Buckley was an interesting if underrated presence in American politics of the 20th century.

His NATIONAL REVIEW was the seabed for the re-emergence of the Conservative Majority, by forcing business conservatives/libertarians discuss and debate through their articles what exactly is "American Conservatism."

Sadly, the magazine went from an open forum of a publication to that of a neo-con wanker piece that don't provoke the refreshment of an ideology.

What intrigued me always with NATIONAL REVIEW was that conservatism, as ideology is traditionally, its never static. Consider back in 1996 when WFB and NR outright declared support for pot legalization, or more recent, Buckley's opposition to the War in Iraq.

Even if WFB did some things I didn't like...from supporting ole hot-head drunk Senator McCarthy to opposing Civil Rights legislation to hating the Beatles to his distasteful AIDS proposal...

Hell, that whole NATIONAL REVIEW sub-culture getting together in late 40s/early 50s would make for an interesting historical drama, if only because its about ideology over time, and its impact in domestic/international politics...and everything is 20/20 hindsight.