Tim Russert's death this past Friday was a loss not just for the Russert family, but for this country as a whole on many levels. I was devastated when I heard the news on Friday and truly felt that I had lost a good friend. Tim's book, "Big Russ & Me" was given to me by my wife shortly after it came out and was a book that I enjoyed reading. I pulled that book off of the shelf on Friday night and set it on my desk as I came to terms with the terrible news.

 

It may seem strange to be reading these words from your plumber on Father's Day, but in my mind a fitting tribute to a man that came to mean so much to the people of this great nation.

 

 Meet The Press