Bill Buckley

Just hearing news that the great one, Bill Buckley, has passed on. He was my greatest influence when it came to writing and politics.

Update

Considering I never met Bill Buckley, it surprises me how saddened I am now that he's gone. My first introduction to Buckley was a television program, it was on C-Span (I never did seen an episode of Firing Line). Buckley and the C-Span host were going through all the books Buckley had written. Trying to date the program, there were 44 books discussed. It was long too, over an hour. I was awestruck anyone could write so many books. At the end of the interview, the host asked him if there was anything else he wanted to do, and the wit turned on and Buckley said "go to the bathroom."

The columnists I read are all under "Da Roll." I try to read every column of all those people but I often fail. But, I do read every column of Thomas Sowell and every column of WFB. Sowell now for about four years, WFB for 9 years. In fact, I've been doing a lot of research for the Conservative Canon and that has involved reading scores of Buckley's old columns. He's such a huge part of modern conservatism it's difficult to put into words.

Take the time to read The Corner today and hear what others are saying about the man.

NYT Obituary
NR Obituary