Give my regards to Buckley
Writing by treason on Monday, 24 of July , 2006 at 5:20 pm
I was puttering last night and switched on Drudge for a bit. He was all atwitter over the CBS interview with Bill Buckley. Kept saying that Buckley was at odds with Bush but, at his age, this could simply be a senility issue. Is Buckley losing it, he asked.
Hell no, Matt. Buckley isn’t losing his marbles and this news isn’t new. Buckley has been critical of the war in Iraq for what seems like dog years. But, as Drudge goes on to explain, criticism from the Right is serious business. He dismisses most of the carping from the Left, but when he hears a Conservative - and especially someone like Bill Buckley - saying something unflattering he sits up straight in his chair and he pays attention. I’d bet his toes twitch in his socks, too.
Matt, calm yourself. Conservatives have been skeptical from the beginning - where have you been? Remember that they had a candidate once - his name was Ronald Wilson Reagan - and they’d hoped that the other George Bush had learned a thing or two from him. No such luck. George Bush - number 41 - could not be called a Conservative. Ever since he said he was for something kinder and gentler, Reagan Conservatives got all bristly. His son aggravated the situation when he dropped the “compassionate conservative” bomb. Code words from the Bush family made it clear that they were not your grandfather’s conservatives. Grumbling started…things were said. Things like: “Jeb would be the smarter choice. Even Barbara likes him better.”
But Conservatives looked at the alternatives and said they’d give Dubya a shot. As for me, I voted for George Bush because I liked his choice for running mate. A lot. Still do. I’m surrounded by those who continue to nitpick and criticize Bush, and there’s much to criticize. Do I regret how I voted? No. I’m still thinking about the alternatives.
Am I ready to turn on the man completely because Bill Buckley has verbalized some criticism? No, because I’ve been subscribing to National Review longer than I can remember so this - again - is not news. Am I siding with Buckley? It’s not a question, really, of taking sides. It’s more of a matter of acknowledging Buckley and that he makes valid points. He’s measured, he’s fair, he’s…well, right. It’s a habit of his.
My relationship with George W. Bush is warm, but I haven’t known him long. I’ve known Mr. Buckley since I was eight years old. As I’ve said, I lived in Chicago in 1968 and I saw him “debate” Gore Vidal on TV. A life-changing experience and I’ve been faithful - just like one of his NR canine mascots - ever since. I respect the man. I like the man. I admire the man. Why, I’d let that man nibble my ballpoint pen if he didn’t have one of his own.
And I have no trouble with his opinions. We don’t agree on every point, but he knows how to support an argument and can usually win me over with facts and common sense. And a few words that you never see in print anymore and never, ever hear.
Drudge and others will try to make a story of this but they shouldn’t waste their time. Buckley and other Conservatives will praise George Bush in some areas, but there are issues that concern them. I can’t say I’m thrilled with the spending, and I can’t say I’m happy with the lack of tax and Social Security reform. I’d prefer a more aggressive approach to the War on Terror. And, like his dad, he’s been much too friendly towards Congress and other enemy combatants.
George. Take a page out of the big Reagan book and just say VETO.
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