Walter Cronkite fully deserves what the media gave Tim Russert last year

[WI_DEM]

Not anything against Russert, who seemed like a nice guy, but Walter Cronkite was a true journalist and a giant in his profession, as much or more than even Michael Jackson was in his. I wonder if the media will give him his due the same as they did for Russert?

RIP Mr. Cronkite.

[rockymountaindem]

1. Yep.

RIP, good sir.

[libnnc]

2. + + + +forty-seven-eleven-brazillion

RIP :patriot:

[FrenchieCat]

3. Cronkite a giant towering over Tim Russert.....

and then some!

[Tommy_J]

13. +1

[tishaLA]

23. +2

[arthritisR_US]

27. +3 n/t

[RFKHumphreyObama]

32. +4

[goclark]

36. absolutely ~ nt

[Earth Bound Misfit]

40. + 5 K & R n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

43. Indeed. + whatever we're up to now.

[warren pease]

4. Cronkite was to Russert what Everest is to a pile of diseased monkey shit. n/t

[calimary]

22. Wholeheartedly agreed!!!

Tim Russert wasn't worthy to touch the hem of Cronkite's garment. And for Lord's sake they frickin' burned incense to him all weekend.

Walter Cronkite was a giant. Tim Russert was a jumbo shrimp.

[arthritisR_US]

29. ITA! n/t

[kath]

30. Couldn't have said it better myself!

[slampoet]

33. Amen Brother.

[femrap]

48. Oh yeah! nt

[vssmith]

49. Damn! you have a low opinion of diseased monkey shit

[SoCalDem]

5. That's actually the last thing he would have wanted

He spent his entire working-life highlighting the facts, not the fact-bringer.
he chose to spend the last few decades with his family, out of the spotlight. he stepped down at the very time he could have cashed in on his status..and cashed in big.

The blowhards we currently have, right and left, are the antithesis of Walter. he saw it coming, and wanted no part of it. he would be uncomfortable with a Full Russert send off.

[WI_DEM]

7. you're probably right

[Mrs. Overall]

8. Yes, he was a humble man who was dedicated to authentic journalism.

[lob1]

42. Cronkite didn't quit, they forced him out. He didn't want to go.

In my mind, they had to get rid of him to build the totally corporate press we have today.

[Palin delenda est]

6. He absolutely does but I'm afraid journalistic integrity took a back seat to fluff

a few years ago. I hope I'm wrong, and he is properly remembered.

[TahitiNut]

9. Times two. Russert NEVER achieved the level of professionalism and respect that Cronkite had.

Cronkite was the last of the obsessively ethical and conscientious news anchors - integrity meant something then.

[tularetom]

10. I couldn't agree more except for the part about

Russert being a nice guy.

He was a tool used by the corporate interests that run this country to brainwash us ignorant masses into eating the shit they fed us and asking for seconds.

He wasn't fit to carry Walter Cronkite's typewriter.

Of course Cronkite will not be given the maudlin send off that Michael Jackson received but I for one will be very pissed off if his death is compared with Russert's in anyway.

[Arugula Latte]

26. You must be talking about Tim "Bush- pin- on- the- inside- of- his- lapel" Russert

THAT Tim Russert. x(

[azmouse]

11. It's a shame he died on a Friday.

His death will be lost over the weekend. :cry:

[liberalmuse]

12. I just now found out Walter Cronkite is dead.

Walter Cronkite WAS the news. FUCK everyone else (I should add that I don't mean you guys, but..., "Everyone who thinks they are doing news. They're not.") I'm really sad right now. Talk about a fucking icon. :cry:

[8 track mind]

39. i respectfully disagree

Edward R. Murrow and John Chancellor were quite good. David Brinkley was good until he became a right wing tool.

Cronkite was king though and i will miss him.

[Captain Hilts]

63. Yes, Chancellor was cool. nt

[sufrommich]

14. He deserves more accolades than Russert. nt

[jefferson_dem]

15. I hate that you have forced the macabre comparison.

Nonetheless, hopefully DUers will pay respects with dignity and not grave dance like many did when Tim Russert passed.

[Crabby Appleton]

16. Actually way more. nt

[liberal N proud]

17. More!

[Kaleva]

18. Walt deserves far more then what MJ got.

[scarletwoman]

19. Russert wasn't fit to breathe the same air as Cronkite.

Russert was a corporate tool. Cronkite was a JOURNALIST.

SW

[SaveOurDemocracy]

20. They may want to avoid reminding us of how ...

far they've sunk into the pit of corporate owned, manufactured news. The contrast screams.

[BlooInBloo]

21. You forgot the words "a whole fucking lot more than".

[WI_DEM]

24. true.

[Arugula Latte]

25. Russert couldn't lick Cronkite's boots. nt

[troubledamerican]

34. Amen.

[deaniac21]

28. TV news.....BFD

[Catshrink]

38. TV news: an oxymoran

[progressoid]

31. And then some.

[muriel_volestrangler]

35. Cronkite was world famous; Russert was just an American presenter

The BBC were running Cronkite's death as their top story (broadcast, and on the web site) this morning; Russert's death would have got onto the BBC website, but it's quite possible they wouldn't have broadcast it at all.

[datasuspect]

37. accolades, yes

another griefgasm, no

[spin]

41. K&R (n/t)

[DemoTex]

44. Walter Cronkite - KB2GSD

SK (Silent Key)


Amateur radio today - hosted by Walter Cronkite, SK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Z9136_Nhh4

[wurzel]

45. Cronkite was a Republican shill!

I remember Cronkite night after night during the Iran hostage taking, counting the days of captivity. This was instrumental in the defeat o Carter and the election of that total charlatan Reagan. He never commented on the strange timing of the release of those hostages. During Reagan's term more hostages were taken by Iran. But Cronkite never taunted Reagan the way he taunted Carter. Cronkite is way over rated.

[DebbieCDC]

46. And that's not even enough for what Mr. Cronkite deserves

This current crop of "journalists" are even fit to go to his funeral

[femrap]

47. He deserves a million times

what Russert got who loved to play best friends w/ Cheney. There is no comparison.

[TankLV]

50. x10

we certainly shall see, won't we...

timmy wasn't even in the same universe, let alone room...

timmy was a HACK at best - totally undeserved of all the fucking adulation and praise...

[Individualist]

51. Cronkite was a journalist; Russert was nothing more than a talking head.

[Donnachaidh]

52. Russert wasn't fit to lick dog crap from Cronkite's shoes

If anyone deserves a week of mourning it certainly is Mr. Cronkite.

[Raster]

53. Actually, he deserves much less. The bloated week-long Russert death-fest

was an insult, and worthy only of a corporate shill. Mr. Cronkite will best be honored and remembered with true, heartfelt acknowledgment, much less the media circus. Russet couldn't hold a candle to Cronkite. I would not defame his death by turning into a ratings and advertising orgy. Russert was a tool. Cronkite was a journalist.

[IcyPeas]

54. There were only 3 channels back then...

abc, cbs and nbc. He was a giant in a smaller pool. I'm 52 and I barely remember him. I guess I wasn't watching much news back in my youthful days. Of course more people knew who Tim Russert was just because he was currently on tv. I would guess most people who remember Walter Cronkite are quite up there in years themselves. ...just saying it was a different time. And yes, Walter Cronkite certainly was around at some incredible moments in history. And it's nice that we have film of him during these times. He lived a good many years.

Peace.

[Divine Discontent]

61. correct, you weren't watching the news, b/c I'm 1/3 younger than you & remember seeing him on the

news when I was little, and my parents would watch the news.

[carincross]

55. read Glenn Greenwald about Cronkite / Russert

Glenn Greenwald notes how David Halberstam was treated. He fears that the MSM will try to do the same to Walter by forgetting about how he helped stop the Vietnam War. David and Walter fought the MSM and the establishment when they had to. Tim was a shill for the MSM.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/07/18/cronkite/index.html

[RoccoR5955]

64. Glen Greenwald brings up some good points in that article.

Like how any journalist worth his salt would not be a celebrity, as was Russert. He wouldn't play lackey to any administration, and would call them on anything that was seen to be not correct.

[NashVegas]

65. Here's the Thing

Even if every network and cable news host suddenly got a spine and walked, there are tons of small market newscasters who would happily step into their places and say anything Roger Ailles wants them to.

And if those small market guys all quit, there are thousands of college grads with Electronic Journalism and Media degrees dying for their first break.

The revolutionaries who risked everything, including their economies, to create this country would be disgusted with the new breed.

[bjobotts]

56. A bought and paid for 'gotcha' stenographer vs a true newsman.No comparison

What does "seemed like a nice guy" got to do with his being a journalist. Can't call Russert a journalist...he did what he was told...he did no investigative reporting at all, always biased and slanted toward republican neocon conservatism passing up opportunity after opportunity to do real journalism just to pass on the messages he was told to pass on. Was even quoted as saying he would hold anything they told him in confidence unless they told him to report it, he would not report it (nor ask questions or pursue a story that might make his buds look bad).

Russert turned the 4th estate into the 5th estate of promised rewards and access to politicians for being a stenographer carrying the controlled message. Fuck Russert, even if he was a 'nice guy'.

Cronchite was old school newsman who asked questions and reported the news no matter who it affected. With him died the last media darling of the 4th estate as our founding fathers envisioned it, before media consolidation gave 6 owners the control of the press.

Bush's media exposed how controlled the message is...if the president does it then we'll justify it.

[Stuart G]

57. Yes, he was better than Russert...he stood up and helped

change public opinion against the Viet Nam War..unlike Russert...

[Libertas1776]

58. Cronkite deserves it one million times plus infinity

more than Russert.

[Mad_Dem_X]

59. Cronkite was a LEGEND and a true journalist.

And he should be remembered as such. :patriot:

[UTUSN]

60. Not to mention what MJ got. & G.E.Russert wasn't that nice a guy. n/t

[RoccoR5955]

62. Cronkite made Russert look like Mickey Mouse!

Cronkite would not have asked the first question of a presidential candidate, at a debate, "Do you believe in UFOs."