Tim Russert, RIP

"Say a prayer for Brother Timmie and tip a cold one." Tom Brokaw

I tipped a cold one with Tim Russert and his wife, Maureen one evening at the Four Provinces in Cleveland Park. He was drinking a draft, she, a glass of wine. When a drunk guy barreled up to him and, in a slurring roar declared his admiration, he was polite and somewhat amused.

After said drunk guy approached me and my friend, Tim declared, "He's not for you" with a broad smile. Very sweet, so unlike his Sunday morning demeanor.

A real loss for political journalism, especially in this historic election year, even if we acknowledge the sometimes-over-the-line gotcha nature of journalism that he perfected.

Sunday mornings will, indeed never be the same.