Sad news today for conservative icon Bob Novak who announced he is retiring from his long-running political column to seek medical treatment for a brain tumor.
I had the pleasure of seeing Novak speak at last month's RightOnline conference. Best wishes to him and his family for a speedy recovery.
PS: Keep an eye on that Sun-Times story I linked above where you'll see that the paper's editorial staff is running full-speed to delete vile left-wing comments about Novak. Lefty tolerance in action. (Hat tip: USA4freedom)
Picture at right is from Novak's most recent TV appearance which was taped for Bloomberg TV's "Political Capital" show July 18th.
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Oh my heart sunk about an
August 4, 2008 - 17:38 ET by bigtimerOh my heart sunk about an hour ago when I heard on The Situation Room that Novak's condition was dire.
My prayers are with him, I have listened/watched Novak so many years now, I couldn't even count... more than two decades though.
I am going to miss him, The Prince of Darkness...he is one in a million.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
hear hear - a very good man
August 4, 2008 - 19:33 ET by TruthMongerhear hear - a very good man indeed
GODspeed and good luck to Bob Novak.
August 4, 2008 - 17:42 ET by c5thenI wish him all the best and hope that his treatment is successfull.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.
Novak
August 4, 2008 - 17:50 ET by iveseenitallOver the years, Bob Novak was often a lone, couragous conservative voice. He will be missed. God bless him.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Remember when he and his
August 4, 2008 - 18:00 ET by Chris NormanRemember when he and his writing partner Rowland Evans, Buckley, Safire and M Stanton Evans were about the only conservatives to be found on editorial pages? Before conservative talk radio and the Internet, we had to rely on just a very few people as outposts of any political sanity. They helped get us through the Seventies and Eighties.
McNotObama '08
Chris
August 4, 2008 - 18:24 ET by iveseenitallYes, Chris. They represented what at least one half the country was thinking but they weren't being given a fair shake. That's why the "fairness doctrine" gives me a cynical laugh every time every time it is mentioned. "Liberals" have always wanted it all their way, haven't they? Bob Novak fought them all. Good for him.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
Chris...I believe Evans was
August 4, 2008 - 18:37 ET by JerChris...I believe Evans was a center-right Democrat. But there have been plenty of conservative columnists and pundits--preceding the age of talk radio and the Internet--whom you failed to note, e.g. Westbrook Pegler, Donald Lambros, George Will, Pat Buchanan, William Rusher, James Burnham, etc...the list is lengthy.
Jer
I think Chris is right
August 4, 2008 - 18:40 ET by Matthew Sheffieldabout the guys he mentioned (add Will though) being the only righties on TV though.
Matthew...Chris
August 4, 2008 - 18:52 ET by JerMatthew...Chris specifically referenced "columnists". But, in any event, John McLaughlin has been on television for years, as has Buchanan. I also remember William Rusher on a right vs. left recurring debate show decades ago. Also there were the bombastic types like Morton Downey, Jr. and Joe Pyne.
Jer
Rollie was center right
August 4, 2008 - 18:40 ET by bigtimerRollie was center right dem?
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
bt...I believe so, but I
August 4, 2008 - 18:44 ET by Jerbt...I believe so, but I could be mistaken.
Jer
Jer, Thank you for the
August 4, 2008 - 19:12 ET by Chris NormanJer,
Thank you for the complete list of earlier conservative columnists. Actually, I was just reminiscing about who stuck out to me from back then - impressions, really. Perhaps, I wasn't very well read back then. The four columnists I named are those who made the biggest impression on me - speaking in hindsight.
McNotObama '08
My pleasure,
August 4, 2008 - 19:26 ET by JerMy pleasure, Chris...although it was not intended to be a "complete" list--just an off-the-top-of-my-head recollection.
Anyway, I pray Bob Novak makes a full recovery. He's another Democrat who became increasingly conservative over the years. But, he was one of the best-informed, best-sourced journalists on the political "beat".
Jer
Back then, one may have
August 4, 2008 - 19:40 ET by Chris NormanBack then, one may have added Kevin Phillips to the list. Of course, things changed and the line moved to the right of who was considered "conservative" with the ascension of Ronald Reagan. Before 1976, Gerald Ford was considered by many to be fairly conservative. I remember thinking that US News and World Report was a more "conservative" magazine - BTW, is it still being published?
McNotObama '08
Chris...Back in the 50's
August 4, 2008 - 20:04 ET by JerChris...Back in the 50's and 60's, Newsweek was considered left of center, Time centrist, and US News & World Report right of center.
I seem to recall reading something not long ago indicating that US News was folding, or in imminent danger of folding, so I'm really not sure whether it is still being published. But then much of the print media is in dire straits.
Jer
I think I was the only one
August 4, 2008 - 20:13 ET by Chris NormanI think I was the only one in junior high school who voluntarily read USN&WR in the library. I still remember the short item blurbs in (I think) "Washingtongram" and "News You Can Use". This probably helps explain my lack of dates later... :)
McNotObama '08
How cute Chris - you are like our own Alex Keaton
August 4, 2008 - 20:18 ET by Dee BunkI had zero interest in politics and things until after high school. You must have been very mature for your age.
...or just plain weird. :)
August 4, 2008 - 20:24 ET by Chris Norman...or just plain weird. :) I've got to admit, I was a political junkie all through JH and HS. Too bad I never did anything with it - except excel at Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy - "I'll take Politicians of the Seventies for $500, Alex"
McNotObama '08
Chris...When I was "growing
August 4, 2008 - 20:24 ET by JerChris...When I was "growing up", we had subscriptions to all of the news magazines, with the exception of--oddly enough--Newsweek. USN&WR was actually my favorite. It had excellent foreign policy/international affairs reporting--which I was "in" to at the time.
Jer
God Bless Robert Novak
August 4, 2008 - 18:16 ET by DelsaI knew something was wrong when he hit a guy with his car and did not know it.
He is not a Kennedy and would never have hit and run or in Kennedy's case crash and drown.
God bless you Mr Novak.
I will pray for you and yours
We are really loosing some
August 4, 2008 - 18:24 ET by USA4freedomWe are really loosing some great people lately.
God bless you Mr. Novak, fight it all the way!
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendal 2012 (if,we survive)
we don't really lose
August 4, 2008 - 19:34 ET by TruthMongerwe don't really lose them
they elevate to a higher office:)
I agree. Ronald Reagan,
August 4, 2008 - 23:51 ET by USA4freedomI agree.
Ronald Reagan, 1962: I did not leave the Democratic party, the party left me.
Insert: your name, 2008, and the Republican party.
Romney / Jendal 2012 (if,we survive)
Higher Office
August 5, 2008 - 02:14 ET by timrfrench61Amen
I remember him from the Mclaughlin Group from late 70s/early 80s and how annoying he was :-)... yet I could never quit figure out his political position(probably center left democrat like someone said) but I appreciated the discussion.
I have been reading his weeklys via e-mail and have really appreciated his analysis.
Any word on whether the tumor is malignant? I know one person who got treatment and is supposed to be fine (just the non-malignant tumour will have to be operated on intermittently to keep it in check).
Delsa
August 4, 2008 - 18:32 ET by iveseenitallRight, Delsa. And those "fair-minded', "non-judgemental" "liberals" were right out there condeming the man. They'd better close down the wacko lefty bloggers now, before their crap about Bob Novak begins to pollute the net. Are you listening Huffington and Kos?
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
they only have mouths, man
August 4, 2008 - 19:37 ET by TruthMongerthey only have mouths, man - no ears