Stunning the political and journalistic world, Tim Russertdied Friday of a heart attack at the age of 58. The tributes continue to pour in from both sides of the political aisle. Aside from the shock and empathy one feels for his family, it seems especially tragic that someone so obviously enthralled with the spirit and sheer fun of politics would pass in the midst of one of the greatest political races of his lifetime.

Moreover, when so many TV personalities don’t put forth much effort to take their jobs seriously, it is sad when someone who did leaves the scene. What remains is increasingly dominated by ranting, raving, nasty people. For conservatives often searching in vain for serious, balanced journalists in the mainstream media it is a great loss. And whenever someone so obviously decent and kind dies so precipitously, it is that much harder to accept.