Shock: NBC's Tim Russert Dead at 58

Very sad news today: Tim Russert, host of NBC's MEET THE PRESS, has passed away at far too young an age.

The cause was apparently a heart attack.

Russert was undeniably liberal, but he conducted himself with class and I often found him more fair than many of his colleagues in the mainstream media. His extended-length cable interviews with Rush Limbaugh were particularly enjoyable viewing.

He will be missed.

Update: Rush Limbaugh has published a statement on his website: "It's just a shame. Tim was a regular guy with that perpetual smile he wore naturally all the time. He loved life and got everything he could out of it. Whether it was at dinner here in Florida while his son was taking golf lessons, or on the set of Meet The Press, Tim was always the same with me: genuine. He never condescended to anyone and was the consummate professional. He will be hard to replace. He was the closest thing there was at any of the networks to an objective journalist."

Update: Continuously updated posts today at the New York Times website, with many remembrances.