William F Buckley, Jr ~ The Passing of a Legend
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II William F Buckley, Jr. - 82 - passed away today at his home in Stamford, Connecticutt, a year after the passing of his beloved wife, Pat.
Mr. Buckley, the Conservative Godfather, was an author, journalist, television personality (our first television pundit-and, still no one does it as well as he), harpsichordist, trans-oceanic sailor, and founder of the National Review.
It seems a Buckley column, book, magazine or the television show, Firing Line, was always around. Most of my life Mr. Buckley has been in it in one way or another. There were many things to learn from Mr. Buckley, but I learned that being intelligent and serious did not eliminate being personable and of good cheer.
There will be many pieces written today about Mr Buckley, and I urge you to read them and capture the essence of a man that is so much a part of the fabric of our nation. You will see words like intellectual, revered, talented, humorous, force. I would also urge you to read some of his books - both spy fiction and non-fiction.
Thank you, Mr Buckley. You added flavor to my life!
February 27th, 2008 - Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) made the following statement:
“America has lost one of its sharpest intellects and truest patriots today. William F. Buckley has been a guiding light for the conservative movement for over half a century. He was an inspiration to millions and a personal hero of mine. Buckley’s passing reminds us that a generation of great Americans who built the modern conservative movement are leaving us, but thankfully their philosophical underpinnings are not. Standing on the shoulders of giants is an enormous responsibility; it is left to new generations of conservatives to do just that by carrying the banner of freedom and liberty forward.”
“Debbie and I offer our deepest condolences to the Buckley family, his friends and his colleagues, who are all in our thoughts and prayers.”
Boston Globe http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/02/author_conserva.html
CBS News http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/27/ap/national/main3882973.shtml
The National Review has many tributes and memorials - here are two:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=OTVlMTE4MDk3NTAyNjAwMzM4NWM5NTI2ZDg4ODVlMTM=
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MjgwN2E0MmRlYzY0MDIyMDJkODI2OGI0YzE4MzYyYTc=
1 comment:
The thing that most impressed me about WFB... and there was much to be impressed with... was his capacity to respect and befriend his ideological opponents. In other words, there was a civility about the man that is sorely lacking in most of our pundits and so-called "intellectuals" today, on both sides of the political divide. That frickin' Coulter person comes immediately to MY mind as the classic example.
YMMV, of course.
RIP and thank you, Mr. Buckley.
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