One of the towering figures of modern conservativism died last night at his home in Connecticut.

UPDATE (OldZach): I don't want to hijack Norm's post, but I will anyway. Here's a portion of the National Review's tribute to their founder:

He inspired and incited three generations of conservatives, and counting. He retained his intellectual and literary vitality to the end; even in his final years he was capable of the arresting formulation, the unpredictable insight. He presided over NR even in his “retirement,” which was more active than most people’s careers. It has been said that great men are rarely good men. Even more rarely are they sweet and merry, as Buckley was.

Read the rest here. Conservatism has truly lost one of its bright and shining lights today. Yet, we can take comfort in the fact that the ideas, and truly the movement inspired in part by the life's work of Mr. Buckley, lives on. Yesterday I mentioned some of the "Young Guns" of the Virginia GOP who seem poised to make some noise in the next few years. I have no doubt that some of them were likely influenced by Buckley. I also know that there are still more behind them, in my generation, who have been equally influenced.

Wherever true intellectual curiosity is permitted to thrive, the words and ideas of William F. Buckley, Jr. will as well. You shall be missed, sir.