Our Favorite Book Title, Part 6
William F. Buckley, Jr., a crucial figure in the rise of the conservative right, continues to be productive well into his golden years. He's long since turned over the editorship and management of the magazine he founded, National Review, but he continues to write regular columns. Now, he's edited a new book of correspondence he had with readers over the years. We can't say we're big fans of his politics (though we do like his longevity), but we love the title: Cancel Your Own Goddamn Subscription--Notes & Asides from National Review, a reaction to the familiar refrain from readers objecting to something they don't like. For earlier installments of our favorite book title series, go here.
8 Comments:
You know, I used to enjoy watching Buckley's TV show, "Firing Line." In his heart of hearts, I wonder what he thinks of "conservatism" in the year 2007. It's a long way downhill from Buckley's erudite hair-splitting to Sean Hannity's vacuity.
To his credit, he has blasted the current goings-on by this White House, making it clear he doesn't think it has anything to do with his philosophy, or not much anyway. But as you and others have pointed out here, G.W. Bush's worst excesses are not a veering off from conservative Republican philosophies, but in fact their very embodiment.
I don't think I ever caught his show back in the day when it was on, but the occasional historical clips I've since come across make it look like great fun. The weird way he talks certainly makes for good TV. And you're certainly right about how he's intellectual leagues above the likes of the imbecile talking heads that now pass for conservative thought on TV.
Current MSM talking head/pundit Jeff Greenfield was one of the student interns seen on the show. He certainly let his ego hang out. On one show he explained how he heard a specific Beethoven piece play in his mind as kind of a theme to his academic career. By now, he must be hearing "Gimme Dat Ding" by the Pipkins.
Wow, what a memory you have. That must be 25 years ago. I would love to see Greenfield as a rookie. I've always really liked him, and thought he was just about the best thing on CNN. He's always fair, well-informed and articulate. But he's since moved to...ABC? NPR? Not sure. I do know I haven't encountered him on the tube in well over a year, though.
Make it 37 years for the Pipkins, maybe 30+ for Greenfield. He is now one of the horde of water carriers for the GOP. Here is his Media Matters page.
Don't get me wrong, I still have a soft spot for the Pipkins.
I think you sense more rightward-leaning media people than I do. I've always found Greenfield to stand out for his no-nonsense smarts, calling them like he sees them. Sometimes that means saying things about the other side that aren't as negative as a partisan might prefer. But that just comes with the territory.
Possibly the MSM are simply swimming in the ocean created by the great right-wing machine without the same perspective of some of us out here in the hinterlands (i.e., not in D.C.) They are no more able to escape their medium than a flying fish.
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