Happy 80th Birthday to William F. Buckley. He, practically single-handedly in the beginning, built the modern conservative movement making it a credible ideological position to believe in small government and opposition to communism. He read the John Birchers and anti-Semites out of the movement. He inspired several generations of conservatives and seems to have lived more fully of life than almost anyone I can imagine. His energy and prolificacy humbles the rest of us. NRO has tribute speeches up from his 80th birthday party as well as links to some of his classic columns. His sister, Priscilla, who worked for him at National Review for so many years has a sweet tribute. Today, George Will has a fine column celebrating Buckley as a "Journalist for the Ages." It is so.