William F. Buckley - RIP
posted by Matt Friedeman at
3:56 PM
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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3 Comments:
In a modern conservative landscape dotted with (to borrow the words of Garrison Keillor) "the shrieking midgets of A.M. radio" and "bullies with Bibles" William F. Buckley was and still is the true essence of conservatism.
The New York Times was correct to say that Buckley was a man of "polysyllabic exuberance". Buckley was every bit the high brow intellectual he was perceived to be as anyone who ever had a subscription to National Review well knows.
Unlike the minions of modern conservatism who put the pot and beer away in the late 80s and "got religion", Buckley was a man of deep convictions who stood alone against the tide of history in the 50s and 60s. His vindication came with the election of Reagan. Sadly his conservative "baby" became a shiftless teenager all too soon. I suggest the Times go back and read National Review AFTER the 1988 election where Reagan was called the "favorite son" and George H.W. Bush "the uncomfortable cousin". Bill knew the Bushes for what they REALYY were but was stuck with them like the rest of us were.
Reading his book "Miles Gone By" this last fall (I highly recommend it to all) I was struck by just how much of a privileged upbringing Buckley had. It was "welcome to the wonderful world of WASPs; let's keep it that way". Yet his money did give him access to adventure and it helped him develop a love of great wines
With all his money and privilege Buckley could have become a country clubber or a playboy. He chose to become an ideologue setting measured, controlled fires on the prairie of mainstream American thought that unfortunately burn out of control today.
I noted in his book that he withdrew from commenting on politics. I wonder if it was because he couldn't bring himself to face the fact that the grandchildren of the Birchers (Limbaugh, Coulter, etc.) had taken his beloved movement and turned it into cheap, crass infotainment for the masses.
RIP Bill. Your intellectual brand of conservatism has been missed for years.
It was easy to respect Buckley. He presented an opposing position in a way that made you pay attention. Not going to the extremes that you get from the conservative leaders today. I thought conservatives may have kicked him to the curb for not supporting the Iraq War.
He was an upper crust, blue blooded elitist...but man he made sense. However, why did he always sound drunk beyond repair in his interviews?
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