>I always found William F. Buckley Jr. (1925 – 2008) mesmerizing, and frequently infuriating. When I was younger I liked his politics. As I became older, not so much. But he was so good at what he did. And when one looks at clips from his show, one cannot help but remark that he was a unique individual and brilliant spokesman for his team. He was also much into sailing, which I can appreciate. And he was a devoutly religious man (so I’ve read) which bodes well for him.

Although these clips of Buckley are posted plenty elsewhere, I figure if I can get in a clip of Noam Chomsky (another mesmerizing and infuriating person who I like very much) at the same time I will. Here Buckley debates Chomsky:

Part 1

Part 2

It is rather frightening just how relevant their discussion is today.

Interestingly, for all his ego and need to dominate in the area of ideas, Buckley was also a gentle person who could be rather long suffering. Here he is suffering through Allen Ginsberg (a mesmerizing and infuriating poet, who I also like very much, up to a point):

Classic.