Novak: Prince of Darkness

Robert Novak has died from complications of a brain tumor.

David Zurawik. Baltimore Sun:

Novak titled his 2007 memoir, "The Prince of Darkness," and he was indeed a very dark force in cable TV news contributing mightily to the toxic culture of confrontation, belligerence and polarization that so defines cable TV and American political discourse today. There is no way to be nice about his impact on cable TV during its formative years -- and his contributions for the worse to the tone and style of what passes for political conversation today.

There are some things we shouldn't forget, like the ugly way Novak's career ended at CNN when he used vulgar language on-air and then stormed off the set. The backstory was that he knew a question was coming from host Ed Henry about his role as the first journalist to disclose the identity of CIA operative Valerie Plame.