That's terrible.  Way too young.

When tragedy strikes, it too often does so far too suddenly.  This is truly unfortunate, because despite his flaws Tim Russert is one of the best journalists in America.  Far too young.

i had to read and reread his name. Just couldn't believe it.

shocking.

I can't believe this.
The man looked healthy to me.

HUGE blow to NBC news.

statins and blood thinners seem to have curtailed heart attacks like this.

A friend of the family just died and he was taking Vioxx.

I'm in shock.

My prayers got out to his family and friends.

Talk about a double take. I thought it was a joke a first. RIP.

Sad news.  His enthusiasm for his job was alway evident.  Rest in Peace.

RIP Tim.  My wife and I never missed you on Sunday mornings.  You'll be missed.

This is really sad especially with the dearth of truly informed journalists these days.

I'm shocked. Speechless. Wow.

Damn!

My first thought-- wow.

My second thought-- who will replace him on "Meet the Press"?

Apparently it happened while he was at work. That's the sort of thing that journalists tend to romanticize, despite its insensitivity to family.

So sad.  He was too young, and will be missed.

That is really sad news. His family must be devastated. :(

Althought we never met and never spoke, Tim and I spent many an hour together.

He will be missed.

RIP Tim.

I just saw this on Drudge.  I am without words other than to say that this is very, very sad.   Tim was one of my favorites covering politics, and we lost him way too young.

Before I was interested in politics, I didn't really know much about him.

Now I'm shocked and wondering if my sunday mornings are ever going to be the same.

The guy had nigh-unrivaled enthusiasm for the intersection of politics, history, and the truth.

People who rise to the top of their profession are always interesting and command respect.  His influence was real, including in the current political season.

Tim Russert has been a big part of my Sundays for the past few years. Tim hosted MTP longer than any other. He will truly be missed. You'd expect not to feel this way when you don't know someone personally, this however is heavy on the chest.

This is truly terrible. My condolences to his family.

I liked the dude and I'm sad he's gone... but, man, did he ever have it in for Kerry.

I don't think this should be forgotten.

I think people like him and Matthews represent the political bandwagon.

We can take solace in the fact his network is moving in the right (left) direction.

Tim was one of the better journalist out there, his presence will be missed.  My prayers go out to his family and friends.

He was fair, he was honest.

An Irish Funeral Prayer

Death is nothing at all.
It does not count.
I have only slipped away into the next room.
Everything remains as it was.
The old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged.
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by the old familiar name.
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used.
Put no sorrow in your tone.
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effort
Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was.
There is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just around the corner.
All is well. Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost.
One brief moment and all will be as it was before.
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting, when we meet again.

The above is derived from a sermon written by Henry Scott Holland and delivered in St. Paul's (London) on 15 May 1910, at which time the body of King Edward VII was lying in state at Westminster. Although not originally derived from Irish writings, versions of this sermon have been used at many Irish and Catholic funerals over the years.

He will be missed.

I can't believe it.

So sudden.

My partner and I joked each every Sunday morning that we were worshiping at the Church of Russert. Though we didn't always agreed with him, but he was amazing at getting America to discuss the important issues in the nation and around the world.

This is awful.

My thoughts are with him and I am eternally in awe of his intellect and reputation as one of the few great people who were left in the main stream media.

Tim was the reason I went to late Mass on Sundays.

I wasn't always crazy about him, but he was good at his job and had a warmth unlike any.

A class act. They're arent too many left.

Republican or Democrat, he was an American, and a proud one at that.

John McCain got the first statement out - quite an extensive one.

Nothing from Obama yet.  This, from a p/r perspective could've been an advantage for the party since Russert was associated with the party & much positivity will be paid to him.  However the GOP were able to get out there first - that is something the Obama campaign is going to need to examine. They cannot be behind in getting out their statements & marrying themselves to things publicly.

Just found out from the NYTimes front page. We are lesser because of his loss.

I'm very very sad. He was my favourite. I'm truly sorry to his family. Very tragic.

Why the good always go. Why couldn't this be O'Reilly or Rush.

Why Russert??

I still can't get over the absolutely disgusting things that the hillaryis44.org people are saying about this.

# rjk1957 Says:
June 13th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

Admin, I will not be polite... Karma baby that is all I will say, first Kennedy and his brain tumor, then the flooding in Iowa and now Russert... Obamatrons beware the wrath of God, you could be next

What a shock...I am in total loss for words...Mr. Russert you will be sorely missed, thank you for all you have done in your lifetime.

Tim Russert was my favorite political analyst by far.  He wasn't perfect of course, but he was much better than the rest.  I will miss him on Meet the Press. And I will miss his election night whiteboard..."Florida, Florida, Florida" in 2000.  I am sad he never got to see the Bills take the Super Bowl!

He emanated a zest for life that few people I have ever known (even from afar) have ever had.  I think it is the saddest when those people with such life die young.  He lived his life like everybody hopes to live theirs.

God bless Him and his family this is so sad!

Most of the MSNBC line up has made an appearance thus far with the very notable exception of Chris Matthews. I have a hunch Chris is too distraught for the camera right now. Already several other staff have struggled visibly just to maintain composure. Matthews and Russert seemed to be two peas in a pod anytime they appeared on camera together. I know a lot of people don't feel very kindly to Mathews these days, but I imagine this is a tough tough day for him.

Tim Russert was the absolute master of the technique of forcing politicians to confront their own words on the screen.  I wish he had been slightly more aggressive in his follow-ups when he really nailed the politicians, but that's a small qualm.

Russert was an icon; I miss him already.

pulmonary embolism--not a heart attack.

Doris Kearns Goodwin on MSNBC now--she has clearly been crying.

and terribly sad. I have spent many a Sunday morning with Tim Russert. During primary night coverage, if I had the sound muted, I'd always turn it up when Tim came on the screen. He always had something worthwhile to say. I will never forget the white board in 2000.

I will miss him tremendously watching the election returns in November. He had such an obvious passion for what he did, and took such joy in it.

He will truly be missed. My heart goes out to his wife and son.

A sad and terrible day for our country's media.  Tim Russert was one of the best and he will be sorely missed.  My deepest sympathies to his wife Maureen and son Luke.  Thank you for all of your work Mr Russert.  Ed Murrow will be waiting for you at the gates to shake your hand.  

58 is too damn young.

My father, now 69, had a triple bypass last year.  Apparently, the doctors found that his heart had been scarred by at least one previous heart attack.  He hadn't even known it!

One thing for sure, I'm getting that fasting blood work I've been putting off first thing on Monday.  This hits too close to home.  

R.I.P., Tim.  I didn't always agree with you, but you got taken too soon.  Condolences to his family.

I can't believe this. So young, so much left to do.

My best wishes to his family.

I deeply regret the death of the man, but recalling his gotcha style of journalism and particularly the sharp, arrogant questioning of Hillary in the primary debate that did much damage to her, I hope that his style of DC journalism passes with him.

Russert in fact was the paradigm for everything wrong with DC political journalism.

I wasn't always crazy about him, but he was good at his job and had a warmth unlike any.

A class act. They're arent too many left.