The passing of William F. Buckley

The problems that afflicted Conservatism when William F. Buckley Jr. first arrived on the scene are different from those that confront it as he departs. With the split within the Conservative ranks, and with the rise of commentators such as Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter, what Buckley brought to the table was intellectual rigor. You might not like his positions, and, just like any other human being, he made his share of mistakes. But one theme that rings out repeatedly was his amiable, thoughtful character. And his love of big words. He left a legacy that challenges the liberals to step up and remake their narrative and make the compelling case for their values; and challenges the newest crop of Conservatives to realize that the Cold War is over and its template no longer applies. Buckley was the Cold War intellectual who turned the Conservative battleship on a dime. What's needed now is someone with his gifts to do it again.