Buckley Debates Chomsky on American Interventionism
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James Joyner | Sunday, January 21, 2007 |
Below is video of a debate between Noam Chomsky and William F. Buckley, Jr. from 1969, presumably on the latter’s long running “Firing Line” program about American interventionism, terrorism, and other issues which are still with us.
Andrew Sullivan observes wistfully, “There used to be television like this; and people used to watch it.” My inclination was to share his sentiment. Until I actually watched it.
Even with only four channels from which to choose, I don’t know how people sat through an hour of this. Buckley and Chomsky are undeniably brilliant but the exchange is pedantic and the delivery virtually unintelligible. It’s as if we’re dropping in on the middle of a conversation in a faculty lounge, with the participants unaware that there’s a microphone, let alone an audience.
About the Author: James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. He lives just outside the Beltway in Alexandria, Virginia.
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You mean, as opposed to the shouting and insults commonly thrown around the current crop of supposed "grown up" news discussion shows?
DCL: There's a vast middle ground between a dull academic discussion and shout fests.
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