On Feb 29, 2008, at 1:56 PM, Michael Smith wrote:
> Even on the purely intellectual/ideological plane Buckley always
> seemed to me like a premature proto-Fascist, his movement little
> more than a rather precious cult.
Yup. He had a lot in common with Catholic authoritarians, and was deeply antidemocratic. The Best - i.e., people like him - had a direct line to the Transcendent, but the masses were always in danger of breaking in on his connection.
Doug