a brilliant and timely and sentient being that had both a charm and cut, that got you to stand up and take notice. I so much want to celebrate the life of such a man, such a passion. What a smilin' guy, what a great guy to spend a few minutes with! This is what matters.

I have cats smarter than Dubya. If he hadn't been born rich he would have been a high school dropout. To use Dubya and Tim Russert in the same sentence is obscene.

[Jersey Pete]

Joe, I don't get you. I might not agree with Rudy but you sound like you think you have all the answers and know all the facts. Are you auditioning to be the next O'Reilly? Oh wait, you probably think he actually knows what he's talking about. Talk about someone that plays fast and loose with the facts. You sound like a bully, Joe, someone who only knows how to spew venom. Every bully that I ever met was actually full of fear and self doubt. So I hope you get some real peace and confidence in your life so you can overcome the negative thoughts about yourself that are tormenting you.

Although I would agree with you that America is a wonderful country (you're of the "love it or leave it" school of bullies, right?) and I'm thankful be an American, there are possibly a few things to learn from other countries and things they have learned. Does that thought threaten you? Most of the people of the rest of the world would probably be too polite to say so, but they would find you a bore and an "ugly American" blow hard. You're not very impressed by politeness, though, are you Joe. Politeness is weakness, isn't it?

In your posting you represent all that is reprehensible in America - or any place else for that matter. Are you so threatened by other people's ideas or the idea that Americans aren't the only people in the world to possibly have good ideas that you have to sneer at others and put them down? Why?

But this was supposed to be about Tim Russert and I must tell you that I cannot remember another passing that has hit me so hard in recent memory. He was truly a great American and a real professional. He did great service to his country by helping us discover the truth.

[frank gladysz]

It's too bad we are Americans,or most of you Bush bashers would be holding your heads in your hands.Thats severed to you stupid.I don't agree with every thing he says and does,but I don't cut him up in public either.I think anyone that acts like an a--hole toward his president is a treasonous piece of s--t.

[LKM]

Russert was completely enlightening is a world enveloped in mistrust & confusion.

[Phil]

He'll attend Russert's wake but won't attend any military funerals for fallen soldiers?

[Sindy S]

Russet was a great interview and I feel badly for his family and those who loved him...but it is not the end of the world as we have known it and Russet did have his allegiances to "the man"...basically we are all shocked at the idea of a quick and sudden death at the age of 58 and that is what is really affecting everyone.

As for you Bush lovers ...give mne a break....your stupidity is only surpassed by your ignorance. You are like the
proverbial lambs willingly being led to their slaughter. How many times will you vote against your own best interests? HOw many of YOU are raking in millions a year from oil profits? How many of you are living privileged lives, driving 100K plus autos and owing property all over the country? How many of you busy bloggers are actually risking your lives in Iraq?
Give me a break. What a bunch of uninformed losers.

[keith]

Eh, LAT trying to imitate Top of The Ticket success with a blog that throws the door open and says "Come bash Bush for a few more months!". Well, it'll draw the tinfoil hat crowd like flies, the only problem is that this has all been so oft repeated it's just boring now. Jeez, some of these people will still be squeeking this stuff out five years from now.

Why not look to the future instead?

[Brian Peterson]

Clearly, Brian, Doug, Bill, Joe and William G are all one Rethuglican operative still trying to lie, hate and insult his way to "respect" for Bush. And what's with the "history will be kind to Bush" phony argument? According to history, we're no less right about WWI and II than when they happened, and we're no less wrong about Vietnam. That's not going to change, and neither will the assessment of Iraq, except I guarantee we'll find out it was actually stupider than originally thought.