Robert Novak To Retire After "Dire" Prognosis

Just one week after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement:

Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times' political columnist describes as "dire."

"The details are being worked out with the doctors this week, but the tentative plan is for radiation and chemotherapy," Novak said.

Novak has been writing his column since 1963. Last week, following the diagnosis, he said that he planned to be back at work soon, "God willing."

Comments

[bennofs]

Dear Mr Novac I hope and pray for the best for you and a positive outcome to your treatment.
I have never agreed with any of your views on anything and I'm sure we would all like to keep on disagreeing with you for many moons to come. Get well.

[spiffarino]

Screw cancer. Hope you beat it, Bob.

[meanguy]

AMEN!

[Enid]

the none compassionate are screened out

[cynic]

yes. they are.

Oh Bob... How very, very sad.

[spiffarino]

Lifelong Dem here, and not a fan. Be that as it may, Godspeed. May you recover fully and get back to having a good life.

[mancityheel]

Despised his politics of course, but his columns (as opposed to the TV appearances in which he often came off as a caricature of conservative meanness) were worth a read because they often had nuggets of inside info from politicians/gov't officials. Particularly this primary season, I regularly read his columns posted on Rasmsussen Reports. He was a far fight version of a nearly extinct Washington species, the old-school columnist who made a living off of dishing info passed along by friends and contacts within circles of power.

That is to say, he was a journalist, which is far more than can be said for most of the folks on Fox News etc these days.

[LRM216]

All good wishes and thoughts. God speed.

[MemeMagus]

I wish Mr. Novak the best and I hope he has a full recovery. Cancer is a terrible affliction that has taken loved ones from almost all of us. He has been a powerful member of the Washington press club for decades, and despite his differing views he has impressed me with his determination. I'm really touched by the respectful nature of the comments today because he deserves our sympathy. Cancer is not something I take lightly, nor should any of us. My thoughts are not about his politics but about his family and his welfare. Good luck Mr. Novak.

[kittycago]

We can all agree that being diagnosed with a brain tumor is a tragedy sir.I hope you beat this and come back to write a column that I am sure will probably infuriate me .May the wind be at your back and the warm sun rays of hope shine on your face.

[flyers]

HuffPost's Pick

I wish the best to Mr. Novak and his family. I never understood why people have to say, "Even though I disagree with his or her views...." Guys, it is just politics, and we shouldn't take this stuff that personal. What someone believes in, whether I agree with it or not, I totally respect, as that is what makes this country great, we can all debate the issues. But I think when people start putting a face on those issues and hate the person for their views, whether they are republican or democrat, and it takes a person like this to be terminally ill for people to finally say something nice, I think many of us need to rethink how we look at politics in general.

[Destin]

I disagree. I was one who used the 'even tho i disagree' example, I did it for a very specific reason. That irrespective of this man's politics, his views, whatever. I still respected him and still care about him as a fellow human being. And I figured that by pointing out that I was on the other side of the fence, it would hopefully make him feel better knowing that his fellow intellectuals cared more about him than the politics. But now you go and make the broad, sweeping generalization that anyone who is posting here and saying something nice, is nothing more than a political opportunist who doesn't care about anyone until something bad happens.

How dare you? You don't speak for me.

[jamman]

How dare you?!! Bah...c'mon.

In the story of the Good Samaritan, he didn't get extra points for pulling the waylaid man out of the ditch and saying, "even though you are a jew, I'm going to help you anyway."

And the idea that you can't say, "I hope you get well" without pointing out that your political beliefs differ from his does mean something..to you, because you pointed it out.

How big of me, after all to be so open-minded to show pity to a man with cancer, even though he is a conservative.

There is a time to put aside everything and be compassionate with no string attached, with no "howevers" or "buts" or "even thoughs". The rains fall on the good and the bad, and we are all frail and weak.

Peace to all, and God bless you, Mr. Novak.

[Bettysdad]

It's not "just politics."

It's the way you see the world and the people in it. Human beings are, normally, social creatures that work together and help each other out.

Novak and other anti-human wingnuts see other people as a profit center to be controlled for money.

If people think that "politics" is about oil leases or school vouchers, you will be ground under the heel of the Novaks of the world.

They're evil.

[Cynth]

I can understand why some people feel the need to acknowledge differences even in expressing their well-wishes when those differences were not purely political and involved significant implications to national security and our laws. Nevertheless, I wish Mr. Novak and his family well through this difficult time, and I hope they find peace and comfort. God bless.

[DaOne]

It's not just politics. Just politics got 4,000 of our troops killed in Iraq. Criiminal reporting got the name of Valerie Plame leaked.

[bostongreen]

just politics? JUST POLITICS? This is a battle for the soul of this country and you call it JUST POLITICS?! We truly are doomed if you think this is just a little game.

[NYC07]

Though our thinking is worlds apart , I hope you win this fight.

[Exit]

Get well Robert Novak.

[BlueZoo]

Differentiating the politics from the man is an important distinction and one well-voiced in here. With that in mind, Messrs. Kennedy and Novak deserve our prayers and best wishes in their fight with this awful disease.

[MNmommy]

Godspeed. Prayers and thoughts to he and his family.

[RichardD]

As a 2 time cancer survivor, I wish him well, and even if, I am of a different viewpoint than he.

[maxbean]

It's nice to see some compassion out there. Both sides of the aisle have been dealt some tough blows lately and we should all be thankful for our health.