Can we get a time limit that is acceptable on DU to criticize someone after their death?

1 day?

2 days?

1 week?

2 weeks?

And what if the person is Hitler bad? Does that decrease the time limit?

against Russert ("Tim Russert is in Hell!") seems to have provided that catharsis for some DUers....

I suggest those that are just agonizing over the perceived imbalance of the sympathetic posts just go watch that vid over and over and over and over again. Feel better? :sarcasm:

(comments not directed to you, trumad, but to many of the others who are just frothing to let loose)

Looks like the Russert story has wiped the impeachment debate off of GD for the meantime...and this story will fade as well. It's the frantic synergy that gives DU a special charm...this is like a big water cooler...a little bit of news, a bit of gossip, a bit of drama.

This place also reflects the popular culture and media that pervade this country...the cult of personality. Russert had become a personal face of this media...a personality in the center of this cult and thus his loss is of high importance to all those caught up in this show. He wasn't a newsman...nor a real journalist as much as a personality connected with other personalities...a gatekeeper in many ways as to what was "conventional wisdom" and important in this 24/7 world of cable news.

His loss is one that is a shock, and my heartfelt condolensces go to his family, collegues and many fans...but this too shall pass...

The behavior of some people here is stunningly horrible.

Does that change things?

I'd say we haven't seen "Hitler bad" for a while. Not in this country.

But who am I to say, since all of the Russert bashers here have led infallible, perfect lives.

and employees (who, you know surely had their own jealousies and issues) are genuinely showing such devastation in their emotions at his passing. I wonder if any of those who choose only to see him through a blackened prism, ignoring any good qualities or glimmers of positivity in his work, will likewise react that way to their friends, family or even other Duers when they pass. Are we all to be judged so harshly?

Or to take pleasure in that hate-monger Phelps decision to target Russert.... My God. Is Russert "evil by association," because he was devout Catholic, because the Catholic hierarchy is anti-Gay and thus Russert MUST likewise be antigay? Thus posting Phelps' moronic and sick hate screed against Russert is seemingly useful in providing catharsis to those who have genuine issues unrelated to Russert? What the hell?

Yeah, I'm sad. If one needs to ask why, just take a look around DU the past 18 hours. :shrug:


BTW, just who is this HITLER who has passed recently?

what they thought of Tim Russert you would have gotten a response something like:

70% Republican hack douchebag

25% Serious and fair journaliist

5% Partisan Democrat

Judging from the threads I've seen since his death the current polling would appear like:

50% Saint

25% Reincarnation of Edward R Murrow

15% Serious and fair journalist

10% Republican hack


What has changed? Did the man's death expunge everything he did during his life. Did it atone for the sneering snide nasty treatment he gave Howard Dean on several occasions? Did it compensate for his rude questioning of John Kerry during the 2004 election campaign? Was it sufficient to make up for the regular 60 minute on air blow jobs he gave Cheney? Not to me it didn't. I didn't like him when he was alive and his death doesn't alter that. Like many people here I feel badly for his family, but the 12 hour blubber fest on MSNBC last night was way oer the top.

as well? Why must we resort to the RW habit of "good versus bad", "black versus white", unidimensional simplistic thinking?

its parent company GE.

If he had been an ordinary individual, the media whores wouldn't have started beating the drum for St. Timmy 24/7 the second he slumped over and died.

But he loved his friends and family. So? I'm sure the million or so Iraqis whose deaths he helped bring about loved their friends and families, too. How many tears have been shed over them -- innocent men, women and children-- by the media whores?

and if someone thinks its too soon then that person should simply ignore it. Myself I see Russert as an enabler to the bush regime and we all know what they stand for. So take it from there ;-)

starts spinning lies and bullshit to glorify one of its own.

In Timmy's case, that would be just about the time he slumped over in his chair.

since Wednesday. Vacuum to be filled, etc. :shrug:

For George W. Bush* I think it's 2 seconds.

For example, I would need some time to panic over the man who would take over.

I'm willing to compromise.

after his death that the unrealistic, head-in-the-sand, celebrity-worshiping canonization begins?