February 29, 2008

Buckley and Reagan: The Qualities of Conservative Greatness

By Bruce Walker
As conservatives bemoan the apparent descent of conservatism into a swamp, we would do well to remember the two men who most personify conservatism in America.  One of those two men, William F. Buckley, has just passed away.  The other man, Ronald Reagan died four years ago (also in the middle of a presidential campaign.)   These two men were more than conservative icons, they were American icons.  No Leftist will ever be as loved by Americans as that "Arch-Conservative" Reagan  and  no Leftist will ever be as respected and admired as William F. Buckley, Jr.  While conservatives thrash about to define ourselves, to find ourselves, to seek our inner selves, let us first study a bit what made these two giants unifying leaders who they were.The first common characteristic is that both men were devoutly religious -- it is impossible to think of either man without soon noting the importance of God in the biography.  Buckley's first...(Read Full Article)