BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)

Subject: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 04:34 PM

This story doesn't get bizarre until the last paragraph...


NOVAK ISSUED CITATION AFTER HITTING PEDESTRIAN
Columnist said he didn't realize what happened until cyclist stopped him
Associated Press, updated 7/13/08

WASHINGTON - Syndicated columnist Robert Novak said he has been issued a $50 citation after hitting a pedestrian while driving in downtown Washington.

Witnesses said the collision occurred about 10 a.m. Wednesday as the 77-year-old Novak was traveling near K Street in his black Chevrolet Corvette.

D.C. fire department spokesman Alan Etter said the victim was taken to George Washington University hospital with minor injuries.

Novak told WJLA-TV he was cited for failing to yield the right of way. He said he didn't realize what happened and continued driving until a bicyclist stopped him.

David Bono, the bicyclist who witnessed the incident, told The Associated Press that the pedestrian was hit in a crosswalk and was splayed across Novak's windshield.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Why does this guy only get a $50 citation for driving with a pedestrian on his windshield? Politics? Knowing the right people who could get him off with a slap on the wrist? Or just business as usual?? If he truly "didn't realize" that an injured person was on his windshield, obstructing his view, he should have his license revoked!! Why why why is DWS (Driving While Senile) not against the law?!?!?!?!?

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 04:37 PM

Oops, that "updated" date should be 7/23/08 (today). It was posted to MSNBC at 3:51 p.m.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 04:41 PM

Fox News says the guy drove for a block before the bicyclist stopped him. Oy.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 04:48 PM

Many more details in this CBS News story:

Bob Novak Cited After Hitting Pedestrian

Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning.

A Politico reporter saw Novak in the front of a police car with a citation in his hand; a WJLA-TV crew and reporter saw Novak as well. The pedestrian, a 66-year-old man who was not further identified by authorities, was treated at George Washington University Hospital for minor injuries, according to D.C. Fire and EMS. Novak was later released by police and drove away from the scene.

"I didn't know I hit him. I feel terrible," a shaken Novak told reporters from Politico and WJLA as he was returning to his car. "He's not dead, that's the main thing." Novak said he was a block away from 18th and K streets Northwest, where the accident occurred, when a bicyclist stopped him and said, "You hit someone." He said he was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

The bicyclist was David Bono, a partner at Harkins Cunningham, who was on his usual bike commute to work at 1700 K St. N.W. when he witnessed the accident.

As he traveled east on K Street, crossing 18th, Bono said a "black Corvette convertible with top closed plowed into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed onto the windshield."

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.

Finally, Bono said, Novak put his head out the window of his car and motioned him over. Bono said he told him that you can't hit a pedestrian and just drive away. He quoted Novak as responding: "I didn't see him there."

A concierge at 1700 K Street said that she saw a bicyclist yelling and walked outside to see what the commotion was about.

"This guy hit somebody and he won't stop so I'm going to stay here until the police come," Aleta Petty quoted Bono as saying, as he stood in K Street, blocking traffic.

D.C. police confirmed that there was an accident at 18th and K streets NW at approximately 10 a.m. involving a black Corvette convertible and that the driver was a white male.

The intersection is in the hub of Washington's business district and is filled with pedestrians who work in the law firms and lobby shops that line the corridor.

Novak, 77, has earned a reputation around the capital as an aggressive driver, easily identified in his convertible sports car.

Anne Schroeder Mullins and Adrienne Smutko contributed to this story
By Jonathan Martin and Chris Frates
Copyright 2008 POLITICO
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Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: gnu
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:04 PM

"Novak, 77, has earned a reputation around the capital as an aggressive driver, easily identified in his convertible sports car."

Well, there ya go. That there pedestrain oughta been more alert.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:06 PM

This guy may or may not be senile, but he's certainly full of himself.

If he is certifiably senile, that condition has only exited for the last year or two. His arrogance, self-importance, and habitual "aggressive driving" undoubtedly have a much longer history.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:06 PM

Am I correct in assuming that this is the same Robert Novak who published the leaked story revealing that Valerie Plame was a secret operative of the CIA, thereby quite possibly endangering her life and the lives of agents she worked with, and rendering her no longer able to be of service? As a petty and mean-spirited act of revenge because her husband produced data contradicting the White House claim that Saddam Hussein tried to buy fissionable material to make nuclear bombs?

I have always believed that the journalists involved in publishing that leak were at least as ethically reprehensible as the White House weasels who leaked it.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:10 PM

Yes and the same Robert Novak who was recently duped by McCain's campaign into saying that the VP choice would be made this week.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:13 PM

In 2001 the Washington Post quoted Novak as saying: "I really hate jaywalkers. I despise them. Since I don't run the country, all I can do is yell at 'em. The other option is to run 'em over, but as a compassionate conservative, I would never do that."

Ah, but pedestrians crossing WITH the light, that's another story.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:19 PM

Mention of the sportscar aspect reminds me of an incident many years ago when I went to step across a road at a city junction, with a green light. A neat little sportscar ignored me and edged around the corner, across the crossing. I had a newspaper in my hand and banged it on the roof over the driver's head. It was a soft-top! He wasn't best pleased!

Regards

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:24 PM

When I started this thread I had only read the shorter story I posted. I assumed it was just another one of those cases where someone with dementia is truly unaware of his actions, like that guy in Santa Monica who plowed his car through a farmer's market in 2003. I had no idea there was so much more to this case, this guy Novak, his history, his attitude, etc. Maybe the thread name should change to "DWA (Driving While Arrogant)" or DWN (Driving While Novak)"?

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 05:38 PM

As soon as I read the first four words of the AP story qquoted/pasted in the opening post above, I knew exactly who "this guy" was.

That $50 slap on the wrist for a hit-and-run offense just shows how politically connected he is, and what magnitude of favors he is owed by various highly-placed Washingtonians.

It's no surprise that such an avowed tool of the neoconservative establishment would have so little regard for ordinary people walking the city streets.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Donuel
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 06:15 PM

A Vette? And he didn't know?

LIAR

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 06:19 PM

Riding In My Car (Car Song) Lyrics

Artist: Woody Guthrie (My apologies Woody)
Album: Nursery Days



Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brm, brrrm b' brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm,
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm b' brrrm.
Brrrm brm brm brm brm brm brrrm.

Don't Take me riding on your car, car;
Don't Take me riding on your car, car;
Don't Take me riding on your car, car;
I'm scared of riding on my car.

Click clack, knock away my brief case,
Click clack, knock away my groc'ries;
Front fender, rear fender, clicity clack ,
Don't want to ride on you car.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 06:23 PM

Here it comes better jump Quick!
Its a poor substitute for a big dick
Its a symbol owned by a big dick
Don't want a ride on his Corvette.

The door on the cell would go clickety thump
The door on the cell would go clickety thump
The door on the cell would go clickety thump
If he wasn't so far up Cheney's rump.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 06:39 PM

Wow! I think we have an instant classic here!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 07:46 PM

I guess I shoulda known
By the way u came around the turn sideways
That it that I would be hit

See youre the kinda person
That believes in talking Bullcarp
I'm saying you're full of it

I guess you must be dumb
To talk about VP picks
While Obama was over seas

But it was saturday night
I guess that makes it all right
And u say what have I got 2 lose?
And honey I say

Little black corvette
Novak you drive 2 fast
Little black corvette
Your brain is small but your ego vast!

I guess I shoulda closed my eyes
When came around the corner
And aimed your car at me

cuz I dropped a little pooh
And I was scared out of my britches
And the fear released a little pee

Believe it or not
I started to wonder
I wondered if you would try to assist

But a right wing big shot
Ain't required to stop
No wonder the liberals are pissed
Oh yeah

Little black corvette
Novak you drive 2 fast
Little black corvette
Your brain is small but your ego vast!

A body like yours (a body like yours)   ----- In the context of this parody. I can't improve on this stanza!!
Oughta be in jail (oughta be in jail)
cuz its on the verge of bein obscene
(cuz its on the verge of bein obscene)

Move over Bobby (move over Bobby)
Gimme them keys (gimme them keys)
You're to old for your little black substitute
(You're to old for your little black substitute)

Little black corvette
Bobby you drive 2 fast
Little black corvette
Your dick may be is small but your words are nast!

Little black corvette
Novak u got 2 slow down (got 2 slow down)
Little black corvette
cuz if u dont u gonna run over
Pedestrians and knock them down.

(little black corvette)
You're gonna knock them down. (honey u got 2 slow down)
U, u, u got 2 slow down (little red corvette)
Youre movin much 2 fast (2 fast)
U need 2 find a love thats gonna last

Novak, u are an ass like I never heard
And your snide...
Your are so bloody snide
This song is to give you the bird

Bobby youre an old fart
Little black corvette
U don't need a car, u don't need a corvette
You need a scooter shopping cart
(little black corvette)
U got 2 slow down (u got 2 slow down)
Little black corvette

cuz if u dont, cuz if u dont,
U gonna run pedestrians down (right into the ground)
run pedestrians down (right into the ground)
run pedestrians down (right into the ground)

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:03 PM

I hereby move the motion that this thread be moved 'above the line'... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:09 PM

What, it's a Song Challenge now?? Hee hee!

Regardless, I think we have a new word for having been struck by a car that's running the red light while you're rightly in the crosswalk: you've been Novaked.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:46 PM

Oh, man, this story keeps getting weirder and weirder....

Novak: All Things Considered, I Screwed Up
Posted Jul 23rd 2008 12:50PM by TMZ Staff (www.tmz.com)

TMZ just spoke with Robert Novak, and one thing is clear: National Public Radio can be hazardous to pedestrians, especially the one he mowed down in D.C. this morning.

Novak tells us he was listening to "Morning Edition" on NPR in his Corvette when suddenly, "Some guy came up and hit my car with his fist. I figured I had done something that had created road rage, but I didn't know what it was. Then a bicyclist blocked the road in front of me. I asked what the problem was. He said, 'You can't just hit people and run away!'"

Novak says the cops came, put him "briefly" in the back of the police car and asked about what he heard at the time of impact. Novak told them and us that he didn't hear or feel anything. They asked if he had been drinking or on a cellphone. He answered "no" to both.

Novak, who was cited for failing to yield, says he won't fight the ticket, adding, "I assume witnesses are telling the truth."

And we asked him about his comments back in 2001 -- that he hates jaywalkers and thought about running them over. He responded, "I've said a lot of things I shouldn't have said."

As for reports that he's an aggressive driver, he says, "I'm 77 years old. I'm not aggressive anymore."
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Hawwwww!!!!! Not aggressive anymore!! And WHAT would a right-of-the-right columnist be listening to NPR for?!? Ohhh, this is too precious. LSHICSFTT! (Laughing So Hard I Can't See For The Tears!)

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 08:53 PM

His smartest decision seems to be not fighting the matter in court.... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:02 PM

Age is no damned excuse! I'm 77 years old and whenever I run over someone, I know it!    ;-]

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 09:48 PM

... and so do they, Don!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:05 PM

Oh, yeah! Last time I ran over someone, I was in my electric wheelchair (about 90 lbs. of gear and batteries, plus me), moving down the aisle of a grocery store. I was going fairly fast, but apparently not fast enough for this guy behind me. I didn't know he was there until he tried to force his way past me and one of the drive wheels of my chair ran over his foot.

He did quite a little dance, jumping up and down on one foot while holding the other. Sang, too! Kinda tuneless, but loud? Wow!

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Bill D
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:05 PM

You get "Morning Edition" on that chair, Don? Is it a "convertable"? Poor Novak was distracted!

(I am anxious to see if we hear from the victim for HIS version of whether he "hit the car with his fist", like Novak claims or was briefly smeared across the window like the witness said.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:53 PM

Well, I'm just surprised that Novak didn't have a valid license to run down pedestrians, at least liberal ones.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: jeffp
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 10:56 PM

I think it was the bicyclist witness who chased Novak down that was beating on the window with his fist. In order to get Novak's attention.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Jul 08 - 11:08 PM

Craig, Novak and Cheney - what a great law firm.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: PoppaGator
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 09:46 AM

Novak must have been blinded by rage from listening to NPR.

What an asshole!

Let me reiterate my incredulity that he gets off so easily ~ fifty bucks for a hit-and-run?

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 09:47 AM

Reminds me of the old 'insurance claims' tales so loved of Jasper Carrott...

"The guy was all over the road, I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him!"

"I saw a sad faced old gentleman as he bounced off the bonnet of my car"

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Jul 08 - 05:34 PM

This is awfully confusing, can we merge the two threads please?

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: DougR
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 01:37 AM

Sharon A: why? Because he is a conservative columnist. Conservatives get special treatment in Washington, D. C. Surprise you don't know that. My hunch is, the victim was probably a liberal. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 07:15 PM

The other thread to which Liz refers is BS: Robert Novak hits pedestrian and runs... started by Bobert.

'Sokay with me if the two threads are linked, but I was hoping for a more wide-ranging discussion about getting people to stop driving when their mental faculties have become compromised due to dementia -- is there any legislation or pending legislation, have you experienced this in your own family, etc.

BTW I have experienced this in my own family, with my own father. The Cliff's Notes version of the story is that we adult-children saw the symptoms but felt powerless to do anything to stop him -- then he bought a new car, rear-ended someone 16 DAYS later (hit the accelerator thinking it was the brake), suffered injuries that prevented him from ever driving again, but swore to the day he died (some 3 years later) that he would drive again. I now own the car he refused to sell -- it's almost 9 years old with less than 50,000 miles on it, because it sat unused for so long.

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: GUEST,Mike in DC
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:06 PM

The victim was an 86 year old homeless man who was surprised to learn that it was Novak who hit him. His response was "He's a very good reporter. But as a driver, he wasn't paying attention."

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:20 PM

More about the homeless guy's response:
ABC channel 7 update 7/24/08
Washington Post article 7/25/08

Subject: RE: BS: DWS (Driving While Senile)
From: SharonA
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 08:23 PM

Oops - THIS is the Washington Post article 7/25/08

That other, in my previous post, is from Fox News. Sorry!