One of the weaknesses of the blogosphere is that it provides "instant commentary" without the actual ability to use the perspective of time to take the long view. Instant commentary can be pretty useless and often inaccurate. When Tim Russert passed away, Slate (the internet magazine) published an interesting article that bemoaned the 24/7 coverage the news media gave of the loss of one of their own. Even though Bush 41 said Russert "...never practiced 'gotcha' journalism" (he was wrong, as he was on too many things) The Canonization of Saint Russert: The media overdo the death of a journalist summed up the tsunami of media coverage this way:

    "Russert's own networks, NBC and MSNBC, have bathed him in appreciation. On Friday, MSNBC broke in 
    with coverage announcing the death and started collecting reactions. NBC Nightly News mourned his 
    passing. Dateline NBC was given over to Russert's memory, as was MSNBC's Hardball. The fallen 
    newsman's Saturday show, Tim Russert, memorialized him, as did the Saturday edition of Today, 
    which fielded the reminiscences of Bob Schieffer, George Stephanopoulos, and Tom Brokaw, who 
    appeared at almost every juncture to talk about his friend. Sunday's Today reprised the coverage. 
    The Chris Matthews Show devoted itself to Russert's memory, and the contestants—I mean, guests—
    on a special edition of Meet the Press competed to see who could loft the highest praise for the 
    show's departed host."
 
This commentary in the same article summed up what I sensed at the time about the media:
    Watching the cable news networks in the hours after his death, one was struck by the outpouring
    of admiration and affection from across the political spectrum and from journalistic colleagues of 
    every sort. It was impossible not to be struck—once again—by just how incestuous and claustrophobic 
    the Washington-based nexus of politics and journalism has become.

Contrast the outpouring of coverage about Tim Russert with that of the coverage of the passing of Tony Snow. No breathless "Breaking news" reports. No coverage across the major networks of the memorial service.

Tony Snow held conservative views. Like the Pharisees in Jesus' day, the news media can't stand anything that goes against their prevailing orthodoxy, in this case, the orthodoxy of liberalism.

And its sad, because by all accounts I've read Tony Snow was a really decent human being. No wonder it didn't make the news,