I got home from a show at Glasslands late last night and ended up watching an in memoriam show for Tim Russert featuring Tom Brokaw, James Carville, Mary Matalin, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Gwen Ifill, Mike Barnicle, Betsy Fischer (Executive Producer of “Meet the Press”) and Maria Shriver (who, I’m sorry, is one of the scariest-looking people alive today).

Obviously, I never knew Tim Russert personally, but my sense of him from his show and from what others have said about him is that he was truly an exceptional person, immensely respected and hugely influential. Russert was principled, curious, intelligent and unafraid to ask real and difficult questions and to expect real and complex answers.

Few journalists demand accountability from politicians or press them for answers instead of evasions, but Russert’s genuine interest and faith in politics and in people garnered him not only respect from people all over the political spectrum, but also goodwill and trust. According to his friends and colleagues, he was fiercely loyal and rejoiced in other people’s successes.

“Meet the Press” drove the news cycle and set the bar on reporting. If a fraction of news sources in the U.S. cleaved to that level of integrity, research and honesty, I wouldn’t have to watch the BBC World News to find out what’s happening in my own country.

James Carville did not actually cry (on camera) but he got very choked up. So did Brokaw (I’m pretty sure he cried when the camera cut away). So did Mike Barnicle. Mary Matalin was definitely teary-eyed, and at one point you could see a crumpled tissue in her hand, but what got me the most was how James Carville, one of the craziest, hardest, wiliest consultant-pundits ever, held onto her hand so tightly looking simply devastated. The outpouring of emotion Tim Russert evoked, who he was, what he did and what he stood for, was really moving.

I always scoffed when people mourned the death of Princess Diana with near-religious fervor. I suppose they identified with her or felt sorry for her. I do know she did a lot of good work towards eradicating land mines and with AIDS patients, but honestly people, she was not exceptional, because other people have done the same or more. She was famous for her pedigree and marriage, and the attention she received for her admirable charitable work has been inaccurately remembered as the impetus for the adoration lavished upon her.

Tim Russert was truly a force for good in this country, an example of civility and meaningful dialogue in a country overrun with pre-packaged sound bytes, empty rhetoric, macho posturing, pissing contests and shouting matches. I know this entry may seem overly effusive or exaggerated, but if nothing else, the passing of Tim Russert throws into high relief this country’s lack of steadfastly reasonable and fair reporting.

Tom Brokaw called Tim Russert “authentic” and in this day and age, that’s one of the highest compliments a person can receive.

Goodbye and thank you, Tim!