Jane Hamser who runs firedoglake has a knack for cutting through the bull and getting to the meat of the matter. Today she writes about the importance of Buckley and contrasts him with the neoconservatives of today. (Jane is on Clinton's right and her partner at firedoglake, Christy Hardin Smith is on Clinton's left)
Here's a snippet or two:
There is a qualitative difference between Bill Buckley and the conservatives of today. I know he had shitty political opinions and the reason I do is because he told me so. Buckley openly embraced racist, McCarthyesque views that he not only acknowledged but defended. Which made it possible to have meaningful, substantive debate between the left and the right.
That isn't possible with today's conservative leading lights, the Straussians who philosophically believe it's their obligation to determine what you should think and then tell you whatever they need to in order to get you to believe it. Do they really think the surge is working? Fuck if I know, but it doesn't matter -- they think you should. If it keeps the fundies in line, big ups for intelligent design.
and, as usual she brings it home:
Buckley's honesty, even in the defense of an ideology you might not embrace, was a whole lot easier to deal with than the intellectual hairballs being coughed up by the right today.
I'll be back with some local issues later today...I finally have time to breathe.
