The New Trump

[piezoe]

Let me ask why you describe William Buckley as an "asshole"? Clearly you (and even I) do not agree with some of his views. However he wrote very well with a wide command of language, and associated with both conservative/liberal pundits & politicians. In fact the only liberal who could not stand him seems to be Gore Vidal -- other liberals stated be was very polite in expressing his opinions even when they disagreed.

Well to be fair, I described him as a "lovable asshole". Whenever he thought his opponent might be getting the upper hand by revealing a weakness in his argument he would often hurl back a personal insult. And he was hopelessly condescending. It was by no means just Vidal that riled him. But Vidal was one of the few that could match him insult for insult and was just as quick witted.

Once Buckley's position was attacked by an argument he was not prepared to refute, he'd lose control, and with it his ability to keep the discussion on a high plane. Folks would watch firing line just to wait for an insult that would one-up the previous one.

Here's something that predates Firing line, but not by much.

 

[gwb-trading]

Because whenever he thought his opponent might be getting the upper hand by revealing a weakness in his argument he would hurl back a personal insult. And he was hopelessly condescending. It was by no means just Vidal that riled him. But Vidal was one of the few that could match him insult for insult and was just as quick witted.

Once Buckley's position was attacked by an argument he was not prepared to refute, he'd lose control, and with it his ability to keep the discussion on a high plane. Folks would watch firing line just to wait for an insult that would one-up the previous one.

On Firing Line, Buckley was almost always very polite and allowed those on the show to answer in-depth. This is reflected in the Wikipedia's Firing Line description.

"Reflecting Buckley's talents and preferences, the exchange of views was almost always polite, and the guests were given time to answer questions at length, slowing the pace of the program. "The show was devoted to a leisurely examination of issues and ideas at an extremely high level", according to Jeff Greenfield, who frequently appeared as an examiner.[2] John Kenneth Galbraith said of the program, "Firing Line is one of the rare occasions when you have a chance to correct the errors of the man who's interrogating you."[2]"


Compared to the current clowns hosting shows on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX - Buckley was the image of polite discourse.

 

[vanzandt]

Trump should join a black gospel choir until after November 8th, and say, "I love 'chitlins'! Nobody loves 'chitlins' more than I do. Everybody says so!."

Here's the real deal on what Trump is doing. He knows he'll never get the African American vote. What he is doing, is actually quite strategic. By reaching out to blacks, and saying the things he's saying.... is not really for the blacks. He is trying to endear college educated white women. You can take that to the bank. Its subtle, and its smart. African Americans make up like 14% of the vote..... white women make up 52%.

He's no dummy. This is a very smart maneuver. Will it work? Probably not, its a little too late; nevertheless, its a brilliant tactic.

 

[oldnemesis]

I used to faithfully watch Buckley on TV. Not because I agreed with his politics but because it was high entertainment. I guess you could call him the founder of the conservative movement...but of course he never was able to win any election (I believe he tried to be elected mayor of NYC but was laughed out of town.)
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/remembering-buckleys-1965-run-for-mayor/

His completely phony accent was hilarious. I could never figure out what he trying to pretend to be. It was neither Boston, New York nor Philadelphia... but was a manufactured amalgam somewhere in there. He really was just a jerk who never got over going to Yale.

 

[traderob]

I never heard Buckley speak. But his book , Getting it Right, convinced me of the truth of Conservatism.

 

[piezoe]

He had valuable insight. It's the way he said things that rankled.

 

[piezoe]

Here's the real deal on what Trump is doing. He knows he'll never get the African American vote. What he is doing, is actually quite strategic. By reaching out to blacks, and saying the things he's saying.... is not really for the blacks. He is trying to endear college educated white women. You can take that to the bank. Its subtle, and its smart. African Americans make up like 14% of the vote..... white women make up 52%.

He's no dummy. This is a very smart maneuver. Will it work? Probably not, its a little too late; nevertheless, its a brilliant tactic.

That's, at the least, inventive, and it could even be right. Why else would he bother with blacks? (I mean from his point of view, of course.)

 

[piezoe]

I never heard Buckley speak. But his book , Getting it Right, convinced me of the truth of Conservatism.

He was always very confident that he was right.

 

[piezoe]

On Firing Line, Buckley was almost always very polite and allowed those on the show to answer in-depth. This is reflected in the Wikipedia's Firing Line description.

"Reflecting Buckley's talents and preferences, the exchange of views was almost always polite, and the guests were given time to answer questions at length, slowing the pace of the program. "The show was devoted to a leisurely examination of issues and ideas at an extremely high level", according to Jeff Greenfield, who frequently appeared as an examiner.[2] John Kenneth Galbraith said of the program, "Firing Line is one of the rare occasions when you have a chance to correct the errors of the man who's interrogating you."[2]"


Compared to the current clowns hosting shows on CNN, MSNBC, and FOX - Buckley was the image of polite discourse.

I can't really disagree with any of that, despite Buckley excelling at assholeness. He was an enigma, and a quite delightful one.

 

[piezoe]

I used to faithfully watch Buckley on TV. Not because I agreed with his politics but because it was high entertainment. I guess you could call him the founder of the conservative movement...but of course he never was able to win any election (I believe he tried to be elected mayor of NYC but was laughed out of town.)
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/27/remembering-buckleys-1965-run-for-mayor/

His completely phony accent was hilarious. I could never figure out what he trying to pretend to be. It was neither Boston, New York nor Philadelphia... but was a manufactured amalgam somewhere in there. He really was just a jerk who never got over going to Yale.

He did seem to be trying a little too hard to sound upper crust; yet I suspect he did it naturally without thought. A little bizarre, don't you think?