The father (OK, maybe uncle) of the mid-to-late 20th century American conservative movement and the founder of National Review has died at 82.
Buckley was an upper-crust elitist who went off the deep end at times, but he was also a man of considerable intellectual gifts and keen insight. In addition, he was a really good writer and he gets bonus points for threatening to punch Gore Vidal in the face.
I always enjoyed his writings even when I disagreed with him. He usually made me think about and sometimes change, my opinions. He and his voice will be missed.
I never read the national review but I been seening it advertised on a certain cable news station. Truth be told I never think I heard of the guy before.