"Tuesday in a phone interview with the Austin American-Statesman he revealed another surprise: After NR readers raised holy heck over his perceived betrayal of the right, he offered to resign his column - and it was accepted."
"I have been effectively fatwahed (is that how you spell it?) by the conservative movement, and the magazine that my father founded must now distance itself from me. But then, conservatives have always had a bit of trouble with the concept of diversity. The GOP likes to say it’s a big-tent. Looks more like a yurt to me."In his farewell column, Buckley seems to imply that his father -- who was also "unpredictable" -- would approve of his endorsement. Yet, the very column which started all this trouble was titled: Sorry, Dad, I'm Voting for Obama.
Buckley's farewell column also (intentionally, in my estimation) confuses George W. Bush Republicanism with conservatism.
His father was a truly great man, so this one stings. All I can say is this is unfortunate, but I think NR is justified in their decision.
Now they should oust Parker, as well ...
Update: Buckley was just on Hardball, arguing that his resignation was meant to be merely a pro forma symbolic effort to take the heat off of National Review. Rich Lowry disputes that notion.