Novak Hospitalized With Brain Tumor

[Hope And Change]

Source: The Page

Novak Hospitalized With Brain Tumor

Monday, July 28th, 2008

The 77-year-old journalism institution is being treated at a Boston hospital for a brain tumor diagnosed Sunday.

“I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period.”

In statement, says doctors will soon begin “appropriate treatment.”


Read more: http://thepage.time.com/2008/07/28/novak-diagnosed-with... /

[Bicoastal]

1. Hmmmmmmmmm...

[Blaq Dem]

56. Deja Vu, isn't it?

Makes me wonder about the environment.

[MetaTrope]

125. Guess they'll have to install another cozy hut on that Pacific island next to Ken Lay's

[coffeenap]

2. Man, have I become a cynic in my old age--are they going to have

to do "brain surgery" on him? Remove the area responsible for speech? Sounds eerily familiar....

[EFerrari]

122. We're just good learners. He's been lying for years and we've learned to distrust him.

The sycophant who cried "wolf".

[daggahead]

3. Our prayers are with him ...

Let's hope that this could be an "A-Ha" moment for this man.

[Bicoastal]

18. Like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIzUD7FKcBk

Sorry...couldn't resist.

[daggahead]

98. Corny ...

LOL!!!

[sabra]

4. whirlwind of a week for Novak

- was played by McCain by leaking VP announcement
- hit homeless man with his corvette
- and now diagnosed with a brain tumor

[Pab Sungenis]

47. I wouldn't be surprised

if the tumor was causing problems that led him to hit the man with his car.

[Rainbowreflect]

63. That was my first thought as well.

I pray for his health.

[seemslikeadream]

65. Then the tumor must have been there for 30 years

[PassingFair]

99. That's no TUMOR!

It's his BRAIN!

[sofa king]

78. I wouldn't be surprised

if hitting the homeless man with his car is what gave him a "tumor," and he'll be back as soon as we forget about that incident.

[aquart]

68. Did they look for the tumor because of the hit and run?

Or has he known for a while?

[Delphinus]

75. Ooh,

good question, aquart.

[LosinIt]

113. And still looks like Boris Badenov

[PearliePoo2]

5. .........

[TwilightGardener]

6. That could be why he's an inattentive driver--explains a lot.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WriteDown]

Well this explains the car accident....n/t

[barbtries]

11. accident? maybe

hit and run, a crime, definitely.

[newmajority]

16. Yeah it does....

He spent too much time on his cell phone, which caused both his brain tumor and his shitty driving.

[librechik]

54. very convenient. If a brain tumor can be called that.

If there is a real brain tumor, or a nice arrangement with a doctor friend who can't be forced to talk about his patient's condition.

[KatyaR]

106. According to this article, it must be fairly common.

Columnist Robert Novak diagnosed with brain tumor

Lynne Taylor, a neuro-oncologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, said residents at the hospital are taught to check for brain tumors in patients who report having a recent car accident in which they didn't realize they struck something.

"People get spatial and visual neglect of a certain part of their bodies and they don't realize they've done what they've done," said Taylor, a fellow with the American Academy of Neurology.

[librechik]

108. good thing it wasn't his heart. I'm pretty sure they would never find it .

(trying to dredge up sympathy for the wretch--not working yet.)

[siligut]

132. Deconstruct, it is all there

Sure, I get this. The thinking went, “now how are we going to explain Novak’s irresponsible and blatant disregard for human life and the law; hmmm, could there be some medical condition?”.

Honestly, he thought he could get away with a hit and run, but was caught; now there has to be some excuse. Of course, having a doctor explain that his behavior is typical of a serious illness, a brain tumor seals that deal. Poor Mr. Novak, suffering from a brain tumor, it has caused him great anguish knowing his illness caused another person to suffer. And anyone who thinks MDs can’t be complicit, think again.

[WriteDown]

8. Well this explains the car accident....n/t

[Blaq Dem]

149. Not exactly. The accident explains the sudden brain tumor n/t

[rox63]

9. I can't stand the man, but

for the sake of his loved ones, I hope he recovers.

[Frisbee]

50. I'm sure...

he felt the same way about Ted Kennedy's diagnosis...

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

10. I hope his treatments are successful.

I wish the man no ill, based upon such a terrible diagnosis. I do hope he enjoys an epiphany during this time. No time is the wrong time for self-examination.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

93. Classy post!

I Agree.

[babylonsister]

12. Wow. I'm glad he went to see a doc. nt

[notadmblnd]

13. Karmas a bitch.. aint it?

[onenote]

22. so is Karma what gave Elizabeth Edwards and Teddy Kennedy cancer?

[aquart]

67. Actually, I'm thinking Blackberry.

How many brain tumors in Congress?

[Sezu]

76. My WIFE died of brain cancer. Anyone who thinks it was

some kind of KARMA can fuck right off. Ignorant assholes.

[bitchkitty]

81. Thanks.

Brain cancer runs in my family, so I'm not happy over the karma references. My brother was 3 years old when he died, in horrible pain. He used to bite the nipple on his bottle and swing the bottle back and forth, ruined a good many nipples like that - think it was some kind of cosmic retribution from the god of Latex?

[dipsydoodle]

127. Mine too

back in 1990 when she was 45. As you say - there are some wholly inappropriate responses here.

[riskpeace]

83. Did my aunt who died of brain cancer

deserve it too?

[DarthDem]

88. Deplorable

. . . and ridiculous statement. Find a clue.

[LeftishBrit]

129. I knew a 2-year-old who died of brain cancer - is that karma??!!!???

Really, that sounds a bit too much like the righties who regards AIDS as God's punishment for sin.

[DangerDave921]

146. Just another DU'er

who believes that anyone on the opposite side of the political spectrum is devoid of humanity, and deserves painful death.

Angry vengeful people are a disservice to the ideals of liberalism. Fighting the system is justice. Glorifying someone's deteriorating medical condition and likely death is just plain ugly.

This is the one sticking point I have with DU -- the glorification of hate.

[book_worm]

14. I've become a cynic I guess but it seems fishy coming out with this right after hitting some

pedestrian.

[hedgehog]

19. Yeah - do you suppose he faked the tumor or did he actually bribe

someone to implant it so he could beat a hit&run charge?

[KatieW]

48. I'm with you. No way he could bribe a doctor to say he had brain cancer. Anyone thinking this is

some type of big plan of his to get out of his hit run problems is not thinking clearly. No way would a doctor agree with a plan like that.

[ronnie624]

57. I've seen no statements by any doctors on this issue,

so I can't say with certainty that there is or isn't a tumor.

Considering the current political climate in this country as well as the deplorable state of U.S. journalism, I reserve the right to be skeptical.

[KatieW]

60. So he just decided to go ahead and say he has brain cancer? As I said below, my sister has

cancer in the lining of the brain. This is a result of breast cancer she was diagnosed with 8 years ago. I find the whole thinking that someone would knowing say they have brain cancer when they don't just to get out of trouble because of a hit run incident totally insane. And you don't think it would come out if he just dreamed this up? Get real.

[ronnie624]

77. As I said in my previous message, I don't know,

as I have not yet seen any statements by his doctors.

[onenote]

40. Or maybe, as others have suggested, the tumor contributed to his hitting the pedestrian

[Regret My New Name]

49. lol no way...

[polmaven]

72. I find absolutely

nothing funny about a diagnosis of a brain tumor. Yes, it very well COULD have been the cause of the hit and run. And the hit and run could very well be the reason he went to the doctor. Not remembering, or not knowing he had his someone when it had been so obvious may will have scared him into the visit to the doctor.

[Regret My New Name]

94. His brain tumor was not what I found amusing...

I find people amusing...

[liberal N proud]

53. The accident could be what led him to the doctor and finding the tumor

His judgment may have been impaired. Hell it may have been impaired for a long time.

[jberryhill]

58. It would seem to make perfect sense....

If he really didn't notice the pedestrian, that may be why he went for a check-up.

[Tess49]

82. My uncle was diagnosed with a brain tumor after having

several minor car wrecks. Seems his peripheral vision was gone. Ophthalmologist missed it when he complained about his vision. Family doc figured it out in about two minutes.

[spotbird]

119. More likely he knew about it and drove anyway. eom

[wordpix]

147. my first thought, exactly. Trying to get sympathy, maybe?

[my2sense]

15. Well - there is his defense

against hit & run. The timing of these events is questionable.

[spotbird]

120. Which he won't need since he wasn't charged. eom

[hisownpetard]

17. What an incredible coincidence! I'm stunned. You could knock me over with a

Corvette...

[Taverner]

20. Fuck - Brain Cancer sucks

I hope he gets well soon

[Endangered Specie]

21. Brain tumor? Isn't this kinda like a woman getting testicular cancer?

[Schema Thing]

39. I shouldn't laugh. But that was funny as hell.

[Psephos]

23. Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak says he has brain tumor

Source: Chicago Sun-Times

<snip>
...He issued the following statement:

"On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where doctors will soon begin appropriate treatment.

"I will be suspending my journalistic work for an indefinite but, God willing, not too lengthy period.

Novak is alert and talking — he wrote the statement announcing his illness — but in intensive care, where the hospital does not allow phone calls or flowers, according to his assistant, Kathleen Connolly. "He's talking,'' she said. "He seemed fine."

The diagnosis was sudden, she said. He became ill Sunday during a family outing near Cape Cod, Mass. A family member called 911, and he was brought by ambulance to Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, where the diagnosis was made.

<snip>


Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1077958,novak072808...

---

Wouldn't surprise me if this was a contributing factor in the car accident last week where he struck a pedestrian.

[Ian David]

24. Maybe there IS a god after all. n/t

[hedgehog]

25. Seriously dude, do you want to believe in a God of vengeance?

[Ian David]

32. No, not really.

Besides, if I was god, I would have given him penile cancer instead.

[zanne]

26. The guy is a shmuck, but brain cancer is horrible. nt

[medeak]

29. actually a blessed way to go

if cancer that is...

[lark]

42. Don't know about your experience with brain cancer

but I lived it thru my old room-mate when her mother was dying of brain cancer and it was awful. The hosptial could not give her enough pain meds to kill the agony and screaming the last month - it was totally horrendous and even Novak doesn't "deserve" it. Now, Cheney, yes - the man is pure evil and nothing is too bad for him. Novak is just an enabler.

[medeak]

80. worked in hospital

it was a blessing to patients I took care of as unconscious... also friend who died.

Am sorry to hear about your friend's mom. Would question the "care" of that hospital

[Phillycat]

89. Your experience is not the norm.

They had my grandmother on enough daily morphine to actually literally kill a horse and at the end she screamed and sobbed in pain nearly constantly. A horrendous way to die, brain cancer.

[zanne]

116. My nephew died of brain cancer last year.

He went blind, he had strokes and he had excruciating pain. He was 40.

[Ian David]

34. Not horrible enough for Novak. n/t

[KatieW]

52. As someone who's sister is dealing with cancer in the lining of the brain, I find this over the top.

[Ian David]

59. Treason carries the death penalty. Novak has thwarted Man's Justice. So now he gets God's.

You and your sister have my sympathy.

Novak on the other hand... not so much.

I only wish he could take your sister's suffering all onto himself.

[crikkett]

70. Welcome to DU!

I hope your sister recovers.

[notfullofit]

134. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?

[zbdent]

130. cancer, period, is horrible ...

lost father and father-in-law to it, watched them waste away to nothing.

FIL kept his faculties to the end.

Got to Father's brain, blissfully unaware of what was going on near the end. Very sad to see, it was a blessing to see him go.

[riskpeace]

84. Your lack of compassion is troubling.

What type of God are you looking for?

[Ian David]

105. The type that wouldn't kill Steve Irwin and leave Mel Gibson alive. n/t

[jobycom]

97. I don't know about gods, but I can see that assholes exist. nt

[notfullofit]

133. Well, if there is,

you had better be careful 'cos He will be watching you too.

[DJ13]

27. Sounds all too convenient after hitting that guy with his car

[zanne]

31. That could explain his not realizing it, though.

You don't grow a tumor in your brain without some negative effects.

[Ian David]

36. How many decades has it been there? n/t

[Ganja Ninja]

35. That's what I thought. n/t

[Ian David]

28. Not a factor in his "accident." Novakula has ALWAYS driven that way...

... and in 2001, he wrote a column saying he wishes he could run-over pedestrians.

The only surprise here is that someone from his family called 911 when he fell ill, despite being the ones who know him better than anyone.

You would think they would have told him to take personal responsibility for getting himself to the hospital.

[truthisfreedom]

30. I wish him a speedy recovery

And hope he comes back a Liberal.

[Kire]

33. he's been sick a lot in his life

he almost died from spinal meningitis in the 1980's, and he stopped drinking a while ago because it affected his health

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. Karma's a bitch

[riskpeace]

85. So smug and so offensive

Do you point the finger at everyone who has had cancer? Or just those you disagree with?

[proud2BlibKansan]

91. Just stating a fact

Karma's a bitch.

[notfullofit]

135. I'm sure

Ted Kennedy and Elizabeth Edwards would disagree with your assertion.

[Schema Thing]

38. Also: please don't sue me for running over you

[snooper2]

41. Before the sympathy police come out...

Remember there are 6+ Billion humans on this planet...

And if there is one less..

[jobycom]

96. They've been trampled by the asshole police, it seems.

[sabbat hunter]

43. get well soon

Not a fan of Bob Novak, but get well soon.

[TomInTib]

44. Are we supposed to make nice about this motherfucker, too?

Payback time, asshole.

But, unlike St. Tony, I hope the end is near.

Get him off the planet, pronto.

[sabbat hunter]

46. I hope that

you didn't scream and shout then, when the RW said the same thing about Sen Ted Kennedy.

[TomInTib]

103. I didn't care.

I think it is only natural to hate the Enemy and wish the worst of everything for them.

And it's a two-way street.

[Lilith Velkor]

66. I won't celebrate

until the motherfucker is actually dead.

[TomInTib]

104. Oh, damn...

[Kolesar]

45. Democrats are better people because we are compassionate

I don't pray, but...mercy for this man and his family.

[Mike Daniels]

79. I'm seeing very little proof of compassion on this board

Don't fool yourself.

There are people on this board that make some Freepers look absolutely understated when it comes to wishing ill health on people from the other side of the political spectrum.

[notfullofit]

136. You could not

prove that by some of the comments on this thread.
Worse than the freepers.

[Chulanowa]

51. I hope it's less malignant than he is

[Phoonzang]

55. LOL.....HuffPo closed the comments section

on the Novak brain tumor story. Gee....I wonder why...

[rateyes]

61. He suspended his "journalistic" work a helluva long time ago.

He's never been a "journalist." Just another asshole with a pen/word processing program pretending to know what the hell he is writing about.

As for his health, if this story is the truth, I must say that I wouldn't wish a brain tumor on anyone, including that piece of shit.

[Patsy Stone]

64. Yes

To all of it.

[zbdent]

62. How should I handle this ... let me hop over to Freeptardia

and look up "Ted Kennedy" ...

[SaveOurDemocracy]

71. Why? Are they your role models?

[zbdent]

86. find me a post where I gleefully chuckle over Novak's condition ...

and I doubt that Freepturdia was kinder to Ted ...

No, they aren't my "role models" ... in fact, it is a great place to find out how NOT TO ACT ...

[Spiffarino]

69. God help him

I hope he recovers very well.

Then I hope he comes to his senses, but I've always hoped that.

[orleans]

73. he's probably had it for YEARS and this would also explain

why he outed valerie







(he's such a jerk)

[Ian David]

74. They'd better keep him in isolation. Anyone see the movie "28 Weeks Later"? n/t

[daleo]

87. I won't make the obvious joke

Since this is similar to what happened to Ted Kennedy. Still, it might explain some of Novak's more erratic behavior of the recent past.

[Dollface]

90. What journalistic work? Oh and get well soon or whatever.

[4_TN_TITANS]

92. wow... that's some bitchin' karma. n/t

[RamboLiberal]

95. I actually feel sorry for him

I'm not going to say anything nasty though I loathe him other than I hope he has his Lee Atwater ephiphany before he goes but I doubt it.

As another DU'er so aptly said I hope the tumor is not as malignant as Novak.

Whatever happens I cannot wish pain and suffering on another being.

[damntexdem]

100. With a brain tumor? A tumor is obviously what he uses for a brain.

[superconnected]

101. I wonder if it's true or if it's a way to get sympathy.

If it's true, I wish him the best on his road to recovery.

[DebbieCDC]

102. I just have one word

Karma

I'll say no more

[davidpdx]

107. I hope he gets better, but decides to retire

It's clear he has nothing to offer in his columns anymore. Maybe it's time he sit down and write his memoirs.

[rhett o rick]

109. Have to ask. If Novak dies, hypothetically, will Skinner have to tell us to watch what we

post? Like for Tony Snow? Or is Tony Snow in a different category. I am just trying to get the criteria straight.

[Marines]

110. Godspeed to Bob Novak

A great American!

[Caretha]

141. I'll have some of whatever he's smoking n/t

[roody]

142. How many deaths did he cause by outing

Valerie Plame?

[Faygo Kid]

111. Good luck to him, but what he does is a far cry from "journalistic work."

He is a propagandist for his right wing masters, and well compensated for it.

May he live long and healthy, quit driving and drop any further pretenses of doing "journalistic work."

[Jim Lane]

112. I am disgusted at these "karma" posts

In 2000 I was volunteering for various Democratic candidates, but had to cut back as my energy level failed. I didn't know why I felt so crummy. There were some tests. In October I had two exploratory surgeries so the doctors could make a diagnosis. On Election Day, I voted, then checked myself into the hospital to begin chemotherapy.

So, was my cancer also an instance of "karma"?

Some of you people remind me of John Hagee, one of McCain's nutball religious supporters. According to him, Hurricane Katrina was God's payback for the sinfulness of New Orleans, where a gay rights event had been planned for the next week. On the other hand, when a tornado killed four people at a Boy Scout camp -- run by an organization that fought all the way up to the Supreme Court to defend its homophobia -- well, that was just one of those things, and didn't tell us anything about God's will.

Get real. None of this is explained by "God" or "karma" or anything like that. Elizabeth Edwards, Tony Snow, Ted Kennedy, Robert Novak, and I just happened to be among those who draw the short straw.

I made it through. I hope Novak does the same. If you dislike Novak's politics so much that you can't bear to say even that much that's favorable to him, then confine your posts to dissing his politics and maintain a discreet silence about his personal health.

[notfullofit]

137. Well said, thank you! Great to hear you are O.K. now. nt

[lenegal]

139. I agree with you

I would not wish a malignant brain tumor on anyone. No, not even my worst enemy.

My daughter's friend's mom recently passed away from a gliablastoma.

This is no laughing matter. Dying from brain cancer is rather quick. It is very painful. After a while you are unable to walk or speak.

[Skittles]

143. I agree

I despise Novak for his political views but I would not wish cancer on anyone - or view it as "payback".

[rasputin1952]

114. I have to admit I think Novak is little more than an empty shell

of a human being, heartless, cruel and miserly ...typical rich GOP hack.

However, I would not wish this on anyone.

If he pulls through this, which I hope he does, perhaps he will fall into some introspection and realize that kicking the already oppressed is not really "living life to it's fullest".

There are times when an "oh shit" moment can change a life.

[fascisthunter]

115. I Previously Accused Him of Hitting that Homeless Person on Purpose

now I wonder if it was really due to his brain tumor....

I don't wish death on anybody, but I do hope he has a moment of clarity when and if he recovers.

[bobd0]

118. If Novak has a "miraculous" recovery

then this will prove to be a very opportunistic tumor, won't it?

I'd advise we all wait to see just how this turns out before passing judgment on anyone who is less than kind to Novak. In the interim, I'd like to point out that Novak should rightly have been in prison for treason when he received this or any other diagnosis.

[fascisthunter]

121. I Thought about that too

And if he does recover from this he should still pay for outing Valerie Plame. I believe criminals should live long enough to pay for their crimes.

[slampoet]

124. Exactly on the treason. He should be long ago have been hanging dead by the neck..........

.....from my POV this tumor is Four Years Late!

[valerief]

117. Now he can blame his hit and run on his tumor. And on outing a CIA agent. nt

[slampoet]

123. As soon as the Hit and Run charges are dropped ...Instant Recovery.

[NuttyFluffers]

126. i prostrate before the Compassion Gestapo obsequiously displaying appropriate empathy!!!

let the wrath of your upturned eyebrow pass over my fawning obeisance! i shall chant the prescribed mantra to stave off your ire!

"I love everybody as much as you tell me I should!
I love everybody as much as you tell me I should!
I love everybody as much as you tell me I should!"

[crim son]

128. That was my cynical thought.

Time will tell.

[Jim Lane]

145. Couldn't you at least upgrade us to "Compassion Mafia"?

Anyway, I'm not saying you have to love the likes of Robert Novak. I'm not a Christian, so I'm under no divine injunction to love my enemies. I'm just saying that it's part of the progressive worldview to value the worth of each human being. You can politely disagree with Robert Novak -- in fact, you can loudly and impolitely opine that he's a fucking traitor who deserves the death penalty -- and yet still treat him as a human being.

There are xenophobes who think that Iraqis and Muslims don't count. There are homophobes who think that LGBT people don't count. There are conservaphobes who think that people like Robert Novak and Tony Snow don't count. Consider that you are known by the company you keep.

[NoodleyAppendage]

131. God Hates TRAITOROUS BASTARDS

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving scumbag. Good riddance, you blight upon democracy and humanistic ideals. Live a selfish life...don't expect people to give a shit when you on your way out the door.

[notfullofit]

138. Perhaps God also hates man's inhumanity to man. nt

[NoodleyAppendage]

140. F' that. It's high time that Liberals had the guts to kick the scumbags in the balls.

You can "cumbiya" all you want, but what's been lacking in the liberal movement is a willingness to play dirty, get our hands bloody, and destroy the assholes who have taken this country down the toilet. I'm sick of playing nice.

J

[DangerDave921]

148. Perfect platform

Play dirty, get our hands bloody, and destroy the assholes. That's what I want my party to stand for: Dishonesty, violence, and angry destruction.

You are just as bad as any rabid RW'er. Life under your kind would be just as awful as life under any RW'er, because we would all be at the mercy of your decisions as to who should be a beatdown.

You are a disservice to any legitimate political debate.

[magellan]

144. Yeah right, whatever

Any word on how his latest victim is doing?

[Hawkowl]

150. Join Russert in hell

He is an evil man who participated in outing Valerie Plame and is a traitor.

[opihimoimoi]

151. That slimey POS can drown in the Pig waste for all I care...we can save some food water and air for

the rest of us...

Does he have empathy for others...no...the sniveling asshole can rot in Crawford sucking ass.

He outed one our own spies...in a time of WAR...Thats TREASON.

I wish he was in Saudi and got caught exposing their spies....mucho flogging and death by BLADE