Conservatism's civil voice

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008

William F. Buckley, who died Wednesday at 82, is sometimes called the father of modern American conservatism. He brought together libertarians, free-marketers, anti-communists and others to form a modern political movement built around his magazine, the National Review. For this he rightfully holds a place among the leading lights of 20th century political thought.

But what of his problem child? The conservative movement as a whole is alive and well, though looking a bit frayed after several decades in the ascendency. But the conservative commentariat he fathered has issues.

While Buckley relied on the power of his ideas -- often presented in his trademark polysyllabic, Yale-informed, richly Latinate prose -- many of today's high-profile commentators rely...