TresSugar

Most Shocking Headlines of 2008: Tim Russert's Sudden Death

CitizenSugar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:30:30 -0800

Tim Russert came into homes on Sunday mornings as host of Meet the Press and night after night during this election and so many before. His sudden and early death shocked us all on June 13.

Even from this side of the screen, Tim's love for his job, politics, and life was palpable, and Americans came to feel like they knew him. His death was a how-can-this-be moment that dominated the news so much that we questioned how much was enough.

Tom Brokaw stepped in as temporary Meet the Press moderator, and David Gregory took over last Sunday - a choice we deemed as boring. David certainly can't replace Tim, so he'll have to put his personal mark on the show to win us over. Until then we miss Tim, making his death one of the biggest and saddest stories of 2008.

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How Much Is Too Much? Celebrity Death Tributes - Too far?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:26 -0700

For every lash, there is an equal and opposite lash in the reverse direction: a backlash if you will. So it is with a seemingly irreproachable story like the tribute paid to the passing of Tim Russert. After his shocking passing last week, the news hasn't been shy with coverage. From the moving tribute held during the usual Meet the Press time slot, all the way to today when MSNBC will broadcast the private memorial service at 4 p.m. EDT. Some are saying it's too much.

In Debra Saunders column yesterday she acknowledged the Meet the Press tribute was appropriate, but then said:

Overall, however, the hours and hours of tributes across the cable spectrum show the news media at their worst. For me, the Russert Weekend only served to confirm my suspicion that in 2008, cable TV stations can only do one story at a time -- and then they overdo it and beat it silly. . . An outstanding journalist of Russert's stripe rated more than a nice sendoff story. But there is another tenet of the profession that Washington TV news bureaus seem to have forgotten in the shock of Russert's passing: We are not the story.

Over on Slate, Jack Shafer had this to say:

I wonder whether the media grievers gave a moment of thought to how this Russert torrent they produced played with viewers and readers. Did the grievers really think Russert was so important, so vital to the nation's course, and such an elevated human being that he deserved hour upon hour of tribute? I wonder whether any of the responsible journalists paused to think, "Hey, this is really weird. We're using our unchecked editorial power to soak the nation with our tears about our friend, and that's unseemly!"

Gawker went one step further and created the "Scale of Celebrity Death" ranking the impact of surprise celebrity demise. Princess Diana, incidentally, ranked a 10.

Are celebrity death tributes, and the wall-to-wall media coverage surrounding them, too much? Do we need them to mourn those characters who've touched so many lives? At what point does a tribute become ghoulish?

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Remembering Tim Russert on Meet the Press

CitizenSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:17:25 -0700

I'm at a loss this morning, in the span of time usually devoted to coffee and Tim Russert on Meet the Press, his absence is deafening. This morning, in lieu of the regular show, they're running a tribute to Russert. The long-running show began in 1947, and Russert has helmed the ship since I can remember.

I've been reading some of the poignant tributes to Russert this morning, and pouring through pictures and trivia about Meet the Press - here are some of my favorites.

View 10 Photos ›

Every president since John F. Kennedy has appeared on the show during their career. The answers to these next two facts are pictured above: Who is the most frequent guest? And who had the longest span of time between first appearance and most recent appearance?

To find out, read more.

Bob Dole has been the most frequent guest, with 63 appearances to date.
Ted Kennedy has clocked almost 45 years between his first appearance and most recent one.

When the Chicago Tribune says NBC lost more than a newsman, they're right. "If it's Sunday, it's Meet the Press," will never be the same.

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Breaking: Tim Russert of Meet the Press Dies of a Heart Attack

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:49:32 -0700

I couldn't be more sad to report that Tim Russert of NBC's Meet the Press has died of a heart attack. The New York Times reports they heard the news from Russert's family.

Upon announcing the news, Tom Brokaw said, “this news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice.” Russert is survived by his wife Maureen Orth and their adult son, Luke. He was 58 years old.

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Who's Watching Obama on Meet the Press?

CitizenSugar — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:07:11 -0700

Barack Obama's full hour on Meet the Press is just starting where I am - are you watching? Did you see it already?

Earlier this week Politico called the appearance "a potentially decisive broadcast." Is it? Did anything strike you?

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Headline: Ralph Nader Declares Candidacy

CitizenSugar — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:21:24 -0800

On Meet The Press this morning, Ralph Nader, perennial third-party candidate, said he's running for president of the United States. Launching his third bid in as many races, Nader said,

Dissent is the mother of ascent. And in that context, I have decided to run for president.

Shunning the notion that he serves as nothing but a spoiler for a Democratic party victory, Nader shot back,

Not a chance. If the Democrats can’t landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just pack up, close down, and re-emerge in a different form.

How will this development affect the race? Could Nader's entry bait other third-party runs? Is Bloomberg on Nader's speed dial? Though many nations have political landscapes that support lots of political parties, can our solidly binary system support triangulation by a third - or does the other candidate stand to be a mistress, a spoiler distracting voters from working on their relationship with their party?

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Lighten Up: Separated at Birth?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:00:51 -0800

Okay, this is pure silliness: I was watching Tim Russert on Meet the Press yesterday, and I kept thinking, "Who does he look like? He has a twin somewhere, right?" And then it hit me - Randy Quaid. Is it just me, or do we need to see these two in the same place to make sure they're different people?

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Briefing Book! Knowing Is Half the Battle . . .

LibertySugar — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:15:00 -0700

Tim Russert: Tim Russert, 1950-2008: An Appreciation. A touching story of a remarkable life. - Radar
McCain and Cribs: What does he have in his fridge? McCain Cribs tours the Straight Talk Express. - Wonkette

Obama and Hip Hop: Mashup of Wu Tang Clan and Yes We Can? Obama inspiration finally finds it way into hip-hop. - 23/6
Europe and China: A good deal? Unlimited trips from Europe to Hong Kong for $6,888 a month. - Shanghaiist
Huckabee: Giving up on vice-president hopes? Huckabee signs one-year deal with Fox News - Politico

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Ask E. Jean For DearSugar: I'm Ready to Date Again So What Do I Have to Do to Attract Men?

E Jean Carroll — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 10:00:00 -0700

Dear E. Jean,

I suddenly feel old. I feel so old and bland I don’t want to tell you how old I actually am (even though I know this will be anonymous).

The truth is I haven’t had a date since my husband left. (He had an affair with his secretary - the old story.) He is now dating a woman who is eight years younger than me. We split three years ago.

I am tired of sitting around sulking and feeling sorry for myself. I read a quote today spoken by somebody about Tim Russert: “He regarded a day greeted without real enthusiasm as a sadly lost opportunity.”

I believe that! I want to rejoin the human race. I want to meet a new man! But I look old and drab. My question: What should I do to change and update my look? What do men like? I don’t have a lot of money so plastic surgery is out of the question! Thanks Auntie Eeee - Ready to Leave the House!!

To see E. Jean's answer read more.

Miss Ready, Miss Ravishing Woman,

What an excellent Russert quote! (I believe it is from Mario Cuomo who spoke at the memorial.)

There’s no need to put yourself through an atom-smasher to change your look. And, ye gods! No plastic surgery! (We have enough dingbats walking around with breasts that look like toilet plungers.)

You can do a few subtle things here and there, and ZOOM! The guys will hand you their hearts (or at least cast you admiring looks on the street).

Anyway if you try too hard, you’ll just end up looking a little desperate and silly (we’ve all seen the overly-plucked, overly-curled, overly-tanned, overly-stretched, overly-dressed douchebags staggering around our big-city boulevards). And worse, when you spend a lot of money “changing your look” then you will kind of need men to find you pretty, and the moment you need a man to find you anything is the moment you lose your bewitching individuality.

So . . . get plenty of sleep, stand up straight (it will blast you with radiance and add an inch to your height), meet the girls for margaritas at least once a week, and go through your closets, your living room, your kitchen, your office and toss out all the boring people.

Then go buy a pretty new Summer dress. (First scoot around FabSugar and BellaSugar to get ideas. Then make certain to select a dress that shows off your waist - the male beast is hardwired to chase the feminine shape. Whether you are 208 pounds or 108 pounds, curves captivate men. Especially the all-important waist-hip ratio.)

Wear the dress to the hairdressers and get a cut and a blow-out. Throw in a few highlights if you can afford it. Then hit the make-up counters (the more the better) and buy a new lipstick and eye shadow. (You will receive plenty of advice from the experts, trust me.)

NOTE: I’d love to tell you to now go enjoy a dinner of hot dogs at a big time baseball game or boat show or NASCAR race where there will be crowds of men - but it’s up to you.

Either way, you’ll now feel tremendous and wonderful. And when you feel tremendous and wonderful, it means you are delighting in your own attractions. And when you delight in your own attractions . . . you will attract!

Good luck, darling! We are all pulling for you here at DearSugar!

To see more advice from E. Jean, visit Elle magazine and AskEJean.com.

Who Should Host Meet the Press?

CitizenSugar — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:00:01 -0800

NBC may soon name the next permanent host of Meet the Press. Whomever succeeds longtime host Tim Russert, who died unexpectedly earlier this year, will surely become one of the most influential journalists in the world.

Every president since John F. Kennedy, along with countless prominent national leaders, have appeared on Meet the Press, the longest running TV show in history. Do you think NBC should tap a well-seasoned journalist, or go with a younger anchor who can take the show in a new direction?

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