William F. Buckley, Jr., R.I.P

I was deeply saddened today to read the news of the passing of William F. Buckley, Jr. He was 82. Since the 1950s, Buckley had been at the forefront of the conservative intellectual movement. Buckley made his first splash on the American political landscape in 1951 with the publication of his highly influential book entitled God and Man at Yale. Throughout the 1950s his importance within the movement continued to grow and would become stronger after his founding of the conservative magazine, National Review. During the decades of the Cold War, Buckley was staunch anti-communist and eloquent supporter of free markets. Buckley had a profound impact on the formulation of my own political ideology. For years I have enjoyed reading the National Review, especially his columns. His brilliant insights and stinging wit will be greatly missed by many. May he rest in peace.