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Bob Novak Hits Pedestrian, Drives Away

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 12:52:54 PM EST
Tags: Bob Novak (all tags)
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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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    Bob Novak Hits Pedestrian, Drives Away | 197 comments (197 topical)
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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 / 4) (#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 / 2) (#106)
    by Jen M on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 02:53:43 PM EST
    aaaauuuugh

    [ Parent ]
    Maybe Bob was texting (5.00 / 6) (#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 / 4) (#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 / 2) (#29)
    by pie on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 01:29:26 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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 ]
    I don't read this as the victim was hitting (none / 0) (#149)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 04:52:19 PM EST
    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


    [ Parent ]
    Well, that settles it then. (none / 0) (#173)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 05:44:38 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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.
    What is Novak's ment al status . . . (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by Palomino on Wed Jul 23, 2008 at 06:58:33 PM EST
    because of medications, age, perhaps (early) dementia, etc., or other conditions that would suggest he should not be driving?

    This doesn't sound good for Novak's credibility: (5.00 / 1) (#205)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jul 24, 2008 at 12:05:42 PM EST
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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


    [ Parent ]
    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) (