William F. Buckley Jr. died Wednesday at the age of 82. Here are four things I'll miss about the great conservative thinker:
1. His ability to say things that would get other conservatives read out of the movement. My favorite example is his comparing people who do not oppose smoking to Zyklon B defendants:
Stick me in a confessional and ask the question: Sir, if you had the authority, would you forbid smoking in America? You'd get a solemn and contrite, Yes. Solemn because I would be violating my secular commitment to the free marketplace. Contrite, because my relative indifference to tobacco poison for so many years puts me in something of the position of the Zyklon B defendants after World War II. These folk manufactured the special gas used in the death camps to genocidal ends. They pleaded, of course, that as far as they were concerned, they were simply technicians, putting together chemicals needed in wartime for fumigation. Some got away with that defense; others, not.
Those who fail to protest the free passage of tobacco smoke in the air come close to the Zyklon defendants in pleading ignorance
2. His awesomely bad sentences.
3. His ability to see what was truly important. From the beginning, WFB understood something about conservatism that many people forgot (or never recognized). As he wrote in the forward of God and Man at Yale:
I myself believe that the duel between Christianity and atheism is the most important in the world. I further believe that the struggle between individualism and collectivism is the same struggle reproduced on another level. I believe that if and when the menace of Communism is gone, other vital battles, at present subordinated, will emerge to the foreground.
4. His ability to groom talent. To assess WFB's accomplishments in this areas, it is useful to compare him to another giant of the conservative movement, Rush Limbaugh. What Rush is to talk radio, Buckley was to ideological journalism. Yet while Rush has not directly groomed any protégés he has spawned dozens of imitators (many who have surpassed their role model). Conversely, Buckley seems to have no direct imitators yet leaves behind a lengthy list of accomplished protégés. He discovered, among other notables, Garry Wills, George Will, Richard Brookhiser, and David Brooks. He also fathered two national treasures, Christopher Buckley and National Review. In my view, who you inspire is more important that what you accomplish. By this standard, WFB has left behind a worthy legacy. Requiescat in pace.
Great point on his sentences, but I could never really tell if it was shtick or just his own way of crafting/mangling the Queen's English.
Joe:
Your disdain for Rush has been apparent for many years now. You have been consistently wrong about him, and I don't understand your animus. But who are these Rush imitators, "many who have surpassed their role model?" I'd like to listen to one.
And I completely disagree with your characterization of conservatives on the issue of smoking. Most of us would reluctantly AGREE with Buckley. However, I'm sure that if Buckley were hard-pressed in that confessional, he would retract his comparison of cigarette manufacturers to Zyklon B manufacturers.
It was about 1967 that I went to hear William F. Buckley speak. I was in High School, opposed to Communism and Socialism politically and philosophically, and was frankly enthralled to shake Buckley's hand and ask him a quick question, one that I don't remember.
Bill, as his friends call him, is not admired because he was perfect, but because he is mostly right (pun intended) in his political and economic views, and he was ultra-capable of arguing for them.
Those of us who lived through the 1950's and 1960's may most appreciate the seriousness with which the subjects of Communism and Socialism were dealt. There were times when some felt that Communism could not only win, but win through the persuasion of free Americans to become slaves.
In some ways this has not changed. Many of us are appalled at how easily some are persuaded in the 21st Century to give up their freedom for the "warm comfort" of Big Government.
Buckley's writings, videos, etc. will be long-lasting foundational documents that will provide "ammunition" for those who, while lesser seminal thinkers, nevertheless value freedom, and value those who can articulate freedom's underpinning philosophies.
THREE REASONS TO LOVE BUCKLEY:
1. He always "cared" (though, like many political Conservatives, he is often portrayed as "uncaring" by those who are foolish or even stupid regarding freedom and economics).
2. He was very very smart, with wise underlying political and economic foundations (intelligence is, of course, detrimental if one's underlying political and economic philosophies are flawed).
3. He was consistently courageous, sometimes appearing to be a sad Knight jousting with the windmills of Liberalism, but doing it with a strong spine, among masses of weak-spined advocates, even among so-called Conservatives who are only Conservative in name, and who whimper like puppies when criticized.
--from www.squidoo.com/williamfbuckley
I remember, as a student at Moody Bible Institute, seeing WFB moderate a debate at Moody Church in Chicago between William Lane Craig and John Dominic Crossan called "Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?"
Buckley's moderation was droll and dry as the desert. The debate was fun - but Buckley made it truly memorable!
ENT, URGENT, URGENT, URGENT,
PASTORS WILL PREACH ON SUNDAY IN TEXAS AND OHIO SO,,,,,THIS IS MY MAX- OUT- FOR- MIKE- URGENT MESSAGE.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... DEAR RANGERS AND FRIENDS
PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS LETTER (BELOW) THEN E- MAIL TO CHURCHES
IN TIME FOR SUNDAY'S
SERMONS, THEN VOTING
TO TEXAS CHURCHES FIRST, THEN OHIO....ON SAT, MARCH 4
REMEMBER THE ALAMO..(AND THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE COMPUTERS BACK THEN)!!!!!
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THE LETTER:
DEAR FRIENDS:
IN LIGHT OF RECENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS, AND KNOWING HOW FAITHFUL YOU ARE TO GOD, FAMILY, AND FREEDOM, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO PLEASE EXAMINE MIKE HUCKABEE'S INCOMPARABLE, IMMACULATE, RECORD ON MY BEHALF,... AND CONSIDER HIM AS YOUR CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT !
PLEASE READ THIS, EVEN IF YOU HAVE ALREADY VOTED.
A VOTE (OR FINANCIAL HELP) FOR MIKE HUCKABEE IS A STEP TO PRESERVE AND IMPROVE AMERICA ..IT IS ESSENTIALLY A VOTE FOR ALL WE HOLD DEAR ! YOU KNOW I AM USUALLY NOT POLITICAL, BUT TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT WE AMERICANS CAN ALL LOSE IF WE AREN'T MOTIVATED AND INFORMED, AND CAREFUL:
HILLARY WANTS TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHT TO EVEN SPEAK ABOUT ABORTION(cnn.com, issue :abortion) AND REINSTATE HER HUSBAND'S (BILL'S) VETO BY ALLOWING THE KILLING OF AMERICAN BABIES WHEN THEY ARE HALF IN AND HALF OUT OF A WOMAN'S BIRTH CANAL (PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION). PRESIDENT BUSH STOPPED THIS OVERTLY-HORRIFIC EVIL ACT.
SHE WILL BRING IT BACK, IN ADDITION WANTS A BILL PREVENTING FREEDOM OF SPEECH. ANY TALK, COUNSEL OR HELP FOR THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERING ABORTION WOULD BE ILLEGAL !!!!.UNLESS YOU WERE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY (REVERSE GLOBAL-GAG RULE)..... WOULD THIS AFFECT OUR PRIESTS IN CONFESSION ? (CHECK OUT CANDIDATES VIEWS ON ISSUES ON CNN.COM)....ESPECIALLY ABORTION !
BARRACK HUSSEIN OBAMA : "THE TALK,TALK,TALK-SHOW HOST", JUNIOR SENATOR , WHO HAS BEEN "APPROVED" OF ,BEING "UNPATRIOTIC", AND REFUSED TO HONOR OUR SIMPLEST TOKENS OF RESPECT (OUR SACRED AMERICAN TRADITIONS), WANTS THE SAME RIGHT TO KILL AMERICAN OFFSPRING (WITH PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION ). HE ALSO STATES THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO "PARTNER WITH
IRAQ" (REAL quote FROM SUPER TUESDAY-).... HE IS "GONNA" CHANGE THINGS. UNLESS, AS HE STATED, VOTERS ELECT SOMEONE ELSE TO RUN "THIS THING". (HIS REFERENCE TO AMERICA).
McCain HAS BEEN WISHY WASHY IN GENERAL ON SOME KEY ISSUES. HE SLIPPED TODAY (FEB 29) AND CALLED HIMSELF A LIBERAL..ONE MUST WONDER, THOUGH...... SINCE HE PARTNERS WITH /HAS THE BACKING OF, A MAN WHO HATES CATHOLICS AND CALLS THEIR CHURCH A "WHORE", AND "ANTI-CHRIST". ..............
IN ADDITION,ON THE RIGHT-TO-LIFE. THIS "MODERATE"( MC CAIN) HAS STATED THAT HE BELIEVED IN STEM CELL RESEARCH (USING ABORTED BABIES IN PETRI DISHES FOR RESEARCH). THIS IS HOW THE NAZIS PROCEEDED!
POSSIBLY ROBBING VOTES FROM MIKE HUCKABEE, TOO... (IN WASHINGTON STATE) BY NOT DEMANDING THAT THEY COUNT ALL THE VOTES ?!? YES, SENATOR JOHN MC CAIN, IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE A HERO FOR HIS SACRIFICES. THIS IS IRREFUTABLE. YET WE MUST KNOW WHERE HE STANDS NOW. NOT JUST ON THE WAR IN IRAQ. CURRENTLY,HE IS REFUSING, (BY IGNORING A PETITION), TO DEBATE MIKE HUCKABEE IN A REPUBLICAN DEBATE.( I SPOKE WITH THE PERSON WHO BOOKED THE NATIONAL TV NETWORK, YESTERDAY). MR. MC CAIN HAS YET TO REPLY (TO THE PETITION).
THIS, ALL OF IT, IS TOO REMINISCENT OF GEORGE ORWELL'S BOOK , 'ANIMAL FARM'..
2008 IS A YEAR FOR "CHANGE" ALRIGHT...BUT WHAT KIND, AND HOW IS IT BEING MARKETED IN ELECTION 2008 ?
WHEN THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES WHO SHOULD LIVE AND DIE, WHO SHOULD SPEAK OR NOT, AND ABORTED BABIES CAN BE "FARMED" FOR RESEARCH,WE ARE SURELY GOING TO "CHANGE" !
AS GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE SO WISELY AND ELOQUENTLY STATED: "GOVERNMENT DID NOT GIVE LIFE, AND GOVERNMENT CANNOT TAKE IT AWAY".
A PRUDENT MAN, AN HONEST CANDIDATE, IN D.C.! ? ! HELL WOULD FORBID !
DO YOU KNOW MIKE HUCKABEE HAS READ PROVERBS EVERY DAY SINCE HE WAS IN HIS TEENS? I CONTEND,YOU CANNOT READ THE WORDS OF KING SOLOMON (PROVERBS) EVERY DAY AND NOT BE WISE.
JESUS SAID: "BY THEIR FRUITS YOU SHALL KNOW THEM."
HE IS PRO-GOD, PRO-LIFE, PRO-AMERICA AND PRO-FAMILY...
HUCKABEE, WANTS TO "TRIM THE FAT". GO WITH A MAN WHO ISN'T PLAGUED BY SCANDAL OR SQUANDERED MONEY ! (HILLARY CAMPAIGN-131 MIL, CAMPAIGN HUCK-9 MIL )
ELECTION 2008 ...JUST FINE...BUSINESS AS USUAL...YOU'RE RIGHT... IT'S NOT BAD...IT'S HORRIFIC!
WANT A REAL CHOICE? VOTE HUCKABEE IN 08 !!!!!, IF YOU ALREADY VOTED..DO YOURSELF A MAJOR FAVOR, JUST CHECK HIM OUT AT HIS WEBSITES, BLOGS, AND FACE BOOKS (ON THE COMPUTER) AND ON "YOU TUBE" THE COMPUTER-ACCESSED "VIDEOS"...BUT DON'T DELAY , DO IT TODAY! . HE IS ROCK SOLID !
HE IS THE TRUE CONSERVATIVE. OH, BY THE WAY, MC CAIN IS TRYING TO IGNORE A HUGE PETITION FOR A REPUBLICAN DEBATE WITH THE REMAINING CANDIDATES...EVEN THOUGH HIS REPUBLICAN CONSTITUENTS WOULD LOVE ONE !
THIS UPCOMING VOTE IN TEXAS IS CRUCIAL ...TEXAS CAN CHANGE THE TIDE AND EVERYTHING IN THIS ELECTION, TOWARDS MIKE HUCKABEE ,AND REALLY SAVE THIS COUNTRY!
WHEN COMMUNISTIC SYMPATHIZERS (read:OBAMAS COMMUNIST TIES,WIKIPEDIA), AND NAZI-LIKE TACTICS RULE THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS SUPPORT STEM-CELL (EXPERIMENTS ON HUMAN FETUSES)...WHEN WE
HAVE NO VIABLE, TRUE CONSERVATIVE VOICE IN "JOHN MC CAIN AND COMPANY" ... THEN WE MUST VOTE AND HELP MIKE HUCKABEE , OR WE WILL HAVE HELL TO PAY.
HUCKABEE---CONSISTENTLY PRO-AMERICA, PRO-FREEDOM AND PRO-LIFE.
GOD DID GIVE US LIFE..LET US GO FORTH TO HELP HIS TRUE SERVANT, MR MIKE HUCKABEE MAKE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE WHITE HOUSE !!
PS: YOU KNOW, I HAVE NEVER BEEN POLITICALLY-INCLINED BEFORE THIS ELECTION..BUT I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART AND SOUL THAT EVERYTHING WE VALUE MAY BE A STAKE IF WE ALL DON'T HELP MIKE HUCKABEE GET THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION !
HE IS A WISE AND HONORABLE MAN AND THE ONLY REMAINING CANDIDATE WHO HAS EVER EVEN GOVERNED !! (VOTED AS A TOP GOVERNOR -10 YEARS) REMEMBER THE ALAMO ???? ---AMERICANS OVERPOWERED 40 TO ONE ! REMEMBER WHO WON?
GO TEXAS ! GO TEXANS !*
VOTE HUCKABEE! GET THE WORD TO THE PRIESTS, PAPERS AND PREACHERS, AND PARADERS ! PROCLAIM IT FROM THE PULPIT...PRAY IT IN THE PEWS! AMEN ! STICK IT IN THE HYMNAL BOOKS .
CIRCULATE THIS LETTER OR ONE OF YOUR OWN ...WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO REALLY HELP THIS MAN, HELP US, IF HEAVEN WILL HAVE IT'S WAY.
PEACE BE WITH YOU,
BONNIE BUCKLAW-ORTIZ
GOD'S KINGDOM COME. GOD'S WILL BE DONE. ON EARTH,AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN---------------------------------