Tho’ much is taken, much abides; and tho’
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,–
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
–Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ulysses
Sean Purcell says:
A giant among men. For all his brilliance in the conservative arena though, I most fondly remember him for his poetic precision with words. His vocabulary was beyond compare. His choice of words – his knowledge of the mot juste each and every time, conveyed a razor like meaning that hit every nuance. To hear him speak (and even to read his prose) was no less dazzling than a sax in the hands of a master.
What deafening silence now…
February 28, 2008 — 1:15 am
Greg Swann says:
Ann Coulter this morning:
February 28, 2008 — 10:54 am
Teri L says:
I’m with Sean-
I loved to hear him, but I enjoyed watching him as well- his body language, you know? He’d get settled, lean back, focus those dancing eyes on someone… Then with no hesitation out would come the most remarkable language. And you could see that he was born to do that and he passionately loved it. Makes me smile just remembering.
We are very lucky to have been witnesses.
February 28, 2008 — 12:12 pm
Craig Klein says:
A truly unique human being.
Can you buy a DVD of Firing Line episodes? I’d rather watch Bill pontificating about Watergate than listen to the talking heads prattle on about the 2008 elections!
February 28, 2008 — 2:08 pm
Eric Blackwell says:
He made the art of debate and communication effortless. Great people do that at their craft — Tiger’s swing, Lance Armstrong’s courage and biking skill, Michael Jordan’s jumpshot…so much effort and talent had gone in that the actual feat seemed effortless…such was the reasoning and communication skill of Mr. Buckley.
February 28, 2008 — 4:34 pm
Jay says:
He will be sorely missed by many of us….His impact on my thinking and my love of words was profound. I remember teaching 7th & 8th grade English at a christian school. The weekly word list was populated by words such as mellifluous, vituperative, pulchritude, aggrandize, perspicacious, etc. The kids learned the words just fine and it was rewarding to hear them employ their new oral weapons occasionally amongst each other or in their writings.
I’m looking forward to reading the lengthy and I’m sure heartwarming monologue by Rush on Mr. Buckley:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_022708/content/01125106.guest.html. When I heard the news I literally had to pause….My intake of his writings started in high school and became more intense in my early 20s, and forever his his impact will rest upon me….He will forever be the master of eloquence from my perspective.
This causes me to realize I need to on track with my children’s vocabularies. It’s so much easier to start young.
J
February 28, 2008 — 5:36 pm
Dan Sullivan - Denver Real Estate says:
For those of us who missed his magic with words, who reminds you of him today?
February 28, 2008 — 10:31 pm
Greg Swann says:
> For those of us who missed his magic with words, who reminds you of him today?
Bob Tyrell at The American Spectator is fun, but there’s no one like WFB. Mark Steyn is great read, but it’s still not the same.
My personal favorite would be Richard Mitchell, The Underground Grammarian, who died a few years ago. The internet brought us together, and we were able to trade emails before he passed away. A high point in my life.
He was an amazing writer. His book The Gift of Fire is one of the great achievements of the twentieth century. I’ll post something of his tonight.
February 28, 2008 — 11:51 pm
Jay says:
Sorry to bring up you know who again (Rush), but I believe his focus will be William F. Buckley and some of his interviews with him today for what it’s worth.
February 29, 2008 — 5:55 am