Thursday, February 28, 2008

R.I.P. William Buckley Jr.
ok, when I was a kid I watched Firingline. I know I'm a geek - you don't have to tell me. When I was older I subscribed to National Review. I really enjoyed Mr Buckley's insight and enjoyed having a reason to bust out the dictionary. When the reins were passed to Willam Kristol, however, the magazine devolved into neocon vomit.
I thought he kicked Germaine Greer's ass in debate & I was appalled when he dismissed a rapper because he couldn't understand his slang (which was largely adopted from jazz slang of hte 30s and 40s).
The USA is largely founded upon liberal ideas but what passes for liberalism these days is hardly liberal. The terms liberal and conservative have been appropriated by political groups who should be required to put little copyright c's at the end of the words to distinguish their use from the proper uses of the words.
That Buckley condemned the Bush administration & it's policies in Iraq was no surprise.
Anyway, here's a few (hastily found) quotes from the guy.


“Even if one takes every reefer madness allegation of the prohibitionists at face value, marijuana prohibition has done far more harm to far more people than marijuana ever could.”


“Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”


“The best defense against usurpatory government is an assertive citizenry.”


"One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed - different plans have to be made. And the kernel here is the acknowledgement of defeat."


"One must bear in mind that the expansion of federal activity is a form of eating for politicians."


"Some of my instincts are reprehensible."


heh, I can really relate to the last one.....


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