I was in some odd company when I heard about this. James "The Amazing" Randi was giving his remarks to Philadelphia's Freethinker Society at their Anti-Superstition bash. When he mentioned Russert's passing, there was an audible collective gasp through about half the crowd. We're very much a bunch of skeptics, and we know James' penchant for instruction through demonstration, so I think some of us, after the intial shock, were wondering when Randi was going to lower the boom -- break it to us that we'd been duped, discuss the methods which made it possible and the story so compelling... There was some lesson in accepting anecdote alone without corroborating evidence, perhaps...
...but the narrative didn't turn that way.
Instead, Randi discussed how all the major political figures in the Presidential race made known their condolences and all inserted God in them in some fashion. He noted that to his recollection, in all Russert's broadcasting career, despite all these important people doing so now on his behalf, never once had he invoked God or Jesus on the air. He just dealt in facts, because that was his job, and he was damn good at it, and that commanded respect.
...and with that, it was clear that it was no trick... 🙁
Tim Russert was a damn good newsman. I can't imagine who they could pick to replace him. My Sunday mornings won't be the same without him.
