JS Bach's Second Brandenburg Concerto

William F. Buckley Jr. the founder of National Review Magazine and it can be argued the founder of the modern conservative movement passed away today. He was around 83 years of age.

Modern Conservatism owes William F. Buckley Jr. much. It was due to his efforts that conservatism did not wither and die, it was due to his efforts that conservatism took a turn away from the nuttiness of the Cult of Rand (don't read too much into this, Ayn Rand has some good ideas but many who follow her philosophies too closely seem more cult members than anything else) or into the fluoride paranoia of the John Birch Society (neighbors of mine, The Empress and I live perhaps five blocks from their headquarters). William F. Buckley made it acceptable for people to differ on whether it was appropriate to jib or tack, just so long as the overall course of the sailboat was headed in the right direction. William F. Buckley Jr. was conservative before conservative was cool.

My first encounter with William F. Buckley Jr. was on the TV on Chestnut St. in Platteville just as I was coming out of a college trendy leftism spell. I see the commercial and hear him pitch his magazine with the allegro assai movement JS Bach's Second Brandenburg concerto in the background (IIRC). The advertisement also featured Tom Selleck pitching the magazine. I subscribed to the magazine and have pretty much been a steady subscriber since then (though at the moment I just don't have the time for it) and when I do get it and have the time it is read from cover to cover.

A couple of years ago browsing a thrift store I found one of his books in the used section. I purchased it and much to my delight, I found the book had been signed by William F. Buckley Jr. I got home excited and was started to work on a letter asking for a specimen of his signature so I could confirm the signature was his, but alas, that letter is still on my file-system.

In honor of the harpsichordist I present to you the allegro assai from JS Back's Second Brandenburg Concerto:


X-posted at the BBA.

Conservatism Will Get By!

Getting a lot of google search landings from people searching on the death of conservatism, why is that?

Conservatism's house right now is disturbed at the moment, but isn't that what primary season is for? To have it out, for all to get their input into who we are going to run, and to determine the near to mid-term direction of the organization?

The Democrats are having a real brawl on their hands and it really is not apparent when it is going to end (short of its inevitable conclusion in, IIRC, Denver). Both Hillary and the JFK Lama are splitting votes, states, and delegate nearly equally among each other. They too are having a good discussion.

But that is democracy. If you want unity, go to Cuba where everyone votes and everyone votes for Fidel's slate or else. How is that for unity?

In any event, conservatism is a political framework that transcends party. The GOP may disappear much as the Whigs of old did but some organization will pick up and serve as the new vehicle for conservatism. Conservatism is the driver, the party is the car and just because your old malibu dies does not mean the end of driving for you.