badgenome said:
That's the clip, yeah. And not a thing. I'm a pretty huge fan of WFB, own a number of his books, and am currently reading Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription. But yesteryear's conservatives are always so much smarter/nicer/better/handsomer/etc. than today's, at least according to certain people. Primarily, I think, it's that they're viewed as less threatening because they're either retired or dead. I find it pretty amusing that Buckley has somehow become the go-to guy these days when someone wishes to point to a kinder, gentler, smarter conservatism. A lot of liberals are busy shitting their pants because they read into Sarah Palin's every utterance an attempt to foment violence or bash gays, so I can't begin to imagine what the reaction would be if she threatened to punch, say, Barney Frank in his fat clown face. |
On the liberal side, thereis a greater value for intellectualism, large vocaubarlies and appearing to be the smartest man in the room. This is why Buckley gets respected more. Book knowledge is valued above other things in liberalism and among progressives, and why you will see liberals looking like they have a form of elitism.
I bring this up because there has been a pandering against intellectualism going on political on the GOP side. Palin ends up being an example of this, where anything BUT being smart gets elevated. Intellectual fiber not needed. As I see it, anyone who remotely cares about the political process should consider Palin not a viable candidate for president at this time. Her being a hockey mom isn't it. You don't go, "But Biden" here, and lower the qualifications. You just say no. I do appreciate the bluntness of Michael Savage here, in saying she isn't qualified. But, of course this won't be done.
I do think there is a play towards populism that has led to far less taking the high road I read Coulter's Godless, for example, and the last chapter is excellent. But I had to wade through other chapters of immature namecalling and low road mudslinging. I guess being low road does more to get attention.
This being said, intellect not same as character at all. I think you see on here some people who think smart equals goodness, and will elevate that above other things of character, and think that they have more virtue because they don't believe in "stupid myths like God". Nevermind that there are numbers of genius level people who have done some of the worst horrors to humanity.
