The Big Story: The passing of William F. Buckley Jr.
February 28th, 2008 by Wayne Garcia in People, PoliticsVillain or hero? Erudite political thinker or haughty enabler of goofballs such as GW Bush?
The death of conservative pioneer William F. Buckley gives us a chance in hindsight to examine what his life and ideological pursuits wrought in this nation. As a sometimes reader of the National Review, the journal he founded, I found that Buckley’s brand of conservatism wasn’t as wrongheaded as the many off-shoots that followed, most notably the neo-Platonists that pulled Bush’s strings.
Yet still, Buckley had a lot to do with the ascent of Ronald Reagan and certainly many of the bad conservative things going on today were similarly enabled by Reagan’s term in office and longlasting effect within the GOP. I view Buckley’s conservative movement as an example of the law of unintended consequences.
Some links:
His death marks the end of conservatism.
HuffPo: “a gentleness of spirit and a boyish charm”
Remembering Buckley vs. Vidal
Slate: He outlived the very movement that he started.
Tavis Smiley talks with Garry Wills about WFB.
A liberal calls Buckley “my role model”
So where do you come down on the legacy of William F. Buckley Jr.?
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February 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I always liked Bill Buckley. Not for his politics, but more for the “I don’t give a shit” attitude. Two things I will never forget about Buckley:
1. An interview I saw of him on a cable news channel (I can’t recall what show or when) where Buckley sprawled out in his chair like Olivier playing Richard III. At various points, he reclined so far that he disappeared off the bottom of the screen. I have to find that YouTube clip.
2. Buckley was in favor of the legalization of Marijuana and realized that drug prohibition ran contrary to conservatism. I recall Limbaugh making a comment about this along the lines of “That’s because Bill likes it.” The thought of Bill Buckley as a pot smoker brings much joy to my heart.
February 28th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
His lasting legacy? One of the only funny moments of that late 80s flick, BIG MAN ON CAMPUS, starring Alan Katz. When a doctor wants the hunchback (Katz) to claim a name, he says “William F. Buckley.” He soon changes his name to “Bob Maloogaloogaloogaloogalooga.” Classic!
February 28th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I can’t believe someone else has seen and still remembers Big Man On Campus! Pickett, your taste in film is ridiculous!
Excellent spelling of that last name, by the way.
February 29th, 2008 at 12:33 am
Tavis and Cornell West are a conundrum to me , 40 on 40