Why is Robert Novak still driving?
Bono said the pedestrian, who was crossing the street on a “Walk” signal and was in the crosswalk, rolled off the windshield and then Novak 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.
That right, Robert Novak hit someone who rolled across his windshield, and he didn’t even notice it. If he’s that unaware of things, why does he still have a national column, nevermind his car keys?
Update: The more I read about this, the more I’m pretty sure that Novak just plain fled the scene:
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.â€
I used to have an office right on that corner (1776 K St.), and while I was glad to get out of there, I sure would have loved to have had it today. (Also, this Bono fellow is running for the board of the Washington Area Bicycle Association. I think he just cinched my vote.)
Jimbo
I did not think it was possible for me to hate Novak more. I was wrong.
MB
Novak was a pretty regular sidewalk encounter for me for years. So I’ve had the pleasure of sharing my views on his views with him a few times.
Felt good.
freewheel
And when you shared your views with the dark lord, what did he say? Or did he just grunt?
Jimbo
Nice work… Hey, speaking of good feelings, I raced in my first crit yesterday. It was a lot of fun. I even enjoyed getting dropped.
MB
Well, the first time he gave me a look and walked on (well, pranced, really – like a poodle. No lie) and another he came back with some lame reply about it being my opinion. To be fair, though, the things I said weren’t exactly a polite invitation to a conversation. I tried that with Jack Valenti, once – complete waste of time. However, I never could figure out how to get it going with Thomas Friedman (the Mustache of Understanding). Probably because I wasn’t a taxi driver.
~
Congrats, Jimbo. Very cool. You’re a better man than I – my first crit was spent mostly trying not to puke after I got dropped (and eventually pulled).
freewheel
LOL – well, at least you got Novak’s attention (unlike the pedestrian on his windshield this morning)
MB
Ah, posted by David Bono to some DC cycling listservs this morning:
Clever, those kids at WABA.
MB
Looks like someone took his column away, after all.
Peej
Quick, MB! Wish for world peace! Or a really nice apartment in west Estepona, off the marina, for me. (It’s the one place where my ‘I hate the sun’ rule doesn’t hold.) Just make it so it’s without the monkey’s paw ramification)
Anon E. Mouse
Well, it looks like we have an explanation:
Of course, Senator Kennedy can still work with his brain tumor, and Sen. Johnson (also a Democrat, of course), was MIA for months after a stroke, but kept his job. I guess the good people of South Dakota did not deserve representation during that time.
MB
Don’t waste your time trolling here, Mouse. I’m not nearly as tolerant of stupidity as the other places you’re trying to ruin.
Anon E. Mouse
I’d think you would welcome discussion.
MB
I do. Now go away. I’m asking nicely.
Anon E. Mouse
Fine. Will you post an apology to Mr. Novak?
MB
And with that, you are banned. Anything you post here in the future will be auto-binned (or removed by me, if you decide to dick around with things.). Thanks for playing, run along.