Today marks my first appearance at AOL’s Hot Seat… please be sure to visit, and vote.
For more than 16 years, Sunday mornings were special – no matter where most of us lived, or what we were doing – If you love politics, you spent an hour with Tim Russert. If church was on the calendar – you went early or late, depending on which time zone you live in. Because Tim Russert mattered. His opinion mattered. The questions he asked delivered an ”every man” sensibility and had an insider’s acute sense of the truth playing out behind the scenes.
His guests were challenged to tell the truth. To explain policy. To justify their opinions. And Russert distinguished between their opinions and true facts, making sure those of us in our pajamas with that first cup of coffee knew that he was in our corner.
Russert came to the set armed with briefing books and a mind that was one part encyclopedia, one part BS meter, and one part steel trap. From presidents to senators, no one was treated with reverence. Only with respect. He kept them human and taught us all a little about our nation along the way.
What are we to do with our Sunday mornings now? Meet the Press is the longest running television program anywhere in the world. Mr. Russert would want us to keep learning, to strive for truth, and remember that maybe, just maybe, the Buffalo Bills will pull it out this year.
The next anchor of Meet the Press must meet Russert’s standards. There are only a handful of folks who love politics as much, know the American people so well, and are true believers that can heartily say, “What a country.”
—Media Lizzy
Here are a few suggestions:
Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director
Chris Matthews, Hardball host
Mike Allen, Politico
Andrea Mitchell, Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent, NBC News
This column was originally posted at the home of Heading Right Radio.
Lizzy,
You can’t be serious putting Chris Matthews on the list!
Chris Wallace from Fox maybe, but nobody from MSNBC is even remotely qualified to act as the moderator on Meet the Press.
Heck I would even like to see Eric Burns from Fox News Watch maybe given some consideration. I haven’t seen him do any interviews but he does have experience at moderating a panel.
MTP will probably wind up with a Dick Gregory or someone similiar but there will probably be no way in the future that the show will even be obliquely characterized as balanced or even handed.
Oh, JAG! If I have to choose between Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann – it’s a hands-down win for Matthews. (that’s why he made my list instead of Olbermann)
I don’t think Chris Wallace would leave Fox News Sunday for Meet the Press – though he’s certainly capable.
Eric Burns is an interesting choice… David Gregory would be a solid choice, although I’m not sure his style would lend itself well to the format. Passion and combativeness are separated by a thin line…
Andrea Mitchell would be excellent – she certainly has everything it takes. I really admire her work.
My choice would be either Chuck Todd or Mike Allen – because both are fair minded, brilliant men who have earned the respect and trust of politicos on both sides of the aisle. Both men have a command of the political landscape. Both men have unparalleled contacts in the current – and next – generation of elected officials, strategists, senior advisers, and key operators.
This is not just about replacing Tim Russert – it’s about putting someone in the anchor’s chair that may serve there as long as Russert did. 16 years is a very long time – and we need someone driven by facts and a love of politics – not just a pick that makes us feel good for the moment… and we definitely don’t need someone who is so driven by self-aggrandizing and politically expedient ideology that folks turn off the TV.
Chuck Todd and Mike Allen are my picks.
Aaron Brown is my pick. The guy always seemed like a good listener to me without a partisan axe to grind. He also came across as smart which also seems a requirement for the job.