Yale Daily News

Updated: Friday, September 5, 2008 at 7:45am

He drew the hard line, invigorated conservatism

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, Practical Wisdom
Published Thursday, February 28, 2008
We learned yesterday morning of the death of William F. Buckley, Jr., one of the leading American intellectuals of the last half-century. Yet, he was far more than just another pundit and columnist. He saw it as his civic duty to ask the difficult questions, bringing controversial issues before the public eye. And he was a Yale Man.
#1 By SM '98 (Unregistered User) 4:39pm on February 28, 2008

I wondered how long it would take today's Conservative Party, founded in 1996, to claim the WFB legacy. Let's be clear. The Conservative Party of WFB's time later changed its name to the Independent Party, which continues today. Today's Conservative Party may be inspired by WFB, but cannot claim that he is a member of their organization, since it began in 1996 as an offshoot of the POR.

#2 By (Anonymous) 3:55pm on March 1, 2008

WFB attended recent Conservative Party alumni events and has donated to support the organization.

#3 By (Anonymous) 7:29pm on March 2, 2008

WFB absolutely has not attended any events of the new Conservative Party, as he is neither Jewish nor a neoconservative. Prove his support, CP.

#4 By Anonymous (Unregistered User) 12:35pm on March 4, 2008

Part of WFB's great legacy was pushing the crazies - the John Birchers; the racists; the anti-semites; etc. - out of the mainstream conservative movement.

In addition, he was one of the last truly skeptics in the Conservative movement. Skepticism towards government; skepticism towards human capacity to do good; skepticism towards concentrations of power; skepticism most poignantly directed at those who thought man could create the kingdom of heaven on earth; skepticism towards man's ability to create utopia.

WFB would be the first to admit he did not remove all the crazies from the ranks of the right.

The PoTR's continued existance is perfect example of the limits of WFB let alone any man.

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