September 18, 2009
Posted: September 18th, 2009 03:18 PM ET

(CNN) - Irving Kristol, among the most influential conservative commentators over the last half century, died Friday in Washington at age 89, the Weekly Standard announced on its Web site.

Kristol, whom Esquire Magazine once hailed as the godfather of neo-conservatism, served as editor of several conservative publications over the last five decades including Commentary magazine and The National Interest.

In 2002, President Bush awarded Kristol the Medal of Freedom, calling him a "brilliant writer of remarkable insight and wit, [who] profoundly improved public discourse on the ideas he championed."

His son, William Kristol, is the current editor of The Weekly Standard.

Filed under: Irving Kristol


jules sand-perkins   September 19th, 2009 11:23 am ET

Well, I've studied these posted writings closely and concluded that some liberals are on something very different from Veuve Cliquot.

jules sand-perkins   September 19th, 2009 10:50 am ET

Irving Kristol was a wonderful man, an important conservative thinker, and a brilliant writer.
The lack of respect shown to him by comments here would be shocking, were it not most of it coming from persons whose lack of education made "disrespect," and even its gutter truncation "diss," a verb.

Amanda   September 18th, 2009 8:18 pm ET

Who cares ? Father and son are despicable.

Amunaka   September 18th, 2009 7:26 pm ET

Jeeez... I need a shower after reading these posts ..I think it would be good to look back into this mans life his ideology..the how ..the why.. he shaped the neo-con movement back then and how it got to where it is today....and learn something from it ...

oh and cons your faux outrage is disingenuous to say the least

Michael   September 18th, 2009 6:53 pm ET

Liberals have been "turning the other cheek" for far too long. Look at what it has gotten them. Two bruised cheeks. Sorry neocons, the buck stops here........no more mister nice guy. You get what you give.

If this joker really IS the father of the neoconservative movement, all I can say is he lived 30 years too long.

Ronnie "the bum" Reagan pushed this "free market" crap, Bush 41 gave us the mantra "get the government off our back" which translated to zero regulation on business.

I paid my bills and lived in the same house for over 20 years, only to see my equity disappear when the market crashed.

Ding dong the Witch is dead..............!

ProfBill   September 18th, 2009 6:48 pm ET

"I could not attend the funeral. But , I sent a nice note approving of the affair." Mark Twain

Lauren in Seattle   September 18th, 2009 6:46 pm ET

I'm a liberal Democrat, but have tremendous respect for Mr. Kristol. While I disagree with his political philosophy, I respect the fact that he was a true conservative. I suspect he was fairly dismayed by the Faustian bargain that the conservatives have made with the evangelicals. Limited government should be limited government - a true conservative would never argued that government shouldn't tax you can tell you when and under what circumstances you can have a child, get married, or read certain books.

I might have disagreed with him, but at least he was consistent. Seems we liberals have one less rational person to deal with.

Shelly   September 18th, 2009 6:45 pm ET

Didn't he call the Republican Party "the stupid party'.....GASP
A conservative calling his own stupid !

gae   September 18th, 2009 6:36 pm ET

Conservative and Thinker. Those are two words that you won't read in the same sentence anymore.

ian in Boulder CO   September 18th, 2009 6:23 pm ET

Rest in peace Mr. Irving Kristol. Conservative thinkers are in short suppy these days; they have been replaced with conservative blowhards (Rush), conservative clowns (Beck), and conservative pseudo-intellectuals (Mr. Irving Kristol's son Bill). The country needs conservative thinkers, now more than ever perhaps. This is from a far-left liberal.

apathetic   September 18th, 2009 6:07 pm ET

Who cares? I mean really, no one will even remember this next week. If it's not Michael Jackson, we won't hear another follow-up, ever.

Party Purity will never bring Political Power!   September 18th, 2009 6:04 pm ET

Oh so all you neo-cons are concerned about the family TODAY, but what about when Kennedy recently, most of your posts did not seem to be concerned about how HIS family may feel when reading your posts.

David S. Robins   September 18th, 2009 6:02 pm ET

Another right winger bites the dust. Bravo! Carry him fast to his grave.

John   September 18th, 2009 5:52 pm ET

Good he is Gone. He was a Nuisance on Earth. We want more Idiots like him to burn in Hell, so that this world can have more Peace and Harmony.

Ian Hickey   September 18th, 2009 5:51 pm ET

FOX NEWS IS THE WORST!!!!

They recently ran an ad campaign in Chicago that make sthem look like "they ask the tough questions." It's absolutely absurd! They take a quick clip of one of their reporters/news-people interjecting what is usually a horrible question or statement to someone being interviewed. They then make the person being interviewed look like an idiot. I guess they want to look like real tough reporters. In my mind, they are the worst news corp in existence.

PATHETIC!!!

CNN = Moveon.org   September 18th, 2009 5:42 pm ET

Polar Bears Against Palin September 18th, 2009 4:03 pm ET

I'll say what many conservatives said after Ted Kennedy died:

WHO CARES?

-------------------

You really show your lack of maturity with this statement. You sound like a child on the playground who yells, "they started it." Grow up and act you age, if that is possible for liberal Democrats.

jeff milligan   September 18th, 2009 5:40 pm ET

Um- to anonymous- the traditional conservative movement would have you find your own way to the toilet- the "you're on your own- no interference from any outsiders" mentality. The people offering help to those blinded by ideology rather than enlightened by fact would, in fact, be "liberals"- which only means we seek knowledge- and when did that become bad? Buy a dictionary and learn the meanings of some of the multi-syllabic words you pretend to know.

Adam   September 18th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

Anonymous

Wow, what a incoherent rambling that was. Between your broad generalizations and attempt to show off your extensive (but poorly used) vocabulary I understood something about a toilet and colonic’s which was very weird but somehow fitting because most of your post was generalized bullcrap. Good job quoting one of the most outspoken liberal musicians of the past 20 years in your post, Bob Dylan would probably disagree with every thought that has passed through that noe-con pea sized brain of yours, but I thought that quote added a great contradictory touch to your post.

jeff milligan   September 18th, 2009 5:37 pm ET

At least the "indoctrinated liberals" don't post anonymously....

Rhonda   September 18th, 2009 5:30 pm ET

Unbelievable.... I am a liberal Democrat, and even I am ashamed at some of the posts here. Absolutely disgusting. And you were the same people who were chastising the conservatives who were posting mean things about Kennedy. Way to rise above it...... Pathetic.

Luke   September 18th, 2009 5:28 pm ET

Conservative and thinker... it's rare to see those two words in a sentence. Too bad this guy died... his party could use more intellectual thought to balance out the wacky superstitions and fantasies. R.I.P., Mr. Kristol.

Jack Marshall   September 18th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

I was surprised to hear that Bill Kristol finally sold his horse and
buggy and invested in a brand new Reo.

Anonymous   September 18th, 2009 5:18 pm ET

Quite sad to see that the indoctrinated liberals attack the dead. BUT.... it is a minor event in the life of a cerebrally arrested liberal because they just don't possess the synapsical capacity or ability to understand good from evil or right from wrong. (like Bob Dylan says......"You can't expect something from someone who isn't smart enough to give it.") Liberals would be in huge trouble with colonic obstruction because they obviously can't find their way to the bathroom by themselves; thank God for Conservatives, beause without their guidance things would be intolerable. Again, afterall it takes a Conservative to show a liberal how to find the toilet! Now, you bleeeding heart liberals, how do you like the color of those apples?

Roger   September 18th, 2009 5:11 pm ET

A conservative thinker. Now thats a thing of the past.

centerleft   September 18th, 2009 5:08 pm ET

My question is does RNC Micheal Steele agree with Rush Limbaugh on the "Black kids should ride on bus" and "White kids should ride another"? CNN can you get a response.

Felly   September 18th, 2009 5:03 pm ET

The death of Conservatism?

Bedtime for Obonzo   September 18th, 2009 4:55 pm ET

RIP Irving.

Independent in Missouri   September 18th, 2009 4:55 pm ET

KInd of like that lawyer joke... "What do you call 10 dead lawyers in a room?" - A good start.

~~ July ~~ ( Working HARD to make TX Blue )   September 18th, 2009 4:51 pm ET

RIP ........

but poor man .. to know he left his world with a son like William Kristol .... not much to be proud of .

yuri   September 18th, 2009 4:48 pm ET

Whatever it may be, may his soul RIP.

Donovan   September 18th, 2009 4:41 pm ET

The godfather of neo-psycho-ism is dead? Good riddance.

Liberals Have No Class   September 18th, 2009 4:41 pm ET

Rest in Peace to a great man Last I checked, Iriving Kristol didn't leave any women in the back of a sedan to drown.

Corrytrevor   September 18th, 2009 4:33 pm ET

Burn in hell. Hopefully billy will join you soon.

Lucky Pierre 78   September 18th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

I've studied Irving Kristol's writing closely, and his passing is a great loss. God rest his soul and may his contributions be preserved for the generations.

Tom C in NY   September 18th, 2009 4:26 pm ET

This guy and his family had a very bad impact on the world as the propagandists that they are.

Anonymous   September 18th, 2009 4:24 pm ET

I've studied Irving Kristol's writing closely, and his passing is truly a poverty of intellectualism. God rest his soul and may his contributions be preserved for the generations.

Reagan was wrong   September 18th, 2009 4:16 pm ET

Bury TEA Party "movement" with Kristol

Not a nice thing to say, huh?

Mike in MN   September 18th, 2009 4:15 pm ET

You know what is so sad about the left is that I knew I could go here and find their hate posted all over the place. A conservative died and they see it as an opportunity to flash their hate for their fellow Americans. What a pitiful bunch.

JWB   September 18th, 2009 4:11 pm ET

Angie in PA you are confusing the Weekly Standard with the National Review and William Kristol with Christopher Buckley.

Obama VICTIM   September 18th, 2009 4:07 pm ET

Looking at these post just reinforce what indespicable idiots the left are! You idiots must be an embarassment to your feerless leader, Lord Obama.

KATHLEEN   September 18th, 2009 4:07 pm ET

Esquire magazine named him "the godfather of neo-conservatism".....

Well, if that is so, the man was a wealthy idiot. Neo Conservatism is what got us in the mess we are in. Thanks to Reagan our Country
is fast becoming a nation of the rich and poor!!!!!

Should health care not pass with the public option, our middle
class will go deeper in debt. This could deeply affect the very
MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE who are against health care reform!!!!!!

Yeah, vote for two wars and not think twice, but fight tooth and nail
to helping us get better Health Care

Retired, who "thought" we were Upper Middle Class!!!!!! Watch
out people against Health Care Reform, It "could" happen to you
our your loved ones, somewhere down the line. Medical Care take all
you have worked for in passing your wealth to your "possibly uninsured" rich children or grandchildren. IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!!!!

Nevada dude   September 18th, 2009 4:07 pm ET

The man's dead. leave it alone
(I am a democrat, but jeez people, you have to draw the line somewhere. its not as if he was Hitler or anything)

Polar Bears Against Palin   September 18th, 2009 4:03 pm ET

I'll say what many conservatives said after Ted Kennedy died:

WHO CARES?

No Incumbents 2010   September 18th, 2009 4:03 pm ET

William Kristol is a Nepotism boy riding daddy's coattales.

Randolph Carter, head of the death panel   September 18th, 2009 4:01 pm ET

Come on, folks. You might not agree with the guy's philosophy but try to show a little class. Have a nice day!

Alverant   September 18th, 2009 3:58 pm ET

N, at least the bad things said about Kristol is justified. I never considered Kristol to be "thoughtful", just ignorant.

bayou   September 18th, 2009 3:57 pm ET

Angle in PA, I think it was William F. Buckley's son who supported Obama

Nick Anders   September 18th, 2009 3:56 pm ET

While I am politically ideologically as far away from the Krystal fellows as possible, I wish him a blissful rest in peace. Politics aside, let's let him rest in peace.

Lori in St Pete   September 18th, 2009 3:56 pm ET

N, it's spelled Karma, with a K. And what did you honestly expect after the two-week hatefest following Senator Kennedy's passing?

Eleanore   September 18th, 2009 3:56 pm ET

You might want to correct your headline. Irving died. Not his son William.

JonDie   September 18th, 2009 3:56 pm ET

Couldn't have been much of a thinker; it doesn't take much thinking when one's entire philosophy is built across the premises that 1) the past were the "good, old days" and we need to return to them and B) it's actually possible to return in time to those "good, old days" (that NEVER existed).

Drew   September 18th, 2009 3:55 pm ET

To Arizonian...I was wondering the exact same thing! Conservative Thinker is a rather mutually exclusive term.

Sniffit   September 18th, 2009 3:55 pm ET

" A man dies, and all you can do is post your hate. "

Need I reference the Ted Kennedy articles?

Mario, mtl, ca.   September 18th, 2009 3:51 pm ET

I don't care, but now he will have to deal with his sin

N   September 18th, 2009 3:47 pm ET

Talk about hate, Look at yourself posters. Carma, thats all I can say for you haters. A man dies, and all you can do is post your hate. I wish the best to his family in these hard times. Just like I did for the Kenedy family. There is a time and place for everything.

Angie in PA   September 18th, 2009 3:44 pm ET

And his son Voted for and Supported President Obama.

Arizonian   September 18th, 2009 3:40 pm ET

Isn't conservative thinker an oxymoron? Just saying

trying to be reasonable in WV   September 18th, 2009 3:35 pm ET

Full disclosure first: I am a centrist. I think we need THOUGHTFUL conservatives in our national discourse. Perhaps Irving Kristol was one–I'll admit to not knowing his work.

Sad to say, IMHO son William Kristol doesn't achieve the stature of a thoughtful conservative. He is the quintessential doctrinaire neocon, reflexively opposing even the most moderate centrist proposals while steadfastly refusing to concede that Bush and the neocons made even the slightest mistakes. Where are the thoughtful conservatives now?

Scott B   September 18th, 2009 3:25 pm ET

and so goes the very last conservative thinker on earth

j   September 18th, 2009 3:22 pm ET

AH !!! How neo-cons love one another. Anyone to the left of them is a Socialist. After all there is no room left to their right.

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