Topic: William F. Buckley

Can debate get heated with no loss of cool?

It is possible for people to debate one another on the issues that matter, and be 'playfully polite.'

8 ways to find common ground

Gridlock plagues Washington. Polarizing soundbytes get constant play in the 24/7 news cycle. The culture wars rage on. But these Monitor op-ed writers suggest there’s more common ground than meets the eye. Here are eight powerful perspectives on the possibilities for meeting in the middle.

Who is Saul Alinsky, and why is Newt Gingrich so obsessed with him?

Newt Gingrich keeps likening President Obama to radical community organizer Saul Alinsky. But Gingrich seems to have adopted Alinsky's tactics himself, as has the tea party. Mainstream Republicans aren't happy.

New Year's resolution: Seek the other side in political commentary

Thirty years ago, I got into the habit of consulting a political commentator with whom I might disagree, starting with William F. Buckley Jr. While only others can say if it’s made me a better citizen, I do know that it's been a great deal of fun, not to mention enlightening.

Rupert Murdoch: Is a pie in the face a legitimate political statement?

Rupert Murdoch is the latest in a long line of prominent figures who have had a pie thrown at them. Is pie-ing the best way to confront the powerful?

Want to change our national discourse? Don't be a slave to it.

Pundits aren’t solely to blame for the vitriol. They’re just giving us what we want. New media and the Internet heightened our symbiotic relationship – making everyone a demanding participant and sensational purveyor. To change our discourse we have to be masters, not slaves, to the cycle.

The Best American Essays 2010

The essays in this year's anthology – edited by Christopher Hitchens – are both varied and bold.

Kelsey Grammer: a bid to attract Fox News, Limbaugh audience

Kelsey Grammer of 'Frasier' fame is one face behind RightNetwork, a new entertainment TV network. It seeks to appeal to conservatives who made Fox News and Rush Limbaugh successful.

Kelsey Grammer backs new conservative TV network

Kelsey Grammer is the front man in the RightNetwork, a new politically conservative TV network. First programs include 'Right2Laugh,' featuring stand up comedians, and 'Running' about Tea Party-backed candidates running for office. See the Kelsey Grammer pitch video below.

Carl Levin to Ann Coulter: the political history of a pie in the face

Michigan's Sen. Carl Levin got a pie in the face from a protester Monday. Pie-throwing has a political history dating to the 1960s and includes the pastry-based terrorism of 'Al Pieda.'

Rand Paul and the limits of the 'tea party' revolution

Rand Paul, Republican candidate for US Senate from Kentucky, is perhaps the closest thing there is to a 'tea party' candidate. In that light, his recent controversial comments are telling.

Social media domination: Republicans rule Twitter

Among congressmen, Republicans far outnumber Democrats on social media site Twitter, according to a recent study.

Mount Vernon Statement: the contradiction at the heart of this conservative fusion

Do conservatives really think that two of history’s most radical documents – the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution – were conservative?

From conservatives, a bounty of political manifestos

Everybody from tea partiers to Republican lawmakers to GOP chief Michael Steele is listing their political priorities and goals. Republicans are hoping to repeat Newt Gingrich's 1994 success in taking over the House with his 'Contract With America.'

Goldman Sachs bonuses: more than just bad PR

Billions in Goldman bonuses could generate the kind of public outrage that can rewrite the very terms of free enterprise.

Ayn Rand and America’s new culture war

From Rush Limbaugh to President Obama, Ayn Rand and her book 'Atlas Shrugged' are recalibrating America.

Palin's populist book tour won't help GOP

Instead of going rogue, Republicans should cultivate leadership in ideas and solutions.

Right Time, Right Place

How it felt to grow up at the National Review – with William F. Buckley Jr., as a mentor.

Losing Mum and Pup

Christopher Buckley’s affectionate portrait of his larger-than-life parents.

Classic review: The Beauty Myth

When society focuses too tightly on feminine beauty, it's not a pretty story for women.

Young Republicans seek a new kind of party

Reflecting an Obama age, they want more diversity and pragmatism, less partisanship.

The life and work of John Leonard

Christopher Buckley and the oddities of truth

Obama-Biden, McCain-Palin, and the experience question

Truman and Reagan showed that character and common sense matter more than a good résumé.

Democrats’ quest for the ‘big idea’

The party is full of optimism but is still refining its vision.