6.24.2008

First Russert, then Carlin, who will be there to set 'em straight?


Luke had a message on our whiteboard for me to wake up to Monday. It read: '3rd celebrity death, George Carlin 1937-2008'. He was referring to the recent deaths of Jim McKay and Tim Russert, and you know how bad things come in threes, so...

Here's the problem with that conclusion: George Carlin was only the 2nd of 3. Look, what Jim McKay was able to do during the '72 Olympics was extraordinary. As good as McKay was, the public never counted on him to be the voice to set the establishment straight.

In two completely different ways, Tim Russert and George Carlin were able to hold the powerful accountable. Russert, with his incredible knowledge and research, asked Washington's most important politicians tough questions, while Carlin constantly pointed out hypocrisies of American culture.

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