The Conservative Party was a pre-cursor to the religious right. William F. Buckley, and others, were very influential in the Conservative Party - but I do not blame them for the extremism and bad politics of today.

I saw Buckley at a book signing in the 1990's - he's a nice guy - and an excellent harpsichordist, as well! A great mind like his, influenced by his religion (Catholic), is a shame. If he'd only been a freethinker, he'd be much brighter. As many of us know, he supports legalization of drugs.