If you have twenty minutes, check out this entertaining 1969 debate between William F. Buckley and Noam Chomsky (part 1 | part 2). My God, Buckley is suave. At issue is whether American intervention in Cold War satellite states - with a special emphasis on our involvement in Greece and Turkey under the Truman Doctrine - was motivated by economic self interest or by an altruistic concern for oppressed peoples. With no moderator, this debate is about as fast-paced as it gets.

Or, if you're in the mood for lighter fare, catch this 1968 exchange in which Buckley tells Gore Vidal: "Now listen, you queer, stop calling me a crypto-Nazi or I will sock you in your goddamn face, and you will stay plastered."

From the Washington Post's excellent four-part series on the Cheney vice presidency

[Alberto] Gonzales "was not a law-of-war expert and didn't have very developed views," Yoo recalled, echoing blunter observations by the Texan's White House colleagues.

Ouch. Let's hope that line clinches the Pulitzer.