Mario Tapia

I just heard the news about William F. Buckley Jr.passing on. I was introduced to Mr Buckley in high school political science. To be honest, at first I didn’t understand or word he said, I knew it was English, but the vocabulary and his manner of speaking was on a level I wished to achieve. He is known for Firing Line, a PBS political talk show that lasted from 1966-1999.

Here’s an example of his writing.

I will not cede more power to the state. I will not willingly cede more power to anyone, not to the state, not to General Motors, not to the CIO. I will hoard my power like a miser, resisting every effort to drain it away from me. I will then use my power, as I see fit. I mean to live my life an obedient man, but obedient to God, subservient to the wisdom of my ancestors; never to the authority of political truths arrived at yesterday at the voting booth. That is a program of sorts, is it not? It is certainly program enough to keep conservatives busy, and liberals at bay. And the nation free.

* Up from Liberalism (1959)

Mr. Buckley, the political body will miss your class and high bar on debate.