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Bob Novak Hits Pedestrian, Drives Away

Via Politico, Columnist Bob Novak hit a pedestrian while driving to work today in his Corvette. He says he didn't know he hit anyone, didn't see anyone and drove away. A bicyclist saw it, followed him and stopped him. [More...]

The bicyclist was David Bono, a partner at Harkins Cunningham, who was on his usual bike commute to work at 1700 K St. N.W. when he witnessed the accident.

As he traveled east on K Street, crossing 18th, Bono said a "black Corvette convertible with top closed plowed into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed onto 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. “The 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 blared and commuters finally went into reverse to allow Novak to pull over.

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  • Judging by the news lately.... (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 12:57:02 PM EST
    he should be convicted of attempted murder and serve a ten year stretch in p.m.i.t.a. prison.

    I wouldn't agree with that, but Novak's buddies in government apparently do.

    Glad (5.00 / 2) (#13)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:15:00 PM EST
    to hear that the pedestrian's injuries are minor.  Kudos to Bono for getting involved.

    Guess he's a pro bono lawyer. . . n/t (5.00 / 7) (#72)
    by LarryInNYC on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:59:24 PM EST
    Okay (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:16:23 PM EST
    that's just really too clever! Funniest remark of the day.

    Parent
    Injuries worse than previously stated (5.00 / 1) (#128)
    by magster on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:55:31 PM EST
    according to ThinkProgress

    Parent
    I'll Say (none / 0) (#131)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:58:39 PM EST
    Considering the age of the victim and the description, "only minor injuries" sounded miraculous. This makes more sense.

    Parent
    How long ... (5.00 / 4) (#14)
    by TChris on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:18:33 PM EST
    before the neocons find a way to praise Novak for trying to take out a terrorist?

    LOL! (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:22:19 PM EST
    Maybe the victim was an undercover C.I.A agent! I'm glad the poor guy who got ran over by this fool is gonna be okay.

    Parent
    Shortly after they find a way to blame ... (5.00 / 3) (#125)
    by Robot Porter on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:49:07 PM EST
    one of the Clintons.

    Parent
    How can you not know you've hit someone (5.00 / 4) (#17)
    by kempis on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:19:09 PM EST
    when "The guy is sort of splayed onto the windshield"?

    Surely you'd see something. Even if driving while texting (which is the only possibility I can think of for not seeing a guy roll over your hood in daylight), you'd hear something...like a sickening thud.

    It's hard to believe that the Prince of Darkness ran over someone in broad daylight and had no idea.

    no kidding (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:20:37 PM EST
    I ran over a squirrel once and I still cant get the sound out of my head.

    Parent
    and the feel (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by Jen M on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:53:43 PM EST
    aaaauuuugh

    Parent
    Maybe Bob was texting (5.00 / 5) (#19)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:21:20 PM EST
    AND wearing his Ipod.

    That crazy kid.

    Parent

    and puting on makeup (5.00 / 3) (#25)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:25:48 PM EST
    an smoking a cigarette and flipping off the guy in the Beamer who beat him throung the light.

    Parent
    Oh come now...he only flipped that (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Radix on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:06 PM EST
    guy off, for having a Obama/Clinton bumper sticker and nothing else. Sheesh... this is how rumors get started.

    Parent
    Maybe.... (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:25:05 PM EST
    the little people just don't register with Novak.

    We're just proles...akin to mosquitos...a nuisance.

    Parent

    If a proletariat (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:26:18 PM EST
    gets smacked in a crosswalk by Novacula's vanity wheels, does it make a sound?

    Parent
    only if (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:30:22 PM EST
    there is a witness.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#91)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:18:00 PM EST
    Pro Bono lawyer to the rescue!(see LarryinNYC upthread).

    Parent
    The light hurts his eyes. (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:29:26 PM EST
    Especially driving a Corvette (5.00 / 3) (#104)
    by ruffian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:49:21 PM EST
    Where the front bumper is about as high as the pedestrian's knees.  Of course you are going to see him. The natural place for him to land is on the hood of a low slung car like that.

    Parent
    Especially in such a "low-to-the-ground" (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:02:28 PM EST
    vehicle as a Corvette!!  Puhleeeeze, spare us the insulting of our intelligence.

    The Prince of Darkness strikes again....literally!!

    Parent

    It (none / 0) (#93)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:19:08 PM EST
    depends on what the meaning of 'splayed' is.  Seriously, I saw a rabbit on the road in its last throes once and ran over it in a sort of mercy killing.  I still can remember the sound and feel of it.  Ugh.

    Parent
    His best alibi is that he was so drunk (none / 0) (#142)
    by nulee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:37:22 PM EST
    he didn't know he hit someone  ... and that ain't such a good one.

    Parent
    I saw an episode of Crossfire years ago (5.00 / 3) (#35)
    by JDM in NYC on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:33:14 PM EST
    where the guest was a representative of MADD, advocating tougher DUI standards. Novak went on for some time about how much he enjoyed having a few glasses of wine and then going out for a drive. He said that his judgment was never impaired, and that MADD just wanted to take away his fun.

    I saw an episode a few years back (5.00 / 3) (#44)
    by TimNCGuy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:41:34 PM EST
    it may or may not have been CrossFire where Novak got so animated when he was arguing with someone that his front teeth (caps) fell right out of his mouth and he had to keep on going till commercial with the big gap showing.  LMAO for quite a while on that one.

    Parent
    eeeuuuu (none / 0) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:45:52 PM EST
    Didn't he also walk off the set when (none / 0) (#172)
    by PssttCmere08 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:43:29 PM EST
    James Carville hurt the widdy bitty prince of darkness' feelings?

    Parent
    Classic. (none / 0) (#40)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:38:57 PM EST
    I'm surprised Mukasey hasn't interposed (5.00 / 2) (#53)
    by scribe on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:45:07 PM EST
    executive privilege to block the press from interrogating him, seeing as how Novak's pretty much a part of the WH press operation....

    Jon Stewart's writers (none / 0) (#63)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:48:44 PM EST
    are throwing the show out as we speak.

    Colbert is rewriting his opening.  Oh, the frantic flying comedy fingers of fate!

    Parent

    alert the dvr! (none / 0) (#123)
    by txpublicdefender on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:43:31 PM EST
    Thanks for that!  I will have to remember to set my DVR tonight.

    Parent
    His lawyer ought to because he has now told (none / 0) (#134)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:14:55 PM EST
    two different stories based on what I've read and seen.  That WJLA footage that Politico linked has him saying that he didn't know he hit anyone and that nothing happened at all that he knew about - now he is telling other news outlets that he thought the guy was beating his windshield with his fist.  One would have thought he would have mentioned that someone "attacked" his car during the WJLA interview rather than claiming that nothing at all happened.

    Parent
    To be fair, I think (none / 0) (#139)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:26:07 PM EST
    "he is telling other news outlets" that the bicycle rider was beating on his car with his fist, presumably in an effort to stop Novak from driving any further.

    Parent
    Nope - TMZ says they had an (none / 0) (#143)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:42:07 PM EST
    exclusive interview with him in which they are reporting that he was listening to NPR and all of a sudden some guy was beating on his windshield with his fist and then afterwards a bicyclist blocked his way.

    I would link the TMZ article here, but I never seem to be able to post a link on this site without breaking the margins.  It is in the google though.  If their quote from Novak is accurate, he did notice that his car and a person had been in contact with one another.

    Parent

    how to link. (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:47:50 PM EST
    To link, with apologies if it's too basic:

    -highlight the URL of the web-page that you want to link to.

    -copy the URL ("edit" then "copy").

    -come back to TL and write something in your "Comment:" box.

    -highlight the word(s) in that comment that you want to be the link.

    -click the "URL" button above the "Comment:" box, it's the button that has
    an icon that looks like links of a chain. That brings up a link box, and your cursor is automatically in it.

    -hold down the "Ctrl" button on your computer's keyboard and then type "v". That copies the url into the link box.

    -click "OK."

    -click the "Preview" button below the "Comments:" box.

    -if the preview looks good - ie., the word(s) you selected to be the link are a different color from the rest of the text - click the "Post" button below the "Comments:" box.

    Parent

    Try This (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:49:44 PM EST
    to link, using brackets:

    [link word or words URL]  works like a charm

    or more here

    Parent

    TMZ link (none / 0) (#150)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:53:20 PM EST
    link

    Thanks squeaky.

    Parent

    Good One (none / 0) (#153)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:00:11 PM EST
    Glad it worked for you. Took me a while to figure out how to link.

    Parent
    Novak's car with his fist.
    Novak tells us he was listening to "Morning Edition" on NPR in his Corvette when suddenly, "Some guy came up and hit my car with his fist. I figured I had done something that had created road rage, but I didn't know what it was. Then a bicyclist blocked the road in front of me. I asked what the problem was. He said, 'You can't just hit people and run away!'"


    Parent
    No one could possibly believe (5.00 / 2) (#152)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:58:42 PM EST
    that Novak didn't know he hit someone.  The guy could have been dressed in black clothing when he hit his black car, but there would have been a sickening thud.

    OTOH, I guess he's trying to beat the more serious "hit-and-run" charge.

    Creep.

    Parent

    Sure they could. (none / 0) (#163)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:10:02 PM EST
    Especially if it was just a small bump such that the victim was essentially unhurt as many of the reports are saying.

    Like I said upthread, I have grave doubts my own dad would be aware of a small bump to a pedestrian. Especially if it were a crowded, busy city street where he was trying to be aware of car and pedestrian traffic from all sides. But then my dad is 8 years older than Novak.

    Now, if the victim is in as bad shape as some reports are saying, then yeah, Novak must have known.

    Parent

    He ended up on (none / 0) (#164)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:16:15 PM EST
    the windshield!

    He's an accomplished liar and won't admit anything that could hurt him more.  I'm sure his lawyer was quite specific as he dialed him on his cell phone.

    That's all this is about.

    Parent

    Um, we don't know about the windshield (none / 0) (#165)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:27:34 PM EST
    for sure.

    If there is one thing Jeralyn and TChris have drilled into us over the years is just how unreliable eye-witness testimony is.

    Not saying the testimony definitely is unreliable in this case, just saying at this point it can't be taken at face value.

    Also, you don't know my dad. And by extension, I don't think you really understand how old people are. I didn't really either, until my dad got old.

    I'd be surprised if my dad's cone of vision is any bigger than about 45 degrees.

    If he was focusing on, say, a car or something that was close to his left front bumper, I doubt very much he'd have any cognizance of something hitting the right side of his car.

    Oh yeah, his hearing's getting bad too. He probably wouldn't hear a thump very well either.

    Parent

    You Are Mixing Things Up Sarc (5.00 / 1) (#179)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:55:41 PM EST
    The unreliability of eye witness testimony in all about IDing a suspect. We know who the suspect is. And it is not like a knife fight with 20 people, but one pedestrian in the hospital that was allegedly hit by Novak hard enough that he flew into his windscreen.


    Parent
    Really. (none / 0) (#182)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:01:40 PM EST
    TL's position is that a witness IDing a suspect the witness saw is suspect, but everything else a witness saw is not. I did not know that.

    Parent
    That Is The Weakest Point (none / 0) (#185)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:05:05 PM EST
    In eyewitness ID. Most people can see that they were raped or shot at or a witness to a robbery, the part where it starts to break down is in the line up. Most people do not remember a face exactly and at best, get confused by someone who looks similar.

    That is the unreliable part, noticing the crime is not usually a problem.

    Parent

    If only "noticing a crime" (none / 0) (#188)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:16:43 PM EST
    was what we're discussing. "Splayed on the windshield" is the specific description that is problematical. Especially from a morally outraged eye-witness.

    Except, of course, if it was an attorney's description, because it's clearly obvious that spending their days analyzing the law makes them the supermen of remembering and recounting what they think they saw in the blink of an eye in an accident.

    Even if the victim did hit the windshield, I don't doubt for a second that if my own dad were focusing on something on one side of his car and someone bounced off the windshield on the other, that my dad would likely have had no idea that something happened. And my dad's in better shape than my mom.

    Parent

    This hasn't anything to do (5.00 / 1) (#193)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:23:39 PM EST
    with what happened today.

    You're telling me that if you saw someone hit a pedestrian, you'd be making these unusual excuses?

    I hope it goes to trial, and the lawyer mentions Valerie Plame in passing.

    But it won't, of course.

    Someone got hit.  Someone hit him.

    Passive voice won't work here.


    Parent

    Nope. (none / 0) (#197)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:32:05 PM EST
    I'm saying the description "splayed across the windshield" may not be accurate.

    Parent
    One last thing before I go, (none / 0) (#190)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:18:48 PM EST
    I'm not saying he was aware, I'm saying it's certainly possible he wasn't aware.

    Parent
    "I'm not saying he (none / 0) (#191)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:19:43 PM EST
    wasn't aware"

    Parent
    Well, that's good. (none / 0) (#195)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:26:24 PM EST
    If you tell me he was doing his own make-up, that's a different story.

    :-)

    Parent

    So the guy (none / 0) (#168)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:36:20 PM EST
    ended up in the hospital, because...

    Parent
    That has to do with Novak absolutely (none / 0) (#169)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:38:41 PM EST
    knowing he hit a pedestrian because...

    Parent
    Because he did. (none / 0) (#171)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:43:21 PM EST
    Well, that settles it then. (none / 0) (#173)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:44:38 PM EST
    I see. (none / 0) (#170)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:42:17 PM EST
    Oh yeah, his hearing's getting bad too. He probably wouldn't hear a thump very well either.

    Well, yank his license then.

    I mean that sincerely.

    We moved to Iowa several years ago.  When I went to get my Iowa license, an older man was renewing his.  The woman asked him to look into the machine and tell her on which side the light was blinking.

    First, he asked what light.

    Next, he asked what machine.

    He got his license renewed.

    Yeah, Iowa.

    Still, I was appalled.


    Parent

    Injury or lack of them (none / 0) (#183)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:03:48 PM EST
    aren't proof of the "seriousness" of the impact.  You can be struck just right and have some bruises and abrasions, or struck wrong and end up with internal injuries and broken bones.  It's all in the physics.  Sometimes you put your hands out to catch yourself and get a few scrapes, sometimes you break your wrist.  (A coworker's son broke his elbow when he put out his arms to catch himself.)

    Parent
    Fair enough. (none / 0) (#194)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:25:21 PM EST
    He could have been merely bumped and still had big injuries, or he could have been knocked into the crowd and only had minor injuries.

    Parent
    I read it that way and the thing (none / 0) (#156)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:01:08 PM EST
    that bothers me - aside from the fact that Novak is a proven liar - is that in that interview right out of the police cruiser - the person beating on his windshield with his fist was never mentioned.  His original story right out of the gate was that he was blissfully unaware of anything at all until the cyclist was blocking his way - and every account of the cyclist's actions is that he put himself in front of Novak's car and called 911 on his cell phone - he didn't touch the car in any report - and I believe that since the guy is a lawyer and probably smart enough to know that he shouldn't be beating on someone's car.  But we'll see.

    Parent
    Fair enough, (none / 0) (#159)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:03:55 PM EST
    it doesn't sound like the bicyclist said he beat on Novak's car, but I still can't read that statement as the victim beat on his car.

    Parent
    Regardless of what the real story is, (none / 0) (#184)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:05:00 PM EST
    you'd think the guy would have learned by now that he shouldn't be talking to the press about his legal entaglements.  The inconsistency of his stories opens him up to greater scrutiny than talking to the police and leaving probably would have.  Presumably he told the police what he told WJLA and the Politico.  Then he added some action with TMZ - not smart imo.

    Parent
    Well, I think the stories are (none / 0) (#198)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:40:52 PM EST
    significantly inconsistent only if you want them to be.

    Parent
    Listening to NPR? (none / 0) (#151)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:54:32 PM EST
    Too funny.

    It sounds like he was watching teevee.  Or dementia's stting in.

    Parent

    Gosh, that guy Bono is everywhere (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Jim J on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:54:32 PM EST
    doing great humanitarian work -- meeting with world leaders, feeding the poor, and now this.

    </funny>

    Drive away, drive away.... (5.00 / 2) (#96)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:26:12 PM EST
    drive away, drive away.

    I Will Follow!

    Good one Jim.

    Parent

    and he STILL hasn't found (5.00 / 2) (#107)
    by ruffian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:54:32 PM EST
    what he's looking for.

    Parent
    well (none / 0) (#110)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:56:46 PM EST
    at his age its not going to get any easier.  I suggest a system.  or maybe one of those clapper things.

    Parent
    WaPo (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:57:24 PM EST
    Reports
    Syndicated columnist and TV political pundit Robert D. Novak said he was issued a $50 citation by D.C. police this morning after he hit a pedestrian while driving his sports car in downtown Washington.

    [snip]

    After Novak had driven about a block from the scene, he said, he was flagged down by several witnesses, including a bicycle messenger who called D.C. police.

    Novak said the messenger was "shouting at me that I couldn't just hit people and drive away.

    Bike messenger?

    $50 ticket? (5.00 / 6) (#105)
    by ruffian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:52:54 PM EST
    Is that all you get for hitting a pedestrian in D.C? Hardly makes it worth your while to avoid them.

    I kid.

    Parent

    I wonder (5.00 / 3) (#112)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:01:19 PM EST
    if it can be expensed??

    Parent
    If he had hit a blonde woman who (5.00 / 5) (#129)
    by Anne on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:56:26 PM EST
    had been missing, he could have collected a reward...

    Seriously, if he didn't see the person, I think it's time Bob had a field of vision test.

    About 5 years ago, when my mother was 73, she had a stroke while she was out shopping.  She didn't know this was happening to her - she'd had a bad headache for a couple of days, but she has a history of migraine, so wasn't overly concerned. She never lost consciousness, never lost her physical ability or her speech. She managed to drive home, but (1) really had no memory of doing so and (2) also had a minor fender-bender that she didn't even know she had had until the cops showed up at her door.

    Nothing was adding up, and as I said, her speech was fine and everything seemed to be working.  She was pretty rattled, but I would be too if cops showed up at my door and told me that, technically, I could be taken off to the pokey.  She just wanted to take some Advil and get into bed, and promised to call me later.  After talking with my brother, who also called her, we agreed to meet at her house the next morning, and if she wasn't better, we were going to take her to the ER.  She was so much more out of it the next morning, though, that we called 911 and did the whole ambulance thing (she was so embarrassed to be taken out of the house in her nightie on a gurney).

    Turns out that - among other equally invisible effects - the stroke rendered her unaware of anything that was happening on the left side of her body - looking back, I remember the day before putting a couple of Advil in her left hand, and she kept asking where the pills were - I just thought she was all rattled from the cops showing up.  And in case you were wondering, the neurologist told us that there was nothing we could have done to mitigate what happened even if we had taken her to the ER immediately.

    That aspect of her stroke resolved to a large degree, but field of vision tests revealed that she still had some significant blind spots on the left side, so we had to insist that she was no longer drive.  We hated to do it, because of the loss of independence, but as I told her, I just couldn't live with myself if we got a call that she had been killed, or had killed someone, while driving.

    Not suggesting that Novak had a stroke - but it's possible he has some deficits he isn't aware of.

    And if I lived in DC, I would be on the lookout for a Corvette!

    Parent

    Novak has some deficits alright (5.00 / 1) (#200)
    by wasabi on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 07:19:11 PM EST
    A deficit of caring and compassion, even if he claims to be a "Compassionate Conservative".

    Parent
    actually (none / 0) (#108)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:55:24 PM EST
    at that price it almost makes it worth some targeted  "accidents".
    although if a celeb was the hittee instead of the hitter the price might not be the same.

    Parent
    Gee, the bicyclist (none / 0) (#73)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:59:30 PM EST
    sure was unreasonable.

    How dare he bellow truth to Bob?
    (if indeed he did raise his voice.  I woulda!)

    Parent

    Already the conflicting accounts.... (none / 0) (#78)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:06:42 PM EST
    ...or does Novak just assume everyone on a bike is a messenger?

    Parent
    The latter, Maria. (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:13:41 PM EST
    He Looked Him Up (none / 0) (#82)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:10:03 PM EST
    In Who's Who....  All jest aside, clearly he was attempting to besmirch the credibility of the witness by suggesting he was one step above homeless.

    Parent
    why else (none / 0) (#88)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:14:57 PM EST
    would anyone ride a bike?

    Parent
    If this is true... (5.00 / 3) (#80)
    by dianem on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:08:57 PM EST
    ...he'll have to lose his license. He's 76 years old. If he actually said that he didn't see this person, even though they were on his windshield, by everything that is right and holy he has to lose his license. Anything else would be a travesty.

    Time for the BMV vision test. (none / 0) (#122)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:40:47 PM EST
    Gotta do it every time I renew.  This isn't like some developing nation where you just pay off someone.  I think...

    Parent
    Bob Novak drives a Corvette??? (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by BarnBabe on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:16:08 PM EST
    It kinda takes some of the coolness out of the car. But it does explain how he sees himself and that might be one of his many problems. Heh.

    I never thought a Corvette was cool (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by CCinNC on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:45:35 PM EST
    because I heard they were bought by guys with big necks and little d*cks.

    Parent
    had a comment (none / 0) (#102)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:46:44 PM EST
    about that earlier but I think it got deleted
    :-(

    Parent
    Pity, too (none / 0) (#109)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:55:59 PM EST
    that was one of my LOL moments.

    Parent
    I don't rate comments (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:19:18 PM EST
    as a matter of principle, but I do want to give kudos to many of the posters on this thread. Some of the best comments I've ever seen on TL!

    Oh sarcastic one (none / 0) (#98)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:27:45 PM EST
    I couldn't agree more.
    I'd like to extend a warm thank you to all the posters who made me LOL and brightened up a bad day.


    Parent
    Amen to that.... (none / 0) (#100)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:39:50 PM EST
    nursing one of my worst hangovers in recent memory today after a Dave Mason show last night (great stuff!), wondering how I'd ever make it to whistle-blowin' time...this thread saved my life:)

    Parent
    yes (none / 0) (#103)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:48:13 PM EST
    thank you Bob for the midweek comedy relief.

    Parent
    Bono Donated Money to Obama (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by jonswift on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:58:50 PM EST
    david Bono the pedestrian Novak hit donated money to the Obama campaign:

    http://jonswift.blogspot.com/2008/07/robert-novak-runs-down-obama-supporter.html

    I have to wonder if running down supporters of the opposition is a good strategy for the McCain campaign.

    Well, at least (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:02:14 PM EST
    it's a strategy.

    Parent
    Hm (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:09:45 PM EST
    I think he may be misunderestimating the effect as a deterrent.  First they came for the small donors...

    Parent
    "Drive-By" Journalism (5.00 / 3) (#118)
    by rdandrea on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:27:32 PM EST
    n/t

    Hit and run. n/t (none / 0) (#136)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:16:42 PM EST
    Cut and run. (none / 0) (#138)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:24:18 PM EST
    Ouch.

    Parent
    TMZ headline: (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:46:16 PM EST
    Novak Veers Too Far Right, Hits Pedestrian


    I can see this scenario... (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by NWHiker on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:16:39 PM EST
    Having grown up in a Third World Country where sidewalks and traffic lights are just a suggestion, and cars run on horns, I can easily see a scenario where something like this happens.

    Novacula at a light, someone walks in front of him as he's starting, this unbalances the pedestrian who falls over on the hood. All this at slow speed and nobody is hurt.

    In that case, what happened ime was that the ped would slam the car hood with a hand, screaming at the driver, the driver would scream back etc until the driver decided it was time to speed off and that would be that.

    Not that I'm saying that it happened this way, but  I can see a possibility that he wasn't leaving an injured person on the scene, or where he even thought that police should be involved.

    But then again, this Bob Novak....

    Washington isn't a third world country (5.00 / 1) (#145)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:45:53 PM EST
    and the sidewalks and roads are not suggestions.  By 10am in the area that this happened, it is actually pretty quiet on the streets most days.  When my office was on K street I used to get there around this time of day because the car and pedestrian traffic was next to nothing at that point - by 10am most people have scurried into their offices - it starts getting busy again around lunch time.

    Parent
    Novak's Second Hit and Run (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by john horse on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:45:05 PM EST
    By my count, this is Novak's second hit and run.  The first was when he did the hit job on Valerie Plame.

    Has it been mentioned on MSM (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by Jjc2008 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:01:27 PM EST
    Have any of the punditry class, all quick to defend their friends and fellow pundits, mentioned this?  I have had CNN and MSNBC on and off a couple of times today and it was never mentioned.

    I was noticing the same thing. (none / 0) (#161)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:08:04 PM EST
    Nothing from the political punditry that I've heard or seen.  Print has picted it up, but TV is mysteriously silent.

    Parent
    Not sure that I agree (none / 0) (#167)
    by Jjc2008 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:33:01 PM EST
    with the word "mysteriously".....then again perhaps your use of the word is tongue in cheek or satirical.  I expect them to keep it silent. I suspect many of them knew for months who leaked about Valerie Plame.  

    No mystery about the men of the MSM....they cover for each other always.

    Parent

    Apparently, there was no exchange - (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by inclusiveheart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:06:40 PM EST
    according to witnesses Novak simply drove on.  Personally, I can't imagine not stopping or calling the police (depending on the situation) if any pedestrian came into contact with my car while I was driving it.  Of course, I am not the super-rich Bob Novak who believes he is above the law because he has press credentials either.

    With all due respect (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:08:56 PM EST
    to the elderly and Bob Novak in particular, here is the report of an accident in Florida several years ago. I guess it's possible to not have a clue.


    A 93-year-old driver apparently suffering from dementia fatally struck a pedestrian Wednesday night and drove for three miles with the man's body through his windshield, the police said. The driver, Ralph Parker, was stopped after he drove through a toll booth on the Sunshine Skyway in St. Petersburg. The toll taker called the police. Mr. Parker will probably not face charges because he did not appear to know what happened or where he was.


    Novak, who was on his way to work when the incident occurred, said the bicyclist was "shouting at me that I couldn't just hit people and drive away. But I didn't know I'd hit him. I really didn't have any idea it happened until they flagged me down and told me."

    Asked whether he believed Novak's account of not seeing the pedestrian, bicyclist David A. Bono said, "No, I would not believe that."

    Bono, 47, a partner at Harkins Cunningham law firm, said: "I can tell you what I saw. I was on K Street on my bicycle, and what I saw was a guy get hit by a black Corvette convertible. I see the guy go up on the hood, up on the windshield." As the Corvette turned right from 18th Street onto the service road beside K, Bono said, "the guy rolled off the hood and landed on the street."



    I know that area well (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 12:56:21 PM EST
    K St NW has a funny arrangement with a sort of center highway that allows you to drive under Washington Circle.

    The pedestrian was lucky that he was so close to GWU Hospital.

    Dude, He Almost Hit Me Years Ago (none / 0) (#3)
    by BDB on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 12:58:45 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure it was him, it was a convertible so I got a good look.  I was walking along a sidewalk near my office building and crossing the entrance to the parking garage and he almost hit me zipping into the garage.  

    I shared an elevator with him once (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:00:26 PM EST
    at the SMPA when Crossfire was still taping there. Never saw him driving, though.

    Parent
    Were you scared? ;-) n/t (5.00 / 2) (#180)
    by bridget on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:56:28 PM EST
    You must've looked like a jaywalker (none / 0) (#5)
    by CCinNC on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:04:55 PM EST
    He hates jaywalkers.


    Parent
    Temporary Insanity? (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:26:53 PM EST
    "'Learn to read the signs, [bodily orifice]!' Novak snapped before speeding away," according to an item in The Washington Post's Reliable Source column.

    Novak explained to the paper: "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."
     

    "

    Think Progress
    Jaywalkers drive him crazy.

    Parent

    He was charged with (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:38:00 PM EST
    failure to yield?!

    What about leaving the scene of an accident?!

    Parent

    He is on the old side (none / 0) (#84)
    by MKS on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:10:24 PM EST
    Maybe he really didn't realize what was going on.

    But a Corvette???  Isn't that macho dream for old geezers more than a decade passe?

    Parent

    He Fancies Himself (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:18:52 PM EST
    A Mario Andretti:

    ...Novak had gone to a racing school in Florida.

    "I've wanted to be a racecar driver all my life, and anyone who has watched me drive can tell you that," Novak said.

    dkos

    Parent

    It is if the driver can't see the person he hit (none / 0) (#178)
    by bridget on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:54:39 PM EST
    splayed on the hood of his car

    Let's see, Nowak couldn't see his victim, couldn't hear anything, not a single bump. He didn't know what was going on ... and Bono had to chase him down and stop him like Spiderman ;-)

    Nowak should get a driver from now on. It would be interesting to check out his driving record.

    Parent

    I was wondering about the exact same thing (none / 0) (#174)
    by bridget on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:44:58 PM EST
    failure to yield?

    and then to top it all off he said he would not fight the ticket. Very gracious, Mr. Nowak.

    just imagine this would have been a Britney Spears, Hilton, et al story ...  these girls would be fighting some heavy charges and prison by now ... IMHO. Anyone remember the Halle Berry Hit and Run? Ended up in court.

    But Novak gets away with "I don't remember?" I hope not.


    Parent

    BTW, (none / 0) (#33)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:33:04 PM EST
    what happened to the poor pedestrian?

    Parent
    One way ticket..... (5.00 / 2) (#114)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:07:18 PM EST
    to Guantanamo.

    Parent
    Okay--minor injuries (none / 0) (#85)
    by MKS on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:10:42 PM EST
    Maybe not so minor (none / 0) (#204)
    by andrys on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 10:42:26 PM EST
    From ABC7 News:
    Source: Novak's Victim Worse Than First Thought

    The pedestrian who was struck by prominent Washington columnist and commentator Robert Novak is in worse shape than first thought, a hospital source tells ABC 7 News.

    The victim, a 66-year-old man, appeared somewhat incoherent, said the source who had seen the victim. The man appeared to have casts on his neck and back. The victim was X-rayed and a surgical team plans to evaluate him, the source said.
    ...



    Parent
    Yeah well I work not far from there.... (none / 0) (#12)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:10:46 PM EST
    ...I'll be on the look out for him. They should take his car keys away, but you know they won't.

    Parent
    why? (none / 0) (#21)
    by bocajeff on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:23:07 PM EST
    because of how funny it would be (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:32:43 PM EST
    to see Novakula schlepping on public transit.


    Parent
    No chance.... (none / 0) (#41)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:39:24 PM EST
    he'll just get a chaffeur.

    I'm with bocajeff on this one though...no reason to take his keys away...it appears to have been an accident.  Though I assume a suspended license is in his future for leaving the scene.

    Parent

    anyway (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:25 PM EST
    I bet it would certainly be in the future of anyone reading this who did the same.

    Parent
    Public transit? (none / 0) (#45)
    by oldpro on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:41:49 PM EST
    Ridiculous.

    Novak can afford to just hire a driver or take a cab.

    You will NEVER see him on public transit.

    Parent

    I can dream (5.00 / 1) (#51)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:44 PM EST
    He can ride around on a bike like Andrew... (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Maria Garcia on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:03:18 PM EST
    ...Sullivan does from time to time in the same general area.

    Parent
    Nah... (none / 0) (#97)
    by oldpro on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:26:50 PM EST
    Sully wants MORE attention...Novak, less (at the moment, anyway!)

    Parent
    Because he outed (none / 0) (#37)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:33:33 PM EST
    Valerie Plame.  :)

    Parent
    Bobby Novak (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptainAmerica08 on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:05:02 PM EST
    is always good for some unintentional comedy.

    I'm no fan of "Bobby" Novak, (none / 0) (#10)
    by zfran on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:08:17 PM EST
    but I don't think this is unintentional comedy. Novak looked shook up, as well he should be for whatever reason (shook up for the other guy or for his liability), but I bet the guy in the hospital isn't laughing!

    Parent
    maybe they can get him for this (none / 0) (#8)
    by TimNCGuy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:06:11 PM EST
    since he hasn't had to pay for his involvement in the Plame affair....

    maybe he mistook him (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:09:26 PM EST
    for the person who fed him that phoney McCain VP thing.

    Parent
    Bob Novak is one of the sorriest (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by hairspray on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:33:08 PM EST
    examples of a human being that I have ever seen. He will not pay for his "other infractions, like the Plame affair" but he may end up paying dearly for this.  I hope so.  He needs to take responsibility for his behaviors.

    Parent
    Take responsibility? (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by oldpro on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:45:09 PM EST
    As a recovering Catholic, I can point out that Novak can just go to confession and be absolved of all responsibility.

    Easy.

    That wouldn't take care of a prosecution or a civil lawsuit, however...and either or both may be in his future now.

    Parent

    Thats what I was talking about. Isn't hit (none / 0) (#201)
    by hairspray on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 09:12:24 PM EST
    and run a felony?  I hope he goes to prison. Because the man he hit was not seriously injured he probably will plea bargain down and not do any jail time. Pity!

    Parent
    you don't like the 1st Amendment? (none / 0) (#22)
    by bocajeff on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:24:05 PM EST
    1st amendment is fine... (none / 0) (#31)
    by kredwyn on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:32:03 PM EST
    outting a covert operative to the entire world via a news column...usually that's frowned upon. Something about operational security...

    Parent
    does the first ammendment (none / 0) (#36)
    by TimNCGuy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:33:17 PM EST
    make it OK to knowingly out a spy if you are a member of the press?

    If that's the case, then yes, I don't like that part of it.

    Parent

    I don't know.... (none / 0) (#46)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:41:52 PM EST
    I certainly would be grateful if someone in the media outed the spies who are reading emails and listening to phone calls without a warrant.

    Parent
    they did... (5.00 / 3) (#49)
    by TimNCGuy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:24 PM EST
    it's the telecom companies.  But, the dems gave them immunity

    Parent
    Good point.... (none / 0) (#64)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:49:39 PM EST
    I was thinking of the agents the telecoms gave the info to, on a warrantless silver platter.

    Parent
    We really don't need the individuals (none / 0) (#61)
    by Radix on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:47:44 PM EST
    names. We only need to know it's being done, who ordered it and have it stopped.

    Parent
    Why not.... (none / 0) (#67)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:51:06 PM EST
    every individual is responsible for their actions.

    Don't get me wrong, I have some sympathy for the "following orders" defense...but only so much.

    Parent

    It's a tough call for sure. (none / 0) (#99)
    by Radix on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:32:20 PM EST
    People do funny things (none / 0) (#9)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:06:36 PM EST
    when they're under pressure.

    That they do.... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:18:55 PM EST
    and you never really know how you will perform under pressure until you're put to the test.  

    Looks like Novak failed this one.

    Whaddya think sarc, what should DC authorities charge him with based on the limited info?  

    I say leaving the scene of an accident....no more.  Do I hear assault with a deadly weapon?

    Parent

    Good question. (none / 0) (#71)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:58:03 PM EST
    Assuming he was driving normally, leaving the scene. If he was driving recklessly, well, didn't we just go through that yesterday? ;-)

    My opinion? He either panicked or truly didn't know he hit someone. Not sure I entirely trust the "splayed out onto he windshield" eyewitness description.

    Last summer my neighbor's 70-something dad hit a ped and left the scene. He got 30 days in county. Of course it was 1:00AM and he was leaving a bar and did have reason to not want to interact with police that night...

    Parent

    Maybe Novak had been drinking (5.00 / 3) (#77)
    by MarkL on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:04:27 PM EST
    blood.

    Parent
    I'm sure (none / 0) (#95)
    by chrisvee on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:21:14 PM EST
    he would only drink the blood of those who deserve it (e.g. enemies of the state) but maybe it intoxicated him.

    Parent
    Maybe he was... (none / 0) (#117)
    by desertswine on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:21:08 PM EST
    hurrying on his way to Borgo Pass.

    Parent
    The eye-witness.... (none / 0) (#83)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:10:18 PM EST
    Could very well be suspect, we know that all too well around here.  Plus, Novak has as many enemies as friends in that town.

    Your neighbor's dad did the right thing for himself in that instance, he woulda got more than 30 days if he flunked a breath test I'm sure.  

    The right thing by the pedestrian is quite another story.

    Parent

    yep. (none / 0) (#86)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:13:38 PM EST
    The victim was splayed on the windshield, (none / 0) (#28)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:28:41 PM EST
    but Novak didn't see him?

    He even has his glasses on.

    This isn't quite like the unfortunate accident a couple of weeks ago in DC when a girl on a bike was run over by a garbage truck that was making a turn and didn't see her in the bike lane.  

    remember the case, (none / 0) (#38)
    by cpinva on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:34:58 PM EST
    a couple of years ago, in texas i think, when a woman hit a homeless guy, who ended up coming through her windshield? she drove home with him sticking out of her car, parked the car in her gargage, and left him there.

    according to the coroner, the man was still alive at that point, had he been attended to in a timely manner, he'd most likely have survived. unfortunately, after (i think) three days in the garage, impaling the windshield, he died.

    she stated that she thought he was dead when she drove home, which is why she never contacted the police or medical services.

    people do truly bizarre things, in strange situations.

    time for a story (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:19:42 PM EST
    I have an EMT in my family and he told me this story. but it actually ended up being "dramatized" on one of "those" shows.
    a woman in a jeep was making a left turn and was hit by a car coming the other direction and knocked out of her car.  apparently she not only did not make left turns well but did not wear seat belts.
    anyway
    coming along behind her was an old man driving an old pickup truck. this guy was sort of well know in the area for being "not quite all there".
    so, he runs over the woman and one of her legs ends up getting wrapped around his back axle and he DRAGS her about her about ten miles on the pavement (she is conscious at least some of the time beating on the side of the truck and screaming) then turns off on a GRAVEL road for about a mile, pulls into his driveway, gets out of the truck and runs away and hides in the woods.
    the neighbors eventually heard the woman screaming and called 911.  she lived but lost the leg.
    btw
    I also remember the story about the homeless man stuck in the windshield and I agree with the other commenter, I am pretty sure drugs were involved.


    Parent
    Stress does strange things (none / 0) (#120)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:37:11 PM EST
    to people.

    Some people become heroes and others, cowards.

    (BTW - wear your seat belts and helmets.  Don't wanna read about you in the news.)

    Parent

    no kidding (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:51:52 PM EST
    Im an old biker living in yet another state that doesnt have helmet laws.
    frigging stupid afaiac.
    I would never never never ride on a street without a helmet.  and I get so sick of the rubes grinning at me for wearing one and showing the bugs in their teeth.


    Parent
    Pet peeve (none / 0) (#130)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:57:58 PM EST
    Parents who ride their bicycles with their kids.  The kids have helmets, the parents don't.  I hope they have their wills and Living Wills as well.

    I've only tumbled twice, and each time I was glad I had my helmet on.

    Parent

    this morning coming to work (5.00 / 2) (#132)
    by Capt Howdy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:02:52 PM EST
    I passed one where the parent had a helmet and the kid did not.
    no kidding.  I wanted to scream obscenities out the window.
    coming from California, or at least learning to ride a motorcycle in California, you learn the importance of helmets and other protective gear.
    an EMT friend out there said they were very happy when those one piece riding suits became fashionable because they kept all the pieces in one place.
    EMTs tend toward gallows humor.  its an occupational hazard.


    Parent
    The local paper (none / 0) (#137)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:18:56 PM EST
    did a piece on super speeders - people who speed in excess of 20 mph over the posted speed.  The EMTs and police agreed on one thing - in accidents over 90 mph, there are no survivors.  Cars just aren't built to do that.  

    Parent
    That was real??? (none / 0) (#42)
    by TimNCGuy on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:39:32 PM EST
    I saw that on an episode of "Law & Order".  I guess they mean it when they say "ripped from the headlines"

    Parent
    oh, yeah (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by txpublicdefender on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:39:54 PM EST
    It most definitely was a real story.  I always have this link handy for when friends I tell the story to accuse me of perpetuating an urban legend.

    http://www.wftv.com/news/2295744/detail.html

    Parent

    Oh. (none / 0) (#133)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:07:10 PM EST
    I didn't realize how hard she had to hit him in order for him to have punched through the windshield.  Let's see...strike person, person flies up onto hood and through windshield.  That's not a low speed collision.  

    Parent
    I think (none / 0) (#68)
    by rottenart on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:52:57 PM EST
    there were hallucinogenic drugs involved somehow too.

    Parent
    "No visible injuries" to pedestrian (none / 0) (#43)
    by Exeter on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:40:54 PM EST
    LINK

    Let's wait until we hear all the facts before making judgement on Novak. To me, it doesn't sound reasonable that he would plow into a pedestrian and then flee the scene. What sounds reasonable is that he whisked by someone, the person perhaps fell down, and a preoccupied Mr. Novak had know idea what had happened.

    the person perhaps fell down (5.00 / 5) (#52)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:52 PM EST
    and took a nap on his windshield.

    Sounds reasonable.

    Parent

    well played, (none / 0) (#58)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:46:33 PM EST
    pie!

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#60)
    by oldpro on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:47:41 PM EST
    The front end of a 'vette is pretty low (none / 0) (#141)
    by kredwyn on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:34:58 PM EST
    I can see it hitting you in the shin causing you to fall forward without there being much actual damage.

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#154)
    by Exeter on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:00:32 PM EST
    let's not get into eye witness exaggerations...

    Parent
    I'm with you. (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:48:39 PM EST
    My dad's 85, 11 years older than Novak, but I don't doubt for a second he could hit/bump someone and have absolutely no idea.

    I wouldn't be surprised if he'd have had no idea 11 years ago also.

    Parent

    How About 25 Years Ago? (none / 0) (#66)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:50:19 PM EST
    Probably not. (none / 0) (#74)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:59:50 PM EST
    Oops, Novak is 77, (none / 0) (#76)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:03:27 PM EST
    8 years younger than my dad, not 11.

    Parent
    Anyway (none / 0) (#79)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:07:54 PM EST
    I do not think it has to do with age, at least in Novak's case, unless you consider that years and years of arrogantly lying makes it habitual.

    Parent
    Everybody's entitled to their opinion. (none / 0) (#81)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:09:34 PM EST
    That's defense attorney talk.... (none / 0) (#48)
    by kdog on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:43:16 PM EST
    Fry the bastard!...:)

    Parent
    Why did he speed away , then? (none / 0) (#55)
    by MarkL on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:45:21 PM EST
    He was late for work? (none / 0) (#65)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:49:41 PM EST
    Where's the fun in that? (none / 0) (#57)
    by kmblue on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:45:58 PM EST
    I keed, I keed.

    I also smell a lawsuit from the pedestrian.

    Oh Bob, we hardly knew ye (and your 'Vette!)

    Parent

    Trust Me (none / 0) (#59)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:47:03 PM EST
    Novak has been sooooo very honest in the past. Who's Who will vouch for him, especially after all the free advertising.

     

    Parent

    It's hard to plow down (none / 0) (#140)
    by kredwyn on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:33:15 PM EST
    from a rolling forward position.

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    Why doesn't that seem reasonable to you? (none / 0) (#202)
    by hairspray on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 09:21:26 PM EST
    Do you know Mr. Novak?  Have you formed an opinion of him from his public persona?  What do you know about him to make you so charitable?

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    If you assume that he did know... (none / 0) (#203)
    by Exeter on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 09:34:24 PM EST
    ...then you also must assume that he knew that the person was not injured, or at least not seriously injured.  Why would anyone -- especially a well known celebrity -- drive off in crowded traffic with lots of people around? It doesn't make any sense.

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    You guys are too funny today (none / 0) (#119)
    by Lil on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 03:33:29 PM EST


    Weird That He Was Not Given A Sobriety Test (none / 0) (#166)
    by squeaky on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:27:42 PM EST
    But who would be drinking on their way to work? Someone who hit a pedestrian in his corvette and did not notice it, even though the person was splayed across the windscreen, that's who.

    Must have been the suit.

    Not wanting to alibi for Novak but (none / 0) (#175)
    by gabbyone on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:45:56 PM EST
    when I saw him on TV talking about this, he
    reminded me of a senior citizen in my neighborhood who hit someone last year and had no memory of doing it.  He had suffered one of the mini strokes called a TIA and he just looked and sounded like Novak. It was just like watching that event all over again.

    Novak doesn't have (none / 0) (#177)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:54:27 PM EST
    dementia.

    And, no, there's nothing funny about it at all.  

    But Novak would have us believe that he was oblivious to the fact that he hit a man who was "splayed" across his windshield, according to at least one eyewitness, who happens to be in the legal profession.

    Novak, as I said, is an accomplished liar.  

    The guy he didn't hit is in the hospital.

    You must be talking to someone else (none / 0) (#181)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:58:21 PM EST
    besides me.
    The guy he didn't hit is in the hospital.
    This has nothing to do with anything I said.

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    You said (none / 0) (#189)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:18:43 PM EST
    Well, that settles it then.

    Well, I guess that the fact that the guy is in the hospital is irrelevant.

    He's prolly one of those people who pretend to be hit, jump up on a sportscar, get the big collar around the neck, and settle out of court.

    Poor Bob Novak.

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    I said that in response to your comment (none / 0) (#196)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:30:23 PM EST
    "Because he did" which I read to mean "because he did absolutely know he hit the guy" since that's what I wrote and was the point of my comment that you were responding to.

    I see now you meant something else. I'm not sure I'd respond much differently though...

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    Bob Novak (none / 0) (#186)
    by Carolyn K on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:07:14 PM EST
    Was a blood alcohol level taken?  If so, what was it?  If not, why not taken?

    I hit a ped once, (5.00 / 2) (#192)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:22:57 PM EST
    and was given no sobriety tests or anything.

    Of course, I knew I hit the guy, administered first aid, such as it was, called 911, had the passing school kids translate for me, etc...

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    In Ohio (none / 0) (#187)
    by Fabian on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:12:18 PM EST
    I think the SC ruled it legal to take force a suspect who refuses a breathalyzer test to have their blood drawn for -OH levels.  I'll keep an eye out for black(!) Corvettes.  (I don't think I've ever seen one.)

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