# I Pit Bob Novak for being a hit-and-run driver **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 24, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572 "2008-07-24T01:46:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/1 "2008-07-24T01:46:16Z")
[From the WaPo](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/23/AR2008072301624.html?hpid=moreheadlines): > [@](#): > > 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.” _The Politico_ [adds some more detail](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/11985.html), and mentions that > [@](#): > > Novak, 77, has earned a reputation around the capital as an aggressive driver, easily identified in his convertible sports car. I’d say this qualifies as ‘aggressive’ driving. But don’t worry: Novak’s facing a $50 failure-to-yield ticket. ETA: yes, this is Bob Novak (aka Novakula), the syndicated columnist. ---
**Author:** ![KGS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90ced4/32.png) [@KGS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KGS)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/2 "2008-07-24T01:51:51Z")
Old people shouldn’t drive cars, period. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/3 "2008-07-24T03:24:18Z")
He probably hit a dirty rotten hippie, who was just asking for it. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/4 "2008-07-24T03:51:51Z")
Novak prosecuted for a hit and run? Never! He’s too big to fail. > [@Robert Novak](#): > > Learn to read the signs, [bodily orifice]! ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/5 "2008-07-24T04:39:22Z")
[QUOTE=Frostillicus] He probably hit a dirty rotten hippie, who was just asking for it. [/QUOTE] **elucidator** was in D.C.? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/6 "2008-07-24T05:59:25Z")
This news story is still emerging, but apparently the bicyclist was a commuting lawyer named David Bono. [Bob Novak Cited After Hitting Pedestrian - CBS News](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/23/politics/politico/main4286279.shtml) > [@David Bono](#): > > 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. > > Bono said that throughout, Novak "keeps trying to get away. He keeps trying to go.” He said he vaguely recognized the longtime political reporter and columnist as a Washington celebrity but could not precisely place him. Although a fire department spokesman said that the injuries are minor, that may not be the case. [http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0708/537957.html](http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0708/537957.html) > [@](#): > > 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. Personally, I’m withholding judgment for the next 48 hours, until the story settles down. Sure, the core facts seem to be in, but that’s my general policy and I’m sticking to it. Question for later reference: Should Novak receive more than a [$50 fine?](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/comments_blog/2008/07/as-far-as-the-b.html) ---
**Author:** ![zenith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zenith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zenith)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/7 "2008-07-24T07:01:54Z")
I hope his victim successfully sues Novak for so much that the bastard has nothing left to live on but Social Security. He’s rich, too old to handle a Corvette, and ought to be punished for being too cheap to hire a driver. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/8 "2008-07-24T11:54:08Z")
I thought sure this was somehow going to be about Novak’s column revealing (wrongly) that McCain was going to announce his veep this week. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/9 "2008-07-24T12:05:49Z")
[QUOTE=pseudotriton ruber ruber] I thought sure this was somehow going to be about Novak’s column revealing (wrongly) that McCain was going to announce his veep this week. [/QUOTE] Eh, McCain needs to stop pretending he’s going to get a lot of media time out of it and just do it. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/10 "2008-07-24T12:45:50Z")
I would think that there should be some physical evidence on Novak’s car from the guy rolling over the hood. I’m not sure if Leaving the Scene of an Accident can be charged after the fact on the basis of eyewitness accounts, plus is it still Leaving the Scene if they only go half a block? I’m not defending his actions, just wondering what the DC law is here. Also, even with just a failure-to-yield citation, I think the victim will have a civil case and can and should bleed Novak dry. Side note: I wonder if David Bono’s nickname is “Pro”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/11 "2008-07-24T12:53:57Z")
Ted Kennedy only paid a $35.00 fine (for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident); course, a woman died, but heck, that’s what the judge found. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/12 "2008-07-24T13:00:20Z")
[One look at this guy](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Robert_Novak_IUB_img_1622.jpg) and you know everything you need to know. Look at that evil sneer. And the fiendishly long, curly white eyebrow-hairs. > [@](#): > > In 2002, Novak’s attitudes towards animal welfare came under scrutiny when he stated in an interview that he attended a cockfight in Puerto Rico and “relished it tremendously”, adding that the United States has “too damn many” anti-cruelty statutes. He also expressed his avid support of dog fighting and bullfighting. OK. Attending a cockfight might be a legitimate part of viewing another culture’s traditions. But he “relished it tremendously?” That language is a bit scarily enthusiastic given what he’s talking about. Ugh. Nevertheless I do agree with some of his political views, but not all of them. Also, 77 is not necessarily too old to be driving. That accident could have happened to anybody at any age. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/13 "2008-07-24T13:11:08Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Ted Kennedy only paid a $35.00 fine (for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident); course, a woman died, but heck, that’s what the judge found. [/QUOTE] And if we were around then we’d be piling on ol’ Ted too. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/14 "2008-07-24T13:19:00Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Ted Kennedy only paid a $35.00 fine (for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident); course, a woman died, but heck, that’s what the judge found. [/QUOTE] Where’s **your** vitrol? Right wingers like you have been making hay out of Drunk Uncle Teddy since time immemorial. Now’s your chance to prove you’re not a hypocrite. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/15 "2008-07-24T14:44:56Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] Ted Kennedy only paid a $35.00 fine (for leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident); course, a woman died, but heck, that’s what the judge found. [/QUOTE] For pity’s sake - first off, I happen to think that Ted is a vile human being and he and his family have subverted justice both with Chappaquiddick, and with the Martha Moxley case. His legislative record is something else, and he has done good there, but it’s never been enough in my mind to change my view of the man. That said, I don’t go around comparing what he did with what someone else did and say that, if Ted got away with it, so should person X, Y, or Z. An instance of injustice should not be used for an excuse to continue injustice. No matter that it sometimes seems to work out that way in both public opinion, and in the courts. What Novak seems to have done is wrong, and completely indefensible. I have no idea whom Novak might be, to be honest, but even if he agreed with my every political opinion and goal, that would not be a defense for what he did. Nor would it be a valid reason to complain about this pitting. Novak seems to have acted like an entitled asshole, and deserves to be called on it. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/16 "2008-07-24T15:22:49Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] I have no idea whom Novak might be, to be honest [/QUOTE] He’s the schmuck who outed Valerie Plame in his syndicated column. ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/17 "2008-07-24T15:29:23Z")
[QUOTE=Shayna] He’s the schmuck who outed Valerie Plame in his syndicated column. [/QUOTE] Okay, thanks. So the asshole thing is of very long standing… ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/18 "2008-07-24T15:44:20Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] **elucidator** was in D.C.? [/QUOTE] Now, now. **elucidator** may be a bit overripe, but “rotten”? ---
**Author:** ![Caffeine.addict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f475e1/32.png) [@Caffeine.addict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caffeine.addict)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/19 "2008-07-24T15:45:05Z")
I bet this kind of accident happens quite a bit in DC. DC has a bad combination of aggressive drivers and aggressive pedestrians. Drivers often run lights and pedestrians often jaywalk. In DC, to make a turn, you often have to turn against oncoming traffic when pedestrians have the right of way. With the volume of traffic and pedestrians that that particular part of town has, driving is a giant pain especially when people are trying to get to work. However, looking at a map, it appears that 18th is one way so he hit the guy while making a right onto the service road. If you are driving in that particular part of town, you better be paying attention because the drivers may cut you off or a pedestrian may dart in front of you and not necessarily in a crosswalk. If I worked there, I would definitely take the Metro just to avoid the frustration of trying to drive there. On the rare occasions when I have to go there by car, I wind up driving a lot more cautiously than I normally would. > [@](#): > > “’Learn to read the signs, [bodily orifice]!’ Novak snapped before speeding away,” according to an item in The Washington Post’s Reliable Source column. He said this a few years ago to a jaywalker. I can definitely sympathize with him on this. I see people jaywalking across a busy intersection when the light is green and they aren’t even in the crosswalk almost every day. It is frustrating and you have to wonder what the fuck they are thinking, especially when they do it with their kids. There have been times, when I have been strongly tempted to do the same. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572/20 "2008-07-24T16:39:01Z")
Amen on the jaywalkers here. I think it sucks that they passed a more stringent “cars MUST stop for pedestrians” law, not because I don’t think cars should stop for pedestrians, (duh), just that it has translated into free-for-all jaywalking. Some of the sauntering numbnuts don’t even look before crossing against traffic. Another side note: I’ve noticed Novak being referred to as Novakula; perhaps his birth name. But it says bupkis about that in his Wikipedia bio or any of the sites that come up when I google “Novakula” (other than a couple of lefty blogs where it’s being used seemingly perjoratively). Like it’s a hidden tag, but not ever mentioned explicitly. I wonder what’s up with that? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-bob-novak-for-being-a-hit-and-run-driver/457572.md?page=2)