To Friends, Hardliner Novak Was a 'Pussycat'

(NEWSER) - Most Americans will remember Robert Novak as the acerbic right-winger on CNN, but he saw himself first and foremost as "a shoe-leather reporter," writes Washington Post media critic Howard Kurtz. Novak prided himself on getting scoops and uncovering secrets via a wide network of Republican officials. But that insiderism proved his downfall when, in 2003, he relied on Karl Rove and revealed that Valerie Plame was a CIA operative. More»

Even if he did get mean at times

(NEWSER) - If Andy Rooney is in the "great beyond," he's probably picking a few bones about "all that harp-playing" and "the long line at the Pearly Gates," Frazier Moore muses for the AP . And why not? It was Rooney's unmistakable style during a 92-year-life and exceptional career: to "shrewdly observe the world" and "give voice to the everyday vexations and conundrums that afflict us all"—even if he did take unfair potshots or get a little mean at times. More»

Columnist, known as 'Prince of Darkness,' was 78

(NEWSER) - Conservative Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak died this morning at 78, after a year-long battle with brain cancer, the Sun-Times reports. Known, to his delight, as the “Prince of Darkness,” Novak’s “Inside Report” column has been syndicated since 1963. He was at the center of the Valerie Plame scandal, identifying her as an “operative” in his column. More»

'I'm a pretty tough guy,' 86-year-old homeless pedestrian says

(NEWSER) - The pedestrian struck by Robert Novak's Corvette this week says that other than a dislocated shoulder, he’s “doing fine,” the Washington Post reports. In fact, Don Liljenquist seems more star-struck than car-struck: "Bob Novak is the one that hit me?" the homeless 86-year-old said in a radio interview. "He's a famous journalist! Well, I think that makes it a great story!" More»

Columnist suspects he was played to rain on Obama's parade

(NEWSER) - Conservative columnist Robert Novak triggered a frenzy of speculation that John McCain was about to announce his choice for runningmate just as Barack Obama was grabbing favorable headlines on his trip to Iraq. Novak now believes he may have been manipulated in a tactic to steal attention by the McCain campaign, reports the Los Angeles Times. More»