Robert Novak Retires Effective Immediately; Brain Tumor Diagnosis 'Dire'...

[StorminNorman]

Sun-Times political columnist Robert Novak retires

August 4, 2008


FROM SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTS
Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times' political columnist describes as "dire."
"The details are being worked out with the doctors this week, but the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy," Novak said.

[Tron5000]

Originally Posted by StorminNorman

Sun-Times political columnist Robert Novak retires

August 4, 2008


FROM SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTS
Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times' political columnist describes as "dire."
"The details are being worked out with the doctors this week, but the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy," Novak said.

Very sad. I've be an admirer of Mr. Novak's work for years. I pray for his health and for strength for him and his family.

[Tron5000]

Edit. DP.

[The Chairman]

Same.

[StorminNorman]

One of the best political columnist in the country.

[The Senator]

My condolences to the family on his pending death.

[Tron5000]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

My condolences to the family on his pending death.

Um, that's a bit callous, don't you think? Mourn the dead when they're gone, but at least still have respect for the living.

[The Senator]

Meh. I don't really care at all about Novak, I think he's a pompous windbag and I could care less about the reasons why he is gone. So again, I feel sorry for his family on what will be a likely loss.

[Tron5000]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

Meh. I don't really care at all about Novak, I think he's a pompous windbag and I could care less about the reasons why he is gone. So again, I feel sorry for his family on what will be a likely loss.

The man was just diagnosed with brain cancer. If you can't at least be respectful, then why bother with this thread? Go make yourself look foolish elsewhere.

[The Chairman]

Originally Posted by Tron5000

The man was just diagnosed with brain cancer. If you can't at least be respectful, then why bother with this thread? Go make yourself look foolish elsewhere.

Seriously.

Hell, I hate Bush, but if the man were somehow diagnosed with AIDS or a terminal form of cancer, I'd totally be respectful about it.

In retrospect, reading other posters make light of another unliked political figure's possible death due to personal views makes me feel less guilty about my indifference and slight feeling of karma taking its toll when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed a few months ago.

[The Senator]

Originally Posted by Tron5000

The man was just diagnosed with brain cancer. If you can't at least be respectful, then why bother with this thread? Go make yourself look foolish elsewhere.

Because this is a forum where everyone is allowed to have an opinion on the matter. This isn't the "kiss Robert Novak's ass thread," it is a thread on his resignation, which has no emotional weight on me. I'm glad his column is done, regardless of the circumstances.

[The Senator]

Originally Posted by The Chairman

Seriously.

Hell, I hate Bush, but if the man were somehow diagnosed with AIDS or a terminal form of cancer, I'd totally be respectful about it.

In retrospect, reading other posters make light of another unliked political figure's possible death due to personal views makes me feel less guilty about my indifference and slight feeling of karma taking its toll when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed a few months ago.

Hey, you're allowed to have your opinion on the matter. But alas, I still don't see how it is Karma when a man of his age is diagnosed with a brain tumor, considering it has been decades since that accident took place. Karma would have been if he crashed his car into a lake and drowned. A natural disease has nothing to do with karma, unless he received it in the late 1970s.

[The Chairman]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

Because this is a forum where everyone is allowed to have an opinion on the matter. This isn't the "kiss Robert Novak's ass thread," it is a thread on his resignation, which has no emotional weight on me. I'm glad his column is done, regardless of the circumstances.

That's secondary to the fact the man is sick. If someone published a story saying "Mark Warner To Retire Immediately, Serious Illness To Blame," would you not jump on someone for saying "Boy, I don't care if he's sick or not, I'm just glad he's out of the Senate."? Because that is essentially what you're inferring about Novak.

[The Senator]

Originally Posted by The Chairman

That's secondary to the fact the man is sick. If someone published a story saying "Mark Warner To Retire Immediately, Serious Illness To Blame," would you not jump on someone for saying "Boy, I don't care if he's sick or not, I'm just glad he's out of the Senate."? Because that is essentially what you're inferring about Novak.

No.

[The Chairman]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

Hey, you're allowed to have your opinion on the matter. But alas, I still don't see how it is Karma when a man of his age is diagnosed with a brain tumor, considering it has been decades since that accident took place. Karma would have been if he crashed his car into a lake and drowned. A natural disease has nothing to do with karma, unless he received it in the late 1970s.

Maybe not karma, but I did a feel a sick, twisted sense that a natural justice befelled Kennedy. Not just with the car accident, but all his years of alcoholism, wrecklessness and shady ties somehow caught up with him. I won't lie, though: I admired him as public servant.

[The Chairman]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

No.

Well, fair enough, I suppose.

[Tron5000]

Originally Posted by jmanspice

Because this is a forum where everyone is allowed to have an opinion on the matter. This isn't the "kiss Robert Novak's ass thread," it is a thread on his resignation, which has no emotional weight on me. I'm glad his column is done, regardless of the circumstances.

You could at least try to be respectful of a man who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor, and a man who has served his country as a distinguished political journalist for over 50 years.

[The Senator]

Originally Posted by Tron5000

You could at least try to be respectful of a man who was just diagnosed with a brain tumor, and a man who has served his country as a distinguished political journalist for over 50 years.

Well, then let me clarify:

I respect Robert Novak for using his constitutional right to free speech all those years, but I do not respect the things he wrote, his attitude, or himself as a person. I am glad his column is finished, and I feel sorry that he has been diagnosed with that tumor and that his family will have to cope with the loss they will experience in time.

[jaguarr]

This is a long way to go to get out of an attempted vehicular manslaughter charge for running over homeless people.

jag

[Nivek]

Robert Novak leaked a agents identity and publicly outed her for political purposes, and risked the safety of several active agents entrenched in missions that were known to have contact with her. I'm surprised that the Company are being this obvious in taking him out like this. But you dont betray your countries spies. These people live in their own world, and give up alot to do their jobs properly. You just dont screw with them. These are the people who take care of problems, and can make you disappear. Or, you suddenly get terminal brain cancer.

Coincidence? Maybe, and it's sad if the man just got unlucky with health, but a pretty odd coincidence considering this guy broke an unwritten rule and f'ed with the C.I.A. Next thing you know, he's got dementia running people over, then is found to have Terminal Brain Cancer.

Karl Rove better hire a trusted driver and food taster.

[Marx]

Regardless of your personal feelings towards this man, or the political views that you hold, this is unfortunate.

My thoughts are with he and his family.

[Superman4ever]

I didn't agree with him on most things; definitely didn't care for the CIA leak, but his stance on the Mid-East has been a little more fair than many conservatives, especially among the "pundits".

Anyway, cancer is no laughing matter and almost always should never be made light of even if you disagree with someone politically. That's the point of democracy, civil discourse. Even in the face of an ideological opponent they still remain human, and never moreso than when tragedy strikes. It could happen to you and you wouldn't want people dancing on your grave.

Now had this been Hitler or Saddam Hussein it'd be a different story.