HALF-FULL REPORT 12/18/08

There hasn't been an HFR since November 4 since it's too depressing to raise a glass that's completely dry and empty.  Lately, however, so much fun stuff has been filling the HFR full liter stein that it's like the Munich Oktoberfest in December.

Let's start with the biggest silver lining of November 4:  we didn't end up with President Pain-in-the-ass McCain.  Once again, he reminded us this week of what an insufferable jerk he is.  The only reason he got the nomination is because the Stupid Party allows Democrats to vote in its primaries.  It's such a relief we never have to pay any attention to him ever again.  Jindal-Palin 2012!

Next we move to Blagogate, which is serving to bring into clear focus that corruption is the Democrat Party's middle name.  The Wall Street Journal's Kimberley Strassel does a good job today (12/18) of summarizing the escapades of the scandal-ridden Dems.

Blagogate also serves to make people aware that for the next four years we'll have a Chicago White House, the operations of which will be run by Blago buddy Rahm Emmanuel.

(By the way – now's a good time to bring you up to speed with the latest hip term for hogwash, drivel, garbage, and nonsense.  It used to be "bulls..t."  Now on Capitol Hill and soon to spread across the country, the hip replacement term for bulls..t is "pelosi" –   as in, "That's just a bunch of pelosi," or "Cut the pelosi," or "Stop pelosi-ing me."  Less vulgar, more trenchantly descriptive.)

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Now on to the substantial benefits of the US/global recession.

First, for us, it means the mass migration of illegals back to Mexico.  Not even Zero's choice for Labor Secretary, radical left/radical pro-illegal Hilda Solis (D-CA) – who is so dumb she makes Commerce Secretary Bill Richardson seem smart by comparison – will be able to staunch the reverse flood.

Then there's the marvelous collapse of investment in "alternative energy" scams like wind and solar so disastrous even Newsweek calls it the green bubble.

This is in tandem with Europe's message (plus that of Canada and Japan) delivered at the UN Conference on Climate Change at Poznan, Poland last week, which was, deciphered from all the diplo-speak:  "Screw global warming, our economies come first."

Energy-hating Obamanistas in the Chicago White House and glowarmers on Capitol Hill should take note – especially when actual producers of energy are leaving the US.  Oh, yes, and when it snows in Las Vegas.

Perhaps the most satisfying consequence of the US/global recession is what the collapse in oil prices is doing to the swine of the world, such as Putin, Ahmadinutjob, and Hugo Chavez.

As we discussed in Driving In China, Russia and Iran will be tempted to try and save themselves through war.  For Chavez, though, no way José.  Here's a trick question:  when was the last time the Venezuelan military fought a war?

The answer is: never.  Not since Venezuela gained its independence in 1823. 

Neighboring Colombia, with whom Chavez is always threatening to pick a fight, has a very well-trained and seasoned military from years of (now successfully) fighting the FARC guerrillas.  Should Chavez order an attack on Colombia, it would be the last straw for the Venezuelan officer corps, which would overthrow him rather than get wiped out by Colombia.

Thus Chavez is no threat to his neighbors, no threat to us, and will not survive in power for much longer.  Then the same fate waits his protégés propped up by the oil money he no longer has:  Evo Morales of Bolivia, Rafael Correra of Ecuador, Cristina Kirchner of Argentina, and Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua.  Adios to them all.

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We'll close this edition of the HFR by raising a glass of sacramental wine to a great American patriot and founder of the modern conservative political movement, Paul Weyrich.

I knew Paul for over a quarter-century.  There was no more forthright champion of conservative principles, no one more effective at organizing conservatives to achieve them.

He passed on yesterday, December 18.  It always brings tears to your eyes to have such a good man and good friend leave the earth forever.  Yet at last his suffering is over.  In 1993, he slipped on a patch of black ice on a winter's day in Washington, and damaged his back so severely that it led to an inexorable deterioration of his health.

He ended up in a wheelchair, unable to walk.  I'll never forget the moment at a meeting of the conservative elite, The Council for National Policy (which he co-founded).  CNP meetings always begin with members briefly introducing themselves.  After all the several hundred other attendees said who they were, Paul was given the hand microphone as he sat in his wheelchair.

"I'm Paul Weyrich," he said.  "I used to be a stand-up guy."

The entire ballroom of people jumped out of their chairs as one with an explosion of yells, whistles, and applause.  Women cried – and so did men.

Paul Weyrich was a stand-up guy, as a person, as a conservative, as an American.  He never lost his courage, he never lost his belief in America's best, he never even lost his sense of humor – even as he lost his legs and his health deteriorated further.

Now his suffering is no more and his physical presence is gone.  But he will always be an inspiration to me and all conservatives.  Goodbye, Paul.  Sleep well in the arms of God.