I can't really express how much contempt I have for Andy McCarthy ordinarily, but on this he's correct:
Good for Hil getting the name of the new president of Russia right (more or less). Catty of Russert to ask. She got the essential part of the question right — he's Putin's marionette. Did she really need to know the guy's name off the top of her head to convince us she understood what's happening in Russia?
Nobody, left, right, center, anywhere, wants Tim Russert to be the star of a presidential debate in the sense that Alex Trebek is the star of Jeopardy. Russert is ridiculous and embarrassing. Mean Gene Okerlund would be preferable. Far preferable and a lot more professional.