Saying Goodbye to Robert Novak

By now, you've probably heard the news. The influential columnist Robert Novak has died.

By now, you know the story most quoted with his passing. The column in which Novak publicly identified the CIA operative Valerie Plame. The column that triggered an investigation into the Plame leak that resulted in the 2007 conviction of Dick Cheney's top aid "Scooter" Libby.

And the column that prompted journalists who weren't even in his league to say Novak was too cozy in league with a government retribution campaign against her husband, Ambassador Joe Wilson.

Never mind that Novak had called the U.S. invasion of Iraq unjustified, his colleagues had little time for details. Fortunately Novak did have time for details. Painstakingly un-covered details. It is why and how he broke so many stories.

Bottom line, on this show, like so many shows, Bob Novak stood out. Because in the hot air universe of TV punditry, this cool self-described "Prince of Darkness" had a way of shedding light like no other, even eerily predicting things, like no other. Take a listen....

(START VIDEO CLIP)

(SEPT. 5, 2006)

NOVAK: It’s going to be a very nervous time for Republicans. They are going to lose seats in both the House and the Senate. Will they lose enough to lose control for the first time since 1994? That’s entirely possible.

(APRIL 11, 2006)

NOVAK: Senator Clinton? Coming out absolutely left-field, out of nowhere with this false accusation. I think it just shows that that’s her nature. That’s the kind of person she is. Like a couple of weeks ago, she said – she asked the question – what would Jesus Christ think about the House pass[ing] the immigration bill. And that is what worried – Neil, that is what worries a lot of the Democrats I had talked to about the possibility of this woman being the nominee for president.

(SEPTEMBER 17, 2007)

CAVUTO: Interestingly enough, you also point out Bob – very astutely — that this time if Democrats gain even more in the Senate as they are expected to with a lot of Republican resignations, they could have pretty much their way: a filibuster-proof majority that could ram through almost any legislation.

NOVAK: That’s right. They won’t get it in this Congress, Neil. But they might get some little things. But what they’re aiming for, I believe, is 2009.

A Democratic president and a filibuster-proof Democratic Senate… you may have an entirely different tax system after the next election.

CAVUTO: And you know, Robert, what I’ve learned from reading your columns and hearing your comments, what you say has a funny way of happening down the road. Robert Novak. Thank you very, very much.

NOVAK: Thank you, Neil.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

He predicted the make-up of Congress, almost to the exact number. The presidency we would see. The initiatives that he would fight. Even the initiatives he thought he would lose.

We lost a giant today. Robert Novak, dead at 78.

— Watch Neil Cavuto weekdays at 4 p.m. ET on "Your World with Cavuto" and send your comments to cavuto@foxnews.com