Novak was also known for his love of fast driving and his dislike of slowing down after he had run over someone. A witness related how he chased down Novak after the latter hit a very old homeless man, throwing him over the windshield of Novak's sleek Corvette convertible.
As he traveled east on K Street, crossing 18th, [David] Bono said "a black Corvette convertible with top closed plows into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed into the windshield.” Bono said that the pedestrian, who was crossing the street on a "Walk" signal and was in the crosswalk, rolled off the windshield and that Novak then made a right into the service lane of K Street. “This car is speeding away. What’s going through my mind is, you just can’t hit a pedestrian and drive away,” Bono said.
He said he chased Novak half a block down K Street, finally caught up with him and then put his bike in front of the car to block it and called 911. Traffic immediately backed up, horns blaring, until commuters behind Novak backed up so he could pull over.Bono said that throughout, Novak "keeps trying to get away. He keeps trying to go.” He said he vaguely recognized the longtime political reporter and columnist as a news personality but could not precisely place him. Finally, Bono said, Novak put his head out the window of his car and motioned him over. Bono said he told him that you can't hit a pedestrian and just drive away. He quoted Novak as responding: “I didn’t see him there.”
It's a pity Novak didn't see his victim, since he was so fond of the idea of running over people who are walking across the street. From an interview given long before he ran over the old man:
After witnesses saw him scream at a pedestrian, Novak explained to the [Washington Post]: "He was crossing on the red light. I really hate jaywalkers. I despise them. Since I don't run the country, all I can do is yell at 'em. The other option is to run 'em over, but as a compassionate conservative, I would never do that."
Evidently he decided to make an exception.
The greatest tribute, however, comes from Mark Krikorian:
I never met Bob Novak, but I believe Kate that he was "a devoted husband and father, a loving grandfather, a loyal friend." But there is one more word we should add to that list:
Patriot.
Yes, there's nothing more patriotic than outing an American spy for political gain.
No wonder conservatives can't watch the Bourne movies. Their heroes betray their fellow Americans and expose our spies monitoring WMD. It must be slightly disconcerting to side with the traitors.
My condolences to Novak's family, but only if we are absolutely certain he's dead. Like permanently. Like, bring a stake to that wake.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI hate to say bad things about people when they have recently died since they were loved by somebody and for those people it does hurt. Though, I have hardly anything nice to about Bob.
Also how on earth do you read the national review without getting angry. Doing it everyday must take its toll. I appreciate the blood sweat and tears.
Regards,
SV
@ Larkspur
ReplyDeleteAlso, put garlic in his mouth, expose his bloated corpse to sunlight, and maybe place it in running water, too, for good measure.
You can't be too careful.
SV, I understand and I don't like to say bad things about the dead, but I do it anyway. Journalists depend on politeness and a dislike of unpleasantness to get away with abandoning their responsibilities and/or shilling for the rich.
ReplyDeleteI know most folks are reluctant to speak ill of the dead. So I won't, lest that ill find its way to some wingnut blog as evidence of how positively BEASTLY liberals are. Instead, I would like to rise in defense of Novak's hitting that cyclist...doesn't ANYONE appreciate how hard it is for a freakin' dwarf to SEE out of a Corvette?
ReplyDeleteYou aren't speaking ill of DEAD Novak, you're speaking ill (truth, that is) of how Novak behaved when alive. His behavior now is probably beyond reproach.
ReplyDelete