Rosslyn gets stimulated

"What do you think a stimulus is? It's spending -- that's the whole point! Seriously."
-- Barack Obama

A huge crowd at the Continental Lounge in Rosslyn, Va., Thursday for Stimulus Happy Hour. Young right-wingers were seriously priming the pump with a Keynesian fervor Paul Krugman would admire. At this bleak moment of utter despair, these patriotic Americans did their part to restore Hope by promoting full employment in the hospitality and distilled spirits industries. They're not only economic libertarians (they spend it freely) but they are also extreme social conservatives (they socialize extremely often).

To chronicle this pivotal moment in our nation's economic history -- "the direst financial catastrophe since the Panic of 1857," according to R.J. Lehmann -- they called upon the neutral, objective services of The Man With the Pink Camera.

Jim Antle and Philip Klein of the American Spectator, Moira Bagley of the New Majority, Liz Mair of New Media Strategies, and American Spectator managing editor J.P. Freire.

Liz Mair, David Weigel of The Washington Independent, and Republican strategist Sean Hackbarth.

Jessica Cantelon of the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute and Amanda Carpenter of Townhall.com.

Republican strategist Nathan Martin and Liz Mair. (Yeah, I know, she's such a camera hog, isn't she?)

Thankful to have escaped the Hindenburg-at-Lakehurst crash of Culture11 -- "Kuo, the humanities!" -- James Poulos now earns a surprisingly lucrative living as a postmodern pool hustler.

American Spectator advertising director Catherine Ruddy congratulates mom-to-be Courtney Poulos after Mr. Poulos sank the 8-ball on a three-bumper shot to win $20 from . . .

. . . Jillian Bandes, who's wondering how to explain to J.P. that, in addition to losing $20, she also promised Poulos an assignment as Athens bureau chief for the Spectator.

Jeremy Lott (right) in a rare moment of good cheer, shortly before plunging back into his accustomed Stygian gloom.

Nathan Martin, Brooke "The Jefferson 1" Oberwetter and noted economist R.J. "We're SO Doomed" Lehmann.

While Phil Klein and John Tabin discuss the geopolitical significance of Iran's missile launch, David Weigel checks his iPhone for Facebook updates from Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama's in the White House, the economy's in the toilet and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is about two-thirds of the way to having an ICBM. So why is Scott Hogenson smiling?

Soren Dayton can't figure it out, either.

American Spectator editorial director Wlady Pleszczynski, far right. (Ba-dum-BUM! "I got a million of 'em folks. I tell ya, I just flew in from Cleveland, and man, are my arms tired! I'll be here until Tuesday, folks, but it's OK -- you can start laughing tonight. So, anyway, an Irish guy, a Jewish guy and a Polish guy walk into a bar . . .")