William F. Buckley dies at 82

Nicholas: Minnesota — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:13:32 GMT

"Huckabee's response on Buckley's death:"
--Fmr. Gov. M. Huckabee might not know if we drop a nuclear weapon on Iran, but if a conservative dies, he's on it like Jesus on water!

William F. Buckley dies at 82

M. Boley — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:15:55 GMT

I'm sure the talkers will hold an on-air wake. Yawn. Maybe they will clamor to have a couple of airports and bridges named in his 'honor' too. Yawn again.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Paul & Ringo — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:19:05 GMT

Mr Buckley better hope that John Lennon isn't the current gatekeeper at the entrance to heaven.....

William F. Buckley dies at 82

James, Madison,WI. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:23:55 GMT

My most sincere best wishes and thoughts go out to Buckley's family, he was a great man that had a large effect on America, conservative or not.

That being said, I simply can't resist asking, will the modern conservative movement die with him? It's also on its last leg...

William F. Buckley dies at 82

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:27:51 GMT

I wonder if he was the person who started people thinking that "liberal" was a bad word. If it was him, then it is sad that he gone, but we have to worry about him trashing anyone who is liberal which is not a bad thing.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Rick, NC — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:15:29 GMT

So is he the one who brought us the nixon 'racist southern strategy" or eugenics (sterilizing poor mothers) or preemptive wars of choice or tax cuts combined with record spending or the national debt stretching from sea to sea or the hatred of anything not white, tight and evangelical...what a great man

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Bill S, Phoenix,AZ — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:49:36 GMT

I remember Buckley and Gore Vidal arguing at the party conventions in 1964. I was only 12 but it is why I became a liberal. I am so glad that Gore Vidal will get the last word.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Rob, Iowa — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:25:46 GMT

Thanks for this 'First Read' to enable us conservatives a vehicle to relay our thoughts and memories of Mr. Buckley. Yes, one of the true giants of 20th century conservate/libertarian thought.

I was 5 years old during the Buckley/Vidal and Buckley/Chomsky debates, but YouTube enables me to see them now. I do remember catching 'Firing Line' on PBS. What I do remember was that even though the Left and Right sides of the firing line disagreed on issues, they were civil, with occasional laughter. I would like to see that level of intellectual debate today, instead of people screaming on the internet and cable news. I learn nothing watching the news.

My subscription to 'National Review' ran out last year and I need to re-subscribe. Reading 'National Review' always expands my mind by forcing me to think about issues in a different way. And I always pick up at least 1 new word to add to my vocabulary following reading each issue of 'National Review'. When I fly I drop an issue in the seat back in front of me, just to "stir the pot".

A response to a thread on YouTube put it best,

"R.I.P W.F.B
Thanks for setting the groundwork; we'll take it from here on, honoring your spirit."

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Rob, Iowa — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:26:48 GMT

Bill S. - Funny comment on Vidal getting the last word. Touche.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Rafael DeJesus, Roswell, Georgia — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:32:28 GMT

I'm a Democrat and want to extend to his family my deepest sympathy at their loss. I enjoyed listening to Buckley. He was the only intelligent conservative! The rest will fade away in November as "has beens'. He fades away as an intellectual who was passionate about his conservative views. Good by Mr. Buckley .... the rest of the bunch just simply .... get lost!

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Dale, Denver — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:47:46 GMT

Surprise, surprise, the liberals on this site show their true colors again. A person just died; show some class (if you can muster any, that is).

William F. Buckley dies at 82

john — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:51:58 GMT

William Buckley's conservatism bears little resemblance to the shrill neocon embarrassment that is common today.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Gary, Franklin, WI — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:13:43 GMT

Bottom line:

One less vote for McCain! Keep it coming . . .

To Paul & Ringo:

My bet is Mr. Buckley will more likely find Jerry Falwell as the gatekeeper to hell . . .

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Beth E. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:27:20 GMT

As much as I disagree with the Right Wing, William Buckley was brilliant, and I completely agreed with his opposition to our government's "war on drugs" as a huge waste of taxpayer dollars that could be better spent collecting taxes on drugs and using those funds for addiction research and treatment.

William F. Buckley dies at 82

Beth E. — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:27:38 GMT

William F. Buckley dies at 82

SHIRLEY NW, AR. — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:36:40 GMT

I ABSOLUTELY DISAGREED WITH BILL BUCKLY ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF, BUT HE NEVER WAS THE TYPE OF LUNITIC RIGHT WINGER THAT HAS BEEN RUNNING THE REPUBLICANS NOW. I JUST DON'T BELIEVE HE MEANT FOR CONSERVATIVES TO BE THE LAME BRAIN, HATE MONGERS THEY ARE TODAY. EVEN THO I DIDN'T AGREE WITH HIM , I DID RESPECT HIM. HOW CAN ANYONE REALLY RESPECT LIMBAUGH, COLTER, HANNITY AND SOME OF THE OTHERS WHO MAKE THEIR LIVING SPREADING HATE. I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT BUCKLY HAD IN MIND.