A tribute to Tim Russert.

On Friday, June 13, we unexpectedly lost Tim Russert. Flags were lowered to half-staff in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. On an extended special broadcast on NBC, numerous journalists paid their respects and special comments were given by John McCain, the Clintons, and Barack Obama. The President interrupted a news conference in Paris to pay tribute to Russert. Today, "Tim Russert" is the #1 search on Google.

Think about how many broadcast journalists would be treated as such an American hero, the news of whose death would garner such importance from the President, a person who, while not an elected public official, would receive the honor of flags being lowered. Think about who could garner glowing tributes from such different people as Keith Olbermann and Rush Limbaugh, alike, people who share nothing in common except a respect for Tim Russert.

Tim Russert provided tough but fair journalism which trickled into every aspect of what we, the American people, come to know about our candidates, our elected officials, our politicians. Election debates will not be the same. Meet the Press will not be the same. American politics and even voting will not be the same for any of us.