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Novak Has Brain Tumor

By TChris, Section Media
Posted on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:38:06 PM EST
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Let's set aside for the moment political differences and disapproval of Robert Novak's conduct, in order to wish him a speedy recovery from a brain tumor that caused his admission to intensive care last night.

[Novak's assistant Kathleeen] Connolly added that Mr. Novak is alert and talking ... and that he will undergo a biopsy at some time in the next few days to determine the kind of tumor he has.

In this thread, at least, please keep your comments respectful.

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    Novak Has Brain Tumor | 37 comments (37 topical)

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    I had a feeling, when he hit that (5.00 / 8) (#1)
    by Anne on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:41:19 PM EST
    pedestrian last week, and said he didn't see anyone, that there was something going on with him that needed evaluating.

    Am sorry to hear that it is a brain tumor, and hope he makes a good recovery.

    Same here ... I just couldn't understand that he (5.00 / 0) (#17)
    by bridget on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:34:36 PM EST
    didn't see and hear anything when he hit that man. But he didn't seem that worried about it all according to the reports I read. I thought that was strange, too.

    And now it turns out he has a brain tumor. I wonder how long a person with a brain tumor can function normally. Aren't there headaches involved usually. Severe migraines?

    This is serious. Wishing him a speedy recovery as well.

     

    Parent

    Symptoms vay widely. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Fabian on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:44:59 PM EST
    It all depends on what part of the brain is involved.  If the circulation of spinal fluid is affected and pressure builds up, then headaches can result.  A tumor could affect speech, cognition, motor control, vision, or any number of things.

    Parent
    And even "benign" (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 04:30:55 PM EST
    tumors can cause huge problems because of the "mass effect".

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    Not for nothing, (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:50:41 PM EST
    but the video of him when he got out of the cop car showed a clearly and visibly shaken semi-frailish old man, imo.

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    This would explain a lot... (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by kredwyn on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:43:28 PM EST
    with regards to last week's accident.

    I remember when my grandfather was diagnosed with brain cancer (a tumor was involved). Two weeks before the diagnosis, I had several people asking me if I thought there was something wrong with him.

    He seemed to be a bit more dotty than earlier. But I shrugged that off as age and typical for the menfolk on my father's side. (They tend towards the eccentric.)

     

    Well, I wish him well,,, (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by desertswine on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:51:31 PM EST
    because its the civilized thing to do.

    Mrs. Swine's sister has been battling a brain tumor for over a year now. It's a nightmare.

    I wish Novak well (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Capt Howdy on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:52:02 PM EST
    sorry for the ill received attempt at humor before.
    get well Bob.  we already miss you.
    I can hate you and still respect you for at least having something as close to convictions as we are likely to see in the modern MSM.
    Wow, is this true? (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 02:58:21 PM EST
    Last week, Novak was given a $50 citation after he struck a homeless man with his black Corvette in downtown Washington. Novak kept going until he was stopped by a bicyclist, who said the man was splayed on Novak's windshield.

    Dr. Lynne Taylor, a neuro-oncologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, said residents at the hospital are taught to check for brain tumors in patients who report having a recent car accident in which they didn't realize they struck something.

    "People get spatial and visual neglect of a certain part of their bodies and they don't realize they've done what they've done," said Taylor, a fellow with the American Academy of Neurology.
    Spatial and visual neglect is exactly (5.00 / 7) (#11)
    by Anne on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:16:58 PM EST
    what my mother experienced when she had a stroke while out and about - she sideswiped a car merging onto a main road, and didn't have the first clue anything had happened.

    Since she did not appear to have any injuries, she did not go to the ER until the next morning, when my brother and I realized something was seriously wrong.  In my opinion, the cops who came to her door to cite her for leaving the scene probably should have insisted she be checked out.

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    I can believe it. (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:47:10 PM EST
    Every time I take my face mask off after scuba diving I'm immediately surprised by how much the face mask limited my vision - and that I never noticed it when I had the mask on.

    I imagine losing part of your eyesight due to things like tumors could often be something just as unconscious.

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    I actually am bummed about this (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by dianem on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:53:48 PM EST
    Novak is one of the people I love to hate, and this means that I have to have sympathy for him and sincerely wish that he has a speedy recovery. Sometimes being a liberal is tough. I sure hope that Cheney or Rove don't get sick - the conflict might damage my psyche permanently.

    dianem....5 or 6 heart attacks for Cheney, (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by PssttCmere08 on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 04:21:02 PM EST
    to date.  I think he is incapable of dying.

    RE: Bob Novak....hope you get a good prognosis...

    Hmmmm... (1.00 / 1) (#6)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:02:35 PM EST
    Maybe the tumor started when he outed Plame. At that time he had not noticed that he outed a CIA agent.

    doubt it... (none / 0) (#7)
    by kredwyn on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:08:37 PM EST
    see post #5.

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    Novak's problem then (5.00 / 3) (#16)
    by pie on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:26:48 PM EST
    was that he was missing his conscience.

    This certainly could explain last week's incident though.  Too bad that people think so little of him that his behavior seemed normal.

    Sorry to hear about the tumor.  Seems to be a lot of that going around lately.  Maybe that cancer guy in PA was onto something re cell phone use.

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    I Saw It (none / 0) (#15)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:24:53 PM EST
    But outing plame seemed like a hit and run as well. Were it a more common occurrence I am sure that neurologists would have outing a CIA agent without noticing it, as a criteria for brain tumors as well.

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    Perhaps now... (1.00 / 1) (#31)
    by weltec2 on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 08:21:05 PM EST
    he will retire. That would be good for him... and the country.

    I'm sorry. I was trying to think of something nice to say.

    One thing I always liked about Novak (none / 0) (#8)
    by OxyCon on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:11:36 PM EST
    Is that he isn't a fraud. He is exactly who he says he is and he tells you exactly what he thinks. He isn't one of those Repubs who hides behind a phony veneer, saying they are for a certain position in public, while working against that position behind the scenes. I disagree with him 99% of the time, but I respect him for being true to his ideals. That makes him a rarity.

    Um, he's a liar but not a fraud? (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by MarkL on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:15:13 PM EST
    [yes, that's respectful, because it tells it like it is]

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    That's unfortunate (none / 0) (#9)
    by Steve M on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:12:11 PM EST
    I hope the doctors are able to give him some good news.

    Novak raises the bar (Carlin and Pryor) (none / 0) (#12)
    by jerry on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:18:27 PM EST
    In concert George Carlin once discussed a competition he had with Richard Pryor:

    He had a heart attack so I had a heart attack.

    Then he set himself on fire, and I said, f that, I'm having another heart attack.

    In this manner, someone should let Novak know that all he needed to do was report to celebrity detox.  This whole tumor thing is ridiculous and unnecessarily raises the bar.

    ummm... (none / 0) (#13)
    by kredwyn on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:20:35 PM EST
    your evidence of this is what?

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    I believe (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Steve M on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:23:36 PM EST
    that there is a tape of that George Carlin concert, but I could be wrong.

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    The Carlin Pryor joke, and an explanation.... (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by jerry on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 03:41:56 PM EST
    Googling:

    An update on the comedian health sweepstakes. I currently lead Richard Pryor in heart attacks 2 to 1. But Richard still leads me 1 to nothing in burning yourself up. See, it happened like this. First Richard had a heart attack. Then I had a heart attack. Then Richard burned himself up. And I said, `F that. I'm having another heart attack!'

    Supposedly said in 1982 in Carnegie Hall, but I think I saw it too in Los Angeles -- went to one, sadly only one, George Carlin concert.

    But kredwyn, I was joking.  I am not stating that Novak's tumor is made up, I am certain it was not.  I was joking it was to get out of his ticket....  A little black humor.

    Parent

    sorry... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kredwyn on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 04:35:07 PM EST
    the brain tumor thing has touched a nerve...

    Parent
    I dunno... (none / 0) (#27)
    by Thanin on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 06:18:41 PM EST
    My grandmother died of a brain-tumor.  She was a great, kind person who was always advocating Liberal causes, even through the most conservative eras in the 20th century.  It hit me hard when she died and affected me deeply.

    But the fact is, novak isnt any of that and his illness is irrelevant.  Perhaps if he were a green peace sitting, anti war type of guy then there might be a reason for his problems to affect me based off of my family history... but that definitely isn't the case.  So yes brain tumors are obviously horrible, but just because someone gets afflicted with something like this doesn't make him a good person or clear his past.

    And like MarkL said (probably the only time Ive ever agreed with him), Im not trying to be disrespect and stating the truth isn't disrespectful.

    Parent

    We each deal with stuff... (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by kredwyn on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 07:31:14 PM EST
    like this in our own ways.

    My reaction is less towards the person that Novak has been and more to the fact that I wouldn't wish the wasting illness that my grandfather suffered through (back in the 80s) for almost a year on anyone.

    Have a nice day.

    Parent

    Well... (none / 0) (#32)
    by Thanin on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:32:28 AM EST
    I never wished it on him nor have I seen a post so far that has.  My point is that everyone dies of something and everyone has had a tragic experience, whether its to them directly or someone they knew.  So while I personally wouldnt make fun of a person going through something horrible, Im still going to hold their ideology to the fire when its deserved.

    Parent
    whatever... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kredwyn on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:16:18 PM EST
    as I said...have a nice day.

    Parent
    Needlessly dismissive... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Thanin on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:12:06 PM EST
    Guess youre not the kind of poster I thought you were.  You have a nice day too.

    Parent
    I was thinking something similar... (none / 0) (#36)
    by kredwyn on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 11:25:56 AM EST
    when I read this: "Perhaps if he were a green peace sitting, anti war type of guy then there might be a reason for his problems to affect me..."

    That kind of surprised me, which is why I pointed out that we each deal differently.

    I never said that I thought you wished it on him.

    But my response was to the ailment and its effects and not the person...and I said so.

    Parent

    Fair enough... (none / 0) (#37)
    by Thanin on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 12:15:57 PM EST
    Though I do think theres an argument for keeping illnesses and ideologies in perspective, for example: if I came down with a brain tumor I wouldnt want anyone to soft-pedal their beliefs around me.  I think to do otherwise would be disingenuous and would show a lack of respect.  So my point wasn't from a cruel perspective, but more of a practical/honest one.  But I can definitely see how I came across as callous.  My apologies.  

    Parent
    i would like to wish (none / 0) (#28)
    by english teacher on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 07:15:30 PM EST
    the d.o.l. a full and speedy recovery.

    Prayers (none / 0) (#30)
    by themomcat on Mon Jul 28, 2008 at 07:37:48 PM EST
    for a good prognosis and recovery for Mr. Novak. He may be the "Prince of Darkness" but he deserves my hope for a good outcome. Besides who could possibly replace him?
    May the Goddess watch over him and and keep him strong through this adversity. Blessed Be.

    I am sickened (5.00 / 0) (#35)
    by bugjackblue on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 12:05:50 AM EST
    I'm sorry-- I can't obey the command to be respectful of this swine.  Don't print my comment if you don't like it.  I will just lose that much more respect for my fellow "liberals."

    This is why the bad guys kick the good guys' teeth in time after time.  Why must we find something nice to say about Novak?  Or wish him well?  This is a man with no redeeming human qualities who would never ever do the same for you or your loved ones if the positions were reversed.  He would sneer at your misfortune, and if he deigned to comment would probably mutter something about scraping you off the bottom of his shoe. This is a reprehensible criminal creep who has made a career out of promoting exploitation and cruelty, and who deserves nothing more than our contempt. And especially now in his moment of weakness because only now that he is vulnerable will it hurt.

    This is why I am so disgusted with "liberalism."  I understand that it is about occupying the moral high ground.  But that does not mean one must always turn the other cheek.  When a vampire struggles with the stake through the heart, you don't feel sorry for him, you drive it in with a vengeance as it's the only chance you may get to eradicate his evil.

    Oh, I hope he lives.  I hope he lives long enough to be convicted of felony hit-and-run on a pedestrian.  I hope he is sued so hard it depletes enough of his bank account that he has to rely upon his health insurance to pay for his treatment, and that he then finds his insurance doesn't quite cover that treatment.  (Assuming he's really got a tumor-- what a convenient dodge it would be if he didn't, eh?  How difficult do you think it would be for a republican made-man to get a doctor to lie about something like this?  Or to even falsify a death certificate?  Just cremate the "remains" and off to the Caymans to hang with Ken Lay...)

             

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    I know that I am very late (none / 0) (#38)
    by themomcat on Sun Aug 03, 2008 at 07:26:03 PM EST
    with this reply. I have had some serious family matters of mt owns to address. Illness and death are the equalizers of us all. I have  worked in Emergency medicine for nearly 30 years  and I will never stop trying to save lives without asking who that person is or what they have done. I took an oath to do no harm and it is the basic belief of my religion. Mr. Novak's political views, his work and any crimes that he may have committed or laws that he may have broken are not my concern when it comes to his illness. I wish him well and will continue to pray for his recovery.

    Parent
    Novak Has Brain Tumor | 37 comments (37 topical)

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