The only beneficiary of the Iraq war is the Kuwaitis and the Israelis. The former still practices slavery until the present times. Kuwaitis import immigrants from Bangladesh, Philippine, and India, restrict their right to work or travel inside Kuwait and mistreat them with subhuman housing, feeding, and underpay. The latter, Israel, has built a racist state on land that does not belong to it, brought immigrants from allover the world and displaced the original inhabitants of Palestine. Thus, Iraq war was to benefit the practice of slavery in Kuwait and racism in Israel. Recall, that VP. Richard Cheney was a supporter of Apartheid in South Africa and that both, the president and the vise president have dodged the military service in Vietnam.

The humility of Big Russ might also have weakened Tim's aggressive grilling inquisition regarding vital humane and political issues. For example, he never raised the issues of the roots of terrorism with key administration figures. The September 11's attack has targeted America as a second choice, the first being the Arabic and Islamic governments that oppress millions of hopeless peoples. These are supported by America, which stands in the way of democratization of the a billion Muslims. The latest, being the deal made with colonel Qaddaffy of Libya. Al-Qaeda was a transformation of the 1940th Islamic Brotherhood organization that was organized to resist the British occupation of Egypt and the corrupt royal family of King Farouk. That organization attempted to assassinate Naser in 1956 and was brutally dismantled after the failed attempt. They later assassinated Sadat and gained wide spread popularity among the poor, educated, and oppressed Muslims. They turned their hostility against America after 1967's war, when it became apparent that America is playing the same role of Great Britain, of divide and conquer.

Tim Russert witnesses the circus in the Congress that investigates the systemic failure of September 11, in which the Congress and Senate seem to look for a scapegoat somewhere else, other than within. No single senator or congressman has protested making deals with dictators, tyrants, monarchs, or racists. The "axis of evil" propaganda was promoted by the Zionist lobby to fight Israel's war on her behalf. The complacency of the Congress with politically correct issues was a major cause for lingering discrimination against Blacks in America and South Africa. The same complacency is still in work, in ignoring the disillusion of millions of Muslims with the indifference of the Congress on the issues of democracy and equality outside the borders of USA.


By the Grace of Daily Obligations   May 16, 2004
 150 out of 176 found this review helpful

Edit:
Tim Russert died unexpectedly on Friday, June 13, 2008. He was beloved by many and respected by many. He was one of the few political reporters that I believe gave us both sides of the story. He always spoke with eloquence and intelligence, and when he spoke, we listened.

"People do not die for us immediately, but remain bathed in a sort of aura of life which bears no relation to true immortality but through which they continue to occupy our thoughts in the same way as when they were alive. It is as though they were traveling abroad." ~Marcel Proust

We all know Tim Russert as the moderator of "Meet the Press", and now we meet Tim Russert, son of Big Russ. Tim Russert tells the story of growing up in Buffalo, and how he grew to be the man he is today has much to do with the father he idolizes. His father is his hero. This is a story of love, family love, religious love, love of sports, love of people and love of life.

Much of this book has to do with the lessons learned at the knee of Big Russ. Big Russ was a hard worker- he loved his family, a wife and four children. Big Russ learned his love of life in the Army. He was in World War II and was badly injured in a plane accident. Big Russ learned valuable lessons that day- he was saved from certain death by another soldier who threw caution to the wind to save his brother soldier. Big Russ is a reticent man who does not talk much about his experiences, as is common with WWII soldiers. It took Tim Russert many years to learn about his dad and about his experiences in the Army. Tim Russert once said the person he most wanted to interview was his own dad!

Tim Russert had an idyllic childhood, but it was not an easy life. He worked hard at school and hard at home. He came from a family who loved him and taught him many lessons. The family was Catholic, and his entire education was completed at Jesuit's schools. Food was a big part of their life. Big Russ worked two jobs to give his family a home, clothing and food on the table. There is an entire chapter talking about the food of the Russert home and the food of Buffalo. The roast beef weck sandwich is one of the famous foods of Buffalo but it is the Buffalo chicken wings that are the best known.

Tim Russert goes on to tell about his life, college, law school, working for Senator Moynihan and Governor Cuomo. He was well liked and as always a very hard worker. His work with these politicians was noted, and he was picked by NBC to work in the news division. He became the news Director of the Washington Bureau, and was later asked to be the moderator of "Meet the Press". He has made "Meet the Press' the most popular Sunday political show on television. He credits his success to Big Russ who told him to be himself, and to always tell the truth, and to ask questions the little guys would ask.

Tim Russert met and married a reporter, Maureen Orth, in 1983, and in 1985 one of the most important days of his life occurred with the birth of his son, Luke. Luke is a much beloved son, and from the stories Tim Russert tells, we know that Luke must idolize his dad much as Tim does Big Russ.

Tim Russert has made a success of his life. He attributes much of his success to his father. Tim Russert can best describe his father with this sentence taken from Gail Godwin's book
"Father Melancholy's Daughter".
"He lived his life by the grace of daily obligations."

This is a book to be read again and again. Full of stories of hope and goodness and love and life. It is a feel good book. A story of the life of one of our best political reporters. I believe that Tim Russert is one of the most respected man in America.

Tim Russert told us that Bruce Springsteen was one of the people he most wanted to interview. He was able to make enough money selling Bruce Springsteen concert tickets to attend college. One of Springsteen's songs:got a song to sing, keep me out of the cold
And I'll meet you further on up the road.

Further on up the road
Further on up the road
Where the way dark and the night is cold
One sunny mornin' we'll rise I know
And I'll meet you further on up the road.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=sY__dua_pEg&feature=related


Highly Recommended. prisrob 2004


Cats in the cradle...Harry Chapin's song comes to life!!!   May 15, 2004
 21 out of 25 found this review helpful

The background story behind this book is learning from your elders. In this particular one, we are talking about Tim Russert and how he explains the way that his father's knowledge (something that most children never appreciate until after the fact) and experience shaped his life. We learn of Big Russ, as he refers to his father, and how he was raise in poverty, was a WWII vet with an admirable record and his ability to raise his four children and support his household while holding down two jobs for a good part of his life. That, in itself, shows the character of Big Russ.

As is the dream of every parent, Russert's life is anything but representative of the suffering his father witnessed. A wealthy lawyer, Capital Hill insider and married to a celebrity journalist, Russert is the success story his father could brag about to any and everyone.

The book provides a nostalgic walk through time as the author reflects on his own life as well as that of his country. By the time you finish the book, you can understand why Big Russ earns the biggest title that any father can ever dream of. That of being seen as a hero in his own son's eyes. No amount of money or honors can ever top such a title as that.


Big Russ and Me   May 14, 2004
 10 out of 18 found this review helpful

Tim Russert has written a book to pay his father back for raising him the way he thinks he should have been raised. He prises his dad for taking care of him and his family working two jobs and on very little money. Big Russ gave his time to protect our country and at the same time protecting his family. It's a story that many of us can relate to with our own dads. Its a great read - Author- The Day Of The Rose


Surprising, wonderful book   May 13, 2004
 14 out of 18 found this review helpful

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this book in galleys from the publisher before it came out -- and finished it in one day. Although I've never met Russert, it's not the type of book you'd expect from anyone who works in Washington. It's rich with great descriptions and moving, humble, simple life lessons that resonate long after you close the last page. I was taken far more with Russert's early life in Buffalo than with his later years in Washington, but that in no way diminishes the overall book. Lots of titles are over-hyped today, but that's not the case with this one. It's a beautiful love letter to the Dad, family, and community who raised him.