If you come to NRO early and often, if you are a repeat customer at the all-you-can-eat 24/7 buffet that Rich, Charlie, and the gang replenish non-stop, if you’ve never tossed a piece of green paper in the tip jar, then look over there. Yeah, there. That’s right, it’s a mirror, and what you are looking at is a person (go ahead and say it: Damn, I am handsome!) who knows that nothing is really free, who knows that he has nonetheless supped greedily on the kindness of NRO donors past (God bless you one and all!), and who knows that the time has come to . . . pony up.

Now before you say “Damn, I am cheap!” I want you to know that the ongoing 2017 Fall Webathon – whose serious purposes are indeed serious, and worthwhile, and explained in detail here, and with extra umpff by Rich Lowry here – has come to the rescue of your conscience. Whether you can make with the generous do of $1,000, or the as-generous kindness of the Widow’s Mite, please do make with it (you can donate here) because in doing so you will be helping us with a broad effort to bring exceptionally smart conservative wisdom and analysis to many more people. To engage in that thing that Bill Buckley did so brilliantly for over half a century: to make converts! Echo chamber, shmecko chamber. We are out to win hearts and minds, and are, and do, and you have a role and a stake in that program and mission. Do not underestimate your role in this. So, how about you make up for all the past freebie-ing? And when you give (and you know that you will – now peer again in that mirror, at you, not only so handsome but, yeah, generous!) you will find yourself in the excellent company of these good souls and others have donated to the webathon in the past few days:

Paul sprung for $25 and the opened up: “These are the most depressing times for a conservative that I can remember, and I’ve been reading NR since 1966–even before I called myself one. The division and consequent rancor is unprecedented and, even more disturbing, if that’s possible, is that it is justifiable when we have to read about President Trump as our leader and, now, Judge Moore as our Senate candidate. What’s happening to us? Anyway, pace all those great writers of the past, Rich is right: today’s crew might be the best!! Oh, because of my depression, I just subscribed to the print edition.” Thanks Paul.
Ever-reliable Lyman is good for a $50 contribution, but – he’s cheating on me! “I almost always respond to Jack’s requests–I figure I should give you similar respect, Rich! All the best to everyone at NR!”
Yesterday’s Burma Shave spree motivated Jonathan’s wallet (50 smackers, thank you) and his muses, who he appeased with a haiku: “National Review / Is fine online or dead tree / Yelling more than ‘stop!’” Thank you Jonathan / We would be totally lost / But for our kind friends.
James spots us a kind C-note and asks “Does $100 get me a range date with Charlie Cooke?” Date? He’s married, James (and sure got the better part of that deal). But, if you’re driving and buying the ammo, I’d wager he’d be there.
OK let’s end on the high note of Kathleen forking over five hundred bucks, you read that right, and a dose of sympathy: “I appreciate very much the NR writers, and what spirit and generosity they must have to overlook those nutty and sometimes awful comments they get (at the bottom of the articles) for all their good work.” If they can overlook my singing, they can overlook anything. But that said, Special K, thanks so much for the very generous contribution.

Home stretch folks: I hope these sentiments inspire you. Help NR and conservatism and your conscience by making a generous donation here. Do share your own comments, and even criticisms. Contribute via PayPal here if you prefer. Or send a check, payable to “National Review” and mailed to 19 West 44th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10036. Many thanks.

(All this magazine talk makes me want to urge you to subscribe to NR. On “dead tree,” a 12-issue introductory subscription can be had for just $19.95. Order that here. Even better: a full year of NR, which comes to 24 issues, is only $29.95, and can be ordered here. You want to send a special someone a gift subscription? OK, a full year of fortnightly happiness can be ordered here, and trust me, there is no better Christmas gift to give. Finalmente: You no like paper but want that same content in a digital format? OK, we can serve you up a full year of NR brilliance in that way for just $19.99. Now get a move on and order here.)