Of cigarettes, scotch, Buckley and Alinsky

Via Hot Air



OK. There's no scotch, at least, none that we can see but this 5 minute Firing Line clip from 1967 oozes that sort of civility and congeniality. Remember, this was right about when America was supposedly coming apart at the seams and these two titans of conservatism and leftist-Marxism, respectfully, are trading good-natured and witty barbs.

Short on substance perhaps but this portal to an America that once was will have to do until Mad Men cranks back up in 2012.

"... that's the way to get the toilets fixed."

Buckley, the Birchers and the original Arizona Maverick

Alright, gang. After having been shut out of the beer convention going on here in San Diego (“whaddya mean there’s no tasting room?”) Mr. Styles and ourselves are taking matters into our own hands by paying a visit to the Stone Brewing Company up in Escondido today so blogging will be light.

In our absence, though, we left you all with a little history lesson from WFB describing a critical juncture in the development of the modern American conservative movement… the purging of the kooks. Enjoy.

Now that was a Life Lived

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.