Anchises; An Elegy on the Death of Tim Russert

I weep for Anchises, for he is dead... etc.

Tim Russert died today from a heart attack.

He was a little overweight.

His arteries were all clogged up.

He was a master journalist.

We have lost someone who would have given

masterful insight to this election season,

made it more authentic for all those who want the truth from politics

and not the empty rhetoric so easily spewed

by bigots like Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, and Dick Cheney

I watched him last week on television,

after Obama had won the Democratic nomination

He was bearing a radiant smile

as he explained how historically momentous

the night was, and talked about

(but more importantly, showed)

his excitement for the upcoming campaign,

between Obama and John McCain

because he hoped there would be a straight-up

discussion about the big issues -

why each man thought their approach to America's situation was better

and not quibble over personal attacks or banal cultural concessions

"Politics will happen again," he said

and I shared his excitement.

Now I carry that excitement on after his death

and I will commemorate my commitment to his ideals

of exposing the truth, and giving to those in need

of always bringing honour and good humour to his work

by committing myself to healthy eating,

thus prolonging my life,

so that I might bring to the world

more of what was lost today.