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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Buckley, Obama: Would they be friends?

I don’t know if famed conservative commentator William F. Buckley, who died Wednesday at the age of 82, had much contact with presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama. But I suspect the two might have gotten along quite nicely. That thought occurred to me Thursday afternoon as the Enquirer Editorial Board conducted a phone interview with Sen. Obama. I asked the senator how he would make his case to conservative voters and embrace the nation’s diversity of opinion. He replied that he’d welcome conservatives to the table to help develop “practical, common-sense, non-ideological approaches to policy making.”

That’s a refreshing thought, although the proof is clearly in the pudding and Obama’s track record, he admitted, is as a “progressive/liberal.” Still, this is the guy who rattled Democrats by unabashedly having nice words for Ronald Reagan – a president, by the way, who some observers believe Obama resembles more than he does John F. Kennedy. “I am not somebody who believes one party has a monopoly on wisdom,” Obama said. “I’m a proud Democrat, but I’m not an ideologue.”

You certainly can argue that Buckley was an ideologue – he almost single-handedly created the modern American conservative movement – but not in the pejorative sense we’ve infected that word with. Buckley was a major player in an era – an era we sorely miss – in which political discourse could often be conducted with decent civility by opponents actually respecting each other’s views while disagreeing strongly – even vehemently at times – with them. Buckley debated with rapier wit, and reveled in thrust and parry with those who could capably disagree with him. Obviously, this was the era before the likes of Bill Cunningham.

In a tribute to Buckley posted online Thursday by The New Republic, biographer John B. Judis reminds readers that Buckley was “a rebel, but not a heretic.” Buckley, he writes was a man of “wide-ranging and close friendships,” and many of his dearest friends were the leading liberals of the day – John Kenneth Galbraith and Norman Mailer, to name two. Today, what passes for political debates seems to comes from ideological fringes – left, right or nondirectional – populated by characters pursuing agendas that perhaps only a psychoanalyst could begin to understand. The aim is not to enlighten, but to demonize, dehumanize and humiliate the “stupid” people on the “other” side.

Buckley operated on a much higher plane. His final column for the National Review, a sort of linguistic analysis of a Clinton-Obama debate, was remarkable for its civility and perceptiveness. If Obama becomes president, I like to think that William F. Buckley would be among the sort of folks he’d want to bring to the table – perhaps to drink some fine wine, listen to some J.S. Bach, and help figure out where we all go from here.


11 Comments:

at 10:13 AM, February 29, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

OK Ray Cooklis your picture makes you look like an old guy. Thus your perspective that William Buckley mattered in todays political dialogue.

I suggest that less than 5% of the 40 and under crowd today know who Wm Buckley was much less what were his policy views.

What's the point? If no one hears/reads your message in today's 10 second clip media do you matter today? The 40 and under crowd would not get their dictionary out to read a Bill Buckley column today. They are too lazy and disinterested to learn.

The American public is preoccupied with themselves today and the only messages they hear are commercials by OBama for "CHANGE" and bluster by opinionated, annimated talk show hosts. "Change" sounds great but no one has a clue what Obama's policies will be as President. We suspect liberal because that is the ideologue manner of his voting in office.

Would buckley and obama be friends today? Sure, as long as they did not run for the same political office.

Obama for "CHANGE" in 2008 !
.

 
at 12:50 PM, February 29, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Agree wholeheartedly. I'm a 60s liberal and I always enjoyed Buckley and respected Barry Goldwater. At this juncture in our political history, I am polarized because I sense the desperation in the posturing on both sides. I have to admit that I never cared so deeply as to confuse my opinions with my SELF. I can always discuss something civilly because I don't identify so closely with it. I'd rather be rational and act in the realm of the Golden Mean.

To illustrate my point, when I watched the video of the school board member in Mason (labelled a conservative Christian by your paper, I believe), I accepted the label for purposes of watching, and I simply couldn't understand how someone could be so.....overwrought. Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you....
Unless you really, really believe and then act with conviction - I am thinking of the Quaker gentleman who self-immolated in front of the Pentagon office of Robert MacNamara during the Vietnam war.
Anyway, I'm rambling and what I mean to say is RIP Mr. Buckley.

 
at 12:50 PM, February 29, 2008 Blogger ABC said...

"The 40 and under crowd would not get their dictionary out to read a Bill Buckley column today. They are too lazy and disinterested to learn."

This is extremely ignorant and naive. Younger people now accomplish more than any other generation. All you have to do is your research instead of being so bitter.

This research would include looking up the legislation Obama has sponsored, reading his detailed policy proposals, and not being such a curmudgeon.

 
at 5:12 PM, February 29, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

some may need a math refresher course. Obama is 47+. That is older than 40.

If you are under 40 and willing to look up a word within a dictionary, then you may be part of the 5% minority willing to perform this effort. Congratulations.

Research? What is your measure? Americans once (1950s) were in the top 5 rating of academic performance among industrialized nations (math, science, reading and comprehension skills). Americans are now rated 32-36th best and dropping.

Have you learned of the academic performance improvements among Asian and European Countries? Further, which countries are experiencing double digit economic growth for 10+ years? Have you heard of China?

Please, do a little research and critical analysis to back up your bluster before you blather your unfounded mantra for "CHANGE".

The only specific policy I have heard Obama state is that he will pull our troops out of Iraq. (Although, he is even backtracking on this commitment.) I want the troops out of Iraq too but on a time scale that makes sense, especially since the hard fought efforts of our troops' surge is providing positive results.

I've heard no other specific policy from Obama other than his empty promises to create jobs, stop global warming, stop oil dependency, lower health care cost for all, etc.

Vote Obama for "CHANGE" in 2008 !
.

 
at 5:31 PM, February 29, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Interesting article Ray on the absence of civil discourse in political debate today. It’s funny that one your responders states your argument well, by labeling another a ” curmudgeon”. It’s true, when debaters are at a loss for sound reason and words to support their argument, they resort to name calling.

 
at 3:12 AM, March 01, 2008 Blogger ABC said...

"Some may need a math refresher course. Obama is 47+. That is older than 40."

No one ever said anything to the contrary. The previous posts never implied that Obama was under 40.

"If you are under 40 and willing to look up a word within a dictionary, then you may be part of the 5% minority willing to perform this effort. Congratulations."

Unless you want to take a nice leisurely stroll through the dictionary, this would be a waste of time. I am not ashamed to refuse to look up a word in the physical dictionary, since it is online and more readily accessible.

Americans are also ranked lower today due in part to the progression of education in other parts of the world. Some might consider this a good thing, in addition to the economic growth of other countries like China. We cannot stay competitive economically if we don't make jobs in education competitive. This fall in ranking is not due to the natural abilities of American students. It is largely due to the lack of funding and lack of opportunities provided by public education. If we paid teachers in a full year public education scheme $65,000 instead of $35,000, we would be in a much better place. This is the nature of capitalism, but we continue to waste money abroad in conflicts we could handle without dedicating so much taxpayer money.

I didn't use the word "change" once. Campaigns need slogans. There is some responsibility on the part of the voter. You can't expect to "hear" everything you need. You must read. Obama's "Blueprint for Change" on his website is a place to start. Go to www.thomas.gov (Library of Congress) to research legislation. After that, you might want to check out factcheck.org. Perhaps you wonder onto foreignaffairs.org next? These are just a few suggestions before you reduce Obama's platform to just what you hear. Last time I checked, critical analysis involves more than simply hearing.

Change isn't just a buzzword. This isn't the hippy generation of idealism from the past. This is practical idealism you will be seeing. This is why what fuels the Obama campaign hasn't died out as so many have predicted. I have seen community service networks in the city run by high school students, schools and clinics rebuilt by hand in Africa by college students, and Teach for America alone speaks for itself. The spirit of the entrepreneur is alive and well, but it is being choked by the funding and waste of isolationist attitudes.

 
at 7:40 AM, March 01, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are so infatuated with Obama that you muse on his possible relationship with dead people? This is a cult indeed. Scary. Maybe seances could be a big part of "his Whitehouse."

Please, Ohio, support Hillary Clinton. It's our Whitehouse, and she knows it. She will use it to fight for us and keep us safe.

- Sheldon

 
at 2:18 PM, March 01, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Most enjoy a good debate on topic. Debating out of context is a waste of time. Good Luck JPL and the USA.

Vote Obama for "CHANGE" in 2008 !
.

 
at 9:21 AM, March 02, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why are we even having this conversation? The "election" is over; we already see who is going to win it.

Ohio's votes mean nothing. It's merely a formality we have to endure, along with unceasing commercials, mailers, ads on this paper's online edition, and heated persuasion (harassment) to "vote for your brother" simply because of skin color. Even this paper has written article after article pushing everyone they can push to vote for this candidate, while totally ignoring another candidate who is still technically in the race (yes, there are 4 candidates, not 3). So why are we even having an election? Just inagurate the guy and get it over with.

MY vote won't count, that's for sure, and that's why I'm not bothering to vote. I'm electing to use my right of abstention; the "future president" has used it often enough that it should be expected of the general populace.

Oh yes, you want change? I just changed from someone who cared about our national leadership to one who sees the futility of caring for anything. Congratulations.

 
at 8:14 PM, March 02, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

VOTE WILLIE

 
at 3:20 AM, March 03, 2008 Anonymous Anonymous said...

Iraq? - opinions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VabNyrIEYlA

 
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