National Review founder William F. Buckley Jr.

A mere third of the way to our goal of $175,000, let’s begin this urging with a note of gratitude to the 500 folks who as of this morning have seen fit to contribute to the 2019 Spring Webathon, which seeks your material support so we can buys some brass knuckles and blackjacks for our battle with socialism. Who are these happy-few 500, and why have they reached for their wallets? For the sake of inspiration, we share a few examples:


• Old pal Peter spots NR 500 smackers and makes with the praise and the lingo: “Here’s a McKinley for you. Thank you for arming us with words and ideas to debate our socialist friends with. And yes, I left a participle dangling.” There was a $500 dangling fee . . . consider it paid. And thanks!

• Hot diggity dog, Jeffrey sends us a grand. Grand of you, literally! And this sentiment: “I enjoy having the option of where to spend my money and have never been disappointed when giving it to National Review.” And we are never disappointed receiving it. You are always there for us J Man!

• Ryan has got only a five-dollar bill to his name. But it comes to us, attended by this: “As millennials, we learned that socialism was a failed governmental model in all of my history and civics classes growing up. Unfortunately, for my generation, it appears that not many of us were paying attention. Life, Liberty, and Property.” Means a lot to us Ryan.


• William spots a C note and another great bumper-sticker comment: “Keep athwarting.” Love it!


• Also with a C note is Randall, who staples to it encouraging words: “I enjoy reading NR every day. I don’t always agree, but that’s good — I don’t (always) want to read pap that simply reinforces my biases. I generally feel that conservative outlets are not as well supported as left-ish ones. I don’t know whether that feeling comports with reality, but it’s a motivation!” Would that others feel the same.

• Ditto for Stephen. We love his generosity, and his discourse: “In reading the little debate raging between the donors and donee as to whom to thank, I’m torn — donors thank the mag, and the mag returns those thanks. But I come down on the side of being grateful to the other donors who have subsidized my conservative education these past many years. So here is to my now fellow donors, and a small effort in paying it forward.”


• Leslie doubles that, and her $200 signifies the kind of assessment that we find truly meaningful: “I may read about something on a different website, but I come to yours to find out how I feel about it, or to find out if it’s even legitimate. You are the only conservative source I can trust to exercise caution and use intellect to parse the nonsense that is daily news.” Thanks so much.


• Another $200 comes from Jagannatha, who seems intent of being generous and swelling select heads: “With gratitude to, and in honor of all, at the National Review. And in particular, a grateful thanks to Jonah Goldberg, Kevin Williamson, and Charles C. W. Cooke.” You are so kind.


• One last comment: Bill sends $50 and a marketing lecture that . . . damn, hurts! “Please try not to make your donation pleas sound like the Republican National Committee. That promotes a ‘they are the enemy culture.’ National Review is classier than that (though some of your non-staff writers are not).” As one of the non-classy writers, I am weeping from the shame of being exposed. But through my tears I moan . . . thanks.

We need many more Bills, Jagannathas, Leslies, and Peters to step up. Our task — combatting socialism — is very real. Our financial needs are also that — very real. Would you please make a very real contribution — from Ryan’s $5 to Jeffrey’s $1,000 — to help us get to our goal of $175,000 so we can knock the stuffing out of socialism? Donate to the 2019 Spring Webathon here. And if you wish to send your selfless kindness by check, here’s the drill: Make it payable to “National Review” and mail it to National Review, ATTN: Spring 2019 Webathon, 19 West 44th Street, New York, NY 10036. Thanks terribly much.