Margaret Thatcher RIP

Now all three of the 1980s icons are gone. Margaret Thatcher passed away this morning at the age of 87.

She, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II were the three great warriors for peace in the 1980s. I don't ever recall a world without her serving as the preeminent female role model, really, role model for any conservative leader.

She will be remembered for her sterling "Iron Lady" credentials at a time of weakness in Great Britain.

Infuriated by Britain’s image as the “sick old man of Europe,” she set out to dismantle Britain’s cradle-to-grave welfare state, selling off scores of massive state-owned industries, crushing the power of organized labor and cutting government spending with the purpose of liberating the nation from what she called a “culture of dependency.”

Ah, the world could use another, but there never be a leader quite like her. It is remarkable that over two generations ago, she rose through Tory ranks to assume a position of leadership in the party. That was nearly forty years ago! She was a sterling symbol of liberty, heroic in her toughness, yet was willing to broker for peace when she met Gorbachev. Her words, unspoken, are some of the most enduring from her friend Ronnie's funeral nearly a decade ago.

Rest in Peace.

From the Reagan Library

There's something special about the Reagan Library, and despite the less-fun aspects of working this weekend, I am so grateful for the opportunity to visit Simi Valley and this beautiful presidential library. There's been some despair, some bleakness, some desperation lately amongst conservatives. And I am not going to pretend that I was happy about the results of the election, or even that I've fully come to terms with four more years of moving backwards in this country. Some believe only our souls can be saved in times like these. But I am torn. I want to believe that hope will be restored. This country has seen its share of tough times...the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War II. Sometimes this brings the best out of us.

This era is reminiscent of the 1970s, when conservatism was at its depths of despair. Out of four years of Jimmy Carter, we were given Ronald Reagan's presidency. 

I visited the Library, and re-read that letter President Reagan wrote when he announced his diagnosis with Alzheimer's disease.  He concluded it with words that I can almost recite by heart: "In closing, let me thank you, the American people, for giving me the great honor of allowing me to serve as your president. When the Lord calls me home, whenever that may be, I will leave the greatest love for this country of ours and eternal optimism for its future. I now begin the journey that will lead me into the sunset of my life. I know that for America there will always be a bright dawn ahead."

Even in the depths of his despair, of a diagnosis that he would never recover from, he still held on to hope. And those words, like so many he uttered, reflected an innate belief in this country of ours, that there is always a shining city on a hill.  America is stronger, different, exceptional.  And for a moment, as tears welled in my eyes, I felt the strength of his conviction, and I could feel his own hope now, 18 years after he wrote those words. And I needed that. 

Reagan Libary Redux

This past weekend, the 2012 travel season started with our annual trip to the Reagan Library. The weather was warm and sunny, though we faced pretty fierce Santa Ana winds. The conference went well, and the trip overall was smooth.  There was something very emotional about seeing the Library--and I only did a cursory walk through this time--but seeing the President's speeches really resonated. It's an election year, and it was all the more clear that there is no Ronald Reagan in this race.  There is no clearly conservative candidate, no well spoken eloquent Republican leader out there. Re-watching his Pointe du Hoc and Challenger speeches...well, wow. And seeing President Bush's funeral remarks, where he mentioned that "some very fine days are behind" us with Reagan's passing....well, wow.  So true, so true.

Maybe we will get another Reagan in this lifetime. Sure, there is some revisionist history out there, and yes, the President was not flawless. But that moral clarity and strength of purpose is really missing today amongst all of the candidates. It's certainly not there with Gingrich. I think Santorum comes closest, but he is not long for this race.  The trip to the Library was a fitting reminder that there is something more out there, and that once in a generation candidate that captures Americans can be found again.  Just not in 2012.

Conservatism in America

I agree--this was an interesting exchange in the latest of the upteenth Republican debate. What have been your contributions to conservatism, Governor Romney and Speaker Gingrich?

“Well, number one, I’ve raised a family.  With my wife we’ve raised five wonderful sons, and we have 16 wonderful grandkids. 

“Number two, I’ve worked in the private sector.  The idea that somehow everything important to conservatism or for America happens in government, is simply wrong.  I’ve been in the private sector.  I worked in one business that was in trouble and helped turn it around, another I started.  And as part of that, we were able to create thousands and thousands of jobs.

“And then I took an opportunity to become governor of a state that was slightly Democrat.  About 85 percent of my legislature was Democrat.  And I worked very hard to promote a conservative agenda.  We cut taxes 19 times.  We balanced the budget every year, put in place a ‘rainy day’ fund of over $2 billion by the time I left.  We were also successful in having English immersion in our schools, driving our schools to be number one in the nation.

“That kind of a conservative model in a state like this was a model in many respects that other states could look at and say, okay, conservative principles work.  We were able to reach across the aisle to fight for conservative principles, and now I’m taking that to a presidential campaign, wrote a book about those principles that lay out why I believe they’re right for America.”

Gingrich then said,

“I went to a Goldwater organizing session in 1964.  I met with Ronald Reagan for the first time in 1974.  I worked with Jack Kemp and Art Laffer and others to develop supply-side economics in the late ’70s.  I helped Governor Reagan become President Reagan.  I helped pass the Reagan economic program, and I worked with the National Security Council on issues involving the collapse of the Soviet Empire.  I then came back, organized a group called GOPAC, spent 16 years building a majority in the House for the first time since 1954, the first reelected majority since 1928, developed the Conservative Opportunity Society, talked about big ideas, big solutions. 

“So I think it’s fair to say I spent most of my lifetime trying to develop a conservative movement across this country that relates directly to what we have to do.  And I think only a genuine conservative who’s in a position to debate Obama and to show how wide the gap is between Obama’s policies and conservatism can in fact win, because he’s gonna spend a billion dollars trying to smear whoever the nominee is, and we’d better be prepared to beat him in the debate and prove exactly how wrong his values are, and how wrong his practices are.”

Top Chef DC

The new season of Top Chef DC premiered the other night. The early episodes are always so disjointed--so many cheftestants, so much editing, so little opportunity to get to know the competitors. Angelo and Kenny stood out as the two to beat, but it's early.

It's so strange to see DC represented...it always seems so familiar yet so strange. It shows a different cultural side to the city that you don't often get to know, because you get caught up in your own circles of social. It's like I have my legal/conservative community, Steve has his tech community, others have soccer circles or art or music or whatever else consumes their 9-5 lives or their 5-9 lives. The first show showcased the new Newseum and the Mellon Auditorium: two places I do not frequent. I even googled the latter; seems like it would be a good place to hold a fancy event if you happen to have the funds for it.

Too bad the Detroit contestant didn't make it pass day one of the competition. Though having coming from the Bradley Prizes--where two of the four winners hailed from Detroit--I was happier that conservatism found its roots there, even if good cooking was lacking this time around.

Global Warming, A Myth? Shocking!

A skeptical voice at the Washington Post on global warming! Wow!

Big Hollywood

Love the new website by Andrew Breitbart focusing on Big Hollywood.

As DC gets innundated by the Obamacons, it's nice to see the other closet righties are emerging on the left coast to voice their views on politics, celebrity, hollywood, etc. It would be nice to find some right-leaning musicians, too, though I am not aware there are many. Maybe Five for Fighting? At least Gary Sinise, Kelsey Grammar, possibly Robert Downey Jr., Patricia Heaton, and the handful of others on the right (or those who don't always perfectly walk the left's party line) are speaking out and countering Huffington and other liberals. I plan on visiting this new site often!

On the Right: RIP Bill Buckley

Bill Buckley, founder of National Review, passed away this morning at at the age of 82. Early reaction on the Corner comes from Jonah and John Miller.

Jonah was right in saying the guy lived a long, impressive life. He can join his wife who I believe passed away last year. The guy was one helluva conservative icon, alongside Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan. Great trio. He inspired generations of conservatives, including those with whome I work with. Anti-communism, low taxes, limited government, judicial restraint, etc. RIP.

From a CNN piece:

Speaking at the magazine's 30th anniversary celebration -- attended by such notables as Charlton Heston, Tom Selleck, Jack Kemp and Tom Wolfe -- Reagan remarked: "If any of you doubt the impact of National Review's verve and attractiveness, take a look around you this evening. The man standing before you now was a Democrat when he picked up his first issue in a plain brown wrapper; and even now, as an occupant of public housing, he awaits as anxiously as ever his biweekly edition -- without the wrapper."