tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post5136245226083448256..comments2024-03-28T18:48:41.469-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: William F. Buckley: Tribute to a Spiritual Centrist and Vertical WarriorGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-11310533018781972002008-02-29T09:27:00.000-08:002008-02-29T09:27:00.000-08:00Conservatism's first great weakness is its paucity...<I>Conservatism's first great weakness is its paucity of innovation. It takes the wacky left to get anything done, it would seem. Otherwise, same ol, same ol.</I><BR/><BR/>Conservatism's strength is that it seeks to conserve America's founding ideology, which is liberalism. Liberalism is the matrix that fosters innovation. Maybe you haven't noticed, but America has always been about the most innovative country on the planet. It's also about the most liberal. Isn't this an interesting correlation?<BR/><BR/>Meanwhile the left's Big Idea went bust in 1989 because it couldn't innovate. They're driving fifties era Chevrolets in Cuba, a country run by a wacky lefty for the last half century. Is that innovative? Why is it that when the Left runs things, time seems to freeze in place?<BR/><BR/>The status of black Americans was improving into the 1960s. All the trend lines were going the right way. Then the left had one of its patented brilliant ideas, the Great Society. Suddenly black progress was blunted. A sparkling example of the left's knack for "gettin the job done", right? And this is <I>huge</I>.<BR/><BR/>By the way, does Donald Trump build chicken farms or skyscrapers? And Bill Gates -- is he a chicken farmer?<BR/><BR/>For the left to assail liberalism on the point of innovation is... odd.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-84433423266152599422008-02-28T23:19:00.000-08:002008-02-28T23:19:00.000-08:00>>In other words, as the world falls further and f...>>In other words, as the world falls further and further from its center, everything that can exist in potential will tend to manifest in actuality<<<BR/><BR/>Attention Chicago Cub fans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-36348654009494480212008-02-28T22:14:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:14:00.000-08:00Elephant - They do. But misery loves company... an...Elephant - They do. But misery loves company... and so does darkness.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-44637513884453518132008-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:002008-02-28T22:00:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900344453710081874noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-35832128340606537132008-02-28T17:45:00.000-08:002008-02-28T17:45:00.000-08:00Anon (4:22) said,“Conservatism's first great weakn...Anon (4:22) said,<BR/><BR/>“Conservatism's first great weakness is its paucity of innovation. It takes the wacky left to get anything done, it would seem. Otherwise, same ol, same ol.”<BR/><BR/>You need to look up the definition of conservative. If by “done” you mean ruined or regressed, then I agree with you. Otherwise, you need to be more specific. Take your time. While we’re waiting for that first great innovation of the left, we’ll be cleaning up the ol messes as we always do. Same ol, same ol. We’d make a lot more progress if there weren’t so many Big Liberal Messes. By “progress” I mean “being left alone.”<BR/><BR/>“Conservatives would cover our nation with chicken farms and subdivisions and then call that success.”<BR/><BR/>Wrong. A conservative would think it is a success when the property owners decided whether they wanted chicken farms or not on their property. If we all had chicken farms no one would want to trade for each others chickens…and most would not show up for work. This human fact is never factored into the socialist’s experiment equations. They always think they are dealing with chickens, I suppose. Certainly not humans.<BR/><BR/>“Greed. That's always been the second thorn in the flower of conservatism, and also why the Left is eternally needed.”<BR/><BR/>Wrong. A leftist wants to take the property owners chickens and redistribute them to everyone else without compensation, lease them their own property, sell the chickens back to them so they have a little to eat, and force them to keep raising chickens. If there is any money left they will take that as a “contribution”. They are the greediest people I can think of.<BR/><BR/>“The Left is greedy also but less successful at amassing wealth; rather it appropriates it.”<BR/><BR/>I take issue with the word “also.” But yes, it is easy for a lazy leftist with no conscience. I’m sorry that may be triple-redundant.<BR/><BR/>“It is less efficient at greed. Therein lie, paradoxically, its usefulness.”<BR/><BR/>It is telling how you refer to the left as “it”. <BR/><BR/>“Checks and balances. That's what it it's all about.”<BR/><BR/>If I understand your premise, that the conservative should be thankful for the leftist, then that is backwards. It is a leftist who must be checked as he will always be a threat to true progress and any conservative. A conservative must be checked, but only by himself, to see if he is failing to uphold his conservative principles. If you are an adult, you don’t ask a child to check if you are right. An adult should know so himself, or he is not an adult yet.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-48182363752282496332008-02-28T17:22:00.000-08:002008-02-28T17:22:00.000-08:00While you were in Ms. Althouse's blog, I hope you ...While you were in Ms. Althouse's blog, I hope you saw her post on McCain's latest endorsement from a <A HREF="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2008/02/why-is-mccain-appearing-with-raving.html#comments" REL="nofollow">deranged, barking, lunatic<BR/>snake handler</A>. Not smooth, not slick.QPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827536245376441948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-58484429873177121472008-02-28T17:07:00.000-08:002008-02-28T17:07:00.000-08:00Obama creeped me out from the get-go. Too slick. ...Obama creeped me out from the get-go. Too slick. Too smooth. His movements and voice were very lulling and it took me a while to realize that I could not remember the actual content of his speeches. It took a conscious act of will on my part to actually listen to the content and realize what vacuous drivel it was. Maybe it's just me, but I distrust people who appear that polished. I always suspect that there is nothing really there or what is inside is the opposite of what they present to the world and when the nerve is struck...watch out! -PeterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-25190185823888112942008-02-28T17:00:00.000-08:002008-02-28T17:00:00.000-08:00I didn't see Barry and Hillary debate Tuesday nigh...I didn't see Barry and Hillary debate Tuesday night, but <A HREF="http://althouse.blogspot.com/2008/02/obama-farrakhan-and-how-hillary-clinton.html" REL="nofollow">Althouse</A> did, and she dissects Barry's fancy footwork while dancing around Russest's questions re: Farrakan's public support of Obama. Quite an exotic snake charmer!QPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15827536245376441948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-91183925341615002322008-02-28T16:31:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:31:00.000-08:00It strikes me that he's the ultimate wolf in sheep...It strikes me that he's the ultimate wolf in sheep's clothing; an outsider, but he <I>embodies</I> (at least outwardly) everything that leftists wish they were themselves: he's black, but also white; he's American, but also a "citizen of the world;" he pushes for everything the leftiest of lefties desire, but somehow he also has social skills and charisma, so he makes it all look cool and appealing (as opposed to Cindy Sheehan, or Code Pinkos, or Hillary, or any of the puppet-wielding nutjobs who tend to flock to protests). He doesn't screech, whine or nag (he leaves that to the wife, I guess); instead, he cajoles and (anti)inspires. He absolves them of the sin of being white. He's like a great big mirror, showing them exactly what they want to see; they see their dream selves in him. <BR/><BR/>Which would be all well and good, if what they fervently desire were not the most deadly, self-destructive governmental policies man has ever conceived - socialism, multi-culturalism, pacifism, etc.<BR/><BR/>It's monstrous, really, and I wonder if he supports these policies because he really thinks they're best or because he knows that America under his presidency would be seriously crippled, or worse transmuted into one more iteration of a failed socialist utopia.<BR/><BR/>There is still time yet, though, and even now I don't know that he could actually get enough votes to be elected. A lot of people on both sides of the aisle are bothered by him.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30886708774290381272008-02-28T16:22:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:22:00.000-08:00Conservatism's first great weakness is its paucity...Conservatism's first great weakness is its paucity of innovation. It takes the wacky left to get anything done, it would seem. Otherwise, same ol, same ol.<BR/><BR/>Conservatives would cover our nation with chicken farms and subdivisions and then call that success.<BR/><BR/>Greed. That's always been the second thorn in the flower of conservatism, and also why the Left is eternally needed.<BR/><BR/>The Left is greedy also but less successful at amassing wealth; rather it appropriates it. It is less efficient at greed. Therein lie, paradoxically, its usefulness.<BR/><BR/>Checks and balances. That's what it it's all about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-44138914829964522152008-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:17:00.000-08:00Yes, perhaps Obama is a twisted version of J.R. "B...Yes, perhaps Obama is a twisted version of J.R. "Bob" Dobbs, the Divine Salesman whose pitch is so effective that even he believes it, i.e., the cosmic power to "pull the wool over your own eyes."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-52178303173205664372008-02-28T16:15:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:15:00.000-08:00Cuz Dupree has been channeling WFB for some time ...Cuz Dupree has been channeling WFB for some time now: <BR/><BR/>In a famous exchange with Gore Vidal in 1968, Vidal said to Buckley: "As far as I am concerned, the only crypto Nazi I can think of is yourself."<BR/><BR/>Buckley replied: "Now listen, you queer. Stop calling me a crypto Nazi, or I'll sock you in your goddamn face and you'll stay plastered."<BR/><BR/>Years later, in 1985, Buckley said of the incident: "We both acted irresponsibly. I'm not a Nazi, but he is, I suppose, a fag."<BR/><BR/>Ann Coulter on WFB:<BR/>R.I.P., Enfant Terrible<BR/><BR/>http://www.humanevents.com/article.<BR/>php?id=2524Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-41129359145517679892008-02-28T16:11:00.000-08:002008-02-28T16:11:00.000-08:00It may also be that BHO has come so far so fast th...It may also be that BHO has come so far so fast that he doesn't yet show the wear, the sunburn, and the scars. He may not even know how deep his own mental compromise is.<BR/><BR/>In short, the consumate con artist may be a naif.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-90153980209672288392008-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:002008-02-28T15:52:00.000-08:00Yes indeed, Petey, that was one of my exotic-yet-p...Yes indeed, Petey, that was one of my exotic-yet-possibly-very-real conjectures.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-36981204465507998702008-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:002008-02-28T15:41:00.000-08:00According to Schuon, at the end of the yuga, we wi...According to Schuon, at the end of the yuga, we will see peculiar tendency to realize and exhaust possibilities which had heretofore been prevented by traditional forms. In other words, as the world falls further and further from its center, everything that can exist in potential will tend to manifest in actuality. Thus the appearance of the "possibility of the impossible," e.g., a leftist who has the *appearance* of not being a barking lunatic.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-57151265704863118092008-02-28T15:19:00.000-08:002008-02-28T15:19:00.000-08:00Julia - >>In many ways, he's an outsider, and some...Julia - >>In many ways, he's an outsider, and sometimes it's easier for an outsider to see the big patterns and how to manipulate them<<<BR/><BR/>I know what you mean, and I think there's some truth to that, but . . . as far as leftist politics are concerned, he's the consumate insider. Learned at the knee of Saul Alinsky, etc. And still he's not been branded (visibly) with the usual wan aura of your trad lefty. To me, this is mystery. I can offer exotic conjectures, of course . . .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6757651977747852152008-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:002008-02-28T14:46:00.000-08:00Among the many anecdotes about WFB that I heard to...Among the many anecdotes about WFB that I heard today, was one where he was asked why he always was sitting on his Firing Line program, and never stood up?<BR/><BR/>He replied, "It's difficult to stand up beneath the weight of what I know."walthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388218390016612051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-64337489820960484702008-02-28T14:19:00.000-08:002008-02-28T14:19:00.000-08:00Will, I think the answer can be found at least par...Will, I think the answer can be found at least partly in the <A HREF="http://atimes.com/atimes/Front_Page/JB26Aa01.html" REL="nofollow">Spengler</A> article Maineman linked the other day. His approach is like that of an anthropologist with an agenda: cool, detached, reasonable; he knows what to say to make the crowds dance to his tune. In many ways, he's an outsider, and sometimes it's easier for an outsider to see the big patterns and how to manipulate them. <BR/><BR/>Or perhaps I'm wrong about that. I don't know. What I do know is there is something decidedly wrong and creepy in the way people seem to adore him.juliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15975754287030568726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-87235252546157773272008-02-28T14:06:00.000-08:002008-02-28T14:06:00.000-08:00>>Obama's appeal lies, in part, in his ability to ...>>Obama's appeal lies, in part, in his ability to make liberalism seem palatable. Unlike Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, he is generally not shrill or hectoring. He comes across as calm and reasonable. In this, he really does resemble Ronald Reagan . . . while Obama is devoted to liberalism, which is essentially false. This means that Obama's policies, no matter how smoothly he may advocate them, will never be as successful as Reagan's."<<<BR/><BR/>Very true, and yet . . . I've got to ask why o why doesn't O bear the mark of lefty, ie, the airless, stuffed-in-the-attic mustiness and/or slick elitist sheen to which we've grown accustomed re the lefty persona? That kind of personal signature is *natural* to the lefty - it's the result of what they believe. As within, so without. So from where cometh this "calm and reasonable" dynamism?<BR/><BR/>When I think about it, I'd have to put this in the same category as bizzare climate changes and other weird contemporary goings-on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-72058416229412868412008-02-28T14:03:00.000-08:002008-02-28T14:03:00.000-08:00WFB: a great man, larger than life, he and his wif...WFB: a great man, larger than life, he and his wife natural aristocrats, grace and wit, an inspiration and role model for so many of us growing up outside of the zeitgeist during the Sixties.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-21977993953639996522008-02-28T11:56:00.000-08:002008-02-28T11:56:00.000-08:00Here is a wonderful complement to today's post - j...Here is a wonderful complement to today's post - just in case you haven’t seen / heard this lately (or ever), be prepared to mourn the loss of truth plain spoken. Profound and prescient.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt1fYSAChxs" REL="nofollow">44 years ago…</A><BR/><BR/>Sigh.NoMohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01100042056270224683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-6264289437407130912008-02-28T10:56:00.000-08:002008-02-28T10:56:00.000-08:00Which of course, leads directly to this,"All the s...Which of course, leads directly to this,<BR/><BR/><I>"All the society’s ills -- the economic, the social, the ethical -- can be ameliorated by Bigger and Bigger Government. No consideration of private property or individual economic freedom is to deter the government from spending 'up to the point where the marginal loss of satisfaction to those providing the revenue is just equal to the marginal gain in satisfaction derived by those benefiting from the expenditures'; and no doubts are expressed as to whether even the wisest governments know where this point is. The government, it seems, is to weigh numerical losses and gains in satisfaction; and just so long as there is a net gain (an intangible which the government is to interpret), any government policy is justified. Individual rights of the sort that for generations were never supposed to be prey to government action, are cheerily disregarded as unjustifiable impedimenta in the way of purposive and enlightened state policies."</I><BR/><BR/>Thank God for the Stop Signs.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30816587404642162412008-02-28T10:54:00.000-08:002008-02-28T10:54:00.000-08:00"Veracity, charity, and humility, the three fundam..."Veracity, charity, and humility, the three fundamental virtues. For the left, truth reduces to power, so veracity is out of the question. Likewise, the true charity (caritas) that can only flow from the awakened human heart is rendered pointless when All Good Things come from the state. And what could be more grandiose than the belief that mankind is perfectible and that the state knows how to achieve it? "Humility" and "left" are mutually exclusive. The proud leftist always confuses empathy with indulgence, rooted in an inability to clearly see both what man is and what he is meant to be. "<BR/><BR/>4 paws (and a tail) straight up!Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-33040356477992018642008-02-28T09:54:00.000-08:002008-02-28T09:54:00.000-08:00Anonymous:Scouring the vast archive for statements...Anonymous:<BR/><BR/>Scouring the vast archive for statements for which Buckley long since apologized tells us nothing about him but all we need to know about you and your kind. Go back under your rock to dailykos.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-71725455018167793732008-02-28T09:40:00.000-08:002008-02-28T09:40:00.000-08:00I also think that sacrifice in pursuit and express...I also think that sacrifice in pursuit and expression of truth is a mark of the genuine hero.<BR/><BR/>For all his prodigious literary/journalistic output over the years, WFB did not like to write, found it a bit of an agony - not surprising in a guy as fun-loving as he. WFB really was something of a sportsman, loved sailing, skiing.<BR/><BR/>And yet, he made the time, forced himself to write, sacrificed for the truth because he understood it to be far greater than himself.<BR/><BR/>Even in photos of WFB as a young man, I think you see, along with his humor, breeziness, and intelligence, something of a monastic light around him. And that light stayed with him, no doubt through years of temptations and trials. That's a hero.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com