You know, Robert, if you don't have something useful to say why don't you just stuff a cork in your mouth? ... or somewhere else.

Buckley, recently passed away - and you reproduce a quote calling him demented.

Such class I've never seen before. I now have all I need to justify completely ignoring anything you write ever again. Thanks.

Whoosh.

Geez, sbj, it's obvious that Buckley is being portrayed in that passage as better than Podhoretz and the viciously stupid couple.

sbjs comment is so obtuse one hardly kowsd where to start, but calling all toasters has it right. I'd add only that Buckley is being called demented by some of his fellow right wingers. As for the threat (or was it a promise?) not to read Farley again, does that include not making comments on Farley's posts as well? If so, thank you.

"I now have all I need to justify completely ignoring anything you write ever again. Thanks."

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out.

Calling all toasters:

True, that - but are you seriously contending that this recitation is intended by Bobby-lu to compliment Buckley? C'mon now, grow up.

What's obvious is that Farley is using the occasion of someone's death to heap scorn upon them (using the chickenshit route of using someone else's words --- I can't wait for the reply "I didn't say that, someone on a cruise did." Duisingenuous much?) He indirectly and quite probably causes even further pain to those who knew or respected or were related to this 'cowardly, possibly demented' man.

Don't even try to defend this crap.

What's obvious is that Farley is being disrespectful to the recently deceased. This has happened at Tapped before. It's disgusting and I would think that not one reader here would approve of such slimey, low class behavior.

But hey, go on with your bad self, Bobbi. Here's hoping that when someone close to you passes some jackass isn't out there reproducing stories calling him or her a coward and demented. I know that after my mom passed I sure would have been heartened to read someone calling her a coward. Have you never suffered a loss or are you really just a soulless bastard?

Unbelievable.

For all of you defending Bobbi, why not ask yourself why he reproduced this passage in the first place. What was the purpose? To say something nice about Buckley? Are you that dumb? Why wouldn't he just say something nice - "He was well respected by conservatives."

If what you all write is true then at the very least Farley is using the occasion of Buckley's death to make a political point about two cruise ship passengers. And he is using Buckley's death to take a shot at Podohertz.

WTF? You think that's appropriate? Did you guys have mothers?

On what planet is this considered good taste, classy, or even worthy journalism?

It's a testament to Buckley's intellectual honesty, and frankly more of a lament. Back in the day conservatives could look to people like Bill Buckley for inspiration--now they have the Podhoretzes and Malkins of the world.

It's a lionizing quote, about a man whose very own movement doesn't deserve him anymore

I can't believe anyone's so dumb and/or obtuse as to not understand the point of the post: an old-style conservative chastised a neocon for his lack of integrity, the neocon responded with the usual rejected-movie-script pablum, and the rightwing spectators proved their loutishness and ignorance by deriding the older guy for having some principles.

And that's supposed to be insulting to the most principled Republican in the story? Oy vey.

Yes, on the occasion of someone's death it is insulting to reproduce anecdotes calling him a demented coward. Using the occasion of someone's death to score points against 'neocons' is insulting.

Sadly, sbj ignoring anything Farley ever writes again doesn't seem to include ignoring subsequent comments in this thread, to say nothing of his compulsive need to respond to them.

mr mugumbu something or other:

Yes, it is a hallmark of OCD to respond to comments directed at one's self.

A psychiatrist you're not.

And I suppose that you agree that using someone's death to score political points is perfectly appropriate and gosh - we should encourage more of that!

I'll respond so long as I feel the need - why don't you just change the channel?

Let's not lose sight of the fact that Buckley's magazine, National Review, was a fount of racism during his tenure: See here. About halfway down the page.

Or not. Links don't work, it's cool, just google "national review racism" without quotes.

I sincerely hope that Robert Byrd is doing better - I heard he was in the hospital.

Let's not forget that he was a racist and low-life scum member of the KKK. I heard a Democrat say this on a cruise.

How appropriate!

Wow. Just... wow. Sincere or performance art? The world may never know. Bravo, sbj.

sbj,

The point isn't that Buckley was a "demented coward," but that he leaves behind a conservative movement filled with demented cowards, a point you've proven quite aptly.

sbj writes: For all of you defending Bobbi, why not ask yourself why he reproduced this passage in the first place. What was the purpose? To say something nice about Buckley? Are you that dumb? Why wouldn't he just say something nice - "He was well respected by conservatives."

i write: I think I am that dumb. I totally think Farley's saying something nice about Buckley. He's saying "Buckley spoke the truth even when it wasn't socially acceptable." Farley is acknowledging that the quality of saying what one really thinks even, when it means that you'll be called demented, is an admirable quality no matter whether one is conservative or liberal. sbj thinks it would be better to say that Buckley was "respected by conservatives," but Farley is obviously topping that by saying he should be respected by liberals as well.

sbj,

You have the mental processes of an adolescent. I still don't understand how you can still be missing the point of the story and how you see it as an attack against Mr. Buckley. To assume that Mr. Buckley is supposed to be in a bad light here, one has to assume that he is the one who looks foolish for questioning the WMD 'inaccuracies.' Since it's now a foregone conclusion that Mr. Buckley was in the right and that his detractors are the ones showing signs of mental deficiency, denial, or dishonesty, it should not be a complex move to comprehend the central theme-- that even in his old age he was sharp, honest, and unafraid.

Thank you, Dr Sbaitso. That's exactly what I was going to say.

Good Lord!

Must one remind readers here that Farley premises the entire idiotic post by writing, "For want of something useful to say ... "

He has nothing useful to say (least of all complimentary!) - by his own admission - and yet you are trying to convince me that he really meant to commend Buckley?

You are seriously contending that Farley intended this anecdote as a tribute? He is saying, you propose, that Buckley was principled and even "in his old age ... was sharp, honest, and unafraid."

This from the same Farley who said of Buckley, "As far as I'm concerned, the only use for either Vidal or Buckley is in a cage match against the other." (Let's not even take a look at what Farley's co-bloggers at LGM have to say about Buckley.)

This from the same Farley who links to yet another recitation of Nat'l Review's ugly racist past on the occasion of the founder's death?

WTF?

I'll take it all back if Farley comes here now to praise Buckley forthrightly and second the arguments made here - that Farley's point (even though he says he was not making a point) was that Buckley was a principled conservative who even in his old age was sharp, honest, and unafraid.

On the occasion of someone's death it is insulting to reproduce anecdotes calling him a demented coward. Using the occasion of someone's death to score points against 'neocons' is insulting.

Buckley wasn't demented. sbj, on the other hand...

I'm not demented, Kevin - I'm a freakin' nutjob.

Using the occasion of someone's death to score points against 'neocons' is insulting.

There, Kev-baby (Oh, you don't mind if I call you Kev-baby, do you?) now we have each written equally useful comments. I hope I've been able to match your keen wit.

"I'm not demented, Kevin - I'm a freakin' nutjob."

No, sbj, you are either intellectually dishonest -- like, to a person, all neocons -- or an idiot.

Which is it? You pick.

I'm a male Democrat in my '30's -- highly educated, upper middle class -- who had the *utmost* respect for Mr. Buckley, and what he represented. The post in question exists as impeccable evidence of why the man was so valuable to the intellectual life -- not to mention integrity -- of this nation.

And why his loss -- leaving us to the Kristols and the Podhoretz's of the world -- is so heartbreaking.

And this -- I believe -- is the crux of your position. You neocon scoundrels emphatically do not *wish* to be admired by someone across the aisle. Effectively, we are not Americans to you. You may just as well be at war with *us* as you are with Saddam.

This is your illness. To say it is lamentable is not severe enough. It is disgraceful.

Well, js202,

If "The post in question exists as impeccable evidence of why the man was so valuable to the intellectual life -- not to mention integrity -- of this nation,"

Then why has Farley previously said of Buckley: "As far as I'm concerned, the only use for either Vidal or Buckley is in a cage match against the other."

He obviously does not agree with you else he would have acknowledged Buckley's great value - as you are tryin to say that he did with this post. If Farley feels that Buckley was so valuable to the intellectual life then I find it perplexing that he also said he had no use for him. (As if to say - ta da! - he has no value.)

We are talking about Farley and Buckley here right? Not about your opinion of Buckley (which I share)?

Why is everyone here lettnig sbj hijack the ENTIRE thread?

The rest of us understand that the quote is showing that conservatism has changed for the worse, Buckley's intellectual offspring have eaten him, rejected him.

Just let sbj go, he's a lost cause. It's not personal, sjb, no one agrees with you.

I agree with sbj- nutjob.

Just lettin' it go ...

Hey, say what you like about sbj's silliness, you have to admit that the drama queen behavior, the faux outrage, the stupidity of the misreading, and so forth, are freaking hilarious! Keep it up, please.