(no subject)

[rm]

William F. Buckley Jr. Is Dead at 82
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/business/media/27cnd-buckley.html

I loathed his politics, but was grateful for his mode. There is something to be said about how eloquence and precision are greeted amongst the Right vs. the Left, but I am too tired (and very ill still) to do it today.

I love one of the 1965 photos the Times published with the article. It seems strange for such a conservative to have been so beautiful.

Comments

[winterknight.livejournal.com]

I just read that. I was like, "Wow, I never thought THAT would happen." which is the dumbest thing to think about death, but there you go.

[rm.livejournal.com]

My reaction was similir.

[askeladden.livejournal.com]

"Listen, you queer, stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I’ll sock you in your goddamn face and you’ll stay plastered."

Slashariffic! Just look at Vidal's face. Rowr!

He also had a huge hard-on for my alma mater. An honor SJC could do without, in my opinion, but he was an interesting guy, no question. Also notable that he didn't learn English until age 7. Still, what a blowhard, oy!

RIP, WFB, SOB of the GOP. They could have used more like you in recent years, but that's only a compliment by contrast.

[dskasak.livejournal.com]

He was also the inspiration for one of Robin Williams' best impressions, for whatever that is worth.

[king-chiron.livejournal.com]

One thing I will say for Buckley is that there was an internal consistency about his views, you may disagree with them (as I often did), but they were based on something. So many conservatives nowadays have no real values (despite their tendency to talk about values all the time), they believe whatever happens to be of benefit to them at the moment, and they feel little shame when they rapidly contradict themselves or hold views that conflict.

Example: Democrats in office, go on and on about cutting spending and the evils of a deficit. Republicans in office, deficits are no big deal. And so on.