Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Rest in Peace Robert D. Novak, 1931 - 2009

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An icon of investigative political reporting and one of the last of the old-line journalists finally lost his battle with cancer Tuesday. Robert D. Novak was 78 years old. Human Events has his obituary here, and Ken Tomlinson's remembrance of his friend and colleague is here. Also at HE, other tributes are collected here and a tribute from a reporter who worked for Novak is here.

At NRO, Novak is remembered by Larry Kudlow here, Kate O'Beirne here, Richard Breookhiser here and Bernadette Malone here.

Elsewhere, The Chicago Sun-Times editorial board pays tribute to their former colleague here. Thomas McArdle remembers Novak here, Fred Barnes here, Robert Stacy McCain here, The Wall Street Journal here and Joseph Duggan here. The American Spectator's tribute video to Robert D. Novak is here.

At Catholic Online, Deacon Keith Fournier's eulogy is here.

We offer some excerpts from a syndicated column written by Bob Novak nearly a year ago on the occasion of John McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin to be the GOP vice presidential nominee:
WASHINGTON - Partisan Democrats and many members of the news media consider John McCain's choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate a terrible mistake. But McCain need not worry about their criticism. His unexpected selection satisfied the people he needed to please. Republican conservatives assembling in St. Paul for the party's national convention were described as "ecstatic" over the choice.

That is not only because Palin appears to be an outstanding candidate, but also because McCain, in his first test as party leader, came through with a unique and responsible decision.

[...]

McCain made a politically ingenious selection. Whether the presence on the Republican ticket of a woman for the first time actually will attract disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters is doubtful.

Gender politics aside, she is an ideal running mate. On the one hand, she shares McCain's loathing for earmarks, which are ingrained in the corruption-tainted politics of Alaska. She also has a good record in fighting off big oil, which plays a major role in the politics of Alaska. Her election as governor broke the hold of the Republican "Alaska gang," whose senior members have been under criminal investigation.

On the other hand, she meets conservative requirements as an opponent of abortion and member of the National Rifle Association. That is much more than most conventioneers in St. Paul were hoping for...
Rest in peace, Bob Novak. This world is not likely to see another like you.

- JP

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