2008: The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Year

I know a lot of conservatives are ready for 2007, since 2006 was probably the worst year for the issues we care about since, well, 1992. And since I was a five year old in 1992, and all I have is vague memories of my (Christian) kindergarten class taking a vote and Bill Clinton winning, I don't have a lot to compare to 2006.

On the world stage, America's enemies grew bolder. Perhaps emboldened by the constant carping back and forth between the surrender-minded Democrats and their increasingly timid Republican adversaries, our enemies found more and more reason to regard the United States as a paper tiger, a nation of "men without chests," as Osama bin Laden famously characterized us. North Korea decided that our Independence Day was a terrific time to lob six missiles into the Sea of Japan (Dear Leader assures us they went precisely where it was meant to go) and immediately blame it on the U.S. Lost in the international "urgent consultations" was the fact that the next day, they launched another one. So much for the power of the U.N. Oh well, another day, another dud.

Iran and Syria enjoyed playing nursemaid to the baby jihad in Iraq (not exactly what we expected to emerge after the "birth pangs"). We continued to lose men and women on the ground while the political class did a lot of talking, and yelling back and forth, and not much else. Iraq, sadly, has become another Vietnam in one important way: the Left and the media want nothing more than an embarrassing defeat. Seriously, when was the last time you heard anyone on the Left, or in the mainstream media say "Hey, I'm an American, and whether I supported the war or not, I want us to win." I guess that's what happens when political correctness makes winning and losing irrelevant. Indeed, Time magazine decided this year that "You, yes You," are the Person of the Year, mainly because you figured out how to put videos of yourself brushing your teeth on the Internet. Good job, You, take a bow!

Iran's President, Mahmoud Ahma-whackjob... I mean Ahmadinejad, continued to pursue nuclear weapons, and the destruction of Israel, not necessarily in that order. He was probably just trying to get attention though. In Iran, wiping Israel from the face of the earth is actually an often used metaphor, that really doesn't mean what it sounds like it means. I guess something gets lost in translation. In December, Ahmadinejad hosted a scientific conference, dedicated to serious-minded study and reflection...on whether or not the Holocaust took place! The verdict? Maybe it did, maybe, but it wasn't nearly big enough, according to such intellectual luminaries as David Duke, and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I think it would be interesting to hear Ahmadinejad's New Year's resolutions: some of us want to lose weight or quit smoking, but I'm sure Mahmoud is just all torn up about his failure to nuke Israel and usher in the Age of the 12th Imam. Oh well, 2007 is a new opportunity for everyone!

Israel had a tough year as well. Not only do they live in the most dangerous neighborhood in the world (especially for Jews) but when Lebanon decided to take a few potshots at them, the international community whined about the harsh methods the Israelis used to end that week's existential threat.

Here at home, we had a bit of an election. The Democrats ran a sterling campaign on the platform of "Umm...is this mic on? Well, we're not the Republicans, we hate the war, we love the poor, so check us out!" The Republicans looked like they could win all the way through September, until a certain Mark Foley sent some nasty instant messages (did anyone else find listening to the media try to explain instant messaging strangely hilarious?) This was clearly more important than some war against radical Islam, so it dominated the news for about six weeks. Never mind the fact that he was immediately forced to resign, and he didn't actually do anything with the under-aged page (does the name Gerry Studds ring a bell?). Since all Republicans are like Mark Foley, only smarter, the MSM sensibly decided that the only thing to do is Throw the Bums Out!

A sad casualty of the Democrat's Decimation (I use that term literally, one out of every ten Republican incumbents lost their jobs) was my dad. I remain proud of him for doing what no one else would do, and taking on a governor who was unbeatable, according to the conventional wisdom. Well, I still don't think she was unbeatable, but when what should have been major scandals petered out into one day, Page 12 stories (in the Tribune, the Republic didn't cover them at all) it's pretty tough to win. Arizona was also the first state in the union to reject a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and Republicans lost seats in both the state House and Senate.

This year I saw hope in the most unlikely places. I saw stay-at-home moms take a year of their lives to work for a better Arizona. I saw young men and women of my generation get involved for the first time in the political arena, and despite the agony of defeat, emerge that much more resolute, and that much better equipped then they were entering 2006. I saw first hand how the message of conservativism resonates with the average citizen, if only it is carried with humor and trustworthiness. I saw potential in the church to arise from her slumber and fight for the values we share.

And despite the all the losses, all the scary headlines from across the seas, I saw that America is great, because there is greatness in her people, if only they are inspired to believe it of themselves. This is our calling in this generation, to see the greatness that was America, and can be again and reach out for it. Not just us, but our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mother, and one day our daughters and sons.