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I spoke to Bob Novak this morning for about 10 minutes. He's leaving Thursday for Duke University Hospital where he will have tumor reduction surgery performed by the same surgeon who operated on Ted Kennedy. After a two week stay in Durham, he will return to his home in Washington to receive chemo and radiation treatment. Bob said he hoped that the treatment would improve his quality of life as well as extend it. When I asked him whether he thought he could beat the cancer, he said he didn't think so. He also said that some of his doctors have counseled against the surgery, but he thinks they were being too conservative. Bob received an unexpected but welcomed phone call from Ted Kennedy's wife, wishing him well. When I asked him whether I could visit when he returns to Washington he said, "When you're 77 years old, and you have brain surgery, anything can happen." I told him that if something did happen there would, of course, be grief, but I believed that in the "blink of an eye" we would be seeing each other in Heaven. He replied that he thought that that was a good way to think about it. Bob was his usual mater-of-fact self, but sounded understandably weaker. However, when I remarked that I was glad he had published his memoirs and had completed his book tour, Bob told me that he's looking forward to the release of the paperback version in September. He's determined to do all he can to extend what days he has left in the presence of God, his family, and friends. He knows that many of us are praying for him, and he is very grateful. Readers have left 15 comments. Quote(1) God Bless You, Mr. NovakAugust 12th, 2008 | 1:46pm If Bob Novak reads this I would like to tell him that I have been reading him since the 80's. I always looked forward to the next column. The news of Bob's conversion reached me and I felt like one of my own had embraced the faith. I truly rejoiced when I heard of it. My prayers are with you Bob, with your family and doctors assisting you.
May God bless you and keep you always.
Carlos. Quote(2) UntitledAugust 12th, 2008 | 10:41pm I'm sorry you're so ill sir and I hope the treatment gives an optimal result.
I do respectfully wish you would take the time and opportunity to speak with Mrs. Valerie Plame Wilson and offer her answers to any remaining questions she or her husband have. Considering the integral part you played, intentionally or not, in the abrupt end of her honorable and successful career, it would be the right thing to do for so many reasons as you, a devote Catholic knows.
God Bless you.
Melissa
Quote(3) SpeechlessAugust 13th, 2008 | 6:34am The post above leaves me absolutely speechless. Quote(4) "Melissa"August 13th, 2008 | 12:29pm The inability to distinguish an evangelistic call to conversion from the depravity that provoked "Melissa" to post the comment is a far more tragic affliction than anything that could kill the body.
Vade retro me Satana, nunquam suade mihi vana. Quote(5) No more spiritual direction, pleaseAugust 13th, 2008 | 10:19pm I'm going to ask commenters to stop evaluating Robert Novak's penance and spiritual life. That's between him and God and is not ours to speculate.
Thanks for understanding.
[I refer to a couple comments I removed.]
Quote(6) UntitledAugust 14th, 2008 | 1:15am what is so depraved as to render one speechless? Quote(7) Re: SpeechlessAugust 14th, 2008 | 8:21am The post above leaves me absolutely speechless. — Deal W. HudsonWhereas I understand you may have been surprised at the other post, I see it as a reasonable and respectful comment and am surprised at your own lack of speech. The poster wished Mr. Novak the very best wishes and asked him to rethink a political bomb that was part and parcel of his legacy. I do not see anything untoward from this poster. Quote(8) Saw You in AustinAugust 14th, 2008 | 10:05am Bob,
It was a pleasure to meet you in Austin, TX, during the week before your accident and diagnosis. I've always been an admirer and was especially pleased when learning of your recent conversion in faith.
I pray for your speedy recovery and will miss you in the media.
Patrick
Quote(9) Melissa & Poly the ticAugust 14th, 2008 | 3:20pm I have enjoyed reading Mr. Novak's columns since I was a teen in the 60s. He was one of the first to show me that CBS,NBC, and ABC were disgusting liars. He did it by presenting the truth. I am sure Melissa & Polly the tic think they (or he/she/it if as I suspect they are one and the same) are being cute with their backhanded expressions of false sympathy, but they fool no one with an IQ above 100 (i.e. Republicans). Novak did no damage to Plame and he phoney husband. Mr. Novak will be in my prayers. I feel like I am losing an old friend. This is a very sad time but I look forward to getting to meet him in Heaven. Quote(10) Best WishesAugust 14th, 2008 | 3:57pm Bob, Best wishes for your upcoming surgery. As a youngster in the 70's, your columns were one of the inspirations for me to wake up as a conservative, and fight back against the tide of leftism. We are praying for God to guide the surgeon's hands, and for the best possible outcome for you. Hope to hear more from you in the future. Quote(11) Best wishesAugust 14th, 2008 | 3:58pm Based on the article, the prognosis sounds rather grim for Mr. Novak. I admire his spirit in deciding to roll the dice on the tumor reduction surgery, and I hope that it comes out even better than he's thinking it might. It saddens me that he won't get to enjoy a leisurely retirement. Selfishly, I'm personally sorry that we'll lose out on the benefit of his perspective throughout this very important presidential race. His participation in "Crossfire" on CNN was where I first became aware of him, and it was always informative (and fun) to see him arguing his positions. Please share with him the best wishes of many of the commenters here. Thank you for the update on his status. Quote(12) Why the cheap shotAugust 14th, 2008 | 10:50pm Written by Bill Beahan
Are republicans the only people with IQ's above 100.
Very Christian thing to say. Not.
Think about your words. Would Christ have said those words? Quote(13) When the Time Comes for the Trolls to Face Their Own MortalityAugust 15th, 2008 | 11:15am I hope they take their own suggestions and reflect long and hard on how they chose to make a petty partisan swipe at a seriously ill person, when they should have only given their best wishes (or not posted at all).
Mr. Novak, I send you my best wishes, and pray you will be with us for years to come. Quote(14) From a LiberalAugust 16th, 2008 | 8:06pm I've followed Mr. Novak through the years on CNN, Bloomberg and Fox and read his column often. His ability to prick the hypocrisy of politicians and pundits has no peer. Though often finding myself on the other side of his arguments, he earned my respect many years ago. He and his old friend Rollie Evans were originals, hopefully Mr Novak will have time to pop a few more windbags. Quote(15) Bill BeahanAugust 17th, 2008 | 1:38pm Mr. Beahan, so you've read Novak for years, good for you. I have as well. I grew up reading The Chicago SunTimes since I learned to read, approx. 48 years ago. For clarification and your edification, I am a very happily married wife, proud mother, preschool teacher, community volunteer, and Democrat. My mother, a devote Catholic was a nun who had to leave the noviciate because she lied about her age to enter. Lucky for me as she met my dad, married, and proceeded to have seven children. My mother always found time to volunteer and stay well informed in politics, setting a wonderful example for her kids, I pride my self on same.
I find it a tired old exercise in intolerance when folks disagree on opinion and politics, they attack the individual(s). I think I almost resented more the fact that you went after Polly Tics for defending my free speech than what you infer about me.
How dare you sir, attack the sincerity of my words to Mr. Novak, I meant exactly what I said. You see the difference between us is that I don't hate nor belittle those with whom I disagree. As PollyTics points out, I ask only that he address "a political bomb that was part and parcel of his legacy." Not for me but for all of us who view what happened to Valerie Plame Wilson as a vicious shameful act of retribution perpetrated by men motivated by power.
Thank You PollyTics for you kind words of support.
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