William F. Buckley Jr., founder of the National Review, passed away today in the study of his home at the age of 82.
The man nearly single-handedly coalesced and synthesized the various factions of the post-WW II conservative movement while simultaneously marginalizing some of its less-savory elements. Elevating the discourse above the imagery of mere flag-waving and gun racks, Buckley provided the language and intellectual heft to the conservative movement it lacked before his arrival.
The architect of fusionism that made possible the Reagan presidency also provided the cafeteria conservatism at which the BwD staff slops.
We’ll be raising a glass of 1921 later on this evening in honor of his life and his accomplishments.
R.I.P.
Joe Lieberman's thoughts on the man here as well as the Godfather's here.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Now that was a Life Lived
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9 comments:
Trying to figure out which of the "Great Moments in Conservatism: The Buckley Years" is my favorite. The nominees:
- The U.S. should have stayed out of WWII
- AIDS victims should be tattoed
- The people of the South should do whatever it takes to keep Jim Crow alive
- The Beatles suck
Brings tears to the eyes.
- Mongo
To single out a few ill chosen comments from a monumental lifetime of erudite elucidation of conservative principles seems petty indeed. Also, "De mortuis aut bene aut nihil" comes to mind, translation here for dumb ass conservatives.
And besides, I never thought the Beatles were so hot either.
More seriously, one might question how Mr. Buckley's influence may or may not have guided a conservative government that most recently has been spending money like a "drunken sailor." While one can certainly decry the current state of the conservative movement, that is certainly not Mr. Buckley’s fault. I believe the movement he founded was hijacked by big government types masquerading as conservatives. Clearly, the time has come to advocate for smaller government kept within its rightful boundaries as he always advocated. A return of the conservative movement to one of his core beliefs, that politics and government are not all consuming, nor should they be, would be a proper tribute to Mr. Buckley.
Amazing bad luck, getting a dishonorable hyena for the first reply....
Good man. Will be missed. Hope his wife gave him a big kiss when they met back up.
No worries. Drive-bys are what he specializes in. Hopefully, a good ol' fashioned Nixonian carpet-bombing from us hill dwellers will make up for it.
A few ill-chosen comments?
We're talking about the man's views on the most monumental moments in American foreign policy (WWII) and domestic policy (the civil rights movement) -- and THAT is what he came up with??
I mean, I'm all for your deification of the guy's conservative fiscal responsibility doctrine, if that's what gets you to the finish line at the end of the day -- but as history marches on events come in to play that go beyond needing a mantra of "greed works".
More of Stones, guy, b-daddy??
- Mongo the Dishonorable Hyena
Yep, its so obvious the entire agenda of the modern conservative movement has been dictated by those quotes.
When your people have figured out who their own guiding light is... you know, that guy who was able to synthesize the moral and intellectual might of "robbing Peter to pay Paul", "Free Lunch...for Everybody!" and "Parental Consent: the slippery slope down Roe v. Wade hill", let me know so I can go cherry picking, myself.
I kind of favor Mr. Goldberg's new book for a nice, wide selection of actual quotes.
Mr. Lloyd......
(every one else gets it)
'Dawg
Dean,
Touché and thank you. I wonder why Bill Buckley inspired such strong reaction from the lefties. Perhaps because he was cool, self confident, spot on in his diagnoses of liberal malaise, and not susceptible to their usual bullying tactics.
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