I don't see how anyone else could be so crass & cold.
On a more positive note, which William F Buckley book would one introduce young Conservatives to?
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You are one of the many reasons I am no longer a libertarian. Another one was Harry Browne and his anti-American screed after Sept. 11. Another one is Ron Paul and his isolationist insanity after Sept. 11.
William Buckley knew what was important. He understood the deep importance of American freedom AND American military strength. And that these are not opposites. And that both are crucial to our own future and the future of the entire world.
I will miss Buckley. I will not miss the libertarians. |
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Wendy: What will people say when you die? Probably not too many good things, save for a small and smarmy group of people imagining themselves to be "individualists," as they go about justifying localized tyranny while denouncing the state. |
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How can one person be so mean and small? |
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When I started a new job in 1988, they gave me a personal information form to fill out – a sort of getting-to-know-you fun thing. One of the questions was “Your personal hero”. I wrote down “William F. Buckley”, without hesitation. Twenty years later, I haven’t changed my mind. |
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If we keep his ideology alive (doubt many can match his intellect)then the "Conservative movement" is not dead. My only wish was that I got involved earlier in life (I was a Navy person stationed in the Bay area in the mid-80's) need I say more. |
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If you ever wanted to see an original insight in a William F. Buckley column, you would necessarily have had to look for the quotation marks.
Buckley was a nasty little man whose method of covering up his inanity was taking the individualist ideas of others, rejecting its core element by adding a "but," and cloaking the resulting meaningless mish-mash essay with million dollar words that stultified most of his readership. Lacking independent thought themselves, these readers would attribute brilliance to the man precisely because they could not understand it.
You cannot aid the cause of individualism by distancing yourself from it and then trying to make your mixed notions reputable. He repudiated true individualists and hobnobbed with those on the left such as Galbraith because he was not a true individualist and was rarely offended by the big government aims of the left. His sole concern was maintaining influence and social standing among his fellow country club Republicans.
He was one of many whose lackluster support for individualism and limited government led the Republican Party to where it is today: A rotting hulk of sell-outs who have nothing to offer limited government conservatives. THAT is the legacy of William F. Buckley. |
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"Wednesday, February 27, 2008
William F. Buckley Jr. (1925-2008) [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
I’m devastated to report that our dear friend, mentor, leader, and founder William F. Buckley Jr., died this morning in his study in Stamford, Connecticut.
He died while at work; if he had been given a choice on how to depart this world, I suspect that would have been exactly it. At home, still devoted to the war of ideas.
As you might expect, we’ll have much more to say here and in NR in the coming days and weeks and months. For now: Thank you, Bill. God bless you, now with your dear Pat. Our deepest condolences to Christopher and the rest of the Buckley family. And our fervent prayer that we continue to do WFB’s life’s work justice."
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTE4NGRlOGM1NmYxYj dmNjk1MjliOTE2MTYxOWZkZjc= |
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...when I heard of Mr. Buckley's death a few minutes ago on Rush's show. He's telling some wonderful stories right now about his first meeting with Buckley and other conservative leaders for the first time.
I first saw him on our local PBS station (Ch. 2, Twin Cities) when I was a teenager and thought of him as that British guy with a talk show. As I learned more about conservatism and National Review I came to respect him and his work very much.
I heard he died while at work, presumably on his next column. What a wonderful way to go--since we all have to go, that's the best way of looking at it.
Rush hopes Buckley's life and death will get the prominent coverage that they deserve in the next few days. |
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He leaves voids that cannot be filled by anyone else. We should pause and be astounded at his unique and positive influence on this world.
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Mister Buckley was the first intellectual conservative I ever heard. He was the only conservative on the air when television news was dominated by the three broadcast networks. Network news fawned over riotous totalitarian leftists demonstrating for “freedom.” William F. Buckley condemned them as thugs, and then proceeded to expose their positions as the intellectual nonsense they really were.
He was the godfather of all that the conservative movement has achieved. The conservative movement transformed the Republican Party’s mission into one that offers a different vision for achieving the American Dream. Without this vision, (his vision really) all it could be is a more prudent caretaker of the welfare state
Thank You, Father God, for the life of William Frank Buckley. He made a difference.
DJ Chapman |
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Well, this seems to be the end of the “American Conservative” movement, IMHO.
Seriously. Mr. Buckley’s death, while only marginally affecting events (due to his relegation to the sidelines recently, alas), has a tremendous symbolic effect. End of an Era sort of thing.
The team brandishing the label “conservative” nowadays (NRO, WND, RedState, Rush, etc. etc. etc.) need to come up with a new word for their philosophy. Just make one up. (I like “Freeperism,” myself).
And I would loooooove to know what was on his desk when he died. Was it Liberal Fascism? I will choose to believe so, and that reading it killed him.
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We have lost a great one today. It is probably accurate to point out that were it not for Mr. Buckley fighting for constitutional conservatism back in the 50's and beyond, we may have had already slid into a socialist state, far beyond what we are fighting to today. He was our leader before we had a movement, and on this day we who love freedom mourn the passing of this truly great man. |
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That's what he gave us. Pre-Buckley conservatism was a disreputable label that even Eisenhower shied away from. It was a mess of John Birch Society-style kooks.
One of the things I always liked about Buckley was that he had so many liberal friends, like John Kenneth Galbraith. Sure, they would disagree with each other, but there was rarely acrimony. If only mainstream politics could have that. |
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Thoughts and prayers for you and your family. |
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At a time when the Conservative Movement needs all the help it can get, we lose a true Giant. Reunited with his beloved, no doubt. WFB,you have affected so many. I will be eternally grateful for your sage and eloquent words.
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RIP William F. Buckley. As I look at the March 10th issue of National Review that just arrived at my desk. I have been reading your magazine since I was eleven. Thoughts and prayers with your family, you will be greatly missed. |
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A very big loss. This man has a tremendous legacy. I pray he's enjoying his reward. |
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