Robert Novak Dead at 78
- Thread starter William Haskins
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As a print journalist, I found Robert Novak to be an intelligent, savvy, well-informed and authoritative writer.
But when he went on to do television he learned to condense complicated issues into pithy 30 second soundbites. He dumbed down his message to fit the format and limits of the talking head.
As a talking head on Crossfire, The McLaughlin Group and other programs, I thought he was an inflamed asshole. Before there was Bill O' Reilly or Sean Hannity, there was Novak, the Prince of Darkness.
In print Novak was deep. On the boob tube he was a dick. But he had to be. Like wrestling, that was the role he was cast in.
My father once said he'd love to catch Novak in a dark alley with a baseball bat. I would have loved to bat clean up. Novak came off a right-wing prick on television and he knew it, but the gig paid too well for him not to.
I learned to ignore Novak on television and just read his column instead. Rarely would I agree with with him, but he did an excellent job of presenting the conservative side of the argument.
As a journalist, I think Robert Novak was damned good at his job. But as a talking head?
Meh.
But when he went on to do television he learned to condense complicated issues into pithy 30 second soundbites. He dumbed down his message to fit the format and limits of the talking head.
As a talking head on Crossfire, The McLaughlin Group and other programs, I thought he was an inflamed asshole. Before there was Bill O' Reilly or Sean Hannity, there was Novak, the Prince of Darkness.
In print Novak was deep. On the boob tube he was a dick. But he had to be. Like wrestling, that was the role he was cast in.
My father once said he'd love to catch Novak in a dark alley with a baseball bat. I would have loved to bat clean up. Novak came off a right-wing prick on television and he knew it, but the gig paid too well for him not to.
I learned to ignore Novak on television and just read his column instead. Rarely would I agree with with him, but he did an excellent job of presenting the conservative side of the argument.
As a journalist, I think Robert Novak was damned good at his job. But as a talking head?
Meh.
I will always remember Mr. Novak as the schmuck who did Dick Cheney's bidding by outing Valerie Plame.
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Cancer sucks. No one should have to suffer through it or watch someone suffer it.
My condolensces to his family on their loss.
My condolensces to his family on their loss.