>>He has never mentioned Buckley
Well, he doesn’t have to.
He’s ripping of Buckley’s television style totally including the stammer and hesitations. Imitation is the best form of flattery and its his call, but to someone who loved the intellectual heft and debating of Firing Line, style needs substance.
I think you’re seriously overreaching if you think Buckley was the only cariacture of the Harvard intellectual snob (not saying Buckley was). I for one disagree with you that Beck is imitating Buckley. I (and everyone else) have seen this character in numerous movies, tv shows, etc.