On the Other Hand ... (William F. Buckley Jr. on Iraq)

National Review Online ^ | November 22, 2005 | William F. Buckley Jr.

[American Quilter]

Just before reading the dispassionate, logical, and erudite Buckley article, I read Pat Buchanan's emotional and factually inaccurate one. Buckley's article makes observations and draws conclusions based on a careful analysis of the facts. Buchanan's article is an emotional statement of what he feels is true, and what he's sure everyone else must therefore feel, too.

Buchanan's wishful thinking is particularly unconvincing when compared with the masterful performance of Buckley.

[msnimje]

Buchanan is the anti-Buckley.

[Carry_Okie]

"tendentious assertions, typically offered in the protasis of his sentences in order to enhance the aura of casual but apodictic assurance.

I can't remember reading a sentence in which I had to look up two words, but there it is.

[Redbob]

Buchanan is to Buckley as "feelings" are to reason.

[HelloooClareece]

I am humiliated to report that I had to look up 3 words...lol.

[Redbob]

Only two?
<grin>

[beebuster2000]

and what do those words mean? i have no idea.

[mware]

Don't feel bad a dictionary is a requirement when I read WF Buckley's columns

[Carry_Okie]

and what do those words mean?

[vrwinger]

>>>>>It would be interesting to step back and specify some milestones by which we could judge the campaign: what developments, were they accomplished, would lead us to judge the venture a success?<<<<<

What a great idea! If only the entities who you would assume would be charged with objectively reporting such milestones hadn't thrown in 100% with the DNC's agenda of "Bad news from Iraq = Good news for us." Is WFB as naive as he's pretending to be?

[Billthedrill]

The same two got me, too. "Tendentious" I use all the time - one has to when describing the bleatings of the intellectualoids. "Protasis" is the introductory part of a drama or a subordinate clause in a conditional sentence. You could interpret it either way in the context of the bleatings of intellectualoids. "Apodictic" is demonstrably true, a word seldom associated with the bleatings of intellectualoids.

It's all Greek...naw...not gonna go there.

[ops33]

Only 3! Consider yourself well educated!!

[ladiesview61]

Well, here is an article I'm going to save.

[HelloooClareece]

Only 3! Consider yourself well educated!!

LOL....Public school to boot. Go figure.

[HelloooClareece]

Don't feel bad a dictionary is a requirement when I read WF Buckley's columns


That's a very good idea and I am going to start doing the same.

[NutCrackerBoy]

Buchanan's wishful thinking is particularly unconvincing when compared with the masterful performance of Buckley.

Readers! Be aware Mr. Buckley is quoting his pro-Iraq-war "correspondent." He has not in the past, nor does he now, vouch for those optimistic evaluations.

[SE Mom]

That is ONE of the many enjoyable parts of reading William F. Buckley- whether it is learning new words, or seeing facts in new ways. Are there any more writers like him?

In "the old days" of my youth he would debate with John Kenneth Galbraith. They were both brilliant, informed and civilized. Of course Galbraith's thinking was always colored by his liberal and mistaken mindset- yet I never hated him.

[Verginius Rufus]

In Greek grammar, in conditional sentences, the "protasis" is the "if" clause and the "apodosis" is the "then" clause or conclusion. Buckley is throwing us a curve by using a superficially similar word, apodictic, from the verb meaning to point out or show off...that's because Buckley is a show-off.

[Carry_Okie]

It's all Greek...naw...not gonna go there.

Geek or Greek matters not a whit, cuz dare ain't no dare there.