signing off

it's a complete and utter shock that tim russert is gone. i caught the abc breaking news cut-in and was literally flabbergasted - how could a journalist that good, that young, suddenly not be here? immediately after hearing about it, i just thought: not before the elections, that's tragic for him and for this country - REALLY. everyone remembers him for the white board, that was just one way that he was able to distill complex political issues into comprehensible ideas. everyone has been sharing little tidbits about his life and personality, and truly, it just seems like the business (and of course, his family) lost a passionate, intelligent, deeply human person. to see such professional journalists choke up and still be able to talk about their friend and boss was so moving, what they must be feeling...