It’s time for my annual national thank you note.  It’s called Thanksgiving for a reason, so let’s offer our gratitude to the following people, who have made life in America so much richer—and more interesting—this year.

1.  The men and women of the United States military.
Against some rough odds—in Iraq and Afghanistan in particular—our armed forces are doing the heavy lifting of freedom.  They are the ones who stand between us and the jihad.  And they volunteer to do it.  They choose to give up their families, friends, better paying—and safer—jobs, and in some cases, their lives to fight America’s enemies and to do everything they can to protect our lives and liberty.  For your selflessness, sacrifice, bravery, and humility: thank you.

2.  President Bush.  I know it’s not cool to thank President Bush, what with his job approval hovering around 30%, the economy in the tank, and his lame duck status.  But this commander-in-chief faced a challenge to this country on September 11, 2001 that was unprecedented in our history.  From that day forward, he chose to take the fight to our enemies rather than wait for the enemies to bring it to us.  Some of these paths have been controversial.  Some have involved grave setbacks.  But in their totality, they represent a remarkably comprehensive strategy to deal with a global threat of a particularly ruthless, vicious, and unrelenting kind.  History will judge the efficacy of the strategy, but for your gutsy unwillingness to cave to political pressure at home and terrorist pressure abroad: thank you.

3.  General David Petraeus.  Under his leadership, American-led forces in Iraq have essentially won the war there.  Yeah, I said it: they have essentially won the war.  Despite being called a “betrayer” by the Far Left, Petraeus has achieved a victory in a place where no one thought it was possible.  For changing Iraq from a terrorist hotbed to a secure, democratic country: thank you.

4.  Senator Hillary Clinton.  The onetime frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination quickly became an also-ran, and then, begrudgingly, the one giving the concession speech.  But she continued to run against Obama even after “conceding.”  Would she stage a floor fight at the Convention?  Would she release her delegates?  Would she be VP?  Would she turn it down if offered?  Will she be Secretary of State?  Will she turn it down if offered?  Will she run against him in 2012?  For the sheer entertainment value of your Drama Queen chutzpah: thank you.

5.  Former President Bill Clinton.  Watching him call Obama’s candidacy and positions “the biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen” and invoking Jesse Jackson was classic.  Watching him trying to perfect the “Nancy Reagan” gaze as he sat bored silly through his wife’s speeches was priceless.  Watching him seduce an audience and then remember he was seducing them not for himself but for her was heartwarming.  Watching him say he’d vote for her even if she weren’t his wife was hilarious.  Watching him nurture a blind rage toward Obama to this very day is so Clintonian.  For all of your amusing gall: thank you.

6.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  Under her two-year-long “leadership,” Democrats haven’t done anything they’d pledged to do in 2006: end the war in Iraq, stop funding for the war, stop the president’s terrorist surveillance program, and on and on. Thank goodness she is such a dingbat.  She got a new majority this year and a Democratic president, but she’s such a screw-up that she constantly sets a new standard for legislative incompetence.  For being a nitwit: thank you.

7.  Governor Sarah Palin.  For showing us that the Republican party still has a pulse: thank you.

8.  Former Governor Eliot Spitzer.  For reminding us that utter stupidity exists most profoundly in the supposedly brightest people: thank you.

9.  OJ Simpson.  For reminding rational people of the importance of jury duty.  Again.

10.  The mainstream media.  For finally showing us your true colors: thank you.

In America, every day is a blessing.

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